| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from A Princess of Parms by Edgar Rice Burroughs: the last Zodangan surrendered, but finally the carnage ceased,
the prisoners were marched back to Helium, and we entered
the greater city's gates, a huge triumphal procession of
conquering heroes.
The broad avenues were lined with women and children,
among which were the few men whose duties necessitated
that they remain within the city during the battle. We were
greeted with an endless round of applause and showered with
ornaments of gold, platinum, silver, and precious jewels.
The city had gone mad with joy.
My fierce Tharks caused the wildest excitement and enthusiasm.
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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 Blue Flower by Henry van Dyke: with a knife. Some faint image of a hermit's cell, a bare
lodging in a back street of Antioch, a class-room full of
earnest students, remained in Hermas' memory. Some dull echo
of the voice of John the Presbyter, and the measured sound of
chanting, and the murmur of great congregations, still
lingered in his ears; but it was like something that had
happened to another person, something that he had read long
ago, but of which he had lost the meaning.
His new life was full and smooth and rich--too rich for
any sense of loss to make itself felt. There were a hundred
affairs to busy him, and the days ran swiftly by as if they were
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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 Faraday as a Discoverer by John Tyndall: less fierce for many years was the contest as to the origin and
maintenance of the power of the voltaic pile. Volta himself supposed
it to reside in the Contact of different metals. Here was exerted
his 'Electro-motive force,' which tore the combined electricities
asunder and drove them as currents in opposite directions.
To render the circulation of the current possible, it was necessary
to connect the metals by a moist conductor; for when any two metals
were connected by a third, their relation to each other was such
that a complete neutralisation of the electric motion was the result.
Volta's theory of metallic contact was so clear, so beautiful, and
apparently so complete, that the best intellects of Europe accepted
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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 Duchess of Padua by Oscar Wilde: MORANZONE
I always hear,
From the dim confines of some sepulchre,
A voice that cries for vengeance. We waste time,
It will be morning soon; are you resolved
You will not kill the Duke?
GUIDO
I am resolved.
MORANZONE
O wretched father, lying unavenged.
GUIDO
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