| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Lesser Bourgeoisie by Honore de Balzac: and came at last to speak of la Peyrade as a sort of adventurer whom
he had fed and clothed, a tricky fellow who had EXTRACTED much money
from him, and had finally behaved with such ingratitude that he was
thankful not to count him any longer among his friends. Orgon, in
short, was in full revolt, and like Dorine, he was ready to cry out:
"A beggar! who, when he came, had neither shoes nor coat worth a brass
farthing."
Cerizet, to whom these indignities were reported by Dutocq, would
gladly have served them up hot to la Peyrade; but the interview in
which the copying clerk was to furnish information about Madame de
Godollo did not take place at the time fixed. La Peyrade made his own
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Enemies of Books by William Blades: and the many treasures in Books and MSS. contained in it are
exposed to damp and decay. An appeal has been issued that this
valuable collection may not be allowed to perish for want of funds,
and that it may also be now at length removed to Brunswick,
since Wolfenbuttel is entirely deserted as an intellectual centre.
No false sentimentality regarding the memory of its former
custodians, Leibnitz and Lessing, should hinder this project.
Lessing himself would have been the first to urge that the library
and its utility should be considered above all things."
The collection of books at Wolfenbuttel is simply magnificent,
and I cannot but hope the above report was exaggerated.
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