| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Talisman by Walter Scott: preparation of opium seems to be intimated.]
"I have seen too much of thy skill, sage Hakim," said Sir
Kenneth, "to debate thine hest;" and swallowed the narcotic,
mingled as it was with some water from the spring, then wrapped
him in the haik, or Arab cloak, which had been fastened to his
saddle-pommel, and, according to the directions of the physician,
stretched himself at ease in the shade to await the promised
repose. Sleep came not at first, but in her stead a train of
pleasing yet not rousing or awakening sensations. A state ensued
in which, still conscious of his own identity and his own
condition, the knight felt enabled to consider them not only
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Margret Howth: A Story of To-day by Rebecca Harding Davis: There was a broken gap in the fence. He led her through it into
a muddy yard. Inside was one of those taverns you will find in
the suburbs of large cities, haunts of the lowest vice. This one
was a smoky frame, standing on piles over an open space where
hogs were rooting. Half a dozen drunken Irishmen were playing
poker with a pack of greasy cards in an out-house. He led her up
the rickety ladder to the one room, where a flaring tallow-dip
threw a saffron glare into the darkness. A putrid odour met them
at the door. She drew back, trembling.
"Come here!" he said, fiercely, clutching her hand. "Women as
fair and pure as you have come into dens like this,--and never
Margret Howth: A Story of To-day |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from Polly of the Circus by Margaret Mayo: slipped from his side to follow the deacon.
"Oh, please, Deacon Strong, please!" she pleaded. "You won't go
away like that. He'll be all right if you'll only wait. I'm NOT
coming back. I'm not--honestly. I'm going on with the show,
to-night, and I'm going this time FOREVER."
"You are going to stay here with me," cried Douglas.
"No, no, Mr. John. I've made up my mind, and I won't be to
blame for your unhappiness." She faced him firmly now. "I don't
belong to your world, and I don't want to try any more. I'm what
he called me--I'm a circus riding girl. I was born in the
circus, and I'll never change. That's my work--riding, and it's
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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 Man that Corrupted Hadleyburg by Mark Twain: after church. Ah, he wouldn't answer our nod of recognition--he
knew what he had been doing!"
In the night the doctor was called. The news went around in the
morning that the old couple were rather seriously ill--prostrated by
the exhausting excitement growing out of their great windfall, the
congratulations, and the late hours, the doctor said. The town was
sincerely distressed; for these old people were about all it had
left to be proud of, now.
Two days later the news was worse. The old couple were delirious,
and were doing strange things. By witness of the nurses, Richards
had exhibited cheques--for $8,500? No--for an amazing sum--$38,500!
The Man that Corrupted Hadleyburg |
