1900 copyrighted text. Smith is credited with a Bachelor of Philosophy degree and as Professor of English, Tabor College. Thomas is credited with a Bachelor of Arts from Harvard and as Master of English, Boston English High School. Preface states the teaching of rhetoric in schools has tied rhetoric to composition. The authors believe in the inductive method and that instruction should be made as definite as possible in matters involving such subtleties of psychology and taste. Literary judgment should be the end for which rhetoric is studied. The text, designed to cover a course of two years, strives for a wise choice of material, a sound arrangement, a proper proportion of parts, simple language, and concise, clear-cut definitions, enforced by copious illustrations and exercises. The work starts with the whole composition rather than beginning with words, ideas being the first consideration. The authors credit the influence of Professor L. A. Sherman of the University of Nebraska, Professor Sophie C. Hart of Wellesley, and Mr. Thomas Hall of Harvard. Part 1 is Composition, with chapters on the theme, the paragraph, the sentence and words. Part 2 is the Laws of Good Use, with chapters on usage, purity and barbarisms, propriety and improprieties, solecisms, the forms of discourse, the qualities of good style and clearness, emphasis, and elegance. Appendices cover punctuation, letter-writing, examples of defective composition, and additional exercises. The Schultz Archive Copy is roughly the complete 312 page text.
The goal of the book "is that of giving training in accuracy of thought, nicety of taste, and finer command of the wizard words that touch imagination." Broken down into various sections of theme and style.