| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Jude the Obscure by Thomas Hardy: "It seems making a more sordid business of it even than signing
the contract in a vestry. There is a little poetry in a church.
But we'll try to get through with it, dearest, now."
"We will. 'For what man is he that hath betrothed a wife
and hath not taken her? Let him go and return unto his house,
lest he die in the battle, and another man take her.'
So said the Jewish law-giver."
"How you know the Scriptures, Jude! You really ought to have been a parson.
I can only quote profane writers!"
During the interval before the issuing of the certificate Sue,
in her housekeeping errands, sometimes walked past the office,
Jude the Obscure |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from The Goodness of St. Rocque and Other Stories by Alice Dunbar: and, it seemed to Philip, taking an unconscionably long time
explaining the use of an East Indian stiletto.
"Oh, wouldn't it be delightful!" came from Annette at last.
"What?" asked Philip.
"Why, Monsieur LeConte says he'll take six of us out in his
catboat tomorrow for a fishing-trip on the Gulf."
"Hum," drily.
"And I'll get Natalie and her cousins."
"Yes," still more drily.
Annette chattered on, entirely oblivious of the strainedness of
the men's adieux, and still chattered as they drove through the
The Goodness of St. Rocque and Other Stories |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from The Enchanted Island of Yew by L. Frank Baum: still more bewildered sorcerer gazed on the speakers with staring eyes
and wide-open mouth.
"I insist," said Prince Marvel, "upon your turning us into
grasshoppers and your soldiers into June-bugs, as you promised. If
you do not, then I will flog you--as I promised."
"Very well," returned the sorcerer, with a desperate look upon his
face; "I'll go and find the enchantment."
"And we'll go with you," remarked the prince, pleasantly.
So the entire party accompanied Kwytoffle into the house, where they
entered a large room that was in a state of much disorder.
"Let me see," said the sorcerer, rubbing his ears, as if trying to
The Enchanted Island of Yew |
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 Early Short Fiction of Edith Wharton by Edith Wharton: delicately toward the river. Indoors our favorite pictures hang
upon the walls and the rooms are lined with books. Think, dear,
at last we shall have time to read them all. With which shall we
begin? Come, help me to choose. Shall it be 'Faust' or the
'Vita Nuova,' the 'Tempest' or 'Les Caprices de Marianne,' or the
thirty-first canto of the 'Paradise,' or 'Epipsychidion' or
"Lycidas'? Tell me, dear, which one?"
As he spoke he saw the answer trembling joyously upon her lips;
but it died in the ensuing silence, and she stood motionless,
resisting the persuasion of his hand.
"What is it?" he entreated.
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