| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Light of Western Stars by Zane Grey: sinking of his proud bearing, the doubt with which he began to
regard Castleton--these were proofs of his fears.
"I have faced charging tigers and elephants in India, and
charging rhinos and lions in Africa," began Castleton, his quick
and fluent speech so different from the drawl of his ordinary
conversation; "but I never was frightened but once. It will not
do to hunt those wild beasts if you are easily balled up. This
adventure I have in mind happened in British East Africa, in
Uganda. I was out with safari, and we were in a native district
much infested by man-eating lions. Perhaps I may as well state
that man-eaters are very different from ordinary lions. They are
The Light of Western Stars |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Bureaucracy by Honore de Balzac: because the promotion would be so fitting, and because the man has
such merit, and because the measure is so eminently wise and equitable
that I bet Rabourdin will not be appointed. Yes, you'll see, that
appointment will slip up, just like the invasion from Boulogne, and
the march to Russia, for the success of which a great genius has
gathered together all the chances. It will fail as all good and just
things do fail in this low world. I am only backing the devil's game."
Du Bruel. "Who do you think will be appointed?"
Bixiou. "The more I think about Baudoyer, the more sure I feel that he
unites all the opposite qualities; therefore I think he will be the
next head of this division."
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