| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Red Seal by Natalie Sumner Lincoln: Helen was extremely pale as she advanced up the room, but Kent,
watching her closely, was relieved to see none of the nervousness
which had been so marked at their interview that morning. She was
dressed with fastidious taste, and as she mounted the platform after
the morgue master had administered the oath, Coroner Penfield rose
and, with a polite gesture, indicated the chair she was to occupy.
"I am Helen McIntyre," she announced c1ear1y. "Daughter of Colonel
Charles McIntyre."
"Tell us the circumstances attending the arrest of James Turnbull,
alias John Smith, in your house on Tuesday morning, Miss McIntyre,"
directed the coroner, seating himself at his table, on which were
The Red Seal |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Whirligigs by O. Henry: with the unclothed youth of Macuto. They plunged
into the damp coolness of banana groves at length to
emerge upon a bright stream, where brown women in
scant raiment laundered clothes destructively upon the
rocks. Then the pack train, fording the stream, attacked
the sudden ascent, and bade adieu to such civilization as
the coast afforded.
For weeks Armstrong, guided by Luis, followed his
regular route among the mountains. After he had col-
lected an arroba of the precious metal, winning a profit
of nearly $5,000, the heads of the lightened mules were
|
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from The Letters of Robert Louis Stevenson by Robert Louis Stevenson: Receiver of Registrations, the First Clerk of Excise, and the
Perceiver of the Impost. That is our dinner party. I am a sort of
hovering government official, as you see. But away - away from
these great companions!
Letter: TO W. E. HENLEY
[MONASTIER, SEPTEMBER 1878.]
DEAR HENLEY, - I hope to leave Monastier this day (Saturday) week;
thenceforward Poste Restante, Alais, Gard, is my address. 'Travels
with a Donkey in the French Highlands.' I am no good to-day. I
cannot work, nor even write letters. A colossal breakfast
yesterday at Puy has, I think, done for me for ever; I certainly
|
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 Jungle by Upton Sinclair: twins, an' me out raisin' Cain! Hello, there! Hey! Call him!"
A cab was driving by; and Jurgis sprang and called, and it swung
round to the curb. Master Freddie clambered in with some
difficulty, and Jurgis had started to follow, when the driver
shouted: "Hi, there! Get out--you!"
Jurgis hesitated, and was half obeying; but his companion broke
out: "Whuzzat? Whuzzamatter wiz you, hey?"
And the cabbie subsided, and Jurgis climbed in. Then Freddie
gave a number on the Lake Shore Drive, and the carriage started
away. The youngster leaned back and snuggled up to Jurgis,
murmuring contentedly; in half a minute he was sound asleep,
|
