| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from A Drama on the Seashore by Honore de Balzac: parts, where you might carry ten thousand francs in gold from Croisic
to Saint-Nazaire without ever being asked what you had in your arms.
Pierre looked for his son, but he could not find him. In the morning,
if that monster didn't have the face to come home, saying he had
stayed at Batz all night! I should tell you that the mother had not
known where to hide her money. Cambremer put his with Monsieur Dupotel
at Croisic. Their son's follies had by this time cost them so much
that they were half-ruined, and that was hard for folks who once had
twelve thousand francs, and who owned their island. No one ever knew
what Cambremer paid at Nantes to get his son away from there. Bad luck
seemed to follow the family. Troubles fell upon Cambremer's brother,
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Barlaam and Ioasaph by St. John of Damascus: of error had proved a defender of the right cause.
But the king, although furiously enraged with Nachor, was
nevertheless unable to do him any mischief, because of the
proclamation already read before all, wherein he urged him to
plead without fear in behalf of the Christians. So he himself
made answer in many words, and by dark speeches hinted that
Nachor should relax his resistance, and be worsted by the
argument of the orators. But Nachor the more mightily prevailed,
tearing to pieces all their propositions and conclusions and
exposing the fallacy of their error. After the debate had been
prolonged till well-nigh eventide, the king dismissed the
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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 Chita: A Memory of Last Island by Lafcadio Hearn: earn another fifty dollars--deposited in Feliu's hands,--by
bringing the Doctor to Viosca's Point. He had risked his life
for that money,--and was terribly in earnest.
Julien descended in his under-clothing, and opened the letter by
the light of the hall lamp. It enclosed a check for a larger fee
than he had ever before received, and contained an urgent request
that he would at once accompany Sparicio to Viosca's Point,--as
the sender was in hourly danger of death. The letter, penned in
a long, quavering hand, was signed,--"Henry Edwards."
His father's dear old friend! Julien could not refuse to
go,--though he feared it was a hopeless case. Angina
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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 Moby Dick by Herman Melville: philosophical flourish Cato throws himself upon his sword; I quietly
take to the ship. There is nothing surprising in this. If they but
knew it, almost all men in their degree, some time or other, cherish
very nearly the same feelings towards the ocean with me.
There now is your insular city of the Manhattoes, belted round by
wharves as Indian isles by coral reefs--commerce surrounds it with
her surf. Right and left, the streets take you waterward. Its
extreme downtown is the battery, where that noble mole is washed by
waves, and cooled by breezes, which a few hours previous were out of
sight of land. Look at the crowds of water-gazers there.
Circumambulate the city of a dreamy Sabbath afternoon. Go from
Moby Dick |
