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Every nation has been the slave of some besetting idea. 2The Egyptians were
slaves to the idea of life after death, the Greeks to the idea of beauty, the Romans to that of
conquest, the Medieval people to that of the church, the Germans to that of autocracy, our
fathers to that of money. 3We are slaves to the idea of time.

You are watching a movie and the scene shows an empty room. 2Nothing is
happening, yet you suddenly feel that some danger is present. 3The music that goes with
the movie has just struck some strange, heavy chords. 4You have not actually been listening
to the music, but a cold chill creeps up your spine. 5Then the scene changes and you see
some riders racing their horses furiously. 6Now you feel hopeful and excited, but you do not
realize that the change in music, with its quick runs, adds greatly to your excitement. 7Few
of us recognize how important the movie music is in creating within us the feeling that fit all
the changes in the movie story.

The word curfew has gone through a complete change in meaning since it
was first used about 1000 years ago. 2Originally it came from the French words that mean
cover the fire. 3A bell was rung soon after nightfall to warn the people to cover their fires
or put them out before they feel asleep. 4After several hundred years the bell was rung for
other purposes, such as informing people of the exact time at nine oclock. 5Much later it
was used to warn boys and girls that they must be off the street at the sound of the bell.
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The present meaning of the word is certainly different from its original meaning.

Turn off the light in a room when no one is in. 2Never leave the light on before
sleeping. When ironing clothes turn off the electric iron when it becomes hot. 4There are
many other ways by which electricity can be conserved. 5Turning off the switch of an electric
run machine after using it also means of saving an electricity.
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When the early hunters killed a mother animal, its young might be brought
back as pets for the children. 2As these animals grow up they become tame. 3Many kinds of
animals were probably brought up among the people in the tribes. 4Some of these animals
were useless when fully grown. 5Others, however, we found to be valuable. 6Man had finally
found that living animals could be useful to him.

Young lion cubs can be as affectionate as kittens. 2If you hold one of them on
you lap it will relax comfortably in your arms, almost as if it were a baby. 3Pat it on the head
or stroke its fur and you will hear it purr and wait for you to do it again. 4If mamma lioness is
near, she will be growing softly to warn you to be careful with her affectionate baby. But the
cub will pay no attention. 5It just wants you to go and on petting it.

The word of books is the most remarkable creation of man. 2Nothing else that he
builds ever lasts. 3Monuments fall, nations perish, civilizations grow old and die out, and
after an era of darkness, new races build others. 4In the world of books, however, are

volumes that have seen these happen again and again and yet live on, still young, still as
fresh as the day they were written, still telling mens hearts of the hearts of men centuries
dead.