| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Story of an African Farm by Olive Schreiner: were blessed times," said Bonaparte; "would they might return."
The German stirred at the cakes, and stirred, and stirred, and stirred. He
could give the stranger his bed, and he could give the stranger his hat,
and he could give the stranger his brandy; but his Sunday service!
After a good while he said:
"I might speak to Tant Sannie; I might arrange; you might take the service
in my place, if it--"
"My friend," said Bonaparte, "it would give me the profoundest felicity,
the most unbounded satisfaction; but in these worn-out habiliments, in
these deteriorated garments, it would not be possible, it would not be
fitting that I should officiate in service of One whom, for respect, we
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Nana, Miller's Daughter, Captain Burle, Death of Olivier Becaille by Emile Zola: blocked the way. And diamond on finger and with his fine hands in
great evidence, he finished discussing a fillet of venison.
Elsewhere the conversation about children continued. La Faloise,
rendered very restless by the immediate proximity of Gaga, asked
news of her daughter, whom he had had the pleasure of noticing in
her company at the Varietes. Lili was quite well, but she was still
such a tomboy! He was astonished to learn that Lili was entering on
her nineteenth year. Gaga became even more imposing in his eyes,
and when he endeavored to find out why she had not brought Lili with
her:
"Oh no, no, never!" she said stiffly. "Not three months ago she
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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 Cousin Pons by Honore de Balzac: been called in to consult upon his case; and it so chanced that the
learned gentlemen were taking leave of one another in the gateway just
as the hairdresser came out. They were talking as doctors usually talk
among themselves when the farce of a consultation is over. "He is a
dead man," quoth Dr. Haudry.--"He had not a month to live," added
Desplein, "unless a miracle takes place."--These were the words
overheard by the hairdresser.
Like all hairdressers, he kept up a good understanding with his
customers' servants. Prodigious greed sent the man upstairs again; he
mounted to the /ci-devant/ young man's apartment, and promised the
servant-mistress a tolerably handsome commission to persuade her
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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 Buttered Side Down by Edna Ferber: they look at my face. I'm like the girl in the story. Muh face is
muh fortune. It's earned me many a square meal; an' lemme tell
you, Pink Cheeks, eatin' square meals is one of my favorite pas-
times."
"Say looka here!" bellowed the boss, wrathfully. "Just cut
out this here Romeo and Juliet act, will you! That there ladder
ain't for no balcony scene, understand. Here you, Louie, you
shinny up there and get down a pair of them brown satin pumps,
small size."
Sophy continued to wear the black dress. The V-cut neck
seemed more flaunting than ever.
Buttered Side Down |
