| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Michael Strogoff by Jules Verne: Daily Telegraph, and the Frenchman, as correspondent of
what newspaper, or of what newspapers, he did not say;
and when asked, he replied in a jocular manner that he cor-
responded with "his cousin Madeleine." This Frenchman,
however, neath his careless surface, was wonderfully
shrewd and sagacious. Even while speaking at random,
perhaps the better to hide his desire to learn, he never forgot
himself. His loquacity even helped him to conceal his
thoughts, and he was perhaps even more discreet than his
confrere of the Daily Telegraph. Both were present at this
fete given at the New Palace on the night of the 15th of
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Euthyphro by Plato: SOCRATES: They have differences of opinion, as you say, about good and
evil, just and unjust, honourable and dishonourable: there would have been
no quarrels among them, if there had been no such differences--would there
now?
EUTHYPHRO: You are quite right.
SOCRATES: Does not every man love that which he deems noble and just and
good, and hate the opposite of them?
EUTHYPHRO: Very true.
SOCRATES: But, as you say, people regard the same things, some as just and
others as unjust,--about these they dispute; and so there arise wars and
fightings among them.
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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 Tarzan and the Jewels of Opar by Edgar Rice Burroughs: halted beneath a large tree with spreading branches,
buckled a cartridge belt and revolver about her waist,
and assisted her to clamber into the lower branches.
"Tomorrow," he whispered, "as soon as I can elude them,
I will return for you. Be brave, Lady Greystoke--we
may yet escape."
"Thank you," she replied in a low tone. "You have been
very kind, and very brave."
Werper did not reply, and the darkness of the night hid
the scarlet flush of shame which swept upward across
his face. Quickly he turned and made his way back to
Tarzan and the Jewels of Opar |
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 Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz by L. Frank Baum: shrill scream and at the same time Jim the cab-horse neighed loudly.
This daunted the enemy for a time, but the defenders were soon out of
breath. Perceiving this, as well as the fact that there were no more
of the awful "bangs" to come from the revolvers, the Gargoyles advanced
in a swarm as thick as bees, so that the air was filled with them.
Dorothy squatted upon the ground and put up her parasol, which nearly
covered her and proved a great protection. The Wizard's sword-blade
snapped into a dozen pieces at the first blow he struck against the
wooden people. Zeb pounded away with the Gargoyle he was using as a
club until he had knocked down dozens of foes; but at the last they
clustered so thickly about him that he no longer had room in which to
Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz |
