Today's Stichomancy for J. Edgar Hoover

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:

choses.

SALOME. Je baiserai ta bouche, Iokanaan.

LE JEUNE SYRIEN. Ah! [Il se tue et tombe entre Salome et Iokanaan.]

LE PAGE D'HERODIAS. Le jeune Syrien s'est tue! le jeune capitaine s'est tue! Il s'est tue, celui qui etait mon ami! Je lui avais donne une petite boite de parfums, et des boucles d'oreilles faites en argent, et maintenant il s'est tue! Ah! n'a-t-il pas predit qu'un malheur allait arriver? . . . Je l'ai predit moi-meme et il ut arrive. Je savais bien que la lune cherchait un mort, mais je ne savais pas que c'etait lui qu'elle cherchait. Ah! pourquoi ne l'ai-

The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from The Oakdale Affair by Edgar Rice Burroughs:

amusement. He knew The Oskaloosa Kid well, and he knew him as an ex-pug with a pock marked face, a bul- let head, and a tin ear. The flash of lightning had re- vealed, upon the contrary, a slender boy with smooth skin, an oval face, and large dark eyes.

"Ah," he said, "so you are The Oskaloosa Kid! I am delighted, sir, to make your acquaintance. Permit me to introduce myself: my name is Bridge. If James were here I should ask him to mix one of his famous cock- tails that we might drink to our mutual happiness and the longevity of our friendship."

The Oakdale Affair

The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from Hamlet by William Shakespeare:

know him: he hath much Land, and fertile; let a Beast be Lord of Beasts, and his Crib shall stand at the Kings Messe; 'tis a Chowgh; but as I saw spacious in the possession of dirt

Osr. Sweet Lord, if your friendship were at leysure, I should impart a thing to you from his Maiesty

Ham. I will receiue it with all diligence of spirit; put your Bonet to his right vse, 'tis for the head

Osr. I thanke your Lordship, 'tis very hot

Ham. No, beleeue mee 'tis very cold, the winde is Northerly

Hamlet

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 Just Folks by Edgar A. Guest:

On the porch through the bright days of summer and knits. And a courtlier manner no prince ever had Than the little old man that she speaks of as "dad."

In that little old house there is nothing of hate; There are old-fashioned things by an old-fashioned grate; On the walls there are pictures of fine looking men And beautiful ladies to look at, and then Time has placed on the mantel to comfort them there The pictures of grandchildren, radiantly fair.

Every part of the house seems to whisper of joy, Save the trinkets that speak of a lost little boy.

Just Folks