The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Vision Splendid by William MacLeod Raine: the throb of the engines.
"A steam yacht, probably from Verden," the ship purser remarked to
the first mate as they passed.
The players gave up their game to watch the boat that was being
lowered from the deck of a yacht close at hand. Into it stepped
five men in addition to the crew. Presently Jeff, leaning against
the rail, borrowed the glasses of a man near. After Alice had
looked she handed them to Farnum.
He gave a little exclamation of surprise.
"I beg your pardon?" the girl beside him murmured.
"They are my friends, Miss Frome. Come to meet me, I expect. The
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from The Happy Prince and Other Tales by Oscar Wilde: "Ah! what a trivial view of life!" said the Rocket; "but it is only
what I expected. There is nothing in you; you are hollow and
empty. Why, perhaps the Prince and Princess may go to live in a
country where there is a deep river, and perhaps they may have one
only son, a little fair-haired boy with violet eyes like the Prince
himself; and perhaps some day he may go out to walk with his nurse;
and perhaps the nurse may go to sleep under a great elder-tree; and
perhaps the little boy may fall into the deep river and be drowned.
What a terrible misfortune! Poor people, to lose their only son!
It is really too dreadful! I shall never get over it."
"But they have not lost their only son," said the Roman Candle; "no
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