| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Jungle by Upton Sinclair: Mr. Maynard will still write the same things about Socialism"; to
which she answered, "I don't know--but if he does we shall know
that he is a knave!"
And only a few hours after this came election day--when the long
campaign was over, and the whole country seemed to stand still
and hold its breath, awaiting the issue. Jurgis and the rest of
the staff of Hinds's Hotel could hardly stop to finish their
dinner, before they hurried off to the big hall which the party
had hired for that evening.
But already there were people waiting, and already the telegraph
instrument on the stage had begun clicking off the returns. When
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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 Chouans by Honore de Balzac: said coolly: "You will obey me. Here is an order in good form, signed
by the minister of war, which will force you to do so." He drew a
paper from his pocket and held it out. "Do you suppose we are such
fools as to leave that girl to do as she likes? We are endeavoring to
suppress a civil war, and the grandeur of the purpose covers the
pettiness of the means."
"I take the liberty, citizen, of sending you to--you understand me?
Enough. To the right-about, march! Let me alone, or it will be the
worse for you."
"But read that," persisted Corentin.
"Don't bother me with your functions," cried Hulot, furious at
The Chouans |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from Walden by Henry David Thoreau: they grow in. The stones extend a rod or two into the water, and
then the bottom is pure sand, except in the deepest parts, where
there is usually a little sediment, probably from the decay of the
leaves which have been wafted on to it so many successive falls, and
a bright green weed is brought up on anchors even in midwinter.
We have one other pond just like this, White Pond, in Nine Acre
Corner, about two and a half miles westerly; but, though I am
acquainted with most of the ponds within a dozen miles of this
centre I do not know a third of this pure and well-like character.
Successive nations perchance have drank at, admired, and fathomed
it, and passed away, and still its water is green and pellucid as
Walden |
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 American by Henry James: petticoat the sum of three hundred and sixty francs, which she had lost five
years before. He pronounced his words with great distinctness and sonority,
and Newman assured him that his way of dealing with the French tongue was
very superior to the bewildering chatter that he heard in other mouths.
Upon this M. Nioche's accent became more finely trenchant than ever,
he offered to read extracts from Lamartine, and he protested that,
although he did endeavor according to his feeble lights to cultivate
refinement of diction, monsieur, if he wanted the real thing, should go
to the Theatre Francais.
Newman took an interest in French thriftiness and conceived a lively
admiration for Parisian economies. His own economic genius was so
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