| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Young Forester by Zane Grey: lost. For a moment I felt faint, but I fought it off. I had to think of
myself. It was every one for himself, and perhaps there was many a man
caught on Penetier with only a slender chance for life.
"Oh! oh!" I cried, suddenly. "Herky, Bud, and Bill tied helpless in that
cabin! Dick forgot them. They'll be burned to death!"
As I stood there, trembling at the thought of Herky and his comrades bound
hand and foot, the first roar of the forest fire reached my ears. It
threatened, but it roused my courage. I jumped as if I had been shot, and
clattered down that crag with wings guiding my long leaps. No crevice or
jumble of loose stones or steep descent daunted me. I reached the horse,
and, grasping the bridle, I started to lead him. We had zigzagged up, we
The Young Forester |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from When the Sleeper Wakes by H. G. Wells: gallery, not a hundred yards away from him, and in
the distance were shouts and running. He, too, was
startled to an aimless activity, and ran first one way
and then as aimlessly back.
A man came running towards him. His self-control
returned. "What have they blown up?" asked the
man breathlessly. "That was an explosion," and before
Graham could speak he had hurried on.
The great buildings rose dimly, veiled by a perplexing
twilight, albeit the rivulet of sky above was now
bright with day. He noted many strange features,
When the Sleeper Wakes |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from The Lesser Bourgeoisie by Honore de Balzac: here as the frame of the present Scene, to give an idea of the spirit
of this society, the following drama would certainly have suffered
greatly. Moreover, this sketch is historically faithful; it shows a
social stratum of importance in any portrayal of manners and morals,
especially when we reflect that the political system of the Younger
branch rests almost wholly upon it.
The winter of the year 1839 was, it may be said, the period when the
Thuillier salon was in its greatest glory. The Minards came nearly
every Sunday, and began their evening by spending an hour there, if
they had other engagements elsewhere. Often Minard would leave his
wife at the Thuilliers and take his son and daughter to other houses.
|
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 Outlaw of Torn by Edgar Rice Burroughs: furnishings of this rough room, and she shuddered. One
little foot tapped sullenly upon the disordered floor
which was littered with a miscellany of rushes inter-
spread with such bones and scraps of food as the dogs
had rejected or overlooked.
But to none of these surroundings did Bertrade de
Montfort give but passing heed; she looked for the
man she sought that she might quickly have the en-
counter over and learn what fate the future held in
store for her.
Her quick glance had shown her that the room was
The Outlaw of Torn |
