| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from A Legend of Montrose by Walter Scott: Campbells replied, "It is a far cry to Lochow;" proverbial
expression of the tribe, meaning that their ancient hereditary
domains lay beyond the reach of an invading enemy. "But,
gentlemen," further urged the unfortunate Captain, who was
unwilling to be condemned, without at least the benefit of a full
hearing, "although it is not for me to say how far it may be to
Lochow, in respect I am a stranger to these parts, yet, what is
more to the purpose, I trust you will admit that I have the
guarantee of an honourable gentleman of your own name, Sir Duncan
Campbell of Ardenvohr, for my safety on this mission; and I pray
you to observe, that in breaking the truce towards me, you will
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Chance by Joseph Conrad: wife before the girl collapsed. For a time she ran with him but at
the last flight of stairs he had to seize and half drag, half carry
her to his wife. Mrs. Fyne waited at the door with her quite
unmoved physiognomy and her readiness to confront any sort of
responsibility, which already characterized her, long before she
became a ruthless theorist. Relieved, his mission accomplished,
Fyne closed hastily the door of the sitting-room.
But before long both Fynes became frightened. After a period of
immobility in the arms of Mrs. Fyne, the girl, who had not said a
word, tore herself out from that slightly rigid embrace. She
struggled dumbly between them, they did not know why, soundless and
Chance |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from The Rescue by Joseph Conrad: "There's no mistake I suppose about this affair?" asked Lingard.
"Well, unless the gentlemen are having a lark with us at hide and
seek. The man says he waited ten minutes at the point, then
pulled slowly along the bank looking out, expecting to see them
walking back. He made the trunk of a tree apparently stranded on
the sand and as he was sculling past he says a man jumped up from
behind that log, flung a stick at him and went off running. He
backed water at once and began to shout, 'Are you there, sir?' No
one answered. He could hear the bushes rustle and some strange
noises like whisperings. It was very dark. After calling out
several times, and waiting on his oars, he got frightened and
The Rescue |
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 A Treatise on Parents and Children by George Bernard Shaw: if placed in the hands of the pupils, give them some practical
experience of the weight of a pound and the length of an inch. And
sometimes a scoundrel who has rifled a bird's nest or killed a
harmless snake encourages the children to go and do likewise by
putting his victims into an imitation nest and bottle and exhibiting
them as aids to "Nature study." A suggestion that Nature is worth
study would certainly have staggered my schoolmasters; so perhaps I
may admit a gleam of progress here. But as any child who attempted to
handle these dusty objects would probably be caned, I do not attach
any importance to such modernities in school furniture. The school
remains what it was in my boyhood, because its real object remains
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