| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from War and the Future by H. G. Wells: French, Italians, and English. For years there has been a
considerable amount of systematic study in France of English
thought and English developments. Upon almost any question of
current English opinion and upon most current English social
questions, the best studies are in French. But there has been
little or no reciprocal activity. The English in France seem to
confine their French studies to /La Vie Parisienne./ It is
what they have been led to expect of French literature.
There can be no doubt in any reasonable mind that this war is
binding France and England very closely together. They dare not
quarrel for the next fifty years. They are bound to play a
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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 Pair of Blue Eyes by Thomas Hardy: 'And now reviewer and reviewed are face to face,' he added
unconcernedly.
'Yes: though the fact of your being a relation of Mrs. Swancourt's
takes off the edge of it. It was strange that you should be one
of her family all the time.' Elfride began to recover herself now,
and to look into Knight's face. 'I was merely anxious to let you
know my REAL meaning in writing the book--extremely anxious.'
'I can quite understand the wish; and I was gratified that my
remarks should have reached home. They very seldom do, I am
afraid.'
Elfride drew herself in. Here he was, sticking to his opinions as
A Pair of Blue Eyes |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from The Wrong Box by Stevenson & Osbourne: hectored with him in the back parlour upon a question of three
farthings. The superficial might have deemed him a miser; in his
own eyes he was simply a man who had been defrauded; the world
owed him seven thousand eight hundred pounds, and he intended
that the world should pay.
But it was in his dealings with Joseph that Morris's character
particularly shone. His uncle was a rather gambling stock in
which he had invested heavily; and he spared no pains in nursing
the security. The old man was seen monthly by a physician,
whether he was well or ill. His diet, his raiment, his occasional
outings, now to Brighton, now to Bournemouth, were doled out to
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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 Emma by Jane Austen: ready till the third week were entered on, and for a few days they
must be planning, proceeding and hoping in uncertainty--at the risk--
in her opinion, the great risk, of its being all in vain.
Enscombe however was gracious, gracious in fact, if not in word.
His wish of staying longer evidently did not please; but it was
not opposed. All was safe and prosperous; and as the removal of one
solicitude generally makes way for another, Emma, being now certain
of her ball, began to adopt as the next vexation Mr. Knightley's
provoking indifference about it. Either because he did not
dance himself, or because the plan had been formed without his
being consulted, he seemed resolved that it should not interest him,
Emma |
