| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from O Pioneers! by Willa Cather: printing the story of the young man's mar-
ital troubles, the knowing editor gave a suffi-
ciently colored account of his career, stating
the amount of his income and the manner in
which he was supposed to spend it. Frank read
English slowly, and the more he read about this
divorce case, the angrier he grew. At last he
threw down the page with a snort. He turned
to his farm-hand who was reading the other half
of the paper.
O Pioneers! |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Camille by Alexandre Dumas: it you are the first whom I have ever asked to share the joy of
this desire of mine? I suppose because I feel that you love me
for myself and not for yourself, while all the others have only
loved me for themselves.
"I have often been in the country, but never as I should like to
go there. I count on you for this easy happiness; do not be
unkind, let me have it. Say this to yourself: 'She will never
live to be old, and I should some day be sorry for not having
done for her the first thing she asked of me, such an easy thing
to do!'"
What could I reply to such words, especially with the memory of a
Camille |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from The Apology by Xenophon: [20] Cf. "Mem." I. i. 2.
[21] Cf. Plat. "Apol." 19.
[22] Cf. "Anab." III. ii. 11; Aristoph. "Birds," 720.
[23] Delphi.
[24] Or, "the objects that meet us." See Prof. Jebb ad Theophr. "Ch."
xxviii. 5.
As they listened to these words the judges murmured their dissent,
some as disbelieving what was said, and others out of simple envy that
Socrates should actually receive from heaven more than they
themselves; whereupon Socrates returned to the charge. "Come," he
said, "lend me your ears while I tell you something more, so that
The Apology |
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 Death of the Lion by Henry James: dreadful thing he could have been. THE TATLER published a charming
chatty familiar account of Mr. Paraday's "Home-life," and on the
wings of the thirty-seven influential journals it went, to use Mr.
Morrow's own expression, right round the globe.
CHAPTER VI.
A WEEK later, early in May, my glorified friend came up to town,
where, it may be veraciously recorded he was the king of the beasts
of the year. No advancement was ever more rapid, no exaltation
more complete, no bewilderment more teachable. His book sold but
moderately, though the article in THE EMPIRE had done unwonted
wonders for it; but he circulated in person to a measure that the
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