| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Court Life in China by Isaac Taylor Headland: on which was a plate of fragrant quinces, candles, and burning
incense, giving it the appearance of a shrine. Pots of flowers
were arranged about the room, which was unusually clean and
beautiful. The Chinese guests bowed three times before the
picture on entering the room, which I thought a very pretty
ceremony.
The girls of this school, to the number of about sixty, appeared
in blue uniform, courtesying to the guests. Sixteen other girls'
schools of Peking were represented either by teachers or pupils
or both. One of the boys' schools came en masse, dressed in
military uniform, led by a band, and a drillmaster with a sword
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from On Horsemanship by Xenophon: head. By constantly rubbing his head against the manger, if the halter
does not sit quite loose about his ears, the horse will be constantly
injuring himself;[2] and with sores so set up, it is inevitable that
he should show peevishness, while being bitted or rubbed down.
[1] Lit. "by which the horse is tied to the manger"; "licol d'ecurie."
[2] Al. "in nine cases out of ten he rubs his head . . . and ten to
one will make a sore."
It is desirable that the groom should be ordered to carry out the dung
and litter of the horse to some one place each day. By so doing, he
will discharge the duty with least trouble to himself,[3] and at the
same time be doing the horse a kindness.
On Horsemanship |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from The United States Bill of Rights: and to have the assistance of counsel for his defense.
VII
In suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall exceed
twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury shall be preserved,
and no fact tried by a jury shall be otherwise re-examined in any court
of the United States, than according to the rules of the common law.
VIII
Excessive bail shall not be required nor excessive fines imposed,
nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.
IX
The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights,
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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 Secret Sharer by Joseph Conrad: for there was no sign of human habitation as far as the eye
could reach. To the left a group of barren islets,
suggesting ruins of stone walls, towers, and blockhouses,
had its foundations set in a blue sea that itself looked solid,
so still and stable did it lie below my feet; even the track
of light from the westering sun shone smoothly, without that
animated glitter which tells of an imperceptible ripple.
And when I turned my head to take a parting glance at the tug
which had just left us anchored outside the bar, I saw the straight
line of the flat shore joined to the stable sea, edge to edge,
with a perfect and unmarked closeness, in one leveled floor
The Secret Sharer |
