| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Selected Writings of Guy De Maupassant by Guy De Maupassant: up, purring with pleasure.
"Hallo!" exclaimed the youth with the yellow hair, who was
ferreting about, "here are two swell boats!" They all went to
look at them, and saw two beautiful skiffs in a wooden boathouse,
which were as beautifully finished as if they had been objects of
luxury. They were moored side by side, like two tall, slender
girls, in their narrow shining length, and aroused in one a wish
to float in them on warm summer mornings and evenings, along
flower-covered banks of the river, where the trees dip their
branches into the water, where the rushes are continually
rustling in the breeze, and where the swift kingfishers dart
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from The Tapestried Chamber by Walter Scott: witnessed; and as every word marked alike the brave officer and
the sensible man, who retained possession of his cool judgment
under the most imminent dangers, the company looked upon the
soldier with general respect, as on one who had proved himself
possessed of an uncommon portion of personal courage--that
attribute of all others of which everybody desires to be thought
possessed.
The day at Woodville Castle ended as usual in such mansions. The
hospitality stopped within the limits of good order. Music, in
which the young lord was a proficient, succeeded to the
circulation of the bottle; cards and billiards, for those who
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| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from Twilight Land by Howard Pyle: Then the king's brows grew as black as thunder. "What!" cried he,
"do you dare to bandy words with me? I know that you have
discovered some treasure. Tell me upon the instant where it is;
for the half of it, by the laws of the land, belongs to me, and I
will have it."
At the king's words Aben Hassen the Fool fell on his knees.
"Sire," said he, "I will tell you all the truth. There is a demon
named Zadok--a monster as black as a coal. He is my slave, and
it is he that brings me all the treasure that I enjoy." The king
thought nothing else than that Aben Hassen the Fool was trying to
deceive him. He laughed; he was very angry. "What," cried he, "do
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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 Songs of Travel by Robert Louis Stevenson: HE hears with gladdened heart the thunder
Peal, and loves the falling dew;
He knows the earth above and under -
Sits and is content to view.
He sits beside the dying ember,
God for hope and man for friend,
Content to see, glad to remember,
Expectant of the certain end.
XXIV
FAREWELL, fair day and fading light!
The clay-born here, with westward sight,
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