| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Cruise of the Jasper B. by Don Marquis: will kindly hold the ladder for me I think I will descend and
retire at once to the cabin."
"As you wish," said Cleggett politely, complying with her wish,
but at a loss to comprehend her.
"I beg you to believe, Mr. Cleggett," said Miss Pringle, averting
her face and flushing painfully, while she turned the lorgnette
about and about with embarrassed fingers, "I beg you to believe
that in electing to witness this spectacle I had no idea of its
exceedingly informal nature."
With these words she passed into the cabin, with the air of one
who has sustained a mortal insult.
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Tattine by Ruth Ogden [Mrs. Charles W. Ide]: heard, he said, so that Betsy perfectly understood him, "I can't stand this
any longer. If you have any love for me do please come for a run."
Then Betsy took one long stretch and with motherly self-sacrifice reluctantly
got up, prepared to humor this lively boy of hers. Suddenly Doctor craned his
head high in the air, and gave a little sniff, and then Betsy craned her head
and sniffed. Then they stole as stealthily away as though stepping upon eggs,
and Tattine never knew that they had gone. It was no stealthy treading very
long, however. No sooner had they crossed the roadway than they made sure of
the scent they thought they had discovered, and made one wild rush down
through the sumach and sweet-fern to the ravine. In a few moments it was one
wild rush up again right to the foot of Tattine's apple-tree, and Tattine
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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 End of the Tether by Joseph Conrad: "He doesn't."
"Naturally not. Quite beyond his apprehension.
They aren't capable of finding out anything about us,
sir."
"You seem to be a shrewd man," said Mr. Van Wyk
in a choked mutter, as though he were feeling sick.
"You'll find me a good enough servant, sir."
Mr. Sterne hoped now for a handshake at least, but
unexpectedly, with a "What's this? Better not to be
seen together," Mr. Van Wyk's white shape wavered,
and instantly seemed to melt away in the black air under
End of the Tether |
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 Memoir of Fleeming Jenkin by Robert Louis Stevenson: on the other hand, that rustic people dwelling in their own places,
follow ancient rules with fastidious precision, and are easily
shocked and embarrassed by what (if they used the word) they would
have to call the vulgarity of visitors from town. And he, who was
so cavalier with men of his own class, was sedulous to shield the
more tender feelings of the peasant; he, who could be so trying in
a drawing-room, was even punctilious in the cottage. It was in all
respects a happy virtue. It renewed his life, during these
holidays, in all particulars. It often entertained him with the
discovery of strange survivals; as when, by the orders of Murdoch,
Mrs. Jenkin must publicly taste of every dish before it was set
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