| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Warlord of Mars by Edgar Rice Burroughs: Should Salensus Oll learn of it he would have me thrown to the apts
before the day was done."
"He dare not do that, and you know it full well, Solan,"
contradicted the black. "Too great a power of life and death
you hold over the people of Kadabra for Salensus Oll ever to risk
threatening you with death. Before ever his minions could lay
their hands upon you, you might seize this very lever from which
you have just warned me and wipe out the entire city."
"And myself into the bargain," said Solan, with a shudder.
The Warlord of Mars |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Massimilla Doni by Honore de Balzac: those notes by such gusts of flame, starting from the lungs and
feeding in the air on some unknown matter which our ears inhale, and
which bears us heavenwards in a rapture of love, she must be divine!"
"She is like the gorgeous Indian plant, which deserting the earth
absorbs invisible nourishment from the atmosphere, and sheds from its
spiral white blossom such fragrant vapors as fill the brain with
dreams," replied Capraja.
On being recalled, la Tinti appeared alone. She was received with a
storm of applause; a thousand kisses were blown to her from finger-
tips; she was pelted with roses, and a wreath was made of the flowers
snatched from the ladies' caps, almost all sent out from Paris.
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