| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Dynamiter by Robert Louis Stevenson and Fanny Van De Grift Stevenson: before St. Martin's-in-the-Fields, wavering like a drunken
man; the passers-by regarding him with eyes in which he read,
as in a glass, an image of the terror and horror that dwelt
within his own.
'I am afraid you are very ill, sir,' observed a woman,
stopping and gazing hard in his face. 'Can I do anything to
help you?'
'Ill?' said M'Guire. 'O God!' And then, recovering some
shadow of his self-command, 'Chronic, madam,' said he: 'a
long course of the dumb ague. But since you are so
compassionate - an errand that I lack the strength to carry
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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 Augsburg Confession by Philip Melanchthon: The same is testified by Jerome, who says: The priests
administer the Eucharist, and distribute the blood of Christ
to the people. Indeed, Pope Gelasius commands that the
Sacrament be not divided (dist. II., De Consecratione, cap.
Comperimus). Only custom, not so ancient, has it otherwise.
But it is evident that any custom introduced against the
commandments of God is not to be allowed, as the Canons
witness (dist. III., cap. Veritate, and the following
chapters). But this custom has been received, not only against
the Scripture, but also against the old Canons and the example
of the Church. Therefore, if any preferred to use both kinds
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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 Bab:A Sub-Deb, Mary Roberts Rinehart by Mary Roberts Rinehart: "Do you?"
"Do I what?"
"Do you blush to look back on it?"
Mother rose and made a sweeping gesture with her right arm.
"I wash my hands of you!" she said. "You are impertanent and
indelacate. At your age I was an inocent child, not troubleing with
things that did not concern me. As for Love, I had never heard of
it until I came out."
"Life must have burst on you like an explosion," I observed. "I
suppose you thought that babies----"
"Silense!" mother shreiked. And seeing that she persisted in
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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 Gods of Mars by Edgar Rice Burroughs: Gently I pressed it open a crack; enough to discover a
dozen blacks stretched upon their silks in profound slumber.
At the far side of the room a rack held the swords and
firearms of the men. Warily I pushed the door a trifle wider
to admit my body. A hinge gave out a resentful groan.
One of the men stirred, and my heart stood still. I cursed myself
for a fool to have thus jeopardized our chances for escape;
but there was nothing for it now but to see the adventure through.
With a spring as swift and as noiseless as a tiger's I lit
beside the guardsman who had moved. My hands hovered
about his throat awaiting the moment that his eyes should
The Gods of Mars |
