| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Silverado Squatters by Robert Louis Stevenson: had been cabined in a parlour, when the sound of brisk
footsteps came mounting up the path. We pricked our ears at
this, for the tread seemed lighter and firmer than was usual
with our country neighbours. And presently, sure enough, two
town gentlemen, with cigars and kid gloves, came debauching
past the house. They looked in that place like a blasphemy.
"Good evening," they said. For none of us had stirred; we
all sat stiff with wonder.
"Good evening," I returned; and then, to put them at their
ease, "A stiff climb," I added.
"Yes," replied the leader; "but we have to thank you for this
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Criminal Sociology by Enrico Ferri: Before inquiring how we can practically organise the positive
system of social defence on the basis of this anthropological
classification of criminals, we must bear in mind two rules,
common to all the technical proposals of the same system.
First, care must be taken that segregation does not become or
continue to be (as it is too often at present) a welcome refuge of
idleness and criminal association, instead of a deprivation.
Penitentiaries for condemned prisoners--the classical prison
experts make no distinction between their cells for prisoners
before trial and those for convicts!--should not be so comfortable
as to excite the envy (a vast injustice and imprudence) of the
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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 Wife, et al by Anton Chekhov: Tomorrow I will send in a petition and they will give me a
passport, and I will go away; I will go! I will go! I'll go into
a convent, into a widows' home, into an almshouse. . . ."
"Into a lunatic asylum!" I cried, not able to restrain myself.
"Well, even into a lunatic asylum! That would be better, that
would be better," she cried, with flashing eyes. "When I was in
Pestrovo today I envied the sick and starving peasant women
because they are not living with a man like you. They are free
and honest, while, thanks to you, I am a parasite, I am perishing
in idleness, I eat your bread, I spend your money, and I repay
you with my liberty and a fidelity which is of no use to any one.
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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 Island Nights' Entertainments by Robert Louis Stevenson: a tree.
"Old lady," I said, "I won't forget this night. You're a trump,
and that's what's wrong with you."
She humped herself close up to me. She had run out the way she
was, with nothing on her but her kilt; and she was all wet with the
dews and the sea on the black beach, and shook straight on with
cold and the terror of the dark and the devils.
"Too much 'fraid," was all she said.
The far side of Case's hill goes down near as steep as a precipice
into the next valley. We were on the very edge of it, and I could
see the dead wood shine and hear the sea sound far below. I didn't
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