| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from The Unseen World and Other Essays by John Fiske: a vast portion of the real estate of the country was held by the
Church in mortmain; that forty-nine noble families owned all the
rest; that all great estates were held in tail; and that the
property of the aristocracy and the clergy was completely exempt
from taxation. Thus the accumulation and the diffusion of capital
were alike prevented; and the few possessors of property wasted
it in unproductive expenditure. Hence the fundamental error of
Spanish political economy, that wealth is represented solely by
the precious metals; an error which well enough explains the
total failure, in spite of her magnificent opportunities, of
Spain's attempts to colonize the New World. Such was the
The Unseen World and Other Essays |
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 An Historical Mystery by Honore de Balzac: your own courtyard, which proves that you have long shown ill-will to
the possessor of Gondreville. Besides, you were at the gate of the
/rond-point/, apparently on the watch, about the time when the
abduction took place; if they have not arrested you, it is solely
because they fear to bring a sentimental element into the affair."
"The case cannot be successfully defended," said Monsieur de
Grandville.
"The less so," continued Bordin, "because we cannot tell the whole
truth. Michu and the Messieurs de Simeuse and d'Hauteserre must hold
to the assertion that you merely went for an excursion into the forest
and returned to Cinq-Cygne for luncheon. Allowing that we can show you
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