Today's Stichomancy for H. G. Wells

The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Salome by Oscar Wilde:

qu'elle me regarde. Pourquoi me regarde-t-elle avec ses yeux d'or sous ses paupieres dorees? Je ne sais pas qui c'est. Je ne veux pas le savoir. Dites-lui de s'en aller. Ce n'est pas e elle que je veux parler.

SALOME. Je suis Salome, fille d'Herodias, princesse de Judee.

IOKANAAN. Arriere! Fille de Babylone! N'approchez pas de l'elu du Seigneur. Ta mere a rempli la terre du vin de ses iniquites, et le cri de ses peches est arrive aux oreilles de Dieu.

SALOME. Parle encore, Iokanaan. Ta voix m'enivre.

LE JEUNE SYRIEN. Princesse! Princesse! Princesse!

SALOME. Mais parle encore. Parle encore, Iokanaan, et dis-moi ce

The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from 1492 by Mary Johntson:

Navidad opened to us a fair, large harbor where two rivers entered the sea. There was a great forest and bright protruding rock, and across the south the mountains. When we landed and explored we found a small Indian village that had only vaguely heard that gods had descended. Forty leagues across these forests is a long way. They had heard a rumor that the cacique of Guarico liked the mighty strangers and Caonabo liked them not, but as yet knew little more. The harbor, the land, the two rivers pleased us. ``Here we will build,'' quoth the Viceroy, ``a city named Isabella.''

The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from Poor and Proud by Oliver Optic:

"You know best; but if I can do anything for you, Master Simon, I shall be very glad to do so."

"Thank you, Katy; you mean right, but never speak to me about selling candy again. I think you can help me."

"Then I will."

"I will see you again when I get my plan arranged. In the meantime, if you happen to meet my friend the mayor, just speak a good word for me."

"I will;" and Katy left him.

CHAPTER XIV.

MASTER SIMON SNEED MAKES A MISTAKE.

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 A Simple Soul by Gustave Flaubert:

pure! But no! she ought to have taken her South. Other doctors would have saved her. She accused herself, prayed to be able to join her child, and cried in the midst of her dreams. Of the latter, one more especially haunted her. Her husband, dressed like a sailor, had come back from a long voyage, and with tears in his eyes told her that he had received the order to take Virginia away. Then they both consulted about a hiding-place.

Once she came in from the garden, all upset. A moment before (and she showed the place), the father and daughter had appeared to her, one after the other; they did nothing but look at her.

During several months she remained inert in her room. Felicite scolded

A Simple Soul