| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Letters of Robert Louis Stevenson by Robert Louis Stevenson: breathed; and all the time knew - and raged to know - that I might
write with the pen of angels or of heroes, and no Frenchman be the
least the wiser! And now steps in M. Marcel Schwob, writes me the
most kind encouragement, and reads and understands, and is kind
enough to like my work.
I am just now overloaded with work. I have two huge novels on hand
- THE WRECKER and the PEARL FISHER, in collaboration with my
stepson: the latter, the PEARL FISHER, I think highly of, for a
black, ugly, trampling, violent story, full of strange scenes and
striking characters. And then I am about waist-deep in my big book
on the South Seas: THE big book on the South Seas it ought to be,
|
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Return of the Native by Thomas Hardy: as they were all coming to the house in the evening,
this was hardly necessary.
After this excitement the saluting party returned to
their occupation, and the stuffing and sewing were soon
afterwards finished, when Fairway harnessed a horse,
wrapped up the cumbrous present, and drove off with it
in the cart to Venn's house at Stickleford.
Yeobright, having filled the office at the wedding
service which naturally fell to his hands, and afterwards
returned to the house with the husband and wife,
was indisposed to take part in the feasting and dancing
Return of the Native |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from Unconscious Comedians by Honore de Balzac: converted to our doctrine, you will be at the head of your art; for
you are putting into it ideas which people will understand--WHEN they
are generalized! In fifty years from now you'll be to all the world
what you are to a few of us at this moment,--a great man. The only
question is how to get along till then."
"I have just finished," resumed the great artist, his face expanding
like that of a man whose hobby is stroked, "an allegorical figure of
Harmony; and if you will come and see it, you will understand why it
should have taken me two years to paint it. Everything is in it! At
the first glance one divines the destiny of the globe. A queen holds a
shepherd's crook in her hand,--symbolical of the advancement of the
|
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 Professor by Charlotte Bronte: susceptibilities are very consistent with strong propensities.
CHAPTER XI.
I HAD indeed had a very long talk with the crafty little
politician, and on regaining my quarters, I found that dinner was
half over. To be late at meals was against a standing rule of
the establishment, and had it been one of the Flemish ushers who
thus entered after the removal of the soup and the commencement
of the first course, M. Pelet would probably have greeted him
with a public rebuke, and would certainly have mulcted him both
of soup and fish; as it was, that polite though partial gentleman
only shook his head, and as I took my place, unrolled my napkin,
The Professor |
