| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Life in the Iron-Mills by Rebecca Davis: through the thick sodden clouds, like a bright, unattainable
calm. As she looked, a shadow of their solemn repose fell on
her face; its fierce discontent faded into a pitiful, humble
quiet. Slow, solemn tears gathered in her eyes: the poor weak
eyes turned so hopelessly to the place where Hugh was to rest,
the grave heights looking higher and brighter and more solemn
than ever before. The Quaker watched her keenly. She came to
her at last, and touched her arm.
"When thee comes back," she said, in a low, sorrowful tone, like
one who speaks from a strong heart deeply moved with remorse or
pity, "thee shall begin thy life again,--there on the hills. I
Life in the Iron-Mills |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from War of the Worlds by H. G. Wells: trees, took up the chorus, firing heavily one after the other.
A woman screamed. Everyone stood arrested by the sudden
stir of battle, near us and yet invisible to us. Nothing was to
be seen save flat meadows, cows feeding unconcernedly for
the most part, and silvery pollard willows motionless in the
warm sunlight.
"The sojers'll stop 'em," said a woman beside me, doubt-
fully. A haziness rose over the treetops.
Then suddenly we saw a rush of smoke far away up the
river, a puff of smoke that jerked up into the air and hung;
and forthwith the ground heaved under foot and a heavy
War of the Worlds |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass: An American Slave by Frederick Douglass: white man is death by Lynch law,--and that was the
law in Mr. Gardner's ship-yard; nor is there much
of any other out of Mr. Gardner's ship-yard.
I went directly home, and told the story of my
wrongs to Master Hugh; and I am happy to say of
him, irreligious as he was, his conduct was heavenly,
compared with that of his brother Thomas under
similar circumstances. He listened attentively to my
narration of the circumstances leading to the savage
outrage, and gave many proofs of his strong indigna-
The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass: An American Slave |
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 Ballads by Robert Louis Stevenson: own clan, which would appear her natural recourse. On the
other hand, she seems to have visited various lesser chiefs
among the Tevas, and these to have excused themselves solely
on the danger of the enterprise. The broad distinction here
drawn between Nateva and Namunu-ura is therefore not
impossibly anachronistic.
Note 11, "HIOPA THE KING." Hiopa was really the name of the
king (chief) of Vaiau; but I could never learn that of the
king of Paea - pronounce to rhyme with the Indian AYAH - and
I gave the name where it was most needed. This note must
appear otiose indeed to readers who have never heard of
Ballads |
