| 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: had fired the train, by attempting to impose upon the Scottish
people church ceremonies foreign to their habits and opinions.
The success with which this had been resisted, and the
Presbyterian model substituted in its place, had endeared the
latter to the nation, as the cause in which they had triumphed.
The Solemn League and Covenant, adopted with such zeal by the
greater part of the kingdom, and by them forced, at the sword's
point, upon the others, bore in its bosom, as its principal
object, the establishing the doctrine and discipline of the
Presbyterian church, and the putting down all error and heresy;
and having attained for their own country an establishment of
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from A Hero of Our Time by M.Y. Lermontov: cross itself, to the effect that it had been erected
by order of General Ermolov, and that too in the
year 1824. Nevertheless, the tradition has taken
such firm root, in spite of the inscription, that
really you do not know what to believe; the more
so, as it is not the custom to believe inscriptions.
To reach the station Kobi, we still had to
descend about five versts, across ice-covered rocks
and plashy snow. The horses were exhausted; we
were freezing; the snowstorm droned with ever-
increasing violence, exactly like the storms of
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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 Voice of the City by O. Henry: Beauty is Nature in perfection; circularity is its
chief attribute. Behold the full moon, the enchant-
ing golf ball, the domes of splendid temples, the
huckleberry pie, the wedding ring, the circus ring,
the ring for the waiter, and the "round" of drinks.
On the other hand, straight lines show that Na-
ture has been deflected. Imagine Venus's girdle
transformed into a "straight front"!
When we begin to move in straight lines and turn
sharp corners our natures begin to change. The
consequence is that Nature, being more adaptive than
The Voice of the City |
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 Secret Adversary by Agatha Christie: dryly.
"I guess you're right," said Julius frankly. "And, in any case,
it's the original I'm out after. Where do you think she can be,
Sir James?"
The lawyer shook his head.
"Impossible to say. But I've a very good idea where she has
been."
"You have? Where?"
Sir James smiled.
"At the scene of your nocturnal adventures, the Bournemouth
nursing home."
Secret Adversary |
