| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The New Machiavelli by H. G. Wells: intelligent.
"We did a lot of that when I was up in the eighties," he said. "I'm
glad Imperialism hasn't swamped you fellows altogether."
Gertrude, looking bright and confident, came to join our talk from
the shrubbery; the initial, a little flushed and evidently in a
state of refreshed relationship, came with her, and a cheerful lady
in pink and more particularly distinguished by a pink bonnet joined
our little group. Gertrude had been sipping admiration and was not
disposed to play a passive part in the talk.
"Socialism!" she cried, catching the word. "It's well Pa isn't
here. He has Fits when people talk of socialism. Fits!"
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Tom Sawyer, Detective by Mark Twain: "Well, about three in the morning I fetched Elexandria
and see this stern-wheeler laying there, and was very glad,
because I felt perfectly safe, now, you know. It was
just daybreak. I went aboard and got this stateroom and put
on these clothes and went up in the pilot-house--to watch,
though I didn't reckon there was any need of it.
I set there and played with my di'monds and waited and
waited for the boat to start, but she didn't. You see,
they was mending her machinery, but I didn't know anything
about it, not being very much used to steamboats.
"Well, to cut the tale short, we never left there till
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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 Rescue by Joseph Conrad: Lingard had to listen to the voice of Wasub telling him Jaffir's
story. The old serang's face expressed a profound dejection and
there was infinite sadness in the flowing murmur of his words.
"Yes, by Allah! They were all there: that tyrannical Tengga,
noisy like a fool; the Rajah Hassim, a ruler without a country;
Daman, the wandering chief, and the three Pangerans of the
sea-robbers. They came on board boldly, for Tuan Jorgenson had
given them permission, and their talk was that you, Tuan, were a
willing captive in Belarab's stockade. They said they had waited
all night for a message of peace from you or from Belarab. But
there was nothing, and with the first sign of day they put out on
The Rescue |
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 United States Bill of Rights: II
A well-regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free State,
the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed.
III
No soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered in any house,
without the consent of the owner, nor in time of war,
but in a manner to be prescribed by law.
IV
The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers,
and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated,
and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath
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