| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Padre Ignacio by Owen Wister: So he seated himself in a corner near the entrance, and after a brief,
jaunty glance at the sunburned, shaggy congregation, made himself as
comfortable as might be. He had not seen a face worth keeping his eyes
open for. The simple choir and simple fold, gathered for even-song, paid
him no attention--a rough American bound for the mines was but an object
of aversion to them.
The Padre, of course, had been instantly aware of the stranger's
presence. To be aware of unaccustomed presences is the sixth sense with
vicars of every creed and heresy; and if the parish is lonely and the
worshipers few and seldom varying, a newcomer will gleam out like a new
book to be read. And a trained priest learns to read keenly the faces of
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Lady Baltimore by Owen Wister: "Well," I said, "and so Mr. John is going to be married."
No attempt to start a chat ever failed more signally. He assented with a
manner of mingled civility and reserve that was perfection, and after the
two syllables of which his answer consisted, he remained as impenetrably
respectful as before. I felt rather high and dry, but I tried it again:--
"And I'm sure, Daddy Ben, that you feel as sorry as any of the family
that the phosphates failed."
Again he replied with his two syllables of assent, and again he stood
mute, respectful, a little bent with his great age; but now his good
manners--and better manners were never seen--impelled him to break
silence upon some subject, since he would not permit himself to speak
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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 Sons and Lovers by D. H. Lawrence: was going. Arthur only left the army to be married. The baby was
born six months after his wedding. Mrs. Morel got him a job under
the firm again, at twenty-one shillings a week. She furnished for him,
with the help of Beatrice's mother, a little cottage of two rooms.
He was caught now. It did not matter how he kicked and struggled,
he was fast. For a time he chafed, was irritable with his
young wife, who loved him; he went almost distracted when the baby,
which was delicate, cried or gave trouble. He grumbled for hours
to his mother. She only said: "Well, my lad, you did it yourself,
now you must make the best of it." And then the grit came out in him.
He buckled to work, undertook his responsibilities, acknowledged that
Sons and Lovers |
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 The Lone Star Ranger by Zane Grey: Duane thanked him, conscious of a reserve and dignity that he
could not have felt or pretended three months before. And then,
as always, he was a good listener. Colonel Webb told, among
other things, that he had come out to the Big Bend to look over
the affairs of a deceased brother who had been a rancher and a
sheriff of one of the towns, Fairdale by name.
"Found no affairs, no ranch, not even his grave," said Colonel
Webb. "And I tell you, sir, if hell's any tougher than this
Fairdale I don't want to expiate my sins there."
"Fairdale.... I imagine sheriffs have a hard row to hoe out
here," replied Duane, trying not to appear curious.
The Lone Star Ranger |
