| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Fables by Robert Louis Stevenson: "Will you kindly tell me why?" inquired the fireman, for he was a
civil fellow.
"Nothing could possibly be fairer," said the sick man. "The strong
should be preferred in all cases, because they are of more service
in the world."
The fireman pondered a while, for he was a man of some philosophy.
"Granted," said he at last, as apart of the roof fell in; "but for
the sake of conversation, what would you lay down as the proper
service of the strong?"
"Nothing can possibly be easier," returned the sick man; "the
proper service of the strong is to help the weak."
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from The Happy Prince and Other Tales by Oscar Wilde: reached the market. After he had waited there some time, he sold
the sack of flour for a very good price, and then he returned home
at once, for he was afraid that if he stopped too late he might
meet some robbers on the way.
"'It has certainly been a hard day,' said little Hans to himself as
he was going to bed, 'but I am glad I did not refuse the Miller,
for he is my best friend, and, besides, he is going to give me his
wheelbarrow.'
"Early the next morning the Miller came down to get the money for
his sack of flour, but little Hans was so tired that he was still
in bed.
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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 Historical Lecturers and Essays by Charles Kingsley: there came worms and the ship began to sink under them. They had a
boat which they had payed with seals' blubber, for that the sea-
worms will not hurt. But when they got into the boat they saw that
it would not hold them all. Then said Bjarne, 'As the boat will
only hold the half of us, my advice is that we should draw lots who
shall go in her; for that will not be unworthy of our manhood.'
This advice seemed so good that none gainsaid it; and they drew
lots. And the lot fell to Bjarne that he should go in the boat with
half his crew. But as he got into the boat, there spake an
Icelander who was in the ship and had followed Bjarne from Iceland,
'Art thou going to leave me here, Bjarne?' Quoth Bjarne, 'So it
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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 In Darkest England and The Way Out by General William Booth: and he stakes his professional reputation on its feasibility.
The following, however, may be taken as a rough outline: --
The Village should not be more than twelve miles from town; should be
in a dry and healthy situation, and on a line of railway. It is not
absolutely necessary that it should be near a station, seeing that the
company would, for their own interests, immediately erect one.
The Cottages should be built of the best material and workmanship.
This would be effected most satisfactorily by securing a contract for
the labour only, the projectors of the Scheme purchasing the materials
and supplying them direct from the manufacturers to the builders.
The cottages would consist of three or four rooms, with a scullery,
In Darkest England and The Way Out |
