| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Across The Plains by Robert Louis Stevenson: CHANCE ACQUAINTANCE, for he could write it as it should be written,
and I am sure (although I mean to try) that I cannot. - But who
would have supposed that a Brownie of mine should invent a tale for
Mr. Howells?
CHAPTER IX - BEGGARS
IN a pleasant, airy, up-hill country, it was my fortune when I was
young to make the acquaintance of a certain beggar. I call him
beggar, though he usually allowed his coat and his shoes (which
were open-mouthed, indeed) to beg for him. He was the wreck of an
athletic man, tall, gaunt, and bronzed; far gone in consumption,
with that disquieting smile of the mortally stricken on his face;
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Ozma of Oz by L. Frank Baum: find the magic belt around you when you arrived at your destination."
"What would become of it?" asked the girl.
"It would be lost, as were your silver shoes when you visited Oz
before, and no one would ever see it again. It seems too bad to
destroy the use of the magic belt in that way, doesn't it?"
"Then," said Dorothy, after a moment's thought, "I will give the magic
belt to Ozma, for she can use it in her own country. And she can wish
me transported to Uncle Henry without losing the belt."
"That is a wise plan," replied Glinda.
So they rode back to the Emerald City, and on the way it was arranged
that every Saturday morning Ozma would look at Dorothy in her magic
Ozma of Oz |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from Pellucidar by Edgar Rice Burroughs: perform the little act of homage with greater grace and
dignity.
Quickly I raised Ghak to his feet, clasping both his
hands in mine. I think there must have been tears in
my eyes then--I know I felt too full for words. The king
of Sari turned toward his warriors.
"Our emperor has come back," he announced. "Come
hither and--"
But he got no further, for the shouts that broke from
those savage throats would have drowned the voice of
heaven itself. I had never guessed how much they
Pellucidar |
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 Essays of Travel by Robert Louis Stevenson: women only, and was never refused. Without wishing to explain away
the charity of those who helped him, I cannot but fancy he may have
owed a little to his handsome face, and to that quick, responsive
nature, formed for love, which speaks eloquently through all
disguises, and can stamp an impression in ten minutes' talk or an
exchange of glances. He was the more dangerous in that he was far
from bold, but seemed to woo in spite of himself, and with a soft and
pleading eye. Ragged as he was, and many a scarecrow is in that
respect more comfortably furnished, even on board he was not without
some curious admirers.
There was a girl among the passengers, a tall, blonde, handsome,
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