| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Madame Firmiani by Honore de Balzac: anecdotes, and quotations must be accepted as truths, under pain of
being thought without social education or intelligence, and of causing
him to slander you with much zest in twenty salons where he is
considered indispensable. The Observer is forty years of age, never
dines at home, declares himself no longer dangerous to women, wears a
maroon coat, and has a place reserved for him in several boxes at the
"Bouffons." He is sometimes confounded with the Parasite; but he has
filled too many real functions to be thought a sponger; moreover he
possesses a small estate in a certain department, the name of which he
has never been known to utter.
"Madame Firmiani? why, my dear fellow, she was Murat's former
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Michael Strogoff by Jules Verne: But sometimes, as if her heart had ceased to beat for an
instant, her limbs tottered, her steps flagged, her arms fell
to her sides, she dropped behind. Michael then stopped, he
fixed his eyes on the poor girl, as though he would try to
pierce the gloom which surrounded him; his breast heaved;
then, supporting his companion more than before, he started
on afresh.
However, amidst these continual miseries, a fortunate cir-
cumstance on that day occurred which it appeared likely
would considerably ease their fatigue. They had been
walking from Semilowskoe for two hours when Michael
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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 Enoch Arden, &c. by Alfred Tennyson: Be wealthy still, ay wealthier. He believed
This filthy marriage-hindering Mammon made
The harlot of the cities: nature crost
Was mother of the foul adulteries
That saturate soul with body. Name, too! name,
Their ancient name! they MIGHT be proud; its worth
Was being Edith's. Ah, how pale she had look'd
Darling, to-night! they must have rated her
Beyond all tolerance. These old pheasant-lords,
These partridge-breeders of a thousand years,
Who had mildew'd in their thousands, doing nothing
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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 Sons and Lovers by D. H. Lawrence: which I'd never expected."
"He earns a lot," said Paul.
"He earns a hundred and thirty pounds. But they're all alike.
They're large in promises, but it's precious little fulfilment
you get."
"He spends over fifty shillings a week on himself," said Paul.
"And I keep this house on less than thirty," she replied;
"and am supposed to find money for extras. But they don't care
about helping you, once they've gone. He'd rather spend it on
that dressed-up creature."
"She should have her own money if she's so grand," said Paul.
Sons and Lovers |
