| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Letters of Robert Louis Stevenson by Robert Louis Stevenson: him, and thousands who have still ungarnered stories. Dear man, to
the breach! Up, soldier of the iron dook, up, Slades, and at 'em!
(which, conclusively, he did not say: the at 'em-ic theory is to
be dismissed). You know piles of fellows who must reek with
matter; help! help! - Yours ever,
R. L. S.
Letter: TO SIDNEY COLVIN
BONALLIE TOWERS, BOURNEMOUTH, FEBRUARY 1885.
MY DEAR COLVIN, - You are indeed a backward correspondent, and much
may be said against you. But in this weather, and O dear! in this
political scene of degradation, much must be forgiven. I fear
|
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from The Country Doctor by Honore de Balzac: telling a story. The men were standing about for the most part, or
lying at full length on the trusses of hay. Every group was absolutely
silent. Their faces were barely visible by the flickering gleams of
the candles by which the women were working, although each candle was
surrounded by a glass globe filled with water, in order to concentrate
the light. The thick darkness and shadow that filled the roof and all
the upper part of the barn seemed still further to diminish the light
that fell here and there upon the workers' heads with such picturesque
effects of light and shade. Here, it shone full upon the bright
wondering eyes and brown forehead of a little peasant maiden; and
there the straggling beams brought out the outlines of the rugged
|