| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Herland by Charlotte Gilman: the subject of religion. She could be horrified at Damnation,
and question the justice of Salvation, but Immortality--that was
surely a noble faith.
"Why, Van," she said, holding out her hands to me. "Why
Van--darling! How splendid of you to feel it so keenly. That's
what we all want, of course--Peace and Beauty, and Comfort
and Love--with God! And Progress too, remember; Growth, always
and always. That is what our religion teaches us to want
and to work for, and we do!"
"But that is HERE, I said, "only for this life on earth."
"Well? And do not you in your country, with your beautiful religion
Herland |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from The Wrong Box by Stevenson & Osbourne: a chair and motioning Pitman to do the same. 'But you see we
didn't know any solicitors; we did happen to know of you, and
time presses.'
'May I enquire, gentlemen,' asked Gideon, 'to whom it was I am
indebted for a recommendation?'
'You may enquire,' returned the lawyer, with a foolish laugh;
'but I was invited not to tell you--till the thing was done.'
'My uncle, no doubt,' was the barrister's conclusion.
'My name is John Dickson,' continued Michael; 'a pretty
well-known name in Ballarat; and my friend here is Mr Ezra
Thomas, of the United States of America, a wealthy manufacturer
|
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from The People That Time Forgot by Edgar Rice Burroughs: praying in the meanwhile that she would come through unscathed
and in safety to her father.
As Nobs and I swung along in the growing light of the coming
day, I was impressed by the lessening numbers of savage beasts
the farther north I traveled. With the decrease among the
carnivora, the herbivora increased in quantity, though anywhere
in Caspak they are sufficiently plentiful to furnish ample food
for the meateaters of each locality. The wild cattle,
antelope, deer, and horses I passed showed changes in evolution
from their cousins farther south. The kine were smaller and
less shaggy, the horses larger. North of the Kro-lu village I
The People That Time Forgot |
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 Eugenie Grandet by Honore de Balzac: this cold, barren room?" he added, making a step in advance. "Ah!
there you will keep my treasures," he said, glancing at the old
cabinet, as if to hide his thoughts.
"Go and sleep," she said, hindering his entrance into the disordered
room.
Charles stepped back, and they bid each other good-night with a mutual
smile.
Both fell asleep in the same dream; and from that moment the youth
began to wear roses with his mourning. The next day, before breakfast,
Madame Grandet found her daughter in the garden in company with
Charles. The young man was still sad, as became a poor fellow who,
Eugenie Grandet |
