| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Soul of the Far East by Percival Lowell: evident in less antipodal relations. Have the least religious
nations of Europe been any less truthful than the most bigoted? Was
fanatic Spain remarkable for veracity? Was Loyola a gentleman whose
assertions carried conviction other than to the stake? Were the
eminently mundane burghers whom he persecuted noted for a pious
superiority to fact? Or, to narrow the field still further, and scan
the circle of one's own acquaintance, are the most believing
individuals among them worthy of the most belief? Assuredly not.
We come, then, to the second point. Has there been any influence at
work to differentiate us in this respect from Far Orientals?
There has. Two separate causes, in fact, have conduced to the same
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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 Magic of Oz by L. Frank Baum: good as ever; but I must admit that that old wooden-legged fellow
saved both himself and the girl by making me a prisoner."
Now the Kalidahs, although the most disagreeable creatures in the
Land of Oz, were nevertheless magical inhabitants of a magical
Fairyland, and in their natures a certain amount of good was mingled
with the evil. This one was not very revengeful, and now that his late
foes were in danger of perishing, his anger against them faded away.
"Our own Kalidah King," he reflected, "has certain magical powers of
his own. Perhaps he knows how to fill up these two holes in my body."
So without paying any more attention to Trot and Cap'n Bill than
they were paying to him, he entered the forest and trotted along a
The Magic of Oz |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from A Start in Life by Honore de Balzac: "Put down the money; I'll play; you shall being me luck! See, here are
my last hundred francs."
And the "marquise" took out from her purse, the rings of which were
adorned with diamonds, five gold pieces. Oscar pulled out his hundred
in silver five-franc pieces, much ashamed at having to mingle such
ignoble coins with gold. In ten throws the actress lost the two
hundred francs.
"Oh! how stupid!" she cried. "I'm banker now. But we'll play together
still, won't we?"
Fanny Beaupre rose to take her place as banker, and Oscar, finding
himself observed by the whole table, dared not retire on the ground
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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 Lay Morals by Robert Louis Stevenson: had to check the pursuit of his men by a reinforcement.
These repeated checks bred a panic in the Lieutenant-
General's ranks, for several of his men flung down their
arms. Urged by such fatal symptoms, and by the approaching
night, he deployed his men, and closed in overwhelming
numbers on the centre and right flank of the insurgent army.
In the increasing twilight the burning matches of the
firelocks, shimmering on barrel, halbert, and cuirass, lent
to the approaching army a picturesque effect, like a huge,
many-armed giant breathing flame into the darkness.
Placed on an overhanging hill, Welch and Semple cried aloud,
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