| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Boys' Life of Abraham Lincoln by Helen Nicolay: his generals, and other affairs requiring his close and immediate
attention. If he had leisure he would take a drive in the late
afternoon, or perhaps steal away into the grounds south of the
Executive Mansion to test some new kind of gun, if its inventor
had been fortunate enough to bring it to his notice. He was very
quick to understand mechanical contrivances, and would often
suggest improvements that had not occurred to the inventor
himself.
For many years it has been the fashion to call Mr. Lincoln
homely. He was very tall, and very thin. His eyes were
deep-sunken, his skin of a sallow pallor, his hair coarse, black,
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Resurrection by Leo Tolstoy: things.
"Yesterday, after I left you, I felt inclined to return and
express my regret, but I did not know how he would take it," said
Nekhludoff. "I spoke hastily to your husband, and this tormented
me."
"I knew," said his sister, "that you did not mean to. Oh, you
know!" and the tears came to her eyes, and she touched his hand.
The sentence was not clear, but he understood it perfectly, and
was touched by what it expressed. Her words meant that, besides
the love for her husband which held her in its sway, she prized
and considered important the love she had for him, her brother,
Resurrection |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from Poor and Proud by Oliver Optic: replied Master Simon, blandly.
"Get out of my shop!"
"Understand me, sir; I come as your friend."
"You are a fool, I believe."
"You have an undoubted right to your opinion, as I have to mine;
but if you do not restore the watch within half an hour, you will
be arrested for stealing--I beg your pardon, for taking what did
not belong to you."
There was something in the earnest manner of Simon which arrested
the attention of the broker, in spite of the former's high-flown
speech. He was satisfied that something had been done, and he was
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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 She Stoops to Conquer by Oliver Goldsmith: us.
MISS HARDCASTLE. And their agreeable Rattle, ha! ha! ha!
MARLOW. (Aside.) Egad! I don't quite like this chit. She looks
knowing, methinks. You laugh, child?
MISS HARDCASTLE. I can't but laugh, to think what time they all have
for minding their work or their family.
MARLOW. (Aside.) All's well; she don't laugh at me. (To her.) Do
you ever work, child?
MISS HARDCASTLE. Ay, sure. There's not a screen or quilt in the
whole house but what can bear witness to that.
MARLOW. Odso! then you must show me your embroidery. I embroider and
She Stoops to Conquer |
