| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Trooper Peter Halket of Mashonaland by Olive Schreiner: bushes which had only been removed for a few feet round the camp, and the
figure of a man emerged bearing in one hand a gun, and in the other a bird
which he had shot. He was evidently an Englishman, and not long from
Europe, by the bloom of the skin, which was perceptible in spite of the
superficial tan. His face was at the moment flushed with heat; but the
clear blue eyes and delicate features lost none of their sensitive
refinement.
He came up to the Colonial, and dropped the bird before him. "That is all
I've got," he said.
He threw himself also down on the ground, and put his gun under the loose
flap of the tent.
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Lin McLean by Owen Wister: Hilbrun, after we had gone over our contract with him.
"Any day would do," the Governor said.
This was Thursday; and Sunday was chosen, as a day when no one had
business to detain him from witnessing the shower--though it seemed to me
that on week-days, too, business in Cheyenne was not so inexorable as
this. We gave the strangers some information about the town, and left
them. The sun went away in a cloudless sky, and came so again when the
stars had finished their untarnished shining. Friday was clear and dry
and hot, like the dynasty of blazing days that had gone before.
I saw a sorry spectacle in the street--the bridegroom and the bride
shopping together; or, rather, he with his wad of bills was obediently
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