| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Tour Through Eastern Counties of England by Daniel Defoe: hundredweight of wool, all in one bag.
The quantity of wool only, which has been sold at this place at one
fair, has been said to amount to fifty or sixty thousand pounds in
value, some say a great deal more.
By these articles a stranger may make some guess at the immense
trade carried on at this place; what prodigious quantities of goods
are bought and sold here, and what a confluence of people are seen
here from all parts of England.
I might go on here to speak of several other sorts of English
manufactures which are brought hither to be sold; as all sorts of
wrought-iron and brass-ware from Birmingham; edged tools, knives,
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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 Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde: name, should your answers be what a really affectionate mother
requires. Do you smoke?
JACK. Well, yes, I must admit I smoke.
LADY BRACKNELL. I am glad to hear it. A man should always have an
occupation of some kind. There are far too many idle men in London
as it is. How old are you?
JACK. Twenty-nine.
LADY BRACKNELL. A very good age to be married at. I have always
been of opinion that a man who desires to get married should know
either everything or nothing. Which do you know?
JACK. [After some hesitation.] I know nothing, Lady Bracknell.
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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 Soul of a Bishop by H. G. Wells: landlord's responsibility. No one should tolerate the offer of
such a house as this--at such a rent--to decent people. It is
unrighteous."
At the house agent's he asked in a cold, intelligent ruling-
class voice, the name of the offending landlord.
"It's all the property of the Ecclesiastical Commissioners that
side of the railway," said the agent, picking his teeth with a
pin. "Lazy lot. Dreadfully hard to get 'em to do anything. Own
some of the worst properties in London."
Lady Ella saw things differently again. "If you had stayed in
the church," she said afterwards, "you might have helped to alter
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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 Spirit of the Border by Zane Grey: sinner, that's your old friend, Wingenund. 'Pears to me we've rounded up all
our acquaintances."
The two bordermen lay close under the tall ferns and watched the proceedings
with sharp eyes. They saw the converted Indians seat themselves before the
platform. The crowd of hostile Indians surrounded the glade on all sides,
except on, which, singularly enough, was next to the woods.
"Look thar!" exclaimed Wetzel, under his breath. He pointed off to the right
of the maple glade. Jonathan gazed in the direction indicated, and saw two
savages stealthily slipping through the bushes, and behind trees. Presently
these suspicious acting spies, or scouts, stopped on a little knoll perhaps an
hundred yards from the glade.
The Spirit of the Border |
