| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Herland by Charlotte Gilman: plate of fruit still before us. We could look out on one side over
a stretch of open country, quietly rich and lovely; on the other,
the garden, with tables here and there, far apart enough for
privacy. Let me say right here that with all their careful "balance
of population" there was no crowding in this country. There was
room, space, a sunny breezy freedom everywhere.
Somel set her chin upon her hand, her elbow on the low wall
beside her, and looked off over the fair land.
"Of course we have faults--all of us," she said. "In one way
you might say that we have more than we used to--that is, our
standard of perfection seems to get farther and farther away. But
Herland |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from The Wheels of Chance by H. G. Wells: Sussex roads--and such were the three persons of this story--the
convergence did not appear to be so inevitable.
Bechamel, tightening his chain in the Angel yard after dinner,
was the first to be aware of their reunion. He saw Hoopdriver
walk slowly across the gateway, his head enhaloed in cigarette
smoke, and pass out of sight up the street. Incontinently a mass
of cloudy uneasiness, that had been partly dispelled during the
day, reappeared and concentrated rapidly into definite suspicion.
He put his screw hammer into his pocket and walked through the
archway into the street, to settle the business forthwith, for he
prided himself on his decision. Hoopdriver was merely
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