| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Red Seal by Natalie Sumner Lincoln: sounded, and at his call Sylvester entered.
"Here are the letters received this morning, sir, and type-written
copies of the answers to yesterday's correspondence which Mr.
Rochester dictated before leaving," Sylvester explained as he
placed the papers on Kent's desk. "If you will o.k. them, I will
mail them at once."
Kent went through the letters with care, and the new clerk rose in
his estimation as he read the excellent dictation of the clearly
typed answers.
"These will do admirably," he announced. "Sit down and I will reply
to the other letters."
The Red Seal |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from The Chessmen of Mars by Edgar Rice Burroughs: the enclosure down upon the three who stood directly behind The
Keeper, and strained his weak and watery eyes in an effort to
satisfy the curiosity of old age in a matter of no particular
import, for what were two slaves and a common warrior from
Manataj to any who sat with O-Tar the jeddak?
"U-Kal of Manataj," said O-Tar, "you have deserved the stakes.
Seldom have we looked upon more noble swordplay. And you tire of
Manataj there be always here in the city of Manator a place for
you in The Jeddak's Guard."
While the jeddak was speaking the little, old man, failing
clearly to discern the features of the Black Chief, reached into
The Chessmen of Mars |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from The Tragedy of Pudd'nhead Wilson by Mark Twain: "So it was, so it was," said Wilson. "To do such a thing to save a
brother's life is a great and fine action."
"Now come," said Luigi, "it is very pleasant to hear you say
these things, but for unselfishness, or heroism, or magnanimity,
the circumstances won't stand scrutiny. You overlook one detail;
suppose I hadn't saved Angelo's life, what would have become of mine?
If I had let the man kill him, wouldn't he have killed me, too?
I saved my own life, you see."
"Yes, that is your way of talking," said Angelo, "but I know you--
I don't believe you thought of yourself at all. I keep that weapon
yet that Luigi killed the man with, and I'll show it to you sometime.
|
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 King James Bible: in the house of the LORD continually all the days of Jehoiada.
CH2 24:15 But Jehoiada waxed old, and was full of days when he died; an
hundred and thirty years old was he when he died.
CH2 24:16 And they buried him in the city of David among the kings,
because he had done good in Israel, both toward God, and toward his
house.
CH2 24:17 Now after the death of Jehoiada came the princes of Judah,
and made obeisance to the king. Then the king hearkened unto them.
CH2 24:18 And they left the house of the LORD God of their fathers, and
served groves and idols: and wrath came upon Judah and Jerusalem for
this their trespass.
King James Bible |
