| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Fantastic Fables by Ambrose Bierce: Politician said:
"Let us, I beseech thee, turn aside from this comfortless road
leading, thou knowest whither, but not I. Let us turn our backs
upon duty and abandon ourselves to the delights and advantages
which beckon from every grove and call to us from every shining
hill. Let us, if so thou wilt, follow this beautiful path, which,
as thou seest, hath a guide-board saying, 'Turn in here all ye who
seek the Palace of Political Distinction.'"
"It is a beautiful path, my son," said the Old Politician, without
either slackening his pace or turning his head, "and it leadeth
among pleasant scenes. But the search for the Palace of Political
Fantastic Fables |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Off on a Comet by Jules Verne: to wander away into the range of attraction of another center;
nor to mingle with the star clusters, some of which have
been entirely, others partially resolved; nor was she to lose
herself amongst the 5,000 nebulae which have resisted hitherto
the grasp of the most powerful reflectors. No; Gallia was
neither to pass beyond the limits of the solar system,
nor to travel out of sight of the terrestrial sphere.
Her orbit was circumscribed to little over 1,500 millions
of miles; and, in comparison with the infinite space beyond,
this was a mere nothing.
CHAPTER XI
|
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from The Oakdale Affair by Edgar Rice Burroughs: second floor," explained the youth. "It almost got us,
too," he added, "and it did it all night."
"Whew," whistled the Case boy. "Gosh!" Then he
scratched his head and looked admiringly at the youth.
"What mought yer name be?" he asked.
"I'm The Oskaloosa Kid," replied the youth, unable to
resist the admiration of the other's fond gaze. "Look
here!" and he fished a handful of jewelry from one of
his side pockets; "this is some of the swag I stole last
night when I robbed a house."
Case Jr., opened his mouth and eyes so wide that
The Oakdale Affair |
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 Chance by Joseph Conrad: on the other side of the deck. Poor Flora, taken very much
unawares, made an inarticulate murmur, shook her head vaguely, and
glanced in the direction of the pacing Anthony who was not looking
her way. It was no use glancing in that direction. Of young
Powell, leaning against the mizzen-mast and facing his captain she
could only see the shoulder and part of a blue serge back.
And the unworried, unaccented voice of her father went on tormenting
her.
"You see, you must understand. When I came out of jail it was with
joy. That is, my soul was fairly torn in two--but anyway to see you
happy--I had made up my mind to that. Once I could be sure that you
Chance |
