| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Glimpses of the Moon by Edith Wharton: more of a science in Rome than at Apex City.
Mrs. Hicks, at first, had hopelessly lost her way in this
labyrinth of subterranean scandals, rivalries and jealousies;
and finding Lansing's hand within reach she clung to it with
pathetic tenacity. But if the young man's value had risen in
the eyes of his employers it had deteriorated in his own. He
was condemned to play a part he had not bargained for, and it
seemed to him more degrading when paid in bank-notes than if his
retribution had consisted merely in good dinners and luxurious
lodgings. The first time the smiling aide-de-camp had caught
his eye over a verbal slip of Mrs. Hicks's, Nick had flushed to
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Tarzan the Untamed by Edgar Rice Burroughs: he knew nothing of Usanga's twenty-four dream wives nor of
the black's fear of the horrid temper of Naratu, his present
mate. He did not know, then, that Usanga had determined
to fly away with the white girl never to return, and to put so
great a distance between himself and Naratu that the latter
never could find him again; but it was this very thing that
was in the black's mind although not even his own warriors
guessed it. He had told them that he would take the captive
to a sultan of the north and there obtain a great price for her
and that when he returned they should have some of the spoils.
These things Tarzan did not know. All he knew was what
Tarzan the Untamed |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from Fantastic Fables by Ambrose Bierce: choking with emotion; "here is a certificate of solvency."
"And here is a bottle of ink," the grateful financier said,
slipping it into the other's pocket; "it is all that we have."
The Cat and the King
A CAT was looking at a King, as permitted by the proverb.
"Well," said the monarch, observing her inspection of the royal
person, "how do you like me?"
"I can imagine a King," said the Cat, "whom I should like better."
"For example?"
"The King of the Mice."
The sovereign was so pleased with the wit of the reply that he gave
Fantastic Fables |
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 Lost Princess of Oz by L. Frank Baum: know, but I'm sure I can stand it if the others can."
"If it wasn't for leaving Hank," began Betsy in a hesitating voice.
But the Mule interrupted her by saying, "Go ahead if you want to, and
I'll come after you. A mule is as brave as a lion any day."
"Braver," said the Lion, "for I'm a coward, friend Hank, and you are
not. But of course the Sawhorse--"
"Oh, nothing ever hurts ME," asserted the Sawhorse calmly. "There's
never been any question about my going. I can't take the Red Wagon,
though."
"No, we must leave the wagon," said the wizard, "and also we must
leave our food and blankets, I fear. But if we can defy these
The Lost Princess of Oz |
