| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The First Men In The Moon by H. G. Wells: surgery he undergoes fits him at last so completely to it that he has
neither ideas nor organs for any purpose beyond it. 'Why should he?'
Phi-oo would ask. If, for example, a Selenite is destined to be a
mathematician, his teachers and trainers set out at once to that end. They
check any incipient disposition to other pursuits, they encourage his
mathematical bias with a perfect psychological skill. His brain grows, or
at least the mathematical faculties of his brain grow, and the rest of him
only so much as is necessary to sustain this essential part of him. At
last, save for rest and food, his one delight lies in the exercise and
display of his facility, his one interest in its application, his sole
society with other specialists in his own line. His brain glows
The First Men In The Moon |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Memoir of Fleeming Jenkin by Robert Louis Stevenson: of many clever women, to the Liberal party with but small regard to
men or measures. This attitude of mind used often to disappoint me
in a man so fond of logic; but I see now how it was learned from
the bright eyes of his mother and to the sound of the cannonades of
1848. To some of her defects, besides, she made him heir. Kind as
was the bond that united her to her son, kind and even pretty, she
was scarce a woman to adorn a home; loving as she did to shine;
careless as she was of domestic, studious of public graces. She
probably rejoiced to see the boy grow up in somewhat of the image
of herself, generous, excessive, enthusiastic, external; catching
at ideas, brandishing them when caught; fiery for the right, but
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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 The Complete Angler by Izaak Walton: There is also a lesser cadis-worm, called a Cockspur, being in fashion
like the spur of a cock, sharp at one end: and the case, or house. in
which this dwells, is made of small husks, and gravel, and slime, most
curiously made of these, even so as to be wondered at, but not to be
made by man, no more than a king-fisher's nest can, which is made of
little fishes' bones, and have such a geometrical interweaving and
connection as the like is not to be done by the art of man. This kind of
cadis is a choice bait for any float-fish; it is much less than the piper-
cadis, and to be so ordered: and these may be so preserved, ten, fifteen,
or twenty days, or it may be longer.
There is also another cadis, called by some a Straw-worm, and by some
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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 Research Magnificent by H. G. Wells: "Yes," she said, "tell them now."
They heard steps in the passage outside. "Betty!" cried Amanda.
Her mother's voice answered, "Do you want Betty?"
"We want you all," answered Amanda. "We have something to tell
you. . . ."
"Carrie!" they heard Mrs. Morris call her sister after an interval,
and her voice sounded faint and flat and unusual. There was the
soft hissing of some whispered words outside and a muffled
exclamation. Then Mrs. Wilder and Mrs. Morris and Betty came into
the room. Mrs. Wilder came first, and Mrs. Morris with an alarmed
face as if sheltering behind her. "We want to tell you something,"
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