| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from An Historical Mystery by Honore de Balzac: let you in. Remember every word I say to you. The life of your father
and mother depends on it. No one must know we did not sleep at home."
After whispering these words to the boy, who instantly disappeared in
the forest like an eel in the mud, Michu turned to his wife.
"Mount behind me," he said, "and pray that God be with us. Sit firm,
the beast may die of it." So saying he kicked the horse with both
heels, pressing him with his powerful knees, and the animal sprang
forward with the rapidity of a hunter, seeming to understand what his
master wanted of him, and crossed the forest in fifteen minutes. Then
Michu, who had not swerved from the shortest way, pulled up, found a
spot at the edge of the woods from which he could see the roofs of the
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Adventure by Jack London: ashore in the night-time stealing niggers in a place like this.'"
"You didn't say blowed," Sparrowhawk corrected. "You said you'd be
damned."
"That's what I did, and I meant it, too."
"'Nobody asked you to go ashore,' says she, quick as lightning,"
Sparrowhawk grinned. "And she said more. She said, 'And if I
catch you going ashore without orders there'll be trouble--
understand, Captain Munster?'"
"Who in hell's telling this, you or me?" the skipper demanded
wrathfully.
"Well, she did, didn't she?" insisted the mate.
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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 The Octopus by Frank Norris: upon the manufacturer before bidding him good-bye. He wished to
talk further upon the great subject, interested as to details,
but Cedarquist was vague in his replies. He was no farmer, he
hardly knew wheat when he saw it, only he knew the trend of the
world's affairs; he felt them to be setting inevitably eastward.
However, his very vagueness was a further inspiration to the
Governor. He swept details aside. He saw only the grand coup,
the huge results, the East conquered, the march of empire rolling
westward, finally arriving at its starting point, the vague,
mysterious Orient.
He saw his wheat, like the crest of an advancing billow, crossing
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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 A Kidnapped Santa Claus by L. Frank Baum: them by hand; and they sell them for money, while you get nothing at
all for your work."
But Santa Claus refused to be envious of the toy shops.
"I can supply the little ones but once a year--on Christmas Eve," he
answered; "for the children are many, and I am but one. And as my
work is one of love and kindness I would be ashamed to receive money
for my little gifts. But throughout all the year the children must be
amused in some way, and so the toy shops are able to bring much
happiness to my little friends. I like the toy shops, and am glad to
see them prosper."
In spite of the second rebuff, the Daemon of Hatred thought he would
A Kidnapped Santa Claus |
