| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Chronicles of the Canongate by Walter Scott: wod with sic noyis and din of rachis and bugillis, that all the
bestis were rasit fra thair dennis. Now wes the king cumin to
the fute of the crag, and all his nobilis severit, heir and
thair, fra him, at thair game and solace; quhen suddenlie apperit
to his sicht the fairist hart that evir wes sene afore with
levand creature. The noyis and din of this hart rinnand, as
apperit, with awful and braid tindis, maid the kingis hors so
effrayit, that na renzeis micht hald him, bot ran, perforce, ouir
mire and mossis, away with the king. Nochtheles, the hart
followit so fast, that he dang baith the king and his hors to the
ground. Than the king kest abak his handis betwix the tindis of
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Moon-Face and Other Stories by Jack London: laughed at De Ville one day when he shoved De Ville's head into a bucket of
paste because he wanted to fight.
"De Ville was in a pretty mess--I helped to scrape him off; but he was cool as
a cucumber and made no threats at all. But I saw a glitter in his eyes which I
had seen often in the eyes of wild beasts, and I went out of my way to give
Wallace a final warning. He laughed, but he did not look so much in Madame de
Ville's direction after that.
"Several months passed by. Nothing had happened and I was beginning to think
it all a scare over nothing. We were West by that time, showing in 'Frisco. It
was during the afternoon performance, and the big tent was filled with women
and children, when I went looking for Red Denny, the head canvas-man, who had
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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 Copy-Cat & Other Stories by Mary E. Wilkins Freeman: one that's right on the bed, and I told her she needn't
keep more than the sheet and one comfortable over
her."
Daniel looked anxious. "Children ain't ever over-
come when they are in bed, in the house, are they?"
"Land, no! I never heard of such a thing. And,
anyway, little Dan'l's so thin it ain't likely she feels
the heat as much as some."
"I hope she don't."
Daniel continued to sit hunched up on himself,
gazing with a sort of mournful irritation out of 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 Lin McLean by Owen Wister: coroner--Judge Slaghammer. He was perfectly illegal, and lived next door
in Albany County. But that county paid fees and mileage to keep tally of
Drybone's casualties. His wife owned the dance-hall, and between their
industries they made out a living. And all the citizens made out a
living. The happy cow-punchers on ranches far and near still earned and
instantly spent the high wages still paid them. With their bodies full of
youth and their pockets full of gold, they rode into town by twenties, by
fifties, and out again next morning, penniless always and happy. And then
the Four-ace Johnstons would sit card-playing with each other till the
innocents should come to town again.
To-night the innocents had certainly come to town, and Drybone was
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