| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Glaucus/The Wonders of the Shore by Charles Kingsley: impossible and absurd to wish that every young man should grow up a
naturalist by profession, yet this age offers no more wholesome
training, both moral and intellectual, than that which is given by
instilling into the young an early taste for outdoor physical
science. The education of our children is now more than ever a
puzzling problem, if by education we mean the development of the
whole humanity, not merely of some arbitrarily chosen part of it.
How to feed the imagination with wholesome food, and teach it to
despise French novels, and that sugared slough of sentimental
poetry, in comparison with which the old fairy-tales and ballads
were manful and rational; how to counteract the tendency to
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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 Redheaded Outfield by Zane Grey: this peculiar type. Some players were natural
born knockers; others acquired the name in their
later years in the game when younger men threatened
to win their places. Some of the best
players ever produced by baseball had the habit
in its most violent form. There were players
of ridiculously poor ability who held their jobs
on the strength of this one trait. It was a
mystery how they misled magnates and managers
alike; how for months they held their places,
weakening a team, often keeping a good team
The Redheaded Outfield |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from My Aunt Margaret's Mirror by Walter Scott: either by his raillery or the PRESTIGE of his reputation.
A day or two before Sir Philip's departure, Lady Bothwell took
the liberty of asking him, in her sister's presence, the direct
question, which his timid wife had often desired, but never
ventured, to put to him:--
"Pray, Sir Philip, what route do you take when you reach the
Continent?"
"I go from Leith to Helvoet by a packet with advices."
"That I comprehend perfectly," said Lady Bothwell dryly; "but you
do not mean to remain long at Helvoet, I presume, and I should
like to know what is your next object."
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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 Bride of Lammermoor by Walter Scott: anxiously and scrupulously observed, supply the lack of
substantial fare! Bucklaw, who had eagerly eaten a considerable
portion of the thrice-sacked mutton-ham, now began to demand ale.
"I wadna just presume to recommend our ale," said Caleb; "the
maut was ill made, and there was awfu' thunner last week; but
siccan water as the Tower well has ye'll seldome see,
Bucklaw, and that I'se engage for."
"But if your ale is bad, you can let us have some wine," said
Bucklaw, making a grimace at the mention of the pure element
which Caleb so earnestly recommended.
"Wine!" answered Caleb, undauntedly, "eneugh of wine! It was
The Bride of Lammermoor |
