| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Child of Storm by H. Rider Haggard: that caused them.
Just as--a little too late--I had made up my mind that I would go after
my own business, and leave Saduko to manage his, through the fence
gateway appeared the great, tall Umbelazi leading by the hand a woman.
As I saw in a moment, it did not need certain bangles of copper,
ornaments of ivory and of very rare pink beads, called infibinga, which
only those of the royal House were permitted to wear, to proclaim her a
person of rank, for dignity and high blood were apparent in her face,
her carriage, her gestures, and all that had to do with her.
Nandie the Sweet was not a great beauty, as was Mameena, although her
figure was fine, and her stature like that of all the race of
Child of Storm |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from A Footnote to History by Robert Louis Stevenson: And doubtless such fabrications are, in simple societies, a natural
expression of discontent; and those who forge, and even those who
spread them, work towards a conscious purpose.
Early in January 1891 this period of expectancy was brought to an
end by the arrival of Conrad Cedarcrantz, chief justice of Samoa.
The event was hailed with acclamation, and there was much about the
new official to increase the hopes already entertained. He was
seen to be a man of culture and ability; in public, of an excellent
presence - in private, of a most engaging cordiality. But there
was one point, I scarce know whether to say of his character or
policy, which immediately and disastrously affected public feeling
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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 Maria, or the Wrongs of Woman by Mary Wollstonecraft: exhibited a phenomenon in the history of the human mind--a head
enthusiastically enterprising, with cold selfishness of heart.
And woman, lovely woman!--they charm everywhere--still there is a
degree of prudery, and a want of taste and ease in the manners of
the American women, that renders them, in spite of their roses and
lilies, far inferior to our European charmers. In the country,
they have often a bewitching simplicity of character; but, in the
cities, they have all the airs and ignorance of the ladies who give
the tone to the circles of the large trading towns in England.
They are fond of their ornaments, merely because they are good,
and not because they embellish their persons; and are more gratified
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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 This Side of Paradise by F. Scott Fitzgerald: (She draws his ring from her finger and hands it to him. Their
eyes blind again with tears.)
AMORY: (His lips against her wet cheek) Don't! Keep it, pleaseoh,
don't break my heart!
(She presses the ring softly into his hand.)
ROSALIND: (Brokenly) You'd better go.
AMORY: Good-by
(She looks at him once more, with infinite longing, infinite
sadness.)
ROSALIND: Don't ever forget me, Amory
AMORY: Good-by
This Side of Paradise |
