| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Anthem by Ayn Rand: was an unbroken night ahead. Only the
iron tracks glowed through it, straight and
white, calling us to follow. But we could
not follow, for we were losing the puddle
of light behind us. So we turned and we
crawled back, our hand on the iron line.
And our heart beat in our fingertips,
without reason. And then we knew.
We knew suddenly that this place was
left from the Unmentionable Times. So it
was true, and those Times had been, and
Anthem |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Wyoming by William MacLeod Raine: honor of entertaining the King of the Bighorn." The man's brown
hand brushed the mask from his eyes and he bowed with mocking
deference. "Miss Messiter, allow me to introduce myself
again--Ned Bannister, train robber, rustler, kidnapper and
general bad man. But I ain't told y'u the worst yet. I'm cousin
to a sheepherder' and that's the lowest thing that walks."
He limped forward a few steps and sat down. "Thank you, I believe
I will stay a while since y'u both ask me so urgent. It isn't
often I meet with a welcome so hearty and straight from the
heart."
It was not hard to see how the likeness between them contributed
|
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from Droll Stories, V. 1 by Honore de Balzac: battles, he endeavoured always to give blows without receiving them,
which is, and always will be, the only problem to solve in war, but he
never spared himself there, and, in fact, as he had no other virtue
except his bravery, he was captain of a company of lancers, and much
esteemed by the Duke of Burgoyne, who never troubled what his soldiers
did elsewhere. This nephew of the devil was named Captain Cochegrue;
and his creditors, the blockheads, citizens, and others, whose pockets
he slit, called him the Mau-cinge, since he was as mischievous as
strong; but he had moreover his back spoilt by the natural infirmity
of a hump, and it would have been unwise to attempt to mount thereon
to get a good view, for he would incontestably have run you through.
Droll Stories, V. 1 |
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 A Book of Remarkable Criminals by H. B. Irving: father, my mother, my brothers, my child." He turned to a group
of young advocates standing near: "And you, young people, who
have listened to my trial, attend also my execution; I shall be
as firm then as I am now. All I ask is to die soon. I should be
ashamed to plead for mercy." The judges returned. Castaing was
condemned to death, and ordered to pay 100,000 francs damages to
the family of Auguste Ballet.
Castaing was not ashamed to appeal to the Court of Cassation for
a revision of his trial, but on December 4 his appeal was
rejected. Two days later he was executed. He had attempted
suicide by means of poison, which one of his friends had brought
A Book of Remarkable Criminals |
