| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Sanitary and Social Lectures by Charles Kingsley: a colonial empire, create at once a fresh demand for human beings
and a fresh supply of food for them. Britain, at the beginning of
the nineteenth century, was in an altogether new social situation,
At the beginning of the great French war; and, indeed, ever since
the beginning of the war with Spain in 1739--often snubbed as the
"war about Jenkins's ear"--but which was, as I hold, one of the
most just, as it was one of the most popular, of all our wars;
after, too, the once famous "forty fine harvests" of the
eighteenth century, the British people, from the gentleman who led
to the soldier or sailor who followed, were one of the mightiest
and most capable races which the world has ever seen, comparable
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Options by O. Henry: the stage nobody can say a word against me truthfully. And the money
is only a secondary consideration. It isn't the money I was after.
I--I believed him--and--and I liked him."
She cast a soft, entrancing glance at Blue-Tie from under her long
eyelashes.
"And the price?" went on Black-Tie, inexorably.
"Ten thousand dollars," said the lady, sweetly.
"Or--"
"Or the fulfillment of the engagement to marry."
"I think it is time," interrupted Blue-Tie, "for me to be allowed to
say a word or two. You and I, cousin, belong to a family that has
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| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from Poems by Bronte Sisters: There's such a thing as keeping
A remembrance in one's heart:
There's such a thing as dwelling
On the thought ourselves have nursed,
And with scorn and courage telling
The world to do its worst.
We'll not let its follies grieve us,
We'll just take them as they come;
And then every day will leave us
A merry laugh for home.
When we've left each friend and brother,
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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 Dawn O'Hara, The Girl Who Laughed by Edna Ferber: "Heaps of time," I politely assured her, "don't
hurry. But why not have a chair and be comfortable?"
Frau Knapf was not to be deceived. "I go in a
minute. But first it is something I like to ask you.
You know maybe Frau Nirlanger?"
I shook my head.
"But sure you must know. From Vienna she is, with
such a voice like a bird."
"And the beads, and the gray gown, and the fringe,
and the cigarettes?"
"And the oogly husband," finished Frau Knapf, nodding.
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