| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Thuvia, Maid of Mars by Edgar Rice Burroughs: strangely ethereal appearance. She seemed suddenly to
have dissolved into the tenuous substance of a dream,
and as he continued to gaze upon her, she faded slowly
from his sight.
For an instant he was dumbfounded, and then the whole
truth flashed suddenly upon him. Jav had caused him to
believe that Thuvia was accompanying him through the
wood while, as a matter of fact, he had detained the
girl for himself!
Carthoris was horrified. He cursed himself for his stupidity,
and yet he knew that the fiendish power which the Lotharian
Thuvia, Maid of Mars |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Faraday as a Discoverer by John Tyndall: Faraday. He is a youth of twenty-two years of age. As far as Sir H.
Davy has been able to observe or ascertain, he appears well fitted
for the situation. His habits seem good; his disposition active and
cheerful, and his manner intelligent. He is willing to engage
himself on the same terms as given to Mr. Payne at the time of
quitting the Institution.
'Resolved,--That Michael Faraday be engaged to fill the situation
lately occupied by Mr. Payne, on the same terms.'
[2] Faraday loved this word and employed it to the last; he had an
intense dislike to the modern term physicist.
[3] To whom I am indebted for a copy of the original letter.
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