| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Man in Lower Ten by Mary Roberts Rinehart: "Tut, tut," said McKnight, "think of the disgrace to the firm if
its senior member goes up for life, or - " he twisted his
handkerchief into a noose, and went through an elaborate pantomime.
"Although jail isn't so bad, anyhow," he finished, "there are
fellows that get the habit and keep going back and going back."
He looked at his watch, and I fancied his cheerfulness was strained.
Hotchkiss was nervously fumbling my book.
"Did you ever read The Purloined Letter, Mr Blakeley?" he inquired.
"Probably, years ago," I said. "Poe, isn't it?"
He was choked at my indifference. "It is a masterpiece," he said,
with enthusiasm. "I re-read it to-day."
The Man in Lower Ten |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from The Brother of Daphne by Dornford Yates: a very Canaan of to-day. Does it not call you, brother?"
"It does," said I. "I wish it didn't, because it's wicked waste
of time, but it does."
I kneeled down that I might the better appreciate their industry.
The jig-saw was called 'A Young Diana' and was alleged to be a
reproduction of the picture of that name which had appeared in
the Academy the year before. I hardly remembered it. I gazed
admiringly at the two clouds drifting alone at the top right-hand
corner, the solitary hoof planted upon a slice of green sward,
the ragged suggestion of forest land in the distance, and a
ladder of enormous length, which appeared to possess something of
The Brother of Daphne |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from The Tragedy of Pudd'nhead Wilson by Mark Twain: That incident makes it interesting, and it had a history before it
came into Luigi's hands which adds to its interest. It was given to
Luigi by a great Indian prince, the Gaikowar of Baroda, and it had been
in his family two or three centuries. It killed a good many disagreeable
people who troubled the hearthstone at one time or another. It isn't much
too look at, except it isn't shaped like other knives, or dirks,
or whatever it may be called--here, I'll draw it for you." He took a
sheet of paper and made a rapid sketch. "There it is--a broad and
murderous blade, with edges like a razor for sharpness.
The devices engraved on it are the ciphers or names of its long
line of possessors--I had Luigi's name added in Roman letters
|
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 Gone With the Wind by Margaret Mitchell: shattered thoughts into something she could live by.
Rhett watched the train until it was out of sight and on his face
there was a look of speculative bitterness that was not pleasant.
He sighed, dismissed the carriage and mounting his horse, rode down
Ivy Street toward Melanie's house.
It was a warm morning and Melanie sat on the vine-shaded porch, her
mending basket piled high with socks. Confusion and dismay filled
her when she saw Rhett alight from his horse and toss the reins
over the arm of the cast-iron negro boy who stood at the sidewalk.
She had not seen him alone since that too dreadful day when
Scarlett had been so ill and he had been so--well--so drunk.
Gone With the Wind |
