| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Court Life in China by Isaac Taylor Headland: The Empress Dowager however still relieved him of the burdens of
the government, and continued to "teach him how to govern."
"I have seen the Emperor many times," Mrs. Headland tells me,
"and have spent many hours in his presence, and every time we
were in the palace the Emperor accompanied the Empress
Dowager--not by her side but a few steps behind her. When she
sat, he always remained standing a few paces in the rear, and
never presumed to sit unless asked by her to do so. He was a
lonely person, with his delicate, well-bred features and his
simple dark robes, and in the midst of these fawning eunuchs,
brilliant court ladies, and bejewelled Empress Dowager he was an
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Letters from England by Elizabeth Davis Bancroft: Diplomatic Corps, and when the turn would come for us who were to be
newly presented. The room soon filled up and it was like a pleasant
party, only more amusing, as the costumes of both gentlemen and
ladies were so splendid. I got a seat in the window with Madam Van
de Weyer and saw the Queen's train drive up. At the end of this
room are two doors: at the left hand everybody enters the next
apartment where the Queen and her suite stand, and after going round
the circle, come out at the right-hand door. After those who are
privileged to go FIRST into the ANTE-ROOM leave it, the general
circle pass in, and they also go in and out the same doors. But to
go back. The left-hand door opens and Sir Edward Cust leads in 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 The Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Washington Irving: the repose and abundance of their pens, from whence sallied
forth, now and then, troops of sucking pigs, as if to snuff the
air. A stately squadron of snowy geese were riding in an
adjoining pond, convoying whole fleets of ducks; regiments of
turkeys were gobbling through the farmyard, and Guinea fowls
fretting about it, like ill-tempered housewives, with their
peevish, discontented cry. Before the barn door strutted the
gallant cock, that pattern of a husband, a warrior and a fine
gentleman, clapping his burnished wings and crowing in the pride
and gladness of his heart, --sometimes tearing up the earth with
his feet, and then generously calling his ever-hungry family of
The Legend of Sleepy Hollow |
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 Secret Adversary by Agatha Christie: with which I have kindly provided you free of charge, let us get
down to our mail, as the saying goes."
Tuppence snatched the two precious envelopes from him
unceremoniously, and scrutinized them carefully.
"Thick paper, this one. It looks rich. We'll keep it to the
last and open the other first."
"Right you are. One, two, three, go!"
Tuppence's little thumb ripped open the envelope, and she
extracted the contents.
"DEAR SIR,
"Referring to your advertisement in this morning's paper, I may
Secret Adversary |
