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SCHOO L C01\1POSir_rJON
HY

UAVJD

SAL;\ION

NEW YOHI\ A'ND LONDON
I 0 N GM A N
J

s)

G n E E N'
1800

AND

c (,) ,

;

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........~~.
\

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...

WORKS BY DAVID SALMON .
LONGMANS' SCHOOL GRAMMAR.
\Yi tl 1 :\ote.-. f 1 1r T Pa chers and Ind c:\ .

:r a

.I I ·_y I U I i

l':l11 1 , l'a 11 ,;

i·l :-' p1 'f'l' l1 : l'dr t lJ ., L' h1:::.-=1ti c at h1 t1 h lnl l1il k:;:i nn ; l '. t rr. 111 .,
A tt aly :-<1-. of :--:iente11ce...:; F.trt; TV ., 11 i-.: 1n n · nn d Deri vation .

l=';tge:.;.

l:.:'m".

\ 1;1 ·.

~.~. ··· ·11t ·-.

SY\ TI l\·: s IS

lTIJ is i ~ n. h c tt e r h1)H k by fnr t l1 n.11 :i11y i1 1 1'•) 1JH11 11n n...:e in t,lii...;
Cll lll!Lry . \\ i t, 11th e 1.1 1:.i sil>l fl f':'(l ' CIJti1111 of l 1rnfh·•SO r \\"!ii t lH·y ·.-- 1-; .:..:f' 11 t i:1I ~ .
:i nd th• · Ji,t t c r is 11ot. R11 full. Th e prf" ..:;+ :n t •· g rnrnn1n.r ;. li"g-i1 i-; wit-h
i 11d1 11; Li on. l 1< 1L p :r . .: ~o..; i11111H·tliat<•ly t o dt•rl11 1.:t io n, and l11)tl1 tll• : t hu d :-1

:;:!

SJ·: NTE~CES
Sl'J\.IU; T

H fl' t•r 11 1d ••.\ t·d L hru 1J;.fl 11n1( , e acl1 'i1Plt11·i1•11l l1 ·adi11 g t•! IH · .v ch ·i l: wti o1 1:-:.
11 <' rJ C(' i t j_..; I h o n 1n ~ /JJy Jo.~·i(';i. I ll.lld Mci 1' flf i fi e', t /p 1; ~,tZ l 1 t \ 11· fl ll l I 1• 11· \\'O il !d
J,,., .J ,; 1l 1ly c!:ii 111 t n \ JC! ; 1 t1·;wl wr a11d g- r 1llllll P t1 -i a 11 ra tl l! ·r th: : n n
:- . • ·i 1·1 1 1 i ~ r . J(, • ! 1 11 ~ pr. 11ln c1·d ot11 · o f 1 1 11~ l•l '"' l w ork i1 1t: grnrnrnnr.. w ,•
l; ; lY f f'V1 · l' ~f·1·· 11 , ;i nd t: hi -< n rq die:-1 to :ii ! it.' J t. J J'l -.. .
Jr ( .. f• \1~t:l l• • 11tlr

a1 n u1 v •·d n 1ul p1 •rft•c: t ly i: nt•kd .

! ' \1 , 1

0F

:\ ;\ !)

~11111 :

l 1 HFI•H

:--.;{·1uE (' T , PHF11r1 · .\TF.

L , 1..\1 : i11<11

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t )1 :. 11- T

r

:11

:-I Tn 1:r1-::-; .

.1::

Ot ' TI J'.\ U-) PF !"-' Tdl! I U .,
1

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l< ;.. : 1.,1:1;i·: 11 On.1F1 'T .

P a rt I\' ., 11 11 ll i ~ tu n· .i nd ll1•ri \·:; .
i111 t t li i:-1 r11i g l11

1j , ;11, j .., : 1...; h1· ju1 tifn ! a 11d itllt·T1 ' '-fi11 ;! :1., i r. i"" \"a lH n ld r· l ·t ' "' .! Id n f t l 1!' W lit} ll' l 1ovJ, .' . Ni.:w )' 111 ; 1\ Tl· .\ j 111-: 1; ,

E :-.; 1, ,\[~1:1 -: 11 I • Ht-:lllCATE

YvHn s Pt·· l " i 'n :'\ 1P1.1·: 1T }'1:1

11 ; .

LONGMANS' JUNIOR SCHOOL GRAMMAR.
:-.,,, ._!:..' ."' ! ' I"

P .i 1· t
l ' c1r 1

J

J.

rHA C'l'ICI:

P a r t s o f Spe e ch.
Pa rsin g .

Sl\ll'LI:

I:\

Sl ~ L\ TJ:>:CI ·:S

<d

SJ<~NTE N l E S

LONGMANS' JUNIOR SCHOOL COMPOSITION.
! (' f' . S\•o.

:;o i••·nr - .

'J lil ~ Hook contain:-::- Sy nth c· :-i :-: of .~ im}J le ~t· Hte 11 ce :-:: Pradirc
in t h e ~ yn L h es i:; of ~i"iplt! S(' ut e nce s ; SC' ut u 1ces co111bi11 f'd ·
l' n11 c tuatio11.
'
En ey ~:l. rrat.ives : ( a) S tories tv he reprot111 ct'1l.
( IJj Sk1.' lc to115 of b tories to be r•·pl'•Jiln1 ·ed.
( c l S t ories in \' er sctu be writ te n i 11 µr o:-;f'.
Ea."' \. f> .-;1 ys : Lct tt·rs ; G ram111ar ( Typical En·or ..;:J ; :--;otc~ f.ir

Teac lJ<.' rs,

CO'.llBl~J : I•

1' 0N CT 1JATTO:\

11 ;

Tim l' l' LL 8Tu1·

'·'

14
) '. I

Tm: Cnmr.\

:!I I

. _\ ., .

:!.)

• l.1 1: . .\ :\I•

Trn·:

LONGMANS' SCHOOL COMPOSITION. Cnnn1 ~,·o .

NoTE

' :--.; J'CCt;ilo r.'

1·:·'"11·,

\\' 1tl1 .:\ · Jt ~~ :; and IJl 1 Htr;1 tio 11~.

from

b r1 1\\'11 r-:v.1.

tLi e

,\ :'.. I ·

kl
L.IY.

""

An,tll\ ATJ• •:\

OF

01t E x c 1AMATION

! Nn :tr ri-:n Co , 1:11As

SIR ROGER DE COVERLEY:

Ti u :\ '

P1tn :.: 1J1 · .'\:-1 .u .. r i-: n

'1'111·: N (HI·: OF lNTEllHt>(; ATI• ' "

'1'111-: SDIL-COLON

'-\: c .

L \:\ D I .\ 1:

]II

Twc )

\ E ( d rl\'I". :'

'.!I I

:\!1 s,·u.?..1:\I::nrs

!Ill

~ .-. n : 11 l - .

ON TI-11·: CHOI CE

or \\"OHD::;

Sp1 P L! C!TY

] 11

ETnW LO« Y

01.11 \\.uiil):-\ A:\ JI ~r:w \\'t11-ilh

l :>;•,

AM Hl t t l "IT Y

}'oi: i:H: :-.: \Y.,1:1•.'

] ·»)

In ~llHAS C E

T1:c11Nru1.

.

Tu"1'

1.0 .\'C;Jf.·INS' S CH OO L C0 .1/POSJJl O. \ .

iv

l' .\1 :1·:

l) ;.i

THE

S ha ll and 1Pil l

AHRA::\GE~!E:\T

Participial Phrases

OF WOHDS
J)El'E);DE'.'\T

ll ~

AHRA>.; G E).IE'.';T

1:12

T11E U g eAL Onmm

Tile Hight Ten ses

The Obj ect
Adjun ct s '1ualify in g Noun s

Historical Prescn t
S ~ q uencc

_ ...,..___

A1>VEH!l8

Co~JUNCTioNs

170

SYNTHESIS OF SIMPLE SENTENCES. 1

THE SE:;TE:\CE
OF

EX,Ull'LES

FAULTY

Compari ~.<ons

17:\ !

NoN S C!'iSE

17 l

Om;ctTHITY CAUSED BY \V(.

It
P er sonal Pron oun s

In cons is tent Numbers

0 11 e

Di ~ti n c tion

108
:?02

\ITite s ' cut1si s ls
vf 11·l1 u111

of t.1rn parts:--

in.: arc: spcaking,-- J f ru ·u

2GG

BHEVITY ,

271
S r P1·:1:FJ.Uo li :>

2. fiimibrly Lltc scnk11cc 'Fire Lurns' con sists of two
parts :(1) Th e naw e 1Jf t he thi ng or 1d1i ch we im.: speitki ng, - Jirc.
(2) Wha t m .: s<ty al,uut !i re, - 611 m s,

28 0

msCELLANEOUS

TO

TENCES

BE

3. Every se11tc11co liu.s two such par ts.
4. Tl1c mi.me of tl1c person or U1iJ1g spoken about is calkd
th e Subject.
5. Wh~tt is said about tli c DuLj1'cL is call ed the Predicate.

All1ENDED
msCELLANEOUS
.JECTS

P ro n oun befor e Ko nn
2fY)

ill ood s .

sc11tc11ce 'Mary

anrl
\-; \\ha t 11·c ~ ny nb o uL Illary, -- 1Nilc1; .

STRENGTH

Cases of Pronoun s

T' te

(.•_,, The na111c of the: p c r ~o 11

SIMILE AND :\lETAl'HOH.

OF

1.

· ps

\ \ ' on11s

Pron ouns in -self .

Agrce in e n t
Indi r-a t i1·c a11 (l S 11hj nnd i1·c

21;0

Ex.<JJPLJ•: s

D emon s tratives

Anteced ents
Conjun ct ion lwfore a Hcla t iY e .
Omi ssion of R elati m s

TENCEti

'l:NUEHST OO D'

Helatirn Pronouns

betwee n 1rli o 0r
·11·h£c h and tltat

SUBJECT A~D rm:I>l C.\'J'l~ .

S•' !'< -

llep e tition of Articl es
l'no:-;ou~s

'

2BO

of T ens es

170
170

A IJ ,J E CTIVES

SCI-IOOL C01VIPOSI TION.

p n E P08TTION:-l

l~n: RTED ORDER .

G lt 1\JnIA.R

LONGUANS'

Perfect In1i11iti1·e ::iftc·r ;\
Past Ten se

Th e Subj ec t

Adjuncts quali ty in g Ve rbs
W onl s requiring special
care .

4r.

Past T en se anrl J •,•rf, •d
Partici pi e .

:.lO'.J

:Fon

ST IH.

CO:\lPO'.-iI ·

TION .
NOTES FOH T E ACHEHS
INDEX

Exercise 1.

Pick uuc the Subjects and the l 'rcdi catcs .
William sings. D ir1l:; !ly. Sh ee p b lea t. H e nry is readin g . lt ni.n i;;
falling, ltaiu lin ;; fa llen. SLu rs a rc ti lliuin g. o ta r ti \Y Crc eli i11iug. Cattl u

~~t
~tr.I

l OJVC:1LtNS' SCHOOL C0 1JJPOSITl ON

~·

_ __
urc grali ng. Soldiers a re wa tching. So ldi e r ~ watched. Soldiers were
watched. Sch~o l is closed. Donkeys brny. Donk eys were urnyiu g. I a m
writing. W e are readini::.

Exercise 2.

P lace Predicates (Verbs ) after the f ollowing Subjects: Baby. Babies. Lightning. Flowcrn. Soldiers. Lions.
Th e wn. The wind. The eagle. Eagles. The ship. Ships.
The scholars. 'l'he cat . Cats. Bakers. A butcher. The
' tars. Carpenters . The carpenter. The mower. Porters.
l. \ Ve.

B ees. lias.
The 1J1aslcr.
moon . The
P loughmen.

E xercise 3.

Place Subjects before the following Predicates :Mew. Chatter. Grunt. Han. Hum . Fly. Howl. fa walking.
Whistled.
Shrieked. Sings. Sing.
San g.
Played. }'ell.
l'lays.
Slep t. Bark. Bark s. Cried. Bloom. Laugh ed. Soar. Swim .
Sleep ~ .
t:iwam . \\' as swim mi ng. Dawns. Da\1•ned. Gallops. Roa r.

SYNJ~~ESJS

Snppl!J l'red~"critcs .
A poet . . . . poems.

Sul~jec t .
- · --

Par ents
Chil<lrcn
Cats
Mice

Predicate .

Object.

love
obey
catch
fear

children.
parents.
mice.
cats.

- -----

Exercise 4.

Pick out the Subjects, Predicates, and Objects.
Soldiers fight battl es. Tom missed Fred. Mary is minding baby. Job
6howed patience. Abraham h ad faith. Romulus founded Romo. Titus
captured Je ru salem. Arthur loves fath er. 'Valtcr threw a stone. T om
broke a window. The servan t swept the room. Mason s build housos . The
girl is milking th e cow. Th e dog bit the beggar . Artists paint pict ures. I
o.m l:xpecting a letter. We have won prizes .

--

Exercise 5.
'l'h r ~ mith)

.

· · · · · t ie iron llor ·cs
· · · ·grass. Cats .. . . mi lk
Tl
., .
··
' · · · · . cart~.
l1orsc . .. . the groom. Grocer··
. . ic sext on .. . • th e bell.
Tl1e
Irins
l .. . . nests. Th e garden '. . . .. . su ,,·•ar
, . 'l'li '·. h OLlllcl s . . . . th e fo x.
li ·."
'l'J u · · · · the Jlo\\'crs. l\I1ss Wi lson .
.,
liallad . Horse'
., " ' ' · ..y.
JC C10 '
]
·
' ' ""'
a nurse. Tailors
. .
g · · · · t 10 thi ef. The banker . .
· · · · co,1to. Brewers
b . 'l'J
.
· ·
.
. ec1.
l C girl . . . . !l ro ~ e.
Cows

Supp l!J Objeeh.

Exercise 6.

The serva llt broke
'l'J
,
.
· · · ·
1e cook made .
, . . . 1''.irn~ers till . . . .
Soldi ers light
111a1y is nunding
1)
·
.
· · · ·
io1mdus founded
· · ·
Cn•sar mvatlcd
Tl 10
·
.
· • · ·
gan 1cner sowed
Ar tists imrnt
'1'1 .. 1
• · • ·
Cl .
1c sai or 1ost
· · · ·
wri te . . . . F'armcr s g··row
B·. ·]
. 11 1'1rcn
fl1 rn . . . . I lJL1rt . . . . · · · ·
m s bu1hl ·

SUBJECT, PREDICATE, AND OBJECT.

6. The Predicate always is or contains a Verb . In mttny
scHtcnces the Predicate is a Verb alone. When it is a Vcrb in
th e Active Voice , it has an Object, thus: -

OF Si. l.!Pf,£ S E .l\T/ 'E.VCES

- - - ------ --- -~-

Snppl!J Subjects .

Tl
· , , lC hu:1ter killed
1 om nusscd . . . .
'··
.
1 1tns captured
c•
· · · • '
•JOl11obody sto l1·
·
learn .. • . :\uthorn
I a d nuro
· . . . . \\' c

Exercise 7.

. -. · · du sted the room
.
,,
· · · · · is drawin g a load.
. . met l om. . .. . cau ght th e ti . f
. . , . 1OYcs me.
the beggar
won ti
.
ri e · · · · · grow flo wers.
·L
.
· · · · ·
w pnzc. · · · · ha s lo..; t th l ,
· .' 111
" cat. • · · . fel led u tree. .
. " .
c c og. · · · . li11' J, ii kd
pudding
.
.
a 1c srngi ng so ngs. . . . . i ~ rn .· tl,-1.r1•· ,,
. ' · · · I S CX pcctrng a Jett er
n
•
~ l ioes. • ••. sold u l.Jook
1·1- .1.
. . g iYcs light. . .. . make~
1
• • • • •
' e 11111 • · • · • likes him .

E XLAlW.ED SU13 J.GC'l'.

7. Subj ects m ay be en lm·<Yed b Ad"
'Boys work , may, by additio:1 , t ytl Jcu~c_ts . . Thu s the sentence
',

'I he boys work.
1'hc8,: boys work.
Good boys w ork.
1ll!J boys w ork.

s o ic JJUuJ cc t, become

'f'lw good boys of th e village work.
l'h e good l1 11)·s 0 1· ti
'//
.
.
• .
'J
I C V l age, 'IUl·lihlll (J {o j Jl ' " .
11ir1 .~ lcr ,

\\' urk .

l llo l .

f/11 ·1'1·

:: :.!

'

'
'"f

.."'
ST NT!!F:S!S OF S!.l!r!.!E sr.; 1i TENC/'."S

L u .Vc;.JJ.-IN.S' S(,'jj()QL CU.)/ / 'US! /JUN

4

Exercise 11.

Exercise 8.

I'i ck out Ili c .Slll1jccl and its A1lj1111cts .
T om':-; broth r·r ha s nrr iYC<1. Th e ca reless Luy will Le p unished. Tli c
law :-; of t he la11 1l ha\'C; b r·c n brok e n . Th e s wcd tlo\1· crs arc Llou11 1i 11 ;.: . Th e
p.inr sla Yc is cry ing . The b oat, s truck by a great \\'ave , sank . 'l'li c l ittle
:·:1 ild , ti red o[ play , is s lcc· pin g. A short letter tell in g llt e gooL1 news ha s UC<.: ll
'" • 11 l.

5

illlil .!djw1cls lo coch Object.
Th e s nllli l' r ~ fo1i;.;h t hnttlrs. Mary is niindin g bnhy. Wnltr r tJ 1r,. 11· fl
sto ne. T om broke a win clow . Th e ;;c·nn.nt s wl'pL the roo m . Th .· :;i r l i:.:
milkin g the co w. T h e dog bit lhc beggar . 'Jl1c 11rti st p:t inlc·•l piC' tt m ·:.: .
lam ex pec t in g 11 ldtcr. \ Ve h am won l' rize:.: . The 1irc de s troyl'd ltr,11,, .,; .
The genrrn l g:tin ecl a vi cto ry . Th e cngincrr nH11l c a rnihrny . The chi l.l rc·n
Jrown ctl l.l w ki tte n s. \\' 1; li !i \' C bought book s. !Tc leaches gc·o:.:ra['hy .

Exercise 9 .
•·Lld ,1dj w1 cl s ln each Subject.
D ir'1 s fly. Shee p bleat. Stars a rc shinin g . Cat Li e arc gra1,i 11 g. Sol di er•
arc \rnlching . D onk eys bray . Li ghtning is flash ing . The s un is s hin ing.
The scho lars are s tudying. Th e ploughman is whi ;;tlin g . l\Ionkcys chatter.
l' igs ;; runt.

T he lark is soarin g .

Lion;; roar.

E:-iL :\1W 1-:u P1urn1c.\ TE.

_9.

:Predic~tes,

like Subjects ancl Olij ccts , ma,y be onlar;.;l'c1 hy
'Ihus the sen tence 'Doys work ' ma,y, by ru1 dilio n ~
to tho Predicate, become

A<~1 nncts.

Doyf> work diligenll?f.
l3oyf> work now.
B oys work in ,qr h no l.

8. Ol 1j ecls , like Subj ects, may be enlarged 1Jy Alljunc:Ls.
'l'lius th o so t1ionco 'Doys l earn lessons ' may, by aut1ilio11s to Uw

tn zilcasc t71 cfr trn chrr.

Exercise 12.

Ul1j cc:t , become
Doys learn the lesso ll s.
Boys learn ihc·ir lessons.
B oys learn home lessons.
Boys learn cl·W ic nll lessons.
l3oYs learn lesson s abo nt Verbs.
13o;·s learu tlie lessons sc i. bu 11Ir. l'..'clwan/8.
lJoys learn the d1~tJic uU h ome lessons ab out Vcrb8 8cl bu
11fr. Edwards.

Exercise 10.

Pick ou t the Object ancl 'its Acljnncls.
Th e se n ·anl d u sted c Ycry room . Fred lo ves bis s wee t little s i:;ter. W,1
havc rcn tcLl a h ouse at Bcirmoutlt. He sang a song about th e La iliff' s
dau ght e r of lblin g lon. \ Ye s «w our nei ghbour' s n ew Shetland po ny . I a m
1-.·a cling a \1ook wr it te n by m y fa th er . Th e poli ce man caught tJ1 c man a c ·
<.:<1 :'<·<1 of th ef t. The :;arJ cucr i s hoe ing the p otatoes plantcLl by hi111 in the

ea rly spring.

BoyH w ork lo please l71 efr tcarhrr.
B oys w o rk 1liligr.11tlu now in g ,~/i oo l

P ick ont Predicate and its

.'l iljw1cl.~ .

Tom' s broth er will co m e to -m orrow. T he care less girl was loo kin g off
h er book. Th e lnws of t h e lnnd were often h ro k(· n by the .rtlll e mo n ntn.ineers .
Pretty fl owers grow in my gard e n ril l t hro ugh tho sprin g . Th.: p nor slrn·c
was cryin g bi tterl y over the los8 of hi s ch ild . Th e corn i;; ,1·1 t1·in g in the
Kun. The great bell was tollin r.; s lowly for th e dt' n.th o f th e prin ce . The treef\
n.ro bowing before the strong w in <l. I am go ing to Lond on wi t h my fath er
next week.

Exercise 13.

Ad<l Ad}imcts to each Predicate in E xercises 8- 11.
VERBS OF 1~ (.'(Df PLETE rrrrmICATION' .

10. Some Verb s do not convey a complete id ea, and therefore
cannot be P redicates hy themselv..,s . Sn<.:h Verbs nro t:allcll

6

L ONG.Jl. .JNS' SCHOOL CO, l!!'OSJJ'/ON

l

Verbs of Incomplete Predication, and the words added to complete the Predicate are called the Complement .

Examples of Verbs of Incomplete Predication.
Pre1l ico le.
Subject.

Verb of Incomplete
Predico t-io n.

Comp lement.

Lontlon

is

·W illiam
The man

was

n great city.
Dnke of Normandy.

became

rich.

Exercise 14.
a. I'ick ont the Verbs of Incomplete Predfration and the
Complements.
Th ou art the man. I am he. It is good. He is here. The h ouse is to
be sol<l. Th e horse is in the stable. The gun was behind the door. JackROn is n. very good garde ner. Those buds will be pretty flowers. Old King
Cole wn.s a merry old soul. I'm the chief of Ulva's isle. William became
King of En glanc1 . The gi rl seems to be very happy. The general was made
Emperor of Rome.

b. Supply Complements.
London is . . • • Pari s is . . . . J erusalem was . . . . The boy will
He has become . . .
\Ve are. . . . I nm . . . . He was
be . . .
Hichanl became . . . . The prisoners a re . . . . The man was
Those birds are . . . . Grass is . . . . Homer was . . • • The
child was . . . . The sun is . . . . The stars are . . . . The sheep were

PRACTICE IN SIMPLE SENTENCES.
11. A sentence when written should always begin " ·ith a
capital letter, and nearly always crn1 with a full stop.
A sentence which is a question ends y;·i th n. note of intcrrogntion
(?),and ono which is an excburntion c1ll1s \r itlt it noto of nc1mira tion or exclamation (!).

Exercise 15.

Mcdcc sentences about
Fire. The snn. The moon. The sea. Dread. Dutter. Ch eese. Wool.
Cotton. Linen. Boots. Hats. A coat. The table. The window. T ho
de~k. Pens. Ink. Paper. Pencils. Leatl. Iron . Tin . Copper. Gol(l.
Silver. A knife. The clock. Books. Coal. The servant. A chair.
Breakfast. Dinner. Supper. The apple. The pear. Oranges. Lemons.
Water. Milk. Coffee. Tea. Cocoa. Maps. Pictures.

Exercise 16.

Malec sentences introducing the follow ing pairs nf 1coi-ds :Fire, grate. Snn, earth. Moo n, ni ght. Dr0:i.,J. tl onr. Pen, steel. Wool ,
sheep. Cotton, Am erica. Boots, leather. Ink. bl1tck . P1iper, rngs. '\"alk ,
fields. Pair, gloves. Learning, to paint. Brothe r, arm. Wlt cvl, cart.
London, Thames. Bristol, Avon. Dublin, Ireland . Pnri s. France. Columbus, America. Shakespenre, poet . Threw, window. Useful, mc:t:i.1. Car pet ,
new. Wall, bricklayer. Hoacl, rough. Lock, cupboard. Jug, full. Brita in,
island. Pencils, made. Drow, map.

Exercise 17.

Write complete sentences hi answer lo the f ollo1ci11r; 211cstio11s :[EXAMPLE .

Qncst-ion. Whn.t is yonr nam e'?
Answe r. l\Iy name is John Smith .

[f yon said Rimply 'J olm Smith ' yonr answer wonlL1 not be n compl ete
sentence.]

What is your name? When wore yon born? JTow old nrc yon ? \\"here
<lo you live? How long have you lived th ere? Whr~t school J o yon :i.tlcnd'?

f ,()N GMANS ' S C!-JOOJ", COil!l'OS! TlON

8

Of whn. t gam es are yon fond ? Du rin g whnt pa rt of th e yenr is foolbnll
pl aye d? And cr icket? And lnwn -tcnni s? Arc yon lf'a rnin ;.: Lat in ? An d
French? And German? Cnn you swim? And row'? An tl rid e? Aml
play th e pia no? Do you lik e the sea 9 Have you eyer bee n on th e st· n?
Ha\·e you read 'Robin s on Crusoe '? What is th e fir s t m eal o[ t h f' <lay?
An d th e second ? And the t h ird? Wh ere does th e su n ri se? An rl sc,,t ?
How many d ays are ther e in a week ? And in fl, ye ar ? And in leap year?
How often does leap year com e ?
·

b.

Name.

r.

Daniel De fo e
H enry F ieldin g
H enry Hallnm
- - ......,..._. Shake·
L ocke

_, 1111

W lir r,' lie 1/ i1'rl .

H'lia l li e 1l'(!S .

!\fat.thew Arno ld

Port 11.nd

es ~ ny ­

\!)1/'ll

lie r/icd .

T. i1·npool

ist
Au thor of 'R obin so n Crusoe •
Noveli s t
Hi s tori a n
Greates t En g·
lis h p oe t
Philosoph er

1n1

Lon.Jon

17 ;) l

L i,; hn n
P"n ,; hur,; t
Slralf o rd-onA\·on
Oa tes , E ssex

1 .-; ;)'.I

lt; !(i

1701

Exercise 18.

J.l f ake three sentences cd.Jo1.i t each of the following :Th e place wh ere you
Fran ce. In<l ia. Au strnlia.
A li on . A tiger . Spring.
moon . Stars. Holitlays .
stenm -c: n g ine. Th e sea .
Cotton . Leath er. Silk .
Coffee.
Sugar.
Cocoa.
Guns. A watch. A farm.
Coal. Glass . Gas. The
Canada. Indians.

c.

live. En gland. Lontl on. The Rivrr Tham es.
Am erica. A horse, A cow. A dog. A s heep .
Snrnm er. Autumn. Win ter. Th e s un. Tlw
Boys ' gam es. G irl s' grnn es. A rai lway. A
A ship . Fl owers. Fruits . A gard en . W oo l.
W a ler. Mi lk. Ri ce. Wh eat. Books. T ea.
r ap er . H ouses. Bricks.
Stone. A fi eld.
Kn ives. Bees. Sh ell -fish . Fres h -watr r fis h.
Un ited States. Ne w York . Th e Mi ss iss ippi.

Datllr .

Dair .

/3 c/ic<'<JL .

' Ben lac, n rar Has -

lOfiG

tin gs
Bannock bnrn

1314

Cressy

134 (i

Waterloo

1815

Mar ston Moor

lliH

Cullorlcn

nm

En gli,;h an•l :\or·
nmn f<
E n g l i Rh
u ntl
Scotch
En g li s h
an •1
French
En g l ish
fl 11 •l
Fren ch
Hovnli;;t s nnrl l':n i'iam rnlflria ns
ar111y
The
of
Gco rg0 l r. antl
th e Ja coh itrs

Exercise 19.

1"ic/ or.
:\ on nrin s
Scotc h
En~li s h

En r.; l\ ,, Ji
Pa rl i:1 mrn tnriilllS
n rrn y
Th e
Geor;.:f' 1(

of

Comb·ine each of the f ollowing sets of facts into a sen tcnce 1
a.

Na me.

What he was.

Wh ere born.

J oseph Addiso n

Essayist

\\'illi am Blake
John Bunyan

Poe t and painter
Auth or o f 'The
Pilgrim's I'rogress '
Great Engli sh
poe t
Great E n glish
poet
Jiistori a u and
essa y is t
Firs t Pres id ent
of th e U ni ted

L ord Byron
GooJTry Chaucer
Thomas Ca rlyle
Geo rge Was h ington

Mil ston, Wilt·
shire
L ondon
Els t ow,
B ed ford shire
L ondon
London
(pro ·
bably)
E cclcfcchan,
Dnmfri esshirf'
Virgi nia

H"ht n born .
1(j{:.l
l 7fi7

l (i:28
1788

:- .f•Hr11!1 . I d o/i.M11 ll"tU &01 n

Pla ce.

FJvc nt.

Printing
introcl ncr cl into England
Discovery of Ameri ca
Defeat
of
th e
Span ish Armada
Gunpowder Plot

H7li

17!);j
17:J2

Conqu est of Engbnd
Execu ti on
of
Charl es I.
1

Th P ~r.

J!i/s/011 in Jl'ill.~hi rt'. in ;fl" '" r11 · Ir.;- ~,

En glish Cha nn el

Vi88

'V estm inst cr

l GO:>

lOG(i
Whi tehall

'll'l'l't' d 1'f;'f1l f'l l l1y t/i 1• ,\pvnn1111s

Ifowarcl ,
Drah.
ntHl olh ('r,;
G ny Fa\\ k r s and
ot ht·rs
Wi lliam , Du ke o f
Nt•rn rn ndy

lfi I '. I

fnets shrmhl hr romhi11 r.d in to sC'ntrnrrc; in

'l'he E'11(/l'i.~ll

Col -

nmlin,;

Tiu• Nonnr111.~ di/fated I h(' 1~·nrJ1 i.~h at ,'), "1i/Hr,

flf

W illi a m Caxton

Chri ,; top hcr

About J:J.J I

~tat cs

' Thu -:

d.

?}1·1 11 ·

variou .~

ways.

th1H : -

I fir st i11 11.~ . in rhe 11···u · JtiGt:.

ot ,';. n/,,c, 11 P11r . .l/a,(ti111rt.' in tllP

In thP yra r 1066 1 at .,';en fw-. ?H'111· /la sf iH ~/.~. /hr' ,\ .11r1111 n 1.1· f,, 111 t lw i:·11 :1 !i.•//.

11,·111·

J 11r:1~.

,( :r. ,( ,· .

---- -------- - TO

LONC.1!.1NS' SCJ!OOl COJl!!'OSJJJON

SFN IF. \'t ·/:". \ C(l.1//-:/_ \ "/: i 1

SENTENCES COMBINED .

IS. I sn.w ships. There were three. Th c·y c:tm e sai ling. Th r·y s11 i!t:<l
by. I saw them on Christm as day. I saw th em in th e· morn ing.
14. Cole was a king. He was old . H e was n. nh:r r v strnl.
15. A great battle began . It wns bctwct> n the En ;;l ish an<l th e Sro t('h .
It began next moming. It began at hrcak of dlly. It wn s nt Bann ockburn.

12. A numbor of simple scntenceR mn,y sometimes be com bin ed so n,s to form one ; thus :Simple srntcnccs.
'l'ho gi rl w::ts li ttle. She los t her d oll.
Th o doll was p r etty. It wns n ew. She los t
it y cst0nby . She loi:;t it in t h e nfterno on .

Sm/cncc f or111 c1l l1y
r.omu£ni11g ll1 r111.

Tho little girl lost li er
pretty n ow lloll Y"f<tr n11Ly
afternoo n.

13. The combin ed sentence tells us [ts much as the separate
Rc nt oncoi:; , an<l t olls it in a s l1 ortor, c lon.ror, and moro plcn.Ring
way.

Exercise 20.

14. Sentences are often combin eL1 by means of Conjnnctiolls
or other connecting words.
15. Senten ces are com bined, by m oan s of the Conjun ction
and, thus:-

- - - --·

- -- -- - - --

S epa,ratc sente11ccs.
1. The boy is good.
cl,ll·er.

I

Cu111ui 11 cil sn1/l't11·c8.

'fh o boy is , - - 1- .-Tho 1;~~;,·-~~:,~11.i

2. William is going to school. J ohn
is going to school.
3. I admire my t eacher. I loYe m y
teacher.

Comb ine, as in P etr. 12, the followinr1 sets of sentences :l. Tho man is tall. H o strn ck h is head. H o was enterin g a carriage.
Th e carriage was low.
2. T om h ad ::t slate. It was new. H e broke it. H e broke it thi~
m orn ing.
fl. Th e cow is black. Sh e is grazin g. She is grazin g in n m~~ul ow .
The meadow is beside the river.
4. The npples are ripe. They grow in an orchard . Th e orchard is 1\Tr.
Brown' s.
5. Th e corn is green. It is wavin g. Th e breeze causes it to wrl\' r . Thi'
breeze is gen tle.
G. T he fn.th er is kind. H e bough t some cloth e ~. The clothes wrrc new.
H e bough t th em fo r the children. The children were good.
7. The boy was careless. H e made blots. The blots were big. Thry
\1·crc m ade on his book. The book was clean.
8. The bucket was old. It was made of oak. It fell. It (ell into th e
w <;ll. The well was deep.
9. P olly Fli nde rs was little. She sat. She snt amon g the cind ers. Sh e
was warmin g her toes. H er to es were pretty. They were litLl c.
10. T om T ucker is little. H e is singin g. H e is si ngi ng fo r his supper.
11. There were three wise m en . They lived nt Gotham. Th ey went to
sea. They went in n bowl.
12. The man cam e·. H e was the man in the moon. H e came down
soon . H e came too soo n.

If

clornr.
2. \\'illi :un nnd John 1t r 0
going to school.
Cl. I a<lmire nntl lorn my
tca c her.

16. Note the use of the comma wl1 en m ore tlrnn t wo word s
or sets of words are join ed by and :I m et Fred, \ Vi ii and Gcorgo.
Faith, Hope und Cha ri ty nro sometim es crdl ctl
Graces.

th o ChristirLn

I bonght 11. pound of teu, t wo p ounds of coffee , ten pounds of ~ngar
and 11. peck of flour.

17. The comma is used in th e same way \ri t,lt nr.

Exercise 21.
. C?mbine the follow-i11g sets of sentc11ces by means of the Con·
;w1etwn and:I. Jack went up the hill. Jill went up th e hi ll.
2. The lion beat the uni corn . The lion drnve th e unicorn ont of town.
:J. Edward is honest. Eclwn.rd is truth ful.
·l. The child i ~ tired. The child is sleepy.
5. Tom will pay us a visit. Ethel will pay us a vi si t. Their par e nt~
will pay us 11. visit.
G. The grocer sells tea. H e sell s coffee. H e sells sugar.
7. Maud deserves the prize. ::>h e will ge t it.

R. Co:,J i ~ ,, mi n ernl.

Iron is a min crnl.

Copp er is a m int rn.1.

L m <l i~

mi 1w ral.
\J. The boy worke<l himl. He got o n.
10. Little drops o f wa ter, little grnins o f i::an<l mn.ke th e mi ghty oc0a n.
Littl e drops of \rnter, li ttle grains of s and mak e the pl e:tsnn t land.

f\

S epa rat e sc11 l c 11 cc ~ .

- --

-1

E iLl 1c r ,l:lll1 c:; u1· lii ~
James was at t;<.:hool this [
w;u; :tt, school tl1 is w v rni11 g ,

morning.
His si ster
gc hool thii:l m orning.

·1. 'l'li o lioy iK J r~zy .
f; lllpid .
:L. I wa.n t a pen.

1. '!'h o hoy

'l'hn hoy iH

I want a pencil.

s t npi d.
:l. I

iH

l 1LZ .)'

w rrnt. a pPn o r

or
a

pencil.
3 . The hMse is lost.

H. Th0 h or se is lost or

Tho horse i~

stolen.

stolen .

19. Remember to put in th o commas when more than t wo
wor l1s or sets of \VOrd s are joinccl by or, t hus:-

())'

1. The 111 1\n C<Ln rcml. Th e 11ia11 can wr i Le .
2. He is <l ea f. Ho is s tupi<J.
3. 'l'hat s hot will strike th e horse . 'l'hat sh o l \l'i ll s trik e th e ri llcr.
4. 'l'lto king was wet1k in rniml. Th e ki ug was 11· c1d; in Ludy.
&. Th e king was lovcc1. Tito queen was lovctl.
G. The cow is for sale. 'l'li e calf is for sal e.

21. S entences nm.)' he combinccl by
• botlL •

Combine the following sets of sentences by m eans of tlte Con jun ction or : 1. The child w:is tired.

The chil tl was s leepy.
2. l\[ y fath ic r "·ill m eet me [1.t t he s tati on. 1\fy mother w ill meet m e at

thr, s t a ti o n.
:1. Will yo u hav e t ea?
Will yo n have coffee ?
4. The col on el mn st be p resent. One of the ot h er o ffi cers mu s t lie presl' nt.
5. Th e c up was brok en
th e se rvant. The cup 'ms brok en by th e tl og.

uy

Th e cup was brok en by the cat.
0. I mn s t find t h e hoo k. I mu st buy another.
7. Th e ho r~e is in th e stable. The h orse i s in the patldock.
is in th e m ead o w.
ti . Th " p r ize will be gain ed by Brown.
Smith. Th e pri 7.e w ill be gain ed by .Ton es.

Th e prize will be ga in ed by

20. f-io11tm1 Gcs m::ty be combinell by eithe r . .. or, arn1 !l cii11er

. nor , Urn s : - -

'1'11 "~ ]1(·>1·'·"'
·ov

:-

]J " tl 1 t 1ll:
arc tin ·t1.

lU <ll l

<ll l <1

Ll1c I 1ursc

Exercise 24.

Combine, V!J means of both ... and , tlic sets of sr.:11 lcnccs
given in Exercise 23.
22. Sentences 1wty lrn con1b i11 u11 l1y m ca u s of Co11j ui1di o 11 s uf
Cau se, Consequcnee or Corn1i Lion , sud1 as 1
/ , t liu11~/1 , a ltlw 11 ,1J1,
l;,;ccmsc, thus: .
(' 11 111 {, i11 c d ~vn/ c 11 cc8 .

Scpciratc scn lcnccs.
Th e horse

l tl l ll S

. • U Ii i ,

Sepriral c sc1tlcncc&.
'l'ho lll::l.11 icv t1'1·ctl.
is Lirocl.

Exercise 22.

al

Exercise 23 .
Cumui.u c the foll owi11:; sc ls of sc11/r.:11n.:s : ·- (aJ .ll!J either . .. or.
(L) ./ I!J 11 01'tl ic r . . . nor.

\ Ye conll1 haY e te:t, coffee or cocoa.
Til e beggar r"s1rnl1 fo r a piece of Lr caL1, a glass o f milk o r a few
pen ce .

~ i s ll' r11a s

:N l: ill 1(' J' .J ,u 11e:s n o r lii "~ i ~ t n 11as
a t sclt nol thi s rn urni n;:;.

tlrn s :
Comb·inc1l sen t ences.

'

j

- -------·

18. Sentences are combined by m eans of Lh o Conjun ction or,

Sr!parale sentences.

r,

sJ:.'N 'J 'lNCFS c\ l.J//.' ! \'/: /l

rONC M .·IN S ' SC!/00 1, CO.lf!'OS!'l !O.V

12

1. Yon aro tired.

You m ay

r osL.
~. T h e

boy was not dcY er.

llo \ l '!LH gooJ.

a.

He io lik ed. Ht:

lcruprn«l.

lS

goul1

l. If yo n are tired y vu ma.)'
r est.
2. 'l'l w ugh the ]Joy was n o t
d oYor lie 11·a s gu ot1.
;;, 1J c is liked Le:cau so li e is ;;ou cl
, L<e rnpc.:rcd.

), ONCiJJA N S ' SCHOOL COJIPOS!TJ ON

Exercise 25.
Combi 11 c the f ollowing sets of sentences :(a)

nv means of

if.

1. Yo u will get t h e pri ze. You dese rve it .
2. H e mi ght lHt \' e succeeded. llc had tried.
3. Yo u are truthf ul. You will be bclic\'ed.
·!. ~ c ud for m e . You want m e.
r.. You do n ul so w. You cannot exp ect t o reap.
Ii. You are \\'ak in g. C:tll m e earl y.
7. I will co m e with yo u . You \\' ish it.
8. \V e had known you we re in town. W e should have called on you.

(b) By means of though or although.
(I. Th e man was cont ented.
H e was pou r.
10. The littl e girl ha;; travelled much . ~ he is young.
11. The s tory is tru e. You do not hcli('H' it.
12. H e ~pok e th e truth . H e was not ucl ieved.
13. It was rath er cold. The Llay wits pleasant.
14. He is often t olcl o[ hi s fault~ . H e does not m e nd th em.
15. Hand joins 1 in hanu. Th e wicked 1;hall not go unpuni oh cd.

H. The boy was readin g. Hi s mas ter came up.
·l. Tho m oon rose. Th e s un Jrntl sl'i.
''.· 1t is no w three m on th s. We Ji cn,nl from our couti! i1.
11. Do n ot go out. Th e s torm has abated.
7. The man arriv ed. We were speak ing of him .
tl. 1 remembe r th e house. I was born .
D. I know a bank. The wilt1 th ym e blows.
10. Th ere is t he field. Th e m oney was found.
11. Tho workman did n ot h ea r. He was culled.
l '.! . H o goos out riding. He can fiml tim e.

b. S 11,pply tli c omitted cla nses :-- · . Ill } . poo1. ,l .. g
Tr The
. \ tree
· · is. still lying where . . . . 'Vhorc\·cr · · · · "as
11).
~11\rnm came after . . . . My broth er cam1ot sVty till
'l'l
111orch11nt ha~ l.ief'n h ere since
<Jo wh ere
:-:; ' · 1 · · • • · l l!
whcro . .
fit . ·t · l . · · ' · ,
· · · · ' rn oo t 1 r ull 8 the wa te r
,. .
· · • ic s 11yc.t ti 11 • • . • Th e lioy lms workr;tl hard s iiwe . . . .
\\
be pl
'l' Jie t i.a m
· Jlit<1 go ne
1 ,c Hhnll
.
, ' eased
. to .sec you . when ever . . . .
l< fo1o · . . . lhe littl e g irl was ti reel after . . . . "I·]·
.1.., a. \.e 11ay
. w h'l
l c
· ·
1 c corn a s [ = while] . . . .
G rccn \l' l\S ti

24. Sentc11ccs ma.y be combineu by means of Hclali Ye Pro11onns, thus:Scpa_1_·a_1_c_s_c·_
n_tc_n_c_cs_._ ___ I

(c) B!J mccms of because; also U!J mccins of ayancl since.
l G.
17.
18 .
l '.J .
20.
21.
22.

I came. You called m e.
I \\·ill s tn.y. You wi sh it.
The dog co uld not enter. 'rt1e hole was too small.
You arc tir ed. You may rest.
1''recly we se r ve. W e freely love.
Th e hi reli n g fl eeth. H e is a hi relin g.
W e lov e him. H e fir s t loved u s.

23. Sentences may b e combinel1 by mc:ans of Conjnn ctivo
Auverbs (such as ichcre with its compounds , also when , whence,
ic/i!) ), and of Conjunctions of Time (such as after, before , while,

ere, till, until, since) .

Exercise 26.

a. Combine , b!J means of one of the wonl::; gwcn w tlw last
pa ratj raph, lite f allow ing sets of sentences :1. This is th e place. J\Iy brother work s.
2. ::\lary wen t. The lamb was sure to go .
' C1Ja11 g" Jv i11s in to th e Suhjuo cti,•e ~toad Mtcr tho" 111.

l. 'fhnt is the boy. The boy broke
the window.
:.! . That ii; the m a n. The rnan 'o
window Wl\S broken.
ii. i\lary is the girl. You want Mary.
·I. This is the houi:;e. Jack built the
h ouse.
G. Th e k ni fe Wl\S lost. The knife
cost three shillings.

Comb i ncd sw tcnccs.
1. 'l'hat is the boy wh o broh the
win\low.
:l. T hl\t i:i t h e man wh o:;(; wiiH1ow
wa i:; broken.
3. Mary i~ the gi rl wh om you wa nt.
4 . This is the house th at Jack liuilt.
5. T he knife wh ich
three i:;hilliugo.

wa ~

Jo st

co ~ t

Exercise 27.
of

Combine, as 'in the examples jnst gi ven , th e j ollozcino
;;

sentences:~

Jhll

rs

1. The boy is cry ing. Th e boy is c:illed 'l'om.
2. The man was hurt. The man is bet ter n ow.
3.
grocci: luis sent fci: the police. Th e grocer' s goods were stolen .
4. lhc duh1 is very naughty. The fath er pun ish ed th e chilJ.

;[:he

l,OA CJJ..JNS' SCHOOL CON! 'OS /'lJ 0,\1

}l_i

1~

I

------- - - -- -··-· ---- - ---- - - - ;;. 1\1y un cle ga ve m e th e Lu ok. Tl1 c buuk is 0 11 the ta U c.
1l . Tl.,ic hortic ~ot:::l wc1l. I 1Jouoht th e l iPr sf'. ,
7. Th e lady sin gs beau t ifully. Yuu ~.:.: i h ..: hdy.
R. The di.d not h ea r th e preach er. Th ey " cnt to hear the i 1rc1tch er. _,
y
·
k' 1
l · · · You -~cc the o••cntlcmau s
~-,. T li" gentl eman is very ·rnl to t ic i• uo l.

(2) J\fr . .Ton es liw1l n r·a r 11i s fath r· r 's h ou se .
] 1o l hi ' \ill

ilt

1 •

(:1) l\fr. Jon es li vetl
a hou se on t he hill.

JH:lll'

27. Th e mi spl ac in g

hou se.

10. I lirin· ju;;l bought nn ovcrcoril.
11.
l~.

13.
11.
l:~ .

lh.

17 .

Th e overcoat is waterproof.
T he tree was a ch es tn ut. The wind bl ew the tree d own.
T om hall just b ee n ::;iven th e shill iug. ll e los t it. .
.
The boy drove 11 ,vay th e bircls. Th e birch> wer e eatmg the corn.
Tho g irl is very clever. You m et h e r Lrothcr.
Th e d or• fet ch ed the binh. lts rn:ts ter hml shot th em .
\Yh crc is the book'/ You borrow ed it.
The cow has Lee n found . It wa s lost.

]\"in:: nnl H·a lthy

j,,. t ,,, .1; : L

lii s fath er 's 11 uu :;t·, Lc-in g u nlt< ·::llliy.

H e: lu <>l:

\)i!l.

or Llie

stop,; may rnal; e

ll 011Sl'll~e

nf n.

sentence.
Tlrn s t.l1 e sP11tence
Ciesnr rml.t1rr·1l. nn hi :; hPri<l hi s hr-1111 <•l , on !Jig feet
hi s Lrnsty Hword, in hi ~ <'F ' an rrn gry 1; l1ire

s nn tbl ~ , in

hi :; ha111l

may Lccom e
Cws:tr r ntcrc <l on hi s li eall, bis h elmd on his fed, s1 t11 ll 1Ll~ i11 hi :; li a11tl,
his tru sty sw on1 in hi s eye, an a ng ry glare.

The lrn,rbe1"s sign a bo h uc1 two mc1u1 ings uceu nling to its

i11111('t1 i:t -

Lion,-

PUNOTUATION. 1

( 1) Wh at do you th ink?
I sl1ave you for n ot hi ng :111<1 g i1c yo u n 11rink.
(2) Wl1at ! lJo you thi11k
I shave you for no thing a11t1 i;iYc yo u a drink?

25. If th e proper stops are left out, tli c m ean ing of a sentence
rnay be c1ou\Jtful.

Tm::

T hus th e se ntence
John Dul;e o f Buckingham" 1ias gone on

a vi s it to his cou sin Cl corgo

B ish op of La unceston

B ish op of Launceston.

.
, ·,;t to hi s cous in (3corge
(2) J ohn Duke , of Buck1n gha111, ha s gone o11 .L '1 . 1

Bishop, of Launcest on .

26. ~imilarly the sentence
:\Ir. Jon es liv ed near hi s father's hou:>c l.ieiug unhealthy he took a hou se
t he hill

may mean
lt

(1) Mr. Jon es lived n ear.
ho use on the hill.

His father's liouse being unh ealthy h e took

t . f Johu Du ke o[ Buckingh"m, when
, A ncw s p;l pc r rece ntly reported Un· b::rn~r~1~cJ o
,

, :-;,.c . :S ote8 for T cllcl1c rs, ' Kotc 2.
tl ic

28. A Full Stop is placcJ a t tli c end of every se n tcnc (

1

•

1

Exercise 28.

may m e::tn
. .
.
.· G , .,. 0
(1) Joh n, Duke of Duckingham, has go ue o11 a n s1t lo hi s cou ~ 111 cot o '

OU

FuLL STOP.

\Jankrnpt re<\lly ""''-"John lJu k c, uf Buckwg

ill

Insert fnll stops where wanted. Place a cap ital lclla nflc r
each.
a. The old nrnn was sit t ing und er a tre e lh c hou se wa s burn ecl the rn se"
were scatteretl by th e wirn1 th e carpet wa s Lcatc•11 th is mornin g tl1 e 1111111-.·r
was bit ten by a sn n.kc t hat book is likt: d Ei1 g la nil wa ~ cr111• 1u c r u l liy \\'il li1Ln 1
the corn was ground Ly the lllill c r the fath e r \\"aS callc tl by a lillle g irl the
cheeses were eaten by mice that fi sh is caught with n 110ok il 1c J!o wL'rs 11·erc
gath ered by Elkn t hat carvin g i:; much ntl111irc·t1 the hly wa,; near ly
stunn ed sn ow had newly fall en th e s un lwtl ju :;t ri s(· n the: J11oun " "" a!im1st
setting Amelia is always read ing Nell y h :u1 oft en tlriv cn the h or se tli c 111 •ck
has rp1ickly gone th e bell s were m erril y ring in g \\' illy prctent1et1 to iJe r.
bear Fred to!J hi s b roth er to keep the kn ife ll1 e p c:opl c we re going to li t·ar ;i.
lecture Eth el can play tl1 c violin th e m c;;sc nger mu st r c·t 11rn :it once tl10
' See pnr. 11.

IONC/l!ANS' SC.TJOOL C OM!'OS!T!ON

PUNCJ'UA TJON

hunter wants to find a fox this lesso n must be lea rn ed the children ought to
m ind their books th e lad dared not m eet his m aste r the smilh h ea rs his
daugh ter sing the mother let the girl go home Frank docs not want any
h el p the rn.in may leave off soon we might expect th at th e keepe r makes
the lions obey learn to obey listen to the band attend to your work try to do
well hope for the bes t open th e door shut the wind ow wash your hands lend
Thomas a p en mak e haste go to school at once h elp m e to work thie
Pxcrcise .
b. 1 The celebrated Rabelais was once staying at an inn a long way fr om
Paris he wante<l to go to Paris he had not enough m oney to pay his trav el.
Jin~ expen ses h e got so me brickdu st or this he mad e three little parcels on
the fir st h e wrote •Poison for th e king' on the second he wrote ' Poison for
the kin g 's son' on the third he wrot e •Poi son for the king' s broth er'
h e left th e parcels on th e table th e landlonl snw th em t hPn h e se nt lo the
king's mi n is ters th ey ordered a m essenger to fetc h Ht1belais t h is was what
h e expecte<l in Paris h e was known h e was proved to be no trai tor his trick
was di scovered .
c. The celebrated Rabelais was once staying at a rem ote country inn h e
wi shed to go to Paris but had no money to pay hi s trnv cll ing expen ses h e
therefo re hit upon n. plan of tra vell ing at th e exp ense of the govc rnmrnt out
of bri ckdu st h e made up three little parcels on the fir st h e wrote 'For the
king· on the second 'For the kin g's son ' on the third •For the kin g's
brother' th e landlord seein g th ese on the tabl e where they hr11l bee n purposely left sent word to the king's ministers they onlcrell a messe n ger to
fetch the traitor wh en h e reached Paris h e was recog nised hP. pro\'ed that
h e was no traitor and his trick was disco vered .

long yellow h a ir. Th eir look s drew h.i8 attt· 11 tiu11 And llll'il'
i:;tress moved his pity. He asked. To what n ation t.hr·y b"l~ngc,J. An,]
wa s told . That they were An 0r•les. l'J
1 J
I
l
l en ie rncw.
That th ry WNc
ic11l 1 e~.s. An.cl was grieved. To find t hat. T hough so like to anr,els
I~ Jth.cn lovelmess and their innocence. They h ad not Ji canl Of0 tJ · .
•O rn whom
He believe 1 H
1 d
·
ie
.
(.
e reso ve that h e would go to th eir land
~o11 dt~ach the. p eople the religion of Christ. Re a sked t he Pope for I . . •
it was give n. But the Homa1.1s loved Gregorv. An<l bC''" 'e l ·un .e.
b" l
·
,
h.., < 1um so
t'arncs tly T
. ·
o a 1c? wit1l th em. That h e consen ted. JJut the desi re to
~)onvci t: The English was still strong within him. And wh en h e bee run e
~po himself. He sent Augustine and. Forty other mon'·s As 111· .
ancs to th em .'
"··
· iss10n.

Except in s.nch cases, a note of in terrogation is alwnys fol.
lowed by a cap1tnJ letter.

Exercise 29

. 31. Caref1tll?J observe the full stops and notes of h1 lerrogat inn
rn tlic f ollowing:-

18

Correct the pnnctnation.
a. A farm er had several so ns. Who used to quarrel with one an oth er.
H e tri ed to cure them of thi s b:ttl habit. By p ointing out how fo ofo:h and
wi ck ed it was. But h e found . That h e dill n o goo d. By tn.lkin g to t h em.
So on e tlay h e la id a bundle of sti cks before th em. And h e lm<lc th em
hreak it. The eld est p ut out all h is strength. But in vain. Th e oth er
so ns tried in turn. But th ey all failed. Then the fath er. Un ty ing the
bu ndl e. Gave his sons th e separate sticks to break. An d th ey broke them
eas ily. 'Rem ember,' h e said, •the lesson . Whi ch thi s bunLlle teach es.
'Vhil c you h elp each other. None can harm you. Wh en you r1u arrel.
You are easily hurt.'
b. Some time before. H e was made Pope. Gregory pass ing through
thf> marke t at nom e. !:iaw for sale a number of beautiful chilLlren. With
• Sec' Nute' for T cachors; Note 3,

!<)

~air skins a nd

1

C

Tm~ NoTE m'

IN'l'EIUWGATION.

. 29. Every direct 2 question is followed by a Note of Interroga~11on ; as , 'H~w do you do? ' ' Whon did you soo your father?•
suppose, sir, you are a doctor ? ·
30. Sometimes a question forms part of a larger sente nce, as,
They pnt th eir huge innrticulate question • Wh 11 t 1 .
•
c o } on m ra n to do
111 a manner audi ble to eve ry reflective soul in the kin~d o m.

with us? • ·

A Paris fo rtune -teller Wits arr est ed a nd bron<>ht bot .

.

lie said to h er , You know how to r eatl th e "r11t111·e· ~1? a'nl111gl1stra.tc;
• Tl
k
"
·
• n Rtr
you ·now wlrn.t senten ce I mean to ]>ass 0 11 , .011 ? • • c· . ·t '. ' ••
·w1011
11 h
·
'··
,..
1a1 11· 1·\' ·
c• • w a t will h appen to yon?' ' Nothi n"'' • ) • Yt'B.' , Wh , 9 , , B
. · .
,..,.
on nrc sn r p of It:' •
, t ,,
l .J •
ecause if you had meant t o pnni~h m o Ylill \1·~11,1
i.o uo crue onongh to mock me.•

·

Exercise 30.
Insert f ull stops ancl notes of interrogation.
k

ll. IR U1 e gardenei· pruning th e trees has the baker been hero is ti
' lll·r liked were the pigs sold have the labourers been diggin g po;aw;,:

' Seo 'Notes for Tonche.rs.' Note 4 •
' The dill:creuco between ;lirect nnil i11J.irect will be expln in c•l in par. 11 .

I

----·-

20

f , ON(; MANS ' SCl.!OOl CO MPOS/ TJ {)N

l'UNC l'li.:l 'JlUN
were thosa roses cut to-day had th e gentleman l o~t his h at was the thi ef
caught is the water boiling ha ve th e girl s l<:' a rn <:' <l th eir p oe try ha:< tl~e
wind ow been broken was th e ~hip wrec ked h as the crew bee n ~a\·ed JS
Harry slilling h fl,S aunt called will fath er wait is day breaking sl1onld
sc h oln rs Jenrn was the baby sleeping is the moth er pleased \\"!I S Susa n
kni tting will Mr. Robin son sing has Frank started
b. A boy was go ing awny without hi s moth e r' ~ lerw e sh e eall C'11 after
h im •Where arc you going, sir ' 'To the village' ' What for' 'To bny
11 half -p enn y worth of n n,il s '
'And wlmt do you want a half·pcnn y wo rth
0[ nails for' 'For a half-penny'

THE

Co~nIA.

I/ - J J

32. The Comma is the most frequently used of all stops.
33. As a general rule, it may Lo stated thrtt when, in reading,
a slight pause is made, a comma should be inserted in writing;
thus : All the chiefs who founded T eutoni c 1lynast i0s in th <' co ntin ental provin ces
of the Roman empire, Al ari c, T heotlori c, Clo,·is, Alboi n were cxcce llent
Chri stians. The follow ers of ltla and Cerdic, on the ot her h n. n<l, broug ht to
th eir settlemen t in Britain all th e superst itiou s of the Elbe. While th e
German princes who reigned at Pnris, Tol edo, Arles.,and Ha venna li s tened
with reverence to the instru ctions of bishops, a tlorcd the relics of martyrs ,
and took p a rt eagerly in di spu tes touching the N icene th eology, th e rul ers
of W essex and !llercio. were still performin g savage rites in the templ es of
Thor and W otlen.- Macaulay.

Even !llilton , looking fo rl1is portrait in a spoon, must submi t to h nvc th o
facial nngl c of a bumpkin. - ( ;l'orge Fliol.
By d esiring what is pcrfl'c tly go od , even wh en w e tlon't. 11uit" know what
it is , and cannot do wh11t we would, we itrc part of th e d1n11 e pow er uga1w;t
cvil. - Jd.
Alm ost all th e flow ers, th e herbs.} and the fruit s that gro w in European
garclens are of foreign extraction, whi ch , in nrnny cases , is betrayed en: n by
th eir names : the appl e was a native of Italy, and \Yh cn th e Ho lli an s Imel
tasted the rich er tl avo ur of th e apr icot, th e peach , th e pomcg rnnat.c, the
citron, and the orange , th ey contented th em selv es \Yith apl'lying tu a ll th ese
n Pw fruit s th e co mmon denomination of appJ.>, 1liscrimin :i.tiu g th em from
each oth er by the adtli t.ional cpi th ct of t hci r conn t ry. - Ci ilihon.

·2 1

34. When a Noun or Pronoun in ApposiLion is very close] v
coon octod wiLh Uie preceding word, 110 co1111rn1 is n eeded , as, ·
William the Conqueror.
My cousin Fred.
Cromwell the Pro tecto r.

35. Wh en the connection is not so close , or wh en the worJ s
in n.pposilion are qualified, the phrase should ham colllllla s
Le fore and after, as ,
William'. the Norman conqu eror of England, lived a s tormy li fe.
111y cousm, the bold and gallant l~rctl, fell iu Ln ttlc .
Cromwell, the great Protector, di ed in 1G58.

Exercise 31.

Insert the necesoary commas.
N11 polco n th e fallen emperor was sent to St. Helena. I li ve in London
tho capirnl of Engbnd. The children love their uncl e Mr. Holmes. That
oo t was mad e by Drown the village tailor. It \Vlts th e la rk th e herald o f
lh morn . T om th e piper 's son stole a. pig. Frank th e jockey's leg i~
broken. Homo the city of the emperors becam n the city of th e popes. H e
'' II feels nmbition the last infirmi ty of nob le minus. Ju liu s Cw:;ar a grcut
It-Oman go uerul invaded Britain.

36. A Nominative of Address is marked off l>y coinmas, as ,
Aro you , sir, wni ting for anyone?

37. ohould the Nominative of Address lrnvc any quali fyincr

wor<l.s jollied to it, the whole phrase is marked off l>y com1rni.:;, a::;~
How now, my man of m ettle, what is 't you want?

Exercise 32.

l JU:crt the necessary commas.
0 Homeu wherefore nrt thou Homeo? In truth fa ir llfontagu e I am t uu
loud. 0 grave where is thy victory? I prlty you sire to let Ill e lrn\ c tlw
booour. Exul t yo proud patricians. l'ut 011 thy strength O Z ion. !lly
tame dear saint is hateful to myself. I am sorry friend that my Ycsscl is
tlru<ly chosen. 0 night and darkness ye arc wondrous strong. Good
mc.itruw HWe t Hui. Now my good sweet hon ey lord ride with u s to-u1 01Tuw.
(,'
111y nmstcrn let us share. For mine owu pa rt my lord I could lJe well
cr.wwukJ to Lo.., th ere.

L ONG:l!ANS' SCJIOOl C01i!!'OS!TiON

"

-

be marked off by commas , as,

A time there was, ere England's griefs uegan,
When every rood of ground maintained its man.
They set, as sets the morning star, which goes
Not down behind the darkened west.

- ----

PUNCTUA TJON
- -- - --

23

Exercise 34.
Snpply commas where neccssciry .

38. An Adverbial phrase or clause le t in to a, sentence should

Hi s story was, in several ways, improbable.
The letter was written, stran ge to say, on club paper.

-- - -- -

I met Freel Will and George. Faith hope and charity are the Chri stian
graces. The grocer sold four pounds of cheese t11·0 pounds of baco n an•l
s<ivon pounds of sugar. Little drops of 1rnter littl e grn. ins of s:11vl mak e th~
mighty ocean and the pleasant 11111,l. We cou ld ha,·c tea coffer coco:i
lemonade or ginger beer. The beggar askell f,Jr a piece of bread a glass of
milk or a few pence. The prize \Yill be 11·on by Smith Drown or .Ton es . Th n
first second third and fourth boys in the c la ~ s will be promoted . Ddorc
this disappointment Sir Tiogcr was what yon call a fine gc11tlcrnan ha tl
oft.in supped with my lord Hocheslr·r and f-;ir (; corge Etl1 crl'gc fou ght 11
duel upon his
coming to town an1l kickc tl l3ully Dawso n in 11 pub lit:
coffeo-housc. H e is now in hi s lift y-s ixth year cheerful gny iind hcartr.
l!iR tenants g_row ri ch his servants loo k sa tistic<l rd ! the young women pr~­
feHa to love hun and the young men arc ghvl of ltis comp11ny.
H e is :1 in itn
of probity wit aml untlerstandin g. Swift A1ldi son Defoe Sleek and Prio r ,
joined in the political s trife .

firs:

Exercise 33.

Snpply commas where nccessar!J.
You will h ear in the course of th e meeting a full account of the business.
T he story is how ever true. The wounded man is acconling to th e latest
n ews doing well. H e arrived in spite of difficulties at his journey's end.
He explains with perfect simplicity v:ist designs affecting all the governm ents of Europe. In France indeed such thin gs arc done. I will when I
see you tell you a secret. I hall till you told me heanl nothing of the
matter. There where a few torn shrubs the place di sclose the village
preacher's modest mansion rose. You may if you call again sec him. You
cannot unless you try harder hope to succeed. The little girl after she had
walked three miles '''tis tired. I was extremely pleased as we rode along to
observe the general benevolence. They had done so for some tim e wh en
as I was at a littl e di s tanc e from the res t of the company I saw a hurc pop
out. The hare after having squatted two or three times and been put up again
as often came still nearer to th e place wh ere she was at fir st ~ta rted.

39 . \Vords, phrases, or clauses of the same ];incl coming
after one a nother, must be separated by conmrns , except when
joined by Conjunctions, as,
L et Huf us weep, rejoice, stand still or walk
Let h i1n eat, drink, ask questions or dii; pute.
H er lower weeds were all o'er coarsel y patched
With dilI 'reut coloured rags, ul!lck, red, \Yhitc, ycllow. - Otway.
You may easily imagiuc to yourself what appearance l made, who am
pretty tall, rid well aml was ve ry well dres~c<l, at th e head of a whole
county, with mu sic before me , a feather in 111y liat and lllY horse ,rnll
bitt ed.- 11 <Ir/ iwn .

'Twas then great l\farluorongh's m ighty soul was prnvc<l
That in th e shock of charging hosts unmoved
Amidst confus ion h orror aml d Pspair
Examined all the dreadful scenes of wm·,
In peaceful thought the fi eld of <lcalh surr cyctl
To fainting s<1uadrons 8cnt the timely ai d
Inspired repulsed battalion s to cng11go
Ami taught the doubtful battle whe re lo rage.

40. A participial phrase is generally m:trked off Ly con11trns ;
ll.S,

The genernl, seeing his soldierti turn , galloped up to tlwrn.
The baby lying asleep, the chi ldren were very •1uict.

Exercise 35.

Insert cornrnas w·here necessar!J.
James leaving the country William was made kin g. The storm lm1-in g
abated the ships ve~tured to sail. H enry returnin g victorious the people
went forth to meet hun. My fri end Sir Hoger being n good churclm1an h as
lwnu~i fied the inside of his chun:h. The woma n being in great tro uble wa:;
wccp111g. F earing the storm \Y e re turned. The sun with ruddv orlJ
uceuding fills the horizon. His ri sing cares th e hermit spied. with

l'UNC'l'U.l TJO N

LONCAfANS' SCHOO L COM.I'OS/'/'/ON

- -- - - ----·----- - -- -- -- - -------

a ns wering cares oppressed. H ence in sil ence nnd in sorrow toiling still
\Yith busy haml like an cmignmt he \rand crcd seeking for tl1 c better Jani!.
I ha<l n o t been out of the sncl<llc for six 11nys havin g been at Eton with Sir
.John' :; cl 1les t son. Being bred to no bus in ess he ge nern.l ly !iYcs with his

. ---~

el des t b rother.

(/
rn

Exercise 36.

2.)

-

--~

R carl a:;ain Pars. 32- 40, awl 1:nscrt commas where necessary
the j ollowi11g sclltcnccs :-

In those di stant <lays Ins in nll other time~ ancl places wh ere the m r ntal
atmo sph ere is clrn ngi ng1hrnl ml'n nrc inhaling th e ~t i111ulu s of IH"v i.10nff'.,
folly often mi stook itself for wi sdoni- ignorance gave itself airs o f knowlcd g~ nd selfisl1ncss turning its eyes upward) callcd itself reli g ion .- C: corgc
Eliot.'
Th e captain who tlitl not fail to m ee t m e th ere at the appoint eq hou /yid
Sir Hoger fcnr nothing l'.for thnt h e h:ul put on the same S\YO nl which he
nrn<lc u se of at the b;ttle of !:itccnkirk. Sir Itoger' s se rvant s and among
th e r e~ t my old fri end th e butl e ~lia<1 I found provided th emselves with good
1
1
oaken plants to attend their master npon t11i s occasion. \\'h en we had
plac ed him in hi s coac h \\·ith m yself at hi s left lrnnt~ lhc capt a in befLirc him /
1
and the butl er at th e head of his fo otm en in the r ear, 1vc co11voy1_"l l1im in
,l1.fdy to the playhou se where nfter ha1· in g marched up t o llr c entry in good
onler,tllc captn in and went in 1vill1 him 1 and scaled h irn bct\\ ixt ns i n th e
p it. As soon a s the l1ouse was fulj n,ml the cani.ll cs li ghted , m y ol,l fr iend
stood up and look ed about him .. .. I could n ot but fa ncy to !llyscl\,as the
old man s t ood up in th e middle of th e pit that lie m ade a very prc>pc·r centre
/
to a trng ic amlience.- Addison.

I

Wh en I wa s running about thi s towi;i.,a very poor fc l low I wa s a g reat
a.rgue r for th e ndrnnt ages of p overty but I wa'Y at th e same tirn e H' ry sorry
t o lie p oo r. -· Julmson.
)
Goltbm1th ho1vevcr/'vas oftr n vNy fo1t11nate in hi s witty co nt csls,cven
h en he cnterell the lists \\itl1 J ohn son him ~c lf. Si r J oshua HPy nold s was
in co mpany with them one llnyJwhen Gold smith, im id that he thou g ht he
1
cou ld write a good fable m ention c,1 t.he simplici ty \Vhi cl'l that kiml of co mpo ·
,- it. io n rc•<1uires, and obterv ed that in mo st fabl es th e animals i11troducN1
•
I
se ldom talk in charncte1:.) for instance )said he,.' th e fable of t he little fi shes
wh o saw bir<ls Jly oYer th eir h cad s -.nml en1yi11 g tlw m1 p etiti oned Jupiter
Le chan ge d in to bird s . 'l'bc skill,' continued he ' co nsists i11 makin g them
tnlk lik e li ttle fis h es .' \\'hil e h e indul ged hirn sclr'in thi s fanciful re 1eri cI b e
"b"t' r n ,1 :ro l1nson sli nkin g hi s s icl es and lau ghin g. ' \\'liy, l_ir ..Johm;ou1 this
is not so (·;i sy as yo u SPc m to Uiink for if you wl:rc t o m:1h li t tle li ~J1,· s talk
they \1·o uld talk lik<· "·l1ales.' lJus{ccll.
/
\I

tJ

/

//,/
.

'l'HE SJ.:MI-C OLON .

41. IL mtty bu generally sta tcJ Llmt a Semi-colon is u:;ctl i 11 ;L
complex scuto11cc when a eonuna would uo t Lo <L :mllieil'JIL di\ is1011.

42. Co -ordinn,tc clauses or scntv nccs , c•spccially if uoL joined
by Coujunctions, n,re generally H·parated Ly semi-colo11s.
.z.;xm11plcs ''./ the use of :>cilii-cu!ons .
The !ir:;t. in lufti1u.::ss u f 11 1i 11.l "' l'J" '°'·'l ;
The n ex t in maj esty; i11 both th.c ln st. -- IJl!)<!c n .

M11ny a man lives a Lunlcn to th e cnrtlr; lrnt it guo11 book is llll: pn:c ious
li£e .blood of a master-spirit, embalmc<l an d trca smul lll' 011 i• ur)' usc lo a
life beyond life. -111 ilton.
All nature is but art unkn own lo th e" ;

All chan ce, <lirec tio11, \l'hid1 tho1 1 ca 11 "t 11vt "('";
All di sconl, lrnrm o11y , 11 ut 1111<1cr.;tuod;
All partial e vil univ ersal guod. - l'u1!c .

Exercise 37.

S11pvlv semi-colons where 11cccssary .

//

Miltun, it is s::iid, iul1erilccl what hi s i•re,lece:;sors crcalt'•l li e li1· cc1 in :w
enlightcnet1 age li e r ecei ved 11 tini slied <·du cation 111Hl w<· 1111 1>:!. 1l11· rdc•r1_•, if
WO would form a just estima te of ltis powers , m ake large deductio ns i1 1 co11 lid1irntion of these advantages .
Ho may believe in a moral se n se l ik e i:ilrnfleslrn ry h e may refe r a ll
liumnn action s to self-interest lik e l frhctiu s o r h e may n ever t h ink about
lb-0 mutter nt al I.
Ho gives us the sh:ipe, th e sou ud, the coluur, the slllell , tl1~ t aste h<·
ounts th e umnbers h e m ea su n.:s th e siic.
or the gre:it men by whom llliitu 11 ltatl bee n lli s tin guis h ctl nt li is cnt ra1 1cv
luto life some hnd been tak en away fro111 lit e evil to co11 1e w111 1; liail carri ed
i11 to fo reign climates th eir u11 co111111 crnbl e lrn i re11 of oppre" io n , 0 111" ,1·crL·
1.1ining in dungeon s and 8011 1e l1ad puuretl furth the ir li lou<l 0 11 8rnffol<b.
Th en pnlaecs shall ri se the joy ful so n
8hall tinish what lii ~ sh ort-l ived s ire beg un
'Their vinos a sli1ulc1 11· to tl u, ir race ~ hal l yi <'l •l
Ancl the same lia11<l that ~ uW1.; <l shall rvap t liL• ii·!.]. - } '1111c.

J 'UL TC T UA TION

LONCJ1/ANS' SCHOOL COJllr OSI7'JON
Hope humbl y th en with trembling pinion s soar
Wai t the great teacher, Death, anll God adore .- l 'opc .
Go, wondrous creature, mount where science gu iLlcs
Go m eas ure earth, weigh air , and state the ti clc:;
I ns tru ct th e planets in wlrnt orbs t o run
Correct olll Time and regulate the sun.-Ja .

Tim NoTI.:

01<' AmmtATION

ou. ExcLA~lATlON .

43. 'l'lio Note of Admiration or Exclamation i:; 11sctl
(1) After lnto1j cctions; as,

Alas ! h e is already dead .
(:!.) After a phrase in the nn,ture of an 11<1drcss or exchun11tion;

as,

Vital spark of heavenl y flame !
Quit, oh quit this mortal frame;
Trembling, h oping, ling' rin g, tl yin g,
Oh the p!iin , the bliss of dying !-J>opc.

(3) As a mark of surprise ; as,
Two aml two are five I
Prepare the way, a god, a gotl al'pcars l
• A god l a god! ' th e vocal hills reply.

Exercise 38.
.Inse rt notes of exclamation w here uccessar!J .
Alas h e is already dead. Alas poor Yori ck. Tnsh never tell m e th at.
\\' l:!Lt -d:i y it is but too true. Tut, tu t that is all nonsense . H ey come h ere·.
11 1'1>r a fal coner 's voi ce. Hurrah ou r side h as won. Bravo that was "·"II
dn 11 c. H ush the h:iby is a,;Jccp. }'ic A soldier anJ afrn iJ Ah th e cowanh.
Oh wha t beautiful tlowers H eigh-ho I 11111 tired of waiting.
Hush hush mec-ow rn ec-ow
W e smell a rat close by.
Hurrah, hurrah a single field lrnth turned. th e chance of war
Hurrah , hurrah for Ivry an d Henry of Narnrrc
H o maidens of Vienna ho matrons of Lucern e,
Wee p, weep for those who never will return.

INVElt'l'ED COMMAS.

44. A Quotation is sai<l to bo direct when tho oxnd won1:;
tll'c gi\'011; it is said to be indirect when the substance is gi\'l'11,
but 11ot tlio exact words; thus: -

- - - - -- -- - - - - -- - -- - - -- ------ ---JJircct quotations.
In dircc/. qnul" I i1111 s.
- - - -- -- -- ,_______ _ __ -- --.
1. l\fr. Brown said 'I am going
for a w1dk.'
~. l\lrH. Evo.ni; writes, 'I h opu
10 11co j 'O u soon.·
I.!. H o 111>kotl ru o ' What is yum
UIUJ.1 0

?'

1. l\Ir.13rown :m icl lw was g .. i11~
fo l' a Witlk.
:2. Ml's. Ev1ms wr ite s tltal ~1 1(;
hopes to sec us soon .
i.l. Ho ttskod 1uc whc,l wy mmw

was.

Exercise 39.
Tu.m the dfrect qiwtMions into indirect.
J ohn8on tiai d • I am n. very fai r judge.' 'I doubt tl1 c sto ry ' ol"Nwtl
Mni. Dcckctt. 'That was not '-!uite what I h:1c1 in my mind ' an s\\WC<l Lh c
wido w. •I am very tired' added Mr. Brown . ' Tliat is fa l~c ' we all sh outed.
·You mu~t bo a born fool' shouted th e old man to m e. 'You must be a
bom f ol' Bhouted the old man to h er. •You must be born foo l ~' sh out.c.l
lhc ol1l 1111111 to us. 'Our h ost is an inferior person ' h e remark ed. ' A re
1011 b.·ttcr? ' enquired sh e. Someon e asked ' Do you mean t o ,;tay til l to·
morro w.' 'Little kitten' I say, 'just an hour yon may stay .' •I'll h:1n•
th11l 111uuse ' said th e bigger cat. Bun r0plied 'You arc doubtless very bi g.'

45. A l1iroct quotation always begi ns wi Lh
11.u<l iti plucc<l within inverted comnms, thu s : -

a,

capital luLte r,

But his little daugh ter whispered,
As she shook his icy hand,
'Isn't God upon the ocean ,
J ust the same as on th e land?'

46. Tho titles of books a,ro generally placed. wi tlii11 invcrloc1
c mmus, thus :ll<·<oo wroto 'llobinson Crusoe.'
'fhnckcrny i ~ the au thor of • Vanity Fair,'' Pcndcnnis,' ' E smoud, ' 'The
l'iowcvmcs,' n.nd oth er novels.

L()j1;C ,Jl,·I NS' SCJJ OOL

PUNCTUA T!ON

CU. Jl!'OS IJJUN

- - -- - - - - - 47. Some printers place 111 t0 t<tli ons witl 1in tloulil e COlllllltl S ; thus ,

Exercise 41 .

The man said " Wh e re arc yo u goin g'? "

I'lacc all direct rpwt.atfons within invatct7
Exercise 40.

I Cllnn ot tell you th at replied the youn g mr~n ; it won1<1 not be fair to
IL waR n ot an s we red the other ; yonr hou se hn.s alway :-: sc·rn11«l 1;1; ,,
homo. But, s urely , argu ed the wicl ow it mn st I.Jc a corn fur l to fc·cl that. In

otlwr~.

Pla ce all di1'Ccl 1J.1lotatio11s with-in inverted commas .
Oh f:lrnrlcy, th is is too absunl ejac ulated 1\l ff. B Pc k ctt . Why, l'l.!r. Paton
mu sl be g<l ing m:J.tl exclnimcd Mrs. B eck d t. Oh tl e:n r I d cnr ! I can indee d
gn s pccl th o widow. 'J'h e b utl e r nnn oun cc!l l\l :ijor nml J\lrs . \\' r·l lin g ton de
Bouts. You \\·i ll g i\' c m y Joye to your m ot hl'l' wh e:11 you \\Till· ":1i1l J\Inry
wannlY. He sm ile:d a R th ough h e we re th ink ing I h a\'e it n ot to g ive. Th e
clck r ;.eplied I wa s , as u sual , unrortunnte. How naughty li e is sa icl h is
ni otlicr. Do y ou un t1crsta1ul th e ln. nguage of fl owe rs? cnc1uirc1l Uncle
] !a!pl1. Why , that is lightning excla irn t·d th e k night. Ju a n r cpli t:tl Not
wJ 1iJr. thi s arm is fr ee. ll c th o ug h t Th e boy will be h ere soo n . T orn brok e
in wit h Yo u llO not know wh orn I mea n . Il e \Yill >oon be back cont inued
)[r. Hrcokc . H emcrnb cr the l'rovNb Smal l strokes fell great oaks . Pro v ok ing sco undrel muttcn·tl the a 11ti1itmry. Ont \\'i th tho se boats and let us
h aste aw r1 y cried one. ll cart s o f oak ! ou r captains cr ied.

th(l num nlime ~ 11i1l Edga r I will wri te t o yon . A cu 1n mu11 rose, sa icl 1T11cl"
Jl&lvh. liko cvmmon Hen se and common h onest.y, is not so Yery cu rnm<>11.

Poor faithfu l ol<l 1fogg ie ! murmured l\I rn. Curri o, h e lhongl 1t 'l'a('I; -; 1\"t' n
burglnr. Cnpital h ou se d og ! murmured t h e colon1_:l; I sl11tll n c v.. r r.. r:" ·t
h ow ho ma.d o p oo r H c:wi sides run . Cloudy, s ir, s11i d th e col nno: I, ('\oud1·;
~io bt·for1i nwrn in g, I think. I don't see the ll og I bega n ; I sn1·1w"· yu1t
fo•m<l hirn nl! ri ght , tho other evenin g. Oh, rn1<;le, ple:v1Pll f .ili:111 ; don't

Wk lil!u thuL.
Littl e kitten , I say,
.1 us t. u.u hour you may stn.y.

Ai.:rocd, so.id Chin g, but let us try it soon :
::luppose w e say to -morrow afternoon.
Th ey ' re th ere , sai1l Chan g, if I see an y t hin g '
A s clear as daylight.

:')hoot, if yo u 111us t, this old g rey head,
13ut spare your conntry's flag r; h c sa id.

Jl !ay H eaven look down, th e oltl man cri('s
Upo n my son and o n hi s sh ip .

\\' h o touc!t rs a h a ir of yon grey ];cad
Dies like a dog. March on h e said.

H e woke to h ear his sentri es shri1·k
T o a.rrn s I T hey come! The Gr eek!

c11111111as.

Nay, Solom on r ep lied,
The wise and stron g should seek
The welfare of the weak .

Tli c Gree k !

OnL spak e th e v id or tli cn,
As h e ltai letl them o 'e r th e wave,
Y c are broth er s ! ye nre m en !
Aml we co nqu er bnt to sn.v c.

48. DOmciim es , in the course of a quot::ttion , word !.O aru
\\'lii c:l1 form 110 part of lli c quotatio11 ; tliu s,

i11 :0 L·rtc:d

' Out with tl10s c b oats a nd let u s h a:, tc away'
Cri ed one ' ere yet yon sea t h e: 1.mrk dc \·otll' ~ .'

Iii ;.;n ch ease s cn :ry separate part of th e <J 11ot a tio n is markcc1
off by inn:rtcd com mas . 1\ c:ap ital letter is placed only at tl10
l.Jcgi 1111iP g of th e c1 notali o n , or after n, full stop.

0 king 1 Bh e sn. id ; henceforth
The secret of thy worth
And \\'i stl om \1· 2 11 I know.

49. A quotation which occurs wi thin a <J.Uotation is rn:trb:d
by .louulo inverted commas ; tlrn!S,
Miriam

~tHI J.l

' The enem y srtid "I will p urs ue , I w ill owrta l;c', I will

J l\ido tho spoil." •

00. \Vlt on donLle invor to t1 commas arc n sc· tl f'llr an
talion,

I\

<11t ot11~i "n wiihin a quotation is rn arkc·tl

()nli11a ry qno -

li.v sin;;le i1n o n c·~1

CQUUJl{~S ; tJiH ~,

Mirinm Hnng "Th e en em y sai1l 'I \\'ill pursm\ I will o\'crta l;e . 'i 11 ill
d' tldo lht> µpoi I. ' "

30

LONGJl1ANS' SCllOOL CO MPOSJTJON

PUNCTUA T.!ON

- - - -- - · - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Exercise 42.

Place all direct quotatio11s within invertecl commas.
Say What do you want, Master Reed? was the answer. Mr. Brocklehurst
said \Vh en I ask him which he would rath er have, a gin gerbread nut to cat
o r a ver se of a P sn.lm to learn h e says Oh th e verse of a. P salm : an gels sing
P sal m s . He continued, On her return she cxcln.imcd Oh, 1l car l'apn., how
qni ct and plai n all the girls at liowood look. I shall r em emb er I said how
you thrust me back th ough I cried out Have mercy! Hnvc m ercy, Aunt
Recd. The father said Hem embr r tho proverb Keep not evil m en compimy
l es t you increase the number. But mid the lecturer you mu st note the
word s of Sh :ik espeare
Spirits are not fin ely touchecl
But to fine issues.
Th e t each er asked In what play do th e word s All the world's n stnge
occur? My sister writes in h er last letter Will you pl ease get me a copy of
th o song T ell m e , my h eart. In n poen-i on Dr. South preaching before
Charles II. we r eatl
Th e doc tor stoppccl, began to cal1,
Pray wake the Earl of Lauderdnle

Exercise 43.
[On nll stops.]

Insert the necessary stops and capitCll lct.ters.
a. Mr. Rich had much mon ey and little politeness he thou ght it ben eath
him to be civil t o tho se whom h e called th e common p eo pl e one we t day h e
wa s driving in hi s g ig along a turnpike road wh en he came t o the toll gate h e
en.lied out what' s to pay eightpence if y ou please sir said the kC'rper Mr. Rich
in stead of handing the mon ey rud ely tlung a s hillin g on th e muddy grouncl
and cried th ere take your change out of that the k eeper stooped for th e s ilver
and picke<l it up th en placing four penni es exactly on the same spot he
coolly walked back into his cottage.
b. Th e stnt.cment is beyond doubt true. Th ey se t out and in a few hours
arrived irt their father's . \Ve live in a n olcl beaut iful rrnd intcrc•s ting town.
Sir I believe you. H e is gu ilty of the vice of coward s fal sr h oo d. Tho horse
tired with th e long gallop could go no furth er. Yes I am cornin g. Nay you
arc wrong. Philosophers assert that nature is unlimi ted in h er operations
that sh e hn.s in exhn.u stible treasures in reserve t hat kn O\Yle <l ge will always
be progr essive and that all future generations will continue to make discoverie s of which we have not the least iclca. Th e pride of wealth is con·

t.,mpt ibk') t ho pri1lo of learnin g is J)i tiabl ".\t110 pride of 1lign ity is ritl i cul o u~
liu th o pri 1le o! bigotry is in supportable. How hon onrnble the pursuit s ,o[
th1• i<o'.i<I. n11rn. Noverth cl<'ss 8tran go stories got n.bou t. In :t few cl rrys lii~
lor•IAh1p ~ tow11 h ouse\was observed to be on Jire. Give m e !\foste r Zimmer.
tu HI I\ ~ympath ctic solitude. The chief mu st be colonel -Y i is uncl e or his
broth nr must ho mnjor the taeksm en must be the captai ns. On hi s tomb
w-u lho in~oriptiot1 r?t·e li es an honest man . Th e man havin g sl ipped k l!
over \}10 olitY. Tho goneral havin g rnlli ecl his solrliers -.,led th em fonrnnl.
Tb 110ldior nfra id to m eet h is irnnishmcnt <lcscr tecl. Nelson's las t si,,nal
WM En~lnn~ xp<;c ts ovory mnu to do hi s du t?'· He was a wc:tlthy,pruJcnt )
llCli• 11.nd kmd man. When you have fini sh ed your wo rk ">you m ay go
h&1.~ o. Hope lho bnlm of life soothes us under every mi sfortun e. Trnth
(~!om 11.nd virtue nro the nobl es t possessions. Thon M't h e but ah h o\\'
f.tJ. ·n. Th Lor,\ 11:iid nnto Satnrl'Whcncc comest thou.

fll this the gr oy-haircd wanderer mildly said
'l'ho voioo which we so lately overheard
•t,le th twanging horn. 0 what a fall "·ns t here my coun trymen Oh
1 hat worlh ao abort I\ date These onlinnnces therefore wero n ever carri ed
lnto lull ex.eeotio~ . Such inquiry ncc ord in g to him was ou t of the ir pro~ Th conll1ot Wl\S tcrr ibl it wns th e com bnt of de spair again s t gri ef
u.l l'ai,'il. Old and young rioh a nd poor wise arnl foolish were i11Y ol vccl in

u:e t uin.

Confess th em with an hum}~le lowly p enitent and obc1lie 1~t h(·llrL.
\\ ho oan tell t ho number of the stars '. Try not the J1n.ss th e olcl m a n said.

Oh •lAy lh lll t\ i<l on said and r est. Nnthn.n sn id unto Davi•l Thou art tile
tna.t1. ~ugland with all thy faults I love thee s till. Huma n happiness h :i~
ah•"Y• 11.ii nlintern ents. The brightest sunshin e of success is n ot \l'ith ont a
e.WuJ. I forgot_ wheth er aclvico ho nm on g the lost things which Ariosto sap
. y be; found in the moon th a t and time ought to have been tl1 erc. It
•ttJ.H in p11rt nt leas t from th o same cau se. Chan ge snys H ooker is not
ithout lnoonvcn iencc even from good to bettor. This al~o had uc<'n inqioectoo. by Todd. Charge Ches ter charge on St:tnley 011 Oh thnt I hn.d
wi~'ll lik e n dove Can you com e wi th m e to-morrow Any news from
homo
·

J.ONC,1/ANS' SCHO Oi . CO,l!!'OS I JION

E.·I S

N ANA'.·I TIVES

-- - ----- ·-- ----- --- - -----·
Th e following senten ce

51. When writing a story which you have reacl or heard,
observe the following directions:(1) Heforo l>cgi nning to write, tl1ink ov~r Ll1 0 wltolo s~or~, ~o
s nro llin.t yo 11 rcmornhor itll tlte L)Otn lci , arn1 tl1 0 oulot m

Nc,.,lect
of this direc tion may cn,nsc yon to omit son1c tl 1i11g or to put
0
in tlw wrong plac e.

(2) Ucforo Legin11mg
·
t o ,,Tito each sentence, arrange the
wl1 ole of it in your mind.

.

M one indifferen t whrit th ey s hould do witlt him.
\ Vith out so much as
moving for mercy or even fo r a delay he di tl so effcctn;tlly prr vai! on tl1cm
that they recommen ded him to th e k ing as a fi t obj ect fo r mercy.

(4) Use no word of which you llo not know tlt o exact moan -

ing.

I am des ired to inform th e Court of Aldermen th at l\Ir. Al <le nnan Gill
tlic<l last ni ght b!J order of lifrs. Gill.

lhe air.

.,

Th e \\'(JnlR printe<l in itnJics could not hrn e Lee n in tho mine~ of the
• Cl' \V·] 10 11. Jl c be""'
them after
Wl'lt
n" Jl ' or h e \\· ou h1 h arn i11aceJ
.
, .
,d csir cll, or
1bcttcr s till) he w ould h a ve sai<.1' I am c1cs11"e<.1 by Mrs. Gill.

B c\\'n. rn uf using a ·11 rl n1H1 so t ou ofte· n ·
the· fo ll owi n g :-

Neglect of th is rule led som eone to write : The music was completely drowned l.iy a tre mendou s ovation 1 wh ich rent

(5) Do not use long words if yon can fi n d short ones.
The barber who al1v cr tise d himself a s '11 firi:; t.class tonsori a l n,rtist
and facial operator,' mennL o nly that ho c o11 l11 cnt ha ir and i; han wc·ll.

(G) Arrange the different parts of each sentence so that tliey
eonvey the meaning which you int ornl .

(8) ]\fake short sentences.
A\'Oi<.1 fntch

:t s entence

as

On ce npon n. time th ere was.a fox nnd h e wrnt i1_1 to rt vin r ynrd an<l tl~ ~re
m n.iw bn 11 ch cs of beaut iful r ipe (.:rrLpcs han ging on lll gh nnd I~ ttuc<l
t~
the;11 n.nd h e could not jump hi gh enougl'. an d so h e turnc o go
nml sn. id ' It docs not matter; th e grap es arc sour.
h.

tl111 s : -

hi s own errors n nd t h o ill 1;pi ri t th itt h o wa s i11 wh,·11 li t• c•i11 1111ilt111l th e l11i11 i~"
that were charged on him. JJ c spoke wit l1 so lt' l1!le r a sentic th at h o s1·cmvd

nr"ll'd thi s din·ct it1n y on rnn,y fintl that the scco nc1 p art of n.
Oll" OC' S 1.c u'lt•
\Vi t h ll10 fir8t ' Or t]iaL •you cann ot fi ni s h n,t n.Jl a
~ r· nt e n.\ce
J
se n lon cc : uch cLS yo u ha.Ye Leg nn. H er e i R an e xa mpl e :)

senten ce~ .

With a sort o( eloqucmce that mo ved t he wh ole Hon se h o <li1l lny 111 1t :di

~ .. melhin~

n

fh11lt ..., h0s it1 es its Je11gtl 1: ..

It is n,mornled som e what by tli1·i sio11 into short er

i ii: i 1'e

lr

~c rr rnl

Ho [Bwinton) di d witl1 a so rt of c·loq ncncn th11 t 111 ow<l th e whole !Iou ,;c
lay out all his own errors a nd t he ill spirit h e wa~ i11 wh en he c"1rnnittrd
th e things that were charged on him with so ten11er a sem;c that h e scc111plf
as one indiffe rent whnt they shou ld do \\'i th him, an cl wi tho ut so much ns
moving for mercy or even for a delay h e di,! so clfocl ually p revn il 011 tl 1c· m
t!tnt thoy rncommend c·<l him to th e kin g as n th ol.ijcct of hi R nH:rcy . - BonNF.T : History of his 01rn Time .

EASY NARRATI V ES . 1

,·,l1id1 th ey come .

J 1;1>:

The following sen tence is bntlly arm11gc1l : lie tells stories which J\Iountain would !Jc shocked to h ear aft er dinn cr.T11Ac1rnnAY: 2'he Virg inians.

~ n.w

i: ;n.ch

Mountain would Le s h ock ed to h ea r th em at uny time.
Uw author 's m eaning th e sentence shonlc1 lie : --

A.!ter dinner h e tel ls stories wh ich i\Ionntni n would be shoc ked t o hea r.

Such a sen te nc e ought to b e c1ivit1ct1 into se veral; thus: -A fox once went into a vin eyard . There h e saw many bunch es of beauti. e "rapes Jian gm
· g 0 11 hi.gh . H e tried to reach them, hut
ful rip
. found
'
d that hot
coul<l n~t jump hi gh enough. As he turned to go h e ~a 1 1l, It ocs no
matter; th e grap es are sour.'
1

8cc

' Note~

for 'l'cacl_i(: r:>,' !\ot c C> .

To con \' oy

(7) When you have written your sto ry, always read it over,
and correct all the mistakes which you can fi nd.
.A Homn.n g eneral comi ng hom
e vi c tori ous wa~ grnntr··l th e 11onow· of n ' t riumph ' or
1
lbe lower honour of nn 'ovatiu n, in which a s!t<•cp ' (Lati n. ol'is) wn::i sa c ritlcrd. ll uw l\1 1
•••Uonhlc
couto
ld say.
Uc tremendon !:I, how it eoulU renJ t LlL' air, or il0w it could Jrowu m 1b ic i ..;
lell>Olllli
1

D

LON G/J!ANS ' SCH OOL COMPOS /7'/0 N

34

EASV NA RRATJT 'ES
· -- - - - - - -·-

SHORT S TORI ES

T he F alse Alan n.

to be read carefully, and then written from memory.

A sheph erd boy WM tcn rl ing h is fl oc k nea r a Yi !lagc. 8 c1·crnl t im es h e
cried' Wolf I' wi tho ut ca use, and wh en t he v ill a ge rs ra n to h .. !p !t irn h e on !r
laughed at _them fo r th e ir pa ins. At last a wolf rr a lly d irl co m e, arnl the bo;·
~lled out _m ea rn es t. T he ne igh bours h eart! hi m , liu t , t h ink in i.; h e wa s at
his old tri cks, they too k n o n ot icr, an ,] m a ny shcq > were kill ed . L iar' art•
not beli eved even wh en th ey spea k th e t ru th.

The F ox and the Goat.
A fo x t hat had fall en into a well tr ied in vain to ge t out a gain . By-and.
by o. '' oa t ca m e t o t h e place to quen ch h er thirst. See in g the fox below sh e
a skc rl if th e wo. lc r wa s good. •Yes .' an swer ed th e cunn in g creature,' it is
~ o good t h tit I cann ot lea ve ofT dri nk in g.'
Th ereupo n th e gou t, wi thout a
m oment's thou ght, jumped in . Th e fox at once scrambl ed on h e r back and
g ot ou t. Th en , look in g down at. th e poor fo ol, h e sa id cooll y, ' If you had
half a s mu ch bra in s o.s beard, you would look before you leap.'

The Vain J ackdaw .
fea th e r ~ an<l stuck them amongst
hi s own. T h en h e le ft hi s ol d compani ons a n d boldly went amon g st the
pea cock s. They k new him a t once, in spite o f hi s di s~ ui se ; so t l~ cy str~ppe d
off h is borro we d plumes, p ecked him well , a ntl sent him about his busmess.
H e wen t back t o th e cl a ws a s if nothi ng h ad h a ppen ed, but th ey would not
allow h im t o mix wit h th em. If h e was too good for t hem befor e, th ey were
too good fo r him now. Thus the silly bird , by t ryin g to a ppear be tter than
h e was , lost his old fr iend s with ou t making any new ones .

A vain jack daw found s om e p ea cock s'

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The A nt ancl the Grasshopper.

O n e fro sty d a y a grassh opper , ha lf dead with c old and hun ger , knocked
at th e d oor of an a n t , and begged fo r som e thing t o cat. 'Wh a t were you
cl oin « in th e su m m e r? ' a sk ed t he a nt. •Oh, I was s in gin g all the time.'
• The~ ,' sa icl th e an t , 'if yo u co uld s in g all t he summer y ou may d a nce all
t he wint er.'

Th e l Vo lf and th e L amb.
A \\·o lf, com in g t o o. brook to dri nk, sa w a lam b s tandin g in th e s tream ,
som e di tit nn cc d own . H e mnd r up h is m ind to ki ll h er, a nd at once set
11liou t fi nd ing an e xc use. '\'il la in,' h e sa id,' h ow d a re yo u d irty th e wator
wh ich I am drinking ? ' 'I'li c la mb a n swered meekly , 'Hir, it is impossible
fo r me t o d irty t h e water whi ch you a re dri nkin g , beca use t h e strea m runs
from you to m e, not from m e t o yo u.' ' B e th at a s it may ,' r ep li ed th e wolf,
• you call ed m e bad n a m es a year a go.' •Sir,' p leaded the la mb, 'you aro
mi stak en; a yeo.r a go I was n ot bo rn.' 'Th en,' sa id th e hungry beas t, 'if it
was n ot you it was your fath er, and th at is a s ba d. It :s of no u se trying to
argue me ou t of my s upper.' Ther eupon h e fo ll upon th e p oor creature and
fltc h er u p.

1Vlw t the Dea r S(( tcl.
As two fr iend s were t rn 1·r ll ing t h rnu g h a woo•l , a bea r rn s h ed u ut upim
~hem. On o o f th_o nH:n , with ou t a th oug h t to h i~ com pa ni on , c lirn b(·d up
mto n. tree, and h1tl am ong t he Lnrn ch t:s. Th e ot hc·r, know in g t hn.l n.l onc li e
had no chance, th rew hi m self on th " g round , an•l pretended to be ,]end ; fo r
ho bad heard th n.t boo.rs will n ot ton cl1 ii 11ca1l bo,Jy. The cr<' it t ure cam e a utl
n~ilTod h im fro m h ead to foot , lmt , thi nking h i1 n to be lifeless, wen t away
without harmin g him . Then th e mo. n in t he tree go t down , and , h oping to
pass his cowardi ce off wi th a joke, h e sa id , 'I not iced that th e bear !t ad hi ~
mouth very close to your ea r ; what d id h e whi sper to you ? ' • Oh,' a nswerc<l
the other, ' he on ly told m e n ever to ker-p co mpa ny wit h th ose who in time
of dan ge r leave their frie n ds in t h e lurch .'

D ad Compa 11 y.
A form er wh o h a d just so wn hi s field~ placed a n et to ca tch t h e crn n t' S
that came to steal his corn . After s ome t im e h e wen t to loo k a t the net ancl
in. it he foun d several c ran es o.ml on e sto rk. ' Oh, :;ir, plea se spnro 'lll l' .'
w d the stork; 'I am n ot a c rane, I am an inn oce n t s tork , k ind to my pa rent;; ,
1.n_d - - ' . ~he form er would h eo.r no m ore. 'All tha t may be ve ry t rnP ,' h e
tatd , 'but 1t is no busin ess of m in e. I fo u n t! you a m ongs t thi e ves, a rnl you
must suffer with them .'

Mercury and tlie Tl ·oodmcn.
~ wooclman was worki ng bes ide a d er- p rin·r wh en Ii i:; a xe s li1 1ped, nn l
foll 111!0 t,ho water. As th e o. xe wa s h i~ livin g , h e was Yc ry so rry to l o~e it ,
1

t.n<l 8flt o_n the ba nk t o weep.

l\Iercury , h t:a r ing h is c ries, appca rc 1l lo hi m ,

1.11.J. fmd mg wha t was the matter, d iY cd , a nd brough t up a g0lrJ,•n nxt'.'. • Is
thii the one which yo u los t ?' asked lh" god . 'No,' sa id the woodm n.n .
Then the god dived a second t im e, a nd Lro ll gh t up o. si h ·cr ax", and asked if
I.bat. was. the one.

The woodm a n a ga in an s wered ' No.' So J\I erc ury di ved
brou gh t up t he a xe which hiid bee n los t. • Th, 1 t
. tttln?,' cried the woodm a n joyfully. The g od gave it to h im , a11 1l prcsrnt c,l
hllll with the other two as a r ewa rd fo r hi s truth an d h onesty .

*Uurd tune, aud then he

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f. ONC.lUNS' SCJJO OI. CU, 11/'0SlTION
L ·J S Y N. -1/iR. I /J I "/:.'.'

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One of the woodnrn.n' ,,; n l' ighbonrs, h ea rin g wh nt ha<l hnppen cd, dcterrnin c·d to sec if h l' could not linve th e Hnm e goocl luck. Jl p went to the bank
of the riv er, begnn to fell n trf'e , purposely let h is nx e slip into th e water,
nncl then pr,,tcnd e<l to cry . l\[ercury appearcrl as before, dir etl , and brought
up n gold en axe. Th e man, in hi s eagern ess to grasp th e pri ze, fo rgot to act
ns his n eighbour h nd do ne ; so wh(•n th e gocl nsk c•l 'I s that yoms? ' h o
nn s wcrod 'Yes.' T o puni sh him for hi ~ lyin g and di s hon es ty, the god would
n 0ithcr give him th e gohlcn ax e n or find hi s own.

The Millcma·id.
A cou ntry maid was wn.lkin :.; to th e Lo wn to sell so nH· n1ilk, which sh e
c•arri c1l in a pitc h<' r 011 h er h end . As sh e "·c·n L al on g hh• · sai·l to h ro rscl f, 'I
hnv c aln:a<ly fif ty <'ggs nt horn ~; with t ho m on ey whi <: h I gd for my milk I
will buy fifty m ore. Tl1 esc hunclre<l r·1~gR cann ot fail tu brin g me nt least
l'ighty chickens. Th e ch ickC' ns will be ready for 111 arkd ju s t wh en poultry
is deares t, so that th f'y will s1• ll for a good s um. \\' ith th e m on ey I will get
m e a n ew gow n, anJ wh en I wear it at th e fair the young f._. ll ows will want
to dance with m e, but I will tnrn fr om each \\·ith a toss of th e h ead.' As she
said th ese word s s h e co nl <l n ot h elp giving h er hL·n<l a t oss , " ·h en flown fell
pitche r , milk, egg~ . pou ltry, gown, sweeth earts, and all. Count not your
ch ickens before th ey arC' hatch ed.

37

- - -- - - - - -- --- - - Croker'0 Cu11ccit.

Croker hau a very goo.] opinion of h i1n s, ·l f. OncC' , wh en h e was in tlw
company of the D uke of Wellin g to11, th l' ta lk t urn c,l u pc n th e battle '.
01
~V torloo, nod Croker act ua lly co ntmd i" Ll'd :;c ve nd of th e 8 tatem cnts rnade
Y th o ~uk.o. Afterwards th e DL'.ke spok e ahou t th e cOl'JlC•r cap~ which were
11...&I fo1 fiung musket s, and agam Crokpr [>ut h im ri .. Jit 'l 'J ·
t
I'
f ti .
.
.
n
"
11 8 up,;c t 1le
:,:~enc~ ~V t1e.t·eat sol<l 1cr, u.ud he c xcla i111 C'd , ' f n1ay kno w little about the
o
a e1 oo, Lut I ccrtarnJy do kn o11· ,;on1(;thiu g about copper cnp~ .'

One Good 'l'nm de0c:rccs . l 11otlt cr.
.A ~nmbriclge stude nt ~ent to a110tl wr ~ t11.J1 · 11 t to borro w IL book 'I
n i cr cn<l my books out,' was tl1e a nswer , . lint if Lh c gcn t k rnrl!l choo s~s to
c.>mo to my room s he may use ll1em there.' "\ few <lays ·1ftn th e ho 0 I
owner sent to th e oth er s tude n t to borrow n \iair of bcllow c ' , '
..
(.l
1 nc \c1 e nc
my bell
t•
r
~.
ows ou , rep ict1 h e, 'b ut if th e gen tlema n cliooscs to come to m
Y
rooms he may use th em th ere.'
_J

·wanting a Cc-ipaciL!J.
A rich but uned ucated woman, wh o li r.cl "cnt li ei·
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daughte r to a good
..... oo , cidlccl one day to as k ho w s he was n·tt i1w on
• Prctt . 11
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y 11 e ,lllal1a 111,'
•n•l\vru1 .10 governess ; 'l\11ss rs vrry nttenti1· c. If she wants an yt hin g it
I.I .4 .cnpa.c.·1ty for s tudy, but for that dclicic11cy , 1, 0 must not Ll a rnc h er.'
•N
1J• o, replied the moth er; ' but I blame ) "OU 1·0 1. not me nt ioni ng it hdorc.
r fnth er, thank goo dn ess ! can atror,l h er a CL'l)"ci·(,· arl ll
,
I brg thnt ~ h e
h
' u
auay ave one at once, be the pri ce wh a t it IUay.'
•
0

B ell the Cat.
Th e mice h dd a m ee tin g t o consi<lcr \Yhnt th C'y sh onl Ll tlo to save themselves from th e cnt. Se,·eral plan s were talk ed o\·cr but n ot one seemed
worth mu ch. At l a s t a youn g mou se proposed that n. little hell shou ld be
hun g round th e ca t's n eck , so th at wh cnen· r s h e was comi ng they would
hear h er, and could run into th eir h oles. Thi s propos iti on ,,·as much appl au ded, till an ol<l mou se, thitt hacl not hith erto spoken, n>' ke<l 11ui e t ly who
was go in g to bell the cnt.

Dr. Johnson and l\lrs. Siddons .
Dr. John so n always spok e scornfully of actors nnd actresses , but he
!rented th e famou s actress, Mrs. Siddons, with g reat polite ness . She called
on him , and hi s servant conld not r eadil y find n chair for her. 'You sec,
madam,' said th e <loctor ' wh erever you go no seat s can be got.'

Claer Ch£ldrc11.

)(

An ignorant En gli shman once vi sited rari s. Aft er hi s r eturn he was
talking to som e of hi s fri ends tibont th e woml c rs which li e hn.d seen . 'I was
most s nrpri sctl,' h e sai<l, 'with th e clevcrn rss of th e c:hi lilrrn. Boys and
i:'.irls of se ven or Pi ght. spoke French 11uit<.: ns easily as the children in this
country speak En g li sh.'

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L carm'11:1 R ewcmlcd .

A rich :armer sent hi s so n ton famou s universi ty. The young m a n was
~l~r ~~ol rnh, and brought hom e more folly tl1an learning. On <· ni g ht , wh en
Uu r~ ~c'. o two fowl s f~r su pper, h e said , ' I can prove these two fowl s lo be
. : Let us h ear, an s wered th e old m nn. · 'l'L is ' sa id th e <·I ] .
po ntrni; to the first '., . tl . . ,
. .
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• is one, H S, p orntu1 g to tl 1c seconcl 'i s two· nn l
hilJ ll ll J 0110 11J!Lkc tltrc ' Is ·
l
I
' < (
, . .
c.
m cc )'O Lt 1U\"e mnde it out so wel l,' r cp liet! the
lh r, .)"OU! moth er shull have the fir st fowl 1 I wi ll li " ve ll
d
1
ie seco n , am
"
k
l
.
~ ru Y ocp t 10 thml for your g reat learnin g.•

Dari11u a D atclunan.
A Dutch vcsi;ol and a n En gli sh vessel were JyiJJ " , .
1 h
"" th 1J I ·
.
o ncm cac 1 ot er.
One
o ule 1 sculors w1 sl1 cc1 to show hi s acLiYity so 110 ..
ti
i!'tood upon hi Hh ead on th
.
'
' ta n up io ma s t, and
n1
_
e top of i t. One of th e En glish sai lors (who did
~ lo be beate n by a Dutchman) al so t r iotl lu s tan tl up on l1is IH·a<l on

1 .

lONCJllANS' SCH OO L CO!i/POSJTJON

E A S Y NARRA TJVES
- -·-- ---- - -

39

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th e l op of the mast. He, however, fell. 'The ri gg in g brol; e hi s fall and he
alighted on the deck unhurt. 'There, you lubbe r, ' h e cried, 'do that if you
dare.'

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The Miserly Planter.
A very miserly planter formerly lived in the island of Jamaica. Ho
ofte n gave hi s poor ~laves too little food. 'Th ey cornplnined, nnd h e ans wered th a t he could not help him self, because th e proYision s hips had been
taken by pirutcs. 'This lyin g excuse sntisfied them once, twice , thrice, and
agni n, but in th e eml long fa sting 111nd e th em impatient. Th en th ey went
t u their ma ste r and saill to him, 'fa it not s tru.11g0 that th e• pirntcs have so
oft e n tak e n th e s hip s brin ging fo od, but lrnl' e n ever tu.k en the sliips bringing
p ickaxes and hoes? '

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The Cors'iam Bri:;and.
A Corsican briga nd chief was captured and impri soned, but ho managed
escape. The soldi er \Yho h ad brc n put to guard him was tri ed and con·
,] ,, mned to die . '\'he n the p oo r follow was kd out to exec uti on, a s tranger
i:;tcppcd up to th e co mmand ing of'ti ce r and saill, '~ir, I ha Ye h ea rd that one
of your m en is to be shot for allowing a prisoner to escape . H e is blameless,
and th e pri sone r s hall be restored to you . I am th e briganl1 chief, and as I
cannot ;dlow an innocent nmn to be punish ed for me, I Im Ye come to take
his place.' The oflicer said, 'The soldier shall be se t free, but thou shalt
not die ; thou dese rves t to live an hon es t man.'
to

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'The Eiilg and the Bishops.

Jam es the First once asked hi s council if h e could n ot tal;c the money of
hi s su bj l'c ts with out the conse nt of Parliament. Di sh op Nei le answered
Jlattc ringly :- 'Your l\Iaj cs ty rn ay lawfully lak e the mon ey of your s ubj ects
\Jccau 5e yo u ure the breat h of uur nos tri ls.' It wa s th en th e t urn of Bishop
An<lr e\\'S to speak . H e knew that t h e truth woul d di oplease the king, so ho
tri ed to two id a reply by sayin g that h e "·as not skilful in such matters. As,
howe ,·er, .Tames insi sted on a plain an s we r, he said, 'I am s ure tlrnt your
l\Iajes ty may lawfully tak e bro th er Neile's money, because Le say s you may.'

A Precious T urnip .
Befo re Lou is the Eleventh becam e king he u sc:d to vi sit a p easant whose
gMdc n produced excellent fruit. All er hi s access ion, the p ea sa nt brought
h .i m a s a present a very large turnip \l·hich had g rown in h is garden. '!'he
kin a , r emembering the pleasant hours that h e had spent under the old man's
r oof, gave hi m a thou sand ero w11 , , Th e l ord of th e Yill agc , hearin g of this,
th oug ht that if one \Yh o gav e a paltry turnip rece i,-..:cl so large a r eward, one
who gave a really Yalua\Jl e present woulcl recci Ye a ~ till large r reward. He,

therefore, offered a splendid horse. T he kin g accepted it and, calling for
tho big turnip, said , 'This cost. m e a thou;;and crowns; I give it to yo u in
return for your h orse.'

Simple Simon.
The Arctlmsa, an Engli sh wa rship, bein g about to go into acti on, two of
the i;ailors, Jack and Simon, ag reed to take cnrn of each oth er. S oo n IL ball
ahot ofI Jack's leg, and he call ed upo n Sim o n lo ca rry him to th o ll oclo r,
11.ecorcling to their agreement. Simon had srn re cly go t h is wounded com ·
panion on his back, before a secom1 ball s hot off the poor fellow 's head .
Through the noise and bustle of th e battle, Simon did not notice thi s new
misfortune, and kept on hi i; way. Li e utenant H upe, see in g h im with tli c ·
headless trunk, a sked where h e was go ing. ' To th e doc tor,' nnswcrc<l Simon .
• Yoll stupid iellow l' said the ofliec r; 'wh at is the use of takin i-; to th e
doctor a man who has lost hi s h ead ? ' • Los t hi s h cacl ! ' c xcl aim ell S im on ,
throwing down the bocly; 'why, so h e lrns ! H e told me tlrnt it wa s hi s lr g
Umt he had lost, but I was a fool to bclie\'e him, fo r h e always was a liti r.'

.1 Gallant Captain.
In the reign of Queen Anne Capt11in H anly \l'f\S stationed in Lagos Bay.

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Ho heard that some Spanish galleons h ad latel y arriYed in the harbour of
Vigo, and that they were protec t ed by se venteen men .of-war. Sir Geo rge
Rooke was then commanding in the l\Icditcrrn ncan, an d Cti.ptain Hardy immediately set sail to tell him . 'The admiral s tee red for Vi go, and took or de atroyed the whole fleet. After th o battle, S ir Ucorgo sent for Captnin Hardy
and said to him, 'You have done a ve ry great service to your •1uec n and
OOlllltry, but I could shoot you h ere and now, beca use you 11uitted Lagos
though you were ordered to s tay there.' Th e cap ta in replied, ' I s h o ul <l lie
WJworthy to servo in the na,·y if I we re unwillin g lo ri sk m y life for the
honour and glory of England.' This answ er plea sed th e allmi rnl su rnue h
Ul&t he sent new s of the.victory to the 11uccn by Hardy, and eomm r rnl cd him
l.O her favour. She knighted th e gallant sailor, and afterwa rds made h im
& rear-admiral.

Paying the Porter.
A rich nobleman who lived in a bea utiful enstle n ear Pisa was goi ng to
give a great feast. '!'he weather had bee n so s tormy that no fi sh coul d be
e.ugbt. On the morning of the banquet, however, a poo r fi s herm a n appurcd with a splendid turbot. The nobl eman wu s very glall, and a sked
hitu to fix his own price for it. Th e fi sherman an s wered, ' The price is
a hundred lashes on my bare back.' The nobleman said, 'I would prefer
~-iving you money, but as we mu s t have the fi sh we will humour your fancy.'
\Y'bon the fisherman had received fift y s trok es h e cnlled out, 'Stop! I have
a partner, and h e mu st h ave hi s fRir share.'
'What ! ' e xclnirnc <l t he

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'if- t

LONCMANS' SCHOO/. COJllPOS/7'/0N
n' to ni shcd n obleman, ' arc th ere t wo such fools in the world? Send for tho
other madcap. ' •Th e otlrnr madcap,' s aid th e fi sh erman,' is your own porter.
H e would not let me in till I hrid promised to give him one-half of the price
I got for the turbot.' Wh en th e grcc<ly porter had r eceived fifty lashes h e
was dismi ssed , and th e clever fi sherman wa s well rcwarclcd.

Tlie Dangers of a JJcd .
A ca rpenter a sked a sailor, ''.Vh crc di <l you r fath 0r di e? ' The s ailor
irn s wf>rf'<l , 'J\ly fa ther , my g randfath er, and rny great-grandfather were all
dro"·1ie<l at fH·: L.' 'Then,' Haid th e earpc ntc·r, ' n.rc you not afraid of going
t o !i•: a, lest you ;.;h o11ld he drown ed too? ' In stt·ad of replying, the sailor
a shd , ''Vhe rc di tl your fath er di e? ' 'In hi s bed. ' 'And your g randfather?'
• In hi s bed .' 'And your g rea t-grandfath er? ' 'In hi s bed als o.' 'Thon,'
su icl th e s ailor, 'why sh ould I be more afrnid of goi ng to sea than you are of
goin g to Led ? '

IIow to trc11t l!;11 emics.
A Scotc h mini ste r Juul in hi ' pari oh a m an who so mdim cs use d to get
drunk. One day th e mini ste r, reprov ing !1i m for hi s bad h ab it, said,' You
love whi sky too mu ch, Donald; yo u know very well that it is your worst
enemy .' • Dut.,' an swe red th e man slily,' h:i.vc you not often told us that
we out:ht lo lorn our en emi es? ' 'True, Donal<l, bu t I never told you that
you ought to swallow th em.'

EASY N. -IRJ\ATIVFS
addrrHs he had 8everal tim es · to use the \\'Ord 1ca l <r, \\'hic!i h e pronoun cc· d

wt_il-lcr. Th e ch ancellor at la st said to h im, 'Do you in Sc c•U a11 d s pel l ·u·ut, ·r
w11h ,'two t' fi?· ' • 1N o, my 1onI , • wa s t 110 an~,,·rr; ' we do not spell 1c11lcr wi t Ii
two ts, but we clo sp ell 111anncrs with t11·0

'The Preach er f or I'riso11ers.
\1'. hc.n David De:var was a m cml,,cr of tli 0 I' ri,;nn Don r1l t h r CJll<' sti on <>f
" l)'lpomtrng a chaplarn for th e jail en. m e up. T h•· fnrnurit<· ca n tli1l nt(' of th<•
other rnombcrs of th~ Board wa r; nn u ns uccess ful cl r rgy 111 an . ] 1a\'iil, wlif'n
wed to vote for hun, sa i.1, • .l h 1nc no ohj r·clioll ; I h cn.r 11 11 ,t ho ha s
a.l.rillldyyr.cuched n. church 1• 111pt y , 1t111l if lt c wi l l 01ily preach th o jnil c 11 1p ty
loo, he 18 JUSt tho m a n for ou r m o11 1:y .'

Th e Srynire awl lz is Scrrnnt.
A Scotch squ ire was one <hy ri d in g out wi t h his man. Oppooit c ll Ji olc
ln 11 ~tecp. ba nk the m aster s topper! a nd snid, ' J o lin , I ~1t 11· a !Jndgcr r..:o in
them. ' Did yo u ?' s11td Jo hn; ' will you lH, l<l my lio rsP, ,;i r?' • Ccri.1tinll','
an~~·crod the squ ll'c, a111l away rn s h~,1 .Toh11 fo r ;i ;; p11d c. llc got one arn1 ,l.ug
tcnou sly for half a n h ou r, the squ ire look ing on \\'ith nn n11rn~ c•l look. AL
la.t Joh n _exclaimed, ' I can't find him, s ir.' 'I s ho11ltl be su rpri sed if ,-0 u
ClOGlu,' snid th e squire, ' for it is ten years s inc e I ,;aw him go iu.'
•

IIow to p1m ish

'Tlze Broken Plates.
A boy who was employed in a grea t h ouse was warn ed that h e should be
di smi ssed if h e broke any of the china. J us t before ti. dinner-party he was
ca rryin g a h igh pil e of plates fr om th e kitch en to the dining -room. As ho
wa s i-:;oi ng ups ta irs b is foo t slipped an<l the p lates were broken to pieces.
H e at. once went up to th e d ra win g -roo m, where hi s mi s tre ss wa s, put his
h ead in a t the door, n.ml s houted, ' Th e p lates arc all smash ed, and I'm off.'

Tlze Secre t of Success .
Dur ing tl1 c> long s tru ggle beLwcr n England and France, two ignorant old
ladi es were <li scL1ss ing Lh c wn. r as th ey we n t to chmdi. One sa id, 'Is it not
wonderful th fLi t.hc En gli s h alwa.y s bc11t th e French ?' '1'.'oL at all,' an swered
th e oth er; •don ' t you l.;:now that th e E ng li s h always say th eir prayers
befor e going in to battle?' ·But,' replied th e fi rot , 'can't th o l''rcnch say
thei r prnycrs as well ?' 'Tu t , tu t,' said th e second; 'poo r jabbering bodies,
who can unders tand tll cm ?'

TVata awl lilw111crs.
An Edinburgh ba rri ste r wh o spoke '" it l1 a broad Scotch accent was
arguin g !I case before the Engli ~1 House of L ord s. In the course of hii;

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Don kc!J.

Old Andrew L esli e got his liYin g by l. rca kin g s tone·..; on lh c hi:.;hway .
used to ride.to an d fro m h is work "n a do11k,·.i" 'l' li i..; cJ,n1kc·y, he said,
.
. at the rn11ds1des, but the farm ers said that h e turn ed, th e creature into
~ fiolds . One day Mr. B rown t oltl hi m pluiuly what 11·a ..; su sp cc tctl.
m..Mr. llr~wn,' h e ans.wcrcd, 'I h1 L\'C n o lvrnptntion to d o su ch a thing, for
lil.y l'cddy will ca t n otl ung but nettles a nd t hi s tle s.' A fow clays later ..\Ir.
lli11v.'ll snw Neddy in one of 11i s Oll'n ti <'lcl s <lcrnurin g cloH~ r a s fa s t. :w Jio
wlld. ' Hollo, Andrew,' sai<l b e ; 'I tl1011;.;ht yo u tohl m e t hat your clunk cy
•oolJ. cat notlung bn t n ettles and thi s tles .' ' l::io I <lill,' r q1lic,1 A!lllrcw
lly i 'bnt to-day h e mi sbcl1a \·ccl: h e nea rly threw m e o\·cr hi s b ead and
!WI l put him in your clover iielcl t o pun is h hill\.'
'

Ho

Proper Pa!J711C71t .
~boy went into a baker 's shop a nd bought a twopen ny loaf. It seemed
IO him mtho r small, so he sai d tha t h e did no t bel ie \' c it to be of full WC' ight..
" \'ct mind,' an swered th e baker,' you will h arn the Jess to carry.' • Trn c,'
llttl th o larl, nnd throwing th ree-halfpence on t he cou nt er h e left the shop.
b kor call ed nfter him, 'Hi ! th is i s not enough money.' • Never mind ,•
~the boy, 'yon will have th e less to co unt.'

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LONGMANS' SCHOOL COJ.ll'OS!J'JON

EA S V NARR A J'J VES

43

--------- -- - -2. Next dny loaded with salt-lies clo1n1 i n stream .

A Broad H in t.
An impudent fellow, whom it was hard to escape, tried for some clays to
fo rce his company on Sir Andrew Agnew. At last Sir Andrew was seen
alone, and someone asked him how he had contrived to get rid of the man.
'1 was obliged,' he answered, 'to give him ii broad hint.' 'But,' remarked
hi s friend , •I thought he was one of those people who cannot take a hint.'
'J [c was forced to take mine,' said Sir Andrew,' for as he would not go out
of the doo r I threw him out of the window.'

}--

The IIvrse anll lhe O!Jslcrs .

In th e days when people often travelled on horseback a gentleman came
one very cold cvcniu g into an inn at Chelmsford. }'inding so many persona
sittin g round the fire that he could no t get near it, he tol d the hostler to
give his home a peck of oysters. ' Will your h orse cat oys ters, sir?' asked
the hostler. 'Try him,' was the answe r. Everyone ran to see the wonder,
the Jircs ide was cleared, and the gcntlcmrnn had a choice of scats. Soon the
hostler came back and said that the horse would not eat the oysters. 'Very
well,' replied the gentleman, 'I must cat them mysel f, then.'

3. M11st?r resolves to ten,ch lesson-third juurnl·y load of sponge.

-'· Asa lies down-load heavier.

63. This outline may be fille d in thus : -

t

An nsa lntlcn with salt lrnppened to fal l while passing thro unh a stream .
L. 'Ju w·atc~ m elted _the salt, and the ass on getting up was deli~litcd to fi11d
..tml(l J with nothm"
to carry
N ex t cl a)· J1c J1acl to pass agarn,
· 11iclen 1vith
o
..
•
~rough. the same stream, R emembering 11010 Ilic waler linil 1;. ·s tad1nt
,.~ him of his bw·~lcn, he lay down pmposi·ly, an!l was again rid or" it. lJll.t
Cilt'.tr as he was his master was clcrc r,.,- ·111d rc·soll'" 1 to t · ) I ·
I
On Ole third 'ourne he tl , f . . .',
.
'
.cac i i 1111 a P5sun.
.
J
Y
ieie 0 1 c place!! 011 t h n cr0atnre s hack several La"s
ilkd ~1th spo~1gc8. The ass lay down as bdurc, Luton gdting up he fou i7J
at his 101111, msteacl of being much lighter, Wit s much heavier.

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_64. ~n. :lrn ~able, a~ th us told_, there arc se 1·er11.l point i:; (1 •ri 11 tcd in
haliC11) \\ hich me not m the outlmc.
t story more real.

tluch little de Laib help to ruako

The Co1poral's Watch.

OUTLINES

A corporal in the life-guards of Frederick the Great was a brave but
rather vain fe llow. He could not aJiord a watch, but he managed to buy a
chain, and this he wore with a bullet at the end. The king, h earing of this,
thought h e would have a li ttle fun at the soldier's expense, so he said to
him, 'It is six o'clock by my watch; what is it by yo urs? ' The man drew
the bull et from his pocket and answered, 'lily watch does not mark tho
hour, but it tells me every moment that it is my du ty to face death for your
l\laj es ty.' 'Herc, my fri end,' said Frederick, offering him his own costly
watch , ' take this, that you may be able to tell the hour also.'

to be turned into continuous narrative.I

Three Toasts.
\Vhen the Earl of Stair was ambassador in Holland he was once at a
banquet with the F rench and Austrian ambassadors. The Frenchman pro.
poscLl the health of his master, calli ng him 'The Su n.' The Austrian then
proposed the h ealth of his mistress, calling her •Th e l\loon.' The Earl oC
Stair wa,; equal to the occasion, fo r when his turn came he proposed tho
h ealth of hi s soYcrcign as ' J osh ua, the son of Nun, who made the sun and
moon to stand st ill.' 1

52. The following is an ou tline of one of JEsop's fables :1. Ass carrying salt-passin g through stream - fa lls- loses load.
' Sec

' ~ otes

for 1'cnd1.::rs,' Note G.

':

'l.'he S nake's Gratitude.
J. Cold winter's day- snake half dead.
t l~oasant p~tics it-places in bosom- takes hom e- lays it before fire .
· Suako revives- attacks children- peasant kills it.

The Lion and the Mouse .
I. Lion sleeping-mouse happens to wake him.
t. L~on goi ng t~ kill mouse-mouse begs for mercy- mercy granted .
~. Lion caught 111 a net- roars- mouse hears him - niLLles net.

The Frog aiul the O.r.
marshy meadow-tread s among young fr ogs-kills

~n~ thnt escapes tells mother- ' Such a Lig beast J •
'So big?'- ' l\Iu ch bigge r.'
, , Mothor puffs out- ' So Li• ' ? '- ' Much bi •mcr'
M Th"
0
00
•
• · 1s several times - -at last moth er bursts.
j.

a. \nm mother asks,

' Sec' Notes for Tencllers,'

Note

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1.
:2 .
:J.
4.
5.

L Olv'Cil/A N S' SCllOOL CONFOSl7 '10N

!'.. ·I S J. ;\'../ !.' N . ' .,../ l 'FS

Tli c Il<1 rc aJ1d Lli c Tortoise .

The B al/Ir, nj t11e. T: ir.ls m 1rl IJ,-,1,/s.

Hare jeer s at to rtu ise fp r slow ness.
T or toise propo8cs race hare a ccep ts.
Tortoise s ta r ts - h are say s, ' Will take a 11 :q> fir s t.'
\\'hen hare awa kes t orto ise h as p assed post.
'Slo w a ncl stc,tdy win s t he race.'

D icidi11u tli c Spoils .
1 . Lion , a ss , a nd fox. h tmt in g - much spo il.
:2. L ion a sks a ss t.o <l iv i<l e - d iv i1l rs in to three C•JU al pa rt s.

:J. Liun an g ry -- kill s :Lss a s ks fox. to ,]i \' i•lt' .
}'ox 111 [ikc s ve ry i.; rr;:i t heap fo r Iion a11 1l ,·r ry l iti J.., o ne fu r him self.
:J. ' \\'ho taugh t yon to 1liv i•lc so well '?' --' Th e d oad ass.'

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1. Dn.t i ~ il bcrcst. hu t tli rs lik r· a bi r1l.
2. D:.1ttle betwee n bi rrl s :1n1l hells ts - - hat J;eeps al onf.
!I. Beasts nppercr to be winni ng- hat join s th em.
4. Bi Hh rnll y nnd win - ba t found mn ong victors .
Ii. Peace m nrl c - binh: nncl beas t s co nJc m n h11t -- bat ncH:r si ne(' da rc 11
wow fttce in tbyli ght .

Tl1c II({)'/ rn11l Ili c T'i11c .
1. Hart fl cr in 1~ fro m hun te rs - lti•l1•s am ong J,.aYv s of vinr· l11rnt0 rn p.1 ss
'll'iU1oll Lseein g }1i 11 1.
2. He begin s to ca t l1·:t\'<'S · n l111 nt r· r Ji , ars noi ,; r· s hout ,; l.: 1rt.
3. ' Vine prolc•ctcll rn r; ; I i11jurr tl it ; llo ·s•·n- hl )ll_Y fate .'

The lVind aJl(l tlie Sull .
1. \ \.in •l an ll s un tli spuiP. \l·hi ch is s tron ge r.
'2 . Ag ree t o t ry on imss in g t.rnvc:llc r- -w hid1 ca n soo nest mak e him tako
off cloak .
:1. Wiml beg ins - blows furiou sly - t ra veller holds clo«tk the ti ghter.
.J. l-;u n ,.,hines . tra velle r too warm -- throw s off cloak .
:J . J\indn css be tter th a n fo rce.

'l'lw lJlll ulle ol Slides .
1. (~ uarrclso lll e brother s --fa t he r speak s in va in .
2. A::ks sons to break bun tll c o[ stic ks - cal'l1 t ri es and f:t ils.
'5. Asks th e m lo um1o bun d le :mtl break st' paru te st ick :; -- C' as y.
'L Hro tl1 rrs united , like bun<l le-11ua rrclsomc . li h sep arate s ti cks .
Tl. ' ·11ni on is s t re ngt h.'

'I'lic Goose with th e Uo1rlen Egus .
1. '.\fan lrns goosr· - by s go l•l en rg;; da il y.
•) '.\Ian grcedy--- ll1in ks in s itlc m nst be fu ll of
h (; r like all o ther geese .

'l'lic F rogs a s l~inv f or '" J{/ 11'./ ·
1. Frug s a ok .J ul' iler for a kin g- -li c l tL U!)h ~ :cl tl1.- ir foll y - throws
H

Ju,.j.

:!. 'J.'l H: ~ 1 ,Jas li fri ght e ns tl H· m

fi11d i11;.e lug s till tl 1ey ve n t ure to look at ·.
at ltb t j ump on it a llll ll cs J>i sc iL
:;. A ~k fo r nn oth cr k in g -- .Ju v itc r an110ycd - tic 11ds them a s t ork.
l . ~Lurk <'ab 111a11y - tl 1" res t a sk .Jup iter lu t a ke s tork awa y - h e say&
' :t\o.' • L (; l well a lone.'

it

Th e Use of H'a r.
1. Li on allll bear find dead fawn --fi ght for bo1ly.
2. Neither win s--- bo th li e dO\rn fa int with loss of IJl1 •0.l.
ll. A fox comes hy nn d ca rri es off the faw n.

The Dion m11l the fl 11lls.
I.
2.
8.
4.

Three hull s fee ding togeth er in a mcatlow.
Lion wi Rli ecl to eat t h 0m - nJ rn id of t he lhrcr.
Li on tells each that t.l 1c ot hers h aw! bce 11 sl1111tl.-ri11 g.
Dull s qua rrel - li on kill s enc h s<·pnrntcl y .

Th e Ass's Shadow .
I. Young m1111 hires ass in a hot co unt ry.
2. Summer' s da y- h ea t scor chin g- r<' s t nt. noo n.
II. Hid er wn.nts t.o res t in shad ow of nss ,]riYe r nl~o "·ants lo.
4. ' l hired th e ass '- ' You di d not h ire the s hadu\\'.'
li. While men ttre di sputin g a ss rnns away .'

STORn: S JN' V1·: HSJ·:.

M. The following poem, Ly Clrn,dos 1\ingsh'y, tells a lo11c l1i1:g
'itfo story :Three fi sh ers went saili ng away to t h e wes t,
Awny t o the wes t as th e s un \\·cnt down ;

J, ONCilfAN'>' SCHOOL COMl'OS! TION

E ASY N A RR.-IT/VES
47

Each thought on th e woman who loYe<l h im th 0 best ,
And th e children stood wa tc h ing th em out of th e town.
F or men must work, and women mu st weep,
And there 's lit tle to earn, a ml many to keep,
Though th e harbour ba r be moa n in g.

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Three \Yirns Rat np in th e lighthouse tower,
And trimm ed the lamps as the sun went clown;
Th ey looked at th e sriuall, and th ey looke<l at th e shower,
Ami th e night-rack cam e roll ing up, ragged and brown I
B ut men must work, a nd women m ust weep,
Though storm s be s udden and waters deep,
And the harbo ur bar be moanin g.
Three corpses lay out on tho shining sand s,
In the m ornin g gl eam, as th e tid e went down,
And th e women arc wee ping and wringing th eir hand s
For th ose who will never come h ome to th e to ll'n .
F or men must work, and women must weep,
And th e sooner it 's over th e sooner to sleep,
Anc.l good-bye to th e ba r and its moaning.

56. H ere is the same story, told in prose :One afternoon in n western port, three fish ermen m ight be seen walking
slowly down towards the bench. H eavy masses of clouds were moving
r apid ly overh ead ; the settin g sun had ti nged the sky an angry crimson, and
the wa ves broke with a moanin g noise over th e bar at th e mouth of tho
h arbour. The fi sh erm en knew that a s to rm was threatenin g, but still they
were going t o sen, for their famili es were large and th eir earnings had of
la t e been small. Yet th ey were sad at heart, and as they sailed away they
th ought of th e denr wives left behind, and of th e dear children watching
t hem out of th e town. The women were so anxious that they could no;
rest nt h om e., so th ey went up to the ligh thouse to trim th e lamps and peer
out into th e da rkn ess. The storm came on even sooner than was expected.
A h uge bill ow caught th e fi sh ermen's boat and sank it, and the tide carried
th eir <lend bodi es to th e shore. By mornin g th e storm h ad passed, and tho
ri sin g su n shon e on th e wet sand and on three poor women wringing th eir
hand s over th e corpses of their husbnnds.

Noto tliat in thi s prose r endering th ere is no attempt to prescn-c tho poetry. Attention has been pn,id to the story only, and
th at has been told in th e simplest manner.

STORIES IN V ERSE

to be turned into prose.

J.lcddlcso mc lV((lt!J .
O~ ', ho\\' one ugly tri ck m ay spoil
lh e S\\'eet es t an d the bes t !
l\fati lda, th o ugh a pleasant child
On e ugly tri ck possessed
'
'~hich, like a cloud br·forc 'u 10 ski c~ .
Hid nil h er bette r c1u 1iiilies.
Now sh e woultl lift th e tL·apo t li tl
To peep at what was in it.
'
Or tilt the kettl e, if yo u <lid '
But turn your bac k a minute
In vain you told h er not to to u ~ h
H er trick of meddl ing grew so nn;ch.

i~

H er grandmamma went out one clay
And by mis take sh e laitl
'
Her sp ecta cles an cl snuffb ox gay
Too n ea r th e littl e ma icl .
'Ahl well,'th on"" h ts· hc • 'I ;l l t1·y tlJe m on
•
As soon as gra nclmamnrn i~ (;:O ne.'
Forthwith sh e pl aced upo n h er nose
The glasses round and wid e .
And lookin g round, as r s upp o~c .
The snnffbox too sh e spied ;
' 0 what a pretty box is this J
I'll 01)en it,' said littl e J\I iss.
' I know th a t gra ndma nuna would say
"Don ' t meddle with it, <lea r .. ;
'
But th en sh e's fa r enough :rn·ay,
And no one el se i,; nen r.
Besides, wha t cnn th ere be• amiss
In opening s uch a box llS t hi s ? ,
So thumb an d fin ger went to work
To move th e stu bborn lid .
And presently a m ighty jerk:
The mighty mischief did;

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!.ONC.'1!/INS' SCHOOL CO Jl!!'OS!TIO.f'I

EASY NA A' N.-1 l! VES

F or idl at once, a h! woful case,
Th e s nu ff canrn pnflin g in h er face .
l'oo r eyes a nrl nose a rnl m o uth 1rnrl ch in
A dismal s ight prcscn tNl;
And, a s th e s nuff i.;o t fL1r1h cr in ,
~in cc r e ly s he rq1entP•l.
Jn \'a in sh e ran abou t fo r eas<' ,
Hh c co uld do nothin g else but sn eeze.
Sh e <la.sh ed th e spcc t:wle s :l\\'ay,
To wipe h er ting lin g eye,;,
And a s in twenty bits th ey lay,
Hnr g rnmlnrnmm a s he s pi r::; :
• J fey lby ! a111l what' s th e mat te r now?'
Cri r:tl grn nd111 a m11La with lift l:ll lJro w.
l\fotiltb s martin g with th e p ai n,
And tin gl in g s ti ll, and so re,
l\I:ul c m :t ny n p romi se to ref rain
l ' rom meddlin g C\' erm on: ;
And ' ti s a fact, as I h ave b eard ,
She ever sinc e bas kept her word.- Jane Taylor.

Th e Chimney-Sweep .
Wh en my m oth er di ed I \ms very you ng,
And rn v fath er sold m e whil e yet rny t ongue
Could ~carcoly cry, ' 'W eep! ' Weep ! 'Weep! 'Weep!'
So your chim neys I s weep, a nd in soot I slee p.
Th ere 's little T om Dacrc , who cri ed \1·hc n hi s h ead,
That cu rl ed li ke a lamb's back, was sh ave<l; so I ~ aid ,
•H us h T om I n ever mind it, for wh en you r h ead '~ bare,
y o u l:now th a t tho soot cannot sp oil your white hair.'
And so h e was quiet; an d that very ni ght ,
As T om was a- sleepin g, h e had s uch a sight,
Th:~t thou s nnd s of Sll'CC'pers, Dick, .Joe, Ned and Jack,
\ Ver e all of th em locked up in collin s of black.
And by cam e an an gel, \Yho had a br ight key,
And h e op en ed th e collins and set th l'm all fr ee ;
Th en down a green plain, lea pin g, laughin g, th ey nm ,
And wa s h in !I river, and s hine in th e sun.

4')

- - - - -- ---Then nak ed and whi te, all th eir b;ig~ lef t uchinll ,
They rise upon cloud s, and sport in the wirnl;
And the ang~l told T orn, if h e \1 be: a good lJoy,
He'd have God for h is Father a11J n evl'r want joy.
And so Tom awoke ; and we rose in th e tlark ,
And got with our Lags nnd our brw, h "s t o work;
Though th e mornin g wa s colrl , T om wa s happy aml 11·arm;
So, if all do th eir duty , they n eed not fea r harm .

ll'i/liam Dlakc.

The lJcggar Man .
Around the lire, o ne win try ni ght,
Th e fa rm e r' ~ rosy child r en SJLt ;
The fagot lent its blazing li ght,
And jokes went round, and careless chat;
Wh en, h a rk l a ge ntle hand they h ear
Low tapping at the bolt etl do or;
Auel thu s, to gai n th eir willin g car,
A fee ble voice \\'<I S h canl imp lurl':
•Col d blows the blast across th e muur,
Th e sleet drives hi ssin g in lite wind;
Yon toil some m ountain li~ ti before
A dreary, ll'L" cles,; waste be hi nd .
•.My eyes arc weak and dim with age,
No road, no pa th can l descry ;
And these poor rags ill stand th e rage
Of s uch a keen, inclement s ky.
•So faint I a m, these tot te ring fee t
No more my pa lsied fram e c:i.n Lear;
My freezin g h ea rt fo rgets to licat,
And drifting s nows my tomb prcpar("
• 01Jcn your h ospitabl e doo r,
And shield m o from the bitin g blas t:
Cold, cold it blows across the moor,
The weary mo or that f ha vc pas:;ed ! '
· With has ty steps th e fo r m er rn n,
And close besid e th e lire th ey place
Th e poor h alf.frozen bc·ggar man,
.With shaking li mb; 1rnJ pakulue fac e.

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LONC.1!.-I N S ' SCIIO OL CO J IFOS.ITION

E . / S ). N.IN J.'.1'/ l l .FS

SI

- - -- - - - -- - - - - -- -. -·
The littl e children fl ockin g came,
Ancl chafed hi s froz en hands in theirs;
And busily th e good old dame
A comfortable m ess pr epares .
Th ei r kin dn ess ch eered hi s droopin g s oul;
And slowly down hi s wrinkl e(\ ch eck
Th e bi g roun<1 t ear wa s s een t o rol l,
Which t old th e t h a nk s h e could not speak.
The children th en began lo sigh,
And al l their m err y chat wa s o' er;
An;l yet th ey felt, they lmew not why,
More gbcl tha n th ey had don e beforc .-A·il•cn .

W h il e o'er lti 111 fa,;l , t h ro11 g!i ,.; a il a11tl sl1r oud .
T h e wrcfllliin g fir(' s m ail·· 11·a y.
Th ey wrap1~c1l t he sl1 ip ill >' p k n do Lir wil 1l,
Th ey ca ught the Jla g o n hi g h ,
And s treum c,l a bo ve t h e :~ all a 1 1l ehild,
L ike ba n nc·h i11 lh c ~ ky .
'!'h er e came a u1us t o f thun ,la so untl, 'l'he boy !-oh, wh e re " ·as l ie ?
Aok of th e wind s , t ha t far a ro und
' Vith fra g m ents. s lrcw c: tl th e sca. 'Vi th ma st, arnl h elm , n11 1l [l l' lln un fair,
That well lrn(l born e l h t: ir par t !
But the n obles t thin g that pc ri s hl'<l t h (' rf'.
W a s tha t youn g fai thful h eart ! - Mrs. llcmcms.

Casabianca.
Th e boy s too d on the burnin g d eck,
W h ence all but h e had il cd ;
Th e flam e, th at lit t!J e battl e 's \\Tc:ck,
Shone round him - o' er th e d ead.
Yet b eautiful and bri gl1t he s too d,
As b orn t o rul e th e s torm,
A creature of h eroic bl oo,1,
A proud th ough chi ld-like form I
The flames roll ed on ; h e w ould not go,
With o ut bi s fath er 's word; That fath er , fa.int in d eath below,
Hi s voice no longer h eard .
H e called al oud : ' l:ia y, fa th er! say
If yet my task is do ne? 'H e kn ew n ot that the chi ef tain by
Uncon sc ious of hi s son.
•Speak, father!' on ce again lie cried,
• lf I may yet be gone !
And '-- but th e boomin g sh ots replied,
And fas t the flam es roll ed on.
Upon hi s brow h e felt th eir breath,
Antl in hi s ' rnvin g hair,
And looked from th~t Jo n e post of d eath .
In still, yet brave dcs l'air;

Am\ sh o1 1i<- •l 1.11t on c P 11 \(JJ"C nloml,

•lil y fath er ! mu s t I s tay '/ '

Princ iple put to tlic 'l'cst.
A youn gst e r at school , 111ore gr:we tlrnn th e r est,
Had once his intC'g rity p u t to tl1 e tes t: llis comrad es h a d plott c1l a n or d 1an1 to rob ,
And asked him to com e a11 r1 :'"·' is l in th e job.
H e was very mu ch sh ocb •d , a nrl a 11 s 1H rcc1 -- ' Uli n n !
What, rob our p oo r 1w ig!tl1ou r ! I p rny yo u <lun ' t r;o !
Besides , th e m rcn 's p oor, hi ~ orc h anl' s h is bread;
'!'hen think of 11 is ch ildn:n, fo r th ey n1 u~ t b<; fe d. '
'You sp eak very Jin c, a 11 (l you loo k very g rave ,
But appl es we wan t , :\Ile\ app les we ' ll htwe ;
If you will go wi t h u s , we ' ll g iv e yo u n, sh nre ,
If not, you shall h arn n either a ppl e n or pear. '
They spok e, nnd T om pond c r0d- ' I sec th c·y will go ;
P oor man! wh a t :L pi ty t o in jure him ~ o !
Poor man! I woul•l sa ve 11illl h .i s fr u it if I co uld ,
Bu t staying bchill(l will d o 11i 111 n o gootl.

'If this m o.tter dcpenrler1 a lo1w ttp on m e ,
Ilis 11pplee mi ght Jian g t ill tlt1 ·y d ropped from th e tree ;
But since they icill tak e th em , I think I 'l l go too ;
He will lose none by Ill e , th ough I ge t :1 few.'
Ilis scruples thu s silen ced , T om fe lt m ore n.t ca se,
And went with hi s comra des th e a1'l'lr.s to se ize;
He bli1med and protcsk ll. b ut joi n ed in the p la n ;
He shared in the plumlc r , but p it ie<l t h (' 11 ia 11. - Cr•ll'J'<' r.
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l .Ol'lCM.·INS ' SCJJ OO ! . CO.l l!'OS!TlON
·---

The S cmcls of Dec.
· O Mary, go aml call th e cattle home ,
And call the cattle h om o,
And call the ca ttl e home,
A::ross th e sand s of Dec ! '
'l'hc we s tern wind was wild and dark with foam,
And all rdonc \Ycnt s he.
The creeping tide came up along th e sand,
And o'er a nd o'er th e-5an d,
An<l ronud :uHl round th e su1HI,
As fiu as eye could st;c ;
The blinding mi st calllc up arnl hid the land,
And n ever home came s he.
Oh, is it weed, or fi sh, or fl oa ting hair,A tress of gol d L·n h ai r,
Of drown ed ma idc u ·s h;:tir,
Abov e th e uets at sea?
\Va s n ever salmon yet tha t shon e so fair,
Amon g the stalrns of Dec !
Th ey rowed h er in a cross the rolling foam ,
The cruel , craw li ng foam ,
Th e cru el, hun gry foa.lll ,
To h er grave besi1le the sea ;
But still th e boatm en hear hN call the cattle home
Acro ss th e sand s of Dce. - Chnrlcs 11.i:ng:;ley.

Th e 'North ern Star.'
The Nortlicrn Star
Sailed oYcr the bar

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E .·IS V N,·/ RR.·I T!VES

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Bound to th e Ualtic Sea;
In the m ornin g gray
She stretched a way:'Twas a weary <l ay to me I
For many an h our,
In slee t a nd sh ower,
By th e I igh t housc rock I stray;
And watch till dark
F or the winged bark
Of him that is far away.

53

The castle 's bou nd
1 wander ro und ,
Am id st the grassy i.; r:wcs;
But all I h e:ir
Is th e n orth wind <l rrn.r,
Aml all I sec n.re th e waves.

The N orihern Star
I s set afn.r,
Set in t h e B alt ic Sen ;
And th e w:ivcs h aYc sp r<'tHl

Th e sandy bf'< l
That h olds

111 y

love frn ll\ m e.

Bruce and th e Spider.
Ring Bruce of Scotland flun g him self down,
In a lonely mood to thin k ;
'Tis tru e he was a monarch, and wore a crown ,
But h is heart was beg innin g to s ink.
For he lrnd been tryin g to tlo a great d eed,
To mak e hi s people glad ;
H e had tri ed :ind tri c<l, but co nlcln 't s nccc>ed,
And so h e bec:tme q u ilo sad.

He flung 11imse l£ <lown in low d espair,
As grieved a s m nn could be;
And after a whil r , as h e pondered th ere,
'!'11 give it :ill up,' sa icl h e.
Now just a t the moment n spider dropped ,
With its silke n cobweb clew,
Ancl th e kin g in the mid st of hi s thinkin g s topped
To see what th e sp ider would <lo.
'Twas a lon g way up to the ce iling dome,
And it hun g by a rope so fine>,
Thnt h ow it would ge t to its cobweb hom e
Kin g Bruce could n ot divine .

It soon began to cling nn cl crn'Yl
Straight up with strong endeayon r;

But down it came wi th a sl ippin g sprawl,
As near t.o tlie ground ns ever.

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LONGJlfANS· SCH() Q{ COA!I'OSTTJDN

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Up, up it rnn, n or a second did s tay.
To utter the lea st complaint,
Till it foll still lowr r; and th ere it lay ,
A littl e dizzy and faint.

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Its h ead g rew s tearl y - again it went,

i'

And travelled n. hn.lf -yanl hi gh r r;
'Twn.s n. delicn.te thr0arl it lm<l lo tr<'ad,
And a rnacl where its fe et would tire.

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A gain it fell, ancl Sl\' un g h Plow;
But again it qui ckly mounted,
Till up n,nd dow n, n ow fast, now slow.
Six brave attempts were counte<l.

)1

• Snrr, ' cr iecl t he kin g. ' thnt fonli sh 1l1i11 g
\Vill s trive no morp to clirnh.
Wh e n it toil s so h ard lo r c:ic h ·rind c!i,1 g ,
Arni tumbl es every lime.'

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Bn t up th e in sect went once more,-

55

L orrl Ullin's Daughter.
A chieftain, to th e Highlands bound,
Cri es , ' Boatman, <lo n ot tarry!
And I ' ll g ive thee n. s ilv r pound,
'l'o row us o' e r the fer ry.' 'No w, who be y e wonld cro ss Loch Gyle,
Thi s dark an1l s tormy \Vfl. ter? ' ' 0 ! I'm th e ch ief o f ll lrn' s Js lr ,
And thi s , L ord Ullin' s tln.n ghl<' l'.
'And fa.st hdo r o h e r fath er' s m Pn
Throo <l1Lyr; wo' ve ll e1l logdhc·r ;
F or sh ou ld h e lin<l us in t h e gle n,
My blood would s tain th e h ea t.h er.

'His horsemen hard behind ns ri tl e ;
Should they our s teps cl iscover,
Then who will ch ee r m y bo nn y b ritl e,
Whe n th ey have sin.i n h er lon:r ? ' -

Steadily, steaclily, inch by in ch,
Hi gh er and hi gh er h e go t.,
And a bold little run at the Yer:v In.st pinch
Put him into hi s 1mti vr co t.

Out spok e th e h nrdy Tii ghlnnd wi ght,
'I'll go , m y chief- I'm r catly:
It is not for your si lv er bri g ht,
But for your win som e Indy :

'Bravo ! bravo! · the kin g niNl out;
'All honour to tho se wh o t ry !
Th e spid er up th e re <lefi c<l 1lcspair ;
He conqu c retl, antl why shouldn't I? '

'And, by m y wo rd ! th <' bonny bi rel
In dnn f(c r s h al I n ot tarry ;
So, though t h e "·nvcs nre rnging whit<',
I'll row you o 'e r th e fcrry.' -

And Bruce of Scotl a nd bracrd hi s mind
And goss ips tell th e talc,
That he tri ed once more , a s h e tri etl hrfore,
And that time h e ditl not fail.

By th is the s torm grew lou d apncr,
'1.'he wate r-wraith wa s shri ekin g ;
And in th e scowl of h eave n, each face
Grew dnrk n.s th ey were speakin g .

\Yh en ever yo u fln cl yo ur h ear t d espai r
Of doing so111c go odly thin g,
Con ove rt.hi s stra in, try bra\'i: ly n,gain,
Antl n ' m e111br·r tl1c spitlc•r and kin g .- -J.:'I Lw Cook.

i

N.,/ft'NAT!VES

Ah m e ! ' ti s :in :inxi ous minute ;
H e ' s only a foot from hi s coh11'(·b tloor,Oh s ny will he lose or win it '!

Pay goodly h eed, n,ll ye wl10 rca•l,
And beware of sa y in g, ' I can ' t:'
'Ti s a cowardly wonl, nn rl rtpl to lrad
To idleness, folly , antl \Yant.

''

E.-n v

But still, ns wild er hl ew th e wintl,
And ns th e n igl1t gre w tlrr arer,
Adown th e gle n rotl e ar m e cl m en,
Th eir tramplin g sound ed ncn.rer.

'0 h aste thee , haste! ' th e latly crie!'!,
'Thoug h temp es ts r oun d us gath<'r;

I 'll meet the ragi n g of t h e skies ,
Dut not an an gry father .' -

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LONGMANS' SCHOOL C01l!POSJTJON

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The boat hns left 11. stormy land,
A stormy sea before her,\Vh en, oh I too strong for human hand,
The tempest gath ered o'er her.
And still th ey row ed 11.midst the roar
Ol waters fast prcvniling:
Lord Ullin reach ed that fatal shore.His wrnth wns changed to wailing.

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For, sore dismayed, through storm and shade
His child h e did discover ;One lovely hand she stretch ed for aid,
And one was round her lover.
• Come back ! come back ! ' he cried in grief,
• Across this stormy water;
Ancl I 'll forgive your Hi ghlnnd chief,
Illy dau ghter l oh, my dau ghter I'
'Twas v1:1in : the loud waves lash ed the shore,
Heturn or aid preventing ;The waters wild went o'er his child,
And h e was left lamculing. - Campbell.

Pideli&y.

E .-I S Y N A RR.·11 '/ 1 ·Es

57

It was 11. cove, a hu ge reces s,
Th at keeps, t ill Jun <' , l>cccmber 's snow ;
A lofty preci p ice in fr ont,
A sil ent ta rn below ;
Fnr in th e bosom of H clvcllyn,
Itemoto from public roatl or dwellin"0
'
P athway, or cultivated land ;
From trace of human foot or h and .

Not free from boding thou ghts, a whil e
The sh epherd stooll ; th en mflkos his way
O'er rocks and stones, follow ing tho Jog
As quickly as h e may;
Nor far had go110 befo re h e found
A human skeleton on th e ground !
The appalled discov erer wiLh u. s i ~ h
Looks round to learn th e history.
From those abrupt 11.nd poril oug rocks
Th e man had fall en - th e place of !enr !
At length upon th e shcphcn l 's mind
It breaks, and all is cl ear:
He in stan tly recalled th e r11tm r,
And who h e was, and wh ene" h e came ;
Remembered, too, t lto very day
On whic11 tho trnv cllcr pnssc:cI that way.

A barking so und the shepherd hears,
A cry as of a dog or fox ;
He halts, and search es with his eye
Among the scntterecl rocks :
And now at distance cnn discern
A stirrin g in a brnke of fe rn;
And instantly a dog is soen,
Glo.ncing through that covert green.

But h ere a wonder, for whose sake
This lamentable tal e I tel l; A lo.sting monument of words
This wonder m erits well :
The clog, which still was h overing ni gh,
Repeating tho same timid cry,
'l'his dog had boon , th rough throe months' space,
A d we lier in that sa vago p lace I

The clog is not o! mountain breed;
Its motions, too, are wild and shy;
\Vith something, as the sh eph erd thinks,
Unus ual in its cry:
Nor is there any one in sight
All round, in h oll ow or on height;
Nor sh out nor whisile str ik e~ hi s earWhat is th o creature doing 11erc ?

Yes, proof was plain th at since the dny
When this ill-fated traveller di ed,
The dog had watch ed o.bout th o spot,
Or by his master's side :
How n ouri ~he d th ere throu gh that long tim e
He knows who gave that love sublime;
And gave th at strength of feel in g great,
Above ldl human e ~ L im ate. - lVonlswort/1-

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E </ s

5S

f. ONC ,l!ANS' SCHOOL 001'/!'0S!T! ON

Bishop IIatto.
The summ er nn cl autumn hncl been so wet
Tha t in winter the corn was growing yet;
'Twns a piteo us sight to sec Rll nrouncl
Th e grnin lio rotting on the ground.
Every clny the st.nrvin g poor
Crowu ecl aronn•l Bi sh op lfalto's cloor;
For h e h a<l n. pl entiful las t year's sto re,
And all th o n cighhonrh oocl coulcl t el l
Hi s gran ari es were furni sh ccl well.
At las t Di sh op l [atto nppointc<l a dny
To qni et th e poor withont clchy ;
H e bn.cle them to h is grent barn repair,
And th ey sh oultl have food for th e winter there.
Ticjoicet1, such tidings gooll to hear,
Th e poor folk fl ocked Crom far nnu n ear ;
Th e great barn was foll as it could h ol<l,
Of women, nncl children, and yonng, and old.
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T h en, whe n h e saw it could h ohl no m ore,
Bi sh op llatt.o he ma<le f:lst th e doo r;
Aml while fo r mPrC.Y on Chri st th ey call,
H e se t fir e to th e hnrn and bnrn cd t h em all.
•I' faith, ' ti s an e xccll rn t bonfire! ' qu oth he,
'An•l tho co un t ry is greatly oblige•l to me ,
For ri •l <ling it, in th ese t imes forlorn,
Of rat s , that only con sum e th e corn .'
So th en to his pn.l acc retu rn ed h e,
Aml h e sat do,vn to supper m errily;
J\ nd h e slept that ni ght like an innocent man;
Bnt 1\is hop H atto neve r slept agai n .
In th e mornin g, as he entered the hall,
·where his pict nre hun g aga inst the wal l,
A S\\·cat, l ike <k n. th, all over J1im came ,
For th e rats hacl en.ten it out or th e fram e.
As h e looked, th ere cnme n man [rom the farm,
H e h a d a countenance \Y hi tc with alarm;
''.\T y L onl, I opcnc•l yom gran aries thi s morn,
Arn1 the rats h ad eaten all your corn .'

J: N.·1A' A'_./ 'j I vr:s

Anoth er cam e run n in g prese ntly,
And h e was pale ns pal e coultl be :
'Fl y I my Lor•! Di sh op, !ly ! ' r1u oth h C' ,
'Ten th ousa nd rat s a rc corn ill"' th is "'llY
The L onl forgi,·e you for yes~<' nlay t' '

:

~ ·:.1 go to my tower on th e Hhin c: ,' rrplil'd ho,

11s t.h c sa fes t pl ace in C orm a ny ;
Th e "·:lll s arc hi gh, nml th o slto rt's a r0 strrp,
And th<' strr am is st rnng, n1Hl the wat er ,],.Pp.'
Bi sh op l fat to fen rf nlly 11astrnc cl nwny,
Ancl h o crossccl th e Hhi nc wiihont. 11,. lnY,
And reached hi s (o\\'rr, nn1l hnrrc-11 will; r:iro
All the winclows, <l oo r, n111l lno111iolc;; thC'r•'.
H e la icl him down, an<l closed 11is eyes ,
Ilut soon :< scream maclc him ari se ·
Ile startecl, n.n cl sa w two ryes of fla :no
On hi s pill o"', from ,1·h en ce th e sc rrnm in g came.
H e listen ed and look etl; it wns onh tho ent.
I3nt the B ishop h e grew mor" f,.n rf;1l fnr thn~
For r: hc sat screnmin g m n1l wil Ii fPa r
At th e army of r;its th at was c!rn 11·i)1g n rnr.
For t110y h 1w e S\\'lllll 01·rr the ri 1·cr so tlcrp,
And they h a ve climhecl thr sh nrrs so steep ;
And up the tower thc·ir wny is bent
To do th e work fo r which thry .. ·n rc se nt.
They arc not to be told by the <loze n or score,
Ily thou sand s th ey com e, ancl by myriads and m orr ;
Such numbers had n cYer bcr n h ennl of beforr
Such a judgm ent h a<1 n c\' Cl' been witn csscll of 'yorC'.
Down on his knees th e Bish op fell,
Ancl fa ster and faster his bc:Lcls tlid h e tell
, '
As louder and loLHl r r dra ll' i11 g n cn r
'Tl ic gnawin g o[ th ei r teeth h e coul1l
' h ear.
Aml in at the window, a n<l in nt the ,Joor,
An rl throu gh th e wall s h elter-skelte r t h ey ponr,
And dow n '.rom the ceilin g, n111l up thro ugh the floo r,
From the n ght ancl th e left, from hchind nnd befo rr
From within and \Yi tho ut, from a horn an d below, '
And all at once to the Ili slwp they go.

60

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LONGMAN.\'' SCHOOL COJlff'OSITION
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They hn.ve whetted their teeth against the stones;
And now th ey pick the Bishop's bon es ;
Th ey gnaw the fl esh from every limb,
For t11 cy were se nt to do judgment on him.-Sonthe31.

The Farmer ancl the Connsellor.

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61

E..tSJ' N. IRR.·I TJVES

A Coun sel in th e Common Pleas,
'V\10 was est eem'tl a mi ghty wit,
U pon the Rtrength of a chance hit.
Ami d a th ousand flippanci cf1,
An d hi s occn.s ionn.l bad jokcfl
In bullying, bantering, browbeating,
Hidiculin g, 11.nrl maltreating
W omen or other fonid folks ,
Jn 11. late eanRc rcsol\'l~ <l to h oax
A c low ni s h Yorks l1 in~ farnH' r -- on o
Wh o , by hi s un co11th look an1l gait,
Appear '1 l ex prC' ssly rn c:rnt by Fate
For being quizz '1l a111l play'tl upon.
So hn.vin g tipp'd th e wink t o thoso
Jn th e back rows,
Who kept their lirn ghtC'r bottlc<l down
U ntil our wag sh ould drn.w th e cork ,
Ile smil ed jocosPly on the clown,
And \l'ent t o work .
'·well, Farm er Num skull, how go calves at York?'
''Vh y, n ot, s ir, as t hey llo w ith you,
But on four l<' gs in stC'n.11 of two! '
'Of!i cc r I ' cried tlw l<'g1tl <' If,
Piqued nt t h e lnn r;l1 ago.in st him self,
'Do, prny, keep s il e nce tlown b elow there.Now look n. t m e, clown, and ntt.eml:
Hav e I n ot seen yon som e"·h crc, friend?'
'Yces- vory like- I ofte n go there I '
'Our rustic 's wagg ish - qni tc laconic,'
Th e counsel cric<l with grin sn.nlonic ;
'I wish I'd kn o\\' n thi s prorligy,
Thi s genin s of th e clods , wh en I
On circuit was at York re sidin g. Now, Farm er, do for once r;peak trneM ind, you're on oath, so tell m e, you

Who doubtless think yourself so clever,
Aro th ere as ma ny fools a s e ye r
In the W est Hi (ling? ·'Why, n o, s ir - n o; we'ye got our share,
But n ot so m any as wh en yun \\' ere there! '-llo racc

Slcepi11r; in Church.
Old South, a '"itty ch urchman reckon ed,
W1ts preachin g once to Charles th e Second;
But, much too se r io us for n. co urt
'Who at n.11 lw•·a chin g nrn rl e a. s port .
Ile soo n pen:e i\' etl his a u1li c ncc notl
Deaf to th e zealous man o f ( :otl.
'
'rhe doctor' s topped, began to ca ll,
'Pray wake t h e Earl of Ln.ud erJ rtle ;
My lord, wh y 'tis n. m on s tro us thing,
You sno re so loud you'll wake the kiug.'

A F riend in Need .
Curio, \\'hose h n.t a nim ble kn1tY e hn.tl s natched
Fat, clum sy, go uty, a s th111uLic , and old ,
'
ranting agai n st a pos t, hi s no\ltllc scrnte h ccl ,
And his sad s tory to a. s trnn gc r tolJ.
'Follow the thi ef,' r epl ied th e stande r-by ;
'Ab, sir,' said h P, 'these fe et will wa g no more.'
'Aln,rm the ncigh bourhootl "· ith hu e allll cry.'
'Alas! I' ve ron rCLl a s lon g n ~ lun gs eou ltl r oar.'
'Then,' <1u oth th e s tran ger,' va in is all c1Hkan1u r
Sans voice lo call, sans vi go ur lo purs ue:
And sin ce your hat, of cou rse: , is gone [o r e \·c r.
i'il e'en make bold to tak e your \\'i g ; adil'u i '
'Dr. bout!J.

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J, OX (;Jf.-r:\·s • SCHO OL

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C0 .111'0 .SITJO_V

·- -- -·--- -og- s ize of h ui.l, '!t cngtl 1 of plw a nd of body.
((~f) Bulld
Ne11foundlancl - thick, oil y coat, we bbed fee t.
<\·c.,

EASY ESSAYS. 1
57. The following is an outline of a brief and simple essay on
'The Cat' :1. Wh ere fou nd.
~ . Why kept.
:i. Fitted lo be a beast o f p rey : - (a ) T eeth; (b) Cl aws ; (c ) P a ds.
1. F itt<od for ni ght p rowlin g :- (ci) Fur ; (Ii) Eyes.
u. F itlc<1 to be a p c l.
(j . H abits .

58. The outline may be filled in thu s :-

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A cat is fo un<l in n f'a rly every h ouse. fi om e tim es il i ~ k ep t a s a p ct
onl y, and sorneti nH' S it is kP p l only to cal ch mie<', but m os l p eop le k eep one fo r
Luth purposes. 'l'h e ca t ici ti lled by n ature to be a bc1l s i <' f !JI"<'.)'; h ence its
claw ~ aml t ee t h :m · sh a rp :111 <1 long , nn r1 u 1111 cr its feet ar<' pad s , whi c h enable it
t o walk with ou t rn ~t kin g a no ise. Th e cat is also fitl e11 for prowling :ti ni ght.
Its thi ck fu r keeps it from fee lin g cold , a11•l ils wom1erful eyes en:tblc it lo
;;cc almo s t in I h e d a r k . Cats make goo<l pcl 8 bec aus e they arc p re tty , clean
an<l ge ntle . 'fh c·y like t o li e on so meth ing so fL and ' rn nn. When stroked
th ey purr. Ki tten s a rc very p layf ul.

Ou r1,1~i.;.s

2

to be expanded into essays.

Dou .

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1. F ound n ea rly rtll ov er ll'Orld ; fr ien tl to man.
2 . U ses :- H u n t in g , gua rd ing, 111i1 111 ing d 1ecp , etc.
a. Des cr ipt ion : - T eeth for t ea rin g, k g~ for ru n ni ng , 1;c•at for warmth;
diff eren ces be t"·ecn c a t 1rnt1 dog.
4. H abits .

K inds of Dogs .
1. Nam e variou s kind s.
2 . Showing how s tructure of each kind fit , it fo r its wo rk; a s
(n) Greyh o um1- shap<' . legs , ch es t for sw iftn ess.
(b) B looclh ound-h roa tl h ead, large no se fo r s m ell.
'

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·;.: nt (•..: for T 1•ad H' r:--. · .:'\ Ot• · !:I .
T l'ac l ltr:-:.· ~ V tl' l li.

., ~ll · .:\1_1 t t ... f1.J f

Tell

a story

about

&c.

::>torics of Dou:; .
(o) A faithfu l <l og.
(b) A cle Ycr dog .

IIay .
1. Grass all owed to grow fr om early np r in g .
2. Hipc in .Jun e or .J uly.
3. Cul with a scy t he o;. n rn chin e.

4. Spread out to tlry in t; tt n - t u rn l'd orcr-rn kcd into ' cocks '-car ted.

Com .
1.
2.
3.
4.
Ii.

Differe nt kind s : - wh cllt, ba r ky , o:l ts.
~o.wn in sp rin g (w h c<t t som etim es la te in au t umn) .
Groun d pr<:'p ::trcd by p lo ug hi ng, h a rroll' ing.
Sowin g (dcsc ri b<·).
Weeding.

Ii. H arves ti ng :- cn t wi th s ick le, scy the or m ac h in c -bou ntl - ca r tcd .

Plollr.
1. Wh eat th resh ed lo get g rai n a nd chaff fr om ca r.
2. Wi nn owed to sep a ra te chaff from i•ra in.

II. Groun d i n m ill (wi n tl, wat er, s t 0n n ~) .
4. Skin (brnn) ~cp arnle<1 fro m Jlour.

B read.

1. Generall y made fr om fl ou r.
2. ~lo~r mixed wi th wal er, a little salt an d yea st, into si}on gc-,·ea s' t

m&ko 1t ' nso.'
8. Made into loaves.
4. Baked in oven.

1. Made from cream.

J

Dutter.

2. r.~ilk placo'.l in sh a ll ow pa 11 s- c r<:'am ri ses-s kim med.
3. Cream begm s to t urn sour-churned.
4. Describe ch urn .

Ii. Ch urning divides crea m in to bu tter an tl bu tLcr-rn il k.

G. Butter run off-bu tter wa sh ed .

~. Beaten, often salted, m oulded .

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LONG.MANS ' !:>CH OOL COllfPOSJTION

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-

---- -- --------Lion.
1. Oat kind- teeth, claws , sh eath, pad .
2. About four feet high, tawny yellow, tufted tail, mane of male.

EA S Y ESS.·1 YS

Cuckoo.
1. Named Crom cry.
S. 'Bird of passage_
In April
Com e h e will .
In July
, ...•

i:I. Lion like cat steals up to prey.

-1 . l\rave.
5. Cubs playful.

L'

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(rl ) Ti ger, like lion., lies in wait.
2. Man- eating tigers.
3. Hunted, often on elephants.

]i;lcphant.

i.

1F
Cl.
Tea.
t.• Erom 1ma, Assnm , cC)·l on.
vergrcen shrub, glossy leaves, white flow er
.. t nm1 best m
. sprin" ·
Th
,f. Le .rce. crops a year ' ti 15
.
aves g11ther cd, plrtccd in sh ull '
. o· .
Ii roll ed between hand s.
O\\ baskets , dried first

·i. Short n eck; wh y?
5. Trunk; why n eeded ?- describe.
6. Clever, obcclicut , faithful.

!·!rabia,
Ilrn.zil, East a nd W est Incli cs C
r, verrrrecn tre
· l
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Owl.

~

• .

. or sm:lll ·
· Descript10n
·0 f magpie
grr y
.
• size
'
e; white, with slrtty b:lrs bP-1
. .
.
pi geon; colour :- blu e
L .Lnys egg in n est of o. t'ucr
· . ·1.~wl, \\ rngs black,. wi th wh ite at ti >1s
utn ~ -oftc 11 n. l IC<l gc- sparrow.
~ .

I. Two kinds, green and black.

Tell a story showing cleverness of elephant.

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In August
Go h e must.

l. Largest land animal, eight to t en fee t high.
2. Ver y h eavy body , thi ck skin, li ttle hair, legs thick.
:>. H ead l ar ge , tusk s sixty to seventy pounds euch.

Stories of Elephants.

'\ ,

H e prepares to fly.
'

T·iger.

1. Compan~ ti ger und lion :(a) Lion in Afric:1. um1 Asia , tiger in Asi11.
(b) Tiger as stron g, more ticrcc ant1 cunning .
(c) Ti ger golden fur with black stripeti , no mane, t1iil not tufted.

_ _ __ _ _ __ _ Gs

- - -- - --

.

Coffee .

·l
e, e1g it t o t wcl Yc fe et hi •· hC) OD .
Tree ben.rs a drtrk red bcH1· s. 7. f~l .
. " . . i o c ierry, and containing t
f (the
De coffee
. . 'bcn,11s
· · ') me·I1 111
ll skm .
wo hnnl
.
m
os
grttl1
crcd,
dri
ed
i1·1ssc·l
l
l )'··
. n closed iron
' .. . . c I UIH er rollers. t o remove skin.
..,,-is tC<l 111
l. Orouud.
' essc over slow ti re.
a.
IL

o .

·

·?

Coal.

1. Night bird; therefore eyes large, hearing sharp, feathers thick.

where
t .. gr o\\"lng,
.
·1 . fore st• . woods • cc
snnk t.
j cnetl
so 1 - IOSe agam - ycgctabl c reru ..n'm s lian

2. Downy fc t\th crs make flight silent.

:1. B eak am1 claws .
-1. Food.
5. Haunts.
1. Made

for

Swallow.

speed; feath ers tirm aml close, wings

pointed, legs sh ort.
2. Lives on insects ; large, wide m outh.
3. Bird of passtLgc; comes in spring, leaves in autumn.
4. Kinds;-(a) Swift ('Jack Scrc11mer' ), largest and ~wiftcat.
(b) Chimney martin or swallow-builds often under eavea.
(c) Saml martin; small est, builds in sandy b&nks or cliffs.

in sun, then O\' Cl"

ll~n;e found in layers .

II. lfmmg :- sh aft, galleri es .
l>angen
: - ·fall of roo f ; fl oo aing; exp 1os1ons
•
'ehokc-drtmp.'
or , fire-d amp;. nftcr.
&!ety lamp.

Iron.
Iron ore found in man. 1·

To

drive away

sulpht~r pr~~~:~dw~~krti°11
~elds;
why?
n, coal
or with
layers
of
.i

coal on
F

- - - - ---·--------

---------- ----

:l. '.\fixed with coal aotl lime a nd placed in blast furnace .
4. Ea rthy matters unite with lime to form ' slag. '
5. :'tlcltetl iron falls to bottom- run off - ' cast iron.'
6. Carbon adtled to iron to make steel.

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Spring .
1. What months ?
z. \Velcomc season after short, cold days of winter.
:~. Trees and fl owers- blossom.
-:I. Sowing.
5. Pleasant walk s in the country.

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Christmas.
1. When?

.I

Most gen eral English hol iday.
:l. \\'h y kept- ' peace and goodwill.'
4. Ho w kept :- business stopped; cards ;
Christ mas fore ; p a ntomimes.
'>

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Y our S chool.
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E .·IS}' ESSA 1·s

LONG.MANS' SCIJOO!. COM/'OSJTJON

G6

1.
2.
:i .
4.
5.
.{i.

Name.
Situation.
History.
Subj ects taught.
Ga mes.
How you may do credit to it.

l

Any T own.
1 . Nam e.
2. S ituatio n .
3. Population .
4. Ch ief industry.
!'). Chief buildings.
G. History.

Li11c11.
I. Made from fl ax-pl a nt about four fe et hi gh, blue fl owc·r.

2. Hipe flax pulled up, dri ed.
8. Seed (linseed) removed by pull ing stalks th ron gh a kiml of comb.
4. Stalk consists of two parts, woody and fibro us.
tl. Steeped in water to make sepa rntion of two easier.
Denten to break woody part.
7. Combed to rem ove it.
8. Spun, bleached , woven.
9. Uses.

~.

Blind Nan's 1J11ff.
1. One of the playe rs h as lrnudk erc hi cf tied over eyes.
1 Tries to catch any of the oth ers .
l If he catches anyon e h e mu st say wh o it is .
<t. I! he succeeds, player caught takes his place.
• The fun of the game.

1. Describe wickets (s ize, position, &c.).
'1 Describe bat and ball.
S. How many players?

"'

4. How many 'iu' at once? Th eir work?
l Wicket keepers, bowlers, an d the rest of the ' fi eld.'
How ' run s ' are mrtd e.
'I. How n. pl ayer is ' ou t.'
I. After one side is ' ou t ' ?
t. Which wins ?

!
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The Blacksmith's Sliop.
J. Describe blacksmith.
• lJis work.
!"ire, bellows.
Anvi l, hammers, tongs, watc·r -trough.
'-• The children coming home from school.

i'

2.

:-i.
-L
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6.
7.
8.

C:unbri(lge .
On th e Thames, betwee n P utn ey and .M ortlak e.
Every year , just before Easter.
'fwo boats- -eight men and a coxswain in each.
Great interest, especially in Lornl on.
Crowds by ri ver, rail and ro:id.
The race - ' H erc t}: ey come ! ' - -exc itement - victory•
Trial of skill, st rc n6th and emlurance.
1111<1

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Cricket.

' The U11ircrsity B oa lrace.'

1. Between Oxford

-'

The Ca rpenter's Sh op.
Dench, planes, chisels, h :uum ers, mallets , axe, adze, gimlets, saws, rule.
Oon1pnre blacksmith and carpenter.

S oldier.

J. ONC.1/ANS' SCllOOL CO J!J'OSJT! ON
:\. \Yh cre h e lives in peac e and in war.
4. Hccruits, drill, reviews, band.
D. Battle.
(j, Qualities or a soldier.

A Fann Seri:ant .
1. W ork vnri es with season.
2 . In spring work connected with sowing.

:1. Sum m er - weedin g, haymaking.
4. Au tum n - harv esting; sometimes ploughing.
5. \\'inter - looking after stock.

A Visit to IIa mpton Conrt.
1. Hoyal pal:\ce on n orth bank of Thames , about
L ondon.
. .
2. fir st pnrt built by c ,uJinal Wolst•y; th e l ater pnrts chiefly by W1llill T. anrl l\lary.
:3. !\o longr r a royal r rs idence.
4. Ch ic{ roo m s open to the public.
!:o. Ab out a th ousand pictures ; v:duahlc nrnl intt'resting; o.mong t
p c. rtrnits o{ the l;vlics or the courts of Charles IL and o{ William 111.

,,

G. B ea utiful gardens.
7. The great vin e, saiJ to be th e largest in Europe.
Th e J\{aze.
~- Du:;hy P a rk close by, 1,000 acres, wii.h fin e chestnut avenue.

i' .

Cleanliness .

"
i

1. Of person .
.
(a ) Desc ribe pores. Waste of bo<ly passes through them hke sin
up chimn ey; th erefore must be kept open.
(IJ) Diseases ari se if waste cann ot pa ss o!I.
(c) Dirty person disagreeable.
2. Of clothes.
Cl ean person impossible in dirty clothes.

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3.

or

h ouses.
(a) Du st pn.sscs into lungs.
(11) Dirty houses - bad smells.
(c) l'l::tgne (form erly common) du e to dirt.

Lyi11g .
1. 'iYhat it is - wilful attempt to deceive.
.
2. \\' ed s may be true antl yet a. lie because m eant to decelve.

'
S. There may be lies witho ut w ord ~ .
·j , \\'hy wron g.
6. Co nscriu cnce to liar- not believed even wh en spr :1kin c; truth.
C. 1-'nblc ' Crying Wolf.'

Cruelty to Animals.
1. :\ni11111ls can feel.
2. How would you like cruel tr ea tm ent?
a. •Do unto others . . . .'
._ Animals grnteful for kindness.
6. Any story to show th is .

Tlmjt.
1. I Penny saved, penn y gainctl.'
'· Nnmc so me things on whi ch children spend m oney ncct1lc:ss1y.
t Advantages of saving: - • Look :t ftc r th e pence . . . .'; sayi ngs can bo
to account; provision for a ' rain y thy.'
4. Aids to thrift ;- Savings ban kti , uuildiug soc idit' S, &c.

'Make ]Jay ichilc tlic Su n sl1i11cs .'
l. 3Icanin g of proverb. Ifay is grnss t1ri l'd i n th e s un; if not 'ma<lo '
'1Jt opportuni ty , it may be spoil ed by rain.
t. Pro verb teaches us to miss no opµ ortun ity.
S. ltcnsons :-- Do not kn ow wh a t m:ly h app en by to-m orrow; chanro
ps lost for ever; 'The mill cann ot gri nJ with th e water tha t is past.'
i. Story to show danger of pu ttin g off.

' A Rolli11g S to11c ga th ers iw Moss.'
l. Meaning of the proverb - perse vere.
t. 11lustrntions : (a) If you <lo not fini sh a st u<ly b<' gun, all the time spent on it is
wasted.
(b) Three rern oYcs arc ns b:ttl as a fir e.
(c) JJy stayi ng in th e same p lace you mak e fr icn t1 s un tl a position.

' Virtue is its own Rc zcrml.'
1. Yirtno often gains for a man h onour, w e~dth, fri erHl s.
t. Du t th ough it brought no such rc \\':tnl s it shou!J Le ~o u g ht .
. For th e approval of one's ow n conscience
of o.ny one else.

i~

w ore important tlian the

t

LONCJl.·INS ' SCHOOL COMJ'OSITJO.V

i.

I

Subj ects for :Essays. 1

I
il,

l.

l

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1
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J:.

t1
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J1,.
i·

71

(d) 'Honesty is th e best policy.'

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i

LETTER S

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.· 1

1. Rabbit. 2. Fox. 3. Pig. 4. Mouse. 5. Dear. 6. Camel.
8. Sheep. !l. Goat. 10. Cow.
11. Hen. 12. Duck. 13. Hobin. 14. Lark. 15. Canary.
17. Eagle. 18. Pigeon. l!l. Gull. 20. Sparrow.
2 l. Whale. 22. Seal.
23 . Bee. 21. Spider. 25. Fly. 2G. Butterfly.
~
27. Shark . 28. H errin g. 2!'1 . Mackerel. 30. Crab. 31. Cod.
82. Frog. 3:3. Crocodile. 34. Turtle. 3S. Adder.
3G. Cocoa. 37. Sugar. 38. 8ago.
S'.:1. Cork. 40. India-rubber. ·
41. Potato. 42: Turnip.
43. Srdt. 44.. Lead. 45. Tin. 46. Copper. 47. Gold.
48. Knife. 4!l. Glass. f>O. Paper. 51. Soap. 52. rins.
54. Candl es. 55. Cotton. 5G. Silk. 57. Woollen cloth.
5'3 . Autumn. 5!). Winter.
GO. Descr ibe : - (a) A house. (b) A street. (c) A church. (d) Afl'I
village. (1') Any town. (/) A fa.rm. (g) A mil l. (h) The sea-side .
Common spring flowers. (.i) The most bea utiful place you have seen. (k}
A. sn ow- storm. (l) A thunder-storm.
Gl. Any game with marbles. G2. Making nnd flying kites. 63. · Bo«ting. 61. Swimming. G5. Fishing. 6G. }'ootball. 67. A paper chase.
Ca. Skating. G!l. Lawn tennis.
70. Punctuality. 71. Industry. 72. P erseverance.
7 L Dad language. 75. Good manners. 76. Good habits. 77 . T emperance.
7:3. H ones ty. 79. The• Golden Hule.' 80. How to make yourself useful at
borne.
8 1. Desc ribe the life and work of :- (a) A mason. (b) A gardener. (c)
A teacher. (d) A docto r. (c) A sailor. (J) A policeman. (g) A postman.
( h ) A tail or.
(i) A baker. (j) A shepherd.
(k) A fisherman. (l) An
crrnnd -boy. (m) A painter.
ti2 . Describe a visit to :- (a) The sen-side. (h) Londo n or some other
large town. (c) The Zoological Gardens or a menagerie. (d) A circus.·
(e) The British J\!useum. (!) The Tower of L ond on . (g) Westmi nster
A.bbC'y. (h) A picture gall ery.
83. T ell a story about :- (a) A dog. (b) A cat. (c) A horse. (d) A.
mo nkC'y. (c) A parrot. (/) An elepha nt. (g) A h en.
~I. T dl S.!<Y ~ t c' r i.':> YL'U kth"" ill u.;\nnit!f lh.: f ,,u,,." i u~ ;a:; ings :. . ._. . ,~'· ~ ·i,_~ i;' . ''·~'or..:·.... ~ ~ ·

(e) 'Count not your chickens before th ry are hatched.'

(/) ' A fri end in need i ~ a fri end in,lecd.'
(g) 'Union is strength.'
85. Explain and illustrate the follo wing proverbs : (a) 'A stitch in tim e saves nin e.'
(b) ' People who live in glass hou ses should nP\'er throw 3tones.'
(c) 'A bird in hand is worth two in the bnsl1/
(d) 'Strike the iron wh ile it is hot.'
(e) ' Touch pitch and be defiled.'
(!) 'Ilome wa~ not built i11 n clay.'
(o) ' No l(t1i 11 ~ without ptiin ~ .'
(h) • Ntlthi11 g \'<'llhm• 11<lthi11g wi11.'

LETTERS.
59. In writin g a letter, care should be taken that the c1iffercn t
parts are properly arranged .
60. First comes the Address of the Writer .
This is written at the top of the paper, town.nls the right sille. If
the address consists of sc\·crnl part ~ , each part is gin·n n. scpn.rutc lin e ;
~hus,

13loomfi eld L oclge,
l:>pring GroYe,
Kingston-on -Thames.

The second line beg in s a little furth er t o the r ight than the fir"t,
tho third a little further than th e scconll, &c.

61. After the n.Jdrcss comes the Date of Writing.
This shonJ,1 nhrnys be wri tten in fnll, ber;inning a little furth er to
fue right thnu the last line of the aJ,lrcss ; thus,
s~· .

r .l. ll·nl O:'t<r

R ln \' .

L...)nd on, E.C.
4 )! arc h, 1889.

!

J.ElTERS

LONC .11.-/NS' SCH OOL CO.!!I'OS !lJ ON

62. Next comes the Form of Address.
'J'Ill· S IS
· [Ll w ayR p Jncecl
yaries accord·
•• · town.n1
' .s th
. e l eft o f the page , and
.
in" lo th e r elation s \Jet\\' ce n th e se rnl e r and th e re ce 1Ye r of the le~ter.
\\~· iting t o an in t in iale fri e nd, on e nrn.v. s:iy 'l\Iy Ll e_a_r T o rn,' o~ (a little
less familiarl y) • l\I y d ear Brown.' \\ n t m g lo :i fnc nd who is also ~
f' np erio r in age or position, o ne w oultl say 'My uear Mi:-. Drown.
·})car Sir• is formal, lmt claims so me small d egree o f ac11uamt<1nce or
r rga rd . • Sir' is purely formal. ~i111ibrly w e m ay ham 'l\Iy dear
· • • .ilIj' d en.r l\Irs. Brown,' 'Dear J\Iadv.m,' o.nd 'l\In.clam.'
"\ nn 1e,

master permits m e to refer yon to him fo r an account of m y co n1lu ct nn•l
abilities. I hav e therefore on ly to ad cl th"t if I 11 111 fortunat e e nou gh t11
enter you r employ, it shall Le my aim to scnc you diligently and faithfully.

I

Tl! O)l.\S \\".\ TSOS .

J. W. Chambers, E s<J .
lJ7, Kin g Wi lliam Stred , E.C.

L ette r fr om Jia cau la!J to his Father.1
Sh clfonl,
'2'2 l'cbrnary, l !'> Ll.

Ill

ti t~1o d, th e n e xt to b e 1rief.

64. After the letter comes the Subscription, as,
I am,
Sir,
Your obedient se rrnnl,

I"

LL E WELLYN GHIFF!TUS,

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Th e s ub 3crip t ion is arranged lik e tl_ie :u1'.1rcss , 11_1t lJC• gi n s fu~·ther to
th e lcfL. Tllo fo rm of s u\J scripti on Ya n es w1Lh th e for m uf at1d_rcss.

65. A bu siness letter encls with the Address of the Person to

I
1

whom it is Sent.
Thi ~ ii':' w ritt e n in the left corne r.

A fri omlly le tter g en erally enc1s

\ r ith th e s ub scription.

EX,\:\IPLES OF LETTERS .

AzJplication f or a S it uation.

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3-15, Lancaste r Street,
Borough Hoa<l, S.E.
15 F eb ruary , 1889.
Sir,
· • , st <l ·d ' that you
Soe ing by your advertisement in thi:i morning s • an ~'.
. ·
.d of a n offtce boy I beg lcn.ve to apply fur th e pos1t10n. I havo
'
.
.
<l B .· 1 Street
a1e 111 ne e
11L.ge
·
bee n for six years a pupil in the Comrncrc1ul !:)ch ool. Ol

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11111 ,

S ir,
You r oLctlionl se r vant,

63. AfLcr L110 form of a,JJress comes the Letter.
A fri cm1 l y letter sh oulu b e ea~.v anu pl en.sant in r.; tyl e - it should be,
fact, a t:i.ik 0 11 paper. In a bu s in ess . lett_er, on th e otl_10 r hand, the
st y] e is se Yere. Th e tirst aiw of tho wnter is to wake lrnnself under·

i3

My dear P11pa,
As thi s is a whole h oli clay, I cannot find a bett er t im e for a n s w r r i n ~
your letter. Wi th resp ec t lo my h cfl.!th, I am r cry well, ancl lolcrably clH' <'rful, as Dlumlell , th o best and m ost cleYcr of all the sch ola rs, is ,·cry ki n,l,
nnd tn.lks lo me, an<l takes my par t. H e is <Jllitc fl fr il'lHl o f !\Ir. Pr1·s1on ' s .
The other boys, especially Lyo n , a Scotch boy, an1l \\'il berCo rcc , are w ry
good-natured, an cl we might !t a ,·o gtl JH' on vrry w<·ll, h ad n ot on l' . a J\ ri :, to l
fo llow, come here. H e is unani1n ously allowrr l to hL' a •pt cc r f1 ·llow, an rl is
generally charncteri sccl a s a fo(l !ish boy, mhl hy 11 \\J» t ,, f ns an il l-nulurr ·d
on . In my learnin g I !l o Xc1l()phon cn• ry <by, an 1l tw ice a week tlio
OJysscy, in whi ch I um classed wi th Wi !Lr rforcc, wh om all the l1Uys all 11w
to be very clever, very droll , and YPry im p u<lcn t. \\' c do Lalin versl's twice
o. week, and I Jrnyo n ot yet bee n la ughc· •l at, us \ Yill11' rforc c is th e only one
who hea rs th em, being in my class. \ \' c arc c xPrci sl'cl a lso 01:cc a W CL' k in
English compos iti on, :intl once in L ~1lin colll p•Jsiti o11 , and letters of J>c rso ns
renowned in hi story lo each oth er. \\' c gel hy h eart Greek grnm mnr 01·
Virgil every CYening. As for s c rn1on - wr ili n ~ . I h ave lii lhcrto got off wi th
credit, and I h ope I shall keep up rny rqn1 l;iti on . \\- o ha ve !tad th e fir st
meetin g of our 1lcbat in g soc iety tho oth er clay , wh ,·n a vole of cen sure wa s
moved for upon \VilLcrforcC', but h o gcll i1, g up s:i i.J , ' :\Ir. !'res ident, I brg to
second th e m otion.' JJy thi s mea n s h e <·,;c:ipcd. Th e kirnln css wh ich ;\Ir.
Preston sh ows me is very grc::t. l fo alw ays :1s <is h Ill (' in wha t I can11 ot rlo,
nnd t11kcs me to walk out with him cvr ·ry n o,•: anol th en. l\ ly room is n.
delightful snug .l ittl e cha lllber, which 11 ubo1ly ca n enter , as th ere is a trick
nbout opening t h o doo r. I si t lik e a Ln g, with my \H ili ng -tlcs k Ldore me ;
lor (would you believe it ?) th ere is :t wr[tin g des k in my ches t of dra,vers ;
my books are on one siclc, my Lox of paper.; on th e otlier, with my arni -chuir
'Thi a i> au exact trau5cr ipt of a Id l er written by Lord :'ifocaulo1y, "heu " ocliov ltx>y o!
\ wt!ve.

LE /TENS

LONGM.ANS' SCHOOL co,itl'OSJTJON

74

o.nd my candle; for every boy has a candlestick, snuffers, and extinguisher
of his own. Being pressed for room•l will conclude what l hint to say tomorrow , an<l. ever remain,

Your affectionate son,
TIIO)JAS TI. l\!AC!t:L.!. y.

From Syclney Smith to Charles Dickens.
[Address not published.]

May H, 1842.
My d ea r Dickens,
. .
I accept your obliging invitation cond1t1onally. Ii I nm
any man of greater ge nius than yourself, or one by whose ~vork~ I
more completely inter ested, I will repudiate you, and dme with
splendid phe nomenon of the two .

. .
invited by
have been
the more

Ever yours sincerely,
SnJ~a; ..-

75

From the poet Gray to the Duke flj Grafton.
CamLri<lgc,
July, 17G8.
My Lor<l.,
Your Grace has dealt n obly with me; nod the same d elicacy. o f mind
that induced y ou t o confer this favour on m e, un solicited and .unexpected ,
may perhaps make you averse to receive my sincerest thanks and grateful
acknowledgements. Yet your Grace must exc use me, they will have th ei r
way: they arc ind eed but word s; yet I know and feel they come from
my h eart, and th erefore are not wh olly unw orth y of your Grncc 's acceptn nee.
I even flatter my se lf (such is my pri<ll•) that you havC' some little fiat is fa ct1011
in your own work. If I did n ot deceive myself in this, it would complete
the happiness of,
My L ord,
Your Grace's most obliged and de voted servant,
T11m1As GnAY.

Smn1.

From the p oe t Gray to Ilorace 1Valpolc.
From Dr. Johnson to lVarrcn Hastings, Governor General
of Bombay.
London,

0 Jan., 1781.
Sir,
. .
h. l
t
Amidst the importance and multiplic ity of affairs 10 ~v 1c 1 your g rea
n· ~
"ages ,.0 u I t.a k c the liberty of nicalling your attention [pr a moment
OnJC.o en o
J
I
•l . l
to litera ture, and will n o t prolong the mtcrrupt1on by an npo ogy, '~ uc 1
I

•

•

yo u r character makes n eedl ess.
.
.
Mr. H oole, a gentl eman long known and l on g esteem ed 111 the India
House, after having trnnslatcd Tasso, has undertaken Arios t o: II~w well .lw
i ~ qu1tlifi ed fo r his und ertaking he has al ready shown. H e is d es1r~us, Sir,
o f your farnur in promoting hi s propos al s , and flatters rne by suppos ing that
my testimony m n.y advance hi s interest.
.
lt is a n e w thi ng for a clerk of the India House to translate poets. It ~s
n ew for a GoYcrno; of Bengal to patronise learning. That be may fi~1d . h~s
in ge nuity r ewarded, and that learning may flourish und er your protcet10n, is
the wish of,

Sir,
Your most humbl e servant,
SA~!.

[E rnrythin i; except tho hotly of the lctwr iR omitted.]

I was hin<l ered in my Ins t, and so could not give you nil th e troub le I
would have done. Th e <ksc ripti on of n ron<l, whi c h your conch whl' els have
so often honouret!, it wo ul<l be 11ec1ll ess to gi \·c you ; su f1icc it that I arrin <l
saCe' !Lt my uncl e's, wh o is a great huntC' r in imagi nati on : bis <l ogs tak e up
every chair in th e h o use, so I nm forced to s tand at ihi s p rt''e nt writing ;
nncl though the gout fo rbi1ls him g:dl oping after th em in t he fi eld, yd he
continues still to r egale hi s ca rs and n ose with their comfortable n oi sr and
smell. H e holds me mi gh ty cheap, I pNcciv e, for wal kin g wh<'n I s h oul1l
ride, and read ing wh en I sh ould hunt. My com fo rt amids t all thi s i;;, that
I have at the di stance of lmlf a mil e t h ro ugh a greC'!l lan e, n fores t [Bu rn.ham
Beech es] (the vul ga r call it n common) all my own, nt lea s t ns goo d ns rn ,
for I spy no human thing in it hut myself. It is a littl e chaos o f mount ains
11nd precipice~; mountain s, it is tru C', that d o n ot asc end mu ch aborn the
clouds, nor nrc th e dcc li,·iti cs quite so a11UJ.zi11 g n s DO \' <.' r clifT; but jus t ia1c h
hills as people wh o lovp th e ir n C'c ks ns wPll as I <lo mtty vr nt u re to e lilllh, it1lfl
cmgs that give the !'ye ns mu ch pl ea s ure ns if th ey were m ore dnn i:;<·rnus:
both vale a nd hill rtrc Co\·cred with m(ls t v!'n <.'rablc bC'ech cs, nn<l othrr verv
reverend vegetabl es, that , lik e m ost other ancient p eople, arc always dr eau;.
ing out their old stories to the wind ~ , -

J Ot!NSO~.
1

At Uurnham i11

D11 c ld n ~: h :1 m s hirc .

L O.\"C. l!.1

xs·

- - - - - -- - - - - --

SC JJ OO L
-·

• AnJ ;is th ey bow their h oa ry tops r elate,
In murmurin g so unJ s, th e dtirk dec rees of fa te ;
\ Vh ilc vi sion s, as po etic eyes a vow ,
Cling to eac h leaf and s warm on e very bou gh.'
At th e foot of one of th ese sq uats m e, and there I gr ow to the trunk !or
a. wh ole m ornin g. Th e tim orous h a re and sporti ve squirrel gn,mbol nrouncl
m e lik e Adam in Par;uli se, before h e had an E ve ; !Jut I think he did n ot
u se to r ead Virgil, a s I commonly do th ere. In thi s s itu:ition I often con·
ver se with my H o race, aloud t oo, that is talk to yo u, but I do not r em ember
th at I c Hr h c:l nl yo n n,n s wc r m e. I beg p:lr<l on for takin g all the convers11tion to my self, !J11t it is entirel y your own fault. r sh all be iu town in about
~ hn:c we eks. Adi e u.

OUTLINES

to be expanded into letters.
T o an Uncle.
1. Very kind of you to r em emb er my birthday- delighted to r eceive a
wateh fr o m yo u.
'2 . F ull of gratitudc - h :i.d oft en wi sh ed fo r :i. wa tch.
J . W ill take great care of it-never look at it with o ut thinking of kind
giv er.

1'o his P a ren ts, from a B oy who has Just left H om e
f or Bus·incss.
1. H arn been h ero a m onth.
~- A t fi rs t confused by numbl: r of clerk s and by persons calling.
3. H ad to copy letters, and go on e rrand s.
-1. Th e mas ter anJ fellow-cl erks all kind.
ii. Feel separa ti on fr om h om o and fri ends - look forward to fir s t h oliday.

Y our La st Ilolidays .
1. Wh a t the h olidays were.
:.!. Wh e re you sp ent them .
3. 'Who was wi th you.
4. \\' hat y o u did.

A Pleasan t TValk.
1. From - - to - - , with - -

J. E/'I ENS

C().J JJ 'OSJ lJON

77

-----

.
2. Desc ription of th e di s trict through which you passed.
3 . Anything in ter es ting wh ic h y ou saw or hoard or did.

To your Fath er, desc ribing a

ri~it lo SO/II('

Bcluticcs .

l. You r journ ey t o - - ; h ow y ou wen t - \Yh o met you .
:!. The arrival at your rclatives'- \vhom you saw.
S. What you h a ve been do in g.

From a T o1un Cltilll to a Co1w lry Cl1ild.
l. Town crowded - n oisy - dirty - glad to i:;ct into count ry.
:!. Shall never fo rge t vi sit t o th e country l!ls t s um m e r.
S. No st reets - few h ouses- beautiful vi c ws - qni et - s weet air.
4. Fine weath er - many enj oy:<bl c walk s .
. 5. Returned to town almo st envyin g a coun try life.

Answer from Country Child to T o1cn Child.
1. You alm ost envyin g country life - I almo s t en vying t own life .
2. Country has th e advanta ges you desc rib e, but you saw it in s ummer.
3. Difficult to get about in Lad \Y Ca t her- es pccial ly in win tl' r whe n mu c h
d weath er.
4. Dull -- no li br:i.ries, exhibition s, m ee tin gs , c o n ce rt ~ . ,~·c .
Ii. Town m11y have all th o di sadvantages nnm e(l, but atw:iy s ple n ty to
~ . opp o rtuniti es for study, fri endl y in tercou rse, ent ertaitllll en t,; .
G. Travelling easy.

Applicat-ion f or a Sit11otio11 .
1. ITnvo seen advertisement for - - in - - ; bq; lu n e to npply.
2. Ago --school- previous employm ent (if any).
8. Character.

R equest to Tea che r.
1. Jinve nppli e<l to - - fo r pboe 11s - - .
2. Wn s :isked to nam e someon e who woulcl ~ p ea k as to charac t er :lnJ
abili ties.
S. T ook th e liberty of na ming you - hop e you will excu se .
4. Thanking fo r all p as t kindness.

L etter to Te acher.
An opening occ urred for m e at - - ; fath er th oug h t best to :i v:lil rnys~ l f

2. The refore have left school.

a. Tha nk ~ for care

bes towed on cduc:i.tion - :ind !ll :l ny nets of p ersonal

nese.
4. Ne ver shall forg et yenrs nt school- will a.lw:lys try to do it credit.

\ I f 1

f

~ ir .

73

- - - - - - --- -

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1.
2.
B.
4.

6. Through lock- I{ingsto n - on SurrC'y side- town m ore thnn n tho u-

AOd yenrs old.
7. Had taken pro vis ions.:_bndt'.!Ll on towi ng path - -h ad l unc h.

Can you com e to tea- day- -h our.
l\Iy birthday- several fri end s coming.
T ea in orchard - th en cricket in fi eld.
Hope mother will let you com e- be hom e by nine.

8. Rowed up to Hampton Cou rt - visited Palace - admired pictures nnd
dens.
!I. l\Iade tea on bank.
10. Dack to Richmond-and Lon don-m ost enjoyable dny.

1,'

t·,, !

i9

--------- ---------

Inviting a Friend to Tea.

I \

;.I

L ETTFR S

l.ONC, J!A lVS' SCHOOL CUJJPOSJTJON

Accepting Invita tion.

!; i

Subjects for Letters.1

1. Thank s for imitation - happy t o accept.
2. Glad to meet - - .
3. Look fo rward t o pl e.asant evening.

Declin ing Invitation.
1. Thanks for in vitation -- sh ould hav e been glad to come.
2. So rry to lose ch anc e of m eet ing - --.
:J. Fa th er som e tim e ago arranged to tak e m e anLl my brothers to 4. J l op e yo u will hav e pleasant eve ning an<l many h a ppy r eturns.

Stndy of Shortliwul .
1. T each er of sh orth and visited sch ool ycs t cnlay aftern oo n.
:! . One of u s read p aragraph from n ewspaper- h e t ook down eve ry
in sh orthand - th en r ead to us.
3. D esc ribe th e a clva n tages of sh orthand.
(a) G rea t sa vin g of one's ow n time in m akin g n otes.
(b) Ease in making notes of lectures , sc rr10ns, &c.
(c) l\Iu ch u sed in business.
(d) Esse ntial fo r n ewspape r rep ort s.
4. Cl ass to be formed - m ea n to join.

word

Ret11rni11g a B ook.
1.
2.
:J.
4.

Thank yo u very mu ch for loan of - - ·
No w return it by - -.
How yon liked it.
Wh at you think of it.

A D ay's B octli11g.
1. Last Saturday 11 holid ay -- \Ycnt boatin g with three fri ends.
2. Train L ond on to Iliclnn ond - " alk cd up th e hill to see the ben utifnl
\'i ew-day ucin g clear saw \Yind sor Castle.
3. Took boat - r owed in turn s , two at a time.
4 . Passed Twickenham - pretty little t own o n l\Iiddlcse x side.
6. Tcddington - hi gh cst point rcacbctl by tidc - lo\ves t lock on Thnme1.

1. A day at your school.
2. A walk in the country.
S. A holiday.
4. A cricket m atch.
6. A fo otball match.
il. A paper chase.
7. A visi t to the sen.side.
8. A visit to a t own.
V. Any journey which you have mad e.
10. Any exhibition which you have seen.
11. A description of Christma s written to o. child living in a country
'ltbtro Christmas is not much rega rd ed .
12. A description of winter written to a cli ild living in India.
13. Thanks to your uncle for prese n ting yo u with a pony.
14. A friend is about to keep a dog. Write him a letter telling hi m how
Lrcnt it.
111. What you would like to be wh en you leave sch ool (with r easons).
16. Your fav ourite book .
17. Your favourite in h istory.
18. Where you would lik e to live if you left y our ow n co unt ry. Gi ve reasons.
10. The advantages of living in n. town.
20. The advantages of living in th e country.
~ I. An account of som e m ee t ing wh ich you have attended.
22. The life of a m iss ionary.
23. The life of an engine-d riYe r.
24. The benelits of cc.lucation.
2li. An evenin g pa rty.
26. The last exami nation \vh ich you took .
27. A short hi story of your sel f.
28. A summ er m orning.
2!l. The evils of war.
30. Am usements.
81. What you would like to do iu the n e:.:t summe r holiday.
' Sec' Notc l for Tcnchcn,' Note

11.

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l!
H

.}
'!(

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80

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L ONG1lf..JNS ' SCHOOL COJ)JPOS JJJON
C N.·/.l!.11. / N

I:. '
',\

i )•

I,

Ex ercise 45.

GRAMMAR. 1

Correct the errors in tli e f olloll' i11:; sc:;/c :z ccs :-

CoxcoRD.
·66. A Verb must agree with its Subject m Number and
P er son , as
I um go in g to school.
H e is goin g t o sch ool.
'Ve a rc goi ng to sch ool.

In th o first son ton co th e Verb am y o'ing i8 of the Sin gular Number,
First Person, Locn,uso its :S ubj ec t I is of tho tiin g ula r Number, F.u-.t
P erson .
I n tho socona se nt ence is going is of th o Singnlnr Number, 'l'hird .
l 'e r ~<1J1, because its S nLj oc t li e is of tho ti in g ulrtr NnmLe1·, 'rl1ircl P erson..
I n the t hinl sentence th e Verb are go ing is of the P lurnl Num b •f:
Fi rst l'er ~on , Lccause its subj ect n·c is of tho Plural N umber, Fird
l'orson .

Exe:-cise 44.

Give th e Number and I'crw n of each Verb.
I nm very unh a ppy . Nathan sui t! unto Daviu, 'Th ou nrt th e mn..n.*
T om is wanted. W e h ad a h olicl ny. Th on h a st tl1 y r eward. Yon are to bt
pro m ot cLl. The boys hav e gone h om e. ,\.ho hath sorrow? If th ou wil" ~
t li o u ca nst m a ke m e cl ea n . The s nn is set tin g. I nm sorry thnt you ai.
il l. You ha ve u long j ourn ey before you.

i•

67. In th e sen tence
Tho u wi th fresh h op e th e l ovcr"s h eart tloes fill,

th e Subj ect , tli ou, is of th e Scconcl Person, 'vhile the Verb, doe1;
is of th e Third P erson . The Verb ought to bo dost.
68. In the sentence

You w11s in sch ool ycstenla.v.
h yo u going for a walk? ·
I is 11 good b11by.
'I'lmt lnzy boy don ' t m ea n to t ry.
'!'he ri ver don 't run up hill.
Don' t h e nm fast?
'I'he child 's h and s is very cohl.
There is nine hundred sh eep g ra zing on Ute !t ill -~ iJ o.
Tbore is Jive pigs in th e sty.
There' s two or three of us comin g t o see you.
You wns th e very man I want to see.
'l'be shears is lying on th e ground.
WruJ you at the concert lust ni ght?
Your brothers h as been in th e p ark.
Thou sees it is not so.
'fhrcc montl1s' sal ary are n ow <lu c to him.
DogR is very fa ithful to th eir m as te rs.
Thoy sells in the dearest mark et and bnys in th e ch ea p est.
Within th e eel! stands two cloak ed fi gures .
• Stop her' was Am yus 's fir st words.
Almost every hour brings him within sight of some sce ne \\·hic lJ h ave
mnrks se t upon it.
On the table was two long p ip es.

. 69. In the sentence
The pyrnmias o! Egypt has stood more than three thou sand years

simple Subject, pyramids, is Pl ural; th e Verb , th erefo r(',
t to be Plural also (have stood). Egypt is in th e Obj ec: ti ve
after the Preposition of.

Il e don 't [= do n o t] kn ow hi s own rninJ ,

tl1 e subj ect, he. is of t he Sin gular Number, ancl the Verb, do, ii .
of th e Plural Number. Tl1 e Verb ought to be docs.
•.Sec • Not cs !or Tcacbcn," Notc 12.

l nriety of pleasing objects charm th e eye

· aim ple Subject, variety, is Singulo.r; the Verb, therefore,
ht to be Singular also (charms).

a

l ' ~ ·.

C !.'.·/ J/Jf../ R

LONGMANS' SCHOOL COMPOSJTIOll

U:

!

Exercise 46.

I
li

'I

Correct the mistakes in the followi11g sentences:-

'f

~I

f

The beaut.~ o~ the flo,:·rrs deli ght hi:r1.
(. fJ' ( • L, ~.~~
fhe eomm1 ss10 n of cnmcs hard<'n !11s heart.
A change in hi s plans were needed.
The pangs of congciencc interrupts his pleasure.
. · ·1
Nothing but vain and foolish pursu its please some people.
The days of man is but ns grass.
T'.>0 great a vari ety of studi es tend to distract the attention
A change of studies are now and then desirable.
A knowledge of languages arc often very u seful.
The m erit of the men were well known .
The art of making clocks were not th en discovered.
A pension of five hundred pounds were granted.
The number o f soldiers were very great.
Th e qn:\lity of th e appl es were good.
The dropping of cumbrous word s nre a real gnin.
The eno rm ous e xpense of governments have provoked men to think.
The usunl number of burials were from twelve to seventeen .
The danger of seditions hnvc bee n talked of.
Not a line of the lecture s were written.
The appea rance of many thin gs remind me of the
pictures.
Nothing but clrea ry dykes occur to break the blank.
A sojourn of five years have strength ened th ese opinions.
The translatio n of specimens are very "·ell clone.
~

71. 'Yhcn the Suhj ect consists of Singular
nouns connected by and, the Verb is Plural, as,

li

I:

'I

John and James are coming.
She and h er brother have arriYcd.
He and she 1ccrc late.

tj ,,;.
:. J
I

I
:

Exercise 47.

I

Correct the mistakes.
I

1:

Socrates and r lato was two great philosophers.
Tomkins and he goes together.
Life anJ death is in th e power of the king.

es& and ignorance is the parents of many vices.
{\Ilg nco nnd porsovorauco deserves prosperity.
1'0lll the same parliament comes a good act anrl a l.Ja<l net.
T-o and two makes four.
~ and quiet flouri shes where justice and rea so n rul es.
haps great.~ess of mind and beauty of soul is a gift of na tu re.
:;uotly opposite each other stands a church and a gi n-pala ce.
l::ilf the fire was the tal.JJe ancl the chair.
n was considerable noise and confusion.
1 is the scraping of fiddl es and the twangin g of harps allowed ?

i

Tl When the Subject consists of Singula.r Nouns or Pro " co1~nected by or, either-or, or 11citlicr-11or, th e \'l'rb
00 Smgulur; us,
,1 fathe r or my brother is coming to meet me.
• lh t the mast.er or the servant 1cas present.
tbcr diOiculty nor danger frightens him .

Exercise 48.
' th r precept nor punishment act like example.
tiler th e boy or the girl were present.

~ ia not such a machine as a clock or a. watch whid1 move m erely

113

I'll tnO \' Cd.

tbcr his pity nor his thankfulness were active.
n.ncc or negligence have been the cau se of hi s ruin.

difl1cult.y or sorrow come to us we find out wh o nre our friend s.
w re neith er honesty nor decency in his conduct.
'th~ ho nor I were pleased.
ltiu he nor his brother are coming.
or folly nrc his foul ts.
bappincss or our misery are largely due to our own actions.
llwr Hulln nd nor France are rich in min erals.
Uwr tho th ought nor the accompli shm ent were of the world.
rho nor Addison were intended to be kin gs of men .
her his conduct. no r his langu::Lgc have left me with that. impress ion.

~\'~e? the Noun or Pronoun wl1ich forms tl1e simple

t lil )Omcd to another Noun or Pronoun by such words or
as with, togeth er with, in addition to, or as iccll as, tl 1e
os with the simple Subject only.
0

2

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C N. l.l!.l/..JN

J. OACJl.·INS' SC!IOO L C011!/'0S!JJOl'/
I

\\'e say

I.

Exercise 50.

The hou se amZ the furniture arc worth a thousand pound s ,

r{

I

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iJH t
The hou se wit h th e furniture is worth a th ousam1 p o~1 m1s i

t hat i::i
Th e hou se is worlh :i th ousand poum1s with the furnitEre.
tlt\

The cnt and th e dog a rc white,

but
Th e cat as well a s th e dog ii>' \Yhite ;

Correct th e misflil:cs.
F.nch of the solcliers were armecl .
Each of th ese en.uses lcml lo irn prorn l1im .
Thnt night every man of th e c re w We're clown with f..: ,·er.
Every one of th e n.mli cnce ktYe a<l111ircd l1irn.
Evcryliody livin g n c:ir him \\' Crc Catholic~.
E\'ery plan for h elping th e poo r were ~ ur e of hi s 11t·lp.
El'cry line of hi s poems were like th umps on th e n11Yil.
Every strong and weak point were c:udully n ot"d.
E\·cry one of th e letters l.Je:ir dale afll' r hi ~ b: u 1i~h 11 H· nl.
Ench of th em r eceive the bcnclits to whi ch th e y 1ne e nti t'. c< L
Every perso n n.rc bound by the laws of th e ir c;untry.
Neither or th ose men see m to h :wc any idc;t of h ones ty.
A.re either or these m en you r fri cnJ 'l

that is
The cat is whil e a s \Y ell as the do~' [ is white] .

Exerci ~ e

Co~nct

49.

the mistcikcs.

The corn with th e sacks weigh a ton.
'(; o<l lin css '"i lh contentm ent are i:;reat gai n.
The l ion ns \\' ell ns th e ti ger cat !lcsh.
The cart:i in wilh hi s men ca tch s lans.
The squire with hi s h ound s kill a fox.
Th e h ou se with lh e goo,l s were l.Jurnt.
Th e man with all his fault s \Y crc lo Ycd.
Th e electric light with powerf ul r c:flcctors a e to b<! employet1.
The fr equen cy o [ impostu re togethe r with the in eflicacy of
arrnnn em ent s sc rYe as an excuse.
'
..
sympathy with him in alhlitivn lo rny a tlmi rn tion for him wero UK·

:'I ;

ly~ inning of our fri end ship.

Tho control ns well as the s upport of a fath er were \vanting.
l' uli cy as well a s fashi on di ctat e such conduct.

74. Tl1 e Noun qnaliGcJ by each or crc ry is Singular,
th e Ycrb of which it is tho Subject musl be S ingular also;
f'.y ery good boy was r ewardcu.
E:ic h lesson i~ to be sludieu.

75. The Verb to be has th o same Case after it ns before it , n~ ,
Th ou art li e.
I look it to I.Jc him.
Ili on is in th e Nominatirc Ca se Lefo r e art,
rcforo he is in the Nom in atirn C:1 s0 .
In the scconcl senten ce -ii is in th e Obj cc t i1·e C ase "'01·crnc<1 J,y tl1r·
Arlil'o Verb look. II befo re th e \' e rlJ tu /Jc is in the ,.., Ohjccli r e l'asr-.
rcfore him is also OLj ectire.
0

Exercise 51.
Correct the mi:;takcs.
It was me \rh o wrote th e lcll c r.
Art th ou him that sh oul<l come l
I 110 not doubt that it is him.
I tlo nol douLt it t o Le li e.
It 'rns th em \Yho gan' u s all th e trouL l<'.
I \vc uld n ot do that if I were l1i1n.
::>he is· so like h er s ister that I to ul; it to be ~ h e .
'l'ha t could not l.Je h er.
\Vas it m e that said so ?

SG

C }.'A JI/. IA R

L ONGJl/ANS' SCHOOL COAfPIJSIT./ON
Who
'Vho
Who
Who

I nm certain that it was not him.
It was either him or his brother that won the first prize.
Whom do men say that he is?

PROXOUNS.

76. Wh en you are speaking of yourself and others,
gramm ar a nd good manners alike require that yo'1 should nam.,.
yourself last ; as,
Fred, T om and I arc ,::oing for n walk.
My fath er ~ent presents to my sister nnd me.

77. The sentence
Me and William had a. game at marbl es

1s doubly wrong. 1Vi'lliam ought to come first, and me,
Subj ec t to had, ought to be in tho Nominative Case (J).

are you go ing to m ee t ?
a rc yo u go ing to ma ke capta in?
can thi s IPttcr be fr om ?
a.re yo u go in g to apply to next?

Relative Pronoun wha t is 1ieYer used with an anteSuch a sentence as
That is the Look "·hat I wa nt

·therefore wrong.

Exercise 54.

Correct the mistakes.
The boy drove away th e binls what were eatin g th e corn.
The m11n what ca.me Jn.st night left thi ~ m orning.
This is the rat what cat th o malt.
The machine what wns broken has bee n m ended.
The dog fetch ed the bird s what its master had shot.
Is this a dagger "·hat I see before m e '?
The gard ener what we employ is h onest.
Ho loved the bird what loved th e m an, what shot him with hi~ bow.

Exercise 52.

Co rrect the mistakes.

PRoxouNs AFTER 'T11 .\N'

Mc and my brother live in a. village.
H er and lier sister arc comin g to sec m e.
Me a nd Drown are going fi shin g to -morrow.
I a ml you h rw c been sent for.
Him and hi s fath er arc cngnged in the same business.
H er and three other girl s arc skipping.
Us and our fri end s Juve been promi sed a treat.
Them and th ose who h elped them will get into trouble.
Who is that for?

80. The greater part of the cla.i.1se after than or as 1s geneI am youn ge r than h e , is youni.( .
She loves him as weli as I [ love lt im; .
She loves him a s well a s ~ s h e lo ves] me.

81. Mistakes sometimes ari.~ e frvm forg etfnlness of this rule .
say
She is stron ge r than m e nm,
I am a s old a s h er am ;

is \\Tong, as will be seen by changing the orderThat is for who?

F or, being a Preposition, requires the Objective Case (whom).
Exercise 53.

Who did th11t book come from?
Who is the present m eant for?

'As.'

nlly ' understood,' as

. ~o ono would

78. Tho sentence

Correct the mistakes.

AXD

She is stronger than me,
I am a s old as li er.

Exercise 55.

Correct the mistakes.
John writes better th an m e.
He is as good a s her.

1. 0NC. lf../ HS' ' S CJ!OcJL COAi POSI TION

SS

You \Yill lose mu ch more than m e by the failure of the bank.
I suffer m ore tl i:rn her.
Th ey kn ow how t.o \Hite ns well as him.
Th ey arc lictter sc holars than us.
She j 3 no t so lea rn ed as them .
\rh o betrayed th e secret? Not m e.
\\'h o is t o be promoted ? Neither him n or h er.
Wh o did you m eet? He.
Wh o di,l yo u m eet in th e park? H e a nd his sister.
\Ve shall soon be as poor as th em.

CRAA!.lf../R

PARTICIPLES.

84. Be careful that yon do not use tho Past Tense for the
l?erfect Partici:'._)le, or the P erfect P articiple for the Past Tense.
Exercise 57.

'Lrn'

Correct the m·islalccs.
,\'.'iD 'LAY.'

82. De careful Urnt you ao no t confound tlie Intransiti
Yerb lie \Yith tho Tr:.rn sitirn Yorb ln y. The chief parts of th
Ycr bs arcl 'rcsc 11 t
lie
lay

I'ast
lay
l::Lid

I'e1fcct I'a rt icip lc
lai n
la id

I111zJc1 f .:ct Parliciplo
lying
lay ing

83. The Ycrbs are correc tly used in tho follo,ving sentences:Th c cat 1ics on th e ru g.
T he baby is lyi ng in th e cradle.
I was tired, so I lay dow n to rest .
H e has la.in in the gra ve two years.
I am laying th e books on th e table.
T om Jn.id th e boa rds on the groun1l.
I ham Jn. id th e case before my fa ther.

Exercise 56.

Correct tlic mis takes .
I am tired, so I sh all lay down.
I a m goin g to lay on th e bed.
I was t ired , so I laid dow n .
The slain arc la yin::; on th e fiel d of battle.
Thry li av e lai d th r rc for s ix h ours now.
I.ct us lay umlc r th is t ree.
The baby has lai d there fo r a long ti m e.
Th e rock has laid h ere fo r many yc~r s .
Th ere let h im lay.
T h e leopard sh al l lay clo'rn with tl ie kid.

I don e all m y lessons.
Who done th a t ?
H e done all h is exe rcises correc tly.
Th e labourer do ne hi s work early.
I come to sch ool earl y last week.
My sister give m e a present yes terday.
Who give th at book to yo u ?
The children h ave fo rgot the ir books.
The window was broke by a stone.
Th e h orse h as drank a great deal of wa ter.
I h nvc began to learn French.
I see you in the park la st n igT1t.
H e see me as I was crossing the str eet.
The boy h as wro te hi s copy.
I would have \\Tote a letter.
The coachman h ad mistook th e road .
English is spoke in m any parts of th e world.
The trees were shook by th e \V ind .
The po ny was stole fro m th e Jicld.
T he river is now froze over .
l\lary has ch ose the better par t.
The pri ce of corn has rose lately.
H e wou ld have went wi th us hacl h e been in vited.
The h are ru n across th e fi (' l<l .
I h ave bore t he baby in my arms.
J oh n h as beat h is broth er.
The dog has ate its cl in ner.
She has sang a pretty so ng.
Wh o h as rang the bell ?
'l'he poor girl was drove to despair.
I had fell an d hurt my leg.

I .ONCMANS' SCHOOL COJfI'OSITION

Two

Exercise 59.
NEGATl\'ES.

85. " '!ten two negatives occur in the same sentence,
<lestroys th e force of tlt e otlter ; tlms,
I will Hot scnJ you n o h elp

means

I will sc nil you some h elp.

86. If, th erefore, a sentence is intended to be
must contain only one negative word or phrase.

Exercise 58.
Correct tlie mistakes.
I ca nn ot by no mean s allow it.
I cann ot tlrink no rn orc.
He cannot <lo n othing.
The h ouse is without no furniture.
Ha vcn 't none of you fell ows see n n othing of no hat of tniM:t
Nothin g never nfkc tcil her so much.
Th e baker h as not no breail left.
I will not do that, neither now nor at any future time.
There can be no rul es lai<l down, n or no manner recomm
He will not by no means <lo wh at you ask.
No change of fortun e ncH'r dis turbed him.

lvII SC ELLAXF:OUS.

87.
88.
89.
90.
91.
92.

CR A.Mil/A R

~" , j ) \ • ~I'·
There is no such word as ai11t.
Do uot say tli is here or I fi at there. '\N"'O-"VV\
Do not say t!te1n for those.
Do not say don't for doesn't or does not.
Do not say did uot ought fol' ought not.
Do not say lie/ween you and I for betwtJen yozt and mt.

Correct the mistakes.
I aint h eard from h ome for n long tim e.
Aint you tired after your ha rt! work?
The boy aint the bes t in th e sc hool.
Those nint th e books whi ch I w1111tctl to Roe.
Tom nint begun to tl o hi s li omc l esso n ~ .
This here book i8 very interes tin g.
Thnt th l'ro house belongs to my un cle.
Them trees are lo1td cd with fruit.
I fancy that them men nro waiting for me.
The knife aint no good now because it is broke.
H e don't care what you say.
Don't sh e m ean to come?
Boys di ll not ought to tease th ei r s ister3.
You did not ought to be late.
Betw ee n you nn<l I h e is a du nce.
That matter res ts betw een you anJ I.

Exercise 60.
[O n pnrs. GG-!l:l.J

Mr. Drown has took h is chi!J ron to chu rch.--r --The 'l'hnm eR has' overtlown its banb. , ~-W ,y_..
Who is th a t kn ocking ?hle.
We hav e foun<l the sheep what we lost.
That is h im .
I am not so strong ns him.
Who arc yon thinkin g about?
The h orse is laying down in t he stable.
It is not m r you mean.
The <log laid tlown and went to sle<'p on the mat.
There is eno ugh here for you and I.
I sec Jack l11st week; h e gi ve me a kit e.
Each of th ese houses nre too small fo r us.
The baby is laying a ~ l ee p in th e cradle.
Wbo sh ould I mee t th e other day but my old friend.
I cannot tell wh o to compare them to.
Ycu was an gry with me for no thing.
Thou wert in th e wrong.

92

j

I ONCJ!ANS ' SCHOOL CO .Jlf'OS/JJ l)N

llon ·t he want any li clp?
Jfe d on't try to do hi s lesso ns.
Tha t aint th e ri ght an swer t o that ques tion.
She don ' t mea n to work to-day.
A int that a beautiful pi c ture ?
Th ere is a h orse an<l a co w in the paddock.
'T here sta ntl s T om and h is brother.
The good te mper of the children charm me.
Jack and Jill is goi ng up the hill.
E ach of th e \Y Orkm e n are worthy o{ their wr.ges.
I th ought it was him.
I un tlc rsloo<l it to be h e.
l\Ie and T orn Drown arc going fi shin g.
Him and me wa s playing at marbles.
Betwee n you and I, I do not tru st him.
I sutTc r more fr om th e quarrel than him.
Thi s here dog is n ot so fierce as that th ere one.
\ \"il l yon pass m e some of them plum s?
Jack ditln"t ought t o tease h is little sister.
Yo11 s houl<l not think that you are \Yithout no li opc.
').° 01 hi!1g but Yain antl fo oli s h purs uits deli ght some people.
A ,·aricty of pleasing obj ec ts charm th e eye.
A degree of awkwardness and dignity wore blem1cd.
H as th o goods been sold?
Th e re is many occasions in life in \\·hich silence and si mpli ~ ity is true
\Yi sdom.
True di g ni ty with softness of manners were h appily bl ended in him .
The s npport of so many of his relation s were a tax upon hi s in d ustry.
::--:ot one of t h em whom thou sees clothed in pu rple and fin e lin en arc
pcrfrct ly h appy.
The fam e of tliis man nntl of his actions were noi sed abroad.
T hou should lorn thy n e ighbour a s Rincoroly as thou loves thy self.
J,l!c n css anti igno ra n ce is th e parent of many vices.
Time and ti •l e waits for no m a n.
..... l'a t ie n ce and dili gen ce, lik e faith, removes mountains.
This boo k , togeth er with th e n ex t two, arc very i11tc restin g.
Th e r eligion of th ese p eo ple, as well as th eir cus tom s, were clearly
cl c-oc ribcd .
One nnd n:n ctce n m nkcs twenty.
O ne atld ed to nin eteen m a ke twenty.
\\' c fin<l ou t our friends when want or difficulty com e to us.
llc and th ey we know.
' She that is itl le and mi sc hievou~reprove sharply.
H e invited my brot h er and I to see his library.

;;

G1,·. i .ll.i!. I it'

Will yo u tak e ;\fary an•l m e for a row?
Th e boy brough t s nn1f' fn 1it fu r my sis lc:r an•l I.
I11fly ll H' an <! A1m·lia go for a \1·alk?
JT c wh o c0mmitte1l th e o ff ence I will pun ish.
\\'h atc,·c r oth ers Jo le t tho u nntl I act wi sely.
LPL th e m n1 HI we unit e l o bring ab ou t tl1 is rc>,;11l t.
By sa ilin g o n so sto rmy a day h e run a great ri ,;k .
H e soo n brg nn tn wea ry of haYin g n o thing to tlo.
As h e wa s h ot with runnin g he ,!r unk ca g~ rly.
\Vho brought th ese flow ers? li fe.
Th e run woul tl n ot haY c harm ctl him if h e ha•l not k l!.
J! o wonl<l hav e wc· nt with u s lnltl h e l)('C' l1 a skc,l.
Th e p«li co f11111i<l th r nian who l1 1l<l slol P th e i.;nl)(l.< .
Th C'y h a ve c host! th e ]J('~t boo ks i11 tlw ' h op.
Th e wind o w wa s broke ycs lcrtlay.
H e had mi s took hi s in terests and found him self for soo ~ ; by all hi s fri c·nd3.
:!\o n ew dan ge r hus arose.
Ji e hns n ot yet ll" Orc o!T hi s rough nrnnn ers.
Ji e writ es a s th e bes t auth ors would h:n c wrote l11id th ry \\"rit en th o
sa me snlij cc t.
::\ eithc-r rich es n or h ono ur n or n o s uch bl essi ngs sa ti :;fiecl lii111.
J: e truthful n or tak e n o th oug ht d fa lse h ood.
\Ve di Ll n ot n or do n ot mi s tru s t him.
I am r <' sol vcd not lo gi Yc in neith er now u or in fut ure.
\Ye cannot by no m ea ns p ermit you l o go .
I ha ve rece iv ed no le tter n eith er fr om Tom n or hi s fri en d.
You h a ve as many chances of getting o n as th e m .
In th e matte r of books th ey are bett e r off than us.
Th ey arc greater ga in e rs than rn c liy the bu s ine,.;,; .
Though s h e is n ot so clcYer a s him s h e i,; more: lo ved .
H e writes bette r than h er, but s h e rc> atls be t te r tha n hi m.
\\"ho bctrnyed u s? Not me.
Th ere is but on e in fault and that is me.
;\fay I as well as the e be rucck arn1 pat ient .
A s trin g of s uch se ntenc es are tli sagreC' ab lc.
Th ou n e Yc r did s t the m wrong n or no -.n a n wrong.
If thi s be him we mean let him bc·:;,,r('.
Many a Fre nchman are lo be found in L ondon.
\Vas you th ere or wa s it him ?
Jam es and him di cln't ought to huY e sa id so.
\Vh o ditl you expect to luwe see n h crr l
Either Jam es or J ohn had great cause for complaint.
H e don "t m il1ll \Yhut I say.
l\!ind who you are speaking to.

94

,, I

.;

L ONc,·.11rANS' SCH OOL CO;l/POSJTJON

As neithor .lohn nor Thomas are going let you or I go.
E very member of our famili es have ucen nwny.
He diJrt"L ought to have broke the windo w.
I a int laughin g at no IJo<ly and I don 't tak e you for nothin g.
Neither the character nor the con<luct of l\liss Fit ~jo nes are imaginary.
So says th e Hi chmond magis trates.
The exa1ni n11tion is to be con<luctcd in the same manner as the exami·
nation of cla ss subj ects are now.

SCHOOL COMPOSITION .
SENIOR

ON THE CHOI CE OF WORDS.

r

IGNORANCE.

)1.

93. Never use a word unless you know ·the exact meaning

of it. 1
It is not enough to hav e

a,

general notio n of the rn eaning ; it is not

enough to rem emLer a sentence in wliich you have seen tho wonl nse ll,
for you may have mistaken the i:;cnsu, or the wri ter hilll ::;e]f n my hnsc
mistaken it.

94. Sheridan, in his play ''l'lie Rivals,' makes Mrs. Malaprop
frequently employ word::; wl1icl1 arc \\Tong bn t wl1ich r esemble
the right words in sount1. f:il10 says, for example :\

'

I

i'

I1'

'

Sure, if I rcpreh cn<l [appreh end] anythin g in this world . it is th e use
of my omcular [vernacular] to ngue and a 11icc dern ngemcnt [arrangemo ntJ
of epitaphs [cpithcts].- T hc l hvals , act iii., sc. i.l.

Exercise 61.
In the following sentences the 1cords prin ted in 1:talics arc
wrongly 1isecl by Mrs. Malaprop; substitnte the right 1cords.
You will promise to forget this fellow , to 'illiterate him, I say, fr om you r
memory.
1
The Dis hop o[ Ox forU hn.v ing ~cnt r on nd t o the chu r c llwnnlcn :; i 11 hi :-: <liocesrn c ircular
ot inquiries, nmung ,dlich Wn 8, •Doi!:- your otlkiatiug clergyman prc·nch tli e Oo~pc l , a nd i~
hl11 coJi vc rsation t\nU carri age co nsi:;t.cnt t he rewi th? ' the c hnrtl1w r~ rtll•H n f n •11lit·ol,
•He prcn.ch cs th e Gospel, but <loc-; 11ut kce11 f\ (' arri :~ gc .' 111 l h i:; ca:o;c the \\T i le r of t11c cir-

cular knew tllc m cauing of Lhc wore! c111 Ti<"JP, but the ret1<!cr cliu uoL.

II

ON THE CIIOJCE OF IVOJWS

LONCMANS' S CHOOL COJlfPOSITION

-;-k\.Af" ' \

Now don't attempt to exti1pate yourself from the . mutter. I would by
no means wish a daugh ter of mine to be a progeny of learning; . . . she -shoultl have a supercilioits knowled ge of accounts &c .. .. I would have
her instructed in geometry that she might know something of the contag·ious
countri es.
You r being Sir Anthony 's son, Captain, would itself be a sufficient
accommodation, but from the ingenuity of your appearance I am convinced
that you deserve the character here given of you.
I thought she had persisted from corresponding with him, but •• •
this very day I have in tercepted another letter from the fellow.
Sh e's us headstrong as an allrgory on the banks of the Nile.
Cal-'arisons don ' t become a young woman.
I am sorry to say .. . th r~ t my affluence over my niece is very small.
Tell us what's the matter.. .. He can tell you the pcrpcnd-icitlars.
You have no more feel ing than one of the Derbyshire JYUtrcjact-ion,s.
Lead t he way ancl we'll p1·ecedc
He will dis.solve my mystery . _
Pardon my camelion blushes.

95. Mistakes so gross as l\frs. Malaprop's are not often made,
but smaller mistakes are unfortunately common. Here are some- .
examples:

97

-r,- -. ~-------- - - -- -- -

1

(1) I wa~ never taught to write, and consequently I belong to the innumerable class whose caligraphy is without form and comeliness.
Cal~graphy ~from the Greek Knf..of- kalos, benutiful, nncl yp<l<fm11grap h cw, to write) m eans beautiful writing, nn<l beautiful writing can.
not Le 'without form an cl comeliness.'

(2) If there should be another election and I exhibit colours, am I to
receive this damage with impunity?
!i11punil_y (from the Lo.ti n imp11111'las, from i11i ~in, not, nnd poena, .
p11111shmcnt) means freedom from punishment, and no punishment is ,
due to tho mo.n who recei ,·es the damage. Impunity was enjoyed by
the man who lli<l the damage.
(3) The fish hacl atta ined the immense length of one and a half yards.

Immense (from ~ho Latin im =in, not, and mensns, p .p. of metiri, :
to weast:re) means 1mmea1mrable ; au<l the fish was not immeasurable,
because its measure is actually giYen.
(4 ) Th e career of the crimi nal had culminated in the lowest depths of ,
degradation .
Culm-inatc (from the p.p . of th e Latin cnlmin-nre, to come
' Sec ' Note; for T eachers,' Note 13 .

to~ top)

'·
~.

meo.ns to reach the h ighest point; and the career of the criminal couh1
'not, therefore, culminate in the lowest depths.
, (5) As I was passing down the street I 1cil11csscd n.n accident.

Witness menns to bear testimony ; tho opcakcr JiJ not witness tho
accident-ho only i;aw it.
(G) He inf ormed me of whn.t I already know.

ImpossilHo ; i nform means to instruct, to impart knowledge to;
ho told me what I already knew.
(7) The books were lltcmlly shovcllc<l into th e Rchools.

The speaker meant that th e bookti w ere su ppliet1 profosely; he dill
not mean thn.t th y were thrown in with n. shovel. Hi s stntom ent wu s,
therefore, not liter~lly true- that is, it w as not t ru e to the letter (Lo.tin
litcra). It might be literally true that fuel \\' 118 sboYellcd in.

(8) Deceased had z1a rtakcn of three ounces of laudanum.
Partake m ean s to sho.re. 'rhcr e had been no sharing of the laud·
l\num-the m a n ho.d talrnn the whole of it himself.

(9) J{ato is a very n ice gi rl.

She made us a very nice pudding.

Nicc, 1 ns usell by careful writers, means uccuro.tc in judgment to
minute exactness, delicn.te. fastidious, r efin ed. h it too late to protest
against its being u sed loosely for agreeable?
It is now applied to a sermon, to a jam tart, to a young man-in short,
0Lll' IL~~1', Sourc es of Standard_ English, p. 244 .

to everything. - KINOTON

•But now, really, do you not think "Udolpho" the nicest book in tho
· world?'
•The nicest; by which , I suppose, you mean the neatest. 'l'hnt must
depend upon the Linding.'
•Henry,' said Miss Tilney, 'you nrc Yery impertinent. Mi ss Morland,
he is trcutin"' you exactly as he does his sister. He is for ever ti.ndi11g
tl\ult with
for some incorrectness of lan guage, nnll now he is taking the
same liberty with you. The word nicest ns you used it did not suit him,
11nd -you had better change it as soon as you can , or we bhall be overpo\\'crctl
with Johnson and Blair all the rest of the way.'
•I am sure,' cried Catherine, 'I diJ not 1ucun lo say any thi ng wrong ;
but it is a nice book , and why should not I call it so?'
•Very true,' said Henry, 'and this is a very nice dny; and \Ye are taking

m:

• 1-0rd Bcnconsfi elcl mnkcs one of his chnrnct<·C' ( ;\f1·11 cl1 z l ' into ) ""Y : 'E11 gli slc j , nu
ll ~ ran ge is lirn ite.J. Jt co n :-- i ~ t:-: , !'<)far as
1 can olJscrvr, uf four worth= , 11ice,jvlly 1 chor114i111;;, nuU lvn·, anJ suruc grawu wriaus acJJ Ju n~!

uprcssivc 1:1u gu agc 1 but not difficult to mas ter.

II

2

LO.VGA/ANS' SCHOOL COil/POSlTJON

ON THE CHOICE OF TVOR!JS

a very ni ce walk ; und you arc two very nice young ladies.
ve ry nice word indeed ; it does for eve rythin g. Originally, perhaps, it ~
appl ied onl y to ex p ress neatness , prop ri ety, clolicacy , or refinement : p cp~
were nice in th eir dress , in th eir se ntiments, or their choice ; but now CVt\V -·
commend ation on every s ubj ect is comprise(l in that one word.'
·Whil e in fact,' cried h is sister, ' it ought only to be applied to 'Y lJ ·
wi thout any commenclation at all. You are more nice than wise. Oom."
J\liss l\lorland, let us lea \·e him to m ed itate over our faults in tho utmai¥
propri ety of diction, while we praise " Udolpho" in whatever terms WO l~ -:
best. '-JANE AvsTEN, Northang cr Abbey, ch. xiv.

· dtvinity and have connection with his cnll in g. - Fur.urn, Trait s of a Good
i.Jlicp.
L t your authorship be a pastim r, no t a tnvlo: lot it be you r c1 eowtio11 ,
1JOt your vocMion.~ F. JAcox, Aspects of A11tlw rslrir.

(10) Ile gave us a lot [a great dcrd j of troubl e.
The boy los t a lot of [a great many] marbles.

pef;.

- 'l'he m eaning assigned to lol in th ose sentences is probably a
Ycr sion of tl1c m eaning that aucti oneers give the word-the portion
goo tls solLl a t once.

ot
i,

(11) T he prisoner said that he beat h er because she aggravatecl [imnO)'tit
h im.

Agg rrwaic (fr om th e Lati n ag -gra v-arc, to n.Jtl to the w eight, from
ng = ad, to, and grav-£s, h eavy) m eans t o make h eavier, to make worab
1
it d ocs not mean t o irrita te, v ox , or annoy.
·
(1:~)

Ue dese rves som e condign punishment.

Condig n (from the Latin con, and dig1ms, worthy) means desent
not severe.
'
(13) My field of turnips was
untouched.

ab ~ olutcly

decimated : scarce a root w

(15) We have a mutual friend in !IIr. Jon es.
Mtitual means r eciprocal, en.ch acting in r eturn or corre!=<pomlcnco
tot-ho other. If A loves B an cl B lov es A, the fe eling is m 11I11 ril ; if
both A and B have a fri end C, he is th oir common , 1wt thei r 'Ill Ul 1w l
frl nd. In the following sen tences common a ud mulllal urc cor rectly
t!.!ed :He pointed out two of our common fri entls in th e room.
Our correspondence was forthwi th renewed wi th th e rn o~ t h r nrty exp res s of mutual good-will.
The word midiial is incorr ectly n setl in th o fol lowing se n tences :-Probably nothin g <lrnws us close r togeth er thnn mutual ill -h ealth .
To their mutual astoni shment th ey saw a pen move ittielC into rLn erect
polition.
(16) The informa tion was quite reliable.
Cn.reful writer s disl ik e reliable, anll m ost of th em de ny it tltr ri :-;l•t
\0 xist. Mr. FitzEdwartl Hall, h owcYcr, who hns written :t vol111no
• n English Adj ectives in -able,' co nt om ls t hat th e w o;",1 is lawf11!,
fhongh h o admits that ho himself h n,s n setl 1t on ly <>nee. 'J rus l 11;orl11 y
'\.'CB ovory purpose th::i.t cn,n be se n·ctl by reliable, and is cp1it c fr co

from obj ection.
For choice and pith of lan g1rnge h e belongs to a better ngc than ours ancl
rub shoulders . with Fuller ancl Browne, th ough lie tl ocs use tho
l.bomin11ble word rcliablc.-J. n. I"owELr, on Elllcrso n.

;cugM

Decimate is a military term, m eu niug to select every tenth(~ '

rlccimus) m a n for punish m e n t ; th e farm er woukl have used it coiTeetl,ri
if unly u. te11th of his turnips hatl been injurctl .

(17) H e is a very talented man.
The word talented is condemned by all nice critics.

(U) At La wrence, wh ere H5,000 g irl s arc employed in th e mills, I g '
tho usam1 s of th em at th eir looms, but eoulcl scarcely r ealise that this 'W$l
th eir daily a ncl h ourl y qwcation.

In thi i; se n tence a voca tion is co nfound ed wi th vocation.
'i:oca t ion (from th e L ittin voe-a re, to call ) is his calling, business, oc
l ltltion ; his (Ll'OC(t f'i On (from (L = ab, from, a nd voe-arc) is that Whi
mils him off fr om his Yocation, di s trnctR, diYerts, or interrupts hinu
B oth w ords arc correctly u sed i n t h o follo wing sentences:Heaven is h is vocation , and th erefore h e counts earthly

99

employments ~

cations, except in such cases which lie, as I may say, in the_ marohea.,

I regret to see the vile and barbarous vocable talcn!cd Rtcaling out of the
- - wspapers into the leading reviews ancl most resp ectn ble publicat ions of tho
ia_y. Whynotshillingcd,farthingcd, tc11pcnccd, <~C-? The fo rn11il1 011 o f1i I'<tr t1~ dplePassive [orPerfectPar ticiple] fr om a J:\ou11 i ~ n. lice nco tlrntnoih1 11 gbut a
ry peculiar felicity can justify. If mere con ven ience JR to Justify sue It
" Gt&empts upon the idiom yo u cannot stop till th e l1111guagc becom es, 111 the
proper sense of the word , corrupt.-CoJ. EHIJJ C:E, 'l'able Tall; .
' Ju the drawing-room I h o.cl a lon g talk with Lady H olland about the an- uitics of th e house, and about the purity of the En g li~h lan gtrnge,
itl'ein she thinks herself a critic. I happe nccl, in speaking about the Hem Dill , to say that I wishecl tha t it had been possible to form a few

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100

ii

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II

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LONC11fANS' SCHOO!, COJffl'OSITION

comm er cial con st ituencies, if the 'vord co nstituency were a dmi ssible. • I am
glad you put that in,' sa id h f'r Jntl ysbip. 'I waR juf' t go ing to give it you ;
it is a n odio us word . Th en th ere is talented , influentia l, and gentlemanly.
I n ever could break Sheridan of gentlemanly, though b e allowed it to be
wron g.' W o talk ed about th e worrl talents and its history. I said that ij
had first appeared in theological writing, that it was n m etaphor taken from
the pnrable in the New T estam ent, and that it had gradually passed from the
vocabulary of divinity into common use. I challenged h er to find it in any
classical writer on general subj ects before t h e R es toration, or even before the
year 1700. I believe that I mi ght safely have gone down later. She seemed
s urprised by this theory, n ever havin g, so far as I could judge, h eard of that
parable of t he talents. I did not tell her, thou~h I m ight have cl one so, that
a pe rson who p ro fc RRes to bo a critic in the delicacies of tho English
language ough t to have the Bible at his fin ger end s.-MACAULAY (from a
L etter to his Sis ter gfrcn i n Trevelyan's L if e).
(18) Th e lad was se nt with a 1•crbal m essage to the doctor.

Vn·bal meam; co n ch ed in w ords-spok en or writtf'n. The lad was ·
sent wi th an oral message- that is, a message by word of mouth.

Exercise 62.

The f ollowing sentences arc open to objection. Be-write them,
1"n ital£cs.
'

~tsi11g other words f or the words zninted

A visible and attractive presentiment of the saint is indispensable.
H ow c1o you do ? Nicely, thank you.
J.:icc li ttl e boots for n ice l ittle feet.
The boy wasted n lot of time.
I received yo ur k ind invite, and woul<l. be happy to accept but that I Ml.'
sfopping away from home.
Some speeches aggravated him moro than he could bear.
He r fathe r had en tered on tho routine of his avocat·ions.
A life wholly devoted to duty is very easily diverted from
hi s life was entirely tak en up by his profcsRionnl avocations.
Brod ie mad e a scra wl on paper only to be equall ed by t he caligraphy of
Elliotso n.
Practicnl joking desf' rvrs condig n puni shment.
It is n ot every painter that is calculatetl to show to such advantage. A capacious ren t had been made in h is coat.
He was saved from condign and m ost deserved punishment.
Incompetent "Titers retire to th e background all the smaller words · ot ·
f orcible Saxon origin.
The warders have to be watchful to detect the secretion of
notes in the food sent in to the prisoners.

ON TIIE C!!O/CF: (IF TV(JRDS

.

JO I

The J ews were n way~ very careful in th" observation of th o religiou s
festival s.
(.. i•, i,
After a journ ey of n. week 's cndura11cc h e arriYc<l home.
The author is di stinguished by property in t h e use of words.
The m essenger brought news of grea t i mport.
JI.A-.;, \ r·;
I knew that he was t h ere , but I Jin.cl no conscienc/J of h is presence . .!

'

I

Though learn ed, well bred; mHl, though well bred, sincere;
Modes tly bold and humai~7y seve re. '· . .
. ~.~ , ,
He was learned in all tho cere11wnious rites of the Church.
He demeaned him self before hi s superiors.
A fop is n r isible chnrnctcr.
/
/
Man is a ridiwlous [la ugh ing] animn.I.
Dr. Dodd is a very pop1Llou1 prea oho r.
Tho path is the centre of th e garden.
She parts h er hnir in th e centre.
Tho title of sngo bes towed up on him by hi R scholars wns due rnoro to
their ignorance than his knowledge.
'M-/'v<-\ The negligence of this lenves us exposed to nn uncommon l evity in ou r
conversation .
The calami ties of th e children were due to the n eglect of their pnronts.
The fly in its infrmtine state lies all the winter enclosed in a ball.
They manifested grent ca1ulidness thrcrn ghout th e tran snction.
The importance as well as the a11thcnli;;al11css of the books h as been
r' ,_
· displnyed.
His n atural severity rend ered him a very ~mpopular speaker.
A row of cottages fe ll. but tho inmates were all out.
_.. She hoped that th e clnmes of tho Primrose League would never be con·
" jj13ed in the minds of her h earers with those ladies who . . .
'fhe attempt, however laudable, wns found to be impra cticable.
He is our mut1tal benefactor.
Vivacity is often promoted by presen t ing to th e mind n sen sibl e obj ect
instead of an int.elligiblc one.
The river broke through its banks and the country was overflown.
--The proposition for each of us to rolin11uiRh something was ncccptcd, nnd
led to a cordinl reconcilcment.
Mr. Matthews will n ever resign till h e i ~ literally ki cked out.
-This paste will culhR-rc labels to tin.
All the sophism which has been employed cannot obscure so plain n
truth.
_
He was so ill that h e could not set up at all, but had to lay in bed.
\ · He died wi.th violen ce, fo r h e was killed by n sworcl.
had n01fcss than seventy hou ses.
Mr. Jones learns us geography .

r-

-:He

.~;~,)

t

·~ -~; ~

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...I. ::.,_;

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102

LONCMANS ' SC/IOOL COJl/POSITION

ON THE CIIOICR OF Jl'O!WS

I,

I

He spe nt som e tim e in trying lo ?"Clricrc the names o[ the towns tbro
which h e had passed.
~ ""'l'h e m ost ancient treatise on this subject by a modern was the worlc ot I
Frenchma n.
- The cavalry \Yerc extenuated by th e fatigues of the voyage.
Pope glorijied in being the fri end of princes.
- In th e matter of paper -han gings th ey would be l-itcrally at sen. but for
s uggest ions of th e ih g<' nious gentkman on the other side of the counter•
.Fric<l fi sh cooking is auolish cd for ever and aiwn in Eden Street.
·,. "-""' {•'- 'Gr('atly a gain st his will he was f az'1't't6 go.
/ ; " ..I ~ Please appr ccia.te the poor aftlicted artist if you think him worthy.
How mu ch m ore lud icrou R will L110 mi1•ion of the law appear equi~ ":
as a patent dog-proof poli ceman in in<liarubber armou r cl1:ght.
1
-.F.very page radiates with an atmosphere of abmuloncd crime . .AM/1 c:
lilaximnm results obtained with m inimum ease.
I suppo se she had the usual compfo mcnt of teeth.

Exercise 63.
(a) Distingut'.sh bctzcccn :L ie u,ml lay; rise an<l m i.se ; loose and lose ; sit and set; deprecate aU\\
d.·prcciat•' ; c.f!ect and affect; '1rroscribe nncl 1rrcscribc ; comp osttre and ~ '
positicn; disposition and disposa l; emerge and immcrgc ; emi grant and·
111igra11t ; eminent nnd immincnt; / opos11rc a nd exposition; com1Jl4:
and complim ent ; / ingenious and ingemwu.s; /observance and observatio •
1>re<lict and predicate; prcsum1Jlive nn d presm11ptiums; (prinC'ipal and prUJ•
ciplc ; ~:rrcposition, propos·ition, and z>roposal; perspicuity and perspi,ca.ci" respectable and respectful; l-cpclZ..,nt and 1·e1mlsivc; /confound and c<mf
I statue and statute; ha bit and habitatio1~ ;ls11iritcd, sprightly, spirit1'0t~ 1
i >~$pired; /corporal an d corporeal.

(b) lilakc sentences conta£ning these words.

ETYMOLOGY.

96. Examination of tho faulty sontonces given on the
imm o<liatcly preceding will Rltow that a knowledge of t
etymology of words is a great h elp to the proper use of them..
97. Besides being ft help to correct writing, a knowledge Ol
etymology is al so a help to intelligent reading, for the be«\
authors ever bear in mind the origin of tho words that they u
A fo w illtistrations may bo given from J\Iilton .

l.
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(1)

! OJ

Thither let us tent!
From off the tossing of these fi ery wav es ;
There rest (if any re~t can harb nnr th l' re) ;
Aull reassembling our aJ}liclccl powers
Consult.-Pai"aclisc Lost , I., l fl3 - 7.

.A.J)lioleil (from tho L11tin a:_Olictu.s, p.p. of o.Olig-crc, to str ike to tho
uml) is peculil1rly well applied to the angelR,
Hurled flamin g, h eaulong from t.he ethe real sky.

(2)

But wherefore let we then our faithful fri end:; .
Lie thus astonished '? - l'aradisc L ost, !., ~1; 1- li.

.A.1tonished (from the Anglo-Saxon 1i.st1111ia11, to s tun compl ctc·ly)
similarly well applied.
(3) Samson, contrasting his conduct wiih that of 'Isrncl's gorcr·
•says (Samson Agon·istcs, 246 -7) : I, on th' other side,
Used no ambition to commend my deeds ;

tis, he went not about to eommcna them, a mbiiion being

fr1i 1ll t li o
in ltmb-it-io (from arnb -i r c), a goin g about, useu c~peci::dly uf going
t to solicit vote13.

.. . . The gulf
Of Tartarus, which rendy opens wi do

His fiery chaos to receive t.llcir fall.
Paradise L ost, VI., c.:1 - :"i.
xao~

(chaos), aliiou to XllLl'Hll 1 to gape,

Jll('8.llS l1.

Exercise 64.

Give the etyrnology of the 1corJs printed in italics , allll show
their use accords well with it .
On eac h wing
Uriel and Raphael hi s rnu n t i11 g foe,
Though huge and in a rock of tlio111011rl nrm od,
Vanquishcd.- Parailisc L ost, \" I., 3li2- 5.
Underfoot th e vi olet,
Crocus and hyacinth, with rich inlay
Broiclered th e grouml, more colonrcd than wi th ston e
Of costliest cinblcm. -Jcl., IV. , 700--3.

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104

LONG.MANS' SCHOOL COMPOSIT!Olv

ON THE CHOICE OF WORDS

TOS

- - -- - - - - --- - - · - - -·Nor won cler if by fire
Of sooty coal the empiric alchimist
Can tum or hold s it possibl e to turn
Metal s of dross iest ore to perfect golcl.
Paradise Lost, V., 439-42.
Nor au ght avail ed him now
To have built in h eav'n high t o wer~ , nor did he scape
By all hi s cngines.-I d. , I..,748-50.
Daughter of God and man, immortal Eve,
For such thou art, from sin and blame enti re
Matter to me of glory, whom their hate
Illustrates , "·hen tlH•y sec all regal power
Giv'n me to quell their prid c.-I d., V., 738-40.
With goddcRs-like dem ean our forth sh e went
Not unatteniled, for on her as 11ueen
A pomp of winnin g Graces waited still.- Jd., VIII., 59- 61.
El ephan ts endorsed wi th towers
Of :irchcrs.- Paradise R egain ed, III., 329-30.
Before the starry threshold of Jove 's court
l\Iy m ansion is.- Comns, 1-2.
Thongh h er borl y die her fam e surYivea,
A secular bird, ngcs of lives.- Samson Agonis tcs, 1710-11.

9~. Thon gli the etymology of a word ought al ways to be kep
mm<l, words should not be used in their original meri.nillg
when tho present m oaning has divc-rged from it.

Exercise 65.

Find the etymological meaning of the words printed in italics ,
:tiL substit1tte other words f or them.
Preserve to our use the kindly fruits of the earth .
Rich1ml calculated by murdering his neph ews to make hirnseH accounted
fri.nrily king.
Le\ him live in some honest Yocation, and therein bestow himseH fnith -

ton1 and painfully.

'l'hou peventest him with the blessings of goodness.

·And It came to pass after th ese things thn t God dicl lrmp t Abrnham.
Neither is it to be admired that Hen ry should be pl eased to h 11ve tho
test wit of those times in his interests.
In man there is nothing admirable but his ignorance ancl weakness.
J.n U1ese cases open contestation is not fact ion or i;chi sm, but due

lstian animosity.
'l'bo knaves rolled down two huge stones, whereof the one smote the
upon the head, the other astonished his shoulder.
Ariatark mine even [my fell ow] caitiff greeteth you well.
Tako each man's cen sure hut reserve th y ju l gmcnt.
Wo may use the s11me liberty in our Engli sh Yersions out of IIeurew or
for the copy or store that he h ath given us.
by daughter is dead; why disease.st thou the Master nny fur t.hrr ?
I find Sir Walter Raleigh 's vein most lofty, insolent, and p11i>si onntc.
'l'bo curates nre often so lewd [ignorant] thnt they understand not the
of Latin.
upbraided us that the highest of our "·i sdom

.

ll1

(1) J11 .rnrr11I, for oxn.mple (from the Latin in, not, and solc~,s, pr.p., .
of so l- c1·C', to be 11.ccnstomcd), originn.lly meant unusual, extraordinary ;
y et wo coulu not n ow sn.y tha t a mrtn standing on his h ead was behavin
in ~o l e nt l y .
•
('t) I'rcvcnf (from tho Latin 71rC', before, ancl vcnfos, p .p. of ven.iif'e,
to com0) origin ally meant to come before, to anticipate; yet its use ·
that Rl'n Re in tho fo!Jo wing sen tence is pedantic :-

The prrfec t Vi talianu s hacl signali secl hi s fideli ty to Maximin by tho
111!1crity with whi ch he obeyed, and even prevented tho cruel mnndntcs ot
th e tyrnnt.- GrnnoN, Decline and Fall, ch. vii.

AMBIGUITY.

99. Avoid ambiguity.
100. Some words have several meanings.
•How various are the sen ses in whi ch JJOBt is trncd; n.s ] JOS I -ofllce,
t haste, o. post standing in the ground, a military pos t, an oflicin l
~t, to post o. ledger. . . . In wl~n.t nn n.lmost i'.1finito number of
··
.tock is employed; w e have liv e -stock , stoc1c-m-trnc1o, or on tho
, the village stocks , the stock of a gnn, tho stock dove, the slocb
hioh ships a.re built, the stock which goes r ouml tho n eck, the
Jy stock, the stoclcs or public fi.mcJs in which money is invci;tecJ,
ilb ot.her stocks ·besides thcse.'-'rmrn cu, On the Slurly of Wo rds.

Io6

LONGJJ!ANS' SCHOO!, COMPOSITION

ON J'HE CHOICE OF WORDS

101. Wh en a word lias more than one meaning, be sure th
you make clear which m eaning you intend to employ. .
(I) A respec tablo widow wants washing

mn,y m ean _that tho man was sent to the post-oflice, to some po.rtioul"
post st uck m the ground, or to some military position.
~,
(H) Tho gamokof'per looked at his stock

I'

•h • '·

may m on,n that h e looked at hi s lirn -stock or at the stock of his gnn. ..
(4) The Vi sion of Piers the Plowman
l

I!'

«me.
fy sweetheart when a boy.

We wore at one and the same time travelling on our roatl aml sitt.ing
too. repast of fis h with which the greatest table in Lontlon cnn ocarce
~an y rate be supplied.
An electrical trades miion m eeting.

ell'·- t\

(2) The cotoncl ordered his se rvant to go to the post

jI
,·

• I bought the book for Annie.
Tho night was still very dark but only wh en tho fla shes of ligh tni ng
/

may mean that she n eecfo t o be washed or that she
clothes.

107

102. Do not in any sentence employ tho same worJ in more

ihan one sense.
The sentence

Aa he had inherited ccrta·i n property from his uncle, his income wa s

may me:in tho vis ion soen Ly I'iors; it does mean the vision concerii
ing him.
As he ho.d inherited certain [or some] property from his uncle, hi s income

Exercise 66.
Alter the f ollowin'] sentences so that there shall
ambi;; uity ahou t the words pr in led in 1'taJics . [Each
has two 2;ossible meanings.]
_T he lady is vain of her carriage. '
, ,(
J Ter pat1rn cc wh en conYcrsation was going on about her was remarkablt.
\\"h y need I sing of jars?
·
;
T h ink of the chilclrcn Lin the Arctic regions] born to blubber.
l'Ye mot with many a breeze before, but never such a blow . . 1 ,
She was doomed to ha ye a u:inding sheet of waler.
Jl e is one of the oldest 'inmates.
1
/
A man who ha ~ lost his eyesight has in one sense less
than he hacl befor e.
And s~cing a dream is caused by
/
His pres1·ncc was against him.
I r emarked the circumstance.
The schoolmaster is abroad.
Have you seen Drown 's last book? 1
The appearance of gou t ean never be considered a go'od omen.
'l:he scho~ l w~ s place_d in its present J!Osition a century ago.
1 he farthing is cons11lere1l by some as affording a certain clue
identity of tho murderer.
Ho f' J)oke brfore the jurlgcs.
Thu dc1w nncing of tlw L eague wa' unpopular.

TU1111re [or assured, or safe] .

103. A comic effect is sometimes obtained, as in the following exo.mple, by disregarJ of tho rule just given:Then reading on his 'lmcco box
He heaved a bitter sigh,
And then began to eye his pipe,
And then to vi1>c his eye.

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' Ouc of llrowu"s cucmi cs rcpl iod, 'I hope so.'

104. Many words (such as r ich um1 poor, darl.:ncss nm1 lir.;7il)
in pairs, and a comic effect is sometimes obtn in eel ''h en one
-'Ord is and the other is not employctl in th e sense whi ch it l1as
in the po.ir. Examples abound in the \\Ti tings of 1lood.
(l)

Ben Battle was 11 sold ier bold,
And used to war's alarms ;
But 11 cannon-bull took off h is legs,
So he laid down his arms.
Faithless Nelly C:ray.

Legs being used for members of the body, we o.re snrpritic<l to JJ11J.
l arms is not used in the same way.
So in the following lines from the surne poem : Now, as they bore him off the field ,
Said he, ' L et othe rs shoot,
For here I lea.Ye my second leg
And the Forty-secon d Foot.'

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ON THE CHOICE OF WORDS
- - -- - -·-- - - - - - ---·----

LONCil/ANS' SCHOOL COMPOSITION

10S

(8) In the lines (from 'The Epping Hunt '),

Exercise 68.

But Huggins, like a wary man,
'Vas ne'er fr om saddle cast,
Resolved by going very slow
On sitting very fast,

that there shall lie

?IO

slow r efers to the rnte of motion, and a comic
making fast refer to something else.
disqunlify us for the instructi011 or reproof of

Exercise 67.

.What lesson do you learn from the rc/Jlllcc of l'etcr?

Re-write the follow ing sentences, e.xprcssinr; in
one (or both) of t!w .rneaninr;s of the words printed in italics;
' ,,1 ·''

11

Gregory fa voured the undertaking because the manager in counte
f ai:ourcd his friend.
,'
' , r.1
He tm:ned to the left of the house and then he left abruptly.
Ile 1iica1;s to take advice as to th e Lest 11ica~i~ of succeeding.
In this 'case tli~ noun is, in the Nominative case.
She alway;; /ca res the lea ves of her book Jirty.
The prl!smit satisfies me at present.
I Jo not lik~ to' se~ a boy write Zike that.
A mn.n of his se;isc si1~ul d have a higher sense of duty. 1
I
Mr. Jones came every day; every other man came c~ery
day.

otlier

105. Nouns formed from some •rransitive Verbs may be
in an active sense or in a passive sense. Make clear the
in which you use such Nouns. 1
Do not, for example, say

'there seemed to be no end

to the chiding of her Ii 1d;and.
Bnrybody approved of the clwice nf the 111 c111ba.
iVe must condemn the forsaking of tli c 1>arcnt;;.
8" did you like the shaving of the barber?
·'the 11100ting of the colonel caused great indignation.
tho puJiishment of the master \\'US thought too severe.
'ot was the actual efficiency of this immense army inferior to its
tive terrors.
notrnted to his inmost heart with f'ympathy -for the poor, he has Leen
for an advocate of their high-handed oppression.
$leant factories of all descriptions have sprung up by tile dozen, where
)•very suggestion was formerly consitlered au offence.

a s this m ay mean
I was greatly interested in rending of the discovery of Livingstono

Stanley,
or
I was greatly interested in reading of
stone.
• Tbc nilc to l>c ol>scrYc•l in these cases may be put clrnrly in t he terms of Latin
The Genitive is sni d to be object ive whr n, if a verbal construct ion were used, the G
would ~-.com e nn Accui-ial:.h· P. ; a s, tlw love rif 11wn''!I (which would become loving mo1uy).
e..: cuitiv c i d sn.id to be 1-11lu't!Clire wl H~n wi t h a n:rl.Jnl co ustruction we should. have the No
tivc ; us, tlu: ln1Je 1if a: 11w ll1er for li er chil<lren (which \Vonld become th e love th.at a motMr
.tc.). When th e f: euitivc may be uutlcrstootl either sul>jcctlvcly or objectively, avoid
gc uiti\'C cou :-: truc tivu.

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SYNONYMS. 1

a

I was greatly interested in reading of the discovery of Livingstone,

I

'Properly defined, synonyms are words of the same lanthe same grammatical class , identical in meaning ; or,
generally, synonyms are wor<ls of the r::arne language wliid1
Uie precise equivalents of each other.'-:tlLrnsH.
101. Perhaps there are, stric tly speaking, no synonyms in the
· • h language. Even when words have the same rucanmg
are distinguished in use.

~oand

Fittexample, we have globe from the Latin, sphere froru the Greek.
one is -fairly translateJ by the other, nncl they are iclenti rnl in
tion, inasmuch as all that can Lo truly afJ-irrued of th e 011 0 is
of the other; but they tliffer in use, n.nd therefore we cannot
. employ them interchangeably, sphere bel ongi ug rntlll'r t o
· and poetical, globe to populi•r, Janguage.'-M.rnsu.
'Sec 'Notcs for Tcnc hers; K ote 14.

"l

ON 7HE CHOICE OF WONDS

LONCA!ANS' SCHOO/, COMPOSITION

110

108. As popubrly used, the t erm synonyms is applied ·
words which are sim1:lar in m eaning, not to words which l\ridcntical, to ' words wl1ich are more or less liable to confusion
but which ye t ought not to be confounded.' 1
•
109. In composition it is highly necessary to distingui5h . .·
between syno11yms.
It is as n ecessary to distinguish between shades of meaning Mi
o et wNm shades of colour. rines, oaks, and grass, for example, M'(l
green . Lut th e painter represents them by different pigments; similad$
!wl tlll CSH, 1.JraYCl',Y, vnJonr, fortitude, jlfOWCSS, daring, and pluck a:ro all
forms of courage, but the writer represents them by different word&.

110. A few examples will show the importance
synonyms.

Dy custom we m ean the frequent rep etition of the same Mtl b~
hab it th e c fTcct which that r ep etition produces on the mind or ·
'l'ho cu8l orn of drinking rnn.y lead to the habit of drunkenness;
C118/ 0 1n of goi n ;; to n, pliice of w on;J 1ip may lend to the habit of pie
Custom applies to the many, halril to lhe one; every nation has peculiui
cu slo111s, cYcry p er son has peculiar habits.
(2) Enough, Sufli cienl.

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~ ie demanding in an offens ive fa shion whnt y o u rnn.y. pr-rl1np~.
ff I\ right to require ; z;reswnplion is demanding whn.t _'1'011 h ;L\·e 11 0

·

t l-0 require-at any rate, n ow . Arrogance is con1•kLl \l'ith ha ug h ti., preaumption with memmess.
(!.i) In ve11 t, Discover.
thing whi ch is alr en.dy i n C'xistcnco; ,1·0 1'11rc11t
\Ve invent n, telescope ltnt11hscour 1.t s tar. \ \'e ·in-

- · thing now.
! 3 thoory n,nd cl·iscove r

:1

trn th.

(G) Boldness, Bravery, Vtilo11 r, F ort ii 111lc, I'rowcss,
Daring, l'/ 111·k .
These are all different form s of co nrn gC' . Jl olrln c8.q ii-; not 1111c11111111011,
the possession of it, tlioreforc, ca lls fur no spcc;i1Ll .itl111ir:t t ion .
'M'Y nnd valour arc less connn oi1 a11(l m ore n1lrni rct1. ]Jnt1.'<T!f i,.;
hotly, conragc of th e min!l . A man is brarc hv c1111 s tit11 t fJaliant by reason [l,nd reflection . F ort it 1ulc is tho com~ngl' >'It<>\\ n
llUfi'ering patiently. Prowess is a somewhat poetical word :u1d 1s
ed especially to d eeds ; pluch implies hi g h spirit, nnc1 daring is
far short of rashness .

er of the

(1) Custom, Habit.

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Exercise 69.

(a) Pill each blank 1ciih 011c of tli c synonyms indicated.
Custom, IIa/Jil.

He has enough wh ose desires are satisfied; he has sufficient whOM
ne eds are suppli ed . A miser, therefore, may have si~tfic·ient thou h
he ncYer has enough.
(3) Pride, Vanily, Conceit.

I' ride may relate to any object, high or low; vanity relates only
to pe tty things. Pride, therefore, may Le good or bad; va,m:ty
always Lad. A mnn nrny be 1no111l of his wealth, his learning, ot ..
power; h e may be vain of his person, his dress, or his wall{. A II1l\l\
may Le too proud to b e vain; he rnay be too prond to do a mean
IH too v ain to do (t goo tl d eed at which his friends WOUJd laugh.
ceit rcln.tes to one·s tal ents only. On e urny be pr oud of abilities whic t
he really JlO Rsesses ; he is conceited over abilities which he does P,~
posse ss-\1·hich ex ist on ly in his conceit or fancy.

oon..

(4) Arrogance, P.rcsumpt·ion .

A king may sh ow arrogance in claiming the service of his minis~
the moo may sho w presumpt·ion in attempting to control them. ..1 ~
' Trench.

It is the . . . of the Mahom ctan s if tli cy see any printcJ or written paper
·· n tho ground to pick it up.
A loose and careless life bri ngs a mnn in to . . . s of di ssipation .
It was form erly the . . . to dance roun(l n, maypol e.
It has been said that man is a bu ndle of . ..

S11J)icic11t, Enou:;h.
Somo who have . . . for th crn seln:s, n ever think wh ether others Ji nYe
.. , • for their needs.
. •::> I can easily procure . . . for my ow n wnnl o, but to provide . . . for tho
' tennnce of n, la rge family is not so easy.

l'ridc, l'a nity, Cu11ccit.
• •. makes men rid iculous, aml . . . m rtk cs them ocli ous.
''.l'is an ol d mn xin 1 in tl 1t' !-'chool s,
That . . . 's the foo d of fools.
of the young is tli e g r1;at source vf the da ngers lo \vhi ch
are exposed.
'rho man's . . . made him the laughing-stock of the village.

(.··.

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LONC/lfANS' SCHOOL COllfPOSITION

Arrogance, l 'rcswnp tion.
'T he . . . of th e prince caused th e subj ec ts to rebel.
'l'h c . .. of th e subj ects caused th e prince to exert his authority,
In' Para<li se Lost' Satan i s made to show . . . to the Almighty b!t~t~"*
. to hi s foll o we rs.
·

I nvent, Discover.
Columbus . . . ed Am erica.
·watt improYet1 the steam -e ng ine so mu ch that he may
h aY e . . . ed it.
The Chinese cl ai m to h aYc . . . ed gu npowder, and to have .
propC'rties of the magn etic n eedl e.

B oldness, Bravery , r alour, F ort itude , Prowess, Daring, Pluck,
True . . . , fri end s, on Yirt uc found ed strong, meets all events alike,
Di scretion is th e better pa rt of . ..
T h e soldi er show ed th e . . . of th e lion .
The woun deil man gave proof of great ..
Til e history of W allace affords many examples of ..
Deeds of . . . are n ot alwa:ys to be admired.
None but the . . . dese rve:thc fair.

ON THE CHOICE OF TVORDS

11 3

proposed the study of Italian as an occupation for my idleness.
of the jury and the verdict of th e judge were approY cd.
'the counsel tried to conf o1tnd the witness .
qlared wistfully .at th e fruit.
',l'itil good man is not overcome by di sap pointment wh en that " ·hi ch j g
'1 pisse,, away, when that which is mutable dies, and when that whi ch
, At ~lient begins to change.
e may bo taught to m end what is erroneous.
1chiwe enlarged our family and ex p enses and increased our gard en and
li'. ~d.
• Ahermit is rigorous in hi s life, a judge austere in hi s sentences.
Oal.ileo discovered the telescope; Harvey invc11tcd th e circ ulation of th o
:~

l'J.'h sentence

.n..

(e) Fill each blank with one of th e syno11yms 1 i11dicatcd.
Casual, Accfrlenta l, li'ortu·itous.

1'he world was h eld by Epicurus to be a . . concourse of atoms .
In the course of conversation b e let fall a . . . remark which had no
.ntetioo with the subject.
lt Is suffering from lam eness from t he effect of an . .. hurt.
Perilous, Dangerous, H azardous .

(b ) Distinguish between the meanings of

'·

Counsel, admoni sh, a 11cl ex h ort.
l'ln.y, pastim e, game, and spor t.
.illi sc rl y, stingy, and ni ggardly.
Hirnl ry and cmuln.tio n.
}'0rid C', jeer , and scoff.
Accom pli sh (!7!d . a Qh i_~\.£:.__.
c:ro,~· th . developm ent , an d evoluti on.
Co n1 pn.nion, comrade, and associate.
Sy n1 p 11th y, compass io n , aud pity..
1
j
l'-i kirrni ,; h , contest, arnl lmt.tl c. 11.v-}..:i\ I . ( '"~-C ·
In j nry, harrn, damage, and tl ct rim8nt.
L eisure , itl lrn e,s , indolenco, l az in c s ~ , and sloth.

(c) ltlakc sentences containing tlte icords given in (b).
(d) S ubst it11 le better 1cords f or the words printed in ita:
in the j ollo11.;i111y sc11lc11ces :•
The trai n was wrecked through the en gine-driver's f ault of vision~
The r esol ution wa s passed wi_thout reform or debate.

·e minister has made a . . . experim ent; in ordering

1m in su flic ient
th e en emy h e has obliged th e gene ral to und ertak e n. . . .
kl'prise. The attack was made, but one of th e chief commun<lcrs re·
:-r· a ... wound .

to att.nok

Revenge, Vengeance, R etribution , Retaliation.

On taking th e city

. .. was executed on the r ebel se poys, some of whom
murdered their oiliecrs out of . .. fo r some fanc ie,l slight recciyccJ.
carelosaness of some of those in power h as m et with a terrible

Strong, Powe1f nl, Vigor01is, Forc iblt, P otent, 8trcn11 <> ns.

Opium is a . . . urug and has Leen k nown to und er mi ne

n. YC ry
It is only by a . .. effort that a m a n , once accnstonH:<l to
, • of it, can break himself of t h e habit. If some speak er of intellect
make . . . exertions to brin g th e eYil of the trad e in it befo re the
U~ mind and make a .. . attack on it in th e House, it m ight be ltopc<l
ftuld suocoed at thi s juncture in putting a stop to it.
ohnracter of thi s man in spi res the r ender with . . . contempt. Ho
Lo have been incapable of any . . . feel ing or affection .

. l uUon.

' from Whatcly's E nglish Sy11011vm.•, p. 207.
T

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114

LONG/JfANS' SCHOO!, COMPOSITION

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Otat justice, though not stronger than truth, yet by h er onicc is to put forth

-. SIMPLICITY.

~d

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' · 111. Tho shortest anu simplest words in our language
generally native English.
The following passage fr om Slmkespearo
only two of thc!ll aro of foreign origin :-

.

This shoe, with th e hole in, is my mother, and this my father. Av .
:_;en.nee o_n 't l th e'.·e 'tis: n ow, Rir, this sin.ff is my sister; for, look you, It~
11; ns wlute as a lily and as small as n. wn.n<l: this hat is Nan, our maid :
am the doi; :- no, th e dog is him solf, n.n<l I n.m the <log,-0 the dog is lDftnnd
am myself: 11.y. so , so. Now come I to my fn.ther; 'Father 1
ble~smg ; ' now sho uld not the shoe speak a word for weeping : now sho
I ki ss my fathe r; wc!f, be weeps on. No w come I to my mother; O, .
:'he couh1 speak now! like a wood wcman ! Well, I kiss her; why, there'
hrre's my m other' s breath up anc dow n. Now come I to my sister;
the moan she makes. Now th e dog all thi s while sheds not a toor
s peak s a wonl ; hut see how I lay th e dust with my tears.-SHAKESl'
Two (; c,itlcmcn of l'erona, a ct ii., sc. Cl.

J

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. 112. In stately prose (as in the following passages uom
1\Itl~on a,rn1 Burke) we finc1 a far larger proportion of wo~
d crivc<1 from Greek or Latin.
·

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ON THE CHOICE OF TVGJWS

l t happened once . . . to be a grent and solemn debate in the court
Dariu s, whn.t thin g was to be counted stron gest of all other. Ho th t
could rcso l" c _thi s, in reward of hi s excellent wisdom, should be clad~
purple, drmk rn r;o ld, sleep on 11 bed of gold, n.nd sit next Darius. N
Lut they, doubtl ess, who 1verc rr puted wise had the question propound~
to th <' m ; wh o, aft<·r some respite giwn th em by the king to consider, { ,
full n ss<· ~lil y of nil ~1.i s lord s and graves_t counscllows, returned severnlJt
1\lrnt _th ey thou ght. I he first held that wmc 1vas strongest; another, th!U
th e kin g was strongest; but Zorobabcl, prince o( the captive Jews, and
t.o th ~ crown of J udnh, being on e of them, prove<! women to be stronger tb. .
th o kmg .. . . . Yet ho pr?vcd on, and it wns so yielded by the king hi.me41 ·
and a ll l11 s sn.ges, thnt neith er wine, nor women, nor the king, but truth, f
all oth er thin gs , was the strongest.
F or me, thou gh n eith er asked, nor in a nation that gives such rewattll
to 1ns•lom , I shall pronounce my se ntence somewhat different from zo~
babel; . nntl sl'.1tll defe nd that either truth and justice are all one (for trutA
' ~ but i ust1cc rn our kn.°'vl e~ ge, an d ju stice is hut truth in our pracf.i l
an'.l he rn.1l eed so cxpl_arn s l11m self, in sayi~g that with truth is no llCCQ,P .
mg of l' ~ t sons, " h1 ch is th e rroperty of iust1ce, or else , if there be any odd6.

exhibit more strength in the aJfoirs of nrnnkin<l. F or t.ru th is propcr'y
' m> more than contemplation, and her wtmost ellicicncy is but trncliing;
• · t justice in her very essence is nll strength and act ivity; n.llll hnth u
,...ord put into her hnnd, to use again st all vi olence a11tl oppression on tho
orth. She it is most truly who accept s no person , nntl exempts non e from
·the severity of her stroke. She never s uffers injury to prev ail, hut wh en
fl}sehood first prevails over truth; and thnt also is a kind of ju stice done
· ~ them who are so deluded. Thou gh wicked kings and tyrants counterfeit
~s word, as some did that buckler fabl ed to fall from h eaven in to the
Capitol, yet she communicn.tes h er power to none but such as, lik e h!'rncl f,
uejust, or at least will do justice. For it wcro ex trem e partiali ty n111l in, u iico, the flat denial al1l1 overthrow of lt crnc lf, to put h er ow n u11thcntic
rd into the hand of an unjust and wicked man, or so for to accept and
m!t one mortal person above his e11uals , t.hat 11 0 alo ne shall have the
~iahing of all other men transgressing, and not rec eive like punish ment
men when he himself shall be found th e hi ghest trnusgrcssor.u:roN, Eilconoklastcs, ch. xxviii.
My hold of the colonies is in th e close affection which grows from
non nnmes , from kindred blood, from similar privil eges , n.n cl C'• Jun.l pro tion. '.I'hcse nre ties which, though li ght as air, are ns strong as links
' fJro n. Let the colonies alwn.ys keep the idea of th eir ci vii ri ghts nssoci~ with your government; tli ey will cling arld grnpplc to yo u; nntl no
under heaven will be of power t.o tear th em fr om th l' ir n.l lrgiancc.
ilet it be once unders tood thnt: your go vernm en t may be one thin g nnd
tbir privileges another; that t.h ese two thin gs may exist without any
utOAl relation; the cement is gone-the coh esion is looscn cd- nncl evC'ry.
• hastens to decay and disso lu t ion. As long as you have the wi s<lom
koop the sovereign authority of this country as the fmnctnary of lih rrty,
_ uored temple consecrated to our common faith, wh erever the chosen
&nd sons of Englancl worship freed om they will turn th eir facrs to ~- ,-ou. The more they multiply, th e more fri en ds yon will h n.Yc ; the
nrdontly they love liberty, the more perfect will be th eir obedi ence.
tery they can have anywhere. It is a weed that grows in every soil.
'.tlt 1 may have it from Spain, th ey may h ave it from Pru s~i n.; bu t until
OO<iome lost to all feeling of your true in terest and your nn tura l dignily,
· om they can have from non e but yon. 'l'his is the commodity of prier,
e!whioh you have the monopoly. Thi s is the tru e ne t of navigo.tion . whi ch
di you to the commerc e of the world . Deny them this participn.tion of
L'l!Qdoru, and you break that sole bond which originally m ade, arnl rnust
~'}} preserve , the uni ty of the empire. Do not entertain so wen.k nn imagin~. 11s thnt your register s and your bonds, your affidavits and your suffer·
, your ooquets and your clen.ra.nces, are what form the great securiti es
fOllr commerce. Do not dream that your letters of ollice, nud your

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in struction s, ancl your suspending clauses are the things that hold together
the great co ntexture of this mysterious whole. These things do not make
your government. Dear! jnstruments, passive tools as they are, it jg the
spiri t of th e English communion that gives all their life and eftlcacy to
them . It is the spirit of the E nglish constitution which, infused through
the mighty mass, pervades, feeds, unites, invigo rates, vivifies every part of
the empire, H en down to the minutest member.-BunKE, Speech on Conci liation 1cith America (1775).

113. Wh en you can write like Milton or Burke you may use
as many word s of foreign origin as you please ; till then use, as
fa r as possible, the short and simple words of your mothertongue .1

114. In the following sentence a burlesque effect is obtained
by the use of long words.
The autho ri ty, sir. of all th ese great m en . . . deposes , with irrelragable rcfutatioo, agai nst your ratiocinative speculation s, wherei n you seem
desiro us, by the futi le proce's of analytical dialectic s, to subv ert the pym·
midal structure of synth etically deduced opinions, which have withstood '
the secular revolutions of physiological disqui sition, and which I maintain
to be tran scendentally self-evident, categorically certain , and syllogistically
demonstrnble.- PEACOCK, H eadlong IIall.

115. A similar effect is obtained by the transformation of
Twinkle, twinkle, little star I
How I wonder what you are !
Up above the world so high,
Like a diamond in the sky

into
Shine with irregular, intermitted light, sparkle at intervals, diminutive,
luminous, heavenly body !
Ho w I conj ecture, with surprise, n ot unm ixed with uncertainty, what you
are I
Located, apparently, at such a remote di stan ce from, and at a height so
vastly superior to, thi s earth, th e planet we in habi t,
·
Similar in general appearance ancl refractory powers to the precious '
prim itive octah edron crystal of pure carbon, set in the aerial region sur• '
rou ndin g the earth .
1
\\hen yon •l nnbt between two wnnhi. chnogc the plninest, the commonest, tbe most
iiliomn.ti c. Esf' hcw fi ne word r.< ns you would rouge; love simple ones ns you would native
roses on y our c heekg.-- Uue.rse.,: (z.l Truth.

117

ON THE CHOICE OF WORDS

.l.ONGA!ANS' SCHOO.!. COMPOSITION

116

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..

116. The written prose of D r. John son, though i;o rn ctimcs

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stately and often full of weighty nm Lte r, wou lt1 h: 1\'e lr ec· 11 n 1o re
forcibl e h ad it con taincc1 a, smuJl er proportion of ht t in \\ onh;.

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In n. letter fr om lho llighlanLl s h o st1yR : When we were take n upst!l.irs a dirty fellow bounccLl out of tit " l.Jd on
which one of us was to lie.
In a book that h e wrote u.bout Iii ~ j ourney h o clcsc ril 1r,.;

l11 L'

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incident thus :Out of one of the bedR (}11 which we were to repose slart ed up nt our en trance a mnn black as n Cyclops fr om th e fo rge.
J ohnson's s poke n prose was f~ 1: n c r11.lly s iruple 1l1 Hl slnl11g. Now
and then inucecl it sem11od to him too plo.iu, n.n ll h o w ould t rnnslitto n.
'
sentence ' fr om English
into J olmson cse. 8peaki11 g , for ornmp lo, 01"
'The Rehearsal,' h o said , 'It h 1u; not wit eu ongh lo k eep it sweet ';
then, after n. pause, h o addecl , 'It has n ot vit(1,lity en ough to presone it
from putrefaction.'

...
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117. Many, also, of th e poet s of the lits t century thou ght it
vulgar to u se the lan g uage of e\·cry Lhy li fe wh en \\' riling of lli e
persons and things of eYeryday l ife. One, for exmnple , cttll crl
boars 'monsters of the uri stly droYe,' arn1 anoth er, who wanted
to say that a peasant tuckeJ up his coa,t anJ ran out of door s,
wrote : -

His vest succ in t th en girding round hi s wnist ,
Forth rush ed tho swain in h ospitable haste .'

118. While you should, as far a,s possible, use nat ive Engli sh
words, still, if in any case n, \YOn1 of for eign ori g in ]Jest expresses
your meanin g, it woultl be ridiculous affectn,tion to u se any other.
•'£he . , . Anglo- Saxon or oltl E nglish p ethn t ry which attomp l!-l
expel long-estri.blish ed Latin w ords t o nrnk o r oom fur '.l'cn to nic
ghosts is no b etter [than th o classical p e<lan t ry n ow b cg111n1n g to go
out of fash ion ]. It results in snch IJ:tru;trism f; :i. s f on·-1uo rds fo r 7mf'1 ce
[betterness over for superio rity to], n try fur an all c111p l , uamc-ll'Orll
for Nonn, f or-name for Prononn, lin 7.- -wonl for Co nj nn cl ion, bnl -wonl
fora.dversative, " t he anon y m ou s r cma rkcr," .. . " sweet anil ma l lcrful verse," • , • r egrettable, usal,; lc, double , . . . th e nn-go -l hrongh-

to

' For cm excellent essay on the lauguagc o( poetry, sec the rrcf~cc to Wordsworth'; f,v r irn &
Bllllad•.

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LONCfilANS' SCHOOL CO/lll'OSIT.!ON

118

ON THE CHOICE OF WORDS
-----------·- ---- - ----·

Il 9

so mc -nc.ss of stu:O' for lhe impenetrabilif!J of mallcr.'-Nrc110L, Eng·
li sh Co111pos ilion, p. US.

124. 'We n ever h ear of fL place- it is tt localit y. Noth in g iR crcr
placed, bu t always lornt c1l. "i\fosf. o f tho pCn]'IO of tho plrtcc" \l"lllii <1

119. W orse than the fault of usin g rt long wonl for a short
one, worse than tho affectation of using a n ow-made Engl ish wonl
for an ostal>lislicd Latin one, is th e practi ce of omployi11g vulgar
circumlocutions. Dislike of simpl icity is a mark of ball tastea mark oflcn seen in ill -coulluctetl n ewspapers.

be a terribl e vn l gari ~ 111 to th ese gc nil em cn - iL mu st be" tho lllflj(lrity
of the residen ts in th e lnc1dit y."

120. The writers for such n ewspapers seem to think it witty
and clcYer not to c::tll a thing by iLs ri ght name; so they call a
drn11kard a dis ciple of Bacchus or a mcin 1·n a state of vinous

cxcitemc11t; one's 1cife becomes his better lwlf or his rib; women
arc the fair sex , 1 &c.
121. 'Onx jonrn rd s seem, indee d, (lctcnuincd to ba nish our cmnmsn
won1s altoge th er. You n enH" r ea<l in th em of a man, or e.
n ·o111a11, or a child. A n1an is an ·i ndiv-idual, or a person, or a party;
n. wom a n is a f ema le, or, if unmrtrri c(1, n, yo1111g 71crson , which exp1·ession, i11 th e· n ew spaper s, is uhrn_ys of t,he Fewiu ino Gender; lt child is n.
j11 vc 11ilc, an!1 ch ilt1ren c11 ?litl8Se are ex pressed by t,!t:~t most odious
torn1 , /lee ri8ing genera/ion. As to th e form er w ords, it is certainl y
cnrions enou gh that the sarne debasing of our lnngi.mge Rhould choose,
in order to a \·oid the goocl honest Saxon 111a11, two "·ords, indim:du,al
am1 pa rty , one of which exp r esses a m a11' s un i ty, and th e other, in its
comm on unt ceh u ical use, belongs to urnn associalcil. And why should
a w o ma n be degrad ed from h er p osit ion ns a rational being, and be
cxprc s ~ c d by rt w ord which might belong to a n y animal tribe, imd which
in our YOr s ion of the B ibl e is n ever u sed except of n.nirnals , or of tho
ahsLract, the sex in general? \\'h y n ot call a man a male if 11 w oman
is to Le a f emale ?-ALFORD, The Qu een's English , § 407.
Saxo n ~

122. ' The ncw~p aper writers n en'r rtllow u ~ to go anywhere-we
always proceed. A ma n going hom e is set down as" an individu11l pro•
cccdiny to his resid ence."
123. ' \ Ve n ever ca l, but always 7wria.kc, crcu though we happon
t o cut up tho whole o f the thin g m cnti on Cl1- In court, counsel a sk s a.
wi tnc·ss, "llid yo n ]11\ve anything to eat there?" "Yes." "\Vhn.t
\l':ls il '? ·• "A J.11n ." No w go to tho repo r t in the paper, and you'll
lie sure to find tl1at " wi tness c0ufcs~eL1 to h:wing pa.rtaken of 11 bun,''
us if some one else sharell it with him.
1

A d· l i ~n 11

11f11'11 . in tilt> Sp1r f1 (/ o r, ('al ls w11m r 1t thr fair

t.e.r.

S\dft, wri t ing to Stello.. 8t\f8

'1 will IH1 t 111 1 ·ddl t~ wit 11 tli c .'··:pectaf<1r. l.rt liimfair u.r it to the worlU' s cnt.l.'
• J:.°11')/is/1 (ur cveu A 11')/o-Sa.rou) io a IJttkr term luau Sa.ran.

sco r11 fu ll y,

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125. ''fl1 on n o one !ires in r no m s, bu t al ways in npar/ 111 c11ts. C: ol!ll
lodgings woultl ho far too m eagre ; so \ VO h a\·c cli:;ili lc apart 11 1r·nls.
Besides b eing IL y11J g1tr ity, thi ~ ic; abo an impropri ety . An a11a r/111rn l
is, properl y, n ot on e r o•>111. lrnL a F>l' L of romns: tho portion nf tho ho11 s 0
which is set apart fo r one occupa n t, or family of occ upan ts. In fur cig 11
towns, thiR is tho J-:ngli ~ h 11 ~0 of t l1c \1«1n1 still, as it; is th o uniform
foreign u sc.'-ALrnlw, 'l'li e Q11ec11's J·,'nyli8li, §§ 50 1-50-l.

126. Vulgari ty similar lo that condcmnctl by D ea n Alford is
often soen in trad o announcements. A certain bu Lcli cr calls
himself purvevor nf ?lleat to li er Jif ajc::;l.IJ ; a cat 's-meat m an calh
himself a llllrVe!JOr of fo od f or dom estic animals; a Ual'DCl' call s
himself a tonsorial art ist a11d facial opera tor; while a w::tshcr won1:1n c:tll s herself a lad!J laundere r, and ac1ds tl.u:tt sh e operates
a mangle.
Exercise 'iO.

Re-write the f ollow i11;; se11lc11ces , subst ituting f or tlrn 7l'O rds
printed in itcilics other n·onls , simple r or in beller taste :Fashion able laJics anJ j ui:c11ilcs wi th pct, cani11cs slloulJ avoiJ th o park

at present.
There was a fin e l '!tr"/cchnic di:;p lay.
Mr. Snip is a. proji·ssor 0/ Ilic sartorial a rt.
He has not been h ere n. su.Oiciwt lc11gth of time.
Smokin g is zn·ohibitcd.
A city s·i tualc up on n. mountain must be conspicuous.
The blessings of thy fath er have prernilcd above the blessings of my
progenitors .
'l'here arc celestial bodi(;s and bocli cs terrestrial.
'l'he nuptial ccrc111 ony was cclcuralL'fl thi s morni ng.
Mr. Jones of Crundale is [l. IJ C!lli!ll' lll aurirn// urisl.
Come to see me at Ili c rn rlicst OJ>/>Or ltmily .
Pope took gren.t pain s with his CJ' islu la ry corrcs110111lmcc.
'l'he man p::tys great attention to t he' hi r.rnl c n7111c111lrt(l<"S of l1is /•TC<'.
Every class \•;ore clot hes of a cut a 11c1 culour di stin ct ly prcscr ibctl fnr iL hy
. stern lu:ibilimentary laws.
· Among th e weaker sc.i: we fr equently sec courage which mi ght put the
lords of creation to the blush.

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LONCJJf, /N'» SCHOO !. COJl/POS! T.!ON

12 0

A bak er s,.JJ,; tl w sla.o· of /(fr.

.\l/N' ll/C11 t bira/rc.
H e and hi ~ uw t hc r both i11dulgc in ti1 c 11,,.r/v11s wcc(l, a m1 both sacrifi ce
to ]J, 1cclllls.
\ l· c ]1tffluvk nf the cup //rn / cl1ctrs /m t Hot i111•brfri/ ,,s.
K ot a fow o r t h e i11111cc!l11iolls i11habita11 /s of Ba ttc rsca are to -da y wailing
\\ .(: lrcat •· d Olli St· h ·e:; 10 a do /.<' ll u[

//1,0

in sa ckc lo th anc1 a s h es.
'l'b c squire was foll o wcrl hy 1i11111No11s canines .
At //1is p1«'scnt writing i t is d1:0ic 11lt to rny h ow th in gs will nlthnately
Cl'Cll/Ua/c .

Th ey we re p erso n s o f recogn ised author i ty in q nrs t ion s of habi limental
ta s te.

'.C he fault H o f l1alf -cu lluru a re as i11nw11 rmbl,; as th e n umerous caree rs
a n l1 lots i n life which cau se a lop -sided <1cw· lop 1nc n t o f m un 's power s .
In a mom ent Ili c edifice 1cas cnrrloz 1"d in shooti11 g tu11gucs of ;7a'l!le : the

catast ropl1e has pl1111grrl the wl1 nlc street into Ili c uloo m of 11igltt.
lleyoncl the se arc hl11c nn,Jnla tions of va1·y i11 g t on{', a rnl th en another

boskv -loolci11g s11ut wlii ch con ~l itul es the rcsiJrnti11l u mbrage of another
peer .
_...r
.A lot of limr: ,,·a.-< wa s (c(1 i n C1L1/cavo11ri11r; to reach h er mental senses,
wh ich arc \J(:en11 1" very ol.tf11 .1c!lfol thrnu~: h <1i-;, ipation .
·
_·\ :\ s t hi s i1"1 sc ilJ /cc111borU111rntrf sen /fr and illlpolmt o liic io u sn ess evi dently
dcstdi:ra /cs enlig h te n m e nt, I w ill an s wer h i-; s/u'c / 11r1'S s"rialim.
. A ftcrw;tnls t lwy 1ccnt in for 1Fc1p.1icliorcu11 exerc ises a nd tr ipp ed i t on tho
l1ght f anta st1c til l t h e ' 1cre sma · hours ayo11/ tli~ /1rnl .'
At lu s t tho doo r opcnc1l a nll l\Ii ss Sm ith p ut in an appeamnce.
H e liarl c.opendccl a consi(l1•mblc sum in creeling a residence.
T he deceased was clis li ng n ish r d hy t h e ex cell ence of hi s post-p rand·ial
dcl frcranccs .
T h ere we re sc n~ rul .old disci]ilcs of Izrwk Tl 'altoH , w ith se veral j 1wenile
i·otanes of th e 1nscalorrnl ({,r/.
._
At t h e conn11cncc111r11l li c 11rocrcdcd 1cith deliberation, but toward s the concl usio1i he put fo r th a ll liis s prcd a ncl crentually arrii:cd in tim e .
H e was caught in t h e a ct of oscu la lion.
Th e p rope r Lim e to m ake h ay is whil e the /;righ t orb of day hangs resplende nt in the blue vau lt of l1cavcn .
Th e infa ntile port ion of the conun nnit!J fe lt great in teres t in h er sh op.
S he was interrcil in Ke n s n.l Grc·r1 1.
The initial n u mb er o f a n e w re1·ie \\· lies be fore u s.
Th e accuse1l was condc1mwt to c11jo!J the hos11 italit!J of the State for six
month s .
Th e
Th e
S,he
'lhc

p2ilcstria n cn11tcst tc rminai«d in th e defea t of H o binson.
" ·ater (• sc ape r1 l h ro ng h small 11c 1f ora /ions .
•
h a <1 Lu t o n e e)~C , h er ot h er ornlrl!" organ h a vin g b een k n ock ed out. ..
cut wn,s lying lll the s unny win dow Lakin g h er i11atu ti 11 al n a p.

ON

TJJE CJJOJCE OF W OR DS

I2 I

The younr; gcnllt·mcn of l\fr. Smit h 'ti cullcgiatc ·in stitut ion co111111r11cc
their va catio~ o n th e 2"1th .
\ Yoii should n't giL·c rc11 / to i:ocij a11/w11s till !JO ll have c111 crgcil fr om t he
forest.
/ 'What 's in a n a m e ? ' a sk s Ju li e t, p owerfu lly a ffected by th e th o ught
that that whic h we a.ppellate a r ose by any o th er cognomen wo ul<l poss,•ss th e
property of tit-illati ng the olfactory in an <'l) 11ally didcc t manne r. J\Iuch is
in a n1une. Th e Qua ker ·i ndividual u nd ers too<l iis pow er wh en h e th reiitcnc cl
the can·ine quadruped with cond ig n 1:isi /a/i on .
, We lean rath er t o th o anc ient p ro ,·c· rb Lfn rino vcritas], tha t truth is

made man-if est on convfoial occa;; io11s.
Th e f uvenile p ortio1• of the co11mi1mil!J, es p ecially tlie mak proue11y of
Imm.an kind, a re som e tim es mi sc h ievo u s .
,,. This rem i n ds us of an ill -natu red proverb a uo ut the speedy sepa rat ion
that arises between certain cla sses of men and their available resou rc,·s.
His male pa rent and h is avuncula r relation were bot h of op iu ion that
modern fict ion fu rni shes n o intellectual nutrition w ha tever to the adol.:sce nt
mind.
Many a flow er is burden ed with p rrpos lerou s appell.ativcs.
'l'he exercise of cu/a neO'llS ablution is esse ntial t o hculth .
'.l'he m a n ho.s a n ebriatc<l aspec t.
The m onth of Ap ril is fo vo urnb le lo t h e dcvc lop1ncnt oj Llzc spec ies oj
creat'ion which is nox ious to ver1c /a/ ion .
How teeming eve ry r;em of F'lora with perf 11me !
My male parent be in g tak en fro m m e , I engrLgecl in private tu ition.
L overs of the nicotian weed will welcom e th es e ci gar s.
The p rince was attired in a mountill g habi t.
One ind·i vidual may pilfer a qiuulrupei:l wh ere another may n ot cast his
eyes over th e bound.an) of a field.
In the absence of the f ciine race th e mice give thcmsclz:cs 7lp to vario11s
pastimes •
Feathered bipeds of <Ulvanced age ure n ot to be entrapped w ith the outer
hmlcs of com.
More confectioners tha n arc absolutely necessary art) apt to ruin the
pottage.
H e. is an m ifortwiate i ndividual su.ffcrinr; f rom aberra tion of intellect.
Will you d o u s th e fa vou r of ma kin g onr ru ra l retreat your tcmporarv
abode ?
'.l'he guardian of the jloch was on the ,] own s wi t h hi s can i 11 c assis/(l.J il.
In the course of o. wal k alon g Fleet Street we m eet z.itera ry gentlemen ,
agricultural gentlemen, com merc-ial gentlc111cn , gentlemen of /.he long robe,
and gentlemen engaged in mercant ile pursuits.
Anything lik e hirsute l n::ouria nce about t h e sacerdotal lJh!Jsiognomy 1s
oilensive to every orthodox admirer of th e via media.

122

ON THE CIIOJCE OF lf'()!WS

L ON C.1/ANS' SCJ/001. COMPOSITION

No s to ne nr in sc ripti on rnnrk s th e locnlion of their 'i nterment.
\Yh at ad11 /l pcdcslrian h as n ot li t• nnl thi s rcc1ucst from a very small chu.l'
carryin g a milk c:rn or a beer j ug lm t un able from e.1·ignity of s tatnrc tor ~t.
th e t<> p most l i11 t i11nab 11/111n ?
"'' rluLcsccns ! mt th nu r1 ulcai·o11ri?1 '.J lo en/ ice a member of the finny tri~i
to c11 ;1 11lf into lt i.s rl ..·11/ic11 /ul cd 11wu th the barbed hook at whose poini ti

ajji.?xd a da inty al/u rclll c11I? 1

- - - - -- -- -- - - - - -- - - ---

We arogoing to have ajoll!J lark as th e paler am! Ilic mater a rc hoth

·

12 3

- -- -- - - 011t.

Re varies his Jiternry work by nmning abuut tli o Li gg,•s t [t ha t i 8, nnc of
biggest) market-garden in Engla nd. [T he s l:rng use of rirnn i11 g n111 l
carelese use of about mtike it appea r ilrnt t h e au t hor ra n a bout hi~
.. twen.)

'I

OLD Wmws AND Nmr vV01ws.
SLA~W .

127. Avoid all slang.
128. P erson s wlio nso slang take an o,pp11rently meaning!
'v or<1, like bamboozle, and inves t it with arbitrnry meaning, or
t hey take :t perfec tly proper word, like awful, and give it me
of wh ich i t is i1111occnL. 'l'h o l1abit a t Les t is a stupid one.
impli es laziness or ignorance, and a di sregard for the dignity an4
i rn tli of lan g n nge . It is in con sistent with clear thinking. Ii
lo,rors th e rn en ta,l stamlan1, and in time may even lower th
moral s tandanl of those who employ it.
Exercise 71.

E.c-1cril e the f ull01cing scntc11 ccs in goocl English:The fl ower is a wfully pret ty; tlt e roads arc awfully
a 11 f11 lly fin e, and we have had an ll1lfully jolly spree.
Hi s proftossions arc nil bos h.
\\"c sp ent 11 Ye ry j olly \\·eck at th e seasid e.
Th e gouc rnor ca me in and caught us larking.
\\'c ar c a11j111/y gla<l to see you.
T he cl rape r offered hi s goods at, a low figure.
Ho w do yon f eel ?- PrcUy pcck dt ; arnl h ow do you ?-Ohl A 1.
You can n ot ba m boozle li im ; h e is 11]1 to snu[f.
I garn tile best a n swer I could. bu t I \ rnS a uf ully sat 1tpon.
Jt is tru 0 tlt at h r hit t h e m ark. but it \\'as 011l?J a fluke.
Th a t fcl lo\\' h as ba m boozled us ngain.
lle is \' Cry 11; ipish , a s you may see Ly hi s phiz .
I a sked h illl wh at h e 1cas 11p to.
f:>h e was ve ry m u ch cu t up by th e ll C \\' S .
T he ?-lnyor gai.;c the Alderman /Ire cold shoulder.
'Tbc sruall 110:; nu; wcn'1 , 'l\o sir; I'm fisLiug.'

129. A living language, like every 0Ll10r livin g thin g, is co n1.inwilly undergoing a double process of decay anrl grow tl1. O! tl
1Fords are ever dropping out of u se n,rn111 ow word s arc coin rr1 01:
rrowed. Avoid obsolete words. 'l 'l 1l'y mn.y ox co ,c1 ill l>L" •t1 1Ly
xpressiveness tho words th a t l l <L\' o ta ke n L1 10ir pl ace ·;
~~ you write to bo umlors tood, and h ow c1rn you ox1)('c:t to
· ·_ e your meaning clear if you employ term s in lolli g il>lr now
°,cnly to students of our older authors ? Evon if tho tc>rnts aro
erstoocl, they harmonise as little with your s tyle as trunk-liose
ald with a dress-coat of the present cfay. Avoid new words
• · unless they express n ew idea s ; and do not attempt to coin
terms. Our mother-tong ue has proY crl s ufl icicnt to com ·py g rea te r
thoughts than ours, anc1 if we sea rch long enough we ca11n oL foil
t!> find in it all the words we n ec cl.

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130. Some writers of th e Tm1 or anrl th e S rnart, pcr ioils arc a st:rnc1 eantion against the u se of n ew \\' Onh . 'l' ltcy i ntr<lrlnccd m:i. 11y <; rcc·k
Ln. ~in terms that roii.1sct1 to tak o r oo t arnl no w s t1mJ Jc ad in th o
· f;Gidli of the living . Thus : (1} •The terrible term, predestinati on, \Vhi ch hath trou bled so man y \\' ea k
i to conceive, o,ncl th e wisest to expl a in, is in resp ect to Goel n o 21 rcscio11,s
knowing] determination of our estates to co me but 11 dcfm it i\'e blast of
will n.lrencly fulfilled and at the in strm t t hat He fir st decreed it.' - Srn
s BnowNE, Rcl,igio M ed'ici, § 2.
(2) •When they separnte from oth ers , th ey kn it but loosei y am ong t hem ' nor contented with a gen era l breach or 1l icholo111y [di Yision j wit h
'rcburclt do subdivide and minc e thcmseh cs alm os t in t.o atom s.' - J d . ~ " ·
(5) • There is no clanger to profow ul i fn.l1 1olll ; tltese m ysteri es.' -- Id . ~ l:J .
(4) ' Some are without effic ient [begi nn in g;, a s Go1l.'-- Id. § 1·1.
(l'i) 'This cryptic [hidden] and involn·d rnel h ot1 of H is p ro\'i de nce h a r e
lu·radmired.' - Id. § 17.
(&).' l may give only thi s advice accord ing to my small model ~ cap a city)_
!l'H Esso,ys: Of Unity in Religion.

l.

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124

LONGJJIANS' SCHOOL COMPOSITION

ON T.!IE CHOI CE OF WORDS

(7) 'It hrginn cth willt the mix c<l adept-ion [acquisition] of a crown by_
nrm s nn<l titl e. '- BAc<rs, Of the Arkanccmcnt of Lwrning, Bk. I., ii., 8.
·
(8) 'Th e alchemists . . . inculcate th~t Vulcan is a sccon<l nature, and
imitateth that <lcxterously nnd compcndiously which nature worketh by
ambages [circuitous wnys] nnd length of timc.'- - ld. Bk. II .. vii. , I.
(~1) 'He kn owcth the nature of arr/action [dryingJ.'-Jd. Bk. II., viii., S.
(10) • We m ay see what c.el.situdc ~ loftine ss; of honour Plinius Sooundus
attriliuieth to Trajan in hi s fun eral oration.'- J d. Bk. II., xx.ii., 15.

131. A brief examination of almost any poem will show tha- < •
tlie diction of poetry differs in many respects from that of prose; ·
L et us take, for example, Tennyson's' Latos-Eaters.' Confining .
our attention to the choice of words and grammatical forms,
firn1 th o following lines which would i1ot occur in prose : Rolling a sl11111brous sh eet of foam below.
Up-clomb the shadowy pine above the woven copse.

The charmed sunset lingered low adown in the west.
Th ey sa.t them down upon tbe yellow sand.
Laden with flower and fruit whereof they gave
T o cacli, but whoso did receive them
Music that gcntl ier on the spirit lies
Than tired eyelids upon ti red eyes .
And turning yellow
Falls, and floats adozcn th e air.
To watch the aisping ripples on the beach .
To watch the long bright river drawing slowly

H is waters from th e purple hill.
Only to h ear 1cc rr:. sweet.

.,;. ·

132. 'l'he fact that a word may with propriety be used by •
poot of the present day cloes not necessarily warrant its use by ,,
prose writer; because
(i.) Some words still used in poetry arc obsolete in prose,arul '
(ii.) 1\Iany words (such as ire, 1coe, dole, dire, direful, blissftd
baleful , thmll) are by common consent deemed too 'poetical .
for ordinary prose.
133. In writing prose, poetical words should be avoidecI:

134. Like new
a.voided.

:i.1111

1 25

coi nccl words, strange words should be

If you have nothing t,o say, \rlty write?

If _ynn h a \·<' somethi ng to

say, why not say it in w onli> that your r ender will mH.l cr. tand?

Exercise 72.
Re-write the f ollo1r111r_1 scntc11ccs, su bstituting other 1cords f or
"those printed in italics :--·

-

Mr. Brown d01wted a lrnndre1l tl ollars.
The English language of t he futur e will nec,l all the mc11!al ac"11ity of
the English people of the future.
As far as we have been ab le to test th em. the nnswers arc dl'JlCll!lablr.
A double set is provided, which nmy be iH/t rch r111')ra blc at ihe tcllchcr's

).1}!!asure.
.
., .
An explanatqry introductory thorough ly und erstood w1ll 11ave th e \\,t ).
The squire said that he hunted his clogs pm:allclog'.w'.1.m ri t 1ru ll!f. .
. This is the day on which those charming little n11ss1ves yclrpc1l \ alcntines cross and intercross each other at every street.
The ire of the goddess was trn appeasnbl e.
He who erst was king now kept n ~c h ool.
His whilom fri end s had all <loscrl ctl him.
l'cradvent'/.fre there may be tifty.
Ile came hither by th e king 's /J.:!tl :· '. .
It (Jri.evcth me to sec him misbehave.
1
And l•hen,' qiwth h e, ' you may return.'
I 1oi.st not where he dwelt.
It irks me to sec so perverse a di sposition.
I wot not who has don e this thing.
Homicide and verbicide arc ali ke forbidden.
Nothing but an oscitancy from which 110 writer is exempted can account
fOI' so odd a misapplication of a fa niiliar term.
A. friendly discussion whi ch Ii i~ \Yifc ultroniously embark ed upon
'fhe jovial and eupcptic vicar in :i. n :ry n o11chala n l man ner confcssc<l

iho orimo.
.
They clou'tfrirot ovur s pcculrtli\·c point s of abstrusi r pl11l osopliy.
They have grown quite rmnzwgco us.
'fhe poetical aspects of C'ngin cc-ri11 g on which he cn//1uscd wore new to
'bil audience.
.
The prisoner atlemptr-,t tv s11icid<' .
Ho is a cornica.l [tc6µ 11- Lhc hair of th e b ead] artrnL
She carries the historic proutl countenance of the Gcrnldines of h er day~Moratic, matricia.n , and fix ed.

.lONCJl!ANS' SCH OOL COJllPOSITION
ON THE CHOICE OF WORDS
Il e was left <luring the moment as followe<l gnasily [Lat. guasi, as if]
l1umh.
Th e shell s, however, at length ceased to displodc.
T he wh ole sYstem of registration is clmnant for reform.
Ile 111/ronio1:sly and illegally took to beating the boys.
H e is an example of cupcptic good nature and common sense.

1 27

(2) Write to me, mia carissima, as soon as you get this.

Mia carissima (Italian for 'l\Iy dearest ') iR Feminine; bnt tho
sentence is taken from a letter written by a girl to hor loYer.
(3) The hoi polloi lined the tow.path.
Hoi (ol) is the Masculine l'lural of the Greek Article ; polloi
• (rro>..Ao{) is the Pltual of polus (rroXus'), miiny. ' Tho hoi p olloi, · therefore, means' The tho many.'

Fomm;N \Vorms.
135. 1\[oro to bo :.w oidc<l thrtn ol<l, now, or strange words are
fo roiir11 word s . It is n ot likely tliat yon can J1avo ruiything to
say ,~J1id1 may not ho said in your rnotli cr-tong uo. Home writers
seem (lilrn llolofcrnes in tho play) to ' h ave boon at a great feast
of lan gu::igcs am'l stolon tho scraps.' 1 Th ey possi\Jly wish to sh.ow
th eir lcan1 ing ; " ·liat tlioy often <lo sliow is (as in tho followrng
c:rnmplc s) tli cir la.ck of it.
( I)

~he

docs not fo rget her protegc [who was a little girl].

Th ere are two m istftkcs in thi s 6cntence. Thero is no such word
pr()lcuc, a nd p roil'ge is 1\Iasculinc. 'I'he correct French word is
p roil'gee.
n~

1

:\ f'la"" «f ,ni trr:; 1i;l ~ :-: pnt 11 g- 11p w llq n p prn. r t n t Iii 11 k it 1li 1·i r s11N'i:t l b u s in ess to ' c11rlch •
r Ji .. J:111 g 11 . q.!t ' !, \· ·lra gging iu111 it . 1\ ith•111t :111.\·at11 ·1111•t a l a ..:.-. i111i l:1ti 1• 11. ('011 l rihu tio 11 s from nll
1 j,,. l"llJ..'" tl" ..:
1 /a• tan It.
T! 11 • n •,u lt j..; a \\Tt·t d11 ·· l J·i• ·•'" 1•f pa1t·l1\\'ork , wltic ll ma y hnvu
·· li:trrn . . i 11 1 111 . i ',\<'-i 11f ·" '""h' P•'11Jdt· 1 l• u t ,,JJi .. ]1 i..; l' l·rt:d11ly a ll a li11 wi n nt..iv 11 i11 t lic Pyes of
1:11' .L.'"1· 11 1ti 11•' ... t11· h·11: ,,f J:1ng11:1g<'.
\\'l' l ll' 'o! 11 11 1\· J. ..ri.u 11"' i11ti • 1or 1e , ,j t h <· pi·r inil i<': d rr prr'..:1•11 tat h ·r ... 11 ( f;rnhi u11 ahl c li lC' rntur .,
n r i nt o a 1111\·1 I. nf 111<' d 1\'. t•J :-:L'e hnw s1• ri1111 ..: 1lii...; a s...:a ult ll J1•1ll lli e pu ri l y o f t li e J::11gll1 h
}. 1 11 ~11. t !...'" h :1' 111•1•111 11 ... T / w i ·lJ:tllt't.'' a n 1 11 1n rt: tl1:111 1-.pi.d tl1at \\'t• :,ha ll fall in wi t h l\ wri ter
,, 1111 ,., , 11 , i.J ·,.., i t a i •1 .i11t ,d· liH 11• 111r to 1·lli)p-..c :ill Id-; 1110..; t t·111p li atie w ord s fr('l m 1i. l,.n1noh
,·.. 1·:dq;Ll1 \". ;11 J< ! \\"! 11 , \\'ottl ·l thi n k it a 1<1 111(•11l: ddt • f :tlli 11 g o il' in I ti s :-: t y le tli d li e write 1ullf l\
d r.z, . 11 :--1·1 1: . 1w .. ..; \\' t'lt .. u t t'lllJ1 l1•yi11g at h·a . . . t Ji; ~Jr tha t 11 11111IJ1•r 1, f f11 r eig-11 wo rd s. His h~
: tr1· :i! '\' :t\ --; 11 iark L'•l ! 1\' : 111 a i r 1/ 1.,l n 1'. 111 i: : h iti \' iii • l lll' l l a r L' H l r e i. q IJP 11 /a.~tf.., ; hi s lad_y fnom18
ll• ·\' i' r 1111: r rl r d ~ll ll'\' . ,'r d n ·. ;:; Wt.: 11 , t.lst.'Y da t1 t' l' 11 r d n ·-.. . 11 111er r~ill·· ; u n d lie lii m ticl( wh en lo lllu1
1111 tli t.' !'ofa ~ 1 11 .Jl' r tl1(' ,.. 11ir i t, <Jf J. 11. i n l·..:;.; d nf' ...; w it ~· i111ply 1i 11 j1•y hi s n·:-;t., he luxur ia tes I n t bo
,/ / ·,· r,,,. 11h11t1·, a11d \\'11J1tf!'l·.:J \\l1t· 11 lH• will 111:111:1 gt· t11 h 1•gi 11 his ma911u.m opu.'i. Amt 80 ho
, .. 1n j,: .. 11 -: thr11ugl 1 l1 i:. ~t ,1r_\'. r11 1111 i 11g off j ri!o l n \ 1·l: 1H' p •d F re11e h 1 l tali :u1 , o r J~ati n c~prcsstou•
w li1·i i• t\' 1·r )ip h a ..: a11nhi11}..!" t11 :--: 1\· ,,·Jii c h li t· tl ti 11 k" :.: l1 11 nld 1•1' j.!raplik:Lll_y or c n1plmt1 c nlly 88id.
11 r •·. dJ\· ~~ ·· • Jll-.; ;i..;
IH· t fi q11gl.1 1. I 111• l·: n l!li..., lt la 11 i,! 11a g+• lion l lll':tgT f\ o r t o o COlll Bl? Oplf.\OC .
dn·._ . . i;1 "Jii,. 11 (11 •"l1 >1 lw lri ..: t.li11 11 1..!"11t ... . T ilt' 111 11 g11~_· w ld l'!t ~a \·c a 11 0 1Jlc n tlcrn nce to llut
1iio 11 r ~ i 1t :\ 11f ;-.: li:d~ · · ... i '"d n · :111.J ,\ f i /1 •111 i...: nll ng1 ·t !lt'r i 11 ... 11 fli1'iP 11 l t" e x prc·s.:; the run r c cos m opoltta
j .Ji .. l... ,,f ~1111 1/i , Hf T11111k i 11 -.:. l •I' J1 •11ki 11 .: !

,.t"

0

fr

1,- •• 111 f11 r" 11. . :1 11 :1 ni1'1 1• fro rn 1!J .. 111·n ,,f :1 \·r ry l'l ron· r write r, and, a s iL nppcn.~ tn "J' l'1•ft ·.:.; ...: p..: 1 1 1 r " p r1 'fC11 t lh <· '!Jr , t !'ot ict y,' it n1a.y h e tnkt• 11 OM n '-~
:.:p· .. ·it n C'n of t lie ::.t:tl r-. I t d (·:--c> r ilw.::: a d 11u c i 11 g pan~- . and w e di :,t..:ov c r fo r t he fir s t Limo how ~ ucb
J. :1rni 11 g ' "
LO olc» nilie fl . )1 .,p . p ro perly.
The r eauc r is in forme<l t br<t all tbe peopft
\\' f' J,

rn : i ~:~1 zint• wlt idt :o- Jto"( -i;dly

""'-'"'""Y

(4) Thus we see that there arc many and various kin ds of horses. Thero
is the Flemish mare, the Arab steed, and last, but not least, the hors de
combat, or French war-ho rne.

r

•l !

The boy who wrote this did not know that hors 1~ co111bn l (di8·

I':

nbled) had nothing to do with horses.
(5) E.ffe1wia and m emoranda mny som etim es be i;cen u sed as
Singular, stratas may be seen as an English PlurrJ, and am'111rrlc11la;

,.
i

at the .clance bcloug to the bea u. m owlt', n..; m:l_\· hr ~rc n nt n ro11p d'i 'l?il; . . . _ n11d in fn ct
everythin g abou t it bes peaks th e h r11111011 of th e who le affa ir. A la• ly whn l111s h· ·r n hap py
In her hairdresser is snit! to be co iJ!i'e ii ra vir. Th en th ere i;; th e bold ma n io •le,;cri he.
Having acquired th e .wvoir faire, he is u c~ er ufrni1l of m a king n / 1111.r p f!.' , but no mntler
who.t kind of conversat ion is Stflrt ed p luog cs a t o n e~ i n mr>rlin., r~.( . }'"rillowi ng him id t hP
fair di buJ.ante, who is nlrearly ou t he look--0 t1 t fo r un IYi n p tuli. h ut who!'t' 11Pz rt•trn11 .c.q! ii;: n.
fl ooided obstar Jc t o h er succ~a. Sile i::; r. f c"•tt r:.:f' acc0mpa 11 i~ I h~· mR.rumn. ,, ,, r1r11 n,J,. l 1J i/l•t1,,
who,entre nou1, look s rather r id.Jr• c '·rn in r/w K n ~ l i glit . Tltc n, les t th e wr it e r HhP11l d scc•111
frivolous, lie stult1 cnlv nhn nd o w; the d ~e ri1 1 t i ou '>f tit \_· dn11ce:t ri .•..fr-ri.• nwl d. 1,f-ir. · d o.t to t d l
'ns thnt H'omcr bccoi: ~c:; tiresome whe11 he ~i 11g:-t t"•f {3 0 W1n( rrOTvto. "Hp'1 twi L'I' in n pu g 1'. T hP
supper call s for t h n. C<lfft':! J>0 11 d i11 g- n. 1.1 10llllt t 1! h·ar n illJ..", nnd thC' wrik r rn 11 cl11 d r~ hi "' nrti t:l u
nfte r hn. vi11 g ai red hi s Crcrk., lli s Lfl tin, l1i :-1 Fr L't wll, 01 11 1. in n !'ll lKi rdin ntC' w ny, 1d -..: E n gli~ li.
Of cour~c, thi s s tyl e h ns ndmi r ('rs nnd i miuU<ff~. Jt i-s :.:howy n n•l prdP 11 tin11ci, and rn•rrt hing that is s howy 1u Hl 11n·te11 tioua J1;l.s adm i rr r~ . T hr nd1 ui x tll rt• o r f11 rf·i µ 11 phrn :-:c-...; wi1h
ou r pla in E n g li sh pro d1 1Cl' S n k i11·1 o( 1J r11nur. 1L::,r1~ m !-'pnrkle w hich Jlt"'' J!lt.. w li n;..:(• 11 p p r 1"'<' in ti on
Is limi ted to the s upc rft e inl imagine t.o h e IJ r illin n rr. TIJ o:-e w h n t H l~ 1l., ficil'11 t in ta ... t l' a11 1I
Rrt educat ion not unfrcqueu1 ly prefer a. d a s h i n ~ p it:ln rc hy :rt"lUHg J1 nu h to a gl11 ti n11s 1•n r tnn 11
by ltaphael. The brig h t colo11ri11g- of t lie 011 0 fa r m nrc t lurn co un te rlm lirnc1'" the lnnl _r b\lt.
unobt rusiv e grncc of the oth er. In a ~i 1..11ila r war, y ouug st w lc n ls arc n.t t niclt.., I by t Jw fn l !->1 ~
glitter of th e Frenc h-past e school of com1>u,;i ti un; n uo l i11 •tcncl n( fo rmin g I.h ei r "'' '"'' "''''"
upon t he beautiful mo<lrl s o f t he grent. En~li s ll 11H\ ... :. t c r :..: , thr.v tw i ~t th e m in to nll :0-:l)l"t."' 0 r
unnatn . ra l s hapes for n o olhe r c 111l tha.u tlHtL tltf'y ll.lay intn,.lurc n. fe w innpp r npr ia tf' Fn•1a· l1
OT Latiu WOHIS, t l1 c USC o f whi c h LhC'y hin ·c l<'an 1ed to t hink l<W"i k R llllll\rt . 0 ( ('flll r :' f' , J'lt' lln~· ­
B--lincrs a.re am o n g s t th e m ost cn t hu s ia~t.i c f,11Jow<'rr..: n f t he mastcn~ t1 f t h i~ !'t .r ll'. 'fl H'y w 1 t
only th ink i t brilliant, hut, tlt r y k n1) W it. to he 11r11ll fa bt r , in n.!-: niud1 n ~ it atl .J HrHn ;.; id t· rrLh ly f<J
their ability to say a g n·at d<"al nho ut m.1t fi i ti g. TJ1 r p11 hliP H'<':-i a ~t""n t. cl <'J d i11 .t 111· Jl' '"'"'papcrs about ' rrchercllt tlin11 (•1"!-' ' a 11 rl • t- nmpt uou fi d·:Jninrr ,( ' ( !-'('l !n ('I i 111rs <'n.tr11 nt. 111 ,i:lit ), u nd
about the (.ctal with whi c h :L LU C't't ing :.\lt <' lld ~ l hJ" the' / fi r,. o f t he ('ot lllt,r ' i11,·a r i11hl,\· )11\ !':-f'~
of! ; hnt they get but a t r iflin i; ~ p r<'i111 c 11 o f tll c Jl..lf!.:'!o)('.-; o f ~ irnilar r11h his h w hit: l1 dai ly fa ll

...

upon t he uub uppy edif o <'. T he (' 0 1l5<'f[UCII CC of n u t hi ,; i" tl 1nt t he ]'llhli c is habiurntr< l t.1 "
vicio us kind o f slung ut terly nuwort liy to be ca lled a Jan g un g e. E ve n th e hc>f-ed uc" te•l
poople tlud it ditl\cult to r esist tb e co nt:i i:;io n of faohio n in s11c h >t t hi1t g '" eo nYcrn1t lnn : a'."l
if some kin t.1 of staud is uo t mad e ng nin:;t t h is itl\'il sio n , pure Eu g li s h will soo11 oul y e x ist 111
the works of our dead authoro.-l eed• .lfer cury ( q11oter/ by Dea11.d(fordJ,

'l

r

I
!

I

K
I

l•

l

I c .VCN. /NS ' SCHOOL COJJfPOSITION

ON THE CHOICE OF IVORDS

n.ncl cjflu viw :is Lnti n Plurals of w ords already Plnral; while viva VOM
hn.s been maLle to rhym e to dose, bani/, f ide to pride, Goethe to toetl1,
n. n <l Cy clrulc8 to 111airls ; and a n Englishwoman, who is a popu!Ar
n onlist, speaks o f the h a nd s of tho Seip ii being nail ed to the r ostrm I

We must beg in our work 1tgni n ab h11.iio.
.A<l valorcin dut ies :1rc cha rged at t,h ose por ts .
01elcris Zlf11'i/Jl(S , I sho uld prefer a IJro wn to a pil" Lidd p ony.
Though lie was not king de f acto , hi s ;ulli N <·nt s cla im ed that li e w a~ kin g
<U j urc.
His quondam friends now differ from him in toto, and h e mu st begin de

(G) Ignorance o f French i8 s h own in the follo wing sentences:An d th us na'ive [F em .] h e stood out in bold relief.
W e mu st bQ very na~ue [F em. Sing.] to imagine that
prai ses over the tomb of the Prophet.
T om Moore was a dappe r litt le man, so short as to
[F em .1
He had small 11ctite [Fem . Sing.] features.
' small small.']
These two fin e paintings have, by some connoisseurs, been considered th. '
chef rl'amvres o f the F<eries.
· '."..

the task of creat ing a party.
When h e hacl mad e hi s c.t pur/c statement, the cour t adjourn ed sine die.
We cannot oppose hi s m ot ion per sc ; i n,Jcc-d. th e passing of it is a sine
l!Ud non.
Matters are now r c,(orcrl to th eir an te ljllO bcllum com1it ion.
Speaking ex catil cdni , h r. s tn.t<.: d i n liilliuc t hat Ji u ,Ji ikr l'•1 i11 /u/<1 ( rom all
his criti cs.
The qu een trav elled incog.
The gardens ex hibited much thitt was glaring and bizn rrc .
I told the garr,on to bring me some cap an lciit, but the stupid fello w
brought me cafe noir.
• .- There is now no ra·ison rl'<'tre for i.h cir exi stence.
This subject is still on the /api s.
Her sister sank in to a chair, fr ightfully pcrduc.
This pen;ehant of hi s did a nythi ng but comm end itself to h is associates.
It may be fine fun for th em, but the cxch an go of B illingsgate badinage
corampublico by embr yonic i1!.P.'s is n o ~ ro nduciY c to publi c da onun .
No one despi ses a l11indk en.: bi cf bord,•rc· d with d11rl1cssc or 11o i11/ d e ga::c
le.cu, ancl when a mo11.clwir . . .
Straw bonnets can be utili~cd by the a cltl iti on of Ych et or f r is•' uo nl ers ,
with tri mming to match, an a igrcll« 1,l acctl in 1i C()l.lllC of 1·clYet or fri sr , with
a vel vet or f risr! mcn/o1mihc in pluc c of s trings .
A vetenicnt is ornamented with n,n exceedin gly rich beaded passemcnlcric

. "' IWL'<l

· '-

(7) The following se ntenc es show ignorance of Latin:-

Of th e other luminary I have nam ed, I have not so much to say, in~:
s equ ence of s uch litera scripta [Sin g.] of his as have escaped being m&rk
' private.'
The journalistic vcrtebrm [Plur.] in Kin gst on is growing tougher.

(8) Tho following se ntence shows ignorance of Greok : This is n l 'li enomcna [Plur.] common to an immense number of diseaac&

Exercise 73.
Re-write tlw f ollowing sentences, using only English wor~s:~
A propos of poets whnt do you think of Scott?
He spoke apropos de bottes.
The ma n is cons um ed with amour prop 1·c.
Tho branx esprits of tho age were too blasl! to enjoy his plays.
T h e fun eral corti'gc was a mile long.
Napol eon obtrLin cd power by a coup d'11ta.t.
Tlwy sa t a rou n t1 the tabl e, h av in g before them th e debris of the toast. '
~lie ma de h er dt! bnt as a sin ge r at Coven t Garden .
Th e fai r rlcb ntantc was uervous when oh e first st epped on the st.age.
I le t rca tN1 ns to nn ele.c;nnt d1~j~ 111 icr .
Tlie .' / i /1 · oft.h e town were gath ered iu the hall.
?ll ess r ~. Smith anti .Jones gn.ve their cinployes an excellent tea
zaj(1ftf'.
chcl/ c.

a
·

It is useless to oppose th e m ea sure now as it is a fai t accompli, .
T h e g irl s poke wi t h unusual na"it:cl lf .

·

·

IZ9

'I

'

met ifs.

!It

A sensitive wi thdrawal a nd sudd0n re treat into the shell of silence b ut
not of conviction is very much fo stered by such dyslogistic remarks as
• Grandmotherly policy ' . . . samp les of a clas: in which tho fem inine ele.lllentary or CW'i(J we·i bliehcs is used a s a ne 1;lus 1tltra of inani ty o r imbe-

'·

_. cility.
'l'ho to~ it ensemble o.ud th e mise·cn-sc.ine were all that could be desired .
.Are you going to the matin ee '!
The play did n ot hi t th e popular taste ; it had on ly a sncc1Js cl'cs/imc .
We went to Mrs. Jon e:;';; so in•c da11o;a 11te; we h11d pci /e de Joie gras n.1Hl
·iOme delightful chansons, and on coming out I wore my sortir: de b<il.
We huve here an cmbarras des riclw:;scs.
.: The p·i1!cc de r1•siolancc was a leg of m utton .
., She fcd sans f a1·on on th e mangeuille proriued by the chef of the rilli1ge

• -a!.lbtrgc,

·'

H

2
l

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l JO

l ONC:l!ANS' SCHOOl COA1POSIT.!Olv

ON THE CHO.ICE OF WO R DS

IJ I

136. Iu a,Jilition Lo <tvoid in g for eign words, you should avoid
forei gn idioms, a.s-' That goes wi thout saying' (Cela va san~
dire) for 'That is understood,' or ' Of course.'
137. You should also avoid using English words as tho
equirnlon ts of their foreign representatives when the meanioga
of the words are not the same.
The French a ss ister m eans 'to be prese nt at.' Do not use the
English ass ist. 11.s if it meant th e sam e. Similarly, in French practic®lc
me a n s 'pa~ s able,' but n ot so in English.

Brplacc, to place back again, is often used n.s equivalent
F r onc;h rc111pla-ccr, to trLk e tho place of.

T ECH NICAL TER.\IS.

138. Every science, every art, every occupation has word s and
pbtll.ses peculiar to itself. Th e use of these technical terms
eaves much time and trouble, but a writer shoulu employ them
o.uly when he has reason for believing that hi s readers are quito
familiar with them. He should n ever employ them wh en ·writing
for the general reader, as they o,re certain to be unintelligible.
1

How many persons coulJ unJ cn;tu.ml tho following liucs,

The clock was replaced [placed back again] by a servant

for

l

!· '
'

example?

is good English, but

Oh, lovely Clara., h ie with me
Where Cryptogams in beauty spore,
Corticiurns creep on trunk n.nd tree,
And fairy rings their curves restore ;
Mycelia there perv ade th e ground
And many n painted pileus rear,
Agarics rend their vei ls 1nound
The mnn.l overture to h ea r.

Th e clock '"as replaced [had its place to.ken] by a vaso

is English corrupted by French influence.
Our Indefinite one corresponds to the French
but cannot be u sed s o freely. Such a sentence as
disagreeable : How mi serable ' tis to have one on e h ates nlw ays about one, and wha.n
one ca nn ot endure one' s own refl ection upon sorno action who could bear ilJ.O
thoughts of anoth er upon him?

Exercise 74.

R e-write the f ollowing sentences, avoiding the
idioms :-Th e mee tin g was a p rono1111 ced success [p rononct! , decided] .
All this was done by the perso ns I intend [entcndre, to mean].
I am a man and cannot h elp fe eling any sorrow that can arrivo
[a rri t·c r, to happen] man.
Th e pop ular lord s did not fnil to cnlcirgc themselves [s'elargir, to enlarg ~
on th o s ubj ec t.
Th is mini ster h as tb e courage of his coni:ictions.
They kn ow not h ow to employ their time or what lo make of the1nseluu.
H e lik es to keep himself in evidence [en evidence, conspicuous] .
His powers were placed in evidence by her not daring to utter a so.r04l!IU~ i '
There were four windows giving on [donner sur, to overlook) tll4
yard.

°'

'Where gay I'ez izn.c fl a unt th eir hu es
A microscopic s tore we'll [;lea n,
To sketch with camera the vi ews
In which the asc us may be seen.
Beneath our millim et ri c gaze
Sporidia' s length will stand reYeal ed,
And eyes like thine will trace the maze ··
In each hymen ium concealed.
1Estivum tubers we sh all dig
Like Suidre in Fagian shade,
And many a Sphmria-sh elteri ng twig
Will iu our vasculo. bo laid .
For l - 'Q),erotio. we shall peer
In b
~nd brnssico.ccous leaves,
And trace tl\.eit progress thro ugh th o year
Like bobb{es on the track of thi eves.
•From 'To Clam Morchella Deliciosa; " )fyc<>lo:;:icnl Serenn<le.' Tl.i s poem beini:
written by a scie11tific man (Mr. A. S. Wilson, of N ort h Kin mun1ly, Abenlc~n shirc), nn•l r c.1<.I
to I\ scientific boJy (tllc Cryptogl\mio Soci"t·Y of Gl<.sgow), l\UUlll"ably 1ullilkd a s purpose.

i

'

Tile following aneeclote is to the point:-A nwd ic:d wi tm· ss , descrilii11g th e injuri es of the prosecutor, saitl that h
li:-ul found hirn s uffering from a seve re contusion of the integuments und ll'
th e ldt '>r hit, with grc·at PxtrnYa~nli()n of blood and ccchymosis in th e sttr•
rou nclin g cellular ti ss ue, wliil'h wa s in a tum t:Jierl state. The judge int-Or·
ruptcd him with: 'You mean, I s uppose, th a t the man had a black oyo.'
'Y cs ,' sn id th e doctor. 'Then, ' asked the judge , ' why not say so at once? 1

141. The arrangement of wonl s is n oL s ubj ect to snc1i ri gill
rules in fully inflected languages as in languages that a rc lL·ss
inflected . Thus, in Latin, t h e scnLl'nco
l Gloria Yirtutem s011uitur

'

t'

·' '

Gloria. sequitur virtutem;
gloria vidulem;
·' Sequitur virtutem gloria;
·
·;· Virtutem seqmtur g l oria;

It~ · ~ '> Sequitur
1

l"~ "r

•

1 '

"·
/ /'

and

~°f- whereas

•,
,

•

·-<- 1~, (
(_,_

(;,
'

~

;

\: .J

., . ,

/

,

_

bc'\vi· iLLcn
1

the corresponding English scntcnc6 ·can
Glory follow s virtu e.

. 142. This example shows that _\\'hen the Suhjc.ct ~m1 the
Object are both Nouns we. cannot, ir~m ~h~ form~tw1_" . of th ~
ords, tell which is the Sub,J ect and wlnch 1s the Obj ect, only the
position of the words enables us to decide.
_
143. Moreover, the whole m eaning of a suntcn co ml~Y t'.cpcrn1
o.n the placing of a word l ess im 1)0rittnt than u1Lhcr Subject 01·
Object. Thus the sentence

Elastic ti ssue occ urs bot h in the form of fibre s antl thin homogeneotl4 "'
m c·rnbrn.nes. lt gets its name fr om IJeing liighly extensible and rcs-il-icnt.
Arli.1ins1• tiss ue con sists of a num ber of minute vesicles.
Th e costal ca rtilages nre prolonged forward t-J the sternum.
A rt icula ting wiih the upper end of th e slcmum in the lmmcm .subject n.ro

the clav icles ..

Tho inspector promised to examine th e sc h ool which

WtL S

close<\

tnay, by the insertion of the Adverb vcs tcrday ~n three diil'creut
plaees, be made to convey three different m camngs :-

ON THE ARRANGEMENT OF WORDS.

.

(1) The inspector yesterday promisctl to examine the school whid1 was

closed.

l\IEA:.\TXG lJEl'ENDEKT Oi\" AirnANGEMEN'r .

140. The arti st' B description of tli e art of paintin g may po
adapted to t h e art of composition. All that ·we Jrn,vc to do is
t o choose the right won1s and put th em in th e r ight places.

I

\ i

'

· sc<1u1·t ur; /I
L. Virtutem glonn.

" in only one way-

1111j)aro11 s.

139. A la<ly who was wn,tchin g an arti st at work on a pictur
a sked hin1 what was the secret of gocd painting. 'There is no
secret ,' he r eplied ; ' all that you h a ve to do is to choose tho right
colours and put t hem in the ri glit places.' 'Thank you very
rnu cl1 ,' she said: 'I am glad that it is so easy ; I will g o home
and begin at on ce .'

••

. '•t

, • \ .,.._

1

Exercise 75.

Tll o Lound volum e wa8 forfeited a8 a dcodaiul but not claimed.
Th e child lta s premonitory symptoms of iucipicnt rubeola [is going ~ ·
li a vc the m cflsles~ .
··
Nucleated corpuscles multiply by di\'i sion whi ch is fi ssiparous or gmii· .

'

may without any change of men,ning be written""'. ( {. 11

8111.Js ti tu te non-technical words f or those printed in italics.

133

ON THE ARRANGEMENT OF WORDS

LONCAIANS' SCHOOL COMPOSITION

1 32

..

'

(2) The inspector promised to examine yesterday the school wluch wn.s

,,,..

·~
(S) The

< .,,

1 at.enlay.

inspector promised to cxa111ine thu school which was cl osc d

rr1rn USUAL 01rn1m.

144. Much insight into the principl es which nn_Jerl_io Lh~ fLl'rangement of words nmy be derived frm_n rm examrn iLtion of the
order in which the different parts of a, g tvcu sentence arc placed.

,,
,· l;

i·

' ' i 11
i "!ii· t...'

.r :

j

" u '..I
'

!~·

·1

.. "J
I

134

LONGJf..JNS 1 SCHOOl COMPOSITION

ON THE ARRANGEMENT OF WORDS

Exercise 76.

They say the ton gues or dying men
Enforce attention li ke deep ha rmony.

135

Ho hath heard that men of few words are the best men.
The village all declared how much he know .

E xamine the order i1t which the
low£ng sentences are peaced. Note
(a) TVhere the Snbject,
the Predicate, ancl
the Object
stand in relcition to each other; and

The Harne that lit th e battle' s wreck
Shone round him o'er the dead.
The spirits I have raised abandon me.
He that loses his conscience has nothing left that is worth keepin g.
It is the hour when from the bo ugh s

(b) TVhcrc qualifying words,
IJUalijying phrases, and
qual?jying clauses
stand in r~latip n to the words qnalificcl. 1

The nightingale's high note is h cunl.
A Turkey carpet was th e liLWn
Whereo n h e loved to bou nd.

•
r' ~
Rnin is falling.

Satire is a sort of glass wherein beholders generally discover ererybo<ly's

I

Wle but their own.

Thou art the mau.
'l'he very houses seem asleep.
The path of duty is th ~ way to glory.

Nature never did betray
The heart that lo ved her.
The king himself has followed lier,
·when she has gone beforp,

What obj ec ts are the fountains
Of thy happy strain ?

Life has passed with me but roughly
Since I saw thee last.

E very turf beneath th ei r feet
i:ihall be a soldier's sepu lchre.

My muse cloth not deli ght mo
As she did before.

Britannia needs no bulwarks,
No towers along the ;;teep.

was necessary to the 'l'wl ors, for their parliam ents were

H e has exalte<l them of low degree.
An unwonted splendour brightened
All within him an<l without him.

..... ,

., '
Evil communication s corrupt good manners.
,,
All the valuaul c books th en ext'ant ·!;tan· £l1e vernacular
Europe would hardly have filled a single sh elf.
The sq uire sent h er a brace of partridges.

'l'he spirit of your fathers
Shall start from every wave.
Tllnu want B b11t littl e here beloll".
That yo11 have wrongc<l me doth nppear in this.
Whate'er ii:; best adm ini stered is best.
Things arc not what th ey seem.
' St.•c

'}:utc.~

fo r T eac her:-;/ Note U.

Freely we serve because we fr eely love.
Judge not, that ye be not judged.
Let my people go that they may serve me .
Have respect to mine honour that you may believe.
Laziness travels so slowly that poverty soon overtakes him .
All the ho.rt po.nteth after the water-brooks, so panteth my soul after
As the sun breaks throu gh the darkest cloud s,
So honour peereth throu gh th e meanest habit.
Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.
Though hand join in band, the wicked shall not go unpunished.
II you have tears, prepare to shed th em now.
Had she lived a twelvemonth more,
She ho.d not died to-day.

1-1
'I

I',

'·i

j

LONGMANS' SCHOOL COMPOSITION

ON THE ARRANGEMEN T OF WORDS

137

·,

I

Know ye not Agincourt ?
Who knows not that truth is stro11g, next to the Almighty?
\Ve shall soon meet again.
Our na me is no more heard th ere.
E \'ery jolly Jack will soon be coming back.
The two great national srnts of learning had even then acquired
charac ters whi ch th ey still retain .
Some of them would even in our time deserve the praise of eminent <Ji~,
interestedness.
Those vrho had directed public afTairs had
warriors or pri ests.
Th e woman, heinK in great trouble, waa weeping.
J\ ly fri end s, expecting me, <li<l not go out.
'l'he principles or conservati sm and reform carried on
every part of society, in every congregation, in every school or l earning~
round the hearth of every private fami ly, in the recesses of every refloo ·
mind .
ThNe i ~ in the wide lone sea.
A spot unmarked but holy.

A rUuncts rp1ahf1;i11(/ 1Yn1111 s.

147. A Noun (or Pronoun ) may bo qualifi ed or enlarged liy:Hight on our flank the crimson sun went down,
'fhe deep sea roll ed a round in dark repose.

A Participle; as
!he traveller, being ex hausted , could go no furtl1 1;r.

At early morning to rest her head
She throws herself on h er weary bed,
L onging to sleep the sleep of Ilic dead .

(4) A Prepositional Phrase ;

Th ere came a lion and a bear.
Th er e stood proml form s around his throne.
It was told the kin g of Egypt that the people fl ed.
Th e reader will, of course, understand the precise amount of season' which must be added to it befor e he adopts it as one of the axioms of h
liie.
Audacious self-estec1n, with good ground for it, is always imposing.
Don't you kn ow how har<l it is for some people to get out of a room aflet
thei r vi tiit is real ly ornr ?
T he race that sh ortens its weapons lengthens its boundaries.

'J'h c ,'-,'11 /Ucr:t .
145. Tlw Subject usually comes Lefore the Verb; as
Jlain is fallin g.
Th oit art the man .
Sa11l "·as chosen kin g.

Every turf beneath their f crt
Shall be a soldier's sepulchre.

And Zion's <laughters poured their lays
With priest's and warrior's voice between .

148. An Adjective is generally placed immediately before tho
that it qualifies.

•By a

fortunate convention of our lang uage th e simple Adj ective

s before the Noun. 'rhis is an a rra ngem ent that is scientificidly
most defensible. Before the thing i::i 11 a n1 ecl th o mind 8houl<l. be

'l'li e Olj cct.
146. The Obj ect is placed after tho Verb; as
Cats catc h ?llice.
f-iohli ers fi gh t ba ttles.
!llary i~ 111in<li11g ba by.

a;;

with all the qualiflcntion s arnl limitations, so as to conceive

· g o.t once as qualified and limit ed. A wh i le r ose is ~ e tt~r th an
white, as, in thinking of the rose, w e a lready clothe it with tho

colour, instead of thinking of it fir st as r eJ., perhaps, a n d U ien
to oho.nge to white.'-BAIN, Companion to 'The II1 g hcr
.s lilli Grammar,' p. 302.

LONG/ffANS' SCHOOL C0111POSITJON

ON THE ARRANGEMENT OF WORDS

149. fo poetry a Noun is often followed
that qualify it ; as

(8) The Board of Education has re solved to erect a building large
to 11.ccomwodate 500 students, three storeys hi gh .

We sat within the farmhouse old.

•Three storeys high' should come after' building.'

Ile strippeth his arm s to his shoulders strong.

• ·(4) The annua.l parents' meeting was held la.st night.

150. EYen in prose, when a Noun is qualifiecl by two or mo:
Adj ectives tLey are sometimes placed after the Noun ; as
And n ow begins a fi ght most fierce and fell .
Truth appeared with looks serene , courteoits, chce1f'ul, and yet modd~ · -·

'"'
151. An Adjective qualified by a phrase or clause geJ,1.ernllf
comes after the Noun ; as
He has acquitted himself of his task in a ma nner
tal ents and to his character.
Th e preface is evidently th e work o f a se nsilile and candid man, fl1'11t.
his own religious opinions, and tolerant towards those of others.

152. In such sentences as th e following (ascribed by Earl ·.
our increased ftcquaintance with German literature), an Adjec
qualified by a phrase comes before the Noun, but the effeci .
not pleasing :In that not m ore populou~ than pqmlar thoroughfare .. .
Th e utter extinction of their species in these islands may be looked u
as 11. by no means remote eventuality.
This, I fear, cannot be said of our, happily in all other respects cl
island.
As illu strating the 1:ery commonly to be observed presence of
flints, and pebbles in graves . . .

153. Particular care mu st be taken in placing an Adjecti\'
AdjectiYc Phrase when there are several words to which i' ·
apply.
The following sentences arc faulty :(I) Locke was an unquestioned man of genius.

This shouJ,l bo

Othello, un<l 11ot the l>olstcr, was full of rage and jeo.lou.sy.

· ·There is no such thing as an annual parent.

lM. When a Participle is used as an Adjective it is subject

to lho same rules of position

as the Adj ecti ve; as

The hawthorn bush with scats benea th the shade
For talking age and whispering lovers mnde.

155. A Participle not used as an A<lj cctiYe and not forming
· ·of a phrase generally comes after the word <1ualified ; as
Napoleon having been defeated there was pence .
And he, neglected and oppressed,
Wished to be with th em and at rest.

166. A Participial Phrase is placed after the Noun qun,lified; as
On the other hand was the calm and subt le prelate, versed in all that
t1i~11 considered learning, trained in Ilic scl10Q/s lo nwnagc minds and
.~con/essional to manage hearts.

·•t

Throughout tht- volume are discernible trnc cs of a powerful and indcpcn·
mind, emancipated from the 'influence of autl1&rity and devoted lo the
rch of truth.

167. Where there can be no don bt as to the word qualified,

o Participial Phrase need not always come immediately after ;

us:Re went out rather sullenly, carrying his piece of plum-cake.

158. When, however, there are two or more words that the
Jrlicipial Phrase can t]ualify, great care should be taken in
'placing it, for we must write not so that the reader may uncl cr.:tand if he will, but so that he must nnderstantl wh ether lie will

not.1
159. In the following sentences the pl rtc in g of the Participial
'l?ltrnso is open to objection : -

Locke was a man of unqu es tioned genius.
(2' Othello, seizing a bolster full of rage and jealousy smotheffl

139

her;

{l) Please receive a ticket from the attendant toru from the book .
' ;on ut lutclli gere possit., sed ne oruni no ros, it non intrlligere
IJ. Ub. viii., en p. 2.

cnrandtlID.-Qu 1~ T!t.IA!'i

f ,ONCMANS' SCHOOL COMPOSITION

ON THE ARRANGEMENT OF WORDS

TP ·~

The ticket and not the attendant is torn from the boo,k . '
sentence should therefore r ead
Pl ea se rece ive from the attendant a ticket torn from the book.
(2) There is an odd little story about Madam Hading drifting
New York.

Madam Ha<lingclid not, drift about N ew York.
b e lJettcr

l}Mli~

,,. :

The sentenoe." o\J;t ·

There is driftin g abo ut New York an odd little story about Ma.a~·
Hadi ng
though it would Rtill be obj ectionablo from the misuse of the w
ilrifling.
An ex hibition of drawings by lady nmnteurs well worthy of '
ti o11 hns beet\ ope ned.

'l'o bring this senseless correspondence to a close begun by a member of
· Daard allow me to say . . .
Tbo company are prepared to supply coals at tho followin g low c1uota' · ,all being well screened and clear burning.
Ono chair after another landed ladies at th e baronet's door, m ore 01· less
,pdr1te1i, patched, brocaded.
The &v. B. B. came in at the tail of a whole string of bishops n eatl y
Uirtd for the part in eyeglasses and black bow-tie a.iul a simper. [It wasu 't
t "bishops who were' neatly attired,' &c.]

160. A Prepositional Phrase shoula come immodia.tely fLftor
word qualified; as
No stores beneath i ts liumblc thatch
Required a master 's care.

(:l)

Th e lady rtm atenrs may h ave bee n w ell worthy of inspection,
thM was n ot ,,·h at the write r m eant.

Exercise 77.

R c-arra11gc the f ollowi11g sentences :- 1
Mi ss - - will be m uch ohli gc>d if they will favour her with a. tem
loan of such fotters . .. as mi ght Le of service in the preparation of 3 '
graphy add ressed lo ·- -- .
t:lh c returned it with pl c>as nre, and th en arlranc ing still nearer he
both to her no el i\l rs. AI!Pn. [lt was he who a<l vanced.]
It is n story of a Scut ti ~ h mai <lcn, th e dau ghter of a
vcternn . brought uz) in an English CO llll/ry lo1c n.
I recei ved th e hook fro m the last wi tness marked 'E.'
There was a <li scussion on scho ols held on the roacl.
A little while afte r th e R<1uirc call ed fo r his tea, which he dro.nk OU~ l)t
Rm all howl q11al1ji c(l w ilh brandy.
l'c rtublc indiaruLber boats to curry one or mor e persons weighing Ji
to j lft;; pounds . . .
:';he fou nd a boy !yin ~ with lialf hi s body ou t of the window and 1(
~ ho rt lcg6 flyin g in t he n.ir &low i ng soap bll bbles.
Th ere is a facsimile of th e origina l tapestry kept on a windlass ii) .
hall of the prefecture n.t Bayeux, Normandy, ·11:orkcd by Matilda, t T1
of Wi lliam the Co11'1ucror and h er lad ies .
lu t hi.:. an d th e ful lowi n g exerc ises dea lin g wi t h arrangem ent, the faults OiUUl
he rcmn,·0·1 by sim ply impro,· inii: the order. Sometimes it will be uecessary t.o
t

~emcni:-e .:.;.

14 1

This rule should be observed with particubr care wh 0n

·:ere are two or more words that th e phrase m ay qualify; as in
h following sentences:{l) Lost, a valuable silk umbrella belonging to a ge ntleman with a. curi1 oa.rved head.
Perhaps the best correction of this 'is :-

'Lost, a gentleman's valuable sil k nm brell R. with n curiou sly carved
(2) One of the combatants was unhurt and tlw ot h er sust11,ine<l a wound
the &rm of no con sequence.
Punch, in quoting this sentence fr om th o r eport of a French <lu Pl,
• bg well ask which is the arm of no conso<p1 c11c 0.

(3) A piano for sale by a lady about to cross th P Chann el in nn oak case
~ carved legs.

This sentence is impronid by re-arra nging thus :For sale by a lady about to cross the Channel, a p ian o in an on.k ca se
:h caned egs.
(4) Wanted, a l1 and som e Shetland pony suitable for a child with a long
and tail.

Exercise 78.

Ile-arrange the follow1:nr; sentellccs :1have a book at home which I call my Domesday
·Q&Uty's age and distemper in town.

Book , wiLh every mnn

ON THE ARRA!vCEJllENT OF WORDS

LONCMANS' SCHOOL COMPOSITION

l4J

- - - -- --------- - --- -- - - - -- - ------Couldn't a smelling-bottle be painted in instead, with a crest and n,
top, or a cambric pockethandkcrchief, in lien of the horrid pig wit!~ a Jil~
coronet in the corner ?
- _
It was not very wonderful that Catherine should prefer cricket, liw~
riding on horseback, and running about the country at the age of / <111
to books, or at least books of information.
J\I. J. S. was charged with breaking two panes of glass at tho ho ·
her husband from whom she has been recently separated in the Camb
lload.
"
Wolsey left at his death
finished state.
The applicant said that he had alrearly put up notices prohibi
use of words which had not previously been
of ·i nstant dismissal.
!\!. Alphand i~ now negotiatin~ for the preservation of the 1u
fountains with the Engli sh company which has supplied the ap
1cith every prospect of .rnccess.
Only a few years ago their lord and master held in bondage hun
of men charged with the same offence upon the mere flat of a 11Ul(JwtraU.
A/lei· tlie com menceme Ht of se rvice it is requested that no one will m
the church but by the porch door on the north side.

Exercise 79.
Ro-cast the following sentences :Its convex surface by raising the breast enabled the priest to perform

-his diabolical task more

easily of removing the heart.
.
The death is announced from San Francisco under melancholy circum·
·111.noes of Mr. A. I-I. C.
- The death occurred on Wednesllay at a very advanced age of the Hcv.

',r. P. L.B.

· 1

The influence over our debates will not soon cease of his ge111a pre·
· tencc and moderating wis<lom.
During the trials in 182G of the persons connected with secret societies

1n Poland •••
We have to record with deep regret the deat.11 which took place _yes'.enlay
al his residence [why not hume ?J, Clewer Park, Wincl so r, of ::lu Damcl Gooch.
Deyond this the arts cannot be traced of civil life.

164. An Adjective Clause should come immcdia,tcly after the

word qualified ; as
I know a bank whereon the wild thyme blows.
Look to the rock whence ye arc hewn.

162. Writers for newspapers misplace the Prepositional P

in such frequently recurri11g sentences as

Know ye the land where the cypress and m.yrtle
Arc emblems of deeds that are done in their clwie ?

The death is announced of l\Ir. Brown .••

163. Dean Alford calls thi s 'an odious form of speech.'
adds:' Sometimes we ha.Ye tho Rcntence still fnrther clivaricatetl th111 .•
'The death is announced in the Liverpool journals at his
North of Scotland of acute bronchitis of Mr. Blank.
'The source of this clum sy arrangement must, I suppose, be
in the fa c t of our not being able to u se the convenient impersonal
of the French and say, "They announce." But there are many
in which t he thing might he bette r Raid, and among them tho V ·
simple one of keeping the plain order of the words : ' '·The death of J\fr. Blank is announced in the Liverpool journt.lll<""
Tli e Queen's English, § 44\:1.

There was n ever yet philosopher
That could endure the toothache patiently.

165. This rule must be observed w.ith particula~ c~r~ wl~en
Uiere are two or m~re words that the phrase may qualify, t.rns . (1) My cousin caught a crab and took it home in a pail of water which
'ft h&d !or our tea.

It was not the pail of water that we haJ for our t ea.

Tho sentence
.
My cousin caught and took home in a pail o! water a crab, which we
' bad for our tea.

JUAY be amended thus : -

(~)

She bought household goods and wearing apparel in contemplation

Of fuo wedding which cost 30l.

The wedding did not cost 80l.

Begin with 1 In contemplation of

the wedding.'
L _

144

I-ONCMANS' SCHOOL COMPOSITION

ON THE ARRANCEJl!EN1' OF /VO N DS

(3) It is folly to pretend to arm ourselves against the accidents ot
by h eaping up treasures whi ch nothing can protect us against but tho ~"\
providence of our h eavenly Father.
1.
The sentence wonl<l be better re-cast; it is
'by heaping up treasures ' after 'pretend.'

Exercise 80.
Re-arrange the follow'ing sentences :1\Inny act so directly contrary to this method that from a habit of aa · i~
lim e nnd paper which they aCt]!tircd at the University they write in
·
diminutive n manner that they can hardly rend what they h!!v!l writl.en. ,
We must bring back those who have felt it their duty to join other
gregnt ions w hose 1n-esc11ce and support we can ill a:fforcl to lose.
He then softly unloosed the brncelet from her arm which Posth11.
had given her.
My life was absolutely in h er power which I would lose f or her iw."4.
- - was summo ned for sending four quarters of meat to the Oont.l
Meat Mark et wh·ich u·as unfit f or human f ood.
H ere a hall was made to take in conl and wnter w hich "lasted ha'(/
hour.
It seems that there were wiseacres in America in those days and
hrced still survives wJwse auri sacra fames induced them to negl<lot t
business by da y and spend the ir nights digging along the river sidu e
coasts f or 11wncy.

Southey's favourite dau ghter, Edith May, a daughter by the first ·
who became l>Irs. l Vartcr , is better evidence on such a subj ect than Ol!Jb'
It was not ri ght for a person to descant on Bacon w ho n ever seim lfi
ltai·c read the Sylva Sylvarum [one of Bacon's books].
It is not easy t o find any system of instruction except that follow
architectural stud ents of the best class which at present may be reLied (Y .
T hey affect an in te rest iu some particular class of art which tlw,j 41' ~
n either prepared to justify nor to tran.Ver in any other direction.
Stepney wrote a poem on the U niversity of Cambridge buniliig
Duk e of l\!onmouth's picture 1c lw 1cas their Chancellor.
Ile subsc(1uently offered them to the editor of the Pall ly£all Ga;-0ti
a tll rius ancl pou nd s 1rlw dec l ined to bn!J them .
It love~ to break the cha ins fr om others' limbs , i.Jy which d fsdainJ
Ji.ave its own cnjrttcrcd.
I want a fresh hnhit of a fashion n ever seen before to
eyes that sit ~1pon tlic stage.

it

145

~ They talk very insipid stuff n.bout tho cnc111 y which emls in C1tptai n
boning being sent to reconnoi tre w ho receives tlic com 111is:; iun 1cilh //ianks .
They knew littl e of Cortes who reasoned t hus.
" On Saturday night th ere was found in the Tharncs off Cl ni rin ;; Crnss a
woman's jacket dono up in some newspaper ·1chich on /Jci1u; c.m 111 i ncil 1ca~
f®11d to hai1e blood stains espeC?°a lly at the back just i.Jcluw Ilic 1!«ck.
Mr. Disraeli delivered a rambling and di sjointed string of jo eos i ~ies n.ncl
.l bstractions, by no means equ al to his last lri ~ h speech wh ich m/ hc·r
~earied the Ho'll se.
She published a se parate volume of poems , n1Hl co ntrihu lc<l man y buau lilul short pieces of poetry to pcriodica1 8, which arc 11wrl;cd b!J grc,il rigour
end originali ty.
He was arrested in bed, nncl attempted to com1nit ;;uici,lc uy tirin g a
pistol nt his hend, w hich he had co11cutlal 11mo11gsl //1 c bcd-clo//i,.s.
Very tenderly does Arethusa appeal to he r son not to dcp riYc he r of li is
protection, companionship, aml help, 1i:ho had daote<l her life to him by
iring into a monastery.
The most interes tin g n ews from Italy is that of th e tri al of th e thi eves
ho robbed the Dank at Genoa in open day light 1chich commenced [why
not began?] at Ge1wa on the fl!th.
· I with my family reside in tho parish of Stockton which consi~ts of m!J
ife aml daiu:; hters.

166. When the Helative Pronoun intro<1 ncin g an At1jectivo
Ola.use is governed by a P1:oposition , careless writers somdimcs
}llnce the Preposition at th e enJ of the sentence ; tlrns :That is the house which h e lives in.

167. This fault is alwa,ys conuuitto<.1 \\'hen tho IlolaLivo Pro·
un is omitted; thus :This is tho house he lives in.

wo lrnvo one argument against omiLLi11g tlll)
Exercise 81.
Prepositions uejoto the nclative

I'rOllOW L:J

John is the friend whom I depended on.
It was my brother's carriage which you saw me in.
This is the field which I spoke of.
.Mr. Drown is the teacher whom we sent our boy to.
J, ~

qG

Olv THE ARRANCEJ!F:NT OF WORDS ----~~

LONCA.!ANS' SCHOOL COMPOSJTialv

H e is a man whom we can depend on.
The gi rl brought in the t ea which she was sent for.
Th at is the h ole whi ch the mouse went into.

Exercise 82.
'

Correct the f ollowing sentences :-- -

(b) Insert the omitted Relatives , and place
That is the very thing I was looking for.
l\Ir. Sm ith is the man we are wo.itin g for.
lfavc you seen the hou se we live in now?
1 lis wo.s the statement I depended on.
f:lhe is one I rely on.
The road you m et me in is n ewly paved .
\\' ho own s the fi eld we cam e through?

tor J~mes
delay.
. .
"t 1 r ,• tful
' s compa.ny (my eldest brother) is qm c t.e ign . .
boiled.
R nw cow 's milk' is better for cl1il<lren tlrnn
. 1 dean) statrmcnts of
, .. (
I can n.!Iirm the accuracy of Mr. Evr.ns n t 1io rma

our churches.
. . ,
f 111 Dr ll<'nlti ••' ;< (author of' Tho
Hume's 'Natural Rel1 g1on en 11 Cl1 or··
- ·
Minstrel ') able work.
· 1
1 to solac•'
He found th e place repl ete with wonders of w!Hch ic propose<
bimBe1£ with the contemplation.
These are the rnaster ·s rules who must be olJr•ycc1.
.
Thev attacked NorthumlJerla.nd's house wl:0m thPy put to t1rath.
E Ue~'s (my eldest cousin) portrait comes 1wst.
.
1
Fro.nce's (as we r ead) nolJlest chivalry fell on th e p.a1~. l . ) imperious
They eagerly obeyed the i>ro tcctor' s (11 s they callct llnl

168. A Noun or Pronoun in the Possessive Case is
before the name of the thing possessed ; as
When the rock was hid by the surges ' swell
The mariners h eard the warning bell.
Down came the storm and smote amain
The vessel in its strength .

169. 1'he sign of the Possessive is sometimes attached to th
wrong worc1 ; as

mandates.

-

/

still.

J\Iany birds ' songs.

Docs this mean
The so ngs of many birds

or
Many songs of birds ?

So with
Ono or two doctors' patients.

Arlj1111ct.3

qnal~f11i11;1

l"crus.

(1) An Adverb; us
.
•
tl HO\\L
. , o1ic n for l1i
1
Tho !olding-rloo rs were ,i111rncd1n/c.y
, ~. rcccntion.
•

'His Gm.cc, the Archbishop of Canterb ury 's h ouse ' would be belrtor.
'The hous e of his Grace the A rchbi:;hop of Canterbury' would be bet

170. The use of the Possessive
as m

,

//
l
1l y
171. A Verb may be qualified or en a rgcc i. -

I was forced to call at his Grace 's hou se (the Archbishop of Cnntot,
bury) .

Th e lis t is carefull y prepared in the Chamberla.in's
dep artment.

.

red th e overnor's (as th ey called him) severe ndnunistrntton .
They censut ·11· gt nccapt Captain G .' s (the chief m ourner) apology
He was no w1 mg o u '
•

before them.

The following sentence admits of t h e same two modes of
IIJ Onl :-

. .

(2) An Adverbial (or Prepositiona.l) rlm1f:e;

amentl

;1R

I have often considered these i1oo r sou 1s 1c1"II•an ry L· 0'Jr grcn t c0111111iscr·
alien.

(3) An Adver bial Clause ; o.s

a.s

.

.

.

igmor Nicolini wa.s to subdue the lion m rec itative
•
.
. .
Some suppose d tlm t S
Orpheus used to serve the wild beasts in lm time.

172. The Adverb qualifying an Intransi tive y crb is generally
placed after the Vorb ; as
We look before and after.
Duncan comes here to-n ight.
After lile's fitlul fever he sleeps well.
. .
~
'tt 'rn.w cow' ;; milk i5 better fur cl 1ilolr('n tlt:1n
' Tho opi nion now held by 1•hy51crn1L th.
.
.
.lk tliau" L>vilcu o1n·.-.-l111erica»
b¢t10<l ' is very grntifyiug, ns Il raw cow give; illllCli mote ill!
, '

1. 0,VC J!ANS ' S CHOOL COMPOS.17701V

ON THE ARRANG'E.J!ENT OF W ORDS

the

173. Som() Ar1vcrbs, however, a re g enerally placed before
\ "erhs qu a li fi er1 ; ns

"live, or to brcf/ve l·!J cl ie
. ') • but this· is contrary to the usage of tho
bast writers.

Tl1 c fir r m nn is crer r0acly.
T li(' so lrlif. r 11 r rci · rC'( unw d.

I r>/t r n

~111\·

149

Exercise 83.

him forme rly, but he seldom com es now.

Re-arrange the joUowing sentences: -

174. A fe w 1\ rh·r rbs arc placecl indifferently before and a.foot
the \' rrh s r111n lifi ed; a s

.

It 16
. not necessary
. to accurately defiuc the rneanrng of everyth ing that
luiaid.
t h · boo ks
• To really know the man we must go o I 8
l . . , lk
I scarcely ever remem b er to ham had a roug 10r \\I!. ·

Onr unel c comes h r re so 111ct i111('s.
0 11 r nn cle s0111rli}]/ f'S eo mcs h ere.

Th e life of th rsc mr· n is finely desc rihed in H oly Writ by tho path of llfi '
r(rrnw, wh iclt is i111111Nliately closed up nn rl lost.

111ents.
.
.
remember to have read.
. . This is the most powerful article w~ ever he was never destined to roHis last journey was to Cannes, w ence

.is

tum.The agent called again
. to see
. ~'O U .

[Again qualifies see.]
d
veck with us to-morrow.
•
to a sk you to spen a '
l'fi s
.- The
My sister
means
.
b
milked
g_uiddy. [Quickly qua 1 e
cows are commg home to e

11" sole] hi s h orse Jfl'S lcrday.
\ \ "c like onr tr· ar: l1 er rcry much.
~ he lNtrn s li e r lesso ns carr/111ly.

· .]
.
· worel s · [Make t1rn
fOlning
. ily to consHler
111s
The lecturer begged them carn es l . tl e fir st and consider in tho
•
l!tlltences, earnes tl !J qua l 1·rY1·ng bcggcc in 1

177. \ \.li r• n, 11 0\\·ever , tlt e Object is lon g, the Adverb
gr nernlly pl an'<°t bf' forc it; as

Jeeond.]
.
to strive
after anl('n <lmcn t.
Ho intends senoitsly
·

Il e bore 1111jl/11,.Jii111;ly th e mnny cru elties inflicted upon him.

178. Simple 1\ ch-crbs (with a few exceptions to be dealt with
l1crc-aftc l') are not, oft.en mi splaced. Care is, however, necessary
wlir n a sen ten ce contains two or more Verbs; as
( 1) Do ynn take t.hr physic I se nd you regularly?
AP. t l1 c sr·nirnco strrnd~, r c.rflilnrly l}nalifi es send, though it \Vll.B.
prolirrl./y
in tc 11Ll r:ll to rp1alify f akr, in which case tho sentence should
rend
~

Do you take regu la rly th e physic I se nd you?

qualifie~

lo_ have had.]
bei to have felt an eve nt moto deeply.
.• I never remem
.
. ·t vi th trees of su ch forms .
.
. I never remember to hav o me '
. .
o."nting 1.Jy nny such senllJ never rE>co llect
· to have
·
bee n nctuat cu 111 p l

175. 1\ch e rh s quali(r ing compo un<1 Verbs are often plaeed
li etwre n tl ie A ti xilin. ry a nd the principal Vero; as

176. \\' Ji r n th e Ver b is in t lie Active Voice and its Object
f' li ort, t lic Achr rh is generally placed after tlw Object; as

[Er cr

.

;

[Trent like the prc-

ceding senten ce.]
l t I think of him publicly.
1 J.
I am quite prepa red to t? l um w l~
.
11 identical with the pla te d
Her satin soft shoulde r is a lm.ost c em1ca ~'
·
d
·1 of the crocodile.
. h d
lbd roughene ma1
b tJ turned continually thei r ea s.
Lov1:1tt and th e boat:nan. o !\ aid solemnl11 th e Indian. "'
'Always an impressive 51ght,
.
·J . . . esult from such a state of
Tho poor are the first to feel the evils w 11cn r

tb.ings acutely.

I'

.

k

1

/

.- Ro unaffectedly and forcibly spo e. '- 1 lly requires to be considered as
In 'hie placing of Adv erbs, the eai;._ care u .
I
A.

·'°"1 as the sense.
(2) li nfort nna iely in t he course of conversation he told me that he had
n cancer.

I hope that he will come soon back.

180. Adverbial Phrases follow the same rules as simple
Adverbs with regard to position ; thus : -

l ' 11J ri rf 111u1lr ly shouh1 co m e a ft er tlurt or lie.

179. 1\11 J\(hcrb qnalify in g a \'erb in tho Infinitive Mood iir \
iometimes plac ed between tli o to and the Verb (as' to honourably

•

(1) After an Intransitive Vero; as
They rowed froin Oxford to Putney.
His mercy endnreth f or ever.

LONCJ1!ANS ' SCHOO L COJl/POSITION
(2) Between the Auxilia ry and the principal Verb;

1

ON THE ARRANCEJ!E.NT OF IVORDS
as

(5) Are these designs which any man 'vho is born a Briton , in any ci r~tanccs, in any situa tion, ought to be ashamed or a fra id to avo w ?

Th e n eighbouring parish clerk had, f or an insignificant sum, pure
a small, <l isabled barrel-orga n.

(3) Afte r

11

Amend by placing the phrases ' in nny circm11st11.nccs, in nny sitna-

sh ort Obj ect ; ns

tioo,' after' ought.'

H e pl ayed all th e in struments by turns.
He com posed num erous tun es f ur the band.
H e gai ned the first prize fr om/ he Huddersficl<l Glee Club for his • Si4,_.' .
of /he Lea.'
·~

I I

(6) He considered marriage with a modern political economi st ns very
!Qngerous.
l'll\ce ' with a modern political economist ' first.

(4) Before a long Obj ect ; us

Exercise 84.

They know by sad experience the domineering necessities
qu cn tly occ ur in all great afiairs.

Be-arrange the following sentences :-

181. Ad\·crbial Phrases are often misplaced when thero ~two or more \' crus in th o s0ntencc; thus:"
(1) H e blew out his brnins after bi1l<ling his wife good-bye with a gun;,,

' \\'ith a g-nn' s hould come nftcr 'Lrains,' or the sentence eho .
brgin with tho oth er phrnse, 'After Lidding his wife good-bye.'

Lord Salisbury will reply,.. to Mr. Gladstone' s recent Birmingham s 1~ccc h
[Mr. Gladstone's speec h was not deliYered at the ( ru ild-

~ti~ Guildhall.

~J
.
.
I saw him while walking h ome wi th a Yery near friend of nune wh o h ns
misfortune to be a duke in til e north of Londo11. [In th~ north of Lon-

(2) Paid lo a Y:oman whose husband was drown ed by order of tho v
und er London Bridge , ll. l s .

'Dy ord er of the vestry' should come after' paid.'

"- is meant to qualify saw.]
I perceived it had 1 ~een scoured 1cith ha lf an eye.
.
.
Her mistrls's was anxious to tell h er lo 'vash her face 1ntlw11t offend ml)

(3) E rected to the m emory of John Phillips accidentally
mark of affection by his brother.

I\

This sen tence can be re-nrrangecl thus :Erec ted by his brother as a mark of affection, to the memory ol
J'hillips, accidentally shot.

\Ve have been disturbed ever since the child was born three or f our times

• •ight.
,\
.
' I beg._to propose Mr. Smith in tho pl ace of Mr. Drown who retires as a
liable member of the town counc-il.

The body was noticed floatin g about n mile from where the. shirt was
nd by am.an fi shing. [The shirt was not found by a man fi shm g.]
As the contractors will be unable to provide dinn er for th e large nurn ber
'IJho will bo present without adegu<Je notice DO tickets will be Sold after

'J

But r e-11.rrn.ngcmcn t alone will n ot cure all its defects .
:t;'r~­

(4) The hippopotamus managed to escape, and was only run to~ '
a fter alarming the whole neighbourhood in the back parlour of a
shop.

This can be rc-nrrnngcd :Th e l1ippopotamus managed to escape, and only after alarming tho;
wh ole nei ghbourhood wn s Lit] run to earth in the back parlour of a ohlnil
s hop.

..

' l'lor:i<'."" ~a11ll• 0 L he plnce<l between the Am:ilinrynrnl tbcpriuelpal Vcr]J 118 o(tcllAt~
A· h·pr h~.
J'l 111 s W t.' ca n sny :,_
'J l i:; antlit•rns were tr1' /l rt.'CciYed,'
.
but \\' \!cannot say :' lli s autbcms were 1ritli r;r eat opplause received,'

fuuday.
}.'acilities will be given to any ladi es wishing to inspect th o laundry on
ltpfllkation being made to flw manager.
I would not go to the door to see a man in curl papers.
It contained a ~vnrrant for conducting me and my retinue,..to Trnldrngt!ubb or Trildrogdrib, for it is pronouncell both wnys a s near as I can rember by a party of ten horse.
Thoy gained the reputation of doin g \\·hatevcr they professed to do
..1
~~s tly m....
effecti•vel y.
.
Ile bored my father who suffered much from gout to the 'verge of dis-

tkm.

"-

ll made an examination on the <lay tho remains were found in company
Dr. Major.
/\

'l

.:\

·.

..

~

'

ON THE ARRANGEMENT OF IPOJ>DS

LONGMANS' SCHOOL COMPOSIT.ION
Men were led to false conclusions, not through mere ignorance, but front"'
hastily ~ssuming the correctness of the de.ta. they reasoned from withorit '
sufficient grounds.
· 1>•..it ., ~ M.,:.,c. , J
•
This necessitated his being parted from the books which he loved for q,\
time.
1'
· ,,.: ?
I am glad that you have pointed out the ambiguity in the report a,s it_
enables me to giv~im the credit he deserves, by sending this letter Ci the'
' "~
papers.
._ ,
He bought the house which he inhabited/or his own residence.
· • ~
The 250l. ~ema.nde~by the Abbey authorities having been obtained ()It.
Monday the statue of Lord Shaftesbury was unveiled. [The money was not
1' 1
, ·
obtained on Monday.]
.:_ i-"-~I t'"(
This is a proposal,. to award supero.nnuation'and gratuities to those em• , ..
ployed by the board &lt of the rates.
It is not for me to give reasons for what men do to a gentleman of you
learning.
~
I had done her an injury for which I hoped to make her some repa.ratioj{
by robbing her of the innoce-i'"ice of her mind.
.~ '
One always associates Carlyle with his pipe and Lord Tennyson. · .
There were rumours of his hav"l.ng been seen in the neighbourhood wh
the crime was committed on Saturday night."-[The crime was not co.
mitted on Saturday night.]
.
I desire that you would insert the following letter, by which it appe
that the custom is yet kept up an! practised in yrmr magazine.
' : .
Having desired to see1pssey Ca.cheff for some time I received no anSV(<
{He bad mrl desired for some time to see Ossey Cacheff.)
The present Mayor of Colchester is the son of a working man, and:
formerly an ironmonger's artisan in the town of which he is now mayor
eighteen shillings a week.
~
The carts though drawn by five horses w;ing to the sUepntss of tho or gangway up the cliff can only carry about half a ton at a time.~ .. 1~·
The sight of these [tears) in Esmon.d's heart always created a llO
~~~
A
I can recall some of my own [verses] written under similar oircnms
with twinges ofshame.
'· He acts for your Cork correspondent at Limerick.
·
The mfjor believed Stanley to be dead owing to the absence of 1~
To avoi.d tb.ath by the orrler of Herod he fled into Egypt. /\
~.
Shall we stand here and see those we love perish in this awful ..
witlwut an effort?
.
The remaining 400 ft. will be completed in January at the rau of .4
36 jt. per week.
I\
·
The publication of a small volume of poems introduced meJ::?,· su
them as in my eyes were most worth knowing as it were by a sh-0rt Ctlt
~

153

1 ·:· ; "She had fluttered the doves in the conventional cote by the publication
;. of.the Atkinson letters ven; considerably.
• She wrote to me, however, though oven letter-writing had become toil...,.:some to her, pretty fr'equcntly.
,,, : · -r At that he worked away until be was ransomed with the greatest perscv~ance.
")
She surrendered to the nobles who had taken up arms against her at
OarbeTrlJ Ilill.
/\
· ··.How is it that no questions were put to the widow as to the treatment of
~
her, husband's injuries by the c01·oner? "'
He intends to blow out the brn.ins of anybody who comes to ask after
A
. er as ajoitrnltzist or interviewer.
, ..: I have .now and then inserted in the text characters of books whioh I
/\
. have not road on the faith of my guides.
.•. He went from shame to tihame, and dishonour to dishonour and used
~h~ fortun e which his wife had brought him in the manner describ~d in those "
. vate let.tei·s. [It was the manner of using which was described.)
: ._Truly it should not be very difficult for a. clever detective to find out
·~ho posts these periodical budgets with the help of the post-offec authori~ws,

;· , ~he .ho~seholder~vho ,.does not support the national or parochial schools
f his d1strwt where· t110y exist whether from preference for the Board school
stern or from neglect . . . '
I leaned down, and while I was held by some persons by means of a
thook I caught hold of the youngest cb~d.
.He posted the letter received and read yesterday a.t the railway slat·ion.
~though "a Jew from the desire of gain he pursued a calling which
/\
s.pecul}arly odious in the eyes of the J ews.
.Send-the next boy talking to the master's desk.
• ~,am'\ierfectly willing ~o support her as long as she lives w·itlwut any
tanee from anyone.
"
· .A, f~w nights afterwards every tenant ~vho had been evicted either then
.
·pi:evwusly returned to his holding."<
.T.h~y may choose the time of their departure if thoy send in a signed
e.gement to go to Paris a month be/ore hand.
.
, A..1"ealthy philanthropist has just died, bequeathing to ea.ch officer on
.dea,thbed the sum of 24l.
·_,After re~eiving a good education he began the pranks which will prob·
ly l~ad ~1m to .the ~allows at the age of sevent.een or eighteen.
Tlie. spire which nses out of four decorated pillars owing to the settling
- ~716 westeni piers has fallen nearly four feet out of the perpendicular.

1

' Tbe. ~milgement of this sentence woulu be less faulty if the words ll'here ~
·
itted ,. nnd •·tl1esc ' ".or ds ure
"
ieu exu / were
uuucccssary, because the householder could not support school .
1
~ ~he)'. did not exist.
'
·
·
•

, .

. _. , I .,,

I

I

LONGMANS' SCHOOL C01l1POSITION

154

I want you to let me..{!ay that I love you again and again.
...'! ;,
Board schools, the fire brigade, the district lunatic asylums are now pro:·
I'\
' ,"
vided for by taxation and also burials.
It must be understood that the object of the department is to ·c ause ·the} ·
public as much expense as possible and to disturb J:_he leisure the femalef
ollicers have for chatting with one another and engaging in flirtation "'.ith
suitable persons on the other side of the counter as little as practicaq~ " .
He went behind the compact ~ade by the Tithe Commutation Act in t .
interests of the Uthe-owners. [It was not the compact that was made •
the interests of the tithe-owners.)
Immediately after this resolution was communicated to Mr. Brown witl
out th~ sanct-ion or kmnvlcdge of the board he closed .,_,the school." [It was
the closing which was without sanction, &c.)
, ,.
After fording the river which runs the whole length of the valley _at mia.
day we halted. ,...
.·
A barber who came to see what the noise was as a practical jolce indu
then'l to knock up the constable.
. ·
Smith consented to preside during the mission at the harnumium;.
.' At the foot of the hill a halt of~ome duration was made to replenish, .
engines with water from the brook crossing the road at this point by
t-.
ho se. ""
of a suction
"
A butcher was summoned for having the carcasses of three sheep whl.
were unfit for human food in his slaughter-house.
.
"As soon as they understood his quality they asked forgiveness for 'W
they had done with great humility.
,. ·
A despotic state will generally be successful

ON THE ARRANGE1lfENT OF WORDS
~'. '·Adv.e rbial Olause of Time after.

. . ·· ~fake hay while the sun shines. ·
; · .j He had a fever when he was in Spain.

;. ~ Adverbial Clause of Place after.
~ Go where glortj waits thee.
Fools rush in where angels f ear to tread.

: .· 183._ Adverbial Clauses of Manner introduced by as (without a
.correlative so) are generally placed after the principal Verb; as

..,

"

.

182. Adverbial Clauses of Time and Place are placed befor
after the Verbs qualified; as
Adverbial Clause of Time be/ ore.
When I look ttpon the tombs of the great every emotion of en:vy
within me; ..• wJum I meet with the grief of parents 'upon a torn .
my heart melts with compassion; when I see the tomb of the parents t· .
selves I consider the vanity of grieving for those whom we must -qqi
follow ; ..• when I read the several dates of the tombs, of some fhai
yesterday and some six hundred ye,ars ago, I consider that great day,.,..
we shall all of us be contemporaries and make our appearance together.

My muse doth not delight me
As she did be/ore.
My hand and pen are not in plight
As they have been of yore.

When there is a correlative so, Adverbial Clauses introced by as arn placed before the principal Verb; thus:-

M'r.

outset.

155

:1 As the hart panteth aft-Or the water-brooks, so panteth my soul after thee. ·
··As the tree falls so must it lie.

:, 185. Adverbial Clauses of Condition may be placed before or
ter the principal Verb ; as
' I will come if you wish it.

-

-·If you wish it I will come.
Except ye repent ye shall all likewiBe perish.
~~ Ye shall all likewise perish ca:ce1>t ye 1·tpcnt •
.t Generally speaking, it is better to place Conditional Clauses first.

he mind is thus prepared to receive with all necessary qualifications
If t he Conditional
)ause comes after the principal P redicate the idea formed may have
be modified.

he statement made by the principal Predicate.

., : 186. Ambiguity may arise if the Conditional Clause is not
laced either a.t the beginning or at the end of a sentence.
. The expectations of the parents are disappointed
k hard and money is wasted

if the children do not

may mean

.Adverbia.l Clause of Place before.

.· ; _(l)

Where the long street roars hath beet1 ,
The stillness of the central sea,

I/

the children d-0 not worlc hard the expeetations of tho parents arQ
aisappomted and money is wasted ;
I:

. l

''

_,

.

l

.

'
,.,,..__ _ _ _o_N
_T.
_z_'l_E_A_R._R_\.t:_1M
_c_E_11_IE
_·N
_r_o_P_
~ r_v,_oli._'_D_s_ __
'

LONGMANS' SCHOOL COMPOSITION
------------------------___.,........_,;-,;;..~·
~._ ~ r-~·

. ,,,,

The sentence just quoted exemplifies the need of care J
placing Adverbial Clauses when there are two or more principa;l
< ·
Verbs which they may qualify. Other examples follow.

. · . (1) Only I hope to hear irom him once more.

~

pi_ay by the insertion of only a.ssume five ·d ifferent meanings .

t

I hope, but I do not expect.

friend of Dr. Andrew Thomson when only a lad of thirteen.
'Vho was' only a lad of thirteen'?
case the clause should follow • hero.'

(3) I hope only to hear from him once more.
Only to hear, not to see.

Probably' our hero,' in whio

(4) I hope to hear only from him once more.

(2) The very landlord's agent who has been giving you a.11 the landlord
side of the question when you come to the subject of evictions breaks awa
and becomes an Irishman.

The Adverbial Clause should follow 'breaks away' or

Place the Adverbial Clause first.

~·

'

"

From him, not from anyone else.
(5) I hope to hear from him only once more.
Once, not more.

'Irishm~i.n:.­

(3) He had received a special report that Falmouth was dying just a.s lwl
was on the 1Joint of nwunting his horse.
: _i

,..

(4) A flock of redwings scattered over the meadow cower among the gVO.$
in terror as the keen wings sweep overhead, or with shrill notes of '!llar
hurry to the shelter of the nearest hedgerow.

188. An examination of the examples just given will show
.~

~ · 189. At the beginning of a sentence only often has the force
of but; as
Come when you please, only let me know when I may expect you.

Exercise 85.

190. Before a Verb in the Imperative Mo.od only is used in ~. '
diminutive or deprecatory sense; as

Be-arrange the following sentences :-

J.Vords requiring special care;
187. The word only requires special care.
A change in the p.osition of the word is likely to affect the Whol;
m~ng of the sentence. Thus the sentence
. " .' · ';

(!°)

That only is placed before the word which it is intended to
· modify ; and
, ·. · (2) That with a. Noun (or Pronoun) alone is often a. better word
·.· than only.

Again place the Adverbial Clause first.

My cousin called after 1 had gone 01.tt to henr the news.
. ·' '.i..
W'e saw some beautiiul pictures when we were -in L ondon to be sold>.
The boy has worked hard s-ince he was promoted to please his mother.
We walked into the village just as the sun was setting to buy provisi()n
I am going w}ten duty calls me to fight for my country.
I came because you called me to know what you wanted.
I will stay since you wish me to spend the evening with you. ·
Yo.u will be punished unless you work to ·keep others from. follow'iri$ y·
bad example.
·

I hope ; nobody else does.
(2) I only hope to hear from him once more .

!,).

(1) If we are to believe the text, our hero was the guide, philosopher, and

~I-

I hope to hear from him once more

(2) If tho children do not work hard '1-nd moncv is wasted the expectat{qrl'
of the parents are disappointed.
·
. . .... , .'~

.

157

Only try to regard your prospects more cheerfully.

.·. · _191. At the end of a sentence only is often used to limit the
whole sentence, and to diminish or deprecate the action expressed; as
~- , Brown studied books; Smith wrote them <mly.

··

· Used thus, onlAJ makes the writing of books appear a smaller matter

tho.~ the studying of them.

192. In the following sentences only is misplaced :. ·. (1) .we were only permitted to stop for refreshment once by the way so
that without the provision of cold fowl, bread , and ,~ater which we ~ily .

LONCMANS' SCHOOL COMPOSI7'10.N

ON THE Al?RANCEAIENT OF WORDS
t _. ,_._ ..,,.J,,

happened to think of the moment before setting out, our situation would-;, '
have been somewhat ~eplora.ble. ·
~--i.>/.

~- ~­

The first only should come before once, and the second before t)tf' .•
moment.
.._.·4

,· .

(2) These will raise a man above many disappointments, and by leading .
him only to feed his heart .upon expectations which are likely to be realis~f,.,
will do very much towards making him rejoice evermore.
.("

'f.,

159

::..:;• . · ·-193_ When words are used correlatively, care should be taken
they come before the words compared, contrasted, or em• ;_phasised. As will be seen by the following examples, each member
>of the pair should come before the same part of speech.
..

· Not . . . but.
The wise ruler aims n-0t [Preposition] at the punishment of offenders

'.b.ut [Preposition] at the prevention of ollences.
· Not .•. but only.
He strove not [Infinitive) to punish offenders, b-ut 01ily [InftnitiveJ to pro·

Only should come after heart

vent offence.

Exercise 86.
Move each only to the right place.
-.

'.~

They felt that under his banner only they could hope for victory.
He sub -let it to the agency in question, by which it was only used for one
'' 1 •.-:·
week.
Theism can only be opposed" to polytheism or atheism.
·
She only drank milk by the advice of her medical attendant.
I reside only i~a small country village.
A Breathe, through the nose only in cold weather.
His efforts were,.,confined only to remonstrance and exhortation.
. ·.
Dr. A. remembered that he had a salary to receive and only forgot thal
he had duties to perform.
""
· These revolutions ,.._extended only to a change of persons ·but not of
principles.
- - - The principle of the bill was only confirmed)>y a majority of one. , ·
Complete popular education only existed~t Rome. f...
"
: • '. ·
The captain and the crew had only been there about an hour when
canoes made their appearance.
"'
..
The Polish artilleryJI.consisted only of twelve pieces./'
...-,," , , , ,,....
He was possessed of all the high spirits and happy insoucianee {an
English word would be better] which can only charm at that early period. '·
'The Spirit of Laws' was only completed" when"the author w&S)liitr.
years of age.
The first two named only ascended,_to the summit.
·
..-':'-::
The river could only be distinguished from the ocean by its calmness .iw.d
discoloured water.
1\
. , .. ;
Speculative truth is pursued only for the sake of intellectual activity~ ·'.
/\
The crown can" be worn only by a Protestant.
,
I only spoke,.,a very few words.
These practices are only discontinued through the neglect and degener
of later times.
I\
.
" ·~ "

..

•~ t

·.~"Y

, Not only ••. lJ'Ut also.

• .. Providing for honest things not only [Preposition) in tho sight of
', the Lord lmt also [Preposition] in the sight of men.
•.. Unto whom 1wt only [Pronoun= Noun] I give thanks but also [Noun
:·wi~ A.djectives qualifying it] all the churches of the Gentiles.

: ', Not only ••. but.
The Greek language had obtained such a vogue in Rome itself that all the
.great and noble were not only ' obliged to learn it but were ambitious every'where to speak it.

They will interest also not merely children but grown-up persons.

Not more . . . than.
·: _: They seem to me necessary to the accuracy not more of the extracts than
~ of the portrait I seek to give of the writer.

...

' · Both .•. and.
The king was weak both in body and in mind.

Either ••. or.
The fellow must surely be either deo.f or stupid.

_ Neither ••. nor.

Neither James nor his sister was at school this morning.
' '1

,

194. Th~following examples show correlatives misplaced:(1) He strives not to inspire liking but love.
' Nol ontv come.! between trer~ an.i' obli~rl ; but must come before the seconll wre. Tho
iciple (= .A.lljective) o/,li(led aud the .A.dje: tivc am/Jitious IJ.l'C the words compareJ .

M

r

-·

.l:
•

.. . . '-''
~

~

...

LONGMANS' SCHOOL COMPOSITION':··';'·;' .'

16o

ON THE ARRANGEMENT OF WORDS

· . (2) 'l'he ma.n worked twt to provide for
/\
present.
(3) In considering the life of Seneca. we a.re not anly dealing with e.
which wa.s rioh in memorable incidents ... but also with a life~&c. ·
(4) In one or two places he" has"'-oaught not merely their idio~s a·
phrases but has become imbued with something of their high manner
spirit.
(5) Attentio~to details is not more essential to the _strength than.to th
beauty of the building.
.·
(6) Every composition is fairly liable to criticism both in regard to ·
design and to its execution.
"
. '• ,.,
(7),.'l'he gods are either angry or nature too powerful.
•'1. • .;..,.,
(8) His almost vulgar personality ma.y convey to those who are~,.
acquainted with the writer or [should be nor] his works not altogethe ~inadequate impression of both.
·

195. As well as requires care.
As well aa has almost the force of and, and, as in the case'o
the words connected should be brought close together. This .., ·
violated in the following sentence:; :..,,
'l'he ·beaux of the day painted their faces as well as the women: :·
.

This means that the beaux painted the women.
meant was

·;;:_'1:

What the '

The beaux of the day a11 well a.s the women painted their

t: ·

fac~st,' ,/

m

'

The sentence
The Britons at lea.st fought aa bravely as the Romans

ma.y mean
(1) The Britons fought as bravely as the Romans, though som
nations did not.
(2) 'l'he Britons fought aa bravely, though they may have no en
bravely as the Romans.

Exercise 87.
Re-arrange the following

sentences:~

The traveller saw that these foreigners at ail events were a.s i
as their own countrymen.
· ' ,' ~Qthers had seen that she was sweet as weU as Olive1'.

"

"

>'ii

".' .;,; '·n should have

been added that A. was acquitted by the jury as well as
• B. and a.
I\
The Commander-in-Chief had to strip off his necessary overcoat as well
the 'Jicads of the garrison ~nd their staff.
:.; A few hours later one Mahoney strangled the unfortunate man as well as
ii iLcccnnplice named White.
"
i-,, "He 1wt only lent me his carriage btLt also his horses.
· I am not expecting1o hear from my brother but from my sister.
.. I do not intend to row to 'Vindsor biit only to Staines.
:These not only cnableifiim to bear emotion with impunity but to prolong
' duration with enjoyment. I\
· Homer was not only the maker of a nation but of a language a.ncl a

:gion.

•.

"

·The la.we are for the government not only of those who are to obey them
'for those wh~ ma.ke them .
. . 'The result is 1wt pleasant to us only because it fulfil s our predictions but
' ause any other would have been productive of mischief.
We cannot e·ven have an inclination to do good until ..•
l am neither an ascetfe in theory .or [should be nor] in practice.
,:•In these times one can"neither speak of kings or [shoulcl be nor] queens
ithout suspicion of politics or personalities.
' Her days neither passed in indolence 1wr without enjoyment.
; He was neither fitted b~bilities nor disposition to answer the wishes
his motber and sister.
.. We must neither forget the temper of the man nor of the age in \vhich he
· e~

196. At least, at all events, at any rate, and similar
ing phrases should be so placed that there can be no aimbigaj.

161

~

./Neither the name of author nor bookseller has the lea.st sway with the

11
di~r.
·
'l neither believ~hat there is any contradiction in all this nor that Bacon
'ves us the right interpretation.
. 'He is neither disposed11to sanction bloodshed nor deceit.
"tHer success is neither the result R_f system nor strategy.
, He .has been either educated,..at a University or a.t a public school.
'.We cannot admit that either in qualities of head or heart his women a.re
eri,or to the women we generally meet. A
-.!. know not what better description I can give you either of a great captain
great orator.
" ' The.engraving is neither like me nor the picture.
~ E:e neither shrinks from,.the cold nor the absol utely disgusting.
, • ~y greatness I do 1wt only mean tlie bulk of any single object bitt the
argeness of a whole view.
1
· SiJt.tus IV. wasA'1' grnat collector of books at least .
.ItJ;.ouis XIV. was not the greatest king, he was the best actorof majesty
~ast1 that ever filled a throne.
{
;

LONCMANS' SCHOOL CO/VIPOSITION

162

ON THE ARRANGEMENT OF WORDS

Nor does this false modesty expose us only to such actions as are indiscreet, bitt very often to such as are highly criminal.
r 'I think you will find my German at all events as good as hi s.
,_It is not only hard t1i distinguish between too little and too much refo,rm
but between the good and evil intentions of different reformers.
This cannot often at least be done.

201. The Complement of a Verb of Incomplete Predication
generally comes after the Verb. Emphasis is gained by putting
the Complement first; as
Vain truly is the hope of your swiftest runners to escape from his own

~

shadow.
Beautiful it was to sit there in my skyey tent musing and meditating.
Great is the Lord and of great power.
Cold is Cadwallo's tongue.
Wide is the gate and broail is tho way.
Great 1 is Diana of tho Ephesians.

(\
INVERTED ORDER.

197. In poetry words are sometimes placed out of the usual •
order for the sake of the rime 1 or the rhythm. 'rhus : For rime-

202. The usual place for tho Obj ect is aftor tho Vorb.
Emphasis is gained by placing the Object at the beginning of the
sentence; thus : -

I said, ' When first the world began
Young nature through five cycles ran-'.

Forrhythm-

Mine head with oil thou didst not anoint.
Whatever wisdom and energy cmtld do William did.
What PoJ.>e had done for Horace Johnson aspired to do for Juvenal.

And me that morning Walter showed the house.

198. But often in poetry, and nearly always in prose, the usual
order is inverted for the sake of emphasis. A word gains ill
force by transposition, the most emphatic positions being the·~
beginning and the end of a sentence.
..' . .

203. The Object is sometimes placed first in order to make
the connection with the preceding sentence closer; as
You have hitherto allowed us to earn a bare subsistence; that bare sttbsis-

tence you would now deny.

199. The usual position for the Subject is before the Verb L
when the order is inverted both Subject and Verb gain in em~.
phasis; thus : ...
if,
r

My lord, his throat is cut; that I did for him.
When Goldsmith was writing the ' Deserted Village ' and • She Stoops to
Conquer' he was engaged on works of a very different kind. . . . Those
works be produced without any elaborate research, &o.

<:.:...

Not as the wol'ld giveth give I unto you.
Then shrieked the timid and stood still the brave.

~,
~

204. As there is generally nothing but position in relation to
the Verb to distinguish the Subject from the Predicate, inver- · sion of the Object may tend to ambiguity, as in the following
sentences:-

Gone arc all the barons bold,
Gone are all the knights and squires,
Gone the abbot stern and cold,
Gone the brotherhood of friars.

And all the air a solemn stillness holds.

200. In the brief sentences interjected in the reports of co ·
versations the Verb often comes before the Subject; as
•Why, to be sure,' said Dr. Howe,• so he is.'
'Oh, nonsense,' cried the rector, • these young men
'The hungry sheep look up and are not fed,' quoted the rector, in
lesque despair.

.

ab
'

' RirM {from the A.S. rim, number) is nusurdly misspelt rhyme by confusion with; rhrt
(from t he Greek pv0µ.6s-rhvtlim1S, measured motion).
· ·

And thus the son the fervent sire o.ddressecl.

205. The placing of an Adverb or an Adverbial Phrase at
:t, the beginning of a sentence sometimes has the double effect of
~-· :. ' What tr11.nslator of nny taste would c,·er vol1111tarily niter the nrrnngement of the words in
·such B sentence as llfry<iA>J ~ •Apu;u~ 'E</><uiwv which our lnngungc nllows u s to r crnler
:· exactly, 'Great is Diana of t!tc Ephesians? • How feeble in comp:irison is t!te trnnslntion of
:..r'~jl Ole!c: La Dia11e deo EpM1im1 e&t 1111e (}ramie Dksse! How imperfect that of Dcnusourc,
.;. ,La ura1ule Dia11e des Ephe.ie111 ! How undignific<l that ot Sa.cl, Vive la 1raude Diane de•
;~.;.EpM.s!ena l-WUA'!ELY, Rf1etor(c, p. 203 (c<l. 1882).
•.:..!. • ~~

LONGMANS' SCHOOL COMPOSITION

ON THE, A.JrRANGEMENT OF WORDS

cmpl111sising the Adverb and of causing an inversion of the Subject; as

:Exercise 88.

So persecuted they the prophets.
·with n great su.m obtained I this freedom.
Then burst his mighty hea.rt.
In the beginning was the word.
From 1Jea7c to lJeak, the rattl ing crags amon!J,
Leaps the live thmuler.

What in me is dark
Illumine.

Of old sat Freedom on the hoights.

I dare.

(1) There
be
(2) with difficulty
supported bis wife and children
(3) on what he could earn partly as a curate and partly as a farmer.
01i

The dark unfatbomed caves of ocean bear,

To confirm his words out fly
Mi llions of flaming swords.

206. When there are several Adverbial Adjuncts, clearness is
obtained by distributing them; as

(1)

Examine the f ollowing sentences , observe what words are
. . , emphasised, ancl say by what device of posit,i on emphasis is
. .:, · obtained.
7
Full many a gem of purest ray serene

another occasion

he
(2) in defiance of the evidence of his ow1i senses

maintained
(3) obstinately and even angrily
that be chewed bis dinner by moving his upper jaw.

207. By the aid of it and the Verb to be any part of the
sentence may be emphasised.
We can, for example, emphasise thus several words in the sentenc?
I expect you to-day.
(1) It is I who expect you to-day.
(2) It is you whom I expect to-day.
(3) It is to-day that I expect you.
The following are additional illustrations of the same device : It was on the dignity of the senate that Augustus and his successors
founded their new empire.
It was not witlwut reluctance and remorse that thePrretorianguardshad
been persuaded to abandon the cause of the tyrant.
· ·

What- man daro
His rising cares the hermit spied
With answering cares oppressed.
The modest wants of every day
The toil of every day supplied.
The pavement damp and cold
No smiling courtiers tread.
--Now began to unroll the most awful series of calamities that have ever
visited the sons and daughters o{ men.
Now fades the glimmering landscape on the sight.
Oft did the harvest to their sickle yield .

·.·

Then shook the hill s wi th thunder riven,
Then rushed the steed to battle driven,
And, louder than the bolts of heaven,
Far flashed the red artillery.
Into the vailey of death rode the Sbc Hundred.
Within a. windowed niche of that high hall
Sate Brunswick's fated chieftain.
All bloodless lay th' untrodden snow.
Silver and gold have I none, but such as I have give I thee.
To render the exertions of thi s body effective the greatest abilities were
required in the emperor. These abilities Charles V. possessed. .
·
With a great sum obtained I thi s freedom.
Not a drum was heard, not a funeral note.
Jesus I know and Paul I know; but who are ye?
Some he imprisoned, others he put to death.
Military ooura.ge he t;1either possesses nor values.

' r

ij

166

LONGl'lfANS- SCHOOL CO.!YIPOSITJON
Dear is the memory of our wedded lives
And dear the last embraces of our wive:.
Great is thy power and great thy fame,
Far·kenned and noted is thy name.

Hare almost as great poets are consummate men of business.
So persecuted they the prophets which were before you.
On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.
Comes a vapour from the margin blackening over heath and bolt.
Out of the depths have I criecl unto thee.
In thy presence is fulness of joy ; at thy right hand there are pleasures
for evermore.
Not wholly sank he. O'er the mist of spray
Glittered his sword.
Mine head with oil thou didst not anoint.
Other refuge have I none,
Hangs my helpless soul on Thee.
To brisk notes in cadence beating
Glance their many t winkling feet.
Of Nelson and the North
Sing the glorious day's renown,
When to battle fierce came forth
All the might of Denmark's orown.

Exercise 89.
[On Pars. 189-207.]

Improve the arrangement of the following sentences :He had been in love wi th his elderly tutor's daughter. [The daughter was
elderly.]
The sum of 150l. was made chargeable upon a City benefice where the
rector, having nothing to do and plenty to get, had recently di;d and was
added to the revenues of St. Thomas.
Ever i;ince her death he bad liked best of all to sit in the churchyard
where she lay listening to th e billows.
,
. He had the art of moulding the men who served him in his own ,
likeness.
,
At th~t day the houses of the virgins of the sun were surrounded by high ' : ,
walls '~·h1ch excluded those within entirely from observation.
~ , '
Th is fact is a~certained by the discovery of silver balances adjusted wHh · :,
perfect accuracy m some of the tombs of the Incas.
·

ON THE ARRANCE1l/ENT OF W ORDS
Nor would he forsake the service of the sun, the immortal div inity whom
he and his people revered in order to worship the God of tho Spaniards.
The ge nerous, open, affable temper of Alma.gro gained many adherents of
the Pizarros who were di sgusted wi th their harsh and domineering manners.
The Fronch nation is not consoled for the misfortunes which it hns endured by the incidental t riumph of justice in Italy.
....___,The Indian monarch had his jesters as well as his more refined brethren
of Europe.
Referring to the termination of the strike in his pulpit on Sunday
evening, Dr. C. said .•.
The battle-cry of the Aztecs like the war-whoop of the North-American
Indians was an appalling noto according to the conqueror's own acknow·
lcdgmcnt in the ears of the Spaniards.
At seven o'olock the pol ice returned to the station with the club property
necessary to sustain the conviction which comprised .. .
I was so deaf that I could nei ther hear clock nor watch.
Altamont leaning on the doctor h ad been able to get to the corner
reserved for him without much difficulty.
As th e year is composed of nearly six hours more th an 365 clays there
still remained an excess which like other nations who have framed a cnlcndur
they provided for by intercalation.
..__ The governor startled by the sudden appari tion of bis enemy completely
armed with some dismay inquired the meaning of it.
The place was gradually abandoned after the conquest for others in e.
more favourable position probably for trade.
Taking leave of the hospitable Indian on the followin g day the Spaniards
took the road to Chiahuitzlan.
The suspected man having sold his furni ture hurriedly left the neighbourhood.
The good monk seeing the course things were likely to take with better
judgment interposed to prevent it.
He carries bills under his arms which he asks permission to exhibit. ·
A splendid lady's gold watch.
An excellent lady's gold watch.
A beautiful lady's gold watch.
A small gold-faced lady's watch.
A massive gentleman's gold chain.
A most reliable gentleman's gold chain.
A rich gentleman's gold chain.
The agent who had marked her out as the future wife of his son on more
grounds than one accused him of stealing some stamps.
.
A sort of paper was made from it resembling somewhat the Egypti an
papyrus which, when properly dressed and polished, is said to have been
more soft and beautiful than parchment.

LONCllfANS' SCHOOL CO/vfPOSITI01v

168

ON THE ARRANGEllfENT OF WORDS

1

I obtai ned some praise for my style and bearing among his acquaintances.
[The praise was obtained among his acquaintances.)
The feasters showed immediately that they felt released by rising and
chatting in groups.
~
To complete the imposing superstructure of mistakes we have the leader of ·
the House plaintively asking for the assistance of the very men who a.re de-·· ~ ·t
termined to utilise the cupidity of the masses to promote a political and
purely partisan purpose.
Ho t ook the strap from his body which he was wearing.
Only a few minutes were allowed or whilst tho horses were
changed for luncheons or dinners.
What renders his death particularly distressing is that it was entirely .
owing to ea.ting raw oysters and damp feet.
Howena who was pleased in the same proportion as it to make amends
for the brutal jest of her unfeeling suitor requested Rebecca. to ride by her
side.
Open the visor of the blue knight, Wamba, who seems the chief of these ··
villains. [The command was addressed to Wamba.]
He said be bad seen a hand pass through the floor of the summer-house . ;~ .
which he believed to be Dr. Brown's by the rings on it.
' !
Throughout the programme is admirably varied.
The council is the executive and not the committee.
A single workroom like the one used by this school in Church Street in
any city for the la.st six months from December to May guring which time
it usually lies idle with very little expense beyond the original plant and the
moderate salary to the teacher would meet all the wants of three or four of
the largest grammar schools for boys. [He-arrangement a.lone will not cure
the defects of this sentence.]
It is reported from Sofie. that ex-king Milan has declared that he is going
ba.ok to Servi a. to claim the throne which he abandoned in order to put a. stop
to the anarchy which prevails there.
The carriage drove round ready pa.eked and loaded and absolutely ''
screaming with delight Lady Julia.no. sprang into it.
· ,.
He was accustomed to a. land e.t home where every height might prove a
cathedral tower.
He has visited several countries as a public minister where be former!?
wandered a.s a gipsy.
.
We do those things frequently which we repent of afterwards.
Most nations, not even excepting the Jews, were prone to idolatry.
Raised to greatness without merit he employed his power for t4e grat~·
ti.cation solely of his passions.
This morning one of Lady Lizard's daughters was looking over some •·
hoods and riba.nds brought by her tirewoman with great ca.re and diligence • .
A. great stone that I happened to find after a long sea.rob by the sea-shox:e
served me for e.n anchor.

These fo~s of conversation by degrees multiplied and grew troublesome.
·c.l, · The knight seeing his habitation reduced to so small a. com~a.ss and
·.' .. himself in a manner shut out of bis own house upon the den.th of bis mother
~. " ordered a.11 the apartments to be flung open and exorcised by his oho.plain.
~.
When she has made her own choice for form's sake she sends a cong~
:·, :• d' ~lire to her friends.
~ ·•
He 11poke of the notion that the national debt might be repudiated with
· • _. a~solute contempt.
·.
--He has not left a rivulet so narrow th~t it may be stepped over without
honourable mention,
. A clever magistrate would see whether the witness was lying a. great deal
better than a. stupid jury.
•
.
.
The H ouse affirmed the proposal to abolish Umvers1ty tests with
enthusiasm.
He was shot at by a secretary with whom he was finding fa.ult fortunately
without effect.
England should resist the development of Bismarckism through the destruction of France by force.
.
People have been crying out that Germany never could be an aggressive
· ·' power a great deal too soon.
.•"
He seems to us to have expressed what we have been potting with force
as well a.s bsa.uty.
They can produce a.n air after once hearing it with the most perfect
exactness.
President Johnson bas suspended the execution of the sentence of Mrs.
Perrin for disloyalty during her good behaviour.
You have already been informed of the so.le of Ford's Theatre, wher&
Mr. Lincoln was assassinated for religious purposes.
He fell asleep after reading it and dreamed that he was in Winchester
Cathedral listening to a.n eloquent sennon on Christ cleansing the leper from
the reverend the chairman in aid of the funds of the county hospital.
They expect to have all the new books the moment they are published
for o. few guineas a year.
She performed h er promise of being discreet to admiration.
He always read Lord Byron's writings as soon as they were published
with great avidity.
It was destroyed by fire in 1811 it is said by the soldiers of an Italian
regiment who were quartered there to avoid the labour of carrying wood and
water up the hill.
One good.looking lass who emigrated on a.rriva.1 at the harbour of Ota.go
had six offers made from the shore before she got landed through a speaking
trumpet.
He took the good things which the gods provided with thankful good
humour.

,.

:'

LONCMANS' SCHOOL COMPOSITION
Each clergyman declares a.loud that he believes it a.dozen ti:nies every year. ;
He propounds revolutionary sentiments sufficient to make a. bishop's hair •
bristle on his head in a subdued and ladylike voice.
He was driving a.way from the church where he had been married in a,
coach and six.
Guilt is more. likely to meet with indulgence than misfortunes ...;-1...J_l_l
He saw o. red flag hoisted in the harbour with a. smile of contempt.
':
These twenty words translate those five which Cresa.r uses perhaps with
fair accuracy.
F ew people learn anything that is worth learning easily.
Mr. Carlyle ha.s taught us that silence is golden in thirty volumes.
John Keats the second of four children like Chaucer and Spenser
Londoner.

GRAlJ.fllfAR

''

·-

. . 211. The rules for repeating the Definite Article are the same
, ~'.' as for repeating the Indefinite Article, but are not so rigitliy
...<observed. \Ve may say, for example , _

..,

The master, mistress, and servants were assembled in the hall,

· '··though the strict rule perhaps requires the Article before each
Noun.
212. When any ambiguity is likely to arise, the rule should
be Jarefully followed. The repetition of the Article causes the
difference in meaning between tho two sentences ·
We liked the bread anJ butter

imd
We liked the bread and the butter.

So, if we say
The ::ommittee elected the secretary and the treasurer

GRAMMAR. 1

we mean that two officers were chosen; but if we say
The ::ommittee elected the secretary and treasurer

ADJECTIVES.

\ve mean that one person was chosen for two offices.

R epetition of Articles.
208. When Nouns come in a series, if the first requires an
Indefinite Article all require it; as
I bought a horse, an ox, and a goat.

209. When several Adjectives qualify a Noun and only one
thing is spoken of, the Indefinite Article must be placed before
the first Adjective only; as
I have a black and white dog,

Again, in
The lunatic, the lover, and the poet
Are of imagination all compact,

three men are spoken of, but if we use only the first of the
Articles we speak of one person who is lunatic, lover, and
poet.
213. So with Adjectives. The sentence
The loyal, brave, and hones.t members resigned their seats

speaks of one class, but the sentence

that is, one dog, partly black and partly white.
210. But when several things are spoken of, the Indefinite' 1· ••
Article must be placed before each Adjective; as
I have a black and o. white dog,

that is, t wo dogs, one black and one white.
• In this chapter attention is call~ only to those rules which are most trcquentl1 ·:
. .,.

llrol;~u.

The loyal, the brave, and the honest members resigned their seats

speaks of three classes.

214. The Old and New Testament
is wrong, because a Testament cannot be both old and new. We
can say
The Old and the New Testament,

or
The Old and Now Testaments.

·'

172

LONCMANS' SCHOOL COMPOSITION

CRA.MJ1IAR

215. Note the distinction in meaning between
·~f

Fire gives out warmth

"

Such extreme disorder called for)ittle severity in the punishment.

' He was so impudent and wicked that he found a few persons to speak

· ·'• for him.
.'.,:_.
He has tried the old ancWiew method of cure.
The chief priests ana',i_officers [not the chief omcers] saw him.
Wanted, a nurse andbousemaid [two servants].
He was placed over t4e civil and military atri:.irs of tho nation.
Novelty produces in the mind a vivid and an agreeable emotion.
·A great and ·~ good man looks beyond time.
We look upon these as o.,first-fruits.

and
The fire gives out warmth.
In the firs t sentence fire generaily is spoken of, and in the second some
particular fire.

216. In the proverb
A burnt child dreads the fire
the D efinite Article is superfluous, as a burnt child dreads not a particular fire but any fire.

21 ~· .'A nice distinction of sense is sometimes me.de by the use or . ~"',
~

the ormss10n of tha Article a.

If I say
He behaved with a little reverence

my mooning is positive. If I say
He behaved·with little reverence
my meaning is n egative. And these two are by no means the same
- or to be used in the same cases. By the former, I rather praise a
person; by the latter, I dispraise him . . • . When I say
There were few men with him

Grammar, § 217.
219. In the sentence
The population of London is greater than any other city in the world

MURRAY.

Exercise 90.

Strike out the superfluous Articles, and insert the Article~ _,
wrongly omitted.
· ·~
.And I persecuted this way unto~ death [not a particular death].
·~·
Who breaks a butterfly upon "l'. wheel [the wheel was a particular instru." , ·
ment of torture]?
The .Almighty hath given reason to~ man to be a light unto him
He also is th{"son [descendant] of Abraham.
The king has given him the title of'a...duke.
'f~e fire, the earth, t4e air, and the water were called elements.
T4e virtues like his are not easily acquired.
He has been blamed for paying'~ little attention w his duties.

-·

218. ' When you make use of an Adj ective in the way of
comparison, take care that there be a congruity or fitness in the
things or qualities compared. Do not say that a thing is deeper
than it is broad or long, or that a man is taller than he is wi.se
"'; or rich. Hume says
This is no comparison at all ; it is nonsense.'-CoBBETT,

,~w ~

There were a few men with him

·.Ji.

Compm-i.sons.

The principles of the Reformation were deeper in the prince's mind
than to be easily eradicated.

I speak diminutively and mean to represent them as inconsiderable ; · ~~ '
whereas, when I say

I evidently intend to make the most of them. '-LINDLEY

173

...

we have an example of the fault condemned by Cobbett, population being compared not to population, but to a city.

220. When a thing is compared with everything else of the
same class, it is necessary to use other (or an equivalent word)
with the Comparative Degree, but not with the Superlative ; as
Gold is more precious than any other metal.
Gold is more precious than all the other metals.
Gold is the most precious of all metals.

In the first and second santences gold is placed by itself on one
aide, and for comparison with it all the other m etals are plo.ccd together
: on the other side. If we said
Gold is more precious than all metals
·we should imply either that gold is not a metal or that gold is more
precious than gold, as gold must be included in all metals,

J74

i:

LONGNANS' SCHOOL COlr!POSIT/ON

~~-­

GRAMMAR

~

In the th ird sentence we arrange all the m eta.ls with golJ first as. ·~;~4~
· i·~-~·~,~~-~the mos t precious of them. The seutence
~
Gold is the most precious of o.11 the other meta.ls

175

~ (.._ _ .

It.
222. The sentence just dealt with shows that the worc1 it
requirmi careful handling.

is absurd, for it excludes gold from the metals to be compared.

Exercise 91.

Correct the following sentences :The vice of covetousness enters deepest into the soul of any other.
John is better than anybody in his class.
He thought the Church of England the most perfect of all others.
A talent of this kind would be the likeliest of any other to succeed.
I understood him the best of all the others who spoke on the subject.
Eve was the fairest of h er [that is, of Eve's] daughters.
These letters make up a volume of more interest to me than any book.
This caused the euthor more annoyance than any he met in his whole
life.
W c take our pleasures as sadly as we do anything.
They were of all other men the least to be offended.
The unwearied exertions of this gentleman have done more towards
elucidatin g th e obscurities of our language than any other writer on the · c
subject.

PRONOUNS.

221. When a Pronoun is employed in a sentence containing ; :
two or more Nouns, care must be taken to make clear for which ,·

may -

Noun the Pronoun stands. Want of care in this respect
lead to ambiguity or absurdity, as in the following example:-

I t sprang up and pulled the jar towards itself and put its paw in and '
·
pulled it out and ran off to cat it.
This senten ce, from a story t elling how a cat caught a mouse that
had got into a jar, makes the cat eat its own paw. The obscurity arises
from the P r onoun it having to stand for the two Nouns cat and mouse, , ,
while there are in the sentence two other Nouns, iar and paw, fo,: · ~..
wh ich it may stand. Greater clearness is obtained by repeating th~ ,
Nouns cat and moiiae; thus : The cat sprang up, pulled the jar towards it, put in its paw, drew
t he mouse, aµ d ran off to eat it.

o~t

'The word it is the greates t troubler tliat I know of in language.
It is so small and so convenient that fe w arc careful enough in using
it..•• Never put an it upon paper without thinking well of what you
are about. \Vh cn I see many ·i ts in a page I a.lw11ys tremble for tho
writer.'-CoUDETT, Grammar, §§ 1\H- G.

223. It is used
(1) F or a N euter N oun.
(2) F or child, baby, ani m al, and the names of animals generally

unless the sex is emphasised.
(3) For an Infinitive or an Infinitive Phrase; as

To take plenty of exerci.se is as necessary as it is pleasant.
(4) For a clause or sentence ; as

He is surely innocent; everyone believes it.

(5) As preparatory or grnmmatical Snujcct when the real or logical
Subject comes after the V erb ; as

It will kill them to get wet.
It is reported that the prince is dead.
(6) Impersonally; as

It is raining.

224. The too frequent use of it for Neuter Nouns may be
avoided(1) By a repetition of the Noun; ns
H e h ad defended the genuineness of a spurious book simply because
Christchurch had put forth an edit ion of that book [not i t].
It seemed not im probable that at such a mome nt an insurrection might
be successful. An in surrect ion [not ilj was planned.
The sense sh ows that in the fi rst sentence it could stand for uoolc
only, and in the second for insurrectio n only ; y et in both cases
Macaulay preferred to r epeat the Nouns.

'

.

•I

GRA1,:/ll/AR

LONGMANS' -SCHOOL COMPOSITION

x

I

The following sentence would be improved by repetition
Noun:! run ready to take off my hat to science in the right place, but at church:
I want what it [say science] cannot give me.
•.

.

' Repetition is sometimes disagreeable and tends to enfeeble la.n•.'
guage, but it is always preferable to obscurity.'-CoBBETT, GraJ1n,,nit:ir,'.
§ 273.

....
..,., .
' ..

b;:
.. 7,

225. The too frequent use of it for Neuter Nouns may
· avoided

-.

:.:..

~

·"' ..

In the sentence
Her band was so severely injured that unless she has the
amputated she will entirely lose the use of it

.of

Her hand was so severely injured that she will entirely lose the us.e
it unless she bas her forefinger amputated.
•,
(4.) By the use of a Relative.
The sentence

·'

has two possible meanings.
a.nd the insertion of and-

. ·.
•'

'/

....::-

. The sentence
- The horse is in the stable; it has so many points that it may be said to
l:!e of Gothic architecture
The writer's meo.ning is clear if we substitute lie for it,
The horse is in the stable; be has so many points that he may be said
to be of Gothic architecture.
(2) By using the Plural.

t;i' ·_ Thus the sentence
'. It is the duty of a child to obey every order of its parents whether it be
".agreeable or not

.may be changed into

- (3) By altering the stmcture of the sentence.
. · · When once it [ringworm] is discovered on the person of any child it
· should be at once sent home

.... ~)~--

. vmay be changed thus : .

(a) A child on whose person it is discovered should be a.t once sent

. home.
(b) Children on whose persons it is discovered should be at once sent

(4) By repeating the Noun.

Knowledge comes from study; it therefore ought to be pursued
One is ma.de clear by the omission -of ·.;i

Knowledge comes from study a.nd therefore ought to be pursued .

The n.bsurclity of the following sentence (from directions for the
use of a feeding-bo ttle) would be avoided if the bottle were written
instead of it.
When the baby has done feeding it must be unscrewed and laid in a
, -,_Qool place, say under a tap.
N2

.
'I

,_

L .

(1) By using he or she.

: home.

(H) By simply omitting it.

!

·. 226. The too frequent repetition of it, standing for child,
l' baby, animal, &c., may be avoided

It is the duty of children to obey every order of their pa.rents whether it. be agreeable or not.

t2) By re-arranging the sentence.

the statement made is absurd. Her forefinger is to be amputated in
order to save it! The writer's meaning would clearly appear if the: .
sentence were re-arranged thus:-

...

. :: ~o~ledge comes from study, which therefore ought to be pursued.

The following extract shows how little a. careful writer like Matthew
Arnold feared r epetition :·In literature we have present and prepared to form us the best which:.
has been thought and said in the world. Our business is to get at this bes
and to know it well. But even to understand the thing wc are dealing with~
and to choose the best in it we need a. guide, a. clue. The literature most
accessible to all of us, touching us most nearly, is our own literature, English ,.
literature. To get at the best in English literature and to know the best
well nothing can be more helpful to us than a. guide who will show us in
cl ear view the growth of our literature, its series of productions and their.
r elative value. If such a guide is good and trustworthy bis instructions_
cannot be too widely brought into use, too diligently studied, too thoroughly,
fixed in the mind.

·---

,, The ether meaning is mo.de clear by the substitution of o. Relative
. for it-:-

'

'

LONGMANS' SCHOOL COJJfPOSITION

227. The preparatory it may be avoided
(1) By placing the logical Subject before the Verb, thus:-

With preparatorJJ it first.
It is well to wait ; it is better to
work.
'Tis strange the miser should his
cares employ
To gain those riches be can ne'er
enjoy.

With logical Sttbje,ct first.
To wait is well ; to work
better.
. That the ~iser should employ
his cares to gam those riches which
he can never enjoy is strange.

(2) By other changes in the form of the sentence; thus:-

With preparatory it.
It is said that the ship is
wrecked.
It ~s expected that you should go.
It !!I remarked that wisdom does
not always accompany knowledge.

Without it.
The wreck of the ship is reported.
You are expected to go.
We may remark that wisdom ~­
does not always accompany know- .
ledge.

228. The Impersonal it may be avoided by altering the form
of th e sentence; thus:With it.
It is raining.
It is very hot.
How long is it since you saw my
brother?
:

;'

The pair have a coach and six waiting in a street to carry of! Mrs.
Bracegirdle to whom Hill bas been ma.king love. As she is going home to
supper they try to force her into it.
,~
.
One day we were watching him [a cat] lying on the grass with only its
· :·"·~ '. - :tail moving.
~ '
He [a cat] could not get it [a mouse which was in a jar], so up he sprang,
put his paws on the jar, pulled it over and eat it up.
After thinkingjt [the cat] jumped up and turned the jar ovesand caught
hold of it and eat it up.
·
.- The feat was, however, successfully and most cleverly accomplished
some few years ago by Mr. Gould , the eminent ornithologist, ancl it [a kingfisher's nest) is now to be seen in tho Ilrititih Museum.
'l'he house was soon filled with smoke, but Suporintendont IC with a
bucket of water soon succeeded in quenching it.
It ia indisputably truo his assertion though it is a paradox. [Omit
both its and re-arrange.]
The wind blew down the wall; it was very high. [Give in sep11ra.te
sentences the two meanings possible.]
/.A... .Jt
Andrew owned a donkey. He said that it lived on the grass 'Vhieh grew
beside the road, but the formers said that he turned it into their fields . . . .
To-day it misbehaved ; it nearly threw me over its head, so I put it in your
- clover-field to punish it.
It was our intention to present our readers this month with a woodcut,
but we have been compelled to hold it over until our next issue. There is
one consolation in this disappointment, it ~s yet to come.
1

l.l

Without it.

P ersonal Pronouns.
Rain is falling.
The weather is very hot.
~
How many days (or weeks or , ·
months) ago did you see my brother? - ·

~~9. I~ mu~t not be inferred from the number of wa s of ~·,,

av~1dmg

it which have been suggested that the '"'0 a . y
a I t b
·a
a
"
r is neces- .
rbi ! ~t e avoi e · . The use of it is open to objection only when ?:
am igui y or absurdity results therefrom.
8

230. The functions of it are more varied than those of the
Pronouns properly called Personal, but most of the rules 1 given
for avoiding a too frequent repetition of it apply to the other
Pronouns also, as the following examples will show:(1) We do not find in the Bible
He cannot leave bis fa.tiler, for i! he should leave him he would die;

but we find the Noun repeatod-

Exercise 92.
Amend the following sentences:On re volving the incident in his mind -he attempted to
I
;recipiceJ.
sca.!l

Tbe lad cannot leave bis father, for if he should leave his !a.ther his
father would die.-Gen., :x.liv., 22.
• Tho following may be taken as a general rule :-'Never write a Personal Pronoun without uuly considering what Noun it will, upon I\
. review o! tho sentcnco, be found to rclat-0 to. Tbcre must be a Noun expressed or undcr•tood
to which tJ.w Pronoun c.lcll.l:ly rulatc.:i, or you will uot write SCll.Se.'-CODru:rr, Gram mar, § 178..

. '
180

LONGMANS' . SCHOOL COMPOSITION

GRAMMA R

(2) The sentence

as governess for three years. :Mrs. Brown would be obliged ii Mrs. Robin.
· · son would tell her whether she found Miss Jones amiable and efficient.

· '1 ·

Brown saw Jones as he was walking in the
k h
.
.
. par ; e WIBhed to see hi
because he knew that he h d
a a message for !um
.
·
is ~mbiguous. Who was walking in the pa.rk ?
.
be gm
A s Brown was walking in the park he saw Jones.

If Jones, we can begin
As Janes was walking in the park Brown saw him.

We will suppose that the first r epresents the m eaning . t

::~ :::~ ~e '::e~~~;~h:~~~ished to see Jones.

The whole

d

i"

~~~e:c;

As B:own was walking in the park he saw Jones,

see, havmg heard that h e had a message for him.

A Relative has been substituted for one he, and a.nothe J. h b ·~. "
suppressed by the use of a Participial Phrase.
r ie as . ,e~n

~h . (3)

Thebnarra.tive of Anastasia's sister Elizabeth related the history'
e events y which she had been killed.

b~ .

Anastasia must havo been tho one killed but thi 8
clearly appear if we re-arranged the sentence thus:The narrative of Elizabeth related the h.
. '
her sister Anastasia had been killed.
istory of the events by whfoh
The sentence is still faulty

hi s t ory ' bemg
. tautological.
.
1

-

, th

.
.
:
e narrative of Elizabeth related the .
•

(4) Mrs. Brown presents her compliments to Mrs Ilob'1

:: ;:::~~~s:~~rb;h~~s Jones.

0

sh~ has ~: e~;

She states that
in her serVice
whether she found her ayme~rsb.I Sbde willou_ld be obliged if she would tell her·.
ia e an e c1ent.

t~~: ~:a~~~:~lm~ trepetlittiton
of hPronouns would be best avoided· ·. ~~~-~
o a e er; t us:0

Jones, who states that she has. be~·~
governess or three years I sh ld b bli
.
. bl .
o~
e o ged if ·yo~
would tell me whether you found h
er am1a e and efficient.
· ·
But, if the ' note ' form must b
·
.
·'T: - '
is somewhat clearer than th
. . elret11J.I1ed, the followrng · rendering
e or1gma : .
. •
Mrs. Brown presents her compliments t M
.
. •, .
has been referre<l by Miss Jones, who states t~at ;~eRhob1bnson. tohwhoIµ,~he,z;;
.
. as een m e;: sel'V].,_ce;.
in

:o::v:e~~~e r:!erred to you !by Miss

...

"

. 231. Persons who write notes sometimes find a difficulty in
. , :: preserving the Third P erson , as the following example shows :Mr. Smith presents his compliments to Mr. Jones and begs to send the
bookcase which I hope will be found as be ordered it. He has not been
' · able to put plate-glass in the windows, thinking it too h eavy for light work
such as this of mine, but has put thinner gla11s which I trust will give so.tis·
faction. Mr. Smith will be obliged if .hlr. Jones will settle the enclosed
T. SmTir.
account, and I ·am your humble servant,

232. The use of the Third Person often causes ambiguity in
'. !, the reports of conversations, as in the followin g example:Witness deposed that he bad m et M. who said that be had called upon
him the day before because he was aware that an article would appear in
~at morning's issue and he hoped if he could have seen him that he could
have prevented the article's appearing. He did not think he made any reply.
'.He then parted with him and went to the company's oft1ce, where he re·
. ported the conversation he had with him. His directors then gave him
instructions o.s to what he was to do.

233. This confused report will become clear if written in the
First Person ; thus :Witness deposed :-' I met M. who said, "I called upon you yesterday be.
ca.use I was aware that an article wo uld appear in this morning's issue and ·
I hoped that if I could have seen you I coulJ have prevented the article's
'appearing." I do not think I made any reply. I then parted with him and
went to the company's office, where I reported the conversation I hn.t1 had
with him. My directors then gave me instructions as to what I was to do.'

Exercise 93.
Amend the following sentences :Over ten years ago the late Mrs. n. suggested the idea to me for her
daughter Miss Isabella. B. A rou gh scenario was prepared and the piece
practically started. Her lamented death [it was Mrs. B. who died] put an
, ·-ilnd for the time being to the matter.
,
.;
The first witness examined 'vn.s the unc1e of tho deceased who deposed
; ·' . that the boy and his father had resided [why not lived?] with h im for some
time, but in consequence of some remarks he made to his brother the latter
..took him away to his grandmother's house,

I

The bags ca.me through all right. Cousin Will took
arranged to have them taken up to the h ouse.
Mi ssionaries in W estern Africa have been assured by mothers that they
nt tim es a voided their own sons lest they should kill them in order to havo
their service in another life.
She conkl not seriously embrace [an ill-chosen word] the conviotion that
Alicia wns determined to disobey her, and in order to bring her to a right
understanding she undenvent a system of persecution. [He-cast the whole.]
She was taller than Sir George Harper's second daughter, but she was
two years older.
·Witness said that his wife's father came to his house and he ordered him --:,
out but he refused to go.
Father Prcmare was quite shocked, and said he could only explain it :"
by concluding that the devil had practised a trick to annoy his friends the _"
Jesuits.
·
After my poor father's death tho good gentleman took me because he was'
a captain in his regiment and gave me education.
'
There was a law in the city of Athens which gave to its citizens the
power of compelling their daughters to marry whomsoever they pleased;
,.
Mr. Bosworth presents his compliments to Mr. Caldecott. I have got
hat which is not his; if he has got a hat which is not yours no doubt they
are the missing ones.
H is treatment by the barrister who had so shamefully abused the questionable privilege of his profession to question his integrity was not only
forgiven but even justified by his generous victim.
H er own story was that she bad a quarrel with the deceased about her '.
wages, and that she seized the deceased by the throat 11.nd she !ell, and when '
she got up she was looking for something to strike her with, and upon this
she struck the deceased a blow on her throat and she fell and died almost
immediately.
Orlando confessed that he was the fond lover to whom he spoke and ·asked Ganymede to give him the good counsel he tal ked of. ••• Ganymeae
answered that he came of as good parentage as he did ...• \Vhile Orlando
was answering that he knew not what to think, Ganymede entered and asked ,.'
the Duke if he brought his daughter whether he would consent to her •
marriage with Orlando.
fath er who brought his boy to the police cou;t complained that .he got
up and ran away before he was out of bed.
Mistakes cannot be rectified after they have left tho shop.
. -. .
Thero are indeed but very few who know how to be idle and innocent or ·'
have a reli sh of any pleasures that arc not criminal; every diversion they ..
take is at the expense of some one virtue or other, and their very first step
out of business is into vice or folly.
_
The custom of the mll.llor h~th in both cases so far superseded the .will

a ' ,-:.

\

.."'

GRAMMAR

LONGMANS' SCHOOL COMPOSITION

'

: .
.
be performed or stipulated for by
of the lord that provided the services f
t admit the heir of his tcnrrnt
'. fealty he cannot in t~1e first instalnce r~ :~:m~ve his present tenant so long
upoa his death, nor in the secont can i
as he lives.
. I cl' ·' t f 'el better in half an h our 11~ t! 1onghl
He told his fri end that if LC iu no c
,that he had be t~er go h ome.
li'Jl · ' . t them and though they threw
Thebgrtanltel J1· unrtyh~o~v1~dy ~~u~he ip:::e~~i::s they 'were succe~sfully carrieJ.
every o s ac

~'

d f the ball is a larrre otter' s skin stuffeJ. with hay which
At t e ower en o
.
o
nner and the knight looks upon
. his mother ordered to be hung up i~ that mal
~s but nine years old \yhen
it with great satisfaction because it seems LC w

i. throughh. l

.

·' his dog killed him.
. t a milkmo.n for Jist urbing o.
J J J
lied fo r a. summons agams
Mr. . . . app .
b b the noise he made on SunJ.ays
congregation of which he was a. mem er, Y
· • while selling milk.

.,
.. .

R elcitive Pronouns.
234 The ambiguity which may arise when a Relative ~l:n:sc
. b dl; placed has already been exemplified. Equal amli 1g:1~ty
:.a; arise when a sentence contains two or more R elatn cs
referring to different Nouns ; as
.
.
l of :Falmouth o.nd Mr. Coventry were nva.ls who should ha\ c
ar ·n the duke who loved the earl best but thought the other .the
m_o st mteresth1 supported Pen who disobliged all the courtiers even agamst
wiser man w o
the earl who contemned Pen.
The first who r elates to tho Earl of Fo.lmouth and Mr. Coventry,
the seconJ. to the duke, tho third to 'the other• (Mr. Coventry) , tli_o
fifth to the Earl of Falmouth. 'rho sentence is
fourt h to P en, an d the
somewhat improved by division; thus : .
The Earl of Falmouth and Mr. Coventry were rivals for th~ mterest
o1 th duke who loved the earl best but thought the other the w1s:r man.
, '.rhouegh Pe~ disobliged all the co.u rtiers Mr. Coventry supported him even

T~e

E

against the earl who contemned hllll.

235. A Relative Pronoun may be avoided
(1) By using a Conjunctio.n ; as
With Relative.

The boy drove away tho birds
th&t were eating the corn.

With Conjw(ction.
The birds were eating the corn
and the boy drove them away.

:' l
- f.
-.

l

LONGMANS·· SCROOL
as

I feel like one
Wl10 treads a.Ione
Some banquet-hall deserted.
as (3) By converting the

With R elative.

(4) By using

-~;-~:-::~-----=-__.....;!~::_;
I feel like one treading·:'&! ·

\ · In historico.l novels and plays we often find the same person addressed in the Singular in one sentence anc1 in the Plural in a neigh·
bouring sentence; as in the following examples : -

some deserted banquet-hall. '. ···~ .

.
.
:.' With Prepositional Phrase; :
~he marin~r with bright eye and
bea1 d hoary with age is gone. _ '":

o.~ Adjective; as

With Relative.

I]

~

(1) Proud damsel tliou shalt be as proudly encoun tered. Know tl1en
I have supported my pretensions to your band in the way that best
• suited my character.
(2) Gold will purchase you pleasure; to misuse us could only brin g
, ...thee remorse.
.•
(3) Hear me ere you nnswer and judge ere you refuse. The Templar
;.. loses, as thou hast said, bis socinl rights.
"i'•. that

.~

With Adjective.

Exercise 94.
Reconstruct the following sentences,
Pronouns:-

·,

236. Avoicl inconsistency in the Numbers of Pronouns.

With Participle.

Let me have about me men that
a.re fat.

,

185

Inconsistent Numbers.

~elative C,~ause into a Prepositional ~~:: .

The mariner whose eye is bri<>ht
Whose beard with age is hoaro ,
Is gone.
'

...

I

GRAMMAR

(2) By converting the R l t.
Cl
e a ive
a.use into a Participial p

With Rctative.

·,;

COMPOSITION.:·~

Uneasy lies the head th~t wears a
A stone that is rollina gathe.
crown.
..
o
rs no moss
Tb t .
a is a difficulty which cannot be .
. su~oun~d.
The labour that we deli ht .
The man hath
g in physics }Jam.
perfect blessedness that waJketh not ast
I
·
.
ray.
c~ot stnke .at wretched kerna wh
Are hued t? bear their staves.
ose arms
Those are mountain-pea.ks whi
•
His power which was unparail;~dno man has ~et scaled. . .
was used with moderation.
The cannon blast
That just now passed
Hath awakened .ten thousand men.
I ~a.ck~~rcls flew to its billowy breast
.
. Li"e n bU'd that seeketh its mother's nest.

237. A similar inconsistency is sometimes seen in sentences
r,Containing Collective Nouns; as
The meeting was [Sing. agreeing with meetiny] very disorderly; they
[Plural] clamoured for a change of government.

Often it matters not whether a CollectiYe Noun be trca tetl us
,. Singular or as Plural, but no Collective Noun should be treo.ted as
...... Singular and as Plural.
As has already beP,n stated, it may be u sed for chi ld, baby, animal,
,, .and the names of animals generally, but a l\Insculine or Feminine
Pronoun may be used when necessary or desirable. Care should,
however, be taken to avoid such a mixture of genders as the following
sentence exemplifies : One day we were watching him [a cat] lying on the grass when it caught
a mouse.

Exercise 95.
Correct .each of the following sentences in two ways:(a) Thy praise deserves a better tongue than mine to speak and bless
thy name. Is thls the gentleman whose friendly service you commended

to me?
As I have a violent affection for thee, my dear Straddle, if you will follow
my advice I promise you, on my honour, to forgive you.
Art thou be whom I b a.ve selected for this glorious undertaking, and dost
t1W1.i talk of revenge? You have, it seems, reconciled your conscience to
robbery.
·
Though as a C.h ristian thou art obliged, and we advise thee to forgive thy

--••-llldlw!e~-~~~-..-

r

~1·~

.~

.- ..

·:'.

_,
'r .
·!

GRAM.MAR

LONGMANS' SCHOOL COMPOSITION

186

enemy, never tr11st the man who ha.th reason to suspect that '!JO'l' know he
hath injured you.
I do not de~ire to bear thee company, ancl I have still hopes to have the ;
pleasure of seeing you go without me.
So will I send upon '!JO'l' famine and evil beasts, and they shall bereave
thee.

(b) The army suffers much from tpeir unprotected condition.
The J ewish nation was sunk in idolatry when they were roused to re·.
pentance by El ij ah.
The nation rejoice when its fleet is victorious.
The mob ~_!'..e dispersed by the police; it scatters in all directions.
The crew is discontented a.nd the a.re not to be trusted.
.
. The crowd ~vere on the whole~ell behaved, but a. few persons in it were .,
d1sorder_ly.
'.t ;i·
Parliament has met to elect their Speaker.
The board is _going to pass a resolution to censure their clerk.
. _The class are not fond of Tom, though they know he is the cleverest boy
m it.
The committee disable him and maintains its right to do so.
The jury were divided in its opinion.
The nation enforces their laws.
(c) We have a pretty cat. We like to see h er playing with its kittens. _ '
The shepherd ran after a. sheep and caught it just as she was jumping
over a. hedge.
E ach cow knows its own stall. They are lowing for their ca.Ives.
The hen is feeding its chicks. She ca.Us them around her with a
' cluck I'
The parrot is on its perch. She is crying• Pretty Polly.'
The lark is singing its song of joy. She is almost out of sight.
.

238. The most frequent and perhaps the most disagreeable '
inconsistency is the use of Plural Pronouns for such words as
anybody, nobody, ev erybody, one; for Singufar Nouns separated ·
by or or nor, and for Singular Nouns qualified by such Adjectives ·
as each, every.
Examples.

I-l

(1) If it had been anybody but the odious duke they should not have

had you.
(2) Nobody put themselves out of their way to secure her comfort-.
(3) Everybody breakfasts when and where they please.
(4) J\fany a one has gone out of the world no wiser in many respects ~
than when th ey came into it.
.
. ,
(5) Both displayed great fea.ts of gallantry, nor did either Bois·Guilberl ', :·

·.: or the Disinherited Knight find in the ranks opposed to them a champion
, who could be termed their unquestioned match .
(6) Neither Napoleon nor the Duke of Wellington ever all owcrl an yone
jo shave them.
·
.
.
(7) Each of the disputants think themselves m the nght.
(8) Every person should be, careful of the feelings of those around them.

~

239. The use of the Plural in these sentences is a poor
attempt to supply a deficiency in our language. Any body . nobod y ,
· everybody, &c., are of the Singular Number, Common Gender,
~ and Third Person ; but the only Pronouns of the Common Gender
and Third Person are Plural.
,'"'· ·~- 240. The use of Plural Pronouns in the cases indicated may
be avoided in several ways.

(1) 'Vher e the context shows that, though the N onn i ~ of th o
Common Gender , all _the persons spoken of are e1~l;er 1~ale or female, a
Masculine or Feminine Pronoun may b e u sed. Ihus . -

Every teacher did their best to promote the welfare of their pupils
ma.y be vrritten
Every teacher did his best to promote the welfare of his pupils ;
or Every teacher did h er best to pro mote the welfare of h er p opils.
(2) The Noun may be made Plural. There will th en_ b e no n eetl
to make any change in the Pronoun. Thus, the sentence JUSt corrected
may be writtenAll the tea.ch~rs llid their best for the welfare of their pupils.
The same method may be used with the following sente nce : A boy or girl should always raise their ha.ts to their superiors.
· We thus have
Boys or girls should always raise their ha.ts to their superiors.
The sentence is now grammatical ; but it is still absurd, for girls do
not raise their bats to their superiors.
(3) Where the !itaternent is general, a Masculine Pronoun may b e
used; thus:Every person whose misfortunes are ea.used by their owu_faults are apt
to sa.y that they are the viptims of circumstances beyond their control.

i.

lt

3.: l

.. I :'

• i>

.... i

'-1

' t· l1
'.. i •• ; ; .

189

GRAMMAR
188

LONGMANS' SCHOOL COMPOSITION

. 242. This sentence shows wh at a disa~eeable effect
duced when one and its oblique Cases ar e freely used .

m ay b e changed into
E very person whose mi sfort unes a re caused by his own faults is apt t~
say that he is the victim of circum stances beyond his own control.

is pro,f;M
~~.
.;;.'_ ·• -~i .

?;.·\
~-;•

In Acts of P 1trli uru cnt it is ofte n expressly stated that w orcls which
de n ote m tiles rnu::;t be t aken to include femal es, except w her e the sens for bids. Sometimes, h owever, a s tatemen 't is not su ffi ciently wide fo
t h e Masculine Pron oun to be used in a g en eral sens e. The Pronou
could not be thus u sed in the sen tence
---~...---Not one of those pr esen t at the ball troubled them selves about the snow
falling outside.
In such a sentence a. Plural Noun m a y be used; thus:T he people present at the ball did not trouble themselves about the· sno~\
falli ng ou tside.
(4) 'l'11e offenJing P ron oun may som e times b e a voided by changing ,
the form of the sentence.
When a child sees an old man or woman standin g, they should offer
t hem a chair
i s improved by the substitution of it for they, bn t the Plur~l them is
l eft for ' man or woman.' We can remove the1n by cha nging the form
of th e senten ce ; t hns : To any old m an or woman whom a child may ace standin g, it should
offer n. ch ;iir.

Correct-

(a) The ei{j ht examples given 1inde r

p

ar.

238

·

(b) The f ollow ing sentences :E verybody was pleas in:.: ilw ns,·/l'rs .
.
.
.h
ne who cann ot iiolll thcu tongues.
I will pums a.nyo · . .
. d v they could easilv get through.
If a.n one broke the dinin g-r oom mn o'
'
y
.. t . ver one, however poor they may be.
We should try to v1s1 e y h
l·' l t their love stand in th e way of
n or woman w o cou u e
.
. k th
I thm
e ma
. tl n ext th ing to being m ad. [He-cast. l
t th . sand a year is ie
·
.
five and twen y o''.
1 1 ·s entertain ing eith er fr om thc1.r fo ll y
I seldom m eet with anyboc y w 1 0 i
.
.t
.
tlwir stupidity or their varn Y·
or their affeotat10~ or
h
1 lfi "h in th •ir Leh aviour will be disliked.
A erson who 1s roug nnc se "
~
.
.
N; m or tal in their senses ever th inks of such Rtuff no\1.
h ld b
lite to tho,;e around /.h em .
E veryone s ou
el pok d n a.11 h is associates a.s wretches of depraved
E veryon e of th em. oo e Toi . conversation was th erefore. fre tf ul and
d
·row notions .
w 11• ,
·
1
taste an na1
. . \ . t l tl , ·r merriment bluntly sarc11s t1c, am icir
was pish , tl1c1 r \)('hav1om Jt n a_, u 1
.
I ny m11l su«p1c101ts.
·
sen uusn ess g o 0 1 '
ti ·r pnrt icular concerns , nrnl r;n· · .
•
I
. . 1· uc.v 111 a rr nn Rtn R z.i
'
.
Each o[ t iem " as J . I
I I , . . books n.n cl ot her po:ssL»;,.; 1vn;1 to
<l(Javourin ~ by placing around I .c m u; 11

.,

~

.:

. ·_ ~ i -~ ~,·

.

'. "

!.. ·,'

·.::_

0

.

:·.

form tht,111.scl vcs a ho me.
r . ' ed eve.rvbody o.m use<l tl1einsd-vcs
\V111' n pcrnp cct1 vc wo.s first < H<CO\eT '
•

with it.
.
h
F. vNvho rh C'n jovc11 lh cmsrlvcs vr ry m nc .

,

11

,
•
l.
•
-I ·c'k n.m u s in~ tl1c111s<'lt'CS as ,J11·y cou '.
F very ho< \' " ·;cs on ' ' .
.
'
I .
'
·
·
l , . th N ti1 1L n fu r / 11 <' 11'-' •.' VCo.
E11cli J•Ill_Y(· <l for the ot wt t a/
I . th e m eans o[ supp ort in g thcmsrlvr,,
No on e s h o uld mn.rr y unless l 1.1 ·y \ave
'
:

and their children .
ld
t t themselves with the aclvn.ntagc oi their
Each of the sexes shou con en

One.

It if! pleasan t wh en one h as done one's [not his ] work to seat one's self . =c-· ~;::-~iJ~._; :c
[n ot hi m.self ] in a com fo rtable ch air, and to enjoy comm union with the _ ~-~ ·
~ --"=
· ==~=
a uthors th at b1we been a solace to one [not himj in ti m es gone by.

~ ~

o·

(5) In tho last senten ce c1oaH wi th we mig ht for the m lrn.ve substi·
tutecl him or her; thu s : When a child secs an old man or woman standing, it should offer him or _ .
her a chair.
'T'l1 iH is n form of Rpccr h much cmpl<>yi·d Ly h wy crr<, iJut it is so
harsu tlia t w e umy choer fuUy u.llow U1om a w uu op oly of it.

241. We have seen that th e Pronoun he may be used in ari in- · ·;
defini te or general sen se. One (corresponding to t he F rench on-·.;,.
and the Old English and the German man) is used in the same ~ ·
way, bu t neither he n or its oblique Cases can be m;ed for one or - ~~:.
i ts oblique Ca ses. S ay : ~ _ "_".'~·i,·:;,

'

Exercise 96.

particular i:; tate.
I sure that /hty ,\·ill not be ll cceivcd ?
.
Can a nyo ne be ful y
b .
ten der of tlw ir r cputat10n .
No one sh ould incur censurde fo r en~~ any on e who will to.kc the trouble
We shall be glad to forwar a o~py .
1
. · 'liczr n cwhbourlioo< ·
to send it to some n c w~pa pet Ill ' 1 t
diary at least once in thc·i r
E veryb<>Jy feels that lhc y oug it o ecp a
[The order is bad.]
.
i·
tves.
t r efer each person to /heir own expen cnce.
~:e~;~~dy was ord erc•l. to put his or her best clothes on.

t:

·,

''

..

J'_ •

·'·""
~·-

~·-.

k"

.

.

;~

~-::..c.·

.

I

' '·
\_

·,.

LONCJ7fANS' SCHOOL CONPOS.ITIOlv
GR.d ll!J/A R

No one was without an exact match with whom they might precisely
correspond.
Everybody rises early and goes to the spring, where they partake of [say
drink] the water with much energy and perseverance.
Every girl should bring their books.
No one will answer me as if I were their friend or companion.
The prince or magi strate, the soldier or merehant, rPconciled their fer:·
Ycnt zeal and implicit faith with the exercise of their profession, the pursuif-·'"'
of their interest, and the indulgence of their passions.
Everyone must judge of their own feelings.
She fell to laughiag like one out of their right mind.
\Vith this sauce one could eat his own father.
In such a dream, one might forget his cares
And dream himself in poet's mood away.

When writing on these subjects, one ought to be more than usually par- "'icular in his endeavours to be him.self correct.

t/is.
//

One can say
/

friends the things that he wants to say.

----1-J
'

I

I

Demonstratives.

243. A Personal Pronoun is improperly used for the De . .1011strative in sentences lilrn the following:seWe
andought
good.always to have a great regard for them [say those] who are
Anger
l10ld
it. is troublesome, not only to those who suffer it but to thern whQ.. •
These two paragraphs are extremely \vorthy of Mr. Addison, and exhibit- .~
tyle which they who can successfully imitate may esteem themselves ·' ..:;
ipy. [A very clumsy sentence.)

Exercise 97.
Substitute Denwnstratives for the Personal Pronouns im- .

perly 1ised.

L'hey who had laid up nothing co.me upon the parish at once; they who '·
saved something spent that first.
l'hey
its. who have talents want industry; they who have industry want
:hey who have nothing to fear need no concealment.
'hey whose standard h e joined hailed his defection with enthusiasm.
'hey who read the book hastily will not understand it.
experienced little difficulty in distinguishing from among the pedgstriazt~.
who had business with St. Bartholomew,

Demonstrat~:-that

244 The
(with its Plural those) is much
used in. the locution that of (or those of); as .
.
. n f?r than that nf the chair.
The leg of the table is sti ot .g , " r than tlwsc 11/ the chair.
The legs or the table me s i onoc

. . :
seems borrowed from the
245. This form of expres!;lOZ/n ) l used as in the follo1ving
French cclu·i (with cellc, ceu:r, cc cs c e,
sentences : L'i.nUret parle tontes sortes de lannucs
"

ct joue toutes sortcs de p erson·

es, nU!me celui de desintfrcSse._
ho1metes gens et noire etoilc cello
n<UJNotre mcrite nous attire l'cstmie des

·t·

du 1mblic.

s

246 That of and those of may be used to avoid repe.t1 i~n; ~
.
. t'ion;. he
Pitt .wo.s suffering from inchspos1
d did not rise till his
strength and that of his hearers were exhauste .
. .

O\\ Il

.

.
ich fear of r epet1t10n ; but,
247. Some wnt.e~·s l~avebtoo ~n~ded it may often be avoided
.
t"
that repetition is to e a\01
'
gran
mg
by methods
more E' ngr1sh than the use of that of.
·
· · lS
· some t·n1es
enouah;
a.s
·
s· J 0m1ss10n
1
o
(1) imp
. E ng land more beautiful than [that of] Surrey.
There
is noe county m

. (2) More often a. Possessive may be employed; a.s
With • tho.t of '

With Possessive

Mr. Brown's house is bigger than
Mr. Smith's.

The house of Mr. Brown is bigger
than that of Mr. Smith.
.

In French we could not use the Possessive.

We should have to

' sayLa maison
.
de M · Brown est pl-us grmide ,.rrue celle de M. Smith.
(8) Where (as with lthe n~:~:
employed, the form oft 10 sen
With that of.

I

--T-h~e_r_o._p-id-i-ty_o_f_li.-g_h_t_i~s-m_u_c~h-1
greater than that of sound.

f things) a PosseRsive cannot
~ay
be changed; thus:-

be

Withaut.

Light travels much faster than
sound.
0

·,,""~

·. ..,·.

Who.t Mr. Durke considers o.s a reproach to the French Revolution, that '·
of bringing it forward under a reign more mild than the preceding ones, is :·
one of its highest honours.

That must stand for rep-roach, but 'the reproach of bringing it. ,
forward' is nonsense. For that w e may substitute the fact, but the ,
sentence is still very loose in construction.

Exercise 98.
Be-write the fallowing sentences without ii,sing that
those) of:-

i

193

GRAA!li!AR

LONG/JI/ANS' SCHOOL COMPOSITION

248. In the locution that of the word that takes the place ·
of a Noun preceding; ca.re should be taken that there always _'
is a Noun preceding for which that may stand. The follo~g ­
sentence is defective in this respect:-

\

i

.
j

.,.,

'

~

.· (2) Emphatically ; as
.., · -: , I myself wrote that letter;

'

.. J :'
:

~- but they cannot be used as Personal Pronouns.

:

I

:~

Exercise 99.
Substit1de P ersona l Pl .01 •,0 u1•s
• J'r.or tlw words

t !

in

,·.

\ ij

-: J.~

•i·

.i.f.!
.~

.

-self or

~selves.
·
YourseU and many others were discontented.
Brown and myself met our friends in the park.
. .
After parting from Jones, we a.gain m_et ~imself and hrn sister.
Themselves and their wives were all mvited.
.
A short time a.go a. letter from myself appeared in your valuable iourna.1.
Herself and friend paid us a long visit.
George and myself spent a mouth at Brighto~.
The visit gave great pleasure to myself an<l hunself.
Yourself idone iue to Llrtrne.
My brother and myself had a beautiful walk.

I see another great man whose mind is a more abject slave to his own
greatness and is more tortured and racked by it than those of o.11 bis vo.ssals. · •
[Those is here equivalent to minds, but no such word occurs in the sentence.] :.. ~
No man shall ever receive o. fo.vour at my hands who is guided by any .: .
other law tbo.n that of my will.
There is one thing the loss of which I should deplore infinitely more ·
than that of liberty o.nd life also, I mean that of a good conscience.
- "=;r~.
He likewise produced some baked flesh, a. little resembling that of veni· :.._:;t~~,'f';·~~~
son. [What is the baked flesh of venison?]
.
·
:--;;'=;;;~';'.;,;
: E~~P.
The world hath this reason a.t lea.st to honoux such characters as that of ,.:.
Wild.
The number of the meto.ls is much larger than that of the non-meta.ls; . ·
The most triumphant death is that of the martyr; the most awful that
of the martyred patriot; the most splendid that of tho hero in the hour of
victory.
We beard many notes resembling those of the blackbird.
Henry's letters will bear comparison with .those of Wolsey.
The manner of Addison is as remote from that of Swift as from that of '
Voltaire.
I consider it to be a similar place of amusement to that of the Crysta.I ..
Palace.

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Ca ses of Pronouns.
250. Mistakes in the Cases of Pronouns generally arise from
gross carelessness only.
251. When a Pronoun is joined to a Noun or to another
Pronoun by a Co-ordinating Conjunction, tho two wonls have
the same Caso ; as
My brot her and I had a game.
I3etween you and me, I do not believe him.
These present8 are for y01£ ancl me.
May Mary and I go iur a walk?

>I

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252. Tako care that an Intenogativo Pronoun governed by a
Preposition is put in the Objective Case; as
Whom is that for?
Whom are you going to send that to?

Read again Pars. 76-81 and

1l'O rk

E:r:. G2-55.

Pronouns in -self.
249. The Pronouns formed by tho addition 0£ self 01· selves to-.~~=$=::::=
some of the Personal Pronouns can be used:~ (1) Reflexively; aa
I hurl myself.

Exercise 100.

Correct

the

fallowing sentences :~

.

.

(a) It was not her hut her niece :llfary_t11,a.t was going to be married,
~veryone present ex.oept he gues~ed Vi h;) •
o2

;

~

'

.

~·

LONCMANS' SCJiOOL

194

COMPOS~TION

. • Is it me?' cried the boy.
There is but one man that she can h
Thou partial nature I ar . ,
o.ve, and that is me.
D"d
ra1gn .
I
you never see the picture of we three?
' .. You who he was always like a father to.
t
I cannot tell who to compare th
. Earth hath swallowed up all
but she
He who had always inspired in her a re
.
.
,,
her affection, she now saw the object of
srct which almost overcame .
open P easantry.
At each of the laces
himself.
p
named I had seen men very like him, but not he

If they rob only such
•>

Then finish, dear Chloe, this pastoral war
And let us like Horace and Lydia agree,
For thou art a girl as much brighter than her
As he wo.s a poet sublimer than me.
The nations not so blest as thee
Must in their turns to tyrants fall.

. In this state Frank
msolent.
. Churchill found her, she trembling, they loud and .
If there is anyone embarrassed, it will not be me.

A thousand weary miles now stretch
Between my love and I.

ere's none but thee and I
.
This life ho.th joys for you ~nd I
~ll debts o.re cleared between yo~ and l
et you and I look at these
.
There
is
a
painful
differenc.
b
imitates it.
e etween the founder of a style

I'ro-

I hen.rd of him runnin g away.

Gerund1 heard of him flight ;

or if wo change the form of the sentenceH im running awi>y was reported to me.

The Possessive his is, of cour se, the word to prcccllc r1mninl).
254. Nouns similarly used before Gerunds should also be
in the Possessive Case ; as

such as me

I heard or John's running away.
•

Exercise 101.

' These lines were writt ·
to write in the same alb en m a Indy's album by Albert Smith
um, saw them, and wrote under I.
I know .that Albert wrote in ah
To criticise I scarce presume. urry,
llut yet methinks that Lindie/Murray
Instead 0~ trho had written trlwm,

t\

The error is at once apparent if we substitute a Noun for the

(c) Who
it that
· 1
Who
did is
that
co the
f goose o.ys golden eggs for?
me rom?
He's married. To who?
Who did you speak to?
Who did they ride with?

y~;1~~e~::~:n!:~o.ans

Who counted the money? Both the clerk and me.
They know that as well o.s me.
He must be o. wiser mo.n than me.
The work of national ruin was pretty effectually carried on by the mini sters,
but more effectually by the paper-money makers than they.

253. A Gerund in the Obj ective Case sometimes lrns
noun in the Obj ective Case wrongly placed before it; as

~is wealth and him bid adieu to each other

(d) ~ thought that ho.a only been for no.
I thmk Lindore would b
l
ughty ones
I see you can lo.ugh at
me.
me.

rob all the world, I should h old them

Then Phoebe started. • Wby,' thought she,
'The babe is near as fair as me.'

Mont Blanc is the monarch of mount .
The
d .
ams,
Y crowue him long ago
But who they got to put it on
Nobody seems to know.'

.

a~ thee, who

right honest folk.
I will not learn my duty from such as thee.
And hock itself is Jess esteemed than thee.
I will have no such son-in-law that [say as] thinks himself better than

mye~op:s

(b)

195

GRA.Ml'1!AR

Correct the foUowing sentences :-

.

..

(a) Do you remember me speaking to you about this book?
. He wo.s angry o.t me distrusting him . .
l did not see him in consequence of me being abroad •

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lit::

...

--~.

196

i

What is the use of you wh . .
- r
I am sorry to own th t h f1p~mg a dead horse ?
.
a e ailed througl
·'
H e t rusted to me keeping
h.1
l me neglecting to help him - .
s secret
. ""
Our
1
ear y arrival was caused b
• •
.
I am delighted at vou 1 .
Y us takmg the train.
N
d
"
rnvm g succeeded
o goo can come of me doing th t
.
I am annoyed at him b .
a .
erng excluded from the party
(b) Th.
.
is may lead to your lad shi
. .
.
V1co observes that th
·r b ! P qui ttmg this
house
·
H
e w1 e rmging a d
.
.
,
t
~knowledge of the Emperor having 1of7ry is ~vidence of her freedom: ..:o ma e such a will.
e nothmg to his son induced h ~
The fact of William ha .
•
er .•~
vmg arnved was unknown t
255. In the sentence
o me.
That is a man whom I know to be faithful and true

there are two Finite V h .
that and I. Whom is go~e::ie~s i1~~ lcno'.v; _and two Subjects,
1.
e Ob;ective by know.
256 If
.
we c.uange the sentence to
'

I

That is a man who I know is faithful and true

we have three Finite Verbs is kn
.
that, I, and who.
' ' • ·Ow, and is; and three Subjects,
•

257.

That is a man

is wrong

w

hon I
i

'
f
t 1 ' r
l t .f.
t \ _,

197

,•

Obj ect to bcl·ievc the Complex Clause, 'He is the m an who
Changing the order! believe he is the man who did it.
He is the man who did it, I believe.

Omitting the pn.renthotical ' I believe'
He is the m an who did it.

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Three Finite Verbs, saw, had , o.n<l was; only t wo SubjectR, he
, :and he. Omit' ho ho.d no hesitation in declaring,' and we n ave' w hom

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Apprehensive of her father, whom she thought it was she stopped

·~ :~~

is of a different type. Each of the two Verbs has a Subj ect, and
there is a Verb which might govern whom. The Object to
thought, however, is not whom but the clause 'it was wh om .' As
the Verb to be requires the same Case after as before it, whom
should be who.

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258. '.l'he error is at once detected if
h
thus:we c ange the order ,·
(1) I know that is a ma
l
.
.
(2) That is a
L--~ .w ~JS faJthful and true.
.
man Wrunn JS faithful and true I k
if we
.t th
, now.

e parenthetical • I know , .

Tl t ·
1a is a man wh<nn is faithful and t

• thus:-

rue.

259. T11e errors in the foll .
in the same way:.
owmg sentences may be detected'
(1) He is the man whom I believe did it.

Three Finite Verbs is b z·
, , e ieve, and did; only two

love us.

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Exercise 102.
As an association we can only recommend those whom we think will
make good candidates and whom we know are willing to take upon the mselves the duties of the office.
I became acquainted with one of their elders whom I do not believe was
a rogue.
The other was from an applicant whom I afterwards learned had only
left the office a few minutes before.
He was summoned for the maintenance of his wife who it wa.s alleged he
had deserted.
Opposite him. was a stranger whom Mark knew must be the count.
He declared things would only end in the in.king of his own life or of the
man whom he considered had robbed him of his happiness. [Several faults.]
He departed in a perfect frenzy of hatred against the single lady whom
he believed htid brought about all the trouble.
Sir H. J. then read over the evidence given by Mr. P. ye s te rd~y in respect
to the witness whom Mr. P. was informed had at t.b.e time of h is bankru ptcy
destroyed tae papers . . . then in his possession.
It is always a happiness to b& with those we love and whom we know

.

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260. The sentence

l

Il

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-1 ...

I

l I

,,
~

.,.
'_,.

t

1.;.

·'

(2) He saw a man whom h e had no h esitation in declaring wa:i Laurie.

.,_- was.'

!!

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Correct the following sentences :-

wt

omi

CRAM1itAR

know is faithful and true

(1) Because the second is has no S b. t
. (2) There is nothing to govern
~ec_ ·
Ob1ect to know being the com 1
1iom m the Objective, tl1e
is faithful and true.' .
p ex c a use, ' That is a man who

or

A

I ?.

.,

,·

LONGMANS' SCHOOL COMPOSITION

'

GRAMMAR

You know surely that La. Guya.ra a.nd the salvation of one whom we be·
lieve dwells there was our first object in this adventure.
i"
This was as far as he could carry the case that day, as e. witness whom he1 '!,
expected would have been present was unfortunately absent.
He saw on the night of the burglary a man whom he believed was the .
accused.
·
l\Ir. B. then addressed the jury on behalf of Mr. J. who he said he would
call to deny the charge agaim;t him.

·. . . 262. To understand the distinction proposed, the two functions
R 1 ti p.
ns must be observed.
~of e a ve ronou
R 1 t' 'e Pronouns are simply co.,.
(1) In some s~ntten~es a ~e~u1~act but the a11tecedcnt would
ordinating. They in r o! ucc
J'
'
. be complete and defin·ite without them.

.

Examples.

Mr. Allen Thorndyke Rice, who, it is announced, President Harrison has
appointed American minister to St. Petersburg, is a distinguished journalist. · . ;
An occasional interchange of newspapers was effected through the medium ··
of a dark servant of the Major's, who l\!iss Tox was quite content to classify ..
as a native.
You will, of course, bestow your hand and fortune upon whomsoever will
discover the murderer of your husband.
I have heard persons whom I knew were in the habit of using this •
form.
The gag forced into the mouth of whomsoever lifts up his voice with a ·,';
pure heart to preach his faith-that gag I feel between my own lips.
My memory does not serve me as to whom it was.
We were betrayed by those whom we thought would have sacrificed every.
thing to help us.

~:nder

the lane we met a man who had lost .his way.
·,.
dog which my brother gave me is very mtelhoent.

These sentences may be writtend l e hacl lost his way.
:nd my brother gave it to me.

~:~~:rl~:~ ~vse v:r~ ;0 :~7g:~t,

. .

p r onouns are restr1cfl've.
.
(2) In some sentences R eIa t ive
I") .
1
.
C
.
r.tion
and
a
er
son
a
Tl
cannot be resolved mto a ODJUn .
antcp 1ey u' and they introduce something without which tlic
ronou ,
d ,1; .t
cedent would not be complete and eJ.ni e.
Examples.
The man who had lost his way fell over the cliff.
The dog which my brother gave me ran away.

We met young Brown, whom all agree is very affable.
We were surprised to see the very two indivjduals [find a better word]
whom we thought were miles a.way.

,

. Cl s tells us what man a.nJ what Jog; Ill the
, Here the Relative au._e
.
d l't' onal fact about the man and
,preceding examples they told us an a t l I

· · She was annoyed by the presence of Mr. Jekyl, whom her brother insisted
l!bould remain to dinner.

·7
most
. 263 Dr Bain suggests that ' as 1cho and w 1nc i are . t
·
·
·
d' f
't would be a clear gam 0
commonly preferre~ for co-or ma wn, i. e that for the restrictive
confine them to this s~nse , and to ~~s::1:n would foll in with the
application alone. Tlus arrang~n;~ b ond the limits of formal
most general use of that, especia y e~
composition.' I-Higher Grammar, p. 37.

· the dog.

The great teacher himself, whom he might fear would have passed a.way,
is waiting.
·
She determined to many nobody, let him be whom he might.
The sign of the Good Samaritan is wrltten on the fnoe of whomsoever
opens to the stranger.
I do not know whom it is I serve.
Whom they were I really cannot sa.y.
Whomsoever they accused were cast into her peculiar p~sons.

264. If the distinction
.
proposeL1 b y D r. Bain were observed, the
sentence
.
. .
. I want some medicine for my wife who is ill

Distinction between who ~r which and that.
261. The Relative Pronoun who is used for the names of .
persons, which for the names of animals and things, and that fo:u. :.~?
all Nouns. A question therefore arises whet.her any distinction '":'"'
should be made between who and which on the one hand,' and 'S: -~
that on the other,
: ~., , ._,_
,
. ' ", w'•. ;~'\, ,

199

• \ /<

.
"• Gos el lms hec·n em mined for th e usage of t lie sen:~!
• •Our trnnslation of St. Matt.li e\\ .p
f tie coui1uiUe1' for rcvisiug the English
· ·
t Aber lcen
oue o
•
1
Relatives, by Professor M1ll1gau o
'
' 2·>4 R lative constmctious. Of t!Jese 175 are
translation of the Kew Tcstumcn~. _There nre • f
tr!iid1 and tlial as here tnnglit. Tn
. in strict accordance with tllc ih st1nct1ve u_ses. o
'that is 'put for trlio or irhirh. I l.><'li,.vc
v
h. h ·s put for Ilia/. Ill six cases
.
'r, . forty-three cases l/Jho or tr ic0 i.
. ' I
t ctions tlmt wonhl not be fdt. to 111• llH ·
. ,;
.
l
f the except1ona con s ru
. .
I t h
·
. .
,-·
·
that
there
1s
scarce
Y
one
g,
and
Professor
M1lhgan
"o
t e
.
. .
.
d to oonform with the preva1 1mg usn c,
proved
to the Higher Engli&h Grammar, p. 82.
aiune
op1ruon. -,,
•

,;,,o

~y.be1~g ~~o~ndnlin•

.

201

GRAMMAR

-

..I.,

would imply that I have a wife and she is ill ; but the sentence
I wa.nt some medicine for my wife that is ill

I

~--~~~~~----:--~-·~

,,

. fp
itions may be used as Adverbs,
t firet si(J'ht to
• .- (b) A considerable number o repos
,~ ,
f 11
d by a Noun or Pronoun seem, a
" '
.<and when not o owe
·be Adverbs.
:..>' (3) That should be avoided where the Relati~e is separated from
tbe Antecedent or the Verb by a phrase or clause ' as
.
"te of difficulties must succeed.
He is a ~an tliat [tsayt~~~][::ys!~iich] with all its faults I love.
England is a coun ry

1 ·•

would imply that I
particular one.

I

265. Similarly,
That noise is too much for my head which aches
would imply that I have a head and it aches, while
The noise is too much for my bead that aches

I

I

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.

I ~ ._.
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'

Exercise 103.
Show that the meaning of the following sentences c1epends
'"'
(8.)
··;_'lfpon the Relative Pronoun clwsen :w ho

would imply that I have two or more beads and a. particular o~e
aches.

266. If the distinction proposed by Dr. Bain were observed;
ambiguity would sometimes be avoided. What, for example, is the ,
meaning of the sentence
There were very few passengers who escaped without serious injury?,~ ,,

~:

· ~\ere kept back by the police.

.

It may mean that there were few passe~gers and they all escaped
without serious injury. It probably means that of all the passengers
very few escaped without serious injury. The use of that would con··
vey the latter meaning.
"'

-':,>

.
. . {who} had
Such an action surprised the neighbours that

long.
.
f which\_ ou
- You may v1s1
· "t t'ie
Isle of Wight during the next holidays l tha t j Y
1
who

't,•

that; o.s

· d

f who}

.companied me home.
f
{w7to} are studying Greek.
orm that

I was overtaken by my fnen s l that ac

Do you know that ma.n that is standing near the do()('?

·'

.
not known him

at Southsea.
;:..,;.;' willI spend
r l was going to market.
have just met the farmer \_thatf
On the cliff stn.nd the boatmen { a?:t} ~re watching the storm.

267. Dr. Bain's rule cannot be rigidly adhered to in all cases. ,
In such cases as the following that should not be employe<l, ·
though the Relative be. used restrictively :
·
(1) Where the Antecedent is qualified by

p rogress through the streets wo.s difficult because of the people {that}

,~.

· l

A sentence like the following, if it had no other fault, should be •
avoided because of its disagreeable sonncl :·
'
My lords, with humbJe submission, that that I sn.y is this, that that thaf ·~
that gentleman has advanced is not that that he should have proved to your
lordships.

These are the boys in the a11r.t i
The mouse

that
{whwh}

the little girl was afraid of was a pretty little

·· · . ' creature.
.
d
. ·--~- •
h t
are built of sandstone look clean an
-, .. ,. • ,._ ·
The houses of t e own that
.. ... ,.,.
.
(2') Where the Relative is governed by a Preposition that should ·
.-_._ ne'at.
be mrely used.
-' ·
{which} are names of qualities are co.Bed Abstract Nouns.
.
All N
He is the man that I depended on
that
ouns
is correct ; but we cannot say,
{wh ich t we ought not to have done.
.
that j
We have done many t h mgs
He is the man on that I depended
,~·
.
.
{1ohich} I do not know the
The u se of that, therefore, throws the Preposition to the end of the' :t '.
There is not a single sentence m this play that
sentence, and this is open to two objections,·· · ·='~'"'"
meaning of,
(a) An emphatic ,position is given to an unemp~atic wo.rd. "/

{which}

;.~ ·~ .

~

";.

T

. \

.
202

.

'

· LONGllfANS' . SCHOOL COllf POSITION

GRAMMAR

: (b) ~ay of eacl~ Relct:tive in the followZ:ng sentences whether it ·
is used in conformity w ·1,th Dr. Bain's r!lle :-

They flew to ann s an<l attacked Norlh11111bcrla1lll's house, whom th<:y put
to c1catl 1,

sboukl be written

She had learned
th at from Miss Wood 1clio
had
he"rcl
't f
J h
,
• .
·
•
"
1 rom ICr usband, who hau h eard it from the landlord, who had h eard it from the bo · •'
that carried the beer.
!

They flew to arms and attacke<l the house of Northumberland , whom they
put to death,

He loved th e bird w luJ loved the m an
That 1:1hot him with his bow.

or,
They fl ew to arms, attacked the house of Northumberland, and put him

He singeth loud his godly hymns

Exercise 104.

'l'hat he makes in the wood.

Correct the follow in:; sentences :-

This hermit good lives in the wood
Which slopes down to the sea.

For my sake pity him , Oceanus,
Th at erstwhile issued from thy watery loins.

There was n ever yet philo~opher
That coul<l endure the tooth!\chc patiently.

[Ve nus , who rose from the sea, is speakin~ . ]
I learned much fr om the rn r.ster ' s example who was Ycry kim1 to me.
Let him st.1y in <>tu· liou sc who Ii Ye 1w11r the river.
She rnarrieJ }'r(-.l's ,.;io;tcr who is my brother.
\Vo suspected l1i s sincerity who always fl~1tterell us.
.
.
We were interested in the people's em pl oy ment who work w the ptt.
The man\; wisdom is despised "ho is poor.
Th ei r conduct resembled a. coward'H wh o is afrniJ to speak the truth.
\Vor<ls should convey an exact copy of his i<lea who uses them.
T he more accurately we search into th e human min <l th e stronger traces
we fi nd every wh ere <•f His wis(lom wh o made it .
The sigl;t of his Llood whom they deemed invulncrul.Jc shook the courage
of the sold it'.rs.
\Ve glorify His name an d mission who was the Prince oi l'eacc.

U neasy lies the head tluit wenr8 n <'rown.
Most of th e novels which Scott wrote arc very good.
The thirs t that from the soul doth riso
Doth ask a drink divine.

The roses soon withered that hung o'er tho wave.
T h e moon, that once was round and full
Is now a silver boat.
'
They ncted like base co wards wlw leave thc·ir nmk in danger ' h
mh
.. ·
f h
s our •
.;. e crisis is one o t e most s ingular which have ever occ~irred.
Down, down, within the <! Pep.
'l'hat oft to triumph bore him.
H e sleeps n. i;()Und and ple Mant sleep,
W1~h the salt wa ves <lashing o'e r him.

Cu11junclion l1r}1rc a Bclulicc.
269. The Co -on1inatin:; Conj11nctio11s (mu?, or, !Jut, &c.) juin

On, ye brave,
TVho rush to glory or the grave.
are first properly to be considered un der two " I'"nd " · · . ·
"h l\Iankind
•
.
h "
CllVJ SJOUS • . osc foa,t use their own hands and those wlw employ the hands of oth'ers?=

A n tecedents .

............

~r

268. The Antecedent to a Relative P~·onoun should be a -Ncci~-=-'-''"'···_·-~.,,
'·
or. •Pronoun
in the Nominative or in tl ie Ob'~ec t'ive Case, or ·c.11 ---"~~.·
-~
• ·r'.
•
,
1

pu1a:se, Clause, or sentence.

The sentence

-~· ~

·_to death.

-~-.~-

co-ordinate pl irnses, clauses, or s('ntcllccs. 'Ilic phrase , c1an:-;e,
or sentence following the Conjunction must therefore be similar
to tl1at preceding it.
270. Applyi ng this gene rrtl rule to a particular case, we 11'.ay
say that a Co- ord inatin g Conj un ction can be follow ed by a Rclat1ve
Clause only ·w hen also preceded by one.

.

271. Such sentences as the following are wrong :-

(1) A cautious 8cotchrnan of a practical matter-of-fad turn of mim1 and
wlw had listened with much unconcern drily remarke1l . . .

I

''

.i 1

1 ; .;
.

?

~: ~ ~
;

f

l
•!

...
204

LONG.iJANS' SCHOOL CO,VPOSl7'JON

CRAJl!MAR

·
. · (2) A series
of anonymous
bl' .
- •··.
members of the University but ~~ } ioati~ns purporting to be written • -.
versity itBelf • . •
'
w iu' arc in no way sanctioned by the U

is
.; .

li~~Jy~ohobusd
e built in frosty weather or whrich
e amp.

has

272. These and similar sentences
b
Relative Clause before or b
.
i:nay e amended by placing .
the Oonjunoiion ; thus;_ y gettmg ncl of the Relative Clause afie~,
. (1) A cautious Scotchman wl
.
·
·,
nund mul who had listened, &c. UJ was of a practical matter-of-fact turn'·

; This sentence might 1 h
b
of amd,
.
a so ave een amended by the simple omission
(2) A series of anonymous
bl. .
members of the University but
/°at10ns which purport to be written by
or
w nc' are, &c.
-

pt

'
A series of anonymous publications ur
.
.
. ... '·
of the University but in
. p porting to be wnt.ten by members
no way sanctioned by, &c.
·
(S) A house which is built · fr
·
m osty weather, or w/, ich has bad bricks, &o._
or,

A house built in frosty weather or

~ith

bad b . k &

Exercise 105.
Correct the following sentences:-

l'IC S,

C.

.

a:

In the same manner were dromons b th d. .
. ~- •.
of_ beings of a superior order to men
e iv1?e love set over us as a·raoe ·•
might regulate our' affairs.
' d who with great case to themselves .
They look upon them as blessin s sh
.
.
••
the.more they improve to their ow!
owered down _from a bove, and which ·~
their ~atitude and piety.
use the greater is [should this be are ?j :
W1th these menaces he retired at la
.
~ . ' '• ,
mennces on his side and h' h
st, but not without muttering iloine .•
immediate execution.
w ic ' to our great terror, he failed not to put"i'n_to ·. •
To her Mrs. Carlyle would sometim .
.
.
,: . '
•
e~ impart stories of her early day!! full . ·'
of fun and fi;eshness and which th
themselves.
'
e rea er must look for in the volumes' "''
She is said to have lived ~ a wret h
.
. ..;,..,. ~
where scavengers deposited the
~ ed hovel near the New River Head, ,
~w;epmgs of the streets, and which 'amr · ~
li.eavy rain could only be a
"· About a mile from the £proac e b~ wadin~ knee-deep in mud. •: .:··i - ..
.
own are the mteresting ruins of Sandsfoot ·Castle -~
. . 'ti

..

\

205

t'anding on a high cliff fac in g Portland and which, to be seen at its best,
houl<l be viewed by moonlight.
He was brought up under her own eye by a tutor of deep erudition but
·110 was totally unfi tted for forming the mind.
. Athelstane, confident of his strength, and to whom his flatterers at least
·scribed great skill in arme, hatl determinetl to make him feel the weight of
· is battle-axe.
.: A good substitute was found in the maize, the great agricultural staple of
both the northern and southern divisions of the American continent, and
which after its exportation to the Old World spread so rapiclly a8 to su g ~: t·B t
the idea of its being indigenous to it.
In this fight he took the French king and his son prisoner and whom he
treated with great respect.
He adopted Trajan , then about forty years of age, and who commanJed a
powerful army in Lower Germany.
A woman of exemplary character and who, with her family, has been
for more than thirty years a tenant of the same house in thi~ neigh bourlwocl,
,,:_ has a husband who is entirely and permanently incapacitated for work.
Most of the co.sties built after the reign of H enry I. , and which had some·
· times served as mere dens of robbers, were afterwards destroyed under
: · :Henry II.
Even a peer 0£ the realm with unblushing cffrontcry, and who will prob·
ably be brought to the bar of the House for breach of privilege, has openly
'-_ canvassed votes.
'!.
It is indeed the essential quality of a gentleman, and which no man, who
•.· 'ever was great in the field, can possibly be without.
·~
<_ ' To his inexpressible delight he beheld a sail at a very little distance, and
" · whioh luckily seemed to be ma.king towards him.
;':"'
A gentleman on board, and who was in my situation, rescued me from his
•· hands.
· The Board offer their grateful acknowledgments for the liberal support
hitherto so freely extended, and which has so greatly contribuLed to this
satisfactory result.
It was feared that the untimely death of the surgeon to the hospital, occurring as it did so very shortly after its opening, and to whose untiring
energy the institution mainly owes its existence, might seriously affect its
future prospects and position.
His having been with Lorenzo at the time of his death, and who had
wished to confess to him, raised him prodigiously in the opinion of all those
who had been the admirers of the prince.
Such are a few of the many paradoxes one could cite from his writings,
and which are now before me.
These delusions become so powerful that their authority over the reasoning faculty is absolute, and from which there _is no appeal•

• ~

J

"..

,:
•',
·.,
;-,-,

...,...

.:··lo,

I•';

i:.' -·tt
i:.·
.::ro::· _...,

..

-'

"'"'-

GRAMMAR

•·

2o6

~'1

'

!-

.,,,-

,,,

' __..:...

I

201

LONGMANS' SCHOOL COJJfPOSJTJON
..... ''".

We are in an age of weak beliefs, and in which such belief as men ha~els
more determined by their wish to believe than by any mental appreciation'
of evidence.
'
This is a violation of the principl es of religious liberty, and which W-1
believe will provoke much resistance.
The house long in the possession of the Berkeley family, and which waa~
inhabited by Colonel Berkeley, was at Spring Gardens.
,,
He is a dark-complexioned [omit complexioned] gentleman, with a black
military-looking moustache thirty-eight years of age [If the moustache is.,.,
thirty-eight years old, how old is the man?], and who lives in a secluded · ·
•
little studio out Chelsea way.
The visitors then adjourned for tea, which was kindly provided by the
teachers of the school, and to whom a hearty vote of thanks was aecorde~
[Accorded and hearty a.re tautological, as accorded is from the Latin cor, •
cordis, the heart.]
I expect [find a better word] that it is caused through
much as possible, and for which you can do nothing more.

Omission of R elati1:es .

I ha.ve a. mind [wj;l.icb] presages me such thrift .
Tha.t I should questionless be fortuna.te.-Shakespcare.

It is not growing like a. tree
In bulk [that] doth make men better be.-Ben Jonson.
In this 'tis God [that] directs, in tha.t 'tis man.-Pope.

,

275. But it may be said that now only slovenly writers omit
· a. Relative in the Nominative Case.
276 Furthermore, the Relative should a:w~ys be expresse~
when its omission would also involve the om1ss1on of a Prepos1tion; as
In the circumstances [in which]
room for hope.

Exercise 166.

Sitpply the omittecl Relatives·
Thy honourable metal may be wrought
!~ .,, From that it is disposed.

"' .

I .• ,

273. A Relative Pronoun governed in the Objective Case by ~
a Verb may be omitted ; as
·

And, that is worse, the Lords of Ross are fled.
In war was never lion ragec1 more fierce.

We speak that [which] we do know and testify that
seen.
Regions [that] Cresar never knew
Thy posterity shall sway.

What wreck discern you in me
Deserves your pity?
You a.re one of those
Would have him wed a.gain.

The_flinty couch [that] we now must share
Shall seem with down of eider fill ed.

And they are envious term thee parasite.

That mercy [which) I to others show,
That mercy show to me.

Off with his head,

And rear it in the place your father's stands.

A Relative Pronoun governed in the Objective Case by a Preposi~

Declare the cause
My father, Earl of Cambrid~c. lost h is head.

tion may also be omitted ; as
Have you brought the thing [that) I sent you for?

But the omission of the Relative throws the Preposition to the
end of the sentence, and this we have already seen (Par. 267) is ".
undesirable. Indeed, careful writers of prose rarely omit the.
Relative under any circumstances.
·

274. Our older writers often omitted a Relative in the Nomina-.
tive Case ; as
I have a brother [who] is condemned to J.ie.-- -Shakespearc.

he now found himself there seemed no

And being frank she leads thee to these ar~ free.
To me you cannot reach you play the spaniel.
What should I do I do not ?
.
h
enius would prompt h im to better thrngs. .
~e
;l~n ~fr. Burke wa.s writing he rr:i ght h~ve written on_.
in
n h .t t . n Enrrla.nd now is it is impossible she can increase
In t e s1 ua 10
o

t::

money.

Be that thou know'st thou art, and thep thou a.rt
4 8 great as that thou fear'st,

p

-,

208

-~-

LONCJ'ifANS' SCHOOL CO;VPOS.lT.lOJV

CRA!l-JN.. -IR

But all I hear

Is the north-wind drear,
And all I see are the waves.

Exercise 107.
Plrice the Nouns anrl Pro11ouns i n the natnral order.

'T:...~

no•
•h + • l
• v "' C vrIU. of n \VOlllUn ·~ war,
The bitt:r cl amou r of two eager tongues,
pan arbitrate between us.

Tl iongh hliC d \rL:i L i11 a d1:--:t:Lllt part of t l1c ki11g110n1 , tl: c Lvrror~

Our nearness to the king in love
Is near the hate of those love not the king.

T

k.
.
There lies
wo msmen d1gged their graves with weeping eyes.

T
I have no name, no title,
, t.
No, not that name was given me at the, IOll

A

l'lllay
plot shall show us all u. mcrnr
d a.y.
"J
Have I
f · d ·
·
no nen will rid me of this li ving foa.r?
I have words t
k ·
.
o spea m thme ear will make th d b
"l
ee um.
el put on those shali praise your exccilence.

w

th t h
rrovi<led
.
•. • • a e do record a ift
Herem this court of all h a·
g ,
U t h·
'
e ies possessed
n o JS son Lorenzo and his daughter.

Pronoun before N oun.
_277: A Pronoun is sometimes 1 d b
.
wluch it stands ; as
Pace
efore the Noun for ·
Slinging their bows behind t'
l .
·h
.
iLCllt, l!S
a1·chcrs betook themselves to the z~ axes wit which they had b
.
een provided.

Read again Pars. GG-74, anrl wo rk aga in E.r. ·14 - 00.
l

\l

Ar1reeme1tt.

In order that they [who ?J
. It
k'll
th cu. pri. soners.
. m1g I not be hampered he told h'is men to
.
1

' !i

Exercise 108.
--

by

v:ar

VERBS.

. 278. When the Noun follows clo 1
~
is not much objection to th' .
. se .Y after the Pronoun there
is mvers1on of the n t 1
. .
am bigmty may r~sult from it ; as
a ura order, but -.

tl ie1e
. is
.
tf279. .Generally speakina
o,
1 Prono~n before the Noup . nothing to be gained
pu mg tie

or

ha<l been lirv u::.;11t lwrnc to Joan.
One day when she was alone, tending h er father's flock, Joan tho u0 ht
she heard .. .
As soon as they had fini shed their repast the young people rose from the
ta.hie to close the fes1iYities of the day with dancing.
After she came of age the Aztec maiden was trca.ted by her parents with
great tenderness.
Verona still boasts her amphitheatre and his native Yicenza is adorn ed
by the classic ar chitect ure vf Palladio.
This clian,::e. though mainly owing to their own violence, excited no sma11
indignation in the minds of the r efo rmcrf:.
At one time, seeing his forces wavering, the Earl of \Varwick di smounted,
stahlie<l hi s horse in their presence and swore to li,·e or die wi th thc;11.
After he had been rei gning some time a coolness sp ran g up Lutwecn
Edward and \V arwick.
Soon after his mas te r's <lcath in 1-1-11 Ca:::ton went abrn:ul.
After his father' s death one of the Paston correspondents wrotD to him
several times bdorc he heard that he was dead.
Writing to lier husband. who was lying ill in the capital , l\Irs. 1\fargarct
Pnston sflys . . .
As he was getting off his h orse Sir Humphrey was struck on the head
witl1 • rrn edge d too l.'
Writing to her cou sin John I'aston about a husband who was proposed
for his sister, ELza.beth Clare says •. .

-

--,.;-.-•_''_}';...""-~

~

Correct the jollowm!J sentences :Neither the artist nor the biographer seem to have any clear conception
of the boundaries which separate impu<lcnce from ''"it.

'!
·'

I

!
'I

".
'210

GRAMMAR

LONCMANS' SCHOOL COMPOSITION
Ne'er man a more industrious spouse possessed,
Ne'er children in a mother was more blessed.

Everyone of these letters a.re in my name.
The continual succession of the small era.ft, like the frequent repetition
of a.11 things which have nothing in them great, beautiful, or admirable, tire
the eye and give us distaste and a. version instead of plea.sure.
The orders for the second tn.ok was given and obeyed with much more ~.
alacrity than those had been for the first. [The orders were not given with
more nln.ority.)
Neither of these gentlemen are kindly disposed to this country.
Does the misery, crime, and insanity produced by excessive drinking
grow less?
His voice nnd manner was studiously calm.
Neither Henrietta nor Louisa nor Charles Hayter nor Captain Went.
worth were there.
.
An entirely fresh selection of representative extracts have been made. His spirit and method was divine.
Neither Swinburne nor the bard of the sunflower and the lily have ye\
reached such a point.
That is not surprising when the number of locomotives a.re considered.
• Mr. J. M. asked whether the wife of Mr. A., accompanied by Mr. B., on
visiting Tulia.more .Prison on Monday, April 1, were not allowed to see Mr. A, • ·
The conduct of the firemen deserve all praise.
·
Neither were conscious of the nature of that sentiment.
The lack of beauty, fashion, nn<l elegance disappoint the stranger.
Neither Beauty nor her mistress were to be taken in.
Neither of the preceptresses were better skilled.
.
\Ve cannot say that the extent of his duties at all surprise us.
It is not the remembrance of its brightest days that are now a solace to
my heart.
The works of Fla.vins Josephus, to which is added three dissertations.
Ho did not know where I or the girl were.
A selection of spring dresses are to hand.
A profusion of white waistcoats were to be observed among the male
members of the choir.
The resemble.nee in tho cases arc so remarkable a.s to give grounds •••
The learned judge said that neither of tho parties were entitled to much
sympathy.
We have wiped a.way the drops which sacred pity have engendered. ·
A comparison of the materials which Defoe worked up into the 'Life
and Adventures of R.obin son Crusoe' clearly prove that ..•
There everybody who is anybody, down to the very schoolboys, wear a
uniform.
Jones with a number of other men were engaged.

In this quiet burial-ground lie m~ny a gallant l~ffiec;rb accredited writers
The use of terms genera.Hy received a.nd ~mp y
y
·
to be recommen<led.
.
on the subject of agncn 1ture are
1 <l
f
modern hi:;toria.n require a
But the temper as well as know e ge o a
. more sober and accurate language.
.
d ccomplices were put to
Magnus with four thousan<l of his suppose a
death.
.
·1 or simple death were esteemed uncommon instances
Confiscation, exi e,
of his lenity.
d
l. h e have quoteu were wrong. Neither of
Everyone of the wor s w uc w
them are useu now.
. . 1
When a man or woman find that a knot is tiec
ti ·r meetings from
Nothing but the sincerity of the speakers !lave ie1
ridicule.
bas been taught to those who im agine th_a t <lth~
A very useful lesson
f
the streets leave the latter at their is 1
1
f the. many
Cle a.ranee of week-day traffic ro~
[Vulgar~ty is on y one o
posal for a game of pan demomum.
faults of this sentence.]
In these words lie the secret.
. .
Neither of them are remarkable for prec1s10n.
bl
N b dy I presume but kings say . • •
A ovi~tu~us a.nu goo'd Turk or heathen are ~ore accepta e
Whatever mortal men perfection n~me
Thou in an infinite degree does claim.
.
boat's crew su.ve Amyas were down '\\'1th
That night everyone of the
raging fever.
l'k thumps on his own anvil.
line of his poems a.nd songs were i e
~:~~s composition neither of the a.rms cross the body.

•th ·ts Antecedent in
280. A Relative Pr~z~n a :~::e~i~1 its ~ubject in Number
Number and Person. A_ f . tY1e Subject is ::i. Relative Pronoun,
and Person. Wlie1:1t·~l~~: ~~tecedent in Number and Person; as
the Verb agrees w1

l l

Sing. No. let
IThou
2ndPers.
"
"
3rd
He
h
"
"
w 0
Plur. No. let Pers. We
2nd "
You
"
3rd "
They

"
'£he ·sentence

\love
lovest
Loves
love

l

.

the man will gladly help hllll.

love

love

And many a holy text a.round she s.trews
That teach the rustic moralist to die,

1

·1 \

212

_LONC}}fANS' SCHOOL COilfPOSIT;ON
GRAMllfAR

violates this rule ; teach b .
._
tea;t, is Singular.
emg Plural, while that, like its An,tecedent •

281 ..

~oth the following sentences are correct·-

He has written one of the best manuals that has been produced for
yea.rs .
.':"
Scott is one of the greatest novelists that has appeared in this country.
' Chaucer is the one of our great poets that come first in point of time.
I am one of those who is unable to appreciate his merits.
This is one of the first things that opens your eyes to the state of affairs.

j,

(1) This is the only one of tho b k
.
.
(2) Bring me one of the b k thoo s that is worth reading.
00 8

at are on the table.
.
the only ou e that is worth reatlin ' nt IS one-• Of the books this is
In the second sentence the
that are on the table b .
.
teccdeut Is book8-' Of the hooks
rmg rue one.'

In the first sentence the Antecede

t

.

283. Grammarians are divided as to the correctness of sen.~ tenoes like the following :Neither the captain nor the sailors were saved.
Either he or I is in the wrong.
Those are far more able to help your son than either you or I arc.

282. Both the follow ·
t
mg sen ences are incorrect: ( 1) Th" .
yet.

MT

213

1s is one of the most .
.
m1portant cases that has been tried th.

a

here is not one of his writings that do not bear th
.
.
In the first sentence th An .
.
e mark of genius,
h
b
.
e
tecedent is c
, Of
ave een tned there yet this is one
asc~the cases that
In the second sentence the
of the m.ost important.'
there is not one that d
b Antecedent is one-' Of his writ"
oes not ear the mark of genius.'
mgs

284. Cobbett was no grammarian, but in dealing with this
point he shows the strong common-sense that often characterises
:_'. his writings. He says:-

-~

'

'If Nominatives of different Numbers [separated by or or nor]
' present themselves, we must n ot give them a Verb which disagrees with
either the one or the other.
must not say,

·we

. Neither the halter nor the bayonets are sufficient to prevent us from
·
obtaining our rights;

Exercise 109.
Correct the following sentences :-

we must a.void this bad grammar by using a. different form of words;

a.a

(a) Many a man who trust in the" . h
The man or the woman who d ll"tc es are doomed to disappointment .
o no. work l1ard will be dismissed
.
Neither the eloquence n
their due attention.
or the logic that mark his discourses.
receive
Wl
0 Thou my voice inspire
. ' .
. io touched Isaiah's hallo\ d 1·
.
. ve ips with fire.
( b) My room is
one of those that
., .
She is the only one of the . ·l th overlooks the garden.
Th'.s, is one of the many ~1:r:ets a~a~~ really earnest in their efforts.
auth ?rihes.
e town that is a disgrace to tha
Sir Theodore was one of the f
.
considerably) did not lose h" l ew South Sea directors who(though h 1 t,
.
is c Hl.racter
e os
Spenser is
one of th
·
Elizabeth.'
e poets that adorns ' the spacious tim
f
.
es o great •
.
There is not one of his poems that
.,
Oarb?n is one of the su bstances th ~r? n~t worthy of careful study. .
Ir?n is not the only one of th
a is difficult to fuse.
. , •:·
- '"~
liLS book is one oI ilie best ;a~tal~- that a~e more useful than precious• . ' -~
.
as ,,,een w:1tte.u on the subject. -. . . . r :;--:...
'

' '

.

~.

't

.
We a.re to be prevented from obtaining our rights by neither the halter nor
·
.; · the bayonets.

'
j

J

.

'

And why should we wish to write bad grammar if we_can express our
· meo.ning in good grammar 'l '-Grammar, § 242.

285. Cobbett's remark applies to Nominatives of different
Persons as well as to Nominatives of different Numbers.
286. The sentences given in Par. 283 may be re-cast; thus:The captain and the sailors were lost.
He is in the wrong or I am.
You imd I are far less able than they to help your son.

,q
,.

''

f.'..
~.::

Exercise 110.
Re-cast the following sentences:Neither poverty nor other difficulties was able to dismay him.
We do not yet ~ow whether one or several were concerned in the
business.

,,
I

;l

·'

'

Ii ,I

! '. '

[!'

--

I ...--:·~~

...

.,;,

I'

a;

I

•

•' ~

LONCllfANS' SCHOOL COMPOSITION

CRAMMAR ·

The cares of life or the de .
virtue.
ce1tfulness of riches have choked

Twenty minutes were wasted in saddling the horses.
Thirty mil es are more than I can walk.
Two gallons are what the jar will hold.
Fifty or sixty pounds were the usual load !or a man.

Neither the king nor his n .. t
He or I are certain to com:'.ms ers deserve to be praised.
You or he are diligent in study.
James or I am willing to h I
h
.
e p you.
N .th
e1 er t e general nor the ldi
Either he or I am co .
so era were confident of victory.
mmg.
N 'ti
e1 ier we nor John was late.
I or he am in the wrong.
H.e or you is in the wrong.
Either the prior or thou has made
.
Nothing which he or you h
'dsome singular alterations
ave sai bearc 0 •h
.
'
287 TI
" n • e question.
•

ie

~

Indicatire ancl Subjunctive lrfoods.

290. There seems at present a tendency to allow the Subjunctive Mood to fall into disuse. All \vho value clearness shoulJ
_strive against this tendency, for the use of the Subjunctive enables
us to express certain shades of meaning that we could not otherwise express so well. Note, for example, the distinction in meaning
between the following sentences:-

·~

sentences

There is ten shillings in my purse

and

-~

Subjunctive Mood.-If my brother were at the door I would not open it.
Indicative Mood.-If my brother is at the door I will not open it.

'

There are ten shillings in my pur11e

are both correct, but they differ i;1 me .
cerned only with the
anmg. The first is con - ~
amount oif mo1
th
..,.
.
kmd
and number of coins.
iey, e second with the '.·
288 A · h
.
· s m t e first sentence a Singul .
.
··
with Plural names of
. ht ' .
a1 Verb 1s generally used , ·
1
f
we a s measure
d l
'
ions are made about the ~h
d
s, an va ues when asaer~· : .
289 S. ·1
.
o e an not about the units.
, - .' '
. •
. im1 arly' a Smgular Verb .
Noun used as the title of a b k.
is employed with a. Plural'
'E i ·
oo ' as
ng ish Bards and s
h

The first sentence implies that my brother is not at the Joor anll
is not likely to be there.
Tl'he seconJ implies either that he is certainly at the door or that
. he is likely to be there.

-»

l

that l
d
cote Reviewers ' w th
•
s iowe l'eal power.
as e first .of Byron's works

.Exercise 111.
Correct tlie following : , The Canterbury Tales ' are a c ll f
Dryden 's 'Absalom and Achit oh e~ ,10n of P?ems by Chaucer.
of the court
op e were directed a "ainst the e
. 1
•
0
~~ Fuller's 'Worthies of E I
, .
•The Two Gentlemen fnVg and a1e greatly esteemed.
•G .
. o erona ' were wr'tt b
.
i en y Shakespeare
ulliver's Travels' are a b'tt
A th
1 er satire
•
. ousand pounds are more than I .
;:;;: shwe_rlel. two pence in the child's ;;::i.:~ord.
i mgs are more th
th
.
Eleven yards of the cloth an at book is worth . .
.
are not enough to m!Uce A frock.

291. The Indicative mood is used
(1) In a simple statement of fact; as
Gold is more precious than iron.

(2) In a hypothetical statement of fact ; as
Though gold is more precious than iron, iron is more useful than gold.
(3) In a hypothetical statement of something that is assumed to
be fact; as
If the music is difficult it is also beautiful.

292. The Subjunctive Mood is used when we are making, not a
simple or hypothetical statement of fact or of something assumed
to be fact, but when we are speaking of ~omething which is only
thought of; as when we are expressing
(1) A condition; as
If I were tired I should rest.

(2) A wish; as
Thy kingdom come.
(3) A purpose ; as
Judge not that ye be not}udged.

GRAMMAR

.Exercise 112.

., Though the law is severe, we must obey it.
If the law be severe, we must try to get it changed.

Pick out the Verbs in the Subjunctive Mood
Sfo.t[if] thou be happy I o.m content
I l wer
.
e so, i't was a grievous fault·
·
· he be observed
·
He 1s gr ac1ous
if

If I am right, oh teach my heart

•

Still in the right to stay ;
If I am wrong, Thy grace impart

~~oug~

To find the better way.

he slay me, yet will I t;ust him
oug 110.nd join in hand the . k d •
Except ye repent, ye shall ~11 r;Vlc. e sh~ll not go unpunished.
1
~;!ess h; h~have better, h e wi:l ~:v;~~:;~ ;~1 •
mus o ey the laws, however you dislik~ th
em.
Tlie tear-drop who can bl
Th
h
ame,
oug it dim the veteran's aim?
... ,"

~

I
'

.·....

'i

. I

'

..

Mean though I am, not wholly so,
Since quiokenell by 'l'hy breath.

293. The Subjunctive Mood, being the Mood of doubt, 11:.J.tu; rally come8 after such words as if, though, unless , excep t, lest,
:whether, and that. It does not, hO'lvever, follow that the Verb
-~- coming after these words is certain to be in the Subjunctive
',' Mood; it may be in the Indicative Mood.

Had she lived o. twelvemonth more
She had not died to-day.

Sub-junctive Mood.-If my father were in the house he would agree with

If she love me (this believe)
I will die ere she shall grieve.
.

me.
Indicative Mood.-If my father is in the house he will agree with me.
In the first sentence, my father's being in the house is a m at ter of .
c. • doubt; in the second, it is assumed that he is there.

Oh, that it were with me
.
See that m
b
as m the days that are past
Y room e got ready f
'
I would [=-wish] I were b. d or me at once.
We w1s
'h·1t were fine.
air.
·
Hallowed be Thy Name.
Beware lest you fall.
Strive that you fail not.
Eat lest you faint.
Drink that you thirst not.
If to drink so many hogsheads is to b
.
the fame of that virtue.
e hospitable, we do not contend for

T~iv~ the Mood ~f each

217

S u bjunctive lrlood.-Though the vase were ma de of steel, the careless
servant would break it.
..
Indicative Mood.-Th011{Jh the vase was made of steel, the cardess scr·
~· : vant broke it.
In the first sentence, we speak of a vase that might be, in the
" second, we speak of one that was, made of steel.
Subjunctive Mood.- Whether the prisoner be innocent is uncertain.,
Indicative Mood.- Whether the prisoner is innocent or guilty, he
deserves pity.
·

.Exercise 113.

294. In the following sentences the Subjunctive is used for
· the Indicative :-

Verb printed in italics.

ough you look hie life bury him a
.
'
s a prince.
Though d th
go s ey were, as men the died
My master said that if I was not l Y
.
If I were clever I should .
. c ever I was not lazy.
T
gam prizes
hough Tom is young, he ie tall. •
Though Tom ·
•
were younger he would t'll b
""
If at the close of the holid;y
s i e too ol<l for an infant school
..
If it be true that war is abou;~~r~bodyk was tired, ~very body was happy: .';,.,~ -~
us.
rea out, there is much IDJ·sery ·bef ote ·
·
. ' \ .....
.

·~

.....·

(1) If there were a warm place· in his frosty heart, his son occupied it.

In the first clause, there is a hypothetical statement of fact and

the Indicative should therefore have been used. The Subjunctive
would be correct if we altered the second Verb; thus:If iliere were a warm place in his frosty heart, his son woitld occup y it.

(2) On hearing the title above mentioned, there is not an English reader
. -.
' who would not suppose that it were a critical tract.
.:•

'. ~·?'- ·;r
.,~ ~

The Noun Clause is a simple statem ent of what the r eader would
suppose. The Indicative was should therefore have been used .

218

LONGMANS' SCHOOL COMPOSITJON
GRAMMAR

(3) Channing also was Mr Coffin 0 f p I
··
proud and stately.
·
ort edge, though he were a little",'

Th01i,gh is here followed by a simple statement .
should be substituted for 'loere.
'

295. In the followinrr senteu
th I a· . .
,..'
.
. :t>
ces e n icative Is used for the ,
S ub~unct1ve
(1) I wish I was a baby and this was a tree-top.
(2) Was I [should be were I or if I
app.oint able judges • • •
were] an absolute prince,

rr he promises he would certainly perform.
Despise no condition lest it becomes your own.
Oh that his heart was tender.
His behaviour made it reasonable to suppose that he were gui~/0

4

Shall and will.
296. The Future Tense is .used in two ways
· Latham the Predictive and the Promissive) .

1

·

(called by Dr.

297. In the Predictive form, shall is the Auxiliary of the First
Person, will of the Second and Third Persons; thus :-

Exercise 114.

Singul,ar.

Correct the following sentences : Was your son called Judas. the sordi~ a d .
.
.
,
~ h ~ach erous idea so msepa· :·
rable from the name would h.a .
shadow.
ve accompamed him through life like hie: . >·•

If he do feel sorry h o .will show it in his actions.
t
No one should travel m th t
discomfort.
a coun ry unless he be prepared for dirt and . :
Was r. in your place I would act differently.
Tell him to be careful lest he breaks tho rules
Though he be high he has respect unto the lo~ly
If he was your friend he would defend you
.
If the boy d esire
· t o get on be does not use ·the ri ht
Though honesty be the bes t or
g means.
You shall soon see whether lbei~a:~~~ people do not practise it
If thou have understanding hear this
. ':£'hough I be absent from you in the .flesh I
apmt.
am

1. I shall write.
2. Thou wilt write.
3. He will write.

Plural.
We shall write.
You will write.
They will write.

298. In the Promissive form, will is the Auxiliary of the First
Person, shall of the Second and Third Persons; thus:
Singul,ar.
1. I will write.
2. Thou shalt write.
3. He shall write.

Plural.
We will write.
You shall write.
They shall write.

299. The Predictive form IS used in simple assertions of
futurity ; as

Who but must laugh if such a man there be?
Take h eed les t passion sways thv J·ud
t
.
I I
t
l
gmcn.
co no care w 1ethor J ohn or \Villi·a
If h
.
m come.
e_ were still of the same mind I will h I h'
If Cl
·
.
e p 1m.
If h~v~:~;e s:it~!~~~us at Plassey it was not through numbers.
grumble?
me who am most concerned why should, yo~· ;;,_
It ought to affect him if he have been the cause of th
.
.
Though the field were badly t'll
d 1.t
d
e failure.
1
p ·
e
pro uced a good cro
T art1es would become complicated if be obtains any foll p'.
T~ough eating b~ necessary, man should not over-eat. owmg.
ough he be nllghty he is gentle.

219

..

I sh.all have occasion to try your obedience this very evening.
Our meeting will be so formal and so like a thing of business thnt
,8hall find no room for friendship or esteem.
You will see a pair of large horns over the door; that's the sign .

1

• In "very rem arkable t rial in Mnssa clmoetts- that of Abner Jlogers for the mnr•lor of
Charles Lincoln - 1.uuc h hnportnuco wa!i attached to the mm, by the prisoner, or one nnxilinry
or the other. Tho coua sel appeared cleverly to appreciate the LliJJeren ce. A witn ess, Warren
B. rarkc, who wa• sent to R-Oarch Rogers after the murder, gave his evidence thus: ' He
(Rogers) said," I have fixed t he warrl en, an•l I'll hnve a rope round my neck to- ni g ht." On
the strength of what be said, I took bis suspen<lers [braces] from him.' Cross-ex nm incd :
'His words were u I trill haven. rope," not " I .~hall have n r ope." I ao1 sure that the word
wns u:ill and not .• hfl/l.' J\Ir. J>arker, Connsel for the Commonwealt h, in commenting o n the
speech, says: 'It shows" contemplation of murder and su icid e, a designed v olun tary escape
from the penalties of the law, and a con <c iousness of the malignity and criminality of his
a ctions.' The defence set up was insanity, and on that ground the prisoner Wl\S acquitted.-

SIRE. W. HEAD, 'Shall' and' Will,' p. 17.

I I

220

GRAJl!Jl/A R

LONCil/dNS' SCHOOL COilfPOSITION

3oo. The Promis~ive form shows determination on the P,art
of the speake_r. It is therefore used in expressing comm~ds
threats, promises, prophecies, and the like ; as
. . : '

Exercise 115.
.
(a) Write sentences illi"8trating the various 1tses of shall and
--'. will and of should and would, as explained in Pars. 209- 302.

t~:~

h _Revenge from some baleful corner shall level a tale of dishonour at
w 1ch no innocence of heart nor integrity of conduct shall set right Th'
fhort unes7 olfl btll1y lhouse shall_ totter ; thy character, which led the ~vay t:
t em, s ta
eec on every side of 1"t • • , Crue1ty and cowardice
.
sl U·
stnke together at thy infirmities and thy mistakes.
. . ' . i,a .
You may be a Darby, but I will be no Joan , I promise you.
.;,.,

301. In s~bordinate clauses, after when, if, though, and
words , shall is used for the three Persons; as

Correct the following sentences :-

'; 31·0t

oth~

\ ;.

Wl1en he shall appear we shall be like him.
_As long as mankind shall contin ue to bestow more liberal a la.use'"' '
their destroy~rs than on their benefactors, the thirst for milita.r ppl . r , ~n
ever be the vice of the most exalted characters.
y g o "Y WJll

302. ' Woul~l and should follow the rules of shall and ·~iu·
when employed m p~rallel circumstances: I slwuld, you would ,' he
i~ou~d express contmgent futurity; I wonld, you wonld, he w(mld
SJgmfy pa,st or r ecorded determina,tion of the subj ect . I 7 le{- .
yon should, he should express that the subject is coi;tro~~~u-b ':
· Grammar, p. 174y• .<:•
some other power •' - BAIN, A 1-r·
iig Jier Engli.sh

~-

Examples.
l. I should' rest if I were tired.
You 1conlcl rest if you were tired.
He woidd rest if he were tired.

i( y~u} shou ld be promoted.
he

"qui~tenllpctiu"
hon rd ing -school i11 Penusylrn 11ii\ dl>pl aye<l some t ime since l'O :m
"·
to
l
f

' A pu.pi l i11
dfcgrf'e
OJ wd nstr r
ti
I
.

111
.1·
·
..
o nu gnu> IS o u1 stm g ulsl1c'<.I writers
Mr J H Lowell ...wns o •
of
•c nu111 :>er all•l rc,SC<l. Tl1c ndllress to hi m wns, substa 11 t.ial!v, 'I \\:onhl .be.ve~y rou cl 1.oblirMl
or
·
·
"''
- · 1.,' Tl ie response contnine<l
I\ lesso n that. mnuy bcsiilcs the ambitious piiji(f:
. ;yvm .'·111 togrnpl
11~~i e -~o~ea~ 1.1 et~: Pray do uot.My hereafter, " I would be obliged ." If y ou would ·b ;,;. ..
8
Jam~
0 u'r.o
g and be tloue \\'Ill! 1t. Say, " I s1lo111c\ be obliged," auu oblige yours trttl {:·~.
usl.*
well.'
·
·
· · ,...
}~

0

. I am able to devote as much time and attention to other subjects as I
will be under the necessity of doing next winter.
Compel me to retire and I should be fallen indeed ; I would feel myself
.blighted in the eyes of all my acquaintance ; I would never more lift up my
·face in society; I would bury myself in the oblivion of shame and solitude;
l,~ould hide. me from the world; I would be overpowered by the feelings of
·my own disgrace ; the torments of self-reflection would pursue me.
'. . · A countryman, telling us wha.t be bad seen, remarked that if the confla.. sration went on as it had begun we would have, as our next season's employment, the Old Town Hall of Edinburgh to rebuild.
Let the British government continue the protection of last year and we
'will be all right.
In a very short time we will probably find ourselves on a new footing.
The time is coming when we will have to dig deeper in search of both
coals and meta.Ilic ores.
.,
I feel assured that I will not have the misfortune to find conflicting
: opinions held by one so enlightened as your Excellency.
·'
He ought to have known we would be rui ned.
·
They say I will find such portraits in all the cottages of the peasants
.·' through the village.
The National Assembly dare not avenge them as they should lose the
·
favour of the intoxicated people.

Participial Phrases.

2. I would}
You would go home in spite of all opposition.
H e would
3. H e decided that

221

R 1

Of'

303. The use of Participles in forming compound Tenses is too
simple to n eed exposition, but the use of Participles in forming
qualifying phrases needs some attention.
. 304. Participial Phrases employed with discretion are aids to
· the attainment of vigour and clearness. When there are several
Verbs in a sentence, the attention of the reader is divided between
. them as each one is predicative, and there may at first be some
doubt whfob is the principal Predicate; but when Participles are
substituted for some of the Verbs, atten tion is concentrated on
the Verbs that remain. Note how the following sentences would
be weakened by the absence of tlle Participles:- .

223

G KA 11!.llA R
t·

r
t

.l

f"

222

LONCMANS' SCHOOL CO.A/POSITION

With Participles.
Wi thout Participles .
_ _ _ _ ________ ___ , - - - - -

H e was in the right when, being
in opposition, be maintained that no
peace ought to be made with Spain
. . . He was in the right when, being in office , he silently acquiesced
in a treaty with Spnin.

I . fri ends nml clest royed by his enemies.
Tbe king was abandoned by 115
t
't of hunger and were too
The sailors were red uced to th e last ex rem1 y

J

-~

He was ri ght when be wns in op· ·:·
position and maintained that no •
peace ought to be made with Spain ,~
. . . He was right when he was in . ·,
office and silently acquiesced in a. •• ~
treaty with Spain.
· 'fl
[The alteration affects the mean,... • .
ing as well as the style. The
original sentence does not say }Vho.t '"
the altered sentence does, that the
fact of being in opposition or in .,
ofiice wns ri ght.]
Pitt was backed by the middle .
class of Englishmen, and he was ·.~
thus able to force - an unwilling . ··
Cabinet, &c.

f.'

Backed by the middle class of
Englishmen, Pitt forced an unwill·
ing Cabinet and an unwilling oJi.
garchy to admit him to an ample
share of power.
After a war of about forty years,
wulertaken by the most stupid,
maintained by the most dissolute,
and terminated by the most timid of
all the emperors, the far greater
part of the island submitted to the
Roman yoke.
Domitian, confined to his palace,
felt the terrors which he inspired.

After a war of about forty years, ·
which was undertaken by the most\',•.
stupid of all the emperors, which ~i
was maintained by the most disso-'' - 1
lute of th em, and which was tenp.inated by the most timid of them, thti :;
far greater part, &c.
.
Domitian was confined to his ,
palace, and h e felt the terrors which
he inspired.

v no hope of relief, nnd surrende red:
wenk to mov.e.
The gnrnson sat
.
f l ?O 000 horse who were
• ·
f tlie Grent I\ing cons1stell o
- •
.:...- The army o
clothed in complete armour of steel. .
t t t 'ous and improbable relation,
h
·
tnnces of this os en a 1
Such are the c1rcums
.
. b , th e vanity of the monarc ;
_..
.
t
d
d h' h
1't too plainly app enrn, )
which was dicta c •as
•
. ·Tt
f his flatterers· nn w ic
_,, b the unblushing sen i i y o
•
. •
listnnt and obsequious scnnte.
which was ad orn.,.- Y
was received without contrnd1ct1on by n .t ~
l by h is mother's counsels
.
d
uth who was ·m;,1uncel
.
t
The inexperience yo
•
l tl brnvcst
troop:-1 a nd th~ fn1r cs
1
·
•
•
fenrs
tl
escrtc<
ic
t
'
and perhaps b y Irni own
'
l . l\I c~o 11otam in nn imio ivo
.
d nfter he Juu l consw11 c< in
.7
prospect of victory; nn
k t Antioch an army w luc ~ was
.
.
mer he leLl bac
o
.
t
and mglonous sum
.
·as ·ovolwcl by disappo1ntmen ·
diminis hed by sickness and which. w !'." ·z ·s·d nnd corrupted, were very far
.
7 10•ere long since civi • ~
b tl f
The r ors1nns, w w
l the intrepid hardness o 1 o
tl
rtial independence anc
f th
from possessing ic mn
d tl
orthern bnrbnrinns mnsters o
e
mind anti body which have rendere
ic n
.
·world.

care that every Participial Phrase. qual~fies. some
305. Take
The followinrr0 sentences are mcorrect.
Noun or Pronoun.
(1) Deing tired with his long journey, we

.
. ici inl Pbraso, being ti recl w·it!b
We is the only word thnt the Part p ul 1 not bo tirod with his
.
.
u•\lify but w e co L
his long ;ourney, Cl\11 q • . '
·ourney. Insert he before bew g.
J
d
h nt followed the
member of tho volunteer corps, a ctac me
.
(2)

nems

a

hearse.
.
the pnrk, ha.If a doz.en swans ll.cw
(3) Walking one winter's day across

Exercise 116.

across the sky·

Re-write the following sentences, using Participles for the.
Verbs printed i n i talics: ~··

~

b d to tnke a walk alone.
n .

-~

As they still preserved the prejudices after they had lost the virtues 'c;lf ,,
their ancestors, they affected to despise the unpolished manners of th~··
Roman conquerors.
· ·,~- · ·
The slaves consisted for the most part of barbarian captives, who 1uul ,,i,
been taken in thousands by tho chance of war, who had been pwrchased at ~,
a vile price, who had been accustomed to a life of independence, and [who , '
were] impatient to break and to revenge their fetters.
The people were terrified by the sight of some houses in flames, and they · <· •
yielded with a sigh.
· - ·

Exercise 117 ·
.

Correct t1w f ollowing

sentences_:-~

1
it was not unnatural to
. · · l hurchcs 111 Sy<ncy,
Being one of the pn~c1pa. c e in the prenching department . .
1ook for some degree of mtelbgcnc
i·
. ·l her proilignte assoc1ntes, the
.
· d'
t1 refused to re inquis 1
,..___ Havmg m ignnn Y
. . 'sterin g the sacrament.
Cure of St. Sulpice declined .adm1111 .
l the legion of honour, a company
. -Having been decorated with the cross o
.
~
.
1· ' OY t:rom llougsou's Error1 i11 the li•e of
' Tnk~u, like thOllC iu the uc:i:t Exercise, c '"
E11r;li•/I .
Q

! •I

,I

224

GRAMMAR

LONGMANS' SCHOOL COMPOSITION

..
of French soldiers, with muffled drums, formed part of the funeral procession ·

h"s life or a threo.cl lllld r oceived a severe
.
The sentence rea s as if 1
thrust Insert he and re-o.r ro.nge thus . sa. re.
.
h" l"f h o.n"S upon o. thread.
. receive
. d ..n severe sabre-thrust, is l c
o
He }lavlllg

•/(t

Exercise 118.

Correct the following sentences :. . his mrumcr every sentence that he uttcrecl
Amo.zed at the alteration in
'
• ·. creaaed her embarrassment..
ul 't having \Jeou
lD
the
youth
of h is pop o.n Y
,_
t
His career was cut suor lll
·s h er arrival occo.sioneJ. consi\lcr''IPlled in a duel by Aaron Burr.
' • .. Not having seen them !or some year '

•

h
"t hns never possessed in any other
able excitement.
.
. Vested with a dignity which umam y
. 11 l 1
f
in his case wo.s unparn e el .
!
. person, this aggrava lOn, 1
' th n beautiful girl, whom h e sought or
hun\er fell m ove w1
..
. h . ' o.nd
A. young
.
hi tr'b both for swiftness lil t c rncc
if
d being the pride of s i e
.his w e, an.
. suit was accepted by h er fath er, &c .
rt in seo.rch of h is mangled body.
for courage m wo.r, his
Being early killed, I sent athpa. y. d e ofiere<l. h i!l visual organs might
Entering the factory gate, o ev1 enc .

¥'

to~w~h~
~

-~·

Being exceedingly fond of birds, an aviary is always to be found in· the
grounds.
__ ,,,
Having left unguarded the key of his escritoire 9.s il through forgeUulliesii1
the thief rushed towards the gold.
-- "?...._
Speaking with a poor woman a.bout the daughter of her noighbour, ~ .- .- ·
she so.id, • I reckon,' &c.
, For being now without a. father's protection, &nd under the sanctuary of -. '""'~-{',_,,f-, his roof, St. John Aylott ••. was only careful, &c.
· -· ~
--·-- -· -Iteplying in the affirmative, the coffin was age.in closed.
. ......
Considering it merely in that light, it is the most ancient and the most --~~
curious memorial of the early history of mankind.
-'= .. _.'-'~··· _
Having vainly att-empted to do this in other ways, it wa.s resolved a~ last ,; _:_~- ~'
to send some superior diplomatist.
T he witness was a:ikcd to describe wha.~ he sa.w.
begin, the counsel grew impatient.
_. - --.~
==-:
lli,; 1rnccess was almost cer~in, being supported by fai powerful inftu- --.,_;
ence of Lord B.
Having already disposed of the first pa.rt of the ea.so, ilie second can be ~,
passed over quickly.
· T~7

lead, &c.

more official than they are now ;
.. nut official gentlemen then were even
. t mu.n every one out of it
.
. . man in office was a grco.
'
.
and fa.nCJ'.Dg th~t every .
- t was reserved for n. public \\'Tl ter.
h .-nf' Jlurchascd it nt the sale of
a small one, thei r especrnl conterop .
.
·
. possessrnn a' 1 "'
l ·
This copy is now in m y ·'
t cl l 'that I cst(;cm it us one oi my grett c~ t
h is Grace's library, and I nceu no a l
literary treasures .
.
·oun• ' life is associated with her;
Looking back, the happllless of :1~o.~i,;fu.c:~ion in the liopc of rc:j oining
looking forward, I ho.ve col.1lfort an
dear grandmamma.
.
. .. , li ·:1.ll sometimes to rise !rom my
When preparing for }11s exam11_1at10ns, 1 .

·

_,

306. ANoun or Pronoun 1n the Possessive Case, being in the
nature of an Adjective,- cannot be qualified by a P articiple or Participial Phrase. The following sentence is incorrect:- -:-

~"1'..= ·::~ ?~~tl·_--

His life hangs upon a. thread, having received a severe sabre-thrust.

a

~,, ,,.,. b

and fir ed a. salute over the grave.
·
Gliding a.long its passages, many a. word was uUered.
Conversing one aay with Beecher on the subject of the war, he-said:
A Our triumph is producing a. speedier effect upon you than upon ourselves.• ·
Looking back on the affair after the lapse of yea.rs, the chief mistake :n
seems to have been the simultaneity of the new ecclesiastical arrangement ~a.nd the advent of the Cardinal Archbishop.
'· :. · · · ''"
Having just now spoken rather of the disciples Ulan of Uie master,' ~
opportunity may be ta.ken to say that, &c.
.. ·'"·~,_; f
_.-Having perceived the weakness of his poem11 upon the Franco-Germll.µ .
war, they now re-appear to us under new t~tles and largely pruned or other-. ." _
wise remodelled.
~ ~_,v.-v\
·' · ·;>.
Having thus asserted his prerogaiive and put on· his clothes 'with t~e .
·/ help of a. valet, the oouni, with my nephew and me, were introduced by
~ ;on, and received with his usual style of rustic civility.
·' · :- ····:. ,
Sir Oba.des Wetherell addressed the House (of Lords] for three. hourB:''
• • • when, being fatigued by ·his ex~ions, their lordships adjoumed·t0'fl>...e_'

.

22 5

...

own bed to urge him to rct'.rc t? li1s . .-lln.gc chapel , a pious old womau sn.iJ.
P reaching on one occo.!l1on m a ' i
tq him, &c.
. . d his future course was yet doubtful.
.
.
Ba.fllcd, b~t not ?1sma: e ~ther hustcnctl to my lo<lt;ings. .
Lying senous~y ill, Ill) m .t , h"18 frientls knew little of bis doillg;;.
L' '° n" alone ill the great c1 ) ,
. _.
,
n1 o
h l
l . one answer W11.S poss101 1.~ .
Being askoJ. !or my e p, on Y

Past Te nse awl Pc 1;frct Puriiciplc .
other tonauc is E11dis11 a.re not likely
307. Persons whose, m
· 1 the Perfect. (or Past) Part iciple
to confound tho Po.st 'lensc om
Q 2

::26

L.v.1.vG.M.rtiV.) · SCHOOL COff!POS.IT.10.N

GRA!i:!AIAR

227

in sentences that are not elliptical, but in sentences that
elliptical mistakes often occur.
Examples.
(1) After having duly wiped her nose with her coloured handkerchief
nnd shook off the particles of snuff, she resun1cd.

Having is understood in the second phrMe, and the Perfect Participle
ahaken should therefore be used instead of the Past Tense shook.
, ~:
(2) It had been found that the victim had devoured a dozen apples, -'..'J
drank [had drunk] a pint or more of ice water, ate (had eaten] a cocoa.nut or ·:_,
two, and then topped off with the cucumber.

In tho preceding sentences the wrong part of the principal Verb is ·:J:'
expressed ; in the following examples the wrong part is understood : -,' -~
(3) I spoke just as you hacl.
':.-' .
Insert spoken after had.

We could have said

I acted just as you had

because the part of the Verb understood is the same in
part expressed.
(-i) He will not in future be able to act as he has in the past.

Act, the part expressed, will not do after has ; acted must therefore' · -~
be inserted there.
·
(5) That is a plan which has always and must always fail.
Insert failed after the :fir~t alwaya.
(G) Tom may have and in fact did behave shabbily.
Insert behaved· after have.

Exercise 119.
Correct the following sentences :Now that we so long have slept together, rose at; the ea.me moment
He said some thief had taken his hat and ran away with it.
The reward has already or soon will be paid.
Their intentions might and probably were good.
This may or has been said.
Honesty of purpose is the only power that ever has or ever will sustain
a man in such a situation.
Dishonesty never has and never

can be a satisfactory substitute.

Present.

Past.

I wrote home last week ; my brother also has.

That is an experiment which has hitherto, and will in the future fail.

'·
/

He ought to go.
He must be tired.
l:Ie need not wriw.

He ought to have gone.
He must have been tired.
He need not have written,

228

LONCllfANS' scr
~~~~~~~~~~=-=-~=7~0~0~~~C~O~ll1POS/T/ON

Exercise 120.
Correct the following sentences :-

------

'
I expected to have J h 1
I called on him amf "~i~~e~c
land last. Monday.
They, sup1Josing him to have bc~~v~ns~:nuttcd my manuscript to liim.
Ho would l1ave been able to h .
1 c company, went a day's journey
I meant to have learned
1 a\ c cc cbrated his triumph fitly.
..
His very looks would my essons thoroughly.
'
guil ty.
•
have been sufficient to have shown
that he was
~~:tended to have called on you Inst week
o would h ave thou ht .t
Australia so soon?
g
i possible to have received a reply from

t:T

:

'

..

; e ha~ deserved to have been whipped
.
he mistress had resolved to h •
It would have been bett t J M o taken the servants with her
r·
er o 1avo wa·t d
·
I intended to have insis ted on this I e .
'
t would have been unkind to h .
ronclercd so easily.
ave refused help when it could have be~n
The o11ief result of
h
.
health. .
sue exertions would have been to have tlestroyed his
It must have been pl
t
'·
It would have been d~~sc:~t ;o ~.ve listened to him.
I had hoped n ever to 11
: · im to have kept 11is place.
.
.
nve su ered another such disappointment.

Th e Rigltt T enses.

31 2. When Verbs refer to differ
.
should, as far as possible b a·a . ent times, the Tense forms·
• e iue1ent also . a
Present Indefinite.-! sea my broth
' s
1 •
Prcscnt.;['c1f ect.-I have sean hi er. now; .
Past Indefinite.-I also sa J • m this mornmg already.
Past Pcrfcct.-'rVbe11 l1e }~~ :m1t yesterday,
F1•t
• nre.- ' Vhom we shall s ;us .seen my s1· s t er,
Past I ncleflnite.-Last ni h~e agam n~xt week.
H . g among his fellow-roughs
Present I ndefinite ...:!.~~~~;d, ~ttajfed, and swore . •••
. . H
ay e~eath the foeman's frown
.
e stands m Elgin's place. ,

. 313. Dean Alford gives a
.·
.
. .
'
.
m1sunderstandin <Y arising f.
cun_ous illustration of a serious .
o
iom a mistake in T
J.
An important difference in m ea . .
ense iorms.
careless use of one of th

ese

T

nmg is sometimes made by th
.
enscs for tho other A . t .
e wrong or
. n ms a.nee of this occurs

GRAMMAR

229

in tbe 'English version of the Bible in the beginning of Acts xix. There
we Tea.d; in the original, that St. Paul, finding certain discipl es at Ephesus,
asked them, 'Did ye receive the Holy Ghost when ye believed-when ye
first became believers? ' To this they answered, •We did not so much as
bear whether there were any Holy Ghost.' On which St. Paul asked them,
'Unto what then were ye baptized? ' They replied, • Unto the baptism of
John.' Then he explained to them that John's baptism, being only a bap iism of repentance, did not bring with it the gift of the Holy Ghost.
In this account all is clear, but the English version, by an unfortunate
mistake, ha11 rendered the narrative unintelligibl e. It has made St. Paul
ask the converts, •Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? '
So far, all would be clear; for they certainly had not, though this does not
represent what was said by the Apostle. But it is their answer which obscures the history: 'We have not so much as heard,' they arc ma.de to say,
' whether there be any Holy Ghost.' Strange, indeed, that these disciples,
who had probably been for years in the Church, should during that time,
and up to the time when St. Paul spoke, never have heard of the existence
of the Holy Spirit. Render the words accurately, a.nd a.II is clear.-Thc
Queen's Eruilish, § 311.

Historical Present.
314. When a past event is described as though it were occurring now, the Tense used is called the Historical Present.
E xample.
nu·t see Ca.mille Desmoulins, from the Cafo de Foy, rushing out, sibylline
in face ; his hair streaming, in ea.ch band a pistol. H o springs to a table :
ihe Police satellites are eyeing him ; alive they shall not take him I not they
alive, him alive. This Ume he speaks without stammering : •Friends I
sha.11 we die like hunted hares? like sheep hounded into their pinfold I
bleating for mercy, where is no mercy, but only a wheHed knife ? The
hour is come ; the supreme hour of Frenchman o.nd man; when Oppressors
are to try conclusions with Oppressed; and the word is, swift Death, or
Delivere.nce for ever. L et such hour be well-come I Us, meseems, one cry
only befits: To Arms I Let universal Paris, universal France, as with the
throat of the whirlwind, sound only: To Arms I' 'To Arms I' yell responsive the innumerable voices ; like one great voice, ns of a Demon yelling
from the air: for all faces wax fire-eyed, all hearts bum up into madness.
In such, or fitter words, does Camille evoke the Elemental Powers in this
great moment. Friends, continues Camille; some rallyi ng-sign I Cockades ;
green ones ; the colour of Hope I As with the flight oi locusts, these green
iree leaves ; green ribands from the neighbouring shops; all green thin gs
are snatched, and made cocltadee of, Camille descends from his table, •stifled

'

LONG.MANS' SCHOOL COJJFPOSITION .

GRAMMAR

231

• ..

with embraces, wetted with tears; ' has a bit of green riband handed him i
sticks i t in his h at. And now to Curtius' image shop there; to the Boule. ·
vards; to the four winds; an<l rest not till France be on fire.-OARLYLZ,
The French Revolution, bk. V., ch. iv.

315. When the Historical Present is used with skill
moderation it adds vividness to style, making the dead past.iivJJ.
again before our eyes; but when the Historical Present is used~
clumsily or excessively it is a most disagreeable affectation.

Sequence of Tenses.

316. Co-ordinating Conjunctions join the same Tenses:· as,,,
. sky
.
Present Indefinite.-Like spectral hounds across the
. · ·.
The white clouds scud before the storm,
And naked in the howling night :
The red-eyed lighthouse . lifts its form.
Past Indeflnite.-God created man to be immortal ' ma<16
an image of His own eternity.
.

and

,,

Examplc.s.
In the First Person.

In the Third Person.

.'.
I tender yon rny most hea,rty
· than k s {01, the kind and . touchmg
'. welcome which you have given me.

1-Ie tendered them his most hea_rty
than ks f or t he kind and . touchmg
7.
welcome which they hacl given mn.

, · The presence of the conference
.·. in this. town w1·u have a fnvoumb
.
1c
. . influence upon its future action.

The presence of the conference
that to\vn would h ave a favour' ,
~~le influence upon its future act10n.

I find it hard enough to speak
. 'th t being misunderstood upon
wi 1ou
,
. I should
,.. E
· h political q uest1ons'
l~
f
't
'f
I
attempted
the
ng
despair o i i
. task
. respec t to foreign quest10ns.
with

He f oun<•·' i't hard enough
st tol
ak without being misunder. ooc
spe
P on Eng1·is h political questions d;
u
d
. of it if he attcmpte
he shoulkd
e~pt~ir respect to foreign
the
tas wi
questions.

.

him. to be ., ,

Future Indefinite.-Our name shall be forgottmi in time, and no ln4.n" ·
shall have our works in remembrance, and our life shall pass aw&y as the
trace of a cloud and shall be dispersed as a mist that is driven awa1 _with '
the beams of the sun and overcome with the heat thereof.

I cannot, my lords, I ~vill not
join in congratulation on misfortune
and <lisgrace.

317. The Tense of the Verb in a dependent clause varies mth: '·.
the Tense of the Principal Verb ; as
·
''•

. 11 f me is stated 111 the
319. A proposition true for a i
is in the Past. Note tho
Tense even when the rest of ~he report les · difference between the followmg examp .

.
T ell 1ne not of rights.

Present Tense.

Pron ouns of the First and Second Persons are changeuintQ Pl'9ll0
(or Nouns) of the 'l'hird Person. ·
.
. •. ' \ .-..
The P r esent Tense is changed into the Past. ' ' · · · · ·
.
'l'he sltall of the Future Tense is changed into ahoula.•1
The u•1:ll of the Future T ense is changed into 'Uloula or
The Past T ense remains unchanged.
· •
Yoc;o,tivcs are p-enerally droppeq,

~hould,.

I

Ile could not, lie 1could not join
in congratulation on misfortune antl
disgrace.
r . Its

Let them not tell him o ng 1 •
·
Present

Past

I

'l'c11Sl'.

. as true as that I am
(1) It is
standing here.

It was as true as that he was
standing there.

(2) It is ns true as that two .sid~s
of a trian~lc <~re together grenter
than the thud side.

. e as that two sic1es
It was as t m
of a triangle arc t og ether greater
than the third side.

Exercise 121.
(·a) Correct the following sentences:-

l ·t
,
b
t
w I return et 1 •
c hi .s kmhfc,t the
u no
· d h:i<l been
ay he has 1from
en t mthe
letter he just receive
IYesterd
have concluded
seal t a
from the Lord Chancellor.

...
LONCll'EANS' . SCHiOOL

CONPOSITION

. The regiment has formerly been f
f
it was guilty Of irre"'ul
amous for its discipline • bu•• th'is year ,.
,, an·t·1es.
.
-•
. We havo been to the seaside Ja t
s summer and have met several of our
friends there.
·
Young said that
'Who ti t
procrastination was the thief of f
. '
.
rs asserted that virtue was its
une.
own reward ?
• ,
. His experience proved that th
e{e was many a slip 'twix• •'d ..• ,'
lip.
I sho
.
• ~e cup an th.ci :'.
H
uld th~nk you if you would help me
.. .
. e was so tired that I was afraid h
•
the Journey.
e could not have walked to the end of
I shall take the first train th t I .
If you could only waH
a might arrive early.
He would work hard if ~oeu;e:~ccess ~II be certain.
If I know the truth I
ld s c.ertam of success.
1f h
wou tell it you
e received your instructions h
.
'
13e virtuous and you would be ha e would have obeyed them. .
.
He walks ns if he is racing.
ppy.
. ,.
When I see him again I h II h
since I met him last at h-' s ah aye told him many things
r
is own ouse
am sure they have been th
. .
Go and have finished what ere hand did what is required.
Th
you ave to do
e next new year's day I shall b
.
The court laid hold
11 h e at school three years.
,
..
on a t e opport T
neces?1hes of princes afford it to exte d ·1 um ies. which the Weakness or Y
His sickness was 80
n 1 s authority. .
,·
our arrival.
great that I often feared he would have died .befo~ -~It 'vould have given me
t . .
•
tressed situation.
--- . ~~ea satis!action to relieve him from.that
I love to work ov
.
·· ·
.... - . . _..
,,
little pl
er smoe I was a child but I -lik
;· - ·· ; · - . - • . · ·~ cc,:.:. ~}
·
a~.
.
.. .
. '
e·a~so to have .~acg ·!_. '
He will not _go thither in order that he . .- - , . - .
~'
: .;,
.
might get.some .food.,. ~"· t.#,
I wish he will come at once.- .
I should be obli"ged to h"im l'f h e Will
. .
.
..· -• ,., ... ~· -- . .
Ye will not coma unto M th t
gratify me in that -parti-·'.;; __ ,_._,
.,...,_.
I h ave been in London e a ye .might h ave l'ite. "·:
'
. . 1
We have do
a yea~ and 8 6.tl??-,,tbe Queen 1~:
- •
H
Id ne no more than it was our dui t . h .
stt~ef.fr«.'.'. ;~.,.;i..·, '". "
. . e wou have assisted one 0 f h'
. '
! o ave done. ', , ; . :...JUrm~ the.other.
.
is friends 1f he could do it '~Uiout ' : ' .
Might it not be expected that he will
It was a pleasure to have received h. ave ~efe~ded Otll'. &UUiQrit7,? ..
is approbation.
. · ·
}

..

cli,.

h -

. '·... : , .

Him portion 'd maids, nppr~tiiic~: ~ · h· ··.~ ..
The young who labour and ~he old
nns bleet,
w o rest _, , . ........... 1___1 _

h

,

CRAlJ.fMA R

233

I never was so long in company with n girl in my life trying to entertain
: her and succeed so ill.
When men are intent on cards their faces show far more of their real
characters than when they are engaged in conversation.
''.
If I were old enough to be married I am old enough to manage my
·~-. husband's house.
Had it not been for the strenuous opposition of the people the Stuarts
uld deprive England Qf its liberties .

(b) Select six examples of the Historic Present from any
poem, historzJ, or talc.
(c) Turn into the Third Person the following extract from tluJ
Earl of Chatham's Speech to the Hoi(.,Se of Lords on the American
War of Independence:I cannot, my lords, I will not, join in congratulation on misfortune and
disgrace. This, my lords, is a perilous and tremendous moment. It is not
a. time for adulation ; the smoothness of flattery cannot save us in this
rugged and awful crisis. It is now necessary to instruct the Throne in the
language of truth. We must, if possible, dispel the delusion and darkness
which envelop it, and display, in its full danger and genuine colours, the
ruin which ill brought to our doors.
•
Can ministers still presume to expect support in their. infatuation? Can
Parliament be so dead to its dignity and duty as to give its support to
measures thus obtruded a.nd forcecl upon it-measures, my lords, which
have reduced this late flourishing empire to scorn and contempt? • But
yesterday, and Britain might have stood against the world: now, none so
poor as to do her reverence.'
The people whom we at first despised as rebels, but whom we now acknowledge as enemies, are abetted against us-supplied with every military
store, have their interest consulted, and their ambassadors en~ertained-by
our inTetcrate enemy ; a.nd ministers do not, and dare not, interpose with
dignity or effect.

ADVERBS.

320. The only real difficulty likely to arise in dealing with
Adverbs, the difficulty of placing them properly, has been discussed already. Two or three vulgarisms may, however, be
mentioned.

.

• -..-.'

..

'

~~~ .;~..

234

f

~"""

.- . ,.......

CRAMMAR

LONCil/ANS' SCHOOL CONPOSITIOJV

In some districts that is used for so before Ad. t"
.
I was that ill that I could hardly stand.
Jee ives ' as

235

Examples.
(1)

321. The Adverb very can be used
an Adverb; as
before an Adjective
He writes very well because l .
b
ie is very careful ·
ut very cannot be used before a Pa t" . l'
example,
r 1c1p e.

The men looked at the subject in different points of view.

'Ve look at o. subj ect from, not in o. point.
(2) Regarded from this light, his views are disgraceful.

We look at a thing in, not from the light.
(3) To us this practice is considered discreditable.

He is very influenced by his companions
we must say

Is considered by us.

He is very much influenced.

. . 322. Some words can be used both
. .
and are therefore qualifi d . ~~Adjectives and as Parm the other by very much; thus:~ m e one case by very and~­
! fe lt very tired.
l\Iy walk has very much tired me.

~1c1ples,

323. Whether, therefore Vert m
.
' t
depends upon wh,.,.her JOl ' d . Y ay be used before plt>"". ~,-,
"'~
Base is an Ad" t"
·. """'~ ~
and there can be no question that le ~e~ ive or a Partipiple ; ~·.
a sentence as
P ase is a. Partic~p!e in'suoh
He is pleased.

m.

Hence we must say, n~t
He is very pleased,
but

325. P erhaps there is no word which has the wron g Preposition after it so often as different. We d iffer from a person,
therefore our views are different jrorn, not to his.
The use of to after d~fferent <loes not prevail among the English8peall:ing people of America. Mr. J. R. Lowell refers to this in 'My
Study Windows.' He says:·
Human nature has a much greater genius for sameness than for origi·
nality . ... The surprising thing is that men have such a taste for this
somewhat musty flavour that an Englishman, for example, should feel himself defrauded, nay, even outraged, when he comes over here ancl find s a
people speaking what he admits to be something like English ancl yet so
very different from (or as he would say to) those he left at home.
Thackeray invariably wrote different to. In 'Henry E smoncl ' tho
story is supposed to be told by one of Marlborough's oflicers, and
Thackeray challenged Mr. Lowell to find in the book any word or
phrase that violated the usage of Queen Anne's time. Lowell promptly
pointed out different to, and Thackeray was bound to admit the slip.

326. After averse we often find to, though strict propriety
requires from. Averse is from the Latin a-vert-ere, to turn away,
and therefore requires from as much as ad-vert requires to.

He is very much pleased.

PREPOSITI,ONS.

324. Elaborate rules are s
.
.
Prepositions to be used be£
odmetimes given concernUio.·
ore an after words · b t
"' "' ~
mo th er-tongue is English th
·, . u to onewlij
1
~lost of the mistakes that oc~~~ :~ are really 1.inn~e~: ....
tions arise from want of care r th teh employmen~ o( hel>()si'..-.
ledge.
a er an from want,. ot ~ow~: ,

r:

~

Ji.

'

327. Between is derived from the Anglo-Saxon be, by, antl
twd, two, and therefore should be u sed only when two objects or
sets of objects are referred to. Instead of
His proposal is likely to stir up ill-will between the various classes,
say ' . . . . among the vario s classes.'
_......,.,, ....
328. Between is like a" ridge. See that it be supported at
each end. Do not say, for example,
Between each house is a pretty garden.
~~

('

LONG.MANS' SCHOOL CO!lfPOSITJON

GRAMMAR

329. By is sometimes wrongly used before a Gerund . as
A. :.ound in High Street, a purse: the owner cnn have it by

ap;lyin~,~~- .

Say 'on applying,' or 'if he will apply.,

,
I"'<

I

. ·.
•

·.

237

The town recommended itself to him from its quietness and from its
• · beauty.
rBetween the offences of blasphemy, hypocrisy, and perjury, lies that of
·.· apostasy.
Between each plane-tree are planted box-trees.

Exercise 122.

Correct the following sentences :-

h

A lnrge~rtion of family pride
d
·
·'
a prompted her~~~~ becoming fu.e
protectress M'her orphan niece.
Pius associated Marcus to all the lnbours of
, •.'
This hospital will be cl d f
.
.· government.
.
''o ',
Friday, ? ctober 5.
ose or repa1rs)~aturday, September 1, u,~t9, '

He died after going through a similar o eration
..
There w~re similar marks as these abo! the f as the emperor's. . ·.
~ ,J3Y., pushing steadily_. nine hundred and nin t a~e,
.
; •.
wifly ield to you.
·
e_y-nme people in a thous.and
• .
.
We shall stay two months at England.
I have been t_o London after having lived at France.
We ~ac~ed m ~ueenstown on our way~ New York.
Ho lives m the village of Lnngum.
.
,
..
You have bestowed your fuvours to the ~ost d
.
.
The English were very different then to what t~:r:;: pers~ns:
We were altogether averse to the proposal.
y
now. :
We profit from our experience.
Jae~ has no resemblance with his brother.
He 1s resolved on taking a long holiday.
The Romans reduced the world to their own power.
He found no one on whom he could confide
.
.
I differ. entirely with you, and I disagree to ~ll our
. • . ~ '. "
The p_r1soner was acquitted from all blame. . . y
propos1tio~· ·t
Godwm was reconciled with the king.
,
.
The man was accused with theft.
Divide this shilling among Tom and W'Ir
,'
•
'
.
.
·
,.
Th
h
.
1 iam . . ,
1
. e owner can ave it by giving the date whenJost ...
Michael Angelo planned a totally different fa\)ade ~ th
• . . : . "~
In this point of view they seem b'oth equally tru , ·" e ~X!st~-®eo~ '
'
. She will be forced to renounce the church int~ \17he. b '. • • -·
since found rest.
.·
ose osom sh0chu 1ong .

1 ......

beli!:e~:t

to those who have really seen the plo.oo its beaut; cannot

~.

CoNJUNCTIONS.

330. Adverbs and Prepositions are often erroneously used
for Conjunctions, while Conjunctions are sometimes used for
Adverbs or Prepositions.
331. Old writers sometimes use except as a. Conjunction ;
thus:I will not let thee go except thou bless me.-Gen. xxxii., 26;

but the word is now unquestionably a Preposition, and should be
used only a.a a Preposition. A sentence like
I cannot go ou\ except I obtain leave

is at variance with present custom.
Unum should be used for e~ce:pt, or the Conditional Clause should
~ changed

into

If I do not obtain leave.

332. Without is also erroneously used for 1mless or if ; as
I ahall summon the directors without I hear from you.

This is a. vulgarism that ht\s not oven the excuse of ancient usage.

333. Like is often used improperly for as; thus:Nobody will miss her like I ahall.

334. Rather should bo followed by than, not as. On the
other hand, prefer ahol,lld be followed by to, not than. The following sentences are both wrong : (1) I would rather walk the whole distance alone as in his hated
company.
(2) lie preferred doing noihing than run the risk of doing wrong.

..•if., c
~·.
~ i.,

LONC11/ANS' SCHOOL CO.llPOSIT.ION
I

In co.mparisons, as follows the Positive Dearee and t~
e omparat~ve. This is sometimes forgotten "~ien Posit' n.
and Comparative both occur in the same sentence . tl
. ive,
th

3~5.

GRAMMAR

.

,

lUS.- .,

(1) Tom is as young or younger than Ja{)k
,
(2) I never heard anyone speak more e~rn~stly nor so eloquently as he. ,
Tl1e first sentence requires as after 7 ou
'
after earnestly, but so placed the wo dy h ng, and the second than, .''
thwwn on them. Perhaps it would be br : t ave an urn1ue emphasis" "'
thus:es 0 rearrange the sentences~ --~.t

(l) Tom is ns young as Jack or younger.
(2) I never heard anyone speak more
..
q,uently.
earnestly than he nor so elc»

the actual execution of a sentence, there is a wide distance in Turkcyespecially when the offender has friends at court like Moussa Bey has.
He writes novels like you do.
She couldn't get any stimulants at the union without it was porridge.
Except the system is furnished with gutta-percha nerves and steel sinews
it musi give in at last.
H e must be set down for character-blind like some men are colour-blind .
The shadow will move round part of this circle like the hand of a clock
moves round the dial,
He reads his speeches like a curat~ reads the lcs(;onf.l ,

1 ·<1"< •

' ~ ~··c. ',_.. ·~ J
_,:.. , -+:c.
' -f:.£ 'l'f-)1
.,,, ...~..... ..' >-'\. '-""........._
I
, -.
.

."'.:'.' ./'~""

~- ~(
·
f'~:A

Exercise 123.
Correct the following sentences:-

wt

Be ready to succour such persons who ne~d your help.
They had no sooner risen but they began to work.
Such ?1en that ~ct faithlessly ought to be shunned.
. ~ ~;;, •
He game~ n~tln?g more by his speaking but the praise of el
·' i •· 1
To trust m him is no more but to own his power. .
o~u~~oe, _ ,••.<'
Do not trouble to write to me except you are in the h
f .
My un I
Id t d ·
umour or it. ,
c e wou no a m1t me without my mother wished it.
~
I had _scarcely addressed him than he knew me
' •
.. • ~ . .,~
Scarcely had she gone than she returned again.' .

wit~ ~~oa~l~i~~tt~~~ t~~~~~ go in a carriage

again as show myself in the park

I readllydbeli~ve he would rather sit down with the tinklers by
. th~~r~"ds
. '"as spen a ay m my company.
: , .,.. . '~ .•
They preferred to spend the night there than bivouac 1 t ;'I.. • -: .".-.
camp.
.
.
c ose .o w.ie enemy~•
Some still clung to the
· ·
f . ·
·
•
:··.
"'
itself rather than desert him ~rl~~e, prte err~ng proscription and even clea\h
Th S
.
m is ex rem1ty.
. . . . • ' ·.~ ~"
elem en~ r~t~:1:~!~nh;wev:r,. preferred to take their chance . on~ the ra~
A .
. emam m a scene of such brutal abominations. ' ••
risk . \~i~e teacher will often prefer t_o pass by such mischief ~ to

run

•

•

•

•

,

N'-: .........

"°'11·4

We should not like to g~arantee a Ion
· : :' ·.
,., · ~· .. I ._ :·
buffoonery entitles a play to success. . g _run for this _piece ~~~*~ :;~·I know many poor scholars and I
'
-.. , . '
without they receive iree hospitality. c ergymen who canno: ~l:tond_ ~~sa,'
Between the production of proof •sufficient tQ l·uot'f '
.. •~ .
';d·
.
a l y
a sen ..nc~, an·

239

-t ~ .'

I

t

1~::L, .-,4. 11 f"\.- ' ~ ~
THE SEN~NCE.

...

7 ~~

336. From the investigations of an American writer 1 it
appears that the average number of words in a sentence in
Chaucer's two prose tales is 40·5 ; in More's' History of Richard
the Third; 52·7; in Lyly's 'Euphues,' 52·2; in Ascham 's
• Toxophilus,' 42 ; in Sidney's 'Defence of Poesie,' 50·G; in
Hooker's •Ecclesiastical Polity,' 44; in Bacon's ' Essays,' 28; in
Bunyan's 'Pilgrim's Progress,' 37·5 ; in Milton's prose, G0·8 ;
in Dryden's prose, 45·2 ; in Sir Thomas Browne, 33·4 ; in Fuller,
32·8 ~ in Defoe, 68 ; in Addison, 37·9 ; in ' The Letters of Junius,'
Sl ·9; in De Quincey, 32·3 ; in Macaulay, 23·6 ; in Channing,
25·4; in Emerson, 20·9; in Matthew Arnold, 37; and in J. R.
Lowell, 38.
337. It will be seen that, allowing for the nature of the
subjects treated and for the idiosyncrasies of the writers, our
sentences have been gradually getting shorter. The older
_writers fashioned their prose after Latin models, and weighted
, the principal statement with many subordinate clauses and
phrases; but after the formation of a distinctly English style
complexity gave place to simplicity.
338. Length is almost inconsistent with clearness. In a long
sentence the reader is hurried on from phrase to phrase a.nd

THE SENTENCE

LONGJJfANS' SCHOOL COJJfPOSJTIOJY

from clause to clause ; the attention, instead of being .com .
centrated on the words just being read, is trying to remeltibet.
and to fit into their proper places the words that are past; and
consequently distinct notions of the author's meaning are either· '
not obtained at all, or are obtained only after much effort. A1ong ·
sentence leaves on the mind such faint and confused impressions 'as would be got by walking quickly through a picture-gallery; :
whereas a succession of short sentences leaves such distinct in;i:;
pressions as would be obtained by stopping before each picture. ,
339. The following sentence from Clarendon's History is un-. ·
intelligible on a first reading. When divided into shorter sentences it is easier to understand, but it could not be rendered
at once clear and smooth without re-casting.
Sentence from Clarendon's Hislortj .

'

-

And after the king's blessed return to England, he had frequent
conferences with many of those who
had acted several parts towards the
escape ; whereof some were of the
Chancellor's nearest alliance and
others his most intimate friends ;
towards whom his Majesty always
made many gracious expressions of
his acknowledgement; so that there
is nothing in this short relation, the
verity whereof can justly be suspected, though, as is said before, it
is great pity that there could be no
diary mnde, indeed no exact account
of every hour's adventure from the
coming out of Worcester, in that
dismal confusion, to the hour of his
embarkation at Bright-hemsted, in
which there was such a concurrence
of good-nature, charity, and generosity in persons of the meanest and
lowest extraction and condition, who
did not know the value of the precious jewel that was in their custody,
yet all knew him to be escaped from
such an action as would make the

The same sentence divided.
After the king's blessed return to
England he had frequent con~ereno9' ,
with many of those who ha.d acted:
several parts towar~s .the escape;
and he always made many graoioa.
.expressions oi his- !lC~?-;vledgment "i
to them. As some"of thes~
were of the Chancellor's (that l8f tiMt
historian's] '1nearest ·allie.nce, -'nil ·
others were his most intimatoftiena11.
there is in th.is short relation'nothi .
whereof the ~erity can justq·b6 ~·
pected. Still it is a great pify; ..
has before been said, that tbeto hb'!
not been written a.n .exact·· accoun., ·
of every d11-y's, nny ,of ev~ liourft'"'
adventure from the time of the; lliugt• .-;,,
coming 'out ,of Worcestet, ..iii ~
dismal contusion, to.toe" time .. ·
embarkation ' , at' Bi:ig1l¢1i
Such an · account would $how\
his Majesty was treated with g9ocl··.-.. ••
nature, charity, a.nd senet<llil1 by
persons of tho meanest e.nd ·lowetil
extraction and condition. It ia true · •
that they did not know the value
of the precious jewel that was- in

persona

The same sentence divided.

Sentence from Clarendon's History.

their custody, yet 'they all kne:v that
disc~very and delivery of him to
he had escaped from the action at
those w~io governed over and amongst
Worcester and that it would be of
them of . great benefit and present
. great benefit and present advantage
advantage to them, and in those who
to t.h cmselves to discover and dedid know him, of such courage,
liver him to the government. S~ch
~loyalty, and activity, that all may
a concurrence of good-nature, chant!,
reasonably look upon the whole as
ancl generosity from th.ose who tlid
the inspiration and conduct of God
not know the king with courage,
Almighty, as a manifestation of B:is
loyalty, and activity from those who
power and glory, and for the convicdiJ know him, may reasonably bo
tion of the "'hole party, w?i~h had
looked upon as the inspiration and
sinned so grievously; and if it hat~i
conduct o! Goel Almighty, and as a
not wrought that effect in the~, it
manifestation of His power and glory.
ha.th r endered them the more mexSuch a manifestation ought to have
cusablc.
convinced the whole party, whi_ch had
sinned so grievously ; and if it hat~
not wrought that effect in _the.m it
hath rendered them the more mexcusable.

Divide each

..r tl

O;

ie

Exercise 124.
f ollo•v,;ng Zonn sentences into shorter
' "

'J

- ones:-

fit to )Ursue Lambert, who, being known to be a man
It was not thought
I .
t b f tl1e best w"s suspected by so
.
cl
cl t and his troops o e o
• "' '
of courage an con uc '
l cl . 'd to have drawn the army anoth er
disorderly a retreat to have on~ esignl
I . ·11 tl1 "y re-solved to con tin 110
. d
'
·
.
.
1 r t irb their rnarc1, w iic
way to d1sor er nmd.~~snt tho, had hitherto nsed, which was incrcd1bk, until
) t as the might securely rest th emseh cs . ..
with the same expe I io
they shoulcl co~ne to su.ch a pos, h ere ~o well that neither ofiiccr nor sol dier
The army liked t~ei.r quartet \ th
till they sh ould be thoroughly rewas in any degree willing bto lqm 'd t:t tho fati gue had been even in supfreshed, and it could ~ot c c e:Jndred miles been march 'd in so few da.ys,
portable; never had so many· 1 .t ·n truth appear reasonable to any that
and with so little rest; nor die i ~
't . s not possible that they should
ld
from thence; since i wa
'
. ,
th~y shou remove
hou h it had been better prepared for the kings
be able to reach London, t
g
11
ld be there: who
.
d to be before Cromwe wou
reception than it appeare f
d h. march in a direct line was now as
having with great haste con inue
dis t d only at a gaze to be informed.
near to it as the king's army was, an s oo
.
.
what his Majesty meant to do.

J/)j'

'1'11.E SENTENCE
LONGJl.IANS' SCHOOL COAfPOSITION

242

. Worcester
a very agood
kingdom
and inwas
as fruitful
o ~ost, seated almost in the middle of the
the noble river of . Severn fror::~l r[has a~y part of it, a good city, serv'd b
from whence levies might be made ofe ad1acent counties; Wales behind
place where the king's friends mi ht gre~t ~umbers of stout men: it was a
pretended to have • and 1"t was a place
g repair,
if
wh
b they had the affect"ions th ey
enemy would attack him with m
d ere e might defend himself if tho
a vantages
'
to enga ge h"
Crom
.
and cou ld not be compelled
. is army in a 'battle tillany
well had gotten men enough to en
compass b1m on all sides since th
could not come suddenly to
must be on both sides the rive;
kmg ~o t~is degree would require n:~:~ et~ch o_ther a~d the straitening tho
orportumty of several insurrections in thlm~. m wh1~h there might be an

ft

a~d

r:l~nemy

o tht• P""nt ty.-.nny and " "lioiton• t \ kmgdom " thoy w"' to wo;..,.
m en as they were conceived to be. f

o e restor'd to the king's govern:

~;~i;;ee :.eas~n
to ~anifest their loy~lt;~h:~b~~ cot~d e:er hope for a more ~
mg om with a formed a
en e kmg was in the hearl
(f~r so the! might

"

:343

~:Ybajf a~~ut l~,000

~n""'
m dang" to ho oppm"d by a"' whrnh ho m;ghl ""'"th,,;
expectation of a good a
more powerful party.
be accounted

men, horse and foot

market
town call'd w·igan m
. Lanca
ppearance
ofh the people he wen t t o a little
.
•
h'
·
m the morning a regiment or two o~ ire w ~~e. he stayed that night i when ,
and some other troops of the arm
the m1lit1a of the neighbour counties
Cromwell had sent to follow in t{ ~ommk anded by a man of courage whom
the stragglers
.
an d sueh as were note rac
bl t of the J-ing's
•
mareh to gather up
received some advertisement that a e o keep pace with the army havin
army in
town fell very early
the king's horse were bob.ind ih! "
out of then beds having
o I efore the persons in the to
.'.
that th
assurance upon all th
wn w ro
ere ':as no enemy near them.
e enquiry they could make.

tl~at

::r~?bof

But havmg sat long in th H
~
ge~uity
of the prnoeed;ng• the~' :::::hof Commons and ob•"""' th• .&in

;~em'°'~
'd the poop lo h• had oont<.;I ~" :hoots by whfoh thoy d""v'.i ,
and all who were cozen'd b
e so earty an indignation . •

'~~I to

0

PP"' and d"trny

tho:.'::,:~ :•d ogall>•i oll who hod ,:-;::,

p egmatick men which off d d
e often said things •A al
his go d t
en e them and 't
. .
"" aw and • •
h
o na ure often oblig'd him t
k i ,may be mJured them. wbiob ,:
w o would not question him for it o ac nowledge and ask pardon
ihJ - .

~f

It was upon the third of S t .
ON
horse most part of th .
ep ember when the king h • .
everybody being upone
and having ta.ken a. full
;en np<1n·bit
such a stand that it
p st they were appointed and th
e ell«D1 &Of
if he shoul<l he
meant to make no a: enemy making
retired to his lodging to
his Majooty a
.atcl
h our, when the alarm
himself, where he bad not= noon
his Majesty's own horse wafi
were engaged;'
e oor
·
"
mo\~nted,
, . and h e preiiently

a~

~=h~
migh~~se ~oncluded ?e
ea~p:llet '~1-th ea~e;
ca~10~\~e tr~sh

rea~y a~t~harmdies

vi::~fg

li~~t~el).,
and~=:~

before or as soon as he came out of the city he met the whole bo<ly of his
horse running in so great disorder that he could not stop them, though he
used all the means he could, and called to many officers by their names and
hardly preserv'd himself by letting them pass by from being overthrown
andThe
overrun
byarmy
them.was no sooner defeated at Worcester but the Parliament
king's
renew'd their ol<l method of murthering in cold blood, and sent a connnission to erect a High Court of Justice to persons of ordinary quality, many
not being gentlemen an<l all notoriously his enemies, to try the Earl of Derby
for his treason and rebellion; which they easily foun<l him guilty of; and put
him to death in a town of his own, against which he had expresso<l a senre
displeasure for their obstinate rebellion against the king with all the circum·
stances of rudeness and barbarity they could invent.
As the greatest brunt of the danger was diverted by these poor people, in
his night marches on foot, with so much pain and torment, that he often
thought that he paid too dear a price for his life, before he fell into the
hands of persons of better quality, and places of more conveniency, so h e
owed very much to the diligence and fidelity of some ecclesiastical persons
of the Romish persuasion; especially to those of the Order of St. Bennet;
. which was the reason that he expressed more favours after his restoration, to
that order than to any other, and granted them some extra.ordinary privileges .
about the service of the Queen, not concealing the reason why he dicl so ;
which ought to have satisfied all men, that his Majesty's indulgence towards
all of that profession, by restraining the severity and rigour of the laws wl1ich
had been formerly made against them, had its rise from a fountain of princely
justice and gratitude, and of royal bounty and clemency.
The marquis's orders for drawing the troops together to any ren<lezvous,
were totally neglected and disobeyed ; and the commissioner's orders for the
collection of money and contribution in such proportions as had been settled
a.greed unto, were as much contemn'd: so that such regiments, as with
great difficulty were brought together, were as soon dissolved for want of
pay, order and accommodation; or else <lispersed by the power of the fri ars ;
as in the city of Limerick, when the marquis was thero and had appointed
several companies to be drawn into the market place, to be employc<l upon
a present expedition, an officer of good affection and thought to ha,·e much
credit with his soldiers, brought with him two hundred very likely sohllcrs
well arm'd and disciplin'd and having receiv'd his orJers from the marquis
(who was upon the place) began to march ; when a Franciscan friar in his
habit, and with a crucifix in his band came to the h ead of the colllpn.ny an 11
commanded them all 'upon pain of damnation that they shoul<l not mnn:h '
upon which they all threw dov111 their arms and di<l as the friar clirectcJ ;
who put the whole city into a mutiny insomuch as the Lord Lieutenant "·as
compell'd to go out of it, and not without some difficulty escapecl thoui;h most
of the magistrates of the city did all that was in their power to supprc-5,; th•;

~nd

.'
;

(

: !

1'2
(.

LONCil.IA iVS ' S CROOL COlY!POS.!7'.!0lv

THE SENTENCE
disorder and to reduce the people to obedience; and some of them -were 'll
kill 'd nnd m any wounded in the nttemp t.
·: t'·'i,, -

. accord1·n g to the rules
as the ent
la.w ~How
.
rand discipline him
ore unishm
m ones
to take a prisone
k that that man goes through m
Pt . n of his labour
d ·r he have no wor
d d receives a por
10
an I
the man that is employe an
loym ent because a great
month than tl . but still I should like to ha.vebemp. the habit of earnin g
in three mont· 1s' I took men away who have . een
con fi nem r nt and
number of imes
l f and put them m so J '
k to buy a oa '
!·
sixpence a. wee
d
mor·e without wor ' ·
·
· a grent ea1
ou
the punishment is
t f.
Ch rendon given

wit~ ::

pressi.ng~;~­

B ut by the extraordinnry importunity of the Marquis of Ormond,

whom h e h ad preserv 'd a fns t and uns haken fri endship, and his
h im to preser ve Ireland to t he kin g without which it would throw itself ·
into the arms of a foreigner; and then the same importunity from all thd >
Irish nobi lity, bishops, and clergy (ni ter the L ord Lieutenant had informed '.i_i
them of liis purpose) that h o wou ld preserve his nation which without his. ·
acceptance of their protection wo uld infa llibly be extirpated, and their joint t '
promi se ' that they would a.bsol utely submit to all his commands and liold.
n o assembly, or m eeting amongst themselves, without his permission and _ : .
commission,' together with his unquestiona ble desire to do any thing how .-'"
contrary soever to his own in clina tion and benefit that would be acceptable ..
to tho King and 1night possi bly bring some advantage to his l\fajesty'a' >''
service ho was in tho end prevailed upon to receive a commission from. the " ' ·
Lord L ieutenant to be Depu ty of Ireland and undertook that charge. '.,,, '""''
No sooner h ad the late bills in contravention of seditious -meetings · -'.
which m enaced tho revolution of the country p assed through both HouseS' '.
of P arlia.ment and we began to experience that tranquillity which arises from a full confiden ce in the wisdom and vigour of the legislature and to 'antici.:«
.pate with grateful exultation th_e splendid period Of the king's'
p eriod illustrated by a light reflected from a succession
'
and from the glorious termination of a war arduous · and .Protracted heyornl ·•
all form er precedent, than tho unfortunate arrival of ·the queen
.•
that insurgent spirit which had nearly subsided and which 'Was made at
th e unhappy m edium through which every species of blasphemy and sedition.
had vented their rage against the constituted authorities of the rea.lm.
"
At the time the history of these ladies commences some young inen of
liigb rank in the army as they were passing through Messina
rd•'''
turn from a war th at was just ended in which they' had
"
·r' · ·
t.1, :
- '- ,·
by their grcat bra.very came to visit L eona to.
Observing in the Standard a long account of the divin'ing"rod,
liiCb:< ...
my name appears as one Of t11e principal actors; at South Kensingtou;
of which a weekly journal gave a long, garbled and unfai r account
I did them,
to "•to, fi,,t, thot,
to ,. ,f
sh own anything whatever a bout any water p1pe; I actually 'discoverea":
spring of water and traced its course, quite oppor;;ite to -the ·direotion' oi Qi'o'
water pipe named and which was not a running pipe; ·also, that sotattong"did
the rod work in my hands th at I could not hold it; -and 'th'at, to
the comp any tha t I used no effort whatever, I asked'f1vo ot the G'entt:Ointif ·''
present to hold my wrists as tigh tly as they could. :" · ".
'·. '/
. ' •. ~
Do you observe any diffe rence in the conduct of prisoners who ll.re
pl oyed and those who have no employment ?_:_Yes, a good deal. I look upon'
it from what judgm ent I can form and I have been a Jong while in it that

\~tary

·~

coronation,;;'~·
of hrillfant#vfotori~s'

~Okindle<l
once

~n"thefr
been"distin~ed
-~

~milting

P"'"?"'.

~

~·.\,; C:·t.~

in·'

and~:
of1wllat

1''.,;,;og,b~·,'?ld·O

c6,ll\~

ern.

245

mm
'
;vith the cxtrac
340. Contrast '.
. t from Macaulay :.
age 240 the followmg extrac
. . . l 'cated t11 c grealness \\ l11ch
p Nothing in the early existence.
.
f Dntam H H i •
k 11 n
ol abitants, when fi rs t th ey becam,e ·nl o ·h
-

."""'1"
.

1

· ,
· d t o attain. H11er
m superior to the natn
" ic a
she was destme
. ttle
cs of the. San(
d only
.
· ers were
b t he receive
to the Tynan marm
by the Roman arms ;
s Jrovinces wh ich
Islands. She was su n arts and letters. Of the western I the first that
faint tincture of
was th e last that was conquered,
and aqueducts
obeyed the Cresars s ,
'ficont remains of Latian
e k
d among
..
b.u'th s recb one
was flung a".ay. 1 No magm
.t ·
No writer of Bntis
ble that the
1
1
1
,
l ·n Bn am.
p · not pro a
are to be .ounc
t
and eloquence.
• 15
heir Italian
•
the masters of
poe er:era.lly familiar with the tongue t bas during

bj~ga.ted

~

Ro::

por~

Lo.t1a~

~n:

~£

1 ,
c:~~l:ies,e been predomina~t-, It <~~~v~aouthe basis of ,the French
:;:7::u
uut by tho Teutouio; oud 't '\~t :., i•lo~d the L.ti" uppem nm;
S
islanders were

t~ a;[i:~~: ~o the vicinity of the Rh~n~bt:eC~l~~~~ it ~ ·as not

rulers.

h nd cou!J not stand its gioun
. h and P ortuguese languag~s.
topams
have ,superseded the olJ Gaelic speec , a.

.
concerning the length of a
No
riaid
rule
can
be
~1venh
. ofa box. The length
• .1.
o·
mncr t e size
t
sentence any more than conc~r e tl~e size of a box, by what h as o
of a sentence is regulated, hk h ld contain a clear, complete
. . t i·t · Every sentence s ou
.
be put mo

against the German.

341

thought and no more.
t •
tead of having one i:mbJ cct
342. The following sentence, ms
of thought, has several : -

. , the fallo.cies, the defects , as
B t Ow
we must admit the shortcommgs,d . dgment as to whether th o
'ng a soun JU
·
· by
u n
. f
no less essential
as to justify the claim
seer and artist were so um ~ .
his sect to a place bcs1 c
•
himself and afterward mamt~med b~ ive a right direction and s.afc ou tlet
oets who exalt men's m1~ds a~ ~
while insensibly b elprng th e1:1'1
passions through the
judgment by stimulating their
.
toward halo.nee ~f charact:~;~~e nice adjustment of means to ends.
I
t as a ~triug of s.'.\us.~ges. ,
sense of proport10n, form,
'
• Quoted by Dr. llodg<
' on ' who says th at it is as cv icreu

element\1~ i~r~:m

foet~err

rm::;~::;:f

ju~~ p~~~l~ew

P.\......~~~,..-~~...

.

~,;.,_v~e

'~~
. j

·.~52E--:-'""-"!"­

,..: p .....;:,.._,,..

- -

.'!

- ~-

~--:+-

~-

LONC,lfANS' SCHOOL CO •1 n
,u, OSITION

.t343·f Dr. Blair gives the followin 0r1
--Ulll Yo a sentence:rules for preserving the
(J) Th e scene s
b '
z·ta
We should no' be'· h '· · e- .cliangcd
·
as i c a.s possible.
"
urnct! by sudden tr . 't.
f
nor from subject to subject Tl
. ans1 ions rom person to person
some p erson or thin..,. wbicl1
·
·
iero Is commonly
· every sentence '
i' s tl
.
, In
·
"
10 go vern
l
•
contmued so, if possible, from the beer' . mg won. This should be ,
I express myself thus:omnmg to the end of it. Should . '
1101tll

After we came to anchor th .
. . ~b 11
·
ey put me on sh
1
.. · ·
ya my frie nds, who received me wi'h tl
ore, :v1ere I was welcomed .. . .
· ,:,
,.
• 1e greatest kmdness ?
In tms sentence thou..,.l1 th b'
·
'
o
e o 1ects cont · d · ·
conn~ct~on with each other, yet, b this
ame m It have a suffi cient - ..
by sl11ftmg so often both th I
Y
manner of representing"theni"'r """
o.nd who , they appear in su~J~ :~:- an~tthle ~erson, we, and they,' and I. /'" .·
nection is almost lost Th
is1m1 ~c view, that the sense of con' ~--. .
·
e sen tel'l.ce is
.
•·· ·
by turnmg
it after the follow·
restored to its proper unity
-·
mg manner ·.
•
.
.
.
.· -~
Having ?ome to an anchor, r was
by all my fnends, and received with th pu~ on ~ho:e, where I was welcomed
~
e gieates. kmdness
, · - -,,,,,.
(2) Writers who trans!?ress tl .
. . .
.'.
'"'· ~l
the same time
o
us rule, for the most part transgress-at
A second rule : never to crowd i
. . ~,·. \·~• '·"'\:.
have ao l£ttle connect,i on that tl.
nto one aentence thingi wl;,;;,li . 2.
or three sentences.
iey could bear to be CU:vided into two -~
The violation of this rule never fails to
. . ,
. . . - ..,,,~
Its effect, indeed, is so bad, that of the t hu_rt.and displease a reader. -_
err rather by too rnany short s 't
w,o, It is the safer extreme·. to .... :-•..
d
b
en ences tha b
•. .,•. an em o.rrassed. Examples abound' . n y one that is overloaded '.".2 . ~
some, to justify what I now say.
m authors. I . shall ·produce .
Archbishop Tillotson [snys an th
.. '· 3 .. ~:;..~ , · '' ~ ..
tl ·
"
au or of tl H'
' ' •
i1s year. He was exceedingly b l d b ie ist?ry of England] di~ -in;.
Mary, who nominated Dr Tenn. e o;~ h oth by Rmg William and Q~een
T
•
l SOn,
IS op of Lincoln,
succeed 'l "' . ·':"'·:
\"\ho would expect the latter
.
. . .. -:· :.··' ~··':.'. "·.,
c?nsequence of the former ? ' He p.,.a rt of this. sentence to fo110,W; ··n !,.
krng and queen,' is the propositio ;as exceedingly. bel<?ved by;b()~ -,
proof of this, or a t least some th. n 0 t]he sentence:, we look for soble~
are
dd
mg r e ated to it t f, ll
'
'
o? a su en carried off to a new
. . ' o o o~; ·When we . .
Tennison to succeed him '
proposition, 'who,~nolllinated' t>r
Th
.
'
e following sentence, from a translot1'on
• t ,
wor se : "'
of Plutarch, is still ·

to

CA

..:;
t'.

-

THE SENTENCE

247

Their march [says the author, speaking of the (;reeks un<lcr Alernnder ~ .
their march was through an uncultivated country, whos e savage i1 ii:ai>i tants fared hardJy, havin g no Other ric!JCS than a Ul'CCtl of kail slll'<'jl. \\ J 1<Nl
flesh was rank and unsavoury, by reason of their continual feeding upon
r;ca -fish.
Here the scene is ch,1.ngeJ upon us ago.in anJ again . The mare h
of the Greeks, the description of the inhabitants throngli whose conntry
they travelled, the account of their sheep, and the cause of their sheep
being ill-tasted fooJ, form tt jumble of objectR, olightly related to each
other, which t he reader cannot, wit hout much <lifliculty, comprchelltl
under one view.
These examples hiwe been taken from Hcntences of no great leng th,
yet overcrowded. Authors who deal in long sentences, are very apt to
be faulty in this article. One need only open Lord Clarendon's His tory to find examples everywhere. The long, invoh·cd, and intricn.te
sentences of that author, are the greatm;t blemish of his composition ;
though in other respects as a historian, he has considerable merit. In
later, anc1 more correct writers than Lord Clarenllon, we find a perio,1
sometimes running out so far, and comprehending so many particulars,
as to be more properly a discour se than a sentence. 'I'1ike, for n.n in·
stance, the following from Sir William Temple, in his ' Essay upou
Poetry':The usual acceptation takes profit and pleasure for two different things;
and not oniy calls the followers or votari es of them by the several nam es of
busy and idle men, but distinguishes the faculties of the mind, that arc
conversant about them, calling the operations of the first wisdom, and of
the other wit; which is a Saxon word used to express what the Spaniards
and Italians call ingcnio, and the French esprit, both from the Latin ; thoui;h
I think wit more particularly signifies that of poetry, as may occur in remarks
on the Runic language.
'Vhen one an-ives at the end of such a puzzled sentence, he is surprised to find himself got to so great a distance from the oujcct with
which he at first set out.
(8) I proceed to a third rule for preserving the unity of sentences ;
which is, to keep clear of a.Zl parenthcsca in the rniddle of thern.
On some occasions, these may have a spirited appearance; as
prompted by a certain vivacity of thought, which can glance happily
aside, as it is going along. But, for the most part, their effect is ex·
tremely bad: being a sort of wheels within wheels ; sentences in the
midst of sentences; the perplexed m ethod of disposing of some thought,
which a writer wants art to introduce in its proper place. It were

'.

I

~

.,...,,-v--.,..L .......r.A:W. . ~.
I

•

'

THE SENTENCE
LONG.MANS' SCHOOL CO!lfPOSITJON

t

l

.. ..'

ti: '"

·-

.

needless to give many instances, as they occur so often ambng', hl·
correct writers. I shall produce one from Lord Bolingbroke, the ·
rapidity of whose genius and m anner of writing, betrays him frequently '•·
into ina.ccuracies of this sort. It is in the introduction to his ' Idea of
. . "~.
a. Patriot King,' where he \Hites thus:It seems to me that, in order to maintain the system of the world, at il
certain point, far below that of ideal perfection (for we are ma.de capable-0( :
conceiving what we are incapable of attaining), but, however, sufficient upon ·
the whole, to constitute a state easy and happy, or, at the worst, tolerable; ) ,
I say, it seems to me that the Author of nature bas thought fit to .mingle, '':'Jf-'
from time to time, among the societies of men, a few, and b.ut a few, of those ,
on whom be is gre.ciously pleased to bestow a larger portion of the ethereal ~
spirit the.n is given in the ordinary course of His government to Ule 'eoll.8·of ,
·,."",!
men.
A very bad sentence this ; into which, by the help of a. parenthesis,
and other interjected circumstances, his lordship had contrived· to
thrust so many things, that he is forced to begin the construction a.gs.in
with the phrase I Bay, which, whenever it occurs, may . be ru\vAys_
assumed as a. sure mark of a clumsy ill-constructed sentence; excUsn.ble
in speaking, where the greatest accuracy is not expecled, but iri
polished writing, unpardonable.
·
(4) I shall add only one rule more for the unity of a. sentence, which
is, to bring it always to a full amd perfect cloBe.
Every thing that is one, should have a. beginning, a middle, ~d &n··
end. I need not te.ke notice, the.t an unfinished sentence is no sentence
at all, according to any grammatical rule. But very -often we meet
with sentences, that are, so to speak, more than finished. '- When w4 ._.
have arrived at what we expected was to be the conclusion, when we •
a.re come to the word on which the mind is naturally led, by wlta.i _~n'
before, to rest : unexpectedly, some circumstance pops out', which ought
to have been omitted, or to have been disposed of elsewhere' but wbioh
is left lagging beh_ind, like a tail adjected to the se~tence.:t All •tA~fO · "
adjections to the proper close, disfigure ·a. sehte~ce· extrei:ne1y~ / They
give it a l~me un~aceful a.~, an~, in particular, ~hey bre~ ' its · ~~~ >
Dean Swift, for mstance, m his 'Letter to a.: Young Cle~ .
speaking of Cicero's writings, expresses himself thus:- ., :
· . ~·

.

With these writings young divines are more converso.nt Ulan withtb_OM
of Demosthenes, who by many degrees excelled the other; ai leaa,,a.a an
m~~

249

.

Here the nature.I close of the sentence is at these words, ' excelled
tho other.' These words conclude the proposition; we look for no

d d ' o.t lea.st o.s o.n orator,' comes in
more. and the circumstance o.d e. ' h more compact would the sen·
·
· •' with a.' very ha1tU:g
pa.c e · How. muc
h
t ence have been, if turned thus.. ·nes o.re more conversant tho.n with t ose
With these writings young d1v1
orator at least, excelled the
of Demosthenes, who by many degrees, as an
other.

Sir William T emple, the e.djection
t it Spee.king o.f Burnet's
·
ltogether oreign ° ·
-.r lu ' he
to the sentence is a ,
Fontenelle's 'Plurality of 'Vv or s,
' Theory of the Earth, and

In the following sentence fromf .

. says:-

.
t"
'thout a. pa.negyn'c of modem
d h' 1 amed trea. ise w1
. t
The first could not en is e . t . and the other falls so grossly m o
learning in comparison of t~e :~~1enreference of ihe new~ thai I could ~ot
: . the censure of the old p~et y 'th ; some indigria.tion; which no quality
.h
f these strams w1 ou
. in me e.s self-sufficiency.
. read e1t er o
men is so a.pt to raise
b
. among
.1 d th
tence. the le.st mem er,
. . f
' concluue
e sen
'
m·
The word' indigna. ion
.
t to raise ' in me as self-su .
lit
ong men is so ap
which no qua. y e.m
h
dded after the proper c1ose.
. cy , is a. proposition e.ltoget er new' a
L
c1en ,
.

344. Sentences are either Periodic or oose.
Period the reader is kept in suspense, a compLete
345. In a
d 1 by the complete sentence.
th ought bein()'o conveye on Y
1 t . thou()'ht (not of course t 7ie
346. InaLoosesente:cea.~~:fn:e:ds tooexpress) is conveyed
complete thought that t e wr1
by less than the complete sentence.
.
. .
ample of a Period : 347 The following is an ex
..
.

•
If you look a.bout you, and

.

r the liv~s of others e.s well e.s your

cons1~:h honour and how many die without

own . if you think how few are born w1
and 'bow few friends we bear of;
•
hildren . how little beauty we see,
. . the world . you will
'
.
name or c
•
b poverty there is in
how many diseases, and bow :;c instead of repining at one affliction, w111
a ,
. d from the hand of God.
f a11 down upon your knees,
.
hicb you have receive
.
'f "t bad begun with
admire so many b1essrngs w

ld have been loose 1 i
This sentence wou
G d ' d ended with the if clauses.
' You will fall down . . . o an
348 The following is an example of a Loose sentence : -

•
1 ins Dr Hinchman, one of the prebends of
The next do.y upon the p a
. .
d Philips then leaving him/to
.
• the Kino>/the Lord Wilmot e.n
Salisbury, me.
0

il~~ -

...

'

'

THE SENTENCE .

LONGMAN$' SCHOOL CO/IfPOSITION
go to the sea coast/to find a vessel/the Dr. conducting the king to a place
called Heale/three miles from Salisbury/belonging then to Serjea.nt Hyde/
who was afterwards Chief Justice of the King's Bench/and then in the
possession of. the widow of bis elder brother/a. house that stood a.ione 11
from neighbours/and from any highway/where coming in late in the eveni~g_ ~,.
he supped with some gentlemen/who accidentally were in the house/whioh _(
couhl not well be avoided.

The sentence might be finished at each of the bars.
349. The Periodic form may be obtained(1) Dy placing Conditional and other Adverbial Clauses
thus:,·,

Peri-Odie.
Though he slay me ye~ will I
trust him.
Except ye repent ye shall all likewise perish.
If you have tears prepare to shed
them now.
Where ignorance is bliss 'tis folly
to be wise.
Since my country calls me I
obey.
When first she gleamed upon my
sight
She was a. phantom of delight.

Loose.
I will trust him though he

slay t ·:

me.
Ye shall all likewise perish except
ye repent.
Prepare to shed tears now if you
have them.
.
. ,
'Tis folly to be wise where igno·
ranee is bliss.
·
I obey since my coun~ calls/
me.
She was a. phantom of delight
When first she gleamed upon my ,
sight.
'

(2) Dy placing a Participial Phrase before the word it qualifies; ,,
\.

o.s

Periodic.

...

... '

~~ "'

.. ·~. ·-

Loose.

Accustomed to obey from his
youth, the respon sibility of command
proved too great for h im.

Loose.
Periodic.

~-----------:~~-=-;::;-i- The Greek language had obtained
The Greek language had obtained
eat vogue in Rome, the gre~t and
·' such a vogue in Rome that all. the

~ great and noble were not _o:1ly obliged

:!1e being obliged to learn i\and
ambitious everywhere to speak i .

. ' to learn it but were ambitious every" where to speak it.
'',
In estimating the character of
the German reformer we must for'th of the man
get the temper nei . ehr h . d
·n wh1c
e 1ive .
h
nor of t e age i

We must not forget the temper
of the German reform~r or. of the
.
hich be lived m estimo.ti~
age m w
~
his character.

1 d tately Loose sentences
350. Periods are the mo~e f~~~a. :~er! is an ~xcess of Periods
the more simple and nat~ra.. r 1~n d when t4ere is an excess of
the style is affected, and it is s ipls o. g effect is obtained by a
r;oose sentences. Th e most p .easm
judicious admixture of the two kinds.
Exercise 125.
(a) Conver t

the following Loose Sentences into Periods : -

They trimmed the lamps as the sun w~nt down.
M oor dog Tray was wherever I wen .
F y ~y we serve because we freely love.
the bright sun rises over the
ree
.
. the corn-field before
Poor Mary is seen m
bill.
Life has passed
With me but roughly since I saw thee last.

;J

'

f

l
i

,,~

)

h

;

Daily near my table steal
While I pick my scanty meal.
t
the conqueror comes.
came no ~s
I
d
Th ey ' the true-hearted,
d
t ormng as passe .
I found her lying dea ne~ m
fmes when it begins to walk.
The infan~ thinks it lives m strange I
.
.
I stood on the bridge at midnight,
As the clocks were striking the hour. .
.
died an hour before this chance.
I bad lived a blessed time had :u~ hadst thou sprung in deserts where
Thou must have uncommende ie
-

I

., ;

f.··

t ij

v
'i "~>~
~ t~:.·· I

!

i

I

l"i..

'
1

lI i'~-,.,

'·

'

i
'

i
l

(3) Dy using suspensive words, such as not only .•• b~tt, bot1~ c.
and, either . . . or, neither ..• nor, s1wh ••. as, ~v ••• that,
partly . . . partly, mor6 ••• than, rather .•. than, &c. i as

p . d nd six Loose Sentences .
(b~ Construct or select sia; er-io s a

conceived.

•

i .":~.lo'

l

~~'

I

t·.

!

\

no men abide.
,
h
h ranting your premises.
I still doubt your conclusion t ou~ g f h. h no eye had seen nor heart
Then ensued a scene of woe the like o w ic

J

-;~·

;·
l ,.,
' i f~·' .,: 1
l' ~--

l

-~

I

~ 1··
,.

;

<

7··
'·
\ r..
: ,,

l

~·J

~,.~
,o( · -

._
,. .

·, .... :...

,.;.

_2s_2__ _

~-

~~L~OM
~C_J_rA_N._~_·~s_cn~o-o_L~C~OA~r.~~~O~Sl~T.~~~O:N~-:-:-~_:j

THE SENTENCE

253

(5) The only English prime minister who has been a professed wit, he
felt its efficacy as a weapon.

351. EXAMPLES OF FAULTY SENTENCES.

Its is a Neuter Pronoun, but there is no Nenter Noun for which
it mo.y etand ; wit is used as being the name of a p erson.
' its effi.ca.c,Y ' say ' the efficacy of wit.'

(1) The man who deserves to b
.
.
' '~
truth and some one else sufIers. e punished escapes if you do not tell 'the

he know.'

The second is antecedent. h
, t e first is consequent •
an t ece d ent or consequent?
If antecedent, read:

and some one else sufiers.

(8) There a.re a. million Irishmen living in one room.

..
:
o deserves to be punished escapes

It must be a large room. The writer meant that the homes of a
million Irishmen consist of one room ea.ch.

This example shows that antecedent a· , .. . . , . , , . "·. -~.
not be mixed.~·
an conse5uentolatis'es should

It was not the governor who signed the prison r egister.
he ha.d signed.•

,.

l

...

8ay' after

(10) At the end of that time the ~ody of the will was finished for Bill

f'

1

if I:

was a rapid worker being written in medium-sized letters.
Bill was not a rapid worker because he wn.s ' written in medinm sized letters.' If tbe will was fini shed for that r eason place the P11.rti cipi11.l Phrase after will. If, as see1~1s probable, tho I'articipial Phrnsc
is only intended to supply an additional detai l, i;ayAt the end of that time the body of the will (which was written m
medium-sized letters) was fini shed, for Bill was u. rnpid worker.

Niagara, where he arrived b
. ,- .
.
. -~
remained for ten days. .
. a out th~ end of April, and where b•
(-1) James Whale, fishing above th l k
,.
~ "'-•% ,,_ ... _
nrbel measuring thirty inches in Jen
e oc ' eau.ght a~__very !mn~d[~fi~==~~~
and weighed twelve pounds.
gth and fifteen rnches round thc-girtb~,-~-~..,_-

~~
...... ~ ,,,..,-_ ~ ___ .:_
eve l)?unds and a. new conetnic--:- -::-1

- j

di'
..

(9) After signing the prison register as Dubose the governor asked him
who he was.

(2 ) We give below his opinion f th . . .. _..::... ~ ~
~ : · . ~•.
tion; now it is only necessar t
o
e ;1rtues o: our public-schoor oaucaZ
Russell 's biographer has d y h~ say that mall essential respects Lo.rd J'Ob
one 1s work well.
.
.
There is no connection what
b
• .
op.inion ofpublie schools and th ever. etwe~n , ~or~ J?hn '1___nus_
things should not have been p.ut ~ ~erits of Jue biographer. - Th'd
.
m o one sentence,
. . . .. .
· : .
. ' ,
· '.·~""
(3) We find him proceeding' .b
which he reached about the end / ~va~I of Buffalo. to: the '!alls of. N"i ,
o pr1 ' and remained there !or·~ dii~~-·
SayThe structure of .the sentence is chan~ed ii.fter the word A~.

. J~~es Whale is made to wei -h tw

'Never at o.ny time' is tautological; omit' at any time.'

The writer does not m ean that the stories were well authenticated,
but only that the spreading of them was.

"•
.

j.

(7) The kind of stories which these wretched women spread about Sir
Robert would be in?redible if they were not well authenticated.

If you do not tell the truth and
-. . ~J. -, ,::-"
serves to be punished escapes.
some one else sufiers, ihe man -w~o ·a~ ., .

If you do not tell the truth the man wh

' t

The construction is changed in lcnew. Say known to balance
given ; or, if that does not convey the meaning intended, say 'nor did

·

If consequent, rea.d : -

I

!

(6) He had never at any time i;iven prisoner the missing plates nor knew
the prisoner used the books.

This sentence consists of three parts : (a) The man who d
t
eserves o be punished escapes
(b) If you do not tell
the truth
•
(c) Some one else suffers.

Instead of

'

..

,. l

·

t1oh is mtroduced in weighed ~
in girth, and to balance me, • . o balance inches in length sa.yinchea -· -·aauring say weiglWng.
.
.
. · ·

..............
~.:

(11) She is endowed with such sentiments that would become the
superior of a convent.
For that say

a.~.

(12) •The L ight of Asia ,' by Sir Edwin Arnohl, appcnrn as th e new
volume of the Lotos Scri1;s. Jt is daintily got up nnd will gren.tly assist in
popularising a noble poem.

The

sentence as it stanr1s is nonsense-' The Light of Asia' will

'

'

'

h.
...
'

;

-.--

LONCJJ.fANS' SCHOOL COMPOSITIO!v

~eatly assist in popularising itself.
will, &c.' .

gre~;~ff~~~no~;t~~~~~.of

Say ' the get-up is dainty and

their battles is wonderful and never end

The grammatical subject of end is obatinam
author's mind was battles. SayY-

Exercise 126.

~vithout

Amend the following sentences:-

The subject in the

1'.heir battles are wosderfully obstinate and never
effusion of blood.
end without great
(14) We get somehow adjusted to the c d' . .
.
.
and we do not miss the absence of what
hon ition ID ':h1ch we grow up
.
we ave never enJoyed. .
Either say regret for miss or omit 'the absence of.'
.
1

(15) 'Amen,' said Yeo, and many an h

compact, and kept it too like men.

. . .
.
• ~
ones voice JOmed m that honest
t

A voice might join in an ' Amen ' but could
tk
Say'
no
eep a compact:
Many an honest man joined . th t h
I
compact too like a man.
m a onest exclamation, and kept the .
,..(16) We wrote you on the 24th inst.

There is no need to have a p
·r
when the Direct Object is o-iven :ept~i ion herore the Indirect Object
say
o
m e same sentence. . Thus we can
The gardener sold me some roses
but not
'
The gardener sold me.
Similarly we can say
We wrote you a letter on the 24th . t
but not
ms.,
We wrote you on the 24th inst.
Similarly
We wired you

_

should (~anting the somewhat doubtful
We wired to you.

word wireil) be

(17) Try and come.

'T~iis should be ' Try to come.'
seen if we use the Past Tense,He tried and came.

:!55

THE SENTENCE

The absurdity of the and is at once

,.n .:/

'r

~-

In all my travels I never met but one Scotchman but what was a man of
sense; I believe, indeed·; everybody of that country that has any leaves it as
fast as they can.
The friendless state which he said he was in, and that he wished to die
made Rosalind think that he was like herself unfortunate.
He had come to the conclusion that the child had tumbled into the water
and was drowned.
~ c?nc~i~e that. by s~ratching it and tearing it the soot ge.ts in and creo.t~s
the irr1tab1hty, which disease we know by the name of the chrmney-sweeper $
cancer, and is always lectured upon separately e.s a. distinct disease.
Now, sir, what with the antagonism of the public, the criticism of the
press, and snubbed and punished by our superiors, what else other than the
indifference, as your correspondent says, which marks the metropolitan
police-constable, can be the result?
Twenty-three years ago I was living in Colmer Street, and whilst partaking
of my tea, about six p.m., in the back parlour, or kitchen (as it was both),
my front window was forced open and goods to the value of 20l. taken.
When my wife went into the room and discovered our loss, as well as seeing
something go out of the window, but what she could not tell, it being dark
at the time, it took me some time to find a police-constable, and I had to
go nearly a quarter of a mile to do that.
You are never sober; you are always drunk. Follow my example and
mntinue being so every day in the week for six months or I will disch1u-ge
you.
,.,,--· If you are subject to colds, by wearing this garment it is a perfect pre·
ventitive.
He then joined an expedition into Spain, and by his help placed Pedro
of Castile upon the throne, against which the French had helped.
The longer this ale is kept the better it will be, even to a year in bottle,
and it will keep sound in any climate.
A very useful and explicit little treatise upon a rule which is often a
stumblingblock to young teachers at examino.tions. Examples of every type
are worked out, and numerous exercises, with their answers.
Eggs either poached or fried are a very favourite and eatable accompani·
ment of either bacon or ho.m. In my own opinion the former of these two
methods is to be preferred in...QQ!I! cases.
A miscellaneous assemblage of per-;jons in evening attire may be compared
with a large library of books, of which the volumes are all mixed up irregularly
and often missing.
Among the merits of these illustl'ations we place very high the portraits,

s

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.lONCi1fANS SCHOOL C011!POSI7'.ION

:'.•

best ~···
The comparison of a badly fed and sheltered animal, living in squalor"'~,
and dirt, its movements restrained by a short chain, is hardly a fair com~ ,_.:.
parison with animals in our Zoological Gardens, who, though captive, are,~.
well fed and cared for.
. ~. '.· "
which are numerous and very faithful likenesses in all cases from the
canvases in the historical galleries in England or abroad.

Matters are quite ·as bad or worse at the School Board than at the ··
Metropolitan Board of Works.
·
• •,
"r.

Suoh onthu.siai;m is unknown in these days wherein . . . J1imself, as an • '
American writer informs us, is no longer to be endured and will doubtlesY'. · t
excite some ridicule; but for my own part I am not one whit ashamed· of it.
This and other ways of improving national education, such as
; 1.'''.
by results, &c. [the writer did not mean that payment by results was 11. means , ., ·
of improving education], can only be altered by the action of the
1
Is it true that three p ublishers defy competition by having each of t)ieir·,_:
subscribers photographed yearly, and present them with twelve copies? • .: ;.'
The meeting between their Royal Righnesses was most cordial, t)le Duke ;
expressing himself pained that certain words which had been spoken J:iad ·;..,
been much exaggerated,.. and unhesitatingly agreed ·to proceed at once to
meet his nephew and niece.
,
' · _-· , _

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paym~nt
Legislature. ·~·:·

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P~rfectly

~lad

help. Rick~.ieil ott~\'h'EI
F

M~GIJ
wasted;~· -~ey. etrong'ly r~

.~.

.,
I_

.

wil~ .k~p
el,lou~~.

·'

;-

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The
in price.is simply a Chr1stmas present' to our friends_,and
b hreduction
d
'
>'
.
. ·
..' . . !·. . ' 'u,;
· 11'
Sir,-In accordance with your instructions I have . seen.;oollings · rind :
Medburn, and asked.them about Ricks's family, 'vho; f am.
.to'say7'ire.;?
ready to give every information ·and
scaffolding at A. Farm buildings on Tuesday week,:and, besides breaking lile:
·1eg above the knee, injured himself internally, nnd·which
liim "laid
.
.
. ~
up for two
months at least. The poor wife is respectable,
with three.
daughters, all small things, which keep her at home and give hei:
do. All she has is five shillings a week frotn Hicks's 'club, and·&n :·
·
mother. Collinga and Med burn say that it is a genuine case, and their
will see to the proper use of any money, w1iich you may see good 10 de 0,te ; .
to the family, which you may rely, sir,' will not be
recommend the case. As for the new iron rails , for the home fields whic'h ·'
were sent from London on Friday, they< arriv~d;in ' due coilrs~, and ~Jiad ·
them carted from the station without
of ·time;:!IJld thefare
bajng....
set up. Hicks is better to-day; out of danger the doctor thbi.k:.s; He
every day here on his way back and lets· me know. · He is. an pld llW.l.
saya, to stand suoh a lot of ,knocking about, but he hopes. 'he !Will 'Dow
nicely. Your obedient servant>
• ,. ,
· ,_: ,) · 1•:t:._ l;i , : "}
I would also mention that I am anxious to encourage' any:boj or i;itl 'wbomay show special ability in any branch of drawing, but whose means' preveni
them attending this. class, th&t I will receive them bn your fetter of recom.
.
mondation at a nominal fee.

. bottl es only.
can e a m

los~

~ow

~

THE S ENTENCE

257

·- - - -- - - - --- b ·" ·s bcin" all
: &-The consumers would save at least thirty per cent. csiuc
. o. .

thanki~g t~e ma~o1.:It

ass1~t

icked coal.
. Ma or-Elec t for his imtno ric sp11·it .in
That, whilst
Lo1J
y b trying to raise a funJ to
endeavouring to signalise his
yt [he want of wh ich is very much
, the volunteers to perfect ~h~ir equ1t~menht desirable to form a part of the
.
. .
retted that it is not ioug
t for military reasons.
. of the
. felt, it is reg
th d is that it is simply a confess1ond
. procession on Nov. 9 nex.
The point against this m e e~t or master to appl y prop:r metho s. d
achin ' each pupil liavrng a copy,
. failure and ignorance of t_he par
H may .best. be usedas m
cla.ss-teh.
h e excels is f e~lows in speed and accuracy, gomg
1
1
moving up m 11s c ass
. rds for their benefit.
. through the process orally afterwa
n was about to adopt some m_cans of
The blacksmith, who_ knew_ the po ;•when, to his astonishment, it ca~1~
ecuring and restoring it to its owne ' its hind fee t, which the blticksm_1t
,
towards him, and heldb one
shoe and the hoof, which bemg
'
examined, and found a stone e w:en asture with seeming delight.
d t
p
bY th e sign of the 'Beehive,
remove ' he pony walked back
ntl to
· itsknown
h the
A traveller, calling at a i el~
f the character of his own ome. h
ery tenacious o
.
d . .
landlord of whic was v
. e be ed to h ave it warme .
brewed ale, after supping t.h e be.vera~
o~!t out the necessity of provid'.~g
It is also thought a fittmg t1m~ o opved service of trains-, as under exis tand an 1ropr
·
d f
increased a.ccomm? ~ ion ded with great personal inconvemence.
. arrangements it is atten
far less ns Shakespeare.
is not so living a force as Po?e, 1 Mr G who played the lover.
t
s, a.11 is a so
· '
t
for
She is an indifferent ac res .
he likes best, London or th: cou_n ry,
She does not know really w~ch s.
aged listening to Sir Brni.n, who
mamma is not near her to dec1ded be~~::gsmiling with all h er might. h .
.
. down the law to her, an sm1
•t b the same committee that a:;
1S
will be assisted in the
years with the exception of
been connected with the classesd~or d:ath has deprived the classes of D.I~
~'-- l te
whose recent su en . d
nd active exertions h as no
....., a • • .
b
uniform km ness a
h h done much
honorar:
teachers and studen!si
of L ondon.
·n h:s wife in
only en eare .
e classes the most success u i
l field]
towards rendermg thos
f quently to have returned, leav1 g
To this society he seems re d here [not at Hare Hatch, but at ic 1
.
t at Hare Hatch, an
. t
p

....

·~

p

•

~n

~irectly

uf

ot~e

~,gHe

l~~

man~~em;:st ~ix

sec~e~;!' :ii~=~o

~~\:e ~ou~~

~-

~:r;;:~::::~quainted witthb~~::::~:t~,~oh;:::: =~~.

when I last saw tho
mes of scholars.
.
admission register it conta.medl 445 ::t fancy Indian tea, but prefer Ch!nes:·
peop e can
drunk for some time is
eat many
.
know aisgrcertamly
an acq uired taste, but once
Th I former
In a Board School es a.

e
. H enry ' s met with an
always
preferred t o a ny other tea.. d.
a horse of Sir
g officer who was n mg
was obliged to be destroyed.
8 2

acc~::t y:n~

'•

r''

THE SENTENCE
- LONGMANS' SCHOOL COMPOSITIO"it '
·1

Among the m any curious occupations of I.he metropolis is t.ba~ of h
hair m erchant. Of these there are many.
He was poisoned, languishing in great pain
,
day of August, and then <lied.
The rain came down and continued during the time the cyclis~ hod:
competition, clearing off about half-past twelve, and continuing Ane'
remainder of the day.
:
It is known as the King's Room, but beautifully proportioned and ·
in dark ochre.
Prisoner, a bountiful Providence has endowed you with
strength , instead of which you go about the country stealing hens. · " '1°
I am married. My husband's name is Charles C. when he is at hol'0'6. .
While passing your house this morning your dog ran out and bit me.7.f
As soon as she was left alone Augusta went back to the cabin, ~
Dick with her, and laid herself down in the berth with a feeling of ad
and thankfulness to which she had long been a strang_er, where. very,~j;
she fell sound asleep.
:
•
The aunts of the bride made her valuable presents, of which th~ WU
a large and costly list.
.
The officers in their mngnificent uniforms threading the mazy danoe with-:
the most lovely ancl beautiful women .
,
The above company having been formed for the express purpose of dOitlJ-"
the washing of private families, and being fitted up with all the Jateat im ;_'
provernents, including extensive drying grounds, which are, as is well~indispensable for the satisfactory drying of clothes. [Re-cast.]
·
We may go further and say that if any teacher is anxious to find oct &
means of dispensing with punishment in his school, a patient and Cll?ehlt
study of this book, which is not dull and which is exceedingly well print.ed.1
will give him valuable h elp.
'Ve offer prices as low or lower than any co-operative store.
The family of Glenfern having already said so much for them11elves ~l:
it seems as if little remained to be told by their biographer.
~
Tho colliers likewise, which are very numerous and even assemble
fleets, are ships of great bulk, and if we descend to those used in the Ameri_~
can, African, and European trades, and pass through those which viait ou.r '
own coasts to the small craft that lie between Chatham and the Tower, ibf'<
whole forms a most pleasing object to the eye as well as highly warming tO .
the heart of an Englishman who has any degree of love for his country'Qt
can recognise any effect of the patriot in his constitution.
·
The prospect h ere would be more t.han a recompense for the lose of· the
Thames itself, even in the most delightful part of Berkshire or Due~ ·:·
hamshire, though another Denham or another Pope should write in celebrat. {.~
ing it.
Tom Dul'fey, whose name is almost forgot, and

m;

259

.
n\l eat and
··t bly in their respective ages, a
'
·
b
d
most
no
a
· · f rrotten fiouns e
raries
.•quite oro
' l tifully by their conternpo
.
entlernen may conb ble that some of these. g
k - ·hich M
were read very p ~n
1 t 1s very pro a. '
·
n this wor ; in "
'
·~· . This
of their abilities to th~ cartryi.ntlg1 ~ecency or the religion and
tribute a s
· ·t · cons1sten wi
d be
iiothing shall ever appear in i i~ no person, how great soever, nee
· ·1 interest of my coun y,
t
. ons and the sway attendant
·true civ~ £ being imagined to have a par nshame o b ti 'nfiuence of his wide possessi ·1 ' . of the rich vale of
'• His wealt ' le si as they looked over the fert1 e tacI~Ss from the Severn to
. - th castle tower .
f . o many cen unc
h'
.• on k; that bad maintained them o~ s
d the willingness of the W ig
·Bher he -~is in all their ancient feudalism ta: Parliament form ed a strong
t e i
r rank for suppor
Government to barte
.
osc, like
ow out of my two shoulders, I supp
foundation fo~ success.
l h d wings they would gr
'
If
a_ h h rnn-book.
b . trodden into the dust
ied to the base fate of eu~g
t soiled in the
.the angel in t e y d
.
Yet these are not oon .
b t and have their beau y .
·. •.
f f every passing eas '
.
.
thelle before him in their
by the boo o
mire.
. t the reader by placing
l thin~ it may ass1s
utton, l placed it in
chronological_ortde;~terday of a leg of you: preserve~ :nd was immediately
.
d ied it wit.h a towe ,
After receip Y
hdt water for fifteen nunuf treos~st;ng which lasted tul1y twof h_oudrs.•he mare' s
'
.
f the cart orcc '
· th process o
und;:g~~:~pin~ down to drink, fthe ::~~~l~ be relieved was drowne~l f
·nto the water, and be ores . XIV to convoke the Assem yo
bea;~:si~mediate reason which l~d }Lo~: in tbe contest he was carrying on
.
der to strengthen lus ian
1682 was in or ent XI.
.
t least flfty language$.
with Pope Innoc h h e died the Cardinal spo~e a
riety of subjects,
l believe that w en
. A ld's occupied on a va
His attention was not, hk~· rut: di~inish its intensity on any ~~~- •ork
o. circumstance, o~ co~rse,t~:n c:!plainant said he did not leave 11s"
In cross-examination
.
re
y of the French modern poets, o.nd a
b cause the police wan~ed hnnl
.
.
e \Ve have been reading late y man

o.th:::

much pleased with so~; ~rs~~~:~:::~ led him to suspect n~n~:~ ~t~;~;· its
The guilelessness
ambulist I know, as I have see
That she was a. somn
.
xce t when covered by
influence. .
.
'ld and somewhat moist, and e p
Our climate is m1
a s resents a green surface.
es fainter as summer wanes,
sno,T;vh:l~vaii the exhilarating beverag~t~e~:wintry wind blowing ancl the
u of the year, wi
d t the present seaso
U
an. a 11' " could be ·in no demand at a .
. . GOO 000 men cannot be so
ram fa ino,
_
.
the German army is,
. 1. 1
Self-supportmg thou~ i

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·'
THE SENTENCE
- - - - ---- ·- · -- -- -- - - - - - --

;to some uniform and logirnl system,' o.nd still harder to sec why they
.should. The writer probably meant that the ' unsatisfactory relations·
. must give place to ' some nnifonn and logical system.'

Exercise 127.

Try to make good sense and good Engl·ish oitt of the following
sentences:Towards the close of his life he committed suicide.
Ships o.nd ducks generally live on the water.
At the end of their lives people generally die.
Nothing but soft water is used and with the exception of soap o.nd soda
no chemicals whatever.
A gen uine patriot must a.t all times be ready to die for his country even
though it should cost him his life.
Covering a head somewhat sandy with beard and moustache of the so.me
,. "COlour was a cloth skull cap.
Whether they (the Government) will consider the practicability of intro·
ducing into the Bill some provision for alleviating the great hardship now
· suffered by the family of any clergyman if he dies while occupying his glebe
o.s many clergymen have latterly found themselves reluctantly compelled to
do.-Not-ice of a question in the House of Lords.
The threepenny sheet would have been challenged by a penny paper
equalling it in every respect and excelling it in others.
· A ball was held in the village schoolroom last night. It was of a very
- •fashionable character, and being the first of its kind that's ever been held in
this village before wo.s under the distinguished patronage of T. Brown
' Tomkyns, Esquire (of the Park) and Mrs. Brown Tomkyns, and two of their
esteemed lady friends, Miss Angelina. Ponsonby and Miss Talbot Smythe,
which a few of the officers had the honour of dancing with them in a few
sets; and, on leaving, the company paid them the usual compliment, which
they returned in a very etiquette manner. There being also present a few
· 1 of the leading tradesmen and their wives, and many other ladies and
gentlemen from all parts. Much credit is due to Mr. Bright for his decorations and his Chinese lanterns, which was rather amusing; and also his
orchestra engagement, which gave every satisfaction.
There bas just been brought to our office a monster mushroom, the biggest
we have ever seen, gathered on Fog Common on Monday la.st by a boy of this
village by the name of John Stubbs of the extraordinary great size of sixteen
inches across.
We have just been informed of a bird which built its nest in the back
garden of' our neighbour, Mr. Stiles, in an old bat belonging to one
his

of

.i

~

.

263
T!IE sENTEi'·;CE

LONCJ',fANS' SCHOOE

co,irPOSITION

_

. -

children left out by some means and forgotten and wai: found the.\ othor cl
a nest inside and last time Mrs. Stiles looked there was \he oftor.oi'Jt-·
setting on its eggs.
Our departed brother succeeded to the business filiy_ yeare-lli
death of his father, and was greatly esteemed by all that kne\T
used often to talk of the great Battle of Waterloo ago.inst Buonap&rte.
h e remembered very well, his brother having gone for a ~-.olcli r -4
killed in the war at th11.t time ; and how he went up to Lond9tt t.o
brother by stage-coach, because there was no railwe.y& ~t tha ·
went to the war, but since then he has never boon no furlher ~..-~_.,.,,,..,.._
from his native place.
Born in the year 1796, the deceased had o. long
vui
Being an agricultural labourer, with an average family, ho knw w 'it<
to do· battle for a livelihood during that trying period of ibo Com 1- ·
dating from 1815 to 1846, when the common necessarioa ol Ule
denied the masses of his standard. ·
Mr. Barkis was the oldest carrier travelling to Slowby mark th
plied between this village and Slowby for sixty.five yeal'll, and
who enjoyed good health has, without intermission, tnvellod \hlt
twice a week, which brings us to the fa.ct that he had acoompU.h it
than 6,760 times, and although exposed to all kinds of weathet, tho 4ao•=c
continued his journeys· until about four weeks sinoe, when h
down with a paralytic stroke, to whioh he succumbed ~Morid•1.t1.~.,m,n:_
March instant. Very few are permitted to enjoy solongan4'~_.. . .,~.;,
in this life as the·one whose death we record 'above.
Its frin ge of seafaring population whioh clusters in fishing
havens and expands at intervals into the slatelior proport!ona .Ot ~
or naval station . ; .
On Tuesday last an accident happened to a man by ihe nam. ot ,e.w:.;
working for Mr. Sugar, grocer and baker, of this village, who wu oQ- ,
bread, and opposite the lane near the high road the animal~ tri i . -.
heap of stones and bolted, and he couldn't stop him, and be n.n down
as far as the Red Lion a.s fa.st as he could go, a.nd went smash into t.wama"'
that was standing there driven .by a man by the name of . Hodge, in th•
ploy of Mr. Bull, farmer, who was in the house getting a glass of beer,
was thrown out, and the back pa.rt of it was smiulhed to atoms, The·Milll\al'
was a good deal damaged, but not very much, and the poor fellow wq "1teft
into the Red Lion; and Dr. Sawbones of this village sent for and llf~
removed to his house. We understand he is progressing favourably to- to-.
covery, but has sustained a sprained ankle under the care of Dr. Sa;v~ •
The list of candidates for the office of City Marshal k> be appoin1ecl \bit
afternoon has been considerably enlarged.
~
•
Too many innovations should not be · attempted at once, unlcsa wMre'
there happens to be, as in chemistry, a predisposition to admit ihezn.

an.a

- ----

----------~-~-:-=~===~~:a
h of Shakespeare as n.n p othcoary' ;,

phial

m rehendeu as muc .
-· ,<
Hume co P
, ., . \ls of :\'rngn.rn.
.
himscH , ns the
would pl need u1111er the. l '' .
b• b'lity t1ircctly sowing for
. · t 0 Gcrn10.ny .
'
d l t l ' i:i n1 all pro a 1 '
.
.. We hol t l O. ie '
d of futu re calamities •
d f British
..

French sowed at Jeno. , the sec s . among the most distingms11e o
f J ohn flaxmo.n is
t J ar·e tolcl as well
_ . Tho name 0
-·
h · ll nann c
·sculptors.
. . dents which arc grnp ica y
.
the goLhle~s
Many scenes or inc1
or better by other tro.vellersh.
nd inventor of common sense, as
the 6.,.eat {a.t er a
. t' n
,
~ Ba.con w:Sthe plough and Bacchus of intox.1ca ioo~ [Lucy l'assmore1 seem
.Ceres was o
. h n and men of Devon, as y
, .:
We are all Englis me '
l drowned the
to be by your speech.
h . t'c multitude have effectual y
. ers
,
f an ent us1as i
l'.. •
The huz~as o
bl groans of slaughtered f_ore1~ . d jacket, without
echo of the mnumera e
forming tricks m a dingy re
l monkey was per
·<A. melanch o Y .
• le child.
· ed at the
.·. ~IUlY audience excepting '~~~l~~t, or cbi1d in this l~o.11 who h~\~:~vminds for
•.
There's not a man,
h ' t th thundering throng
'
but has felt t is. ru
~ age of fifty yea.rs
t'
for the entire
·
·
f modern imes
_·centur~es: th most wonderful prcparati~n o
~
This is e
t'al loss of sight.
. restoration of dimness or par i

-~BSCURlTY
'1 ·

'UNDERSTOOD.'

W
CAUSED BY

ORDS

ber of a compound sentence
353. The Verb in t~e secornl ~e~ the same as the Verb exll be omitted when i
may genera y
b . as
·l
· the first mero er '
d
resse
m
d h' ·ster [is) an amiable gir .
P
.
.
boy a.n 1s a1
Jack is on mdustrious
.
t the should be expressed
.
Wl
the Verbs are d1fferen
y
354,
ien
each member; ~s
and his sisters are amiable girls.
'

. 'm

. .
f
as
fr ro the omission o wor .
355. Obscurity often arises o. t. the second membe~ of a
. ·
f the SubJeC in
356. The. omission
.
cause obscun·ty ·' thus :.
d
eompound sentence may
t meddle in politics an

J k is an industrious boy
ac

.

°

.

_,~

He.is greatly attached to a Russian who does no

... has three children.
. n?
- Who has three children-h~ or the Russia
<
'l.~ • 'f the Russian, insert wht>.

'M before

,....,s , i

If the former' insert

,'
••

#'_.

THE SENTENCE

Or I love him better than you love him,
I love him better than r' l

359. The omission
scurity; thus:-

\

ove you.

0 f th

, "

e Conjunction

Let nothing induce you to live in a house that never gets sunshine or a
family that neYer worship.
, Ely is not much better though it has th e advantage of the magnificent
'cathedral within view just beyond the gardens where the plum -trees are now
blossoming and the sluggish river Ouse which bounds them and keeps them
in sustenance.
. In February h e left her telling h er he had to fulfil an engagement and
ha.d never since returned.
The clergyman thought that the teacher showed some sympathy with
.
. the farmer and was at once dismissed.
She was told that her cani age had been sent a.way again and was pushed
back a.gain to make way for others.
A young lady of exquisite beauty had tried for months to shake off an
importunate lover, who refused to go, though she had told him repeatedly
i;. that she would not have him at any price, but persisted in dogging her footsteps wherever she went.
Their aim will be to sell everything cheap and hope to receive a share of
your support.
The building is made almost entirely of glass and iron girders.
~ . There they found themselves in the same distress for want of food that
\. Ganymede and Aliene. had been.
I married the girl I loved, a respectable housemaid, and the daughter of
a. labourer.
There are three crops, one in April, May, August.
J. D. and J . T. were charged with stealing a watch from the person of
.-. J. R. whilst a.sleep on the highway near Llanelly.
He bas never and cannot deny the allegations.
_ The geographical readers are as a rule good, but if drawn up more on the
~ lines of •• , 's Geography of the British Isles this important subject would
be better handled than is now the case .
Antony was not less desirous of destroying the conspirators than his
.~
, officers, but he could not brook that it should be owing to Cresar.
Lord Kildare boldly repaired to the king, was so favourably heard that he
·, received a pardon and the same obsequious parliament reversing bis attainder
-was appointed to supersede Tiptoft.
We sell bicycles and tricycles fitted with the most modern improvements
and well-known manufacture.
";
We have frequently had occasion to notice his vocal performances and
_··' ; congratulate him upon his appointment.
-~"
He stepped to the stone basin in which the waters of the fountain as
_:_; they fell formed bubbles which danced in the white moonlight and took so
long a draught a.s if be meant to exhaust the spring.
. One victory by land or sea turns the sea.le, and the northern Powers
who have more reason to bate France than England will join us.

LONCMANS' SCHOOL COMPOSITJO,\"

266

A Greek was not more unlik
nations.
e a Frenchman than the thcAinli i;L

, ~ :·"""' _ .

The lecture is an able summar of
'
.
Y ththe history ·of lhls remuh"'
. dwho has attained th e fi rs t place for
"'" tnlt.
. cserves to be widely distributed
e present lll Englilh
The British people had ro.
.
cordially as the Peace Soc·IC t y.
P- spered m• peace,
and
Uloy
i
'

d~

363. Similes arnl
-~-----

( 1) To n.i(l llie nm1erstand in g.

-~~
.... :
."

hldaphors arc cmployetl

;;.;'t

We cornpreh ern1 the uulmown best by comparison with the known.

, ..-- ,

(2) To intensify the feelings; as
Offence's gilded haml may shove by justice.
'What a piece of work is man ; how noble in reason I how infinite in
· faculty 1 in form and moving how express and admirable l in action how
like an angel I in apprehension how like a god l the beauty of the world I
.,the paragon of animals I

(3) To give an agreeable surprise.

SIMILE AND METAPHOR.

Facts or arguments which would otherwise have taken no definite

361. A Simile IS
· a comparison explicitly stated •
Now does he feel his title
ang loose upon him like a giant's robe
Upon a dwarfish thief.

in the following examples : -

How :ar that little candle ihrows his li
So
a good deed in a naughty

sh~nes

wo~:,s I

An ~v1l soul producing holy witness .
I s like . . .
•
A goodly apple rotten at th~ heart.
• "'
The imputation of inconsisteno .
.
nnd every honest thinker
y IB one to whlcb Offt7 l<lO(l. pi,}I
and the dead alon
must sooner or later subjeol him9elt. """
t
e never change the"
. .
\6.0
s atesman resembles th t f
.
~r opinion. Tb OOtn'tC Of a
with noble bends of con~e:. navigable rivers, avoiding iinmovt.ble o'bt
men soonest settle and lo:~~~~ s~::~~g the b~oad levele of. opinion on
perceptible slopes of national t d
' following and marking tbe-:m
Ult
always recruited fro
en ency, yet always aiming
•
m sources nearer he
... v~
pat1lS of progress and fruitful hum aven, and sometimes bu.rating .
eternal barriers of both.
an commerce through
aeem

at~...

wha~

~

• 362.
.
..,
A Metaph Or IS
· a condensed s· il
implied but not expressed at l ength i , thunus:e. The comparison is
~V~l~ook,' the mom in russet mantle clad .
.
s o er the dew of yon high ea.stem hill .
The s1m"l
·
·
•
1 0 rmpli ed here · • Th
russet mantle walks,' &c.
is,
e morning like to a.

Stand therefore having your loins .
the breastplate of i·ighteo
girt about
wh
.l
usness . . . above ali'l"
" erew1t i ye may be able to
h
Li
quenc all the fiery

f

form in the mind may be crystallised into a simile or metaphor, as

'

H

i·

·

person ct.a in

.
with truth and baVUI·
.
t-•-·
g 011
UJ{lllg the shield of l~tb
dart11 ot the wickod,
•

Last war the winds, those ancient and unsubsidised allies of England,
·.. the winds upon which English ministers depend as much for saving kingdoms as wasbenvomen do for drying clothes,-the winds stood your friend s.
Our conduct to Ireland during the whole of this war bas been that of a.
, man who subscribes to hospitals, weeps at charity sermons, carries out
. broth and blankets to beggars, and then comes home and beats bis wife and

~

. children.
- [other is superftuous1
We had compassion for the victims of all other
.: .:
injustice and oppression except our own.
~

· 364. The following rules should be observed m the conduct
• of Mfltaphors :-

(1) Do not use metaphors, except when needed to mo.ke a sentenca
. clearer or stronger. Needless metaphors are a blemish insteau of o.n

, . ornament.
(2) Do not pursue u. simile or metaphor too far.

The further it is

, pursued the less likely is the comparl.son to hold.
(3) Metaphors sboulc1 avoid mean or disagreeable details.
(4) Metaphors should not be forced. Sorue metaphors are so for·
fetched that (o.s Mr. Lowell says) one could wish their authors no
worse fate than to be obliged to carry them back whence they came.
(5) Do not mix literal and metaphorical language. In the sen·
tence
I was walking on the ba.rren bills of sin and sorrow near W elshpool,
'the barren hills of sin and sorrow' is metaphorical, o.nd •near Welsh·
pool ' is literal.

i

.I
I

r

1
\
I

Sf,1/JLE A ND NETAJ'ifOR

268

(G) Do not mix metaphors• . The following extract Mir
. uwi~!!!!:!!~aiib
rule:-

Exercise 129.

.

Amend the following

sentences in one o1

the ways

.
J'lLSt

de-

'b l ·

t of this world
In the corruptell curren s h ve by justice.
Offence' s gilded hand may ID o
. l t'· say is h eld
riotol C1\stle wh1c l ,uey .
. . . B
a. their corophces,
commonwealth,
By Busb y, Bagot an
The caterpillars of the
. a. and pluck away.
Which I have sworn to wee
Was the h ope drunk_
,
lf? Hath it slept since?
Wherein you dressed yourse
r . muse with pa.in,
I bridle-in roy strug~ i~gt a bolder strain.
That longs to launc l lll o
.. h the whole ya.st
upon whic
d to the very keys t one
This is a mortal woun
arch of morality reposes.
. involves his mind anew'.
Straiaht the fierce stonn
d boils along the yeins.
.
.
o
h the nerves an
•
Flames throug
h · terrors
.
ha.ve lost t eir
.,
f the Edinb1irgh Review
. . n
They a.re
,. . . The earlier thunders o
echoes of commonplace opt1hmon·ty. but we feel
·
· f ct mere
· di · l au o
•
' ·because they a.rem ha a. have a.ll the air of_JU c1a. f strong personal !eelcealing no solid eorpa o
' often clumsy enoug a.n
t shams eon
that they a.re emp y
"etv.
· g things at the
h
erverse van ,
f om stampm
.ing, even of t ~ p
h e will dissuade us r
. of the mark.
If h e im~gme~ ~ha.p~oper label h e is very mu~~ w1t:rled steer boldl y out
orkhouse with t eir
h . and with every sa.i un
W
ll our s ips
We will burn a
. "ts teeth as it
. to the ocean o( ireedom. l t"on is rolling along and gnashlllg i
lll
.
f the revo u i
The cha.not o
,.
to kill two
.
t a straw and tr)lllg
, , rolls.
. ng ma.n clutching a.
. d l' t s
,-·, '
Re .is l"ke
1 a. drowru
hi h bad raise
-: ' birds with one stone.
house on Richmond Gr~~ w ~s but which was
. ,."..; , - . There was a. famou~ to found a ca.mp within t. e1~ ~:ual~ to oppose the
' ta.U. bead and athtemp~anescent efforts of a few i~d~appiness of this par,.' . nothing more t an .e
t
and the welfare a.n
.
t
f their coun ry
. .,. best mteres s o
d i· h' from the more
:;:
·
i·t
· d l·ts borrowe ig •
.. of
• ' r tioula.r loca. 1 Y·
r taper imbibe
"" .. , .
nd younge
! -.
My slenderer a
f \Ulta.in of yo\lIS•
,...~
~tw:ed and red\Ulda.nt o

scti

~

The' E ssay' is first · a solid body resting on its own
.
it is a gauntlet thrown down as a gage of battle. A. gauntlet 'W .
thrown down was taken up by him who accepted the ohaJlenp. ~, .
the author quoted makes it to be wiel<led, afterwards to be applW 10
useful and pious purposes, and finally to be founded on truth.

365. Perhaps the best way of dealing with such confnsionie W~
all the statements literal ; thus :·
I find nothing • . • •Essay.' I have said all that I had to aa, · 1~
described my plan and shall leave others to put it into J>ractioe. l ao'
know anyone better fitted than you to apply my principloa ~
piously. If they are, as I believe, true they will la.at for 'ever.
~ ·~.

.

366. Instead of employing literal language in the ptao.:I of ,.MW·~'11,
of metaphors we ma.y sometUnes apply ono met.pb.ot OCNJllillliGI~
Thus the sentence

-

evermore

may be changed intoWalk up and down this little place till
get safely carried to a. land of plenty.

men and women l'* bi lbe
,...

I

i..

J

367. Sometimes also we ina.y retain one metaphor
literal language for the other: In the sentenco

·a.na' euap10,:
.''

They admire the profundity <;>f what is mystical and obacure, ·mi~ .
the muddiness of the water for depth and magnifying~ ihtir_imlSlP•tiQal, -~''
what is viewed through a fog,
.
·· ·

there are two good metaphors ·but they
second we can substitute the literal-

a.nd liking most what they least understand.

'

aro inoo1Ui11tent.

ec •-

i·

\.

"

+
}
rI

\

----

SJM//,R A ND .METAI'JIOR

270

At nnchor 1nic1, remote from home,
The plan of education prescribed by it is the plan of the Bri ·
n, .,. '"' 1 cry 'Swert sp1nt come!
U1lltnh
· '
Foreign School Society which is the basis of it and of which i t i.l! 11 P'lctli~~~~
C~!estinl breeze no longer stay
.
retleotion.
But swell my sail s n.ml s'[lcctl my "~Y, '
. .
'd I mount fmn would I i.;lo\\ •
How can we contemplate without apprehension those naked ach.nn
Fn.m ·wou•
'
education which offer no effectual barrier against the infid ' i
And loose my cable from bel?w;
demoralising doctrines of the times?
t I an only spread my sail,
'
Bu
c
b. th th' auspicious gale.
Messrs. O'B. and H. determined to strike
Thou thou must rea e
type.
.
, . t ials is the furnace through which the soul must
Mr. Speaker,-! arise to place in nomination a man, sir, whom
i!.}l
This world with all its r . . . e for the next world.
know, sir, to be a man who bas got no peer. We all
sir, 1hat fwt.
pe.ss and be developed befo~e lt is np h' hway to put an extinguisher on the
To overbear such men is the very ig
more than qualified, sir, for the position, for I served with him dorinf thf
-war, sir.
,. Christianity of our land.
·n in literature lies there.
e dawn of a new ve1
During the dark and bloody days when the pale face of hunger ~t
The germ, th
bloody hand on the heart of the nation, he was found to be a11 trti
and grabbed the gory wolf by the lappels of his shirt and shook him Witil
he loudly begged for mercy.
,
Peace has poured oil on the troubled waters, and they blouom lik
rose. She has come down among us in her floating robes, bearing th · ol
branch in h er beak. In one hand she holds the scn.les of justioe, and -1
BREVITY . .
the other folds be~ wings. The American eagle broods over his :n•t irl Oaf.
ip
224) that gooa writers
rocky fastnesses, and his young shall lie down with the lamb~ We .ha"-«OOe .'
368. It bas alreaay been show~11'boar1.10 difficulty in showing
through the floods , and have turned their hot plougbabUQa inio ~tAg"~
·r
There w1
·
.. ·
·
hooks. May we be as lucky in the future, presenri.ng forever ollt'
et
do not fear repet1 i?n. d l'b tely employ repetition, knowmg
Liberty one and inseparable.
.
further that good wnters -~I ~~a to the force and clearness of
, This would lead us too deep into the dry and uoubled. ,,.,... ot "
that, skilfully managed, l a s
philosophy.
ul ,8 History wo find the
their style.
Her name has long passed away and her glory eolipMd b1 mADt a ·
369. In the first pages _o.f ~a.ca ay
of modern fashion in verses.
The government never becomes a crystallisl!d bureauorac)'
following instances of repetition .s but sh o received only a faint
groove and deaf to reform.
.
t d by the Roman arm ,
She
was
subiuga
e
The competition of the government railways is ouUi.ng $ht~
h. h the Roman empire was th en
. ture of Roman arts and letters:
under the steamers' feet.
t me
l k" doms into w ic
I Britain
In the continenta mg
·
h f m the conquerell race. n
··
As glorioua
ro
8 learned muc
dissolved the coRqu~or e as barbarous as the conquerors.
l
lated in
As is a winged messenger !rom heaven, .
the conquered race ecaro
.
bl historian . . . grave y re
Unto the white upturned wondering eyes
the marvels which an a e
t . which the founder of
Sueh were
t"
le touching the coun ry lll
Of mortals, that fall back to gaze on him,
rich
and
polite
Constan
mop
.
erial
purple.
When he bestrides the lazy pacing clouds,
Constantinople had assumed the d1my ·on t o doctrines borrowed from the
And sails upon the bosom of the air.
.
too easy a m1ss1
l
She had given a
the ancient temp es.
ancient schools and to rites borrowed.::o~wer but mental power even wh~n
The charm dissolves apace,
Such a class will doubtless abuse J ~h ~hat which consists merely in
And as the morning steals upon the night, ••
a.bused is still a nobler and better power an
Melting the darkness, so their rising senses
c t f Edward the.
to have been to the our o
corporeal streng th .
Begin to chase the ignorant fumes tha~ ma.nUo
The
Court
of
Rouen
seems
T
'Iheir clearer reason.

know,

rul\hif

i
\.
•,

'\•

273

BREVITY

.

Confessor what the Court of Versailles long afterwards' WllSc -t o ·f.he•Oo"
Charles II.
. ..~
It was o.t length thought necessary to lay a heavy fine on every llMW
in which a person of French extraction should be found slain, and this~­
lation was followed up by another regulation providing that every penou
who was found slain should be supposed to be &·Frenchman· unless he"
proved to be a Saxon.
_ · ·----~~, ·:- -- ----•

~

...

a.--

'oints out that the first two
brevity, tl:oug~1 .a.1:' a.~~etl~i::c~:cfo~ Crcs[Lr could not have con.words are nnphed m t
.
quered without coming and seemg.

~:

-...

~·

·,~-~.~ :~

Ex:A.1'1PLES oF SUPERFLUOUS WoRDS.

-\.JIM'-~

370. While repetition, skilfully managea;Jt°a__ be~nty
repetition as the following extracts contai~;_is · a gr~t)ll{
'

374:.

::

"-'.:! if. ,-....

0

The Subject-Matter provides for the most modern requirel)lehia,
Grammatical Treatment in the Exercises on the Text and tbe Poo~p _for the most modern i·equirements in Literature. : The number ·oL~
exactly suit the most modern requirements. The Graduafom of---:SJ;andard has been based on what experience has shown to be the m
modern requirements.
_ _
Dr. Collier is, without doubt, the finest physician in our d ty. .Ho
p erfect gentlemen, and is one of the best surgeons in our oity, if not-the ·
His charges are reasonable for a man who never loses a. oa.se, and we glad to know that h e has refusecl a lucrative practice in another town in
order to come to our city, where he will soon be so highly esteemed fot-h.i
skill and gentlemanly qualities. He is not an old man, but he i~- ihorou ·
experienced, and never · loses a case. We congratulate tho peopl~f:'"o ~
enterprising and beautiful city that be will remain iii our city. ·---i~·;:;.,¥~;,>r

371. Verbosity of the kind exemplified in tho last paragraph.· ·.
di sagreeable to everybody except the verbose, ancl even to · th"efiF:3~
.such verbosity in other people is disagreeable.
- -372. Brevity, on the other hand, is generally pleasing. Herodotus tolls the following story which illustrates the Spartlm. lov~ .
of it: The Samians who were expelled by Polycrates immediately_. on
arrival at Sparta obtained an o.udience of the magistrates and spoke o. graa.f
while in the language of suppliants. 'fhe answer whioh they firs.t·roooived
infor med them that the commencement of their discourse was ·not remem~- ";:· .~m .~~
bercd and tho conclusion not understood. At the soconcl interview they~~~'""-~'=;.:;,.----~
simply produced a leathern bag and complained that it contained no brea.<1• .;:
Even to this the Lacedmmoninns repliocl that their obsorvo.tion WM> 1mno. -, cessary.- BELOE's '1.'ranslation, Book III., c. xlvi.
:;;.~~~;,;,

373. "I.1110 despatch said to have been sent by Julius Cmsar· after,: ."
the battle of Zela (' Veni, Vicli, Vici') is a famous example of

.·
• so wh1:re o.
) M banks they are furnisheil with bees.
y
. .
there is no neccl of ::t 'lceroy '
Where a kmg g~\ ern~eed of a Pronoun. Omit they.
Noun governs there is no
•
(1

;,

I

(2) I do not like the house in "'.,hich I live m.
"t tho first or the second in.
.
m1
., 1 .
·,.hbouringprince wouhl Ji3;-.,c
- ·t1 · l bcrn ohscncc n nei ,,,
.
(3) 'Vhich rnle i 1 i ,1i. c . ·' . l J
been ofien:cl up to 111 111.
"" deal of the rnccnsc ''me l las
wanted a gre.. , '
.
.
'
. .
' ;-a
l<'or' which rnle if it , sn,y 'if this rulo.
.
t agna111m1ty o, m,,, ·
kin behaved to his enemies with gren m .
- di
4) Th e
g
CTeat flncl mnmus. mm .
. -1 'f ,oo tho Latin magnus, "' ' ,, '
,
· t 1
. l' sh oulcl th('refore
oc on11t cc .
M agnronimi .. y \ roLI-<.
.
•Of mmr
·
weans greatnel'R of mine1.
, .
..
" ·11<; tl1at flc;,1; i~ hc11 to.
nacea for nll tl1 '-' 1 ·~
.
J •he r;cntcnco
\.i:i) These pills arc a pa ' '
•
nj] l1na1n"
1 ,.,, an L
Greek rr11v11K(W,"
'Panacea is from t 110

0

therefore rncrrns
,
1l the ill s that flesh is heir to .
'fhese pillR arc a h e::u-a1l for a
-~

For pa:nacca sn.y rcmc cly or om1"

' 11 '
!1

•

(G) Iler burden was ahnos

b,
Iniolcralile means cannot li e orno.

fore be omitted.

JJ1

'To be borne, fhoul J there·

.

·1 1 . father or mother must die.

Re that curset'

'

~f' . .
:f.•>t

.

.
h
r mother let him die.
(7} Re that curseth hrn fat er o .
Ile or him is snpcrflnous; s~ty either
.
Let him that curscth his father or mother c1ic;

or

.

~·

t · to1cr•1hlc to he borne.

i1s

•
. t ·c od fnr tn ~P.e '?
(R) \\hat "en 'J · ' .
. 1 fur waR per·
. l Version of the I311Jlo appeal cc,
\Vhen thcAuthori RN .
l t .t is no longer allowed.
tnissible in the rnfinitive of Purpose, rn i
r 2

I

r
¥:

.

.
274

\

LONCMANS• SCHOOL

BREVITY

(9) I do not doubt of it.

Omit of.
(10) I do not doubt but that •t . t

Omit but.

l

I

is rue.

(11) Go quickly from hence

Omit from.

·

-

.

(15)

In the Attic common

•

.

.

l

~

. ' .

t:

·~·

,

•

t
wealth it was the pri il
.
every citizen and
.
.
poe to rail aloud and in public. v ege and .birthright

,.

~

.

of

. Birthright includes ri .
. .
,
"' ....~
.
mcludes aloud Th
p vilege, citizen includes p t
.,
.
.
e sentence, theref.
oe , and in; ;..llti#
. In the Attic comm
.
ore, can be shortened to "( •
<
public.
onwealth it was the birthrinht t
' ,: - .'

-..., o

.
.Re-write the foll

words:-

.

ever;yoi~&otailiQ

•

Exercise 130.

owing sentences, omitting all

The king he is just.
The men they were there
~ny :vords they darken .speech
o, mstead of goin
b
· .
upon. doing mischief.
g a out domg good,
Disappointments and
. .
afil1ctions, however di
prove us.
Simple and .
.
sagreeabie, ther often ,Im
M
mnocent pleas
h
'
•
.s hi~n, tho~gh he has great :;i~/
alone are durable.
.
. :._'
reast. self might receive pro.fit and ydeii;~~u~:ttihfrom which othets'al well
'
ey are all within h.
The friends thou h t
..
la own
G
as and the' d .
rapple them to th ' 1
ir a option tried .
y sou with hooks of st l ,
ee.

:y

275

One Lullet entered his neck and killed him dead.
He fell int.o the river and his body was not recovered for twenty-eight
hours. When found he was quite dead.
When are you going to begin to start?
Bring me a jug of boiling hot water.
He is a man of colour, looks a man of intelligence, and has a smart ap·
pearance.
The resolution was carried unanimously by everyone present.
He has a voice quite vociferous.
These words were audibly heard by all present.
Allow me to express our gratitude for the universal marks of sympathy
shown to the memory of my late husband by all who knew him.
Prisoner was a powerfully built man.
Our whole discourse is all of her.
He stooped down to pick up a. stone.
Corns radically eradicated by a new and novel remedy.
We sell pure unadulterated wines.
The name of the town was called Weymouth.
He is a double-faced hypocrite.
The town bas a population of only forty thousand inhabitants.
They lived near a damp marsh.
He married a woman.
We live in the county of P embrokeshire.
At last he returned be.ck to his brother.
You ill-treated this poor weak feeble old man .
He comes to see me every afternoon at three p.m.
This new innovation proved more than abundantly sufficient to disturb
bis equanimity.
They were followed by the landlady in a. state of great agitation crying
and wringing her bands.
We have fifteen little ducklings.
\Ve wen l alone to lhe foot of the mountain, from whence we were con·
ducted by a bald-headed guide.
We should wash ourselves three times every day of our lives.
The transparency of the president's move is clear to everyone.
Carefully read your composition over when finished, put in the words
left out and correct all mistakes.
Government will no doubt soon be in a position to see its way to entertain a. proposal for taking steps to consider the advisability of discussing the
expediency of seriously facing the question of giving its attention to the subject of the possibility of deliberating upon the desirability or otherwise of
instituting a commission of inquiry to inquire into the matter.
At midnight he heard a cry of 'murder' from a dark court in which
there was no light.

j.

1.

-:'

-~ ,·1~_·',;:;~~·;~::i:(1:
276

::. _,,.

.lONi/ilfA"Ns; ·.
- ~· .
-SCEJooL

*

All L d
'COi1fPosn·.1oy ~
Tb on on was agitat d
.
e from one 'end t 0 h
e emp eror's d
It b
.
ays Were p.
t e othe
ecomes icloall 1
l ematurely h
r,
able T urk
Y ong and na
s ortened.
- ..
.
rrow and fulfil
.
-~ --·

It JS charactorist"
s the ideal of the
- - ~.
Ire
k
. JC of the ch
tl.llspe&k
, 'f
spo e of the
. . nracter of the
.
.
•.
•L e.
provision pr .d.
union.
Ih
ov1 ing fot th
a.ppened to see h.
e
TJ1e prisoner could im accidentally.
.
not escape f
Tliere i
time
s an interesting v I rom thence. .
.
.
o ume about t
-'
-· -. ..
.
TJ1e skipper he
,.
.
o see_ tho light • • ~ -'· ~
Lars Porsen
stood beside the h I
., . . ~
lll· a ·abo11
The
a of Clusium b
em.
.
.
"-~· . :,· -..
woman w11om th
y the Nine Gods h
... , ': .• • . .
ou gavest to be w"th
e swore. , . - . 1. • _lt:l
Th R
i
mo sh
'
... ,,
I .
e ed Cross it conqu
1
. e gave Ille ol the tree
th. w11J venture, with
.
erec' the Crescent it fell .. .. ' -, -; •
is aftern
yo ur kind · d
• .
·
at th
oon; premisin
in ulgence to
. ..,., ' :
.You/ '. , ,
ese annual meetin s g only that, as there'is occupy so:me
Pay ~rorn five ~hi~1f:t the remarks shall ~~~eat ~eal to get throu~·~ .r
ilass-teac~~~: i s :ssentially a !~~:~ h~:d and upward:. brief as possible. ' g • .
inpil-teacher~' y t sufficiently wide ·~mar suited to tho r '
.
.
The cause ~f th
l s range as to enibrao:q:eJllents· of:. ' "~
ess.
e Great Plague of L
. , :1 : - ' . e n~ ol ' .
Tb
.
ondon Was th
.
"
.• '
'
e action of th .
rough wanf 't - 1 ..,
r. A. And M
e vicar caused
.
.
. . ? c &4nli ,
Th
r . B. are b tl
considerable ·11
.
•" " .,, ,
By~~: ~9{ brought l~o~~::~ei members of \~~e~~ng, ~specially a8 both.
e p of soap we wash dii~ga; to twist them i~;~
k ... ,., ." ;,_,
o of our cloth
as ets.
r·;;
John P.
es.
-'
... :
Robinson h
Says they didn'
e
I
t know ever th.
e :hat withholdeth
Y mg down in Jud
~e -~s ~n old veteran. corn the people shall cu~se h.
ee.
. l a one I shall confi
un.
e saw that th
ne myself.
, ..
e reason h
•
se of the miraculous w y witchcraft was rid' u1
,
. ,
.
JC ed was be
, . - .•
ie reason wh . S

ot

:!;

i!1

ft

b

...

~fy

.

y~~~~d

emned to d th
ea Was on

~rt-

. .·
.
was by no m
account of bi
.1tse, Ja.ud, and bless n · eaNns of an enviable ch .
s
L Was nn or· ·
IS
ame
a1acter
',·
..
Jg1n l ·
·
•
·r les V. and Fr a ~nvention of his o
ancis I. znutu 11
wn.
a Y encouraged each other.
r Position

BREVJTY
The prepo.rations fo r the grand expedi tio n to South America which liu,l
been so long in preparation went on without intermission.'
The concourse of strangers attracted by its celebrity, its monuments, its
galleries, its theatres, and its other attractions was immense.
Twelve persons were seized in the cathedral under the most suspicious
' circumstances, but five only were concealing a conspiracy which was only
punishable with imprisonment.
In ma.ny of his works we see a complete acquaintance with the secret
springs of evil which are ever springing up in the breast.
Such was the pitiable state of weakness to which the British naval fo rce
had been reduced by the ceaseless reductions of previous years.
The constituents of the boroughs were persons renting tenements rented.
at from 10l. to 20l.
The contraction of the currency and consequent fall of the prices of
agricultural produce 50 per cent. fell with crushing effect upon the country.
So general was the feeling on this subject that it was made the _subject
of a distinct pledge to the electors.
This proposal was no great violation of the liberties of the subj ect, for it
only proposed to subj ect military persons to the trial of their military
superiors.

375. Sentences containing too many wordB arc said to ex·
hibit Pleonasm (otherwise Redundancy) or Tautology. Both
must be carefully avoided, though the distinction between the
two is of no practical importance.
376. When thore is pleonasm or tautology, a sentence must
be too long. When there is neither, it may sometimes be shortened by the employment of various devices, such as
(1) By the u se of one word for several; a.a

My burden is more than I can bear.

,, .
'I

I My burden is intolerable.

(2) By inserting only once the common Subj ect of several V er bs.
(3) By using words in Apposition instead of an explanatory sen-

tence; a.a
His father was named Charles
Gold.smith. He studied in the reign
of Queen Anne at the diocesan school
of Elphin. H e became attach ed to
the daughter of the schoolmaster, he
married h er, he took orders and he
settled at a place called Pallas in the
county of Longford.

His father, Charles Goldsmith,
studied in the reign of Queen Anne
at the diocesan school of Elphin,
became attach ed to the daughter of
the schoolmaster, married her, took
orders, and settled at a place callell
Pallas in the county of LongforLl.

' T hi s anll the remaining sentences of this Exercise 11rcquotcd ·in Bre<:n'o Jf oJem L°l•f!li•h
Litercll ure.

"i

27S

.T~~li i- -·<ttheir primitive stato o( Bim. -..-

LONG.MANS- SCHOOL COJ11"POSJJ'/ON

~Iu their primitive state

,

BREVITY

-;,;'

In
plloity tho G"mnn' wo,. '""'Yod plle"y the G'.""'"" wo,. oun•oyed
by the discernmg eye of Tacitus.
by the discerning eye and delineated
'l'h cy 11.:cre also delineated by his
by the masterly pencil of Tacituff,
masterly pencil. Re was the first of
tlrst of historians who applied thil ·
historians who, &c.
/ science of philosophy to the study ot
facts.
of sim- ;

~he

(4) By inserting only once the common Oolllplement

Verbs; as

Oliver early became a passionate
admirer of Irish music and through
life continued to be one [or such].

I

Oliver early became and

tb~oJgh

lite continued to be a passionate ad- ·

mirer of Irish music.

.

(5) By inserting only once an Adjunct common to several words; aa }
Goldsmit1i, while he suffered all

the 1rnruiliations of his situation,
threw away all its advantages.

I

-':;Z

.·.

Goldsmith, while he suffered 'ru1 '
the humiliations, threw away all the
advantages of his situation.

2/9

·'l

-"'--'5¥ -

-- I have read about, passc-d throiwh
"' anJ 1·ivc d

'~e~e

offer~

as (7) By inserting only once the Verb 'common
His style was always pure and
easy, and on proper occasions it was
pointed and energetic. Bis narratives were always amusing, his descriptions were always picturesque,
his humour was rich and joyous, yet
it was not without an occasional
tinge of amiable sadness.

to several Subjects;

Bis style was always pure ancl easy, and on proper occasions.
pointed and energetic. His nam.
tives were always amusing, hie de.
scriptione always pictuiesqua, his
humour rich and joyous, yet riot
without an occasional tinge ot
amiabie sadness.

(8) By using a Participial Pl1rase for a Clause or Sentence; as
As he was :inclined to peace by
Inclined to peace by liis temper
his temper and situation, &c.

I and situation, it was easy for him to

1

discover . • •

•

377. It must not be supposed that, because rules have been
riven for securing brevity, brevity is always worth securing. We
1ave already seen (Pars. 353-360) that i.t lllay be inconsistent
rith clearness. It may also be inconsistent with simplicity and
aturalness. Thus the sentence

.

ear l"cw York

,l l 'SS a"recablc than
l c.
o .
. 't and passed through it.

is shorter, Lut rnuc

I l1 ave re a·'u about New Yo1-k, lived nea1 i

Exercise 131.
Shorten the fallowing sentences :-

•

He spells words as they are pronounced.
He denies the existen~e ?£ a God.

and

He has joined the maJority.. t but it is quite possible to see them.
These structures a re very nunu e,
., ! It
they can be ee.s1 y e .
ble to the taste.
The dish is very agreea
h 1 t syllable but one.
.
tcd on t e as
18
Thir; word accen
b the sea.
· ·
f the
It ly is almost surrounde~ y
hl 'mbued with the spmt o
a Rev. J o1rn Smith 1s thoroug Y 1
The

(G) 13y inserting only once the common-Object of several words; a-s
They
as little disposed to /
They were as litt!e. disposed , to
endure an mJury as to offer one._
endure as to
lDJUry. . .

11

at as a
mas~er~~eheinwas
the pointed
schoolroom.

priestlybclass. the common butt of boys and
He ecame 1
d nd he was flogged as a u

frig~:~~ ;h~.1; ~;~::~ ,:,ty JM",~~·~~.:-:,;~~:"~~:~ !i,.oloto of thoruj
the most stupid

of e.ll the emperors'. which was m;:t timid of them, the far greater }JD.rt o
. was termmated by the
and which
. d t the common yoke.
i'h were engaged
the island subm1tte
in the pursuit of
d
to the
As they~ere engag
the first Cresars seldom s o" e
in the exercise of tyranny'
cl b

~d

plea.sure~ a~ t~mselves

,~: foohlo ""mhly w&~o~:'..''.~,;;
t~,' ;'hoi~o of tho P~t0<:•~•·frnm
a military force it was compe
e conquests which were separe. e
.

to the provinces.

h

eo le and was threatene

Y

oml:'

They did not e.ttemp: to preselrv tract of intermediate desert.
f
f tl empire by a arge
th dangerous verge o
the provinces o. ieeigns of Osrhoene were placed. on!' er n to the Parthian
The feeb.lc sover. es. they were attached from me ma
a reluctant
two contendmg empir . '
I Rome exacted from
l superior power o
cause but tic
ld -ere
'
.
.
vailed
in
the
Roman
wor
homage. .
1 s of worship which pre
11 consideredw by
The various moc e.
1 as equally true; they were a .
d b the
all
theequa
peof1 ye f a lse .' and they were all cons1dere
Y
the considered
philosopherby as

I~hem

mn~~:;'~:::;:~ ii,:;~~1 ~od tho1 ~dv~~;~~~~:i::;~~~~;no with dn<k~"'
1

1

The masters of the R~m.an wor s~h and they humbly professed. t emthey concealed their irres.1s~1ble st~e~! senate whose decrees they dictated ,
selves the accountable m1111sters o
and they obeyed.

2So
STRENGTH

STRENGTH.

. 1s
. ii.s tedious as a twice-told
lido
d
man
Life
11
ar
of
a
rowsy
.
.
d
Vexmg the u e

·~

.

large~~

378. The strength of a sentence cannot be to any
extent a matter of rules. When there is inherent weakness in the ·
thought, no skill in the choice or the arrangement of the wor<Js .• .<;:
can make the expression of it strong ; though, on the". other'
hand, lack of skill in the choice or the arrangement of the words '
may weaken the expression of a thought inherently strong. :

379. It follows that the first points to be attended to are the··
choice and arrangement of words. As these subjects have already
been discussed at great length, little need be said about them
now. A few hints may, however, be given.
·
(1) Words
foreign
origin. of English origin are more forcible than words ·Of
He is an adept in the art of natation .

is weak (as well as vulgar) compared
He swims well.

wi~h

(2) Particular terms are more forcible than gener11i(
instance:-

ld
(
· t of severa l Pal·ts tlwv
~ shon
5) When a sentence cons1s ~
rrth the weakest first ;
arrange d m
. the order of then- streno '

- thus : -

. of manners to character, is so
This decency, this gra~e, ~h'.\f1"~p'~:~!~ever it is neglected, their vi~~ues
essential to princes i~ ~ar~1:u :~d ~~~ir defects acquire mu~hf
~~1~
lose a great
this decency
into
Nay more;
their vir.ues
h f
to
their vices into habits
yo
..
thregard
fa1lmgs,
01·r failings mto vices, an
princes, and unworthy of men.

aggr::t

dbeygr~:g~ect:'gr
a~cl t~1~s gramc:ya~etr~; ~~em
suffi~ient
ap~earan?es, eve~
unw~rt

nt is called a Climax.
. .
t the hiahest point
Th
. oft en u secl
mean
o
.
the
e word Clim ax is
. as if
'j it Climax
however,
is
h
cl
a
climax
·
'
·
['Things have now reac e J
J as a term in rhetoric m oans an
Greek word fK°Alµa~) for a. lad er, an

380. Such an arrangeme

ascent.

.

. ax is Anti-Climax or Bathos.

This

381. The opposite to Chmt .
llowed by a descent; thus : l
. d 1 an ascen is io
l<l
·s exemphfie w len
. .
1 d through the wor
j'

.'For

was a great storm, but it did no damage to the house, for it had a
firmThere
foundation,

1
F
ec 100
tliu~isders
of aSma
' prmc1
. have
"ple of
the common law an d a
forty centuries1 ' theThis
or shalt
also
' Thou
not stea .
•

. u committed murder, but you have run a
rule of equity.
Prisoner, not only have yof e of her Majesty's uniforms.
bayonet through the breeches o on
'

is much less forcible than
'.l'ho rain descended and the floods came and the winds blew and
upon that house, and it fell not, for it was founded upon a rook.

!>kt

(B) Metaphor · may be stronger than literal statement·;
thus:is stronger than

Unfaltering on its dreadful brink
To his red grave he went

He showed no signs of fear as he was led to execution.

(4) A Simile is often worth a score of Superlatives: · The
sentence ' Life is tedious ' would not, if half the Adverbs in the
dictionary were placed before the Adjective, be so strong as ,· · -

MISCELLANEOUS SENTENCES TO
BE AMENDED.
.
1 that we were attending the consecration
It seems but the other cay l' tened to the eloquent address.
. 1·n Westminster Abbey,veand
serv1ce
a.notihs er a.me ndment requestingh.the GovernThen having got up to mo
.
the chairman stopped im.
ment to appoint th
an inqui:y
commt.•t~e~,
can
obtain, the prospect of prolonged
best mforma IO
·
According to e
been so tangible.
peace has never for fifteen year; inform your lordships that H.M.S. - - .
My lords, I regret to have o

JllJSCELLANEOUS SENTENCES TO BE A.VENJ>ED

while leaving the harbour, came into collision with
bowsprit h as been carried away. 1
Many favourites
fresh and. unhackneyed pieces are interspersed with other indis
pensable
· •.'
Mr. S. M. writes to state that he was not the solicitor for the prosecntioii ,
in the case of the man who was sentenced-unjustly it is held-to three ,
months'
hard
labour for an
assault on a blackleg by Mr.· Sanndela . •
at
Worship
Street.

all~ged

ag~lrist.
prov~ '

The young ladies of a place which shall be nameless, as a protest
chattering women, recently organised a ' Thought Club,' which has
so successful that at the very first meeting they talked tor five whole holll'I ·
on 'the advantages of silent meditation.'
'·
If fresh milk does not agree with a child, boil it.
One or other of the candidates were before the electors every night.
Presented to Mr. . . . with the freedom of the borough of ••• in token' '
of him as a statesman, orator, and man of letters.
After many days of arid desiccation the vapouring captains marshalled
th eir thundering hosts and poured out upon scorching humanity and the
·
thoroughly incinerated vegetation a few inches of aqua pluvialis.
On their return to the Villa Medicis they kicked further over the traces, •
so M. Hebert promulgated his edicts, which forbade the budding paintenr,
sculptors, and musicians to wander at night around certain places con •.
tiguous to the academical groves wherein they might catch the Roman .'
fever, to
sit upand
latesoinon.
their rooms, to refrain from employing certain objec.
tional
models
Their ideas are in some respects identical with the vegetarians.
The action and the attitude of the heroine show what are her feelings' at
this dread moment rather than the expression of her countenance.
Sound was his claret and his head,
Wann was his double ale and feelings.
They have been known even to destroy the monkey.
'l'he West, however, is more prolific in women barbers than the East,
and there used to be a pretty girl in Denver who manipulated the hirsute
encumbrances of the cowboys and burly miners much to their satisfaction . .
All our objections to a bonus of this description being claRsi1ied as
genuine 'profit-sharing' scheme remains intact.

a •~

In this sad disordered state of nerves, he had laid down a prey to sudden
starts.

inqui~itive.

I declare beforehand 'tis wrote only for the curious and
In the first years of this gentleman's life, and about the time when a ·
1

placed."
The Admiralty teplied, 'Report who carried nwny bowsprit and where it has bee11 . •

zS3

1 ' it had
"di
re purchasedbY h'm
. been his manner,
we will,
. to run m
. t o the opposi te extreme.
b .saddle and
super
11 't br1
whate you
0

:;;;~·

thoa<t~:~:~f,'°;';:0::~k

;:'.•;,,.'lity.•tl•nd•
w;th M•-_ Nnddy'•
I had just time Ill my travels!
mgpanied as governor, ndmg al~nhg_
· the year 1741 acco
eldest son, whom m
h most parts of Europe, and. of wh1c
.
"tl
him
at
a
prodigious
rate
throug
ost delectable narrative will be
WI' l. al . oumey performe d by us two, a m
.
•

o:i~~

pro~ress

in \he
of this work •. : to him merely to put him in m111d
g,iv It. h"gh time to mention h er agam ld
whom upon the best judgthat t I canisform
suchupon
a body
I
am going to introduce to
my o

d

t~:re1
st~n i;l~:e ~;;re~e:~.
. d
t every avenue
men
d II
him\~~:metropolis,
~o:: ::sol:t~
prince, I ~ould ~~:!~! :: 1:v!~y ~:l~s business who
.
who should ta e cog
ot my
.
d t eacherous idea so m ·
came there.
son called Judas, the sordid a? d h;m through life like his
Was your
Id
have
accompame
f
the name wou
soparable rom
b k to publish
shadow.
· tea.oo,
What could be wan t•mg i·n my father but to have '\HO

th .

of. his to the
world.
b ke off by a ball from the parapet
1sItn otion
was owmg
to a bl 0 w from r a stone, ro

of a. horn-work at the sie_ge o~ Na~::Uour that if I thought you '~a.st able
I am of so nice and smgu ar: ble conjecture to yourself of w lll. was
t . dgment or pro a
b k

:~

::. ;:·,~:~.!~pogo, I would"'~';~:~';;; t~! ,:;~d1,, hoh•d nnlb;,g~
Wh en his tobacco-pipe
.
and throw •hem gently upo
h ld snappe
of the two pieces,
ard before
do but to have taken o
the back or the fire.
b
threescore yards from the stable-y
Obadiah had not got a ove
.
at the
he met with
Dr.
Slop.
.
h
•
the
study
of
the
Literro
Humamores
ld ot depreciate w a.

"

Unil~e~si~:a:a:ep~~nce
I would_ generonsl[ Ir~:ou7J:~s;eremptorily suppresi;
.
ht forth such contrivances, ye
I wou

n

ne for me in that respect.

the scientific head

r hted he con.
which broug
.
the use of them.
. into
.
h'is mouth ' which he had Just ig
,
. h ' pipe
So puttmg is
.
· t ead on.
h
tented himself with ordering Tf
setting up another Shandean ypoh t 00 k a road o is o '
h"
But here e
h had lain for im.
·
thesis upon these corn~rs-stones t s:fes along his cheeks, and the orb1cu ar
1
Directing the buccmatory :~ d ty he whistled Lillibullero.
1
muscles around his lips _to d~ t t~~ w~rld upon which my father was so e O·
There was not a subJect m

rh1~ :~

t as that upon door-hinges.
. their tents who cannot relax the
quen
Never, oh, never, may I lay down in

I:

LONC~VANS' SCHOOL

- COMPOS.!T.ION
engine and feel pity for th f
.
.
.
..
··long derived •
e orcc of education and th
- .
rrom ancestors.
e prevalence of op 'n·
I h ave left
..
t ionlf
fri
d
.
my father lying across 1 . b
nge cha1r, sitting beside him
d
us. ed, and uncle Toby in h " ld
h a If an hour.
' an promised I would
b
is o
' By all that .
go ack to them in:._ ..
not for the "d is goo~ and great, brother Toh ' 'd
.. . .
. :ai of philosophy h " h
.
y, siu my father • 1'f ·• ~ ·
would put a. m
b .
• w ic befriend one
•
1. wae
Th
. an es1de all temper,
so muoh -. as they do '- if"
.
e colonists shot d
h
·. . .
,. . . .,.,; . '· ... ~ v
birds.
own t e natives for killi th
·
· · ·- J...... ~- .1.1
The
.
·
ng e sheep as if the;,
~
. above is the Persian tradif
. ' ~ ' . ., ,
rthe cause and origin of'iheir"':'
but destroyed th. e w1 1 of his father Croosus took p • •
.
. ;:; ;·
.
is man who had
d .
ossess1on of tho th
. ~.~
Tlie1r
favourite re t
oppose him with a full ' . .
rono, ,_,.
sor s ar~ the low islands in th .
er s lllstnunent. " .
basking in the
by numbers at:~~· the most mtense heat of whichesriverwher?t~eyn.re'seen :'
It
rme.
eems gratifying to th : ~
.
comes from Arabia to
em . ·~
m myrrh which it buri
the temple bearin'g the dead b d
.
. Already several . es. .
o y of its ·parent
bl
Juvenile repr
t t•
.
una e to withstand the tern
. esen a ives of the population
' .'
A martyr to th . . ptat1on.
:
have been
at th
e ciowrng of a too
t ·
· ·
"
e police court 1
ma utmal ohanticlee
.
comes the victim of t:;tu weel~. Swiftly following the ~?phe~ for redress
I proceed to lay do, !~Iatwn of the canine species
rtyr m question
phors and which are mvu:h t~ rules to be observed in ~he ~~~du' t ; · .. , ~
Next comes a trap of
; same for tropes of every kind
o o "meta.
than rats.
grea efficacy, but which an
•
" ,
swers better for .
. m1oe
The enterprise I neith
Would be a dangerous on/r attempted to conceal from myself nor f ,; . • ,
Comfortable ladies ' d
rom him
Of the byblus 'v1u: la1: gen tlemen's dining.rooms
l
·
c 1 1s an
·
annual plant after taking "t f
p ace where it •n-ows th
Tl1e man wh
h cy cut off the tops.
I
rom a marshy
om e employed . b
one of the stones th
wrt a dishonest view
place.
at two or even one person . h so artfully disposed
m1g t remov "t f
They sen t him f h .
e l rom its
'ti l
. ive unctred m.
w1 1 iis own h ands he th .
mae of silver, which as soo
h
The moment th at he J ie,~ among his soldiers.
n as ereceived

wer:i

en~;e~:~;e:i~~ro~lthe d~struc:~o~ ::;!~.e

of

r;~1:o:thc dcommenced ~~:1!!~~1~eport like one deprived of ~11 t11e powers
ur y blackamoor h 1
to the station alm~~t t~y ~e put into the vehicle which.. w . t
res sea mussel
.
orce.
as o
Th h ·1
s are therefore th
1 k'
'
,
e c i dren of the fine old cathe~r~f
md that should be eaten.
ty have as great a belief in the

con;~y 1h1im

:i

~

MISCELLANEOUS SEllTE}/CES TO .!?E AJ!ENJ)E f)

2S5

bishop and his sack of toys as in St. Nicholas, Santa Claus , an<l any other
beneficent personage of tha t ilk.
The first rccorclcd maker of poetical valen t ines was the ill-fated t ronk1.bour, Prince Charles of Orleans, grandson of Charles V., the father of Louis
XII., who was a prisoner in the Tower of London for twenty.five years .
I conclude you will read Mr. Thom son 's •Castle of Indolence' ; it is
after the manner of Spenser, but I think does not always keep so close to
his style as the author of the ' Schoolmistress,' whose name I never knew
till you were so good as to inform me of it. I think it a very charming
poem and was very pleased with his ballad of ' Queen Elizabeth seeing the
Milkmaid.'
He has been asked to pay a visit to Brussels, and if he accept h e will be
the guest of the King of the Belgians during his stay.
In all my travels I have never met with any one Scotchman but what
was a man of sense ; I believe, indeed, everybody of that country that has
any leaves it as fast as they can.
You cannot walk to see your friends on crutches .
\Vhereas some evil-disposed person or persons having broken in to the
above mission-room and stolen the service Bible, the above reward will be
offered for their apprehension.
Sir William Johnson's decease one year before the war broke out and
who had great influence over the Six Nations was a great loss to British
interests.
Do you see those black and white horses ?
This plate has been engraved by Al bert Diirer.
Valentine said ,• If I had wished a thing it would have been to have seen
him here.'
Some of the sets seem to be built up with a solidity which make them
look like actual buildings.
Every one of the murders of which we gave a list the other day were
committed on the persons of the poor ; and every ono of the ransacked
neigh bourhoods mentioned in the Pall Mall Gazette were poor dis tricts.
Henry had as good a claim to the throne as she did.
This question is to be wrangled over in every place that has a School
Board every three years.
This week's work is more thorough than last week.
Everybody ought not to drink intoxicating drinks.
I maintain all the school buildings should be substantially well -built,
having plenty of ventilation, well warmed during the cold seasons, thorough
sanitation and with large playgrounds.
Where practicable, I am of opinion that room s attached to School Doard
schools might be allowed for the use of the ratepayers.
While believing that every parent desires to pay his or h er fair proportion of fees towards the education of their children, I would, in all cases,

N JSCF!f. At-:EOCS .<:FN7EK CICS 70 r;r . t .l!IXJ!E/'

286

LONGMANS' SCHOOL COJlfPOSITION

---The first

be most li beral to th ose who from poverty, sickness, and other logitilllllto ·
reason s n.re unA.bl e t o pay th r m, by gi vi ng fr ee education.
Th e m~ s.t p rni 8:worthy cllorb of Lhose w110 last year sought to a.llcvia.te
~~~1
the necess1
n uance
c ·1an. t1 es of
. little ones in ncc tl 'an <l 'a conti
,
, , · o f sue J1 t rue p111
thro py will reeCl\"C from m e e very enco uragement and support.
T~e presen ~ member and 1;i:rsclf will have tTie p leasure of holding meet.
Ings in the va:·10us parts of the division, when we shall be able more fully to
expres~ o~r v1 cwR, an d be read y an d wi lling to answer any questions, and
trust tncrcoy t o secure your vote ~ anJ. interests.
If one candidate more than another deserves support it is that of Mr. G.
A strnngo man hn.d struck her and then ran a.way.
My ~achelor f~ehnd s~ttles himself comfortably in an armchair, gives my · .
compamon a. moc ~ eroi_c glance, closed his eyes, but never for one moment
paused from caressing lus moustache.
Thetford Libera.ls denounce the imbecile and savagely vindictive sente~o _..
Mr. A. B., M.P., a.nd expresses its unanimous sympathy for his "brav:
mL
'
~hat is a.n official obstruction a.s should be brought to the notice of ihe • •
public.
.,
They were in ~!most the e_xact form a.s those of the present day.
He wa_s a.s unlike Wesley m everything as in doctrine.
• Macklin ceased to belong to the drama. when he was out of the world in
his old age a.nd his old Covent Garden house.
·
His faith was a.s perfectly orthodox as St. Paul himself.
The more ~ha.n _14,000 examples sent in gave us great satisfaction, and
even
wh10h· did not
d,
. secure a prize bore testimony to th e a b"l'•
i i.y an
. those "th
pa. t rnnce wi which their teachers had trained them.
Having got _them for him he went out apparently for the station.
About a z:imute a.fter~vards, while looking into the fire, the prisoner
approached him from behmd and dealt him some heavy blows a.bout the h t

. ...

c.

o~f

wd~~-

~

In ~tature ho would be quite six feet, he is of . strong build, and he has ~ •
charming presence.
. I haven't the
to.describe it further. Nor will I give
~am to a body of mdu~tnou~ men and women who have their living to get
like the rest of us by discussing the cast in detail.
.
Tile. earth is a.bout _half way between Mercury and Saturn in the matter ,
of density. Mercury ~s of about the specific gravity of iron, while that of
· Sa.tn:tn corresponds with that of cork in the matter of density a.nd specific
gra.vi y . .
He explained the nature of an explosion in a similar ma.nnel' to that p~t
by Mr. MouHon.
•.:i
\.Va.nted, a h>oy to open oysters with a reference.1

~ea.rt

unnecessa.~y.

I

' The editor said t hat he did not believe it could be done.

~s7
!_;.>

iwm m th e programme, for whi ch Mess r&. A. n.n•l B. wrrc re-

sponsible, w1:t$ n. pi:i.nriforto solo.
,.
.
It is strn,n ge thn.t he f;ho itl•l n.s li e ha<l hy the pk:J.• tln ~: ~ ,1. ·n:i t;1c
prom ise .
T h e me an

tc ~11pcraturc of St. Ive:; is only fo u r degree~

}0,;s

,1
than h 1mc .

\V1J.nteJ, (I n e xper icncc<l nurse t o t.<i.ke ch arge o[ a young chilli , lJl'twe('n
thirty a.nd thirty-five yearn okl, of an un oxccpLio1rnble chnrncter an il goocl

reference.
I paid the firm o.s well as my fellow wn.iters three shillin g;; o. week glassmoney.
Be sure o.nd try t o keep tho word ancl from coming too often.
.
Celia's boudoir who is dead with th e daisies over h er at l{ensal Green is
now the cho.mber where Delia is consulting Dr. Locock,
The company will not h old themselves responsible for tho loss of a ny
artiele11 which are n ot distinctly marked before being sent, n or can we under- ·
take to remove stains (as t o do so bleaching is necessary) unl ess reques ted
to do so, and then at customer's own risk only.
The wine being drank Mr. Douglas rose to leave.
I have merely rode from my friend, the admiral's, th is mornin g.
After I have shook hands with Archie and been introduced to my new
sister I shall enter on my office .
To the infinite mortification of both aunts and nieces the ball was broke
up.

As she entered the room h er olfactory nerves [why not nose?] were

smote with odours not of Araby the bles t.
He would have become a musician had n ot bis parents forbade the
proj ect.
They have understood badly and wrote worse.
Even Sir Samson and La.dy Maclangh1an were forgot.
Nothing but conversation was sp oke in h er house.
If my presen ce is disagreeable to you I shall immediately with Jraw.
One likes to be agreed with by one's medical man.
H e remarked that it was strange she should lay with h er h en.cl in the
middle of the bed, to which Mrs. Nottage replied it was throu gh her laying
on two pillows.
I do not know th at my feelings amount to happiness neither.
I do not think that it was love neither.
No p erson must n ot enter.
There is no such thing aH one elope n either in sh orthanJ nor in long·
band.
Not till th e reign o f H enry V. was ther e any more fightin g, who to vteaso
the people, r en ewed the war with France.
This is a type of the petty tyrants to wh ich teachers have to bow down.
lfe spoke before th& seven judges which constituted the court.

v

"-'.··

·· '·''

288

JIJJSCEIJANE()US .SFNJ'F:XCJ'.S l'O HE AJILXl>Lfi

LONGMAN<;' SCf/0()!, COA!POSITION

\Ve halted occasionnlly to niiow the infantry who had starter\ some hours
~:~
previously and which we had soon overtaken to com" np with ns .
'>~'
--~)t"~
It must be un derstood that the object of the department is to cause the
~
~
.''·,:
public as much expense as possible and to disturb the leisure the female
oilicers have for chattering wit h one anotlwr nnrl en gnging in llirtrrtion with
-~
suitnble persons on the other side of the coun ter as little as possible.
~It was the duty of this body to clear the woods of any Turks who might
be h auging about us.
On going into the cellar he fou nd a large quan tity of m eat in a tub which
was unfit for human food .
Bashful guest feeling embarrassed at being the only one partaking of
tea . . .
She regulated the family which she took car e to let everybody see; she
was conductor of her nieces' ed ucation which she took care to let everybody
h ear.
It is remarked that Mr. Gladstone has in contemplation n. literary task
of some importance. The leader of the Liberal party has not lost at fourscore his keen interest either in the passing questions of the hour or the ·.
remote problems of antiquity.
And what did Bulgaria do? Why, sir, sh e stood up for her rights like a ·
man.
Dr. A. W . stated that he knew deceased suffered from heart disease.
was at the club when hti arrived in the cab dead.
I am weary of sowing and never to reap.
. .•
All were equally ignorant of the language as we.
As his college course was drawing to a close in order to eke out his . :~,
slender means he taught on two successive summers two small roadside
·
schools.
The littl e poem sent us under the signature R. D. proves a literary theft
nnd is the production of a gen tleman in this neighbourhood already in print ..
Ho wns obli,.;ed to fini Hh the house begun by his predecessor at an ·expcll He of about 10,000l.
The duke sat tlown smiling indulge ntly out of the way.
You would not be sorry that you had married me so many times.
By his horse taking fright and attemp ting to stop him he was struck by
the shaft an d knocked down.
He was charged with being drunk and made use of bad language.
their
. Country teachers know quite as much if not more about teaching
town brethren.
She wai; a widow woman.
They were s urrounded on n.11 sides.
They came to the lake and drowned th emselves in the water.
'rhe painting represents a portrait of St. Lawrence.
He bit me with his teeth.
-

--

:,'.=·

and

as

~S9

·1ff' sn1i1c <l to tkrnk ]1 .. r ns lie ionk tlnci: linv litlle c-ip •; .
'J'lwy hn1ol1ly 11ske1l of l1im in. hcayen once lll<>rc t<) l tll·e~ a.t·.:tin t11cir own

poor littk Ji1 11.
Pc·rhaps tl1is will rnti sfy l\fr. Coic of whom I know n othi ng nt ail aLout.
~one werP snilicieliLly in j nn·d as to r c11uirc n::):s i:-: tanc c:.
H ere he stopped rnore su <i <lcnly even tl1an usual fur Mr. ~[,·,·s":t JiH-·1
h im with his r;av11ge eye and then jerked himself out of the roOJJ l tu look fur
the <l ocumcnt in q uc st ion.
The sale c•[ tiGk1·ts only lJPncfit.
For th ir; trifling consideration thousamls of live:; arc savccl and the ir
pro1wrty ~ecured to tlwm .
If the Hev. B . E., a minister o( the gospel oC reconciliation, 11as cca'i•:<l
to believe in' Overcome evil with evil' and fall back to 'An eye for an ey<', '
so be it.
I should have put these two together and let them fought it out.
De~cending the western slope of the mountain the 1iort of U;i1i lay bcl uw
i;urroun<1c11 by palm s.
Had some angel stopped and took him?
Lord St. Aldegonde who whether there were a fire or not always stood
with h is hands in his pockets moved discourteously among them.
That is a very pretty story indeed if it was only true.
Yet much I marvel that I cannot find n o steps of mine imprin ted in the
earth.
The general had only lost his wife four days previoutily to hi ,; o'rn
death.
Liverp ool is an important port whose commerce is almos t er1unl tu nll
ilie other ports put together.
I hope that everybody will un<lerstand my position and citcnd their
consideration to me.
Their conduct was more like a wild Indian's than -civilised people.
The stockings are much better than las t year.
W11ntcd. - A sorrel colt suitabl e for a young lady with a long tai l.
'Vanted.-A man and his wife to l ook aftor a farm and a dairy with a
r eligious turn of mind without incumbrance.
£5 Reward.-'Vhcreas some person or persons stabbed my donkey on the
26th of J anuary, and well known about the town, and has since died t h rough
the wound inflicted , I h ereby offer the above r eward to any person giving
any information concerning the cruel deed.
The procession was very fine and n early two miles in length as was also
tho serm on of the minister.
He called attention to the number of ownerless dogs abo ut the streets, .
and urged that the police :;hould have instructions to destroy them, or order
dogs with owners to be muzzled.
The captain swam ashore from the vessel and subi>equently saved the
c2

·' ,

t

.

- - -

-fiJ":;
."11;~·.

LONG.MANS' SCHOOL COMPOSITION
life of the stewardess ; she was insured for fifteen thousand dollars and was
full of railroad iron.
During the celebration a child was run over, wearing a short red dress,
which never spoke afterwards.
A man was knocked down at the station yesterday by a coal train while
drunk.
On Sunday forenoon the dead body of a man was found lying on the
railway between Bearsden and Maryhill in an unconscious state but still
alive. He was conveyed to the Royal Infirmary, but on reaching that institution he expired.

.,..
~.'

'

'

MISOELLANEOUS SUBJECTS FOR
COMPOSITION. 1
(SET AT VARIOUS EXAMINATIONS.)
}",

1. Instinct in animals. 2. A severe winter. 3. A mild winter. 4. Some
recent invention. 5. Some public institution. 6. Your home enjoyments
7. Fresh air and its uses. 8. A farmyard. !). Newspapers. 10. Economy
of food. 11. Silver and its uses. 12. Town and country schools. 13. The
months of the year. 14. Whale-fishing. 15. The river Thames. 16. Some
outdoor school game. 17. 'rhe beauties of summer. 18. Your favourite
walk. rn. Cleanliness. 20. The fox. 21. The advan tages of early rising.
22. H ealthy exercise. 23. Carnivorous animals. 24. The Indian Mutiny.
25. The Crimean War. 26. The American Civil War. 27. The French Revolution. 28. A storm. 2!J. Industry. 30. Energy. 31. The Siege of
Troy. 32. The Crusades. 33. The Great Plague of London. 34. The Great
Fire of London. 35. The Conquest of ~1e xico. 36. Westminster Abbey. ·
37. An Arctic expedition. 38. A railway-station. 39. A destructive fire.
40. The American War of Independence. 41. The Spanish Armada. 42
Cheap publications. 43. Temperate habits. 44. Punctuality. 45. Courage. '
46. Fortitude. 47. A picture-gallery. 48. Cruelty to animals. 49. Unselfishness. 50. Childhood. 51. T~e cities of E~~fancl. 52. The chief ci.ties
of the United States. 53. Savmgs and savulgs banks. 54. Ploughmg.
55.· A museum. 56. Clouds. 57. Liberty. 58. Free Trade and Protection. ·
59. The penny post. 60. The law of supply and demand. 61. The
National Debt. 62. 'Right before might.' 63. Fishing.
61:,
.,,
- flo,yer· - .. ...
' See !fote3/ or Teachm, Note 13 (o).

,.

LONCfifANS' SCHOOL
- CO.fr!POSITION
131. 'Sweet are the u
f .1
•
13·2 W .
ses o auvers1ty.'
~. . nte an essay on the rinci
•
or_ Eng lishwoman possesses !er pal ~tlvan.ages which an Englishman
Hmdost:m.
a native of a tropical country such as
133. n~·itish .exports and imports.
13:. Time : its use and abuse.
A
130. The passing f
. 13G A
.
o an ct of Parliament.
.
contrnst between the Iif
. .
large manufacturing town and th
e fand associations of a mechanic in n
137. Masters and men . th . o~eho a farm labourer in the country
138. The position
d.
e1r rig ts and relations.
. .
139. The good anct:Vupr~spi°ct~ of the United States.
. 140. The four seasons . e le? ls td at may be produced by theatres
141. More haste l
. wd11c l o you prefer and why?
.
_
. .? ess spee .
1 19
143~. WNehcetss1ty is the mother of in.vention
d
·
·
a can't be
144 W II b
. cure must be endured.
"'·
e egun is half done.
14v. All. that glitters is not gold.
H6. Evil communications corru t
147. Honesty is the be t l"
p good manners.
s po icy.
148 A .
stitch in time saves nine
.
149. Prevention is better than .
::~· ~rolling stone gathers noc~r:~s.
152. .a.ke hay-while the sun shines.
153. ~1rds of a f~ather flock together.
"' · nowledge is power.
lu4. Take care of th
selves.
· e pence and the pounds will take care of them155. The advanta"e to be d :
languages.
.,
er1ved from an acquaintance with m d
l"C Tl
o ern
" · 1e disadvanta
fb ·
157 Th d "ff
ges o . emg unable to read
.
.
e I erences between fashi
158. Discuss the infl
o.n and beauty.
rel' . l
uence on mankmd pol'f 11
ig1_ous Y. of .the invention of printin
i ica y, morally, socially, and
fo9. Life m town
d
g.
IGO Th .
an country compared.
·
e mfluence of
.
1Gl E
.
scenery on character
·
· arly signs of spring
1~2. The arrangement of ~ome
.
163. The railway that p .
tl public park or gardens.
164. Wages and th asses lrough your neighbourhood
tl
'
e reason why
·
) rnrs.
.
some people a.re better paid than
lG5. The differenc b t
IGG. Climate. its .e fl e ween trades and professions. .
.
t·
.
167
.
m uence on people's oc
cup~ wns and characters.
. . Contrast the dog an<l foe cat.

AJIS0ELLANEOUS SUFJECIS F OR COJ!l'OSI TION

~ 93

168. Write a. letter detailing the chief events of last year.
169. Sketch the plot of any one of Shakespeare's plays.
170. Relate any anecdotes you may remember illustrating the sagacity of
animals.
!71. Write a description of any shipwreck of which you have read.
172. Write a sketch of Christmas time.
173. The advantages and disadvantages of a free press.
174. A description of the habits of the dog, the cat, the horse, or the
cow.
175. A letter from a traveller by lall(l or sea to a friend at home giving
an account of a day's adventures .
176. How you may best h elp the poor.
177. ,fournal of a naturalist, one day.
178. Description of the place where you were born.
179. Write a letter to a friend stating what occupation you would prefer
to follow and your reasons for preferring it.
180. State what sovereign of England between the Norman conquest and
the beginning of the nineteenth century you consider to have been the most
distinguished for ability and talents, and give your reasons for your answer.
181. _C ompare the relations of the colonies of Greece towards the mothercountry and those of the English colonies towards En gland.
182. Describe some of the principal uses of water in nature and in art.
183. What are the advantages of studying Latin ancl Greek?
184. Give an account of the battle of Waterloo, with the circumstances
Ulnt led to it and resulted from it.
185. Describe your own county in respect to its general aspect, its resources, and its most interesting buildings.
186. The good and evil effects that may be produced by works of fiction.
187. Sketch the plot of any one of Sir Walter Scott's poems or novels.
188. Supposing that a friend has written to ask you for some account of
th.e school or schools at which you were brought up, write a letter in reply.
18\1. Write a short essay on music, painting, or architecture.
190. Write a short essay on the advantages that a nation derives from
foreign commerce.
191. Write a letter to a friend who has asked you, 'Do you advise me to
join a Volunteer rifle corps?'
192. • Is there any use in my studying the classics if I am not intended
for a learned profession ? '
193. Write a short description of any picture, work of art, or scene in
nature that may have interested you.
194. Describe ihe game of chess or cricket as you would to one that has
never seen the game played.
195. Is war justifiable? State some of the obvious arguments on both
sides and draw your own conclusion.

""S

LONG.MANS' SCHOOL COMPOSITION

294

HJG . Write a short theme on tho study of history, ancient and modem.
l!l7. Write a letter to a friend describing the nature and purpose of the
examination in which you are now engaged.
198. Write an account of any process of manufacture with which you a\"e
acquainted.
199. Write an exami nation of the right of an advocate in a Court of
Justice to defend a cause that h e knows to be unjust, or a criminal whom
he knows to be guilty, and of the limits within which that right may be
exercised.
200. Write a description of some newspaper, its contents, its machinery for
publication and circulation, its moral and political influence, &c., such as you
would give to a foreigner that had never seen it.
201. Describe, as in a Jetter to a friend, the town you know best.
20:2. Describe the effects of a sVirm.
203. Explain railway travell ing, as to a person that had never seen nor
heard of a railway.
20-1. Describe the town to which you have come to be examined~
205. Wri te a letter of domestic news, as to a friend or relative.
206. Write a letter giving an account of the country in the neighbourhood
of which you live to a friend who has never seen it and is coming to live
there.
207. Write the life of any eminent Englishman not now living.
208. Write a letter describing a journey you have taken.
209. Draw a comparison between this country now and fifty years ago.
210. Write an essay on the advantages of an Atlantic telegraph between
England and America.
211. Sketch the life and character of (a) President Lincoln, (b) Oliver
Cromwell, (c) George Washington, (cl) Napoleon Buonaparte, (e) Nelson, (j)
Wellington, (g) Julius Cresar, (h) Queen Elizabeth, (i) Sir Thomas More, (j)
Sir Philip Sidney, (k) Bacon, (Z) Hannibal, (m) Pericles, (n) Cicero, (o) Clive,
(p) Sfr I saac Newton, (q) Frederick the Great, (r) Marlborough, (s) William
Pitt, Earl of Chatham, (t) Columbus, (n) Alfred the Great, (v) Joan of
Arc.
212. Write an account of the life and works of (a) Shakespeare, (b) Milton;
(c) Chaucer, (cl) Pope, (c) L ongfellow (/)Byron, (g) Wordsworth, (h) Spenser,
(i) l\Incauln.y, (j) Add ison, (k) G o l11 ~m itl1, (1) J ohn son .
213. Our everyday food, the countries it comes from and th e processes it
hns gone through.
'.lU . TlJo OYils of c1ru11konncss ;rn ,l the rnc:ms iJy \1·:,;d1th(·sc cc Y i l ~ may be
~('~ .~1· : :-

Ec -' ·
MISCELLANEOUS SUF]'

FOR COMPOSJ7I0 1\ ;

z<) )

.
t f entertainments for cliil olrcn
218. Write an eseay on the chfferent sor s o
and adults.
r
r ll poor
21'.> \\'rile an essn.y describing the iws o l l~
.
the eonn tr y, rcn11
220·. 'Which would you rathC'r live in, tie own or

why2~i.

Kame any great trnnll er or explorer, rcnd ~ay what h o clil1.
t ·c s t11at1on an<1 u se: ~ .
222. Lighthouses : s t rue ui ' · 1 .
' , . . . 11 the Continent or
· g on a ·s 1.x months
JOlll nc~ 0
:>. H you ,,· c·re gorn
•
·
:
• ,,

' ill

22

Europe, what rrrt ic\es would you take with you, aml why •

~
--=-~,.'J'
-~::'ti

;~­

_ ..;...__:,:

lt 1 r om the introduction o[ gu n 224. Shortlrn.nJ , uses oL
22ri. Tho goo,l and evil that have rcsu cc r

~

-~~~

"' .

.

.,

-i

powder.
22G.

In what way

l1 us photo<o•rar)hv contributccl to h!tppin ess an<\ pros J

9

peritv
l ·
'
•)~>7. Collir)are the present \villi 'the goo<l oll t1rn cs .
lk.
"'
(1) by rail, (2) "·a ·lll g,
;'.ls: Compo.re the pleasures of a Journey
(3) cycling.
Canal·. its construct.ion and the changes that ha>e re22\). The Suez
sulted from it.
u have seen
230. Description of any monument yo
.

-

--- ---- -

---

11.

215. The iosses of the blind.
216. Write a letter describing how you ;;pent your last h oiiJays anJ how
you woulJ like to spend the next.
217. Artici1::; "I luxury.
·-·

~,:.

--------~·+ """'.,...,_..""'.~-r-:-

-~

*•

\ .....

..

-

.

:t·~,,.:,,. '1-_,,.,..~ ,,._~

'.

••

. -..-·

;:.i-

NOTES FOR TEACEJERS

NOTES FOR TEACHERS.
(These refer to the whole work.)
'

'

.1. (u) ~ei:i .teaching a boy

./

.,._

to swim we

do not beihn with .,l·:
\
.... "' senes
of directions . we g t h ·
t
.
oa ong 1
,,_.
.
.
e im a once into the water and . set h. -:r
".,..l · . . \
UAJing somethm" He gr d II I
un.•.•
h
f, 1 •
o·
a u~ y oses any nervousness which he nia . ~: ~i
ave e t' he learns to use his arms and le()'s b t .
. y :-~
,,
a.nd what · t t•
.
.
o
Y rymg to use them
,,.·~
given just :i:e:Z~e~:e;e r;~~ imm~diul.adtely profita?Ie. because ib .i~ : •
'
..
we s o
follow a similar coursEr in i\
t hin
eac ~ compos1tion-c-that we should at once let children b . t d •
somethmg Wh th h
egm o o · .
.
. . . en ey ave had some practice, first iri formin and , ,,
then m combllllllg easy sentences, they will feel confidence ingth . ,
own powers and be ready to receive instruction .in the choice a!~
-arrangement of words.
·
.
~

I_\

•

•' •

-·-..
•

I

.

t ~

.

~"

~~~ . ~

'"

..i

."

• J

.

.. t ~>. ~ co:plete course of lessons in composition- naturally divides: ..
~ .se m o t ee parts-:-~lementary practice, instruction in all that ·is .
ecessary to correct wntmg, and instruction in -11 thnt .
.
. - . ,.,- ·,
beaufful ·r
iu
.. is necessary to
,
fir t I d wri mg. The present book attempts to deal with. only" the'--~hi sh an ··s-~~o_nd parts of such course. The third is omitted because the :;
g er qWlllties of style,
' Like the march of soundless musio
Through the vision of the seer
More of feeling than of hen.ring, '
Of the heart than of the ear,•
.
ca.n hardly be red d
.
.·
" '• '{I•
to rul s "th' th nee to rules ~tall, and can certainly not be reducecl ~ . ""
e wi m e comprehension of young students.
.
. .;• •
b ~y) EWhach teacher m_ust decide for himself where his class should'':·
r ·
"
egm. · en the pupils have had
should begin with the first ex .
~o prac ic~ m composition they ·,· ~. _'.;~if:!.
En,,.r h
b
erc1se an go steadily on. Oral lessons in ·:.... ·;. .· "•)
tio; ~ t~:~i:i~ade to prepa: e the way for ~ormal lessons in compo~i: ~ ~ . '.,:~
.
en are required to form little sentences contauun·
. g'
•. ".r;f
given parts of speech 0
b t ·
b'
,... _., •
.
' r a ou given o ~ects, or in answer to
~;- · ·,Ji
q ues t ions.
,
o· . ,. • " ··::.
(a) It is a good plan, before setting the pupils to work
exerc~~· ~, ~.;-·

inven "

,m

~

297

individually, to let the class work it collectively, the tea.cher wri tin g the
sentences on tho black.board an<l showing- how they C[ln be irnpr<l\' cd.
2. No nttempt has been m at1e to in troduce the rC"fi ncm ents of
punctuation,' as these are almost a matter of feeling r:tther thn.n of
teaching, and over-pointing is a common fault. \\'hen the exercises in
the text have been worked it would be well for teachers, first, to let the
children note how the stops are placed in a prin ted book, and th en,
ma.king the n ecessary pauses, to dictate a few sentences to be punctuated.
3. The story in Exercise 28 (b) is told in simple sentences so th(l,t
no point except the full stop may be needed. The same story is told
in a less disjointed manner immediately afterwards. Children should
be asked to compare the two styles of narration, and note the disagree·
able effect of the first.
4. If the pupils have not now mastered the foll stop, exercises
similar to 28 and 2!) should be set on the black-b<mrd.
~. Children cannot be expected to make bricks without straw-in
other words, they cannot, at first, be expected to find both ideas and
words. Till they have had considerable practice in making sentences
anJ stringing them together it will be necessary to furni sh them with
the materials on which th ey are to work. The easiest m ateri~ is a
simple narrative, hence the choice of it for a beginning in continuous
composition.
When the story to be reproduceJ has been read two or three times
the teacher should ascertain by questioning that all the points have
been properly apprehended, and that the order in which they come is
remembered. It will then be well to let the class compose collectively.
Qne child should be called upon to make up the first sentence. This
sentence should bo wTitten on the lJlack-board and, if necessary, criticised and amended. Another child should be called upon to make up
the second sentence·, and so on to the end. Then the board should .be
cleaned and each child be made to write. his own version. Great pains
must be taken with the correction of mistakes, and if any mistake be
common, general attention should be called to it. If it is dealt with in
the chapter headed' Grammar' (p. 80), the exercise relating to it should
be worked at once.
6. The writing of stories should be continued till the pupils show a
fair amount of facility and accuracy. It is not supposed that the stories
given in the text are enough for the teacher's purpose. They should be
supplemented by stories from the fabulists, from ancient and modern
I

The COIOll, fOf CXBmple, fS Omitted.

--

''

LONCMANS' SCiiOOl COMPOS/7'/0N

I
I

NO TES FOR TE. ·_
l c_-1_1_E_R_
's_ _ _ _ _ _ _2_')')

r _,

-:4 .

' ,/

history, from tho reading books of the junior classes, from the 'Petey.
Anecdotes,' and from some of the published collections of 'Stories · for
Composition.' A story should be read two or three times and;-"'ff_
necessary, explained.
· . -:· -~ ·•
7. 'Before children are told to develop an outline the teacher shoulcl":'
·· '• ""'"""" that they uadorotand it. Thoy · oanriot toll a •t<>cy
unless they see it clearly. To ensure familiarity, all the outlines.in.
text are taken from ~sop's fables.
_ · , : :_- ,;~:·
8. Possibly some children who have developed all the.outlines given,
will not yet be ready to proceed to the next Election, but teacher1 wiW;
find no difficulty in furnishing as many more outlines as ma'y b.e
wanted. Here, as in every previous exercise, the black-board.
wanted.
. .. ·~· ...
9. The remarks of Archbishop Whately on the kind of coinpositfon
exercises which should be set are so weighty and so practical that they ·.
ought to be quoted at length. He says:~ ·•

.oi•"'(
t1ie~

~ill ?e:.
~

' ..

technical~t

'The chief reason, probably, for the existing prejudice against
systems of composition is to be found in the cramped, meagre and feelile ·
character of most of such essays, etc., as are avowedly composed accot;ding .
to the rules of any such system. Jt should be remembered, however, in
.first place, that these are almost invariably the
it / ·
being usual for those who have attained proficie:ooy, either to write withon1 1 • "
thinking of any rules, or to be desirous, and by their increased expertiies.s»:"
able, to conceal their employment of art. Now it is not fair to judge of the ·
·value of any system of rules-those of a drawing master for
',
the first awkward sketches of tyros of the art. . . . But the circumstance J
which has mainly tended to produce the complaint alluded to, is that in
1 otJler
case the reverse takes place of the plan pursued in the learning of
in which it is usual to begin, for the sake of practice, with what is easiest·:-t . .
h ere, on the contrary, the tyro has usually a harder task assigned him;' and
one in which he is less likely to succeed, than he wm ·meet with in the '
notOa! h"'ino" of lifo. F0> it fa undonfahlo that it fa mnoh tho
difficult to find either propositions to maintain, or arguments to p rove
"J'
to know, in short, what to say, or how to say it-on any subject on \vhio( · '-·
one has hardly any information and no interest; about. which .he knows ,,·
little and cares still less.
' "' · :. _..., ::..,
•Now, the subjects usually proposed for school or college exeroises :arif (io ,
the learners themselves) precisely of this description, and 'hence it .cozii'.;' '•
monly 11appens that an exercise composed with diligent care by a yonnS'· .. \.
•tUdont, thoogh it will hav<>ooot him "" '""'' P'in• than a ""'llitte. Writton : .
by him to hfa friondo, on •nbjooto that in"'"' him, will ho
inferior to it. On the real occasions of after life (I mean, when the' object . .

the,~,
pro~uctions of;le~rners,

instanoe~from .

th1~).'

I '

arts;~':-.·

-:.i:

'"°''·~' .

them~

~

""1 "'""' ,:;.

<'

;.

"> . ~ ~·- ·:·:,:•;t '§,. . J.,. ' .

communic~tc

d
. k or an hour, but to
. n ot to fill Up a sheet, a <lboo
' these rca 1 occasions.
) on
'·
· for "·h1ch
't .
ropose is,
0
.
ht
t
convince,
or
persua
e
,
.
l
•'11
find
that
he "wn ay
cs
.
his thoug s,
d t prepare !nm, 10 " 1
.
such exercises were des1gne . -~ tl an on the art ific ia l occas10n, as Ic/11 n
b th better, and with more faci11 Y. 1 tl t he ha s been attemptin g to ca r

P

oompo~irig
·~:'~~;~~;'.n;-;0;:h•t
pr~ct1sm?ll

~':;,:::!~~;

h: oallod, of
;, worao, it wi;I
the easier, by
have formed a habit of st.nngmgd o;:d spreading
that such exercises w1
.
of multiplymg wor s
l
. ar t'"
common-p aces and var)id declamations,
.
in a sttl'f
lllCl·al . and frigid manner;
b
- t the matter thin, of composmg r
th~ough life to one who has ee:iou
his habit will more or less. c wg
ositions. So strongly, it
o.nd that. t d and will infect all lus future
this danger, that he was
thusldtrame 'was Milton impressed with a
o in composition. In this
It ether of exercises
.
I should
shou seem,
all writers on educat10n.
led 'l;o condemn the use a og

com~
sen~e

op~~~op: h:~~:n~v~t~1er~;!s i~.lot~;r:dmw~t~;t:~:~l~~~f ~~s o~~;tr :::de::a!~:n:~~
0

•
pe in question,
for I am incline
o more harm than goo d . But I am
evil
.
eral
conducted as it ?fte~ is'. does mg~~ n both for boys and young.men, may
ny and most essential advan. ced that practice m compos1. io , f
convm
be
so conducted as t o be productive o ma
k

"!~lion

iages
·
f the evils
. wh'1c h I have been spea .
•Tho ob•iou' and only
o tho
of '"'h ">bjuutohfo<
.
f is a most scrupulous care . m
ie student, and on which he . as,
likely to be interesting to
. ) ufficient information;
mg o.
exercises
as are
d 'thout much toil acqmre s
d 'ntellcc(
ma with pleasure an w1
d' to the learner's age an I
or h s;bjects will of course vary, accor
rather below than much above
sue
ent
but
they
had
better
e
. d uce him to string together
tual advancem '
b such as to m
. d d
him . that is, they should never e. no distinct ideas to his own mm 'an
'
neral expressions, conveymg
f 1 He may freely transplan_t,
vagued
sentiments which he doeshntot se:in take root in the soil of his
't
such thong s a
d
· is He
secon . d d from other wn ers,
t d to collect drie specime1 .
m ee '. d but he must never be
e .
rrect language indeed, but)
dt
ress hunself (m co
·d · vho
own mm '
must also be encourage. ol ex1~ le which of course implies (~ons1 erm~~ be
in a free, natural and s1mp e s yd 't be) such a style as, in itself, wou

P'"'"''''.

~l

i~g

~:nd

te~p

'~~::::r: ~~~~:s:, :~~p~:;tnin~y v~r~ u;u:~t~ :f:i:~~v~::d b;r~~ably be
positions on such subjects, an I~ by those accustomed to the
regard~: with a disdai~ful e~e, t ai~ ;hu;~~de, be remembered that the com. mo·le of teach mg.
u .
or the other; and to a person
opp·
~
~~~s
of boys must be puerile, m ~net~:? contemptible kind of puerility
pos1
histicated and sound tas_te, t rn r y. s. Look at the letter of an
of u~;o~e found in the other kmd of _ex:rc~~:Umunicating intelligence of
wou
.
' d escn'b'ng the scenes he has
· telligent
you th to one of his companion
.
to both
m h petty matters as are interestmg . d d~ring a vacation, and you w1
e~~ted , and the recreations he has enJoye
11
ope~C
and

1

Vl81

•

NOTES FOR TEACHERS
see a picture of the youth himself-boyish indeocl in looks and in stlft~
in dress and in demeanour, bu.t li vely, unlettered, natural, giving 8. fill.
promise-for manhood and, in short, what a boy should be. Look at a 'thep\
composed by the same youth , on ' Virtns est medium vitiorwn '.or i Natura.,
be,atis omnibu.s esse dedit,' and you will see a picture of the ' Same boy,.
dressed up in the garb, and absurdly aping the demeanour, of an elderly;
man. Our ancestors (and still more recently, I believe, the continenta .'
nations) were guilty of the absurdity of dressing up children in wigs, swords,;
huge buckles, hoops, ruffles , and all the elaborate full-dressed finery 9f· the .
grown-up .people of that day. It is surely reasonable that t}je· analogoui .;:
absurdity in greater matters also-among the rest in that part of education •
.i; ' I , am speaking of,-should be laid aside; _and that we shoU.Id in al!
......
,,.., ....,.
consider what is appropriate to each different period of life.
; .,,;f..·
'The subjects for composition to be selected on the principle·, I .
recommending will generally fall under one of_ three classes: :first, subjects,'_"~'
drawn from the studies the learner is engaged in; relating, for instance,
·
tho characters or incidents of any history he may be reading, and some:! ;·
times, perhaps, leading him to forestall by conjecture something
,"
will hereafter come to in the book itself: secondly, subjects drawn from any>
'.
, conversation he may have listened to (with interest) from his senior~;-' •
• ~ .r , - '
. ;l ._
whether addressed to himself or between each other: or thirdly, relati11g to;
.the
amusements, familiar occurrences, and everyday transactions
.
'
are likely to have formed the topics of
among his familiar f:; ·
''
friends. The student should not be confined exclusively to any one o..f these·
three clnsses of subjects; they should be intermingled in as much variety air. •.: ( .tt
possible, and the teacher should frequently recall to his own mind these·; . '"
.......... two considerations : first, thnt since the benefit proposed does not consist in :•::.;
'' .
..;"··i, · "'1,..
the intrinsic value of the composition, but in the exercise to the pupil's;;.'
min<J, it matters not how insignificant tho subject may be, if · it will but -.,.~-:~:: ~.
..
interest him, and thereby afford him' such exercise : secondly, that
'. ~ younger and backwardcr each student is, the more unfit he will ~o ~oz: · -~ ...
abstract speculations, and the less remote must be the subjects proposed, · '·
,_
from those individual objects nnd occurrences which always form the
. -.
beginnings of the furni ture of tho youthfu.I mind.
\'._,.
.,..JI'_,....

·-

~

..

. .
bould serve merely as a track to ~ark
iating from his origmal plan. It B t confine him. But the rracttce of
.
t
s
a
groove
ocoherence to the compos1t10n,
· ·
a due
'out a path for him, no a . .
. drawing out such a skeleton will
and easy arrangement of th?m
proportion of its several pa~ts, a~f ne begins by completing one P?rt1on
such as can rarely be attame~ i ·~1 be found a most suitable exercise for
before thinking of t~e re~t ; an~~{e w~nder the eye of a judicious lectur~r­
a beginner, to practise-if possi b ' f such skeletons, more than he su sc.
0
. ou t of a. great
th e sa.me way the
.
·
the clrawmg
. num erctise the analysmg
m
ttently fills up, and likewise to pra
r heard.
,
of
whether r::e: orecommencling be pursued, with the
'If the system which I have t"
encouragement from the teacher,
10n,
addition of sedulous care in correc
I rules
as each occasion ca11 s.f or, then , and
and inculcation of such genera 't' n will be of the most unportant and
not otherwise, exercises in c?mposi iot of the object immediately proposed,
lasting advant~ge, not onl~smo:e:~~~ght, and in giving play to all the
but in producmg cie~:nRehetoric ed. 1882, p. 14.
dev

g~eaaclear

~ompositions anoth~r,

pomfs~;~,
am;~-;.;•
to~.~:
whic~ -li~~

~

l .

whfo}i\:~.~

<. -·

th~

-~

~

.':.·~
-

I,;•
'It should bo added as a practical rule for all cases, whether it be i~an) )j.1·:
;;
exercise that is written for practice ' sake or a composition on some .real '. )::/,\,.
77
occasion, that an outline should first be drawn out-skeleton as it is some.; ·. "'.> , ••-r
times called-of the substance of what is to be said. The more briefly tliis· 1 '. - •· , : ·,.
is done, so that it does but exhi bit clearly the several heads of the com. _ .
position, tho better, becau se it is important that the whole of it be placed'·"·,.:...,:
before tho eye and mind in a l'lllall compasis, and be taken in, as it were, . at..... ' :·.
·
- • ... _.'Ji
a glance, and it sho uld be written therefore, not in sentences, but like a .· . · ,;.
table of contents: Such an outline should not be allowed to fetter the_'<'. .',
'

I

~

'~'°n '°' .' .' ·:,.: ~ f.·
..1

..

~

'

.
kin()' through the sect10n on
~ot cease. After each exermpos1t1on s ou
. ·
Grammar, practice m co
hould be written.
cise a story, an essay, or a lette; s hildren a number of mis-spelled
(ft) The plan of pla?ing be %~ cbeco.use it accustoms the ey? to
words to bo corrected is h arm b~ ond arbitrary fashion can be g1~en
wrong forms, and often no reaso~ the other hand, the plan of sett1~g
t ho
o s w why they are
b wrong. ted n_is very useful , because the exercise
faulty sentences to. e correcrs which the pupil is likely to hear _comco.lls
pointed
attent10n
sentence is wrong always admits of
mitted,
and the
reasontow :rr~he
y

~

"'"'" ;f ;,, tho ''""' of th• "'"'' oompo, ;t;on h• find any

O;

12. (a) While the pupils . ~re whorld

• ..,,

~· ,.

Element:J

letters.

first~'

....¥' .·

'

facu ties. il
told to construct
k
osition the pup s are
al
10. In some boo son com P
This method is open to sever
their little essays on a fixed p~~· a.ke the style a.rtificia.l. Naturalobjections-one, thai it must ten. o ~ hilclish essays and everything
.
lit too often wantmg m c
.
ness 1s a. qua Y
.
d be carefully avoided.
likely to discourage it sh.oul
is iven in order that teach ers
ll A long list of subJects. for essefo:e n;intention that o.11 the s':bmay select from it. There is ther
t be taken in the orcler in which
J.ects should be taken, and they nkeed nor es to the list of subjects fo r
they occur. The same remar app 1
.

r

~asyconversation

301

_, ·

•

· t ed out in Part I.
definite statem ent.
(
..,,) Only the grosser faults are p01~ll
. t (as the final Exercises
,
,
. p t II wi consis
h
13. (a) The Exerc1s~s m ar ult. sentences to be corrected. T e
in Part I. consisted) chiefly of fa . yclicated, because (1) young students
sources of these sentences a.re not m

~-

I

I

"

l

-(

.-. :'

;l~-....
... 7-

-

)_
I
>jt<l.,.i.
l .~

~L
: I

1

I.

;f

~r

:l·'.

l

1

·1

--1

'.:
~

•

302

LONGllfANS' SCHOOL COMPOSITION

might form too low an estimate of the worth of a writer when their
attention was called only to the blemishes of his style, and (2) the
sentences are not always quoted at length, words that have nothing to
do with the fault under consic1erntion being omitted.
(8) Some of the sentences given have been constructed or adapted
for this book ; many have been selected in the course of my own
r eading, and some have been borrowed from Lindley Murray's
'.Grammar,' and from Hoc1gson's 'Errors in the Use of English' (a
most interesting collection of examples).
(y) Perhaps this is the most :fitting place to say how much I llJn
indebted also to
Blair's Lect1tres on Rhetoric and Belles Lettres
Whately's Rhetoric,
Bain's Rhetoric and Composition,
Alford's Qiwen's English,
Abbott's How to Write clearly, and
Cobbett's Grammar.

(a) The Exercises in Part II. should be alternated with Exercises
A list of subjects for composition is given at the end
of the book.
(£) Some of the Exercises are set rather
warning than for working. It would not be r easonable to expect a student to go through
those, for example, on foreign anci on technical words; tho attempt t o
r e-write a very few of the sentences ought to be enough to show the
grossness of the. faults exhibited.
' (() By adopting a series of significant marks, and m aki1ig the pupils
enter them at the beginning of each note-book, toachors can save much
time in the correction of exercises in composition. The following
marks are suggested:Words mis-spelled. Draw a vertical line through the wrong letter.
IVords omillcd. A c<tret.
lVords m£splaccd. Enclose in an ellipse.
Supc1:fluous words. Enclose in square brackets.
Slipshod sentences. Croi:;s in mn.r gi n.
The corrections should bo mn.tle with ink or pencil of a different
colour fr om that u seL1 for tll<J c:-;ercise.
14. The full treatment of synonyms would reriuiro a book to itself;
h ere only the method of treatment can be mc1icated. Teachers who
wish to pursue the subject further are recommended to procure Davidson's 'Ent:'.liRh \Vorcts Explained' (Longman s),
15. It would be well to work the greater par t of this Exercioe orally.

in Composition.

for

·~

INDEX
(N.B.-lNDEX TO CoMPLETE

Worut)

I

[The numbers refer
A.DJECTIVES, 208-220

articles, repetition of, 208-216
comparisons, 218-220
Adverbs, 320-323
Aggravate, 95
Agreement, sec ' Concord '
Ambiguity, 9<J-105
Anteceden ts, 2G8
·A.nti-c1im!\X, 381
<>O?
Arrangement of words, 130-Artic1es, repetition of, 208-21G
Averse from, 326
Avocation, 95

B E, c!\se after, 75
Bathos, 381
Between, 327-328
Brevity, 3G8-377

to the paragraph~)
Condign, 95
Conjunctions, 330-335
Culminate, 95
D EA TH,

the, is announced of, 162-

163
Decimate , <J5

Dcmonstrntives, 24S-248
DijJcrcnt from, 325
F,sgWS,

57-G8, pp . .G2-71

Etymology, <JG- 98
FAULT"i

sentences, c:ito.mples of,

351
Foreign words, 135
idioms, 136- 137
F u1l stop, 28
Future tense, 2%- 30 2

05
Choice of words, <J3-13S
Climax, 380
Combining scntcnC<!S , 12-2i

HISTOIIICAL

Comroo.s, 32-40

loNOI\ANCE

C.H.IGRAI'lll" ,

inverted, 44-50
Compo.risons, 218-220
Concon1, (J'G - 71' • Ex , 108 ' "80-28U
-

Present, 31-1, 315

of meanings, 03- %
Immense, 95
Impuni ty, 9G
x

..
iNDEX

.LONCMANS' SCHOOL COMPOSITION

t.

,.,,· .

7

'
'

' '
'•
q-

Indicative and subjunctive moods,
290-295
Infinitive, perfect, after past tense,
308-311
Inform, 95
Inverted commas, 44-50
It, 222-229
and lie, 82--83
Length of sentences, 336-342
Letters, 59-65, pp. 71-79
Literal, 95
Loose sentences, 344-350
Lot, 95
LAY

METAPHOR and simile, 361-367
mixed metaphors, 364(6)~'367
Moods, see 'Indicative,' • Infini.
tive, and • Subjunctive'
Mutual, 95.

Simplicity, 111-126
Slang, 127, 128
Stories, short, pp. 34-61
Strength, 378-381
Subjects of essays, p. 70
letters, p. 79
for composition, p. 290
· Subjunctive, see •Indicative'
Superfluous words, 368-374
Synonyms, 106-110
Synthesis of simple sentences, 110

95
Participles, 84
Participial phrases, 303-305
Past tense and perfect participle,
307
Perfect infinitive after past tense,
308-311
Periodic sentences, 344-350
Personal pronouns, 230-~33
Poetical words, 131-133
Pleonasm, 375
Practice in simple sentences,
PART.AKE,

·•

11

Prepositions, 324-329
Pronouns, 76-81, 221-279
it, 222-229
personal, 230-233
relative, 234--235, 261-276
cases, 250-260
before noun, 277-279
Punctuation, 25-50

95
Tautology, 375
Technical terms, l 38
Tense, 296-319
sequence of, 316-319
That of, 244-248
TALENTED,

"
:~?..,
"[

VERY PLE.dSED, 323
Vocation, 95
Vulgar expressions, 120-126

'
,:

a

Wllo, which, and that, distinction
between, 261-267
Witness, 95
Words, choice of, 93-138
obsolete, 129-130
new, 1"29-130
poetical, 131-133
strange, 134
foreign, 135
technical, 138
understood, causing obscurity,
353-360
superfiuous,368-374
Wrote you, 351 (16)

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OnscumTY through words • under·
stood,' 353-360
Obsolete words, 129-130
Omissions, see 'Obscurity •
One, 137' 241-242
Only, place of, 187-192
. Order, 139-207
usual, 144-196
inverted, 197-207

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NARRATIVES, 51, pp. 32-61
_Negatives, double, 85-86
New words, 129-130
Nonsense, 352 .
Note of admiration or exclamation,
. 43
Note of interrogation, 29-31
Notes for teachers, p. 296
Numbers, inconsistent, 236-240

~

I

UNITY of a sentence, 343

REDUNDANCY, 375
Relative pronouns, 234-235, 261276
conjunction before, 269-272
omitted, 273-276
Rez.iable, 95

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SEm-coLON, 41-42
Sentences, 336-360
length of, 336-342
unity of, 343
periodic and loose, 344-350
examples of faulty, 351
nonsense, 352 .
omissions, 353-360
Sequence of tenses, 316-319
Shall and will, 296-302
Short stories, pp. 34-61
Simile and metaphor, 361-367

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