| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Records of a Family of Engineers by Robert Louis Stevenson: storm-shuttters of the windows. In these several departments
the artificers were at work till seven o'clock p.m., and it
being then dark, Mr. Dove gave orders to drop work in the
light-room; and all hands proceeded from thence to the beacon-
house, when Charles Henderson, smith, and Henry Dickson,
brazier, left the work together. Being both young men, who
had been for several weeks upon the rock, they had become
familiar, and even playful, on the most difficult parts about
the beacon and building. This evening they were trying to
outrun each other in descending from the light-room, when
Henderson led the way; but they were in conversation with each
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Polity of Athenians and Lacedaemonians by Xenophon: brides ever small and of tender years, but in their full bloom and
ripeness."
[8] Cf. Plut. "Lycurg." 15 (Clough, i. 103).
[9] Or, "established a custom to suit the case."
These and many other adaptations of a like sort the lawgiver
sanctioned. As, for instance, at Sparta a wife will not object to bear
the burden of a double establishment,[10] or a husband to adopt sons
as foster-brothers of his own children, with a full share in his
family and position, but possessing no claim to his wealth and
property.
[10] Cf. Plut. "Comp. of Numa with Lycurgus," 4; "Cato mi." 25
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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 Lin McLean by Owen Wister: different to you and me from the way it seems to her. I don't see her
view; maybe I never can see it; but she's made me feel she has it, and
that she's honest, and loves me true--" His voice broke for a moment.
"She said she'd wait."
"You can't have a marriage broken that was never tied," I said. "But
perhaps Governor Barker or Judge Henry--"
"No," said the cow-puncher. "Law couldn't fool her. She's thinking of
something back of law. She said she'd wait--always. And when I took it in
that this was all over and done, and when I thought of my ranch and the
chickens--well, I couldn't think of things at all, and I came and waked
Billy to clear out and quit."
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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 The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde: Dorian Gray had not killed her.
His eye fell on the yellow book that Lord Henry had sent him.
What was it, he wondered. He went towards the little,
pearl-coloured octagonal stand that had always looked to him
like the work of some strange Egyptian bees that wrought in silver,
and taking up the volume, flung himself into an arm-chair and began
to turn over the leaves. After a few minutes he became absorbed.
It was the strangest book that he had ever read. It seemed to him
that in exquisite raiment, and to the delicate sound of flutes,
the sins of the world were passing in dumb show before him.
Things that he had dimly dreamed of were suddenly made
The Picture of Dorian Gray |
