| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from Democracy In America, Volume 1 by Alexis de Toqueville: and the wars of the English decimated the nobles and divided
their possessions; the erection of communities introduced an
element of democratic liberty into the bosom of feudal monarchy;
the invention of fire-arms equalized the villein and the noble on
the field of battle; printing opened the same resources to the
minds of all classes; the post was organized so as to bring the
same information to the door of the poor man's cottage and to the
gate of the palace; and Protestantism proclaimed that all men are
alike able to find the road to heaven. The discovery of America
offered a thousand new paths to fortune, and placed riches and
power within the reach of the adventurous and the obscure. If we
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The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from The American by Henry James: morning twilight, at the station indicated in Valentin's telegram.
A drowsy station-master was on the platform with a lantern, and the hood
of his overcoat over his head, and near him stood a gentleman who advanced
to meet Newman. This personage was a man of forty, with a tall lean figure,
a sallow face, a dark eye, a neat mustache, and a pair of fresh gloves.
He took off his hat, looking very grave, and pronounced Newman's name.
Our hero assented and said, "You are M. de Bellegarde's friend?"
"I unite with you in claiming that sad honor," said the gentleman.
"I had placed myself at M. de Bellegarde's service in this melancholy
affair, together with M. de Grosjoyaux, who is now at his bedside.
M. de Grosjoyaux, I believe, has had the honor of meeting you in Paris,
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The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle: at high tide with at least four and a half feet of water. The
bedroom window was a broad one and opened from below. On
examination traces of blood were to be seen upon the windowsill,
and several scattered drops were visible upon the wooden floor of
the bedroom. Thrust away behind a curtain in the front room were
all the clothes of Mr. Neville St. Clair, with the exception of
his coat. His boots, his socks, his hat, and his watch--all were
there. There were no signs of violence upon any of these
garments, and there were no other traces of Mr. Neville St.
Clair. Out of the window he must apparently have gone for no
other exit could be discovered, and the ominous bloodstains upon
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes |
