| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus by L. Frank Baum: across the plain and over the hills to the south. The air was sharp
and frosty and the starlight touched the snowflakes and made them
glitter like countless diamonds. The reindeer leaped onward with
strong, steady bounds, and Claus' heart was so light and merry that he
laughed and sang while the wind whistled past his ears:
"With a ho, ho, ho!
And a ha, ha, ha!
And a ho, ho! ha, ha, hee!
Now away we go
O'er the frozen snow,
As merry as we can be!"
The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from The Commission in Lunacy by Honore de Balzac: friends do, a glance of unspoken affection, and then they bowed coldly
to the lawyer. Popinot felt that it was quite unnecessary to question
the Marquis as to his relations towards his sons.
"Have you enjoyed yourselves?" asked the Marquis.
"Yes, father; I knocked down six dolls in twelve shots at the first
trial!" cried Camille.
"And where did you ride?"
"In the Bois; we saw my mother."
"Did she stop?"
"We were riding so fast just then that I daresay she did not see us,"
replied the young Count.
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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 The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood by Howard Pyle: shooting match and didst thou not gladly give him a bright golden
arrow for his own?"
At this the Sheriff looked grave and all the guild of butchers too,
so that none laughed but Robin, only some winked slyly at each other.
"Come, fill us some sack!" cried Robin. "Let us e'er be merry
while we may, for man is but dust, and he hath but a span to live
here till the worm getteth him, as our good gossip Swanthold sayeth;
so let life be merry while it lasts, say I. Nay, never look down i'
the mouth, Sir Sheriff. Who knowest but that thou mayest catch
Robin Hood yet, if thou drinkest less good sack and Malmsey, and bringest
down the fat about thy paunch and the dust from out thy brain.
The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood |
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 Ancient Regime by Charles Kingsley: If it was more than sufficient, he wrote, "Good--express
satisfaction and sensibility." There is nothing new under the sun.
In 1761, the Government, jealous enough of newspapers, determined to
start one for itself, and for that purpose took under its tutelage
the Gazette de France. So the public newsmongers were of course to
be the provincial intendants, and their sub-newsmongers, of course,
the sub-delegates.
But alas! the poor sub-delegates seem to have found either very
little news, or very little which it was politic to publish. One
reports that a smuggler of salt has been hung, and has displayed
great courage; another that a woman in his district has had three
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