| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Adventure by Jack London: courageous?"
Sheldon nodded.
"Then," she pressed home the point, "isn't disguising that pride
under a mask of careless indifference equivalent to telling a lie?"
"Yes, it is," he admitted. "But we tell similar lies every day.
It is a matter of training, and the English are better trained,
that is all. Your countrymen will be trained as well in time. As
Mr. Tudor said, the Yankees are young."
"Thank goodness we haven't begun to tell such lies yet!" was Joan's
ejaculation.
"Oh, but you have," Sheldon said quickly. "You were telling me a
|
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from The Poems of Goethe, Bowring, Tr. by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe: No selfishness and no self-will are nigh,
For at her advent they were forced to fly.
It seems as though she said: "As hours pass by
They spread before us life with kindly plan;
Small knowledge did the yesterday supply,
To know the morrow is conceal'd from man;
And if the thought of evening made me start,
The sun at setting gladden'd straight my heart.
"Act, then, as I, and look, with joyous mind,
The moment in the face; nor linger thou!
Meet it with speed, so fraught with life, so kind
|
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from Danny's Own Story by Don Marquis: ease at that, Watty tells the doctor. It's like
every other trade--it has its own pertic'ler
responsibilities and troubles. She is a turrible
expense to Watty on account of eating so much.
The tales that feller told of how hard he has to
hustle showing her off in order to support her
appetite would of drawed tears from a pawn-
broker's sign, as Doctor Kirby says. Which he
found it cheaper fur his hull show to board and
sleep in the tent, and we done likewise.
Well, I got a job with that show myself. Watty
|
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 Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen: is it not? I remember Miss Andrews could not get through
the first volume."
"It is not like Udolpho at all; but yet I think it
is very entertaining."
"Do you indeed! You surprise me; I thought it
had not been readable. But, my dearest Catherine,
have you settled what to wear on your head tonight? I am
determined at all events to be dressed exactly like you.
The men take notice of that sometimes, you know."
"But it does not signify if they do," said Catherine,
very innocently.
Northanger Abbey |
