| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Glaucus/The Wonders of the Shore by Charles Kingsley: last, as successful as the former ones. Mr. Gosse had, in the
meanwhile, with tolerable success begun a similar method, unaware
of what Mr. Warrington had done; and now the beautiful and curious
exhibition of fresh and salt water tanks in the Zoological Gardens
in London, bids fair to be copied in every similar institution, and
we hope in many private houses, throughout the kingdom.
To this subject Mr. Gosse's book, "The Aquarium," is principally
devoted, though it contains, besides, sketches of coast scenery, in
his usual charming style, and descriptions of rare sea-animals,
with wise and goodly reflections thereon. One great object of
interest in the book is the last chapter, which treats fully of the
|
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maud Montgomery: found Anne and Marilla distractedly trying to restore
Matthew to consciousness.
Mrs. Lynde pushed them gently aside, tried his pulse,
and then laid her ear over his heart. She looked at their
anxious faces sorrowfully and the tears came into her eyes.
"Oh, Marilla," she said gravely. "I don't think--we can do
anything for him."
"Mrs. Lynde, you don't think--you can't think Matthew is-- is--"
Anne could not say the dreadful word; she turned sick and pallid.
"Child, yes, I'm afraid of it. Look at his face. When you've
seen that look as often as I have you'll know what it means."
Anne of Green Gables |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from The Voice of the City by O. Henry: There was about a month of it. And then Pettit
came to me bearing an invisible mitten, with the forti-
tude of a dish-rag. He talked of the grave and
South America and prussic acid; and I lost an after-
noon getting him straight. I took him out and saw
that large and curative doses of whiskey were ad-
ministered to him. I warned you this was a true
story -- 'ware your white ribbons if only follow this
tale. For two weeks I fed him whiskey and Omar,
and read to him regularly every evening the column
in the evening paper that reveals the secrets of fe-
The Voice of the City |
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 Dracula by Bram Stoker: Soldier, statesman, and alchemist. Which latter was the highest
development of the science knowledge of his time. He had a mighty brain,
a learning beyond compare, and a heart that knew no fear and no remorse.
He dared even to attend the Scholomance, and there was no branch
of knowledge of his time that he did not essay.
"Well, in him the brain powers survived the physical death.
Though it would seem that memory was not all complete.
In some faculties of mind he has been, and is, only a child.
But he is growing, and some things that were childish at the first
are now of man's stature. He is experimenting, and doing it well.
And if it had not been that we have crossed his path he would be yet,
Dracula |
