The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Whirligigs by O. Henry: "You may call it that. I am a plain man of business.
I will be as brief as possible. We will first take up
hypothetical woman. We will say she is married uncon-
genially. In many ways she is a superior woman. Phys-
ically she is considered to be handsome. She is devoted
to what she calls literature -- poetry and prose, and
such stuff. Her husband is a plain man in the business
walks of life. Their home has not been happy, although
the husband has tried to make it so. Some time ago a
man -- a stranger -- came to the peaceful town in which
they lived and engaged in some real estate operations.
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Whirligigs by O. Henry: Merriam. Glad to see you. Didn't expect to find you
out here. Quinby, this is my old friend Merriam, of
New York -- Merriam, Mr. Quinby."
Merriam gave Hedges and then Quinby an ice-cold hand.
"Br-r-r-r!" said Hedges. "But you've got a frappéd
flipper! Man, you're not well. You're as yellow as a
Chinaman. Malarial here? Steer us to a bar if there
is such a thing, and let's take a prophylactic."
Merriam, still half comatose, led them toward the
Hotel Orilla del Mar.
"Quinby and I" explained Hedges, puffing through
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