| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Around the World in 80 Days by Jules Verne: Command me as you will."
"Excellent!" said Mr. Fogg.
"However," resumed the guide, "it is certain, not only that
we shall risk our lives, but horrible tortures, if we are taken."
"That is foreseen," replied Mr. Fogg. "I think we must wait till night
before acting."
"I think so," said the guide.
The worthy Indian then gave some account of the victim, who,
he said, was a celebrated beauty of the Parsee race, and the
daughter of a wealthy Bombay merchant. She had received a
thoroughly English education in that city, and, from her manners
Around the World in 80 Days |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Michael Strogoff by Jules Verne: her reserve, and the mysterious sympathy which draws to-
gether those who are in misfortune, thawed Marfa Strogoff's
coldness.
Nadia -- for it was she -- was thus able, without knowing
it, to render to the mother those attentions which she had
herself received from the son. Her instinctive kindness had
doubly inspired her. In devoting herself to her service,
Nadia secured to her youth and beauty the protection af-
forded by the age of the old prisoner.
On the crowd of unhappy people, embittered by suffer-
ings, this silent pair -- one seeming to be the grandmother,
|
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from In Darkest England and The Way Out by General William Booth: and agriculture is after all largely a matter of manure. Treat the
land well and it will treat you well. With our piggery in connection
with our Farm Colony there would be no lack of manure.
With the piggery there would grow up a great bacon factory for curing,
and that again would make more work. Then as for sausages they would
be produced literally by the mile, and all made of the best meat
instead of being manufactured out of the very objectionable ingredients
too often stowed away in that poor man's favourite ration.
Food, however, is only one of the materials which will be collected
by the Household Salvage Brigade. The barges which float down the
river with the tide, laden to the brim with the cast-off waste of
In Darkest England and The Way Out |
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 The Dunwich Horror by H. P. Lovecraft: of the next night he drowsed off in his chair, but soon woke out
of a tangle of nightmares almost as hideous as the truths and
menaces to man's existence that he had uncovered.
On the morning
of September fourth Professor Rice and Dr Morgan insisted on seeing
him for a while, and departed trembling and ashen-grey. That evening
he went to bed, but slept only fitfully. Wednesday - the next
day - he was back at the manuscript, and began to take copious
notes both from the current sections and from those he had already
deciphered. In the small hours of that night he slept a little
in a easy chair in his office, but was at the manuscript again
The Dunwich Horror |
