| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from Enemies of Books by William Blades: Indeed, I beg to state to you the amazing fact that here in Holland exists an
Ultramontane Society called `Old Paper,'which is under the sanction of the six
Catholic Bishops of the Netherlands, and is spread over the whole kingdom.
The openly-avowed object of this Society is to buy up and to destroy
as waste paper all the Protestant and Liberal Catholic newspapers,
pamphlets and books, the price of which is offered to the Pope as
`Deniers de St. Pierre.' Of course, this Society is very little known
among Protestants, and many have denied even its existence; but I have been
fortunate enough to obtain a printed circular issued by one of the Bishops
containing statistics of the astounding mass of paper thus collected.
producing in one district alone the sum of L1,200 in three months. I need
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The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from The Crowd by Gustave le Bon: according belief to the testimony of crowds--The unanimity of
numerous witnesses is one of the worst proofs that can be invoked
to establish a fact--The slight value of works of history.
3. THE EXAGGERATION AND INGENUOUSNESS OF THE SENTIMENTS OF
CROWDS. Crowds do not admit doubt or uncertainty, and always go
to extremes--Their sentiments always excessive. 4. THE
INTOLERANCE, DICTATORIALNESS, AND CONSERVATISM OF CROWDS. The
reasons of these sentiments--The servility of crowds in the face
of a strong authority--The momentary revolutionary instincts of
crowds do not prevent them from being extremely
conservative--Crowds instinctively hostile to changes and
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The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from Mansfield Park by Jane Austen: without a fire. You are not strong. You are chilly.
Your aunt cannot be aware of this."
Fanny would rather have been silent; but being obliged
to speak, she could not forbear, in justice to the aunt
she loved best, from saying something in which the words
"my aunt Norris" were distinguishable.
"I understand," cried her uncle, recollecting himself,
and not wanting to hear more: "I understand. Your aunt
Norris has always been an advocate, and very judiciously,
for young people's being brought up without unnecessary
indulgences; but there should be moderation in everything.
Mansfield Park |
