| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Court Life in China by Isaac Taylor Headland: the viceroys and governors:
"This yamen has received the special commands of her Imperial
Majesty the Empress Dowager, and his Imperial Majesty the
Emperor, to grant you full power and liberty to resist by force
of arms all aggressions upon your several jurisdictions,
proclaiming a state of war, if necessary, without first asking
instructions from Peking; for this loss of time may be fatal to
your security, and enable the enemy to make good his footing
against your forces."
In order to strengthen her position she appointed two
commissioners whom she sent to Japan in the hope of forming a
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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 Illustrious Gaudissart by Honore de Balzac: deliver two puncheons of the wine called "Head of Vouvray," vineyard
of Margaritis.
This done, the illustrious Gaudissart departed in high feather,
humming, as he skipped along,--
"The King of the South,
He burned his mouth," etc.
CHAPTER V
The illustrious Gaudissart returned to the Soleil d'Or, where he
naturally conversed with the landlord while waiting for dinner.
Mitouflet was an old soldier, guilelessly crafty, like the peasantry
of the Loire; he never laughed at a jest, but took it with the gravity
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