| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Firm of Nucingen by Honore de Balzac: problematical, since they were not known to possess either stock or
landed estates, yet they lived, and lived well. These ingenious
condottieri of a modern industrialism, that has come to be the most
ruthless of all warfares, leave anxieties to their creditors, and keep
the pleasures for themselves. They are careful for nothing, save
dress. Still with the courage of the Jean Bart order, that will smoke
cigars on a barrel of powder (perhaps by way of keeping up their
character), with a quizzing humor that outdoes the minor newspapers,
sparing no one, not even themselves; clear-sighted, wary, keen after
business, grasping yet open handed, envious yet self-complacent,
profound politicians by fits and starts, analyzing everything,
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from The Son of Tarzan by Edgar Rice Burroughs: alone, and they had left a canoe in which lay a paddle! She could
scarce believe the good fortune that had come to her. To delay
now would be suicidal to her hopes. Quickly she ran from her
hiding place and dropped to the ground. A dozen yards lay
between her and the canoe.
Up stream, beyond the bend, Malbihn ordered his canoes in
to shore. He landed with his head man and crossed the little
point slowly in search of a spot where he might watch the canoe
he had left at the landing place. He was smiling in anticipation
of the almost certain success of his stratagem--sooner or later
the girl would come back and attempt to cross the river in one
 The Son of Tarzan |