| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Lady Baltimore by Owen Wister: come here to see what was to be seen at Udolpho--the club, the old
church, a country place with a fine avenue--and that it was the church
they now couldn't get into, because my visit had disturbed the usual
whereabouts of the key, of which Gazza was now going in search. I could
have told him where to find it, but it pleased me not to disturb myself
for this, as I listened to him assuring Kitty that it was probably in the
cabin beyond the bridge, but not to be alarmed if he did not immediately
return with it. Kitty, not without audible mirth, assured him that they
should not be alarmed at all, to which the voice of Hortense
supplemented, "Not at all." They were evidently in a boat, which Hortense
herself was rowing, and which she seemed to bring to the bank, where I
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from An Ideal Husband by Oscar Wilde: Row at ten o'clock in the morning, goes to the Opera three times a
week, changes his clothes at least five times a day, and dines out
every night of the season. You don't call that leading an idle life,
do you?
LORD CAVERSHAM. [Looking at her with a kindly twinkle in his eyes.]
You are a very charming young lady!
MABEL CHILTERN. How sweet of you to say that, Lord Caversham! Do
come to us more often. You know we are always at home on Wednesdays,
and you look so well with your star!
LORD CAVERSHAM. Never go anywhere now. Sick of London Society.
Shouldn't mind being introduced to my own tailor; he always votes on
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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 A Footnote to History by Robert Louis Stevenson: temporise and let his enemies weary and disperse, he judged it
politic to strike a blow. He struck it, with what seemed to be
success, and the sound of it roused Samoa to rebellion.
About two in the morning of August 31st, Apia was wakened by men
marching. Day came, and Brandeis and his war-party were already
long disappeared in the woods. All morning belated Tamaseseites
were still to be seen running with their guns. All morning shots
were listened for in vain; but over the top of the forest, far up
the mountain, smoke was for some time observed to hang. About ten
a dead man was carried in, lashed under a pole like a dead pig, his
rosary (for he was a Catholic) hanging nearly to the ground. Next
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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 Tattine by Ruth Ogden [Mrs. Charles W. Ide]: an occasional stirring from the long-handled spoon in Rudolph's hand, soon
dissolved. Dissolving sometimes seems to be almost a day's journey from
boiling, and the children were rather impatient for that stage to be reached.
At last, however, Rudolph announced excitedly, "It boils, it boils! and now I
mustn't leave it for a minute. More wood, Mabel! don't be so slow, and,
Tattine, hurry Philip up with that ice," but Philip was seen at that moment
bringing a large piece of ice in a wheelbarrow, so Tattine was saved that
journey, and devoted the time instead to spreading out one of the pieces of
wrapping-paper, to keep the ice from the ground, because of the dead leaves
and "things" that were likely to cling to it.
"Now break off a good-sized piece, Tattine," Rudolph directed, "and put it on
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