| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Camille by Alexandre Dumas: consolation, under the sorrowful burden of her life? One day,
then, she realized that she was to have a child, and all that
remained to her of chastity leaped for joy. The soul has strange
refuges. Louise ran to tell the good news to her mother. It is a
shameful thing to speak of, but we are not telling tales of
pleasant sins; we are telling of true facts, which it would be
better, no doubt, to pass over in silence, if we did not believe
that it is needful from time to time to reveal the martyrdom of
those who are condemned without bearing, scorned without judging;
shameful it is, but this mother answered the daughter that they
had already scarce enough for two, and would certainly not have
Camille |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from The Case of the Golden Bullet by Grace Isabel Colbron and Augusta Groner: change so horribly.
Kniepp grew uneasy under the stare. "What is there that interests
you so about me?" he asked in a tone that was an attempt at a joke.
"The ring, the ring on your watch chain," murmured Muller.
"It belonged to my dead wife. I have worn it since she left me,"
answered the unhappy man with the same iron calm with which he had,
all these past days, been emphasizing his love for the woman he
had lost. Yet the question touched him unpleasantly and he looked
more sharply at the strange man over in the corner. He saw the
latter's face turn pale and a shiver run through his form. A
feeling of sympathy came over Kniepp and he asked warmly: "Won't
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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 Kenilworth by Walter Scott: I promise thee the gold buttons, being somewhat massive, will
comfort thy father, and reconcile him to the cherry-coloured
body. See that he snap them not away, Janet, and send them to
bear company with the imprisoned angels which he keeps captive in
his strong-box."
"May I pray your ladyship to spare my poor father?" said Janet.
"Nay, but why should any one spare him that is so sparing of his
own nature?" replied the lady.--"Well, but to our gear. That
head garniture for myself, and that silver bodkin mounted with
pearl; and take off two gowns of that russet cloth for Dorcas and
Alison, Janet, to keep the old wretches warm against winter
Kenilworth |
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 Country Doctor by Honore de Balzac: free government will save it. And, at the same time, a righteous
people will nearly always find liberty even under a despotic rule. All
this goes to show the necessity for restricting the right of election
within very narrow limits, the necessity for a strong government, the
necessity for a powerful religion which makes the rich man the friend
of the poor, and enjoins upon the poor an absolute submission to their
lot. It is, in fact, really imperative that the Assemblies should be
deprived of all direct legislative power, and should confine
themselves to the registration of laws and to questions of taxation.
"I know that different ideas from these exist in many minds. To-day,
as in past ages, there ware enthusiasts who seek for perfection, and
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