| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Father Damien by Robert Louis Stevenson: of your colleagues look back on the inertia of your Church, and the
intrusive and decisive heroism of Damien, with something almost to
be called remorse. I am sure it is so with yourself; I am
persuaded your letter was inspired by a certain envy, not
essentially ignoble, and the one human trait to be espied in that
performance. You were thinking of the lost chance, the past day;
of that which should have been conceived and was not; of the
service due and not rendered. TIME WAS, said the voice in your
ear, in your pleasant room, as you sat raging and writing; and if
the words written were base beyond parallel, the rage, I am happy
to repeat - it is the only compliment I shall pay you - the rage
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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: GWENDOLEN. [Quite politely, rising.] My darling Cecily, I think
there must be some slight error. Mr. Ernest Worthing is engaged to
me. The announcement will appear in the MORNING POST on Saturday
at the latest.
CECILY. [Very politely, rising.] I am afraid you must be under
some misconception. Ernest proposed to me exactly ten minutes ago.
[Shows diary.]
GWENDOLEN. [Examines diary through her lorgnettte carefully.] It
is certainly very curious, for he asked me to be his wife yesterday
afternoon at 5.30. If you would care to verify the incident, pray
do so. [Produces diary of her own.] I never travel without my
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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 The Tapestried Chamber by Walter Scott: castle through the woods and glades by which this ancient feudal
fortress was surrounded, our military traveller was determined to
inquire whether it might not deserve a nearer view, and whether
it contained family pictures or other objects of curiosity worthy
of a stranger's visit, when, leaving the vicinity of the park, he
rolled through a clean and well-paved street, and stopped at the
door of a well-frequented inn.
Before ordering horses, to proceed on his journey, General Browne
made inquiries concerning the proprietor of the chateau which had
so attracted his admiration, and was equally surprised and
pleased at hearing in reply a nobleman named, whom we shall call
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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 Montezuma's Daughter by H. Rider Haggard: him from my grip. Then seeing that all was lost, for they were
about to cut me down with their swords, I placed my hand upon the
bulwark and leaped into the sea.
My reason told me that I should do well to drown as quickly as
possible, and I thought to myself that I would not try to swim, but
would sink at once. Yet love of life was too strong for me, and so
soon as I touched the water, I struck out and began to swim along
the side of the ship, keeping myself in her shadow, for I feared
lest de Garcia should cause me to be shot at with arrows and musket
balls. Presently as I went I heard him say with an oath:
'He has gone, and for good this time, but my foreboding went near
Montezuma's Daughter |
