| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Wyoming by William MacLeod Raine: peace envoy, and one of my men shot at you. Of course, he did not
understand the reason why you came, but that does not matter. I
did not know your reason myself, and I know I have been very
inhospitable."
"Are you shaking hands with Ned Bannister the sheepman or Ned
Bannister the outlaw?" asked the owner of that name, with a queer
little smile that seemed to mock himself.
"With Ned Bannister the gentleman. If there is another side to
him I don't know it personally."
He flushed underneath the tan, but very plainly with pleasure.
"Your opinions are right contrary to Hoyle, ma'am. Aren't you
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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 Message by Honore de Balzac: your true country-bred animal can bark. The sound brought out a
hurrying servant-maid; who, when informed that I wished to speak
to Mme. la Comtesse, waved a hand towards the masses of trees in
the English park which wound about the chateau with "Madame is
out there----"
"Many thanks," said I ironically. I might have wandered for a
couple of hours in the park with her "out there" to guide me.
In the meantime, a pretty little girl, with curling hair, dressed
in a white frock, a rose-colored sash, and a broad frill at the
throat, had overheard or guessed the question and its answer. She
gave me a glance and vanished, calling in shrill, childish tones:
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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 Wrecker by Stevenson & Osbourne: thirty, and he paints."
"How?" I asked.
"Rather well, I think," was the reply. "That's the annoying part
of it. See for yourself. That panel is his."
I stepped toward the window. It was the old familiar room,
with the tables set like a Greek P, and the sideboard, and the
aphasiac piano, and the panels on the wall. There were Romeo
and Juliet, Antwerp from the river, Enfield's ships among the
ice, and the huge huntsman winding a huge horn; mingled with
them a few new ones, the thin crop of a succeeding generation,
not better and not worse. It was to one of these I was directed;
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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 Sons of the Soil by Honore de Balzac: awake, but they made noise enough. In the midst of it the old
Bonnebault woman entered, and every one looked at her.
"I think she is going to lie-in," she whispered in Tonsard's ear. "HE
has saddled his horse and is going for the doctor at Soulanges."
"Sit down," said Tonsard, giving her his place at the table, and going
himself to lie on a bench.
Just then the gallop of a horse passing rapidly along the road was
heard. Tonsard, Courtecuisse, and Vaudoyer went out hurriedly, and saw
Michaud on his way to the village.
"He knows what he's about," said Courtecuisse; "he came down by the
terrace and he means to go by Blangy and the road,--it's the safest
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