| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from The New Machiavelli by H. G. Wells: conservatism which works in every class to preserve in its
essentials the habitual daily life is all against a profounder
treatment of political issues. The politician, almost as absurdly
as the philosopher, tends constantly, in spite of magnificent
preludes, vast intimations, to specialise himself out of the reality
he has so stupendously summoned--he bolts back to littleness. The
world has to be moulded anew, he continues to admit, but without, he
adds, any risk of upsetting his week-end visits, his morning cup of
tea. . . .
The discussion of the relations of men and women disturbs every one.
It reacts upon the private life of every one who attempts it. And
|
The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from Court Life in China by Isaac Taylor Headland: observation in case we came into the presence of the Boxers. We
confided our plans to a couple of the women servants whom we
could trust, and asked them to procure proper outfits for us.
They did so, and oh! what dirty old rags they were. The servants
wept as they took off and folded up my silk garments and clad me
in this beggar's garb."
"But your skin is so soft and fair, not at all like the skin of a
woman exposed to the sun; and your black, shiny hair is not at
all rusty and dirty like the hair of a beggar woman. I should
think these facts would have caused your detection," I urged.
"That was easily remedied. We stained our faces, necks, hands and
|
The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from Kidnapped by Robert Louis Stevenson: mine, but as if by compulsion, that I walked right up to the
table and put my hand on his shoulder.
"Do ye want to be killed?" said I. He sprang to his feet, and
looked a question at me as clear as if he had spoken.
"O!" cried I, "they're all murderers here; it's a ship full of
them! They've murdered a boy already. Now it's you."
"Ay, ay" said he; "but they have n't got me yet." And then
looking at me curiously, "Will ye stand with me?"
"That will I!" said I. "I am no thief, nor yet murderer. I'll
stand by you."
"Why, then," said he, "what's your name?"
Kidnapped |
