| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Little Britain by Washington Irving: account of their durability. The feuds occasioned by these
societies have happily died of late; but they were for a long
time prevailing themes of controversy, the people of Little
Britain being extremely solicitous of funereal honors and of
lying comfortably in their graves.
Besides these two funeral societies there is a third of quite a
different cast, which tends to throw the sunshine of good-
humor over the whole neighborhood. It meets once a week at
a little old-fashioned house, kept by a jolly publican of the
name of Wagstaff, and bearing for insignia a resplendent half-
moon, with a most seductive bunch of grapes. The old edifice
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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 Copy-Cat & Other Stories by Mary E. Wilkins Freeman: "But," said Jane, blunt in her distress, "will they
believe it?"
"Why will they not believe it, pray?"
"Why, I am afraid people have the impression
that dear Annie has --" Jane hesitated.
"What?" asked Imogen, coldly. She looked very
handsome that morning. Not a waved golden hair
was out of place on her carefully brushed head.
She wore the neatest of blue linen skirts and blouses,
with a linen collar and white tie. There was some-
thing hard but compelling about her blond beauty.
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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 Lady Susan by Jane Austen: however little indebted to my husband's memory for any happiness derived
from him during a union of some years, I cannot forget that the indelicacy
of so early a second marriage must subject me to the censure of the world,
and incur, what would be still more insupportable, the displeasure of Mr.
Vernon. I might perhaps harden myself in time against the injustice of
general reproach, but the loss of HIS valued esteem I am, as you well know,
ill-fitted to endure; and when to this may be added the consciousness of
having injured you with your family, how am I to support myself? With
feelings so poignant as mine, the conviction of having divided the son from
his parents would make me, even with you, the most miserable of beings. It
will surely, therefore, be advisable to delay our union--to delay it till
Lady Susan |
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 Twilight Land by Howard Pyle: well have hoped to find the south wind in winter as to find him.
But though he got safe away from that trouble he was deep enough
in the dumps, you may be sure of that. Away he went, out into the
wide world, leaving that town behind him. Away he went, until
by-and-by he came to a great forest, and for three days he
travelled on and on--he knew not whither. On the third night, as
he sat beside a fire which he had built to keep him warm, he
suddenly bethought himself of the little round stone which had
dropped from the bird's claw, and which he still had in his
pocket. "Why should it not also help me," said he, "for there
must be some wonder about it." So he brought it out, and sat
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