| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Democracy In America, Volume 1 by Alexis de Toqueville: local imposts; in America the town-collector receives the taxes
of the State. Thus the French Government lends its agents to the
commune; in America the township is the agent of the Government.
This fact alone shows the extent of the differences which exist
between the two nations.
Public Spirit Of The Townships Of New England
How the township of New England wins the affections of its
inhabitants -Difficulty of creating local public spirit in Europe
- The rights and duties of the American township favorable to it
- Characteristics of home in the United States - Manifestations
of public spirit in New England - Its happy effects.
|
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea by Jules Verne: swerved again, and sought the lowest depth of a submarine valley
which is between this Cape and Sierra Leone on the African coast.
This valley bifurcates to the parallel of the Antilles,
and terminates at the mouth by the enormous depression of 9,000 yards.
In this place, the geological basin of the ocean forms,
as far as the Lesser Antilles, a cliff to three and a half
miles perpendicular in height, and, at the parallel of
the Cape Verde Islands, an other wall not less considerable,
that encloses thus all the sunk continent of the Atlantic.
The bottom of this immense valley is dotted with some mountains,
that give to these submarine places a picturesque aspect.
20,000 Leagues Under the Sea |
