| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from One Basket by Edna Ferber: protected, seemingly, by some force working in direct defiance of
the law of gravity. And now and then, by way of brightening the
tedium of their job, he and his gang would call to a girl passing
in the street below, "Hoo-hoo! Hello, sweetheart!"
There was nothing vicious in it. Chet would have come to the aid
of beauty in distress as quickly as Don Quixote. Any man with a
blue shirt as clean and a shave as smooth and a haircut as round
as Chet Ball's has no meanness in him. A certain daredeviltry
went hand in hand with his work--a calling in which a careless
load dispatcher, a cut wire, or a faulty strap may mean instant
death. Usually the girls laughed and called back to them or went
 One Basket |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Stories From the Old Attic by Robert Harris: he gave the money to a beggar sitting nearby. "I have one last
coin," the wise man went on, talking to the third youth. "What
shall I do with it?"
The third youth had been paying attention, and, thinking he
would get the money if he avoided the greed and wastefulness implied
in the answers of his friends, said, "Why, give it to the poor."
"That is a very wise and kind answer," said the wise man,
smiling. And because you have answered so well" (at this the youth
brightened with expectation), "I will indeed take your good advice
and give the money to the poor."
"Don't I get anything for my wisdom?" demanded the youth.
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