| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from A Footnote to History by Robert Louis Stevenson: actual and heavy. For he is now set up to be the mark of consuls;
he will be badgered to raise taxes, to make roads, to punish crime,
to quell rebellion: and how he is to do it is not asked.
If I am in the least right in my presentation of this obscure
matter, no one need be surprised to hear that the land is full of
war and rumours of war. Scarce a year goes by but what some
province is in arms, or sits sulky and menacing, holding
parliaments, disregarding the king's proclamations and planting
food in the bush, the first step of military preparation. The
religious sentiment of the people is indeed for peace at any price;
no pastor can bear arms; and even the layman who does so is denied
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from The Land of Footprints by Stewart Edward White: scrub across the stream. The kudu business was about finished, as
far as this place went, so we decided to take a look for the
lions.
We ate by lantern and at the first light were ready to start. But
at that moment, across the slope of the rim a few hundred yards
away, appeared a small group of sing-sing. These are a beautiful
big beast, with widespread horns, proud and wonderful, like
Landseer's stags, and I wanted one of them very much. So I took
the Springfield, and dropped behind the line of some bushes. The
stalk was of the ordinary sort. One has to remain behind cover,
to keep down wind, to make no quick movements. Sometimes this
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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 Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde: The two men sauntered languidly to the table and examined what was
under the covers.
"Let us go to the theatre to-night," said Lord Henry.
"There is sure to be something on, somewhere. I have promised
to dine at White's, but it is only with an old friend,
so I can send him a wire to say that I am ill, or that I am
prevented from coming in consequence of a subsequent engagement.
I think that would be a rather nice excuse: it would have all
the surprise of candour."
"It is such a bore putting on one's dress-clothes," muttered Hallward.
"And, when one has them on, they are so horrid."
The Picture of Dorian Gray |
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 War of the Worlds by H. G. Wells: air. I believe they've built a flying-machine, and are learn-
ing to fly."
I stopped, on hands and knees, for we had come to the
bushes.
"Fly!"
"Yes," he said, "fly."
I went on into a little bower, and sat down.
"It is all over with humanity," I said. "If they can do that
they will simply go round the world."
He nodded.
"They will. But---- It will relieve things over here a bit.
War of the Worlds |
