| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Red Seal by Natalie Sumner Lincoln: was a general resemblance in coloring and physique.
"Did you present the checks to McDonald at the Metropolis Trust
Company bearing Rochester's and my forged signatures?" he asked.
"I did," acknowledged Sylvester. "Mr. Rochester's wardrobe came
in very handy for deceiving the casual glance. You know, 'clothes
make the man, and want of it the fellow.'"
Kent looked up quickly, struck by an idea.
"Sylvester, did you steal the envelope containing the securities
from me at the Club de Vingt?" he asked.
Sylvester shook his head. "No, but she did," pointing to Mrs.
Brewster. "It's no lie," as McIntyre uttered an indignant denial.
The Red Seal |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Statesman by Plato: of managing a herd, or the art of collective management?
YOUNG SOCRATES: No matter;--whichever suggests itself to us in the course
of conversation.
STRANGER: Very good, Socrates; and, if you continue to be not too
particular about names, you will be all the richer in wisdom when you are
an old man. And now, as you say, leaving the discussion of the name,--can
you see a way in which a person, by showing the art of herding to be of two
kinds, may cause that which is now sought amongst twice the number of
things, to be then sought amongst half that number?
YOUNG SOCRATES: I will try;--there appears to me to be one management of
men and another of beasts.
Statesman |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from Shadow out of Time by H. P. Lovecraft: part of a curvilinear decorative scheme made hellish to me through
years of tormenting nightmare and baffling research.
A month
of digging brought a total of some 1250 blocks in varying stages
of wear and disintegration. Most of these were carven megaliths
with curved tops and bottoms. A minority were smaller, flatter,
plain-surfaced, and square or octagonally cut-like those of the
floors and pavements in my dreams - while a few were singularly
massive and curved or slanted in such a manner as to suggest use
in vaulting or groining, or as parts of arches or round window
casings.
Shadow out of Time |
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 Wheels of Chance by H. G. Wells: promulgate Ideas. Then when the Ideas have been spread
abroad--Things will come about. Only now it is madness to fly in
the face of the established order. Bernard Shaw, you know, has
explained that with regard to Socialism. We all know that to earn
all you consume is right, and that living on invested capital is
wrong. Only we cannot begin while we are so few. It is Those
Others."
"Precisely," said Widgery. "It is Those Others. They must begin
first."
"And meanwhile you go on banking--"
"If I didn't, some one else would."
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