| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Crisis in Russia by Arthur Ransome: of their brothers on the front, pointing out that nothing but
the most determined efforts and an increase in the
productivity of labor would enable Russia to win through her
difficulties of transport, etc. Kolchak, to quote from
English newspapers, was it "sweeping on to Moscow," and
the situation was pretty threatening. As a direct result of this
letter, on May 7th, a meeting of Communists in the sub-district
of the Moscow-Kazan railway passed a resolution
that, in view of the imminent danger to the Republic,
Communists and their sympathizers should give up an hour
a day of their leisure, and, lumping these hours together, do
|
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from The Mad King by Edgar Rice Burroughs: than he had ever before been in all his life, and so, too,
was the Princess Emma von der Tann.
XII
LEOPOLD WAITS FOR DAWN
AFTER THE American had shoved him through the secret
doorway into the tower room of the castle of Blentz, Leopold
had stood for several minutes waiting for the next command
from his captor. Presently, hearing no sound other than that
of his own breathing, the king ventured to speak. He asked
the American what he purposed doing with him next.
There was no reply. For another minute the king listened
The Mad King |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen: was most reasonably encouraged to expect another friend from
within its walls. Her plan for the morning thus settled,
she sat quietly down to her book after breakfast,
resolving to remain in the same place and the same employment
till the clock struck one; and from habitude very little
incommoded by the remarks and ejaculations of Mrs. Allen,
whose vacancy of mind and incapacity for thinking were such,
that as she never talked a great deal, so she could never be
entirely silent; and, therefore, while she sat at her work,
if she lost her needle or broke her thread, if she heard
a carriage in the street, or saw a speck upon her gown,
Northanger Abbey |
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 Adam Bede by George Eliot: and say, "Why, Mother, thee look'st rare and hearty this morning.
Eh, Gyp wants me t' look at him. He can't abide to think I love
thee the best." Lisbeth said nothing, because she wanted to say
so many things. And now there was a new leaf to be turned over,
and it was a picture--that of the angel seated on the great stone
that has been rolled away from the sepulchre. This picture had
one strong association in Lisbeth's memory, for she had been
reminded of it when she first saw Dinah, and Adam had no sooner
turned the page, and lifted the book sideways that they might look
at the angel, than she said, "That's her--that's Dinah."
Adam smiled, and, looking more intently at the angel's face, said,
Adam Bede |
