| 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: -to bruises on the shoulders, elbows, and even the finger joints,
of the central figure of our story. He had indeed been bumped and
battered at an extraordinary number of points. But enough of
realistic description is as good as a feast, and we have
exhibited enough for our purpose. Even in literature one must
know where to draw the line.
Now the reader may be inclined to wonder how a respectable young
shopman should have got his legs, and indeed himself generally,
into such a dreadful condition. One might fancy that he had been
sitting with his nether extremities in some complicated
machinery, a threshing-machine, say, or one of those hay-making
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Letters of Robert Louis Stevenson by Robert Louis Stevenson: revision. The essential part of work is not an act, it is a state.
I do not know why I write you this trash.
Many thanks for your handsome dedication. I have not yet had time
to do more than glance at Mrs. Begg; it looks interesting. - Yours
very truly,
ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON.
Letter: TO MISS ANNIE H. IDE
VAILIMA, SAMOA [NOVEMBER 1891].
MY DEAR LOUISA, - Your picture of the church, the photograph of
yourself and your sister, and your very witty and pleasing letter,
came all in a bundle, and made me feel I had my money's worth for
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