| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from A Man of Business by Honore de Balzac: Conversation, perfumed with seven cigars, at first was as fantastic as
a kid let loose, but finally it settled down upon the strategy of the
constant war waged in Paris between creditors and debtors.
Now, if you will be so good as to recall the history and antecedents
of the guests, you will know that in all Paris, you could scarcely
find a group of men with more experience in this matter; the
professional men on one hand, and the artists on the other, were
something in the position of magistrates and criminals hobnobbing
together. A set of Bixiou's drawings to illustrate life in the
debtors' prison, led the conversation to take this particular turn;
and from debtors' prisons they went to debts.
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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 Mountains by Stewart Edward White: years from old worn jokes, conundrums, and puzzles,
--and at the end, in spite of our best efforts, we fell
to morose silence and the red-eyed vindictive
contemplation of the objective point that would not
seem to come nearer.
For now we lost accurate sense of time. At first it
had been merely a question of going in at one side
of eight days, pressing through them, and coming out
on the other side. Then the eight days would be
behind us. But once we had entered that enchanted
period, we found ourselves more deeply involved.
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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 Frances Waldeaux by Rebecca Davis: support a wife. I will double your allowance. It shall
be paid quarterly."
"You would prefer to do that?" hesitated George. "Rather
than to make over a son's share of the property to me
absolutely? Some of the landed estate or securities? I
have probably a shrewder business talent than yours, and
if I had control could make my property more profitable."
"I should prefer to pay your income as before--yes," said
Frances quietly.
"Well, as you choose. It is yours to give, of course."
George coughed and shuffled to conquer his
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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 Pericles by William Shakespeare: But, not to be a troubler of your peace,
I will end here.
PERICLES.
But are you flesh and blood?
Have you a working pulse? and are no fairy?
Motion! Well; speak on. Where were you born?
And wherefore call'd Marina?
MARINA.
Call'd Marina
For I was born at sea.
PERICLES.
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