| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin by Benjamin Franklin: were not the kind of good things that I expected from that text,
I despaired of ever meeting with them from any other, was disgusted,
and attended his preaching no more. I had some years before compos'd
a little Liturgy, or form of prayer, for my own private use (viz.,
in 1728), entitled, Articles of Belief and Acts of Religion.
I return'd to the use of this, and went no more to the public assemblies.
My conduct might be blameable, but I leave it, without attempting
further to excuse it; my present purpose being to relate facts,
and not to make apologies for them.
It was about this time I conceiv'd the bold and arduous project
of arriving at moral perfection. I wish'd to live without
The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from The Lesson of the Master by Henry James: chairs that figured hours of rest. Such a place as that had the
added merit of giving those who came into it plenty to talk about.
Miss Fancourt sat down with her new acquaintance on a flowered
sofa, the cushions of which, very numerous, were tight ancient
cubes of many sizes, and presently said: "I'm so glad to have a
chance to thank you."
"To thank me - ?" He had to wonder.
"I liked your book so much. I think it splendid."
She sat there smiling at him, and he never asked himself which book
she meant; for after all he had written three or four. That seemed
a vulgar detail, and he wasn't even gratified by the idea of the
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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 Out of Time's Abyss by Edgar Rice Burroughs: Then he looked at the open doorway, crossed the platform and
peered within the apartment beyond. What he saw was a large
room, dimly lighted, and about the side rows of wooden vessels
stacked one upon another. There was no Wieroo in sight, so the
Englishman entered. At the far end of the room was another door,
and as he crossed toward it, he glanced into some of the vessels,
which he found were filled with dried fruits, vegetables and fish.
Without more ado he stuffed his pockets and his haversack full,
thinking of the poor creature awaiting his return in the gloom
of the Place of Seven Skulls.
When night came, he would return and fetch An-Tak this far at
Out of Time's Abyss |
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 Brother of Daphne by Dornford Yates: seriousness in her grey eyes.
"Ah, I mean the Spanish Toledo, not the one in the States."
"Oh, I see- "
She checked herself suddenly and looked round. "He's laughing at
me," she said. "What have I said wrong?"
"If anyone asked me where we should be without our Jill," said
Berry, "I couldn't tell them."
When we began to discuss the tour in good earnest, the argument
proper began. I had suggested that we should make for Frankfort,
to start with, and Daphne and Jonah rather favoured Germany.
Berry, however, wanted to go to Austria. It was after a casual
The Brother of Daphne |
