| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Tapestried Chamber by Walter Scott: incident:--
Bernard Gilpin, the apostle of the north, the first who undertook
to preach the Protestant doctrines to the Border dalesmen, was
surprised, on entering one of their churches, to see a gauntlet
or mail-glove hanging above the altar. Upon inquiring; the
meaning of a symbol so indecorous being displayed in that sacred
place, he was informed by the clerk that the glove was that of a
famous swordsman, who hung it there as an emblem of a general
challenge and gage of battle to any who should dare to take the
fatal token down. "Reach it to me," said the reverend churchman.
The clerk and the sexton equally declined the perilous office,
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Paz by Honore de Balzac: of the sovereign lady compelled Paz to make an evening toilet.
Clementine dressed for the occasion with a certain coquetry, in a
style that impressed even Adam himself when she entered the salon
where the two friends awaited her.
"Comte Paz," she said, "you must go with us to the Opera."
This was said in the tone which, coming from a woman means: "If you
refuse we shall quarrel."
"Willingly, madame," replied the captain. "But as I have not the
fortune of a count, have the kindness to call me captain."
"Very good, captain; give me your arm," she said,--taking it and
leading the way to the dining-room with the flattering familiarity
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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 Underground City by Jules Verne: "Yes, Harry, it is all changed," said Starr. "But at the rate we worked,
of course the treasures of coal would have been exhausted some day.
Do you regret that time?"
"I do regret it, Mr. Starr," answered Harry. "The work was hard,
but it was interesting, as are all struggles."
"No doubt, my lad. A continuous struggle against the dangers
of landslips, fires, inundations, explosions of firedamp, like claps
of thunder. One had to guard against all those perils! You say well!
It was a struggle, and consequently an exciting life."
"The miners of Alva have been more favored than the miners
of Aberfoyle, Mr. Starr!"
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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 Atheist's Mass by Honore de Balzac: Why did you involve yourself in such onerous obligations?' They
remind me of the princess who, on hearing that the people lacked
bread, said, 'Why do not they buy cakes?' I should like to see
one of these rich men, who complain that I charge too much for an
operation,--yes, I should like to see him alone in Paris without
a sou, without a friend, without credit, and forced to work with
his five fingers to live at all! What would he do? Where would he
go to satisfy his hunger?
"Bianchon, if you have sometimes seen me hard and bitter, it was
because I was adding my early sufferings on to the insensibility,
the selfishness of which I have seen thousands of instances in
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