| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Redheaded Outfield by Zane Grey: She was surprised to see me, but received me
graciously. I fancied her face was not quite so
glowing as usual. I came bluntly out with my
mission. She tried to freeze me but I would not
freeze. I was out to win or lose and not to be
lightly laughed aside or coldly denied. I played
to make her angry, knowing the real truth of her
feelings would show under stress.
For once in my life I became a knocker and said
some unpleasant things--albeit they were true--
about Henderson. She championed Henderson
The Redheaded Outfield |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from The Koran: they shall have their hire with their Lord. No fear shall come on
them, nor shall they grieve.
Those who devour usury shall not rise again, save as he riseth
whom Satan hath paralysed with a touch; and that is because they say
'selling is only like usury,' but God has made selling lawful and
usury unlawful; and he to whom the admonition from his Lord has
come, if he desists, what has gone before is his: his matter is in
God's hands. But whosoever returns (to usury) these are the fellows of
the Fire, and they shall dwell therein for aye. God shall blot out
usury, but shall make almsgiving profitable, for God loves not any
sinful misbeliever.
The Koran |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from The Master Key by L. Frank Baum: and causing thereby such a crackling of electricity in the air that
Rob's hair became rigid enough to stand on end. "You are right, and I
must wait--wait--wait--patiently and silently--until my bonds are
loosed by intelligence rather than chance! It is a dreary fate. But
I must wait--I must wait--I must wait!"
"I'm glad you've come to your senses," remarked Rob, drily. "So, if
you've nothing more to say--"
"No! I have nothing more to say. There IS nothing more to say. You
and I are two. We should never had met!" retorted the Demon, showing
great excitement.
"Oh, I didn't seek your acquaintance," said Rob. "But I've tried to
The Master Key |
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 Purse by Honore de Balzac: glances cast at Adelaide displeased him. "Am I being duped?" was
Hippolyte's last idea--horrible, scathing, for he believed it
just enough to be tortured by it. He determined to stay after the
departure of the two old men, to confirm or dissipate his
suspicions. He drew out his purse to pay Adelaide; but carried
away by his poignant thoughts, he laid it on the table, falling
into a reverie of brief duration; then, ashamed of his silence,
he rose, answered some commonplace question from Madame de
Rouville, and went close up to her to examine the withered
features while he was talking to her.
He went away, racked by a thousand doubts. He had gone down but a
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