| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Men of Iron by Howard Pyle: moment a bugle sounded loud and clear. In one blinding rush he
drove his spurs into the sides of his horse, and in instant
answer felt the noble steed spring forward with a bound.
Through all the clashing of his armor reverberating in the hollow
depths of his helmet, he saw the mail-clad figure from the other
end of the lists rushing towards him, looming larger and larger
as they came together. He gripped his saddle with his knees,
clutched the stirrup with the soles of his feet, and bent his
body still more forward. In the instant of meeting, with almost
the blindness of instinct, he dropped the point of his spear
against the single red flower-de-luce in the middle of the
Men of Iron |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Astoria by Washington Irving: to purchase one half of the interest of the Canadian Fur Company,
engaged in trade by the way of Michilimackinac with our own
Indians. You wished to know whether the plan met with the
approbation of government, and how far you could rely on its
protection and encouragement. This overture was received with
great satisfaction by the administration, and Mr. Jefferson, then
President, wrote you to that effect. I was also directed, as
Secretary of the Treasury, to write to you an official letter to
the same purpose. On investigating the subject, it was found that
the Executive had no authority to give you any direct aid; and I
believe you received nothing more than an entire approbation of
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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 Gobseck by Honore de Balzac: syllable elsewhere will entreat with clasped hands. There is no city
merchant so proud, no woman so vain of her beauty, no soldier of so
bold a spirit, but that they entreat me here, one and all, with tears
of rage or anguish in their eyes. Here they kneel--the famous artist,
and the man of letters, whose name will go down to posterity. Here, in
short' (he lifted his hand to his forehead), 'all the inheritances and
all the concerns of all Paris are weighed in the balance. Are you
still of the opinion that there are no delights behind the blank mask
which so often has amazed you by its impassiveness?' he asked,
stretching out that livid face which reeked of money.
"I went back to my room, feeling stupefied. The little, wizened old
Gobseck |
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 Essays of Travel by Robert Louis Stevenson: while in the sunlight with grave face and many salutations. The next
interruption is more important. For some time back we have had the
sound of cannon in our ears; and now, a little past Franchard, we
find a mounted trooper holding a led horse, who brings the wagonette
to a stand. The artillery is practising in the Quadrilateral, it
appears; passage along the Route Ronde formally interdicted for the
moment. There is nothing for it but to draw up at the glaring cross-
roads and get down to make fun with the notorious Cocardon, the most
ungainly and ill-bred dog of all the ungainly and ill-bred dogs of
Barbizon, or clamber about the sandy banks. And meanwhile the
doctor, with sun umbrella, wide Panama, and patriarchal beard, is
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