| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Cavalry General by Xenophon: "Pol. Lac." xi. 5.
Supposing, then, a regiment of cavalry drawn up in this formation:
just as the squadron-leaders have their several positions for the
march (or the attack[10]) assigned them by the commander, so the file-
leaders will depend upon the captain for the order passed along the
line in what formation they are severally to march; and all being
prearranged by word of mouth, the whole will work more smoothly than
if left to chance--like people crowding out of a theatre to their
mutual annoyance. And when it comes to actual encounter greater
promptitude will be displayed: supposing the attack is made in front,
by the file-leaders who know that this is their appointed post; or in
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Ten Years Later by Alexandre Dumas: Malicorne was wearing some of Manicamp's old-new clothes. He
bowed in return, saying, "You do me a very great honor,
monsieur le comte."
"Whom have I the pleasure of addressing?"
"My name is Malicorne, monsieur."
"M. de Malicorne, what do you think of these
pistol-holsters?"
Malicorne was a man of great readiness, and immediately
understood the position of affairs. Besides, the "de" which
had been prefixed to his name, raised him to the rank of the
person with whom he was conversing. He looked at the
Ten Years Later |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from Dust by Mr. And Mrs. Haldeman-Julius: to bring a veritable shower of song into this home of long
silences. The very chaos made Mrs. Wade's heart beat
tumultuously, and once when Martin came upon the little girl
seated solemnly in the midst of a circle of corncob dolls, his
throat contracted with an extraordinary tightness.
"You really are a rose--a lovely, sweet brown Rose of Sharon," he
had exclaimed, forgetting his wife's presence and not stopping to
think how strange the words must sound on his lips. "If you'll
give me a kiss, I'll let you ride on old Jettie."
The child scrambled to her feet and, seated on his broad
shoulder, granted the demand for toll. Her aunt's eyes filled.
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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 Unconscious Comedians by Honore de Balzac: minotaurizing him.
One morning as he ate his breakfast and cursed his fate, he picked up
a newspaper savagely. The following lines, ending an article, struck
Gazonal as if the mysterious voice which speaks to gamblers before
they win had sounded in his ear: "Our celebrated landscape painter,
Leon de Lora, lately returned from Italy, will exhibit several
pictures at the Salon; thus the exhibition promises, as we see, to be
most brilliant." With the suddenness of action that distinguishes the
sons of the sunny South, Gazonal sprang from his lodgings to the
street, from the street to a street-cab, and drove to the rue de
Berlin to find his cousin.
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