| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Glinda of Oz by L. Frank Baum: we saw you coming, and hid behind the trees, but as you
are Strangers and seem to be friendly we decided to
meet you, for we are in great trouble and need
assistance."
"If you belong on the island, why are you here?"
demanded Glinda.
So they told her all the story: How the Queen had
defied the Flatheads and submerged the whole island so
that her enemies could not get to it or destroy it;
how, when the Flatheads came to the shore, Coo-ee-oh
had commanded them, together with their friend Ervic,
Glinda of Oz |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Twilight Land by Howard Pyle: money that had been given him from his brother, how his brother
had broken off the branch and had thrown it away, and how he had
spent the whole live-long day searching for it. And to all the
rich man listened and said never a word. But though he said
nothing, he thought to himself, "Maybe, after all, it is not the
will of Heaven that this man shall have the money. Nevertheless,
I will give him another trial."
So he told the poor beggar to come in and stay for the night;
and, whilst the beggar was snoring away in his bed in the garret,
the rich man had his wife make two great pies, each with a fine
brown crust. In the first pie he put the little bag of money; the
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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 Tristram Shandy by Laurence Sterne: fence against the mischievous effects of those consciences which are no law
unto themselves; well intending, by the many provisions made,--that in all
such corrupt and misguided cases, where principles and the checks of
conscience will not make us upright,--to supply their force, and, by the
terrors of gaols and halters, oblige us to it.'
(I see plainly, said my father, that this sermon has been composed to be
preached at the Temple,--or at some Assize.--I like the reasoning,--and am
sorry that Dr. Slop has fallen asleep before the time of his conviction:--
for it is now clear, that the Parson, as I thought at first, never insulted
St. Paul in the least;--nor has there been, brother, the least difference
between them.--A great matter, if they had differed, replied my uncle
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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 The Europeans by Henry James: on the arm.
"I am not sure that I understood," said Mr. Wentworth,
who had angularity in his voice as well as in his gestures.
Gertrude had been looking hard at her former suitor.
She had been puzzled, like her sister; but her imagination
moved more quickly than Charlotte's. "Mr. Brand asked you
to let Felix take me away," she said to her father.
The young minister gave her a strange look. "It is not because I
don't want to see you any more," he declared, in a tone intended
as it were for publicity.
"I should n't think you would want to see me any more,"
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