| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from A Legend of Montrose by Walter Scott: Captain Dalgetty," said his host, somewhat sternly; to which the
clergyman added, "that such discourse better befitted a watch-
tower guarded by profane soldiery than the board of an honourable
person, and the presence of a lady of quality."
"Craving your pardon, Dominie, or Doctor, AUT QUOCUNQUE ALIO
NOMINE GAUDES, for I would have you to know I have studied polite
letters," said the unabashed envoy, filling a great cup of wine,
"I see no ground for your reproof, seeing I did not speak of
those TURPES PERSONAE, as if their occupation or character was a
proper subject of conversation for this lady's presence, but
simply PAR ACCIDENS, as illustrating the matter in hand, namely,
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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: Winthrop, however, or its environs--for young men are, sometimes
to be met with, strolling about near home--was their destination;
and after another half mile of gradual ascent through large enclosures,
where the ploughs at work, and the fresh made path spoke the farmer
counteracting the sweets of poetical despondence, and meaning
to have spring again, they gained the summit of the most considerable hill,
which parted Uppercross and Winthrop, and soon commanded a full view
of the latter, at the foot of the hill on the other side.
Winthrop, without beauty and without dignity, was stretched before them
an indifferent house, standing low, and hemmed in by the barns and
buildings of a farm-yard.
Persuasion |
The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from A Straight Deal by Owen Wister: one of our Americans who marched through London streets on that day when
the eyes of London looked for the first time upon the Yankees at last
arrived to bear a hand to England and her Allies. From the mob came a
certain taunt: "You silly ass."
It was, as you will observe, an unflattering interpretation of our
national initials, U. S. A. Of course it was enough to make a proper
American doughboy entirely "hot under the collar." To this reading of our
national initials our national readiness retorted in kind at an early
date: A. E. F. meant After England Failed. But why, months and months
afterwards, when everything was over, did that foolish doughboy in the
hospital hug this lone thing to his memory? It was the act of an
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