| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Two Poets by Honore de Balzac: L'Houmeau" became little better than a pariah. Hence the deep,
smothered hatred which broke out everywhere with such ugly unanimity
in the insurrection of 1830 and destroyed the elements of a durable
social system in France. As the overweening haughtiness of the Court
nobles detached the provincial noblesse from the throne, so did these
last alienate the bourgeoisie from the royal cause by behavior that
galled their vanity in every possible way.
So "a man of L'Houmeau," a druggist's son, in Mme. de Bargeton's house
was nothing less than a little revolution. Who was responsible for it?
Lamartine and Victor Hugo, Casimir Delavigne and Canalis, Beranger and
Chateaubriand. Davrigny, Benjamin Constant and Lamennais, Cousin and
|
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from On Horsemanship by Xenophon: straight course, will be all the more ready to turn, and will be
practised at once in the straight course and in wheeling. At the
curve, he should be held up,[19] because it is neither easy nor indeed
safe when the horse is at full speed to turn sharp, especially if the
ground is broken[20] or slippery.
[17] {pede}, figure of eight.
[18] Or, "on first one and then the other half of the manege."
[19] {upolambanein}. See "Hipparch," iii. 14; "Hunting," iii. 10; vi.
22, of a dog.
[20] {apokroton}, al. {epikroton}, "beaten, hard-trodden ground."
But in collecting him, the rider should as little as possible sway the
On Horsemanship |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from To-morrow by Joseph Conrad: He overwhelmed her. She pulled herself to-
gether and managed to utter, "Time to rest
now."
He straightened himself up, away from the wall,
and in a severe voice said, "Time to go."
But he did not move. He leaned back again,
and hummed thoughtfully a bar or two of an out-
landish tune.
She felt as if she were about to cry. "That's
another of your cruel songs," she said.
"Learned it in Mexico--in Sonora." He talked
To-morrow |
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 Little Women by Louisa May Alcott: calm, cool, and quiet, that's safe and ladylike, and you can easily
do it for fifteen minutes," said Amy, as they approached the first
place, having borrowed the white parasol and been inspected by Meg,
with a baby on each arm.
"Let me see. `Calm, cool, and quiet', yes, I think I can
promise that. I've played the part of a prim young lady on the
stage, and I'll try it off. My powers are great, as you shall see,
so be easy in your mind, my child."
Amy looked relieved, but naughty Jo took her at her word, for
during the first call she sat with every limb gracefully composed,
every fold correctly draped, calm as a summer sea, cool as a snowbank,
Little Women |
