| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Gods of Mars by Edgar Rice Burroughs: I die, my friends, will you take oath to prosecute the search for
her and bring her back in safety to her grandfather's court?"
Upon the hilt of his sword each of them swore to do as I had asked.
It was agreed that the battleships that were to be remodelled
should be ordered to Hastor, another Heliumetic city, far to
the south-west. Kantos Kan thought that the docks there,
in addition to their regular work, would accommodate at
least six battleships at a time. As he was commander-in-
chief of the navy, it would be a simple matter for him to
order the vessels there as they could be handled, and thereafter
keep the remodelled fleet in remote parts of the empire until
The Gods of Mars |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Father Goriot by Honore de Balzac: sitting down to dinner, and took with good humor the boisterous
applause excited by his elegant appearance. The amazement with
which any attention to dress is regarded in a lodging-house is a
very characteristic trait. No one can put on a new coat but every
one else must say his say about it.
"Clk! clk! clk!" cried Bianchon, making the sound with his tongue
against the roof of his mouth, like a driver urging on a horse.
"He holds himself like a duke and a peer of France," said Mme.
Vauquer.
"Are you going a-courting?" inquired Mlle. Michonneau.
"Cock-a-doodle-doo!" cried the artist.
Father Goriot |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from Sanitary and Social Lectures by Charles Kingsley: stand a man in such good stead when he goes forth into the world,
and without which, indeed, his success is always maimed and
partial.
Now: if the promoters of higher education for women will compel
girls to any training analogous to our public-school games; if,
for instance, they will insist on that most natural and wholesome
of all exercises, dancing, in order to develop the lower half of
the body; on singing, to expand the lungs and regulate the breath;
and on some games--ball or what not--which will ensure that raised
chest, and upright carriage, and general strength of the upper
torso, without which full oxygenation of the blood, and therefore
|
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 Spirit of the Border by Zane Grey: "No, I guess not; I don't know," answered Joe. "Is poor Kate dead?"
"No, she has fainted."
"Where's Nell?"
"Gone," replied Jim, lowering his voice, and glancing at the Indians. They
were too busy trying to bandage Girty's head to pay any attention to their
prisoners. "That whirlwind was Wetzel, wasn't it?"
"Yes; how'd you know?"
"I was awake last night. I had an oppressive feeling, perhaps a presentiment.
Anyway, I couldn't sleep. I heard that wind blow through the forest, and
thought my blood would freeze. The moan is the same as the night wind, the
same soft sigh, only louder and somehow pregnant with superhuman power. To
The Spirit of the Border |
