| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Goodness of St. Rocque and Other Stories by Alice Dunbar: You've never been for a hay-ride and fish-fry on the shores of
the Mississippi Sound, have you? When the summer boarders and
the Northern visitors undertake to give one, it is a
comparatively staid affair, where due regard is had for one's
wearing apparel, and where there are servants to do the hardest
work. Then it isn't enjoyable at all. But when the natives, the
boys and girls who live there, make up their minds to have fun,
you may depend upon its being just the best kind.
This time there were twenty boys and girls, a mamma or so,
several papas, and a grizzled fisherman to restrain the ardor of
the amateurs. The cart was vast and solid, and two comfortable,
The Goodness of St. Rocque and Other Stories |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from The Magic of Oz by L. Frank Baum: anything to make him more content; or she would teach young girls how
to sew and plan pretty dresses, or enter the shops where the jewelers
and craftsmen were busy and watch them at their work, giving to each
and all a cheering word or sunny smile.
And then Ozma would sit in her jeweled throne, with her chosen
courtiers all about her, and listen patiently to any complaint brought
to her by her subjects, striving to accord equal justice to all.
Knowing she was fair in her decisions, the Oz people never murmured at
her judgments, but agreed, if Ozma decided against them, she was right
and they wrong.
When Dorothy and Trot and Betsy Bobbin and Ozma were together, one
The Magic of Oz |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from Master of the World by Jules Verne: "Or from something underneath," said Wells, bending forward, the
better to determine.
The commotion certainly seemed as if caused by some boat, whether
from beneath the water, or approaching the creek from outside upon
the lake.
Silent, motionless, we strained eyes and ears to pierce the profound
obscurity. The faint noise of the waves of the lake lapping on the
shore beyond the creek, came to us distinctly through the night. John
Hart and Nab Walker drew a little aside upon a higher ridge of rocks.
As for me, I leaned close to the water to watch the agitation. It did
not lessen. On the contrary it became momentarily more evident, and
|
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 Lady Chatterley's Lover by D. H. Lawrence: was almost sure she had a lover, yet how could it be, and who could it
be? Where was there a man?
'Oh, it's so good for you, if you go out and see a bit of company
sometimes,' said Mrs Bolton. 'I was saying to Sir Clifford, it would do
her ladyship a world of good if she'd go out among people more.'
'Yes, I'm glad I went, and such a quaint dear cheeky baby, Clifford,'
said Connie. 'It's got hair just like spider-webs, and bright orange,
and the oddest, cheekiest, pale-blue china eyes. Of course it's a girl,
or it wouldn't be so bold, bolder than any little Sir Francis Drake.'
'You're right, my Lady--a regular little Flint. They were always a
forward sandy-headed family,' said Mrs Bolton.
Lady Chatterley's Lover |
