| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Westward Ho! by Charles Kingsley: whining to some one within.
"Ask what he is about, boy."
The lad asked the old cacique, who had accompanied them, and
received for answer, that he was consulting the Daughter of the
Sun.
"Here is our mare's nest at last," quoth Cary, as the Piache from
whines rose to screams and gesticulations, and then to violent
convulsions, foaming at the mouth, and rolling of the eyeballs,
till he suddenly sank exhausted, and lay for dead.
"As good as a stage play."
"The devil has played his part," says Jack; "and now by the rules
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Democracy In America, Volume 2 by Alexis de Toqueville: democratic people, because it readily amalgamates with that vice
which is most familiar to the heart under such circumstances.
Democracy encourages a taste for physical gratification: this
taste, if it become excessive, soon disposes men to believe that
all is matter only; and materialism, in turn, hurries them back
with mad impatience to these same delights: such is the fatal
circle within which democratic nations are driven round. It were
well that they should see the danger and hold back.
Most religions are only general, simple, and practical means
of teaching men the doctrine of the immortality of the soul.
That is the greatest benefit which a democratic people derives,
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