Quick Excerpts, from a Library of 492 Titles

Generated 2022-07-28 13:23:25

Excerpt #1, from Diary of Anna Green Winslow, a Boston School Girl of 1771, by Anna Green Winslow

…husband._ Through this journal we see “Nanny Green’s” simple and monotonous daily life; her little tea-drinkings; her spinning and reeling and knitting; her frequent catechisings, her country walks. We find her mother’s testimony to the “appearance of reason that is in my children and for the readiness with which they seem to learn what is taught them.” And though she repeatedly thanks God for living in a warm house, she notes that “my bason of water froze on the hearth with as good a fire as we could make in the chimney.” This rigor of climate and discomfort of residence, and Anna’s evident delicacy shown through the records of her fainting, account for her failing health. The last definite glimpse which we have of our gentle little Nanny is in the shape of a letter written to her by “Aunt Deming.” It is dated Boston, April 21, 1779, and is so characteristic of the day and so amusing also that I quote it in full. Dear Neice, _I receivd your favor of 6th instant by nephew Jack, who with the Col. his trav’ling companion, perform’d an easy journey from you to us, and arriv’d before sunset. I thank you for the beads, the wire, and the beugles, I fancy I shall never execute the plan of the head dress to which you allude–if I should, some of your largest corn…

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Excerpt #2, from A history of Canada, 1763 to 1812, by Sir Charles Prestwood Lucas

…the line of advance, Wayne by August, 1794, had worn down the Indians and menaced the British fort on the Maumee river, to whose commandant, Major Campbell, he addressed threatening letters. On either side, however, the orders were to abstain from blows, while Jay and Grenville were negotiating, and the conclusion of the treaty ensured the abandonment by the British troops of this outpost of Detroit as well as of Detroit itself. Next year, on the 3rd of August, 1795, Wayne concluded the Treaty of Greenville with the Western Indians. Under its terms the Americans advanced their boundary beyond the Ohio, but still left to the Indians on the south of Lake Erie and in the peninsula of Michigan lands of which the treaty definitely recognized them to be owners, and where they were to dwell under the protection of the United States. [Sidenote: Dorchester and Simcoe leave Canada.] In September, 1795, the Duke of Portland wrote to Lord Dorchester telling him that General Prescott would be appointed Lieutenant-Governor of Lower Canada and would leave for Canada in the spring, so that Dorchester could suit his own convenience as to returning to England. At the same time the Secretary of State repeated his regret that Dorchester had determined to retire. Prescott arrived on the 18th of June, 1796, and on the 9th of July…

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Excerpt #3, from The Writing of the Short Story, by Lewis Worthington Smith

…character, we do not have a sense of organic unity in the narrative. We become confused in trying to establish the dependence of incident and feeling upon something preceding, and our interest flags. Everything that happens in a well-told story gives us feelings which we look to find in those whom the happenings affect in the tale, feelings which should call forth some sort of responsive action for our satisfaction. Clearly, if the characters are cold, if we cannot find in them moods of the kind and intensity that to us seem warranted, the story will be a disappointment. LITERARY DIVISIONS AND GENERAL PRINCIPLES =8. The Conceptual and Emotional.=–Theoretically all writing is divided easily into two classes, conceptual and emotional, the literature of thought and the literature of feeling. In the actual attempt to classify written composition on this basis, however, no sharp distinction can be maintained. Even matters of fact, certainly such matters of fact as we care to write about, are of more or less moment to us; we cannot deal with them in a wholly unemotional way. In our daily lives we are continually reaching conclusions that differ from the conclusions reached by others about the same matters of fact, and are trying to make these matters of fact have the same value for others that they have for us. This is true of our business life as well as of our social and home…

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Excerpt #4, from Uncle Wiggily’s Travels, by Howard Roger Garis

…and he kept thinking of how rich he would soon be, and how many nice things he would buy for Sammie and Susie Littletail. But if the rabbit had only known who it was he was following he wouldn’t have been so happy, for it was a crawly snake, and that snake was only fooling Uncle Wiggily, and trying to get him off to his den so he could eat him. And that’s why he didn’t show himself. On and on the snake wiggled through the grass, shaking his tail, and the poor rabbit followed after him. “Are we nearly to the gold?” asked Uncle Wiggily after a bit. “Almost,” answered the snake, making his voice soft and gentle. The snake was nearly at his den now, and he was just going to turn around and squeeze the rabbit to death, when all at once a yellow bumblebee that was flying overhead looked down and saw the crawly creature, and the bee knew what the snake was going to do. “Run away, Uncle Wiggily! Run!” called the bee, “the snake is fooling you!” Well, Uncle Wiggily didn’t wait a second. He jumped right over a briar bush and away he hopped as fast as he could hop, and the snake didn’t get him, and, oh, how mad that snake was! Uncle Wiggily hopped around and around in the woods and the first thing he knew he couldn’t find the path, he was so excited. And the more he tried…

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Excerpt #5, from Manual of Egyptian Archaeology and Guide to the Study of Antiquities in Egypt

…temples is in such wise devised as to lead gradually from the full sunshine of the outer world to the obscurity of their retreats. At the entrance we find large open spaces, where air and light stream freely in. The hypostyle hall is pervaded by a sober twilight; the sanctuary is more than half lost in a vague darkness; and at the end of the building, in the farthest of the chambers, night all but reigns completely. The effect of distance which was produced by this gradual diminution of light, was still further heightened by various structural artifices. The parts, for instance, are not on the same level. The ground rises from the entrance (fig. 80), and there are always a few steps to mount in passing from one part to another. In the temple of Khonsû the difference of level is not more than 5-1/4 feet, but it is combined with a lowering of the roof, which in most cases is very strongly marked. From the pylon to the wall at the farther end, the height decreases continuously. The peristyle is loftier than the hypostyle hall, and the hypostyle hall is loftier than the sanctuary. The last hall of columns and the farthest chamber are lower and lower still. The architects of Ptolemaic times changed certain details of arrangement. They erected chapels and oratories on the terraced roofs, and reserved space for the construction of secret passages and crypts in the thickness of the walls, wherein to hide the treasure of the god (fig. 81). They, however, introduced only two important modifications of the original plan. The…

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Excerpt #6, from Survival at Altitude for Heavy and Very Heavy Bomber Crews

…operational or replacement training schools. The A-10-A mask is used in training where sufficient A-14 masks are not available. Both the A-10-A and the A-14 masks are suspended from the summer and winter flying helmets. NOTE: It is important that AERIAL GUNNERS obtain a properly fitting mask, fit to both summer and winter helmets at the first station available. Because of the extreme cold to which gunners are subjected under combat conditions, you MUST learn to remove and replace the mask quickly and accurately WEARING HEAVY GLOVES. It is not easy to manipulate a mask or unjam a .50 cal. gun with numb fingers in heavy flying gloves. PRACTICE these things on every training flight with gloves ON. FITTING THE MASK TO THE FACE – There are two considerations in obtaining a proper fit: (1) An AIR-TIGHT SEAL of mask to face. (2) Comfort of fit without undue pressure. The A-10-A and A-14 masks come in three sizes. Roughly, 60%!o(MISSING)f flyers will require the STANDARD (medium) size mask, 30%!t(MISSING)he LARGE mask, and the remaining 10%!t(MISSING)he SMALLER sizes. General instructions concerning fitting are….

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Excerpt #7, from The Radio Boys Rescue the Lost Alaska Expedition, by Gerald Breckenridge

…positions. Jack, my boy, you stay beside me.” There was a little tremor in his voice. That was all. But Jack understood. He clasped his father’s hand strongly, then threw himself prone beside him, while the others ranged themselves in a circle as commanded. Once more came the wailing cry from the inland. Once more it was answered in kind from the water. But to all it was apparent that the sounds were farther removed, and Mr. Hampton broke the painful silence with a whispered: “They’re moving on, moving away.” “Look, Dad,” Jack exclaimed excitedly. “I can see those rocks ahead where a minute ago was only the white fog. Why, the fog’s lifting. It’s lifting, Dad, sure enough.” “You’re right, Jack,” his father replied, low-voiced, but there was anxiety rather than jubilation in his tone. “That will make it bad for us. We’ll be exposed to sight.” Once again came the wail, faint and far away. As faint came the reply from the water. Both cries were to the north. Originally they had come from that direction. Now they were withdrawing whence they had come. What could it mean? The next minute a rattle of rifle fire broke the silence. At the same…

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Excerpt #8, from The Open Boat and Other Stories, by Stephen Crane

…Pop whirled a bottle along the bar and then gazed at it with a rapt expression. “Fine as silk,” he murmured. “Now just taste that, and if it isn’t the best whisky you ever put in your face, why I’m a liar, that’s all.” The kids surveyed him with scorn, and poured their allowances. Then they stood for a time insulting Pop about his whisky. “Usually it tastes exactly like new parlour furniture,” said the San Francisco kid. “Well, here goes, and you want to look out for your cash register.” “Your health, gentlemen,” said Pop with a grand air, and as he wiped his bristling grey moustaches he wagged his head with reference to the cash register question. “I could catch you before you got very far.” “Why, are you a runner?” said one derisively. “You just bank on me, my boy,” said Pop, with deep emphasis. “I’m a flier.” The kids sat down their glasses suddenly and looked at him. “You must be,” they said. Pop was tall and graceful and magnificent in manner, but he did not display those qualities of form which mean speed in the animal. His hair was grey; his face was round and fat from much living. The buttons of his glittering white waistcoat formed a fine curve, so that if the concave surface of a piece of barrel-hoop had been laid…

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Excerpt #9, from The Secret Garden, by Frances Hodgson Burnett

…There was so much to talk about. It seemed as if Colin could never hear enough of Dickon and Captain and Soot and Nut and Shell and the pony whose name was Jump. Mary had run round into the wood with Dickon to see Jump. He was a tiny little shaggy moor pony with thick locks hanging over his eyes and with a pretty face and a nuzzling velvet nose. He was rather thin with living on moor grass but he was as tough and wiry as if the muscle in his little legs had been made of steel springs. He had lifted his head and whinnied softly the moment he saw Dickon and he had trotted up to him and put his head across his shoulder and then Dickon had talked into his ear and Jump had talked back in odd little whinnies and puffs and snorts. Dickon had made him give Mary his small front hoof and kiss her on her cheek with his velvet muzzle. “Does he really understand everything Dickon says?” Colin asked. “It seems as if he does,” answered Mary. “Dickon says anything will understand if you’re friends with it for sure, but you have to be friends for sure.” Colin lay quiet a little while and his strange gray eyes seemed to be staring at the wall, but Mary saw he was thinking. “I wish I was friends with things,” he said at last, “but I’m not. I never had anything to be friends with, and I can’t bear people.” “Can’t you bear me?” asked Mary….

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Excerpt #10, from The Republic of Plato, by Plato

…individuals who compose them; because there may be tendencies in individuals which react upon one another. A whole nation may be wiser than any one man in it; or may be animated by some common opinion or feeling which could not equally have affected the mind of a single person, or may have been inspired by a leader of genius to perform acts more than human. Plato does not appear to have analysed the complications which arise out of the collective action of mankind. Neither is he capable of seeing that analogies, though specious as arguments, may often have no foundation in fact, or of distinguishing between what is intelligible or vividly present to the mind, and what is true. In this respect he is far below Aristotle, who is comparatively seldom imposed upon by false analogies. He cannot disentangle the arts from the virtues–at least he is always arguing from one to the other. His notion of music is transferred from harmony of sounds to harmony of life: in this he is assisted by the ambiguities of language as well as by the prevalence of Pythagorean notions. And having once assimilated the state to the individual, he imagines that he will find the succession of states paralleled in the lives of individuals. Still, through this fallacious medium, a real enlargement of ideas is attained. When the virtues as yet presented no distinct conception to the mind, a great advance was made by the comparison of them with the arts; for virtue is partly art, and has an outward form as well as an inward…

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Excerpt #11, from Sir Gawayne and the Green Knight, by Richard Morris

…Double felde, as hit falle3, & fele kyn fische3; [F] Summe baken in bred, summe brad on þe glede3, 892 [G] Summe soþen, summe in sewe, sauered with spyces, & ay sawes[3] so sle3e3, þat þe segge lyked. Þe freke calde hit a fest ful frely & ofte, [H] Ful hendely, quen alle þe haþeles re-hayted hym at one3 896 as hende; “Þis penaunce now 3e take, & eft hit schal amende;” [I] Þat mon much merþe con make. 900 For wyn in his hed þat wende. [Sidenote A: A chair is placed for Sir Gawayne before the fireplace.] [Sidenote B: A mantle of fine linen, richly embroidered, is thrown over him.] [Sidenote C: A table is soon raised,] [Sidenote D: and the knight, having washed, proceeded to meat.] [Sidenote E: He is served with numerous dishes;] [Sidenote F: with fish baked and broiled,] [Sidenote G: or boiled and seasoned with spices.] [Sidenote H: He calls it a full noble feast,] [Sidenote I: and much mirth he makes, for the wine is in his head.]…

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Excerpt #12, from The Picture of Dorian Gray, by Oscar Wilde

…garden seemed to be telling the flowers about her. CHAPTER VIII. It was long past noon when he awoke. His valet had crept several times on tiptoe into the room to see if he was stirring, and had wondered what made his young master sleep so late. Finally his bell sounded, and Victor came in softly with a cup of tea, and a pile of letters, on a small tray of old Sevres china, and drew back the olive-satin curtains, with their shimmering blue lining, that hung in front of the three tall windows. “Monsieur has well slept this morning,” he said, smiling. “What o’clock is it, Victor?” asked Dorian Gray drowsily. “One hour and a quarter, Monsieur.” How late it was! He sat up, and having sipped some tea, turned over his letters. One of them was from Lord Henry, and had been brought by hand that morning. He hesitated for a moment, and then put it aside. The others he opened listlessly. They contained the usual collection of cards, invitations to dinner, tickets for private views, programmes of charity concerts, and the like that are showered on fashionable young men every morning during the season. There was a rather heavy bill for a chased silver Louis-Quinze toilet-set that he had not yet had the courage to send on to his guardians, who were extremely old-fashioned…

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