| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Juana by Honore de Balzac: from time to time, on the horizon of their lives; and when at last
they succumb and roll down the precipice of evil, we ought to do them
justice and acknowledge these inward struggles.
Like many men Diard tried all things, and all things were hostile to
him. His wealth enabled him to surround his wife with the enjoyments
of Parisian luxury. She lived in a fine house, with noble rooms, where
she maintained a salon, in which abounded artists (by nature no judges
of men), men of pleasure ready to amuse themselves anywhere, a few
politicians who swelled the numbers, and certain men of fashion, all
of whom admired Juana. Those who put themselves before the eyes of the
public in Paris must either conquer Paris or be subject to it. Diard's
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from The Street of Seven Stars by Mary Roberts Rinehart: comprehend "rotter," but she knew the tone. "Listen, Marie, I've
told the other girl, and there's a chance for me, anyhow. Some
day she may marry me. She asked me to see you."
"I do not wish her pity."
"You are wasting your life here. You cannot marry, you say,
without a dot. There is a chance in America for a clever girl.
You are clever, little Marie. The first money I can spare I'll
send you--if you'll take it. It's all I can do."
This was a new Stewart, a man she had never known. Marie recoiled
from him, eyed him nervously, sought in her childish mind for an
explanation. When at last she understood that he was sincere, 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 Court Life in China by Isaac Taylor Headland: The scaffolding of other souls;
It was not meant for thee to mount,
Though it may serve thee."
Without taking away from the Emperor the credit of introducing
the railroad, the telegraph, the telephone, the new system of
education, and many other reforms, we must still admit that it
was the personality, power and statesmanship of the Empress
Dowager that brought about the realization of his dreams. The
movement towards female education as described in another chapter
must ever be placed to the credit of this great woman. From the
time she came from behind the screen, and allowed her portrait to
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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 The Brother of Daphne by Dornford Yates: "And who's Berry?" she said, pushing back her chair.
"A mistake," said I. A great mistake. That's what he is."
She laughed.
"Who made him?"
"My sister. She married him, you see."
"Of course, I shall get confused in a moment."
"Well, things have got a move on in the last hour and a quarter,
haven't they? I mean to say, at five o'clock you found a
stranger in your taxi. Five minutes later you were smashed up.
Now you're in a prima donna's room at the Opera House, eating a
cold collation. Collation is good, isn't it?"
The Brother of Daphne |
