| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from Enemies of Books by William Blades: might nevertheless be written. This I will leave, and will now
only place on record some of the cruelties perpetrated upon books
by the ignorance or carelessness of binders.
Like men, books have a soul and body. With the soul, or literary portion,
we have nothing to do at present; the body, which is the outer
frame or covering, and without which the inner would be unusable,
is the special work of the binder. He, so to speak, begets it;
he determines its form and adornment, he doctors it in disease
and decay, and, not unseldom, dissects it after death.
Here, too, as through all Nature, we find the good and bad running
side by side. What a treat it is to handle a well-bound volume;
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The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from The Bickerstaff-Partridge Papers by Jonathan Swift: credibly informed, were open'd in the post-office and never sent
me. 'Tis true the Inquisition in Portugal was pleased to burn my
predictions, and condem the author and readers of them; but I
hope at the same time, it will be consider'd in how deplorable a
state learning lies at present in that kingdom: And with the
profoundest veneration for crown'd heads, I will presume to add,
that it a little concerned His Majesty of Portugal, to interpose
his authority in behalf of a scholar and a gentleman, the subject
of a nation with which he is now in so strict an alliance. But
the other kingdoms and states of Europe have treated me with more
candor and generosity. If I had leave to print the Latin letters
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The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from Early Short Fiction of Edith Wharton by Edith Wharton: Miss Van Vluyck, without answering, continued her silent
scrutiny.
"Well, what IS it?" exclaimed Laura Glyde excitedly.
"DO tell us!" urged Mrs. Leveret, feeling that she would have
something awful to tell her sister.
Miss Van Vluyck pushed the volume aside and turned slowly toward
the expectant group.
"It's a river."
"A RIVER?"
"Yes: in Brazil. Isn't that where she's been living?"
"Who? Fanny Roby? Oh, but you must be mistaken. You've been
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