| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Sportsman by Xenophon: dark in colour[35] with a large white patch on the forehead; and the
smaller kind, which is yellow-brown with only a little white. The tail
of the former kind is variegated in a circle; of the other, white at
the side.[36] The eyes of the large kind are slightly inclined to
gray;[37] of the smaller, bluish. The black about the tips of the ears
is largely spread in the one, but slightly in the other species. Of
these two species, the smaller is to be met with in most of the
islands, desert and inhabited alike. As regards numbers they are more
abundant in the islands than on the mainland; the fact being that in
most of these there are no foxes to attack and carry off either the
grown animal or its young; nor yet eagles, whose habitat is on lofty
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Gambara by Honore de Balzac: divine prayer consecrating the union of Robert and Isabella. We ought
not to have been left oppressed by the spells of hell; we ought to
emerge with hope in our heart.
"I, as musician and a Catholic, wanted another prayer like that in
/Mose/. I should have liked to see how Germany would contend with
Italy, what Meyerbeer could do in rivalry with Rossini.
"However, in spite of this trifling blemish, the writer cannot say
that after five hours of such solid music, a Parisian prefers a bit of
ribbon to a musical masterpiece. You heard how the work was applauded;
it will go through five hundred performances! If the French really
understand that music----"
Gambara |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from The Spirit of the Border by Zane Grey: endeavoring to win their good-will. There were always fifty to an hundred
visiting Indians at the village; sometimes, when the missionaries had
advertised a special meeting, there were assembled in the shady maple grove as
many as five hundred savages. Jim had, therefore, opportunities to practice
his offices of friendliness.
Fortunately for him, he at once succeeded in establishing himself in the good
graces of Glickhican, the converted Delaware chief. The wise old Indian was of
inestimable value to Jim. Early in their acquaintance he evinced an earnest
regard for the young minister, and talked with him for hours.
From Glickhican Jim learned the real nature of the redmen. The Indian's love
of freedom and honor, his hatred of subjection and deceit, as explained by the
The Spirit of the Border |
The fourth excerpt represents the element of Earth. It speaks of physical influences and the impact of the unseen on the visible world, and is drawn from The Amazing Interlude by Mary Roberts Rinehart: those two should know the plan, mademoiselle."
"I'll get my coat and hat," Sara Lee said, and proceeded to do so in a
brisk and businesslike fashion. When she came down Henri was emerging
from the telephone booth. His face was impassive. And again when in
time Sara Lee was to know Henri's face better than she had ever known
Harvey's, she was to learn that the masklike look he sometimes wore
meant danger - for somebody.
They went out without further speech into the clear cold night. Henri,
as if from custom, threw his head back and scanned the sky. Then they
went on and crossed into the square.
"The plan," Henri began abruptly, "is this: You will be provided
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