| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The White Moll by Frank L. Packard: "Beat it!" ordered Rough Rorke curtly.
"That'sh all right." The young man came nearer. He balanced himself
with difficulty, but upon him there appeared to have descended
suddenly a vast dignity. "I'm - hic - law - 'biding citizen. Gotta
know. Gotta show me. Damn funny - coming out of there this time
of night! Eh - what'sh the idea?"
Rough Rorke, with his free hand, grabbed the young man by the
shoulder angrily.
"Mind your own business, or you'll get into trouble!" he rasped out.
"I'm an officer, and this woman is under arrest. Beat it! D'ye
hear? Beat it - or I'll run you in, too!"
|
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from The Master Key by L. Frank Baum: with such comforting devices for the preservation and extension of
human life as yourself. You seem quite unappreciative, it is true;
but since our connection I have come to realize that you are but an
ordinary boy, with many boyish limitations; so I do not condemn your
foolish actions too harshly."
"That is kind of you," said Rob.
"To prove my friendliness," pursued the Demon, "I have brought, as the
first of to-day's offerings this Electro-Magnetic Restorer. You see
it is shaped like a thin metal band, and is to be worn upon the
brow, clasping at the back of the head. Its virtues surpass those of
either the fabulous 'Fountain of Youth,' or the 'Elixir of Life,' so
The Master Key |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from The Road to Oz by L. Frank Baum: over the doorway a pair of hoofs, with a donkey tail between them and
a rude crown and sceptre above.
"I'll see if his magnificent Majesty King Kik-a-bray is at home," said
he. He lifted his head and called "Whee-haw! whee-haw! whee-haw!"
three times, in a shocking voice, turning about and kicking with his
heels against the panel of the door. For a time there was no reply;
then the door opened far enough to permit a donkey's head to stick out
and look at them.
It was a white head, with big, awful ears and round, solemn eyes.
"Have the foxes gone?" it asked, in a trembling voice.
"They haven't been here, most stupendous Majesty," replied the grey
The Road to Oz |
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 The Symposium by Xenophon: Grote, "H. G." ix. 261.
[9] 420 B.C., al. 421. The date is fixed by the "Autolycus" of
Eupolis. See Athen. v. 216. For the pankration, which comprised
wrestling and boxing, see Aristot. "Rhet." i. S. 14.
As soon as the horse race was over,[10] Callias proceeded to escort
Autolycus and his father, Lycon, to his house in the Piraeus, being
attended also by Niceratus.[11] But catching sight of Socrates along
with certain others (Critobulus,[12] Hermogenes, Antisthenes, and
Charmides), he bade an attendant conduct the party with Autolycus,
whilst he himself approached the group, exclaiming:
[10] See A. Martin, op. cit. p. 265.
The Symposium |
