| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Sanitary and Social Lectures by Charles Kingsley: "But why do not people stop such a horrible loss of life?"
"Well, my dear boy, the true causes of it have only been known for
the last thirty or forty years; and we English are, as good King
Alfred found us to his sorrow a thousand years ago, very slow to
move, even when we see a thing ought to be done. Let us hope that
in this matter--we have been so in most matters as yet--we shall
be like the tortoise in the fable, and not the hare; and by moving
slowly, but surely, win the race at last."
"But now think for yourself: and see what you would do to save
these people from being poisoned by bad water. Remember that the
plain question is this: The rain-water comes down from heaven as
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Chance by Joseph Conrad: so as to be early on board his ship. The weather was magnificent
and whenever the captain of the Ferndale was seen on a brilliant
afternoon coming down the road Mr. Smith would seize his stick and
toddle off for a solitary walk. But whether he would get tired or
because it gave him some satisfaction to see "that man" go away--or
for some cunning reason of his own, he was always back before the
hour of Anthony's departure. On approaching the cottage he would
see generally "that man" lying on the grass in the orchard at some
distance from his daughter seated in a chair brought out of the
cottage's living room. Invariably Mr. Smith made straight for them
and as invariably had the feeling that his approach was not
Chance |
