| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Common Sense by Thomas Paine: of rich, and poor, may in a great measure be accounted for, and that without
having recourse to the harsh, ill-sounding names of oppression and avarice.
Oppression is often the CONSEQUENCE, but seldom or never the MEANS of riches;
and though avarice will preserve a man from being necessitously poor,
it generally makes him too timorous to be wealthy.
But there is another and greater distinction, for which no truly natural
or religious reason can be assigned, and that is, the distinction of men
into KINGS and SUBJECTS. Male and female are the distinctions of nature,
good and bad the distinctions of heaven; but how a race of men came into
the world so exalted above the rest, and distinguished like some new species,
is worth inquiring into, and whether they are the means of happiness
Common Sense |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Lay Morals by Robert Louis Stevenson: surf and precipice, whether less than a half, or less than a
quarter, or a fifth, or a tenth - or, say, a twentieth; and
the next time you burst into print you will be in a position
to share with us the issue of your calculations.
I imagine you to be one of those persons who talk with
cheerfulness of that place which oxen and wain-ropes could
not drag you to behold. You, who do not even know its
situation on the map, probably denounce sensational
descriptions, stretching your limbs the while in your
pleasant parlour on Beretania Street. When I was pulled
ashore there one early morning, there sat with me in the boat
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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 Persuasion by Jane Austen: to the Grappler that instant, and never left the poor fellow for a week.
That's what he did, and nobody else could have saved poor James.
You may think, Miss Elliot, whether he is dear to us!"
Anne did think on the question with perfect decision, and said as much
in reply as her own feeling could accomplish, or as his seemed
able to bear, for he was too much affected to renew the subject,
and when he spoke again, it was of something totally different.
Mrs Harville's giving it as her opinion that her husband would have
quite walking enough by the time he reached home, determined the direction
of all the party in what was to be their last walk; they would
accompany them to their door, and then return and set off themselves.
Persuasion |
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 Silverado Squatters by Robert Louis Stevenson: wash-houses; he had no taste for the rural life; and we must
go to our mountain servantless. It must have been near half
an hour before we reached that conclusion, standing in the
midst of Calistoga high street under the stars, and the
China-boy and Kong Sam Kee singing their pigeon English in
the sweetest voices and with the most musical inflections.
We were not, however, to return alone; for we brought with us
Joe Strong, the painter, a most good-natured comrade and a
capital hand at an omelette. I do not know in which capacity
he was most valued - as a cook or a companion; and he did
excellently well in both.
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