| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Desert Gold by Zane Grey: an' he was bein' worked over by the camp doctor. I didn't ask no
questions, because I seen quiet was needed round that tent. After
satisfying myself that Nell was all right, an' Thorne in no danger,
I went out.
"Shore there was so darn many fellers who wanted to an' tried to
tell me what'd come off, I thought I'd never find out. But I got
the story piece by piece. An' here's what happened.
"Nell rode Blanco Sol a-tearin' into camp, an' had a crowd round
her in a jiffy. She told who she was, where she'd come from, an'
what she wanted. Well, it seemed a day or so before Nell got there
the cavalrymen had heard word of Thorne. You see, Thorne had
Desert Gold |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from New Arabian Nights by Robert Louis Stevenson: lacking in educational method. For the character and attainments
of Lecoq, however, he was unable to contain his admiration.
"He was truly a great creature," ruminated Mr. Rolles. "He knew
the world as I know Paley's Evidences. There was nothing that he
could not carry to a termination with his own hand, and against the
largest odds. Heavens!" he broke out suddenly, "is not this the
lesson? Must I not learn to cut diamonds for myself?"
It seemed to him as if he had sailed at once out of his
perplexities; he remembered that he knew a jeweller, one B.
Macculloch, in Edinburgh, who would be glad to put him in the way
of the necessary training; a few months, perhaps a few years, of
|
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from Buttered Side Down by Edna Ferber: best talent would put it) when Ivy and her father walked along the
streets of Slatersville. (I can't tell you what streets, because
I don't know.) Pa Keller brought up before a narrow little shoe
shop.
"Here we are," he said, and ushered Ivy in. A short, stout,
proprietary figure approached them smiling a mercantile smile.
"What can I do for you?" he inquired.
Ivy's eyes searched the shop for a tall, golden-haired form in
a soiled baseball suit.
"We'd like to see a gentleman named Schlachweiler--Rudolph
Schlachweiler," said Pa Keller.
Buttered Side Down |
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 Tarzan the Untamed by Edgar Rice Burroughs: to essay the attempt when Tarzan halted him. "I am Lord
Greystoke," he said. "It was my wife you murdered in the
Waziri country. You will understand now why I came for you.
Descend."
The German fell upon his knees. "I did not murder your
wife," he cried. "Have mercy! I did not murder your wife.
I do not know anything about --"
"Descend!" snapped Tarzan, raising the point of his spear.
He knew that the man lied and was not surprised that he did.
A man who would murder for no cause would lie for less.
Schneider still hesitated and pled. The ape-man jabbed him
Tarzan the Untamed |
