| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Copy-Cat & Other Stories by Mary E. Wilkins Freeman: families, but they are up-to-date. It's no use hang-
ing on to old silver dishes we never use and that I
don't intend to spoil my hands shining. Poor Jack
don't have much fun, anyway. If he wants that
trotter -- he says it's going dirt cheap -- I think it's
mean he can't have it, instead of your hanging on to
a lot of out-of-style old silver; so there."
Two generations ago there had been French blood
in Camille's family. She put on her clothes beauti-
fully; she had a dark, rather fine-featured, alert lit-
tle face, which gave a wrong impression, for she was
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Dust by Mr. And Mrs. Haldeman-Julius: "I made him so many promises before he came, but I wasn't able to
keep a single one of them."
"I'm sorry; I wish I could help you in some way."
"Oh, Martin, I know you're not a praying man--but if you could
only learn."
Martin looked at her respectfully but with profound curiosity.
"There must be an answer to all this," Rose went on brokenly.
"There must! Billy is lying in the arms of Jesus now--no pain,
only sweet rest. I believe that."
"I'm glad you have the faith that can put such meaning into it
all."
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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 Golden Threshold by Sarojini Naidu: King Feroz bent from his ebony seat:
"Is thy least desire unfulfilled, O Sweet?
"Let thy mouth speak and my life be spent
To clear the sky of thy discontent."
"I tire of my beauty, I tire of this
Empty splendour and shadowless bliss;
"With none to envy and none gainsay,
No savour or salt hath my dream or day."
Queen Gulnaar sighed like a murmuring rose:
"Give me a rival, O King Feroz."
II
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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 Wife, et al by Anton Chekhov: pictures, one better than another. And here, as you see, my
dreams have come true. I have had more than I dared to dream of.
For thirty years I have been the favourite professor, I have had
splendid comrades, I have enjoyed fame and honour. I have loved,
married from passionate love, have had children. In fact, looking
back upon it, I see my whole life as a fine composition arranged
with talent. Now all that is left to me is not to spoil the end.
For that I must die like a man. If death is really a thing to
dread, I must meet it as a teacher, a man of science, and a
citizen of a Christian country ought to meet it, with courage and
untroubled soul. But I am spoiling the end; I am sinking, I fly
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