Today's Stichomancy for Tom Hanks

The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Tanach:

Job 27: 15 Those that remain of him shall be buried by pestilence, and his widows shall make no lamentation.

Job 27: 16 Though he heap up silver as the dust, and prepare raiment as the clay;

Job 27: 17 He may prepare it, but the just shall put it on, and the innocent shall divide the silver.

Job 27: 18 He buildeth his house as a moth, and as a booth which the keeper maketh.

Job 27: 19 He lieth down rich, but there shall be not to gather; he openeth his eyes, and his wealth is not.

Job 27: 20 Terrors overtake him like waters; a tempest stealeth him away in the night.

Job 27: 21 The east wind carrieth him away, and he departeth; and it sweepeth him out of his place.

Job 27: 22 Yea, it hurleth at him, and spareth not; he would fain flee from its power.

Job 27: 23 Men shall clap their hands at him, and shall hiss him out of his place.

Job 28: 1 For there is a mine for silver, and a place for gold which they refine.

Job 28: 2 Iron is taken out of the dust, and brass is molten out of the stone.

The Tanach

The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from The Man that Corrupted Hadleyburg by Mark Twain:

whither that money must go--and Mr. Stephenson was not doubting that if he was the wrong man he would go honourably and find the right one. Oh, it was odious to put a man in such a situation--ah, why couldn't Stephenson have left out that doubt? What did he want to intrude that for?

Further reflection. How did it happen that RICHARDS'S name remained in Stephenson's mind as indicating the right man, and not some other man's name? That looked good. Yes, that looked very good. In fact it went on looking better and better, straight along--until by-and- by it grew into positive PROOF. And then Richards put the matter at once out of his mind, for he had a private instinct that a proof

The Man that Corrupted Hadleyburg

The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from The Young Forester by Zane Grey:

resources. What will you do?"

"Wal, Mr. President," he began, slowly and seriously, and with great dignity, "the Government must own the forests an' deal wisely with them. These mountain forests are great sponges to hold the water, an' we must stop fire an' reckless cuttin'. The first thing is to overcome the opposition of the stockmen, an' show them where the benefit will be theirs in the long run. Next the timber must be used, but not all used up. We'll need rangers who're used to rustlin' in the West an' know Western ways. Cabins must be built, trails made, roads cut. We'll need a head forester for every forest. This man must know all that's on his preserve, an' have it mapped. He must teach his rangers what he knows about trees. Penetier

The Young Forester

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 Confidence by Henry James:

"You see it will be pure kindness," he went on,--"a simple act of charity. Five minutes will be enough. Treat me as an Italian beggar."

She had laid down his sketch and had stepped forward. He stood there, obsequious, clasping his hands and smiling.

His interruptress stopped and looked at him again, as if she thought him a very odd person; but she seemed amused. Now, at any rate, she was not frightened. She seemed even disposed to provoke him a little.

"I wish to go to my mother," she said.

"Where is your mother?" the young man asked.

"In the church, of course. I did n't come here alone!"