| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Black Tulip by Alexandre Dumas: only one quarter of an hour sooner," said the gatekeeper,
with a sigh.
"And why that?" asked the other.
"Because I might have opened the gate to Mynheers de Witt;
whereas, finding the gate locked, they were obliged to
retrace their steps."
"Gate! gate!" cried a voice which seemed to be that of a man
in a hurry.
The Prince, turning round, observed Captain Van Deken.
"Is that you, Captain?" he said. "You are not yet out of the
Hague? This is executing my orders very slowly."
The Black Tulip |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Democracy In America, Volume 1 by Alexis de Toqueville: able to foresee the multifarious changes of the future, in a
country in which towns are founded from day to day, and States
almost from year to year?
[Footnote g: Pennsylvania contained 431,373 inhabitants in 1790
[and 5,258,014 in 1890.]]
[Footnote h: The area of the State of New York is 49,170 square
miles. [See U. S. census report of 1890.]]
Since the first settlement of the British colonies, the
number of inhabitants has about doubled every twenty-two years.
I perceive no causes which are likely to check this progressive
increase of the Anglo-American population for the next hundred
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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 Caesar's Commentaries in Latin by Julius Caesar: illorum finibus plerumque superarint, qui tamen pares esse nostro
exercitui non potuerint. Si quos adversum proelium et fuga Gallorum
commoveret, hos, si quaererent, reperire posse diuturnitate belli
defatigatis Gallis Ariovistum, cum multos menses castris se ac paludibus
tenuisset neque sui potestatem fecisset, desperantes iam de pugna et
dispersos subito adortum magis ratione et consilio quam virtute vicisse.
Cui rationi contra homines barbaros atque imperitos locus fuisset, hac ne
ipsum quidem sperare nostros exercitus capi posse. Qui suum timorem in
rei frumentariae simulationem angustiasque itineris conferrent, facere
arroganter, cum aut de officio imperatoris desperare aut praescribere
viderentur. Haec sibi esse curae; frumentum Sequanos, Leucos, Lingones
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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 Street of Seven Stars by Mary Roberts Rinehart: shock came on Christmas-Day, after young McLean, now frankly
infatuated, had been driven home by Peter.
Peter did it after his own fashion. Harmony, with unflagging
enthusiasm, was looking tired. Suggestions to this effect rolled
off McLean's back like rain off a roof. Finally Peter gathered up
the fur-lined coat, the velours hat, gloves, and stick, and
placed them on the piano in front of the younger man.
"I'm sorry you must go," said Peter calmly, "but, as you say,
Miss Wells is tired and there is supper to be eaten. Don't let me
hurry you."
The Portier was at the door as McLean, laughing and protesting,
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