| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Symposium by Xenophon: knocking on the door! Philippus the jester bade the doorkeeper[25]
announce him, with apologies for seeking a night's lodging:[26] he had
come, he said, provided with all necessaries for dining, at a friend's
expense: his attendant was much galled with carrying, nothing but an
empty bread-basket.[27] To this announcement Callias, appealing to his
guests, replied: "It would never do to begrudge the shelter of one's
roof:[28] let him come in." And as he spoke, he glanced across to
where Autolycus was seated, as if to say: "I wonder how you take the
jest."
[25] Lit. "him who answers the knock," "the concierge" or hall-porter.
Cf. Theophr. "Char." xiv. 7; Aristot. "Oec." i. 6.
The Symposium |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from The Marriage Contract by Honore de Balzac: they will not come to spoil your figure on the morrow of your
marriage; nothing is so bourgeois as to have a child at once. If you
have them two or three years after your marriage, well and good;
governesses and tutors will bring them up. YOU are to be the lady, the
great lady, who represents the luxury and the pleasure of the house.
But remember one thing--let your superiority be visible in those
things only which flatter a man's self-love; hide the superiority you
must also acquire over him in great things."
"But you frighten me, mamma," cried Natalie. "How can I remember all
these precepts? How shall I ever manage, I, such a child, and so
heedless, to reflect and calculate before I act?"
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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 Iron Puddler by James J. Davis: lady, now eighty-two, had faith in me and feels that her faith
was justified. Now, then, can I believe that life is
meaningless,--that there is no plan, and that all man's efforts
are foredoomed to failure?
CHAPTER XXXIII
I MEET THE INDUSTRIAL CAPTAINS
Elwood, Indiana, was a small village that had been called Duck
Creek Post-Office until the tin mill and other industries began
making it into a city. In my capacity as president of the local
union and head of the wage mill committee, I was put in personal
contact with the heads of these great industrial enterprises.
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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 Underground City by Jules Verne: to you all the advantages, which you know as well as myself.
Here we are at the cottage. That is the chief thing, and I
again say you are welcome, sir."
Simon Ford, followed by Harry, ushered their guest into the dwelling.
James Starr found himself in a large room lighted by numerous lamps,
one hanging from the colored beams of the roof.
"The soup is ready, wife," said Ford, "and it mustn't be kept waiting
any more than Mr. Starr. He is as hungry as a miner, and he shall
see that our boy doesn't let us want for anything in the cottage!
By-the-bye, Harry," added the old overman, turning to his son,
"Jack Ryan came here to see you."
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