| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Tattine by Ruth Ogden [Mrs. Charles W. Ide]: "Well, everything is ready," said Tattine quite complacently, as she led the
way to the back piazza, where "everything" was lying in a row. There was the
maple sugar itself, two pounds of it on a plate, two large kitchen spoons, a
china cup, two sheets of brown wrapping-paper, two or three newspapers, a box
of matches, a pail of clear spring water, a hammer, an ice-pick, and last, and
most important of all, a granite-ware kettle.
"Now if you'll carry these," explained Tattine, "I'll run and tell Philip to
bring the ice," so Rudolph and Mabel "loaded up" and marched down to the camp,
and Tattine disappeared in the direction of the ice-house. The camp was not
far away, and consisted of a cosy little "A" tent, a hammock hung between two
young chestnuts, and a fire-place made of a circle of stones on the ground,
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from The Koran: that is a sign to the believers.
And the fellows of the Grove too were unjust; and we took
vengeance on them, and, verily, they both are for an obvious example.
And the fellows of El 'Hagr called the messengers liars, and we
brought them our signs, but they therefrom did turn away. And they did
hew them in the mountain houses to dwell in in safety.
But the noise caught them in the morn; and that which they had
earned availed them naught.
We did not create the heavens and the earth and all that is
between them both, save in truth. And, verily, the Hour is surely
coming; then do thou pardon with a fair pardon,
The Koran |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from Michael Strogoff by Jules Verne: nearly four hundred versts. Formerly these forts were
occupied by detachments of Cossacks, and they protected
the country against the Kirghese, as well as against the
Tartars. But since the Muscovite Government had believed
these hordes reduced to absolute submission, they had been
abandoned, and now could not be used; just at the time
when they were needed. Many of these forts had been re-
duced to ashes; and the boatmen even pointed out the smoke
to Michael, rising in the southern horizon, and showing the
approach of the Tartar advance-guard.
As soon as the ferryboat landed the tarantass on the
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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 Patchwork Girl of Oz by L. Frank Baum: her about the wireless message.
And that was the way Dorothy heard that the
Historian wanted to speak with her, and there was
a Shaggy Man in the Land of Oz who knew how to
telegraph a wireless reply. The result was that
the Historian begged so hard to be told the latest
news of Oz, so that he could write it down for the
children to read, that Dorothy asked permission of
Ozma and Ozma graciously consented.
That is why, after two long years of waiting,
another Oz story is now presented to the children
The Patchwork Girl of Oz |
