| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from A Distinguished Provincial at Paris by Honore de Balzac: this rough-and-ready practical aspect of literature made an impression
upon him.
In the Rue du Coq he stopped in front of a modest-looking shop, which
he had passed before. He saw the inscription DOGUEREAU, BOOKSELLER,
painted above it in yellow letters on a green ground, and remembered
that he had seen the name at the foot of the title-page of several
novels at Blosse's reading-room. In he went, not without the inward
trepidation which a man of any imagination feels at the prospect of a
battle. Inside the shop he discovered an odd-looking old man, one of
the queer characters of the trade in the days of the Empire.
Doguereau wore a black coat with vast square skirts, when fashion
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The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from The Outlaw of Torn by Edgar Rice Burroughs: many dim corridors the lackey led them, and up wind-
ing stairways until presently he stopped before a low
door.
"Here," he said, "My Lord," and turning left them.
Norman of Torn touched the panel with the mailed
knuckles of his right hand, and a low voice from within
whispered, "Enter."
Silently he strode into the apartment, a small ante-
chamber off a large hall. At one end was an open
hearth upon which logs were burning brightly, while
a single lamp aided in diffusing a soft glow about the
The Outlaw of Torn |
The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from The Deputy of Arcis by Honore de Balzac: that that is making me rather juvenile? I feel an inclination to suck
my thumb and cry for a rattle. However, I shall let myself go with the
current that is bearing me along, and, notwithstanding the news of
your coming arrival, after paying a visit to the Brothers Mongenod, I
shall valiantly start, imagining the stupefaction of the good people
of Arcis on seeing another candidate pop up in their midst like a
Jack-in-the-box.
In Paris I have already fired my gun. The "National" has announced my
candidacy in the warmest terms; and it seems that this evening, in the
house of the Minister of the Interior, where Monsieur de l'Estorade
was dining, I was discussed at some length. I ought to add that,
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