| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Philosophy 4 by Owen Wister: "Horrible," assented Bertie.
"He knows a lot. He's extraordinary," said Billy.
"Yes, he is. He can talk the actual words of the notes. Probably he
could teach the course himself. I don't suppose he buys any
strawberries, even when they get ripe and cheap here. What's the matter
with you?"
Billy had broken suddenly into merriment. "I don't believe Oscar owns a
bath," he explained.
"By Jove! so his notes will burn in spite of everything!" And both of
the tennis boys shrieked foolishly.
Then Billy began taking his clothes off, strewing them in the
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Woman and Labour by Olive Schreiner: tread we hear behind us is that of all earth's women, bearing within them
the entire race. The footpath, yet hardly perceptible, which we tread down
today, will, we believe, be life's broadest and straightest road, along
which the children of men will pass to a higher co-ordination and harmony.
The banner which we unfurl today is not new: it is the standard of the
old, free, monogamous, labouring woman, which, twenty hundred years ago,
floated over the forests of Europe. We shall bear it on, each generation
as it falls passing it into the hand of that which follows, till we plant
it so high that all nations of the world shall see it; till the women of
the humblest human races shall be gathered beneath its folds, and no child
enter life that was not born within its shade.
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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 Meno by Plato: utmost of my power. Suppose that you call one of your numerous attendants,
that I may demonstrate on him.
MENO: Certainly. Come hither, boy.
SOCRATES: He is Greek, and speaks Greek, does he not?
MENO: Yes, indeed; he was born in the house.
SOCRATES: Attend now to the questions which I ask him, and observe whether
he learns of me or only remembers.
MENO: I will.
SOCRATES: Tell me, boy, do you know that a figure like this is a square?
BOY: I do.
SOCRATES: And you know that a square figure has these four lines equal?
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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 Tour Through Eastern Counties of England by Daniel Defoe: water of this spring has run; and I presume that those who call the
hardened pieces of wood, which they take out of this well by the
name of iron, never tried the quality of it with the fire or
hammer; if they had, perhaps they would have given some other
account of it.
On the promontory of land which they call Beacon Hill and which
lies beyond or behind the town towards the sea, there is a
lighthouse to give the ships directions in their sailing by as well
as their coming into the harbour in the night. I shall take notice
of these again all together when I come to speak of the Society of
Trinity House, as they are called, by whom they are all directed
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