| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from An International Episode by Henry James: he seemed perfectly acquainted, and of which anyone and everyone appeared
to have the entree, was very grateful to the slightly bewildered voyagers.
He showed them their stateroom--a spacious apartment, embellished with
gas lamps, mirrors en pied, and sculptured furniture--and then,
long after they had been intimately convinced that the steamer was in motion
and launched upon the unknown stream that they were about to navigate,
he bade them a sociable farewell.
"Well, goodbye, Lord Lambeth," he said; "goodbye, Mr. Percy Beaumont.
I hope you'll have a good time. Just let them do what they want with you.
I'll come down by-and-by and look after you."
The young Englishmen emerged from their cabin and amused
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Bunner Sisters by Edith Wharton: Bunner, if you ask me another question you'll go and spoil all my
pleasure."
"Very well, I won't," said the younger sister.
They continued to eat without farther words. Evelina yielded
to her sister's entreaty that she should finish the pie, and poured
out a second cup of tea, into which she put the last lump of sugar;
and between them, on the table, the clock kept up its sociable
tick.
"Where'd you get it, Ann Eliza?" asked Evelina, fascinated.
"Where'd you s'pose? Why, right round here, over acrost the
Square, in the queerest little store you ever laid eyes on. I saw
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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 Prufrock/Other Observations by T. S. Eliot: Riding to hounds
Over the cow-pasture.
Miss Nancy Ellicott smoked
And danced all the modern dances;
And her aunts were not quite sure how they felt about it,
But they knew that it was modern.
Upon the glazen shelves kept watch
Matthew and Waldo, guardians of the faith,
The army of unalterable law."
Mr. Apollinax
Prufrock/Other Observations |
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 Sportsman by Xenophon: be taken, because in the act of running it will beat and batter its
own face and body; if by the hind-leg, the clog comes trailing along
and must needs impede the action of every limb. Sometimes, too, as it
is whirled along it will come in contact with the forked branches of
some tree, and then unless the animal can snap the rope in twain, she
is fairly caught; there ends the chase. But even so, if caught in this
way or overdone with fatigue, it were well not to come too close the
quarry, should it chance to be a stag, or he will lunge out with his
antlers and his feet; better therefore let fly your javelins from a
distance.
These animals may also be captured without aid of gin or caltrop, by
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