| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Pellucidar by Edgar Rice Burroughs: and moved rapidly away to the right with the intention
of circling the hill if necessary until I had found an un-
watched spot where I might have some slight chance of
scaling the heights and reaching the top unseen.
I kept close to the edge of the forest, in the very midst
of which the hill seemed to rise. Though I carefully
scanned the cliff as I traversed its base, I saw no sign of
any other entrance than that to which my guides had
led me.
After some little time the roar of the sea broke upon
my ears. Shortly after I came upon the broad ocean
Pellucidar |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Royalty Restored/London Under Charles II by J. Fitzgerald Molloy: by me; I contend that he ought to acknowledge him--and I am well
assured that he will, for he loves me as well as the duchess."
To have her son ennobled, and by this means raise him to an
equality with the offspring of her grace, became the desire of
Nell Gwynn's life. To her request that this favour might be
granted, the king had promised compliance from time to time, but
had as frequently postponed the fulfilment of his word. At last,
weary of beseeching him, she devised a speech which she trusted
might have the desired effect. Accordingly, when the monarch
came to see her one day, he found her in a pensive mood, playing
with her pretty boy; and the lad, being presently set upon his
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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 Bickerstaff-Partridge Papers by Jonathan Swift: which is the busy period of the year. The remainder I have not
yet adjusted, upon account of several impediments needless here
to mention: Besides, I must remind the reader again, that this is
but a specimen of what I design in succeeding years to treat more
at large, if I may have liberty and encouragement.
My first prediction is but a trifle, yet I will mention it, to
show how ignorant those sottish pretenders to astrology are in
their own concerns: It relates to Partridge the almanack-maker; I
have consulted the stars of his nativity by my own rules, and
find he will infallibly die upon the 29th of March next, about
eleven at night, of a raging fever; therefore I advise him to
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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 McTeague by Frank Norris: envelope addressed to him in Trina's handwriting. He
opened it and read, "For my dear Mac's birthday, from
Trina;" and below, in a kind of post-script, "The man will
be round to-morrow to put it in place." McTeague tore away
the excelsior. Suddenly he uttered an exclamation.
It was the Tooth--the famous golden molar with its huge
prongs--his sign, his ambition, the one unrealized dream of
his life; and it was French gilt, too, not the cheap German
gilt that was no good. Ah, what a dear little woman was
this Trina, to keep so quiet, to remember his birthday!
"Ain't she--ain't she just a--just a JEWEL," exclaimed
McTeague |
