| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Riders of the Purple Sage by Zane Grey: over to where Black Star lay, expecting to find him dead. Instead
he found the racer partially if not wholly recovered. There was
recognition, even fire, in his big black eyes. Venters was
overjoyed. He sat by the black for a long time. Black Star
presently labored to his feet with a heave and a groan, shook
himself, and snorted for water. Venters repaired to the little
pool he had found, filled his sombrero, and gave the racer a
drink. Black Star gulped it at one draught, as if it were but a
drop, and pushed his nose into the hat and snorted for more.
Venters now led Night down to drink, and after a further time
Black Star also. Then the blacks began to graze.
Riders of the Purple Sage |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from The Road to Oz by L. Frank Baum: "What's the matter, Polly?" asked Dorothy, perplexed.
There was no need for the Rainbow's Daughter to answer, for turning
the bend in the road there came advancing slowly toward them a funny
round man made of burnished copper, gleaming brightly in the sun.
Perched on the copper man's shoulder sat a yellow hen, with fluffy
feathers and a pearl necklace around her throat.
"Oh, Tik-tok!" cried Dorothy, running forward. When she came to him,
the copper man lifted the little girl in his copper arms and kissed
her cheek with his copper lips.
"Oh, Billina!" cried Dorothy, in a glad voice, and the yellow hen flew
to her arms, to be hugged and petted by turns.
The Road to Oz |
