| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from Babbitt by Sinclair Lewis: robustness, that they seemed to be cousins, and the strange thing is that the
longer one knew the women, the less alike they seemed; while the longer one
knew the men, the more alike their bold patterns appeared.
The drinking of the cocktails was as canonical a rite as the mixing. The
company waited, uneasily, hopefully, agreeing in a strained manner that the
weather had been rather warm and slightly cold, but still Babbitt said nothing
about drinks. They became despondent. But when the late couple (the Swansons)
had arrived, Babbitt hinted, "Well, folks, do you think you could stand
breaking the law a little?"
They looked at Chum Frink, the recognized lord of language. Frink pulled at
his eye-glass cord as at a bell-rope, he cleared his throat and said that
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The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from The Kreutzer Sonata by Leo Tolstoy: resort to outside debauchery, or separate from their wives, or
kill themselves, or kill their wives as I did. If there is any
one in my case to whom this does not happen, he is a very rare
exception, for, before ending as I ended, I was several times on
the point of suicide, and my wife made several attempts to poison
herself.
CHAPTER XX.
"In order that you may understand me, I must tell you how this
happened. We were living along, and all seemed well. Suddenly
we began to talk of the children's education. I do not remember
The Kreutzer Sonata |
The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from Little Women by Louisa May Alcott: of the friendly human hand comforted her sore heart, and seemed to
lead her nearer to the Divine arm which alone could uphold her in
her trouble.
Laurie longed to say something tender and comfortable, but no
fitting words came to him, so he stood silent, gently stroking her
bent head as her mother used to do. It was the best thing he could
have done, far more soothing than the most eloquent words, for Jo
felt the unspoken sympathy, and in the silence learned the sweet
solace which affection administers to sorrow. Soon she dried the
tears which had relieved her, and looked up with a grateful face.
"Thank you, Teddy, I'm better now. I don't feel so forlorn,
Little Women |
