| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Arrow of Gold by Joseph Conrad: at you. In every one. Every one. That's what it is having to do
with men more than mere - Good-morning - Good evening. And if you
try to avoid meddling with their lids, some of them will take them
off themselves. And they don't even know, they don't even suspect
what they are showing you. Certain confidences - they don't see it
- are the bitterest kind of insult. I suppose Azzolati imagines
himself a noble beast of prey. Just as some others imagine
themselves to be most delicate, noble, and refined gentlemen. And
as likely as not they would trade on a woman's troubles - and in
the end make nothing of that either. Idiots!"
The utter absence of all anger in this spoken meditation gave it a
The Arrow of Gold |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Fanny Herself by Edna Ferber: gaze. "But that isn't the object in fasting, Fanny--just to
see if you can. If you're going to think of food all
through the Yom Kippur services----"
"I sha'n't?" protested Fanny passionately. "Theodore would,
but I won't."
"Wouldn't any such thing," denied Theodore. "But if I'm
going to play a violin solo during the memorial service I
guess I've got to eat my regular meals."
Theodore sometimes played at temple, on special occasions.
The little congregation, listening to the throbbing rise and
fall of this fifteen-year-old boy's violin playing,
Fanny Herself |
