| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from On Horsemanship by Xenophon: and close-fitting. This will serve as an ornament, and if made as it
ought to be, will conceal the rider's face--if so he chooses--up to
the nose.
[1] Cf. "Mem." III. x.
[2] L. Dind. cf. Hom. "Il." viii. 326:
{. . . othi kleis apoergei
aukhena te stethos te, malista de kairion estin.}
"Where the collar-bone fenceth off neck and breast, and where is
the most deadly spot" (W. Leaf).
As to the helmet, the best kind, in our opinion, is one of the
Boeotian pattern,[3] on the principle again, that it covers all the
On Horsemanship |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from The Black Arrow by Robert Louis Stevenson: be due north."
They were afoot at once, passed the stream upon some stepping-
stones, and began to mount on the other side, which was steeper,
towards the margin of the wood. The ground became very uneven,
full of knolls and hollows; trees grew scattered or in clumps. it
became difficult to choose a path, and the lads somewhat wandered.
They were weary, besides, with yesterday's exertions and the lack
of food, and they moved but heavily and dragged their feet among
the sand.
Presently, coming to the top of a knoll, they were aware of the
leper, some hundred feet in front of them, crossing the line of
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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 A Heap O' Livin' by Edgar A. Guest: This year I'm ankle deep in mire, and most of
it is blood.
Last year the mother in the door was glad as
she could be;
To-day her heart is full of pain, and mine is
hurting me.
But it's shoot, shoot, shoot,
And when the bullets hiss,
Don't let the tears fill up your eyes,
For weeping soldiers miss.
Oh, who will tend the roses now and who will
A Heap O' Livin' |
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 Wyoming by William MacLeod Raine: a second his purpose had been anticipated. A closed fist shot
forward to the salient jaw in time to fling the bullets into the
ceiling. An arm encircled the outlaw's neck, and flung him
backward down the stairs. The railing broke his fall, and on it
his body slid downward, the weapon falling from his hand. He
pulled himself together at the foot of the stairs, crouched for
an upward rush, but changed his mind instantly. The young officer
who had flung him down had him covered with his own six-shooter.
He could hear footsteps running toward him, and he knew that in a
few seconds he would be in the hands of the soldiers. Plunging
out of the doorway, the desperado vaulted to the saddle and drove
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