| 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: around Girty's teepee, where already a great throng had congregated. Of all
the Indians to be seen not one walked. They leaped by Jim, and ran over the
grass nimble as deer.
He saw the eager, fire in their dusky eyes, and the cruelly clenched teeth
like those of wolves when they snarl. He felt the hissing breath of many
savages as they raced by him. More than one whirled a tomahawk close to Jim's
head, and uttered horrible yells in his ear. They were like tigers lusting for
blood.
Jim hurried to the church. Not an Indian was visible near the log structure.
Even the savage guards had gone. He entered the open door to be instantly
struck with reverence and awe.
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 Intentions by Oscar Wilde: popular among those who have never read history. But mere
emotional sympathy will not do. It is too variable, and too
closely connected with the passions; and a board of arbitrators
who, for the general welfare of the race, are to be deprived of the
power of putting their decisions into execution, will not be of
much avail. There is only one thing worse than Injustice, and that
is Justice without her sword in her hand. When Right is not Might,
it is Evil.
No: the emotions will not make us cosmopolitan, any more than the
greed for gain could do so. It is only by the cultivation of the
habit of intellectual criticism that we shall be able to rise
|
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from Life on the Mississippi by Mark Twain: through the Golden Gate, and my pulses leaped for joy.
I hurried back to that door and glanced in. Alas, there was
small room for hope--Backus's eyes were heavy and bloodshot,
his sweaty face was crimson, his speech maudlin and thick,
his body sawed drunkenly about with the weaving motion of the ship.
He drained another glass to the dregs, whilst the cards
were being dealt.
He took his hand, glanced at it, and his dull eyes lit up for a moment.
The gamblers observed it, and showed their gratification by
hardly perceptible signs.
'How many cards?'
|
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 Wrecker by Stevenson & Osbourne: lookers-on, big fellows, for the most part, of the true Western
build, long in the leg, broad in the shoulder, and adorned (to a
plain man's taste) with needless finery. A jaunty, ostentatious
comradeship prevailed. Bets were flying, and nicknames.
"The boys" (as they would have called themselves) were very
boyish; and it was plain they were here in mirth, and not on
business. Behind, and certainly in strong contrast to these
gentlemen, I could detect the figure of my friend Captain Trent,
come (as I could very well imagine that a captain would) to
hear the last of his old vessel. Since yesterday, he had rigged
himself anew in ready-made black clothes, not very aptly fitted;
|
