| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Illustrious Gaudissart by Honore de Balzac: the sight of God. But what is the fact? Equality up to our day has
been an 'ignus fatuus,' a chimera. Saint-Simon has arisen as the
complement of Christ; as the modern exponent of the doctrine of
equality, or rather of its practice, for theory has served its time--"
"Is he liberated?" asked the lunatic.
"Like liberalism, it has had its day. There is a nobler future before
us: a new faith, free labor, free growth, free production, individual
progress, a social co-ordination in which each man shall receive the
full worth of his individual labor, in which no man shall be preyed
upon by other men who, without capacity of their own, compel ALL to
work for the profit of ONE. From this comes the doctrine of--"
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from The Three Musketeers by Alexandre Dumas: known, I say, that we were to fight, and our combat would be
prevented. I think these fellows will never come."
"If you are in haste, monsieur," said D'Artagnan, with the same
simplicity with which a moment before he had proposed to him to
put off the duel for three days, "and if it be your will to
dispatch me at once, do not inconvenience yourself, I pray you."
"There is another word which pleases me," cried Athos, with a
gracious nod to D'Artagnan. "That did not come from a man
without a heart. Monsieur, I love men of your kidney; and I
foresee plainly that if we don't kill each other, I shall
hereafter have much pleasure in your conversation. We will wait
The Three Musketeers |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from Tarzan the Untamed by Edgar Rice Burroughs: speed to cover the distance before dark; but as he had ample
gasoline and a trustworthy machine there was no doubt in his
mind but that he could accomplish his aim. It was then that
his engine stalled.
He was too low to do anything but land, and that immedi-
ately, while he had the more open country accessible, for
directly east of him was a vast forest into which a stalled
engine could only have plunged him to certain injury and
probable death; and so he came down in the meadowland
near the winding river and there started to tinker with his
motor.
Tarzan the Untamed |
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 Black Dwarf by Walter Scott: the supposed wizard, were here only productive of respect and
awe. The recluse being seemed somewhat gratified by the marks of
timid veneration with which an occasional passenger approached
his dwelling, the look of startled surprise with which he
surveyed his person and his premises, and the hurried step with
which he pressed his retreat as he passed the awful spot. The
boldest only stopped to gratify their curiosity by a hasty glance
at the walls of his cottage and garden, and to apologize for it
by a courteous salutation, which the inmate sometimes deigned to
return by a word or a nod. Earnscliff often passed that way, and
seldom without enquiring after the solitary inmate, who seemed
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