| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Redheaded Outfield by Zane Grey: genius and cunning! But I'll hand them a few
tricks before I lose. My first move will be to give
Henderson his release.
I left Milly, as always, once more able to make
light of discouragements and difficulties.
Monday I gave Henderson his unconditional
release. He celebrated the occasion by verifying
certain rumors I had heard from other managers.
He got drunk. But he did not leave town, and I
heard that he was negotiating with Providence
for a place on that team.
The Redheaded Outfield |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Black Beauty by Anna Sewell: The driver was one of those random, ignorant fellows, who don't even know
which is their own side of the road, or, if they know, don't care.
And there was poor Rory with his flesh torn open and bleeding,
and the blood streaming down. They said if it had been a little more
to one side it would have killed him; and a good thing for him, poor fellow,
if it had.
As it was, it was a long time before the wound healed,
and then he was sold for coal-carting; and what that is,
up and down those steep hills, only horses know. Some of the sights
I saw there, where a horse had to come downhill with a heavily loaded
two-wheel cart behind him, on which no brake could be placed,
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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 The Letters of Robert Louis Stevenson by Robert Louis Stevenson: surely they might hear more encouraging sermons. To blow the
trumpet for good would seem the Parson's business; and since it is
not in our own strength, but by faith and perseverance (no account
made of slips), that we are to run the race, I do not see where
they get the material for their gloomy discourses. Faith is not to
believe the Bible, but to believe in God; if you believe in God
(or, for it's the same thing, have that assurance you speak about),
where is there any more room for terror? There are only three
possible attitudes - Optimism, which has gone to smash; Pessimism,
which is on the rising hand, and very popular with many clergymen
who seem to think they are Christians. And this Faith, which is
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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 Barlaam and Ioasaph by St. John of Damascus: according to the store at each man's hand, and his favour toward
his lord. But chiefly the king stirred them up to emulation. He
brought full many oxen, of goodly size, for sacrifice, and thus,
making a feast for all his people, he bestowed largesses on all
his counsellors and officers, and on all his soldiers, and all
the poor, and men of low degree.
III.
Now on his son's birth-day feast there came unto the king some
five and fifty chosen men, schooled in the star-lore of the
Chaldaeans. These the king called into his presence, and asked
them, severally, to tell him the future of the new-born babe.
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