| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Pellucidar by Edgar Rice Burroughs: let the other end know that the instrument had been
discovered. In the morning, after carefully returning the
box to its hole and covering it over with sand, I called
my servants about me, snatched a hurried breakfast,
mounted my horse, and started upon a forced march
for Algiers.
I arrived here today. In writing you this letter I feel
that I am making a fool of myself.
There is no David Innes.
There is no Dian the Beautiful.
There is no world within a world.
Pellucidar |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from The Chinese Boy and Girl by Isaac Taylor Headland: went through the one last passed through.
The showman drove an iron peg in the ground on which were two
blocks representing millstones. To the upper one was a lever by
which the dog with his nose turned the top millstone as if
grinding flour. He was hitched to a wheelbarrow, the handles of
which were held by the monkey, who pushed while the dog pulled.
The most interesting part of the performance, however, was by the
monkey. Various kinds of hats and false faces were kept in a box
which he opened and secured. He stalked about with a cane in his
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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 Memoir of Fleeming Jenkin by Robert Louis Stevenson: telegraphed for, and appeared next morning in Glasgow. He remained
for a week, spending the whole day in my class-room and laboratory,
and thus pleasantly began our lifelong acquaintance. I was much
struck, not only with his brightness and ability, but with his
resolution to understand everything spoken of, to see if possible
thoroughly through every difficult question, and (no if about
this!) to slur over nothing. I soon found that thoroughness of
honesty was as strongly engrained in the scientific as in the moral
side of his character.
In the first week of our acquaintance, the electric telegraph and,
particularly, submarine cables, and the methods, machines, and
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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 Brother of Daphne by Dornford Yates: hung himself at the canvas, uttering strange, smothered cries and
oaths, but painting, painting.... At a quarter past two he laid
down his palette and cried to me to descend. Stiffly I did so.
For a long moment I looked at the portrait. Then I turned to
George and clapped him on the back.
"I think you're going to make a name," said I.
"That's right," he said. "And now give me a cigarette."
Before we went to lunch, he showed me the picture of the girl.
It was almost finished. Such a fine, brave face. Not a bit
pretty- just beautiful. Dark hair showing under the brim of the
hat, steady brown eyes, the mouth exquisite...
The Brother of Daphne |
