| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from On the Origin of Species by Charles Darwin: connexion of the several parts. If we suppose that the ancient progenitor,
the archetype as it may be called, of all mammals, had its limbs
constructed on the existing general pattern, for whatever purpose they
served, we can at once perceive the plain signification of the homologous
construction of the limbs throughout the whole class. So with the mouths
of insects, we have only to suppose that their common progenitor had an
upper lip, mandibles, and two pair of maxillae, these parts being perhaps
very simple in form; and then natural selection will account for the
infinite diversity in structure and function of the mouths of insects.
Nevertheless, it is conceivable that the general pattern of an organ might
become so much obscured as to be finally lost, by the atrophy and
On the Origin of Species |
The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from The Pupil by Henry James: facts so vivid and so droll, and at the same time so bald and so
ugly, that there was fascination in talking them over with him,
just as there would have been heartlessness in leaving him alone
with them. Now that the pair had such perceptions in common it was
useless for them to pretend they didn't judge such people; but the
very judgement and the exchange of perceptions created another tie.
Morgan had never been so interesting as now that he himself was
made plainer by the sidelight of these confidences. What came out
in it most was the small fine passion of his pride. He had plenty
of that, Pemberton felt - so much that one might perhaps wisely
wish for it some early bruises. He would have liked his people to
|
The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from The Young Forester by Zane Grey: rocky cleft. Huge stones blocked the way. A ragged growth of underbrush
fringed the stream. Dead pines, with branches like spears, lay along the
trail.
We came upon a little clearing, where there was a rude log-cabin with a
stone chimney. Skins of animals were tacked upon logs. Under the bank was a
spring. The mountain overshadowed this wild nook.
"Wal, youngster, here's my shack. Make yourself to home," said Hiram Bent.
I was all eyes as we entered the cabin. Skins, large and small, and of many
colors, hung upon the walls. A fire burned in a wide stone grate. A rough
table and some pans and cooking utensils showed evidence of recent
scouring. A bunch of steel traps lay in a corner. Upon a shelf were tin
The Young Forester |
