| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from Court Life in China by Isaac Taylor Headland: have received the command of Tze-hsi, etc., the Great Empress
Dowager to enter on the succession as Emperor. We lamented to
Earth and Heaven. We stretched out our hands, wailing our
insufficiency. Prostrate we reflect on how the late Emperor
occupied the Imperial Throne for thirty-four years, reverently
following the customs of his ancestors, receiving the gracious
instruction of the Empress Dowager, exerting himself to the
utmost, not failing one day to revere Heaven and observe the laws
of his ancestors, devoting himself with diligence to the affairs
of government and loving the people, appointing the virtuous to
office, changing the laws of the land to make the country
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The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from The $30,000 Bequest and Other Stories by Mark Twain: of the candles and shows; and next she naturally changed to Rome,
where there were cardinals and more candles. But these excursions
were a nothing to Sally's. His dream life was a glowing and continuous
and persistent excitement, and he kept every part of it fresh and
sparkling by frequent changes, the religious part along with the rest.
He worked his religions hard, and changed them with his shirt.
The liberal spendings of the Fosters upon their fancies began
early in their prosperities, and grew in prodigality step by step
with their advancing fortunes. In time they became truly enormous.
Aleck built a university or two per Sunday; also a hospital or two;
also a Rowton hotel or so; also a batch of churches; now and then
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The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from The War in the Air by H. G. Wells: caulking. We couldn't see a thing outside except the lightning
flashes. I never saw one of those American aeroplanes. Just saw
the shots flicker through the chambers and sent off men for the
tears. We caught fire a bit--not much, you know. We were too
wet, so the fires spluttered out before we banged. And then one
of their infernal things dropped out of the air on us and rammed.
Didn't you feel it?"
"I felt everything," said Bert. "I didn't notice any particular
smash--"
"They must have been pretty desperate if they meant it. They
slashed down on us like a knife; simply ripped the after
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