| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from A Modest Proposal by Jonathan Swift: supply'd by the bodies of young lads and maidens, not exceeding
fourteen years of age, nor under twelve; so great a number of
both sexes in every country being now ready to starve for want of
work and service: And these to be disposed of by their parents if
alive, or otherwise by their nearest relations. But with due
deference to so excellent a friend, and so deserving a patriot, I
cannot be altogether in his sentiments; for as to the males, my
American acquaintance assured me from frequent experience, that
their flesh was generally tough and lean, like that of our
school-boys, by continual exercise, and their taste disagreeable,
and to fatten them would not answer the charge. Then as to the
A Modest Proposal |
The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from Amy Foster by Joseph Conrad: ers behave very queerly to women sometimes. And
perhaps he would want to carry her off somewhere
--or run off himself. It was not safe. He
preached it to his daughter that the fellow might
ill-use her in some way. She made no answer. It
was, they said in the village, as if the man had done
something to her. People discussed the matter. It
was quite an excitement, and the two went on
'walking out' together in the face of opposition.
Then something unexpected happened.
"I don't know whether old Swaffer ever under-
Amy Foster |
The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from Father Damien by Robert Louis Stevenson: first missionaries came; they found the land already self-purged of
its old and bloody faith; they were embraced, almost on their
arrival, with enthusiasm; what troubles they supported came far
more from whites than from Hawaiins; and to these last they stood
(in a rough figure) in the shoes of God. This is not the place to
enter into the degree or causes of their failure, such as it is.
One element alone is pertinent, and must here be plainly dealt
with. In the course of their evangelical calling, they - or too
many of them - grew rich. It may be news to you that the houses of
missionaries are a cause of mocking on the streets of Honolulu. It
will at least be news to you, that when I returned your civil
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