| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Sanitary and Social Lectures by Charles Kingsley: into the shape of practical and provable rules; and that, if not a
public opinion, yet at least, what is more useful far, a
widespread private opinion will grow up, especially among educated
women, which will prevent many a tragedy and save many a life.
But, as to the laws of personal health: enough, and more than
enough, is known already, to be applied safely and easily by any
adults, however unlearned, to the preservation not only of their
own health, but of that of their children.
The value of healthy habitations, of personal cleanliness, of pure
air and pure water, of various kinds of food, according as each
tends to make bone, fat, or muscle, provided only--provided only--
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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 Red Seal by Natalie Sumner Lincoln: light and Benjamin Clymer, sitting at a small table in one corner
of the dining-room, wished most heartily that it had been less
crowded. Many dinner-parties were being given that night, and
it was only by dint of perseverance and a Treasury note that he
had finally induced the head waiter to put in an extra table for
him and his guest, Harry Kent. Kent had been very late and, to
add to his short-comings, had been silent, not to say morose,
during dinner. Clymer heaved a sigh of relief when the table was
cleared and coffee and cigars placed before them.
Kent roused himself from his abstraction. "We cannot talk here,"
he said, looking at the gay diners who surrounded them. "And I
The Red Seal |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from The Road to Oz by L. Frank Baum: The little maiden smiled through her tears, came up to Dorothy, and
placed her slender fingers in the Kansas girl's chubby hand.
"You'll be my friend--won't you?" she said, pleadingly.
"Of course."
"And what is your name?"
"I'm Dorothy; and this is my friend Shaggy Man, who owns the Love
Magnet; and this is Button-Bright--only you don't see him as he really
is because the Fox-King carelessly changed his head into a fox head.
But the real Button-Bright is good to look at, and I hope to get him
changed back to himself, some time."
The Rainbow's Daughter nodded cheerfully, no longer afraid of
The Road to Oz |
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 Wrecker by Stevenson & Osbourne: "I have heard plenty of this talk before," she replied. "You are
a sweet-hearted fool, and I love you for it. But I am a clear-
headed woman; my eyes are open, and I understand this man's
hypocrisy. Did he not come here to-day and pretend he would
take a situation--pretend he would share his hard-earned wages
with us until you were well? Pretend! It makes me furious!
His wages! a share of his wages! That would have been your
pittance, that would have been your share of the Flying
Scud--you who worked and toiled for him when he was a
beggar in the streets of Paris. But we do not want your charity;
thank God, I can work for my own husband! See what it is to
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