1886 printing of the 1870 copyrighted text. The author is credited as a Doctor of Laws in English, and as Late Professor of Rhetoric and of the English Language and Literature in the College of New Jersey, as the former principal of the New Jersey State Normal School, and as the author of a series of textbooks. The author expresses the conviction that composition teaching should happen much earlier than the typical age of twelve to fourteen and requires regular practice. The book focuses on exercises; the author states practice should come before theory. The chapters cover simple words, derivative words, simple sentences, complex sentences, change of arrangement, change of structure, figurative expression (simile, metaphor, metonymy, etc.), style, letter writing, and an appendix on punctuation. The text contains examples and directions for exercises and compositions. The Schultz Archive copy is roughly the complete text.
1891 printing to the 1891 text. The author is credited as a Doctor of Laws in English, and as Late Professor of Rhetoric and of the English Language and Literature in the College of New Jersey, as the former principal of the New Jersey State Normal School, and as the author of a series of textbooks. A composition textbook designed for use by students with examples for practice. Part one (style) chapters cover punctuation, diction, purity, propriety, precision, kinds of sentences, rules for construction of sentences, figures of speech, special properties (sublimity, beauty, wit, humor), versification, poetry, prose (letters, diaries, news, editorials, history, etc.). Part two (invention) covers objects, transactions, abstract subjects, imaginary subjects, personal narratives, and descriptions. A chapter on proof-reading includes system of notation for correcting student writing. In addition to exercises, includes illustrative examples from celebrated writers. The Schultz Archive copy is roughly the complete text.