| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from One Basket by Edna Ferber: Knee." (Bernie Gottschalk Inc. Chicago. New York. You can't
get bit with a Gottschalk hit. 15 cents each.)
"Girlie," he said, emphatically, "you sure--can--play!" He
came over to her at the piano and put a stubby hand on her
shoulder. "Yessir! Those little fingers----"
Terry just turned her head to look down her nose at the moist
hand resting on her shoulder. "Those little fingers are going
to meet your face if you don't move on."
"Who gave you your job?" demanded the fat man.
"Nobody. I picked it myself. You can have it if you want it."
"Can't you take a joke?"
One Basket |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde: Do say something."
"What do you want me to say?"
"Oh! that you will be a good boy and not forget us," she answered,
smiling at him.
He shrugged his shoulders. "You are more likely to forget me than I am
to forget you, Sibyl."
She flushed. "What do you mean, Jim?" she asked.
"You have a new friend, I hear. Who is he? Why have you not told me
about him? He means you no good."
"Stop, Jim!" she exclaimed. "You must not say anything against him.
I love him."
The Picture of Dorian Gray |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from Memoir of Fleeming Jenkin by Robert Louis Stevenson: left there: T-, an intelligent, hard-working Frenchman, with whom
I am well pleased; he can speak English and Italian well, and has
been two years at Genoa. S- is a French German with a face like an
ancient Gaul, who has been sergeant-major in the French line and
who is, I see, a great, big, muscular FAINEANT. We left the tent
pitched and some stores in charge of a guide, and ran back to
Cagliari.
'Certainly, being at the head of things is pleasanter than being
subordinate. We all agree very well; and I have made the testing
office into a kind of private room where I can come and write to
you undisturbed, surrounded by my dear, bright brass things which
|
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 Lesson of the Master by Henry James: giving up personal happiness. What an arraignment of art!" Paul
went on with a trembling voice.
"Ah you don't imagine by chance that I'm defending art?
'Arraignment' - I should think so! Happy the societies in which it
hasn't made its appearance, for from the moment it comes they have
a consuming ache, they have an incurable corruption, in their
breast. Most assuredly is the artist in a false position! But I
thought we were taking him for granted. Pardon me," St. George
continued: "'Ginistrella' made me!"
Paul stood looking at the floor - one o'clock struck, in the
stillness, from a neighbouring church-tower. "Do you think she'd
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