| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from An Historical Mystery by Honore de Balzac: so momentous that after the Benedicite was said Laurence and the young
men trembled from the violent palpitation of their hearts. Madame
d'Hauteserre, who carved, was struck by the anxiety on the faces of
the Simeuse brothers and the great alteration that was noticeable in
Laurence's lamb-like features.
"Something extraordinary is going on, I am sure of it!" she exclaimed,
looking at all of them.
"To whom are you speaking?" asked Laurence.
"To all of you," said the old lady.
"As for me, mother," said Robert, "I am frightfully hungry, and that
is not extraordinary."
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Tristram Shandy by Laurence Sterne: way, I suppose, quoth Dr. Slop.--Pshaw!--said my father,--'tis not worth
talking of.
Chapter 1.XXXIX.
At the end of the last chapter, my father and my uncle Toby were left both
standing, like Brutus and Cassius, at the close of the scene, making up
their accounts.
As my father spoke the three last words,--he sat down;--my uncle Toby
exactly followed his example, only, that before he took his chair, he rung
the bell, to order Corporal Trim, who was in waiting, to step home for
Stevinus:--my uncle Toby's house being no farther off than the opposite
side of the way.
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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 Kwaidan by Lafcadio Hearn: is expressed by the term migawari ni tatsu, "to act as a substitute.") Then
under that tree he spread a white cloth, and divers coverings, and sat down
upon the coverings, and performed hara-kiri after the fashion of a samurai.
And the ghost of him went into the tree, and made it blossom in that same
hour.
And every year it still blooms on the sixteenth day of the first month, in
the season of snow.
THE DREAM OF AKINOSUKE
In the district called Toichi of Yamato Province, (1) there used to live a
goshi named Miyata Akinosuke... [Here I must tell you that in Japanese
feudal times there was a privileged class of soldier-farmers,--
Kwaidan |
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 Whirligigs by O. Henry: freezer in this precinct."
Claude Turpin's wife was among the patrons of the
raided room. He led her to their apartment in stem
silence. There she wept so remorsefully and besought
his forgiveness so pleadingly that he forgot his just anger,
and soon he gathered his penitent golden-haired Vivien
in his arms and forgave her.
"Darling," she murmured, half sobbingly, as the moon-
light drifted through the open window, glorifying her
sweet, upturned face, "I know I done wrong. I will
never touch ice cream again. I forgot you were not
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