| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Goodness of St. Rocque and Other Stories by Alice Dunbar: but a sort of all-diffused luminosity was in the air, as though
the sea of atmosphere was charged with an ethereal
phosphorescence.
Search as they did, there were no signs of Titee. The soft earth
between the railroad ties crumbled between their feet without
showing any small tracks or footprints.
"Mais, we may as well return," said the big brother; "he is not
here."
"Oh, mon Dieu," urged the mother, "he is, he is; I know it."
So on they went, slipping on the wet earth, stumbling over the
loose rocks, until a sudden wild yelp from Tiger brought them to
The Goodness of St. Rocque and Other Stories |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson:
Treasure Island |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from Mistress Wilding by Rafael Sabatini: like a man familiar with fear."
Richard struck something of an attitude, his fair face flushed, his
pale eyes glittering. "He took a blow," said he, and sneered.
"There may have been reasons," Diana suggested darkly, and Sir
Rowland's eyes narrowed at the hint.
Again he recalled the words Richard had let fall that afternoon.
Wilding and he were fellow workers in some secret business, and
Richard had said that the encounter was treason to that same
business, whatever it might be. And of what it might be Sir Rowland
had grounds upon which to found at least a guess. Had perhaps
Wilding acted upon some similar feelings in avoiding the duel? He
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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 Ozma of Oz by L. Frank Baum: "Where is the private?"
"Oh, he is sweeping out the barracks," replied one of the generals,
who was busy eating a leg of a turkey. "But I have ordered him a dish
of bread and molasses to eat when his work is done."
"Let him be sent for," said the girl ruler.
While they waited for this command to be obeyed, she enquired:
"Have we any other privates in the armies?"
"Oh, yes," replied the Tin Woodman, "I believe there are
three, altogether."
The private now entered, saluting his officers and the royal Ozma
very respectfully.
Ozma of Oz |
