| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from The Deputy of Arcis by Honore de Balzac: Phileas as a public man produced in its way the disagreeable effect
that discordant instruments produce upon the ear. If it be true that
no man is a prophet in his own country, he is often even less so in
his own family. Still, the first impression once passed, Grevin would
doubtless acclimatize himself to the idea of an expedient which would
chime in with the plans he had already made for Severine's future.
Besides, for the safety of Gondreville's interests, so seriously
threatened, what sacrifice of his own opinion would the old notary not
have made?
With the legitimist and the republican parties who could have no
weight in the election, except that of increasing a majority, the
|
The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from A Straight Deal by Owen Wister: breaking away from her in spite of the extremely light rein she was
driving us with, rested in reality upon very slender justification. If
ever our authors read of the meeting between Franklin, Rutledge, and
Adams with General Howe, after the Battle of Long Island, I think they
may have felt that we had almost no grievance at all. The plain truth of
it was, we had been allowed for so long to be so nearly free that we
determined to be free entirely, no matter what England conceded.
Therefore these authors of our school textbooks felt that they needed to
bolster our cause up for the benefit of the young. Accordingly our boys'
and girls' sense of independence and patriotism must be nourished by
making England out a far greater oppressor than ever she really had been.
|
The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from The Vicar of Tours by Honore de Balzac: Madame de Listomere two notes of invitation for the services and for
the funeral procession of his friend; one for herself and one for her
nephew.
"We must go," she said.
"It can't be helped," said Monsieur de Bourbonne. "It is a test to
which Troubert puts you. Baron, you must go to the cemetery," he
added, turning to the lieutenant, who, unluckily for him, had not left
Tours.
The services took place, and were performed with unusual
ecclesiastical magnificence. Only one person wept, and that was
Birotteau, who, kneeling in a side chapel and seen by none, believed
|