| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Spirit of the Border by Zane Grey: threw it into the fire.
The braves quieted down after that, and soon lapsed into slumber, leaving the
big fellow, to whom the chief had addressed his brief command, acting, as
guard. Observing Joe watching him as he puffed on his new pipe, he grinned,
and spoke in broken English that was intelligible, and much of a surprise to
the young man.
"Paleface--tobac'--heap good."
Then, seeing that Joe made no effort to follow his brother's initiative, for
Jim was fast asleep, he pointed to the recumbent figures and spoke again in.
"Ugh! Paleface sleep--Injun wigwams--near setting sun."
On the following morning Joe was awakened by the pain in his legs, which had
The Spirit of the Border |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Woman and Labour by Olive Schreiner: change which is going on is not far more in volume and social importance,
but that, having overcome the first obstruction, it is now noiseless.)
Between the Emilias and Sophy Westerns of a bygone generation and the most
typical of modern women, there exists no greater gap (probably not so great
a one) as that which exists between the Tom Joneses and Squire Westerns of
that day and the most typical of entirely modern men.
The sexual and social ideals which dominated the fox-hunting, hard-
drinking, high-playing, recklessly loose-living country squire, clergyman,
lawyer, and politician who headed the social organism of the past, are at
least as distinct from the ideals which dominate thousands of their male
descendants holding corresponding positions in the societies of today, as
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| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from A Tramp Abroad by Mark Twain: sometimes I forget and ask again. You going to Geneva?"
"Yes."
"What hotel you going to stop at?"
"We expect to stop in a pension."
"I don't hardly believe you'll like that; there's very few
Americans in the pensions. What hotel are you stopping
at here?"
"The Schweitzerhof."
"Oh, yes. I asked you that before, too. But I always
ask everybody what hotel they're stopping at, and so I've
got my head all mixed up with hotels. But it makes talk,
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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 Amazing Interlude by Mary Roberts Rinehart: The man in the dressing chair squirmed and grinned sheepishly.
"The iodine," he explained. "It is painful."
"Then I shall ask you a question, and you will forget the iodine. Why
is a dead German like the tail of a pig?"
Paul failed. The room failed. Even Colonel Lilias confessed himself at
fault.
"Because it is the end of the swine," explained Henri, and looked about
him triumphantly. A gust of laughter spread through the room and even
to the kitchen. A door banged. Henri upset a chair. There was noise
again, and gayety in the little house of mercy. And much happiness.
And there I think we may leave them all - Henri and Sara Lee; and Jean
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