| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Happy Prince and Other Tales by Oscar Wilde: give it to you. I know it is very generous of me, and a great many
people would think me extremely foolish for parting with it, but I
am not like the rest of the world. I think that generosity is the
essence of friendship, and, besides, I have got a new wheelbarrow
for myself. Yes, you may set your mind at ease, I will give you my
wheelbarrow.'
"'Well, really, that is generous of you,' said little Hans, and his
funny round face glowed all over with pleasure. 'I can easily put
it in repair, as I have a plank of wood in the house.'
"'A plank of wood'! said the Miller; 'why, that is just what I want
for the roof of my barn. There is a very large hole in it, and the
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Barlaam and Ioasaph by St. John of Damascus: the king, point by point, the words which the old man spake with
his son, and how gladly Ioasaph received his word, and how he had
altogether become Christ's. Moreover he gave the old man's name,
saying that it was Barlaam. Even before then the king had heard
tell of Barlaam's ways and his extreme severity of life; but,
when this came to the ears of the king, he was straightway
astonied by the dismay that fell on him, and was filled with
anger, and his blood well-nigh curdled at the tidings.
Immediately he bade call one Araches, who held the second rank
after the king, and was the chief in all his private councils:
besides which the man was learned in star-lore. When he was
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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 Rezanov by Gertrude Atherton: down upon California. The geographical position
of Mexico, the arid and desolate, herbless and
waterless wastes intervening, would prohibit her
sending any considerable assistance overland; and,
all powerful at court by that time, he would take
care that the Russian navy inspired Spain with a
distaste for remote Pacific waters. He had long
since recovered from the disappointment induced
by the orders compelling him to remain in the col-
onies. The great Company he had heretofore re-
garded merely as a source of income and a means of
Rezanov |
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 Wrong Box by Stevenson & Osbourne: he told me, miss; come down here to write an op'ra.'
'Really!' cried Julia, 'I never heard of anything so delightful!
Why, we shall be able to slip down at night and hear him
improvise! What' is his name?'
'Jimson,' said the man.
'Jimson?' repeated Julia, and interrogated her memory in vain.
But indeed our rising school of English music boasts so many
professors that we rarely hear of one till he is made a baronet.
'Are you sure you have it right?'
'Made him spell it to me,' replied the landlord.
'J-I-M-S-O-N--Jimson; and his op'ra's called--some kind of tea.'
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