| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Memories and Portraits by Robert Louis Stevenson: mark of excision in the passage as quoted by me. Well, here is how
it runs in the original: "a damsel, who, close behind a fine spring
about half-way down the descent, and which had once supplied the
castle with water, was engaged in bleaching linen." A man who gave
in such copy would be discharged from the staff of a daily paper.
Scott has forgotten to prepare the reader for the presence of the
"damsel"; he has forgotten to mention the spring and its relation
to the ruin; and now, face to face with his omission, instead of
trying back and starting fair, crams all this matter, tail
foremost, into a single shambling sentence. It is not merely bad
English, or bad style; it is abominably bad narrative besides.
|
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Howard Pyle's Book of Pirates by Howard Pyle: Squire Hall took immediate measures to have the five hundred
pounds of his father's legacy duly transferred to Hiram.
In November Hiram married the pirate's widow.
CAPTAIN SCARFIELD
PREFACE
The author of this narrative cannot recall that, in any history
of the famous pirates, he has ever read a detailed and sufficient
account of the life and death of Capt. John Scarfield. Doubtless
some data concerning his death and the destruction of his
schooner might be gathered from the report of Lieutenant
Mainwaring, now filed in the archives of the Navy Department, out
Howard Pyle's Book of Pirates |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from The Riverman by Stewart Edward White: point of offering determined resistance, he was pinned back against
the wall by his shoulders, and the Rough Red's face was within two
feet of his own.
"And how are ye, ye ould darlint?" shouted the latter, with a roll
of oaths.
"Why, Jimmy Bourke!" cried Orde, and burst into a laugh.
The Rough Red jerked him to his feet, delivered a bear hug that
nearly crushed his ribs, and pounded him mightily on the back.
"You ould snoozer!" he bellowed. "Where the blankety blank in blank
did you come from? Byes," he shouted to the men, "it's me ould boss
on th' Au Sable six year back--that time, ye mind, whin we had th'
|
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 Danny's Own Story by Don Marquis: You ought to get closer to the soil and to nature,
as is more healthy for a youth of your age. So for
an hour each day, between your studies, you will
romp and play in this sand. You may begin to
frolic now, William Dear, and then James will
sweep up the dirt again for to-morrow's frolic."
But William didn't frolic none. He jest looked
at that dirt in a sad kind o' way, and he says very
serious but very decided:
"Aunt Estelle, I shall NOT frolic." And they had
to let it go at that, fur he never would frolic none,
|
