| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Commission in Lunacy by Honore de Balzac: here carrying on a business such as is not habitually undertaken by a
man of rank."
"We cannot discuss that matter here," said the Marquis, signing to the
judge to quit the room. "Nouvion," said he to the old man, "I am going
down to my rooms; the children will soon be in; dine with us."
"Then, Monsieur le Marquis," said Popinot on the stairs, "that is not
your apartment?"
"No, monsieur; I took those rooms for the office of this undertaking.
You see," and he pointed to an advertisement sheet, "the History is
being brought out by one of the most respectable firms in Paris, and
not by me."
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Child of Storm by H. Rider Haggard: stones is nothing more than a Kafir trick, is it, Macumazahn? When you
meet the buffalo with the split horn in the pool of a dried river,
remember it is but a cheating trick, and now come into my hut and drink
a kamba [bowl] of beer and let us talk of other things more
interesting."
So he took me into the hut, which was a fine one, very well lighted by a
fire in its centre, and gave me Kafir beer to drink, that I swallowed
gratefully, for my throat was dry and still felt as though it had been
scraped.
"Who are you, Father?" I asked point-blank when I had taken my seat upon
a low stool, with my back resting against the wall of the hut, and lit
Child of Storm |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from The Cavalry General by Xenophon: prospect is fair. Under God, our troopers, if properly cared for, are
the finer men; our infantry of the line are no less numerous, and as
regards physique, if it comes to that, not one whit inferior, while in
reference to moral qualities, they are more susceptible to the spur of
a noble ambition, if only under God's will they be correctly trained.
Or again, as touching pride of ancestry, what have Athenians to fear
as against Boeotians on that score?[3]
[3] See "Mem." III. v. 3, where it is contended that in pride of
ancestry Athenians can hold their own against Boeotians.
But suppose the city of Athens determine to betake herself to her
navy, as in the old days when the Lacedaemonians, leagued with the
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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 Soul of a Bishop by H. G. Wells: out.
"Tell me," he said, "tell me." (Cough.) "Had this drug that
cleared your head--anything to do with your resignation?"
And he put on his glasses disconcertingly, and threw his head
back to watch the reply.
"It did help to clear up the situation."
"Exactly," said Dr. Brighton-Pomfrey in a tone that defined his
own position with remorseless clearness. "Exactly." And he held
up a flat, arresting hand. .
"My dear Sir," he said. "How can you expect me to help you to a
drug so disastrous?--even if I could tell you what it is."
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