| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from Pierre Grassou by Honore de Balzac: That exclamation of "poor dear man!" counted for half in the support
and the congratulations which the painter received. Pity sets up
mediocrities as envy pulls down great talents, and in equal numbers.
The newspapers, it is true, did not spare criticism, but the chevalier
Fougeres digested them as he had digested the counsel of his friends,
with angelic patience.
Possessing, by this time, fifteen thousand francs, laboriously earned,
he furnished an apartment and studio in the rue de Navarin, and
painted the picture ordered by Monseigneur the Dauphin, also the two
church pictures, and delivered them at the time agreed on, with a
punctuality that was very discomforting to the exchequer of the
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The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from A Horse's Tale by Mark Twain: few months back?"
"Yes, this is Mongrel - and not a half-bad horse, either."
"I've noticed he keeps up his lick first-rate. Say - isn't it a
gaudy morning?"
"Right you are!"
"Thorndike, it's Andalusian! and when that's said, all's said."
"Andalusian AND Oregonian, Antonio! Put it that way, and you have
my vote. Being a native up there, I know. You being Andalusian-
born - "
"Can speak with authority for that patch of paradise? Well, I can.
Like the Don! like Sancho! This is the correct Andalusian dawn now
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The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from A Start in Life by Honore de Balzac: figure, two light and eager eyes, fair hair plastered down upon an
anxious forehead, a small drawn-bonnet of faded green taffetas lined
with pink, a white gown with violet spots, and leather shoes. The
count recognized the wife of some poor, half-pay captain, a puritan,
subscribing no doubt to the "Courrier Francais," earnest in virtue,
but aware of the comfort of a good situation and eagerly coveting it.
"You say your husband has a pension of six hundred francs," he said,
replying to his own thoughts, and not to the remark Madame de Reybert
had just made.
"Yes, monsieur."
"You were born a Corroy?"
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