How Benjamin Franklin Established The Public Library Of...

Section 1: Describe how Benjamin Franklin established the public library in Philadelphia. What was the effect of this library on Franklin and on his community? In 1731 Benjamin Franklin along with the members of philosophical organization known as the Junto, decided to write â€Å"Articles of Agreement† and to create a library. At this time the vast majority of Americans were illiterate. They did not have access to books that would help the improve their reading skills as there were no public libraries at the time. This was a problem for the Junto group as men of average prosperity also could not afford books. While they members of Junto were educated and interested in a variety of areas none of them had more than a couple of books. In fact, the only people who have a substantial collection of books are the extremely wealthy and the clergy. The Junto realized that is they combined their assets they would be able to afford more books then they would be able to on their own. Using their combined purchasing power also guaranteed that all members of the organization would have access to the books. Each of the fifty subscribers invested an initial 40 shillings. They also agreed to invest another 10 shillings each year. This annual investment would be used to buy additional books and to keep up with the maintenance of the library they were launching. The institution soon manifested its utility, was imitated by other towns, and in other provinces. The libraries were augmented byShow MoreRelatedThe Autobiography Of Benjamin Franklin1367 Words   |  6 PagesMatthew Matheny HIST 2020 A.P. Tammy Prater 23 November 2014 Benjamin Franklin The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin is a detailed account of the illustrious experiences of Benjamin Franklin. Though the cultural differences in writing has changed since the 18th century one can learn a lot about one of America’s greatest forefathers through this book. It accounts for Franklin’s life when he was born January 17th, 1706 till the year 1757. Unfortunately, he died in 1790 and was never able to finishRead MoreEssay on The Life of Benjamin Franklin1743 Words   |  7 PagesThe Life of Benjamin Franklin Of two things you can be certain; death and taxes, quoted Benjamin Franklin. Having a humorous outlook on life, Franklin tried to make others lives better. Benjamin was a man who served others and tried to make the world its best until his death. Benjamin Franklin had many accomplishments. He had a busy and eventful life, he played a major role in defending his country, and he was known for his quotes. Franklin was always working to make something better. Read MoreEssay on Ben Franklin: Early Life1685 Words   |  7 PagesBen Franklin: Early Life In his many careers as a printer, moralist, essayist, civic leader, scientist, inventor, statesman, diplomat, and philosopher, for later generations of Americans he became both a spokesman and a model for the national character. He was born in Boston, Massachusetts on Jan. 17, 1706, into a religious Puritan household. His father, Josiah, was a candlemaker and a skillful mechanic. His mother, Abiah Ben’s parents raised thirteen children--the survivors of Josiah’s seventeenRead MoreBenjamin Franklin : The Legacy Of Moral Perfection, And Franklin s Religion Essay1310 Words   |  6 PagesBenjamin Franklin is often known as one of the Founding Father of the United States, or further a famous politician. However, people should know that he also was a scientist, an author, a printer, postmaster, inventor, civic activist and a diplomat. He owned a diverse talent. And whenever we discuss about talented people, it is always attractive. Franklin was not an exception, his life was totally full of interesting stories. Through his autobiography, we can know more about this great person. DespiteRead More Ben Franklin Essay1642 Words   |  7 PagesBen Franklin Benjamin Franklin was one of the most influential people in American history. Franklin was born on January 17, 1706, in a small town in Boston. Benjamin was one of ten children. His father, Josiah was a candle and soap maker, and his mother Abiah Folger was a homemaker. When Benjamin was only twelve years old he signed his identures so that he could apprentice under his brother, working at a printing press. Here he worked for his brother James for over nine years. 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They often focused their works on what they stood for. Both men shared the profound value of education, and had major roles in what is known as education today. Franklin was a self-educatedRead MoreBenjamin Franklin : The First American Essay2505 Words   |  11 PagesIn the autobiography of Benjamin Franklin, â€Å"The First American†, Franklin wrote about his experiences from his life as one of the first Americans. Benjamin Franklin was born on January 17, 1706 in Boston, Massachusetts to Josiah and Abiah Franklin. He was the fifteenth of seventeen children and was the youngest son. Growing up, he joined school to become a minister, but he soon learned of his love for reading and writing and dropped out. By the age of twelve, Benjamin became an apprentice to hisRead MoreEssay about Benjamin Franklin1935 Words   |  8 PagesBenjamin Franklin Benjamin Franklin was an American printer and publisher, author, inventor, scientist, and who was a diplomat born on January 17th 1706 and died in Philadelphia on April 17th 1790. Franklin was one of ten sons of seventeen children of a man by the name of Josiah who was a soap and candle maker and mother by the name of Abiah, a discrete and virtuous woman (Van Doren 7). Ben was raised in a Puritan heritage household which they had left to avoid Englands Restoration Era of 1683Read MoreBenjamin Franklin: the Enlightenment Figure Essay1975 Words   |  8 Pages Geiss 1 HIST 2111, Wolf Benjamin Franklin Writing 9/22/09 Benevolent Leader for a Virtuous Nation There were many people that helped contribute to the Enlightenment, but the most prominent American leader was a well-know political figure named Benjamin Franklin. 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Essay On Cloud Based Technology - 1234 Words

Cloud Based Technology in Physical Therapy Background: Cloud computing is a recent development that is growing quickly in healthcare. And according to Cloud Standards Customer Council if a practice decides to opt for cloud storage they â€Å" must have a clear understanding of the unique benefits and risks relative to the purpose and scope of medical practice and healthcare delivery: optimizing case outcomes while maximizing patient safety and the economy, efficiency and effectiveness of care and treatment.† (Cloud Standards customer Council). Being able to access and store patient information with unlimited storage is everything a hospital or clinic could ask for. For years patient records have been written with paper and pen, better†¦show more content†¦The last point of criteria the software should include is 24/7 tech support, the system will contain delicate information and if any crashes happen a support technician should be able to handle the situation. Security Appointment scheduling Multiple Platform use Medical Billing Tech support Software Kareo Kareo is a cloud based platform that includes electronic health records (EHR), patient management, and medical billing. This software would be ideal for smaller practices as it helps to easily stay connected with patients with an in app messenger system that allows therapists and patients to speak to one another. It also helps with appointment scheduling that sets alerts and reminders to avoid no show appointments and improve wait times. It can also check the eligibility of patients for insurance in real time through its electronic connections with a large number of insurance companies. Drchrono Drchrono is a integrated platform that includes EHR, medical billing, and health records management. Drchrono is also unique in the way it allows patients to interact with the software in the sense of booking appointments and checking in online. 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The Secret Circle The Initiation Chapter Two Free Essays

string(38) " the frightened feeling slipped away\." When Cassie got to the place where the boy had turned, she walked up the dunes between the pitiful little clumps of scraggly beach grass. At the top she looked around, but there was nothing to be seen but pitch pines and scrub oak trees. No boy. We will write a custom essay sample on The Secret Circle: The Initiation Chapter Two or any similar topic only for you Order Now No dog. Silence. She was hot. All right; fine. She turned back toward the sea, ignoring the twinge of disappointment, the strange emptiness she felt suddenly. She’d go get wet and cool off. Portia’s problem was Portia’s business. As for the red-haired guy – well, she’d probably never see him again, and he wasn’t her business either. A little inside shiver went through her; not the kind that shows, but the kind that makes you wonder if you’re sick. I must be too hot, she decided; hot enough that it starts to feel cold. I need a dip in the water. The water was cool, because this was the open-Atlantic side of the Cape. She waded in up to her knees and then continued walking down the beach. When she reached a dock, she splashed out of the water and climbed up to it. Only three boats were tied there: two rowboats and a powerboat. It was deserted. It was just what Cassie needed. She unhooked the thick, frayed rope meant to keep people like her off the dock and walked onto it. She walked far out, the weather-beaten wood creaking beneath her feet, the water stretching out on either side of her. When she looked back at the beach, she saw she’d left the other sunbathers far behind. A little breeze blew in her face, stirring her hair and making her wet legs tingle. Suddenly she felt – she couldn’t explain it. Like a balloon being caught by the wind and lifted. She felt light, she felt expanded. She felt free. She wanted to hold her arms out to the breeze and the ocean, but she didn’t quite dare. She wasn’t as free as all that. But she smiled as she got to the end of the dock. The sky and the ocean were exactly the same deep jewel-blue, except that the sky lightened down at the horizon where they met. Cassie thought that she could see the curve of the earth, but it might have been her imagination. Terns and herring gulls wheeled above. I should write a poem, she thought. She had a notebook full of scribbled poems at home under her bed. She hardly ever showed them to anyone, but she looked at them at night. Right now, though, she couldn’t think of any words. Still, it was lovely just to be here, smelling the salt sea-smell and feeling the warm planks beneath her and hearing the soft plashing of the water against the wooden piers. It was a hypnotic sound, rhythmic as a giant heartbeat or the breathing of the planet, and strangely familiar. She sat and gazed and listened, and as she did she felt her own breathing slow. For the first time since she’d come to New England, she felt she belonged. She was a part of the vastness of sky and earth and sea; a tiny part in all the immensity, but a part just the same. And slowly it came to her that her part might not be so small. She had been immersed in the rhythm of the earth, but now it seemed to her almost as if she controlled that rhythm. As if the elements were one with her, and under her command. She could feel the pulse of life in the planet, in herself, strong and deep and vibrant. The beat slowly rising in tension and expectancy, as if waiting for†¦ something. For what? Staring out to sea, she felt words come to her. Just a little jingle, like something you’d teach a child, but a poem nonetheless. Sky and sea, keep harm from me. The strange thing was that it didn’t feel like something she’d made up. It felt more like something she’d read – or heard – a long time ago. She had a brief flash of an image: being held in someone’s arms, and looking at the ocean. Being held up high and hearing words. Sky and sea, keep harm from me. Earth and fire, bring†¦ No. Cassie’s entire skin was tingling. She could sense, in a way she never had before, the arch of the sky and the granite solidity of the earth and the immeasurable span of the ocean, wave after wave after wave, to the horizon and beyond. And it was as if they were all waiting, watching, listening to her. Don’t finish it, she thought. Don’t say any more. A sudden irrational conviction had taken hold of her. As long as she didn’t find the last words of the poem, she was safe. Everything would be as it always had been; she would go home and live out her quiet, ordinary life in peace. As long as she could keep from saying the words, she’d be all right. But the poem was running through her mind, like the tinkling of icy music far away, and the last words fell into place. She couldn’t stop them. Sky and sea, keep harm from me. Earth and fire, bring†¦ my desire. Yes. Oh, what have I done ? It was like a string snapping. Cassie found herself on her feet, staring wildly out at the ocean. Something had happened; she had felt it, and now she could feel the elements receding from her, their connection broken. She no longer felt light and free, but jangled and out of tune and full of static electricity. Suddenly the ocean looked more vast than ever and not necessarily friendly. Turning sharply, she headed back toward the shore. Idiot, she thought as she neared the white sand of the beach again and the frightened feeling slipped away. You read "The Secret Circle: The Initiation Chapter Two" in category "Essay examples" What were you afraid of? That the sky and the sea were really listening to you? That those words were actually going to do something? She could almost laugh at it now, and she was embarrassed and annoyed with herself. Talk about an overactive imagination. She was still safe, and the world was still ordinary. Words were only words. But when a movement caught her eye then, she would always remember that deep down she had not been surprised. Something was happening. There was motion on the shore. It was the red-haired guy. He’d burst out between the pitch pines and was running down the slope of a dune. Suddenly inexplicably calm, Cassie hurried the rest of the way down the dock, to meet him as he reached the sand. The dog beside him was loping easily, looking up at the guy’s face as if to say this was a great game, and what next? But from the boy’s expression and the way he was running, Cassie could tell it wasn’t a game. He looked up and down the deserted beach. A hundred yards to the left a headland jutted out, so you couldn’t see what was beyond. He glanced at Cassie and their eyes met. Then, turning abruptly, he started toward the headland. Cassie’s heart was beating hard. â€Å"Wait!† she called urgently. He turned back, scanning her quickly with his blue-gray eyes. â€Å"Who’s after you?† she said, though she thought she knew. His voice was crisp, his words concise. â€Å"Two guys who look like linebackers for the New York Giants.† Cassie nodded, feeling the thump of her heart accelerate. But her voice was still calm. â€Å"Their names are Jordan and Logan Bainbridge.† â€Å"It figures.† â€Å"You’ve heard of them?† â€Å"No. But it figures they’d be named something like that.† Cassie almost laughed. She liked the way he looked, so windblown and alert, scarcely out of breath even though he’d been running hard. And she liked the daredevil sparkle in his eyes and the way he joked even though he was in trouble. â€Å"Raj and I could take them, but they’ve got a couple of friends with them,† he said, turning again. Walking backward, he added, â€Å"You’d better go the other way – you don’t want to run into them. And it would be nice if you could pretend you hadn’t seen me.† â€Å"Wait!† cried Cassie. Whatever was going on wasn’t her business†¦ but she found herself speaking without hesitation. There was something about this guy; something that made her want to help him. â€Å"That way’s a dead end – around the headland you’ll run into rocks. You’ll be trapped.† â€Å"But the other way’s too straight. I’d still be in sight when they got here. They weren’t far behind me.† Cassie’s thoughts were flying, and then suddenly she knew. â€Å"Hide in the boat.† â€Å"What?† â€Å"In the boat. In the powerboat. On the dock.† She gestured at it. â€Å"You can get in the cabin and they won’t see you.† His eyes followed hers, but he shook his head. â€Å"I’d really be trapped if they found me there. And Raj doesn’t like to swim.† â€Å"They won’t find you,† Cassie said. â€Å"They won’t go near it. I’ll tell them you went down the beach that way.† He stared at her, the smile dying out of his eyes. â€Å"You don’t understand,† he said quietly. â€Å"Those guys are trouble.† â€Å"I don’t care,† Cassie said, and she almost pushed him toward the dock. Hurry, hurry, hurry, something in her brain was urging. Her shyness had vanished. All that mattered was that he got out of sight. â€Å"What are they going to do to me, beat me up? I’m an innocent bystander,† she said. â€Å"But – â€Å" â€Å"Oh, please. Don’t argue. Just do it!† He stared at her one last instant, then turned, slapping his thigh for the dog. â€Å"C’mon, boy!† He ran down the dock and jumped easily into the powerboat, disappearing as he ducked into the cabin. The dog followed him in one powerful spring and barked. Sh! thought Cassie. The two in the boat were hidden now, but if anyone went up the dock, they would be plainly visible. She hooked the loop of frayed rope over the top of the last pier, screening off the dock. Then she cast a frantic glance around and headed for the water, splashing in. Bending down, she dug up a handful of wet sand and shells. She let the water wash the sand out of the loose cage of her fingers and held on to the two or three small shells that remained. She reached for another handful. She heard shouting from the dunes. I’m gathering shells, I’m only gathering shells, she thought. I don’t need to look up yet. I’m not concerned. â€Å"Hey!† Cassie looked up. There were four of them, and the two in front were Portia’s brothers. Jordan was the one on the debate team and Logan was the one in the Pistol Club. Or was it the other way around? â€Å"Hey, did you see a guy come running this way?† Jordan asked. They were looking in all directions, excited like dogs on a scent, and suddenly another line of poetry came to Cassie. Four lean hounds crouched low and smiling. Except that these guys weren’t lean; they were brawny and sweaty. And out of breath, Cassie noticed, vaguely contemptuous. â€Å"It’s Portia’s friend – Cathy,† said Logan. â€Å"Hey, Cathy, did a guy just go running down here?† Cassie walked toward him slowly, her fists full of shells. Her heart was knocking against her ribs so hard she was sure they could see it, and her tongue was frozen. â€Å"Can’t you talk? What’re you doing here?† Mutely, Cassie held out her hands, opening them. They exchanged glances and snorts, and Cassie realized how she must look to these college-age guys – a slight girl with unremarkable brown hair and ordinary blue eyes. Just a little high-school ditz from California whose idea of a good time was picking up worthless shells. â€Å"Did you see somebody go past here?† Jordan said, impatient but slow, as if she might be hard of hearing. Dry-mouthed, Cassie nodded, and looked down the beach toward the headland. Jordan was wearing an open windbreaker over his T-shirt, which seemed odd in such warm weather. What was even odder was the bulge beneath it, but when he turned, Cassie saw the glint of metal. A gun! Jordan must be the one in the Pistol Club, she thought irrelevantly. Now that she saw something really to be scared about, she found her voice again and said huskily, â€Å"A guy and a dog went that way a few minutes ago.† â€Å"We’ve got him! He’ll be stuck on the rocks!† Logan said. He and the two guys Cassie didn’t know started down the beach, but Jordan turned back to Cassie. â€Å"Are you sure?† Startled, she looked up at him. Why was he asking? She deliberately widened her eyes and tried to look as childish and stupid as possible. â€Å"Yes†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"Because it’s important.† And suddenly he was holding her wrist. Cassie looked down at it in amazement, her shells scattering, too surprised at being grabbed to say anything. â€Å"It’s very important,† Jordan said, and she could feel the tension running through his body, could smell the acridity of his sweat. A wave of revulsion swept through her, and she struggled to keep her face blank and wide-eyed. She was afraid he was going to pull her up against him, but he just twisted her wrist. She didn’t mean to cry out, but she couldn’t help it. It was partly pain and partly a reaction to something she saw in his eyes, something fanatical and ugly and hot like fire. She found herself gasping, more afraid than she could remember being since she was a child. â€Å"Yes, I’m sure,† she said, breathless, staring into that ugliness without letting herself look away. â€Å"He went down there and around the headland.† â€Å"Come on, Jordan, leave her alone!† Logan shouted. â€Å"She’s just a kid. Let’s go!† Jordan hesitated. He knows I’m lying, Cassie thought, with a curious fascination. He knows, but he’s afraid to trust what he knows because he doesn’t know how he knows it. Believe me, she thought, gazing straight back at him, willing him to do it. Believe me and go away. Believe me. Believe me. He let go of her wrist. â€Å"Sorry,† he muttered ungraciously, and he turned and loped off with the others. â€Å"Sure,† Cassie whispered, standing very still. Tingling, she watched them jog across the wet sand, elbows and knees pumping, Jordan’s wind-breaker flapping loose behind him. The weakness spread from her stomach to her legs, and her knees suddenly felt like Silly Putty. She was aware, all at once, of the sound of the ocean again. A comforting sound that seemed to enfold her. When the four running figures turned the corner and disappeared from her sight, she turned back to the dock, meaning to tell the red-haired guy that he could come out now. He already had. Slowly, she made her jellied legs carry her to the dock. He was just standing there, and the look on his face made her feel strange. â€Å"You’d better get out of here – or maybe hide again,† she said hesitantly. â€Å"They might come right back†¦Ã¢â‚¬  â€Å"I don’t think so.† â€Å"Well†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Cassie faltered, looking at him, feeling almost frightened. â€Å"Your dog was very good,† she offered uncertainly, at last. â€Å"I mean, not barking or anything.† â€Å"He knows better.† â€Å"Oh.† Cassie looked down the beach, trying to think of something else to say. His voice was gentle, not harsh, but that keen look never left his eyes and his mouth was grim. â€Å"I guess they really are gone now,† she said. â€Å"Thanks to you,† he said. He turned to her, and their eyes met. â€Å"I don’t know how to thank you,† he added, â€Å"for putting up with that for me. You don’t even know me.† Cassie felt even more queer. Looking up at him made her almost dizzy, but she couldn’t take her eyes from his. There was no sparkle now; they looked like blue-gray steel. Compelling – hypnotic. Drawing her closer, drawing her in. But I do know you, she thought. In that instant a strange image flashed through her mind. It was as if she were floating outside herself and she could see the two of them, standing there on the beach. She could see the sun shining on his hair and her face tilted up to him. And they were connected by a silver cord that hummed and sang with power. A band of energy, linking them. It was so real she could almost reach out and touch it. It bound them heart to heart, and it was trying to draw them closer. A thought came to her, as if some small voice from deep inside her was speaking. The silver cord can never be broken. Your lives are linked. You can’t escape each other any more than you can escape destiny. Suddenly, as quickly as it had come, the picture and the voice vanished. Cassie blinked and shook her head, trying to wrench her mind back. He was still looking at her, waiting for an answer to his question. â€Å"I was glad to help you,† she said, feeling how lame and inadequate the words were. â€Å"And I didn’t mind – what happened.† His eyes dropped to her wrist, and there was a flash from them almost like silver. â€Å"I did,† he said. â€Å"I should have come out earlier.† Cassie shook her head again. The last thing she’d wanted was for him to be caught and hurt. â€Å"I just wanted to help you,† she repeated softly, confused. Then she said, â€Å"Why were they chasing you?† He looked away, drawing in a deep breath. Cassie had the sense of trespassing. â€Å"That’s all right. I shouldn’t have asked – † she began. â€Å"No.† He looked back at her and smiled, his wry one-sided smile. â€Å"If anybody has a right to ask, you do. But it’s a little difficult to explain. I’m†¦ off my turf here. Back home, they wouldn’t dare come after me. They wouldn’t dare look at me cross-eyed. But here I’m fair game.† She still didn’t understand. â€Å"They don’t like people who are – different,† he said, his voice quiet again. â€Å"And I’m different from them. I’m very, very different.† Yes, she thought. Whatever he was, he wasn’t like Jordan or Logan. He wasn’t like anyone she had ever met. â€Å"I’m sorry. That’s not much of an explanation, I know,† he said. â€Å"Especially after what you did. You helped me, and I won’t forget about it.† He glanced down at himself and laughed shortly. â€Å"Of course, it doesn’t look like there’s much I can do for you, does it? Not here. Although†¦Ã¢â‚¬  He paused. â€Å"Wait a minute.† He reached in his pocket, fingers groping for something. All in an instant Cassie’s dizziness overwhelmed her, blood rushing to her face. Was he looking for money? Did he think he could pay her for helping him? She was humiliated, and more stricken than when Jordan had grabbed her wrist, and she couldn’t help the tears flooding her eyes. But what he pulled out of his pocket was a stone, a rock like something you might pick up on the ocean floor. At least that was what it looked like at first. One side was rough and gray, embedded with tiny black spirals like little shells. But then he turned it over, and the other side was gray swirled with pale blue, crystallized, sparkling in the sunlight as if it were overlaid with rock candy. It was beautiful. He pressed it into her palm, closing her fingers around it. As it touched her she felt a jolt like electricity that ran through her hand and up her arm. The stone felt alive in some way she couldn’t explain. Through the pounding in her ears she heard him speaking, quickly and in a low voice. â€Å"This is chalcedony. It’s a – good-luck piece. If you’re ever in trouble or danger or anything like that, if there’s ever a time when you feel all alone and no one else can help you, hold on to it tight – tight† – his fingers squeezed hers – â€Å"and think of me.† She stared up at him, mesmerized. She was hardly breathing, and her chest felt too full. He was so close to her; she could see his eyes, the same color as the crystal, and she could feel his breath on her skin and the warmth of his body reflecting the sun’s heat. His hair wasn’t just red, but all sorts of colors, some strands so dark they were almost purple, others like burgundy wine, others gold. Different, she thought again; he was different from any guy she’d ever known. A sweet hot current was running through her, a feeling of wildness and possibility. She was trembling and she could feel a heartbeat in her fingers, but she couldn’t tell if it was hers or his. He had seemed to hear her thoughts before; now she felt almost as if he were in her mind. He was so close and he was looking down at her†¦ â€Å"And what happens then?† she whispered. â€Å"And then – maybe your luck will change.† Abruptly he stepped back, as if he’d just remembered something, and his tone altered. The moment was over. â€Å"It’s worth a try, don’t you think?† he said lightly. Unable to speak, she nodded. He was teasing now. But he hadn’t been before. â€Å"I’ve got to go. I shouldn’t have stayed this long,† he said. Cassie swallowed. â€Å"You’d better be careful. I think Jordan had a gun – â€Å" â€Å"Wouldn’t surprise me.† He brushed it off, stopping her from saying anything further. â€Å"Don’t worry; I’m leaving the Cape. For now, anyway. I’ll be back; maybe I’ll see you then.† He started to turn. Then he paused one last moment and took her hand again. Cassie was too startled at the feeling of his skin against hers to do anything about it. He turned her hand over and looked at the red marks on her wrist, then brushed them lightly with his fingertips. The steely light was back in his eyes when he looked up. â€Å"And believe me,† he whispered, â€Å"he’ll pay for this someday. I guarantee it.† And then he did something that shocked Cassie more than anything else had during that whole shocking day. He lifted her wounded hand to his lips and kissed it. It was the gentlest, the lightest of touches, and it went through Cassie like fire. She stared at him, dazed and unbelieving, utterly speechless. She could neither move nor think; she could only stand there and feel. And then he was leaving, whistling for the dog, which romped around Cassie in circles before finally breaking away. She was alone, gazing after him, her fingers clenched tightly on the small rough stone in her palm. It was only then she realized she’d never asked him his name. How to cite The Secret Circle: The Initiation Chapter Two, Essay examples

Unicorns Essay Example For Students

Unicorns Essay In ancient Greek and Roman mythology, a mystical creature known as the unicornmade many appearances. As described throughout much of literature, the unicornis reputed to look somewhat like a white horse, although it has a long, twistedhorn protruding from its forehead.1 The earliest description of the unicorn wasby Ctesias (400 BC) (The New Book of Knowledge, Vol. U-V 19: 391). Unicorns havecloven hooves that are somewhat yellow in color; some are said to have alion-like tail. Male unicorns can be distinguished from their femalecounterparts mainly in part of the goat-like beard beneath the chin. Also, thefemales are more elegant and have a slimmer muscle frame. The typical Europeanunicorn has a coat of hair that is pure white, and has eyes that are either deepsea blue or fiery pink. Long and silky strands of white hair hand down from itsmane and forelock. In his book, The Last Unicorn, Peter S. Beagle describes thismythological creature as looking nothing like a horned horse smaller and cloven-hoofed (1). In his book, Beagles unicorn was thecolor of sea foam when it was young; as it aged, its color changedto the color of snow falling on a moonlit night (1). A unicornshorn is white, silver, or golden in color, is about two to three feet in length,and is said to have special healing powers. Throughout time, there have beenmany varied descriptions of the unicorn. In Asia, for example, mention of theanimal dates back as far as 26 century BC.1 The animal described is far moredifferent than the European unicorn. Rather than looking like a horse, the Asianunicorn, known as the ki-lin, appears more like a dragon, although it hascloved hooves.1 The ki-lins body was made predominately of shimmery fishscales that shone in every color of the rainbow, and its horn was also thoughtto contain magical healing powers.1 The ki-lin is reported to have wanderedthrough the palace of the emperor Huang-ti in 2697 BC, and was honored as theking of all the land animals.1 Of the two, th e European is the more widely knownunicorn, and thus, more information is readily available on that type ofunicorn. In Beagles book, he states that it is their nature to live alonein one place: usually a forest (1). As they are vain creatures, theyprefer to live in solitary places where there is a shallow pool of water nearbywere they can see themselves clearly (Beagle, 1). They normally dwell only intemperate woodlands, away from human activity. They are herbivorous creatures,living mainly off of tender leaves of the forest and its grasses. Althoughunicorns are immortal, they do have enemies and can be killed. Its enemiesinclude the harpy, dragon, and chimera (Beagle, 95). Not much is known about theunicorns reproductive habits, only that it rarely ever mates (Beagle, 1). However, it is believed that when they do, it is for life. As the unicorns hornwas reputed to have mystical healing powers, unicorn hunts were popularthroughout the Middle Ages. Since baby unicorns were almost non-existent, if onecould catch a baby, he was even more richly rewarded. The unicorns horn wasthought to be a healing source. It was claimed to cure many diseases and wardoff many others, such as epilepsy and different stomach illnesses. It was alsobelieved to a neutralizer against poison.3 The horn was continuously soughtafter to be given to apothecaries; they would grind up the horn to make a poisonneutralizing powder. Also, the horn was said to bleed if poison was brought nearit.3 For these reasons, over 40,000 gold pieces were offered for the horn of aunicorn (which almost always turned out to be the horn of the narwhal, orunicorn of the sea). Although it was a healer of wounds, the unicornwas a ruthless, savage fighter when cornered. She had killed dragons withit , and he aled a king whose poisoned wound would not close(Beagle, 1). Beagle clearly shows that the unicorns horn was its means ofprotection, as well as its healing strength. He clearly emphasizes the extremechange in the unicorns temperate, going from killer to healer. In ancient Greekand Roman myths, unicorns were an emblem of purity. As such, they were placedamong virgin saints whenever they were mentioned in a myth.2 In medieval societyas well, the unicorn was a symbol of purity and innocence. It was fabled that aunicorn would only allow an untouched person of pure heart to touchit. From this came the tradition a princess bride-to-be would have to go throughin order to marry. Before a prince and a princess could be married, the princesswould have to go into the forest in search of a unicorn. The princess would havea bridle of gold waiting, and would call softly to the unicorn to come and layits head on her lap (Beagle, 73). In most instances, the princess would waituntil a good amount of time had passed and would then go back to tell them thatshe had satisfied the tradition (Beagle, 73-74). This tradition had come aboutmainly to prove that the young girl about to be married was still pure anduntouched. The unicorn was also revered in society as a symbol of honesty.3 Inthe Middle Ages, many upper-class family crests contained an image of theunicorn for this reason. The unicorns counterpart was the lion, as they wereboth considered king of all animals.3 In many cases, both the unicorn and lionwere placed on the crests as symbols of honesty, purity, and strength. In time,the unicorn came to be seen as an emblem of the spring season, and the lionstood for summer.3 As the unicorn was a symbol of chastity and purity, it wasclaimed that it could only be captured by a virgins touch.3 Because of this, avirgin was almost always included in the unicorn hunts that were organized. Macbeth - The Breaking Ball of Clay EssayBibliographyUnicorns. Http://www.geocities.com/Area51/Shadowlands/1272/unicorn.html. March 11, 2000. Unicorn Myths and Legends. Http://members.tripod.com/%7Ewaterdragon/origins.html. March 11, 2000. Origins of the Unicorn. Http://stud-www.uni-marbug.de/~Vigier/unicorn.html. March 14, 2000 Beagle, Peter S. The Last Unicorn. New York: Penguin Publishing,1991 Unicorns. The New Book of Knowledge, Volume U-V 19. GrolierIncorporated, 1982.