| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Wheels of Chance by H. G. Wells: hiatus. He became pensive again.
"It's pretty evident you don't think much of a draper," he said
abruptly.
Another interval. "Hundreds of men," she said, "have come from
the very lowest ranks of life. There was Burns, a ploughman; and
Hugh Miller, a stonemason; and plenty of others. Dodsley was a
footman--"
"But drapers! We're too sort of shabby genteel to rise. Our coats
and cuffs might get crumpled--"
"Wasn't there a Clarke who wrote theology? He was a draper."
"There was one started a sewing cotton, the only one I ever heard
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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 Market-Place by Harold Frederic: had ushered him into this furthermost private room.
It pleased him to assume that prosperity had relaxed the
Scotchman's vigilance.
"Oh yes, sir," the clerk replied. "A bit earlier if anything,
as a rule. But I think he is stopping at his solicitors
on his way to the City. I hope you are very well, sir."
"Yes--I'm very fit--thanks," Thorpe said, listlessly,
and the other left him.
Mr. Semple, when at last he arrived, bustled into
the room with unaffected gratification at the news
he had heard without. "Well, well, Thorpe man!"
The Market-Place |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from Les Miserables by Victor Hugo: remained for a long time leaning with his back against the wall,
with straining ears, and dilated pupils, watching the disappearance
of that phantom patrol.
CHAPTER III
THE "SPUN" MAN
This justice must be rendered to the police of that period,
that even in the most serious public junctures, it imperturbably
fulfilled its duties connected with the sewers and surveillance.
A revolt was, in its eyes, no pretext for allowing malefactors
to take the bit in their own mouths, and for neglecting society
for the reason that the government was in peril. The ordinary
Les Miserables |
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 A Treatise on Parents and Children by George Bernard Shaw: roasting on a drawingroom hearthrug. Besides, to allege that children
are better continually away from home is to give up the whole popular
sentimental theory of the family; yet the dogs are kept and the
children are banished.
Child Fanciers
There is, however, a good deal of spurious family affection. There is
the clannishness that will make a dozen brothers and sisters who
quarrel furiously among themselves close up their ranks and make
common cause against a brother-in-law or a sister-in-law. And there
is a strong sense of property in children, which often makes mothers
and fathers bitterly jealous of allowing anyone else to interfere with
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