The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from The Ancient Regime by Charles Kingsley: writing their petition of grievances. The chateau-gates must be
shut; but the king will appear on the balcony and speak to them.
They have seen the king's face; their petition of grievances has
been, if not read, looked at. In answer, two of them are hanged, on
a new gallows forty feet high, and the rest driven back to their
dens for a time."
Of course. What more exasperating and inexpiable insult to the
ruling powers was possible than this? To persist in being needy and
wretched, when a whole bureaucracy is toiling day and night to make
them prosperous and happy? An insult only to be avenged in blood.
Remark meanwhile, that this centralised bureaucracy was a failure;
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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 Man that Corrupted Hadleyburg by Mark Twain: matter. I am sorry to say what I am about to say, since it must
inflict irreparable injury upon Mr. Billson, whom I have always
esteemed and respected until now, and in whose invulnerability to
temptation I entirely believed--as did you all. But for the
preservation of my own honour I must speak--and with frankness. I
confess with shame--and I now beseech your pardon for it--that I
said to the ruined stranger all of the words contained in the test-
remark, including the disparaging fifteen. [Sensation.] When the
late publication was made I recalled them, and I resolved to claim
the sack of coin, for by every right I was entitled to it. Now I
will ask you to consider this point, and weigh it well; that
 The Man that Corrupted Hadleyburg |