| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Art of Writing by Robert Louis Stevenson: creature of his admirations: and putting such a youth in
fancy into the career of a soldier of fortune, it occurred to
me that he would serve my turn as well as Mr. Lyndon, and in
place of entering into competition with the Master, would
afford a slight though a distinct relief. I know not if I
have done him well, though his moral dissertations always
highly entertained me: but I own I have been surprised to
find that he reminded some critics of Barry Lyndon after all.
. . .
CHAPTER VII - PREFACE TO 'THE MASTER OF BALLANTRAE' (19)
ALTHOUGH an old, consistent exile, the editor of the
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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 Case of the Golden Bullet by Grace Isabel Colbron and Augusta Groner: - then suddenly something happened that came to him like a distinct
shock. Muller stopped in his walk so suddenly that one foot was
poised in the air. His bowed head was thrown back, his face
flushed to his forehead, and the papers trembled in his hands. He
ran the fingers of his unoccupied hand through his hair and murmured
audibly, "That dog! that dog!" It was evident that some thought
had struck him with such insistence as to render him oblivious of
his surroundings. Then he finally realised where he was, and walked
on quickly to Bauer's room, his face still flushed, his hands
trembling. When he came out from the office again, he was his usual
quiet, humble self.
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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 Democracy In America, Volume 1 by Alexis de Toqueville: official assembly.
[Footnote p: We shall hereafter learn what a Governor is: I shall
content myself with remarking in this place that he represents
the executive power of the whole State.]
[Footnote q: See the Constitution of Massachusetts, chap. II.
sect. 1. Section 9; chap. III. Section 3.]
[Footnote r: Thus, for example, a stranger arrives in a township
from a country where a contagious disease prevails, and he falls
ill. Two justices of the peace can, with the assent of the
selectmen, order the sheriff of the county to remove and take
care of him. - Act of June 22, 1797, vol. i. p. 540.
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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 Bucky O'Connor by William MacLeod Raine: the hanging judge of James Stuart. Governor Megales, though not
technically a member of the court, was present, and took an
active part in the prosecution. He was a stout, swarthy little
man, with black, beady eyes that snapped restlessly to and fro,
and from his manner to the officers in charge of the trial it was
plain that he was a despot even in his own official family.
The court did not trouble itself with forms of law. Chaves was
both principal witness and judge, notwithstanding the protest of
the prisoner. Yet what the lieutenant had to offer in the way of
testimony was so tinctured with bitterness that it must have been
plain to the veriest novice he was no fit judge of the case.
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