The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Rezanov by Gertrude Atherton: quiet and green and beautiful. That is a thought
that has always fascinated me. And when I walk
on the crest I can see all the beauty of mountain
and bay. What more could I want? What more
have you in your world when you know it too well,
senor?"
"Nothing; but you might tire, too, of this."
"What of it? It would be the gentle sad ennui
of peace, not of disillusion, senor. How I wish you
would tell me all you know of life!"
"God forbid. And do not remind me of ennui and
 Rezanov |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Lin McLean by Owen Wister: "Oh!"
"For it's Christmas, an' we've bought some good cigars, an' Pete says
he'll learn me sure. O' course I've smoked some, you know. But I'd just
as leaves stayed with you if I'd only knowed sooner. I wish you lived
here. Did you smoke whole big cigars when you was beginning?"
"Do you like flapjacks and maple syrup?" inquired the artful McLean.
"That's what I'm figuring on inside twenty minutes."
"Twenty minutes! If they'd wait--"
"See here, Bill. They've quit expecting yu', don't yu' think? I'd ought
to waked, yu' see, but I slep' and slep', and kep' yu' from meetin' your
engagements, yu' see--for you couldn't go, of course. A man couldn't
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