#Pray for these families. There are no words to describe the sadness of this senseless act.

[justbeingnamaste]

Eva Mireles ( Teacher )

Irma Garcia ( Teacher )

Uziyah Garcia, 8

Makenna Elrod,  10

Jose Flores Jr.,  10

Rojelio Torres,  10

Xavier Lopez,  10

Amerie Jo Garza, 10

Annabelle Guadalupe Rodriguez, 10

Elijah Cruz Torres, 10

Jayce Carmelo Luevanos ,10

Jaliah Nicole Silguero ,10

Tess Mata, 10

Alexandria Aniyah Rubio ,10

Jackie Cazares ,10

Nevaeh Bravo ,10

Layla Salazar ,10

Alithea Ramirez ,10

Eliahna Garcia ,10

Dear God ~ Receive This Angels With Open Arms . Give Strength To The Family And Friends Affected .Please Stop The Madness ,With Unconditional Love .

We The People Ask In The Name of Jesus Amen ...

[clarissalance]

[Anthem for Doomed Youth] Sample Essay

Hi guy~

I found some useful resources from my old IGCSE notes that might be useful to use. Feel free to read and take some notes. DO NOT COPY, This is my writing and my product. If you copied and paste it as your work, you teacher might knew it since they will be using turnitin to check it. If you got caught, too bad, it’s your fault. This is for learning the writing style, structure to get the top mark in IGCSE English as 1st language Poem part II.

Enjoy~

Anthem for Doomed Youth

Question: How does the poet evocatively convey his feelings about war in the poem Anthem For Doomed Youth?

Essay: 

Anthem of Doomed Youth is focusing on the pain and loss of the young men who went to war without knowing anything about it and returned back wounded and dead. The word Anthem in the title is ironic to the poem below as war is something deadly that people shouldn’t be praised for or encouraged to go. The word Doomed is representing something deadly and he used the world Anthem before it, which is contrasting to the rest of the title.The word Anthem is lamentation of the war, not for cheering and supporting soldiers. These helped him creates a clear impression to the readers that he evocatively conveys his feeling about the war in the poem. 

Firstly, the poet has explored the theme destruction of war by describing the unbearable and harsh condition of the war where the Youth is fighting. Owen described the soldiers “dies as cattle”. Owen has used metaphor to show how much people had died during the war. This suggested that they had to be in critical condition and died without glory or reputation-just like the cattle. Owen has done this to show the pain that the Youth endured during the war and uselessly accepted it without doing anything. This emphasizes the carelessness of people, they didn’t care of the dead people because there were too many “cattle” and no one can really do anything about it. Not only dying as cattle, the survivors had to constantly face fears of gun sound. The gun sound is described as “rifles’ rapid rattle”. The poet’s used of alliteration to portray the sound of the gun, which bring sound effects to the reader and creates the vivid image of the soldiers falling down with the sound of guns, which created terrors of war. Owen has done this to show how dreadful and disastrous the war is and gives the reader the brutal truth that war isn’t as pleasant as it was told. He gave the readers a true experience of what the war is like since he was in war once, which is the reason why he can dramatically create image about war. This is also consonance, which suggested that Owen wanted to make the reader see that the war is harsh and create bitter tones, like sympathizing the for soldiers who had fought in the war. The uses of repeating “Only” in the poem has suggested that the soldier’s daily lives are torture and nothing more than the fear of dying with the sound of guns going on constantly. This, again portrayed a clear image for the reader to see the horror of war and the unbearable living condition that the soldiers had faced every day.  

     The poet also explored the theme being forgotten by time and the senselessness of the people by using the structure and imagery to portray the pain and loss of the youth who attended the war. In the first stanza, Owen has used of the rhetorical question in the first line, as to ask why there is no one remembering the sacrificed soldiers after all of their effort for defending and fighting for their country. The author's done this to show that they will be forgotten sooner or later since they are nothing compared to other. No one really knew what they have been through in the trenches. Owen also used of repetition to emphasize the pain of being forgotten by repeating “No” and “Nor”. This suggests that the how brutal the reality was for the soldiers who fought in trenches and lost their lives without even remembered by the civilian. Owen also references to the religious image in line fourth line in stanza one, “Can patter out their hasty orisons”. This shows the absence of god since he isn’t there to save them even though they were praying every day for peacefulness and he gives people, which suggests the loneliness of the soldiers as no one remembered them- a callous fact that the god won’t come and save them from the deaths. 

Wilfred Owen also conveyed his feelings about war through the loss of families and the sacrificing of the youth in this poem after they came back. In the last line of stanza one, the poet said “bugles calling for them from sad shrines”. This suggests that their parents, families are calling from afar. The word “bugles” shows the distant as physical and mentally as their lives are drifting away from them. The author has used imagery to create a lonely and painful moment for the reader but also shows that war is destructive and bring apprehension to everyone. It isn’t only broke families and kill the younths. This is contrasting to stanza above as Owen said he will be forgotten by everyone. The poet’s uses of rhetorical question again at the start of stanza 2, to emphasizes the loss of youth. The pains, experiences, terrors of the young soldiers are shown “In their eyes” through the “candles”. This suggests that their lives are like the candle when they were young, it burns vigorously and full of energy and all of that is waste for the war. Owen's done this to show how the youth is being taken easily of the young soldiers and left them back uselessly. The image “candle” is like a mirror, which portrayed the war image and showed the pain in both physically and mentally. Owen has used Sonnet poem- a romantic type-structure poem, which contrasts with the destructive image of war that he shows in the poem and represented a death. Owen ‘s done this to show the dark irony in the poem, the romantic is hard to forget both in positive and negative but the war is also hard to forget in a more negative way, there are too many deaths to get over in such a short time. 

Lastly, Owen’s pain and hatred with the war has evocatively conveyed his hostility and malice about war, which shows the reader that he once attended the war when he was young, therefore, he clearly understood the pain and loss of the soldiers. The image “passing-bells” is representing the slow motion of time running away, slow but desperate like the author is hoping the time to go faster as the death is too painful for him to endure. This symbolizes the terror and the brutal reality of the war, as something Owen hated the most. The uses of caesura throughout the poem reflect the injuries that the poet once experienced in his life, like telling a dark and harsh real life story to the people who didn’t know what life was like in the war. It made people think that the story had ended but it isn’t and somehow, the readers sympathizes more to the soldiers. The poet has used of metaphor in “ Nor any voice of mourning save the choir”. This shows the voice of people calling the soldiers from home and suggest that the despair on the front line is something can’t be replaced. The pain they endured and loss can never be replaced by the cheer of people at home, which suggests Owen suffered much from the war, which made his poem can be this painful. Additionally, he wrote “slow dusk” in the last stanza, also describe the loneliness and the helplessness of the situation. The war shouldn't have happened, because it’s the thing that took away their time, youth and lives. Owen didn’t lose his lives on the battlefield but he lost it due to the physical wounds. Lastly, he wrote “blinds”. The author’s uses of imagery to not only describe a physical wound that the war brought but also the absence of hope, deaths and darkness are swallowing them from the bottom of their heart. They lost their target in lives due to the war, young soldiers who killed many people and broke many people promises and dreams, which made great anxieties to the young people and the feeling of fearful of war, which is similar to Owen and through his poem, the reader can see the painful and destructive, but also dreadful and melancholy of the war in the poem Anthem of Doomed Youth. 

[beys-humanities]

Oregon Trail

By Nate Marshall

“my first venture west was in Windows 98 or Independence, Missouri. class in the computer lab & we were supposed to be playing some typing game or another. the one i remember had a haunted theme. ghosts instructing us on the finer points of where to put our fingers. these were the last days before keyboards as appendage, when typing was not nature. i should’ve been letting an apparition coach me through QWERTY but rather i was at the general store deciding between ammo & axles, considering the merits of being a banker or carpenter. too young to know what profession would get me to the Willamette Valley in the space of a 40-minute period. i aimed my rifle with the arrow keys, tapped the space bar with a prayer for meat to haul back to the wagon. this game came difficult as breathing underwater after trying to ford a river.                                        i was no good at survival. somebody always fell ill or out into the river. each new day scurvy or a raid was the fate of a character named for my crush or my baby sister. this loss i know, how to measure what it means to die premature before a school period ends. i can’t understand the game coming to a late end. an elderly daughter grieving her elderly mother. reading the expansive obit in a suburban Detroit church is a confusing newness. when the old do the thing the world expects i retreat into my former self. focus on beating video games I’ve always sucked at, brush up on Chicago Bulls history, re-memorize the Backstreet Boys catalog, push away whatever woman is foolhardy enough to be on any road with me. i pioneer my way away from all the known world. i look at homicide rates & wish we all expired the way i know best. i pray for a senseless, poetic departure. i pray for my family to not be around to miss me while i’m still here. i want a short obituary, a life brief & unfulfilled, the introductory melody before a beat’s crescendo into song, the game over somewhere in the Great Plains. i want to spare my descendants the confusion of watching a flame flicker slow. keep them from being at a funeral thumbing the faded family pictures like worn keys, observing the journey done, the game won, the west conquered.”

https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poetrymagazine/poems/58585/oregon-trail

The theme of the poem life and death and the difficulty of facing death as an inevitable aspect of life. The poem begins as a recollection of playing a game in class instead of learning how to type. He talks about the struggle to keep characters alive in the game. This was his early encounter with the concept of death. When later faced with another's death in the real world, he describes how video games, among other outlets and forms of media, became a coping mechanism. The author talks about how he hopes he won’t be missed when he dies, so that others won't feel confusion and pain when he dies. He states that he has the desire to "spare my descendants the confusion," in reference to his own death one day. The poem ends on a note of finality by employing assonance in the last lines and breaking the rhyming pattern on the final word, "observing the journey done, the game won, the west conquered."

The sad irony of the poems message is that these coping mechanisms employed to runaway from the hardest parts of life, also prevent one from actually living, and enjoying the greatest parts of life.

This poem makes me think about my own life, and how I’m choosing to live it. I can see myself in the poem. I am prone to run from pain as well, often in the form of video games. I’ve had it said to me that more often it’s the hard times that we remember, rather than the happy ones. It can be hard not to obsess or feel stuck in a loop of all the things that are wrong or have gone wrong. It can feel so easy to throw myself into a game or movie or show and obsess over that instead. Suddenly the pain isn’t so noticeable and look how strong my characters became! The pain is moved to the backburner, but the danger is that it takes life with it.

There’s a line from the poem, “i was no good at survival”, And “focus on beating video games I’ve always sucked at.” While the narrator is referring to the games, I feel that these lines also refer to life, for me at least, if not for him as well. I feel that I lack so much experience, and I don’t know what move to make next. In video games, there are clear steps to take, and if you mess up you can just respawn and try again. Life is more complex, and way scarier, there’s no screen to be a barrier between you and the monsters you must fight.

[weopenviews]

The grieving mother of a 21-year-old college student who was killed after getting into a car she mistook as her Uber ride has decried her daughter’s alleged murderer in an emotional court appearance in which she called the death “vile” and “senseless”.The daughter, Samantha Josephson, was found dead Friday afternoon after going missing early that morning. Josephson, a student at the University of South Carolina, had been separated jumped into the back of a black Chevy Impala at around 2am and was found 14 hours later by turkey hunters.Police say that her alleged killer used child locks to keep her in the vehicle.“There are no words to describe the immense pain, his actions have caused our family and friends. He's taken away a piece of our heart, soul and life. Shame on him. We thought he would be here to see his evil face,” Marci Josephson, the mother, said in court.She continued: “I can not fathom how someone could randomly select a person, a beautiful girl and steal her life away. His actions were senseless, vile and unacceptable. It sickens us to think that his face was the last thing that my baby girl saw on this earth.”Police have not said how Josephson died, but said her body was found with several wounds on her face head, neck, upper body, leg, and foot. Police say her alleged killer, Nathaniel Rowland, knew the area where her body was found.“His selfish, unspeakable and violent actions have created a hole in the universe,” Ms Josephson said.The young woman’s father, Seymour Josephson, confirmed his daughter’s death on Facebook.“It is with tremendous sadness and of a broken heart that I post this! I will miss and love my baby girl for the rest of life. Samantha is no longer with us but she will not be for gotten (sic). It is extremely hard to write this and post it but I love her with all my heart. I could continue to write about her but it kills me. I sit here and cry while looking at the picture and write this,” he wrote.The killing was also discussed by South Carolina governor Henry McMaster.“I ask every South Carolinian to join us in praying for the Josephson family,” Mr McMaster wrote on Twitter. “Let us also pray for the men and women of law enforcement as they fight to bring evil to justice.”Uber has declined to comment on the case, and the company’s website suggests checking license plates and the picture displayed in their app against the drivers in vehicles before entering a vehicle.

from Yahoo News - Latest News & Headlines https://ift.tt/2FSG2Uh

[teeky185]

The grieving mother of a 21-year-old college student who was killed after getting into a car she mistook as her Uber ride has decried her daughter’s alleged murderer in an emotional court appearance in which she called the death “vile” and “senseless”.The daughter, Samantha Josephson, was found dead Friday afternoon after going missing early that morning. Josephson, a student at the University of South Carolina, had been separated jumped into the back of a black Chevy Impala at around 2am and was found 14 hours later by turkey hunters.Police say that her alleged killer used child locks to keep her in the vehicle.“There are no words to describe the immense pain, his actions have caused our family and friends. He's taken away a piece of our heart, soul and life. Shame on him. We thought he would be here to see his evil face,” Marci Josephson, the mother, said in court.She continued: “I can not fathom how someone could randomly select a person, a beautiful girl and steal her life away. His actions were senseless, vile and unacceptable. It sickens us to think that his face was the last thing that my baby girl saw on this earth.”Police have not said how Josephson died, but said her body was found with several wounds on her face head, neck, upper body, leg, and foot. Police say her alleged killer, Nathaniel Rowland, knew the area where her body was found.“His selfish, unspeakable and violent actions have created a hole in the universe,” Ms Josephson said.The young woman’s father, Seymour Josephson, confirmed his daughter’s death on Facebook.“It is with tremendous sadness and of a broken heart that I post this! I will miss and love my baby girl for the rest of life. Samantha is no longer with us but she will not be for gotten (sic). It is extremely hard to write this and post it but I love her with all my heart. I could continue to write about her but it kills me. I sit here and cry while looking at the picture and write this,” he wrote.The killing was also discussed by South Carolina governor Henry McMaster.“I ask every South Carolinian to join us in praying for the Josephson family,” Mr McMaster wrote on Twitter. “Let us also pray for the men and women of law enforcement as they fight to bring evil to justice.”Uber has declined to comment on the case, and the company’s website suggests checking license plates and the picture displayed in their app against the drivers in vehicles before entering a vehicle.

from Yahoo News - Latest News & Headlines https://ift.tt/2FSG2Uh

[usuallyleftnight]

The grieving mother of a 21-year-old college student who was killed after getting into a car she mistook as her Uber ride has decried her daughter’s alleged murderer in an emotional court appearance in which she called the death “vile” and “senseless”.The daughter, Samantha Josephson, was found dead Friday afternoon after going missing early that morning. Josephson, a student at the University of South Carolina, had been separated jumped into the back of a black Chevy Impala at around 2am and was found 14 hours later by turkey hunters.Police say that her alleged killer used child locks to keep her in the vehicle.“There are no words to describe the immense pain, his actions have caused our family and friends. He's taken away a piece of our heart, soul and life. Shame on him. We thought he would be here to see his evil face,” Marci Josephson, the mother, said in court.She continued: “I can not fathom how someone could randomly select a person, a beautiful girl and steal her life away. His actions were senseless, vile and unacceptable. It sickens us to think that his face was the last thing that my baby girl saw on this earth.”Police have not said how Josephson died, but said her body was found with several wounds on her face head, neck, upper body, leg, and foot. Police say her alleged killer, Nathaniel Rowland, knew the area where her body was found.“His selfish, unspeakable and violent actions have created a hole in the universe,” Ms Josephson said.The young woman’s father, Seymour Josephson, confirmed his daughter’s death on Facebook.“It is with tremendous sadness and of a broken heart that I post this! I will miss and love my baby girl for the rest of life. Samantha is no longer with us but she will not be for gotten (sic). It is extremely hard to write this and post it but I love her with all my heart. I could continue to write about her but it kills me. I sit here and cry while looking at the picture and write this,” he wrote.The killing was also discussed by South Carolina governor Henry McMaster.“I ask every South Carolinian to join us in praying for the Josephson family,” Mr McMaster wrote on Twitter. “Let us also pray for the men and women of law enforcement as they fight to bring evil to justice.”Uber has declined to comment on the case, and the company’s website suggests checking license plates and the picture displayed in their app against the drivers in vehicles before entering a vehicle.

from Yahoo News - Latest News & Headlines https://ift.tt/2FSG2Uh

[twopaperairplanesflying13]

TWEETS OF SOME HOLLYWOOD CELEBS FOR MANCHESTER TRAGEDY

Ariana Grande: "BROKEN from the bottom of my heart, I am so sorry. I don't have words" Mariah Carey: "My heart goes out to the families who lost their lives in Manchester last night. My thoughts & Prayers are with you all. God bless." Taylor Swift: "My thoughts,Prayers and tears for all those affected by the Manchester Tragedy tonight. I'm sending all my love. John Mayer: "Sending my unending thoughts,Concern, Love and hope to those in Manchester" Katy Perry: "Broken Hearted For the Families tonight. Broken Hearted for Ari. Broken hearted for the state of this world" "Praying for everyone at Ariana Grande's show" Miley Cyrus: "wishing I could give my friend Ariana Grande a great big hug right now... Lobe love love you... So sorry you had" Lorde: "every musician feels sick and responsible tonight-shows should be safe for you. Truly a worst nightmare. Sending love to Manchester & Ari" Selena Gomez: "My thoughts and prayers go out to everyone affected in manchester" Demi Lovato: " Tearing up and imagining innocent concert goers losing their lives.. Praying for everyone and all #arianators" "Prayers are with you Manchester" Bruno Mars: "No words can describe how i feel about what happened in Manchester. I don't wanna believe that the world we live in could be so cruel" "God Bless the family and friends affected by this nightmare" Shawn Mendes:"I am truly so sorty abput what happened in Manchester tonight. Unthinkable events all my love to the families affected" Justin Timberlake: "My thoughts and prayers are with all those affected by this horrific act in Manchester. We need to do better. We need to LOVE ONE ANOTHER" Troye Sivan: "So heartbroken hearing about Manchester. Such a senseless and Ruthless act in a placed supposed to be filled with such joy and love" John Legend: "Sending love to U.K., Ariana grande and all of her supporters who were caught up in this awful attack. Heartbreaking." Niall Horan: "Absolutely Horrendous what happened in Manchester tonight. My thoughts are with the great People of Manchester and also Ari and her Team." Fifth Harmony: "Just saw the news about Manchester... Our Hearts are breaking💔Prayers for all who attend, their Families, Ari and her whole Crew" Charlie Puth: "Can't help but cry... I just don't even know what to say right now" "My heart Breaks tonight for Manchester" Camila Cabello: "Oh God......my heart is breaking hearing about this tragedy that happened at Manchester arena tonight..." "Praying for the victims and their families and everyone that was there tonight" Harry Styles: "I'm heartbroken over what happened in Manchester tonight. Sending love to everyone involved" Ellie Goulding: "Sending love to those affected in Manchester" Joe Jonas: "I'm devastated to hear about the Tragedy in Manchester Tonight. My thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families" Hailee Steinfeld: "I'm at a loss for words. My heart goes out to all those affected by this senseless tragedy in Manchester" The Chainsmokers: "Hearing mixed things about what happened in Manchester but praying for everyone involved" "Cannot believed the news i am reading about Manchester" Khloe Kardashianღ: "God bless everyone who was at Ariana's Concert! My prayers are with you all and poor sweet Ariana! This is heartbreaking💔" Christina Aguilera: "Devastated of the news of what happened in Manchester at Ariana Grande's Concert. Sending my thoughts and prayers to everyone affected" "Our Prayers and strength to the victims and their families involved to this tragedy. Stay strong Ariana grande" Ruby Rose: "Sad to my Stomach for everyone in Manchester and to the concert goers, Ariana Grande and everyone affected . Prayers and love" I Don't Know Her: "Thoughts Prayers and my whole❤ are with Manchester this evening" Kendall Jenner: " what happened in Manchester tonight is absolutely horrible. Sending my love and Prayers to those affected.💔" Austin Mahone: "Keeping Ariana Grande's Fans in my prayers❤🙏" Noah Cyrus: "sending love and prayers to Ariana and everyone that was at her show❤" Sabrina Carpenter: "Just played Manchester.. Crazy.. Really don't have words. I'm so sorry. Should be a safe place 😭 "thinking of all those affected" Zedd: "Thoughts to everyone in Manchester..... Just horrifying 😩" Halsey: "What is happening in Manchester is absolutely terrifying. Praying everyone effected has found safety and hope is Ariana ok 😩 Jesus" Paramore: "The community we all create together thry music should be completely devoid of fear. Our Hearts go out to Ariana grande & Crew & the fans. Nicki Minaj: "My Heart hurts for my sister,Ariana & every family affected by this tragic event in the U.K innocent lives lost. I'm so sorry to hear this" James Arthur: "So sad to hear about the fatalities at the Ariana grande concert last night. My heart goes out to all affected by this tragedy #Manchester" Billy Ray Cyrus: "Thoughts and prayers for all who were at the Ariana Grande concert tonight." Tinashe: "It is absolutely devastating what took place in Manchester. My thoughts and prayers are with Ariana and everyone affected 🙏💙" Victoria Justice: "I just heard the attack at Ariana's concert. this is truly awful. I'm sending my deepest condolences & Praying for everyone affected 🙏" Justin Bieber: "#PrayForManchester" Celine Dion: "Manchester, je suis avec vous... Tout mon amour / Manchester i am with you... All my love. Céline..." Kesha: "Praying for my old friend Ari-for her, her touring crew, her fans and their families I'm so sorry. My heart is all of you" Cher: "My prayers go out to ppl of Manchester... HAD Special times there for youth and beyond" Rihanna: "Praying for the beautiful souls we lost, their families and loved ones, for the survivors who will be forever Impacted by this #Manchester" "Manchester has always been so close to my heart! These are Innocent Vulnerable kids! This could've been any of us! I'm Devastated" #PRAYFORMANCHESTER

[readbookywooks]

It was eight o'clock when we landed; we walked for a short time on the shore, enjoying the transitory light, and then retired to the inn and contemplated the lovely scene of waters, woods, and mountains, obscured in darkness, yet still displaying their black outlines. The wind, which had fallen in the south, now rose with great violence in the west. The moon had reached her summit in the heavens and was beginning to descend; the clouds swept across it swifter than the flight of the vulture and dimmed her rays, while the lake reflected the scene of the busy heavens, rendered still busier by the restless waves that were beginning to rise. Suddenly a heavy storm of rain descended. I had been calm during the day, but so soon as night obscured the shapes of objects, a thousand fears arose in my mind. I was anxious and watchful, while my right hand grasped a pistol which was hidden in my bosom; every sound terrified me, but I resolved that I would sell my life dearly and not shrink from the conflict until my own life or that of my adversary was extinguished. Elizabeth observed my agitation for some time in timid and fearful silence, but there was something in my glance which communicated terror to her, and trembling, she asked, "What is it that agitates you, my dear Victor? What is it you fear?" "Oh! Peace, peace, my love," replied I; "this night, and all will be safe; but this night is dreadful, very dreadful." I passed an hour in this state of mind, when suddenly I reflected how fearful the combat which I momentarily expected would be to my wife, and I earnestly entreated her to retire, resolving not to join her until I had obtained some knowledge as to the situation of my enemy. She left me, and I continued some time walking up and down the passages of the house and inspecting every corner that might afford a retreat to my adversary. But I discovered no trace of him and was beginning to conjecture that some fortunate chance had intervened to prevent the execution of his menaces when suddenly I heard a shrill and dreadful scream. It came from the room into which Elizabeth had retired. As I heard it, the whole truth rushed into my mind, my arms dropped, the motion of every muscle and fibre was suspended; I could feel the blood trickling in my veins and tingling in the extremities of my limbs. This state lasted but for an instant; the scream was repeated, and I rushed into the room. Great God! Why did I not then expire! Why am I here to relate the destruction of the best hope and the purest creature on earth? She was there, lifeless and inanimate, thrown across the bed, her head hanging down and her pale and distorted features half covered by her hair. Everywhere I turn I see the same figure - her bloodless arms and relaxed form flung by the murderer on its bridal bier. Could I behold this and live? Alas! Life is obstinate and clings closest where it is most hated. For a moment only did I lose recollection; I fell senseless on the ground. When I recovered I found myself surrounded by the people of the inn; their countenances expressed a breathless terror, but the horror of others appeared only as a mockery, a shadow of the feelings that oppressed me. I escaped from them to the room where lay the body of Elizabeth, my love, my wife, so lately living, so dear, so worthy. She had been moved from the posture in which I had first beheld her, and now, as she lay, her head upon her arm and a handkerchief thrown across her face and neck, I might have supposed her asleep. I rushed towards her and embraced her with ardour, but the deadly languor and coldness of the limbs told me that what I now held in my arms had ceased to be the Elizabeth whom I had loved and cherished. The murderous mark of the fiend's grasp was on her neck, and the breath had ceased to issue from her lips. While I still hung over her in the agony of despair, I happened to look up. The windows of the room had before been darkened, and I felt a kind of panic on seeing the pale yellow light of the moon illuminate the chamber. The shutters had been thrown back, and with a sensation of horror not to be described, I saw at the open window a figure the most hideous and abhorred. A grin was on the face of the monster; he seemed to jeer, as with his fiendish finger he pointed towards the corpse of my wife. I rushed towards the window, and drawing a pistol from my bosom, fired; but he eluded me, leaped from his station, and running with the swiftness of lightning, plunged into the lake. The report of the pistol brought a crowd into the room. I pointed to the spot where he had disappeared, and we followed the track with boats; nets were cast, but in vain. After passing several hours, we returned hopeless, most of my companions believing it to have been a form conjured up by my fancy. After having landed, they proceeded to search the country, parties going in different directions among the woods and vines. I attempted to accompany them and proceeded a short distance from the house, but my head whirled round, my steps were like those of a drunken man, I fell at last in a state of utter exhaustion; a film covered my eyes, and my skin was parched with the heat of fever. In this state I was carried back and placed on a bed, hardly conscious of what had happened; my eyes wandered round the room as if to seek something that I had lost. After an interval I arose, and as if by instinct, crawled into the room where the corpse of my beloved lay. There were women weeping around; I hung over it and joined my sad tears to theirs; all this time no distinct idea presented itself to my mind, but my thoughts rambled to various subjects, reflecting confusedly on my misfortunes and their cause. I was bewildered, in a cloud of wonder and horror. The death of William, the execution of Justine, the murder of Clerval, and lastly of my wife; even at that moment I knew not that my only remaining friends were safe from the malignity of the fiend; my father even now might be writhing under his grasp, and Ernest might be dead at his feet. This idea made me shudder and recalled me to action. I started up and resolved to return to Geneva with all possible speed. There were no horses to be procured, and I must return by the lake; but the wind was unfavourable, and the rain fell in torrents. However, it was hardly morning, and I might reasonably hope to arrive by night. I hired men to row and took an oar myself, for I had always experienced relief from mental torment in bodily exercise. But the overflowing misery I now felt, and the excess of agitation that I endured rendered me incapable of any exertion. I threw down the oar, and leaning my head upon my hands, gave way to every gloomy idea that arose. If I looked up, I saw scenes which were familiar to me in my happier time and which I had contemplated but the day before in the company of her who was now but a shadow and a recollection. Tears streamed from my eyes. The rain had ceased for a moment, and I saw the fish play in the waters as they had done a few hours before; they had then been observed by Elizabeth. Nothing is so painful to the human mind as a great and sudden change. The sun might shine or the clouds might lower, but nothing could appear to me as it had done the day before. A fiend had snatched from me every hope of future happiness; no creature had ever been so miserable as I was; so frightful an event is single in the history of man. But why should I dwell upon the incidents that followed this last overwhelming event? Mine has been a tale of horrors; I have reached their acme, and what I must now relate can but be tedious to you. Know that, one by one, my friends were snatched away; I was left desolate. My own strength is exhausted, and I must tell, in a few words, what remains of my hideous narration. I arrived at Geneva. My father and Ernest yet lived, but the former sunk under the tidings that I bore. I see him now, excellent and venerable old man! His eyes wandered in vacancy, for they had lost their charm and their delight - his Elizabeth, his more than daughter, whom he doted on with all that affection which a man feels, who in the decline of life, having few affections, clings more earnestly to those that remain. Cursed, cursed be the fiend that brought misery on his grey hairs and doomed him to waste in wretchedness! He could not live under the horrors that were accumulated around him; the springs of existence suddenly gave way; he was unable to rise from his bed, and in a few days he died in my arms. What then became of me? I know not; I lost sensation, and chains and darkness were the only objects that pressed upon me. Sometimes, indeed, I dreamt that I wandered in flowery meadows and pleasant vales with the friends of my youth, but I awoke and found myself in a dungeon. Melancholy followed, but by degrees I gained a clear conception of my miseries and situation and was then released from my prison. For they had called me mad, and during many months, as I understood, a solitary cell had been my habitation. Liberty, however, had been a useless gift to me, had I not, as I awakened to reason, at the same time awakened to revenge. As the memory of past misfortunes pressed upon me, I began to reflect on their cause - the monster whom I had created, the miserable daemon whom I had sent abroad into the world for my destruction. I was possessed by a maddening rage when I thought of him, and desired and ardently prayed that I might have him within my grasp to wreak a great and signal revenge on his cursed head. Nor did my hate long confine itself to useless wishes; I began to reflect on the best means of securing him; and for this purpose, about a month after my release, I repaired to a criminal judge in the town and told him that I had an accusation to make, that I knew the destroyer of my family, and that I required him to exert his whole authority for the apprehension of the murderer. The magistrate listened to me with attention and kindness. "Be assured, sir," said he, "no pains or exertions on my part shall be spared to discover the villain." "I thank you," replied I; "listen, therefore, to the deposition that I have to make. It is indeed a tale so strange that I should fear you would not credit it were there not something in truth which, however wonderful, forces conviction. The story is too connected to be mistaken for a dream, and I have no motive for falsehood." My manner as I thus addressed him was impressive but calm; I had formed in my own heart a resolution to pursue my destroyer to death, and this purpose quieted my agony and for an interval reconciled me to life. I now related my history briefly but with firmness and precision, marking the dates with accuracy and never deviating into invective or exclamation. The magistrate appeared at first perfectly incredulous, but as I continued he became more attentive and interested; I saw him sometimes shudder with horror; at others a lively surprise, unmingled with disbelief, was painted on his countenance. When I had concluded my narration I said, "This is the being whom I accuse and for whose seizure and punishment I call upon you to exert your whole power. It is your duty as a magistrate, and I believe and hope that your feelings as a man will not revolt from the execution of those functions on this occasion." This address caused a considerable change in the physiognomy of my own auditor. He had heard my story with that half kind of belief that is given to a tale of spirits and supernatural events; but when he was called upon to act officially in consequence, the whole tide of his incredulity returned. He, however, answered mildly, "I would willingly afford you every aid in your pursuit, but the creature of whom you speak appears to have powers which would put all my exertions to defiance. Who can follow an animal which can traverse the sea of ice and inhabit caves and dens where no man would venture to intrude? Besides, some months have elapsed since the commission of his crimes, and no one can conjecture to what place he has wandered or what region he may now inhabit." "I do not doubt that he hovers near the spot which I inhabit, and if he has indeed taken refuge in the Alps, he may be hunted like the chamois and destroyed as a beast of prey. But I perceive your thoughts; you do not credit my narrative and do not intend to pursue my enemy with the punishment which is his desert." As I spoke, rage sparkled in my eyes; the magistrate was intimidated. "You are mistaken," said he. "I will exert myself, and if it is in my power to seize the monster, be assured that he shall suffer punishment proportionate to his crimes. But I fear, from what you have yourself described to be his properties, that this will prove impracticable; and thus, while every proper measure is pursued, you should make up your mind to disappointment." "That cannot be; but all that I can say will be of little avail. My revenge is of no moment to you; yet, while I allow it to be a vice, I confess that it is the devouring and only passion of my soul. My rage is unspeakable when I reflect that the murderer, whom I have turned loose upon society, still exists. You refuse my just demand; I have but one resource, and I devote myself, either in my life or death, to his destruction." I trembled with excess of agitation as I said this; there was a frenzy in my manner, and something, I doubt not, of that haughty fierceness which the martyrs of old are said to have possessed. But to a Genevan magistrate, whose mind was occupied by far other ideas than those of devotion and heroism, this elevation of mind had much the appearance of madness. He endeavoured to soothe me as a nurse does a child and reverted to my tale as the effects of delirium. "Man," I cried, "how ignorant art thou in thy pride of wisdom! Cease; you know not what it is you say." I broke from the house angry and disturbed and retired to meditate on some other mode of action.

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Kansas Gov writes to Modi; regrets violence against Indians

Kansas Governor San Brownback has written a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressing “profound regret” at the terrible act of violence against the Indian nationals last month and said that acts of hate and intolerance have no place in his state.

Srinivas Kuchibhotla, 32, was killed and Alok Madasani, another Indian of the same age, injured in a shooting by navy veteran Adam Purinton, who yelled “terrorist” and “get out of my country” before opening fire on them in Kansas last month.

The Kansas incident and the two hate crime incidents against Indians and Indian-Americans since then has sent shock waves among the large Indian community in the US.

“As Governor of the State of Kansas, I would like to express my deep sadness and profound regret at the terrible act of violence committed against Srinu Kuchibhotla and Alok Madasani. The people of Kansas share in my shock and horror.

Words cannot express the sorrow that we feel for Srinu’s wife, Sunayana, and his family in Hyderabad,” Brownback wrote.

“In the time since Srinu’s death, we have reflected on his life, and the words I have heard most often to describe him are that he was courageous, and that he loved his family, and that he respected elders. We strive to live in Srinu s example of courage and love and respect,” he wrote in the letter dated March 3, a copy of which has been seen by PTI.

Brownback wrote that Kansans have been awed by Sunayana’s grace and determination.

Her indomitable spirit has moved the entire community and they pray for her comfort and peace in this time of grief.

Telling the Prime Minister that open arms of friendship are the very hallmarks of being a Kansan, the Governor said Srinu embodied the essence of what it means to be a Kansan.

“His friends describe him as charming, caring and loving.

He brought with him his immense talents and education and passion. His story is similar to the thousands of Indian diaspora who have called Kansas home over generations,” he wrote.

“They have enjoyed tremendous success through their ingenuity, hard work, and determination. Our state has thrived because of their contributions,” Brownback wrote, adding that he would like to personally welcome Indians to his state.

“Before they moved here, Sunayana said: ‘Kansas was (the) instant choice.’ We are humbled that this was the case. I would like to personally welcome Indians to Kansas, and assure them that Kansas is a welcoming, hospitable place,” he said.

Noting that Sunayana also spoke about being without her family in Kansas, Brownback wrote in the letter that it is their solemn hope that the community in Olathe and all of Kansas may nourish and love her in the difficult months ahead.

“Acts of hate and intolerance have no place in Kansas.

Since our founding, Kansas have fought against injustice and senseless hatred. We are recommitted daily to protecting our family, our neighbors, our guests. We find wisdom and peace in the Sanskrit mantra ‘Satyameva Jayate’,” Brownback said.

The Governor had met the Indian Consul General Dr Anupam Ray in Topeka and expressed his sincere condolences and reiterated his strong commitment to providing a safe and welcoming environment in Kansas.