| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Enemies of Books by William Blades: communicated directly with the outer air just under the ceiling.
For economy of space as well as of temper (for lamps of all kinds
are sore trials), I had a gasalier of three lights over the table.
The effect was to cause great heat in the upper regions,
and in the course of a year or two the leather valance which hung
from the window, as well as the fringe which dropped half-an-inch
from each shelf to keep out the dust, was just like tinder,
and in some parts actually fell to the ground by its own weight;
while the backs of the books upon the top shelves were perished,
and crumbled away when touched, being reduced to the consistency
of Scotch snuff. This was, of course, due to the sulphur in
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from The Black Dwarf by Walter Scott: send the boy as you propose."
"Aweel, that IS kind, I must say. And ye'll gae hame to Heugh-
foot? They'll be right blithe to see you, that will they."
This affair settled, they walked briskly on a little farther,
when, coming to the ridge of a pretty steep hill, Hobbie Elliot
exclaimed, "Now, Earnscliff, I am aye glad when I come to this
very bit--Ye see the light below, that's in the ha' window, where
grannie, the gash auld carline, is sitting birling at her wheel
--and ye see yon other light that's gaun whiddin' back and forrit
through amang the windows? that's my cousin, Grace Armstrong,
--she's twice as clever about the house as my sisters, and sae
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| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from Massimilla Doni by Honore de Balzac: "French! French! always French!" exclaimed the Duchess, checked in her
exultant mood by this sharp thrust. "Yes; you would be capable of
taking that wonderful burst of noble and dainty rejoicing and turning
it into a rigadoon. Sublime poetry finds no mercy in your eyes. The
highest genius,--saints, kings, disasters,--all that is most sacred
must pass under the rods of caricature. And the vulgarizing of great
music by turning it into a dance tune is to caricature it. With you,
wit kills soul, as argument kills reason."
They all sat in silence through the /recitative/ of Osiride and
Membrea, who plot to annul the order given by Pharaoh for the
departure of the Hebrews.
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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 The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde: into any foolish promise I shall consider it my duty to rescue him
at once, and with a firm hand.
CECILY. [Thoughtfully and sadly.] Whatever unfortunate
entanglement my dear boy may have got into, I will never reproach
him with it after we are married.
GWENDOLEN. Do you allude to me, Miss Cardew, as an entanglement?
You are presumptuous. On an occasion of this kind it becomes more
than a moral duty to speak one's mind. It becomes a pleasure.
CECILY. Do you suggest, Miss Fairfax, that I entrapped Ernest into
an engagement? How dare you? This is no time for wearing the
shallow mask of manners. When I see a spade I call it a spade.
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