| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Mad King by Edgar Rice Burroughs: that had been taken to keep Serbian spies either from enter-
ing or leaving the city.
Toward dawn, at the darkest period of the night, Barney
saw lights ahead of him. Apparently he was approaching a
village. He went more cautiously now, but all his care did
not prevent him from running for the second time that night
almost into the arms of a sentry. This time, however, Barney
saw the soldier before he himself was discovered. It was
upon the edge of the town, in an orchard, that the sentinel
was posted. Barney, approaching through the trees, darting
from one to another, was within a few paces of the man be-
The Mad King |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from The Patchwork Girl of Oz by L. Frank Baum: Chapter Thirteen
Scraps and the Scarecrow
From here on the country improved and the desert
places began to give way to fertile spots; still
no houses were yet to be seen near the road. There
were some hills, with valleys between them, and on
reaching the top of one of these hills the
travelers found before them a high wall, running
to the right and the left as far as their eyes
could reach. Immediately in front of them, where
the wall crossed the roadway, stood a gate having
The Patchwork Girl of Oz |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from The Prince by Nicolo Machiavelli: having heard the news of what had happened at Lucca, at once put
Pagolo Guinigi in command of the army, and with a troop of cavalry set
out for home. Contrary to his expectations, he found the rebellion at
an end, yet he posted his men in the most advantageous places
throughout the city. As it appeared to Stefano that Castruccio ought
to be very much obliged to him, he sought him out, and without saying
anything on his own behalf, for he did not recognize any need for
doing so, he begged Castruccio to pardon the other members of his
family by reason of their youth, their former friendships, and the
obligations which Castruccio was under to their house. To this
Castruccio graciously responded, and begged Stefano to reassure
The Prince |
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 A Princess of Parms by Edgar Rice Burroughs: her hair she drew upon the marble floor the first map of
Barsoomian territory I had ever seen. It was crisscrossed in
every direction with long straight lines, sometimes running
parallel and sometimes converging toward some great circle.
The lines, she said, were waterways; the circles, cities; and
one far to the northwest of us she pointed out as Helium.
There were other cities closer, but she said she feared to
enter many of them, as they were not all friendly toward Helium.
Finally, after studying the map carefully in the moonlight
which now flooded the room, I pointed out a waterway far
to the north of us which also seemed to lead to Helium.
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