| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Child of Storm by H. Rider Haggard: kaross; and as for friends, he is so jealous that he will not allow me
any."
"He cannot be jealous of women, Mameena!"
"Oh, women! Piff! I do not care for women; they are very unkind to me,
because--because--well, perhaps you can guess why, Macumazahn," she
answered, glancing at her own reflection in a little travelling
looking-glass that hung from the woodwork of the wagon, for I had been
using it to brush my hair, and smiled very sweetly.
"At least you have your husband, Mameena, and I thought that perhaps by
this time--"
She held up her hand.
Child of Storm |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Tik-Tok of Oz by L. Frank Baum: to look upon and admire."
Ann was much pleased with Private Files. He
seemed indeed to be such a warrior as she needed
in her enterprise, and her hopes of success took
a sudden bound when Files told her he knew
where a gun-tree grew and would go there at
once and pick the ripest and biggest musket the
tree bore.
Chapter Two
Out of Oogaboo
Three days later the Grand Army of Oogaboo
Tik-Tok of Oz |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from Howard Pyle's Book of Pirates by Howard Pyle: Though Spain might be ever so well grounded in peace at home, in
the West Indies she was always at war with the whole
world--English, French, Dutch. It was almost a matter of life or
death with her to keep her hold upon the New World. At home she
was bankrupt and, upon the earthquake of the Reformation, her
power was already beginning to totter and to crumble to pieces.
America was her treasure house, and from it alone could she hope
to keep her leaking purse full of gold and silver. So it was that
she strove strenuously, desperately, to keep out the world from
her American possessions--a bootless task, for the old order upon
which her power rested was broken and crumbled forever. But
Howard Pyle's Book of Pirates |
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 Wife, et al by Anton Chekhov: a song and the squeaking of an accordion, or a sledge with bells
dashed by the garden-fence, it was quite enough to send a rush of
happiness, filling not only my heart, but even my stomach, my
legs, my arms. . . . I would listen to the accordion or the bells
dying away in the distance and imagine myself a doctor, and paint
pictures, one better than another. And here, as you see, my
dreams have come true. I have had more than I dared to dream of.
For thirty years I have been the favourite professor, I have had
splendid comrades, I have enjoyed fame and honour. I have loved,
married from passionate love, have had children. In fact, looking
back upon it, I see my whole life as a fine composition arranged
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