Quick Excerpts, from a Library of 492 Titles

Generated 2022-07-28 13:25:36

Excerpt #1, from A System of Logic, Ratiocinative and Inductive, by John Stuart Mill

…production of the consequent; and the statement of the cause is incomplete, unless in some shape or other we introduce them all. A man takes mercury, goes out-of-doors, and catches cold. We say, perhaps, that the cause of his taking cold was exposure to the air. It is clear, however, that his having taken mercury may have been a necessary condition of his catching cold; and though it might consist with usage to say that the cause of his attack was exposure to the air, to be accurate we ought to say that the cause was exposure to the air while under the effect of mercury. If we do not, when aiming at accuracy, enumerate all the conditions, it is only because some of them will in most cases be understood without being expressed, or because for the purpose in view they may without detriment be overlooked. For example, when we say, the cause of a man’s death was that his foot slipped in climbing a ladder, we omit as a thing unnecessary to be stated the circumstance of his weight, though quite as indispensable a condition of the effect which took place. When we say that the assent of the crown to a bill makes it law, we mean that the assent, being never given until all the other conditions are fulfilled, makes up the sum of the conditions, though no one now regards it as the principal one. When the decision of a legislative assembly has been determined by the casting vote of the chairman, we sometimes say that this one person was the cause…

More: Read or Listen on IA →

Excerpt #2, from Thrilling Narratives of Mutiny, Murder and Piracy, by Anonymous

…their only hope, deplored their perilous state, and concluded with these words; “if any of you survive this fatal night, and return to Jamaica, tell the admiral (Sir Lawrence Halstead) that I was in search of the pirate when this lamentable occurrence took place, tell him I hope I have always done my duty, and that I–” Here the endeavor of some of the men to get into the boat gave her a heel on one side; the men who were supporting poor Smith relinquished him for a moment, and he rolled overboard and was drowned. His last bubbling cry was soon lost amidst the shrieks of his former companions, he sunk to rise no more. At eight o’clock in the evening the Magpie was upset; it was calculated by the two survivors, that their companions had all died by nine. The sharks seemed satisfied for the moment, and they, with gallant hearts, resolved to profit by the precious time in order to save themselves; they righted the boat, and one getting over the bows, and the other over the stern, they found themselves although nearly exhausted, yet alive, and in comparative security, they began the work of bailing, and soon lightened the boat sufficiently not to be easily upset, when both set down to rest. The return of the sharks was a signal for their return to labor. The voracious monsters endeavored to upset the boat; they swam by its side in seeming anxiety for their…

More: Read or Listen on IA →

Excerpt #3, from Rambles and Recollections of an Indian Official, by William Sleeman

…Tîmûr (Tamerlane) in Hindustan, save Shâh Jahân himself and his four sons. Dârâ was then thirteen years of age, Shujâ twelve, Aurangzêb ten, and Murâd four;[23] and all were present to learn from their father this sad lesson–that such of them who might be alive on his death, save one, must, with their sons, be hunted down and destroyed like mad dogs, lest they might get into the hands of the disaffected, and be made the tools of faction. Monsieur de Thevenot, who visited Agra, as I have before stated, in 1666, says, ‘Some affirm that there are twenty-five thousand Christian families in Agra; but all do not agree in that. The Dutch have a factory in the town, but the English have now none, because it did not turn to account.’ The number must have been great, or so sober a man as Monsieur Thevenot would not have thought such an estimate worthy to be quoted without contradiction.[24] They were all, except those connected with the single Dutch factory, maintained from the salaries of office; and they gradually disappeared as their offices became filled with Muhammadans and Hindoos. The duties of the artillery, its arsenals, and foundries, were the chief foundation upon which the superstructure of Christianity then stood in India. These duties were everywhere entrusted exclusively to Europeans, and all Europeans were Christians, and, under Shâh Jahân, permitted…

More: Read or Listen on IA →

Excerpt #4, from The White Company, by Arthur Conan Doyle

…quivered with excitement. “Sir Nigel Loring of Hampshire, sire.” “Ha! he is a man of good courage, and skilled in the use of all weapons.” “He is indeed, sire. But his eyes, like my own, are the worse for wars. Yet he can tilt or play his part at hand-strokes as merrily as ever. It was he, sire, who won the golden crown which Queen Philippa, your royal mother, gave to be jousted for by all the knights of England after the harrying of Calais. I have heard that at Twynham Castle there is a buffet which groans beneath the weight of his prizes.” “I pray that my vase may join them,” said the prince. “But here is the cavalier of Germany, and by my soul! he looks like a man of great valor and hardiness. Let them run their full three courses, for the issue is over-great to hang upon one.” As the prince spoke, amid a loud flourish of trumpets and the shouting of the Gascon party, the last of the assailants rode gallantly into the lists. He was a man of great size, clad in black armor without blazonry or ornament of any kind, for all worldly display was forbidden by the rules of the military brotherhood to which he belonged. No plume or nobloy fluttered from his plain tilting salade, and even his lance was devoid of the customary banderole. A white mantle fluttered behind him,…

More: Read or Listen on IA →

Excerpt #5, from The Wonders of Life: A Popular Study of Biological Philosophy, by Ernst Haeckel

…forms and functions, when we have a sociological knowledge of the various classes that compose it, and the laws of their association and division of labor; and when we have made an anthropological study of the nature of the persons who have united, under the same laws, for the formation of a community and are distributed in its various classes. The familiar arrangement of these classes, and the settling of the rank in the mass and the governing body, show us how this complex social organism is built up step by step. But we have to look in the same way on the cell-state, which is made up from the separate individualities in human society or in the kingdom of the tissue-animals, or the branches in the kingdom of the tissue-plants. Their complex organism, composed of various organs and tissues, can only be understood when we are acquainted with their constituent elements, the cells, and the laws according to which these elementary organisms unite to form cell-communities and tissues, and are in turn modified in the divers organs in the division of labor. We must, therefore, first establish the scale of the morphonta, and the laws of their association and ergonomy, according to which the several stages or conditions of morphological individuality build on each other. Three such stages may be at once distinguished: (1) the cell (or, more correctly, the plastid), (2) the person (animal) or branch…

More: Read or Listen on IA →

Excerpt #6, from The Talking Horse, and Other Tales, by F. Anstey

…jumping up somewhere and wanting you to give the countersign. It isn’t like home, these holidays!’ ‘Perhaps,’ suggested Cecily, ‘it makes things safer, you know.’ ‘Duffer, Cis!’ cried Hilary, contemptuously, for Cecily had appointed herself professional peacemaker to the family, and her efforts were about as successful as such domestic offices ever are. ‘Look out!’ cried Hilary, presently; ‘they’re coming. Don’t let’s take the least notice of them. They hate that more than anything.’ From the shrubbery filed three boys, the first and tallest of whom wore an imposing dragoon’s helmet with a crimson plume, and carried a sabretache and crossbelts, and wore red caps like those of the French army; they carried guns on their shoulders. ‘Halt! ’Tention! Dis-miss!’ shouted the commanding officer, and the army broke off with admirable precision. ‘Don’t be alarmed,’ said the General considerately to the three girls; ‘the army is only out on fatigue duty.’ ‘Then wouldn’t the army like to sit down?’ suggested Hilary, forgetting all about her recent proposal. ‘Ah, you don’t understand,’ said General Tinling with some pity. ‘It’s a military term.’ He was a pale, puffy boy, with reddish hair and freckles, who was…

More: Read or Listen on IA →

Excerpt #7, from Kidnapped, by Robert Louis Stevenson

…in safety. With that I set off, undaunted, across the top of the isle, to fetch and carry it back. It was a weary tramp in all ways, and if hope had not buoyed me up, I must have cast myself down and given up. Whether with the sea salt, or because I was growing fevered, I was distressed with thirst, and had to stop, as I went, and drink the peaty water out of the hags. I came to the bay at last, more dead than alive; and at the first glance, I thought the yard was something farther out than when I left it. In I went, for the third time, into the sea. The sand was smooth and firm, and shelved gradually down, so that I could wade out till the water was almost to my neck and the little waves splashed into my face. But at that depth my feet began to leave me, and I durst venture in no farther. As for the yard, I saw it bobbing very quietly some twenty feet beyond. I had borne up well until this last disappointment; but at that I came ashore, and flung myself down upon the sands and wept. The time I spent upon the island is still so horrible a thought to me, that I must pass it lightly over. In all the books I have read of people cast away, they had either their pockets full of tools, or a chest of things would be thrown upon the beach along with them, as if on purpose. My case was very different. I had nothing in my pockets but money and…

More: Read or Listen on IA →

Excerpt #8, from Emma, by Jane Austen

…woman than your aunt. Be infinitely cleverer and not half so conceited. Now, Mr. Knightley, a word or two more, and I have done. As far as good intentions went, we were both right, and I must say that no effects on my side of the argument have yet proved wrong. I only want to know that Mr. Martin is not very, very bitterly disappointed.” “A man cannot be more so,” was his short, full answer. “Ah!—Indeed I am very sorry.—Come, shake hands with me.” This had just taken place and with great cordiality, when John Knightley made his appearance, and “How d’ye do, George?” and “John, how are you?” succeeded in the true English style, burying under a calmness that seemed all but indifference, the real attachment which would have led either of them, if requisite, to do every thing for the good of the other. The evening was quiet and conversable, as Mr. Woodhouse declined cards entirely for the sake of comfortable talk with his dear Isabella, and the little party made two natural divisions; on one side he and his daughter; on the other the two Mr. Knightleys; their subjects totally distinct, or very rarely mixing—and Emma only occasionally joining in one or the other. The brothers talked of their own concerns and pursuits, but principally of those of the elder, whose temper was by much the most communicative,…

More: Read or Listen on IA →

Excerpt #9, from A Floating City, and The Blockade Runners, by Jules Verne

…boats which children play with on the lakes of Regent’s Park or the Serpentine. It was not long before the “Great Eastern” was opposite the Liverpool landing-stages, but the four cannons which were to have saluted the town, were silent out of respect to the dead, for the tender was disembarking them at this moment; however, loud hurrahs replaced the reports which are the last expressions of national politeness. Immediately there was a vigorous clapping of hands and waving of handkerchiefs, with all the enthusiasm with which the English hail the departure of every vessel, be it only a simple yacht sailing round a bay. But with what shouts they were answered! what echoes they called forth from the quays! There were thousands of spectators on both the Liverpool and Birkenhead sides, and boats laden with sight-seers swarmed on the Mersey. The sailors manning the yards of the “Lord Clyde,” lying at anchor opposite the docks, saluted the giant with their hearty cheers. But even the noise of the cheering could not drown the frightful discord of several bands playing at the same time. Flags were incessantly hoisted in honour of the “Great Eastern,” but soon the cries grew faint in the distance. Our steam-ship ranged near the “Tripoli,” a Cunard emigrant-boat, which in spite of her 2000 tons burden looked like a mere barge; then the houses grew fewer and more scattered on both shores, the…

More: Read or Listen on IA →

Excerpt #10, from The Topaz Story Book: Stories and Legends of Autumn, Hallowe’en, and

…woman and the golden-haired child. They were rising softly, softly upon fleecy clouds. Around them and mounting with them was a band of angels chanting a joyful Hosanna! The marvelous vision rose slowly into the clear blue of the heavens. Then on the wet ears of grain in the harvest field the lady of the castle knelt in silent adoration, for she knew she had seen the Virgin and the Holy Child. While she worshipped in breathless silence the heavenly choir halted and in clear, ringing tones the angels sang out: “Blessed be thou!” “Blessed be the good lady who is ever ready to help the poor and unfortunate! Blessed be this Field of Alms.” The Virgin stretched forth her hands to bless the lady and the harvest field. At the same time the Holy Child took from his head and shoulders the silk scarf which the lady of the castle had wrapped about him, and gave it to two rosy-winged cherubim. Away they flew–one to the right, the other to the left, each holding an end of the scarf which stretched as they flew into a marvelous rainbow arch across the blue vault of the sky. The Virgin and the Holy Child, followed by the angelic choir, rose slowly, slowly into the sky. Softly and gently as wood breezes the heavenly music died away and…

More: Read or Listen on IA →

Excerpt #11, from The Gravity Business, by James E. Gunn

…the other pircuit, but I’ll need a few extra parts." Grampa pushed the wall beside his chair and a drawer slid out of it. Inside were row after row of nipple-topped, flat-sided, flexible free-fall bottles and a battered cigar box. “Thought you’d say that,” he said, picking out the box. “Help yourself.” With the other hand, he lifted out one of the bottles and took a long drag on it. “Ahhh!” he sighed, wiped his mouth with the back of his hand, and carefully put the bottle away. “What is that stuff you drink, Grampa?” Four asked. “Tonic, boy. Keeps me young and frisky. Now about that pircuit–” “Did you ever work on Niccolò Tartaglia’s puzzle about the three lovely brides, the three jealous husbands, the river and the two-passenger rowboat?” “Yep,” Grampa said. “Too easy.” Four thought a moment. “There’s a modern variation with three missionaries and three cannibals. Same river, same rowboat and only one of the cannibals can row. If the cannibals outnumber the missionaries–” “Sounds good, boy,” Grampa said eagerly. “Whip it up for me.” “Okay, Grampa.” Four looked at Fweep again. The translucent sphere had paused at Grampa’s feet. Grampa reached down to pat it. For an instant, his hand disappeared…

More: Read or Listen on IA →

Excerpt #12, from Investigation of Communist activities in Seattle, Wash., area. Hearings, Part 3

…Mr. TAVENNER. Mr. Chairman, I think the record should also show that according to the testimony of Mrs. Mary Markward, Rose Clinton was known to her as a member of the Communist Party in the District of Columbia and assigned to the Northeast Club of the Communist Party in this city. In the course of her testimony Mrs. Markward said: Rose Clinton, I believe she was active in the Committee To Defeat the Mundt Bill in 1949. Mr. O’CONNELL. I wasn’t in the city of Washington in 1949 in connection with the National Committee to Defeat the Mundt Bill. Mr. TAVENNER. However, were you not chairman for the National Committee to Defeat the Mundt Bill during that period? Mr. O’CONNELL. Yes. Mr. TAVENNER. You signed quarterly reports showing who were employed and the amounts of salaries paid? Mr. O’CONNELL. I am pretty sure the reports were sent to me in Montana in 1949, and I signed them. Mr. TAVENNER. Are you acquainted with a person named Tom Buchanan? Mr. O’CONNELL. I think he did the presswork for the committee in 1950….

More: Read or Listen on IA →

A production of Friendlyskies.net