| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Memoir of Fleeming Jenkin by Robert Louis Stevenson: It was this taste for what is fine in human-kind, that ruled his
choice in books. These should all strike a high note, whether
brave or tender, and smack of the open air. The noble and simple
presentation of things noble and simple, that was the 'nitrogenous
food' of which he spoke so much, which he sought so eagerly,
enjoyed so royally. He wrote to an author, the first part of whose
story he had seen with sympathy, hoping that it might continue in
the same vein. 'That this may be so,' he wrote, 'I long with the
longing of David for the water of Bethlehem. But no man need die
for the water a poet can give, and all can drink it to the end of
time, and their thirst be quenched and the pool never dry - and the
|
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Off on a Comet by Jules Verne: Fameux vous etes."_
The concert was succeeded by a ball, unquestionably the first that had
ever taken place in Gallia. The Russian sailors exhibited some of their
national dances, which gained considerable applause, even although they
followed upon the marvelous fandangos of the Spaniards. Ben Zoof,
in his turn, danced a _pas seul_ (often performed in the Elysee Montmartre)
with an elegance and vigor that earned many compliments from Negrete.
It was nine o'clock before the festivities came to an end, and by
that time the company, heated by the high temperature of the hall,
and by their own exertions, felt the want of a little fresh air.
Accordingly the greater portion of the party, escorted by Ben Zoof,
|
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from Salammbo by Gustave Flaubert: rope, a stone, something in short to assist her. She was afraid of
Gisco, and it seemed to her that shouts and footsteps were pursuing
her. Day was beginning to break. She perceived a path in the thickness
of the entrenchment. She took the hem of her robe, which impeded her,
in her teeth, and in three bounds she was on the platform.
A sonorous shout burst forth beneath her in the shade, the same which
she had heard at the foot of the galley staircase, and leaning over
she recognised Schahabarim's man with his coupled horses.
He had wandered all night between the two entrenchments; then
disquieted by the fire, he had gone back again trying to see what was
passing in Matho's camp; and, knowing that this spot was nearest to
Salammbo |
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 Tarzan the Untamed by Edgar Rice Burroughs: came upon troops moving up toward the front. They ap-
peared to be raiding parties, for they drove goats and cows
along with them and there were native porters laden with
grain and other foodstuffs. He saw that these natives were
all secured by neck chains and he also saw that the troops
were composed of native soldiers in German uniforms. The
officers were white men. No one saw Tarzan, yet he was here
and there about and among them for two hours. He inspected
the insignia upon their uniforms and saw that they were not
the same as that which he had taken from one of the dead
soldiers at the bungalow and then he passed on ahead of
Tarzan the Untamed |
