| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Octopus by Frank Norris: United States looked on. Oh, come now and try your theories upon
us, us of the ranchos, us, who have suffered, us, who KNOW. Oh,
talk to US now of the 'rights of Capital,' talk to US of the
Trust, talk to US of the 'equilibrium between the classes.' Try
your ingenious ideas upon us. WE KNOW. I cannot tell whether or
not your theories are excellent. I do not know if your ideas are
plausible. I do not know how practical is your scheme of
society. I do not know if the Railroad has a right to our lands,
but I DO know that Harran is dead, that Annixter is dead, that
Broderson is dead, that Hooven is dead, that Osterman is dying,
and that S. Behrman is alive, successful, triumphant; that he has
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Roads of Destiny by O. Henry: favourite son. Do you see the point now?"
"Wrap up the picture," said Kinney. "It's as good as sold. Why didn't
you say that at first, instead of philandering along about art. I'll
resign my seat in the Senate and go back to chain-carrying for the
county surveyor the day I can't make this state buy a picture
calcimined by a grandson of Lucien Briscoe. Did you ever hear of a
special appropriation for the purchase of a home for the daughter of
One-Eyed Smothers? Well, that went through like a motion to adjourn,
and old One-Eyed never killed half as many Indians as Briscoe did.
About what figure had you and the calciminer agreed upon to sandbag
the treasury for?"
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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 Ozma of Oz by L. Frank Baum: "Yes, indeed!" answered Ozma, eagerly.
"Then," said the Nome King, "I will make you this offer: You shall go
alone and unattended into my palace and examine carefully all that the
rooms contain. Then you shall have permission to touch eleven
different objects, pronouncing at the time the word 'Ev,' and if any
one of them, or more than one, proves to be the transformation of the
Queen of Ev or any of her ten children, then they will instantly be
restored to their true forms and may leave my palace and my kingdom in
your company, without any objection whatever. It is possible for you,
in this way, to free the entire eleven; but if you do not guess all
the objects correctly, and some of the slaves remain transformed, then
Ozma of 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 Off on a Comet by Jules Verne: and "Michael Strogoff" have been obliterated by centuries of time.
At least, of the many books since written upon the same theme as Verne's,
no one has yet succeeded in equaling or even approaching it.
In one way "Off on a Comet" shows a marked contrast to Verne's earlier books.
Not only does it invade a region more remote than even the "Trip to the Moon,"
but the author here abandons his usual scrupulously scientific attitude.
In order that he may escort us through the depths of immeasurable space,
show us what astronomy really knows of conditions there and upon
the other planets, Verne asks us to accept a situation frankly impossible.
The earth and a comet are brought twice into collision without mankind
in general, or even our astronomers, becoming conscious of the fact.
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