| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Wyoming by William MacLeod Raine: "He's plumb crazy about music, they say. Has a piano and plays
Grigg and Chopping, and all that classical kind of music. He went
clear down to Denver last year to hear Mrs. Shoeman sing."
Helen smiled, guessing at Schumann-Heink as the singer in
question, and Grieg and Chopin as the composers named. Her
interest was incredibly aroused. She had expected the West and
its products to exhilarate her, but she had not looked to find so
finished a Mephisto among its vaunted "bad men." He was probably
overrated; considered a wonder because his accomplishments
outstepped those of the range. But Helen Messiter had quite
determined on one thing. She was going to meet this redoubtable
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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 Exiles by Honore de Balzac: wife to ply? And, be she Countess or Baroness, the lady will not be
able to get us out of the trap in which we shall find ourselves caught
sooner or later. Shall we not have to square accounts with some
puissant and offended husband? for, by the Mass, she is fair to look
upon!"
"But she is a widow, I tell you, gray gander! How dare you accuse your
wife of foul play and folly? And the lady has never spoken a word to
yon gentle clerk, she is content to look on him and think of him. Poor
lad! he would be dead of starvation by now but for her, for she is as
good as a mother to him. And he, the sweet cherub! it is as easy to
cheat him as to rock a new-born babe. He believes his pence will last
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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 The Koran: there is no fear for them, and they shall not be grieved. These are
the fellows of Paradise to dwell therein for aye, a recompence for
that which they have done.
We have prescribed for man kindness towards his parents. His
mother bore him with trouble and brought him forth with trouble; and
the bearing of him and the weaning of him is thirty months; until,
when he reaches puberty, and reaches forty years, he says, 'Lord! stir
me up that I may be thankful for thy favours wherewith thou hast
favoured me and my parents; and that I may do right to please Thee;
and make it right for me in my offspring; verily, I turn repentant
unto Thee, and, verily, I am of those resigned.'
The Koran |
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 Summer by Edith Wharton: forgetting her. His indifference nettled her, and she
picked up her work, resolved not to offer him the least
assistance. Apparently he did not need it, for he
spent a long time with his back to her, lifting down,
one after another, the tall cob-webby volumes from a
distant shelf.
"Oh, I say!" he exclaimed; and looking up she saw that
he had drawn out his handkerchief and was carefully
wiping the edges of the book in his hand. The action
struck her as an unwarranted criticism on her care of
the books, and she said irritably: "It's not my fault
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