| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from Rasselas, Prince of Abyssinia by Samuel Johnson: their narratives and descriptions, that very little could be
learned from them. But it was evident that their hearts were
cankered with discontent; that they considered themselves as
condemned to labour for the luxury of the rich, and looked up with
stupid malevolence towards those that were placed above them.
The Princess pronounced with vehemence that she would never suffer
these envious savages to be her companions, and that she should not
soon be desirous of seeing any more specimens of rustic happiness;
but could not believe that all the accounts of primeval pleasures
were fabulous, and was in doubt whether life had anything that
could be justly preferred to the placid gratification of fields and
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The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from Persuasion by Jane Austen: nor could the valet of any new made lord be more delighted with
the place he held in society. He considered the blessing of beauty
as inferior only to the blessing of a baronetcy; and the Sir Walter Elliot,
who united these gifts, was the constant object of his warmest respect
and devotion.
His good looks and his rank had one fair claim on his attachment;
since to them he must have owed a wife of very superior character
to any thing deserved by his own. Lady Elliot had been an excellent woman,
sensible and amiable; whose judgement and conduct, if they might be
pardoned the youthful infatuation which made her Lady Elliot,
had never required indulgence afterwards.--She had humoured,
Persuasion |
The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from Enemies of Books by William Blades: the top shelf containing Caxtons and other early English books,
one of which, although rotten, was sold soon after by permission
of the Charity Commissioners for L200.
Germany, too, the very birth-place of Printing, allows similar destruction
to go on unchecked, if the following letter, which appeared about a Year ago
(1879) in the _Academy_ has any truth in it:--
"For some time past the condition of the library at Wolfenbuttel
has been most disgraceful. The building is in so unsafe a
condition that portions of the walls and ceilings have fallen in,
and the many treasures in Books and MSS. contained in it are
exposed to damp and decay. An appeal has been issued that this
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