| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from Alcibiades II by Platonic Imitator: and how the 'sweet savour' was borne 'to the heavens by the winds;
'But the blessed Gods were averse and received it not.
For exceedingly did they hate the holy Ilium,
Both Priam and the people of the spear-skilled king.'
So that it was in vain for them to sacrifice and offer gifts, seeing that
they were hateful to the Gods, who are not, like vile usurers, to be gained
over by bribes. And it is foolish for us to boast that we are superior to
the Lacedaemonians by reason of our much worship. The idea is
inconceivable that the Gods have regard, not to the justice and purity of
our souls, but to costly processions and sacrifices, which men may
celebrate year after year, although they have committed innumerable crimes
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The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from Little Rivers by Henry van Dyke: the river was crowded with brave women and fair men, in gorgeous
raiment; the hotels were overflowing; and there were various kinds
of music and entertainments at all hours of day and night. But all
this did not seem to affect the fishing.
The landlord of the Konigin Elizabeth, who is also the Burgomaster
and a gentleman of varied accomplishments and no leisure, kindly
furnished me with a fishing license in the shape of a large pink
card. There were many rules printed upon it: "All fishes under
nine inches must be gently restored to the water. No instrument of
capture must be used except the angle in the hand. The card of
legitimation must be produced and exhibited at the polite request
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The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from The Crisis in Russia by Arthur Ransome: output of engines could be not more than1,800 annually.
At this rate in ten years the Russians could restore their
collection of engines to something like adequate numbers.
Today, thirty years would be an inadequate estimate, for
some factories, like the Votkinsky, have been purposely
ruined by the Whites, in others the lathes and other
machinery for building and repairing locomotives are worn
out, many of the skilled engineers were killed in the war with
Germany, many others in defending the revolution, and it
will be long before it will be possible to restore to the
workmen or to the factories the favorable material
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