| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Michael Strogoff by Jules Verne: Tver, that is, along the greater part of its course.
The steamboats plying between Perm and Nijni-Nov-
gorod rapidly perform the two hundred and fifty miles
which separate this town from the town of Kasan. It is
true that these boats have only to descend the Volga, which
adds nearly two miles of current per hour to their own
speed; but on arriving at the confluence of the Kama, a
little below Kasan, they are obliged to quit the Volga for
the smaller river, up which they ascend to Perm. Power-
ful as were her machines, the Caucasus could not thus, after
entering the Kama, make against the current more than
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Juana by Honore de Balzac: of such conduct, and her husband was obliged to explain to her the
fine jurisprudence of French law, which does not prosecute the dead.
"But, papa, didn't you tell us the other day that the king could
pardon?" asked Francisque.
"The king can give nothing but life," said Juan, half scornfully.
Diard and Juana, the spectators of this little scene, were differently
affected by it. The glance, moist with joy, which his wife cast upon
her eldest child was a fatal revelation to the husband of the secrets
of a heart hitherto impenetrable. That eldest child was all Juana;
Juana comprehended him; she was sure of his heart, his future; she
adored him, but her ardent love was a secret between herself, her
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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 A Footnote to History by Robert Louis Stevenson: landed; and though none offered to oppose their coming ashore, none
invited them to take shelter. They were nowise abashed, entered a
house unbidden, and were made welcome with obvious reserve. The
rain clearing off, they set forth westward, deeper into the heart
of the enemies' position. Three or four young men ran some way
before them, doubtless to give warning; and Leary, with his
indomitable taste for mischief, kept inquiring as he went after
"the high chief" Tamasese. The line of the beach was one
continuous breastwork; some thirty odd iron cannon of all sizes and
patterns stood mounted in embrasures; plenty grape and canister lay
ready; and at every hundred yards or so the German flag was flying.
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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 Tales of Unrest by Joseph Conrad: by sight; twenty more with smiling demonstrations tolerated their
occasional presence within hospitable thresholds; at least fifty
others became aware of their existence. They moved in their enlarged
world amongst perfectly delightful men and women who feared emotion,
enthusiasm, or failure, more than fire, war, or mortal disease; who
tolerated only the commonest formulas of commonest thoughts, and
recognized only profitable facts. It was an extremely charming sphere,
the abode of all the virtues, where nothing is realized and where all
joys and sorrows are cautiously toned down into pleasures and
annoyances. In that serene region, then, where noble sentiments are
cultivated in sufficient profusion to conceal the pitiless
Tales of Unrest |
