| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Unconscious Comedians by Honore de Balzac: lodgers.
"Thanks, Monsieur Bixiou!" said the girl.
"She's not a rat," explained Leon to his cousin; "she is the larva of
the grasshopper."
"Here's the history of Ravenouillet," continued Bixiou, when the three
friends reached the boulevard. "In 1831 Massol, the councillor of
state who is dealing with your case, was a lawyer-journalist who at
that time never thought of being more than Keeper of the Seals, and
deigned to have King Louis-Philippe on his throne. Forgive his
ambition, he's from Carcassonne. One morning there entered to him a
young rustic of his parts, who said: 'You know me very well, Mossoo
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Some Reminiscences by Joseph Conrad: the faithful almost with his first breath. I do not know whether
I have been a good seaman, but I know I have been a very faithful
one. And after all there is that handful of "characters" from
various ships to prove that all these years have not been
altogether a dream. There they are, brief, and monotonous in
tone, but as suggestive bits of writing to me as any inspired
page to be found in literature. But then, you see, I have been
called romantic. Well, that can't be helped. But stay. I seem
to remember that I have been called a realist also. And as that
charge too can be made out, let us try to live up to it, at
whatever cost, for a change. With this end in view, I will
Some Reminiscences |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from Babbitt by Sinclair Lewis: Thought, Christian Science, Theosophy, Vedanta, Bahaism, and the other sparks
from the one New Light. The subscription is but ten dollars a year, and for
this mere pittance the members receive not only the monthly magazine, Pearls
of Healing, but the privilege of sending right to the president, our revered
Mother Dobbs, any questions regarding spiritual progress, matrimonial
problems, health and well-being questions, financial difficulties, and--"
They listened to her with adoring attention. They looked genteel. They looked
ironed-out. They coughed politely, and crossed their legs with quietness, and
in expensive linen handkerchiefs they blew their noses with a delicacy
altogether optimistic and refined.
As for Babbitt, he sat and suffered.
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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 King Henry VI by William Shakespeare: LADY GREY.
Be pitiful, dread lord, and grant it then.
KING EDWARD.
Lords, give us leave; I'll try this widow's wit.
GLOSTER.
[Aside to Clarence.] Ay, good leave have you;
for you will have leave
Till youth take leave and leave you to the crutch.
[Gloster and Clarence stand apart.]
KING EDWARD.
Now tell me, madam, do you love your children?
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