| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from An Inland Voyage by Robert Louis Stevenson: proved better than the wine; the company was genial. This was the
highest water mark of popular favour on the whole cruise. After
all, being in a Judge's house, was there not something semi-
official in the tribute? And so, remembering what a great country
France is, we did full justice to our entertainment. Landrecies
had been a long while asleep before we returned to the hotel; and
the sentries on the ramparts were already looking for daybreak.
SAMBRE AND OISE CANAL
CANAL BOATS
NEXT day we made a late start in the rain. The Judge politely
escorted us to the end of the lock under an umbrella. We had now
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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 Letters of Robert Louis Stevenson by Robert Louis Stevenson: another section, and have only two more to execute. But one at
least of these will be very long - the longest in the book - being
a great digression on French artistic tramps. I only hope Paul may
take the thing; I want coin so badly, and besides it would be
something done - something put outside of me and off my conscience;
and I should not feel such a muff as I do, if once I saw the thing
in boards with a ticket on its back. I think I shall frequent
circulating libraries a good deal. The Preface shall stand over,
as you suggest, until the last, and then, sir, we shall see. This
to be read with a big voice.
This is New Year's Day: let me, my dear Colvin, wish you a very
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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 King James Bible: help him.
CH2 32:4 So there was gathered much people together, who stopped all
the fountains, and the brook that ran through the midst of the land,
saying, Why should the kings of Assyria come, and find much water?
CH2 32:5 Also he strengthened himself, and built up all the wall that
was broken, and raised it up to the towers, and another wall without,
and repaired Millo in the city of David, and made darts and shields in
abundance.
CH2 32:6 And he set captains of war over the people, and gathered them
together to him in the street of the gate of the city, and spake
comfortably to them, saying,
King James Bible |
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 Voyage of the Beagle by Charles Darwin: hand, this very circumstance, which at first sight appears so
highly favourable to the long preservation of exposed shells,
has probably been the indirect means, through the common
salt not having been washed away, of their decomposition
and early decay.
I was much interested by finding on the terrace, at the
height of eighty-five feet, _embedded_ amidst the shells and
much sea-drifted rubbish, some bits of cotton thread, plaited
rush, and the head of a stalk of Indian corn: I compared
these relics with similar ones taken out of the Huacas, or old
Peruvian tombs, and found them identical in appearance.
The Voyage of the Beagle |
