| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Village Rector by Honore de Balzac: Time, for once in a way charitable. Within, the eye first went to the
roof, lined with chestnut, to which age had given the richest tints of
the oldest woods of Europe. This roof was supported at equal distances
by strong shafts resting on transversal beams. The four white-washed
walls had no ornament whatever. Poverty had made the parish
iconoclastic, whether it would or not. The church, paved and furnished
with benches, was lighted by four arched windows with leaded panes.
The altar, shaped like a tomb, was adorned by a large crucifix placed
above a tabernacle in walnut with a few gilt mouldings, kept clean and
shining, eight candlesticks economically made of wood painted white,
and two china vases filled with artificial flowers such as the drudge
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Around the World in 80 Days by Jules Verne: took refuge with an independent rajah, and there carried out
her self-devoted purpose."
While Sir Francis was speaking, the guide shook his head several times,
and now said: "The sacrifice which will take place to-morrow at dawn
is not a voluntary one."
"How do you know?"
"Everybody knows about this affair in Bundelcund."
"But the wretched creature did not seem to be making any resistance,"
observed Sir Francis.
"That was because they had intoxicated her with fumes of hemp and opium."
"But where are they taking her?"
Around the World in 80 Days |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from An Inland Voyage by Robert Louis Stevenson: comic countryman. 'You should see my old woman,' said he, and
nodded his beery countenance. One night they performed in the
stable-yard, with flaring lamps - a wretched exhibition, coldly
looked upon by a village audience. Next night, as soon as the
lamps were lighted, there came a plump of rain, and they had to
sweep away their baggage as fast as possible, and make off to the
barn where they harboured, cold, wet, and supperless. In the
morning, a dear friend of mine, who has as warm a heart for
strollers as I have myself, made a little collection, and sent it
by my hands to comfort them for their disappointment. I gave it to
the father; he thanked me cordially, and we drank a cup together in
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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 My Antonia by Willa Cather: retract one word, and that he was quite prepared to lose all his pupils.
In spite of the fact that nobody ever mentioned his article to him after
it appeared--full of typographical errors which he thought intentional--
he got a certain satisfaction from believing that the citizens
of Lincoln had meekly accepted the epithet `coarse barbarians.'
`You see how it is,' he said to me, `where there is no chivalry,
there is no amour-propre.' When I met him on his rounds now,
I thought he carried his head more disdainfully than ever, and strode
up the steps of front porches and rang doorbells with more assurance.
He told Lena he would never forget how I had stood by him when
he was `under fire.'
My Antonia |
