| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Young Forester by Zane Grey: on the ground, with Dick standing over them. Stockton was closing in.
Greaser ran around them with something in his hand that glittered in the
firelight. Stockton dived for Dick's legs and upset him. They went down
together, and the Mexican leaped on them, waving the bright thing high over
his head.
I bounded forward, and, grasping his wrist with both hands, I wrenched his
arm with all my might. Some one struck me over the head. I saw a million
darting points of light--then all went black.
When I opened my eyes the sun was shining. I had a queer, numb feeling all
over, and my head hurt terribly. Everything about me was hazy. I did not
know where I was. After a little I struggled to sit up, and with great
The Young Forester |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Philosophy 4 by Owen Wister: this shirt look alike to me? They ought to. And why don't a Martini
cocktail and a cup of coffee taste the same to my tongue?" "Berkeley,"
attempted the tutor, "demonstrates--"
"Do you mean to say," the boy rushed on, "that there is no eternal
quality in all these things which when it meets my perceptions compels
me to see differences?"
The tutor surveyed his notes. "I can discover no such suggestions here
as you are pleased to make" said he. "But your orriginal researches,"
he continued most obsequiously, "recall our next subject,--Berkeley and
the Idealists." And he smoothed out his notes.
"Let's see," said the second boy, pondering; "I went to two or three
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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 Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen: this is not to be expected. And as to my father, I never in my
life saw him so affected. Poor Kitty has anger for having
concealed their attachment; but as it was a matter of confidence,
one cannot wonder. I am truly glad, dearest Lizzy, that you
have been spared something of these distressing scenes; but
now, as the first shock is over, shall I own that I long for your
return? I am not so selfish, however, as to press for it, if
inconvenient. Adieu! I take up my pen again to do what I
have just told you I would not; but circumstances are such that
I cannot help earnestly begging you all to come here as soon as
possible. I know my dear uncle and aunt so well, that I am not
Pride and Prejudice |
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 Salammbo by Gustave Flaubert: Mother!"
She raised her arms to their full length, arching her form, which in
its long garment was as pale and light as the moon. Then she fell
back, panting, on the ivory couch; but Taanach passed an amber
necklace with dolphin's teeth about her neck to banish terrors, and
Salammbo said in an almost stifled voice: "Go and bring me
Schahabarim."
Her father had not wished her to enter the college of priestesses, nor
even to be made at all acquainted with the popular Tanith. He was
reserving her for some alliance that might serve his political ends;
so that Salammbo lived alone in the midst of the palace. Her mother
Salammbo |
