| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from The Firm of Nucingen by Honore de Balzac: knew at once with whom we had to do--four bold cormorants as ever
sprang from the foam on the crests of the ever-rising waves of this
present generation--four pleasant young fellows whose existence was
problematical, since they were not known to possess either stock or
landed estates, yet they lived, and lived well. These ingenious
condottieri of a modern industrialism, that has come to be the most
ruthless of all warfares, leave anxieties to their creditors, and keep
the pleasures for themselves. They are careful for nothing, save
dress. Still with the courage of the Jean Bart order, that will smoke
cigars on a barrel of powder (perhaps by way of keeping up their
character), with a quizzing humor that outdoes the minor newspapers,
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The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from Within the Tides by Joseph Conrad: seems to him that if he were to take his eyes off her she would
fall to pieces. And then the men - a scared lot by this time - if
he were to leave them by themselves they would attempt to launch
one of the ship's boats in a panic at some heavier thump - and then
some of them bound to get drowned. . . There are two or three boxes
of matches about my shelves in my cabin if you want a light, says
Captain Harry. Only wipe your wet hands before you begin to feel
for them. . .
"Cloete doesn't like the job, but doesn't like to show funk, either
- and he goes. Lots of water on the main-deck, and he splashes
along; it was getting dark, too. All at once, by the mainmast,
Within the Tides |
The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from Cousin Pons by Honore de Balzac: and in that way I became possessed of the cottage that your uncle
built, and I hope you will do us the honor of coming to see us there."
Gaudissart's theatre passed into other hands a year ago, but M.
Topinard is still the cashier. M. Topinard, however, has grown gloomy
and misanthropic; he says little. People think that he has something
on his conscience. Wags at the theatre suggest that his gloom dates
from his marriage with Lolotte. Honest Topinard starts whenever he
hears Fraisier's name mentioned. Some people may think it strange that
the one nature worthy of Pons and Schmucke should be found on the
third floor beneath the stage of a boulevard theatre.
Mme. Remonencq, much impressed with Mme. Fontaine's prediction,
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