| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Peter Pan by James M. Barrie: sound that a leaf might have fallen on it and smothered it, but
as it came nearer it was more distinct.
Tick tick tick tick.!
Hook stood shuddering, one foot in the air.
"The crocodile!" he gasped, and bounded away, followed by his
bo'sun.
It was indeed the crocodile. It had passed the redskins, who
were now on the trail of the other pirates. It oozed on after
Hook.
Once more the boys emerged into the open; but the dangers of
the night were not yet over, for presently Nibs rushed breathless
Peter Pan |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Familiar Studies of Men and Books by Robert Louis Stevenson: Tabary, smelling an accomplice, would be only too glad to
introduce his new acquaintance? On the morrow, accordingly,
they met; and Tabary, after having first wet his whistle at
the prior's expense, led him to Notre Dame and presented him
to four or five "young companions," who were keeping
sanctuary in the church. They were all clerks, recently
escaped, like Tabary himself, from the episcopal prisons.
Among these we may notice Thibault, the operator, a little
fellow of twenty-six, wearing long hair behind. The Prior
expressed, through Tabary, his anxiety to become their
accomplice and altogether such as they were (DE LEUR SORTS ET
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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 Rasselas, Prince of Abyssinia by Samuel Johnson: seen the private recesses of domestic peace. Imlac favours not our
search, lest we should in time find him mistaken. We will divide
the task between us; you shall try what is to be found in the
splendour of Courts, and I will range the shades of humbler life.
Perhaps command and authority may be the supreme blessings, as they
afford the most opportunities of doing good; or perhaps what this
world can give may be found in the modest habitations of middle
fortune - too low for great designs, and too high for penury and
distress."
CHAPTER XXIV - THE PRINCE EXAMINES THE HAPPINESS OF HIGH STATIONS.
RASSELAS applauded the design, and appeared next day with a
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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 American by Henry James: "Let us have no more discussion than is necessary," resumed Madame
de Bellegarde. "My daughter told you everything when she said she
gave you up."
"I am not satisfied about your daughter," said Newman; "I want to know
what you did to her. It is all very easy talking about authority
and saying you commanded her. She didn't accept me blindly,
and she wouldn't have given me up blindly. Not that I believe
yet she has really given me up; she will talk it over with me.
But you have frightened her, you have bullied her, you have HURT her.
What was it you did to her?"
"I did very little! said Madame de Bellegarde, in a tone which gave
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