| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Wheels of Chance by H. G. Wells: dangerous, but he made no answer. A waiter in full bloom appeared
at the end of the passage, guardant. "It is men of your stamp,
sir," said Phipps, "who discredit manhood."
Mr. Hoopdriver thrust his hands into his pockets. "Who the juice
are you?" shouted Mr. Hoopdriver, fiercely.
"Who are YOU, sir?" retorted Phipps. "Who are you? That's the
question. What are YOU, and what are you doing, wandering at
large with a young lady under age?"
"Don't speak to him," said Dangle.
"I'm not a-going to tell all my secrets to any one who comes at
me," said Hoopdriver. "Not Likely." And added fiercely, "And that
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Lesser Hippias by Plato: matters of calculation, are you not also the best?
HIPPIAS: To be sure, Socrates, I am the best.
SOCRATES: And therefore you would be the most able to tell the truth about
these matters, would you not?
HIPPIAS: Yes, I should.
SOCRATES: And could you speak falsehoods about them equally well? I must
beg, Hippias, that you will answer me with the same frankness and
magnanimity which has hitherto characterized you. If a person were to ask
you what is the sum of 3 multiplied by 700, would not you be the best and
most consistent teller of a falsehood, having always the power of speaking
falsely as you have of speaking truly, about these same matters, if you
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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 Egmont by Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe: the injury of the people and of the entire community; and it is on this
account, I fear, that they are held in such high esteem.
Egmont. And these arbitrary changes, these unlimited encroachments of
the supreme power, are they not indications that one will permit himself to
do what is forbidden to thousands? The monarch would alone be free, that
he may have it in his power to gratify his every wish, to realize his every
thought. And though we should confide in him as a good and virtuous
sovereign, will he be answerable to us for his successor? That none who
come after him shall rule without consideration, without forbearance! And
who would deliver us from absolute caprice, should he send hither his
servants, his minions, who, without knowledge of the country and its
Egmont |
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 Blix by Frank Norris:
"Well, that's not so AWFULLY soon. But who will take your place
here? However in the world would your father get along without
you--and Snooky and Howard?"
"Aunt Dodd is going to come."
"Sudden enough," said Condy, "but it IS a great thing for you,
Blix, and I'm mighty glad for you. Your future is all cut out for
you now. Of course your aunt, if she's so fond of you and hasn't
any children, will leave you everything--maybe settle something on
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