| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Damnation of Theron Ware by Harold Frederic: and whatever there is to do he does it all himself."
The minister remembered a stray hint somewhere that
Mr. Gorringe was a money-lender--what was colloquially
called a "note-shaver." To his rustic sense, there was
something not quite nice about that occupation.
It would be indecorous, he felt, to encourage further
talk about it from the boy.
"What are you doing there?" he inquired, to change
the subject.
"Sorting out some plants," replied Harvey. "I don't know
what's got into Gorringe lately. This is the third big
The Damnation of Theron Ware |
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: "That's not a bad idea," said the Wizard, looking at Dorothy approvingly.
"It's a very GOOD idea," declared Ozma. "Run for a cup, Dorothy."
So Dorothy ran to get a cup, and while she was gone the Wizard said:
"I don't know whether the real forms of these magicians are those of
men or beasts. If they're beasts, they would not drink from a cup but
might attack us at once and drink afterward. So it might be safer for
us to have the Cowardly Lion and the Hungry Tiger here to protect us
if necessary."
Ozma drew out a silver whistle which was attached to a slender gold
chain and blew upon the whistle two shrill blasts. The sound, though
not harsh, was very penetrating, and as soon as it reached the ears of
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 Twilight Land by Howard Pyle: saw her face he stood as one wonder-struck, for not only was she
so beautiful, but she set a spell upon him with the evil charm of
her eyes. No one sat at the table but the queen and the prince,
and a score of young pages served them, and sweet music sounded
from a curtained gallery.
At last came midnight, and suddenly a great gong sounded from the
court-yard outside. Then in an instant the music was stopped, the
pages that served them hurried from the room, and presently all
was as still as death.
Then, when all were gone, the queen arose and beckoned the
prince, and he had no choice but to arise also and follow whither
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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 Venus and Adonis by William Shakespeare: Now she unweaves the web that she hath wrought,
Adonis lives, and Death is not to blame; 992
It was not she that call'd him all to naught,
Now she adds honours to his hateful name;
She clepes him king of graves, and grave for kings,
Imperious supreme of all mortal things. 996
'No, no,' quoth she, 'sweet Death, I did but jest;
Yet pardon me, I felt a kind of fear
Whenas I met the boar, that bloody beast,
Which knows no pity, but is still severe; 1000
Then, gentle shadow,--truth I must confess--
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