| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Democracy In America, Volume 2 by Alexis de Toqueville: like to see upon the stage that medley of conditions, of
feelings, and of opinions, which occurs before their eyes. The
drama becomes more striking, more common, and more true.
Sometimes, however, those who write for the stage in democracies
also transgress the bounds of human nature - but it is on a
different side from their predecessors. By seeking to represent
in minute detail the little singularities of the moment and the
peculiar characteristics of certain personages, they forget to
portray the general features of the race.
When the democratic classes rule the stage, they introduce
as much license in the manner of treating subjects as in the
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Child of Storm by H. Rider Haggard: him, Macumazahn, especially as he has been liberal to me in the matter
of cattle, passing on to me a share of the herds of Masapo, so that I,
who have been poor so long, am getting rich at last. Moreover, my kraal
is to be honoured with a visit from Umbelazi and some of his brothers
to-morrow, and Saduko has promised to lift me up high when the Prince is
declared heir to the throne."
"Which prince?" I asked.
"Umbelazi, Macumazahn. Who else? Umbelazi, who without doubt will
conquer Cetewayo."
"Why without doubt, Umbezi? Cetewayo has a great following, and if _he_
should conquer I think that you will only be lifted up in the crops of
Child of Storm |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from The Troll Garden and Selected Stories by Willa Cather: You see!"
After a second glass Nils declared that he couldn't take any
more without getting sleepy. "Now get your fiddle, Vavrika," he
said as he opened his flute case.
But Joe settled back in his wooden rocker and wagged his big
carpet slipper. "No-no-no-no-no-no-no! No play fiddle now any
more: too much ache in de finger," waving them, "all-a-time
rheumatic. You play de flute, te-tety-tetety-te. Bohemie songs."
"I've forgotten all the Bohemian songs I used to play with you
and Johanna. But here's one that will make Clara pout. You
remember how her eyes used to snap when we called her the Bohemian
The Troll Garden and Selected Stories |
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 Democracy In America, Volume 1 by Alexis de Toqueville: 170.
In the State of New York each township elects a
representative, who has a share in the administration of the
county as well as in that of the township.]
Such are the principal differences which the systems of
county and town administration present in the Federal States.
Were it my intention to examine the provisions of American law
minutely, I should have to point out still further differences in
the executive details of the several communities. But what I
have already said may suffice to show the general principles on
which the administration of the United States rests. These
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