| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain: The poor fellow's face was haggard, and his eyes
showed the fear that was upon him. When he stood
before the murdered man, he shook as with a palsy,
and he put his face in his hands and burst into tears.
"I didn't do it, friends," he sobbed; "'pon my word
and honor I never done it."
"Who's accused you?" shouted a voice.
This shot seemed to carry home. Potter lifted his
face and looked around him with a pathetic hope-
lessness in his eyes. He saw Injun Joe, and exclaimed:
"Oh, Injun Joe, you promised me you'd never --"
The Adventures of Tom Sawyer |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Glinda of Oz by L. Frank Baum: opened it and drew out a small round mirror. On the
surface of the glass she dusted a white powder and then
wiped it away with her handkerchief and looked in the
mirror. It reflected a part of the forest, and there,
beneath a wide-spreading tree, Button Bright was lying
asleep. On one side of him crouched a tiger, ready to
spring; on the other side was a big gray wolf, its
bared fangs glistening in a wicked way.
"Goodness me!" cried Trot, looking over Glinda's
shoulder. "They'll catch and kill him sure."
Everyone crowded around for a glimpse at the magic
Glinda 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: could scarce reckon that without knowing the thickness of the
encompassing wall. The surroundings were absolutely deserted.
Probably not a living creature ever mounted to this height, except
the few birds of prey which soared high above us.
Our watches showed three o'clock, and Mr. Smith cried in disgust,
"What is the use of stopping here all day! We shall learn nothing
more. We must make a start, Mr. Strock, if we want to get back to
Pleasant Garden to-night."
I made no answer, and did not move from where I was seated; so he
called again, "Come, Mr. Strock; you don't answer."
In truth, it cut me deeply to abandon our effort, to descend the
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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 The Lesser Bourgeoisie by Honore de Balzac: of Benevolence to the poor--"
"To the bureau of Benevolence!" cried Brigitte, interrupting him. "No,
I thank you! the idea of all that money being distributed among a
crowd of do-nothings and devotes, who'll spend it in junketing! I've
been poor too, my lad; I made bags for the money of others long before
I had any money of my own; I have some now, and I take care of it. So,
whenever you will, I am ready to receive that ten thousand francs and
keep it. If you didn't know how to do what you undertook to do, and
spent that money in trying to put salt on a sparrow's tail, so much
the worse for you."
Seeing that he had missed his effect, and had made not the slightest
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