| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from Another Study of Woman by Honore de Balzac: most famous. Ingenious repartee, acute remarks, admirable banter,
pictures sketched with brilliant precision, all sparkled and flowed
without elaboration, were poured out without disdain, but without
effort, and were exquisitely expressed and delicately appreciated. The
men of the world especially were conspicuous for their really artistic
grace and spirit.
Elsewhere in Europe you will find elegant manners, cordiality, genial
fellowship, and knowledge; but only in Paris, in this drawing-room,
and those to which I have alluded, does the particular wit abound
which gives an agreeable and changeful unity to all these social
qualities, an indescribable river-like flow which makes this profusion
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The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from Polly of the Circus by Margaret Mayo: still a-hanging on. No wonder folks are talking."
"Who's talking?" thundered Strong.
"Didn't you know?" simpered Mrs. Willoughby, not knowing herself
nor caring, so long as the suspicion grew.
"Know what?" yelled the excited deacon. Mrs. Willoughby
floundered. Miss Perkins rushed into the breach.
"Well, if _I_ was deacon of this church, it seems to me I'd know
something about what's going on in it."
"What IS goin' on?" shrieked the now desperate deacon.
The women looked at him pityingly, exchanged knowing glances,
then shook their heads at his hopeless stupidity.
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The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from Ten Years Later by Alexandre Dumas: Raoul's voice trembled as he pronounced these words. Athos,
a sovereign judge in all matters of delicacy, immediately
added, "Raoul, you answer with a painful feeling; you are
unhappy."
"Very, monsieur; you have forbidden me to go to Blois, or to
see Mademoiselle de la Valliere again." Here the young man
stopped. That dear name, so delightful to pronounce, made
his heart bleed, although so sweet upon his lips.
"And I have acted rightly, Raoul," Athos hastened to reply.
"I am neither an unjust nor a barbarous father; I respect
true love; but I look forward for you to a future -- an
Ten Years Later |
