| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Historical Lecturers and Essays by Charles Kingsley: Norsemen, as afterwards in the days of King Philip, the last sachem
of the Wampanong Indians. He was going back to Greenland, perhaps
for reinforcements, finding, he and his fellow-captain, Thorfinn,
the Esquimaux who then dwelt in that land too strong for them. For
the Norsemen were then on the very edge of discovery, which might
have changed the history not only of this continent but of Europe
likewise. They had found and colonised Iceland and Greenland. They
had found Labrador, and called it Helluland, from its ice-polished
rocks. They had found Nova Scotia seemingly, and called it
Markland, from its woods. They had found New England, and called it
Vinland the Good. A fair land they found it, well wooded, with good
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from A Book of Remarkable Criminals by H. B. Irving: the Dysons in the July of 1876, and as to his arrest at
Blackheath in the October of 1878. The revolver taken from Peace
that night was produced, and it was shown that the rifling of the
bullet extracted from Dyson's head was the same as that of the
bullet fired from the revolver carried by Peace at the time of
his capture.
Mr. Campbell Foster wanted to put in as evidence the card that
Dyson had flung into Peace's garden at Darnall requesting him not
to interfere with his family. This card had been found among the
bundle of letters dropped by Peace near the scene of the murder.
Mr. Lockwood objected to the admission of the card unless all the
A Book of Remarkable Criminals |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from The Marriage Contract by Honore de Balzac: Mademoiselle Natalie's inheritance from her father; this will close,
of course, the guardianship account. If madame, with Spanish
generosity, robs herself in this way to fulfil her obligations, the
least that her children can do is to give her a full receipt."
"Nothing could be more just than that," said Paul. "I am simply
overwhelmed by these generous proposals."
"My daughter is another myself," said Madame Evangelista, softly.
Maitre Mathias detected a look of joy on her face when she saw that
the difficulties were being removed: that joy, and the previous
forgetfulness of the diamonds, which were now brought forward like
fresh troops, confirmed his suspicions.
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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 Red Inn by Honore de Balzac: far rather die than endure such torture."
"Then he must suffer terribly!" said a broker, considered a wit, who
was present.
"Oh," continued the mistress of the house, "last year he nearly died
in one of these attacks. He had gone alone to his country-house on
pressing business. For want, perhaps, of immediate help, he lay
twenty-two hours stiff and stark as though he were dead. A very hot
bath was all that saved him."
"It must be a species of lockjaw," said one of the guests.
"I don't know," she answered. "He got the disease in the army nearly
thirty years ago. He says it was caused by a splinter of wood entering
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