| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Aeroplanes and Dirigibles of War by Frederick A. Talbot: any variations in the climatic conditions, is sufficient to prove
his undoing. German airmen who essayed journeys of discovery in
this manner, often failed to regain their lines because they
ventured too far, misjudged the speed of the wind which was
following them on the outward run, and ultimately were forced to
earth owing to the exhaustion of the fuel supply during the
homeward trip; the increased task imposed upon the motor, which
had to battle hard to make headway, caused the fuel consumption
per mile to exceed calculations.
Then the venturesome airman cannot neglect another factor which
is adverse to his success. Hostile airmen lie in wait, and a
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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 Damnation of Theron Ware by Harold Frederic: Theron did not get away without having this mentioned
to him, and he was conscious of sharing deeply the hope
of the brethren--with the added reflection that it would
be a personal triumph for himself into the bargain.
He was ashamed of this feeling a little later, and of his
trick with the sermon. But this chastening product of
introspection was all the fruit which the incident bore.
The banker never came again.
Theron returned one afternoon, a little earlier than usual,
from a group of pastoral calls. Alice, who was plucking weeds
in a border at the shady side of the house, heard his step,
The Damnation of Theron Ware |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from The Complete Poems of Longfellow by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow: Over those fatal footprints I will throw
My ermine mantle like another snow."
Then Eginhard was summoned to the hall,
And entered, and in presence of them all,
The Emperor said: "My son, for thou to me
Hast been a son, and evermore shalt be,
Long hast thou served thy sovereign, and thy zeal
Pleads to me with importunate appeal,
While I have been forgetful to requite
Thy service and affection as was right.
But now the hour is come, when I, thy Lord,
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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 Rescue by Joseph Conrad: a lightless void, and yet they were still so near the brig that
the piteous whine of the dog, mingled with the angry rattling of
the chain, reached their ears faintly, evoking obscure images of
distress and fury. A sharp bark ending in a plaintive howl that
seemed raised by the passage of phantoms invisible to men, rent
the black stillness, as though the instinct of the brute inspired
by the soul of night had voiced in a lamentable plaint the fear
of the future, the anguish of lurking death, the terror of
shadows. Not far from the brig's boat Hassim and Immada in their
canoe, letting their paddles trail in the water, sat in a silent
and invincible torpor as if the fitful puffs of wind had carried
The Rescue |
