| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Magic of Oz by L. Frank Baum: "Before he can do that," said he, "I will transform myself into a
lion and tear him to pieces, or into a bear and eat him up, or into a
fly and fly away where he could not find me."
"Can you really do such wonderful transformations?" asked the old
Nome, looking at him curiously.
"Of course," declared Kiki. I can transform you into a stick of
wood, in a flash, or into a stone, and leave you here by the roadside."
"The wicked Nome shivered a little when he heard that, but it made
him long more than ever to possess the great secret. After a while
he said:
"I'll tell you what I'll do. If you will help me to conquer Oz and
The Magic of Oz |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from The Copy-Cat & Other Stories by Mary E. Wilkins Freeman: When Lily said, "And there wasn't even any chicken-
roast, mother," she nearly had hysterics.
"If you think this is a laughing matter, Mrs. Jen-
nings, I do not," said Mrs. Diantha, and again her
dislike and sorrow at the sight of that sweet, mirth-
ful face was over her. It was a face to be loved, and
hers was not.
"Why, I went up-stairs and kissed the child good
night, and never suspected," laughed Lily's mother.
"I got Aunt Laura's curly, light wig for her," ex-
plained Lily, and Mrs. Jennings laughed again.
|
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from The Memorabilia by Xenophon: duties of the office, would richly deserve to be fined?
[5] i.e. "head of the war department, and commander-in-chief," etc.
With arguments like these he persuaded the young man to go and take
lessons. After he had gone through the course he came back, and
Socrates proceeded playfully to banter him.
Soc. Behold our young friend, sirs, as Homer says of Agamemnon, of
mein majestical,[6] so he; does he not seem to move more majestically,
like one who has studied to be a general? Of course, just as a man who
has learned to play the harp is a harper, even if he never touch the
instrument, or as one who has studied medicine is a physician, though
he does not practise, so our friend here from this time forward is now
The Memorabilia |
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: the sack, he could hear his microbes gnaw, the place was so still.
He related the curious history of the sack, then went on to speak in
warm terms of Hadleyburg's old and well-earned reputation for
spotless honesty, and of the town's just pride in this reputation.
He said that this reputation was a treasure of priceless value; that
under Providence its value had now become inestimably enhanced, for
the recent episode had spread this fame far and wide, and thus had
focussed the eyes of the American world upon this village, and made
its name for all time, as he hoped and believed, a synonym for
commercial incorruptibility. [Applause.] "And who is to be the
guardian of this noble fame--the community as a whole? No! The
The Man that Corrupted Hadleyburg |
