| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The War in the Air by H. G. Wells: bellowings and gesticulations, he stuck in, in a large inky
scrawl, all and more than they had omitted.
It was a strangely embarrassing thing for British journalism.
Never was there a more obvious or uninteresting affair; never had
the world heard the story of erratic affection with less appetite
or sympathy. On the other hand it was extremely curious about
Mr. Butteridge's invention. But when Mr. Butteridge could be
deflected for a moment from the cause of the lady he championed,
then he talked chiefly, and usually with tears of tenderness in
his voice, about his mother and his childhood--his mother who
crowned a complete encyclopedia of maternal virtue by being
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Story of an African Farm by Olive Schreiner: him, "if I had not gone to look for you yesterday you would not have come
to greet me till now. Do you not like me any longer, Waldo?"
"Yes--but--you are changed."
It was the old clumsy, hesitating mode of speech.
"You like the pinafores better?" she said quickly. She wore a dress of a
simple cotton fabric, but very fashionably made, and on her head was a
broad white hat. To Waldo she seemed superbly attired. She saw it. "My
dress has changed a little," she said, "and I also; but not to you. Hang
the bag over your other shoulder, that I may see your face. You say so
little that if one does not look at you you are an uncomprehended cipher.
Waldo changed the bag, and they walked on side by side. "You have
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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 My Aunt Margaret's Mirror by Walter Scott: of women of an inferior description, and their plaids disposed
around their faces as they were worn by the same class; for in
those days of aristocracy the quality of the wearer was generally
indicated by the manner in which her plaid was disposed, as well
as by the fineness of its texture. It was Lady Bothwell who had
suggested this species of disguise, partly to avoid observation
as they should go to the conjurer's house, and partly in order to
make trial of his penetration, by appearing before him in a
feigned character. Lady Forester's servant, of tried fidelity,
had been employed by her to propitiate the Doctor by a suitable
fee, and a story intimating that a soldier's wife desired to know
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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 Polity of Athenians and Lacedaemonians by Xenophon: they are necessarily losers thereby, but, as it may turn out, even
gainers. If, for instance, the enemy attempted to turn their flank, he
would find himself wrapping round, not their exposed, but their
shielded flank.[20] Or if, for any reason, it be thought advisable for
the general to keep the right wing, they turn the corps about,[21] and
counter-march by ranks, until the leader is on the right, and the rear
rank on the left. Or again, supposing a division of the enemy appears
on the right whilst they are marching in column, they have nothing
further to do but to wheel each company to the right, like a trireme,
prow forwards,[22] to meet the enemy, and thus the rear company again
finds itself on the right. If, however, the enemy should attack on the
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