| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Philosophy 4 by Owen Wister: is forty pages of my notes." And he smiled.
"Well, look here. It would be nice to have to-morrow clear for
review. We're not tired. You leave us your notes and go to bed."
Oscar's hand almost moved to cover and hold his precious property, for
this instinct was the deepest in him. But it did not so move, because
his intelligence controlled his instinct nearly, though not quite,
always. His shiny little eyes, however, became furtive and
antagonistic--something the boys did not at first make out.
Oscar gave himself a moment of silence. "I could not brreak my rule,"
said he then. "I do not ever leave my notes with anybody. Mr.
Woodridge asked for my History 3 notes, and Mr. Bailey wanted my notes
|
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from The Arrow of Gold by Joseph Conrad: unannounced; and that morning, Rita, crossing the narrow, thronged
street, had slipped in through the gateway in ignorance of
Allegre's return and unseen by the porter's wife.
"The child, she was but little more than that then, expressed her
regret of having perhaps got the kind porter's wife into trouble.
"The old woman said with a peculiar smile: 'Your face is not of
the sort that gets other people into trouble. My gentleman wasn't
angry. He says you may come in any morning you like.'
"Rita, without saying anything to this, crossed the street back
again to the warehouse full of oranges where she spent most of her
waking hours. Her dreaming, empty, idle, thoughtless, unperturbed
The Arrow of Gold |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from Tarzan of the Apes by Edgar Rice Burroughs: harbor and out of sight behind a projecting point, Lady Alice
threw her arms about Clayton's neck and burst into uncontrolled sobs.
Bravely had she faced the dangers of the mutiny; with heroic
fortitude she had looked into the terrible future; but now
that the horror of absolute solitude was upon them, her
overwrought nerves gave way, and the reaction came.
He did not attempt to check her tears. It were better that
nature have her way in relieving these long-pent emotions, and
it was many minutes before the girl--little more than a child
she was--could again gain mastery of herself.
"Oh, John," she cried at last, "the horror of it. What are we
Tarzan of the Apes |
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 Fables by Robert Louis Stevenson: "A word in yours," said the father. "I am of your way of thinking;
but when the teeth are shut the tongue is at home." And he smiled
to the King that was a priest.
But the elder son got to his feet, and called the King that was a
priest by the name of father. "For whether I marry the maid or no,
I will call you by that word for the love of your wisdom; and even
now I will ride forth and search the world for the stone of touch."
So he said farewell, and rode into the world.
"I think I will go, too," said the younger son, "if I can have your
leave. For my heart goes out to the maid."
"You will ride home with me," said his father.
|
