| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from Court Life in China by Isaac Taylor Headland: On the whole, therefore, Prince Chun begins his regency with a
brighter outlook for his foreign relations than any other ruler
China has ever had. What shall we say of his Chinese relations?
Being the brother of Kuang Hsu, and himself a progressive young
man, he ought to have the support of the Reform party, and being
the choice of the Empress Dowager, he will have the support of
the great progressive officials who have had the conduct of
affairs for the last quarter of a century and more, and
especially for the past ten years, since the Emperor Kuang Hsu
was deposed.
XII
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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 Trooper Peter Halket of Mashonaland by Olive Schreiner: Peter Halket stood below the tree with the knife in his hand.
The noise roused the whole camp: the men on guard came running; guns were
fired: and the half-sleeping men came rushing, grasping their weapons.
There was a sound of firing at the little tree; and the cry went round the
camp, "The Mashonas are releasing the spy!"
When the men got to the Captain's tent, they saw that the nigger was gone;
and Peter Halket was lying on his face at the foot of the tree; with his
head turned towards the Captain's door.
There was a wild confusion of voices. "How many were there?" "Where have
they gone to now?" "They've shot Peter Halket!"--"The Captain saw them do
it"--"Stand ready, they may come back any time!"
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