| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Eugenie Grandet by Honore de Balzac: marriage will give you over me, and my hand is yours. Oh!" she added,
seeing him about to kneel at her feet, "I have more to say. I must not
deceive you. In my heart I cherish one inextinguishable feeling.
Friendship is the only sentiment which I can give to a husband. I wish
neither to affront him nor to violate the laws of my own heart. But
you can possess my hand and my fortune only at the cost of doing me an
inestimable service."
"I am ready for all things," said the president.
"Here are fifteen hundred thousand francs," she said, drawing from her
bosom a certificate of a hundred shares in the Bank of France. "Go to
Paris,--not to-morrow, but instantly. Find Monsieur des Grassins,
Eugenie Grandet |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Betty Zane by Zane Grey: water soaked snowballs, or big buckets of icewater, or a mountain of snow
shoved off the roof by some trickster, who had waited patiently for such an
opportunity. On summer nights his horse would be stolen, led far into the
woods and tied, or the wheels of his wagon would be taken off and hidden,
leaving him to walk home. Usually the successful lover, and especially if he
lived at a distance, would make his way only once a week and then late at
night to the home of his betrothed. Silently, like a thief in the dark, he
would crawl through the grass and shrubs until beneath her window. At a low
signal, prearranged between them, she would slip to the door and let him in
without disturbing the parents. Fearing to make a light, and perhaps welcoming
that excuse to enjoy the darkness beloved by sweethearts, they would sit
Betty Zane |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from Second Inaugural Address by Abraham Lincoln: ***
#STARTMARK#
Lincoln's Second Inaugural Address
March 4, 1865
Fellow countrymen: At this second appearing to take the oath
of the presidential office, there is less occasion for an extended
address than there was at the first. Then a statement, somewhat
in detail, of a course to be pursued, seemed fitting and proper.
Now, at the expiration of four years, during which public declarations
have been constantly called forth on every point and phase of the great
contest which still absorbs the attention and engrosses the energies
Second Inaugural Address |
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 Tik-Tok of Oz by L. Frank Baum: Tube in any way he would be severely punished. I
find, by referring to the Fairy Records, that this
King's servant, a nome named Kaliko, begged his
master not to do such a wrong act as to drop these
people into the Tube and send them tumbling into
our country. But Ruggedo defied me and my orders.
"Therefore these strangers are innocent of any
wrong. It is only Ruggedo who deserves punishment,
and I will punish him." He paused a moment and
then continued in the same cold, merciless voice:
"These strangers must return through the Tube to
Tik-Tok of Oz |
