| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from Chance by Joseph Conrad: you say about him. I haven't been with him for seven years, but I
know he isn't the sort of man that takes to drink. And then--why
the devil should he?"
"Why the devil, you ask. Devil--eh? Well, no man is safe from the
devil--and that's answer enough for you," wheezed Mr. Franklin not
unkindly. "There was a time, a long time ago, when I nearly took to
drink myself. What do you say to that?"
Mr. Powell expressed a polite incredulity. The thick, congested
mate seemed on the point of bursting with despondency. "That was
bad example though. I was young and fell into dangerous company,
made a fool of myself--yes, as true as you see me sitting here.
Chance |
The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from Youth by Joseph Conrad: "Someone had the sense to look over, and there was
the helmsman, who had impulsively jumped overboard,
anxious to come back. He yelled and swam lustily like
a merman, keeping up with the ship. We threw him a
rope, and presently he stood amongst us streaming with
water and very crest-fallen. The captain had surren-
dered the wheel, and apart, elbow on rail and chin in
hand, gazed at the sea wistfully. We asked ourselves,
What next? I thought, Now, this is something like.
This is great. I wonder what will happen. O youth!
"Suddenly Mahon sighted a steamer far astern. Cap-
Youth |
The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from Extracts From Adam's Diary by Mark Twain: She says this park would make a tidy summer resort, if there was
any custom for it. Summer resort--another invention of hers--just
words, without any meaning. What is a summer resort? But it is
best not to ask her, she has such a rage for explaining.
Friday
She has taken to beseeching me to stop going over the Falls. What
harm does it do? Says it makes her shudder. I wonder why. I have
always done it--always liked the plunge, and the excitement, and
the coolness. I supposed it was what the Falls were for. They
have no other use that I can see, and they must have been made for
something. She says they were only made for scenery--like the
|
