| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Master of the World by Jules Verne: Canada to the northwest.
At this moment there were two men on the deck, one being at the bow
on the look-out, the other in the stern, keeping the course to the
northeast, as I judged by the position of the sun. The one at the bow
was he whom I had recognized as he ascended the ravine at Black Rock.
The second was his companion who had carried the lantern. I looked in
vain for the one whom they had called Captain. He was not in sight.
It will be readily appreciated how eager was my desire to stand in
the presence of the creator of this prodigious machines of this
fantastic personage who occupied and preoccupied the attention of all
the world, the daring inventor who did not fear to engage in battle
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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 Contrast by Royall Tyler: had been studying art as a pupil under Benjamin West.
It was evidently intended to represent the portraits of
Mr. and Mrs. Morris, Mr. Henry, Mr. Wignell, and
Mr. Harper, in their respective characters in this play,
with the scenery as given in the last act at the John
Street Theater, the first season, but the inferior work
of the engraver had made it of little value as likenesses.
The illustration to the song of Alknomook is from
music published contemporaneously with the play.
This song had long the popularity of a national air and
was familiar in every drawing-room in the early part
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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 Padre Ignacio by Owen Wister: Orleans reached me, and I tore the pressed flower to pieces. Under the
first smart and humiliation of broken faith I was rendered desperate, and
picked a needless quarrel. Thank God, it is I who have the punishment. By
dear friend, as I lie here, leaving a world that no man ever loved more,
I have come to understand you. For you and your mission have been much in
my thoughts. It is strange how good can be done, not at the time when it
is intended, but afterward; and you have done this good to me. I say over
your words, "Contentment with Renunciation," and believe that at this
last hour I have gained something like what you would wish me to feel.
For I do not think that I desire it otherwise now. My life would never
have been of service, I am afraid. You am the last person in this world
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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 My Antonia by Willa Cather: and he had a violent temper which sometimes made him behave like
a crazy man--tore him all to pieces and actually made him ill.
But he was so soft-hearted that anyone could impose upon him.
If he, as he said, `forgot himself' and swore before grandmother,
he went about depressed and shamefaced all day. They were both
of them jovial about the cold in winter and the heat in summer,
always ready to work overtime and to meet emergencies.
It was a matter of pride with them not to spare themselves.
Yet they were the sort of men who never get on, somehow, or do
anything but work hard for a dollar or two a day.
On those bitter, starlit nights, as we sat around the old stove
My Antonia |
