| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz by L. Frank Baum: the nine tiny piglets were pushed together until but a single one of
the creatures remained. This the Wizard placed underneath his hat and
made a mystic sign above it. When he removed his hat the last piglet
had disappeared entirely.
The little man gave a bow to the silent throng that had watched him,
and then the Prince said, in his cold, calm voice:
"You are indeed a wonderful Wizard, and your powers are greater than
those of my Sorcerer."
"He will not be a wonderful Wizard long," remarked Gwig.
"Why not?" enquired the Wizard.
"Because I am going to stop your breath," was the reply. "I perceive
Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from The Gods of Mars by Edgar Rice Burroughs: above me as my eyes could reach, and as I ascended, the
light from above grew brighter and brighter.
For fully five hundred feet I continued to climb, until at
length I reached the opening in the stem which admitted
the light. It was of about the same diameter as the entrance
at the foot of the tree, and opened directly upon a large flat
limb, the well worn surface of which testified to its long
continued use as an avenue for some creature to and from
this remarkable shaft.
I did not venture out upon the limb for fear that I might
be discovered and our retreat in this direction cut off;
The Gods of Mars |
