| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Bucky O'Connor by William MacLeod Raine: each other. This rather piqued her, though she would probably
have rebuffed him if he had presumed far. Of which probability
Val Collins was very well aware.
They met one morning in front of a drug store downtown. She
carried a parasol that was lilac-trimmed, which shade was also
the outstanding note of her dress. She was looking her very best,
and no doubt knew it. To Val her dainty freshness seemed to
breathe the sweetness of spring violets.
"Good morning, Miss Mackenzie. Weather like this I'm awful glad I
ain't a mummy," he told her. "The world's mighty full of
beautiful things this glad day."
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Montezuma's Daughter by H. Rider Haggard: and our mouths are silent for ever. Where shall I begin? I know
not. Stay, I bore a child--had he lived he would have been your
prince to-day. That child I saw starve to death before my eyes,
inch by inch and day by day I saw him starve. But it is nothing;
who am I that I should complain because I have lost my son, when so
many of your sons are dead and their blood is required at my hands?
Listen again:' and she went on to tell in burning words of the
horrors of the siege, of the cruelties of the Spaniards, and of the
bravery of the men of the Otomie whom I had commanded. For a full
hour she spoke thus, while all that vast audience hung upon her
words. Also she told of the part that I played in the struggle,
Montezuma's Daughter |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from Dreams by Olive Schreiner: have gone into the house."
And I said, "And if they had fallen as they climbed--?"
God said, "They had been wine."
I stood a way off watching in the sunshine, and I shivered.
God lay in the sunshine watching too.
Then there rose one among the feasters, who said, "My brethren, let us
pray!"
And all the men and women rose: and strong men bowed their heads, and
mothers folded their little children's hands together, and turned their
faces upwards, to the roof. And he who first had risen stood at the table
head, and stretched out both his hands, and his beard was long and white,
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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 Bucky O'Connor by William MacLeod Raine: "And you're a gentleman," returned the governor, with a bow, "I
could find it in my heart to hang high as Haman without love or
hate."
Michael linked his arm in that of his excellency.
"Sure, you're a broth of a lad, Senor Megales," he said
irreverently, in good, broad Irish brogue. "Here, me bye, where
are you hurrying?" he added, catching at the sleeve of Frances
Mackenzie, who was slipping quietly past.
"Please, Mr. O'Halloran, I've been up to the office after water.
I'm taking it to Senorita Carmencita."
"She doesn't want water just now. You go back to the office, son,
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