| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from A Daughter of Eve by Honore de Balzac: advised Nathan not to apostatize too suddenly.
"Napoleon said it; you can't make young republics of old monarchies.
Therefore, my dear fellow, become the hero, the support, the creator
of the Left Centre in the new Chamber, and you'll succeed. Once
admitted into political ranks, once in the government, you can be what
you like,--of any opinion that triumphs."
Nathan was bent on creating a daily political journal and becoming the
absolute master of an enterprise which should absorb into it the
countless little papers then swarming from the press, and establish
ramifications with a review. He had seen so many fortunes made all
around him by the press that he would not listen to Blondet, who
|
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Whirligigs by O. Henry: "Heffelbauer," said the m. e., "did you ever hear of a
code belonging to the office a long time ago - a private
code? You know what a code is, don't you?"
"Yah," said Heffelbauer. "Sure I know vat a code is.
Yah, apout dwelf or fifteen year ago der office had a code.
Der reborters in der city-room haf it here."
"Ah!" said the m. e. "We're getting on the trail now.
Where was it kept, Heffelbauer? What do you know
about it?"
"Somedimes," said the retainer, "dey keep it in der
little room behind der library room."
|
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from Pellucidar by Edgar Rice Burroughs: always been my secret boast I am peculiarly free.
The other workers also ran forward to meet the mes-
senger, who quickly unburdened himself of his informa-
tion, and as quickly turned and scampered back toward
the village. When running these beast-men often go
upon all fours. Thus they leap over obstacles that
would slow up a human being, and upon the level attain
a speed that would make a thoroughbred look to his
laurels. The result in this instance was that before I
had more than assimilated the gist of the word which
had been brought to the fields, I was alone, watching
Pellucidar |
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 Marriage Contract by Honore de Balzac: called the fete of the camellias. Immense quantities of that beautiful
flower were massed on the staircase, and in the antechamber and
supper-room. During this month the formalities for constituting the
entail were concluded in Paris; the estates adjoining Lanstrac were
purchased, the banns were published, and all doubts finally
dissipated. Friends and enemies thought only of preparing their
toilets for the coming fete.
The time occupied by these events obscured the difficulties raised by
the first discussion, and swept into oblivion the words and arguments
of that stormy conference. Neither Paul nor his mother-in-law
continued to think of them. Were they not, after all, as Madame
|
