| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from The Wrong Box by Stevenson & Osbourne: of the departure platform, and at the western extremity became
aware of a slender figure standing back against a pillar. The
figure was plainly sunk into a deep abstraction; he was not aware
of their approach, but gazed far abroad over the sunlit station.
Michael stopped.
'Holloa!' said he, 'can that be your advertiser? If so, I'm done
with it.' And then, on second thoughts: 'Not so, either,' he
resumed more cheerfully. 'Here, turn your back a moment. So. Give
me the specs.'
'But you agreed I was to have them,' protested Pitman.
'Ah, but that man knows me,' said Michael.
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The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from Miracle Mongers and Their Methods by Harry Houdini: showmanship is the largest factor in putting
an act over. Miss Price was a marvelous
performer, but without her husband-lecturer she
was no longer a drawing card, and dropped
to the level of an ordinary entertainer even
lower, for her act was no longer even entertaining.
In Chapter Eleven we read Dr. Desaguliers'
analysis of the mechanics of what may be
called strongmanship. Similar investigations
have attended the appearance of more recent
performers.
Miracle Mongers and Their Methods |
The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from Russia in 1919 by Arthur Ransome: one of the women, but was so discomfited when she
removed her shawl and he recognized her as his hostess at a
house where he had been billeted as a soldier that he
hurriedly let her go. The extraordinary parliament between
the rich men of the town and their wives and friends, like a
crowd of hoodie crows, chattering outside the window,
continued until dark.
Next day the workmen from the tannery came to the
militia-house and explained that "Uncle" had really
ceased to be a member of the propertied classes,
that he was necessary to them as president of their soviet,
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