| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Little Britain by Washington Irving: different cast, which tends to throw the sunshine of good-
humor over the whole neighborhood. It meets once a week at
a little old-fashioned house, kept by a jolly publican of the
name of Wagstaff, and bearing for insignia a resplendent half-
moon, with a most seductive bunch of grapes. The old edifice
is covered with inscriptions to catch the eye of the thirsty
wayfarer, such as "Truman, Hanbury, and Co.'s Entire," "Wine,
Rum, and Brandy Vaults," "Old Tom, Rum and Compounds,
etc." This indeed has been a temple of Bacchus and Momus
from time immemorial. It ha always been in the family of the
Wagstaffs, so that its history is tolerably preserved by the
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Court Life in China by Isaac Taylor Headland: awakening of China, which now seems to be at hand, may be traced
in no small measure to the influence of the missionary. For this
service you will find China not ungrateful."
Some may think that this was simply a sentiment expressed on this
particular occasion because he happened to be surrounded by
secretaries and others interested in this cause. That this is not
the case is further indicated by the fact that since that time he
has on two separate occasions attended the commencement exercises
of the Nanking University, on one of which he addressed the
students as follows:
"This is the second time I have attended the commencement
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