| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from In a German Pension by Katherine Mansfield: watch with a hairpin!"
Frau Kellermann rounded on him. "Do you mean to say, my dear Herr Langen,
you did not stop the child!"
"No," said Herr Langen; "I've tried stopping him before now."
"Da, that child has such energy; never is his brain at peace. If he is not
doing one thing, he is doing another!"
"Perhaps he has started on the dining-room clock now," suggested Herr
Langen, abominably hopeful.
The Advanced Lady suggested that we should go without him. "I never take
my little daughter for walks," she said. "I have accustomed her to sitting
quietly in my bedroom from the time I go out until I return!"
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from The Country of the Pointed Firs by Sarah Orne Jewett: they are never commonplace. Mrs. Todd had truly said that Joanna
was like one of the saints in the desert; the loneliness of sorrow
will forever keep alive their sad succession.
"Where is Shell-heap Island?" I asked eagerly.
"You see Shell-heap now, layin' 'way out beyond Black Island
there," answered the captain, pointing with outstretched arm as he
stood, and holding the rudder with his knee.
"I should like very much to go there," said I, and the
captain, without comment, changed his course a little more to the
eastward and let the reef out of his mainsail.
"I don't know's we can make an easy landin' for ye," he
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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 The Economist by Xenophon: can, and trust me I will follow it. But perhaps, Socrates, you have
already passed sentence on us--we are rich enough already, and not in
need of any further wealth?
Soc. It is to myself rather, if I may be included in your plural "we,"
that I should apply the remark. I am not in need of any further
wealth, if you like. I am rich enough already, to be sure. But you,
Critobulus, I look upon as singularly poor, and at times, upon my
soul, I feel a downright compassion for you.
At this view of the case, Critobulus fell to laughing outright,
retorting: And pray, Socrates, what in the name of fortune do you
suppose our respective properties would fetch in the market, yours and
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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 The Reign of King Edward the Third by William Shakespeare: How many people's lives mightst thou have saved,
That are untimely sunk into their graves!
KING JOHN.
Edward, recount not things irrevocable;
Tell me what ransom thou requirest to have.
KING EDWARD.
Thy ransom, John, hereafter shall be known:
But first to England thou must cross the seas,
To see what entertainment it affords;
How ere it falls, it cannot be so bad,
As ours hath been since we arrived in France.
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