| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from The Lesson of the Master by Henry James: us," the stranger continued as they went; "we're just sitting here
- it's so jolly." Overt pronounced it jolly indeed: it was such a
lovely place. He mentioned that he was having the charming
impression for the first time.
"Ah you've not been here before?" said his companion. "It's a nice
little place - not much to DO, you know". Overt wondered what he
wanted to "do" - he felt that he himself was doing so much. By the
time they came to where the others sat he had recognised his
initiator for a military man and - such was the turn of Overt's
imagination - had found him thus still more sympathetic. He would
naturally have a need for action, for deeds at variance with the
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The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from The Soul of the Far East by Percival Lowell: the land he tills is vested absolutely in the family, of which he is
an undivided thirtieth, or what-not. Even the administration of the
property is not his, but resides in the family, represented by its
head. The outward symbols of ownership testify to the fact.
The bourns that mark the boundaries of the fields bear the names of
families, not of individuals. The family, as such, is the proprietor,
and its lands are cultivated and enjoyed in common by all the
constituents of the clan. In the tenure of its real estate, the
Chinese family much resembles the Russian Mir. But so far as his
personal state is concerned, the Chinese son outslaves the Slav.
For he lives at home, under the immediate control of the paternal
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The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from Island Nights' Entertainments by Robert Louis Stevenson: that took the curse upon his soul. It is for my sake, and for the
love of a creature of so little worth and such poor help, that he
now beholds so close to him the flames of hell - ay, and smells the
smoke of it, lying without there in the wind and moonlight. Am I
so dull of spirit that never till now I have surmised my duty, or
have I seen it before and turned aside? But now, at least, I take
up my soul in both the hands of my affection; now I say farewell to
the white steps of heaven and the waiting faces of my friends. A
love for a love, and let mine be equalled with Keawe's! A soul for
a soul, and be it mine to perish!"
She was a deft woman with her hands, and was soon apparelled. She
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