| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Roads of Destiny by O. Henry: in his dingy little office, above the heads of the intriguing, time-
serving, clamorous multitude.
At last the Governor spoke; and, though his words were seemingly
irrelevant, they were to the point. His voice had a note of martyrdom
running through its senile quaver.
"My rheumatism has been growing steadily worse these past months,
William."
"I am sorry, father," said Billy, gently.
"And I am nearly seventy-eight. I am getting to be an old man. I can
recall the names of but two or three who were in public life during My
Administration. What did you say is the nature of this position that
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Cromwell by William Shakespeare: about you?
BEDFORD.
No, trust me, Hodge.
HODGE.
Aye, they know they want their pasture; it's a strange
thing of this vermine, they dare not meddle with Nobility.
CROMWELL.
Go, take thy place, Hodge; I'll call them in.--
[Hodge sits in the study, and Cromwell calls in the States.]
All is done, enter and if you please.
[Enter the States and Officers, with Halberts.]
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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 On the Duty of Civil Disobedience by Henry David Thoreau: the State government, directly, and face to face, once a
year--no more--in the person of its tax-gatherer; this is
the only mode in which a man situated as I am necessarily
meets it; and it then says distinctly, Recognize me; and
the simplest, the most effectual, and, in the present
posture of affairs, the indispensablest mode of treating
with it on this head, of expressing your little satisfaction
with and love for it, is to deny it then. My civil
neighbor, the tax-gatherer, is the very man I have to deal
with--for it is, after all, with men and not with parchment
that I quarrel--and he has voluntarily chosen to be an agent
On the Duty of Civil Disobedience |
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 A Horse's Tale by Mark Twain: "Shekels, I don't like the look of it."
CHAPTER VIII - THE SCOUT-START. BB AND LIEUTENANT-GENERAL ALISON
BB (SALUTING). "Good! handsomely done! The Seventh couldn't beat
it! You do certainly handle your Rangers like an expert, General.
And where are you bound?"
"Four miles on the trail to Fort Clayton."
"Glad am I, dear! What's the idea of it?"
"Guard of honor for you and Thorndike."
"Bless - your - HEART! I'd rather have it from you than from the
Commander-in-Chief of the armies of the United States, you
incomparable little soldier! - and I don't need to take any oath to
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