| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Familiar Studies of Men and Books by Robert Louis Stevenson: suspicion of picking locks; confiding, convivial, not very
astute - who had copied out a whole improper romance with his
own right hand. This supper-party was to be his first
introduction to De Cayeux and Petit-Jehan, which was probably
a matter of some concern to the poor man's muddy wits; in the
sequel, at least, he speaks of both with an undisguised
respect, based on professional inferiority in the matter of
picklocks. Dom Nicolas, a Picardy monk, was the fifth and
last at table. When supper had been despatched and fairly
washed down, we may suppose, with white Baigneux or red
Beaune, which were favourite wines among the fellowship,
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from The Research Magnificent by H. G. Wells: to be conquered afresh. To this day I fear, little things as well
as big things. I have to grapple with some little dread every day--
urge myself. . . . Just as I have to wash and shave myself every
day. . . . I believe it is so with every one, but it is difficult
to be sure; few men who go into dangers care very much to talk about
fear. . . ."
Later Benham found some excuses for fear, came even to dealings with
fear. He never, however, admits that this universal instinct is any
better than a kindly but unintelligent nurse from whose fostering
restraints it is man's duty to escape. Discretion, he declared,
must remain; a sense of proportion, an "adequacy of enterprise," but
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| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from The Jungle by Upton Sinclair: hour's work a day. Also the artist's audience of the present was
a small minority of people, all debased and vulgarized by the
effort it had cost them to win in the commercial battle, of the
intellectual and artistic activities which would result when the
whole of mankind was set free from the nightmare of competition,
we could at present form no conception whatever.
And then the editor wanted to know upon what ground Dr.
Schliemann asserted that it might be possible for a society to
exist upon an hour's toil by each of its members. "Just what,"
answered the other, "would be the productive capacity of society
if the present resources of science were utilized, we have no
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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 The Muse of the Department by Honore de Balzac: deep depravity instead of the most child-like innocence. The Public
Prosecutor looks to me quite capable of suggesting that little La
Baudraye should be put in pickle----"
"He is not to return till to-morrow; who knows what may happen in the
course of the night?" said Gatien.
"We will know!" cried Monsieur Gravier.
In the life of a country house a number of practical jokes are
considered admissible, some of them odiously treacherous. Monsieur
Gravier, who had seen so much of the world, proposed setting seals on
the door of Madame de la Baudraye and of the Public Prosecutor. The
ducks that denounced the poet Ibycus are as nothing in comparison with
The Muse of the Department |
