| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from When a Man Marries by Mary Roberts Rinehart: glanced at me--"for a drink of water. But as I don't know a pearl
from a glass bead, I hope you exonerate me."
Everybody laughed and said, "Of course," and "Sure, old man," and
changed the subject quickly.
While that excitement was on, I got Jim to one side and told him
about Bella. His good-natured face was radiant at first.
"I suppose she DID come to see Takahiro, eh, Kit?" he asked
delicately. "She didn't say anything about me?"
"Nothing good. She said the house was in a disgraceful
condition," I said heartlessly. "And her diamond bracelet was
stolen while she took a nap on the kitchen table"--he
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Barlaam and Ioasaph by St. John of Damascus: who (as saith Esay) conceive mischief and bring forth iniquity.
There were gathered innumerable multitudes, come to view the
contest and see which side should carry oft the victory. Then
one of the orators, the most eminent of all his fellows, said
unto Nachor, "Art thou that Barlaam which hath so shamelessly
and audaciously blasphemed our gods, and hath enmeshed our king's
well beloved son in the net of error, and taught him to serve the
Crucified?" Nachor answered, "I am he, I am Barlaam, that, as
thou sayest, doth set your gods at nought: but the king's son
have I not enmeshed in error; but rather from error have I
delivered him, and brought him to the true God." The orator
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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 The Faith of Men by Jack London: matter," Pentfield answered mockingly.
But Corry drove straight to the point.
"What is that squaw doing on your sled? A nasty job you've given
me to explain all this away. I only hope it can be explained away.
Who is she? Whose squaw is she?"
Then Lawrence Pentfield delivered his stroke, and he delivered it
with a certain calm elation of spirit that seemed somewhat to
compensate for the wrong that had been done him.
"She is my squaw," he said; "Mrs. Pentfield, if you please."
Corry Hutchinson gasped, and Pentfield left him and returned to the
two women. Mabel, with a worried expression on her face, seemed
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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 Contrast by Royall Tyler: Enter CHARLOTTE and LETITIA.
CHARLOTTE [at entering].
BETTY, take those things out of the carriage and
carry them to my chamber; see that you don't tumble
them. My dear, I protest, I think it was the home-
liest of the whole. I declare I was almost tempted to
return and change it.
LETITIA
Why would you take it?
CHARLOTTE
Didn't Mrs. Catgut say it was the most fashionable?
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