| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from A Book of Remarkable Criminals by H. B. Irving: children in the fear of God and love of duty, and to let them
know how he had died. Once again, as he took up the pen to sign
the record of his last words, he re-asserted her innocence.
Of the last dreadful punishment the offending grocer was to be
spared nothing. For an aristocrat like Mme. de Brinvilliers
beheading was considered indignity enough. But Derues must go
through with it all; he must be broken on the wheel and
burnt alive and his ashes scattered to the four winds of heaven;
there was to be no retentum for him, a clause sometimes
inserted in the sentence permitting the executioner to strangle
the broken victim before casting him on to the fire. He must
A Book of Remarkable Criminals |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz by L. Frank Baum: Jim, so that he can help us, and each one must take some weapon and do
the best he can. I'll use my sword, although it isn't much account in
this affair. Dorothy must take her parasol and open it suddenly when
the wooden folks attack her. I haven't anything for you, Zeb."
"I'll use the king," said the boy, and pulled his prisoner out of the
buggy. The bound Gargoyle's arms extended far out beyond its head,
so by grasping its wrists Zeb found the king made a very good club.
The boy was strong for one of his years, having always worked upon a farm;
so he was likely to prove more dangerous to the enemy than the Wizard.
When the next company of Gargoyles advanced, our adventurers began
yelling as if they had gone mad. Even the kitten gave a dreadfully
Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz |
