| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Man in Lower Ten by Mary Roberts Rinehart: covers for the winter; even the pictures wore shrouds. And in a
niche between two windows a bust on a pedestal, similarly wrapped,
one arm extended under its winding sheet, made a most life-like
ghost, if any ghost can be life-like.
In the light of the candle we surveyed each other, and we were
objects for mirth. Hotchkiss was taking off his sodden shoes and
preparing to make himself comfortable, while I hung my muddy
raincoat over the ghost in the corner. Thus habited, he presented
a rakish but distinctly more comfortable appearance.
"When these people built," Hotchkiss said, surveying the huge
dimensions of the room, "they must have bought a mountain and built
The Man in Lower Ten |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from A Kidnapped Santa Claus by L. Frank Baum: "They have their place in the world, and can never be destroyed. But
that is a great pity, nevertheless," he continued musingly.
So the fairies, and knooks, and pixies, and ryls all escorted the good
man to his castle, and there left him to talk over the events of the
night with his little assistants.
Wisk had already rendered himself invisible and flown through the big
world to see how the children were getting along on this bright
Christmas morning; and by the time he returned, Peter had finished
telling Santa Claus of how they had distributed the toys.
"We really did very well," cried the fairy, in a pleased voice; "for I
found little unhappiness among the children this morning. Still, you
A Kidnapped Santa Claus |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from Reminiscences of Tolstoy by Leo Tolstoy: repeated to me once more in detail the oft-repeated story of my
father's last visit to her.
"He sat in that very arm-chair where you are sitting now, and
how he cried!" she said.
"When Sasha arrived with her girl friend, they set to work
studying this map of Russia and planning out a route to the
Caucasus. Lyovótchka sat there thoughtful and melancholy.
"'Never mind, Papa; it'll be all right,' said Sasha, trying to
encourage him.
"'Ah, you women, you women!' answered her father, bitterly.
'How can it ever be all right?'
|
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 Lone Star Ranger by Zane Grey: life, she to be the means, perhaps, of keeping him from sinking
to the level of her captors. He became conscious of a strong
and beating desire to see her, talk with her.
These thoughts had run through his mind while on his way to
Mrs. Bland's house. He had let Euchre go on ahead because he
wanted more time to compose himself. Darkness had about set in
when he reached his destination. There was no light in the
house. Mrs. Bland was waiting for him on the porch.
She embraced him, and the sudden, violent, unfamiliar contact
sent such a shock through him that he all but forgot the deep
game he was playing. She, however, in her agitation did not
The Lone Star Ranger |
