| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Time Machine by H. G. Wells: `Not a bit,' said the Time Traveller, and, to the Psychologist:
`You think. You can explain that. It's presentation below the
threshold, you know, diluted presentation.'
`Of course,' said the Psychologist, and reassured us. `That's
a simple point of psychology. I should have thought of it. It's
plain enough, and helps the paradox delightfully. We cannot see
it, nor can we appreciate this machine, any more than we can the
spoke of a wheel spinning, or a bullet flying through the air.
If it is travelling through time fifty times or a hundred times
faster than we are, if it gets through a minute while we get
through a second, the impression it creates will of course be
The Time Machine |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Tales of the Klondyke by Jack London: cold muzzle against his forehead. "Lay quiet, now! If you lift
as much as a hair, you'll get it."
It was rather an awkward task, with the trigger of the gun always
within pulling distance of the finger; but Kent was a weaver, and
in a few minutes had the sailor tied hand and foot. Then he
dragged him without and laid him by the side of the cabin, where
he could overlook the river and watch the sun climb to the
meridian.
"Now I'll give you till noon, and then--"
"Wot?"
"You'll be hitting the brimstone trail. But if you speak up, I'll
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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 Insidious Dr. Fu-Manchu by Sax Rohmer: and bearing commanded respect.
"Sir Crichton Davey has been killed, sir."
Smith lurched back as though he had received a physical blow, and clutched
my shoulder convulsively. Beneath the heavy tan his face had blanched,
and his eyes were set in a stare of horror.
"My God!" he whispered. "I am too late!"
With clenched fists he turned and, pressing through the group
of loungers, bounded up the steps. In the hall a man who unmistakably
was a Scotland Yard official stood talking to a footman.
Other members of the household were moving about, more or
less aimlessly, and the chilly hand of King Fear had touched
The Insidious Dr. Fu-Manchu |
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 Michael Strogoff by Jules Verne: young girl had already suffered in the past, and the future
doubtless did not present itself to her in glowing colors;
but she had surely known how to struggle still with the trials
of life. Her energy was evidently both prompt and per-
sistent, and her calmness unalterable, even under circum-
stances in which a man would be likely to give way or lose
his self-command.
Such was the impression which she produced at first sight.
Michael Strogoff, being himself of an energetic tempera-
ment, was naturally struck by the character of her physiog-
nomy, and, while taking care not to cause her annoyance
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