| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Unconscious Comedians by Honore de Balzac: other personages now entered.
After a conversation with the manufacturer on the subject of his suit,
Massol, without making any promises, told him that the report was not
yet written, and that citizens could always rely on the knowledge and
the independence of the Council of State. Receiving that cold and
dignified response, Gazonal, in despair, thought it necessary to set
about seducing the charming Jenny, with whom he was by this time in
love. Leon de Lora and Bixiou left their victim in the hands of that
most roguish and frolicsome member of the anomalous society,--for
Jenny Cadine is the sole rival in that respect of the famous Dejazet.
At the supper-table, where Gazonal was fascinated by a silver service
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Herland by Charlotte Gilman: We are mothers--all of us--but there are no fathers. We thought
you would ask about that long ago--why have you not?" Her look
was as frankly kind as always, her tone quite simple.
Terry explained that we had not felt sufficiently used to the
language, making rather a mess of it, I thought, but Jeff was franker.
"Will you excuse us all," he said, "if we admit that we find it hard
to believe? There is no such--possibility--in the rest of the world."
"Have you no kind of life where it is possible?" asked Zava.
"Why, yes--some low forms, of course."
"How low--or how high, rather?"
"Well--there are some rather high forms of insect life in which
Herland |
