A

I

iI

SYS'rEM
OF

. '

RI-IETORIC
DY

C. W. BARDEEN

NEW YORK
A. 8. BARNES & UO., PUBLISHERS

PREFACE.

COPYTIHHIT J1T

A. R. BARNES & CO,
18&1

'

lN presenting to the pi.1blic a new text-book on IU1etoric,
the author asks attention to these features as characteri stic :
(1.) It is kept in the foreground throu ghou t, th at the ·
fund amental law of rh etoric is adaptation ; that the form
of discourse, like the fashion of clothin g, has no intrinsic
beauty, but is or is not artistic as it does or does not produce the effect designed, at tlw time and undm· tlw ci1·cunistmwes.
(2. ) That the student may look on rhetoric as an art,
not like trigonometry which he may use, but like aritlun etic which he must use, its most important laws are developed in th~f Conversation and
Letter-\,Triti~ not care to be taught
speech-makin g and verse-wri ting may be glad of help to
\)
•..)
--;__ feel at ease among strangers, and to write a business
letter.
' .)
To this is added instrnct.ion in Narration and Descripen tion.
l1"l

....

0)

o
M

3...,

Any man may be called npon to tell or to write fo r the
newspaper what he has done or seen, and every man
should be able to do it well .
Because Conversation, Letter-Writing, Narration, and

vi

P11EFJ\ CE.

,.

Descripti on :we oE inn11 cdi atc interest to every one, th ey
arc th e cssP ttl ial p orti on of tlt c subj ect, and J'or scholars
who du no t earn [ur 111 orc, thi s pa.rt of' the boo k, inclmliug
a full t rea l n1 cnt of 1'1111etunt.i on, is publi sl1 ed in a sepa.r:1t e ,·0!11111 <', en li ed " Tl1 e l<: le111 cnt s ol' Pr:wtica l .lth etori e."
(:3.) \\"i tl1 tl1 c E s~:1y begi ns \Yl 1nt is prope rl y literary
work. 011 0 '111 11st e1111,·e rse, 1nile letter!'! , 11:Hrnt.c, descr.i be,
--n11d tlt e on ly 1111e>:t ion i ~ 11·l1 ctl1 c r on e shall cl o it well or
ill. .ll:t t 0 11 0 11 ccd 11n t \\Ti te for tl1e rnn gazi11 cs or delive r
oratio11 s or p1tl1li1:; lt poe111s, 1111l css one has a tnste that way.
ll ence thi s p r? rt of t l1 c subj ect. !ins been kept dist.i11 ct, aml
for th ose who so prefe r it is p11bli shed in aseparate volume,
call ecl "A Syslem oE J\dvam:cd lt lt etori c."
E spec ial pains ltns liee11 take n in th e treat1 nent of Freparat ion and Jn,·enti on. Th e prin cipl es laitl do,1·1! arc
fa 111iliar to prn ct.iscd writcrn, b11t arc nsnally reac lt c~l by
cx pcri c1wc in stcncl of by i11 st.rn ction'. Jt is beli eved tlt a.t
tl 1csc chnptcrn 11·ill do 111uch fo r you ng a.n thors to make
the way cas1· and <l c li11itc.
(-l. ) -~J'l1 e n1 cd 1ani R111 of crn11posit ion, in stead of being
scatte rctl tl1ro11 glt out tltc book, is gatlt cred into Part I.,
sen ·ing as an intro<ln ct.ion. T!t e treatment differs from
tl1at. usually fu1111d in so-cal led "Compositi on B ooks,'' in
tl1at it !Teats tlt c sent ence from a point of vi ew purel y
rl1 ctori cal. ] Ienco n1Ta11ge111c nt oE words, phrases, and
cln11 P.CS is 111ad c prnlllin c11 t, tlt e prin cipl es nn<l cr thi s h ead
bein g <li stin g ui sl1 ed from tl1 0 rest under the ti.ti e of
"Obser l';1tio11 s." Tl1 cse 11· ill be fouml to occnpy m ore
than h alf th e spa ce g irnn, and their importance cannot lie
too stro ng ly in sisted npon.
F or tl1 ;)SC who des ire, Pa.rt I. is pnhlish ed by itself, in a
volume call ed "O utlin es of Sentence-J\'Iaking."
(5.) Througl1out tl1e book there is a profosion of illus0

PREFACE.

\"ll

trations, bclicYec1 in this suhjcct to be particularl y essential ,.i\necclotes h:wc l>ec n elwscn wh ereYcr practical1l c,
h P.f'an se a bl11n1le.r t-.!1at is lt1dinu11 i3 is 111orc ea~ il.1· r c11H' 111 herecl mid av11i1fo1l. '1'110 lica rin g ol' t.li e ~rn<:1:do i1 ; 011 1111 :
principle illnstratecl will 1w t al11·:1ys li e H'<'11 :1t. a _:..;l:111u' liy
nwst ptq>ih : lrnt, t-.!1 u ])()i1it. will l ie 1'"1111d 11111'11 H':1ff llf'd
for, a ncl tl1 c p1'ofit will bu gTc;tl er for th e sc:;in:l1. 'l'l1r<>11 !_.';li011t t-l1c [1 11t.l1 or l1 as :1in1 ccl ti• 110 s 11 µ·'.:;'' ~ ti1·i: r:1tl1Pr 111 :111 t'.'( h ansti1'e ; tu quick en tl10ugltt ns \1·cll ns tu cu11 H:y i11 lurrnati011.
(G.) The mult itud e of q11 ota tio11 s frulll leadi ng n11tlturs
on rhetori c se rves ;i tlonld c p11rpose, tl1 e l:111 g11:i ge ol' i11ost,
of th em bc illl.!: referred to tltrongl 1u11 t tl1 e IJ<>ul' i11 iil11~tm­
ti on of tho <i11al itics of sty le. l t is bclicn·d tl1aL ll 1e fr cqn ency of cred it g irn11 1rill lie ill J11ost e:1~cs ~ 1dli1;i,·11L
a.cl; 110\declg111e11t; b11t in a -few i11 stam·es Hi e 111 e111 orn11d11 11t
of tlt e so nrec oE a c1110t.ation lt :1s hcf'l l lusL 'l\ru l1ouks. su
far the bes t iu th eir r cs pect irn dqlart1u e11ts that int elligen t trca.t111 e11t rnn st fol low tl1 e1n l'lose ly , llcse n· c cspce i:il
111 e11 tio11: t-11 ese arc, "
1pon a sn Jjec t like tl 1i s, ahrn ys a ·arn rite tltc1nc 'n.t t
tl1c best writers, it \\"Ollkl be prcpos!P ro11 s to h ope fo r
originalitv. \Vliat is trne is ns old as 1\ ri stotlo, a nd " ·!tat
slt o~ ild b~ ann onn ced as new in prin cipl e 111igl1t safely be
coml emn cJ as nntrne. Yet beca use rl1 etoric is a means to
an encl, tl1 e appli cation of its pr.iJJ cipl es i11u 10t vary with
th e ao·e and the peopl e where it is to be ex.ercised. Thi s
is a11 ~ge of n ewspapers, and we a.re a bnsy people- with
little le isure to conte mpl ate b eauty of di ct inn, hnt accnstolll ed to glance down tl1 e colul\ln to see what th e writer is
airni11g at and wheth er he ]1its it.
- ...... -- -· .. --- - .
- . - - - . -~~ nust accept and

viii

I.'

i

l

PREFACE.

yiel d to thif\ tc11clcncy, and its cauon s of criti cism must be
appl ied to the 111orniug joul'nals. It is nowhere stated in
this book at what point in the lliaJ the fil'st simile occurs;
but there are 111a11 y quotations from 11ewspapers just now
111 ost p•»p 11lal', \\'ith so me effo rt tu distinguish power from
lJ01 11bast, 111111101· fro m vul garity an<l irnbeeili ty. This criticis111 the st.ud c11 t is expected to car ry fnrtl1er and a1zyly to
hi s daily rcadi11g- \\'l1i ch is 111ore likely to be of the New
York lfemld awl the JJnrlington Jiawkeye, than of
H es iod awl Catullu s.
In sh ort, this Look is wl'itten from the standpoint of one
. whose daily \\'Ork it J1as been fo r SOllle years to read anJ
select and pulili sh mauu sc rip ts, \1·]10 kno"·s from experience the aet.ual difficulti es a1Hl fau~of young writers, a nd
who woukl like to h elp thc111.
--

CONTENTS.

PART I. Sentence Making.
"TIIIWUG II FACILITY TO FEUCITY."

SECTTON Fnts'l'.
Simple Sentences.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
SEC'l'ION S1r.COND. Co rnpl etn Sente n ces. . ..... ... ... . ....
SECTION THIRD. Compound Sentences.... . ............

xvi i.
xcv.
cxiii.

PART II. Conversation.
MAIN OBJECT, TO PROl\lOTE SO CIABILl'l'Y.

lave been
good l'easo11, and the Look to h ave co11trib11ted somethiug
toward general culture in good speech and good writing.
NovEMDER 2, 1883.

CHAP'l'Elt I.
JI.
.llJ.
IV.
V.
VI.
VII.
Vlll.
IX.

Good Breeding ........ .. . . .. ... .. . . ..... .. .
Tabl e T alk .. ... . . . .. . . . ... . . . ...... ...... .
Gossip .. . .. . .. . . .. .. . . . . .. .. .. .. . . . .. .. .
Commendation a nt! Ueproof.... . . . . . . . . . . . .
Discussion.... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Story.Telling. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
As to Being Funny.... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Egotism. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Articulation and Pronunciation.......... . . . .

3
13
32
45
62
81
92
138
151

PART Ill. Letter-Writing.
MAIN OBJECT, '1'0 CONVEY INFORMATION.

CHAPTER

x.

XI.
X II.
XUI.
XIV.
XV.

Kinds of Letters . .. ..................... :
Ge neral Rules for Letter- Writing..... . ....
Narration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Description ... .... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Punctuation-Arbitrary B.ules..... .. . . . . . . .
Rules Dep endent on Judgment... ... . ... ..

171
l!J(l
208
243
256
276

CONTENTS.
PART IV. The Essay .
~1 AlN

:XV T.
XV II.
XV JIT.
:X I X.

CUAt'TEH

x x.

OBJECT, TO lNTEREST.

Preparation . . .... . . . ... . ... . .. . . .. . ... .

305

lu vent;ion. . . . . . . . . . . .......... . ... . .. .

331
34.2
3:,3

St.ylc . .... . . . .. . . . . . . . .. .. . . . . ·.;.· ... .
Pllri ty ............ . .... . . . . ..... . . . . .
P ro p riety . .. .. . . .. . .. . . . . . .. . ...... . . .

x :\ I.

l'rce is ion ... . .. ... .. .. .. .. ... . ... . . ... .

XX ll.
:XX llI.

Persp icu ity ... . .... .. . . ... . . ... ...... .
Powe r . .. . . . .... . ... . ...... . . . . .. . .. . .
P er f<'ctio n ...... . ... . .... . ...... . .. . . . .
P reparation for th e P ress . . . . . . .. . . .. . .

XX IV .

xxv.

H7\J

399
4.B'l

448
465
491

MA IN on.IF.CT, TO PERSUADE.
C H A J'TElt

x

'( \'I .
'(:\ VII.

P ART I.
SENTENCE-lVIAKING.-Th ro ugh Facili ty to Fe licity.

PART V. The Oratio n .

]~ J qq n ence ...

ELEMENTS OF PH,AOTICAL R ilETOllI O.

PART II.

. . . . .... .. . ... ... .. . .. . . .

i\ rg- 11 111 e11t . ...... . . . ......

. . ...... .

501i
519

CONVERSATION. -Main P urpose, to Promote Sociuuili ty.

537

P ART Ill.

":\:\ IX.

Ex t P lll pnnw eous Speak ing .. . . .. .. . . .. .
'l'h o Voi ce . ... . . ......... .. ... . ... . . .

li47

xxx.

Deli ve ry .. . . .. . . . . . . ...... . . . .. .... . .

562

LETTEit-\ VmTJNG .- 1\'Iain Purpose, to Conv ey Information .

XXV l ll.

PART IV.
PART VI . Poetry .

'I'nE EssA Y. -])'.I ain P m pose, to In terest.

M A I N O BJECT, CONT EMPLATION .

\ Vh at Constit utes Poetry . . . . . .. .. . . .. . .
F ig- n rntive Lang uage ...... . . . .. . .... . .
R hyth rn and Rhyrue ..... . . ... . . .. ... .

587
601

GENERA L INDEX. . .. . ... . ... . . . . . . ..... . .......... . . . . . . . . .

645

GEN EHAL GLOSS AH. Y . ..

663

Cn Al"JTrn XXX I.
XXX ll.
XXX llI .

PART V.
OltATORY.-1\fain Pu rpose, to Persuade.

627

PART VI.

l

P oETRY.-Main P urpose, Contem1)lation.

PART I.

SEN1'EN CE-~1AKIN G

PART I.
SE N1'E JY C E-.M AK I .NG .

SECTION FIRST.
SIMPLE SENTENCES.

Composition is the mt of arrangi ng onr thoughts,
and expressin g them in appropriate lang nage.
All thonghts are expressed by m eans of Sentences.
The fo rmation of Sentences is therefore the first step in
Com position.
The Simple Sentence is the has is of composition,
and th e foundation of all other sentences. It is so call ed
because it is the expression of a single thonght, and contains onls one Subject and one J'recl icate.
All other sentences are merely combinations of Simple
Sentences. They must tl1erefo re contain two or more
S ubj ects, and two or more Predicates.
The Subject in every Si mple Sentence is that of
which something is affi rmed; the Predicate is that
which is affirmed of the Subject.

TOPICAL ANALYSIS.

Obs. 70. -Co nn enti on of fl1 0 m 0ml1cr s 1 p . cxiii.
Ex . X .LV l - l l i,· isinn i11t o s impl e S(• t1 ten ces, p. cxv.
OJJs. l:lU. - Co 11st rn ction 11 nt t.o be ch a11 ged , p. cx,·i.
Ex . XL V.ll. - ll l'LP rng<J 11t•o us cn11 st r uctioJ1 1 p. cxv ii.
Ohs. l:l l. -Co rrulati H'S [ol\mr<'<l l>.'" sa n11 i part of speecl1 1 p. cxv 111.
Ex . XL VLLJ. - Pa rts o f $jJ l\e l'l 1 aJfl• r corr c l n th·n~, p. cxv iii .
Obs . 83.-Cu njun c:ti nns 11 ni t 1• fi: 1111 u parts of speech, p . ex.ix.
Bx. X LI X. - l letNog<' 11<•0 11s 1·o nsl r11 ction 1 p. cx i x.
Ohs. l:l:J.- " An <l 11 int rodu ces ll C \\' st.al< •m e nt, p . ex ix.
Obs. 84.- Avo i<l " Or 11 " ·\1erc no a ltern ation , p. cxx i.
l~x . T1. - " Or " c l 1n11 t.:-<!(l to " And ," p. cxx i.
OlJS. SG.- " Or 11 1lisj u 11 cii ,·n or alternat ive, p . cxx ii.
O bs. 8G. - " l f 11 c la 11s<'s oft.en 11 11 11ccessary 1 p . cxxi ii.
Ex. L I .- Co11 d iti nn a l cln.nses v ari ed , p. cxxiii.
Obs. 87.- " 11' 11 c la use to 1Je kept di st in ct, p . cxxiv.
Obs. l:ll:l. - T t' 11 se- forn1 s t o JJe n' pealP1l 1 p . cxxv .
J•;x . Ll.1 .- linprnpl'r Plli ps1•s lill c1l 1 p . cxxv.
Olis. 80.- Co p11la to be r <' peatcd , p . cxxv i.
Ohs. 00. - " 'J'o lie" ns vrin c ip a.l arnl copul a, p. cxxv i.
Olis. !ll. - \"t• r b n •p1•ated to d isti ngu ish subject from obj ect, p. c:zv$,
Obs. !J2 .- " To rl o 11 n ot to b e 11 sed in stead of ve rb , p . cxxvi.
J~ x. L JI 1. - H.cpe titi on of ve rb , p . cxxv ii.
OlJs. !JH.-S11hj eet to he rcp cat.ed, p. cxxv ii.
Ohs. !)4. -Con j nn cti on t n he n •p0n.tr,d 1 l'· cxxv iii.
Obs .

f)!l. -C o rr u~ po n <li11 L! cn 11 j 1111 cti o11s 1

p . cxxv iii.

O bs. !JG .-Conj nn ct io 11s ~0 111i ttecl fo r ahr11ptn ess, p. cxx ix.
Obs. !1 7. - f'l1 ort c lan sps nt l'lld , p. cxxi x.
l ox. Ll V. - An :t 11 ~p rn e 11t o f sen te n ces, ]). cxxx.
Ohs. !lti.-l'o nn ected cln11scs to be together , p . cxxx.
O hs. !l!l. - Cli 111 nx, p . cx xx i.
E x . LV. - Arra.Jl Q'.(' 1111-. nt ol' Hte1nhc rs) p. cx xxiv.
Ohs. ·1Oll. - \l at \1os - A n t i-0limax, p. cx xxv .
() J,s. 101 .- ,\11 Ji-.. lin 1ax, wit h e ffec t of q1i gr am 1 p. cxxxvi.
ULs. _i 02 . - 1\ nlit lt f•:-: i ~. p . rxxx,· ii.
Ex .

liVl. - Cn 1 11 pl ~ · l 1 • ant i ll ll' ~ i s,

Ex . .LV JI. --Ue1 1t• ra l

l l. cxxxv iii.

n. 1 Tan ge 11~c 11 t, p .

cxxxviii.

PART II.

CONVEllSJlTION

PART II.
C 0 JV'Y'E l t SA TI 0 JY .

CHAPTE il I.
GOOD BREEDING.
All nrc not g entle me n by hirtl 1 ; bnt all may be gcnll c m cn in npcnnc~.:::, in motlcs t:y of
l n.n,gmig e , in n.l;lracti ng- no inan 'fi attc11ti1J 11 Uy si11 g 11lnriti cs, n. n il giv in g n o man ofTcncc
by forwnnlneRS ; for it i~ t;l1i s. in 111att<!r 11f sp1 •eeh rrnd Rtvln, which i s t he s11rc 111nrk of
good t.n.i;tc a nd good brccrlin g .- IJgA N ALFO nD.

Awkwardness iu co11\·ersati on i1 snall y a rises :frolll a
11en ·ons dread of say in g t he wro ng tl1ing . A smkl en qu estion discomposes. No a11s\1·er is at ltauJ . T o co nsid e r aml
devise an answer wo11l d n1nk e tuu lo1w a pa. 11sc, eve n if the
miud we re coll ected, while in fac t to tlii11k euoll y 1t11d er
the awaiting eye of tho qnest io11er is impossibl e. So tl1 0
victim beg ins a re ply \1· itl1 011t a hint as to how li e sh all
complete it, stammers, Ll11ml ers, a nd r etires despairin g ly.
A sh y person not onl y f eels p:i,ia lmt gfoes pa.i u; lmt, " ·!mt i8 the
. worst, h e incurs blame for a " ·:i,nt o[ Hmt rntioual aml ,m a uly confidence which is so useful to those who pos8ess it, and so pleasant
to those who witness it. I a m severe against shyness, liecause it
lookii like a virtue ; and b ecau se it gives us false n otions of what
the r eal virtue is. -SYDNEY Sll!TH.

Recognized Phrases. - Tl 1erc are few snch emergencies for which society l1as not provid e(l. To dev ifl() a11 original g reeting for each of our aef1naintances would lie a task

4

GOOD

JlH.El~DI NG.

[PAil'!' II.

CnAr . I.]

ACQ UAU\ 'l'ANCE Wl'l'll C:OJS' Y.EJS' TIONJ\l_,JTJES.

5

111ite b eyond n s; h11t it is c011ve11tionally agreell that all
shall b e co n te n ted \\"itlt "Jlow do yon do ?" ·wh e n we

:-i.s to l 1i111 se1f, l1i s fa111ily, hi s fri e 11d s. T lt eiic i1 H111iric'l a re
to th e ll"el l-brecl rn : m a ma t t e r of co nn;e, a ud a re 111 ade

lrn ow this forn1 0£ g reet ing, a11J. know that it will b e c011si tl c r el1 s nffi cicHt, onr mental e n ergy, 110 l onger parnlyzctl

tliru 1wlt
J1 abit witl 10 11 t t lt o 1wli
t u r effort. 11'.l ca11t.i11w 011 e 11as
:::>
:::>
r ceo ve rc d :fro 111 01w\;>; 11rpri sc, li as r cl'.:i.lled wl1at (1111 : k11ows

hy tl1e dreall 0£ 1Jei1 1g fo n11d at a Jo:;;s, en a hl es u s to grope

uE tl1 c ac11uaiutn11c c, l1i s pus itiu11, ]1i s lri s t o ry, t11e cire11111-

ahont for a more r;p ec ia l salutation , a sr; nre d t l1at if we fail
to f111d it ·we h ave at 01n· tongne·s end a fo nnnla ad c(1nate
to tl1 e oecas i011.
Tl1e Jirs t re(111i s if:e to swi1111u i 11 g well is
tu Le a ss m c cl o n e i s 11ot go in g to dru1r11.

s ta11 ces und e r whieh 0 11 c Jim; iu c t l1i111 , a11d is ready witl10 nt
a Lre:ik in tl 10 co 11 vc n m tiu11 to s 11 ggc:st so 111 e tup ie lil;el,r to
lie o.E i11tc r e s t. \\' e re f·l1e rc JI O c s L:tb lis l1 cd fu rn1 s of g rec till g,
IJ11 t were the t\1·0 r c1111irnll fro111 t l ie 1ir:-:t \\·o r(l f,(1 CYohe tlie

A <lin er-out, of lon g c:< p ericn cc li::ts left succectling gen erations
h oi r to th ese tlrn rn Jes :
l. Al wa,ys kno11· 1rl 1:Lt, it is con vent.i o.nal to say ;
2. Say sm not.liin g Plse.
A rnan lllef'ti ng a11otl1 0r gr:i.spcdhis l1 ::tn11 corLlially an <l P.Xdaimc11
in to.11ps of p oli te hn t nnef'rt ain rr.cog ni l-i o11, "1\Ir. BroiY.11 I LP1·l<'Vc.
'\ ') ,, '' ."[f'
· .c t.·] mt,
. " ca irn ly rcpl ie<l
. th e strange r, ' whose
. . : .on 110 i 1m
rnin1 0 1rns J-Ta111iltrn1 , " ynn'Jl b eli eve ::t11yU1i11 g." 1\'fr. Brown reeog ni zP< l an 1l respnrnl wl to tho lmmor of th e reply, ::tutl a ]JleMnn t
n,"1 111 ai11 t:i.11ec fnll owc1l.
Frnnk cn11f1'ss io11, fr n lll its rarity, oft r.n produces tlH' e ffect of
11·it.. '.L'lrns n, 11mn i11 ll'i1osc Lounr n, <li1uJ C'l' wris gi ven, respornliug
to tltu t uast, nff<'!"Ptl lii111 , dc..Jinf'.<1 to urn.k c a sp ecuh on Urn gronn<l
tl 1at a 111o rlii 1l <1Ps iro fo r orig inality rest.rniuccl him from s::tyiu.-r
tl mt, t Iii" 1rns tl1 c prn111l 1•st nwm eut of Lis life, ::tnd it really ditln~
0<.Tnr lo J1irn to s~y any thing cbc.

prnpc r tl1i11 g to say mi ll tlt c prol'c r 11·ay to say it, w e iwi.y
b e snre s 1teh c 11 cu 1111te rs 11·0 11ld lie a11·kw:11"d :111cl dread e 1l.

. Tli c l'(1 111·c11t.i .. 11 :ili t ie s oE sncic f-y a rc co mparat i1·c ly few
Ill 111111il1e r all(l e:if' il y a cc111ircd. ] 1011· lit tle 0£ t l1 0 phrase

of: co 111111 o n i11te r co 11rsc is of 111 o clern (Jr igi n i s a 11111 s i11 g ly
s l1mrn in· the s f·ill f:1.111iliar fon11 s ]a id down in Swift's
" ( 'c 111111 lctc C ollecti o n of G e nteel a 11d In ge nio ns Conv ersa.ti"11 s," :ind c r c n in the "Coll oqu ies" 0£ Ernsrnn s . It i s
11 n t c:11 1111ll'l1 t h at tli c \\'O rcl s a rc s tc r eoti•1)ccl t li 01wh there
•
'
t:i s eo11 f' idl'rnld c rn1i f11 r111ity of ex press io n. Bnt i t is nnd e r-

]l; rnsnms (1G2G) g ives a rnnHit.wlo u[ forms for n.11 ordinal'.)" Ol'C::tsi111 1s, ltetweeJt ::tll so rts o [ l'ersons, n. foi r J.ll"O)JOl'ti on o[ 1Yl1ich are
s till in use. 'l'lrns for "F::trewPll, ,. Dt p rtTting, 1rn l1 avf': "Fnre
ye all well. F::irnwoll. 'J.'ak o care of ~- ou r h Palt.h. 'l'ak e ::t gre::tt
c::t rc of yom· h ealth. I bitl :yon guo tl-l1y. Time calls m e :nrny,
farn yo \rnll ," etc., eL<'.
Sll'i[t (17:JO) ir ~ pl::ty f'nl sarcasm pnl1li sl1 ctl n. coll ection of "at
l east ::t thousand shinin g questions, n.n s1rnrs, r<>partc<'s, rPplics ::tnd
r Pjoi1ul ors, fttted Ln ncl oTn every kiucl o f dis<>nnrsc that ::in assembl y of Eng lish laclies ::irnl g entJom c11, m ot lognth or for tl1 f'ir mutnal
ontcrt::iinm en t, can p ossibly 1rnnt. ;" h e l 1ol<ll y nJlirrn e11 t.11:1t " tho
11·h ol o genius, hrnnoT, p oliternJsR, a ud d o11no11 ce of Englarnl" \\·ere
smnmod up in it, t l1 e last six o r se ven ~·ca r s uot h::tYing ::t<ltlod
alicffe uino v::tln alil c sC1 1tcnces; l1 r. fnrl lwr faithfnll .v :i.ss ure<l tl.10
l'<'ncler thrtt th ere w::ts n ot ::t sin gl n 11·i lt.y phrase in t ire collection
11·l1i ult l ia1l 11ot recei1·ctl t.ho st:m1p ~wl ft]'l_lroi mti.ou of nt l east on e
l11111tl rc11 years, so tlrnt a ll might 110 rl'iied up on as "gc11nine, sterling, a nd ::tu then tic."
As might lie ex pectc(l , the coll ection is of slinll ow ::ind sl::tng
phrases, whi ch oue 111ig ht think eplr cmern.I. Y et no s111n.ll prnpor. tion may be 11ea rd ::it t hi s d ay whereve r p eopl e are gat hered in idle
mood. Some of tho co mmonest arc th e fo!IO\ring:
I N i:>'l' . •l AMJi}::;' P .1.IU\: .

stoo rl, fo r i11 st.am:e, f·lia t wl1 e 11 0 11 e 111 cets a n t1('(_]ll a i11 tancc,

Col.. Atwif,. H ow do y n11 dn , 'l'om ?
'l'oni Ncre rou t . Ne ver til e lw tte r for yon .

0 11 0 is tu greet hi111 , a 11 ll sh o w interes t i11 l1im l>y :iJlC111irics

Col.

'Vlly} every unc as tlt oy li ke, as the good ,·rnman said wJ1e11 she kis sed the cow,

G

BltEEDl ~G.

GO OD
IN
.iY f' t cr .

Lonn

S ~! ART' B

[PAlt'l'

II.

H OUSE .

Cnmr , n. pf> nn y fo r y r1111· tl111u!!ht.
J t if: not worth n. farlhi 11g; for I wns think in g: of y on .

.A fl.~.v ]{11t1rl1lr> .

J:n d !/ tl 11 s w c ra. 1!.

\\' di, hut i-: i t w h ile

y11 11

f: t ay :

1

1h; ar.; c h eap i:; i t t,i11 l6 as 8ta.ndin g .

<; ",

n111 g irl , :ind warrn som e frcRh c r eam.
Intll'Cd. 11m' n.1n , t.IH.'r e · ~ non e ldt : for th e <:at has c a lc n it n.11.

J,nd y .'' :111 o rt .

!felt!/.

J. !lonh t; it w n c; a c·: it w it h two ll ·gR.
P r: t,Y, 111:y lo rtl. (li d ~· nn wnlk th rnug h t he ra r k in !he rain?
J.orrl ,'-.'JIO J'ki.o,; h,
YC's, m :ula.tn , we were n eithe r suga r 11or sn. lt i we were n nt a frahl
T-mf!f S.

L :Hl!I A.

CIIAP.

(S he ru.n.i; up to th em. mni full~ dun·11 .)
'W h y, mi ss, L wis h yo u may not li ave Uroke li er ladysh ip 's fl oor.
Never. bl iss, co me to inc, ai1Ll l'll take yon up .
ll riss. Pray, Ur. Ncverout , keep your lJrca tl1 to cool your porrid ge : you llleasurc
m y co rn by y<m r hush cl.
N ever . Indeed , 111iss, ynu li e- J\fl.~s .
Uid yo u eve r lu!ar a n y thin g: so rntl c ?
Ne1;c r . l m ean y ou lic - 1111d~~r a nli s tak c.
Wh y, Torn , you :trn hi gh i11 f,li c 111od c.
Smu1 ·f.
Never. My lurll , it is \Jetter to Uc out of th e wnrl1l th a n ou t of t he fa slli n n.

Lady A .

t h e r ai n wn11 ld 1111 ·lt. n s .
l 11 i11·cJ , 111a1ln 11 1. thnl' s a Ii <' .

(.;nl.

J:arty A.
[ 1l q 11 t lit> : I i-. it.
)fi.~s.
Pra y , e11l n1w l, k L 11 1c 1<t·e th :it Uox.

H e re, mi ss ; t hey

Col.

L lwrc· ~ ll e \' l ·r

a C 0 11 i t.
) fis .o.:. , .i\ I a y h o tlH"n' if', 1·oln11c1.
Co l. J\y , ln1t . .i\Tny lwei:: d o n'! ny 11o w, rni f:.-:.
.~Ner1 f'1' . \VC'IJ , 111 i ~f: , I'll l lti 11k <1 11 th is .
Jfi."1.~ .
T hnt.'f' rh y rn r, i f yu u tak e: i t in time.
1Y r ,1m·. ' Vlwt ! I ~re· y o u :i r e n. pod.
../1ri."1'1 . ·y t'i::, if I l11vl h ut th e w il l'n f.: how it.
l h1t. pray , ]\ fr. Ncvf'ro ut,, what
lacl y wn R Lha.t y ou \\'N n t alk in g w i l. 11 in l hc !:ij 1le-lJOX lasl Tu ci-;day?
Amw1·. J\1 if'f', 1·1111 you k et• p a f'(:t: rct ?
J l i s.\·.
Yi ·~ , r ('an.
A ev<'1·. \ Veit, m i1-;s 1 a 1111 fiO n m .C.
:Marl :nn ,

( 1l

?H~ff

of Mnok e comes down th e ch ininey. )

J,rrctv A . T,on l, madn.111, il occ;; y1Jtll' hl fl p• h i11·~ chimney i:.mokc ?
l'ol. 1\"'o, 111ad:u n ; lJ11I. t hl'y F:1y s111okc a lwn p : p un-mes t h e fai r , n rnl yo11r btl ysh ip Ant

n car<'f' I.
l .rtd y 8 .

I. nrrv

A.

.X cne1·.

J\lf· Lhink ~. 111i s~ 1

T iln11 't 1111wh li ke th e color 11f Urnt ribbon.

Jf"iss. ' n 1y, I h e n, i'lr. Nc n ' rnu L (lo yon !'CC', i f ynu <1 011"t much like i t, you 111ay 1<.1ok
of.I it . .
. T'rn..v, coh111c l. 111n kc m <' a. pr t's(' n l of t hat preLty p e n k ni fe.
Col. Nnt fnr l h c worl Ll. drar miF~ ; i l will <"llt lo\·c.
jl/i.'l."ii. M y t'o11 1for·t is, ' Lwi ll h p all nn c a l hn usnn U years h t' llCC.
.J°Yf't er . Why, mb•s, yon are F'> c n1sc;; I r.nnlrl fi nd it in m y hf'art t o hate yon •
.Ah~-'~ .
W it h all 111 .v ln·nrl.; t,Ja ·n· " ' ill lw 110 love loc:: t between u s.
J ,m/y 8. Co lo 11('J1 m e think s yn11r i·oat is tno sl10rt.
Co l. l t, wi ll h o lon g c n o11g h hcfn rc l get another, madam . . . . ::;\:l i f's, y o n hav e
got 111.r h nwl k1·1T hi t>f ; prn.y, let 111 0 ll :i.vc it .
l~arl y ,c:,·.
No; keep i t mi R~: fo r t hey say p o~~ c ssio n i ~ eleven poin ts o f th e Jaw.
Co l.
yonr ln <lysh ip be n 11 Lii e i\la ll lo-morrow ni ~ ht ?
f. nrly S . No. that wo n't Uc pMpc r ; you know to ~ m o r row "s Su nd a.y.
Col. Wh a t t h l' n , m :i cla m ? t hey i-:ay Lhc bct.lr.r tlw d :t.)", t he better th e deed.
Di ck Lubbn Rnirl t o :Mr ~ . T al ka ll, t h e ot he r <l n.y : 1\fa tl nrn , you can't cry bo to n goose.
YeH, hn t l <·n11, f' ni 1\ sh e : nml, C'J.!:1tl. c ry'rl ho full in hi s fa f' c .

"'ill

.Neve,..

Sina.rt.

l 'r:t~' ,

tnadr1111, Rrn olrn mi f's, yn rnlcr, bitin g h er lips und playing with her fan.
t1 1.1.111 e in vain?

Jliss, Who's that takes my

AT D JNN J': lt
fin g-c rs \\"Cl'!! 111a d <! hdorc fnr kR, anr l hands h<·fnrc k1 dYCS.
11 11 11 /i irrn.~

' Vhat·s t he matte r, '1'0 11 1? you li a\·c U:ars in

hi.'!

111011 1/i .)

.r•Jttl' '~yes,

I th ink; wl1at dos t

c r y fn r, 111a11 ?

Ne1·cr.

My lord , I was jus t thinkin g of my poo r g nrndmntlie r ! s he Lli c<l jns t th is

ve r y day se ve n yea. rs .
N etl(! I'.

Awl

]11':1.)' ,

(M i.~.~ t11kf'.'; ci f1if. Ctn!l lmn1s h c1· '111011 /h .)
mi:-:s, wh y d n yo H e r r t,iln?

ll fiss. Bucan se yo u we re not han ge d t he da y yo ur grarn.l moth c r d ied .
Swirk. ·w11a t do yo u t h ink of a li t tl e house we ll fill ed ?
Sir J . Arn i a l ittle land well t i\11-d ?
Col. ,\ y : a nti a li ttle w ifl' Wl' ll wi ll ed?
Smart.. (Co,rviuy <t wn'lridgc. ) Well, 011c rn:ty rid e t o Humforcl 11pon thi s knife, it
is s n blunt.
Dady A. l\J y lo rd , I hcg vour pardon; but th ey sa y rm ill wo rkm:rn n P- n :r hall good

tools.
Smart..

S ir J .
Col.

M ad :i,111 1 d o yo u lov ro holH·a l"c•n?
Wh y, 1111vln rn , I Jllll!-'t cu nfcf's T do lo ve j t, bnt it dnc s 1:ot love me.

~ay

( NPvernn l cats n 71if'.Cf' r~f 71i1•

1

Col.

7

A CENTUHY AND A HALF AGO.

I.]

Rir .J ohn , wl1 n.t a rc you 1l oin g?
I nmst do as t,he hrg~ars <111 1 go away \\·lien [ ha\·c gnt (~ 11oi1 g l 1.
Miss, l th a nk yo n; a1 ul, Lo rc wan l yn 11 , L' ll c1111 1c aml Ll ri 11k tea with y <.1u in t he

mor11i11 g.
M iss.

Colonel, th ere'f:I t wo \\"Ord s to !hat h t rga i11.
Wl1y , rn y lo rd , you see mi ss ht1 ~ 11 0 111 L· rey; I wi s h s h e n- erc marri c1l ; but I
do uUt t h e g ra.y lllrtl'C would pro ve t he better lior ~c .

Col.

Any one d esiring to revel in the th ousand more of these memorized \Vi t ti cisms, wi ll find them in a ny co mpl ete edition of Swift's
works. Not until th ere are few er perso ns who rely for u tte ran ce
upon their memory instead of up on t heir wit, will set p Lrnses he
restricted to their proper sp here- the verbal cou rtesies that express good-will wh ere it is impracticable to express anything more.

Usages of Society not Unreasonable.-It is
th erefore of importance that one shoulu be fami liar with
the phrases customary to p olite society; and, i11deeu, th is
knowledge should extend to all its usages. No one can
talk well while doul>tful whether lie is behaving properly,

8

GOOD BHEEDING.

[PAH'l' II.

nor " ·ill l1is best talkiu g arni l him with those whose eyes
are fixc<l 0 1t t he soe ial euorrniiics of which lie is guilty.
Sai nte-DeU\·e ' rns uote<l for Lis clrnnu iu convernation, bnt h e
never .rocei,·c1l a second i nvitation from the Empress E 11 geJJio, hecan>;e at his first Lreakfast h e nufold etl his napkin uml laid it over
l 1ofh knP ns, ins tead of d ropping it carelessly over hi s left kn ee, and
Lrnke hi s egg into the cnp, inste:id of eating it from the shell . At
ii.mt tl1 011gltt it seo111 s ri tli culon s to insis t upon sueh n icety in soc.ml nsngPs; l n1t, nJtPr all , these rules haYc rc:isuu Leltind th em , an<l
k<'l' lll n11n•:i sn11 :1,l.J o onl y tu t,Jll '"e \Yl1n eif.l11•r cn111wt. pm:l'cive tl1 Pir
p1uposc, ur are en rcless uf I.ho eomfort i u little thi ngs u.f t hoso
al 1onf·, I hem. It takc•s ma ny of 1-hcse triflrn; to mak e p er fection in
1<oefal int.erconrse; lmt thi s perfection fa uo triJle, an cl mm;t not be
unclcrnstimatP<l. I11.<ole11t (in solr:ns, Latin) is Jit.em lly only unn.ccustom nrl, a11 11 one is i n<lcoil insolent who presum es to min gle with
otl 1crs wit h out rcgan1iug t lte 'mys anc1 hauits to wLich th ey have
u cen a<.:c nstomecl
J)e fcct in manners iK 11 s1mlly th e flefcct of fine p erceptions.
J\Ien arc too coarRel,y 111 r1<lc for the delicacy of u eau tifnl carl'iage
an d. custnnis. It is 11 ot <]Hite snfli cient to good breedi11 g, IL u nion of
k i u<lu css :111( [ j n<lPpenclen co. Ire impemLi vely rnqnire a p erception
of, n.ml a l1 oumgc to, b ean t.y in our companions. Other virtues are
iu re1111cs t inf.he fiel!l :rn<l work-y:11"1l, l mt rt l'crtain d egree of t:iste
is not to lJc spared in t hose wo sit with. I conl<l b etter eat with
0110 who tli<l not respect the tr uth or the law·s than with IL sloven
an cl nuprcscutahle. 1\1oml qualities rnle the world, but a t short
distances the senses arc desJ_Jotic. -E~musoN.
H nnln cF:.x fa a wa11t o f minn tc atten ti o n to the frclings of othc ri::. It <l oci:; not proceed
from ma.lig11i ty or carr'i cf:.:0;n cs~ nf inflicting pnin. hnt from n want oE delicate perception
o f th oRc littl e lli in gs Uy whi ch pl cnsnrc is conferred or pain excited.
A hnrd 11cr.o:on th ink s h e h m; 1l o 11 c enough i[ he docs nQt Eipcn.kil l of you r rc lati o ns 1 yonr
ch ililre n, o r yo ur co1111try; n11<l t hrn , with th'3 greatest goocHnnnor and \'Olnl> ility , nnd
with n tot:il ina tt(' 11 tion to your irnli v id ua.l statc an d pos ition , gall ops o,·er n. t.hou snud fine
fccli ng i;; ruul ll'a ,·oR in ev e ry FtC'p t.hc marks o f his hoo f.i: nr>o n yonr hen rt.
Annlyzr, lh r <'nn verrntion nr a wC'l l-hn'<l mnn who iAclenr o r t he LeR!' tti11g- Rin or hn.nlJ JC~R; it i!-l n pc rpct11n.l hornngc of polite good-nn.turc. R e remembers th a t yuu nrc conncct.cd. wit h th e Church, nnd he :woid s ( whate ver his opi nio ns ma.y be) the most di sta nt
rc>O cct. 1m1 ~ nn thr E~tnb l i shmcnt. ]fr knows that yo u nrc atlmi rcd, and he ndmireR yon m1
far n..'I if-I compai ibl c> with good breeding. He scc>s Umt-, t hough yonng, yon nrc nt t he
hf'a<l o f a lnrge Pf' lahl i.<: h11 ir!11 t. an(l he infnFcs into h is munr1 er ~n<l con vcr~mtion t h at rospcc t whi c h is so J.!lt•asing to all "ho cxurciHe authority. H e leaves you in perfect good-

CHAP.

l .]

11\'lPORTANCE OF GOOD MANNERS.

h11111 o r w il h yonrsclf, bcca 11 sc y o n pe rce ive how m uc h 11 11 d how i:; uccC'ss rully yon h av e Leen
r.tud icd.
I n the m ean t im e , tlw g c n tle rn a n o n the oth e r sill C o ( yo n (a highly rn o r:1 l H1t 1l rcr-pcct·
abl e man) has been cru sh in g: lit! le scnsibiliLics and 1Jverluoki11g l ittle di !'l eri1nin:iLi o n ~ , and
wit.hc;ut viulatilig nny thing whi c h can be cail cd a ru le, or cummil,ti 11g what ca n be tl c no m·

in a tctl a fault, has dbpi ca Rcd nnd Uis pi ritcd you fro 1n \\ :t11 ti11g t hnt fin e vii-;iu n wh ic h RN'S

little thingF, and that d elicate Louch wh ich haml!es t.h cm 1 and that fin e sy mpathy whi ch
t.his f'll JlCrior moral organization alway 8 bestows.
So g reat a n e vil in soc ie ty is hnnl ncss, rind that want of pcr ccpl.i on of th o mi nn te ci r·
cunu..;tancl'S wl 1ich occas io11 pleasure or pain. -SY DNF.Y S1il lTH.

Cood Manners Requisite to Success.- DeRid cs, l1 owcver 0 11 e may :feel <li c; posc<l i 11 pri11 ciplc trmn rd
t l1 csc parti cul a r r c1111irc 111<~ 11 l~, li e 11111 ~ t in praeLiec y ield to
th e m if li e would 1c s11 ecess fol in co JL ve rsatiun. For t h e
first r c<pii sitc of tl1is art is adaptat ioJL to th e p c n;;on one
tal ks with, n ot only in s nbj cct a nd in expression, but i n
personal appea ra nce ainl rna1111 crs. A Frcn clt book on
rhetoric beg in s wi th d irection s for t he care of tlt e teeth.
No well-b red person eo nl<l li ste n co n1 fo r tahl y to a fell owg ncst, h owever wise, who ate witlt u oisy g reediness.
\Ve talk much of utilitieR, but 't,is om· 1nanners tLat associate us.
In hours of business we go to him who knows, or lrn.s, or cloes this
or that which we want, rtnd we clo not le t onr tas te or o nr feeling
stand in the way. Rut this acti vit,y ornr, we retnrn to the iuilolent state, an d wish for th ose we can Le at ease with ; those who
will go where we go, wh ose ma nners do not offend us, whose social
ton e chimes with on rs. \Vlten we refl ec t on their p ersuasive and
cheering force; how they recomme nd , prepar e, and draw people
together; how, in all clubs, manners mak e the members; h ow
mttnners make the fortmrn of the ambitious youth ; t hat:, fo r th e
mos t part, his manners marry him, an il, for the most part, h e marries mannern; when we think what keys th ey are, and to what ;;ecrets, what high l essons and inspiring tokens of ch arnct er they
convey, and what divination is requirell in u s for the r ca<ling of this
fin e telegraph , we see what ran ge the s nbj ect has, au<l wlrnt relations to convenience, power, and b eauty.-EMERSO N.

Cood Manners never Ostentatious.-It is another application of the same prin ciple that one should

10

I,,

l

,.~

GOOD IlUEEDING.

[P Alt'l' I L

not be ostentations of fin e m a nn er s. Ill-breeding is Hcvc r
lllOre offensiv e than wl1 cu, lJy doin g tl 1i11gs i11 au ohtrnsively differeut . way, it seeks to m ake ot.Jwrs feel th a t th ey
have doue a thing i11q) roperl y. Tl1 e sa111 e m otiv e whi ch
lead s oue to olJsene h ow well -hreJ. perso ns do things, in
ord er to avo id g iving well -bred peopl e o ffence, leads one
to a vo iJ doin g thin gs at aJI , or ern n to do thin gs i111prope rl y, wh e n to do th e111 prope rl y would lll ake so1ne one
prese nt .feel that li e l1 atl co nllnitteJ a solecism.
As 11ianu ern go, fe w t.l1i11 gR are to woll.-lJJ.'nd p0opl e more di R11greeahl c tlrnn to con vey foo l1 to one's m outh with a kni fe ; anu
yet if one w0ro dinin g wi th all elcle rl y person, lik ely t o be seusi t,i rn, " ·ho l1 rvl hcgnn t.hc rn 0:1l by 0atin g wi th J1is knife, or if one
were 11 g uest at a table " ·Ji pre there "·ere only two- tined stee l fo rks,
and an atteu1p t to Pat wit h th 0m might ma ke the host,esR blnsh
h ecanse she eonl1l nnt fnrni sh silver, it wonlcl be one's duty to enneeal as rnneh ns p ossible t hat li e was eati11 g wi th hi s fo rk , or emu
to eat wjth hi s knife. No urnrc con rn ntionaJit,y must interfere
with the broad prinPiple t hat i t is th e part of a well-bred p erson
t o put th ose nl 1on t him a t th eir case.

CnAP. l . J

SELFISlli"IESS OF ILL M.A NNEUS.

Emerson d efin es m aHn Rrs as the h n.ppy ' mys of d oing tl1in gf;,
on ce a stroke of genius or of 10\·e, b a t 1101\' lmrd ened by nsnge in to
h abit. Ho w mu ch mor e g raceful is t.lti 'l 1rny of p u ttin g i t th a n
th e correspomliu g passage ill Rw ift : " 'l'ltereforc, I in sist t.Jiat
gootl se nse ii> the prin eipal fonncla tion o f good m ann ers; bn t h ecause th o former is a gift " ·hiclt very few a mong m en are possessed
of, th erefo re, all the civilized nations o f tlt e worl<l h a1-e agreed
upon fixin g some rnl es u pon comm on h cliavior lwst sui ted to theiT
ge neral c1rnto ms or fauci ' F<, as a ], ind of n. rti fi ciul good sense, t o
supply th e defects of reaso n. "
Ill-breeding, says th e Ahhc J3 elgard e, is not a sin gle d efec t,
bnt i t is the result of mauy. It is snrnet.i.mos a groRR ig nonm oe
of d eoo rnrn , O l' a st11pi d i11 Rok nee wlii<-h p rnvm1tR n s from g i1·i11 g
t o others what iR clue to !;h em . It is a p ee vish malignity whioh
incliues ns to oppose t h e ineli na t.ions of tl1 nse " ·i th "·h orn ·11·e conYerse. It iR th o conseq n enco o f a foolish 1·a11i ly wl1iclt liaR n o co mpbisanoe for auy oth er p e rson ; the effeot o l' a prontl un<l " ·hi rnRil'a l
hum or, wlrich soars above n.Jl Ll1 e rnl 0s of e.iYili t.y; or, ln RtlJ, i t i8
p r0tlnced by a rnehn clioly tnrn of rn i1 ul , w l1 i!'lt p m11pol'S i tseJf
" ·ith a r nc1 e aml tlisouli g i11 g h clmvio r.- Frn r;1>1 Nr:.

A n ice p erson ii:: 11cilhcr ton tall nor lo() :-: hnrt. J11okJ..1 clean :ind t·hrc rful , hn s

Observe Conventionalities.- The first lesso n to
impress i1pon th ose ' '"h o wollld exce l in conversa tion is to
be " ·atclt f1il of t·o 111·c n tio11 ali ties. J\ o 11Titten precep ts
can i11 e11leaf·e tlt e111. Th c,r a rc subject to co nst:rn t tlu1·elop111 e11t, and in crease in co mplc;.; ity as one mingles wi th
tl1 ol)e 1nore and m or e fitt ml 1Jy ll Utllre r111J p osi tion to g ive
promin en ce to the co nrtes ies o f Ji fo . Bll t with a tli sposition to p11t oth ers, anu t:o lea1·e othe rs, a t their ease, even at
p e rsonal sacrifi ce, " ·ith a 11 obser v:i,nt eye, rwcl l1 ere a nd
th e re with a hint from old er persone, one may leant so t o
comport one's self tl1 a t one's m:rnn el' will n e ver m a ke
others 11ncrnnfortaul e- a11 essenti al prcreqnisite to snccei::s
in conve rsa tion.

11

in cn t rcrtl nre, in:tkes

11 0

d ini cu ltirR, is n eve r m i ~., pl:w c cl .

r-: i! R

11 0 1n·r) ll1·

llndki 11, j !-1 11cv cr fuvli !-Z h ly

nfT ro ntcd , a ncl iR \'oi( l 1Jf: a ffcc! atio nR.
A ni ce pc n•on h c lp ~ yon w e ll n.t 1li11 11 cr , u n d e r~ t: rnd s yo11, is a \wa_y s g ra t.cfnll y rccc ivc<l
by .ro1111g :ind old, Whi g and T ory, )!rav e an d g:i.y.
'J' ht·r c iR ~m m c tl iin g in the n !ry ai r of a 11iec p erso n wh ich in "" p irc;;: yo n with confi-

dc ncf'. rnnkf's yo u ta lk , and talk w if1 1011 t, fear o f 11rnl idous tr: isrcprc..:•·nta tio n : yon fret
t hat yon arc

rc p o~i ll'.!

nn a n:i.Ln n;

a nil 1! :1pp i n c ~~ o f s.nciC'ty .

whi~· h

Gull !m s 11rnd <' ki 1Hl. nrnl cn •:1tcd fo r the lll'11c fi t

It h a s Lh c (' ffcct 11 po n th e 111 i11d w h ich soft a ir a 1Hl a. li11 cc li 1r1a lc

h a.vc upo n the bn<ly.
A nice pcr:o:.o n is clc:ir or: l ittl e, tru mpe ry pn ~s i o n s, clcl ig ht.c.: i11 Ln.l c nt-, sh elter ~ h u m ili ty,
p nnlon:-; nd vcrs it._y , forg ivcfl. tl cfieic tH'_Y, rP ~ J n: d ~ :ill 1111' 11's r i ~ h t s, ll l' \ Tt: i:-h •ps t.hc llnttl f'. i~
111.!\"lT hm g an d l :C!\"C r \H nn i;, a l\\"ay s knmn• t.h•.' day of the mo n th, the na rnc o f 1·,·e ryl.Jody
at ta.hie, nnd llC\'l.T ~ivcs 1min to a 11y ll w11:111 ! wi n •~ .
If nn ybu1ly i.:; wn.nle1l f 1r a 1nrty 1 a ni<'c pm·,.io n i s l;h c firi::t t h ou g ht o f: whe n tho
cl;iJ d ic; (.; h ri ~ l c 1 1 c!\ 1 \\"h <· n Lhc ll:'l.w..;htcr i s 111:1 rr iPd- a lJ f hc j oys of li fe nrc t•o1nm1! u icnted
to nkc peo p h ~ ; th e hnn 1l of th C' d y in g' 11rn 11 is nlwn.Ys hcl cl ont ton. n ice p cn;"n.
A ni ce JIC'r son rnffc· r k! : od~i:s ove r w :n c o r nwlh•r1 huttC'1·, cloC's n o t tren.<1 tlJl"ll t l! r cl og· ~
foot:, or molC'st t l~c f:rn ii ly cnt, catn sou1.1 wil hont rn>i f'c, laughs in th e righ t pl ace, nn d Ima
a watchfnl nnd nitc ntive ey e .

OHAI'TE H lJ.

TOPICAL ANALYSIS.

'l'AllLE -TA LK.
No fni r ndvcnm ry won ld nrgc 100!-;C table-tall; in co11t.r o\·cn=r . nnd buihl 1;cr io11;;; in ferences 11p1m what wa::: spoke n in j cR t. - ATTERHU!t'l , tiu otcd i 11 .Joh11 son·!-l Di cti ona ry.

GOOD

mm EDT ~ n.

AWKWARD NE SS : -Its so urce, a n1l il s di s;irh antages, p . 3.
Escap e <l hy acqn a i11la11 co with co n ve nti on aliti es, pp. 3-7.
ltecogni ze rl fn rn1 s fe w, ni Hl 1·as il y acqu ired, p . 4·.
S p ec i in em; fr om Ernrn 1us, a n cl Hw irt. p p. G- 7.
USA U ES OF HO Cl E l' Y 11 ot i1111·1.,1s11 11 a ble. pp. 7-!J.
D e (!'ct i11 llt:tl ll l! ·rs is dde c t i n li11" p e rc1·p tions, p . 8.
G OO !> l\IANN EU.S U. "<.JUl SJTE T O SUC!JE~::l, p. ll .
N <wc r oste11ta.tio11s, l'l'· !I , Ill.
1Jep e 11d PHt 0 11 watc h I 11l11 ess, p . 10.
'l'h e h appy way s o f' rlo in g tl1ings, p . IL
Se lfi s hn ess o f' ill m a 1111 e rs, l '· JJ.
Sy dney S mi t h 's " N ice .Pe rso n , " p . 11.

S UCJ G ES'l'IVE QU ESTIONS.
D o y on n.pp1_-~ve th P 1'1111d11ct of t he you ng prel:1te 0 11 page !)2?
Do yo n .111.-;til y th e r e 1narks m ade 111 t he a uccil o tcs 0 11 p 1wes
21i5 2GG
0

008?

,

,

Wa s t.11 0 m~ito r jw;t ilio<l in re bukin g th o r mu n.rk on th e weath er, as
t old on JIP · 2;i:l, 2:,4. o
Wh :~ t 1ln yo u t hink of tl 1e ~ct i o n of Mrs . Stqihe n A. D o11g lnss u pon th e
f o l! 01n 11 g orcas10 11 ~ A cn 11 st1t ue n t , un acc usto med t o pn lil p soc iut.y, was
dinin g at h e r h o11sc., ;wd l1·t fall a tc a -c11 p ol' <!X<j tli s ite rlesig 11 a n ri g reat
valu e. As it . s hi ,·crp1 l i11 ln pi eces, h e w as g rea tl y rli st nr be d , b 11 t ~J\l rs
l>o~u; la ss, 1:1.k111 g 11p li f' r ow n c 1111, re tn ark e d li ghtl y , ' .lt is c uri o us h o w
E·as il y t. hese r: 11 ps l.mmk: see, 1 can cru sh it. lik e an egg-s he ll ,'' :1.11rl did
so C. l'll f:. li 1t.
\ Vhal do ynn tlii11k of th e foll o ,rin.~ r Pm a rk o [ Em e rson 's 9 " Th n ha s is
n [ i:;ooil rn :i11n e rs is sc ll'-ndi :tn ce (au1l rice rm-.wr). Necess it y is tl1 e l:tw
nf a ll wh o a rc n ot S<' ll'-pnssrsse<l. Th ()se wh o arc n ot seH- 1~0SSl'Sse d o bf rn ;l e :111 1l pa in 11 ~ .
Srn11 n lll 8 ll a ppea r to f"P1•I tha t th e \· IJ!do 11 g to a. r"ri a h qast<·: . 'l' h pv fo.a r . lo offe n d, th fly bc nrl an d apolog ize, a nd walk
t h rn 11 g l1 Id" 11·1t l1 n. l 11 n 1d ste p. As we som e t i mes drea m I hat w e a re in
1

a w i·ll - dr p~ ~P < l

P.n1Ytp a 11 y

\\·itho nt an y co:-t.t, so Godf rey ac ts e \·e r as i[ li e

s u :T1• n•1l fr nrn so m e ni nr t.i l'yi ng cil'm11 nsl:rn r·e. 'J'h e h uro sh o ul Lt Jin d
him s,. 11" at h om e, \rh ,, ,.,,,.rr li e io : e< l11> 11 i<l impa r t comfort b y hi s own
sec urity ai 11l good -11 al11ro to all Leh olclern ...

Readiness in Light Conversation. - T11 JJor6's
ill nstratio1 ~s o:f La F o11 tai11 e's Fabl es, tlte ge ne rali zation
of t li c fo:-;: wli o :fo 1111d tlt e Yi11 cs tvo hi g h fo r lti111 rep resents two seedy ca 1·alic rs .iee ri11g a t tl1 e soc'. ial c11jny111c11t
of a evi 11pa11y fr o111 1rlti ch tlt cy arc c:-;el11Llcd . 'l'l 1c hi t is
happy, fol' 11 0 otl1 er di seo11rfit11 re is o ftc nc l' excused hy tl1 e
sn eer, "tl011r g rapes." P a r t:ic1ilarly cum111 on is it to a ffeet
co nteinpt fo r readin ess in that fr ee :uHl easy form of co11ve rsat i(l 11 , whi ch fr om t he p laee t hat rn ust frcq11 c11 tly
afford s it opportuni ty, is k 11011·11 as "Tal>le-la lk " - I li e 111·i11w1·y object bc i11 g ratl1e r soe ia] tl1 :rn i11tcllcet n;1 l. 1·at.l1 e r
the pr ulll otion uf pl easant f ee ling t:li a 1t :L sc:1 n:lt f 11 r 1w11·
trnth.
The awlnnir cl nrn.n r em i JHb him self t h ri.t n, gren,t tr:tg0il ia 11 , srni li11 g at hi s in si g ni .lica11 ~e in a sod:1l gn,t.l1 t> ri11 g, l> oastccl t.li ar., "wan rin g i n a ll things, h e \\'rl. S n ot t h e l ess Co rn Pi ll o ; " tlmt Ho nssc>an,
who in tal k ing \\·i t lt Hume "kind lo1l oftc- 11 n il ('.'-!:i"C<' of li 0at. 1d1ic l1
lookP11 lik e inspirat.io11 ," , ,.n,s .'·pt i n go11 cr'1.l l·o11 \·(! J'.'-':ttion "l'!' lll rtrkably t·.rite, n eve r \\·ar11 w1l hy n. wor<l o[ [a 11 cy m· elo r111 n11 eo ; " that
A1l tli son wrts ri.'l sh y ri.mo n p; st.rn. 11 ~1· r s >1s .li e ' ms <leli g h t fnl in his
tal k \1·itlt a cli osC' H oom p :1.11inn , :w1l 11 sP1l l n ;;ri.y t ha t tl1 011 g h l1n
conhl 1b ·aw a c h eck fo r a ll10ns:u1Ll p o uml s, h o "'we r carri cll n.
g n i lll'l\ i n hi s p ock et .

Ti rt t Slll" i'h· t o Wrl.lk [Jtn SIT('('(;; ]JO llllii<' s~: \Y h f' ll 011 0 l m•< ft t.11 011sarnl 11ouncls. in the b an k sh ow~ Ll ep l ornb lc b ck of j1ul3 me nt . S uch

14

'!'ABLE-TALK.

fPAT\'l' ii.

mrtn mn.y lie con g mt.nbte<l npnn hi r< p ossess ion of r eso111·ces, but
not 11pnJ1 his n se of t h e m. Ric h ris 110 is, h e rn11y miss the gr erites t
oppmtn11.i ty oI his life h 0er.tn se h e lms n ot mi omuilms far e in h i ~
poc ke t., 11 or " ·ill hi s clmg rin b e the l ess tl 1rit h e mig ht jus t ris 'n·ll
l1ri,·n hrt<l wi t h h im n. t.l1 01rn:11Hl o ninihn s far0s.
'.llw pamllel hol,Js. '.rwo ri chly g ift<>tl .rn e u, w h o 1y011.hl .k 0c n ly
l1:t\'l) 0nj<l,n'll rt <·011v., rsaf-i o11, may i:i<le tognt.ltc r fo r hnnrn in n.\\'k\\'·nnl si l<' lll'<', fo r " ·nnt nf lh e rnntnal r ceog ni.t.inn wh ieli n. Jit·flc
s 1unl.l -f.:1 lk w01 tl1l l1 :1n~ tl r•v r•l o)IC'< l. Nnt St'l <lom n.rr. ,1·<' 11 -fill l'rl
rnin,l s s tn.g- nnn f- fo r \\·:in t. of n.11 on tkt . i\fany n. rn n.n go0s t hrn11 gJ 1
lifr. :1 l1 c"·111if; li<lC:tllS<l l ir • l1 :~s not ll'arn e1l l1nw fo h r.gin a eo n1·e rs:1tion.
A wdl -kt1n\1·11 11wt1<'rn asl rn11 0111 0r, attcnd.iug a we<l11i11 g, 1mss01l
i1p to o ffe r hi s <'011 gnd;nl:tf'io 11s, sh ook ha uLls iu :.t w lemn so rt of
\1·n.y, nn<l nU e r ecl not a \\'< ml .
" \Yli y lli <ln' t yo n say so md hin g to tli e11 1 ?" r1ne.ric1l l1is w ife ,
1t

l'l'SJlf'('j f'nJJ.\- .

" I <l o 11 't, 1'11011-," .rnpli c1l fl w ah <orl•ed )'l'O fcs so :· _: "I <li.[l11 ' t
t hiuk I Jm,l an y 11 cw fads to i111pn.rt. "

Table - Talk an Art .- F a il11 rn 111 tabl e-talk r es ults
0U e11C's t fr"111 la<' k (J f a['prce intio11 tl1 at it is an art. J'oc 111 s,
o rn. t i()11 ~, css:1ys. c1·<·11 letters 111 ay Le perfec ted Ly acq 11ai11 ta11 ee " ·i1h tl1c p r i1H·ip les of rh etorie, but s11rely a11.rbudy
ca11 say wh at li e m ea11 s : that is 0110 111 ist:1kc. A not lier
is at tl1 c other ex t re111 c : tl1 a t tl1 e ag reeable talk er is Lol'll,
1wt 111:1d c ; th at cou 1·crsatio1t is a matter not of ecl11 cation
bn t of' illsf.in ct..
Th e difli enHy o f litNa turc is n ot to "-ri te, but to " Tito w ha t :·ou
llH':tn; 11 o t to affec t :· onr .ren<ler , bn t to a ffec t lii m p rccisel,v as yon
'ri slt. 'l'lii s is eum111 011ly uutlerst.ood in th e case of h ook s o r se t
orntions ; c ,·en in makin g yo ur wi ll or writin g n.11 ex plici t le tter,
so mo 1liffic11 lt_Y is rt<lmittetl by t.]10 worl<l. J3ut on e t hin g ?OH can
n e i-cr lll rtke th e Phi li s t iu e natu res n ndcrs taml ; one thin g, wli.i ch
:-ct lies on !-li e s111·fac.e, r emaiu s as nn seizn.lil c t o t.h eir wi ts n.s n.
lii g h Jlig ht of rn ef: tp l1:-sics- na mcly, th a t t,he bn siness of hfe is
maiu ly carried on Ly m eans of this tlillicult a.rt of li t erature, autl

CIIAl'. Ii.j

l'A:i3LE-'l',\LK A~ Alt'f.

1

acconling to n man's pr oficien cy in th a t a.rt Rlmll b e the free~oi;n
and th e fulness of Lis inter co urse wi l lt o ther m en . An y body, it is
supposed , can say what h e m eans; a ml, in spi te of t h eir n ot ori ous
exp c•rien ce t o tho con trn ry, so p eoplo co n tinue t o suppo:e:
An orntor m akes a fal se io;te p; h e e mpl oys some tn vrn l , som e
ab snnl , sullle ,-nlgnr pl1 rnso ; i11 the turn of a so nt en co h e in snlts,
l1 v rt si<le " -ind, t h ose ,1-h om h e is bho r.in g t o charm ; in sp Paking
ou e se ntime nt h e nn conscion,;ly n1fflfls :w o t li e r in p ar n11 tlwsis;
and ynn arc uo ~ snrp ri se1l , for yon kno w l1is task is d nlicn.tc ttJHl
flll c<l , 1-ith p m ih . "O fri vol ons rn i 1ul o f m:rn , li g ht·, i g 11 n rnn cc. "
As if ,n rn rsd f, \1· ]1(;11 yo n seek t o "-'tol:ii 11 sn111<' 111i 8111Hl nrst:u1Cli '.1g or
cxe nsc f; o m o appare nt fa nl \ sroa ki 11 g s \\·i ft.l.y , and n<l1lressrn g a
mint1 s till r ece ntly i11 cc 11 sec1, we re n o t liarnessin g for n. m o re p eri lous a<lvcnl,nre; as if yourself n •ciniro<l Jess tact allll <'locin ence ;
as i[ n.u an g ry fri en<l or a su sp.il'ion s l ove r were n c• ~. m ore easy to
o1fo m1 tl1 an a m ee Lin g o f iniliffcrnnt pnlit il'in.11R. Nay , a ntl the
omtor trnads in a b eaten r on llll ; the rnn.t tNs h e di s(' nsses h ave
loce 11 tli sen ssetl a t.l1on sarnl tim es b e fore; lrtng n::tgH is r 0atl y-slrnped
t o Ji.i s pnrpose; h e sp eak s ou t of a c n t a 1Hl <lr,Y Yocalmlary . But
you - mn.y it n ot l ie thn.t y onr clde n<:e m p Ps < ~ s 011 s0111 c s11btle t.y of
fr cli11 g , it0 t so rnn ch M t-un clwd i1po11 in f-i h:drn1:er<', f-o express
" -.hi cl1 , lik e :i pioneer, yo n rnus tveu l n: e fo r l-h in to z011 m; o f th oug ht
still un surveyml , :trnl Leco nw ;-ourself :t li lcrnry in n m·a t n r ? F or
m-e n i11 Jo,-e tltern a rn rn.d ov0ly lrn1 Horn; n11 111ignon s ads, unp::tr<l o nn.ble word .; m n.y yet Ji u,-c sprnng from a kirnl sc ntinw llt. If
th e iu:ju:red oue coulcl r ead your h ear t., you mn.y b e su rn th a t he
" ·oul<l nml er~ tand a nt1 p artlon ; l n1t, nlns, th e h eart cannot b e
sh o1rn- i t h as t o b e cl e m ons tmted in words. Do yon tl1iuk it is a
l1anl thing to wri te p oe ti-y? \Yl1 y tlmf, is to w rite p oetry, nnd of a
l1igh, i f n ot t h e hi g h est o rder. -C'ornhill N~ugazi n e .

t.;

D irect Preparation. - Jt \rn11kl surpri se rnostpeoplc
to b10w l1 ow often tl1e br illi n11t talk at a dinn e r-pa rty is
tl1 c rcs11lt of d irect prepan1t ion. J\fr. Jon es, fu r in stance,
]1 as acqnirecl l1i s r epnt.nt.inn :f" r i111pro1nptns tl1ro11 glt a
l1 abit of cn11 sidcri 11 0- l1efo rel1n11<1 wlin " ·ill lie pre~e 11 t, '"liat
th ey will he lik ely ~o sa,1-, an<l what hits "-ill prove feli citou s. Even those who do iwt co11 scio11 sly a ll ti ciJ_J'.ttc a spe-

1G

TABLE-TALK.

[PAR'!'

II.

cial conversat ion by mental rehearsal, often elaborate their
strikin g exp ressions~ and store them away for fut ure u se.
S uggestion s of new analogies, happy illustration s, p lausiule
p aradoxes, occnr to m ost of u s. The couve rsatio nal artist
se izes tlie111, turns th elll ornr a nd over in hi s mind till they
are monldcd into their happiest for m, perliaps even experirnents with tl1e1n 11pon nnirnportant liste ners, and
:fi nally emp loys tli e n1 jnst at the r ig ht tim e to p roduce th o
maxi1nnn1 of effec t. Aml why 11ot? Dani el Weust er
confessed that ]1 is ll ohle fi g ure of the ]3ritish d rnm-ueat
follow.ing tl1e setting sn11 aro un d tlie world was conceived
at Qnebec, 1nonth s before lie had occasion to nse it., a nd
that the ve ry words employed were selected after h ours of
expcri111ent.
Bnt it is not alone in polishing the brilliants of eonversati on
that art is required. If on e's speeeh with straugers b e easy a.llCl
cont.innon s, oue at. l east escapes freqn ellt emuarrnssment, though
the t.hought8 h o tri vial.
It m:i.y h e ncltl ed that fa cility in conversation with strnngers is
ral'('] ,Y fLOt p1ired i11 rn aturn life. 0 11 e's sMi:i.l l1 ahit.s :i.re 11s1rnlly
fixed lidore tliirt.y, a ntl on e's interconrne with hi s fell ows will be
free arnl nat.nml , or r estrniu ml a.ml <lifficnlt, very much accordi ng
to the readi ness in t.able-t:i.Jk which he acquires in his early
ye11rs.

Seek Rather to Please than to Shine. - The
c11 sto n1 a ry phrase of society ser ves as an armor agai11 st e mLanwismcn t, and tl111 s lea1·es o ne at libertJ' to O' ive foll plav
b
"
to in tell ect a nd to sy mpathy. It is q11estional>le wl1ich of
the t\\'o w ill Le of m o re service. "Jle is a m aster of
rn onolog nc," sai<l ]\fada rn e de Stael of Colerid ge, "bnt li e
does not know ' vh at dialogne is." Tl1ere wa.3 a spice of
rn::ili co in tlic remark that rarely fai ls to accompany th e
i111prcssio11 that one i 1:> pe rc111p tor il y co ll1pcll ctl to Le a li s-

OnAP. II.]

SEEK NOT TO SI-iINE IlU1' 1' 0 P L EASE.

17

t ener:x- "Do not think I a m soug h t after for my dr amas,''
said Raci11 e to his son ; "Oor11ei ll e composes nouler verses
thau mine, hnt no on e notices him , and li e pleases only
by th e mou t h of actors. I never allnlle to my works wh eu
with m en of the world , but I a mu se them ahont matte rs
they like to h ear. )J[y talent w1'.t!i tAein con.~ists not in

nuiking theni f eel that I luive cmy, lmt i n showing tliem
tlwt they have."
'rite apprehension of s oci~: t y lLS an iuca is one of tlrn r1istinctions
b etween gentility :i.nd th e commonrtlty. 'l' ho younger members
of the \Yorking-classes h:i.ve morn intercourse with ettch oth er ont
of fam ily life tha11 th eir betters ; lmt they hav e not th e ide11 of a
social sphere iustilled iuto their rnintl s as it is upon those \Yhos<l
early ol1serv11tion is se t 1o " ·ork- of :i. sphe re where t.liey am to lw
viewed on all sides allCl jn<lgetl lJ.v rt gen ernl opi11i on. 'l'l.1 0 n eco;:sity for self-repression makes room for th on gh t which tl10se cl1il clreu miss who h:we n o formalities to observe :i.nr1 110 customs to
respect- who blurt ont ever y irrelevan cf', who interpose at \rill
"·ith qnestion an<l opinion :i.s it en ters thP. l1rni11 . It is tl1is rn1r0s tniint whieb lays th e fonml:i.tion of tl1 at self-centrc<l Yi ew of lil:o
to l'e obs0r vecl in th e SO('i:i.llv nntrain0<l. It is h_v lis toning , 11ot liy
tnl kin g, th:i.t, sympnt.hy is ac11nin' <l- t.lmt in 1<'ll <'et.nnll y rnnkcfl 111c11
compani01111l1le. 'l'his nl1nmlowue11t of ohl rcs t.nii11t,fl of ,1·l1icli "·o
11re jerdons, m:i.y lie mw of tho r0aso11 s \Yhy c0111·crsatio11 :i.s an art, is
goi ng out. Childre n don't learn to talk l>y clmtt(•1·i11 ~ to one an oth er and say ing \dmt comes up]Jormost ; 1witlier <lof's r ea<l in g suffic e to this eml sing le-lmnllc<l. Good talk should first; l ie recog niz,ecl as such in others. Attention is th e most inllucnti:i.l tutor in
the fittin g u se of the ton g ue. ·wh ere ,1·e see good t:i.lk tli srnganlP.<1
b y :i. part.y of yonng p eople, there, \Ye nmy b e snrc, tlrn elmn cos o f
their ever sh ining socially arc small indeed. l\Ioro listenin g ,1·ith
i n telli ge nce invoh-os an e:H~rci so nf rn entn.l speech. N ot., of coursf' ,
that we \roulll confine cliildren to the net of nttent.io11 ; hut goo <l

* Syd1wy Smi th sai<l of Mn.cn.nln y : 1 • l f'F=, I ag ree. he i!': ce rtainl y rnn rc ng rccablc s in ce
h is return from In dia. His e nemies m it;ht hn vc sa icl Ueforc (th o n ~ h I n cvn rlid so) tlrnt
he t,nlkcd rnthcr too mn ch: bnt nnw he has occasionaljfru;h es of .silew.:e thn.t make his
convcn=-ati on perfectly delig h tfu l.''

IS

'l'AllLE-'l'ALK.

(l' AHT

UJJAP . JI.]

11.

tl1 e npen sea, lmt sloll" i} a nd ea11 t iu11 sly :i.ti li e a.pproaehes
a n 1111k11 011·11 shol'c, so i11 talk in g 11·ith a st.ra.11 g c1· t l1 0 skilfol
co 111·ol'fiC I' k eeps a111 011 g li fo's ge 11 erali1 ies, a nd hcarn l1i111 self
wal'ily as s11 1Jjccts a re suggestcJ tl1 a t rn ay J1a vc pcl'sonal

bilk <'fllmof; h o nmint.ainoll nuJer i11t C'rr11pt ion, and ob sern1.11t silen ce
OJ H' ll " 1111' 1•nr0>< nf tli f' 111i11d fl" imp::tt.ion t 1lc nrnuds for explanation
111 ·1·c r 1ln. - flluck 1coorl's 1llugazin e.

Choice of Subject. --Tlti s eo1 11pl a isa11 cc 111 al;cs 011 e
ca.refol to avo ic1 fi11 l1j ec:ts tl1at 111ig l1t offe11d, aml c spccinlly
to r d rai11 fro111 •111 cs ti1111 s it 111ig ht he 1111pl cnsa11 t to am;11"eJ'.
" l> n11"t. f':llk "f n11•l' fi tu n lll:lll wl1 osc fatl1 cr l1a s j11 s t been
l11111 g·, " is an o ld p1·m ·c rl 1. 1\o r sl1 0 11ld 0 11 c f'pca k to a 11 i11 Y:ilid of l1 ca ltl1 , t·o a IJa 11kn11 1t of i11t q .?,T it.y, tn n11 1g 11 ora11111 s
of sc;/1o larsl1ip, t o lic rc:ll'ed pare nts of el1ildren . Espec ia ll y
sl1011ld 011 0 s l1ri11k fr o 111 l1 n:ist i11 g of' n11 y p ossessiol! from
II !1iclt tl1 u vLl 1ur i.; JI CCC,.;6<ll il y <:.UL ldT.
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'\ i< '\ ~n ll l, -·! · n 11n · ; 1 · ~ 1·:i! li 1·i ·

A p 1-·rs nn f111d.; I Ii" lil 1n rf:· f- n r11ir".:i j, ,n
cl1 1.'-i;• !y i ' i il tf ' t 'r!t i n g !1i--.: ~ :· 1 · t H' :! ! 11 _, ~ ir-;1 I t JT· r· .

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P /(}1 ch <lelight.s to illns t.rate l t01Y l1 11;mnl ons in rt rnixctl c01 11 [Jri11:•
cri t icisms npo11 individuals.
"l'rny w h o is tl1:1t all"klY::tnl erf':·1t11 rn by t he piano 9 ., :.s lrn a
s t rnu g·c r of a cl mn co ('ll llll':t11i o 11.
"'J.' lmt i s m y s i s t e r ," i s 1h c g ri111 r f'p l,r .
"011, I <lnu't m1•:m [.li e lin,111l sm11 " 1Y11111:rn to tli n I d:. 1·• l'l'i 1's tl111

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it s s c a11Li11 c;-:; ;.; ui J11:t l t.' r ial."

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19

DlSCRETION lK l' E LU:iON AI, ltEMARKS.

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20

'l'AJ1LG-TALK.

[PART II.
CHAP.

Not l ong rtft<>r his l'P.m0;·nl fl'lllll tl1 e Horn<<' of Commons to th e
Honse of Lor1ls, Dis r:w l i Jll f't, ri hrot.11 c r p eer 011 t.he street, who
nsk0tl lti111 liow lw lik0tl Ili c clm11 gf\.
"Like it, ?·· 0xdr1·i111<'<l Dismoli, fnrgAt l;i11 g l1i1Uself for the morn0n t :11111 lilnn1l eri.11 g ont tJ1 e trutl1 , "I feel as if I were <l ead or
hnri1•1l rdi,·0. "
'l'h 011 R<'•· ing t l1t~ l'Xprcssion of discm nfituro on tl1 0 1wbleum11's
fa<' C', lJl• a1ltl l'1l has til y, 'vit h o. courtly b olY o.n<l an irresistible smil e
- " nn tl i11 t li e ]:u1•l of U1 e bl <'sscd."
] Jn t Rn <' l l l:w ' , h rrn·,.,., .,. tlt•s irnhl0, j ,; rnrc, nn ll it is tl1 e safest
rnl P, 11'11<' 11 n11 r l1 a··: l 1 1' <'<l ! ·~ s s l .'· injnr01l Ili c scn siiJ.ili t.ics of m 1otlwr
to rnr111i f pst, 110 p 0rn0 1it.ion of ii·, bnt 1p1icfly an1l nat.nm lly t:o ch:tngo
tl1c s nl1j "d, t:tl, i!!,<.>; 1•s pc0i:d]lrtin s t o sel ect. o no th at sl1 a.ll g mtify
oue's co 1npa1 1i n11 i11 son"' ot he r tl ircction, if it eo.nnot r epair tho
hnrt, h e h as snffen'1l in thi s.
It. is t rn c t.!iat i.ll-u:d·nrc1l r <> n1nrlrn like those ju st quote<l ar e in
th em sd ves r c prelH'm<i lile. Dnt. l'\'\' ll if one is scru pnlous to speak
no ill o f one's J1 <'iglilm r, 0110 "'ill n ot, rth rnys avoid givin g offen ce.
w one
'l'h ongli 011 0 go In 111 0 ol li cr f'xtrcrnc\ :w<l smear e1·er "vt hi1
·- b
c nf'on n lern '"it li i111li serimi no.fo eul ogy, one "·ill occrtsio1mllv find
t hrtt hi s \\·onls rt!'<' :ts ;1·nrn111·0011. TJ1e rnaa of bet will t,J 1 c~·eforc
l<'rt!'ll a ll h e 0:111 Pf 1hose "·ith whom h e i s to eon verse; " ·ill select
th oso t o pfrs rnnst likf'l,1- to h e of ap;rccrtble in teres t; anrl wLe11 nfter
all l1i s [lftin s Ji n stnm hl 0s in t.oft blmHler, will he qui ck to di scover
it, 1t11d qni t:k t o wit.lHlrnw from it.

Developing th e Subject. - Ko t 0 11l v t.11 0 ch oice
of a r; 11l1j ed., 1111t tl1 c 111 n1111 c 1· of tre:1titH)11 t r;ltr;11ld he <l ete r111i11 ed lJy cv 11 sid c rat ion fu r 011 e's cu111pa11ion. 1£ it p roYe
f:u11ili a r a 11d i11tercsl i11g to l1i111 i t sl1011JJ Le co uti1111 ed 01-en
afte r on e ha s tircil of it, or sli o 11J J b e so ch a 11 ged as to
sce 111 to lie di smi ssc•l , 1int lieca nse it is e xhausted, lmt. beea 11.-:c wi1·h s11 cl1 a co mp:mi on tlt ere arc so 1na111· otli er s uuj cds 011 0 long" tu di scuss. Notl1i11 g is n1cler tl.;an to .,niwn )
to sen 111 ali;;t.ractcil, or ahrnp tly to te r111i1iate a con versation still f'.1sci11~.ti11g: to one's cornpa11i011. This n ot onl y
wounds l11 s sclf-lurn l1y s l1 owi11g l1i111 that lie fails to talk

II.]

HE TALKS BEST WHO

J,JS'l' l~NS

BES T.

21

interestingly, but discloses a lack of s,r 111pathy in thought
which is fatal to intirnacy.
A tetlious person is one n, man won l1l leap a steepl e from, gall op
down an y steep hill to avo id J1im; form kc his meat., slof'p, 1rntn rc
it.self wi U1 all h er b enefi ts, to slmn him. A mm·o impertin en t;
on e that touched n eit.her l1 eave11 n o r eo.rU1 in his clisconrse. Ifo
open ed an entry into o. fair room, hut slmt, it again prcse utly. I
spak e to him of garlic, h e answernd as parngu s; consnlted him of
marriage, h e tells m e of han gin g, as if t h ey went u y one o.nd the
same d estiuy.-BEN J-oNsON.

Bores and Hobbies. - ,\ ga. i11 s t the bore, or the
man " ·ith a h ohlJ_r, 0 11 e n111 st of cu11r::;c protcd 01 1e's self;
thou gh this is dun e rn ost sk iH11 lly by arnidin g tli e fonn er
and by stee rin g th e latte r n.11·:1.y fro 111 l1i s 111or bi dl y d e veloped id eas. D11t wh e n a p e rso 11 will i ns is t npon t iri11g 011 e
" ·itlt l1i ::; pet th eory or g ri e 1·a11 ce, it is l1ette r to sa,r fr :-wkly:
":Mr. - - , yo n r eall .r 111ust e.\c11 sc 111 e fro111 di sc uss ing
t l1i s s11l1j ect f ur th e r,'' tl 1:m to look e .\ lian ::;tccl, o r to run
away from him. In fl1 c forn1er case one wi ll see m 1·0 him
to fa il to appreciate tl 1c snhj ec1., in the latter to fa il to
appr eciate the nwn l1i111 sclf.
But the n ecessity fo r sn clt pron onncerl m easures is not common
in small talk, wh e re lhe ol iject is rat lie r to develop conversation
in on e's compo.nion t.han to limit it or <l irPct i t. If h e is ft strnnger, on e will not b e so rr:· to sf'e hilll rn11nu t hi s i10lihy for the first
time, o.nd if h e is an n,cqrnii nh11cP., onf' can n snall y rn ftuftge tho.t
the interview h e brief. In t his li g ht ern tvf'rsat.ion it, is o. genernl
rule, at l east to seem to follow tl1 e lcrvl of o ne's companion, so far
as h e i s willin g to assume it.

Importance of Liste nin g . - l t is a fund a mental
prin ciple that h e seems to l1i s co mpa ni on to l1 ave t.a lked
best who has led hi s co mpa 11i o11 to talk m ost. Jn other
words, he talks b est who listens best. Now h e re is selfish-

22

'J'A[lJ,g_TALTC.

[PART II.

C1tAJ'. II.]

11 ess lllOl"C hi ind tkm \\' heu it 11w11opoli zes a con rersatio11.
Only t: 111al1 J11i11d s are 111 orc anxious to tell what they hare
le:uaed than to lcal'll so1uethi11 g 111 ore.
"j\frn of genius," s::ys Coleric1ge, "are rarely much annoyed in
the company of vn l ~-r1r pe o ple , li cm111se th ey lmve a po\rnr of looking
at s nch 11cD plc, us ol 1jccts o[ rt1.11usoment, o.f flllPther rucealt;ogothcr."
"\YJ1ou I 11 m1r fl ,rnnn g rna.11 Cllll Aristotl e a [uol, and f:\op liocles
a. k1Htvn," sa i1l n, colil'ge presjlJ.0 11t., " it floe:~; Hot Hutterially rdfect
m,r opinio11 or Arist.nll o :rnd Hoplwclc's, lJn t it giver< m e a gan go by
"·h.i t h to lll<'flSIHe tl1e .vnnug J1u~1i. "
During t l1 e lute Vic1111 ;1 Exposition an arninJile Hnrq:~ariun morcl•unt. l1 rq1[H~ n <•cl t.o ll"lf' Pt in :1 rnihrny c:uriago a gen t.l.enmn \Yith
wl10111 lie' 111·ncc•cc1<'c1 to l1 o lc1 P11111·prf'flt.ion.
"I :11n µ;o in ~ t.o Y iPt11rn, :' ~aill tl10111prdrnnt , "h' s (~n 1u,y d angli i<'r, wlin i.s Wf' ll 111arri1'11 I l11' l'f'. j\fy S(l ll-in-l flw clc•:t ls i 11 ]':l·Jl<' I" a1111
fallc'_V ] prtf Ji,,r 11«1rk, :-11111 li:t>< fl g"(l(l h·:t1lP . HP is 1'<'1',Y prospprons."
"J, to1)," sai1l tl11 ~ µ;0<1d - 11n.t.111"cl°l ~-d'ra.ng e r, ''mn goin g to s00 iny
tlan g htc' l' f\1111 son-in -law."
"Ali , iH yonr s1111 -in-l:lw \Yell nff?"
"Prett.y \m il ; lint. as lu ~ has to carry on his work all alon 0, it
is rat.l1Pr tir<'s o111 0."
"Is yonr cl:111 g htc'r ril'l1 ?"
"Not, n s ri"lt n.s slw mmlcl lik e to he."
"Sh0 .lik f's to spcnc1 fl goocl c1cal on h er toilet ?"
"Nn; hut site \rnnl11 like to b e a hle to give fl goo d d eal in
clrnrity."
"Slrn is fl goocl \\"Olllfln," sai<l t.Jrn rn ercllf111t, lieartil y; "it's to
h fJ ]1opP11 yo nr son -in-law's lm siness \\'ill i111prow'. Goocl-hy, sir.
Co11 10 tn ><ce u s, ancl bring yonr Lhugbt-e r ; we :-diall h e h appy to
mrckn h e r fl<'l"JH fli nta11ce."
'J'h e IT:iin rcrri1·od at. tl1r station, mH1 the trnYell cr, whose son-inlr111-'s hn s i1 wss was onl.1' pret.t,r good, \\·as immerliatel,v snrron1Hled
hy grn.11<1 pPrsnn agc'l in imiform . After h avin g politely saluted
t.h r an1azP11 111mcllflnt., h e stepped int.o the crtrriflge of the Emperor
o f Anstria.. 'l' lte good fatber-in -lflw of tho dealer in paper and
fancy foatlwr goncb luul h0 en t.rnw1lling with the Prince l\fox, of
JbYaria, fathnr ni th o Empres'l F.limheth.

~-

lMPOP..TAN CE OF LISTENING.

23

The Wise always Ready to Learn.-There arc
three d egrees of in tel I igence. Lowest is that of the rn stic, to
wl10111 e very thin g is a marvel. Tl1cll COlllCS tl1e ul((,8e 111 a11,
\\'ho has Leen everywhere, scea cvcryt11i11g, read everytl1i 11 g, aml would be 1111!.rne t11 lti111 sclf if lie rn:rnifested in
a11ytl1i11g more tlian la11 g 11i1l i11 tcrest. '.!_'his is a not 1111("0111111.nn corn;epti \1n of:" nost1111 c11lt11rc." Fi11:dly, t l1 c,re :i i;
tl1c l1rna<l 111iwl, fn.111iliar wit.Ii tl1 c 111:1 st:c r-p iccefl of na.t 11rc,
a11d nrt, and thongltt, Lut ti11di11 g llll e1-e r-rc11 c11-ed i 11 tcrest
in st.mlyin g the effect of cit.her k11011·Jccl ge or :ignorau cc of
these nrnster-pieces 11pu11 tl1 e 111iml s of: tl1 ose ab out l1i111 .
S 11el1 m e n :ue always ready to li stc11, :1.11<[ (1 11 0\; 111cntnl di stn nce fro111 t hc 111 111 ny lH) 111 eas11rccl l1y rn1e"s tencl c11 cy to
ass1111 1e !".lint 11othi11g ·is to II() lca l"ll cd fro111 a d1a11 cc e11 111 pa11io11 , especia lly if Sllelt eo111p:111ion li:i s li a\l less edu catio nal or soc ia l advan tngcs.
"'I'.1 1e yo1m g man called J"olm " 'l"Cml.1 see m t o most, p erson s :l ll
unendurable infli ction at tl1 0 autocrat's 11reak(ast-tfllil c', lmt antoernt ri.rn1 prnfessor tn.ke l1im scrion s.ly :1s fl fodnt· in life, clt'fll \rith
l1im ilrrnly lint kim1l.r, rmt1 c wl l.1 ,1- J1 mrti J,,- Jiki11 g l1i111.

lnterruptions. --Tl1e re nrc pP11plc 11·lio i1 e 1·c r nll ow
another to conclmlc a se11t:e11cn. Sn eng1:i· :we t.lie.r to olitrnde th eir lrn01dcdge a11 cl opi11i uns, :ilHl to l1 ear tl1 e ir own
1oices, that they keep 11]1 i11 terr11ptin11s su 1·01it·i11u o11S that
their eo111pai1i o11 " ·ithdra11·s aHogetl1er, lea1·i11g t.l1e111 to
ernl ve ont of their :irnagi11atio1J s tlie faets li e was will i11 g
to impart.
A newspaper sketch t.lrns cariC'flt m os nH ill- l1 1'Ccl family:
'l'he other evening the Rm·. l\fr. j\forcns srit ilo\rn aUh o t·oa-t:1hle
with a thou ghtful uii:, and attemlPtl. to t l1 n wantR of hi s d1ilcheu in
an llbstmcted manner. PrPscntl y h e l ooked U]J at his wife, an d
said:
"The Apostle Paul - - "

TABLE -TALK.

JPAHT Jl.

"Got nn n.wfnl lnrnl' on t;lte h ontl this afternoon, " broke in the
pasl;or';; ehl nst so11, "p!ayiu g I.Jase-ball. Bat flew out, of the striker's lrnwls 1d1 nu I w rLs Ulllpire, and hit m e rigl1t above the ear."
Th o cler gyman gravely pau sed for the interruption and then
r mmmod :
" Th o Apostle Paul - - "
"Sa\\" J\[rs. Simmons (l own at H ovoy's this afternoon," said the
elrlcst (langltt.cr, fl,tl<lr essing her mother. "She had the sam e black
;;ilk mntl c (>VE'.r , \rith a vest of greou silk, coat-tail has1111 0, overskirt urn1lc " ·it.lt cli agmrnl fohls in front., edged with d eep fringe;
yellow stnrn· h at wif"li l JhC'k ve lvC' t facing insiclc tl1e brim, a nd pale
blue fl owers. She's going to Chi cago."
The gou<l minister waited patiently, and then in tones just a
sh a<lc lotHler t.11an lJefor C', began:
"'fl1 0 A postle P anl - -"
" ·\\'out in s11"irnm .i11 g last 11i gltt " ·i Lh H eury a1J<l B en, papa, and
stq>IH'<l un a <"lam-Rhcll, " exclnimc11 t.hc y mrngest son ; "cut. my
foo t so I c·an' t wear a sh oe, a nd , please, can'~ I stay at home to111 0 1T0 \\~

'?"

The pasto r inform ccl ]ii ,; son t;ltat, lie mi ght stay away from the
ri vPr, an cl then r esume cl his t.opi.e. H e s[titl :
"The Al'ostle r:tn l sn.ys - - "
"J\[y tC'achC'r i s a11 a11· fnl liar," shou ted the secourl son; "he
says th e "·"rl<l is ns 1·01111cl ns an o ran ge, arnl it turns round all the
t.imo fa stP r t.lmn a circus-man can rid<>. I guess h e don't. haYe much
S <l ll RC."

T l1 P rnotlwr lifte<l a \rnrnin g finger toward the boy :md said,
"Sh I " a! 11l t.h e fa~h f'l.' res nm crl :
" 'Ihil Ap m; tle Panl srL,rn - - "
"Dnn ' t hi te off HO rn11eh," lirokr1 ont. t11 e eldes t sou, reproving
t.h e nssm1lt o f hi s lit.ti <' hrotl1 er 11pn11 a piece of cak P.
Tho pastor's faee sh o 1rnd jn st a !.rifle of anuoyance as h e said,
in very Jinn, <1ecic1e<1 tones,
"Tl1 e Apostle Paul says--"
"There's a Hy in the butter, " sh riek ed the youn gest hopeful of
th e famil_v, and a gen ernl laugh followed. 'Vhen silence was restored th e e l<l est daug h te r sai1l with an air of curiosity:
" " "{']] , bnt, pa, I r eally 1rn11kl like to know what the Apostle
Paul said. "

CUAP:

II. J

DO NOT

Sl:~E K

TO UE BRILLIANT.

25

"Pass m e the mustard," said the ]Jastor, absently ; and the m eal
was finished without furth or allusion to the great apostle.

Listening Received as a Compliment.-No
flattery is more insinuating, no proof uf good se11so more
than in te1Jio·ent
1isteni11 bir. l t is said tl1at
convincirw
;::,'
b
a deaf and dumb man, properly instrncted, was iutroducecl
to Mme. de Stael a11cl was left with li er for an hour. Ho
mad e show of li stenin g, smiled, tnrn e<l l1is Lead to reflect,
was eo n vinced, uoca1110 c11t:l11lf;iasti e, a11d f'tartecl agaill and
again to express hi s acl 1uiration, only to l>c ouce lllore
overwhelmed in the dclightcll wo1ua11's torrent of ideas.
At the end of the inter view sl 1e declared him the most
brilliant cou verser she had ever rn.ct.
'.rhe woman of tact puts the bashfnl yonu g nmu at his ease, not
by saying brilliant things to him, bnt b y sh owing interest in the
stupicl things h e fmys to h e r till h e gains cu uficlc uco enou g h to say
things better worth hearing . She kn°'rs that h e will estimate the
evening not by what h e h as h eard, but b y what h e has srtid, ancl if
she has the skill to r eclothe or tou ch np his thoughts so as to give
them s triking expression, while they slmll s Wl seem to b e his, she
m av indeecl evoke l ess conscious aclmi rntiou for h er conversatioual
tal~nt than if sh e had showei:ecl him \Yi lh epigrams, b ecause h e will
b e nuaware t h at his unusual brillimwy i s due to anythin g el se than
his own unsu sp ec ted talents ; ]Jut sh e \Yill \Yin, as sh e tleservcs to
win, his far more Yaluahle admiration of h er as a charmin g woman.
'Vlien he is older, and lms learned 1h e s ecret tli:1t then escaped
him, he will look b ack npon the e1'e ning with an admiration for
h er skill the greater liecanso ho at firs t fail ctl to recognize it, aml
the more cordial b ecause it \ rns so uuobt.rusive.

Desire to be Brilliant. - -Porl iaps the greatest obstacle to success in t able-talk is t11 e lo11giug to be brilliant.
As Adolphu s sips his m orning g]a>;s at the lfath orn Spring he
catches the eye of J\irs. Smith, whom h e m et at the hop the night
before. H e says "Good morning," and then he is at a loss. He

2G

'l'Al3LE -TALK_

[PAn 'r II.

kn ows ho'v long she has Lee n ther e, 11 011· long sh e m eans to s tay,
aml how Rhc likes it, for h e ltske<l h er these three questions as soon
ns h e \\-a>; inlro<lncc<l. He llocs not feel like renrn.rkiug tLn,t it is
warm, tlmt f:lan1toglt licgins lo Reem crowded, a 1Hl lJmt t h e r:tccR
ope n t.h:it afte rnoon, Loc:iuse lie tl1ink s thoo;o slrn l1as m et nmst.
alrcatly Ji:.i,·o cxliaustetl these topics. What he wonltl like to <lo
woultl b e to make some loarnell allusion to Hippocreno or somo
oth r' r famou s spring, " ·itlt a eomplimont to tho lacly; Lnt h o is not
<p1i te sure l1 ow Hippocrono is pronounced, or wlwther it was a
sprin g, an<l 110 cannot. think of any com plimen t . Ro after a rn omout.'s awkwn,rdne~.s ho Lows n,ntl prtsses, leavin g J\Irn. Smilh to
'rnndor wh y yo nn g m en tlmt can <hnco ioo " ·ell arc SD Btupid at
cvery U1in g e h e.
Now, Aclolplms slwul<l have rernemberc<l that conven;lttion is
lik e a gn,m e of 11·hist, in " ·hi ch one's own hand g ives DO imlication
of " ·hat one's p a rtn er h oltls. The player is hopeless \rh o throws
down l1is canls b ecause h e has not five trumps and three aces,
'Veak :rn i t lnok '<, h is lin.1111 may he just. what is 11eet1ed to snpplc1ne11t 1he <'nm111:111ili11g s trength of l1is prtrtn er. It is l1is <lnty to
play l1i s f«~vr• 11s a1Hl eigM s for all t.hcy arc worth a<J ~cn,l on s ly as
if tlt<'.'' 11·cro ltcall-sequcnces.
So if Ad olphus rnnnot thillk of a hril.liant thing to say, lie
l'houl<l throw out a comrnon -plar·c, an<l trnst to his partirnr. The
main thing is to gd started. Perhaps Mrs. Smith is brimmin g
ornr with bright things, and will eJJ joy the conversatio n the m ore
because Adolphus lms so li ttle to say that he is glad to listeu. At
t.l10 worst,, it fa unlikely that a tlozeJJ remarb can pass, h owever
trite, without Bnggest-ing something of int.crest. 'Vith a s~rnnger
one urnst grope for a snhj ect some" ·hat Llindly, lrnt unless one lrns
tlrn courage to g rope, th e subject will never come to the snrface.

Frank Cood Nature. - Notlti1w
is lllorc fatal to
b
tal1le-talk tlian a so rt of stilted dig11ity.
Some m en Rpea k us if a leath er stock kept their chins elevated
lik" th ose of a militfa-regiment on dress-parade. They reply to a
pla.1' fnl •1uestion ,~· ith n, grm·it.y hefi tt.i ng a geom etrical d e111ons trntio11 , tl1 P_y arti<>nlat:n 11·itl1 prtin f11l 1listinctneRs, and thev continuitll;v address yon as " Sir," or "J\Iadam," with- a forn;ality that

CHAP. II.]

TI-IE LICENSES OF TABLE-TALK.

27

sh o11·s less regard fo r your digni ty Hrnn determination t.lmt you
sh:Lll not forg et theirs. Unless this ice can be t1mwe<1, talk is impossihlc-. T o such a p erso n 110 eornnrnui!'ati on sl1 011h1 h e n rndo of
foRs impo rt, tlmn that Engln,rnl Jrn.s 1l P<" ia rc<l. war, that a new rnotor
lias liccu tliscovcre<l, or that <linuer i :; rea<ly.

Exaggeration of Preferences. - Tahl c-ta lk is to
<·.unversation what caricatnrc is to paintin g. ln so brief a
di scnt>sion of topics distinctirn foat m cs 11111s t. be exagge ra ted.
Ques tions of taste are perl1aps most fr1tilc, anrl 1·o make diYergen cies mark ed enough for conu ne11 t., it, is cnst.o.1nar_y so mcwlmt to
exaggerate t h eir expression. It is not tlmt one should " dote on "
or "detest " what one fimls me rdy uuobjectionable or disagreealJle, Lut rath er th at one is lcll for the sake of lliscnsRion to take
sides upon matters which lie has h ith erto rcgn,nle<l as imliffereJJ t.
J_,ist.eniu g to masters of table-talk wl10 are really rntl1er conrnni.imml in tl1 eir views one might snpposc them pro1101rnce<1 radicals npon 1lw mcr0st trifles. 'l'liis is uot <loecpti on, any 111 oro than
it is d eception in a caricature to exaggentt:o th e noso or elii11 !hat
gives a statesman's face imliviclu:il cxp.reRnion; in fact, as nne
recognizes a face more readily from a cm-icaturn th an from a portrait, so t his table-tal k often rev<?als nnwit-.ting ly m ore of the inner
man than is shown in serious conversation. A clmnce co ufession,
lmstily dropped to cowpl ele an :intit,Jtcsis, nmy mwonJr to a keen
eye what in d eliberate di c;course wonl1l lmYc r ernaill cd conceltled.
J\Ioreover, this exaggcrnt.in g tl1 e nnUincs of 01 1e's personal preferences often leads to conviction:;. Sornctimes, 110 <1onbt, h arm is
d one lJy espousing a belief thrnngh whimsirnlity arnl then aclhering to i t through oLstinacy. Bnt in the sparkle of talJl e-talk
the candid mind often liappens upon importrnit considerati ons
that have hitherto escaped it, ai1tl , foll owing a line of thou ght
suggested b y a playful fancy, ani rns at con victions of positirn
value.

Playful Liberties.- As one J11ay speak wit.11 frolicsome exaggeration of' on e's preferences, so one may take
playful liberties with th e di g11ity of oue's w111pa11io11s.

28

TABLE- TALK.

[ PAKr II.

Li g l1t co1IYersation iR dull witlwut·. so111etliing of: the" co11 tag ion 0£ Ju:mlihood " t hat Dis rael i <l escrilios.
J3 nt. uo thin g is m ore difficult to h ell ge about with rnl es. .Tos~
phi11 e is a Rtroug, vi g-orous girl , wi th m orn musdes th an llenes,
a m1 m orn appe ti te t lrnn seirniuilit,v. 'l'lie seve rer ::t ;jok e t ho m ore
k c 1 ~ 11 ly sl1 0 euj o,ys i t, :c11'1 n ot tho lex::; if it i s 1tirned nt. h ernelf. Sh e
('fLll11 ot 111Hl ers trtnd \\' hy Crtrolin sh onh1 I.J o hur ~ at a lwarty laug h
<> V<' r rt hln111lf' r C'limmittc>d or :1 weakn ess man i fested; a 11<1 :;o
wit-h unt :in unki11 Ll tl1 o np;l1t slie is co11t.i11 na ll y rasl'in g Carolin's
fin e r feel in gs, aml wo11Lle riu g wli y th e sill.y creatu re caun ot Lake a
joke.

Never Twit on Facts. - 011e :-;hould n ever rally an()t l1 c r <J 11 a r ea l \1·cakn css, however freely ar:knmd edged .
< 'u 11 st. it.11 t ion ;illy large caters sltoul cl be able to emlure
al111C1,;t any ], i11d of' a j uke, aml especiall y a glecfol r efe ren<.:c t o t.li c ir appetites; yet it ofte n Jrnppe us tl1 at a perso11 so ralli ed, t li o11 g h too proud t o s how it, and therefo re
q11i ek t u j(•in i11 tli c laugh tliat fo ll o\\'s, is r ea ll _y a n11 oyed,
a nd loses 11111ch uf l1is pl easurn at n1 cals bcea11se of l1is se n~ itiv c 11 c ss to the in1putatiu11 o-f grecd in cs:-;. Eve ry 011 e
l1 as lii s pct foibl e "·liid1 rn ay i1 ot be rndcly jostled; a nLl
011 e sl1011Jcl J\11ow a C0111pani urt WCJl ucforc U!I C VClltUrCS to
poke at him a 11y fon whielt h as a bas is i n fact.
A ce rtain co11fidonco is sh own Ly hantering a p erso n upon an
rt ;snm f'•l fault which !.he fact tl1at we Lan ter him upon it Rh o we; we
rm~ 8 1HO h o is free fro m. A more nn fortn uate b luur1e r, ox<.;ept t hat
it, \\":ts HO stupid rtR to l 10 r.i1licnlons, co uld lmnll y Le imagi 11 r:<l t,hn.n
U1 rtt, of th e l'l crk in :t N<'W H :t\·011 shoco-store " ·ho, \\·h en a lally who
li:-ul 11rrt.'..(1-':erl for h alf rt blnf' k hdore sh e p erceiv0d t h em rt pair of
l iµ- h t sh oes rtoeic1 C' nt :ill~· attach e.c1 to h er c rin oline, r <' huned to tho
Htorn to n~ mo \·e t h em alHl t.o lrtugh over th e riueer n.coi<l ent, replied
g rnvo l,r, " I RrtW you take thew away, madmn, but I did not like to
sp ertk of i t,"

CliAP. II.]

Banter.-Tli ere is i11 pcrsu1 1:il l•:lll t·e r a11 element of

sane in ess as hazardo us as it i,; dc li g litJuL .Inst wh at it is
safe to say, a nJ just \1h c11 a11 Ll \1· li cre tu f':t} it., only nat.iY e
t:i ct and qui ck pe rcepti on can Llc tern1in c. J t is l1 crc more
th a n a nywh ere else th at tl1 e a rt ist sli o1rs above tl1 c artisa 11 . N o r11l es will avail, e xcept tl1 c gcncrnl rnl e, tli::it. tlte
person wlio h as rnrn n.lly bl11ndercd should h ereaft e r lcaYc
li;lcl in ngc t o 1110re skilful l1 a11 <l s.
Irreverence and lndelicacy.-1\ i:; i111ilar rnl e ap1.iics to any thing 1Jv rd cri11 g upon t li e ir reve rent :i.11d th e
i11cl cl icatc . Jn s1wlt all11 sio11 s t l1 crc is a n clc111 c11t 11!' dari11g
\1·!1ich gi\·cs a se11sat io11 of: k ee n c11j oy mcnt to tl1w;e \d1u
feel rn~~uc, lint co rrespondin g nn easi 11ess to tl1 use 1111 ce rta i11 of: t he issne. The diffienlty is co nipli eated a11w11g
stran gers, Liecanrn i<leals of tl1 e r e verent and dc li (·:1te vnry
so \ri dely, i li a t. l>ein g co1111u onplaee to 011 0 11 li id 1 to another is El10ckin g. Bnt i1 0 cant.ion is bette r 1rnrll1 l1l'cdi ng
tlta11 to keep we ll within tl1 c da11gc r-li11 c.
A man :lChcr ti ~erl for rt coachmrin, n11d receiYf'•l tl 1r0<' ril'p licants.
Of Pach h e rtskod :
"f-:inpposc \re wore r i<liu::; on tol' o f rt l1l11 ff, lH•\1· lH':cr c1 111Jd ynn
tlri\·c t,o t h e r<l ge of lli c p rceipi<" <', n111l th ere sli r111l<] l, ,-, 11 n '1 :111 g-t' r 'J "
"Sir, " replied t h o firs t., "I c:onltl drive witliiu an in elt of the
c•l go, rtm1 th ero slton'l 111Je J lO <l.:rn g-c r."
"And I," said Lh o soc011d, "l'lln l1l <li-i \·c ·within a l1a i 1·'s l• reri<lth ,
arnl there sh onl d b e n o d anger."
"As for m e," said t l1 e t h inl, " I sh o;1ld k eep :rn far away from
t h e edge as I could ; " and th e th ird \Yrts cugagetl.

l?rudery. - lt Liy no rn can s [o ll11 \1·s that 011 c sh r>1ild lie
prmli sh. T o speak of 011 c's leg :is a li1111i , u r to sliri11k
fro111 111c11t io11in g a rt icles of :ippan• l 11·li cn tlicr" is " "nsi 1111,
r c\·e:ils eith er a lcm l 111 i1 11l 01· n. l1al 1it 11f 111i 11!..'.·li 11 _~ \1·itli
t l1 ose adheriJig to tratlitio11 :-; "E i111prnpri l'ty f'll ~!; l~ ~t(:d !i v
-lc\\-d miuds.

30

'l'AJ3LE-'l'ALK.

[PAR'!'

ii.

Ignoring Discourtesy. - The skilful conve rser ign o res di scomtesy in speech. If l1i s compan ion i s rnd e
11 0 docs nut r0Ye11 ge himse lf by se ,·er e reto rt, h owe,·e r apt,
as 110 "·u ulJ tli erel>y lu1ro r l1i1u self to tl1 e otl1 e r's level, and
e 11 co11ragc a \\Tangle. Jf l1i s cm11pa11io n i11 cli11 es to irreverc 11 ec or i11d e li cacy 11 0 t urn s th e s1ilJj oct i nto otl1 c r t: ha 11 11 el s, c:u c fnl not to s li u11- apprnval, hut 0<1nally ca reful m1t
to pn11101111 co jmlg 111e11t of r cprnach fu r 1d1 a t rn ay li a1·c
1Jor 11 a fa11lt of early trai11i11 g <>r t l1 c an: id en t of tl10
111 u111 e 11 t. ] I is co 111pa11i o11 "·ill recog 11izc t l1at li e l1a s hlu11 dorcd , li11t lie \\·ill JI(l t l> c eu111pcllcd tu f'how tl1 a L 11 0 r ocogJ1izos it, a nd t! 111s a co 11 vc rsatiu11 t l1at11·011ld otl 1orwi so liaYc
i>ec n t·u t 1111pl easa nt ly shor t may lJe di ve r ted into less objod iu11 ald o cl1 a1111 ols.
I'c l'.h ap s n o ge n er a l rule is so n ea rly wi th on t exception, as that
one slwn l1l ll lH"er p e rmit on e's self to r ep eat [t vul ga r sto l'y. Eve n
th at p•Y nliar approprj atc n es~ of cirenm sta11 ces " ·hich, except for
i ts cnarse 11 pss, wo nld rn a ke it p recisely the Jittiu g t hin g-a rnre
t <' 11111htt io n to story- t e ll ers - will not aloue for i t~ in troduction .
\\"11 c 11 a rn rtll elean; lt is throat and h esit.::ites a nd s ays h e d ocs not
n R1rn.lly i11 c1nl gc in th rtt sor t, of an ecd ote, some goocl fri c11d s h ould
jog hi ,.; nlJ.011· rrncl 11·n rn ltim t o pauso . \Ve lm ve ltcanl w orth y m en
yiP hl t·o tl1i s t e mpt.atio n, but n ever without bei ng nppreb en s i1·c for
t l1 Pm wl1 P11 t l1 cy l>ega n, a nd so rry for thorn wh e n tl wy Jinish Cll.
\\"i t, hi la rit y, promotio n o f t l1 e goo1l fe llowship p rernili11 g , a ll
p rn111 pt t.h e n1 nn \1·h o lrn 01rn a s tory jn st a propos to tell it. Ent
n ot fo r nil tlwsc co11si<1crntions s h on .ld h o yield that essential elem e nt o f a ge11t l c rnnn - a <' lPanly ton g ne.
\\"!til e 01ie s h o nl11 n r.,·er tell sn ch s tories, there ar e tim os \Yh e n
110 rnn st li sten to tltcm. \Yitlt th ose of on e's own a ge an d position i t. is oftl'n po<si hl e simpl:v nrnl qni e tly to d ecli ne to lis ten ; but
wit.Ii t h oso \\·h mn it, wonl rl h e nnhecom in g t hn s to reproYe o ne m u s t
s in 1pl ,v sl10w Jack o f i11t.P. r P1't. A la rly o f tact u sed t o clisconn.ge
sr·rm1l nl hv look in g s h1pi il wh e n it m:ts talked to b er . S n ch r fl fn so is
n ot poure d profusel y iuto an un willing ear. Harpies fly i n fl ock s:

TOPICAL ANALYSIS.
VALUE OF READINESS in con ve rsati on , pp 1, 14.
EASY CONVERSATION AN AltT, PP: 14- lf.. _
Often eve n di rect preparation rcq m red , pp. 1:i, Hi.
Convers:ttion rtl arti ;;ts s nccce d bec:rnse th ey t ry , I'· Hi.
FUNDAJ\mNTAJ, P JUNC lPLE, n ot to slnn e, lint to l lease, pp. lG-18.
Attenti on to others th e tutor of th e to ngue, p. 1 1 · .
CHOI CE OF SUDJEU'l' wit h reference t.o oue's cornpri01on, p. 18.
lt nil c questions reli nk ed, p . 18.
,
Discreti on in p e r~o na.I rem ark s, pp. l S-20.
False steps ll':tcl lo \1 011111l e!'in f!, p. I\) .
Escape by ra.re tact, pp. 1 !l, 20. . .
Us 11 all v wi so to bet.my n o rccog111 t1on, ]). 20 .
DEVELOPMJ, NT OF SU13JECT dete rmin ed by considt>rntion for
others, p. 20.
JS ot to he abrnptly d iscontinued, p. 20,P rotection rigrti nst bo res and h obbi es, p. 21 .
IMPOR'l'ANUI!) OF .LTST~NJNG, J'P· 21- 2;, _
,
9
Blindness of m onopo liz111 g rt c<>n versnt1011 , p. 2~.
'!'he wi se a l ways reacl_r to le:t1·n , p. 2:J.
Rudeness of interru ption s, J'l'· 2cl-2G.
_
Li stenin g rece ived as rt co,1~plim e ~t , ~- 2o.
DESIRg TO BE BIULLlANI , pp. 2: i, 2u .
.
' Vlrnteve r card s yo u hold , gi ve you r partn er rt ch rtncc , P· 26.
FRANK GOOD N A'f UlU!l. p. 2G.
EXAGGERATION OF PRIWEllJi;NCES, p . 27.
PLAYFUL LIBERTrnS, pp. 27-20.
The conta!:(ion o[ hnrclih ood, p. 28.
Neve1~ tw it 0 11 facts, p. 2S.
.
Confidence sh own by ribs mtl acc nsrit1011s, P· 28.
J3rin ter, p. 28.
Irreve ren ce nrnl indelicac_r, p. 2\l.
Safest lo keep away fr orn t he edge, p. 29.
But prnrl ery to be rivoiLl e<l , p. 2\.J.
IGNORING DISCOURTESY, V· ilO.
How to treat v nlgrir stori es, p. 30.
SUGGJ<~STIVE QUBSTIONS.
What shonld th e astron omer have srii i_l ? (p agH 14). Wh ~ t do yon think
" e 18'
o[ th " spen.k ers in th e in cidents m en t 1on etl '.rn ~,"g
- · How should
Ad olphu s (pn.~e 2;j\ h rt,,e beg un th e co11 Y<:r.-Ral1on - ", ..
_ .
Wh at d o y~n tli ink of thi s renrnrk o[ T•:merson's 9
~ _is. n o~ a. CPn1!1 lim en t hut a rli sparagem ent to consnl t a ma.n onl y on h o1,es, o1 on ste.1111.
0 r 011 lli(.l.ntres, or on ea.t,in g, or on b ook~ 1 nnrl . '.d 1e 11 0':0 1: l1 e :-ippc:i.1:s. ronsid erntcly to tnrn the conversrttion to th e b:tntlrng h e is kn ow n to fo ndl e.

OrrAP. lll.] TO WHOM:, AND ROW, WHEN, AND WHEltK

33

forbade ns to <liscn ss those abont ns, or to di scri1ni1'Jate in
di scussin g them, ' vonkl be seve re a1 1J nnwi sc.
The Scandal-Mo.n ger.- D nt
more become ns to

0 11

110 subj ect does it.

CHAPTER III.

- Cewnrc
Of whom you spenk, to w ho m yon i:;pcnk, ruul how , and when, nnd where.

GOSSIP.

For no c1rnracter is more detestable tlrnu l1 is "·ho delights
to speak evil of his n eighbo rs in any of t he degrees of
gossip, b ahhl er, scan<l al- 111 011 ge r. T her e a re people wlio
·cove t no hig li e r triumph t han to he th e first to tell of
so1n ebody's rni sfor t m1 e or cri1n e. L ike fli es tlmt faste n
011ly 11pon putri<l rn eat, tl1 ey re111 e1nber 11otbing uf t h e rirtnes of t h eir neighbor, bu t le t slip 110 s i11 gle item from
tl1 e catalogu e of tli eir v ices. To judge from the ir reports
o:E their co1n pani ons, one wo ul<l think t h oy h all n eve r associated with a l1nm a11 bein g wo rth y of r espect.

T he proper f.itndy of mnnkint.l is mnn.-POPE.

Interest in Our Neighbors.-No snbj ect is more
fe rtil e than tlie doings and cl1 aracte rs of our neighbors.
Few objects of observatio n a re so Ta ryi11g, so personally
in teresting. Daily circnm stnuces k eep r e realing ne'"' feat11res, a nd din1 or deepe n impressions nl rmttly forn1 e<1. A
pl en sa nt 11 od, a rml e repl,r, a ltecom in g guwn, a boi sterous
la ugl 1, ill -te n1pe r to\\· nrd a ch ild , atten tion to th e agedt rilles like t hese a rc C•111 stantly noted and accum11l ated to
111 akc 11p 0111· final es l i111 ate oE tl1e iudividmtl. Jt is 11 ot
that we pry into Fec retR. No one is more to be pitied than
one so e1 11 pty oE rnind that one's cnri osity must b e fed by
impertin en t \\':ttc hful11 ess a nd inqniry aoo11t one's 11eiglib ors; b11t without (li spositiou of thi s kind we cannot fail
to keep ·lea rnin g of those abo ut ns from what th ey tell 11s
of th e 111 selv es, a nd front wl1 at tlirn sts i tself npon onr oLser vation.
That we sl1011l <l co nsillc r tliese indications, co mpare
them, a nd g racln all y fo rn1 co n vict ions as to unr n eig Lbors'
ch aracte rs is inevitable. If we do so ch ari ta bl y, unbi assed
by e n vy o r prejudi ce or " ·hi1n , we ar e ' rise r aml h app ier
fo r it. Tlrnt we sh ould con1pare a n<l tli scnss tl1cse i mpress ion s nf a 11 cw 11 ciglihor "·ith fri ed a nd tru sted fri end sfit ill ch a rita bl y, with ou t < ~ m·y, f'ec ki11 g f' i11:ply to Jrn o1v our
11e ig lihor :i s li e is- is naturnl and d e~irali l e. A rnl e that

It is "·ithin the pmn'l' of every yonng nrnn to rnako n.11<1 k eop a
reRolnti.ou never to n tter a " ·orcl cli rcctly or iw1irC'el ly 1111 Po mplimcnt,n.ry to n.11y one. If s11 ch young persons slw n l•l h e offered rt
fortune d ep cntlcu t upon ;;uucess in this, how en. m os tl y 1rnnlr1 tl1ey
guard every utterance. And yet no fortu ne wonld b e of such rnal
b enefit to any youth as a h eart pure aml free from n.11 carping arnl
censu re. - HEBVEY.
Owing to a strange d elusion, vory few n.re ren.l.l y mrnre of their
own habit of indulgence in this vice, thonglt they readily remark it
in others. Indeed, the worst offern1ers would lJC amazed should
they learn the truth. If one has [l ll J donbt n.bo nt it Jet him se t
down thri ce a day in a blank-hook, a" nearly n.s one cn.n rocall it,
every word which one h as RaiJ of anyb o.1y \YliiC'h one 11·mtld not
repeat to his face or lmve Raicl of one's Relf. If one occasionally reviews the volume one will, in all probabili ty, be induced to r efonn
the habit. -.A rt of Conversation.

Truth Often a Libel .-Det.r act.ors often excuse
t h em selves by asserting tlrnt they di sse111inate only facts.

34

GOSSIP.

[llAH'l'

11.

Ernn if thi R were trn e it 'rnul<l not e xcuse them . It is a
m ax im of Eng li sh la w tlmt the greater the trnth the
greate r is the lil>cl.
'l'o tell what is strictl y true to the injnry of another is frequ entl y
us nirnirntl as to tell wl mt is false t o his injury . It m ay lJe th e
Ram e b oth as to th e m otive tlrnt actu11ted it. aud the r esults wl1i ch
e rnnt.nall y follow. It is oftener \YOrse than uetter in eve ry resp ect.
If on e <·ircul 11tes what·. is wholly fal se the clmnees are tlmt tl1 e sland er " ·ill soo n b e d e t.ected ancl th e p erson 'ilifl ed em er ge from th e
cloud with liri glit.er h onors t,han ever; wh ernns if we tell of a r eal
mi s<l ce<l of 11nother h e may n ever h ave th e bokln ess to <len y it, so
tlmt it, will go on circulating aml gai11in g l 1elief all bis u:.1y:o;, nncl
p erh ap s l ong af ter h e is d ca<l. It will exort fb secret yet bli g htin g
influen ce on his r eputati on ant.I rnoYe on lJefo re him like som e unsee n hanrl, closi ng in hi s fa ce eYery J oo r to l1se fuln ess. No mat t.er
tlmt hl' ha~ rcp cntC'<l of hi s tran sgr ession , nnd has rntli cally reform ed ; no mn.tt er tliat; lH' iR now ent.itled to t h e hig h es t admirnt.ion o f man kin<l , som e <letractor l111s whisp ered a word that can
n ever h e reC'alled - a wonl whicl1, m os t likely, r epresente d liim to
h e " ·hat h e is n ot wrn-, if n ot worse thnn he e\·er was. Yet everyb otly bol<ll,v and imln st.rion sly circulates th e report 1.Jecan se, as h e
says, i t i s trne.-Hm w:iw .

Exposure Sorpetimes Necessary. - E xposm e
of w r01w-doi1w
The
h
b is so metimes an im11crati ve cl 11 t)".
.
good of th e State, of the comm1111ity , at least of i11divid 11al s, lll ay he imperill ed by a rnask of l1 ypocri sy whi cl1 onl y
" ·e can o r ha Ye co urage to r e1110Ye. But we sl1 ould be s1ue
that 01ir rn oti ve fu r i 11 terfering is r eally tl1e we lfare of
others, aml uot t l1 c gratifi cation of 011r om1 envy or fondn ess for gossip . ·w c ha1·e no occasion to interfere " 'ith
the good name of a11otl1cr rnd ess " ·c arc c011vin ced tliat
lie is 1nal; inµ; 11sc of it to accon 1pli sh so111 e evil p11rpose.
1\ ]"•int uf special diftl cnlty ari ses wh eJJ a p erso n wh ose
guilty 1'C'crcts we know, and we alone, is injuring 11s before
the public by repeating tales to our i11jury which an un-

CRAP .

!II.)

LIBEL SELDOM 'l'lWTIJ'..

35

cove ring by us of his real character wonld deprive of
h annfol11 ess. U nder tl1 ese circn111 stan ccs it is so1uetim es
n ecessary to ep eak, a11d to sp ea k Re Yc re ly . D nt as a gene ral rnl e, time a nd characte r a rc tl1c rnrcst vin<li cators.
Th e very fact that. \l' e arn agg ri c1·cd pre j 11d ices t he p11 bl ic
aga in st om story, and of ten 1uak cs it wise r J or us to suffer
in silence.
Th e g r eatest and mos t nnm eron s ' n on gs are those \vhi ch t.h e
st.ran g co mmi t ag:i.inst tl1 c \\·eak in r ircumstm1 ees wl1 e re no ne lJnt
tl1 e p a rtiPs arc "-.itness('S t.o Ute o ffo ncc, :m<l in cases in ,r]1i eli, from
thn imperfe ctions of l rnm :.t u hw, rn rlre s.~ if; n ot t o b e oht nine<l. 'J.'he
wise sn ppress su ch grief in t.h eir m \·n h C'arts, cons iu erin g t.li at society tak es n o p leasu re in h earin g in<li vi<ln al g rievances. Thoug h
i t is ext renw ly dif·Ti cnl t to ltn sh inj me <l j11sti cC', as sh e ln.m euts bittC' rly wi thin ns, \rn can selrlom s peak in mu· O\Yn <l cfen f' e except at
th e cost of ui g ni ty, o r probi t;·, or e(111uor. The agg ressor who
d oes Jlllt. tro nli le o th Prs "·i t.h a i·g 11m rrn ts in lti s own <ld<' ll C'() is b etter r ecei wid in soeiety tlian lli e ngg ri()v()rl ' d 10 opp rci<ses them
witli the story of his "Ton gs, l •Y rnp mt in g "·hich lie is sure to
suffer alllli tio ual wro ng from tltC'ir r e\·i e\\'s of t.h e cnse ; lte becom es like a column wl1i"h , lws in g o nce lx•gun t o settle up on
i ts treach er ous p ed estal, is p ressed still lower h.v b r in g in g <l<rn-u
npon its capital a rn rtsR i t rlirl n o t h 0fm e rnpp o rt.. \Y e lin.<1 u C'tt c.r h ear iu silence th e wron gs " ·c R\l fl'c•r tl1a11 l>,v 011r g ro:111 ings
wak e up a crowd of snnni sers who " ·ill, iu all lik elihoo tl, take si<les
again st u s.
\ Vlten, h owever, i t lJN'Olll eR om· <lnty, rrs it som etirn C's <l oes, t o
lkcla re wh at iR f1isc rP<1itahl e to an otl1 0r, we n111 st stri ctly limit
ourselves t.o th e fac t., ca re fnll.\· l;0.0pi11 g nlear of r1ll comrn cnts. infcrcn rC's, and opinio ns. 'J 'lw "·ihwss may n o t ass um e the task of
th e ad vocate or of tl1 c j1Hl gn.-H1mv1w .

Libel Seldom Truth. --Jfot libel is scl<l•lllt tr11tli.
"The o rig in ator 0111.r i;11 0.: 1wct-i; l\rr. S11 cl1 -a -n11 c l1:1s don e
the cl eecl , o r l10pcs li e Jid i t rn1 t; tlic seco nd p <· rson hclie ve8 it, or thinks it woulJ h e in k ccpiug wit.It l1i s 1'110\Yll

36

GOSSIP.

[PART )J,

cha racter to do it i a third J1;1 s no do nb t about it; a fo urt 11
offers to J,11 ake oat h tlint lte is worse than at fi1 ·,; L !:il l Speeted. 'lli11s Joos it go on in creasin o- both in 011on11it:y
aml credibili ty. ' J ~e liold lww g reat a"'mattcr a little fire
kiml lot·Ji ·' "
-'l'wn h o nc:::l; trad csnlC' n m eetin g in lh(• Strand

~11 e

t.c)Uk l '. ~c <J~hcr bri l"kly Uy L11c hn nd ;
'
_\"f',
i- n1d 1! 1· 1 11. ' t i::: nu otld :::tory t h i:::.

Jl n 1k

A b•111t t. lw c row~ !' '-" J cl on·t kn ow what it ii:::"
Hc pli e<l Iii ~ fri r ncl. - " No! 1·111 r-: m pri :::i •d at th~t.
\Vh c re J 1·nn 1P frorn it is t h e cnt111Jin n chat ;
'
Dn t yo u :::1111 11 hf' nr: :rn 0 11(1 aIT:iir in clf'rd J
Anrl fhnt. it, h n ppe 11 ('1l th ey :tr(' :1 Jl ;1g r c('ll.
Not to 1k! ni11 .ro n fr () lfl a. thin g r-o str:u ig-c,

~ ~rn t k111:1'.1. t h at liv('.o; n oL far fr o m ' Cli n. nge,
1 hrn we ek, Ill sh ort, as all th e nll t~y kn o w:--.
T nki ng a pnkC', ha ::: t hrown np th r ee b l:u:k nows."
"Irn pof':.~ i l 1h• I ··- •· Kay. b nt it·~ rC'a \l y ln 1r.
~' hn rl it f 1·0 1n good h:md ~. and so nw y yo n. "
Frnm Wh o..:e. [ p r~.r? .. So h:l\"in g n nrn('d th e man
~ t r:.1 i g h ~ t o i nq nirc h i:;; n1ri 01 ;F: co rn r n d<> r nn.
'
Si r, tl 1tl yon fr1t ··- n ·l:1 t in g thf' :lffo.ir" Ye s. sir, l 1l id : and if it' s wurl. h y um· c are ,
A<::k Mr. Rur h·a -ri n C', lie toltl i t lll f' .
nut_ hy f. h f' " ·'·, ' l\\':t:' j,\\'f) hl:1ck Cf"OW.<:, ll Ot t hrcc. 1 '

R c·solvcd to lr:tl'C' so won cl ron s nn C\"t•11 t,
W h ip to th e l hird thC' v ir lnorn ,,·cnt.
:: Si r .. - n.1111 S<• fo r t h - ' · \\''"h.r. yrs : th<' l h i111:(s n. fact,
~hou g h, 111 n~~a nl t n 11111nl.JC' r JH 1t cx :t.<'t ;

It n-a~ nnt t wo hl:H"k c rnw ~. ' tw : i~
".I:h c tr uth o f I h:1t y on

( >Jt] V

nw~'

ou c .

1

df'}lf' ntl 11 1; 011 1
1 h C' gC'ntlc n~:rn him ~.r !f t01Ll n:c f liC' ('~t .<:~ ,,

" \\"lirrr
~w~y h <•
Su" he
'rh f' n , to

1\iEAN sgLF- INGH.ATIAT ION.

CITA.P. Ill.]

37

Ca lumny May Start from Raillery. - " Calumny
m any tin1 es orig inates in raill ery and cxtran1.ga 11 za. Looseto11 g11ecJ people say the worst thin gs of the Lest 111 e11 fo r
tl 1c sake of raisi11g a lau g h at ti 1c i11 co11gr uity ; c l ~e ti1e\'
i11vcnt strauge stories co11ccr11i1Jg so1 11c disti11glli1;li ecl perso n, and tell t.lie111 tu the u11 snspecti 11g iu ord e r tu a11111 ~c
tli clll SCh es with th e ir ered11li ty . TJi o;;o expc ri111 e11 ts oft e11
t nrn oll t 111 ore 80 rious rc.~ 11lts tl 1an we re at first a1J t ieip1t!ed.
Tl 1c::;e say in gs arc IJeli c\·crl a.ll<l s1•rcad till t l1ey a rc genera lly received as trn e, or till the gay l!a.bblcrs wl1 0 ;; tart ed
t hem a.re con victed of libel. '/l. s a 111 acl 11m11 \\'l10 f'.as td.li
fir ebrands, arrows, and death, so is the wan tJuit dccciveth
l1 is Heiglt bor, and saith, ' A1 11 11 ot l in sport ?'"
An 0tli er typ e of woman fre<]_nontl,Y encoun tere11 in society is
th e pbnsihle, specious, but se Uisld y in since re on e, c1Ps ignater1 by
those wli o know her h ost as rt tho rotw; li h 1rn1lrng-. AH h:mgh n ot
in te nllin g to b e direc i;ly nut.rnt-.J1[nl , s lH~ is \·ery far from b ein g n.ccurnte, nlld it is ernn l1onbtfnl if sh e e1u1Pa1·ors tn hcml he r steps
in tha t tlircctiou. S trungc rn co nsi1kr he l' d"1i g l1 tfn l until tl1 ey
lirwe kn own h er long e noug h tn J is1-<w c•r t lmt. she is 11n11 gerou s ,
rtml tl mt t.li e plen. srtnt tl1in gs sho says t·o tl1 e m sh e ltns an impl casant 11ulJit of nn sa,vin g o[ t hrn11.
Tlnrn, 1Yishiu g to in g ratiate !terse] [, sh e \rnulll say :

m ay T find hirn ? " - " \rh y , in .f.:ll•~h a pla cc.'9
go,..s, and. hrwing fo11111l h im 0 11 t -

nn tl morC' in lliC' ~:rn1 c st rain; w l1ill' n f th<' <:a nw y con n g l:u\ y ~ Il e wo11ld n ·1nar k , '' J c n nn ot

sn g11r11 ! a c:: t o r("'~f)ln~ a ilnu l.lt ..

R' lY

h is

it

! ;1 ~1·

i 11fo n11 :1nt, h1 •

l'C'f(•JT~cl

tw:ml.
bl nf'k r. ro\\'? 11 11 Not I Jn

u "fl ()w \" f' r y
t..hat

1rnnr l~f1 11l C

y o ur 11:rng h t ,.. r l onk:-:: t11 11hd1 L: l1 o w liPnn l ifn!l y sh r i s tlrc~s cc 1; ,,

r arlmirc

i ~ n l.l ~ nn l

Mi c.:R D., :illfl h ow f) \·(' r -< l rf' o.:~ 1· 11 s lH· i:-\ : w it h li e r 1t1<1t hrr·!-i :0-:l ll:lll ineomc,
l h p lllO IH'.\' ~ p ,. n t n u I hat g irl 's dr(':-:s : i-;h e :1<"111 a lly worn n •ln·I. t !11· r•thtT 1lic-!it.

Arnl IW/:!.!!<'tl lo k n nw i f trn r wlin.t, hf' l1111l

mu c h t oo h ("' a \·y f o r l ie r,· ' and ~ o 011; or r-;li c wo 1t l d p crh n ps ~ :i y t o so n w o th t• r 11 1t•11il w r 11 f

" D id yn ll , i::ir. t h m n· ll Jl

th e fa mi l y :

B

:i.

Dl m.;s rn f' I l!nw pco p l<"' prnp:ig a tc

fl

Jir l

n 1 ~1 r· k c ro w c:; li n t·r h<·rn lh r o w n HJ\ ll1r" •', two, an ll one,
J\n d llt' r P l find nf· l:i c;; t all eo ?n<'.c:; to n o n ~· I
~~j, ~ you ~:t y n o! h: ng- 11 r a

<Tow nt n il ?''
C nn\· - rrow- pcr h :-1ps l m ig ht,, n nw I rr<'all
;1~ 1 1<: m allC'r 0\"1 ' r .·1 " A nd prny . s ir . w hat wa s"t ?,,
' : h ~- . r wm: hor r id skk. nn d. a t !hr ln ..:t.•
T d 11l th niw np, :111d fr,] fl rriy ll Pig- hhnr so

So nH·t hin g th:it wn s ns Llack, i::ir1 ns a c r'ow."

' ' I ll cn r ynn are n o t g ni11 ~ t o Rtn.y \,· il'h yrn1r h rotlH·I" n nil hi s wi f(' in ~c otl : 111d t hi s
antumn: l th oug ht yon we n t (' ve r y ye ar: 11 to whir ·h lwr fr; 0nrl. no ~ ha. vin g IH'(' ll invi t rd 1
wn nkl r C'p ly h ri c fl_r, "\Ve u c.: u ally do Fl:1y with t he m i ll S0ptc1 11 bc r 1 b nt l h ey ha ve n ot.
a slH cl 11i;o; t. ll i=-- ye ar. ,,
11 J i-:h 01 1hl t hink y on f<11 1111l i t r~1 t l1 C'r cl111l t.h cn•,' 1 \\·0 11 111 hC' th e "'.r111p ~1lh rti1 ; rcjni 1Hl r.
1

'' 1\ 11 y11 n c f':.O hr i ~h t. n11d t'l<'vcr :i s yn11 :ire mns t fet" l t h e \nrn t; 11f ('0?l ge ni :i l ('Olllpnnio n Rhip;
!iOJJH' p1~ o pl c>, I k n ow , ron s iikr ~-011 r s i-;t c r-i11 -law r:1UH' 1' h c:ny l o g-c t along w it h. 1 '
11
She is ve ry qni c t :mcl r esc> r ved , f'Spec i;i lly wi th p eo pl e w h o u1 s h e 1l oC's n o l kn o w very
w c ll . 11 llli p: ht he thr. r<'pl_\' .
"So I !1avc hea rd; L>u t th e n yo ur Uro t h cr i':i so ve ry gc n ia.I a.ncl ng rcc al>lc that if she

38

GOSSIP.

[PAUT

II

i~ n ~t '~. vcry .~ood hostcgs i t i:- n ot of much co nscq 11cn cc, :il t hough I sh onld h a\· c thou ht
J O~u .bl '.n g- \\ 1 t~1 lli e tn wo uld hn vo boun of th e grcat.c~t advan tage to b e r. My hus b!ld
th111l~l-' ) on 111a l,c.· R11 c h n. Jlt ' rfcct hos lcs1'l tltnt I confess I feel qui tr. j cid o us so111 ctimcs.i'
\\ h ctl1 c.r L:ie h 1.1 i-; l.m.11 d hai:; or has n ut ex pressed h i m self to lh is ex ten t is o f little m o-

m e n t, lo hi s . 1111 ag.1 r~al 1\·c pa rtn er , \\' ho m ere ly m ak es use o ( h im ns :l ll au xi liary to
stn:1.gth e1 1 lu: r.1 11,s1t.11n1. Th e h 11m li11gg i11g- 1irocc:::s u s ua l ly has !-Or i i e e n d in view . :i ii d 'a.

l ~ 11 ~ 1.! 1 P 1H'll \'l !-'ll a~ the honsc o f t he iw r fcct ho)o)tcss h~, pcrhnps: un l h is occasio n th e oirn

a~n 1 c il a l; :tn ll a s J11t.:en sc r:u·cJy fail.') of JH'Otlu c in g :\ certai n p leas in g c !Icct u p o n ;1, woman

'~ '.1 c 1 ~ ofTt' IT~ I h.y a 1n:i. 11 , C\·<' n. ll1n11gh ofT<TC•1 irn.li rc<.:lly, t h e li1dy rece i vi ng it wu ul ll be
li kC' lj t o sn:.y wit. It a pl c a.-:1•11 li t ! le la.u g h :

v~ r

y

n.Jt· i ~ VC' ry W Hl of .him l D ~:iy so, hn t T nm n. fr:ti 1l h e has not h :H l mu c h o pportu ni ty
11

0 ~:01.rn 1t:g .a . f:\\ O ntlJle ~ml gmC' n t " f 111 y po wc r r-:: i n t h a t capa cit.y : bnt p cr h nps w h en we
m e ~rt tlt d ,it l10111e nga111 [ may he ab lf' t ~ > p r! rs u:i rl c j' Oll hoth t 11 p a y l H n. l it tl e visit.i.
l :1.111 s nrc_ w1: ~ ha !l 11 ·1t n ·q11 ir1: :111y Jtt'l ""'lla i.; in11 to <10 a. t il ing t hat wnnld gi ve us 80
n,1111..: h Ji l~·r~:i.;''. '.'t'.' .th e l ady \\'<H i ld reto r t ; "' it. is t un kii id of yon t.o Lhi nko[ 11 .~ . J\ ty hni- lmn<l
"n s o nl y s.i.j 1n g- the ot h e r da y ho w 11111c h lw !-i li o u!d li ke J·o sen t he iniprov c irn' iits p m h avo
ma1lc ;i.t .r011 r J•lacc : we say 11on 1 l>ccm1sc, as h (• s: tys, y0 11 ha vcsu cl i all m ir:tlJle ta~ tc.n
After~\ pl c a~:rnt \°i!' i t. h:i.~ b cC' n p ai1l , n.n d nil JIOS!>- ibl c hospitali t y and k i n d nci<.s h a Ye
bN~ll JTC'C ln•tl at· t h r h :111d s o r J11:r fr k 11d, {h is l y pl' or IJC' r cl:tl'>S, t r ue to h e r n atu r(' C.'l llll Ot
r c!-'.l: t ~~·h e n t h e occa s ion 111:e.:;1:n t s .it.l'i· lf. pb yi ng 1ltt : ~arnc g:unc rur p e rhaps a RiHli,l:tr pu rp o:-;1. \'1 t h. r h C' IR· for c -1t1 C' nl1 o n C'd !" 1~ter- 111 - l 11w or h e r f ri e nd, nnd e n ac ti n g so m e suc h pnr t
n11d c:1 rr.n11 g 11 11 !' 1tlt1 C ;-. tll'h din\ of?uc ns th e fo llowing- :
'
"~Yha t n pi ty it is your .c: i.<:tC'r-in -J:i w d ocs 11ot ca re to !'tay with yon nt yot1r b cau t 1·r 11 l
1 can't t11Hl c r1'ln 11d how i.;h c c an pn:-sib ly firnl i t dull th e rc. n
!>id ~ h r t.Pll yon ~ li e fi 11111 •I i t d nll with ns ? 11 would be th e abrupt qu e ry. H S he always

pl a c<· 11'. Sculln 1Hl .

nppc:i.rcil to IH? q·ry pl (' n. ~c d fo e1•!Jll' to us."'

~ .' L 1_1111l c 1'.'- b 1o cl h e r lo ~:1 y !h a t 110l hi11 g coul d h e "O cln!I a s it was.

.

lll l pi e c: !'w m

She J[nve m e tltn
.Um t !-i lJ1• ~,h o n \.!ht. yn1 1 d id 11 i_1t p :iy h er s1101dc 11t, aU cnti o11 wh C' n s ll c wns np in

Scot.laml '~·it h j' tHl ; 111 fal' t., ll rnl. y ou did 11 ot hil q::t to n11111 1'> c li er , but I cla rc l':i y l" h C l i 1
n ot 1 1 '. cn~t it. S il e is a littl e jc i lrm s 1m>b n.\1 ly o f ynnr i nflucl! cC orn r h e r 1Jroll1 er j sl 1c ca11 ~1 ot
help SC'C'lll;.! ho w l1e u:-1turally •l f' fc r s t.o yo u in crn ryt hin g-:·

lc:i 1111 11 Lfo rg i vc hpr 1·all i11g- it 1l!1ll wi t h 11 s : · r c111;trks th e a ggrieved s is tcr ·in -Jm· ·
11s f" in cc lHT marriage ; but I ccr ta.i nl y 61tn.Jl n ot nsk her :~
oftc 11 111 f nt11H'i 1f U1at_,1 s h c· r opi ni on. H
.

d

' · ~h e !ins h<•1:11 f''. ' 11111c h_ wi t h
u. 0 11 . I ·" lw n hl

!Hit

lak e a11y 11 1 1t i 1~c o f t.ld ~ fiO rt. o f l'llin g i f I wcrn yon .

P eople

nr h C't

~'O~n.1 .ll C' ll·11.ipt· 1:~i '.n~11t ~ay a ~n':tt tl.-.n.J .~ nnrc th an th ey m e an ; in fa<.:t,, m :m y l liin gs whi c h
it 1 ~ s~1 111.n• .h \\ 1 ~" 1 11ot t.o n.·111 e rnlic r ;

v cy ~ .Lh c

:in ti Uy l hi s :irn !J i g n o u ~ way uE i:: pcak il w bhe co n -

i di•a .i ha t. far m o r e r f' nwin ...; l o l ie t oh.1 1 b11t; which i s di <;:c r cetly

wilh h C'lt~

. ll~ C Jc yf'.I' (l fl which thi s ili ;-. lOrling prin ci ple j~ \\' lll'kCll IJ.r lhci::C' bdi cS is not lheclown
1:1µ: t.1l 111 t c 1.1urm n f 11 1alig n i1 1g n 11d nii srr prmw n li n g rt fri r rnl or :icqnai n l:rn ee bnt is t h

"rlh~ ~ 1

of

l : ~lldn g

1

ex pcn~c; nnrl <li sp 1nci ng tlrn~
is tro 111~ lik in g i i' th ~
eai::ics~ \\':'\)' o [ ai·i ~nlllpli <1 hi11 g thi s oh jPl't. Th11 !'1 t h ey c on r.i nn c to t rn r nhu ~ u:: ir (ri e l:LlS nntl
'1 t'Hi rt '

t h crn !'-:<'I H ' !'.i i 11 t 1J fn\·o r nt a nni.licr ·s

nlh.L T, ani l 11 "' 11 1'Jl .1lg t h e vnea n t pl:w e by !'= i r11nlati11 g /Ul int c rci< t nntl

nnd c;:;; tahli <.: h 111:rny r1•ml c.; in tn:rn y fa11 1iiics, nm ) c reate. n o li t tle mischi e(
~ wa y ani l :u1ot h r' r. hnt n rc t,o lt> ral.1!d in n certain tll',!!rce hy fiO !n" p C'opl c w ho think it
rntn ~ r.1il cn<=n 11t lhnn n ot to h e h 1111 1b1 1f?gnl wh r n l h orn ugh ly o n t h eir g nn.nl :i !?a in st t ho
ni l 111 1111sfrn. l.( 1r o f t h <' rl Mc : nn1l hy otlwrs, hf'c an-.e1 r:i. : h er n.fr:iid o f wh:~ t m:t y bi~ fi!\ id lif
fl l'qn:iunal\ r('l':,

C HA I'.

III.]

THE POET ROGERS.

39

Acerbity of Tongue a Temptation.-Ill-natured r emarks are the sorest temptation yun11 g con versers
enco nnter. Human nature is so weak, w commo n is the
di sposition to feel ]Jette r content w ith 0 11rsc ! Ycs if oth ers
arc brought dow n to onr le vel, that tlte satirist a.ml tltc
scandal-mo nger a re u snally li stened to . This attent ion
they r eceive as complacently as tltongh it were a co111plirncnt p aid to th eir wit. B ut the real fact is that t lLC li stc11 crs, tho11gh they are m ean c11 u11g h to like to knc tl1 e
bitter thin gs said, a re too ti1ui<l to say thc1u ; su, by tl1 cir
attention, they reward th e back-biter as the 111011key mi ght
reward th e cat which lrnrn ed its paws in p11l1in g fro m the
fire tli e chestnnts tl1c m oukey wanted I.mt was afraid to
reach for.
"\Vhcn I was yonng ," said Rogen;, " I found tha t no one
would li ste n to m y civil sp cccli m; l1ccausc I lia<l it rn ry s1uall Yoicc ;
so I beg::m to say ill-uaturc<l things, a n<l tl 1e n peo11le began to atte nd m e."
"Is that the contents yo u are looking at?" asked 1111 anxious
au thor, who saw Rogers's eye fixed on the eotrly 1:mges of a work
jnst p resented to him . "No, " replied the poet, p ointing to the
lis t of subscr ibers, " a t the <lisco nteu ts."
P eople used to maucetwre to be th e last to leave the r oom " ·here
lie was, assnred t hat unkind thin gs wou l<l lie said aft.er each departure by those who r emained. Success like this may b etter be
<lispensecl wi th. P eople may listeu , but they dread aml d espise ;
th ey may cringe , hut th ev Jong fo r repri sal. ·we can a lmost forgive the cruel retort of Richard S harp, wh o, wlrnn Bogen; in his
ol<l age, h overing upon the brink of th e grave, r ep eated the
couplet :

0 11

fhf'111 1"C' h ·<'r:, tlH' y think i t \\·i ... ('!'; t t·n stnnd wd l with t h e hm nbug ; wh il e otl~ e n~. a gai n ,
h ave yet to Ir ani of whal l h csc w ily ones nr e capa !Jlc and the worth of th e ir n Trcenl>le

Rpecd1 cs.-8ociety Small Talk,

g

" T he Robi n wi t h i Lc;; f urtive g- 1:1.n cc
Com e:: a nd looks n t me nsknn cc,"

i;truck i n, "If i t h ad b ee!l a carrion-crow it would k1ve looked you
full in the face. "

40

GOSSIP.

[PAR'!' II.

It \nts the opinion of Lu ther that Satan himself cannot bear
ooutempt; it is certain that man cannot. No creature is more
tlreacled in society than a sneering, satirizing, disd ainful one. If
we ca1111ot avoid feeling an inw[trd co ntempt for another, we can
at n.ny mte avoid showing ltim any mark of it. 'l'he betmyal of
such a feeling will offend without reforming him. W e should
uever h eed what we cannot help. -HERVE!'.
I r eme mb er that iu my chil Llhood I was very religious. I rnse
in the ui g ht, was abstinent, aud \\·as punctm1l in the performance
of my d evotio ns. Oue night I was sitting in the presence of my
father 11-ith the holy Kornn in my embrace, 110t havi ng closed my
eyes clurin g the whole time, 1l1ongh mnnlJers around me were
uslcnp. I said to rn y father, "Not one of these lifteth np his head
to perform ]Ji,, gcu nfl cxions; but they n.re all so fast asleep you
11·011lc1 say th ey am <10ad. " He repliccl, "Life of your fath er, it
11·nn' l1dtor tha t yon n,Jso wnrn asleep than to be searchillg out the
fanlts of your 11 oighlJors."-SAAJ>I.

Family B ickerin gs.-Especinlly deplorable is the
lrnlJit of speaking ill of one's fa11tily or i11ti111at.e friends.
Tl1 c 'rnrld is se vere in its j11clg1ne11t of those wl1 0 expose
tl1 c faults of ki11ured, no rnatter what the provocalion 11rny
li e. J~mle11e ss can go 110 further tltan to indulge ia fami ly
Li ekeri11g in the presence of strangers.
Pmn'ili111·ity in Public. -Another criticism which I cannot h elp

making is on the practice of using in general society unm eaning
an<l ri<licnl ons familiar nicknames or terms of endearment. A
more offonsiYn habit cannot lie imagined, or on e which more effectnally teucls tn the cli~pn.mgernent of th ose who indul ge in it.
I fln1l 111.yself, after the departure of the ladies from the diningroom , sitting 1rn"t to an agreen.hle and sensible man. I ge t into
i11t,e rPs li11g co nvcr~ation with him. 'We seek a oorner in the dmwing-roo m afterwards and continue it. His age and experience
make him a tn~asnre-house of information and pmct.ical wisdom.
Yet,, n.s blk tricth th e man, infirmities begin to appear here and
there, anrl rny respE'ct for m_v friernl f:lnffeni diminution. By-ancl-by a
decided weak poiut is detcctecl; all(l furth er on 1 it becomes evident

CHAP.

I
l

III.]

FAMILIARITY IN PUBLIC.

41

that iu the building up of his m ental an~l personal fabric there is
somewhere a loose stmtum which will not hold under pressure.
At last the servants bebrin to make those visits to the room, usually occurring about ten o'clock, which b egin with gazing about,
and result in a rush at some recognized object, with a summons
from the coachman b elow. I au1 just doubting whether I have
not come to the end of my companiou, when a shrill voice from
the other side of the room calls ont, "Sammy, love ! "
All is out. He has a wife who does not know better, and h e
has never taught her better. This is the secret. The skeleton in
their cupboard is a child's mttle. A man may as well su ck his
thumb all his life as talk, or allow to h o talked to him, such drivelling nonsense. It must detmct, from mauliuesR of chamcter, and
from prnper self-respect., and is totally incom;istont with the gooil
taste, ancl consideration, even in the least things, for the feelings
of others, which are always present in permns of good-breeding
anil Christian courtesy.
Never let the world look through these chinks iuto the bomloir.
Even thence, if there be real good sense present, all that is childish and ridiculous will be l111nisliocl; but at all even ts, keep it
from the world. It is easy for lrnsbaud and wife, it is easy for
brothers and sisters, to talk t.o 011<J m1othnr as 11011 0 elsn could talk,
without a word of this mincc1l-up English. One soft tone from
lips on which dwells wisdom is wort.Ji all tho "loveys" and
'· cleareys" which become the unm eaning expletives of the vulgar.
-DEAN ALFORD .

Familiarity with Others.- The clerk of a hotel
sned his employers for breach of contract, they lrnving d ischarged him before the period cove red by the contnwt had
expired. The ev idence on the part of tl1 e defence showed
that the clerk had indulged in farn il iarity toward g uests
who did notl1ing to invite it, and hfld t.l 1ereby in:jure(l the
business of his employers. lt was admitted that t.l 1e clerk
was in the habit of addressing gnests and others either by
their Christian names or by their surnames only. The
Massacbnsetts Snpreme Conrt said:

42

GOSSIP.

[PA TI'l' II.

T o rtdclrc ss a person by his Christi:1n name, nn h~ss the parties
h avo b oo n iu ti mately cornu-~ cte d, socially aml otherw ise, is nucalledfor famili a ri ty, nrn1, th e refore, i nsulting to the pen ;on so rttklresscd.
T o rtd dress a par ty by his surnrtmc only, sh ows a \Vrtnt of r espect,
mid " ·onl<l imply Hiat tho prtrl.y so rtddressed was beneath the prtrty rtthlrns·, ing ; ther efore i ~ is discou rteous, a ncl would b e consi11eretl iusultin g. T o speak of e mployers h y their s nrnamcs only,
shows rt great wan t of respec t on the part of the employo to,rnrd
the employer.

T lt e Com t fnr th er ltek1:
·wltil e i t nmy be cu sto mnry for a person to address h is junio r
cler ks or nmler-ser vants by t heir Christian or sunmm es, to add ress
otl1 orn so :sh ows rt wan t, of respect., n11 <1 tl 1c J_Jrtrty so ad dressc<l wonld
untnrnlly ovrtd e co n tad in the fu tu re \vi th any on e who lmd p r evi ously so ad dressed him.

P oli teness, addecl tl1 e Court, costs nothing; uut th e
wa11t of it cost tl1 e pl a in tiff th o loss 0£ l1is situation. Tl ie
cornpl a int was dismi ssed witl1 costs.
Influence of Language on Character. - Lan-

g 11age exerts a r efl ex inflne11ce upon character. In d iscarding a bu si rn e:-; press ions, one lea m fl to cm o t li e l1ab it 0£
thinking e vil of oth ers, an<l of g loating orn r tl1 eir fa 11ltsfo r tl1 c " hy pocri tes " wh o pl ay such a p art in th o oldfasltione<l llrarn as- tlt o rn en "·ho nse la1wt:l uage to conceal
t11 e ir thongltts- are less common tit an one m igl1 t snppose,
even in p urpose, and rare inc1eec1 in accompli shment.
c .

All c1ctmctors d o n ot begin wit.Ji hating the person th ey lessen
the estima tion o f othe rs. 'rirny wish, it rnny b e, to wa;·n th eir
fri rn Hb from leadin g f.l1 e Rrtrne life by poi nti ng ou t i ts chn gers, or
to elm r th f' mseh ·es of a charge h y showing " ·here th e blame on ght
t o li P. ; hnt what b0gi nR with g old ofte n end s w ith cb y. It. is rtn
in r lin ntion o f th e hnm an heart to hate th ose whom it has i nju red .
Solomon srt_vs, " A lying tongu e lmteth t hose that nre affl ict.eel by i t ." E ve n when rtny one- r eports what is true, if ho
jn

C11 Ar . Ill. )

SH ARP TONGUES l\IAKE lIJ\lW IIEARTS.

43

kn o w~ lie lms d one it imprudently rt8 to mmm er, or un clrnritnbly

ns to motive, or, a t any rate, to the unn ecessar y i njury of a nother,
he can lmrdly h elp regarding t ho iuj nreLl p erson with u nl mppy
feelings. Self-rtccu sa tion follows e very r ecoll ectio n of tho person
co ncer nin g whorn h e h rtH so sp oken , arn1 h e no longer fin d s pleasn re i n t.11 e comp::my of one th e ver y sight o f whom brings to mind
tho wro ng 110 lm~: tlouo him .- H Env1u .
D ean Swift srtys : " 'l 'hoy l1 avo n ever forgiven u s the injury th ey
c1i<l us. "

Ace r b ity Be c omes M o rb id . - Th e abili ty to say
seve re n.11 11 cuttiu g Ll 1i11 gs, i f e1il tivated in to l1 ab it, lJecomes
a di sease, ofte n leadi11 g e ven g reat men to stri ve rather
that t heir r emarks lie ca1isti c th an tl1 at they he true.
It mus t h ave b een from wha t J\Ir. D o Qnincey lmppil y calls the
overmasterin g spiri t of stating eYe ryth ing "in rt spiri t o f rtmplification, " ·ith a view to t he wonder on ly of t he read er," th at h e was
i nduced t o speak rts h e lms spokf'D of n umerons liternr_v celebrities. " Hazlitt lrntl read n othin g ;" "Ron w;pnu , li ke -William
·wo r d s wor ~ h , lmd r0a<l at t ho on tsi<lo t.woh o Yoln mos ocl-.nvo in his
wh ole li fe~ im o; " nntl P orsou's " k nowlctl gc of E nglish was so
li mited that h is enti re crtrgo mi.:;h t liaYf' 1>0011 0mlJrtrke<1 on hoard
a ,Yalnu t -sh ell on tho h os::nn of a <;bp- lirt~;i11 , arnl i nsnre<1 fo r three
half-p ence." Et1mu m1 Burke " was 0 10 rnost c1ouhl o-mi ncl et1 person iii the wor ld," nnd Liuc11ey l\I mmy,- t-1 1e Arn ericrtn, is calletl "an
iml>ec ile s t,rnn gor ." Dr. J ohnso n " l1 rtd s ~ntlie cl noth in g," rtml
B oileau rtncl Ad dison wore " 1wiUic r o f 1-.h em ::iccomplish eLl in
scl1olnrship. " -FI'L'ZEDW AHD HALL.
l\fark t,!to conrs<' ll< 'SR in to which Syd uoy Rmi th coulcl cl egeneratn : " H o is of tl10 u tili tarian school. Th at man is RO hard yon
rni ,,;111 d rfr o a h ron<1-wluw k <1 wa~o n cw<'r him n.lll1 it w01 1ld m ake
110 inq >rnssinn ; if ,1·011 wo rn to h orn ]1 nl0R in him with a gim let I
am 0onvi11eed sa,r - tlns ~ won ld uorn o on t of 11i111. 'l'l1 a.t, suh ool t.n •at
rnltll kiu r1 nR i f f h ey 1rnro mf're m:tel1i11es ; tLe feelin gs or affec tions
1101·er en ter i llto th f'ir calculations. If e,·cr ythin g is to b e srtcrifi ced to u bili t) wil y <lo yon l 1m _v _vonr g mnc1 motber a t nil ? Why
d on' t you cut h er int o small pioce>s rt b on ce, u.ucl make portable soup
of her? "
..,
7 ,

I
un

JACK £
4 727 c o

CINCINNA

TOPICAL ANALYSIS.
CIIAP TE Tl IV.

INTEllEST JN OUR NEJGIIIlOllS , Jl. H2.
TIIE SC:A N DAJ,-l\IO NG 8lt, p. 3i.I.
Tr11tl1 o ft 1•11 a lib e l , p . H:I.
l~x p os 11n ~ S 0 1111'li11 1PS ll Ol' t'SSa.r y, p. :34.
Li Ul' I scld om t rn lh, p . :JG.
Bxag~e rntio11 ,

p. H!i.

Th e tlu· r,.i li!:Lck c rnws, p.
Calutnny from ra.ill1·ry, ]L H7.
J\l c:rn self-i11 g r a liati on . p.

\
I

:w.

n7.

ACERBITY Ul•' 'l 'ul';uvE A Tt.:.\'ll:'TA'l'lO.'I, p .

P,~.

FAl\lLLY BJ CKEJU NGS, p. 4.0.
En1l e arin g t e rms in pul>li c , p . 40.

OFFF.NSJV.!'; FAl\iILIAIU'l'Y, p. 4 1.
INFL UJ<;NC:E OF LANG UAGE ON CHARACTER, p. 42.
Sharp tong nes m a k e hard h eart s, p . 'Ji.I.

SU GGESTIVE QUESTION S.
R ca rl 11ag 1's 2 Hl-22 l. Wh a t di ffe r e n ce~ occ ur to yon b e tween ta lking
an1l l lrinti11 rr !!nssio ·~ l 10 hr t 011 ii s tc nin !! to i t and rPa< lin!! it ~
'' jt t a.k c~~. ,, sar ~ TJ 1o rP:-1.11. ~ 'tw o to. . . !==.11eak tr11 th--01;e to sueak and
an otl1 C' r to h e ar .'' D o yo u agTce with J1(1H, nnd wliy '?
,._
'.VJi at d n yo u thi n k o f tl 10 f oll o·,;·in g c:d r nct .f r om .Z'h r· Cn; f ,• ,- ry .9
" or al l tl1 c s ources o f 1.Jo.tl rn:tnn r rs, we know of none so 11rolifi c au1l
f•t:rnici o u f.; ;1 :-:\ th e li ce 11 s0 c. f fa111ili a.dty. Th .: r u h; no OJH': nn1011 g onr
n::> :1 rl1 ' r ~; w 0. pr0 !':; 1_pn0, wJio lu15 Hot known :i.: v ilhg•_
• 0r n. n eighl .1o rh<forl in
w hich :d i t.l1 c v eo p\ ., call e cl o n e an ot h e r !i v th e ir Jirs t o r Chri stia n na.mes.
Th e ' .Ji111 , 1 0 1~ ' Ch a rl P.'·,' or ' l\Ioll iP, ' o;· ' Fa1111ie,' of ilH~ yo u ng days
u l ;-,t.: 1iu v l - li fr~ , rc 111 a.i11 i l n: :-- a 111 e: u1dil U1 ev ioUt:r JJ1 lv Lli e gl<1. \ e: l'tviu
old a.~e . !\o w, t he re lH H.Y Le a ce d :iin aa~ o uli t of gocc1-fe H0 \;·s liip and
honn•l.r fri e 11dli11 c;;s in tl1i s kin <l of Jnmili:u ad<lr<',S, 1.Jnt th e re is 11 ot :t
1'a rfi t:k u i' JHJ i'.t c n cs;: ln i:. Jt is :-..i i Yc rr ·,y c:i, ·:: it.iil 11 :tfa.rni 1r c r:t clrc1.c
o[ r e la t i,·cs, l111t "-J1 c 11 i t is c arri e d o;u sid r , it is i11t.oi e rnbi e . E Yc ry
c:e Hti mn a 11 l1:i s a riuh t to t li e titi n. at l0:is t o f ' 1\!ist f' r. ' n.n d c~ \'C n' l:id \'
t o t ii at u f ; J'll iss ' u r 'l\ l i:-.1 n ·:-;s,' 1.;ve t1 wl n.: 11 l h u Clir i:::: li a n 1 1~Ull t; i:-$ u ~.1 :..:tl .
\V r. ha n• k11o wn r en1 :i. rkal il e 11H: n. li r in !! fo r Yea r:-: und er th !; Ld h::L t of
I l11' i r f:1rn i !i:1 r \,_· -1F·n 1! iir '" f 11 :1 rn ( c.: ,
l1 l·· l 1 \', 11•1 - .' f1 ,,
111 ',\ ·, , 1i 1 • l 11: 1 \ - , . 1 ,,, 11
rnnd e, o r g r Patl y nwn rll' rl , l1y r Pm o ,· i ng to som H ]1l ace wh e r e t.!1 cy could
li;v; i::- hcr n nd d reo;; : -:crl ;-r i tl1 Uie cvtnte:;y d ue; tu i11 ti r w0rtl1, :-11h.J Get: 11 ri.J
fortn-P r o r lh o c h e ape nin g process of famili a rit._v. H ow ca n a m a11 lift
l1 i~ 111-':lfl 1 1 nd ~· r t.hf\ rlr· ~!'!' ~1 rhdi011 n f lw in !:" ('~1J .. rl '~ flrn' h v oy nr v nrnn .
youn g a1 1d o ld . w li o1n 111~ n1n y n11::>f.l t ln t.b e stn~ e t ? How· cnn ;-_," f't.rong
c h nr:id er Lie Cf\rri"d w lit:'H the ui::ut whu Le ar~ it 111u:st lJuw lleceu tl.r tv
the 11 a m e of 'Bill y . '"
1

COMMEN DATION A ND

Jll~PROO F.

Ir l had an ot h e r lire to li ve, :u1d t.wo t il o 11 ~ nn r l l( •t!P rR to w r it·e a gni.n, with OoJ'R h..::1 11
J would not hnrt th e feelin g ..:; o f th e lt11mbl e~t, nf al l God' ~ C l"f'nt11n· ~ l11.111 c .. ; LJ y t ry in g to do
g-o( itl. He mi g ht IJ c :is !Ji g a s U:in icl Laml1 cr t, ornd I wnnltl not c a ll him fat nnd 1t!H;t.11011 s :
h e mi g h t IJC" ns Jean a <; Calv in 1':d s0 11 1 and I \\·1· 111tl n ot; ca ll h i111 : L bag- o f IJ0 11 cs . 1 woul tl
n1 o rn i11 g 1 on whk h I !L ad n o t. pl u ck e d u p r-:: ur n e l11 ur 11 s o r p lan ted so111 e lluwurs o n t he
p:t l h of hun m n l irc. -D n. l ' m i\IE.

Importance of Appreciation. --Literatnre is so
foll of warnin gs aga in st the fh tte rer tl1 at one !lligltt s11ppnse it tl1 e se rion s cl iffi cnlt.y of Ji[e to ]; eep free frolll rn11it.y a1uiLl Llie ::;lto\ren; o[ eU1 11pli 111 en t::; :-;11re to Le eneolll1t e rcd. DuL iL J 11 a y Le doulJLetl ,,·liet11 e r l11 e grcal e r dange r
is not the oppos ite- disconra ge n1 e11t tliron g li :fail11ro to roeei\-e e vidence of j11st appreciati on. Fnrn 1nl , 111 on 11ingle:::s,
ur [11bo1ue eOJ11 [Jli111e11t:,; \riJl alw:t.) i:l Le paid .i11 11u1uuer
proporti011 eu to one's ahility t u ho of 11 :-;e t(l th ose w!t o pay
th em. H11t. rli scrirnin nting app rcw al frn 111 an a utlt nri tati1-c
so urce, '' pi·n. i!'.e fru1 11 S ir Hui.Jcrt St:l!!iey," is 1iestmr cd
less often th an it is i1eccled.
A.mong the 1ninor dnties of life I ]rn nlly
L 11 d. f.!mn l iia t

i-:.:

0 11 P

ur

111 \j . Jli a! :-; i ll;.~·

nny

n 1n 1T· j ff1p o r-

J ~ v 1 · t li:ll i u11

nf f" h n p r izp-:.; f nr w11 i, ·h

hh · !t

c a ll .-.:- il·, .: L11e c l1 t' a11 d t:fe u ct ~ : ~ ild

t wice !he ·wealth of a connt.ry

J.:: · 1! 0\~·

\Yl! •_'l" ' j• l:l i"" }..; li<fl dni_·,
~ ·, ·nf· , · n ~l ;

u !·1 i: 11 1! t '!! L

it i-·:

~fr
Ti ut-l\ 1•
L' i J! a. l.iuu:-; :tll d LlH' n n 1·:-;e

cnnl<l enff TC'ar up.

uJ gc11i tl ~ , ; UJll ii, j;:_.; ! Ji u i 11il H_'. l'i.utl;:; 1!.H L,) uf U\ C· l ,Y

\\·it.h tli n mn Rt. !':r·.ri1pnlnn " jn "tir<'
S MITH.

~n'l

:t'-i

It,

Jll a ll.

i,; th e coin

Lo Jw ...;,Uu\\- i L

tli P wi-;•:·" I· O•'t•E •_•llJ.).

0H· ~.El:

4G

COMMENDATION.

[P Ait'r II.

Nothing can be truer tlrnn this, yet is it not cqnnlly trne t li at
amo11g th e minor duties of li fe is tlmt of praising wh ere pmisiu g 'is
cln e? I s it 110t us important that we sh ould al1111irn what is aclmirahl e us tl1 at we shouhl d er;pise ,yjmt is worthless ?
The worltl is fnll of m eu, \rn mell, ancl children who arc livi ug
iml1appil y a nd rnstin g iu compar::iti rn i1mctivity, or t1oi ug bu t a
ti t he of tl1 c good th ey migh t tlo, fur m111t of a little jntlicions
pmi sc'.
T o sl1y, sc11sit.ivc llat.ures, especially, praise: is :t
;-:itnl l lt~<'e ss it y. 'l'hc,1· lll't'tl to lJe C'lleotuagcd nrn1 caressctl as t.1·nl y
:•s of- he rs i1 r• c1l to lHJ la"l1t•1l a1u1 "l'lllT<'<l : :uul sinl'c:rn COJll llH' IJCbtion is f.o th em at once a loui e a11tl a conlial, cl1ecr i11 g Uic: m wi! Ii
a flu c:h of pl<'asm 1t fol'li ng antl ln:ucing i· lll~ 111 forfnrt.lier goo tl work.
·we arc co1tfitl e11 t tlmt, a brgc part nf that comlnct whi ch
so a nn oys ns in orn· fcllmY-si1111crs, a ntl 11·l1i ch we rC'si>; t in soeicty
!HHl hn g· h on t. of i t, n>< vnni ly un1l C'gol ism, is Ili c v0ry oppcrnitc,
l> C'in g 011 .l y nn 1rn easy or fr:rnt ic atk mpt to ;ri n from olhers fi ll assurn ncP of "·]1ut nn c himself sornly <1ouhts.
Prai se a rlll ov0rprnisc nm t11·0 di fferent fli ings; ancl wl1il c 1-.h e
latter, 11·hen i t d oes not <lis;:;nsl-. , puJfo np arnl corrupts its Rn uj ec ts,
the fornw r. " ·h e n jn sfl :v h C'sl·owell, incit0s to 1ww autl ea rn est e ffort.
It is n ot h ones t, co111rnernlation that, inflateR, Lu L t hat which we bestow insinc0rdy wh0n \H\ are a nglin g for complimen ts an d expect
to be repaid \1-i th cnrnponml in terest .-l\1ATHmvs.

Praise Should be Judici ou:s. --I t li ns been
sl1r0\nlly ol>servocl tl1 at 11·e like bco: t to he prai sed fo r
that i11 ns \1· l1i ch is co 11111101dJ' nn ack 110\\"lodgec1. To co111pli111 en t a 1 c:1 11 ti£11l \Yo 111a11 11pnn li er fcat nrcs, an autl1 or
npo n l1i s unul\ S, a states11t [Lll ll jlOll Iris 11-isdo rn,.rn ay affor<l
so111 e g rati1i catio11 i E tl.011 e " ·itli t:1ct all([ with si11 ee rity;
lmt to <l ctec:t mitl c0111111e11cl an cxcell o11ce 01ie has onl y
dared to Jwpe 011 0 po.SP.essetl is to UOStow a r eal delight.
JJmn ti (nl women are readily convincetl by 11 glau co or h y dem 0a11or t lmt th0ir charms are appreciated. All of them, h mrnver,
" ·ho luwe a n.v cln.ims to cnl tn re will, wh en the first tribute is paid,
lrn h 0st pknsc<l \l'ith ap1•reciali ve compliments paid to th ei r in tollig0ncc, nccomplislurnmts, " spirit.," kimluess of h eart, tastes, 1ab·

CrrAP. IV. ] IIONES'l' PRAISE USUALLY POSSIBLE.

47

its, h opes, and tissociations. A very b eau tiful woman _w ho b elieves
tLn.t sh e h as excited a d eep admiration for some qnahty other tlrnn
h er Leauty-especially if it Le one for which th e world gi rns her
li ttle credit- is always gmtitied .-Art of Conversatio11.
It sh ould Le rem ernuered that 110 woman ever fully foregoes her
clailll s to personal attractiveness.
"How charmin g Miss Pulcln:a is lookin g to-ni ght," remarks l\lr.
Ju venis to his h ostess,
"Y es," replies th e la dy with a sigh, "n,nd non e can admire her
m orn Ui: 1n th ose: \r h n l ilrn myRelf lmvc no pret<!nsions t o lJeauty ."
"Ah! " replies l\Ir. ,lu ve11i s, sy rnpa t.l1i zi 11 gly, " Ln t o!le so mont.all y giftet1 ar; you i'sclf can well afford to disp ense with ch arms of
p erso n. "
Aml t:lten h e wond ers why he get s no more invitati ons to that
h onsc,
After all said on th e suuj ect, i t is certai n th at to n.n intelligent
mi<1 euHi va tet1 mind tlt ere are few wom en of intelligence entirely
d eYo:id of perso nal at,trnctions; antl alm ost crnry linrn an bciiu g,
th ough h e or 8h o may lmvo oven rnlinqnished all clai m. to Le b ctiut.iful, still clings t o the ' 'ery last to a fa ith in a certain " expression," which, if p rope rl y appreciated, must r aise the " ·h ole perso11ali ty to admimtion . AnL1 insta nces are not u nfre!].n ont in which
wom en who were eith er beautifu l, piquant., pleasin g, or " sympathe tic," have h eard so li ttl e of the lan guage of ac1mirnf:iou that the
fi rst report of a really g enial compliment paid th ern thrilled through
tl1 o li cart lili.~ fire. This is som etimes t h e case when a sister has
a t/ meted all the admi ration.
There are again instances in which a lady may h ave a good
enoug h opi11ion of h cn;elf un t1 yet b e q ui te in capable of appreciatiug the peculiar or real reason "·hy sh e i R ndmired. I conl cl cite
the in s tance of a lover of ar t \Yho had a special atlmi rntion for tL e
sin gnlar face of a statue in th e L onvrc, allLl wh o had the strange
fmtnn e to find it alm os t identi callv realized ill th e features of a
1'01rn g girl who was l~y n o m cn.n~~ accustom ed to praise of h er
l)eauty , Ver y often peculi ar associations Jjke this will r ender certn.iu conntenances ch armin g tons, which is the secret, b y the ;rny,
why ignorant b oys and girls, who are wHhout such associations,
are extremely critical and conventional in the judgment of per-

t ) '~

- ' .. \ (_, !'\

7 27

48

COMMK.DA'l'ION.

[PAHT II.

sonal attrnctio1rn, while men of wide experience and knowledge are
far more gouernlly appreciative and more easily ple::1sed. In short,
where we wish to compliment, the opportunity to do so with sincerity a nd cre<lit to ourselves is seldom w::1nting where our t::1stes
are culti vatecl. - .Art 11f Conversatio n.
It is said that ·William Cnllen Bryant w::is very lo::itlt to condemn
the first hook of a youn g author. E nterin g the editori::1l room one
<lay he funnel a critic glo::iting over the flatness of a volume of
poems.
"Bu rely there mnst be some good point ::iuout the book," plea<lecl Mr. Br_v~rnt.
"Noi; o no," prnt.ostrnl tho cr it,io : ''tho book is nttcrly st::ll c, fl::i,t,

aml irnprofibthle."
"At any ratn," saicl i\Ir. Bryant,, hau Llliug tL e volume, " yon
mi ght say that the l1imling is neltt, and th::it the e<lges are evenly
cut."

Praise Should be Definite. - To a comn1e11ccrnc nt i:: p caker, as ]1 0 passed tlo w11 the aisle, one friend
said : " Th at "·as ca pital, ca.p it.al; yo n h ave rnaJe ns all
prornl of you. " J\ t t h e elose of the exe rci ses another sa id
m editativel y: "To1n, yo ur oration was on e of the three
host, a11<1 L t hink u11 c of the two best."
\Vlti clt co111111ent i:s To111 likely to ren1ern\Jer the longer 'I
To c:poak in tc rn1 s of ge neral eo n11n e 11d atio11 ofte n i1npli es
no m o re than good will. To specify a11d limit sl10ws att e ntio n allll di sc rin1ination.
Those who intend re:illy to prnise [l.llother shonlrl not speak of
him in the langu[l.ge of h_yperbole. 'l'ltey rnn the hazard of inf1am;, ,,'. flt" '"" "·" nr f.110 jt>n.l<>nsy nf their lic>nrPrs. who are> t.e>mpt.<>11 t.n
rnn hi1n tlrnvn n.s far

l.u=h~w

Urt--! u1eril.t_•.] i11a rk a~ lie \liti_, ~ n ·t.is1:·11 a1_11_1 v~

It i,; more jntlicimrn to se t some bonnch to onr admiration anrl
1111;11f,ill11 s o111" h1ilL w!ticl1 111:cy lite jnsLly irnpnlrnl lo hi1u, so \\"O
s li:Lll snl, off iii ,; ,·id.ues [.u Li eLLer aclvtLuLag·e, u_v way o[ slrn1li11g or
n[ e:1 11t.1:c,1, a11d l1 old oul to others 110 tcrn vtatiou Lu all,tc:k l1is im-

it.

1 ·,,-~ 1 · f •~«~j , j,,l l;-i. ~lIEl 'i. \"El:'.

0IIAP.

IV.]

now TO imSTOW PRAISE.

49

Few cornpli1ueuts b ear more stamp of the gennine than the
Lutin verses that Addison has thus t.n1Hsht.ecl ;
TO A CArlUCIOUS FillllND .
In nil thy hmuors , whet her g ra ve or ml'll ow,
'l'hu n' rt J.;Uc h a t ouchy , testy, p ical'!n.11t fell ow,
Hm;t F.O 11111<: h mirth :ui<l wit ancl s pl ee n a!Jont thee,
Th ere i ~ 110 li viug with lh cn nor wi t liout th€e .

Praise Should Come from Those Qualified
to Bestow It. - " \.Ye can not properl y praise a work
iu art, ~cienee, vr literal1u·c', 1 111l c~ " s wu J"'" ·~' ' ·" " a 1..l1·rnLl1'
k11vwlcJgu vI Ll1u >ill lJj cd. A p cnou ll 11ho i.s Jl1_1t C1_111 q• 1.: t c11t to judge of a work is pe n11it.t:ed to say that a treat ise, or
sermo11, or painting, or statue, pl ease::; l1illl , or tell how it
strikns l1is rnind; ln1t. f 01· lii111 f:n drr:h rr, in a d cr i::: in1
to11e, lti s opinion of s ud1 a work i:s lo i11 c11r tl1e contempt or t]1e deri sic>n of rvlc pf·s. J\ lc 11 r_rf SP11 sl' a rc iwt.
prnnd of lamlati ons tliat do Hot co 111 e from e<1 nals or
"
s npcr1 or s.··

.

Do uot go off into rn.pturPs at tho first Rigld; of n. work of nature
or of art unlPSS y on IJLeau t o slw w _yulll: t·n tlrn~ia><m n 1t he r t!tau
yonr taste. You hall Letter keep Rilencc till yon l1n.1·c forlll cd som e
op1111on. " iJii] e Sir Joslrna Heynolds " ·nR at, H ome Rtudy iug the
work s o f Haplmcl in tlic Vatimn h e ubsc 1Yed t.l1at m ost Rfrrm gcrs
who came to see them b egan tu praise th em the mom ent, th eir eyes
fell npon th em , whercn.R he 'ms rntl 1er 1lisn. ppoint.ec1 in t.hem at
first, and did not begin to appreciate them till he Jiacl marle them
t h e objects of protmcted study. Minds of se n s itiv(~ an d poetic
m ould ::1re at first sight awed when th ey cont;cmpln.t.e 1iatnral scenery uf 6rcat l_
1ca1tt,r, ~r:.ttJt.lct.tr, r1r ,c:::ttl11iJ11ity; "''1\ilf· pr·r:-'.n n r-: ei f l r· :·-'::::
t.n.s.t.p, n.rP. talkn.t.i;-p, n.11d n.r P: r..pt. tn f{ l;aJ: t.h n oLj ncb..- lH ' fnn ~ th c 1n ;i,:;_y tliing hnt. t.11 Pir ,.i n-ht. nnrnPs. - Hmn·1w.
A _101111::- b cl'< \\110 11a~ aokecl il ~ltc' J,,, d ~eeu 2'itt:_:l!r:1 reµlieCl
t.liat RhP 11 PVP.r li ar! ; hnt J0s t. this s h on Id SPPm n r PrlPPtiO'l n p rm
t. lt .e c'.f11.,"at".i. sl1.e hac;l.c11c1l to :cd1 l i.li;d, ,;J1c lt:.id l1c<trd ll lii g ltly
"l'nkcll of.

I

i

50

COllt:M:ENDATION.

[PART II.

Praise Should be Civen Incidentally and
Unobtrusively. - To hml :111 1111 e.-; pected co 111pliment
oft e n prod11 ccs e n1barrnss111 e n t. l'ersu11 s unfamiliar with
tlie \\·orlcl, 01· un skilled in eo 11l'ersatio11, often express an<l
u suall y ieel a di sl ik e for pnulic prai se, uecau se they il11Cl
tlie1usel n~ s 1111aule to rnake adroit repl y, and are co11seq11 e11tly 111urc vexecl to h e emliarrasseJ tlia11 0oTatitiecl to be
COili pJ i lll e ll teJ.
Few Jm,·e th e frank self-posserJsion of the youn g woman who
i;nid in rnply to au OH]l'\rht'lmin g co mpliment from a G erman officer, "Henlly, general, we American girls are so uuused to compliments that we never ham anything to reply; 1re only giggle."

A co rnpli111 e11t is m ost grntcfnl wh en it comes fro1u oue
11·lio ficei 11 s 1111 cu11 >;ciu11s tl1at li e is lJCstO \Ying it. An acl111iri11g g lan ce, a di spositi o n to linger 11Car oue, close attention \1·li e n n11 e is speak in g, appeal to one's jn<lg111 ent a nd
d efer e nce to o ne's d ecisions- all th ese sil ent ma11ifestatio11s of resp ect carry 1rnigbt that words can hardly
adcl to.
The slightest turn of a r eply may con vey a delicate complim ent,
as ,,·he re o ue, insterul of cuugrntnlati11 g a friernl upon securin g a
p osit.ioll , exp resses his pleasure tl1rtt tho position is to b e so well
Jill e el.
'1.'o one who wa.<> humbly grn.tefnl for an ol!i ce bestowed , L ouis
XIV. rnplied : " H rul I knmrn a more 1leservin g person I wonlcl
not ham selected him. " Dy omi tting the 11ot in this rnply l\Iatb e11·s (in The Great Conrnrsers, page 25), spoils the story, making
th e monarch dP,1;/•t? 'rJ that he kn ows no person m ore deserving.
As spoken, t h n complim ent only impli ed this, and w·as thus gracef11l i nst <'ncl of fuls ome. Campbell tells the same story, but locates
Hin Englnncl .
To th 0 cp1cstion, "Are yon en gaged fort.his dance ?" some foolish maidens rep h· t hrit tl1ey do not think they are engaged, at lhe
same limo being thorou ghly n.'vare that they are not, and the yotmg

CnAP. IV.]

WHERE TO IlESTO\V PRAISE.

51

men are also aware that the maid.ens am fi nessing and n.verso to
m itkin g the ,]iroct aLlmission th 11t they are in want of partners. A
yonn g lady with tacL and rtplrnn/J escapes this dil emma \,y rnpl ying
wiU1 great readiness to the question, ' 'I am very glad to say tb:tt
I am nut," which rejoinder is fbttering to the yo1111g ge ntleman,
g ivin g ltim the impressiou tl1at th e yo nn g l a<ly could h ave been
engn.ged for t.h is dance lta<l f h e w i1l e:tsf~<l , lm t, th at sh e greatly
preferred 'rnitin g for th e chance of his askin g h er to clun ce. Sito
may or may not liaYe l>een actirnt·ccl h y t.11is h ope, hu t if hy son ic
expression of pleasnrc at J1 ot, l 1ei11g engage<1 for the tlance which is
a t t.lrn m oment asked fo r sh e p n ts h e r pm·tner on gontl t erms 'rith
h erself au cl himself it argnes well for h er success in the ball-room.
-Society Small Talk.
0

Attention to the 1Nleg!ected.- Compli111 c11ts arc
especially g r at:efnl t o tli nse acc nstomecl to lie so 111 e\d1at
n eglected . Tlie s11ob is 11 e1· c 1· m ore <1ffc11sinJ tl1an 1d1 en
i11 co mpany li e haste ns to sh ow hi s i11ti111 acy \1-i th tlie le:1di11g persons prese11t. 'l' hc g e11tle11ia11 is 11c1·cr m ore to be
em·ied tl1an wl1e11, liy ch oos i11 g tlie socie ty of th ose " ·horn
oth e rs h ave passed by, li e sl1 cm s tli:-it li e has 11 0 a pprehenlik e a s ilk ]w t., disti1w11isliable
onl Jv bv
the
sion of b eing,
~
n
~
person to whom he is attached.
The root of all oxclusi Hm <:ss lie:> not 011ly in pride, but in fear.
It is a sig n not onl y of seHislrn ess, but of weaku ess aml insecurity.
-- Tlw Sprxtotor.
A word of kindness or aclmU\d edgment, or a sing le g lance of
approl1rition, might h ave changed Esmoml"s opinion of the gn'11t
man (the Dnke of i\farlboron gh) ; a ncl instead of n satire, which his
pen cannot h elp writing, " ·h o kn ows hn t that th e Jmmhl e his torian
might have tak en the other sifle of pauegyrie ? ·we ham hut to
chan ge th e poin t of view an d thfl g rP:tt.es t action looks mean; n.s
we tnrn a perspect.i ve gias;; arnl a gi,1ut appnars a pi.0: my. Yon
may descriue, but who can t ell wh e th e r your sight is clear or not,
or you r m ea ns of information accnmte?
Had the great mn.n said hu t 11 wonl of kinrlness to t.hc ·small one
(as h e woukl have stepp ed out of his way to shake h an ds " ·i th L>1z-

152

COMJ\IENDATJON.

[PAH'l'

11.

!trns in ntgs arnl sores, if Ji ,, i11011 gllt Lazarus could h::we b een of
m1y serviee to him), JJO dou ht Esmornl woul<l have fon ght for him
with pen an<l swon1 to t.li e utmost of his might, ; lmt m y l ord lion
did !lot \\·rint rna stnr mou se at this JlHnnent, arnl so l\Inscipnlns
went out awl llil1l1led in opp ositio n.---'l'HACimUAY.

Praise Should be Honest.- " Flattcr_y is tl10
\\·urst S(lrt (lE fal seh ood. Otlter lies are gcHc ra ll y cl clcctcd,
a nd the liar exposetl and 1'1111isl1 ed; Lut iiattc ry is a ]; ind
of m1trnth \rl1i('.lt tlic person :for whom it \\"H S iJtte ncl ctl
d ocs 11 (\t des ire f(l tlctC'<'t, n11d \\·lien otltcrs Je11ion strnte to
hi111 its fol ::: it.y li e is :::luw tn ad111it it, l){]ca11 se lie loves to
beli e\e it tr110. Otl1 e r falsehood s may expose ns to the
lt•ss of fric1Hls, fo111c, (lr \\"C':t!tlt; b11t tit is n ouri sh es i11to a
i110nstro11s grnwtlt tl1 e origi11al pride of tlic falle11 so11l, a nd
involves us rnorc a11d 11tu1·e i11 guilt :t11d self-ignora11ce, and
co11scr111cntly in ignom11 ce of others."
How is it f·,Jiat wl 1cncvcr yon riro thrown into the compriny of m1
imn sna l.l y pnlit,<J-- an nve1·-politc- - pcrnon, yon almost im.m ediritcl.v
<li strnst him '! Th er e co mes to you, acting on the n er vous part of
~-ou, of whicl1 yon know sn lit.tle, a sense of donut
You ar c not
rivcrse to polite b earin::; n,11.l nmmH~ rs--na.v, you like th em ; yon
eYen fincl it pleaRant to n0Cl'i1ce the compliment.s so r eatlil y rind
g lilil:v offm·cd to yon; to sc0 th0 rirnirthle smile; to watch th e ho,ving hca<l; rt1Hl th em i s som ething in the sense of re ver e nce rind
r C'Spf'ct as cxpn'ssc<l to\Yrtrd yourself very fht.t,ering to your mnow·
vrnpre.
Yet in spite of it. all you are not sure of yonr companion's
h onesty. You :tre inclinn<l to strnpcct tlmt there is something cyni('rtl bcliincl tlmt. srnil f' ; snmetl 1ing hollow at the back of th e compliment; s01nel hin g nnrcal in the look of regard. An<l ynn <lo not
know in th e lC'rist wl1y yon hrive thi s feeling, only yon know yo n
Jm,·f' it. J\t. tl1l' snme ti111e ~· ou find it so agreeahlR to h p, mrttle so
rnn('h nf, to Ji11<l yom· opinio ns smldenl y of v:tlne in the eyes of
yonr fl'llm1-, 1lmt yon lnll to r est the spirit of <lnnht which riseR
within »on , ruul ynn rpsol vr> t-o lmli0vc your new l'rie ml an exceedi11 g l,\· p olished arnl very ildi ghtfnl rnan. --llome Jom·nal.

CnAP. IV.]

l\IETHODS OF BESTOWING PHi\ISE.

G3

But there is llO resent111 011t more Litt.er tl1an one feels
UCilll.?: COnvi 11ced that \\"Ji at OllC ]1ad rece ived HR gp,1rni11 e
adm iration was but a skilful r;e1nulnn ce, tauricated perl1aps with a sneering contempt for tlw wcakuess tlrnt co11ld
be cajole<l by it.
To tlii s danger the i11tli scri111inate flatterer is constantl _y
exposed . Each of a duzcn acq11 a i11 tauccs yield s ear to l1i s
au nlation and trnsts !ti1t1 as an appreciative friend; but
\l"l1en a few of the dozen get togeth e r a11d cornpare notes,
their clta.grin at Lei11g d ecei\·ctl ifi tran sfo r111ed in to r ese11t1.11 eut aga in st tl1e d ccei\·er, tl1 0 more bitter fro1J1 recognition of tl1eir ow n hliudne;.;s.
011

The Safest Praise is Quotation.-No form ol'
comm e ndation is n1ore m1obj cd io1ml1le than the r epetition to a person uf pl easant remarks others have made
;ibout lti111.
If I tell John that James imys h o sl1n,J l n enlr forget Jolm's kindn C'ss to him in sickness, John is trol1ly gm t iti ed: first, that James
is rtppreciati n', \\·hich Jmnt's 111ay lut\"O hPc 11 t-oo h:rnhfnl to sriy <lirndly ; second, that ,fames has sp ok en 'rnll of him to otliern; mid
finally, that I show my good "·ill hy rf'peatin g what James !ms
sai11. As the lmsy-horl,v creat-cs disse nsions l1y bttling unkind
wonls, so he tlrnt \\·ill take pai1rn to rrmc•m h er rind to repe!tt the
lmppy things l1is fri ends my of one another brings those about
him into amity find good-feeliug.

Compliments the Happiest Avenue of Wit.
- No oth er department of co nv e rsation affords snch opportnnities for tact anrl wit. IJ 0,1·cvc r " ·e 111ay Le strnck by
tl1e brillian cy of a satiri st's scathing s peech , there is always
behind om ndrniration a 111i11gl cd di slike a nd dread. But
h e wl10 puts pleasant things i11to l1 appy word s is indeed to
be envied . 'Ne need not stint 011r acl llliration for i1< witty
speech prompted by a kind h eart.
'

)

54

COi\Il\'IENDATION.

m l i i7CC

~NNA

[PAHT II.

"Oh , l\[r. Smit:li," c ric<~ a pretty girl , pointing _to ~~me sweet
peas, " t lto ~c swee t peas will nern r come to p crfect.1011.
'' l'crn1it m e, th en, " said the witLy divine, !:l1king h er hand, "to
co11d11 ct, pmfectinn to th e s\rnet pens."
'J.'o Con<l c, atlli clc<l with gont, who apologizc1l for mountin g th e
s tairs sl md y on hi s r el nm a;; Yic tor from the battle of Benef,
L ouis "XJV. r0pli1:<l, " Do not lrnrry, cousin; no one so loadecl
\Yi th laurels conh1 <·01..110 morn qnickl y."
At this co n rt 01·0 11 a protest \rns so nt.tor c<l as to con firm the
olmoxions jn<lgmcut \Yhilo i t tli1·crtcd i !. A11noy<'d at th e pertin:tcity of an ofli cer, th e kiu g cxclairnctl: " Tl mt gentl eman is the
most tronhl r somc ofli ccr in the whole arm y." "Your maj esty's
eu erni cs l1 :wc often sa.i<l so," was the reply.
"IV ill rn atlam p r. rm it m e to talw her portrnit in proiilce?" asks
a French p:tiutcr of a patron " ·li o Juul the rni sfort.nnc to be crosseycd ; "t.h ci:r. iR a sl1.y11 css ahont on e of h e r bclyship's eyes that is
as <litricnlt in art as it is fas<'iualin g in 1mture."

Bantering Compiiments.- Am ong those qni ck
of "·it a1Hl i:p eeelt en111pli111 e11t.$ ofte11 pn ss i11to ba11ter, a
l111moro11 s e xnggcration as far removed from :flattery as
fn1111 ill -11ntme.
'l'lnrn in th e hall-roo m a g011tlr.nrnn rcmm:ks :
" I 0111-y 1"11at lrntte1 ll.v ])(lrchrnl so 1laintily on ~·om· hair, clme to
Uia ~ shel l-like ear. \VlmL sec rets would I not. whisper were I r; o
n ear. H a1•py lmtterfly ! "
'_l'h 0 r r juill(lcr rni g lit lie mad e i11 the Ram c spirit of fnn:
" 'J'h r lmHNfl ,,- i s not w lin.ppy as yon think; I shut i t up in a
n,Jn•.t case \Yhc•n I go l10111 e, for frar of losin g it.. Now, one conld
.110 [. slint yon np, an<1 yon \\·onl<l not, like it if one eonhl"
Or t !in r 0.tort mi ·~ li t. l >t\ ' ' U nlilrn yon, m_Y huttertl_v has n o feelin g,
so it. 1l or.s not app1.'~cin. te its happiness, " ·hich iR, I b eli eve, clrnrncterist ic n[ l1ut.t.crfliC's; .'/Oil on g ht to know sorn etl1in g ahont it."
H ern thn answer might. lJe :
"You arc ];im1 ciwugh to anticipate my future. I have not
fonrnl my \Yings as yet; I am still in a chrysnlis state. "
A b<lY <ksiron s o f liaYin g t.lw la~ t wm cl might Le tempted to m y :
"Th~n you are s:.t for to hold, if uot so pretty to keep ; so I think

CrrAP. IV.]

HOW TO RECEIVB COMPLnrnNTS.

55

on the whole you had b etter retain your chrysalis state for the
present."-Society Sm.all Talk.

Small talk like this is possible only when both persons
l1a ve good se nse and reacly ln11110r. J\o lil1111der cu11kl Le
111 ore 111ortifying than to r e ply seri ously to a con1pl i111 e11t of
thi s sort; a11d it is a u1i stake to press srn.: h eo111p lin1 e11ts
npon those so matter-of-:fact or ;;o slow of wit as to lie 1111aLle either to reply to th em or to nnderntand tlt e m.

Receiving Compliments.-Except fro m an older
or a trnsted com pan ion , tlie safest way to re <~ c i ve eon1plime11ts, howev e r ge11 11in e, is to tn rn them lightly, or to
trea t th em as banter or guod-11at1 1rc<l e xaggeration.
A French writ,er recornmemls Hmt when pmise<l by another one
seem to b e i1mttent.ive, or in :t reve rie. This is :i.s rntle as it is
absurd, and see ms to say, ''Go on with your compliments ; I enjoy th em too mu ch to interrnpt you. "
'l.'wo g entlem en, occupying similar positions, were introdnced
to the same audience, in speeches e1prnlly lauda tory. One began
his remarks by expressing tho \Yish that these commendations lm1l
been reserved for the close of hi s tli scon rsc, 1Yh nn i t. mi ght; b r. licLter judged whether they "·ere cl cs<'l"l'l'tl- an in!d·o<lnction m l'rrn t to
be rnorlest, but r eall y impl yin g H1 at the spr.n.ker thou ght it. <1nitc
possible they woulcl prove to luwe b een d eserved.
The other laughingly waved off the complim ents with his hand,
remarking that h e. used to have th e clmirrnan for a pupil, and
though, on the wholfi, h e >rns proud of him , h o W M sorry to see
that 1lrn boy's early bal1it of exaggeration "\Yas not :rcet outg mwn .
"Ent of conrse yon all know him well enough to mak e <lne all011·ance," he con ti nnecl, and then went, on with his address, already
secure of the good-will o~ bis audience.
llEPIWOF.

Occasion Less Frequent than for Compli·
ment.- The trne fri e11 rl find s r eprnof so111 eti n1 es necessary, bnt he will assure himself that it is necessary, auJ he

::

56

RE PROOF.

[PART II.

CRAP. IV.]

HOW TO CONVEY REPROOF.

57

will com cy it with all th e disc retion and <l elicacy of whi ch
he is capable.
Yonng p eopl e u sual ly have to learn by ex perience t hat
wh en their fri end s ex hibit peculiarities tlic probability is
that th e peculi a riti es h a ve reasons which, though perhaps
concealed, a rc e ntirely adequate. It is in prcsmnptn ously m eddlin g wit.It othe r p eople's affairs that fools ofteneet
rn slt in \1·l1crc angcb fea r tu t read.

apples no larger than that in this co nn try?" asked a n EugJi s lun a u, p ointing to llie ptuupkirn; 011 a 1w1.rkeL- 1uan 's
stand.
" .Apples,'' repli ed t lt c rnark c t-rna11, with grc:1t
co ute inpt; " do yon call them little thin gs appl es? Tl1 e111.'s
huckl e be rries."

'flu> late I'rofcssor Rkotla, 0 11 0 o[ Yi emrn',; greatest snrgeons, had
until a year or two befo re l1is <loath worn garments of a most unfo shi01mhle e11 t; t he trnm;ern "·cm lmggy, a n<l the coats m ost
in geHion sly ill Jitt.in g . Hi s fri cmls often jokctl with him about the
urntt er, nn<l Hko1l:t l>ore their 1i<licule good-1mturedly, without
making an y ex pla nation.
One day a frit•ml obsc rvc cl that h e "-a;; for a wonder clothed in
" ·ell-fitting garni <'nts n[ th e lat,cs t cn t. " 'J.'his is an unh oped-for
pleasure'," he criPtl, " to see yon fu r uuce properly dressed." "Bay
Ho more;" saicl th e surgeo n gravely, '' he " ·h o has made my clothing
for all U1 e yea rs yon li rwe kn ow n me did not, i t is true, give i t a
very fas l1.io11alile shap0. Bnt h e Jet me li rwe it l ong b efore I
uchie,·ccl s11<·cess; and )1 0 ne1·er pressed me for money wheu h o
s11spe0tc:<l tlmt I " ·as pr0ssc <l for it myself. l l"nw wonlrl yon do,
1ny fri P1Hl- lca1·0 s1rnh n, m an for nu c who <'Ht clothill g of a diffcrc11 t. s h:i pn?" "nnt why, t hen, do :yon lettl"C him now? " "He is
<1 ea<1," l"Cjll iPcl Rkoda.

hi s

Reproof May be Disguised. - Tl1 e e mperor Adri an, seein g a d1icl' officer wl1 0111 he kn ew to b e e11 v io11s
arnl 111alig11:111t t nrn lii R back to cl ese rt hi111 in batt le,
f' to1>pcd l1i111 nnd f'a id affably, "Yon nrc go in g wrong, I
p c rre i,·c; t lti s is yo 11r way." Tlt e office r t urn ed his l1 orse
as if it l1ad lJeen a sin1ple rnistake of hi s, and not a prerncdit.at.ed flip:l1t.
Often reproof may b e effectually conveyed by goocl11 aturc<l ridicul e o r exaggerated imitation. "Are your

It h n.ppened in a New Hampshi re town that a young nati ve after
several years of knockin g about returnell to his l1 nnw. '1'l1P.re m is
a gathe rin g romul the stove in the viliage sto re tlmt "·inter m·e nin g-,
and he was li ste ned to " ·it.Ji opcn-mouth ccl womlcr l1s he related
ex pc~ric~n ens .

13nt. t.l1 ere ,va.s one in t.lHj con11 G1l,y vd1°J r-:;1t t1iJ<-tTt, bl11u1\.etl l1i~
pipe in silence, and garn J IO sig n of ei th er in t.crest or u.~to11i s lim en t .
At la5t one of the party, n ett.led hy his al'athy, tumctl to him ancl
said: "Whrit's th e matter witlt yon? Yon LloH't see m to warm 11p
a bit." "No," h e repli{)(l , slowly, removi ng hi::; pipe from his
mouth, "I'm a liar myself. "-Boston Cultivator.
1

]3nt wh ere g iven directly it sltonk1 lie ol'e 11 a11J rnanl y.

"If I mu st snffer,'' said tl te old philosopher, "1 wo11ld
rathe r it should be from tl1 c paw of a Ji o11 than. from the
h oof o:f an ass."
Som et.imes circnmstances see m to warrant somewhat vigorous
treatm c ut.
"IVJ1at wonlll you Llo if yon were I n,url I were you? " tm Hl e rly
inqnired a s,re lJ of ft yonng wo1t1 a11 wh om li e lmtl i1t sistecl upn11 cscortiu g h ome from clnuc l1. " '\Vcl l," she r e plied , "if I were yon
I should thro1Y mrny that vile eigarette, cn t np my caue fo r firewood , wea r my watch U!Hl em rn.th my corit, n,nLl stay at h ome ni gh ts
to pray for h rains. " The \rnlk " 'ftfl finishell in sil ence, n,ncl i t is
p resum ell that for once in his life the you11 g man though t harll.1-lackensauk R epublican.

Reproof Should be Private. - ·wh en Socrates
reproYccl P la to at a feast, Plato rep li ed th at it kul been
b etter to t ell him of his fault in private, fo r to m enti on it
in pnbli c was an impropri ety . Socrat·es an swered: "And
so it is for yon publicly tu com1e1r111 that impropriety."

58

ltEPJWOF.

[PAit'I' II.

Commendation Should Accompany Re·
proof.-Jt sli o11ld Ge nrn11ifest tliat \\"C di sa ppro ve JJ ot
tlie 11ia11 b11 t thi s pal'ti c11lar fanlt in t li e rnan, and tli e lll ure
liec:rnse 1rn 1i11d so 11111eli else in the 111an to lik e. Tl111 s
g i1· e11, reproof Le<'.01n es a co111plirne11t, for nnl ess we fel t a
;;peeial i 11 terest in tlte offender we sbouhl Hot di sturb 011 r"<' I \"CS to COl'reet h i m.
'Tli0

S(•(' tH lfi

,-. 1;-1 .: : - ~ c1f ulcl rc:orL-'.

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!',

I'

\·.i

1

59

TO CONVEY llEPlWOF.

nny good humor nt. nll mn.y pn.ss 1h ro ng h n perfect lrnil oi witty
cri ticisrn, over,v ]Jnro plaee 0 11 l1is son! bi t. to tlie quiek \\it.Ji a
sltrC\H1 rni:osile, n1.1cl rnal'l1 0fL l', a s i f :tftcl' :L din', tiu g li11 g \\·illi a fin e
mornl l'l'actiou-aml rea<l y , wi: h n. :,]JJ'i11k.i11 g rcaclin ess , o n e-t hin.I
JoalJ1, fur :t repetiliou o f t.Ji e <1i sci1>li11 c.-1:111"117tiil Jllllfftt zi11 e.

!Faults Sho1..1ld be Mentioned One at a Time.
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n n tltin i:;, :m<l :ffoi,l s )' •llll' eye. Ha lll'.Lll wero umd e"of guLta-pe relia
l1is 11\ 'H l' l \\·on!,1 q1 mi l a t snc!t a 1uu111Pn t..
Dut. wheu tho word is n 11t, the worst is on'r; n11<1 a f<'ll<>\\' wilh

iC o rni en a n d

1·,. 1,r .. .,f

t

f.

1: 11·1 i ,!1•

(•1

' \ iliJ

("(•Il l

:1r i l_,

\ll:: ll ~IH '"- : ; '.\j()i ] l •J:<'S~ \ - ,
111\" ,o \\·~,

().>("1·i1, :1;

if

<i r :I\\"

Ji f I ii l i •

111 1· 1 ,•

~ -: : 11

1

i\

I'< •)l -

' ' Jl I o,

1

f

I
t

:dl1>'.'.'(', l 1n e\ 11u\•;

pll..'a Sallt truths,

J 1 i~

\\":\\- 1!Jr .. 11crl1

l; f~ · .

di~Tuncc rti1 1~ siJ!ll<:

11

, •·r«u11· 1· <> f 11r 1-

J•C(lpk, it-r11a1 11w :\11d rcs i11 g citht·1 ~ ) ::l\ll, J,y \Yny 1,f

GO

REP HOOF.

[PART II.

•

n Rs~ rting hi .';

own i111l iv i1l11ality, trPading without co mpnnction upon hi s n cig l1l>o r's fin e:-:t
fo c lin µs, nnd ofte ntimf'H lt·:tving his h ca\"y footprints upon h ea rts 1,h:tt are te nder, Rad, ur
sorrnwf nl. Pe r so n s (Jf strong w ill ancl sLro n g opi 11 i o11 5 ar<:, J1t•r lln. ps 1 1he lll ost prone to
thi s species 11 f sc lf-a s8cr t io11 1 IJcing 11uwh give n tu 111ca.suri n g n.ncl j11elgi 11g evc ryl hin g by
t,Ji(' ir

0\\-11

fixr:11 i1leas, n.nd lo Rhowi11g an H1Hlisg11 i::c1l co n !(_•111pt for tliu.-.p who differ fr o m

til!'rn ; hnt. so far f'rrnn a IJ\nnt, di seo11rb·, 111 s, f:rnlt.-fl11di11g f' pirit., wilh a kt'('ll

1·.re

for hi1·111-

h:h cs n111 l dcff•ct-.:, aml :t dull apprel1e11:-:io11 of m erit, 1Jt'i11g- in :rn y way dl's iralJlc, it. o nly
pro ves n man wa n ti11g in one of t,Jie 111Q:;t n ecessa ry of ;..ocia\ dr!n(·~;, viz. : nymµat liy.
Jn C\'<'r_r rJi ..;rn:ir teuns a ct lit! !"ays praclical!y, "Your comfo rt a111l co11 V('11icn cc n.re of no
in1p Drtan cc to HI(\ yo11 an: n. perso n of n o cow.:;cqncncc \Vhntcver, 11 an.I llatu rally und e r
tlii ~ l rPa t m r· ut r csc11L1r1 c11t is arou~cd, gcod-will vani shci', and a1Icdiu11 melt:-; U\Vay.flold e.n

TOPICAL AN AL YSIS.

1/0 111 ·,q.

When Mr. B1ncr1-iu11's l'l'lC' ~t.ial hi(1c-an1_l r-;cc k was on~r, and t he cntrnnccd audience
wPrc rd11 ctrrntl y go in g tl ow 11 the ai s le, a vc1HTalJlc oltl tru stee o f the college, wh o3e 1Jeautif11\ wlli1e h <:'ml was it!'! crown of glory for rnn11y y c:tr;:., whispered to 111e with a s mile
nntl half a :-; igh: 1 • Tiiucs ha ve d1nngcd I It is jn"i t l.wc11 ty yea r:-; ngo si11cc \YC liad him
lterc last to :uldrcs"I t hi s same literar:it Focicty. Wh en he hacl fini .o: h cd, the 1ires id c nt 1 n!'I
,,·as the cnsto111, call c(l upon the cle rgy m a n Lo co n cl nrlc l h e se r v ice wilh prayer. R ev.
Mr. - - , of W- -. in tl~is 8 ta tC', F;t.rppcd into th e pulpit \\·hich ~1'fr. Emerson ha cl jns t
vncatc(l arHl nt.lf •rf'rl a \'Cr_y r em arkabl e prnycr, of which I ca n r e m e mber only one senten ce exact ly : •We beseec h thrr 1 0 L ord, to deliver us from ever h ea ring a.ny mor e such
trnn scc n tlc n t 110 11 si•nr-;c :1s we ha\' C j11>:t li slcn e1l t0 frn1t1 t hi s ~:1crecl tl c.c-,Jr. 111 11 And what
did ~ Ir. EnH"r so11 !"flY? ,, "Nothing-oh, yes : aft e r 1hc bt• 11cdi d ion he n.sket.l o f hi s n ext
11 ci~h ho r !ht: nu.me o f t h e o flit'i:din ~ cl c r ~ym an, and, wh c11 falteringly nnswercll. wilh
gC' ntlP ~ in1plif'i ty n!11ia1·kc1l: ' li e ~ccrns n \'cry comu:ic nLiou s, plaiu-spoke11 ma11 , 1 and
went on h is p eace ful \Y:ty . · 1--Atlr111tic Jlfontllly.
Til e follo\\·ing a n culute o f the fonntl c r of l\fcl'hodi sm ha~, \\·e beli eve, n ever Uecn p11bJj 5Jw cl. U r ca cl ir's 11 1'5 fnnn a Lrn st worth y so urce, a nd it illus trates in a rernarlmt>lc man ..
n e r the min~\1• \ l piety aurl t a c t of tlln.t c111i11 c11 t mrrn.
Altho1q:d1 \\'ef\lcy, lik e I.he A postle.", fo11111l that. hi :-; preaching (litl n ot g reatly aficct
th e mighty or the 1101Jle, ::-till he 11un1bc rcc l !"Ollle familie ;; o( good p os i tio n a111rmg hi s followers. It was a t th e l: ousc of o ne of th ci-:c that the incid e nt h ere rccordctl took place.
We ~h·y ha rl ber·n preach in g . and a <lau ghter of. a neig h bori ng gc ntlcma.n, a gi rl rem :i rk:i.hl c for h ~r hl':H1ty. hn\l U<·cn prn founllly in1prcssrtl hy hi s exho r tati ons. After the
fic rm o n \\' c~!cy w :1~ i nvited to thf' gent.l e11rn.11's h otffe to lnn c hco n, antl with hi m!;C'\ f o ne
o f hi s pr<'a <'h e r s \\· n,-; c n tc rtai11 ed. Thi s preach e r, lik e mnny o f tlw cla~R atthnttim t•, was
n man o f plain mann ers, and nut cousc ions of the restra in t s of f!OOLl society. Th e fa.i r
young l\lethuUis t F>nt l>cs itl c him at the tabl e, and he 11oticcd that s h e wore a number of
ring-s.

J)11ri11 g a 11:rn ~e i11 t h e rnen.1 t he preach e r t ook holtl of the so1111g i:ttly's h n.n tl, a nd,
i t in th e nir, c nllc1l W1 ~~lt' y ' s alh·nt.ion to I h e i:-park.Jing j cwel~u What 110 yo:1 think o[ this, 8ir, 11 he sai d , ' ' for a :MC'thod iRl:'R hnncl?,,
The g irl turned c:rinum n. For Wesley, wjth his known :rntl cx prcRF-Cd avers.ion to
finf'ry, t h e ip1<· ~ ti11n \\·n~ n. pP.c uliarl y m\·k:wnnl 01w . nut tlw ngcd cvangcl iRt i.:;h owt·'1 a
tn ct whkh Ull{'st.crnchl mi g ht hn v1~ envied. H e Jooketl up with a.qnict, bcncv11IP.nt smile,
n11d ~ imply said: "Tlie h:rnd iR Yery beautiful.''
Th e i;!irl h n.11 e xpected ~o rn cthing Vt-ry difTcrcnt, fr om a r e proof \\Tn.ppe<l np in s nc h a
felicity nf eo mplir11 f' nt. S he had Lhe g on! l se n se t o my n othin g; but when, a few h onrs
later, RlH' ng-idn appf' ared in \Vci'l ey 'H prcRe nce, th e bea utiful hand was stripped of e ve ry
ornament except th osC which nature had givcu.-London Societv.

COMMENDATION.
IMPORTANCE OF APPRECIA'l'fON, p. 15.
PHAISE shou ld he j11dicio11s, p. 40.
shoulrl be deli11itu, p. 4tl.
should co me from those '11ml.ilied to b estow it, p. 4\J.
shoulrl be given unohtrusive ly, p. GU.
should be given wh ere most i1 eecled, p. Gl.
should be ho11 es t, p. G2.
The safest prai se is r1 uotation, p. 58.
COl\fPLJMu;NTS Tim HAPPU:;ST AVgNUB OF WJ'l', p.
Banteri11g compliments, p. G4.
How to r eceiv e complime nts, p. 55.

rm.

REPROOF.
Occasion less fr eque11t, p. 55.
May be di sg uised, p . 5G.
Should be open antl manly, whe 11 direct, p. 57.
Should be private, p. 57.
Accorn pani ecl by comme ndations, p. GS.
Only occasional, p. 5!).
The commancl of friendly soli citude, p. 5\J.

nd ~ in g

SUGGESTIVB QUESTIONS.
What do you consider most importa11t, a11d most likely to be useful,
praise or reproof •
Do you agree with Sydney Smith (page 128) that the dread of ridi cul e
i1npron?S nutnn e rs ?

What had l\fr. Jnve ni s (page 47) bette r ha1·e sairl ?
How may yonng peopl <' (page 47) most qui ckly "unl earn contempt"?
" 'ould Mr. Bryant's prai se (page 4tl) have p leased the author?
Do you justify Plato (page G7) 9

•

C ll AP.

Cl:IAPTEJl V.
DISC USSION.
I n rr )' ly to a quc~tion whclhcr lhC'rc li:lLl bee n :rn y convcrsnt io n nt a J i :tr~ y from
which he h:tcl j11 ~t coine. l> r. .Joli n ~t1 11 n:1ilicll; "No, si r ; we had talk e noug h, trnt no <:ou 1· ~r.r.:atiou.. ;

t he re

wn ~

n ot h ing diNr u.ysc<i ."

Advantages an d Dangers. - Sydn ey Slllitli l1as
tltn s e pito mi zed tlt e ad va 11t.ag es and tl1 e ll a 11ge r s of arg11in e n t i II eo 11 Ye r sa t: io 11 :
" \\7h cn t11·0 m e n lllC'f't to get h f' r " .ho 101·0 tru th , arnl (li scuss any
cliITi c11 lt p oin t, \\·i th goocl-nat m·c and a n·svoc t for each o ~ h cr's u nd orstaml in gs, it, nh rnys i 111 [l:tl'ts a hi gh degree of r;tcncliness awl
c orta in l-_y t-.o onr kn owl('(lge ; o r, 1dt:1.t, i8 of 11 0ad.v ori11nl Yrtlnc a n<l
ce rl rt inly of g rr al or cliJlicnlly, i t co n viu ccs us of onr ig nornncc. It
is an oxe r<"i se gross l,v aliu s(><l by th ose who ha...-c re.,ourso i.o iJ, aucl
is 1·e r.r ap t, to <lego nornto into a h [Ll.Ji t of pl'rpetnal cont rntliction,
\\· l1i'1h is th o m ost t.ircso mc [Lllcl t!t e most di-<g11st·i11g in all th o ca '.·alog nc o f i111h c'1'ilit ies. It is an f'Xercisn whi<'lt ti rn i1l mou clrmclfrom 11·h icl1 ini ta hl e 11wn ongl1t to n.h stain ; lm r, wl1i ch , i n rn _y hnm l>l e npi11i o 11 , a (hfllw f's a rn nn wlio is calm enongh fo r i t nncl strong
e uo ng li for it, far h oyo n<l nny oth er mcLlt otl of employing tl1 e mi n<l. "

J,et i1 s e:\n.rni11 e t h e se sp ec ifi cat io 11 s in d e ta il.
Contradiction is Not Arg ument. - Jbi o m a ti c
a s tl1i s prirn·ipl c see m s wh e n s t·a te d, on e Eekl nm li s t e n s
lon g to a11 nrg 11111 e 11t \1·itlio11t l1 ca ri11 g it Yiol :it c d. It
is al 11·:1 _1·s e a s ie r to :1 ssc r t th a n to prm:c, csp ee ia!J ,y tho se
opi11i(l11 s i11 "·ltir'. it 11·e l1 r1 1·0 !.:(ro11· n up, a nd w l1i cl1 see m t o
u s a s f1rncl a 111 011t.al -fa ds as li g l1t,

1lll cl

air, a nd 'rn t·e 1-.

fln:rn An g n ~t" il1 n, "If >'on a~k rn e 11·hat is time, I tlo not kn ow;
but I kno 11· 1p1i tc well if yo n clo not ask m e."

Y.]

CON TR ADIC TIO N N OT ARG Ui\IE NT.

63

n is ft S d ifficult, t o <lefellll life ftS it is to d efin e i t. U nless a man
knows what life is, we cannot d efin e it to !tim ; nnlcss h e fee ls
that i t is good to lfre, we cann ot refute ltim wh en h e a rg ues Umt
i t \\"Ould haYe been b etter not Lu have b een born.
" Give yo ur jmlg rneut," said an old jntlge to a you nger b roth er
on tho b en ch, "bn t cl on't gfre your reasons. 'rh o j mlg mc nt may
b e ri g ht, hu t th e r eason s are pretty :mrc to b e ·wror1 g ."
AHe r all, h owever, i n so me Gul1j ecls no Jang1rnge can nocurntely
convey (to th e in exp erienced, at least), all tlte imli cat.ions whi ch infln encc the juclgnrnnt of an acute rw d p rnct isc<l obser ver . Alll1
hence i t has b een j1ntly an<l h al'p ily r e nm rkotl tl1 at " 110 must b e
an indifferent pl1 ysi<::ian 1.-110 never takes any step for \\·lti ch he cannot assig n a satisfact,ory roaso n."- IV11 A'l'E[,y,
Besid es, th e re is h a rdl ,1· a 11 .i· q11 es ti v n so firml y settled
tl1 a t in ge nuity will n o t dev ise an r1rg 11111 e nt pl a us ibl e e n ou g l1

to sta r tle o n e if it co m e n po n 0 11 e i m e :\pected.
A criminal, co1n-ictcc1 of th o urnrLl er of his fa U1er nncl mother,
a ncl as keel if he hacl nn yi.hing t o say for himself, m erely begged
1-.Jmt th o jn 1l ~·0 wo nJd lmvc mci:cy np on a poor orplmn .
An Iowa mm1, a11110.nxl t.hnt a rclativo \1·onl1l co ncc<l e no sup0ri ori ty in that S tate over New Jfa 1npslti rc, at last cxclnim c<l , " A'-.
least you'll ad mi t that I ow,1 is higger." '' I d on' t kn o11· abont that.,"
\Yrts th e c::m t.ious r eply; "ma.yhe i t i<; a little furt h c·r from end to
0ll(l , all flat.ton ed on t int.o a lcvc'l ; lint, i f yon 1niuk kcl it up in '. o
rn om1tains si x: th onsautl feet h i:;li , I g ncss yon wo nllln't cove r
mu ch m ore floor-space than t ho ol<l G rnui te S :alc. "
Arch cleaco.n D oll ison \Yas once d o,;c·ly prcssetl in an a rgum ent.,
lm t hnd eYicloutly rt'solvc<l to clic h a nl. At lengt.li l1is antagonist.,
:i virtuous engin ee r o f the f'l lll il cs i<l 0nl, Jost all patiouce at th e irregu lar "\Ynr farc o[ t ho archdeacon . " L oo k hem, sir, " h e e:x claimecl, d espairingly, "do yo n ackn O\d f'clge th at two ancl h rn
make four? " ''I am n ot p1·C'pare<1 to make an admission of tl rnt
im po rtnnce," rcpliecl t;l1 c arclulear,n n, "till I h a1·c g iven the snl1joct the rn a tnrcst consiclerntiou. Sometimes it is sup p o_sed that
th ey make twc n!'j'-two. "
P erh a]IS not hin g conl<l see m m ore h opeless th an to :irg ne tlrnt
revenge was a factor of civilization, and yet it \Yill p rohably b e no

UR

DtscusstoN'.

[l?AH'l' 11.

slight tri!';k t o rrfnte the foll owing p lea from a recent number of
the P all 1llirll Umette :
11
In r;;nxn gc Fiocicty. thrtt if':.. in any society where Jnw has no force, from Texas to
Grc(' nland -- rcvc n gc tn kl's th l' pl:lf'c of fai t h, hope, charity, and justice. lt ii;; the v irt.uc

with n11t whh.: h lh c io;ocinl or;. n111i zn,t,ion wonk! ce ase to cx. ii::t.. Tribes a.nd .famili es cu uld
s car('f'ly have ~ ur v iv <'d i f th e memhc rf': o f eithe r associati o n had good -nnlnre f11y nbstni11 cd

fro m rc·vr 11 g-i 11 g t.11 cmf'eh cs . Nothi ng co nld have prcvc nlP-d th e scores of rival fa mili es
and tri bri:; frorn PXLt•r111i 11ali11 g peo pl e who di1l not r esent nn i11 ju ry .
" Now, it is i 111 pn11lc>nt hi m :1 kc a du ty w hi ch i~ uni vc ri-:a l toe• diffi cult of nccom pli r:.h Jt, woul1~ ha \·c l>cc n <liITl cult al ways t o hit npo n nrnl i::lay th e man who wn ~ g uilty
nf r:H'h pnrti1·11lnr nffl•nrc t·n p<'r;:;,, ,. or prnpcrl;y. F.nrl y CU RI.om, thme forc. pl'nn iU.ctl rc-

m rnt.

YC'll g"P lP hP tak(' ll nn nny h\11(1<1 n' ifl liom; of

t,J w

c ulprit within ""v1· 11

(l cg rC'c ~ .

F.p c: 1r ri l .Y0 11r grnnd111othe r h l'e:111 se .YO nr 11111..'! e hnrl d evo11rr d t iis I H' pl 1cw.

{l one if yon tnrtllrc 1l his secn 111l co us in Lo tlenth over n slow fir e.

A rn an

Yo11r 1l uty w a s

m ilder

1mt1111 C' r ..; .

n ot see m

n. promi.•dng- st"ntc of thit q:rr.; . n11tl yet it was foll of th e ,:;cell s of

Famili C's bccanH' i ntcrcstrrl i n preven ting

c n11

their poor relat i o n ~ from•

us in g nx (' or how ton has tily. Th 1• r(' was no sati sfa ction in being sp eared b ccn11 ~c sonic
long--lnst 1111<'\c or 1·011~in. wiLh w h om 011 (' wn.R llfl t on i::;pcak in g tcr·ms. harl irn.111l g('1 l himfwl f in a. 111a11 -"J;111g-hi,pr.
Thu :;\ llw 111t •111hcrs nf f1unili{'f.\ fo11 11tl it. co 11vr 11i c 11 t t o kl·C p n.n
eye 0 11 P:tch o tlw r' i.; rnovc111cnt.:, nn<l to g h ·c 11p their c nlprit,.c;; to he ch mlt with by a cc utrnl
nn th ority. Gnulua ll y ln.w cam e into ex istence, aml rnvengc ceased to be the chief e nd uf
JlH\ll.

11

Tl 10 faet is, few people appreciate tl1e difficulty of clefend i11g an opinion ngi•inst a skilful opponen t; and tl10se
wl10 fai l to d etect a fallacy, or lose sight of their own rnain
arg11me11t, l1av e the a 1111oyance o:f feeling that though they
are right th ey cannot pl'ove that they arc.
Sometimes th e truth rn rLy b e est:iblish Cll by reducing a falfacions
coHclnsiou to a pntctical rihsurdit.v.
"Fatl 1cr," sriitl ri F reshmrin, ltome on his firs t vacation, " h ow
man y chickens arc th ere on th e t.rible?"
''Two, rn y r-;ou."

'' No, si 1-, th ere are three, and I can prove it.
th cro? "
' ' Yt.'~ ,

mother, I will take this one myself, aud yon sh all have the third
for your logic."

E specially humiliating are the <lefeats of ti 1use who,
haviug listened to a siugle argnment or read a single treatise on some snbject hitherto nninv est.igatecl by them, suppose that they 11 a rn mastered t.l1 e s1il1ject it self, and in
proceed ing to make converts l1appen 11pon somebody wl1 0
knows n ot only this arg11me 11 t a11 <l its hi story, liut a dozen
tltat re fute it.

Honor arnl cn .r;;to in wc .. c

f'nti :-:: fi cd fo r the m o m ent.

"T hi s dr,cs

CnAP. V.] DIFFICULTY OF Dl!a?ENDING A:-:{ OPINION'.

There is one, isn't

1n y 8 011."

' ' And th e re (pointiu g to the other) is two, isn't there?"
'' YC's, 1ny son. u

"And 0110 and two mrike tl1 ree, don 't they ?"
"Yr;;, my son; wlrnt, rt grl':<t. f'liin~ l'"ami1J g is, to b e s1u:e. \\'ell,
siuce t.lterc arc three dti ckens there, I \\·ill hand this one to yonr

How such a disputant appears to a man of broad information is
thus illustrated in Colerillge's " 'l'able-'l'alk : "
1\Ir. - - is, I suppose, one of tlw ris in g young men of the day ;
yet h e went on trilkiu g the other evenin g and making renmrks with'
g reat earnestness, so rn e of which were palpabl y irreconcibble wit.h
each ot,her. He told me that facts gave birth to and were the ribsolute ground of p1·inciples ; to which I said t.lmt unless h e Imel a
principle of selection he would not h ave taken notice of those
facts on which he grounded his principl e. Yon must have a lantern in your hand to give light, otherwise rill the materials in the
world are useless, for yon could not fiml th orn, and if yon could
you could not arrange th em.
"nut then," said 1\Ir. - -, "that principle of selection came
from facts."
"To b e sure," I rnplied, "bnt ther e must ha Ye b een again an
antecedent light to see those antecedent facts. The relapse may
b e carried in imag in ation backmmls foren•r, lrnt go brick as
you may you cannot come to a man without a previous aim or
principl e."
H e then asked me what I had to say to "Bt:tcon's Induotion." I
told him I had a good d e::tl to sriy, if n eed were ; but that it was
perhaps enough for th e oce:t8ion to remrtrk tlmt wlmt h e was very
evide ntly taking for the Baconial li1cluction wt:ts mere D ecluctiona very different thing.

\Vhen practical de1r101istratio11 is impracticabl e, a11d especially wh en o.ne begin s to feel hi s position really i11 se-

!'. 7

c

C I NC I NNA

DISCUSSJON.

<'me, th e temptation is stroug to 11 iake up in londll css of
tu11 e " ·l1 at one la e ks in clearn ess of t l1 011 g li t, and to snbstit 11 l:e eo nt.raLlidion fo r a rg 1111 1e11 t. S i11 ce th is i111p11l se is felt
C\·e11 11,r a 111 n11 li n11 cstly d cfo11cli11g l1i s c:o11viet ion s, it is easy
to co11 ce i1·e tl1 efasc i11ation it li as for tl1e yo 11ng 11 1an without
con v ict ions wl 10 is 111 crnly a11xions to attract att'cll tion.
" What <lid you think of my a rg um ent?" asks Jon es of a comrn<l c.
"It m:is souml- Yery som1<l; in fact, it was nothing but
sonn d. "
H er c cnm Dr. John so n iih O\YCtl \l·cakn css.
'Jlii s g re w iu part ont-. of hi1; Joye for p arad ox, in wl1 i ch feature
lie liore a s tron g r cscmlilan cc to 1h o \\·its of J\fotlarn e Geoffrin 's
, ,i1n11 . 'ro th is sonn·e is lo Li e att ril.Ju tcd the strnu go l ack of unifonuity an<l co nsisle1ll'y in hi s opinion s, it bein g hi s cus t om to be
in i·.li c oppositio n, tu whil'li ornr si <l o of th o qu estion h o mig ht lrn
d ri v01t. At o ne ti 111 " good a nd at anothe r evil was vred orn.inant in
th e const.itnt.ion o[ th o worh1. Now ]10 would d eplor e th e n onoh sorvance of Gootl Fritl ay, allll ll O \\' d e ny th at t h ere \\·as any de<· liu c in t h o ohserrnnce of re] igions fcs ti nils. H e would r<o m ct.irn es
""n trn<li ct self-m·ill c n t proposi tio ns, snrh as tl rn~ the lnxnry of the
conn t.ry lm•l inc rPusc1l \Yi th its 1frl 1es, and I hat the prncticc of cardpln.yin g \rn.<; morn g<' nc rnl than fon ncrly. Ho \Yon ld llll'd a so nncl
arg11n1 c11t, \\·if.ha "\Yhnt then, s ir? " or ::t "Yon d o n ot see yo ur
\\·ay f.li ro ng h t h e qn cr<tion, s ir," or, " Sir, yon talk tho lan gua ge of
ig norance ; " ::in<l \Yh <'n 110 w::is compelled to gfro hi s assen t-, \l·hi eh
li e al ways 1li<l re lucbn tl y, h o wou ld preface it \Yith a " \ Vh y no,
sir."- l-IEIWEY.
'l'ho lrnhit of con t,ra<l ict.i n g, into \T hiclt ,yonn g men- and young
men of ahi lity in particnlar- are npt. to fall, is ti halJit extremely
injnrions to the po\\'NS of th e uml erstn.nding. I \\·oulcl recomm end
to snc h :·onng nw n nn in td lec tn nl r egim en o f \rhic h I rn p:elf, at
nn <'arl icr r0r in1l of lifr, li avo felt, t.h0 n11va ntag<'s : ::tnrl th a t is, to
ass0n t to t h n fir st t.\\·n prnposi tions th:i.t th ey h ear cvf!ry d ay ; and
Hot on l,r to assf'nt to 1.l1< 'tll , ]Jut., if U1('y can, to irnprov0 and crnl.Jelli1; b ll1 r m, and t.o make the spea ker ::t li ttl e rn oro in Jove with his

CnAP. V. J

NOT VICTOJW, UU T TlWTH.

own opinion th::in h o was b efor e. \V hon they h arn ::i litt.le got over
th e bit terness of contradictin g they nmy th e n g imhrnl ly i ncrease
the nnrnber of assents, a nd so go ou us their co nsti t ution will h ea r
it, :iml I lrnvn lil.t.I" clnnlil·, 1.l1nJ. in tim 0 ! his 'l·ill cffe <'l. a compl ete
ancl ]JCrfect cnrc. - SYDNEY S~trrH .

The Strife Should be Not for Victory, but for
T ruth. --A111 011g th e ~dva ntagcsof ui sc u ~s i u ll CllllliJenLICd
by SyLl uey 8 1ui tl1 there is no rn c11 t i.o n of grnt if'y i.11g 01w's
v:w ir..r hy sh o\1· i11 g tliat cJ11 c (·:111 e1111h 1tc a 1·0111 pa111 011; yet
with 111 any di sp nla1it·s 1l1 at \1·01 ild scc ~n tl 1e sole occasiu n
for a rg rnn cnt. 1\n ""l f-1l PfonJ. eo1ild 110 111 urc 11 tte1·. G rn11t
tltat s11 eli a one l1 :v; 11ntlii11 g ti1 lea rn , f·l1at 1r istlrn11 "· ill di e
,r it,lt l1 illl, tl1 at tl1 c sole pmposc ut : L l'~ 1111 1 e 11 t i s !'\> d i,: plny
01 1c's sk ill, and yet li e foil s o [ l1i s e 11d ; f ur tl1c suecess i11
al'glll11 e11t is al:ta i11 c1l 11 ot by cu 11 (11t i11g, ln1t 11.r <'.0111·i11ci11g;
a n~I a mnn co n1·i11 cc(l a~ai1 1 s r. l1i ,; ,1· il l j ;; o [ tl1csa111 c opi11iun

s till.
It costs a m ::tu l ess lo admit t.h:1t, hi s l1 cad is h ar11 1.lian th :tt l 1is
brain iB weak. Often OJJO p ersis ts in eno r to csc-n-p" 1· nni'f' ssin g
t h at h n h as b f'c n in e rro r. !-\neh :t p f' 1·sn11 rna_v l 1n lr· il W'nt J,,- nn•l
circnitou sly to p ositio ns iu to wl1ie li h e co11l cl 11 0\'f'i' h o i msli o!l , as
]ms b ee n i llnstm te tl s u \\·ell in th e fo hk 0f the 11ur:·h :rn<l t hl' sont lt
wimls. l3y a series of Jh11 k rno vo 111 clll-s, skiHnll.v '">1iti1111c(l , 110
may b o indu ced to p rop ose ::io; original , :i llll to 11 q.;·e 1q•nn his oppone n t the very viow which Orn•, oppo m'n t h as nrt[nl J,,· i1n plantc1l,
kn ow ing tlt::it the germ t lrn '; nucon c;C'ion sl.v r ecei,·e<l \\·011 hl <l c,·elop
in to a con vic ti o n agains t \\·l1ieh i n its co mplctern'ss h e wo nlil h aYe
rnvolt.eil. This ·is art con cc:i.lin g n 1'1"., a p f' rfec l ion irnpossil 1le to
th e e o-o t ist., who i s n evN eontc11 t miles" l1i s ng<'ncy is man ifest..
As
i s th e u est exncnt.i.vc \\'h O ]l<' \'('J.' m f' <111l f's \\ ii.Ji \\'llflt is alre::icly satisfac \on•, arnl \vl tD kno\l· s I hat. h e is gm·c'Tlli ng 1icst wh oa
h e seems n ot to l >e governi ng at a ll, so li f' nrhi"'·rs t-11 c gTeat·e>t,
victo ry in mp;nment \\·ho sce mr; 11 cvm· to C'rtl'C for Yi e tor.'-, "·h n. is
wi lli ng to seem t o he in formC'(l h y hi s opponent. of th e ve ry prmciples i t lm" tak ien him h o nrs to i nst.il into that op po nf' n L
It ma.y b o urgctl t.lmt this m od o of arg ument is insidious ; that

lt;

GS

blSC USSlON.

t o Reem t o h o convi nced liy a noth er of wh at on e is r m lly conYinciu g hi111 in volYes an ol cm e 11 t of tlecc]Jtion. :But in itself t;J 10
rn otl10tl is Hirnply n concession to mwther 's weakness, and to em ploy it is ri f_( h t or wro ng rtcconliu g rts our purpose is to i1npress flrn
t rnf.h or t.o i m<hl rrn e rro r. 'J 'hat it; j,, rt freq11 out <l 01·ico of cYil
m 0u m erdy shows that. it i s tinrn goo<l m en we re famili rtr wi th it.
\Ve am comm arnled to b e wise us serp ents, us well as h armless us
<loves .

11es id cs, n111011g fair-111i11Jed m en this is nrn c!t m ore
lik ely tu lc:td to t l'llth th a.11 th e "l>o w-w ow " m a nn e r of
Dr . .T<>l111 so11 ,, Cl'll shi1w
do11·11 OilJ)()Siti un aml e nfo rci110·
>< i0
0 ,_
lc11 cu wl1 e rn 011 0 ea1111 ot <'any co111·icti1111 . 0110 u lte n st.art·. s
011 t to co111·crt an otl1 e r, a 11d e11d f< ln·
lJC i1w
l1i1u sclf co 11 ,
::::>
1·u1tcd, 1Jeca 11se a :fair di sc 11 s~ i o 11 n:1· eals i1 c w co 11 sid eratio11 s. !:11t iE 011 e is i11te11 t 1111011 di sl:n1nfiti1w a 11d d e111 ol. I.
"'
is 1lllg an oppone nt, on e w ill suck rather to sil ence hi 111
tlian tu l1 ea1· l1i111.
. " I am Oll t' wh o \\·on kl g ln d ly b e r 0f nt.0cl if I sh oulrl say anythrn g u ot tl'll e, a nd won kl g!atUy rn l'ntc a!1oth er sl1 onlt1 h e say
n.11 ~· thi11 g n ot f nm ; h11 t, wo nld 110 k ss gladl y lie rnfn tc-<1 t h a u rofn lc ; for I <loo m i t a grPa to r alha11 lage t o b o frce(l from t,J1c
g rcat('s t. of f' 1·ils t.lm11 to freo another; n.11 tl n ot hi11 g, I con cefr e, is
so g rPat n.n f',·il as a fal sn opiniou OH umtt.ern o f m oral con cc m111<' 11t.. "--Rm·H11TES (in th o Gorgi;ts o f Pl at o).
fh,·i ft li rts ol JsC'l'l"<'( l th a.t "His n. sh o rt. 'rn.r to obtain t h o rnpn tn.ti nn of a 1r.iso aml .rn:v.;o11:di]o m r111, \\'lJC'n ev<·r any b ody to] ls you hi s
opinio n, t o a~ r ee "· if h l1im. " P.n tthis is satire, :1 ud mnst b e tak<'n
\\·itl1 a \\·li nl<' lm g fo 11 o f sa H. '.l'lw <' 01npani o n \\'<' valn n lllos t i s lie •
\\·ho g i1·ps n s n nw tl1 nn gh ts n.11<1 s u gg· r~sti o n s, lm t so skilfoll 1' as
11 01·c r to \\' Ollll<l onr sdf-lon'. " ·o <'l1jny rn ns t, n ot tl w arglll ~f' nt
in whi <' h nn r o ppnne n t yif' l(l s "·i tl1 on t. rtn dfo rt , lrnt t hat i n which
h e sfri\·ps llla.nfnlh :rn 1l al1l .v, rtn1l fin n.1.1.y h rt rd,v yiclcls, just as wo
\\'Prl' nnrsP h-Ps los in g co11fi1l 0111·0 in onr ow11 "i<l<'.
A story is f.11]<1 nf n. rn rtn tl1rmYn frnm hi s h orsn n.iul ohli gl'<l to
Ji n for 11·1•r ks nt, rm inn \\·h Ne 11 0 eonltl gPt no oth er rea<ling than
a l o t of ug ricnltnrnl rnports. For sh eer lack of ot,h cr occu p n.tiou

C UAP.

V.]

SP ECJ AL SUG GESTlONS .

GO

l1 0 stutlierl ag ricn ltn ro as a seicn cP, n ot; d roami ng it. 11·011ld ever b e
of u se f·o him. But rt w hile rtfter h e \rnn te<l to m arry the dn.n g ht er
o f a weaUli y farm er who " ·as oppose<l to a ci ty yo un g rn un for a
son-in -law. :Bethinkin g hirn RP lf of his agricu ltnral iufonnafion,
]10 h <>g:w t,o d uvvto his 1·isi l;s f·n t l1 0 rath er i nst,(•a<l of t.J1 e tla11 g hh ·r,
arg ne<l 1rit.Ji him for l1 nnrs o n <pwst i o ns of which the fa rm er li: ttl
far l ess ge neral k11 owlec1gc, awl ro g nl::trl y pus h eel tl1 0 farm er, p oint
liy poiut, to wh ere d efout Rtar ctl l1im in f'l tc [n.ec, an d th en un ol.Jt.rnsi vely snggest C' d consicl e nitio11s 'rhioh tl1 0 fann er sei zed and
wou the vi('tory _,·it h, \d1 ilo t·h o youn g m an 11·on th e thmglitcr.

Su 111 e RjlCl: ial i;nggestiu ns 111:1y l>e of sc n·iee.
a. Be Always Rea d y to Listen. - 'l: cn.rnn tcael1 es
t11 at 1'11 e first step i11 a so111 ul a rg 11111en t is tu asee r tain lww
fo r u11 c ag rees \l·ith 011< :·;.; oppo 11 e11 t., nrnl a t wh a t p oi11t
tl1 eir co11viet.io11 s h ug in to di1·c rgc .
There is somdhin g cxt r crn cl,;- fn scinn.tin g i11 fLniclo w ss, ancl m ost
m en are Llosirnus o f appea rin g qnick. 'l'h o great rul e for b ccorniu g so is b'!) not allcrnpti 11g to 11ppem· quicker than yon r eal!!) ar e; l1y
rnso h ·i ng to 111uler,;tn.ml yonl'Hclf and ot h ers, an d to lrn ow wl1 at
you m oan al.Ill " ·h at t h e:y rn oau, lJcfnrn ~·on sp ea k or a nswer. EvPry
m an rnn st snhmit t o 110 sl o w. h cforn 11 0 i ~ qni c k, a n<l iusig uif'i ca11t
l• oforc h e iR impm:t.nnt.. Th o ton early st rn gg ln agrtin st tl1 e pain
of ob scnrit;y co rrnpts no s11 1all sh am of iw dc rstandin gs. -SYDNEY
SmTH.

llcfnre the lrtt,O ci vil \rnr , \Yll ('lt Opini om; \ \'OYO the lll OS t ]ll'OlJOllll CO(l , a mer clmnt i n Bosto n \rns a rg ni ng fls to so me poli t ical
rn ens n.re.. '.L'he discn ssion ]1 arl "on l inu Pd [or so1ne tim e, nnd \1·as
g ro11·i11 g \\·a rm, \\· h on l1is fri N1d exclaimed:
" :Bn t ynn arc too fas t., l\ fr. - - ; yon lH•gin l>y assnmiu g th at
s laYory is wron g ." "·f:l ir," sa.id t ltn m e rc·h :111t, stq ipin g n erYons.l y
ba(' k , "I am willin g to gil-o m o11 n.v rul(l ti111 e tn olln cn.t.in g tl1e
rn assc>< on t his qn est ion , lmt. ;·on rnn st take :vonr clirtn ccs with th e
cro wd ; I have no tim e t o spend o n an imli vi dual fool. Good
mornin g ."

b. Concede All that is Unessential.-N otl1i11 g
more di stin g ui sh es a great J11in d from a little 011e than

70

DISCUSSION.

[PAilT

II.

r ecog n it iou of th e esse ntial, aml conce ntrat ion upo n j t.
T l1i s is indi ea ted in th e very word mugnaniin-ity, {r reatrni!lll ed11 css, 11·hiclt yield s to au oppo1: e11t eve rythi11~ lmt
the esse ll t:i al trn th.
Fur in stance, yonr opponent sl1 onld be free to nsc l1is
0\\"11 la11 g 11age aml metJ1 ocl s of rcaso lling.
Hi s mind " ·ill
be oce npi ed e11 011g lt with tl1 e tl1011glit, aud sho uld Le a ll01rcd to ex press itsclt aceonli11g to l1 ah it. To di vert it
hy 1·erua l C'riti eism 1ronM 111crcly cl is tract and co11fosc.
:: ~ow. ~n y

1

t-:_:lid a l:J1.\".P'r l o Iii .-: w:1.111·i:;;.> 1
l i-tllll I w o n ill n ut Ji n,·e tli c µig. 11
" Aiul w hnl wa~ hi f) a 11.c;,,·c·r 'f :·
111 :11.1, :

11

tell us cxad ly wha t pa ~:?cd.,'

Y1.·s, ~ tr.

:: J~e .~ail} h e h:ul IJcc n kcr,p;11~. it, r() r !HC, arnl that h e - ' '
No, n o, l ~c c·o11l• l 1:ot h:nc sa1 Ll t hat. Ile s poke in t h e firs t pcr::;on. 11
l . No, r-:ir. I wa:;; th e first pe r so n wh o ~po k e. 11
'
L
D r111't IJri n'.=! in tlt c thinl p r.r so n; r e peal. hi s ex act "·onl s."
i: T it e re W:t!-< 110 I hin t ppr.-"Oll, s ir: rn1ly l:itn n111l 111c."
•• .i\l y ~onl\ felln\\". h e. dill u o t say 'I:lc hall been k ee ping th e pig.'
IJCC /I JU' C P l ng

H e said, 'I hav e

the p ig .. "

'· .L a -"!-< 111"1 ~ y 1111, sir, th c rC' \\"a s 11() m ention m:1dc o f y o11r:::clf nt. a ll . v.·t~ n.rc 011 difTc r cnt s_t..o r :cs . . There \\·as 11 0 !bird per -"O ll tli e r C', a11tl if any lhi ng llacl bC(' ll sa.:d nlJout JO nr
kc<>111 11g a )Hg for 11 11.! I ~ h rrnld h nn.! Jie. 1rd it. 11

I /ross-e.1·a111inr1tion. - In this case, if the witness h ad b een ctill ec1
for the prnRc~eu ti o n, it mi gh t h ave Leen claimed that it "·as the
lawye r's obj nc t to co nfuse him, a11c1 tl1el'Cuy render his testimony
va luel()ss. 'J.'h e fo llo11·i11 g iR au exampl e of a sort of cross-questionin g some times snpposed to Lo as effec tive as i 0 is u nfair.
Yon ~ay y ou know l\Ir. Smith."
Yes, s ir.11
"Yon !"\Ye a r yo n know h im ? 1'
11

1

•

11

)'e;:,

" iL 1 1

14

Yon 111ca n }11 11 arc ~1crp 1ai 11 tc<l with h im? n
" Ye~, s ir, aeq u:ii11Lctl w ith h m1. 1•

Oh. yon (lon't kn ow him : yo n :i.r c nwrcly ::tcqnaintcrf w ith him. Remember that
yon a r c on oaU i. si r . Now , he c :1rc f11!. Yo11 rl on·t rn cn n to tvll i h c co nrt t hat. vou know
•
nil :1!1 1111t i\ft'. S1 11i t!i, eve ryth in g that h e ever cl id ? n
i;

" N 11. l - "

"T lrnl' ll tl o, sir.
his n.cts?"

'· Of co nrsc - "Stop t h e re.

No, yo n c.l u n ot.

Very go od.

So you are n ot a cquai nted w ith nll

·1

A re you, o r arc you not? ,,

•" No. 11
"That is t o sny yo n a rc 11 ot so well n.cquaintcd with him as yon thought you were ? "

CIIAP.

LEGAL CROSS-EXAMINATION.

V.]

71

' ' Poss iUly not . '
"Just so. Nuw we begi n to undcrstanrl eg,c h other. Hyon 1lon·t know n11ything about
Mr. SmiLh 1 f' ne ts when )' ull a rc 11ut with h im, yon can' t swear t h:it .ruu kno w ldu1. can y ou ?1'
,. rr yon put it in that way -- . ,
'· ComP, s ir, Llun ·t seek t o evade my question. 1"11 put i t t o y ou :iga :n. Wh en yon say
you k no w .l\l!'. S.11ith 1 yon don ' t mC'nn to sr~y yon kn ow C\'C'ryth ing h e docs? ,,
"No, si r, of i.;u nrse not."
"Jn ...:t, xo; {l f co urF.c n ot. The n yo u were n ot qui te co r rec t whe n you 1-:;ai(l you kn<!w
Mr. Smith ?"
HNo, i:;ir. "
" A h, I tl1oug h t so. Th at' ll do, s ir. Yon can :=;tn rnl <1own ."'--Bo8ton Tran scri}Jt .
1

Such cinestioning has made t h e witness-stand a t error to many
wodh .Y p cop ln, lm t i ts cx p c <li c n cy ll1 rt.Y l>c qn estimw<l , eve n w li c n

its end is attained. For Lh c msu is !.ri ccl l>dorc :~ jn<l g·o o r a jm,v
quite ready to estimate the d eserts of a client wh ose bwycr is
obliged to rely upon such m eth0<] s.
B esides, n ot all witnesses are easi ly brow-beaten. A cool h ead and
a qui ck wit will often hur l npon ti)() llLwyer 's h ead th e very confusion
h e h as h eaped up for the wi tuess-th e m ore easily b ecau se the
wi tness, like ::tll wenker p::trties, lms the sympathy of t h o :;pectators.
E\'cn Daniel \Vl' bstc r o c ca~ ional ly met hi s rna tch h1 s ueh rm cn co1111tcr. In lhc som ewhat r:unou:=; case of ~ rr~ . Tiog·c11 ·s wi ll, wh ic.: h wa s tri ed in tl ic S11 prcmc Conrt, h e np·
p carc(l :i s counst'l for the n.ppcll n11L. Mrf'. Grcc11on;;h 1 w i[co f t lw H.cv . William Gn!c11011gh ,
a tn ll 1 straig h t, queen ly woman, w it h a kee n blat: k eye, a wo1ua11 of g reat fwlf- po:::scssion
an cl cl c~ i :-ion of elm.meter, was cal1cLl t o t h e sla!Hl "" :i. \\·itn cr;.;s for t. h c opposite Rillc.
At a g i n.nee~ \V e iJ ~ t.cr saw tt1at h er lcs tirno n y, if i t con tain ed a n ythin g of iinportan cc,
wo111tl hnsc great 'Yeight with t h e court a ntl jury, n n d he rcsoh•ctl, if !>ossiUle, to brcnk
h er d ow n .
Notw ithslnnd in g hi s r c pcate1l cffort,s to rliscon cc·r t h er, s he ca l inly con ti nucll h er tcf't:tr.ony , u n til \VeUster, Uc com in .~ fcn. rfnl of l h c r esul t, rnarfo a s11prcmc effort. H e :irose,
appare ntly in great a g it:1t..io 11 1 tlrcx ont I d~ large t'nuff:-box: t hn .1 ~ t hi" Llrnmb a11t l fin ger
t o the very botto m , c~rr i cLl the d eep pinch to Uoth n ost r :J:;:. 1 aJHl drew it up with a g u ~to .
The n ex tra ctin g- rru1n hi i:.; ]lock e t a ve ry large lrnr.dkcrchi d, \rhi <..: h rt uwc<l to 11 ;s feet a!';
h e hronght ;t h• t h e fron t, h e blew hi s:: n oF.c wit h a r epo r t that, rn.n g di stin c t nn d lond
tlmn1g h t h e crowLlet.l h al l. r111tl :t'-' ki·tl:
'· Mr:"i . C,:. rc ::! n Ol1 '. ,d 11 was l\Irs. Ho...;-cn :i. neat wo man? ' 1
':I can n ot give ful l infor mation a s t o th at, si r. She h aU one very dirty trick.,,
"\Vh:ll; was that, ma'am?,,
'" S he took ~ nnff.,,
Th e ro:t r o f the co11 rt·h on ~c wa .c; ~nc h tlia t J\Ir. \\Tcb~ tcr ~ at. ~l o wn an d neith er r ose n or
spoke n.:;ain till l\'!r .~ . G reen ou g h lrntl vacn.tcd h e r Rca t fo r :1.nothcr witn ess.

In r epo rting the G nitean t rial a i10wspape1· coJ'l'espondent wrote:
"Jud ge Porter 's system of cross-cxarninati ou is the lLUtlLgou istic
on e. His aim is to break n witness d own, to catch him in a lie o~·

• l l ~l

co

: INN:

72

DISCUSSION.

PAHT

II.

n contrnf1iction. 'I'hi~ fa tht: vlLl iueLiiuJ. IL i:s more honored in
the l.Jrcach tlmn in the observance. 'l'he suut.lest m ouern lawyers,
like 'l'il<lon, E varts, Cushiu g, the late L ord Cockburn, aml others,
l1 avc wo 11 s uccesses with t he sy mpath etic methoJ, which prove it
by far th e bett.e r, and " ·hi clt should relegate the a utago nistic
m et.hod t.o the limbo of th e obsolete.
' ' Tli e Porter m ethod puts the "-itncss on his m ett.le, teach es him
the processes o f tl1 c lawyer, enalJles him to anticipate his purp oscR, makes !tis mind work like lig htnin g, and breaks d own the
h"ycr b\·icc as oft.e n as it hrealrn tl ow n the wi t ness.
"R,r tl 1c syrnp:i. t hdic rn cfl1 o<l , the witnrss is nevrr cl oubte<l, deno1u1 cc<l, or disco uragc1l. H e j _, sc <l11 ect1 illto ponriJJ g ont J1is vers ion in a g rea t vnri ct._,. of c<li tions. His itliosyncmsies and weak11 csscs nm tlcfcrrcd to. A fatal flnency iu him is excite<l by all
the a1.-ts lrnmn1 to eo nr tcsy an<l aetin g . 'l'he exmniucr shows his
<''·rry feeling, an<l th o \\"itncss is tkli ghtl'<l - nnt.il th e summin g np.
H e f.lt cn finds , if he lt:ts Jl(>t snspcct.cd it before, t;Jmt h e is likely
to l1 a,·c iss ne<I abont, ihe ve rsion s or ,-,,·ery fac t, which diHer 011ongh
to l m C'as.ily 1mul e to seem couflicting; :i.ncl that snch a pho tograph
of his wealrn csR<'R li:is bee n takPn ns, mHlor the lig ht of logic and
sar('ns 1u , tPJls trencliantl:v agains t him with th e jnry :i.ntl with the
puhlie. He forgC'ts the lawyer and him self in his pleasure to talk
nntl talk a gain. 'l'ho lawyer never forgets him once, as the summing np shows."

c. Stop When No Approach is Making to
Truth. -- " l>is('()vere rs of trnth ," says Co wper, "are
ge nornlly sob e r, lllod est, aml l1111nbl e; and if th eir di scovf'ri us arn less Yal11 ed l1y 111anki11<l t h an tl1 ey deserv e to be,
r:a 11 bear tho disappoint111e11t wi t h pati e nce a11<l e<Jllality of
te111pe r. Dllt l1 asty r easo ners alHl co nfide nt asser ters are
gene rall y wedded to an l1ypotliesis, allcl , tran sported with
joy at th e ir fa ncied acr1llisit.ion s, a re in1pat.ient unde r cont rad iet io11 s, aml go wi ld at th e thonglit of a r efutation."
1. J\''"e1•er Compel Di.sc11s8io11.- "
compel a 1ww to clisCl! ss " ·itli yon wl10 ca1111n t play the ga n1 ~, a n<l d oes not
like it," says Syrln ey t:l111ith, " is as unfair as to compel a

i'o

CllAP.

V.J

WHJi; N TO AVOID DISCUSS ION.

73

person to play at chess with yo n uIJder similar circumstances." For this r eason it is rude to conti11uaJJy cornpel
expression of opinions by inquiry, or Ly appen<li11g a
"Don't you think so?" to a state mout of one's own views,
si nce it forces oue's co mpanion eith er to assent to wliat h e
may not Leli eve, or to fonnnhte au<l defe nd an opinion
that is but vague, aud that ltc is Hot interested e nough in
to cl well npon.
2. Avoid Di.~cn.ssion witli J'lwse U11fitte1lfor I t. - ·when
1Jerc11les desee11ded to the lowe r wo rld li e waR co nfronted
by the shade u£ ]l,le~l us a .
I lu was abu11t tu draw l1i s
sword, when J'\forcury reminded l1im that it wa s only a
pl1 autom. He ret urn ed hi s swo rd to hi s scalih rtr<l. Even
H ercules h ad 110 strength to ·waste on a sl1 aclow.
But wh en a d etrimen tal opinion, though ab snrd and trivial in
itself, is likel:v to gain currency from the earn estness and pretension of its advocates, it th e n b ecom es our duty to set it in a
proper lig ht. In Hilc uciug snch p crnon R we mnst J_H'O CCCll according to the lights and shad es of circmn stan ces. Solomon p oints
out both the Scylla and the Charyb<li s, of whi ch h o wonld havens
steer clear. On the one hand "·e have, "Answer a fool accordin g
to his folly lest h e b e wis0 in hi s own conceit ;" on the other,
"A11sw0r uot a fool acconling t.o l1i s foll y lost thon b e like unto
him." The first direction is applicrd 1le to casf'R " ·h ere pride or
vanity calls aloml for rehulrn. If h e is impn<lent or rude, we are
to treat him with sev0rity; if p ositi ve, we mnst b e equall.Ypositive,
a ud not be tend er of tl1e fee lings o f one "·lio is tleR t.itute of th e
SenRibilities of the human kin cl. Tiy a sn.tirirnl imitnJ,ion of his
own langn[Lge we a re to Rhow him to himscH as a mirror; by
copying his air, tone, or mod e of rrn.soning we a rc to nmke him
asham eLl for hiR co rruption and shallown ess.
B y the second direction we are to un<lerstand that it is not our
duty to correct an immoral person in hi s own langn:i.ge, wh en it is
profane or obscene, or to repl y at all \\-h en his speech or behavior
is of a d escription to r ender him undeserving of th e interconrse of
his species, or when a reply would be a self-degradation.- HERVEY.

1·

'•

I

74

DISCUSSION.

[PAll'l.' II.

A day or two n.go when n sC'rvnnt opened the side door of " ho11sc on S ibl ey Street,, in
rc!'. po niie lo n. tra111p's kn ock, he r fnce looked so kind nntl hc nc volc nt t hat the h111 1gry mnn
had no c1 011 lJt tlint a good <linn c r nwaitcd him. l :le had, ho we ver, laid o ut a ccrtnin µro·
gramm e, and he t herefor e IJcgan:
11
My dear woman, I ha vc11·t hatl anythin g to cat for two clays, n.nd I wa nte ll to a!'.k if
you woul d f::.pnrc m e o ne of tlw i-c idel cs whic h !ins folll'll from the enYeR ? ,,
11
Well, l <11111110, 1· Kile Kluwly r cpli crl, ns l' he look ed ont, " [ 1:;u pposc wo tnigl1t R)iarc
yon o ne, if yon arc rcnlly i-;11fft·ri11 g , !Jut, o[ co 11 n;c 1 you won't take the largest a11d lwf.; t? H
H e ~ tl'pp c< l J O\.,-n nnd i::clcc1c d an ic icle a l>out two feet lon g, and, in a hes itatin g man~
nc r, inquired:
"Tf you w o11lcl onl y s prinkle fl li ttle peppf'r on Lhi s I wouhl bf' forcv!! r grntc fnl. 1 ,
"l t.1R ratlwr ho! d in yon to ai-k it, bu t I suppose I can f' prin klc on n. li ttle-fl very
littl e, " Fi hC rrpli cd, an1l s he got. the pC' ppc r nrnl d11 ~ 1 . cd h is " lun c h eon " vc r.v Rparing ly.
H e s tarted tu m ove away, lmt, ~ec u1ing to recoll ect somclhing 1 h~ t.nrn ctl nnd snirl:
"Yo u Ficc m so be nevole n t !"II n~k you to Bp rinkl c on a litU c s alt as w el l. I like m y
icicles se:tsrnH•1l up pretty hi g h. "
" Yun a rc n lJoltl man, "ir, and it,\; plain yo u h ave th o appetite of n. g ln tton, but r1l
gi ve yo u~ bit o f f::ilt and t1wn yo n m11 i::t be g nn c,,, Rhc repli ed.
Wh e n th e it'ide 1iat1 bee n dul y fia l tcd . the man cx preBf'Cll hi s th:i. nk ~, b nt didn"t move
nwny . Hi s gitm c wn~ n·t \\'orki11 ~ lo snit, hi m. Some folkR won ldn't. hnve stood tlrn ren.1HI
Ree n h im hi lt• o ff the cntl o f a. hig it.' icl e, but. Lhe girl did. And: further, when he h csi·
tnl cfl to l!O, ~ h e irnlign:1n Uy cnlkd l1HL :
u I kn mv whnt yo n wnnt. Yon n ow '"'ant mn to wnnn th e icicle i11 t he ovc11 for you
and then put 011 i:;ome nrn st.n nl . Im!, I'll never, 1w,·nr do it I 11
The m an 1rnwctl Aiow ly out of the gate, nrnl , nf\ he threw hi."! ic icle nt a pn l"si11g flog,
he g 1HC 11t.te rancc to hi !'! di sg ust iu bng 11ngc pnnc t.uatctl e ntirely w ith sltm gs hots.-D e-

troit Free P ress.

3. _;b Jni1 l .IJiscusgion Too lreir;ltl.y fm· tlw Occasion .- A
tl1011glttfol rn:w , introd11 ce(l at. a party to. a lad y whose appea rnn ce pl eased l1im, fo n11d that she was familiar with
tl1e kind ergarten sys tem of i11 strnction , in wltieh h e was
j11st heeo min g interested. A n ea rn est discussion followed,
so deli gl1tfol to both tl1at they were thoroughly e ng rossed
in each other, a11<l parted with th e war1pest expressions of
goo(l will. Soon after, seeillg li er again , he was about to
re:Hl<lress li er, when a friend iuterposed and said , " J\frs.
- -- m ade m e promise that I 'rnukl keep yo n a\n1y
from her thi s eY e11i11g . She was so wrongltt 11p by yo nr
conv e rsation the oth er night tltat sh e "·as ill for some day~.
Site says yo m talk is too fascinating; she cannot bear the
rn en tal s trai 11."
The gentlelllan was inclined t.o resent this excuse as

C HAP.

V. ]

WHEN TO A VOID DIS CUSSION.

75

sarcastic, bnt ]tis friend assured him tlie lady was entirely
caudid. Slie eujoyed talking with him; in the ex hil aration of the moment sl1e co uld snsta in h er part; bnt it wa s
mental exertion too vigorous for her, aud the reaction was
pain.fol.
4. D o .Not I nt1·od1we a I61010n Jiobb!j.-A hoblJy is by
(Jefi ni ti on umeaso uabl e-that is, nu sustainable by argument; h ence, after it l1 as been stated and has liecomc familia r, it is "·eariso me. In ge neral uu e sl1011l<l be wary of introduciug and cu11tinni11g the di scussion of subj ects tl1at circmostances make more interesting to l1i111 than to tl1 e rest
of the coinpauy. Tl1e author's books, tl1e actress's triumphs,
the travell er's adventures, the veteran's battles, even a
man's daily expe ri ence in hi s busin ess or profess ion, all
h iwe their place in conversation, lmt ouly sucl1 place as
the others cheerfull y grant.
Even wh en a h olJby is attackecl , you will not ai<l yourself or
yonr cause b y di sputiu g over it. lf yon are boldly attacked reput al:ile p eople will give you mu ch m ore creclit for g mc efully
evadin g a s trife of opiaious th an for entering upon it. LaLlies
who haven. tru e claim to the name iuvarin.bl y appreciate and admire such conduct in n. man. i\fnch more skill and sagacity may
b e shown in refusin g to argu e than in so d oin g; the one " ·h o seeks
to escape luwin g th e great rtclvant.a ge of h ein g able to make his ac1versary appear determinell to appear disagreeable and di scourteous.
-Art nf Cvnversn.tinn.

Fur the sa1u e rea,,;on
hobbies of uthcrs.

0 11 0

shonld avoid r efo rellce to tlte

Yon run a grertt humn1 h y makin g th e slightes t alhrnion to their
favorite theme; they will , in all likelihood, hold your button ::m
h our for yonr pains. 'IVben t\Yo or m ore persons are known to
bold opposite opi11ions on a subj Pd, :md are u sed to disvute concerning it, we do well not to refer to the vexed question in their

I
I,

127 (
C INCINNA

-· ·· -~'-""'

-·- - .. ....

-·.

-

76

DISCUSSION.

[PAH'l'

IL

h earin g. '.ro shut tlrnt topic were ::ts wm1ton a cruelty a s it woulrl
be to set two pugrmeions dogs by the e::trs.-HEUVEY.

d. Yield Cracefullywhen Convinced.-\Vlrntely remarlrn: " lt may l>e added that it is a very fair g rvu11d
for disp;iraging any one's jnclgment if he rn aiutain s any
doctrine or syste111 avowCllly for the sake o f cousistellcy.
That must be always a bad reason. H the system,
etc. is rio·lit. yon should 1)11rsue it becau se it is riu;ht, and
'
0
' •'
._,
not l>ocan so yo n l1a1·e p ursuCLl it lii tl1 crto; if it is ·wn111g,
your lia villg rnwo committed a fault is a poo r reason fo r
per;; ist ing in it. H e, therefore, who rnakes snch an a vowal
may the11cefonvanl l>e co nsiderecl as l1 avi ug 110 voice iu
the qnesti on. 1 lis d eci:sion havi11g been already given ,
once for all, with a resol11tioH not to reconsid er it or to be
open to co11victivn from any fresh arg111ne11tf', ]1is r edeclaration s of it arc 110 more to be co11siderecl nets of :judgment
than n ew impress ions fro111 a stereotype plate arc to be
considered n ew ed itions.''
He tlrnt is n ever a fool, rrnrn the proverb, is ttlways tt fool. Or,
as .Josh Billings pn ts it, " 'fh c wise man is no t the one who n ever
rnn.kes a mi stalrn, bnt the oue who n ever nrnkes the same mistake
twice ."

As a 1wtt.tc r of fact, a certain dislike att.aclt es to one
who is never i11 the wrong, well ill11st.rated in tl1c followi11 g sto ry :
'l'o the celel1ratccl l\!1110. Gooffrin, who assemhlo<l at her house
the first m en of l etters of h er time, the l\faff1nis of f:laint Lttmbort introllucecl un estimable man of learning, known by excellent
works h o h ad written on political economy.
For three months t h e poet's prol~']tf never failed to be present
at t.h c lady's receptions, hut one day when he was about to enter, tt
servant stnppe(l him at the rlo or and said gravely :
"l\Ia<lam c cann ot, see ~·on to-clay ."
" How-is she gone out? But I see l\I. l\forrelet enter, and l\I.

C 11 A:P.

V.]

---

'•

,·

:·

'·,·

.. -

-~~-~---~--

DISADVANTAGE OF BErnG ALWAYS RIGHT.

77

Thomas. "Why, there is tli e Aliho Ddillo lmmming n.n air at the
window.
Ha, good day, l\I. l'AIJb(•. How is our dear lmly today? I'm sure she is at l10rn e."
•
"J\latl::une, sir, cann ot Keo yon."
"nut is she ill !Ji.en? Of COlll'SU uot, s in"c I h ear Didnrot's
loud laug h , and if l\Imc. Gcoffr.in \\"<' rn J)()t in lirndth-- -"
"Sir, I b eg ten tl1onsrmd parLlons, l 111 t I ha1·c simply to s:ty tlutt
nrncln.me cannot see you."
Th e author bowed, ttnd went to l1is p::1J,ro11.
H e conld make nothing nf hi s st ran ge rcer J>l-inn. H :«l h n cnrnrnitt.crl some blmlller? 'l'l1 n anl.J1nr m1tle:i1·0 1·1•tl, lm t in Yaiu to
show that h e lrnrl b ee n in th n ri g ht iu o rc1er to prnn1 that J\1:nf'.
G eoffrin was in the wrrm g . F\:t.int Lrtllll1crt li sten erl to tho cu<1,
nncl only intorrnpted t h o cl orpwnt pl o: trlin g with thA \\'nnls:
"You nre in the right, rn y frien1l; a thon sriml times iu the
rig l1t."
When h e had cnndrnl<•rl, fhini·, Larnli«rt t.nnk from t],.. clii111111·i·piern a lett.er, of which l1 0 hrolrn the snrtl, allCl presente(l i!, t.1 ]1,is
2n·ot1>gc, inviting him to rnn.11 it.. H "\rns adclresseil to the 1wm1nis
by l\fme. G eoffrin, ttml cont.ain 0<l tJ1 e fol1owi!lg lines :
"I close my doom, my tl ear marqni s, on yon;· lert rn e 1l J\I. D - - ;
should I sec him often I shonld h e Yrxo1l to d eath; nml as it lmppens I n.m still n. lit t-l o nttach e(l t.o life- tlt:uil; s to :-nnr friendship
aml that of the faithful few \Yim rrsr•mlil c Ynn. Your J\I. B - is, in short, intolemble-he is alll•n!Js in Ili c 1·;·:11t1."
These few words enli ght-cncd all.flt Oll('C Ili c l1•arne 1l man ; and
Raint LmnlJert took the opportnnit.y i·n cn111·, in11 l1im agaiirnt \\"('an·ing his h ear ers by constantl y ancl. 111 nt.ho1l ic:d 1,v cl1u'1 li1;~ Hpo11 fad~s,
wif;ltnnt advancing <lispnl:alilc opi11 io11 s. Acco rcliugly tlin polish c1l
economist adopted ::t now sys tem for t.l10 l 1arter o[ thonght, ancl by
a<lvaucing paradoxes antl R.ingnlar propnsilinns \rns restored to t110
favor of l\Ime. Genffrin; in fn ct· ]1 0 hccamn on n nf t.11 e mosl; entertaining and llelig-htfnl com«'t'sationi sts in tlrnt coterie from which
h e lrnd been so harshly ex p elle<l. - HmwEY.

e. Finally, and Above All, Keep Cood·Na·
tured. - However worsted i11 a rg 11111ent, a man rn never
thoroughly vanquished till he loses hi s temper.

'

.

{ 't1

_) t\l_ f '

41
CINCINNA

78

DISCUSSION.

[PAR'l' II.

W e wonder what iR the source of the mixture of sym p ofli y-not
t.o f<ay approbation -with which p epperiness, as distinguished from
lmcl temper, is g en erally treated by the literary world.
" ' e dislike bttd t emp er, Lut rrclmiringly encourage a fiery temper,
if it Le only ::i fi ery temper, aucl unl ess it explod es at our own exp ense we rnthPr like the man \dto O\m s it the b etter. The choleri c character in comedy is al ways a favorite, and we r-;houlLl very
lllll Ch like t o kll O IV \Vhy .
No d oub t p:wt of tl1 c re a~ o n i s t.hat people always fe0l kindly to
a oh amder " ·hi l' h ill very marlrn cl arnl emrnpi cn on s aspC'ds, at ]past-,
iR 11·it.liin their p o11·er, ancl like a rnnsical i11strnnwllt. wi ll give out
certai n to11es under their rnanipul:ition. H cloes not incr ease th e
rn,;p ed for a m'1.11, lmt it does the feel in ~ of fdlow s]1ip witl1 him,
that li e is sure to rcsl'ornl in a certain way to ,,, ccrtaiu sti rn nlirn,
nncl th at you p ossess i b e m ea11s of applyin g th at, s timulu s at will.
8n ch a rnan iR likPd, pu.rUy as a natural phenom euo11, on th e di spby of which nnck r g i1'ell eiroum st,ai1ces you call al11·ays r ely.
Jn st as m en li lrn to sl1 ow o ff a fin e ech o in a l'arLfrn lar Rpot, and
will olieit it day after day to tl1e uclmimtion of their difforn nt gu ests,
RO they like to sh ow off the fl ashes of temper wi th whi ch a friend
answers the application of the well-known irritant. 'l'h e pleasure
in it is almost like t,h o professional pleasure with " ·hi ch a medical
pmclitioncr Rees t h e liliRt.o!' ri se wlu'?n he ha.s applied the plaster,
or the chemist, when h o h as prcclictc1l tl10 li11ni thtiou of a gas, clispfays the result of t he p rcss nre h e lms applied. .Ln sh ort, these
imsci hl1~ t empern verify th ei r fricn11s' pre11ietiolls and also ill1rntmt.0 tlirir p o1n'r of pl a,Yin g npon r ltarnr t 0r. - F nrri111 .H o:1rr -inr.
How un man ly it is tl1ns to l •e played up on is "·rll illn strntpcl rn
Iln.mk t.'s 1-.-;h n],,. ,-,f n11i 1.1,c1 1,I PJTl.

CIIAP.

V.l

DANGER OF FrnlW WOltDS.

npon m e ; you wou ld Rc Pnt to kn ow 1ny sLov :-1 i y on wn11!1l pluck out t he h eart o f my mp:.
tery; yo u woul d so und 111c fr v m 111.r lo wc->t 1wto Lo t h (• tu p o f iny cn 111pas,; ; a nd th e re is
m uc h m us ic, ex cell e nt vo ice in Lll i8 li t ll c organ; .ft't ca n nut yu u 1ua l;, c it s p e ak. s· blood,
do you t hiu k that I a m cn.sicr to be pl:'tJ Cll e n t han a p ipe ?

Dnt temper twcu utrull ed is rn ure tltau weakucss.
Fiery wonls are the h ot blast tJmt i 111lnmos the fuel of o nr prrsRio nate natnrc:, a ncl formnlatec1 doet. 1·imi n lietl go tl1:1t et>1tfi1t f's tho
disc u rsive waude ri11 g of tlt e t.hnug]d,s. In a p crno ua l a Ue rt·nt ion
it is m ost often tlw stimn.lns lll l'll g iYc t h1 ·1.usel.H'R l.y st. i11 g i11 g 11· 01'lls
tlmt impels tl1 ctn Lo Y.ioll' n t ad s, :t11cl in nrg 11ml'11lati1·c di s.. ussiou
W< ' Jiu1l t he m ost l'll lll'llt<'inc; :rn1•p o r t '" onr <'Olll'l11 s io11 s in il1c intcrn:tl ech o of the <lug nrns we have unrselY<' S prot1Cl1lttc1'<1. HeJ1co,
cxt-.re rn e c-irc11111.<; pc ,dion in t.lw n se of yjl-.npnrnt,i1'<1.la.11 g 11:tg >', :tnd in
the a1lo)> tin11 of pl11·:L'i<''i illlphin g p a rl,i<' 1tlar <>J>i11 io11s, j, J10 t kss a
prnd e nti:tl th an rt mornl 1lnty ; aitcl it is <' l)lla lly inqio rl:ud- ll1at. wo
s trnr. g th ~u in o urselves ki n1lly sy 1111 1at hi f's, go n(' n it1 s i111J>nls('s,
110\Jl c aims, a1ul lnfl-,y n.spirntinu, h,v hal1i t11:d frp1•1lnm in lhC'ir oxprnssio11 ; ftll•l that wn confirlll on rse h '<'S i1t I.h e gT•'at i'"I ii il':d, snei:i l, morn], and r e li gions t.rnt,h s, t,o wl 1il'it cnl111 i11n1s1·,igat ion has
Jed u s, as fina l co nclnsions, Ly emuocly i11 g them in forms of sound
words. -1\'.LmsH.

TOI'lOAL AJ\.A LYSIS.
~'

d \' :1nt:1:!i'c: :111 (l rl:ui i_.: 1· r .-: 1 11. 1; ·: .
( ' 01 d radi1 't i u1 1 110 t :u ·'-.'."1 11111 ·1 il , \\ ]•. f ;·~

JJifli cu lty qJ' 11r n\- i llg

llam .- ,Vill y o u p l:1y upon this pi pe?

Strife for truth, n ut victory, p.

f.'uil .-My lo rd , l cann ot.

1; ·7
11. 1; I.

('i lr l H' li1 1 r ~ .

ti'~ .

Iram. - I pray yon .
Guil.-Bclieve m e, I ca nnot.
limn. - I <l o li c~c<'c h yn11.
r. u il.- I kn o w 11'' touch nf it,, m y lord.
ITnm. - 'Ti" a~ cnf'y ns l ~· in g ; gm' t'r n t h e.<::.c vc ntnges with yo11 r fin ger s nn<l thumb,
g ive it hrcath with your month, nnd it will discourse m ost eloqnc11t music. L ook yon,
th csr ar ~ 1,hc f' top ~ .
Guil.- Bt<t these cnn not I com mand to any u ttera nce of h i\r m on.v; I h ave not the
Fki \1.

Hwn. -Why, look yu11 1 n ow1 how unworthy n. thing you make of me.

You would piny

SPECIAL SUGGESTIONS.
Ile al ways re ady to li st.e n , p. liD.
/J . Concede all th at is unesse nti al, p. fi!l.
J_.J egnl cross·ex n.111 in atio n , p_p . 70, 7 1.
rt .

c. Stop wh en no approach is makin g lo trnth , p. 72.
1. Nev er compel di sc ussion , p. 72.
2. Avoid cli sc ussion with tl1 ose u1 11i tlccl , p. 73.

I

80

'l'OPICAL ANALYSIS.

i

11

~, \

l..

1,

[PART 11.

3. Avoid discussion too weighty for the occasion, p. 74.
4. Do n ot introdu ce a known hobby, p. 75.
d. Yield gracefully when co nvinced, p. 76.
Wrong to he always right, p. 7U.
e. Keep good-natured, pp. 77-79.

CHAPTER VI.
SUGGESTIVE QUESTIONS.
Is the cohbl er's rnle (page 2G7) a correct one ?
Do you ag re e with the ]7'01·ci[1n ,~fagrizine (page 78) that a fiery temper
obtains sympath y, and are the reasons given for this suiticient?
What porti on of the cl1apter do th e fo llowing lines illustrate ?
Tho Centipede 'ms hn.ppy quite,
U ntil t h e Toarl. in fnn,
Said, "rray whi ch leg goes after which?"
That worked li e r mind to snch a pitch,
She lay distract.eel in the ditch,
Considering how to run.

S 'I' 0 It Y - TELL l NG.
It hns 0ft,en bcr-n my lot.1 in pn•:-H:hing lo n. rn stic c ong r r-g:ition ~ to be told by my
hearers, by u111ni staknble Ollli\\·n.rd s i g n ~ which every prn:u:lwr uug h c lo lie quick to recug:ni7.c1 thn.t l have hf'cn rnnn ing trnJ lin:g- in o ne gToo v•..!..
use a t U1 c f'JHl of my period the caOa lic::..:c furrnnl a , J-v u:

Un ~1ucll orTa.o:.i nrn-; f g (·iwrall y
W t!. tJi:i! ! U !'..I lo:!! !/' .ol/ ( I ·~·!" i" fj .

r

It is like t he adjut;::mf :'5 cry u l " · uc 11 tiu11 ! ·· tu L! 1c rq;i! nt> nl ~ ! : 11 1 '. l i!1 g ~\ t (' :-1c:.e; i t-. ic:. t!ir'
unfoilin g ;, O pe n scf':a.nie ' 1 t n bli11ki11 g eyes ; it acL" a s t. h l' :-unt n l of Ulnc li er' s g un s nt
\Vn i..cd uu, a. 11Ll give,.; tho Yi clory ;lt ui h.;c to d rLiW an d ·,·; :·1 ~.; d ;i?;; c s :: in t! n :;c s~. r:: ~;..;· i :::;;
hearers whose whole reRcrvc uf vi ta l powe r has been c n g a gcl l by natUJ."l' in the huge ef fort of di g coti11 g Lhcir one weekly din11 C' r wor thy of th e rnwi e . -Dr .ACKLEY .

As illustration in Argument. - Tlte lJJi111l rnay
reach a giveu trnth either liy stnJy in g ea use aml effect, ur
by pereei viug au analogy. Tlie ffr.o t rn cth od r c(prircs
trnined facnlties, aml demands elose at.tent.ion. Th() latter
is natural to every lrnmn,n lJcing, aml de111m1ds ouly comparison. Hence illnstrnt. ion is a main r eso m co i n argnment. He who has at l1m1d an n,pt sto ry will cn,rry co nviction where logic woukl fail.
Of course, a story canics \might in arg ument only so far ns it
accords with genernl experience. A country cle;icon, i·iding to
clrnrch with his daughter, saw two strange boy:; making for the
brook with fishing-poles.
"1\'Iy boys," the deacon said solemnly, "I knew two boys who
went fishing on Sunday, and one of them was drowned."
"Pooh, that's nothing," was the irn1ifferent repl y ; ''I knmv an
old nrnn who went to ride \1'.itl1 ri. young \1·oman on 8unthy, ri,ml
they were both struck Ly lightning."

Anecdotes Only Adjuncts of Conversation.

-In ge neral society Rt.o ri cs are tolcl less frc<111on1ly to con vince n,11 opponent t han to promote hil arity.

\\Tlieu s111J-

JAc· · -

'"~

S'l'OllY-TELtING-.

$3

ANECDO'l'ES A MEANS, NO'l' AN END.

CnAr. Vt.]

(i'ART IL

jeds of ge neral interest. seem to have been exha usted they
arc so11 wti1ucs a suGs Lit1tte for couve rsatioll; bat 11s11ally
they ;; ltuuld Ge u11ly auj uncts, suggested liy ::;u111etlti11g already said, and ser ving to illu strate it. Tito profossio nal
story-te ll e r, especially tli e lllan with so me two or three
stock stories, is cu 111111011ly as dreaded as he is despised.

A man tit dinner where a sernlllt dropped a dish of tongne ohse n 'in g that a great la.u g h wrrs m·1°'1i:rnl wh<m the l10st rnnmrk rrl,
11 J\lcrcly n, /opsus linguw," stmigl1tway p repriretl a cli11n er, in vitetl
· his gnext,s, and instructed his servant to let fall the roast mutton.
'l'lte servant clid so, arnl as the g nestR. t11rne1l t,he host excl:time<l,
O nl y ft lap.m s lin911w, ha! ha! h - ;" and then h e paused, wond erin g why n obody else laughed.

D ocl<li11 gton fallin g asleep one clay in the company of Sir Ri ch1.ml 'l\im1>l e, Lun.l Cul>hmn, and oth ers, one of th e-p arty reproach ed
him for hi s clruws incss. H e r epliml th'1t. h <> l1rr.1l lnst. nnU1i11 g, fnr
1te ev alll rn peat all that Lord Cublm1n h a tl Lco11 :savwi.r: and whe n
clmlle nge cl to clo so, lie rep eated a story which Lor~l C~bLam coulcl
bnt co nfess h o Imel jnst to.kl, and told 110 better. "Arnl yd.," sn.icl
Dodclin g ton, "I 11ic1 not. l1 c>rrr one \ron1 of it; I went to ~ J eep beeri.11s0 T lrn0w :·011 nl"·ny ~ tnl 1l thi s Ptnry a t a\Jont this time."
()n an ni '. f'f1sion ·wlH ·11 C "ln11P] TimTP l1r (Hl f~·l1t- fnr\\·nrd ri rn0 Hrn1
011 th" Thili"li nrr.,·y, l ,nn l. Nn1th ollid to 11frien d o f hi s sittin g 11,·;.J
him: "Nnw ll~t'I' (' will s i•:r 11 " nm· n:n·~l l 1i;;tnry from the )-,('gin nin g-~ 11nt. fnrg r'tti11 g Sir Pr;ineis 1Jr:1.l~1-· nri1l fl1(· ,\n1 1'.1.1l-1.
\Jl ll 1~tt
is n o tl1jng t o lllfl: so l nt 1n f: s l P'-'P 011, a111_1 wn.ke !He- wLell w•_:, t:-'-'!.! P:
near ou r ow n t,im es." H i,; fri end at l ength aroused Lim, when
Lord North cx <'l ai1n f'1l: " \Vhe re are we?" "At t h e b11ttle of
LaHognC', rn_y .Lord. " "U, rn y rlcar fri rmd," sn.id Nnrth, "ynn
ha.Ye \l·ako<l ine a Cf:: nL1try Luu ::5ouu . . ,

From s11r~l 1 t.A111ptatio11s li e \r ill he rel ie1·ed \1·]1 0 cousnlts
not his own glori fi cat ion hut til e l1appi11css of' the co111J' i\ !1y . f J,, 11 ill 1..-. l'r"1npri•il nliiy rn :-;iwl1 ~l u !'i•.::-; a·' 11 :11 nrnil\'
suovest tlte111 Delve:;, a11<1 a s al'e fitted to ]" 1·011t0t.e the
.;
d iscussion or the pleasant foeli11g of tlie m o111c!lt.

F.;:;ppc·i:il ly en11l·"rnptil1k i-: l1n wlic. 11·Rtel1P" for ••pp<:•rtn11ity so to t11rn tlic sni_1j c,..t as t<• introduce liis anecdc.>te, and
wii0 thinks notliin s nf hn~n. ki11 g int.n a r~mn·0r;o:nt. i nn int 01· -

est.i11g atlil prolltalilt!, l'rnvidt!ll lie tl1ere11y gd
for liis pet story.

a11 op1 !11lllg

11

[

~:-i

Adaptation to the T ime and the Company.
- TJ,, will l><~ P"I'"'''i:111.1: \\·:1r1· i•F u· i v i11 _,_,,. o!TP1wc•. I li1\n-,,·r:r
lrn11t0rous a11 cl apl lll<t)' IJc LI" ·' ,, (,,1·y, !ie 11 ill 11·i1·ld1 c•lcl it if
ii H'l'lll 1ib ly I" 11'< •1111'1 l.lw 1·,:c,\i1w.-; C>l. i.<J "l"wl Ll1t: ;, c11~ i ­
tivenetSS of anyo ne prese nt. \1,_1t on!y \\· _ill Lu ;:.:. i..:T ttp11lu:1 :-d .Y
0

a vo iJ any approach tu irreve re1we vr i11d el ieaey ("''-'"'!•age
2l!), 1.mt 110 11 ill Lea r in n1i1ul th e p eculiar L.i.::; Lvry ai!J
prej11<li~ As of those present (~ee l'a ge 15).

Stories Shouid f!ot be Allowed to Weary. S torie3 are nci u;d ly ptu1g1_:1iL i11 iil 'Ptio i· i. iu u :t :-:i ll1 ey ~ire cv1 1den ~ erJ . .Sir \Villi<1n1 T1•1111•l1· "''.'" lf1fll. :.l11~ 1 P lbP.d t.o
L"~ al lilt' i 1111 .-; o f :'-:,.... :Lrn.] l.;1.l"- 1.i'.ii.-:1'.';, 11h<>.~C 11 1i:;i11 css it
\.\'aG to lull re!:1 Lh.!::;'.::) Lraveller:-:; t•_, F-ler·p "~ ith t:fi_•ri p:.; of gia11li-.:
0110 ,-; l1 n 11lcl l 1:i\·0 " 11 n 11 _e>:11 n r ~1t nrie :il pnw01· tn

:i11il ,J,1·:1rfr.

An o].l g 0nt·lP1n n. 11 'vh n~n fn.Ynritr nnrr1l nt.r ,,~a_q n.hn11t. n. r-nn, nnfl
"\YLu iu111111 Ji. L1ifficult Lu {:sta b1is11 H·ll.Y 11 aLund co 111H::H~ Liu11 LeL\\'t;o ll

pPrf'PivP wl10th0r hP i" r Pb1iJ1 i11 u- ti10 snnF1til\' of 11is

it and wlmt cve r h appened t.o be the topic of ~ o nve rs11tion, 11Rer_l t.o

ftnd if h e pc~ t·t~P.i\- t~s no si£.t ns tlntt th e 1Stnrv i~

l( 1 !lt_ll ,,- Ui:Juli Ll a: i!tH il' a.i 1d 1~ >. 1 ·l a.i111:
a ;:;-un ? Dy for: wn.y, t;i,lkllic: vf µ Ulh. • .
:-.,_l;t1 1q1

·· l~ J ; ,,--..,.. . 11 w

.

"

1

\\ !i; Ll. ;~

"\.uJ Ll1cu

Ll1:d.?

110

told

i 1i 1..:. .'-.:.i; tl"_y .

Men so obtnsc ar c apt to miss the point of the stories th ey t ell.

a lld i e1 1ce.

IJ tlieil'

Iii:..; lit ) :-t. rPr:.:.~ l1P

l 1:1 c

lll :Hi P

l l H'

l11:1.y

aLlt;! 1L!u! 1 i~ !'1J!!,...t:d 1',Y Li.~ lwgi11:\l:1~·,

;-iti

;;l,1 on e~ t.c;
till lif~

1·. L1 !1111·:-iic ;1111! 1l\\ 1·ll i1;H111 (l !·l;ii! .---.

-;l '('\H' :1 -

1i1i•l

:1c

1i(',

'ill•l 11,,J.J < !,i,_ l\ ~it• lll ' I' ~

I rF1111.li11g \\ii.Ji l'" ·~··r11 "-~" f<>r I.I" ' 1· \i 11 1: i.:..: .

I•
11

84

STORY-TELLING.

[PART II.

It is not b cc::tn se storiPR riro long tLrit t h ey wen.ry. John B.
Gough \\•ill sp cud ten minut~)S npo11 rill riu ecll ote which the morning UO\rspapor told in five lin eR. Once sure that it is appropriate,
and tlrnt, tho point "-ill p euetrnte, lw will give his imagi nation rein·
a nd su rronml t ho in cident with o. wer1lt.h o f <ld nil>;. Bnt h e will
lrn sure t.lmt <'Y<~ r.r o ne of tJ1ese clotr1ihi slmll d eepen the interest of
t ho amliP11 00 ancl h ei ghten tho climax.

"\Vl1 cn 011 u's story is eolcll y rnce ivcll , o r when tli e interest
first ll'akc ncd lJeµ;i 11 s to 1nu1e, 011 e sho uld h aste n to co11c1ud c it, :rnd i i' it fa ll s flat sh ould ne ith e r repeat n or explain. Jf i11tc rrnptcd i.11 tl1 e n1id Rt of the 11a1Tati on by
so me aceid o11 t o r nHlcncss, 011 0 shon1d not r etnrn to 011 e's
sto ry 1111l css i111·itcd 1o d u so . \\Tc lllu st n eve r fo rgot tl1 at
a story sl1 ould he tuld, not for 011r sa ke, but fo r th a t of the
company, a 11d t l1 at th e co 111pa11y is tl1 c best judge w heth er
' it waJJts to li sten.

Stories Should be Artistica lly Told.--J\fost
fai lures in sto ry-tellin g r es nlt from lack of preparation .
On e fo rgets or altogether n1i sses tl1 e po in t. Ile r e111ernl1ers
that h o la ng h ecl over som ethin g li e OJJ CC h ea rd told, and he
tries to repeat it with o ut a clear n otion of wl1 e re tlie lmwlt
cam e in. l'erhaps t he fun lay in th e eircumstan ces uu ckr
whi ch the sto ry 11·as told , whi ch can11 ot be rnp rodnced; or
in the p cc11liar rn an ne r of th e sp eake r, wl 1ich cann ot be
i111itatcd; or in tho l1il:ui ousness of the m ome nt, which is
now wa n ting.
But ofte nest the fa nlt is in :failmo to recove r the art
with whi ch tl1e story "·as told--th e quiet i11troc111 ction,
th e 1111oht.rn si"e bnt skilful arra11 gcment of de tails, eve rything be in g 0111ittec1 t h at did 11ot bear on th e conclu sion,
and every in cid e nt so i11t.rod ncec1 as to accu mnlate interest
t ill th e cli111ax was Rprnn g- npon tl1 e l1 earers jnst as their
attcution was strctdied to the utmost.

CIIAP.

VI.]

ARTIS.TIC STOltY-TELLING.

85

An artistic bit of story-telling is Syd1wy Smith's re feren ce to
J\'.Irs. Partington in a sp eech on the " Hefonn B ill," d eli verecl at
'l'aunton:
"I do not m ean to b e disresp ectfnl, lmt. t h e attempt of t h e l ords
to sto p the progress of reform re minds me ve ry forcibly of the
great storm of Sidmouth, rmcl of the conduct of the excellent 1\Irs.
P artin gton on that occasion. In t h e winter of 182·1 there se t in a
great Hood npon tlmt town- the tide rose to an incredibl e h eight,
the waves rush etl in upon t h o h onses, and eve ry thin g wns t l1reatened with des truction. Iu th e midst of this sul 1li111e and terrible
storm D am e Partiu gtoJJ , who lirntl 11po11 tho b eacl1, was seen at the
d oor of h er h ouse with m op aml patten R, t nrncllin g h er mop,
srin ee7.ing ont t h e sea-wa t.er , a ncl vi gorously pnsh ing away the
Atlantic Ocean.
Tho Athn tie was ron sP<l. i\Ii:s. P arting ton's
spi rit was up; but I n eml not, te ll yon t h at tlt e contest was unequal. 'l'he Atlantic Oeoan lJoat l\'.Irs. Partington. Rh o was excellent at a slop or a pmltll.o, lmt Rh o sh onlrl n ot lrnve meddled
with a tempest . Gen tleme n, lie at. your ease, be quiet and steady.
Yon will h en.t l\frs. Partin gton ."
Oontmst with this the fo llowi11 g :
:Mark Twain, writing upon Frn.nk li11, F.a.ys : 11 He wm; tw im1, ha v ing been born Rimnlin two hou ses in B o~ to n .i · T he re i ~ nn 1111 con8ciou!1 o rgani c assmnption th at
both houses, si nce people ins is l upo n b0t h 1 n! n ~t have hccn the Rpots of hi s bir th . If F-O
t he birth s in tl1c t.wo hou ses mn st ha ve bee n f.1 i m11ltn11 co 11 ~ , bnt th e two Franklins nnt
t.n nco tH~ l y

id entical. Of cu11rsc, then, they mur-;t have hccn tw i nR. . . . Ilnt I am reminded of a
fa.mnus wit w ho, after viewing th e Siamese t.w in s f or aw hile, quiet.ly remarked, 11 Broth ers, I s uppose.:•_ TVefa.f& lrit, Iltmwr, <met ShakRp ere.

i\Irirk that in t h e first h alf o f thiR paragraph 1\Ir. 'IVeiss, b y end eavorin g to explain the hu mor, letR it entirel y escape . It is the
p recise point of t.lie joke tlmt tho two Frnnklins m·e identical, ancl
that he (not they) was t wins . Amlin tl1 0 secoml lmlf tli e story is
spoiled by making a wit S[ty t h at the Siam ese t wiu s " ·ere probably
brothers. 'I'hat partionlm: kind of remark iR fnnn:v only when it is
a blunder -a bull, as it is n snall y called. Tho 7.es t of the incongruity is lost wh en the speaker himself p ercei ves it a.ml uases his
r emark upon it. How mnch funni er is th e s tory of the learned
professor who mad e the SiameRo twi ns t.h e Ol!casion of a l ecture to
his students upon the b en efi cen ce of ProYiden ce. ' ' H ere they are,"·
h e said, "attached indissolubly to each other, obhged to sJ:iar~

727

86

STOllY-TELLING.

[PART

II.

each with tho ot.her every jo,Y, every sorrow, every act of life. How
kind th o di spe nsation, then, t hat maims them brothers. Suppose
th ey h: t,l !Jeo n b orn ;;trnugers to ertc h oth er, how iutolemble would
such an i11timacy have b ecome."

Accuracy in Details. -W hether th e story be of
,rJiat we have see n or of wl iat \Ye h a1·e heard, llln ch of its
effect depend s upon th e accuracy with which it is told.
Nothin g crtn h e rmler or more indicati ve of a small mind than to
int,<'ITnpt. a story-· nll c r wi tl1 a co1Tec ti on of so me rni sstat<,m1 ent t,]mt
has 11 0 bea rin g n p01 1 th e point at i;;s ne; ye t t.h e fad t.Jmt i;u c h iuterrnptions are com m on s hows how instinct.ively th e miml watches
for these errorn. Co11se1prnntly the lrnbit should be formetl of
omittin g what one is not snre of. If you know rtn anecdote is '!'om
Hoo1l's it mrty mak e i t more i nte resting to say so; hut if you are
not su re, ye t, say sn, porhal's lialf you r h earers will r emember that
it is Charles LmHh's, a nd will b<J n10re inten t on assurin g them selves
that, yon ha1·0 111a,le a mi stake t.h:m upon olmerving the pertinence
of the Rt.o ry.
Ou tlrn ot li er ltaml, if you begin :
" That r emiIHh 11 w of a story of '!'om Hood's-or, it mn.y be, of
Charl es Lrunb'H, or possi bly of Douglas Jerrokl'R--thou g h I <lon't
think it, ROHJHls mnol1 Jilrn hi m, l1ecan se he was a lways so bitingsn ckle (l ti n a lemon , somebody saitl- but then one forgets which
man said th ose t.l1i11gs, tLJHl after rill it doesn't matter mnch ; at
an y rat e it is Yery good, a nd I t.hink it \Vas Tom Hoocl's," etc., not
J\Irn. NicldeLy h erself coukl more effectually make h erself woarisollle.

J\loreover, these deta il s are often the charm of the story.
F ew arc so acc 11 sto111ed to analy ze theil' illlpressious as to
he sme ju st wh ich arc the elernc11ts of in co ngr nity . that
make a 8it.11 at inn a111nf: i11 g;; lint those wJ1 0 observe minu tely and recall frer111 cntly the peculiarities of the occasion "· ill i111part a vividness to the narrative not oth erwise
attainaule.
Few stories .arc well told the first time, because it is only

CHAP. VI.]

ACCURACY AND SIMPLICITY.

87

after an un satisfactory telling that one begins to reali ze
that like any other work of art a story dese r ves delicate
workmanship. Effectiveness is often soug ht by means of
exaggerati on, but this is easil y detectecL Th e artist ad lieres precisely to th e fac ts, b ut shows hi s ski ll i11 omitting none that are essen tial to the effect, and in admitting
uo others.
Mimicry is usurtlly to be shunned. It is seldom agreertble except when instinctive-whe11 tlw imagin ation recalls the scene so
viviJly that the speaker uncon;;cionsly adopts what iR tlistincti ve in
the manner of the JJerso11 represent.<:11. l\fuch of what is m eant for
.mimicry is simply buffoonery, nmrnrthy of the monkey that accompanies a hand-organ.

Simplicity of Narration. -J\Jnch of t he effect of
story-telling depend s npon tlie si111plicity of it. There
should be no such preamble as, " ·w ell , the hest thing I
ever li eanl was- - ," or, " Jf yon vvant to lau gh :i ust l istc n
to th is - -." The less expectation is rai sed at tl1e begin nin g the readier will be the app reciation at the encl. Emu
when intro<l nci ng another's story we should Lew are o:E
embarrassin g him by promi s i11~ too mneh fo r hint.
In lik e mann er one slt onlll avoid prcli111 i11ary chn cklin g.
·while it would be crnel, as Charles Lamb says, to depri ve
the story-teller of any participation in the. merriment li e
excites, h e should be snrc t11 e 111 errim ent lms been excited
Lefore h e participates in it, or he may find that his langh ifl
a solo. If, however, h e has told hi s story well, and h el d
the interest of his andience, wh en th e clima.x comes li e
may sometimes lea<l the laugh tl1 at fo ll o\\"S, though often
th e effect is h eightened if h e can maintain a n 11u1r10ved
g ravity.
There is a look by which a man shows wh en h e is going to say
a good thing, and a look when he has said it. -EnrnnsoN.

l /LI

88

STOllY-TELLlNG.

[PART

U.

The difficnlty is that such looks, by showing that the speaker
has prononuced judgment on hi8 reurnrk, deprive us of the privilege
of pasHing jn11grnent, our rightful prerogative as listeners. This we
are apt to rnsent, and to withhold or give reluctantly the applause
really deserved by the remark itself.

Cautions.--No dishonest artitices shou ld be eruployed,
like iuserti ng new names into old stories a11d passiug them
off as personal experience. If the anecdote lJc an old one
say so, lmt do not snbrnit to the humiliation of pretending
yourself to haYe see u what :yon have only heard or read
about.
Aho1ce all things 11ever retell a story jnst offered, 110
111atter how muclt lrntter yon cau do it; uor lot it be seen
liy yo 11 r rnarrn er tlrnt you have heard it before, h owever
familiar. Nor ::;l10 nl1l one str ive to eclipse a story jnst told
Li,)' a noth er of like i1llport, bnt sl10nld supplell]ent it only
w heu one has at hand another that will li eigliteu the effect
of that just told.
J Low far one may be personal and toncl 1 on private matters in publi c is a question of great delicacy, an d mnst be
left to iudi1'idnal judgment. When liappilJ' clone, it produces the very highest effect. With a n illustration, we
leave th e reader to draw his own inferences.
I w:i.~ M, a T.otnR C lu h (limwr rccf'nlily anll a prett.y well-kno"·n jonrnn\i!'".t, beiug Cllllccl
11
a i:: p1·ech ! a ~ p<' ec h ! ,, a fl cr t h e nproariou s habit of th:i.t intellect.n:i.l f'i r cus, rose
m1d tohl a Rt ory. "]t might be ca ll f'cl: · 1 Raid he, with a sl)' look at the licnd o f the table,

on for

where Rat in pr es iil c nt;!:tl 111a jcsty a r:tlhc r co rpulent, s lightly bald, micldle -nged mn11 ~
'·it mi g ht be q \\J c1 l ' JlO\v I got in to a ma ga;r, in e., 11 Then h e chan ged to th e oth er foot,
IJ\u Rh c1l r;: Jig-hl"ly, le a11<'d on hi s fnrk. nnd Ra irl:
a I ha1l n.t1 aniclc onee wh ich I thought. wou ld make six pngcs inn magazine-if it
go t n. ch a 11cc. 1 ' 'ondurle<l t•J give t h e Atlantic ~[onth l y the l>en efi.t of 1t, because thnt
wa s a R11pcrh ('rt'al;ion o f tho human int ellect l\nd 011 g-ht t.u h e l'nconrn ged. [S mi les n111t
rn.ps 011 !h r. tnhlr.] T !':t' llt it to t hat J)e riodicn,l, Ray in g that it wa.s my maiden effort~ nnd
n. .- king- the eililo r t o 8r•n d m e th e $100 IJy draft nr m oney order. In t hree weeks it cnme
kirk, to 111y t1t..Lc r a.r11:1zc11wnt., with t..ltc printed notice thn.t iii was excellent. but not
ml nptcrl, et~ . J i::nw th:1t the eclitor of !he Atlnntir: was a fool. [Cheers around the table
nnd crieR of F-a tiricnl appronll.J I ~c nt. it to :mother well-known ma1::m.zine 1 offering it
for $50. It. came b!lck in two month s, just when I was looking for it to appear. That

(;UAP.

Vl. J

TWO AFTER:DINN!m SPKECHES.

89

magazine, too, wns evid<'ntly a fnilnrc I I t h e n :--c. nt. it (price' $ l!'i) to n first-clnss wcc klr ,
that printed just, suc h things a.s my Fi kctch, ' J\lary Wanl cy's C11idt~, 1 hut n ot hal[ a8 w~ ll
writte n.
[Cheer s and encourn.gi11g r e marks.] Aga in it wn.s ~ent bn.ck. [Lau ghter.J 1
cou ld n ot nrnl er sta nd it,. l co nld not bcJiey c that on r pe riodical literat ure was Lleca.dng
so fast. I offered it to iluothe r journalis t for nothing, tell in g hirn that .l was a 1Jcgin 11 er,
that thi s was the fir.:;t effort ol' the sort I had ever offered to anylJ ody, an•l I watch ed
his fa ce a .; he exami n ed it s11 .-;piciot18ly, and llnall y ret urned it t,u 111 c, i-ayi ng t.hn.t t . hr~
Hty lc was fatlily; the idea. was good, though iL 111ighl h ave been u~ed herc1ofo re: but
w ith study and careCu l practice 1 wo1tld make, perhnp;;, i11 t ime, etc. LLan g li tc r.]
•' 1 was mn.ll 1 g entlemen ! 11 sa.id t h e Rpcakc r amid the roa rs of the ~0111pany , and
leaning on the c ha ir witll hi~ other lmnrl, l w went on : •· ~o mcthing heroic iuw;l !Jc
done I Two ycan had pasged . lt Wf\S HOW JS"i'l. 1 resolved to s.t 0 nn Ui~ citrv'. cl.
botTowctl my brother's seal -sk in over coat, so :i.s to look nR inlJ'''" in g as poc.: 8 iblc, aml
~trunk for an illn -.;traLr:rl niag ..1.1;i11c f ha.d not LrieLl ; nrH~ of tl1·~ HiH· ~\t. workf4 of nrt in
the worltl. Th e d i)or k 0 c pe r ,,:f;nil!l bri f'ldy a s. iill' aq J \Ycn t iu und ;1 skr·J f·•r I lie edit•.•r,
whose mun~ I 1lid not l l H~ ll k11 11.v, I \\·a;; l"!H'f'1lily n,,:h <: rerl into tlir' pn ''~" ll''' ~ nf ;i }"llTlV,
1

' To Sf'" t.IH~ Pditnr.1 II<'
wouli l ex amine 111 y ma11n scr1pt.
'Very well, ' l f'::tit1, f'till sta 1uli 11 g . 'r mn s. t lrnvi· an
an s wer in fift..t~en minut.es, :l.S I lc:"l\'e UI! t ile 111'.Xt, t rain for .Dnf'ton.' lie p:i.r!cyf'(l, !mt. r
was severe> and tacit11rn 1 aml r caehei.l for the n1nnu~ cript, which lie ha•l taken. '1 will
1
~cc Mr. - - , Aair l h e, n a1 ni11g t.lrn ed itor llin1 ,.df. The lat ter app earrfl.
'We will . . ,.111 1
thh; to yon by mail,' s: liil h e , 'i( it is 11 ot W·wd.' ' [ ean lea ve it wit h yon onlr fifteen
minutes,' I repli •·d.
H e lookc(l i:;nrprii:;erl nn 'l ~Jan('rfl n.t th ~ title. 'Yllll <'a ;1 f:llr(']y
leave it one ni g ht., 1 h e cx po:; tnla.lcd. • J"\o,' I r ('joint'il resol 11i·<' ly 1 ·I l1aYC otl1f' r ll ~f'~ fu.r
it., In that I s11ppose he scenterl th e oppo.o;i t.inn ho11 <;c, for h e 1.,ok ofT hi s on·n.:oaL {Ile
wns jm:;t goi n g h om e) a nd Rai('l : ' I will look it over n ow . 1 LC!wtT-" nrin11Hl the t:ili! c. ]
man who n.sked m e Lo lie Rea.tc.1, <:.:.ud i1tqt1ir1.·d Ill )' Ut t!-;i llc "l!4 .

"lie wn::, a fine -looking ma1: a -;; he sat there in th e 1ly ing twili~ht-[Cric.~ of •Oh!'
' A h ! '] -n. rath er corpule n t. i-:lig ht:ly-b:ild, mi e..kl\c -n.ge..~d m:i n (nt tl di:: the co1Hpa11y
tur11cd toward t.h e pres hling omccr, who was ai:: red n ~ a hfJi lc1l lo bs ter , arnl then they
ronred w it h g lee), and he looked nµ in abou t frn mii111 tC's. allft Raid : •I \\·ill take thi s
; ~fr. Oli ve r, p\pa~c nrn.ke ou t a check for ~ 50.' •What? ' I a~kcd, 1 .<$GU? my price
is $1.25. 1 'Ah!' sa.i<l h e, pa~;;ing- the ma1w.c;~rip t tn llH'., 'i t is more than we ever pay
anybody. except fnrnon ,<1 writerR.' I <lcJi,·crcd n. ,c;;tntcly 1.HlW, t nnk the r nll of prt pcr, :ind
t n rncd on t of the Eloor. '\\'ell! ' sai1l IH\ cnlling t.n nw, •we'll lnkc it at; $ 12;):' n11 (l
Mr. Oliver mad e ont my check. [Cht •c r~ nwl r oars of laughter. The man a t. the head of
the tnbl e hatl turn ed a so1·t of i111li go Ulne.J
"Th e wor~t of it is. nr th e h m~ t o f it:1 " sn. i1l t"he narrator , "Urnt I have nut seen Ol'
lward of that Rkc tch durin g n.11 these Fcvcn year!'l ! 11
The .Lotu:::: Clu b hall rn.ng wit h c h ecn; a.1111 langhtc r, fur hi s rnn1111cr o f tt• lli tig Uic
i:;tory was inde.~cribnb l y droll, and then all pnrlies tnrnctl to\Yard the presiding ofllcc r,
who wa s r ecognized n~ th e hero o f the 1rnrrntivc.
He rose s lowly to hi s feet; the blnc went on!; of hi !'; fncl', awl 1~vcn the ::;carlct. t11rt1r(l
to th e rosy flu sh which i.ot hn.bitnnl to it,, ~nd he smi led cll ccrfnlly by the tim e the chC'crs
nnd ~11ff:nw~ whi ch g rect.ed him had di ed n wn.y.
"' 'l' he fact i!';,'' h e hcgnn <lcprecatingly, nncl then thrrc WfUJ n.noUirr grc:tt roar o f
lnughtf'.r. "Y<'s: I well remember the c ircnm f'. tances . [ n.ccrptell the Rkf'tch to keC'p it.A
writer from inflicting it on some weaker magaz in e. [Loml la11 g hter.l Onr h ouse iR rir:h.
I can afford to Rtnnd in the breach. If it we r e nnt for t.hc work we flo in bnrying articles capable of injury, the m or tali ty nmong magazin es would be in calcnln.hle.
[Laughter and cheers.] Yes, gentlemen, wh en a person with a. flighty teu1vcramcut

UH .

STORY-TELLING.

[PAH'f II.

comes in [J ang htcrl we c ~ ert every nerve to get possession of his m::m nscript to prevent
the rl csol nllen that m ig ht oth erwi se ens ue. (C heers an d j iui;ling o f glnsscs. ] S uch an
ar tic le 1 ui g ~1 t fall into th e hand s o f men who would inadverle ntly print it. (Chee rs a nd
cri es of 1 ll cn r J h ea r! 1] We luck i t np in n. 1>tro ng safe."
Th e co 111pa11y, led by the juur nali i;:,t, who lJln shcd again nl hi s awkward pos ition , th e n
tlr:ink t o Lim f'ag a eions mn gnz 111 c1 while t he edi to r we nt nn sf' ri on sly t o i-:a y th at he had
ri ~ ht i111rn cni;;c lire -proo f safes full o f f'tori cs nml othe r rnannsc ri pts tlrnt, hnrl llf'C'n l;nught
a11d paid for , Rom e of Liu' mnttrr ex tendin g b:tck many years. "If n olHJ(ly shcrnlcl write
n wore I for lhc bofly of o nr mag-a1. in c for the ne xt ten yea rs," he f.:n.i d, "it won l(l nppcnr
rrgnlarl y every month, and I doubt if its quality would be at all impaircd, 11 - .N. r. J...ette1'

to the Inter· Ocean.

TOPICAL ANALYSIS.
Use of s tori es in nrg nm t> nt, p. 81.
In co n vc rs"tion s ho11ld lie onl y :ulj1111 cts, p. 81.
S h onl<l lie " dap le< l tu place :tn <l company, p. 83.
Sho11 ld 11ot lie a ll ow ed to wpary , p . tl::l.
Should b" arli slir:a.ll y told , Pl'· 84- SG.
Acc urat e in detai ls, p. 8\i.
Told sim11l.r, p. 8i .

CHAP.

VI.]

TOPICAL ANALYSIS.

91

days hi s nnti cipations wer e r ealized by hi s glorious victory nt the battle
of Dauu ock burn.
A JlOY'S AMBl'J'JON.

A few days ago Justi ce of t11 e P ence .John Weber took hi s littl e son
ctown to Tol edo on an exc ursion. 'J'h e la<l int nr vi e we<l tl1 e nrnn at t.l1 e
wh ee l and gnth erecl mu ch inl:ormat.ion re lath'e t.o the husi.ll ess of steamboatin g . l 'rese ntly hi s fath L• r join e<I liim on t h e h11rri c1tn e <leek and
ask ed him h o11· 11 0 was en joy in g liim,c lf. "First-rate,'' \ms th e Pnt husiastic r epl y, "J.'m goin ' to lie :i s teamboat mnn, papa." "All ri ght, " respond ed t he "judge," " !Jut yo u'll have to st ndy n av igation, a'tron omy,
a 11 <1 div e rs oth e r sc ien ces, in order to become a goorl 011 0. " Th e lad saicl
nothing nt th e tim e, Lut 'ippeared to be revo l vin g t h e diffi cu lti es of th e
case in hi s min cl. P e rh aps ha.If nn h onr l:tt or, lie remark ed wi t.Ii mu ch
g rnvit.y, " l'apa., 1 g ness J. won 't be n stflamboa t rna.11. J 'cl rath e r be n
justice of th e peace ; yon don ' t have to know anythi11 g for t liat. "- .VtJ-

ti-oit Free Pre•s.
PHOF!<:RR01t (t.o student)- " Yo n wi sh m e to g iYe you a recomm en<lation 1 l don 't r crn cmuer eve r hnv iJJ g see n yo n at any of m y l<· ct nres."
Stud e nt -- " Ah, pro l'c" nr , yo u evid ently co nf'ouml m e wit h nnotl1 er man
who look s ver y mu ch lik e m e, nnd wl1 0, it is trn e, has JJ eve r attended
.vour )('ctn res. " Professor- " Y es, yes, very like ly. " (Gives him the
recommendation.)

CAUTIONS.
Do not ton0h up " " ol<l story as n ew, p. 88.
Never rete ll a s toiT just told, p. 88.
P e rsonal and pri vale a ll 11sion s, pp. 88-00.

SUGC.ESTIVE QUESTIONS.
Aro th e rul es fnr ne l"l"spappr 11-,.it.in g (pages l!l2 to 1!.l3) :ippli calile to
sto ry-te ll in fi • What. i111pro,·cme 11 t ra n you s nggest. in th e mann er of
te ll in f( any of th e stories in th is or the iirecnd i n!; chapte r 9 Whi c h of
th e followin g sto ri ns is t.h e best told ? 'Vh at irnprovem ent can yo n s ngges t. in :rny of the m 9 What ch an ges would you make in telling in stead
of read ing the m 9
PERSEVERANCE.

Kin g Jlobe rt Brnce, th e restor er of th e Scottish monnrchy, wh il e reconnnit.ering th e 1trmy , lay d own inn l.mrn. ln the mornin g, still rec lining on hi s co uch of straw, h o sawn s pider climbing up on e of th o rnfters.
Th e in sed kll, but i111111 erliatel,v made a s~contl ntt.empt to asce nd ; nnd
w ith n ·g r0t th e h e ro saw th e spid er fall n second time. lt mnd e n third
nn sll CC<'SS fnl attf' 111pt, a n <l wi th mneh inte rest nnd con ce rn th e m on:trch
sn1Y t.he s pi <ler ha.fll erl in it.s nim twel\' e tim es. But th e tliirtee nth nttc n1pl wat; ~ 11 cceBR fnl, n.11(1 tlin kin[!. ~tartin g up, excln.ilnticl, "Thi8 insignifi ca nt s pid er has tanf! h t me pati en ce, and I wi ll follow its Px t11npl e.
Ha ve r n ot. bee n t"' e h· ~ tim es <iefenl!'<l hy t.li e enemy's s nperi or for ce ?
On one more fight li nngs th o indep und en ce of my country." In a few

l'.EDAN 'l' IC C ltl'l'I CJRM.

"An rl h01> dirl Gnrri ck s peak th n snlil oqny, Inst ni ght ? " "Oh!
agai nst all rul e, my lor<l ; m ost trn grarnmnti cnlly ! be twixt, th e snhstnn tiv e a.lJ(l th e 1tdjec tiv e, whi!'!i should ag ree togetli e r in lllnnber , cnse,
an rl ge nd e r, lrn rn ad c n breac h th11 s- stvppin!( as if th e p oin t 1ranted
settlin g ; :ind be twi xt th e nom in ntiv e cnse, whi ch your lordsliip knows
sho ul d gove rn t.h c verb, h e s us1wnrl e<l hi s vo i<· o in th<> Ppilog ne a. <l ozpn
tim es , three seconds a.JHl t hree-fifth s, hy n stop-wa.tch , my lord , cndt
t im e." "Admirable gr mn rn nr ian 1 bu t in St1'pen <lin g hi s voice , \\':IS the
se nse suspend ed !ike \\'i sc ~ rli <I n o e xpression of attitud e or cou ntenance
fill up t h e chasm 9 was th e ey e s il e n t~ did yo u n a rrow ly look 0 " "I
look ed only at the stop-watch, my lord." "Excellent observer"! STERNE.
OYERREAC II ED.

A wealth y man died suddenly with out leav in g any will. Th e widow,
d esirous of sec urin g the wh ole of th e prope rty, co n cenle d h e r hu s h:111d's
d eat.h, and pe rsuad ed n poor shoe nrnk e r to tak e hi s plnce. Accordin [!ly
he was close ly rnnflled in be<l, ns if li e was ve ry sick, and a lawy e r wa s
call ed in t.o 1nite t he wi ll. 'J'l1 e shoemaker in :i fee ble voi ce Ul'<Jll cathed
half of tl1 e property to t he wid ow. "\Vl1 nt sh all be don e with the remaind e r,' ' ask ed the lawyer. "Th e r ernainrl e r,' ' r epli ed li e, "I g ive
nnd bequ eath to th e poor little shoemak e r ncross the street, who ha~
been a $ood nei(jhlior and a des e rvin~ man,"

Cu AP. VII.]

CHAPTER

VII.

T he nrnsic t hn.t cn n dccpcR-t reach 1
AIHl c ure a ll ill, is cord ia l speech ;
.M nr k thy wisdo m with d e ligh t,
Toy wit h t he bow, } Ct hit th e wh ite.
Of nil w i t'R 11 f:Cf.: , t lt c 111 a in one

l s to li ve we ll wit h who ha s no nc. -EMEilSON.

. Nee.d
Rela~ation~ - Hep roach ed for fr oli cking
with hi s cl1ilclre11 , .Jhsop po mted to an rn1ben t bo\\· and
asked l1 o w 1011g it wo11ld be an effecti1re weapon if lrnp; constantl y .str1111g. lJi sn'.e li tell s of th e ,J es nits tli at th ey liacl
a standlll g rul e that after two hou rs' stndy th e wi 11 c] shonld
ta l~ e i"0 111 e rcl a.\ati o n, l1 owev er trifling. P eta viu s HEed to
twirl l1i s ch air fo r fi ve minu tes, ni che lie n j11111ped with J1i s
ser vant to t.ry whi ch co uld read1 th e J1ig her p oint 011 tlie
wall, and Samn el Ulark e 11sed t o leap o ver ch airs arnl tal>l es.
A y~un g p relate was se nt witli a m essage to the ste rn Cardinal
l\fazarrn . Ily a 1Jl11ml or of a servant h e was admit ted to t.h e au g ust
presen ce mrnnn o m1 cc<1, antl to his conste rnation b e surprised the
great, man a musing himself by jump ing over ar ticles of furniture.
F or ~ mom en t th e embarrassment " ·as rnutnal, but th e young
conrtrnr soon r ecovcr P<l him sdf. "I will het v onr Prnin e ncc two
·
,, h e exclaim
··
"rrolcl
. . pi Pr•es
, · · tlrnt
' I can i.uPa t tl ia t JUmp,
ed , pulling off
lus sh oel'; •as· if eurre1
· fo1·
tiie sp or t . T'-ue Can1·m al accepte d . the
"' ·
.
ch nll e_n gP, a1Hl t.J1 e t wo co ntested l.ike sd1 ool-boys. 'l'h e yon ng man
~ os t lns wnger, but won the lasting favor of the h au ghtiest di g nitary
111 E n rop e.

Bnt the rela.\nti on most m11've1·sal among m en
co11te1nplatio11 of th e lndi crous,

93

There is no m ore in tcrest.ing spcdaclc Urnn to sec Lh e cITec ts of
wit upon th e differen t ch araetun; of rn e11 ; I han to obsene it expa nding caution , re laxin g dig ni ty, u11[l'l'<''-i11 g cohln uss, kad1i11 g
age, and car e, and p a in to sm i le, (•xlor ti11 g r eln ctn u t g l<'ttm s of
pleaii nre from m elau choly , aml ,·lmrn1i 11g r'\"l' ll tl1 e im11 gs o f gri d.
I t i s pl easant to ou servc lw w it p e 11d rn Lcs t.l1ruug h t l1 n cul<ln ess
rind awkwardness of society, g rndnnlly lrrin giu g m en n earer toge ther, and like the co ml1in e<1 force of 1ri ne and oil , givi ng evP ry
m a n a glad h eart an<l a shin ing conn tcna ncc. Genuin e arnl inno cent wi t like this is snrcly t,h e fhvor of th e mincl. l\fan co nk!
direc t his ways by Jil ain reason , a!l(l su p por t his li fe 11y tastel ess
foocl ; but Goll lrns gi ven n s wit, and fl avor, a nd hri g h t ness, and
laughter, a ncl p erfurnc ~s , t o cnlivei 1 t h e ch_ys of mnn 's pilg rimage,
an cl t o charm his p:iiuod st<•ps over the limning marl. - SYDNEY

AS TO BEI N G FUN N Y.

o:

'l'UBOlUES OF TH E LUD ICROUS.

JS

t.he

s ~rrnr.

THEORIES OF THE LU DICROUS.

Hobbes. - Th e lowest, J1 arrowcst v.i ew 0£ th e la11g liabl e
is presented by H obbes, aml is ch aracteri sti c o f all hi s philosophy . Ile says :
L au ghter is a sudden g lory an sm g from a sudden con cepti on
of some emin en cy iu oursel ves b:v 001n p ririso u with the i nferiority
of o t,h ers or our own forme r i nfirmity.

The in snfficiency of this expl anation is well p ointeLl out
by Campbell, wl1 0 re11J a rks :
If you mrike but a triflin g alteration of th e expression, so ns to
des troy the wit (which ofte n tnrns ou a Yery little circ umstance),
without altering the r eal import of tl1 e se ntence (a thin g no t only
p ossible bnt easy), yon will proclnce th e sam e opini on and the
sa me co ntempt, anll co nserine utly will give the sain c subj ec t of
trium ph, yet without the l east tenden cy to laug h .

Haven.--Eve n Di·. Haven, wl1 0 points ont that i t cannot be sirnpl y th e co nce pt ion of in fc ri oi·ity in otl1 e rs which
ca uses laughte r, since if it we re so tl1 e proud, self-conce ited,
and supercilious would abonutl in th at genuin e and hearty

'''

::

''n . JA
47
CINC

94

IJ.'HEORIES OF' 'l'HEl LUD!CltOtfS.

m erriment ,d1ich in fact they n ever experien ce, himself
:tt.:eq>ts what H obbes cu nsiders the essenee of tlie ludicrous
as at least au in variable accou1panime11 t. Thus:
'J'h e p erRon htng liing is always, for the time beiug, Rnporior, in
hiR own estimrttiun, at least, to the person or thing lang hed at.
It iR some rtwkwanln eRR, some blunder, some d efec t of liody, mim1,
or mann er, so me lack of sharpn ess or of sense, some perceived incong rnity between the true clmrncter or J>Osition of the irHli vidnal
an d l>is present circumstrtnces, that excites our lau gh ter and constitutes the hulicrons.

Hazlitt goes fortl1 er:
The ludicrous is 11·h en there is a contrndiction between the objed and our exp ectatimrn, heigh tened by some d eformity or inconvenience, t hat is, l >y l>eing contrnry t o what is customary or d eRirnJ.le ; as th e riclicnlouR, which is the hi ghest <leg ree of the
l:iuglmble, is tl1at which is eontrnry no t only to custom, but to
se11 se and reason.

Bain quotes from Quintilian
A saying that causes laughter is generally based on fa lse reasoning, 11 as a lways something low in it, is oft.en pmposely sunk into
buffoonery, is never ·honora/ile to the subject o.f it.

Sir Philip Sidney argnes that laughter is not wholly
agreeaLle :

.

0 11Ar. VIL]

-- - -

-

LAUGii'l'ER NO'l' SCORNFUL.

~

-----

-----· - - - -

()5

Fo r in stance, good Deacon Hobinso 11 , l1 eadi11 g a procession of Su11day-::;el10ol schol ars as they rn arel t t hro ugh the
a i;;;Jcs of a erowdeJ cl1t1rel1 , str ikes up, " H old tl1 e Fort,"
fo rgetful that tl1e second sta n;i;a will Leg iu:
"Seeth e lllighty h o~ts n(lv:rncing, Satan lf'a d in g on. 1'

When that lin e is r each ell eve ry body smiles. Dnt the
smi le is directed, not at the deacu11, L11t nt the im·ongruity;
aiHl in proportion to t.lrn i11 co11 g l'll it.y " ·ill lie the fee lin g of
alllusement, so tli:d; th e loud er tli c la11gltter tl1e 1t1ore emphatic will u e tl1 c test imony that the cleaco1t's life is exemplarr. There is 110 smld en eo11t'.epti6u of inferiority in
the de;co11, as ll olJbes "·oulll ha1·e it. The amlicnce is not.
rendered superior to h im, eve1t in its own es ti 111 at ion, a ~
Haven would make us lmli ern. Tl1c la11 gl1ter ii:; iwt tlw
"scornful tickling" of Si r Philip S idn ey, IJ11t a hmst of
merrilllent., in whiclt tl1 e dcaeon J1inrnelf is prnlmuly tliu
h ea rti est to j oi n. \ Ylten tho guotl urother, in a prnyer1t1eeti11g, attempted, in tl1e abscnl'e of the elw rister, tu
start the hymn,
u I love to stC'al n. while away 1 11

Delight we scarcely rlo but in thin gs th at ham a conrnuiency to
on rsel ves or to the general nature. Lang liter almost ever cometh
of thi ngs most disproportioned to ourselves and nature. D elight
hath a joy in it., eith er permanent 01· present ; laughter hath only
a scornful tickling.

and after beginning seY ernl ti111es, "[ lol'C to steal --,"
"I love to steal - -," " I Ju ve to steal - - ," fo und it
impossibl e to carry 011 the t un e, aml broke dtlll'n, it "·as
very rnnch to l1is cred it if l1i s fe ll ow-1rn rshippers \\·ere
simply amused; fo r there l1 ave been lllen fro111 wholll that
1111 premeditated avowal \\'Ollhl prnd11ee an awkward sile11 ce.

Laughter Not Necessarily Scornful.-'l'his
last phrase at once em bodi es and refutes tlti s class of
th eo ri eR. \\Te kn ow tlrnt our m erriest laugliter is not
sco rnful , and that any theory th at so represen ts it rnnst
Le erron eous.

' Vhen a bereaved widower, ans,rnring a condolin g friend w l10
asks if the recent cleath was not sntld en, replies donhtfn ll y, ""' ell,
yes, rath er, for h er; " wh en a h ashfnl wetldin g-gnesf·. wishes t.he
Lride many happy retums; wh en a co l Jeg,~ p rofossor, nRkecl fo r
leave of absence to attend t.lie fuuornl of a secornl cmrn in, tells the
student h e supposes h e shall have to let him go, but that he really

OG

TlLEOl\JES or THE LUDICROUS.

[PART

II.

wishes it were a neare r rebt,ive; when ty pographical errors give
ns a list of a\rnnls at the P aris Ex position, issuell "by ord er of
his Hoyltl Hig hn ess, th e P rin ce of l\foles; "report that a cow upon
th e railwfly track \rns li ten1lly cnt into calves, :111<1 transform a familiar sen tence iu lh e Pmyer-Book from " ·w e shall all b e ch anged
iu t,he twinkling of fill eye" into " \ Ve s.l rnll all be l1:111ged in the
twinklin g of an eyc,"- in nll these fin d thon sands of similar instances
lhero is in our l:rngl1 tcr nu ill g rl'client of contempt. \Ve simply
}'<' l'Cf'i,-o an incon grnity that provokes onr merrimcmt., and that
m nn ·irnl'n t is tlioron glil y good-natn rcd. 'l'l1ose wh o see in fmch instr111 cN1 fl cli spflrflgenw 11t of th o i1tcli vicl11al , foil t o cli st,iu g uish between tho absnnl in co11 cP.ption fllll1 t li e n,l isnrd in reality.
Do ns tli e pnpil \l·lto ·i11 tho exp ression, "i\frn. Candle's lmslmud ,"
parses ]\Im. Cmull o':o; "as a propnr fo mi11i11 0 n oun , thircl , sin gular,
p osspssin-, nncl g m·('1'11ec1 by lrn slinml," s11ppose tlmt l\Irs. Caudle
l1 crself ·was go\"l'l'lll' <1 h ~- lie r lrnsli:111<1 ? N ot if lie has h l'l'Jl taught
t.o cfo<t-in gni sh b etwee n fl g rnmrn al·ical relrttion of two worcls and n.
r eal r cl:ttion of t.li e t\\·o olij 0cts that t.he words r e present. No more
sh o111t1 l1 n fail to sec f,l1 at it is 011 e thin g to laugh at th e ahsurdity
of rtssol'iatiu g :i ri<li1rn] ous icl Pa with an i ncl ividnal and quite
:rnotl1 or to langh at tl w i111lividnfll as himself ridiculous.

T h e keen est t hrn sts a rc t h oRe of t h e to ng 11e. Th e
hitter es t em11i ty rn a.r 'Heak i tself in a j est. D nt sar casm ,
iro11y, co11te111pt, arc Jl o t essential to tlie lu d icro us. The
t rul y fu 1111 y is i 1npe rso11al. " To r csoh ·e la11g ltter into
:tll e.\ pressiun (If co 11tc111p t," Fays Colerid ge, "is cont r:uy to fact, a11 cl laugh able e11 011 gh." A later w riter
tell i; ll S :
Thflt, a grntifiec1 se nse of snperiorit.y is at th e root of b arbarous
Ja11 glit.er Jllft.)' 110 :it Jeast. lialf t lw trnth. Dut tl1 ero is fl Jo,·iug
l:tngh tc r in w.Li ich tltn nJJl y recogui zcd snperi ority is that of th e
i1lenl snlf, tl1 e Goll within , holclin g tl1 e mirror a nd th e scourge for
onr O\\'JJ pettin ess, us well as our neighbor's.

vV e 1J1 ay go f mtlt cr th an thi s. J\f11cl1 tl1 at is ln d icrnus
is s h ee r Hon sense. JJ c (.J.nin cey tell s us l1ow Ul1arles L iu

nu

CHAP.

VIL ]

HERl3Elt'l' SPENCER'S 'l'lrnOrtY.

07

11sed to visit l1i111, a nd j oi n with l1i111 in lau g hter o,·er the
silliest conceits. L e ig h Hunt says:
"Th e diffe rence b etwee n u onseuse not wo rth talkin g
a nd. n on sense wo rth it is sin1 ply tli1,;: tlte fo rn1er is a r esnl t of want of id eas ; th e la tter of a s11perabnndanee of
tlte rn. "
He aclds th at nonsense, iu the good sense of the word, is a very
se1rnilile t hin g in its seaso n, and is confounded wit.b the oth er only
Ly p eople of a shall ow grm·ity who cann ot afford to joke. "These
gcmtlcrnen, li e says, li ve np ol1 <'l'n<li t., flll rl wonlcl not liave it inquired into. They arc grnve, not bccans<' t.11e,r see or frp l tl1 e contrnst of mirth, for the n t-l1 ey wo nld feel the mirth itsc~ H ; but becanse grnvity is their safest rn o11" of 1Jcl1aYior. They rnn st k eep
their minds sitti ng still , hoeflnsc they arC' inea,pahk nf a mot.i on th at
i ~ not awkwanl . 'l'hcy flrn Wfl:XPll i 111ag<>s fl ll lOllg th e li vi 11 g, tho d eCc!pLion is nncl oue if they sti r; or l1 oll ow Ycssl'ls cornred up,
whi ch may lJO taken for full ones; th o collision of \Yit jars again st
them, and strikes ont agr1in st th eir h ollmrn ess ...
No nsense talked l iy m en of wit nncl umlers tancling in th e hum·
of r elaxation is of tho \"Pl'.)' fin est essence of cn11,·iYialit y, and fl
treat delicious to those wh o ham the sense to co n1proh r 11cl i t; lin t
it implies a trust in th o company not always t o h e r isk<'d. - D .rsR AELI.

Herbert Spencer. -A wholl y d iffe re nt account of
• Janghter is g iven b y Mr. S p ence r. H e st.art·s with the assrn11 ption t h at a g i,·en amo un t of foclin g 11111 8t c;c 1111 e\rl1 ern
gene rate an er1niv:(le 11t ma.11ifosta.t io 11 of force, a nd tl1at if
of t h e ch a nn els tl1 c fo rce "·o ul cl ll at. urnJl y ta l;c, 011 c or
more a.re closed, m o re rn11 st l1e talrn n lJy tlie otl 1c r cliai1n cls. Ile goes o n to sl1 ow t.]1 at · tli c 11111 sc1tl ar aetio11 of
Ja ng h tcr h as tl1i s p cc11lia rity, that it is pnrp(Jsel css . Tli e
con t ractions of tl1 e rnnscles arc c11 1 a>' i -co nn1l s i\'C.~, a11 cl r es ult
'si111pl y from an n11 co11 troll able d isch arge of e ne rgy tlia"t
tak es th e m ost fa111ilia1· p atli s, first t.l1ro11 gh t.l1 c o rga ns of
sp eech, procl 11eing a s u1ilc ; aml, if that prnYcs i11 suffi-

9$

'i'HEOitiES o :· 1'[(1<; LVDlCllOUs.

[PA RT

1f.

Cu Al'.

Vli. ]

iNADEQUACY OF MR SPENCEB!S 'l'IIEOH.Y.

cie 11 t, thrnug h tho o rga ns 0£ r espiration, pro<l nci ng laughte r.

c:i.rry o lt t h e nc n·ons en ergy lo be cx p c n <l cd. Th e excess lllll f'.t t t li c rcfurc di sclrnrgc itsf~lf
i n so rnc ot h n di rectiu11s ; nml i11 t he way already cxp l:t i1 1cd t.h c rc l'C!'H]t- s an cm n x
t h r rntg h 111otor n e rves to v nri o11s classes o f mu scles, 11rULl u ci 11g th e ha lf-co n vul s ive m otion ~

Now, why if! our n e rvous energy prompted to escape throug h
these pat hs 1-.p ou certai n per ceptions of incongrnity?

w e c all ln11g h tcr.' '

1
' His nn in _c.: 1 ~lTl c i c nt ~·:q1l:m : 1 tio11 that in lh cf.:.c cases Jan~ ) 1 t~r is n. r esult from the
pl c:i. im~c w 1: l i1k1· 111 <'.~t ·apm g" fru1n t h e r es traint of g n1Yc fr clings . Thitt t hi s is n. part
cau se ~ s lrnc. l>r>11~11l c ..,.8 ve ry o ft e n, ns l\tr. Ba in ~ays, ' it is t h e eoc r ccd form o f sc r ion s:1ess w1Lh o11 l,.thc r~a l1 ty lh:tt, g i H'S us t hat i-: tiff JJll!' iUo n Jro11 1 wh ich a co n tncl, wi l h tri vi a l·
lty o r ntl g n rll y rc l1rvcs 11s to our uprnariom; 1l cl ig h t .1 And in ~o far as mirth is Cflllsell
by t h e gn.c.: h of :i ~rt't' flb !c feelin g L!1at follows th e ccssrit io n of m e n tal str a in it f u rUi cr il·
111.<; t rn t.e;..; til e f!l' IH' ral pril 1Cq _1lc nb1ff c Rd , fo r t h.

"Hut, 11 0 cx pla n n.Lio n is t hn" a fTii nle<l o f U1n mirth w hic h en s 11 c 8 w h e n t h e sh o rt F> il r n cc
bcb~ee n t h e a ~1 1 1t·u1te nml aller~ro of 0 111J u f Bectl tov c n's f')' mpho n iC's i ~ b roken b y n Jond
sn cc 7.C' .. Jn tl11 !'l a 111l h osl s o f liko cnsps th e m e n tal tcn E<ion i R not coc rccc i, Out spontaneo us
-:·11ot1l 1..::a gTPC~ l11l f', lmt a grcC'a lJl r:; a11 tl the co min i; imprc:::.i;d o ns to w hi ch t h e n l tt ·nlion is
cl1 rcc t c1 l p ro 1tll"-C n g r:atificat.io11 whi ch few if any desi re t.o ci:;capc. H e n ce, w h e n th e un ~
l ncky SllC'PZC O<~H r~, 1t ca nn ot lie t li nt t h e la ug hte r o f l h e nud ic11 cc is dn c s i mply to the
relc:\.~.c f '. ·'._' m an 1 rk ~n-no nlt il_rnl e of min d : ROme othe r ca n:-:.c mn s t bC> Ronght.
T~ll :-< ca11!-'C \\" C' s l_ia ll nrr1,· c a t by f':tr ryi ng 11 ur an:lip•:s n. ~te p far t h e r. We h ave but
t~ co m: ~d <' r t.l H· q11.11~t1 l,y o f f c1._· li11 g t,1_1:1t ~x i ~t~ 1111 dcr F;m; h c i r . um st:m ecs , anrl th en t o :i sk
\\hat at e th e co11d1t.1011 s t h at <k tt>rr111111~ 1Lf.: tli s,·h :i rg C', t o at o n ce r f' n<:h a Rnlnti o n.
1
'
Tnke ncm:.f': Yo n nrc f'it tin g in a t!i ('al.rc nlJ~u rhe~l in th e )ln1g- rf'SR o f nn in t nrci:;t in g
<l_mr nn. So n ie d11nn. .x: ha s ht·e n l'f':L <"IH: d wli id 1 a nm scs yo ur sympa thies-Bayn r ccon c il in~- 1 on hel.\~·cc n t h e l '.l'l'•1 nn d h <'rn i11 r~ nftc r a Jnug nrn l p:i infnl rni:-: n n rh· rsta nd ing. 'J'lt c foc llll g .'i exc1lcd h.r f-111 s fw<>nc arc n f)t. n f a kita1 fr nm w h ich y nu sc<·k r el ie f hu t n r c 0 1 l ti •
n rclid fr o: n the Jia i nfn l fr<'li n g-."' w ith whic h you Jw ,-c w it n e;R<'d t h e
~,lt ~n gc m e 11 t. . :Morco\·C' r 1 tlt e sc n ti rncnt s these fi c titi ous pe1·so11 11 gc ; hnvc fo r th e mome n t
1ns pirc1 l yu1 1 w1L h n.rf! n ot f.;tw lt a s wou ld lcn 11 yon to ri •jniP<: iu nn y ii"llligni ty offe n :tl t o
th e m . h 11t rath e r s uc h a ~ wu11!1l rnak e yo 11 r e:::.r nt Lil e indi g riity.

c~11.t rn ry1

~)rc viot~:

A nrl nn\\", whil e Y~ 1 1 are co 11 tc 111 p la! i11g tile rcco n c ili ntlo n with n p lea snrnblc symp ath y
tlt f' rc appea rs fr o nt bl' hrn cl !h e !"c1•11 ('S n l a m e ki1l , ,,·hi d 1, ll'lv ing s l:i.rcd at l h e n 111 li cn cc
wnlks 11 1' _f;o th e l•Jvcn: mul f'" niffs a t t hem . :t"(J\1 caun ot help j0i nin g in thn r oa r w hic l~
greet!'\ t ln x contre!m:i ps
Inrx pl icn blc n:-; L:; t h i:.; irr~i:; i :;tiblc b urst o n th e h ypoth es is of n
pl ca "-n r~ ~ro m r~l :l.tt \·e in,..rca~c o f FCtr· impl1 r t:!ll cc wlw n wilnC'i;;s in g the hmn ilinti on o f
1
~)t h en~. i t ~ rcn dily c x pli cah lc if \\·c cn nRi11"r what in s nch a case mu i:;t beco me o f t h e fee l·
m g t h at cx 1 H t(~cl nt the ti111P t lw in co n g r ui ty a ro~c .
11

•l A l:i rg.f' m a ss of C' lll Otio11 11a1l h1•1• 11 pro clncr d. or. lo f:pfmk in ph yHiolog-kal htn g n:tg <',
n 1nrgc p.o r Lw 1_1 nf l.llP llPr vo11 ~ Ryi:- t r rn Wn f: in a stnlc of ll:tt !-;ion. Th er o \\"ll R nl~o g r cnt
ex pectation with n ·ganl lo I.h i: fn r llwr cv oh1t.in n of t h e scPnc- a. qu::i11tity of VR ( rm• 11 m:i·
cC'n t Ui ought nnil e m o t io n, i n lo whic h the c xi f'.t ting qunnt it.y o f t,Jwught nnd em:tio;1 was
nlJo n t. t o pn cis .
"Jl a d tlwrc h f'f' !l n o in te rn1pti o11. t h e Uo1Jy o f HC'W i(lcn s a n tl feelin gs 1wx t c xcitc1l
won lfl h ave i;in m c<' 1l tn nh~0 r b t h e wh nlC' p f t he lib<' rnll•d w ·1·vo11R e ne rgy . nu t n ow tlii ~
ln r~o amou n t. l"l f 111 ·n n11 s cn r r .c-_v . in.c;t.<'ni l o f bf' illf! nllowctl to ex pe nd its<' lf in produ c in g R.ll
c:111 1vn l(' lll :tlll•11111 t o f I.h r n e w 1.h o n :..:-ht.~ A.TH l c rn otin n f:. i s A11 11clcn lv ('h <>ekf'1l in its fl n w.

'I hi· r.h :1n11 r l!-I ali111~ whi ch !·h f' 1fr·whar j'.!c ' nu: ahn11t. to t:1kP place n r ; Rmld c nl y clm;c(l. Th e
Hew d1 111rn r l Ofl('H Pd - tllnt affnnl c>d h_,. tlt c n.pp cnran cc nm! pror.cc 4lin gs of t h e kid - i s r\
~ ft ll\ll o n o; th e id ea s autl fcC' lin gs sugg ested nrc n ot u umer oua nnd lllR SRi vc e nough to

l\fr. Dar win q notes thi s oxpl anatio 11 , :111<1 thu s t:u rrolior::ites it :

:, ! \'
'1
·1

I

' ' An 1>b r-:m r vatio n bcn r in g o n t hi ~ p 1;i 11t w:i s 1n:t11(' liy a c•1 rrc<.: po11Ll c 11 t (l urin g- t.h e n ·r·1'nt
i:;i f' gc o f l'ar is, n:t 111 cly, t hat the (: cr111a11 f'.toldic r :-: , af te r s tru 11 g C'Xcilc1ncu t froi n cx pns 11 r L'
t o c xtr~m c 1lan gr r. w e re par t ic' ularly np t to J,11 r~t into lo :id \aug: h b 'l" at t h e s11 ial11 •!-'l joke.
So aga in wh e n youn g c hililrc n nrc j m;t lwgi 11n ing to c r y a n nn cx p ected cv •·nl . w ill sn1w•·

t ime!-\ srnh lc nl y tur n t hf' ir c ryi u g in to h11 g htcr 1 wliil'i1 ap p:uc nll y 1-;1· r v L'~ equ a ll y we ll lo

expe nd th e ir f-it1r pl11 :=; en e r g y ."

The difficulty willt J\ [r. Sp o11 co r's il1oory if> tli at it
acco nntR for everything e xcept j11 st wl 1at it p urports to o;.; plai 11 . \Vl1 at 11·0 call laug h te r is n ut tl1 c l1 alf- c<>111· ul oi1·e
m ot ions. T li cso a rc but t li e expross ioll uE b ug li tor. To
<lrnw o ut the Jlln scles of th o face in to a fo r ced sm iloi s tircso m o, nrnl boco 1uos p a i11ful if co ntinu ed.
fltill m ore t i reso1n o a 11u pain fnl is lho rnnscnlar rn otiun of a
h eart,y lau g h . S:1ys J\Ir. JJ:uwi n :
During e:rnessi1·0 lltn g h tcr tiH' "·lloln hndy is t hro 11·n b:u-kw:m1
anu shakes, o r is almost c0.11v 1ds<' <1; th e respirnho n is rnuch 1listurbe1l , th o h er1L1 alll1 fac0 b 0com e gor ged wit,Ji l 1lo0f1 1ritlt th e
veins ,1i,,,tenued , anu U10 orbicnlar muscles arc spasmolli cally co ntractctl ia oruer t o protect; t11 c eyes. H en ce, as fo rm e rly re marked,
it is scarcely p ossible to p oin t out a ny d iffer en ce b etwee n tho tearstained face of a p erson ltftN a p aroxysm of excessive lau gh ter
and after a crying fit.. It ir-; prolml,Jy t1n e to t.lt e close similarity
of th o spasm odic movemen ts c!tnseu h y t h ese 11·i11<:l.v <1i1Ierc nt
emo tion s that h ysteric p ersons alteruatdy hn glt :incl cry \rith
violence, and that, youn g cl1ilt1ron pass sml<l eul y from on e to th e
oth er str1te.
Anoth N sci entis t says :
No <1ouht th e sonml of lau g ht,c r is one of t.h e Y<?ry earlif's t and
ollclest of lnrnm n cries. It is certainl y a n astoni shing sounrl , and
one t hat is Yery <litn cnlt, to list.f' n tu an<1 a nalyw 'l"i ~ h o11t. prPj n1lice,
and a remot e fe elin g nf Ry 111 prd.lt y . Th o h cst way to Rb1<l y i t, 1.li at I
know is to seize 011 opportunities wh en Olle is lJeiug COURt!lutJy in-

'1:

''I

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I.' 1.1
I '
I·.;

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47;
CINCINNA

4'

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t

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I·,

100

;l'HEOIUES OF 'i'HE LUDIUROUS.

[l' AH'l' 11.

t errnptetl in r eacling a serious book by shouts of langbter from a
pa1-t.y of s t.ran gern ; 0110 can then 11ote the curious variety of spasrn o<li c so nuds p ro cluccll , aml manol that men in t he rni Llst of mb onal con rn rsatiou shoul<l lie corn pclled b y uecessif.y to 1•reak off
Hmhl(' rtl y t·. Ji eir UHO of fau g 1rngo a n<l fin<l reli ef arnl enjo,Y ment in
t.Jie ntt.cnin ce of p erfectl y inarticul:itc a nd auirnal l1 owls like those
of tlio Long-anuetl Gibhon.
\\roall knowwltatit is to la11g h t ill we ache; till ire
ar c c rn11pe ll od to l icg o m co 111p:mi111L to <l cs ist fro 111 l1i s
£111111y s tories, a nd for c ilily t o 11·rcst o ur rnin<l frolll a co 11t e u1plati o 11 it too ];ce11ly e11joys, les t we la11glt 011rscl ves tu
dca111 .
'l'lt e pl1rnse is not cx trnvngant.. People do lnugh themsel wls to
· cleatl1. On D ecembe r 13, 1878, J"oslnll1 ·walker, a respect11ble colorctl rnan Ji Ying in tlt c city of P ro,·itlenre, nnclertook to rn 11ke some
brin e for picklin g po1·k, and we11t to the cnpl 1oanl for salt. He
mi s took th e article, arnl li is wife Rosa, twenty ye11rs old aml re ('('nf.Jy happil y m:uTi<'<l , foun<l him s:iltin g th e pork with gmnuJaf ell sngar. Rh c lm rn t into a h earty langh; sh e laugh ed, and
lnn g hccl , rrnd k ('pt on bnghin g. H er husb11ud hr.came alarmed
arnl rnn for assistance, hnt in v11in. 1'l10 wonmn liternlly fau ghed
hcrs(']f to cleath . R11"11 instanc <'R are not frequen t, l mt a year's
fil e of 11ny New York <lail y will r eport at least one or two. l\fony
l"'opl e rirc in gr eater lhn grr of laughing themselves to L1 c11th tlmn
of l1Pi11 g struck hy li ghtnin g.

1£ }\ fr. Spc11ee r· s tl1 oo ry o f la11 ghto r 11· e ro n.\loqnate,
thcreforn, la ng lttc r \\'0 11hl li.e a pninfol ex p o ri e neo, to be
avoided, lik e a SC\'C re cold o r th e fever a nd ag11 c . D11t,
ns \\·o hn ve seo 11 , li e d escriL es eve rytl 1i11 g bnt tl1 0 la u g h ter.
Il e tell s n s wl1at a rc the inotio11s that a ccompa ny langhter,
a ncl "·l1 y \\·e lang l1 \\·i t lt certain mn scles, in st ead of: s win g : in g . 0 11r a rm s n r t urnin g a so 1rtc1·sn11H. l311t in what tl1e
' n11111 f'c n1 e n t of l:wgl 1te r co nsis ts, a11d wl1? 11·0 sn 011j oy it
t l1at in tl1i s a11111 sc n1 ei 1t w e forg ot th o llisco n1fort of tlw
aceo111pai1yi11g m ot io ns, li e wholly .ignores.

CITAP.

VII. ]

A THEORY ,, AS GOOD AS l'AN

101

rm. "

Aristotle. - From these a nd J11an y other t l1 corics 1rn
go ]Jack to the <leii.uiti u n lllad e L1y 1\ris tot.Jc, \\'liie lt Cole r idge d eelares "as good as ea n Le.' ' A d c linition 11·lti c h
two n tv-two cen turies ea111wt i111pro\'e is wort 11 :ii tcntiu11.
"1~/w liulicrous l11 ·is1 ·s,"' sa ys Ari s t\>t.le, "fl'o111, sn1_J11·il'c
at ziei·ceiv,ing somethi11g out of ,its w; 1{({l plac,, 1cl1 cn tl1 e
imusttalness is not ciccompanie(l Ii!) Ii scns1J qf da11;;ei'."
1

S 11 elt s urpri se i s al1niy s pl cas ura.lil e; a11cl i t is o l1 ~<·n·ecl
tl1at s nrpri so accon1pii nicll 11_y a sen se uf <la11gc r liceu m cs

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exclaimed:
"Boy, what aro yon ]:111glti11 g at ?.,
""\Vhy, 11t th e joke on yon: I aiu' t tl1 e l1oy ! "
The s11me difference is ob sen ecl in the dTr ct 011 u s of tli e ex pel'ience of others. F or in stance', :i m11n in Fnlto11 Jai<l l1i H fin ger on
th e tahle in front of a lnl,,z-saw t.o fod tl11' rnol-io11 ol' the air. I n
the rnpicl revolution of 1he s:iw h 1' 1lic1 not p <'l'<' P i Y<' l1 mY far th o
teeth extenclecl, n.ml l1i R fing er \rns ins tn.nf·l,r cnt off. J<:,·pn l1i R pain
lost in astonishment., uml th e forcm11n approal'ltccl to 11sk
h ow it happmiecl.
"Why, I jus t laicl my fin ge r <lcl\rn so," h e ex1•bined; and \\~hiz
went the s11w through a second Jinger.

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H e r e , then, arc tl1c t11·0 c le 111 0 11t s ,,[ t lt c 111di c ro us-the
i11 co11 0Tuon s auJ U1 e i11 co11 1'c uic11t. 1;c t1r ec 11 t l1 0 l\Hl is a
p o ise,"' aucl tl1 e lrn.l:111cc lliffers \\·itlt C\cr y 111iml. \\']mt
a 1111 oys o ne n111u scs an o tl1 c r. }>o n t o tl1e s:u11 e 111i11d an n oyan ces rnay lJc r opcatccl t ill tl1 ey 1Jocon1 c a11111,ing, :rnd
o n e rath er h opes th<:y 1rill :t<T1111111lat c i11 order to Colllplc te
tl1 c j oke. S a111 "\\r ell e r a nd .Mark Tapley wel'C tuo abso rl.J ~cl in t h o i11 cu11gl'll ou s tu Le tl ist ur bcll by tl1c ineon-

A b oy " ·as cnffc,l , a ucl ~lrt·l'l'c 'l , n111l Hlmk<:> n, all<l ponn1l c'cl for
snow-balling au irn,;ciblc oltl fa rrn <' I'. 'l'l1P lJ".'" lrrn gl1 C'1 l . Tho
farmer uuffecl aud Hlappc1l. arnl shook :u1cl JH111111lt•<l lt a rcl er. 'l'he
b oy ]an ghecl Jornl er. Fiimlly tl1 e frtrrncr lice11me c:d1austecl, 11ncl

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102

'l'IlEO!llES OF THE LUDICltOUS.

[PAHT

II

Now, tJrnt story will be funuy or tragic accorLlillg to tL e physical
sy mpathy uf lhe person who h ears it. It appeared in the funny
column s of the n ewspapers ; lmt it was read i.Jy many who
lrn1·0 a Do1rntello';; shriuking frull1 the ;;ig1 L ur eveu the thonght
of ph ys ical sulfo riu g, in whom the recital of the story um<l B the
flesh creep.

.N11t/1i11;; ·is more to ue ?'emembered in COn'/.!ei'Sat£on t/wn
tlta.t the l1ul£crous 1's not an absolute rela.tion, biit depends
entirety ·uron the ·111,-illfi q/ t!te 7H:r;;on 71erceivi119 t/1e 1·ncon[/r'1.1.!y . Tli0 lW'lT.Y j0kes ••f the dissc1? ting-rno111 \\"ouid
cost many a

n1a11

11is

d inn er and ma ny

a wo11rnH

lier

con -

sc1011 "lnes;;\. 1l cnec Ll1L~ w<>1il.J -lw ll'iL j,., .,f(.t·11 ;1 l('rror to
'"'' wid.) . W lie re lie >'ee,; uiily lhe i 1tcu11;,;·nw11::; 11e fon:cs
upon hi s hearers th e vulgar, tlic di sg nsting, the t0rrihle.
\Vit g~nnrally S U CCPhlN l!H1i't-~ f'r' '''' 1,,..j,,!-t 1rnppi1.v nch1re~i:ed
t ha n from i ts JJatin' pn ig 11 a 11<'y. A jr'st r :tlC'11l:1t0, l t" s 111t·:1<l :ii :1
gaming f ;,i,J. , 111a.y l, c: l"<:cei1·ed 1rit h pr1rfcct inditforcuce s lwukl it
lm1>1•ull to drop iu to a 111:wknn•l-!Joat. - Gor,1>>nlf'rH.
'l'h ose who lin.1·e sr> pn the pl>t_y "r "Jane Shore" '1"ill remember
\rl1aJ 1t. l111g·l' j uke it st'P!llfld t.o h r11· l\.(•1•1H.: rs tu !11ul t1ie Jniur fruzc u.
st.rirving crcatnro npon IH~1· fr><'t n.gn.in. nn d rli·i"" lw1· on int o t1H'
pitiless st'.o rm . ·well is ii. fnr :my of nR if 1vc ham nc1·cr langh cd
at. th~ mi se ry of ot,l1nrs li0cnnsn 1rn Jarlw1l ll 1n sympn.thy to per-

cm vo it.
A lady att.ire<l in profo1111rl crrtpP. Pnfp1·Prl rr cur uncl ulmn11nnPr1
h erself to rn e lanchoh·. A womnn li0l1in1l lwr, with rrrl nose, uluc
ve1la11•l g rnr• 1t spectarlcs, lea1wd forwa.rcl mlll inquired:

"Los t ,;omehotly?"
A hare ly perceptible noel answere<l t.he question without invitina
0
l1Ilol.h e r, hnt the inquisition proceeded.
' ' Jt1ath<1r?"
A s hn.lrn.
"Brot,J1er?"
A s!4rik0.
" Hirn lmnd ? "

A nod.

- .... - --

--~

THJ.I} HELATION OF

CHAP. VILI

- .
-

-------·----

'nm

lU3

LUDlUlWUS.

" Clrnrd.t 1ncil1Lcr ? "
A noel.
" Life insured ? "
A uuJ.
"Tl.teu 1\"lmt are you moping ahont '! He":; :dl rigl1t, :tllll su are
you.''

Sacred Subjects are never to he trifled w i 1li. ;\ r
will the gentlemau restrict tliii3 reserve tu tlw~u ~11Ljects
t.li:tt. n.rc sacred to l1i111 s 0il'. '1'1i ii11<l rn~H0r +nr i" 't i11 '..'. i11
11

any

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fer;\ in;_::. \l,·l1f'. tl1r:r n f

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of principle, botokous a selfish ltu~1rt awl a ::;]1 ~dluw i11tdj

l1.:d.

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LlunLkrn 1.•_·r•_·. The· f,.]J,,11i11g·1•:11:1g1·:11•l 1 l i:c' <tl111•"I' 1i·n lil .. 1:11T

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fault :
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'J11iA snnsc of the h111norc.) ns i~ n...:; i1wP"'f <1l ildl' \\ il11 l 1 · 11d 1 Jr 1w~~
n1,.l r"s11<>d as 11 iLlt culll p11s,-;io1i. ,'\o rnn.n \nlll Id l:t11;.d1 to S('C a
litfln l"l1illl f:tll: n1 1<l l1t'· Wulil<11ir' ~l1<w h •i l I"""" :' 11 1·!1 :111 :1<..-id1 ·11t
li:q>j•Pll l·n R ll ..1,111·n 111Hll. 01· k• l1i.c; r:i.1 .1... ,.. II i:;" lH':illliful tl 1i11gt.o oliserYrc lhc lJuUll Lb .ri< ·.-; 11l1i•·l1 11:1l1m • li:t s :tlli''"l In 1ll •• ridi enl nn~ . fln1l to 11nt.lf>P li ' 1\\. R1H1ll i~ i s ~ \\· al l(1\\' t ' <1 Hp L.\- Ll1u 11n11·e illus 1

tri nw< fo0li11c;f1 of onr 111i11th. \Yl10T<' is 1110 llf':irl '"' li:ir•l ll1:1l
PQUl d hPnl' t.~ ~Pr thf" :n\·kwnnl reso11n•Ps an<l ('PH! 1·i,·:uw1·;..; of t."Ji'p

turne<l int.o ri1li1'11lr> ? \\·110 vonl1l 1:111;.:li aL Llw fr:ll'I 111·1 .. l.
rni1101l horl:v of n, sol<lif'r? \\'ho js ' " "·iek0•l n.s In""""" lii1 w« H
with the 1nfirmit.ies of cx t.rnrnc ol<1 agf) ? or t o find s1 il•j f' ..t for lmmnr in t.lrn wf'n.lrn rsR of n. p"rislii11 p;. rli ~so h·i ng l 1rnl y 0 \Vl1n i" flH'rr>
Oinf. clnP<: not. fe0111imsrlf rl isT'nsnrl fn m·N!nnk tlif' littl r. p r e11lin.riti es of the t.rnly gr0at and >dse, anr1 t o thrn" n. _., , jj over tli:it riiiie11l n whirh t.lwy lrnv<' l"f'rlr•r •nw1l l1y Iii <' 111:ic:·nih11l0 of il1f'ir l:ii .. nts
and the splendor of their virtu es? ·who ever thiuk8 of turuing into

poor

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104

WHY THE LUDlCHOUS GIVES PLEASURE.

[PART II.

ridicul e onr g reat, and ardent hope of a world to come? 'W h enever
the man of l1un10r m eddles with these things he is astonisl1 ed to
Jirnl th:it in all the great fee lings of their natme the mass of mankind ithrnys think and act ari ght ; tlmt they are ready enongh to
laugh, lmt that th ey are quite ns ready to drive away with indig1mt10n and contempt U10 lig ht fool who comes "·ith the feather of
" -it to crumble the bul,rnrks of truth and to beat clown the Templ es of G od. -SYDNEY SmTH.
WHY

'l'lrn

LUDICROUS GIVES PLEASURE.

The Theory of Pleasure. -Among the vexed
r1nestion s of plt i losophy none is more interesting than the
tl1 eo ry o[ pleas11rc. Plato in sisted that pl easure was simpl y a r elease from pain , and conld exist only after the pain
ha<l ca11 se<l a1111oy[rn ce. To say tl1at tl1e act wltich typifies
hi s tl1eory is scratchin g is to use a figure Lold enonglt to be
r en1e111u ered, and a word which lie l1i11J self freq11ently employed.
Opposed to t hi s gloorny view of life is the theory propo1rnded IJy Ari stotl e, "-l1ich find s its ablest rn odern ex ponent in S ir \Villi am ll a rnilton. "Pleasnre, " li e says, " is
the refl ex of the fipo nta11 eo11s and tmimpeded exertion of a
power of \\'l10se energy we are conscious; pain a reflex of
the O\'erstrained or repressed exertion of such a powe r."
El se,,-l1erc lie says that" Pl easure is notltinO' but the conco niitant ur refl~x of tl1e n11e11forced aud n~impeded energy of a facnlty or l1abit, tl1 e tlegree of pleasnre bei11g
always in proportion to tl1e degree of snch energy."
L c ihnit.7. rn,vR t,Jrnt s_vRterns of philoRophy are eqnally ri ght in
" -h nt fh ev rtssnrt and wrong in what they denv. 'l'he t heories of
K ant nn<l of Harnilt.on , rlfrerne as th 1w Re~m , yet agree in this- that
pl 0asnr0 <'OllHl >: from ad.i<'n - "'fhings won are don e, " says Cressith : ".io~· lies i11 the cloing."
ThiR iR hn e nvnn of' 111<' "p1uP 11l0rtsurP.s " of Plato, wl1irh Hrtmilton ignores ; " those from beautiful colors, a.ncl from figures, and

0 !IA!'. V 11. J

PERCEPTION OF 'l'HE LUDICIWUS.

105

most of those from odors, and those from sounds, aml any obj ects
whose absence is unfelt and painless, while their presence is sensible and productive of pleas ure; " " whic l1," to qnote from Pltilebus, "are eternally and intrinsic[).lly b eautiful and attended with
pleasures of their own to which those of scrntching have no resemblance."
'fhough there be justice in Stuart l\Iill's remark that Hamilton's
definition of plea'lnre throws no new light upon it, and in the
claim of l\ir. D allas that in " pure plcas m e " the main sotU"ce of
enj oyment is less in the consciousness of ener gy than iu th e " conceit of special agrccm cn t in iH,ncss :" even if 're accnpf; l\'Ir. Dallas's theory of exceetl.in g pleasure, "that as th e joy of life waxes
the consc iousness of life wanes; that as consciousnesR rises plea.su re se ts; that we recog11ii\e thn prese nce of our bliss onl y when
the bliss begins to fad e, and that t.lte h eaven of onr existence b egins when the conscionsness of it passes a'>'-ay," the pl0a.snre still
res ults from activities, a n1l th e only ques tion is as to how far these
activities are within the Rphere of consciousness.

Perception of the Ludicrous. - As the ludicrons arises from snckl enly percei vi ng an inco11gr11ity, it is
manifest that the pleasnre ari ses from gratificatio n at the
possession and the exercise of thi s p erceptiou.
.Jllot [fniversal. - Tl1e possession of a lt11111 oro us perception is by no means 1111i versa], all(] its most remarkable
property is, that it is inborn . "lt rc<1nires a sn rgical operation to get a joke well into a Scot ch nncl erstaucling,"
says Sydney Smith. "It is not in the power of every one
to taste humor, however he rnay wish it," says J~aurcnce
Sterne, "it is tlie g ift of God."
We are all familiar with the h elpleRs look of one who laclrn perception of the ludicrous, and who p eers into onr faces to see
wh ether or not what was said last is a joke he ought to lau gh a.t.
Nothing annoys one more than to observe the nttcr " -ant of
perception of a joke in some min1ls. :Miss ,fackson called, the
other clay, and spoke of the oppressive h eat of last week. "H~at,
madam," I said, " it was so dreadful here that I found nothmg

lOG

WHY THE LUDICHOUS GIVES PLEASUHE.

[PAH'r IL

l eft for it but to take off my flesh autl sit in my bones." " 'l'ake off
yo ur fi e8h autl sit in your bones, sir? Oh, i\lr. Smith, how coulcl
JO U d o that? "
"N othing m ore easy, madam; come and see me
n ext t ime." But sh e ordered her carriag·c, and cvitlentl.v thong-ht.
it a rnry nn ortltod ox proceeding.-SYDNJH fanTu.
A coll ege professor, l cctnring on tlte effect of the wind in West.
Prn foTrsh. r 0 m~Tk..,,l · " Tn l1 :l\·,.11; ," . " '" "". llir• r"" 'l T ''-•1 11 • l i111•"•
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cv !lli..l 110L t..J i.n :!1 1.1\cJ.' Lhe ui , :-;;u l \n; nt rouud. ··
"John ," s~.itl a grmtl cnmu to his new servant, "did you take
th:it, note to J\[1'. Jones ?"
"Yes, sir; lint it didn't. <lo him any good!"
"How 1ln ?on lrnnw t.lrnt '?"
" JJ ccanse Lo caH'L l'eaLl. ''
"J\Ir. Jon es can 't read? ·why, what do you mean, John?"
"\Vlt;·, h e'll hli1Hl, hliud as a bat. ·whil e I " ·as in the room he
asked mo three times where was my hat, arnl there it was right on
m y h ead in plain s ig ht all the time."
'J.' li e worlrn of man y strrnclanl autho rs abound in passages where
thron g h lack of t,ltis p erception g rave issue is taken with statem ents, the ouly point of which is their lmmol'. Thus, in a noted
rh e toric :
a

llilth;

Dut n r nll ki nd R t h e w orf.:t i.c:; I ha t whcrf'in th<' "·01·<ls, wh e n corn;trnr.<1, A.re cripnhl c of
no meaning nt nll. 8 nch an cx prc~s iou i ~ the foll ow ing: " Th e m wcrn seve n Inflics in
th e corn pnny, eve ry one prettier t han :uwt hcr,· 1 hy whi ch it is in tcndccl, I s n pposC', to in{lka tc tlmt thny were nil \·cry pretty . One prt't.iier impli m; that thCrc ie nnothcr Jei;:s
prctl"y, but where every one ic; prettier t here ca n be lHHrn lcRP-, n.nd con seque ntly none
rmin1 pretty . Snch trn.Rh i ~ t h e 1li:•grnce of onr io n g nc.-C AM PBl~LL.

In a phy of Dong laR J errold an ol<l sailor, attempting to snat.ch
n ki ss, get.s a box nn f.ltc 0ar. "Just rn y ln ck, " 11 0 oxclainrn; "always wreck ed on th e coml reefs." When the manager h eard the
ph,v read h e cou lcl see no point to this r emark, and insisted that it
should lie stru ck out.

1Yot to be A cqui1·ecl.-Nor can a sense of tl1e humorous
he acqnired. It mu st lie felt, and instantly, or it vani shes.
T li e rno ni ent yon seek to :fi x it, to study it, to analy ze it,
tl1e virt ue h as departed. 'l'ho11 bcr l1 ,/vou should resolve into
i ts elements every fnu11y tl1i11g tl1at 11acl ever h appened

CHAI'. VII.]

PERCEPTION OF THE LUDICROUS.

107

you might sti ll be bliud to the !lext that occurred, fo r
the hu1uorous is lllercurial in its mauifestations.
Somet imes it lieth in pat allusion to a known story, or in a scason ahlc applicatiou of a trivial Hay ing, or iu 1urgwg a1 1 ''lJlJu~iLe
t alc ; som etime:; it, pbyeth in words a!lll plu:aHcH, taking advan!l,,• ~nil 1 i •"11ih• n f tl\0il' '('JlOP fH' f.11 <> nflinif.y nf t.]1 Pi l'
it i--: \\l': 1) 11wil 11 11 i11 :1 ( ]1·1' i•f l1 lil ll" !1 11\.< ~ · \ l'ft,j:,;.,i vn; :..:.uHH..:li uu...:s .i t lLu.-1:.. 1_·:. \1 i 11 11i1-r :11 1 ,,1l 1! :- i1 11 i l i:1 11l1· : ~~('1111 · l :i ,,.

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timeH it is l ocl gecl in a sly 11uest.ion , in a s mar t nn s" ·er, in a •1nirkish
reason , i 11 e111111i ng.l y 11ivort.i ng or cl nrn rly rntorting an obj ection;
somet.im eH it is co11 c0ak..l in a liol1l sd1L' ll• O u[ i<pl'l'Cli, in a tart
iroJ1''. inn "hrt l in~~ mnr.n.plior, in a pla nsihlc reconciliug of coutmdictio.11 s, or in ac1Ll e Jl uH~t.:H.-:;u ; ;-;u J1 tt..:liJ_1H;;; :L :::.L·cuiL:al n . : 1-1l'l'"' 1-' 1tl:L·
tion of persons or tl1ings, a counterfeit sp eech , a mirnical look or
gesture p asseth for it ; som etimes an affect()(] simpli city, sollletim es
a p res umpt uous l>lnntness givet,lt it b ein g; sometimes it riseth
only npou a ln cky h:ittin g 11pon wliat is s t.rnnge; som et.imes from
a crnfLy wrestin g ol.JYious matter to th o ]Jllrpose. Often it cons1stoth in one hardly knmrn what·., arnl sprin geth up one cau hardly
t ell ho11·, b ein g answeralJl c tu Urn 11u1111..iNless roving::; of fancy and
win Llings of l ang urtgc.-B .1.1mow.

T'i1lue 11ot Factitious.--lt is l:i rgcly 1Jcca 11rn f'11i s sense
of 11un10r is u nattai ualJ! c tl1:1t iLs possecsiu11 g i1·cs snch
pleasnre. \\re val11e rnust \1·.l 1at is l1 ardes t tu get. But
tl1e value of a se nse of 11111110r ifl liy no mean s factitious.
J\iirth i s as innate in the miucl flS any at.h e r original faculty.
'l' ltc a1Js01 1cc of if'., in imlivi•lnal H or i11 co111111 uni. tics, is a de fect ;
for t ltcro are Yarious form s of i.1up ostn rn which wit., awl wit alo1w,
ca n expose n.]J(l pnni slt. \ Vit11011t. a well-trnine•l capacity to p <'rccive tl1 0 lrnlicron s, tl1 e l1 ealt.h suffers, lioth of th e b ody aml tl1 0
mind, se riou sn ess <lwin,l\ C'R in to nscc t,icism, sobriety degen erates
into liig ot.ry, an<l tlr c natnrnl or<l er of thin gs gives way to the
vagarieR of a clisr0111pe r011 inrng i11 alinn.-W1IIPI'LR
Iu st anccs o f t his kin.I arc p Pd1 aps most common ancl m ost lam entabl e in! l1 nso 11·]Jll lr:trn lo <ln wi:·. h snorecl subj ects. Ozanam,
the ruatliematician, s~ii,l i ~ was for the Sorlionne'*to discuss, for the

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108

WHY

TH~

LUDICitOUS GIVES PLEASURE. [PAuT IL

Pupo to d ecide, aml for the math ematician to go to h o::isen in a
p e rp e111li cnJar lin e. In un e of tbe mys ter ies 01mcte<l i r1 Germany,
toward t he end of the last ce nt.Ul'y, the Ureator of tlte world was
rcprese ntctl as rm oltl gentle man in :t 'rig, who grop ed. aliout in
tho lhrk, aml a[tor nurning his h eacl against the p ost,.; oxehim ed
in uttm· p eevishness, " L e t, there be light, " aml there wn,s lig l1t-tho .li.gh t of n, tallow cn,udle.
S o iu a grave so rmoH, Francis Meres (the same to whom we n,re
indobte u for the e:1rlies t critical m ention of Shaksperc) made out
a d d.itinn a nd mn lt.ip licati ou t·.o be l+o<l's arit.lunetic, hPcause whe n
h e had ma<l o Ad am and ~ l'O he caused t h em to iucreasti a nd multiply, lm t s nl>trachin n 11 ud cli vision to ]Jo the d.eYil's arithme tic, l>ecan ~e t h e arch ene my snhtmeted Delilal1 from Samson aml divide<l
l\'Ii c ha l from D av i<l.
From a hsurdi tics li ke t h ese th o slig h test
se nse of the llllli c rons wo nltl prot ect a ro\-cre n t mind.
" In eve ry co ml it ion of man it i<'< plrry, a nd pln.y alone, t ltat nmk es
him eomple tfl," say.~ Hchiller. "Hmnor is t lrn lrnrm ony of the
h eart.," sa.vs D o ng las .forrolLl. "Ernn geui ns and phi lautlu·opy,"
to 11note again fro1n \ Vlii ppk, " a rc inco wplete wiLl 1out they are
11ccn mp:1 nie tl h,y so nte se nso of t he lrnlicro11s, for au ex treme sens iti ve ness to the evi I a nd mise ry of Rocict.y becomes a maclcleni ng to rt m e if n ot m orlified hy n. fe0 lin g o f the hum orous, and
urges i ts subj ects iuto morbid exaggeration of life's d ark
sitle ."

N(it to be Obtrwlecl.- It sli onlcl be noted that those
in wh o111 th e se nse o E hnrnor is k eenest ofte u display it
least.
\\The n a m a n cxplai11 s Ji is und erstandi ng of a
j oke l1is e njoy m en t o f it is supe rficial. S uch a 0 11 e is so
i111pati e 11t to obtrud e hi s ap preciation of tlte fonny that h e
n eve r permits th e fonn y foll y tv d evelop i tself. The true
l11un o rist is neve r in a hnrry . If .;vo 11 hnno·]
e in tclli1 w"' a
b
story fami li ar to him h e docs n ot in terru pt yon , even to
hin t that he h as lte:ucl it b efor e, bnt Jets yon blnnd er on to
th e con cl nsion, findin g it doubl y l11dic ro ns th at yo u suppoRe
h e is Jaughiug at t he story, whil e in fact he is la ughing at

CrrAP. VII.]

PEitCEPTION OF' 'l'IIE LUDICJlOUS.

109

A common incident is t h e first visi t of the lJeanllcss b oy to t.li e
b n.rbe r's sh op. In all those sto1ies t he lia rhor p amcl cs his .f:te ntionRuess. For instn.nce, lw lathe~-.~ bis c trnto 111 cr 's frLce a nti tlten
sit8 tlnwn to read tl 1e mrn:Hi.11 g 11 cwRp:1 per.
"\V lmt arn y01 1 waiting fur 'I " ll8 lu-> t h e boy; aw1 the li:ulH)r replies :
" \ V:titing for your b eard to grow."
Now, the barber spoils the jok e h y olihwlin g l1 is o" ·n m11art11e,;,; .
The true lnunoric;t wou ld lat.li er allll sha1-c the s m oot h f:tl" C
a~" i[ it \\' Crc fl L ea d\·i ll n 1n i 11P r '~; Wfl1 1ld i1H11 1irn if t l11· ra :;.iq· hHil\.
h old well. ltllLl i1 all l.JH.: l.1ea 1·,[ ~ liuu J, [ I" ' 1<; 111u \e,l u1· a .'i/Jl<Li I gual.<Cu
left to sort o[ L:1lance the monslacl1c, like; :trnl all so ,]di ly :\ucl
impertnrlmhl.,v tlmt th e buy 1rn1 1lcl l"' .Y l1i s hill w.itli tho :i.irofa1·d.er~11 , fl.ll a F-: " ·n.ggPl' off lik n fl, drnn1 -nrnjor.
Ill a recently pubfo;lted Louk of mc n1 oirn "·o arr tol1l tl1 nt w1iw' tlii1Jg in the npp"n.r:i,n('e> of Prnfl"SSOI ' TI11liI 11 a11 11. Il 1t' ]'I '( >i«•111111 n /'( '(' k
Rcholar, irres istibly iml'ress0,_l 0n• ry olll' li e rn ut. "·itli the irl l':t tl1 :tt
h e \\·as :.\ lmrLer. Pass ing :doug the sLr l'l)L 011 e <hy h e w:1 s li:1ile<l
front an n pper window l iy so rnn 0111• lo l1 im 111 1k11<•1r11, " ·11 0 l1c('k011ed to ltiw t o asee11d; nn<l when the 1rise m an e 11 Ll· ru1l co 111111:uHlccl e nrtly : " Cut m y h air."
'l'he professor m eekl y ol 1oyet1 , a.ml h :ttl n.bc,,1t l1a.H eoHcl n<l <'< l th r'
<.> p erntion "·h en tl ie y icf im, loo ki11 g in to Jie glass, tli sco1 ..•r1'<l
th a t on e sid e of hi s l1 cn1l h ad lJC<' ll n 'il uoed to ba l.lm·sR, wl 1Jle
the ot.h er looked as if ii; hacl Leen g nawed by n.n ahseu t-m irnlu,l.
mule.
":i\Ier cifnl H eaYen ! " 11 0 yellml , "you d on"t kn o11· 11 0\\· tu c nt
h ai r."
"Yon cl id 11 ot ask rn c wh ether I di1l or mil; ; 1 nm l'rofcssnr
Buttnmnn," an cl \\·ith a l ow Low the l ean 1etl man tlq 1artc t1. Hf
was a true h u moris t.

IiJ~joyed in P 1'oportion to JJU/iu 11lty.- Likc all om
oth e r powers, tl1 0 :fac ul ty of apprec iat in g the fo1111 .r is
e nj oyed i n p r oport ion to tho <1iili cul tics it c11 co1111 tcrs.
Thero is m ost zest in tl1 0 game of' ch ess th at \\· o bare ly \rin ,
and t h at is to 11 s tli c funniest j oke wh ich we bare ly sec a nd
our neighbors do ll Ot sec at all.

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110

WHY •rJ:tE LUDICltOtrs GIVES PtEAStJRJn. [PART

n.

One who l1::ts :tcltlresscd diJforent :imliences knows b ow impossible it is to predict the reception :t certain :rnectlote will r coive.
'l'olll precisely alike in three different vlaces, one amlience ,yill
lm1g h till tl1 e tears come, :tuother will sit stolill Lecause it foils to
see the point, antl the t hird will sneer because it sees the point too
easily.
It mn st 110 con fes»o<l U1:1t ou e mnst listen to nrnn y s torioR to find
a point Hew c11 on g lt to O<'cnsiou t.lie surpri se which is the chie f c.> l emcut of lhc lmlicrous. .Ur. J'olrnsou p rojocte<l a work " to sh ow
h ow small a quan tit.y o( J'(' rt [ fidion th 0re is in th e worlc1 and that
t.l1 e sam e images, 'ril h n~ ry few vnrintions, lrnrn ro;e rvc <l :tlJ nnthors
'rho l1n1•c eYer "Tittl' JJ ." Ct'rtainl.r a b are clozen would ma.kc up a
majority of the parngrnphs gleaned for in th e fnnn y columns of our
n ew><pn pern. It wonlcl b n WOl'tJ1 tho stmlent's while to coun t ll1 e
proport.inn v;hich rnhte tn t.Jrn mother-in -Jri,w, to 11ig fe et, to cloctOl's l'ill in g tl1 ei r pati0nl.s, t o the poo r rn nl c that "·on't work Lot.Ji
"·a.rn, a11cl to I.he sc rrnnt.-girl wl1 0 kindl ell a Jire with naphtha and
nothin g has b enzin e of h er since.

C'r.111,1:c1dirmat ,](11.·cs.- No t only arc a maj ority of jokes
h11ilt on a fow d11111rny id eas, lJllt tl10 icl cas tli e1u s<:'lvcs a re
only eo111·c11 t io11 a ll y f 111111y, so that tli c la.11 gl1 is not at th e
id ea, bnt at so1n e p eculiarity in tl1e expressio11.
For insbnee, th e world lms agreed to smile when it is su ggested
that a docto r kills his patients. As loug ago ns wh en 1\fartial wrote
tl1is was an accepted joke, arnl one of l1is epigrams may b e tlms
tmusl:ttecl :
A iloct0r lately wn s n captain rnnclc;
Jt is a d1angc of tiLlc ~, not of trade.

Now t h e ways in wl1ielt this assumption may be suggested are
numberless .
A pl1ysician's wife l oo kin g out of t h e window flees h er hu sband
in a fnn ernl processim1. " I do wish h e would n ot go to the
gm,·0," ;ih o comphinR, "it looks so lik e a tailor ean yin g hom o l1is
work ."
'l\rn t criurn nrc t-r nvclli11 g along a lon ely road. One tries in
rain to p nss the o tl1cr, aud th e driver ca.Us out, "Say, m an, what's
your bnsi11css?"

C HAP.

VlI.]

PERCEP'fION OF THE J,,UDIC:ROUS.

111

"I am a p hysician, sil'," replies the other stiflly.
"All right, then, yo u ought to k eep ahead; I c:trr y coilins."
A prnctitioner finds a lady readin g "Twelfth Night," and asks :
"\Yhen Slmkspere wroto about Patience on a 1\fonumcnt did h e
m ean doctors' patients ? "
"No,'' is the r eply ; " you Llon·t foul tloctors' patients on monum e nts, hut uncler them ."
'rhe essence of the h1llicrorni fa incong ruity, and in the b est
jokes th e incongruity lies in the ideas. nut h ere t11c main incongru it.y li es in assuming that d octors, ,rJ1 ose bnsiucss i t is to cmo
p atie nts, r eally kill them. In tl1i,.; there i>i uo longer any Hovclty,
and therefore "·hatevcr i,; funny nrnst come from th e particular
form of ex]Jression. 'I'he n oveHy of expression in a1 iectlotes like
thes e is largely lJaRml upon pnnniu g . '.rh o jukes arc m ere twistiu gs o f words, aTtificial, :iml at the h es t bnt d exterou s.
J3nt with the man d eficie nt in lrnmo1· they are favorites, h ecauso
li e can commit them to mornOl'y ancl r e111 cmlJ er to Jn,ngh :it tl101.n
whenever they are dressed up and trotted out. Es1Jecially grnteful
to su ch a mind is the joke that d erives all its humor from frequent
repetition . In the play of the "J\[igl1ty D oll:tr" the p ersistent
mi suse of eapital le tters is reganl cd :ts a " IC G. "-capital joke" by a large majority ."

American liimwi· is c:haractcrizell

uy

"·hat may be

term ed the omission of tLe maj or prcn1 isc.
'l'h c log.iciauR rnsol ve every jn<lgrn ont int,n n syll ogism. 'l'lrn s, if
w0 con cl ncle tl1at a h eavy fall of sno w i s a hlc:o;s in g h cc:ause it prnvicles poor p eople with wOl'k in sh oYelJin g off sid e"·alks, our entire
thought is th is : J\laj or premise-Wliate1·cr prnvides poor p eople
"'ith wmk is :t blessing. J\linor premi se-Such a snow provides
p oor p eopl e with work. Conclusion-- 'l'h crefore such a suow is a
blessin g. Now, " ·e d o not u sually stop to express t h e major premi se, but go at once from tho minor to the conclusion. A syllog is 111 with ono of t,Jt c promises 01 11ittecl is call ed an e ntl1 ym eme,
and t h e word is worth remembering b ecan se it d escribes it exactly
to call the typical joke of the p er iod an enthym em e.
"\Vill the boy who t,hrew that r e<l pepper on the stove come
forward and get a nice book?" asked an Iowa Sunday-school su-

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112

WHY 'THE

r;unrcnous

GlV.l!jS PLEASURE. [PAHT IL
CUAP.

p erint.cndrmt, with a bland smile.
He was a far- seeing boy.

VII.]

PE1WEP1'10N OF THE LUDJCUOUS.

113

But the boy never stirred.

No11· there is a capital enthymemc. The mnjor p remise is tlrnt
if tl 10 h oy lmtl com e np he woul<l hrwe got wnlloped ; l>n t tliat i s
left 1o lhe i11 mgi1mtio11, li <>i11g, iu fact, .in1p.l.i.cil in l:he p epjHJl".
A " ' 0ston1 cormwr' ,; jnry lirnn g h1; in a vo rdiel; that tl 10 11eceased
ea11111 hi hi s 1leath fr om "ril.li11 g Bill .Tnnl's a lia l'.
A Slmron ma n stole a peck of tbhliu-roots n nder Urn impression
that t.li 0y wore s" ·eet-potntoes. H e felt the d eception keenl y.
A Nern- ]i'afrfidcl man whn fail ecl to gd a t.li irty-cent pin eapple
for a qnart er o f a <l nllar wanted to kuow whether we were b reat hing tl1 e pn re air of freed.om or b eing strang led b y the fcti cl fumes
of a for0ig11 1l eR potism. 'rhe Rtorc-keopcr said those wore tl1 e onl y
pi1w -appl eri 11 0 l1 a<1.
A ma n from l\Iaino, who lmrl never paid m ore tlmn twen1;y-fi ve
r> P11i·s to S<'O an cntP1'ta i11 rnC'ut., 11·ent to a Now York theatr p wh ore
th o pln.y was "Tho F orty 'l'l1icves, ., and was char ged a <lollar aud
a l1 a lf fo r a ticket. HmHli11g tl1 e pastel.ward hack, he rental'ke<l,
"Keep it, mister; I d on't wa11 t to see th e oth er thirty-nin e."
A J\Iilfonl r esident cam e to New Haven for a spree. H e h ad it.
In a drn11km1 stnpor 110 strnnhled into the Fair Ham n r olling-mill,
wlrnr e hf' awok e at nigh t to see molten iron g lnrin g, brig h t R}•ark s
flyin g, l:tl>ornrs g licli11 g lo n.ntl fro in t.he lnri<l flam e, au<l horrible
sha<lowR. As h e rn bl 1etl l1i ~ eyr>s a " ·orkman ::tskerl him where lie cam e
from . H e g aspc1l : ""\Vl1 e11 I \rnfl on emtlt I lived in New l\'.Iilfonl."

In tli is Ro rt of :i.n ecdu tes it is ass111ne<l th at th e h ea re r's
mi11 fl is lw ig lt t :111<l (111i ck enough to supp ly the 11Jissi11g
coJ111 ect io11. T lte l1 e:i. rer is g ratifiell lJy this conficlellce, and
by l1i s au ility tu j ust.ify it, nn<l wonl<l r esent yonr t hinkin g
it 11 ecessa ry e 1'e11 to hi lit, "This is a goak.- A. \Varel."
·w hil e tit is omission of tl1 e connection adds to t h e plcasm e of those aid e to supply it, nnfortnnately it procl nces
eo11fnsion 0 1' ul ankness in the minds of those who are unable to <l o so.
Th e i;-rcat m1C'reRs of Artemas ·ward's career was l1i R lect.ure on
Utah, d elivered in Egy ptian Hall, London. After a prologue, in-

t end ed, as the programme sta ted, t o sh o w wh rrt a good e duc atio~1
the lecturer had, Artemas went on to inform his :111d10nce that it
was an error to call Salt L ake City the Oit.y of the Plain, as some
of the women were really ve ry p retty. The l\Ionu ou':; reli gioll, he
said, wa~ sing 11Ja1·, lm t ln·s wi· ves wern plnra l '. 'I'l
. 10 " L rt<1~~ f L. yo11s "
was prod uc,,tl at the l\Ionuuu thea t. rc~ lmt 1:11 l ~tl _to sat.rniy f hoandience b ecau se t here was only one Panlme m 1t, and 1t seemed
ridiculous to make so much fuss o ver a riingle 'rom a n. 'l'he play
was revised at once aud presen ted th e 11e.:d ern nin g wiLlt fift een
Paulin es in the cast, wh ereupon it Lecanrn a g reat suecess.
"Brigham Young," h e said, "is au intlnlgent fat.lier riud a num erous husband. H e has t wo hnnclrerl \\'i1·es. Jnst think of that!
Obli ge m e by thinkin g of that. '.l'wo ]1u11<lrcd souls wi_th lrn t a
siiw le thoun-ht tw o hnnd red h eart s Umt h eat. as one. H e 101·ps
n otwisely b~1t ~wo hundred well. H e is <lrenLlfnll y mm:ri Hl. He
is th e m os t rn anic1l ma n I over srtw in my life. I saw h rn rn otherin-law when I was th er e'. I can't t ell you exactly h ow rn r~11 y th ere
is of her, Lint it iKa goo1l d eal. It strilws m e that o ne rn oth cr-inlaw is abont enough to haYe in the famiJy-1111less yon are fornl of
excitern ent. A few days h c forc my arrirnl Briglmm Youn g wns
married again to a yon11 g an cl r eally prc t t." girl. H e told me confident,iully that h e sh onhlu 't get m a r ri ed nny more. H e says t h~t
all h e wan ts now is to .li ve on i n i1eaC'e fo r t.h e remmullrr of lns
days, and to lmve his tlyin g pillow soothe1l liy th e lovi11g hnnds ~f
his famil.)'· ·w ell- tlmt's all ri ght- I suppose; lmt if, li e_ has 11,1s
d yi1 1g pillow soo the1l by th e lovin g lm11tls o f all lw; fa1mly, he 11
have to go out of doorR to di e."
.
Robert Lowe h eanl thi ri lectu re, and laughed h eartily all the
evening. John Bright sat stolitl, listening with grave a ttention,
ancl after ward remn rk ed :
"I must say I can't see what p eople find to enj oy in this le~ ture.
'l'he information is m eagre, a nd is pl'esented iu a d esultory, ch sconneo ted manner. In fact, I can't h elp seriously questioning some
of his statemen ts."
WIT AND HUJ\10R

The Jud icrons l1as two gene ral divi sion s, not al ways clistingni sltecl, and J1ot easy accura tely tu define, yet betwee n

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\V1T AND H UM.OU DlS'i'lNGUlSHED.

[PAH'I' 11.

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wl1iclt it is iu1purtant to discrimiuatc. Tl1ese a.re wit and
lnu11or, sorne differences between which Hlft)' ]Jc poillted
out i11 a series of parall el dcscriptiu1rn.
1. I£m1w1· ·i s c1~joyccl in )Jl'Oj)Ol'ti'.01. li8 it t8 e;.q;euted j

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_£

'l'he first limit, t,o Jin nffix01l t,o that obscn·:itiou of r elations
whic h proilnces th e feeli n g of wit is tlmt they must h e r elations
whieh !'XC'itP snr['ris.
lf ,;·011 1.e ll ll1<' that ctll 111••11 11111 sl ,1;,. I :ll 1t
very lit,tli' s trn .. k with wlrnt· y nn sriy, 1"·1·ans1• it is n ot an as:;cr Lio11
very r emarkahln fnr its novdty .: 1111 [, if you '\\·ere tu say that man
was lilrn an hnnr -glass - --thrit li ol:h must rnn nnr, a11'1 h _dl1 l'l'Htler
up their 1l11st, I s l1nnl 1l li sti'n to ynn with mn1-, nl l"11 (ic•ll, lJc'CllLL~o
I should foe] sn111ot,Jiing- .lilrn s11q1ris<" at. tl1" s>Hl •l"" rPhtinn ynn
hn<l Hi nwk n11t, l1 d"·''"ll hHl 1wl1 "l'l'"l°l'llfly 1lisc;i111il:11' i<l<':ts as :c
Hlflll an'l n t.i'n0-gl:1 s~. ~ RYT~~r,y R:nrrn.
rro C'Otnparc Otlf! 1llfl.n'~ r:i11g·ln ,::; tn tJint Of flll(dJH'l', OJ' tn repnu~( 1 1if~
the whiton.,ss of an_v olijr<'f l1y tl1at o f milk or snm1-, ni· tJ1,• '""i"f,1of its 1•pl11r~ liy f-11nc.:r nf tlu' r:ii11!1r )\Y (': 111uoi· l1< (":tll('il \\ i ;, llnlc'::-is
besj,1es tbis Oh\'in11~ l'PSP1l1 lil ;inrr• fh C'l'P h0 Sfl l1)1' f11rflH 'l' <''l!l Q'l" llif,;disCOVPJ"f'1l in tlt (' hvo .irlr ·n~ fl1nf is l' fll•:l l ·1 lr• 11f g[\·ill.~~· f-J11• rr'; t (1 1 r 0(lJ lll'
surprise. Tl111' wl1cn a prn•t tn lh ns thn hn,s nm nf l1is 111i ot n •os i ~ ns
whit,., ns snow t·lt0r0 is nn 11·it in t]J ,. cornpnrison; l•ut 1\l11.!U l1i: :L1l1ls
" 'ith a si~.d1 f"11 n.t. it, i R n.~ <'nlil , h""', it th011 G'l'n\~:s iiLf-o \Yif' . - \ 111 i1'ir_1.:-.:.
IIc:11ut: 11 .i L be:cm no ropor,irion. lf \Ye enjoy hearin g or tellin g a
wi Uy thing :1, sl:<«lllll time it is not for the seHsat,io11 u[ l'"'""~ iYill g
the 'lrit itsf'lf, hn t tu ul1sc1Tc its ":q1rcsoio11 ill Llwse who luwe JJut
before heanl it, ft p l1•as11rr• rikin rnll1e1" In lm1nor.
In antHhesis t he plcris nre of wit is increased by prevision of the
witty climax. 'l'hns wh en a man holcls np a letter 10ft at his door
containi ug only the won1s "April Fool," and says, "I h avo often
hoanl of people who wrote l etters and forgot to sig n their names,
bnt thi s is tho firnt, ins lanrn iu which I have known a man "-uy
this time tho rp1i ck h earer has compl eted the rinti-clirnax an 1l anticipa tes Ute conclnsion- " to sign his name and forget to write the
lett.er ."
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Tako anot.lter ntt0rnncA of tho same preach er: "The firs t rlay I
was sea-sick I was afrnid I sh ould die ; the secoml day I didn't care

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EXPEC'L' EDNES:-4; I NS'l'AN' l'ANE( >l JS!·d,:Ss .

wheth er I dill or not; the third 1hy- l was afmitl I slwnJdn'l. ··
'.l'lte h carei: jurnps at the dima" :rncl l;egius to laugh IJcforc it i ~
11 nn1·inh. . fl.
\Vlinn lh-,fl,n Rt,;i,nlnv cn,rnn tn tl1is <:1> 1111Lry Lltc propridur 11[" <"t'rt ain hot.el, rrnxions to ".Jn hm1nr In l1i c; 1; 111»J , e:l:if-ionn<1 a hoy al tho
Hi>cakiug-tube leacling fron-. the clcan'_s .mom, and smll:
"N ~IV. ];ov be very r PH j"'d,(nJ. L1 s t.•11 rtf.t011t Lv1, J;,-, :u 1<l wl 1c11
yon h ear hin: 'call ans~Yer at onec, nrnl i f l1n ns ks '11'110 is ( iLNc l'•' \ •l v ''j'Ji, , li(i\~, lllY ]1il'd.' n

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tllei r i111purLa11
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rri r·i-11 . " '! hr' .l iord , n1:;- h11y. ··
Jli•rn jf-, mig·J 1t, ~J fir: :!'"'''"' ili:d !l1<' 111i11d »11j •• ,1 ·,,,.l(l1u \\ti J,, ,ff n
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J•, 11 f·, f,] 1,., 11-1't .Ii(':-; . i1ni , i11 1 ·1 1111wi:1hn _,~· t-lii' 1•11t1rn .'-;('111('1 11'! ',
ii , :ttHl _L.:."i\' (''-1 j lw lH' a1 ·1·r gl'i·:dl·r L1l1 ;1-.;1tr1• lw1·a11 ~ (~
j !1:• ) llil1d i:-; :l-l d 1\ tq d() ]il l) i'( I j ));\Ii i·-; :t •-.Ll' ~ l i d' jj : ]J(d titil,\• :q l))J'l' ('i:d·(' flip 1)niiit. li1t t. aid- i1·ii~, 1 1,. ii.
1:r4·\ ii,\- i--: 1l1t· .. .:. 1 )i1l ( l r \·1 -d , :1 11d
,yjj-. j<..; l!\li~t. t'lij :iyi'( l hy i.\1ri :; i· \1,·]11l ( ·:1. 11 c11111 11 11 1lli l·: tiC' -1t 11_\ - <;]u 1r t-l1:t11 1 '.,

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<) 11 tlir: ot.ll('r lw11.l, 111 :q•111'tTi:tl <· till~ 111 1111111"ll!J" il1l: 111i11d
needs, :lR it '\\"f>J'l', to ad.111~1 it ~clr , :111<1 ,'-'<11111·1 i111c,-: i<H'," tl1c
l' I(.,'"l,S'llJ'f>• (,f. thr:
.
, first scJttc11cc(lr 1:\r1J 11t :i li11111nrn11 s dc s1 Ti11tion L>ec:wsc it is not 1111itc ccrlain wl1i:t l1i:r wl1at, i,-: f':ti d iN
tn lie ,i1J1igerl hy 11!:tl,tc1·-"f-f:wt f'l:t111l:H1ls <•r ],,ol;e11 :it,
t ltron2:11 tlie spectacle:; uf lt11111ur. \\" l1 c11 it is :lf'f'\lrcd 111'
tl 1e latte r it drops the c11st0 111ary aHit11de of critical j111lgment a11d setLles clown to c n,jnyinc nt.
2. TF"it is in8fanta./L CU"!/8 ; litlll/11/' -is r'Ottl ;.ti rtrll/fl,
A witty story may be 1011µ;, bnt. onl y tli:it. t.lw li e:irc rs'
wind s 1ww be tl10rouc;hJy prcp:1,rcd t.() :1pprcci :1tc tl1 c r:Jt:istrophe; o.r i£ it consist of witty dial"guc, e::icli !tal'P.l' l1it

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WiT AND HUJHOit DISTINGUlSHED.

gives its i11diYidn:1J pleasure, like so many taps; tho taps
m ay even be too fre(111e11t, as in t::l l1 erid an's comedies.
J l11111 ur rn ay clrnrncterize an entire descripti oll, a whole
book, all that is known of an i11ti111atc ac1p1ai11ta11ce. 1lu111or pervaclos, while wit e1ubellishm:.
Htnl!or glows, wit
sp:1r kles.
:J. l liwwl' ?nriy l1 fl 1nanifeRt in w·f'ir>n.
TVit m ·ust be cxprcRsed in 11·o!'r!s.
f11 tinth there i:=; pon:q1tit111 uf inco11grnity, bnt ill wit
Lln; cu111 1cct io11 of tlic t11·0 i11cu11gn1u11::; iJem; is 111ad e by
language, 11'11ilc in lun11or it may rosnlt from 111o vni 111·11t..
i1 1('n n~rnity yo n ill creasc t h e: lm11wr; as you
11i111inish i t, yon <limi11i s l1 the lmn1 or. H '' tn111us111;1.u of eoq•ttlent
n 1111 l'l' s j •LT!al de• :l]'lH"il 1:tll LT, 11·i i.h ] 1:1J.iJi1uuuh ,-;OJ 1l•>\\ .l1aL I oo us le1d:t!ions , \\' c'l'c' fu ,; ]i1l1• 11"''" g1 ·1il ly iiil» thL' lllltll :t111l Lkcuraie '~ p c<I·
gn"' " •'<ml , Tam nfr:iicl wr' s l10111Ll nH Ji:11·u Lit" liarliaril.,y t." l:111gl1.
If l1i s liat n.1 11111·i g·, lik e t.1·1·:1.clil'l'•llts "'" rnuls, 1rnre to 1Jc::;el'L Uwir
falling rn:1 s tor, it cnrrni11 ly \\'IJlilc.1 iwt 11ii11i11i"h Ulll' p1:up e u::; ily Lu
]1111 g l1. Tint. if Jw \\l'l'l' to fa!J iutu a >-io lc ut passiou t'1Uc1 a]JllHe
ernryl>ocly alw11t. him , n,.J,ocl y c"nlcl possibly rf'sist the i nc r>11 gn1ity
of :t jJ ua-grecu tnt1k:-; 111an , »cry rcspcctnhJo, sitting int.he Ju ud aud
threat.n ni11 g- nll the passurs -by with tl10 offcds of liis wrath. Here
evc r ,y cirr,mnshu100 ltPig-ht.ens the l1.1u1wr uf Lhe Hee11e-tlie g"ieLy
of l1is tnnin, tho ge n<'ral rospeclf1liility uf l1is np1ietmrnce, lhc rills
of mntl•ls 1rnLer which triclde clown his c lt e.,ks, and the harmless
viole u c<" of his rnge. B11!; if instead of tl1is we were to observe a
tln stman fa.lling into j.]111 1J111<l it woul<l Jmnlly at.t.m ct any aUention ,
b e ran"' e the opposition of idms fa so trifliug and the incongruity so
sligl1t. - SYDNEY SMITH.

A"' ynn inerprrs0

i"l1 P

+. 1Vit mriy be w liolly i?naginative.
se11 ti111,cnt a'/Ul eli,arade1·.

CIIAP. VII.] HOW MANIFESTED AND Lrnffl'ED.

[PAR'l' II.

II1.t1nor involves

In fac t. the <Jlmlity of wit exists wherever imagination percolates
throngh tlJ<~ 111Hl0rntan<1in g; the sediment is the g min-gol<l of wit.
Tint. 1".11 () qnalit.,v of lrnlllnr, d e pe nding npon vrtrions morn] t.raits,
exists only wherever a uroml iurngination is combin ed with a s weet

PUNS.

117

aml tolernnt morn! sen se that i s devoid of 11rnlice aml :111 nnclrnritauleuess and at pent:e with rrll mn uki"Ll. - IY1 :1""·
In the s imply fouglrnbl e there is a 1111·re 1li sj1rnport.ion lwt11-cen t1
definite act and a <lefinit.e person n r nllrl; 111· :t 1lis1J)'(iporli u a u[ t!te
eml itself to tl1e rnnlc or cir<mlllsf.a.n•·.c•s of t.11R <lnlinif'e pNsou. Uom]1i1mtinn of t.honght .s, words, m i111n.g()s will not nf iLs.,lf cnnstiti:tn
Jrnmnr. unl ess som e p eculiarity of te nq JQmmeut ur t:haradc r Le rn<lic•.n.t.t><l tl11jrehy ns t.l1 e nn.nsn nf tli re "'1111e.
The excellenci es of Sterne cous i st in b1inging forn-nnl into clist.i.uct consci o u sness thoc;c 111i1111/irt' uf ll11.rngltt, an<l fc.u.lillg 11·liic:li
npJH'11·1' 1-riflf'~ .""I' 11:!\'P nil i11qu1J'litl!l'I' fcH' j.111· lt!Cl ]~H ·Jd .• <l!td \\-\1i~·li
n,i111ost, HVf'l'V Jllall f1•1•ls ill <Hlf-~ \ray

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a f:;Ol1H;·U 1in g t.hat Lit~.lun gs j-.0 our c11111111111111:1J. nri ~ . 111 ~l1o rl., ~Li~n1c

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a Ji1un ol'jst.. Arnl. i])(l <'<'cl. to lie :L lit I le 111<>rn sulit 1.. , t 1,,. l" '"l"'ll·
sit1· to notice lhcsL' (.l1i11u·,, <lrn •.s i11 ibc·ll' 1· <>11slil11I" 11 1> · l111111 <>rist,
rm~l the snper:uld L•cl pmn'I' of sn i11·1·,;1•11l i11• ; 111e111 lo nu•11 i11 gennnd gt\l'.'i US (.Jiu llJ<tll 1>f iilllllcll'. C1>1.1.1:TiHil'.
The fonr h11n_1ors in a Juan, ~u·('nrdi11.~-!," 11. 1 t-11(' nld pliy~i(·i:ins, \\"()ro

b1ooc1 , eho.ler, phl<)g lli , a111l llwi:L11dwl y .

So ltJng

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L11c:su ',H·rc

dnJy mixer[ rrU wonld ho "·0ll. H11t sn snn11 ns n1n-nt' tli 0m 11n<l11h·
pre.puullera.Led the 1un1L IH:l';Ut11_• l111111~1r1111 ....; , ~11H:' 11111111)r i1r :t t 11 dlH_·r
henidug too great. a sway in ·11i111. ,\~ :-{ J11·l1 11i~ co11d11/'.J, \\1111ld i1of.
b e according to tlte r ecei ve<[ rnJP of ol bur men, hut 11:1.Ye so11wthing pccnliar, \rl1imsicn.l, self-willrcl in it. Tn t11iR ·"'' lf-a <;<:r'rting- character of th e lrnmornns man la.Y the point of C"ontnct.
It 'rn "
h et\1·eon the rnrnl ern n sn of lrn rnnr arnl tlin nn('ienf:.
Ji .is hnmo r which \101il<1 ]0n<l a man to tnkc• rrn 11rig in :d YJ<:11·
anc1 3Hpect of t.11.in~;R, fl l1lllJJ<11'•illR iLRJH'C'. L, fi1 ·sf. i11 j,j,,, .,1,1 S>'llR I',
and then in that whieh w e now flinplny . The grn:LI. pass:ige ill
English litemtnre on humor a.ntl .it.s hist.or.)' is tl1e prnlog-nc , or
" s t.age," as it i s called, to Beu ,J011wu's "Every J\fau iu His

Humor."
PUNS.

The most p11rely abstract form of \rit is p1111ni11g-, wliich
Weiss defines a constraint of two different icleas to lN ex-

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I

118

WIT AND IIUl\IOR DISTINGUI S HE D.

[PAU'l' II.

presscll Ly one word, whi le wit proper is the constraint of
two Jiffereut objects to lJe expressed by oue idea.
~ernrn.l classes of puns have Leen distiugnished .
1· ,~I !'.ere the sameform hus seve1·almeanings ; as Fair: 1, b eautiful; ~, JnHt; 3, a market-pl::Lce.
At
L t
'' I' ouot li.ght honm1 l1ig h overle:.tped all liouncl. -I'a
. 1·ad'·
. 'tSe JOS •
" ~n rnn sp prte<1 to ~ee ~:o n ," as t.l ie con Yid sni<l to the Jrnngrtroo.
Ion a1.e 'CJY in·essrn g, as tho filb ert sai<1 to the nut-ornoker.
A g<'n t.lemnn ohsm:rnd 01 1e thy to l\fr. E r skine tlmt punning was
the .lo\\·cRt ]~1 ml of \Hf-.. '' II; is so," h e r eplied, " and therefore at
the fournhf·.1011 of t hem all. "
I _am so ~ uetl1 i11 g like a corn-ficlt1, with i1lenty of ears [mt uo
part1cnlar Ille.a of mnsic. - Jrnrn PnmNIX.
D ealt Hn.ms0y tells of a soakCLl Scotch minisf·er who was rnhli efl
<1omi _at f.hc kirk, a1~<1 t.n l11 h o n cml not fear; h e woult1 Le llry
ennng h wh en h e got, rnto tho pnlpi t.
ii. \rl1 Pro t \\·o wm '1R· <1.r <nr
. t m nrt11rng
·
1 ctcn
aro 1n·o11on11 ced alike
tJio 11r;h
: etc.
r. . S/lf'l/Cr
. · l dif1°
. 1'l"l'Jl
, /l11
.. ,· "o"·' ,,c• o u anLl snn, peer f\IH1 pier,
~oL ~n tl'.y Role, lmt o n t.11.y so n!, harsh .fo11". -1liei·chant of Venice.
l oerrn g rn inaps for pnrts n.ml piers and rnn.d s. - .ld.
T hey wen t :tml told the sexton,
A1H1 tho sexton tolled the bell.-Hoon
'l'heod ore Hook said of n,11 au thor who gflvo his publi~her n dinner, "I s nppoRe h e poure<l l1i8 wino-cellar int,o his book-seller "
.To~ 1 '. 1 l'h rn11i x ~d ls o f a rnnther so fru gal that h er very fhst ttd1no1~1ti n n ~") h er rnfant wn.s, "Buy low, bahy."
~, lu le lll t i 1e cit.y of tho GolLlcn Gate I sent to th o cook for a
~ iro1J e~l chop, lmt h e sent me a fri ed on e. It must be a satisfaction
m. onf\" last moments to rccci l'e consolation from a San Fmnciscan
fnar. - Id.
'l'he slm<low of myself form ed in h er eye
Wl.
· g bnt tho shadow of your son,
'
JIC l l , Uelll
1

B ecom es a sun, and makes your son a sh adow.
- l Cinfl .John.
· o f t l inse that nre spelled differently, and
•iii. A th
, Ir<1 c Jass m
pionon. 11 ~~ed 11 ern·Z11 t.h on gh not quite alike; rm, har on, bllrren; season , smzrng, etc., thou g h these more frequently produce malaprops
than puns.
.

CrrAr. VII.]

PUNS.

119

1\Irs. Malaprop talks of contagions countries, and recommends a
nice d eran gement of epitaphs.
iv. 'fhere are cases in which a phrase or icliom consisting of two
or three words may ue u se<l equi·nocally, ancl thus consiclerecl as
a pnn.
Sydney Smith, h earin g a boy read of patriarch s as partridges,
declared it was too bad to make game of th em .
"Is Mr. Smith a leK"al voter?" ask ()(l a politician at election.
"Yes," replied a b y-starnlcr, "hu t u oin g sick aliml h e is an ill-legal
voter to-day."
One day, ob serving on a h oard the warn in g, " Beware the d og,"
Hornl \vrote underneat.11, "\Vare h e the <log'!"
John P h mnix tolls of an iurp1 isiti vc man who marriccl simply b ccatrne, 11 aving ex hau stoll all oth er s nuj ectR of inquiry, he asked the
youn g lacly if sh e would h ave him.
For if t.11e J ew do cut l mt clccp enou gh,
I'll pay it i1rntr1nt.Jy with all my h eart.
- .!llercha11t of Venice.
v. In Milton there are less puns than conceits, after the sphit of
Italian literature.
H ighly they raged against the Highcst .- Paradise Lost.
His only pleasure is to b e clisplcasecl. -CowrER.
"There's somethin g in that," as the cat said when sh e peeped
into th e milk- jug .
vi. The double pun is u sually t oo clabornte to have the mark of
spontaneousness indispensable even to m o<lerate enjoyment of a
pun.
Freshman.-i\foy I h ave the pleasure?
Miss Society.-Oui.
Freshman. -What d oes " we" mean?
Miss S.-0, U and I.
·when Ouida asked Clrnrles Rertcle for a nam e for h er dog he
suggested "'fonic," adding, "it is sure to b e a mixture of bark,
ster,l, and whine."
"Ten clays or t en dollars," said the judge, ancl the prisoner, a
sullen-leaking fellow, paid th e fine aml was di sch arged. He
walked moodily out of the court-room, but when li e reach ed the
door turned and showered a tirade of profane abuse upon the

~1 1 ~

120

WIT AND HUlliOil DISTINGUISHED.

7

[PART II.

mrtgistn1te. Then b e mn into the corridor, but before h e could
reac h the stree t h e wrts recrtp tnred, and stood again b efore the bar.
"Ten dollar8 more," sai tl the jmlge; "if you had used langu rtge
more chaste rtnd refined, you would not have thus been chased
and refined."
Coleridge remarks : "Baxter, like most scholastic logicians, h ad
a sneaking rtffection for puns. 'l'he cause is-th e necessi ty of attending to the prin1ftry sense of words, that is, the visual image or
gci ieml relation expressed, and which remains common to all the
after-senses, Lowernr widely or even incong ruously differing from
each other in other respects. For the same reason schoolmasters
rtre common ly punsters. 'I lrnve endorsed your Bill, sir,' srtid a
pechgogne to a m erchant,, mertning he lrnrl Hogged his son \Villi::m1."
But no man of sen se betrays an affection for puns which is not
Slll'akin!.!'. The tP.rnptn.tinn ;,, nfl.1' il i!'l'P~j,.d.jble, bll t the offence
Hl 1"11lil ],, , ""'"''1ilJ 1:rnil 1 <l hy !ll l n111>lnc;y, al h.':rnt implied i n the infl tT!i u11 . 01' in :111 hnrfil J}C t1i'tJ!l llf L1ll~ o:y+di d,'-'. I 1+~ /. if. Jt f:-"' \-t-41' 1~t-· f iH'got.tcn t Jiat a pu n for it.sown srtkP is nt. h Pst hnt ph yfn l, ~n rl i ~ p0rlH i< -..: ; l di . 11 1 l.1.· ,_ , ) ) " !!
,[",': l. I " , 1·1 : 1)
il d('.

CIIAP.

VII.]

It mu Rt be ndmitte<l that Cha.rles La.rob, a capita l authority, de fends this very indefinitcnesR ns fol lowR:
An Ox ford sch ola r, meeting a. porter wh o wn.s cnrry ing a hnrc throngh the Rtree ts,
a ccosts him with t hi s cxt rn.onlinary question : "Pri t h ee, fri en d , i8 tha.t thy uw n hare ur

nwjg?' 1
Th e r e i:-; no e xcus in g this and no resi s tin g it . A man might blur t en 6i(les of paper
in n.ltempting a cl ofcncc of it nga in !:i t, n critic who Rh ou kl Ue Ja.u g h l.cr-prou f. The 4u ibh le
itself is n ot co nsitlcrnble . It is only n new tl 1rn g iven by a littl e frd S<! pru111111da t i m Loa
ver y common thou g h not very c ourtco u ~ i11 q11iry . P11t by one g cntfo1wm t o another nt n.
dimu·r-pa.rty it would h ave bee n va.pid; to the 111i8Lrcss of th e house i t would hn.ve shown
much less w it t han rm!cn e.c;,s. \Ve m n st take in thC' to tality o f Li m e, pla ce, n1 ul JH" r son;
t h e pert look of the iIJq u iring schul n.r, thl! 4le!-' Jl (JIH 1ing looks n[ the }Htzzl1"l 11ort0 r ; tltr.
one stopp ing f\t hi s le isu r e , the o~ lw r lrn rry in g 11n wiLh hi ~ bm tlc n ; th<: 11111oe1•11t t hou g h
Ta t.h er n.brnp t tend e n cy Q ( the firs t lllClll hC f IJf lJi c fjll CS Li ri n , \\'il11 I.h e n tf.f'}' :1.!Hl iJl (' Xtricn.ble irre lcnrncy of the scconrl ; t lw plac1'- fl 1111lllic: s tree t, not fa vor ab le to fri vnln u s in\'C'Stign.li(Jfl; the :-tffrontiVC qiw.Ji ty Of th e pr imiti ·; c inqniry ( t h e COllllll OH qi;c;:;t_i un) i :n·illi ·
ously trn.n~fcrre1l to the dcri vn.tive (!h e JH' \\' 1·1irn g in..:n in it ) in U1t' inq1 lieil sa t ircnam cly, t hnt few of that tribe arc cxrcc tcil t o eat of t.ht~ gnnd thin r- ~ 'vh idi t.h(·.r r.n.rry 1
they being in rnos1. co11nlri i:s c1rnsit1,·rn,1 r;i,l.1 1cr a.-; Lht: L t :il 1Ji 1 1r ar~· t r r.: .-·l r' c-:; t ~ 1:-i r: o·::nrr?'. nf
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l 1, ' "' 1 ;1 ' ' \ I !

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] ' I -: [ ; •

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j , ) j "' 11

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h 1•) 1

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·1· ·.,;n ,.,-,1! '" "1

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coul( l

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Yr-t. 11inr <n1 ! n f ! 0n

<·rifir ~

ihi~ :l

•.•: i11 rw n 1ir11 1n r· "

i

yr r _•:

h~·l

nnn . l'f'' ':-t1F" 1·· f tlw d .-. f,,d
1: 1(•

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]

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f11 1i!l !" d

j;!1 1· !: "

11 1i'...:· )1 t 1l'. \ Jr J( 1: 1il1 11)' 111 ~ · 11 11 I '! 1·1 ·:1 r· \ . j •i 11 I · ~
.L1 c i1t· :u'c ()r 1-( · i1 \-( .r\- 1 1li1 ' i·l :;i11i1:'"

] ) I ( ' j 1]1Jl

\ \ l t111

j 11

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1 a. .i u.s L i .\ · ,)\\a:~ n11 I\' a .Wr<l.. pH1~--! lll i'Ht , 1n1 ii l 1 l ! ' 1 ii 1l i '. ,. i) I i 1! 1'
i ~
1· 1

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a pi ctnn: :

C(lll f.: Lit11Lc

l ,\__\l

l )I i\ l'l l ul iL--. L\.. i c.ru: d:~
d(
i i 11, I )j l ! I ; 11 \ !

I t ' f HI

l'n'" tl·r·:1

fr> 1~ 1 ir~ r :· ,.. 1 - ~n 1 · 1:

in , nntl h e ca u rn:tke 1111thing- nf it; all p!lt tng('lhcr

!

'l ' l 1 ; • • I

121

PUNS.

. ill,,

•; ·

r1 , 1f \\ i t.

T-

, 1·

u1 -

I

,,,.

f ,r]l r , f •\· i ! r

1 11.

( )n 1!111 1•111 1f r:ll '.\" . S 1i f: 1r

•·11' ·
f t<{

1

,,f • ; 1

..r

tln 11\,f n 1 ',\ .:'\'l JT ff'r n~ 1l t11

'l '! 1;1t ',Vt1.-.11 tr~H t•,);i_ t r· d i ::: in1nr.-,•.-,--. .-1, h·-· r'~' F<"' p-tr' T' 11,. Ji..;l,

t l 1o>

J~ i hli1·: il

n· ( , ,r,-j

1if

ilJ , · h · t,J "

Th•
I'!

:1 11.' ' dn1i!1t i ~ 711 ·r Hl 111 ·1 1l : 1'-"! t n \\-h 1\i ]1 1' 1'
1

tl lt' 111 1·: 111i ; 1": io..:. }1 'l : 1_ 11y l l l~ ll l f ' ,' ~f'~l! H' \\ - l1 i1 · l 1 i~ J i l[fi ' ircilJ_I- O J' l! •i.
1u1 .r 11i t ''·" ·:q"· 11 li il' l1 i ~ wit. vdg ed l.1.1- a p 1m-- U1u bearer is co11 f11 s cd, :rnd hi R ]l f'l'C'Ppfinn, divided between two i1lons , is 11 ot
st rongly i mprc.sscr1 hy ci1hc 1·.

n i c i n. tn ( : rr' r'('I': · h 111· 1.•: lwn

h ('

1•1 • " d ew:' r1> .\ :i i" '! h 1.,· :1r.\
1•r:i t .-. f11 l! y n '1 ' t'i \-e1 l,' tl 1°n· .,,.n ' . n " h , ·!; .. f
1
(: i-H1i· e n1im:~ ! h1· /\p11: 1r('] (1f .\1 i11i,, 1(' r f'. · hi-· <1 I J•P' '-'
ornam0n! R :' nnol ] J(' :tSf' \lr r·r l li is :u J1 li 1·ll 1'C tl 1:; t t 11 1 ~

f~ 1

< " Tl f .-

..

l>! ·11 · );

1· ' 1l• ·r

•r >l1 1I ll< '

' ii• ·! I· I r t " ~ l 1• 1 r
•

!:1 ·\·. _\! r . I .< \c; a ri

·; r 1•Iii 'i
· '>\ ne

the Bnnks and !l r ac s of BD1J11i\ · lloon -- nt :di c •;1·nt" 1\w h r:t yH ,

::c
1·,

122

WIT AND HU.iVIOil DISTINGUISHED.

[PAnT II.

"An ill uRLration of !ii i; rcn.U in css was wh en n. parcel of fan cy en velopes was pass1 d np
lo l>r. Rol d in one lot. 1 Hmv mnny nrc th ere?, wa ~ Rhon tcrl from various parLs o f t he
room . '0 ! I d on't kno w; too m any to n nrnlJcr. H ow much for the lot? , At lni:; t t hey
were kn ocked down. 'Wh:tt name ?' 'Uowpcr I' 'lt shall be Cowper's 'l'ask to count
t hc 111,· i11 sta n t!y exd a imPll the n.11 ct i011 cc r.
"A joke m n ch rcfo;h ud b y t h e bouk-b i11di11g fra tern ity war;; hi ~ Ji kc1dng n. ll"dger to
Aust ria, IJ ceau ~e i t was lmckctl nn tl corncrcll lly Htt!=:-ia; aw l wh en it, w:i s knocked dow n
to.1

a

~ I r.

F=cl lili ~

Q\,·cn Ph a len li e pa usc1l n.t the 11:uuc antl said re fl ectively:

L

.Do n' t kn ow nbont

to !\ 11rn.n t ha.t:M id ways <)\nm nwl l 'li a lcn. '

11

At 0110 of th e Hil cH of fu rn iture a table of cnrious tlcs ig n was sol cl to a Uidd c r who
left ii; t n h e c:dl cd fni-, So 111c tirn c clnp-::::ed , 'Yh f' n H fri f'1Hl h!1.ppt:>11 i11 p: in :nlmirccl I.hi.:
tnbl e, a n ti wi i-; hcd to hny i t n.t p ri n1it' Ra lf' . J\l.y fath e r tol d h im it. wni-: ~ 111 11 t·o a p:irl_.y wh'J
thu s far l1 :ul 1 iron~cl l 1 i 111 ~e 1r the 1 110 ~ t nn- com-for-talJl c-rn n. n h e ever kn t•w.

1. re m ember w h e n H lot c f '\Tade & B11 tc h cr· s S h cffic lcl razors w~ s i11dml C'd in the
cn.tnl og nc the :u1ctinncc r fi ai (l t!H.T~ \\":-t >= 1111 limi t h> t..hcir f' nn g 11inary po;;si lJilil,i cs , fo r the
1
pnrc h ni:;er 111ig li t "·nde in bln! 1tl :111 11 \Jntc ll c r all hi s fri en1h1.' ' Ncvn n1i11 i\ yrn1' l\ hn. ve
o n e vo111rn c less lo r end.' h e said lfJ a b icldc r w lt u fv11111l hi s f-:C'I. of book.-i sllorL; and when
nnollH' r wnnlctl to know when~ t h e ontsiil c o f h is copy of L:1.111b was, the and:i onccr conj cctn 1-c!tl thnt '~~omcb r)(ly h:1d fleeced i t,' Hildin g f'.1111 '<-olingly, 'but ,H llt cati r•_·t'. n vc: r il, yuu
kn m\·. • A h:-u ~k - g.'lllllllnu 1Jnnr1l wnq pnt np, 1 t·o b e ;;oltl on th ~ · f:fJ.m1. rr-. :m rl a s p erfect n.a
nny copy of Mi lton,, w h kh com pari :-011 n cce::.~it:itrd lit e cxplaimlio n th a t l;!u · n~ wn~ :i.
pnir o· dice lost.; nnrl 1 Three Era~ of a Wo11rn 11's Life.• elic ited the n1111li11 g con11 11cnt of
'Wn ml crf11l w o m :m --011 \y thrr r errors. H o w mt1<;h - thirty cc11ts-011!y te n cc11tR a.piece
-n ot \·cry cxpcm:ive e rror s a fte r nil.' n
11

5. Jiu! plcrrs111°r!

r;/ u•ft

luu1u 1' :.'n l!u.:-· :-..· ~:·:d/::i.r.: n/.
1

!1>.'I

'II/. //,.,,

1111d1 'J'-'/t11u/:11~; /

CllAP.

Vll. J

· ]rn.
sh nn

THE SPI-IE.RE OF J~ACH

rnoNY.

123

, ot tli e lrnml
th at gmsp s it,, m11 l ca11 1J oL ,]i1,ine
1 e see u
'
,1
·t
·'11
t
·ke
·
should
it
1
1Jrove harmless, we c1 o not than k
, ,
h ow u eep l \\ 1 s
it fo r startling n s. -HBIWEY .
,
,
l .
·
[ tom•·u e ]JJ"Ovokes retort, t h e l utt.nrn ess of
'l'lns
R mrpu ess o
o
, ·
.
.
,
·
·
t· oft•iic•cl to the l' i i:,tim \, \' the rdlce! Jo ll tl1:ll li e 11n. s
" ' 111 c 1l is n o ; s
e -~ ,
~,
·
· L
t h e SV llllJath v of by-st:1ud ers will b e wit
c.l esor vc<1 1. t,, an11 I'] t nt
..
~v

.1

J

ll J

'

.;

.;

t lw o ne first olfomlccl.
.
" No \\OJHall is \\Orth l nnki11g at rifh;r 1'11irtv ," r crn arkctl rt hndo
\Yiih n)nl lit'nl n. rrng·n n ct~.
•• t ,h 1i tl~ tr11< :. ·· l'a l.1 11ly J !· 11~ 1 t ·1 l .!,1 1..: r C 4J ltL-

pani~n a few yenrn ol d er, "11 o r 'rnrt.li ii stc uir~g.. to li ~· l~1 ~., .. . '
'l'ri ll eyraml

11,,1,, J:i, 11 111,

:tlH1 1\ [n1hmc c111 Rt:w l , ~' ,ts , c . L oss-~) e'.:.~

'lltl'H: \\':c~ no f<J I'<' ]1d·. h f't.i\' <'Pll U11·111.

:111.!

li oth dr..til" 11 to l c

l

mimlt:'d o[ t h eir i11J inuiLi es.
.1'1.1r,.· ]Jl' I' dearest f, ,, .,
':..1\f11n ~ i 0nr/ ' ....:;1i,1 lnac 1fl. Ill~. lllcet
' ' p rn_v lw w is Umt p oo r leg,, "
,.
"C ruuke.t-1; u .;, l /U!{ ·'''''~ J u :1tl:!111t ' : \\:1c.: tl11· r 1· 1.)l ,\ - . . .
F r ecl erick [.]J n :o;,,,.,on<l had a liki11 :( fol ' Lli c ll'ttl,Y p I1i i:Jsc' I'11 <" r
]\f nnd Plssohn, l.1n t wr1s once iuLht ce\l as n11 L'.\ fl CilUit'll L l u i1 11t al l1is

1; /

I Ir:1:t~f': !

G. II "£tis

'll'it!1tmt 8!Jl11paf/1,!f, ,1n/u:le iu t mu1' 1s lirtsnl 'liJ!On
at, \\' iii le hu 1nor Ja11 gh s wit/1. \V it pnnis11 cs, lJ11t di seo 11rn g1~s ; 111111101· is a solvrn1t i11 w hi cl r the

it.

\V it

Ja11gl1 s

\Yo <1o well to c01 1,i11er tlrnt ,\·it, i ~ an 1111t.m 11 t,fl,l ile foenHy. Unl ess i t is ' rn ll bridkcl it "'ill ornrlt•ap t h,; l111ru11h o[ prupri ety.
j\[ost o f I.lie Jrnt• 11 d:irts o f " ·it, t lrnt, on e h ears whizzing l 1_v ii:wr 1,rPn
poi1tf'r•<l , linrl lf~<l , :rnd pnismw d l 1:· n1:tlignity, and lix OJI R<'llH' l"'l 's <Jn
the s f'igma of vice, fo ll.'', Ol' ' r eak ness.
'l'lrn wiL toa 11 l1 an1ly
prorn il on ]1imsdf to 'ri tlthold :t g ihe for tho sake uf aff,"cLiuu.
Ho fahcly pres 11111 es t hat hi s friends ,\·i ll n ot smart nndC'l" t he
tlirm<hi h r. g i ves tlJ e 111 ; or if th ey do, tl mt t,Jwy will forgiYe t.h e offe nce sin eo it is oommi t t0c1 by him. So h e goes on , putti ng th eir
p atim1eo t o tlr e proof, t ill h e has provok ed the m p ast enclura n ce.
Ho 'rlr o wonld 110 a ,\·it 111nst b e contrnt to b oast few friends. A
joke is an "i1ir-dnt \\·n d agger," from whic h our fl esh instinctively

I ilO'i Y.

\V lt crc wit is

s :1r1·:1 ;.; f i(·, l111111><r

1~ irn11 ir8.I.

Irony is jes ting hilh1Pn l ieucath g rnvit y, :d1ile l11rn1 nr is grnvit_:r
con<'e:1l ec1 bchi11tl t,]J O jes t . . . . 'l'J 1e 111111cl n scs iwny 'dwn it
gran~l:r states an opiniPn o r se n t.i 111"11 t :1·l1i'. ·h is t.11r.np'.1ns it P of its
liP!i P. f with tlr c rn o r::tl j llll' i' O'"' nf sl11m111 [!ris rl'al .l1 ss1 nt frnrn tho
opini~u. It, JLlllSl, j,J1< '1'Clfur c, ]1 0 'tlo11 0 \\· jj}J thi~ wi11k f l'>.1111 tl1 P jl lll"pose iu i t, so that it iuay uo L pass for a n neq m esee11cc lll au oppo-

"'

124

WIT AND HUM:OU DISTINGUISHED.

[PART II.

site sentiment. It may b e done so well as t o u ecei ve even tho
very elect ; aud perlmps the oruinary miucl com plains of irony as
'rnuting in stmiglttforwaruncss. 'l'here is a moment of h esitation,
when t.lie miml s toops over this single inteniion with a d ouble app earance, aml tloubts up on which to settle as the r eal prey. So
that only carefnlly poise\! m imls with the falcon 's or the vulture's
g lance can a lways tliscrimimcte rnpiclly enough to seize the point.
In this moment of action the plcasnre of irony is d evel op ed,
whi ch arises fr om a l1iscovery of the contrast b etween the thing
said autl th e t,hin g intcntleu . Arnl this pleasure is l1 cightened
wh en we ol1scn c t h e co11t.ras t. 11otween tho fiu o soul who means
n obly arnl h is sp eaki ng as if h e m eant to be ig noble·. 'l'heil the
ignoble thin g is l1nnl1ly comlemnecl, first, by having b een briefly
mistak en to b e Uw rnal opi11 ion of the sp eaker, and th en b y the
fl ash of recog11i t.i on of t.h e sp eak er's superiority.
In matters
which arc moral ly im1iffer ent irony is only a jes ting whi ch is disg nisecl hy g rnvit,Y, as wh en we apparently llgree with the notions
of another p orRou w hi oh are averse from our own, so that we puzzle
him n ot only on the poiut of our own not.ion, hut on the poi nt of
hi s own, an<l h o b t'gias to h ave tt s1v;piciou t.ltat h o is not so nnd iu
th e rn atkr. Tl 1is :;n spi cion is d e rived from tho mi.w l's ius f.i11 ctive
fee lin g t h a t. iron ~· is a trni t of a snperior p erson \\-h o can afford to
haYo a s tod : of ori g in:tl i1l cas with whicl1 h e tes t8 opinion, and who
holds them so socm ely that h e can n ever play \dt.h t h em a l osing
game.
A man \\·h o pre ten.l s t.o holcl f'Jarnpposit,o of lii s own
lJeliof is rn ornl ly a h ypocrite un til we detect that sli ght touch of
banter whi ch is tho proof of gnnnin e irony. '1'hm1 '"e seo that ho
i s hon est tltongh h e Ofp1i vocatos, for he b elies himself with sincerity. A mn.n who can ::dfonl this is to that extent superior to the
man who, whether J'ight or wron g, is hopelessly didactic, and incapable of com m ending his own opinions by the bold ease with
which h e may cfoplorc th r m. - .. ·Wms~.

I rony assnmes on the part of the h earer a certain
acquaintance with th e speaker 1vhich gives th e h earer reason to bel ieve that the se ntim e11ts uttercd cann ot Le the
genuine belief of tl1 c speaker. Only so far as tl1i s acquaintan ce is ri ~litfo lly asRnm erl has the RpeakP.r any ri g l1t

'.IRONY.

CuAP. vrr.1

. 'f his ironv is received as statement of fact,
to co mp1am l
J
·
•
aml it h e is hirn selt rated accordlllgly.
·.
· t
. t
oint out the superiority of a wretched
Thus if an art1s we1e o P
·
.
f'
·t
l-e
uaravin"
tho.woo<lwoo \l-cut over a rne s ee
o • · o• a perno
. . n who kn ew ..
- 11 d o well to s1mlc ove r the cnt1crnm as
l
1
cut to b e wretc Je( won l
. ·
n n t 1·f a s t.ran ae
r sltoultl
ll'OlllCal.
on-rn,·cl •v u tter the
. sam e r em arks,
.
0
. 1 t listen r Pspcctfully h avrng no r eason to
the same person nng l
· '
. ·· ·
. '
.
. . _
·t. aer was l ess of an l'.·'noramns than 1ie i ep1 e
suppose t 1m t th e s iano
•
,.,
.
b
·
. . lf nn·, n ot wishin
g to lrnrt his feelings y exposrng
sen t el11 nmse , w u
his stupidity ·
tl
. ·e stare
Genuine hum orists are occasio11rcll y relrnke<1 1.r:; 1_e grn' .'., .
of sur Jrise called forth b y a rema rk meant to b e rece1ve~l as i,1omI . · , common is t.hir; exp oneuee \v1tl1 cln khe n, ~' li"' "i
cal. E,specrn11J
t·
ti
t n "lll"
. P'Jroval is o[teu nw ro cJTec ivo ·, mn a s 1 o o
calm g 1ance o f l 11sa ,
reply.
.1
]
t 1·
(JS
·when
Irony is often carried beyonu l eccH. ~.m'.n , '. .
.
Syduey t:lmith explaiu ell tu a ~l1od;.c\l p:1'.· i c;lt1011e1 tli.,1t. . Ii•_
kept ]1i f' ilog chained bcc· :1 11 s1· it ..l1 ad aer1111 1c11 an. ~tnfn1,lu

L't

natc l t:tut · o

·{' nnt 'l ll<' 11jl

""

o

t Ji e

[)t' \'f', inttlull::> d.tl\l d.11,

'jl:l.l'l Sh

··

.

.

t.l1e ln1tl1111. s ll1~1k11.1g _
it.,
·
·
I
'
t
tl
1 • •11wsti"11 l1ecu111c"
nt least thurougl1ly u I i,· 1,,11s.
i1 1.
i
.lloulitfn
. l ,,.1.i e n l ie rnrn1111
, ,. . ,.,' ''l ""o·c.11tlc111·m
that 11 0• l1as ()J\l'.
, • •
. l
t
.. .. t a ()1nl;f'r. all<lin!.'. t li :1t it. n1ay lie
.
sncret w1' s t - o ll•.1 ~ ' " · · '
•\V
- - ,., \I l ~)· ~ tl- l:l t tl l c (·_)"-'11·1l·(
·1· ,,·n11ld rn1d"1i11tl'dl v su itcr acntcly,
' '"
.
'
.

. l . . •,
'] l. \Yitl1i 11 n
]rn; ll l lllUl' l::> ]JO SS l J ,)

·:tH •ll ,
.

'°

,...,, every
. one l ias l ll·-." t ··dl"
'. ·11td li 1:0 u\\'ll is to rua ~l a
bnt that
~ .~. ·
.
'
_
J
l
"
j" f , J ·
J v 1.Jll c ; ] 111 t 1 t. \\ :LS 0 11 e
Q naker; one 11- 011 r ;.;,t .1s .) llJll, 011
"
.
• •
•
.
•
' . l te h~d
s tri v., 11 , a!_'... a 111 st lll i·am, and li e
" ·'t.1Cf;
0£ tl11~ j'P.C\1] lcill
,
trusted hi:o h earer 11·ottl1l p:tr\l o 11 l11 s "·nah:ncss.
·1- manner 011 nrl es 1.~. 11111, ask otl l1ow h e liked _bauios,
Iu 1l •O
·
· t .. J · n zrn a
« n] j 0 1' Jp -1"
t\_ llHH1P-l'll '' 111111101'1 S, lJ ~tglfl.
· :,.
shmnwn•11 :
• - •- •
'·
·
l J't
·t,J~e irony arnl the i111n , li:cs nlaliorntt-11 llH~lll j 11tn fl p~. rngr:i 1 1 t i ,
only for the Fiji -islantlerio :
.

] 1.1

every ngi• ru 1'

chilrlron.

. , . ,,
lt.\t 1
tl ·ir hnn1tu ucl ur iovut left m ''

1 , - , . · ('} illlt' 11 10 hr~'.!
t.\

cl<\

- ·

Even wiclw<l rn eu haYc

u,

:11111

n11l 1l r-c::t. lllf'll

_ , ·· ·

126

WI'l' AND

Itmrnn

llJSTINGUISHJ~l).

[PART

II.

~n e d hearts for littl e c hiltlre u.

'l'b e g reat m en of the ear th love
t h e m. D ogs l o1•e t.h e rn. Ibnmh au1e ke mokin10dahroah, t h e king
<J f tho OtiuniiJal island$, loves tlte m - mre, a nd n o gravy. Ah, yes,
.ve a ll l ove cliiltlren. - B nrling/on J-fawlce.IJe.
Equally revoHin g is t lte followin g :
'l'ho l> E•s t thin g l;o make gntpe -vi11e!'l g row i s d ogs ; lrn ry 'e m
rig ht llown among t h e roots . Some p eople prefer grandmoth e r s
and their oth e r r elati o ns. Dut g i' me dogs and eats. -lllAx ADELEH.

Swift's " JHodest Proposal " fo r prcrn11ting tbo c l1ildr<rn
lite puur in I rrh11d from l"' i11 :_:: ln1r<l i'll'l>111(\ :11"1 1'<11 ·
makin g tJ1 e 111 i>en 0ffoi :1 l hy n s i11 g tlt c111 fu r fr,,,if , 11·:1.-; :oc ri·
nf

01rn l.1• qnntcrl n 11d er111 d (•11 111 t·<l.

au t1 s;i.y T

;1.1n

gl ~ ul

i11

!t; {.\'i'

11-lmt a w e ll- constructed a utomaton wo uld know I was incaprtble to
r1o, so t h at I l ong to get in to the at tie of a n e mp ty h o11se arnl s nort
at m yself, the n I s h all p rolm bly s mil e bh1u.lly o n m y t o rm entor,
ass nre h er that in eo 11 gmt nla1".ing 11w s lt n 1'. lto<>S<'S t.h n n g l1t. wnnl ,
since t h e audi o11 co ,<J inn l.<1 s l1arn !.h f' l1t111or of' 111 " J>t>rforll>:t.ll C<''. the
fin es t artistic e ffu rt,s l1o i11 g possihl n 011l y i11 a ('<1111p:t11_,. "I' arl-<s t.s,
at1'1 th a t if I seerneLl a t th e m ome1 d; t o l ie i11 spire<l it was l Jel'a ns c
tlt R Rymp;tthy 11nc1 !1pp1w• iatio11 o f m y li s h'11Prn lift r< l 1111' <ml-of m;·srlf, 80 that in s t crtd uf playi ng tltt: so11 a!a 1 lmLl rc:tll .r l "''' " pl:iy cr1
h1· it, :111<1 ;;o <lll.
ri' his l. •' ntw<•i\•' 1( , L·~· _ir 1. ~H .\ · .
\\ . l1··!!1i'j' I •dtall f-' •• 1111 ·a 111" t' \ pre·s~ion fl ~ to f-l it!)\\" 'Ill_\' ('llllJ!l:tJti o !! f f1 :d· I_ l!lr \:l ! I i f· f(l ]' i r oll_Y d1•J ll' Jld '-'.

jn tc n si l,\·

a CO! npan v n. Rn1rn ta nf n,,f't]1n -

gn s lii w~-1 ,. "' '· hirno; :

l

r llH· :-;11i· ; 1 l i ~·1 · i ~

a

fr i t:11 d , "'"11fe d 1-IHtL J h:we <lone parti011 l:1.d_,- "·P ll. T 11Jn1- l'\rn
trnl" 's" "' m ysoJi t" tlto rxte11t o f l'l'l11fl L'k i 11g· 1.lin.t J l-l1in k tit<' J> r rfonn:tllcu 11·ris tol o1·al •le for m e.

If I lrnvc h e e n 11 c r vo 11 s, l m1·e bl 111uln rctl, l mvo pla_vr<l m1rnh liPl"11 "'.Y J">ss il1il i t.ir";, t s li:dl pro hrtl1Jy n n11nn1·o r t,o s npp1 ·cxs rn ,v n nll oy:mcc, rtt;cept tlw 001J1_pli11umts 11·ithun t comnie11t, a nd cl1:111ge tho
'm l1j cc t..

If I h a1·e pbyc11 Hl111cking ly , l os in g a l.I g m s p of t h e spiril; o f tlto
co m posi t io11, nnd lll Prdy strikin g npo n t li e piano t h e i vory rtnd c l1 o u.1·
e cp1i val e nt of th e n nt0s on the score, wi t h ont oth e r tlwu g h t tlmu
the !'let pnrpose to g- r it nn- t.c_c th , Ril; fin n nn t]I(' sf n nl , n11• l gd t"
l.lrn <' 11<1 nf t.110 pi<'< 'C wi1l1011t b r eaking ,1,,1rn, I s lmll 1irnlmlily look
m y Jl nttero r st eadil y in tho <'.V<' aq I n ·rnark tlmt .s it e is vc r.r hi11tl
to s:i,y s o .
Iln t if in atldit.io n to ntte r fai lnro i n t.his i n s tmwc I sP P th at t o
:it.tem pt, t.n pla,Y 11w; i rliot i1•, s 11c h piol·es lw ing far 110,vnn tl 111,v l imit,,,,] 1l<'< '<>mpli s hm en h, an< l if t hi s in <li v i•ltt:tl tli scm nfit.nro s inks indis tingni s h rthk .i n to 1·11 6 g"' ll () m ] ('Oll R('.io11 s110ss of i1 w ffali ]" wcakll ess !\n tl s l·npi t1i ty , wli i r l1 ri lon e con ltl hn. l'e p e rsnrul o,,1 11J e to try

Ji,.,._

If I l ik·· l1t·r I sl1:1 ll '"''.'. li kt:I.'·
t J1i> :--;a
. 1·1· : t '< t11 . ! ' \"\ ' I t i L,

·
ni ,\· 1· x 111·4 1 ss io11 :-:. 111it1· 1 :-: I11· n•1 · (1~~·111'/.f

1 hn.ve t,n l?:O t.o t.11n ex1f' 1J t, n 1' i11·01n i:-.:i 11 u,· sP J!l P t11111'1. In J'ln y fnr
' · :--..;jh-iT
JF"r a ll} ri r ·f? T n ~t!J~· ,ynrt· l1~- nf' ll l _" '~ ll II' :1 11 1 I l' l !•' . ~ 11• !.! r' 11. .
T1 irt'a.d :-; ainong tl 14 (:, di! ," f4)1· i11:--;L1111'! ' .
1;ll! 11 I !111111' l1f'l ' .c..;i!J.\
1 '•·

ha1·e all cn:juved i t; sn m1wh I"
fair s:tl:is f'a,-, f,inn , I ' i mp] ,. ]'""°

i-'.."i\-C'11 pL-·:-L.--.'. lll'I ' .

127

;flI E iil'tPULSE 'J.'0 llWNY .

n J"'ll the l'<"SJ<ed I h:1,·c· f,,r

'J lw i1up ul.c;e Lu i1.u11y liaH l>ee n t hus ex phinf'd:
SLlp[ 1u:;u l \ e ld-u rn to pfay liofor c
vo11, antl that n.s I ri s n :i l:c1l y mt.h er
"Ult, U1a11k yon, 1.b:t1Lk yo u; "·o
N ow, if I have l'J ayotl to m y own

c.' ll AP. Vii.]

1

or m:dil·inn, , iL 11·iil 1>1·0L:1.l 1h· ,-,. jj,,,-,, 111 .. :t lill I<' 1,, 1>:11·,. h< · ·
,i 1 Iii , 1. L)( ,I it' \ I ' al L t ) i ; tf
, 11· \ 11, l ii \··, 1l1:1 t I 1H ,1ii··. ,, i 1. i 11 \', ) 1i 1 · I1
cac.. : n J sh:i,J l QTa(lniL1r' 111 _\- ( ' \: a ~-~: ~. ::1'1';1h1 111 :H ' (' r·11" !i n!....'.· t () lt i··r 1')"1•jlnlity.

1

TIH'l'f' :ll'f' tl1J'(' i' d · 1 ~'J" ('f'"

(If

i 1 Hli '. ~·1 1 :1J

i1• ] l.

Th o fil'st, in c li ~:: n ;t1io 11 pnr c~ :1t11l ~i1 1 1pl1·, i i11d s ~11lli<'i1' 1i t-. 1· \ pr 1 · ;..;si n11 i11 RL rnng wor1b t li: tt tlire d.ly n1:t11if.,s i. 1),., f1., •li1J g-.
· I ' -0 11d t-1 1i ~ is ft ~ t· ·tn-P wl ll'l'P l:tn11·1 1a 11·,, i ~ ] n;tdPc111:dP , n11 d """
- ,r'.Y
.. '
' ' .-.
.....,,
·---. .
·
Tliis i ~
·
t.nrn s n.wa~r wjLh n, gPs L11rn, a sl 1r11 g , n. w1t .l11 -' 1'111 ~.i.: ~~· L11H · 1 •.
i:h ~ Ul'll .

.

Hi Lt t.ltL' l'e i s a slt• p Loyo 1Hl sl'o rn, 11'11< ·1·" i lu! i1t di~· 11:Li [,,ll ts ~""
J,jft01· for sil<' ll C<', n11•l l<1Us l, liy <'hhn»:1li11 g :t11•l " '' ' !-'~~ "1 · : d 1_ 11 ·" · !c'." 111.'1
th e sl1a111d11 l co111·idinn i 1do u nc· s so>n l, b l' •atin b on; r it s :trl.J.' 111 '
cnmpld011es~.
'l'lii s i9 iron:'"·
Banter i s the /Jmlinrtf/ C o f t l11• .Frc 11c·lt, irony the ir }l<T.'1jl 11:; c.
H em] i l'<lni· srr• m s I" s tand midll':ty i< <'l.11·••r•11 l i:11d.c·1· :111.l "1rc:1s111.
Drtnk r i s 1,J; e p la.d nl :111 <1 s:11·<·rts m 111'' f<'l'<H'i<>11 s f,,,·n1 ,,r ir«1 1\
. . . T h e p nn nli :tl' m od e f)f <li s p nl·:it ion a.lo1d<'1l _ l'.1· :-;,,,.,,t( ,•s
· 1e< l 111
· ,,
" J·<I·.t.,.l'itl 'nntn.iwi
· · ~ 0m 0 11 t <>f l1 is '"1'1'''"" ' 11 111 nd11 1is.s 1n1 1s
r nns 1s
11-lii cli, ir ltile fl[>l"'[ll'ill;.< lo Sl1J>[>f11'1 :lll d s lrt>11d l><' 11 ll>o: :1r"·1111lf•1d o f
lti s op[H>11 011 '1, 1· 11 ,.,•..111·,1 ,. 1'1 1 1~< ii \-,, (\ li i Ill ·i !l :111 :1l1s 11 rd (' nrwI 11 :.: 1n1i.

Ho , 1-as mmle Lo L:tkc U1u li:tit., all 1u11·ut ts<:ious uf 1.111 1 lt u" k l 1y

128

WIT AND HUMOR D1ST!NGllISI1ED.

[PART

ll

which ho wa8 to ho captured. Thero was a perfect antagonism be·
tween the appearnnce rtnLl the fact--th e appearance Leing the assurance of Yi ctory, the fa ct t he certn,illty of defeat ; and the d efeat
\\'f\S h ro nght about by tho ll'O nf the very wea11U1ts uu which tho
<lis1mta nt relied for success. 'L'llis the Greeks called •lpwv•ia.L . ..- 1. 1742.
A trnc :o<1u ca0rn is like a :o;word-stick- it appe[l,l'S at, first. sight to
lJp, mneh m ore irn 10r·t'11t tl1an it really is, till, of a sudclen, there
k[LpS sumei.l1i.ug u 11L uf i t.-0lmrp~ anu dP1HllY, anrl inP.i e<iw\ which
lllfrk('.:-> yu 11

f.r{'tTJlil n :1.n/l r 0rnil.-F!Yn:\: f·'Y 8 ·' 1fTH .

.

111 poJish ctl Rociet._v tlie 1lrnnd nf li" inr: r ifli ('n lons mnrl0ls 0,-"'""
word aud gesture into p ropriety, and p r otlncPs n.n Pxq11 isi t<> n1·.t.p1;_
tion to the fee lin gs nnd opi11 imrn nf ntl1 <'1·s : it <'nrhs tlif' ,n lli <'s nf
eccentricity, it l'"""l ls t.li P nt.tPnt.i nn nf ni:;n kind t n n11 r 1111i for~n
i;taullanl of r eason and cm11mnn-sP11sp.- Rl1>Nl'Y R~n'l'n.
Hem:e, tno, the true Jndi cron s is it" n"·n Pr111. \\i Jwn SC'l'inn5
sat-ire

COU1T ll C:11CC::;, U I'

;-.; ai irn Uiat is re ii. as :-:el'inns.

bO-l\ f'n''\1' r· nn1i.

cn,J ly dressed. free an< l gcn n inc la.1wli1.,4 J' cmR.~s ; it i,,.,.nm<'s snrd() 11

i< ·.

H idit·1tl., is no t nn.ly cou liued Lu 11ue::;LiuJ1s uf less Hw11w n L, lin t
r,,,. ,.,.fut in;.; L'lTUl' Lkw fu1· SUlJlJ<Jl' Li ug i,rui.h, f,, ,. r~~ll'llillillg
fn1111 wrm1g ('nnrlnd than for in1oil.ing h> t.lH· l 'IHd·ie<> .,[ wlr; 1[ is

j , fill1 ·r

right. Nor are t hese th e sole restrictions ; it is nnt prnperly levcllocl at th e false, lm t, at t.he absurd in t enets ; nor can t.he e(l ge of
ritlienl o st.rike with cr[lrnl fon.:e e,·ery sp ecies of misconduct; -it is
not th o nimin al part wltir'\ lt it attacks, but that which we d enomirmto silly or foolish. - CA.J\IPDELL, i. 5D. S ee also 64, 60.

JOU

11 ee<l 11 ot a im at i t; fo r in that case th e rnl e of th e Gosp el
is r cvc rsc1 l, a nd it shall prove, seek and JC shall ll Ot find.
-

:tvtisEnrn~ oli' A Pl10t<1 1~ssl()NAL Wl'l'.

12fl

then h eld in reaJ iness fo r a fitting occnsio11. O nl y by this
h abit of perfecting the ex press ion <>£ a happy id ea can be
acqnired the habit of expre;;sing s1u '. h i1leas 1ritl 1 1m.:t:isi<>11
aml pn ng ency wh e n they are stru c k out in t he fri ction of
co nversation. '\Vhcn t he iJca it> tl11 1,; conce ive1l tl1erc arc
fe w even of those noted for thc i r wit who do not p:111 ~0 to
t11rn it over on ce or twit:c iu Ll1oir llli11d,; ltcJuru µ:i1 ·i11g it
11ltoraucc.
Tito p,ornlit.ion of pntti n•! fnrtli j,J, •Hs i11 n r•IPr t <> J .., w i lk "l"'l'in tin~ S:l l!H ~ S:l.lllhl l'Y }ll ::lllJ\ l 'l' ;!S tl1e t'< HJ!lit ii•ll r~f fi111ii11g
r li y1u"s in podry: iL r"dn ccs tli1• nnmlwr of Jl L' i·i'.irntl'rs lo tl1osu

nJo.~ lllllCh

wltu h a\·u \-iµ;ur

l': L11lll g:l 1

Lu

(J\- t: !'t:1J1111:

i 111 : ipiL :H L

d i ll i ct llLi L~s, :Uttl

mak nc; a sort nf p r oY is ion t.lwJ l.l1:t.I. \Yl ti clt ll<'.t " l nol I"! 1lo1w :Lt
f;i '.I'\'•'·

I.ha t

l11 ;1.11k i 11d a .!'1'.

al \\·a.\·.--:.

111<>1"1'.

f:1.-,t illi t !ll.~ ;t\J(J!J L lli:d,

is iiJ .,asing t h:w th"y arc :dmut !lt:tl 11·hich is uscfttl. -

\\·l1i,·h

~ui;-;t:i:

~ ,, ,.,.,,,

l_11)_Lf:BLU(<f:_

7. lJTit 1's spontaneous; li wnoi' 11ut!/ oe cultivated.
If yo n h ave real wit it will flow sponta11eonsly, and

CrrAP. Vll.J

U rrt, ST E IW I E LD.

It docs not., l1 owcve r, follow th at no stnd y is to be g iven
to t li e e xpression of wit. The id ea rn ay be a n in spirati on,
hnt no t necessa ril y a t tli e tiin o o f 11 ttera nce. Ofte ne r it is
conceived in soli t ude, t11rned and poli sltecl in the mind, and

011 t.lio nt.'101' !1a11d, to cl c ln! f<>r spa rkli11 .<.'.· s a.1·111~~·~ , to
\ITC11cl1 :111tl di~lur!. itk:t:o :u1ll \\'" I'll ' f,,r tl1L' s:1L1: "[' l·1 ·i 11c;
funn y , is as futi le as it is eo11te 1uptible.
P erpe tual aiming a'. wit is a YPry l >n<l J'rtrt nf rn nY<'rsntinn. It
is d one to support a charncter; it go ne rnl ly fails ; i t is lt so rt of insult to the company aml a r estraint on tho 0pealrn r. - Hw[l·'T.
'L' he source of l>aLl writi11 g is tho d esire to l it' somc~ thin g more
than a man of sense- the st.mining to b e tl 1011 gltt. a gc•11i11s, and it
is jnst the same iu 1-;pooeh-m aking. If m 0 11 won 111 on ly 0ay "·hat
they liave to say iu plain tmrns how much rnvro el U(1nent they
would b e.-COLERIDGE.

H e nce to be recogni :i:cd and invite<l as a w itty man involves a respons ibility a nd a condit ion of service few wo11lJ
care to assume. O ne mig ht as well be asked as a Jl ewspapcr reporter, or to play t h e violin fur d a ncin g. Suon after
the war "Petrole um V. N as hy" atte lllptcd to lect ure, and
peop1e went to h ear him expecting to be a1uuseJ. The lee-

130

Wl'l' AND HUM:Olt bISTlNGtJtSHEb.

t11rc was wel l e 1J o 11g!t in its way, but it was a se ri ous disc 11 ssio11 of the situa tion a.lid peup]e fe lt them selves agg ri ernd . l'euple do not louk for instrnction to those by
"l'rofossed
who11t they are acc11 storn ed to he a 11111sed.
,,·its, though t:liey arc ge nera lly comt·ed fo r the a uu1 sc me11t
tl1 cy affurd, are scld o1u respecte<l fur t he qnalities they possess."

CIIAP.

131

P1tAdT1CAL .JOKES.

Vll.]

by hi ~ humor, and it. be hooves him t.o g o plc n t ifnll y. pro ~· id cd wilh a st ock of c xtc mporo
J lllll ~ nnd co nunclrums, to l:>e di s pe nsed a t approp n atc rntc nal i:: . . I.[ he doeH n u t ft..'cl f1p
to th e m ruk 1 hi s hos t. will p rob :l hly Rtir up Id s fl aggi 11;; c n c q.~ i c s w t Lh l h'.! rc 1~1a rk th a t h e
is 111111 ~ 11 ~d ly dnll , o r sn1tl t ~ u th c r p l(' :tsin g rc tni nd n o f Id .; l11·p:wh '.if Ll11· rn i pl!i :d c o 1d.rnd .
A fi:arfu\ \\' ttr n i n g :q.;-aiu sl, the ..-oci n l pe ril s 11[ a l111111 o r i s t: s (.'.:ll'l 't 'r 1-; t:1111,·c y1 ·d by tli c nn.l'C d iilc o r t he gent.l i:rn a n w h u h aUi t. uall y e ani. ·d hi s dinu t; r hy h i.s w it ' . and on 01.w occa nion
o [ t.c niporary aiJ R i ' n t - tniti<ll'dnc s~ \VH " r e ~·~d! e d ti) a f'c ·n ,.;e of h rn fl11t.1es to i.;oc iety IJ y t h e
fol luwi u g ui cs:-:a gc, d e li ve re d i11 a n and ib h~ L• Hie hy til e dau g ht.r r of. _ th P. _ hostc ~!'> : :'Mam111n,18 c o i!lpl iln c nts to J\'lr. - , a ml i; he wh,; il c e Lo ku uw wh e n h e JH gu m g to IJcgm to Uc

f1tnu y ."-JJoston Trave ler.

1

HlHl !ll ll l; J.Llll:J,I , .. ,ij,q ",'-! .
IH :--1l1nd, tl11· t•l1ar:1 r•t 0r nf :-1 n1 0 r t' \\"it it j q
jinpo;..:.•-rihlu l.11 (·1111 Ri11 e r ns vnr_v n.n1l n,hlt-'. Y•'t'.v r<'~pf'el:1lil r • , i)J' \·c· r.' ·
:<ttfr>. -

0\'UNEY l:i~UTH .

O li v(' r We nd cll U n lm r~ inf(H !!!'"' u:-0 ~ h!l.L -

li i ~ n. Yrry f';f' ri 1mo:: t hi n g
T u Uc a funny mnn.

nml tn O!'" t o f th ose wh o hav e g ,li n•·d n. re p tt l a l io11 rur wit, or nm.de th e nr qn a intn n cc or
on e o f t h ose prctC'rnat.urall.r f-:o l c111111u11l fon r>re~ d - lr1old 11 g- ittdivitltmls wl~o sc li \•ri:: nm mado

mi scrahl c by t.h e con s ci ou sn es s l hat t h e public look f:: tu t hcrn for a (liurnal d ose or tli s g 11isc<l 1iJ1 sR i c in th e F>l1npc or jnkcs 1 can corroho ratc Uw g c11 i:ll d o c to r·R s t at e m en t . Th e
r es pnw:ihili t y enta iled by :1 1e 1ll1la!.i. 111 f.,r lwi11.~ a p t' r 1..' 11nial lu nt uf sp 1m t :rn rn1rn h11111nr
i ~ C'111mg h lo mak e n man pn·ma t nrc\y ngcd. Hu mu st cons tantl y ma inta in n. lli~h
wn. k r d hil nrif _r . ~\rHl occa s ionall y i-; 11rpa ~s hi 1rn;elf. N ot sa fo:fi e rl wi l h h iH prnfec: !'li n nal
elTort :-i in th is lin 1•, he is cx pertt•d t o s1 ·a tl.c r j r sts a rom 1c1 hirn in hi s 1hli l y Wiilk nnd 1~on­
v cr snl ion, t o \Hi te JH'atl y tnnH·d !•pi g ram s fo r y o 1111 g ladi es' allmm s, nnd to Rcintillatc nt
soc in l f'ntc rtni1111w11tH.

If h e i ~ i11vitr?d ont to di1111cr, it is n t ncit undcrstamlin g that li e s hnll pay for the meal

w hi clt we call l11111tor.

Tli e i•ract ic:il j ok e is 11 ot yet ban j,;lit :d. L11t i L i6 j11 c' th l u1 il; c,l 11 p1 111 :1 ~ 1 u1:..:::u- a 11 d : t u pi ll.
\\r n rnny _
y ir·ld
:1 '"P l 1lr ·11 i111 p1 il ., , 1" 1'11 11 t l1f' f' ii:1ir Frnn 1
J 11 · 111 11 rl :I ]" '1'""11
111 - I -i i I i' I '.' , l ,, 11 11. 1111 1 I ' " :ll "t' : 1-l 1: lll ll' • i
:111il
.. 1· ! Iii' 11i- l"' -i1i. lJ 1 1~ 1' '. l i""l ll l '' ' ii.
I 1uL l 1 ,_,J I i 11_· :wl
]
,
,
'
1
"'
<'
-1
: I I I "_'I1. 11\: l 1· -·I11 ' 11· (''; 11I 11 'I : I I)( '{ ' I ,j' llll i;--; 111' I 1 :wf '· Ii I; 1 ' :1
'
'
'I
I
t
t
I
·_1·
11
l
',
\"L'I ' !. I 11_• I '" 1· 1 l(_· l 1:1
111:1.I c:11 11 ·1 "· >II ,
"
· t >! [ ', I)\ >1 l1 i 11 Ii i:; II I I II
f'" l"(' ('lll :111rl i 11 I i1:1 I. I ii" 11 i.·: 1'11 1111 '"" i 11 ll " .

tr;

:l••ft1j'

~<1 l l14 • ]'! \

11'

l:

\ Ve most oE 11 s attc 111 pt tu lie f1rn11 _y 011ly in speech.
Mimicry aml co nt·urt ion, tltc imit·<Ltir: n of . d eforn1 .ity au d
tlt e a n tics of the clown, arc us ua ll y le-ft to l11rcd perfo rm ers.
O ur attempts to uc f 1urny a rc i11 t.!te direction uf t l1 e comedy of knowl ed ge- that is, cmncdy cvo h·c\'. fro nt the l~ll­
cxpectccl d e tect io n o f d efi11itc r c latin11 s-:-- '''l11c:h we cnll 'nt;
o r of the co 111 erl y of ig 1J o r:1.1wc - l l 1:tt is, co u1 e\l_)' e vol YeU
front a rcforcncc to i ll(lcf i 11 i le a nd i 11d e1i nalil c relat ions-

rr111---'

!1 !

'l\

PltACTICAL .TOKES.
A witty man is lt clrnmatic p erform er ; in process of time h e can
no lll Ol'e exis t \1-ithout rtpplrtnse tha n h e Call exis t withont ail' ; if
hi'l arnlien ce b e sn mJ J, or if th ey arc ina tte ntive, or i f lt n ew wit
<lnfmrnls him of any po rtion of his admiration, it is all over with
l1 im- h e s ick e1rn nntl is ex ti 11g1J,ish et1. 'l'he appfa11ses of the th eatre
in whi<'h h e p e rforms arc so essen t ial t,o him that he mus t obtain
t.Ji c m at th e expe n se of clcceuc,1-, fri endship, :uHl goo d feeling . It
rnns t h e !ti w:iy s p roh:ib le, t,oo, that a m ere wit is a p er son of lig ht
ru11l fri1,t>lons n utle rstnnclin g . His lms iuess is not to discove r re-·
J::tt.iorn; of itlc:ts Lh at :ti' () 1rnefnl , ltll<l h ave n real influe nce in life,
lin t to <1i scm·cr t h e more tri.fli.ug refa t irnrn thrLt are only amu sing;
he 11 () 1"<'1' loo ks at t l1i nµ;s 11·it.li the 11 :tt-ivo ().)'e of common ;;r11sn, ]Jut
is :tl11ays g :v,i a g ltt fl w 11·orltl t.li ron gh lt Clnnrle L orm i1w g lnsR1li'-:t · n •:r ·1·ln ~ :i. th nn -::::i. nd :i. p 1!!-,:-! r :!1 11· ,, · ,,,_-i 1i1· l 1 :1 1• <'!" 1·;ti1· 1l 1•1 1i ' 1 ·.~· t11u
i11-:f 1·1 11111 · 11' ('f i r1.--·1 i1·1·fi1 :·lt . :ted cu \ cri u :. . :· t : \1 : r_\ 1il1.i•" ·i. \ 1. i i.I i ff.1-• ' l·H· i" l!""

I •

·,I If

I
11· i

\\ : 1:-; ! i l' l <' l l '.'· j ., -1 · 11

once ]nvi.t c cl :1 cnn 11 ): 1 1 1 3~ l-n d -i n1HT:

:111il

l ·!

j l !;\1 ·!ie:1 l i n k r· ~ .

!fr- 11n1l

I l1nn g·h n11P n f f·l 10 inh' 11d0d
1

tr 11 psl.s wn.N nnt, 111·1•.:'-\n nf-, nt. f".110 linnr n.ppoinlt ~ d J1c iusi~d:. 1 , l 1tpu1 1 bu "g- i II I I j 11!..( f l lt ! Jllc;L l . J.'.t·,"·"
,, •l: tt et1 ,~-·1ir.'
:~ t· \\· : 1~ IH': 1rrl ('Jd 1, ri 11 g
. ,._,··1111\· \]1 , ·. 1_
..
the lial l. f'i Dl.lrnrn i1i:-da11Ll,;, l" "l'O"' 'l ll1 nt. t l 1t' \ I 11 ok 1 '< 1J:i[ i:tu:;
s li onld g et nnde r Lli t · Let.fr. \ \i11:,,11 ~ :t 1t "l·j1·•· li•' ll , i 111, [ i 11 ; ~ J, , !] ,, .
:t( '. f 11 1·':--:
\\ iL f ill ' S(11nc· cc11 n icn. l el i1nn-.;- . th ~' n11c:: i-1c:: 1H' r'ti 11 g· ~-'." tl 1 "~ i :-. ;
]1urri e rll v 1·rn\l"l P<l 11pn 11 t-.11<' ll r10r :1111 ! :11111.if <'d r1 ·s 1tll s. 'lllil1• llllfl\l"ill'e
t .lmt. f]l('jl' l1 osf. l1nrl lu·l' f·. lii ;; R<':tt. r1n1l 1rn.s fi11isl1in:( 11i s s m1p .
The t!tnly gu est ~rns foll of apuJ.ug.ies. " JJun·1. 1ne1tfiu11 it,"

·'1,'
'

ii\
I ~ I:I

132

l'ltAO'l'!CAt jOims.

[PART U.

said So them, "we are only at soup ; sit clown and be h elped. "
'rho geut.leman did so with a puzzled look at the empty chairn
around the table. " O," said Sothern, "you miss the other gentlemen. 'l'hey are all here, but for some inexplicable reason the
moment yon were mmounced they all crept under the table. 'Vhat
they are doing there is more t.lrnn I know."
It is easie r to imagine than to describe the various expressions
up on the faces of tho victims, as, one by one, they cmwled out and
resnmoll tJwir chairs. Dnt it is safe to my they 'rnre all cured of
participating in practical jokes proposed by 1\Ir. Sothern.
An iugeuions writor lias propounderl wlrntl1e calls" 'l'he Gelatic
System," a theory of the history of laug hter.
a. l'rc-fnnnon"slic Aae.-It is a psychological fact thnt IJrnt.c s nrc dcvoi rl of hmnor,
nrnl that t:m.vngcf.\ ha ve a minimum. So even ly did mind and humor keep pace that prior
to the tim e 111cn l:rnghc1l th ey dill not know c11n11g h to keep a record of events. '!'his age,
th e11 1 exactly covered what arp know n :u: pre- hi sto ric times.
h. Br1,·r·hr111 alirw, Aqe. -Thc innate ge rm of mirth donbtles~ sprang 11p nndcr the enlivening infln(';o cc of wine. The type of th is age was drunk en sillin esr-;, h11m or of tho
lowcfit o rd e r. The c haractPr or Thcrs itcs, in SlrnlrnprJ:c,8 "Troi lu s rm (I Crcssi1b, " is an
a11ac hron h; m 1 for Th ersites could 1wt h:tvc h cl'll the r epresentative humori st of hi s ti111c.
Th oug h Baccl1n11n!i:rn orgicR hrwc always llo1 1ri s h( d, the epoch of ld s tory characte ri zed
by t.Jicm enrn c t o nn end n. c. r;:,o.
1

c. /Ju. r fe::v1N e ~ l (JP., !l. C. OG0-. 1.0. ·17G.-Hccondu .~ m orn refined, t h e people were loath
to laugh nt thcrn sP!vC's, and S'mg!it h uw they 111ig ltli laugh nt cncll ol;hcr. H e nce th e ri se
of co rnctly, for in co111c dy the b11gh is 11ot nt lihc acto r himse lf, but at the pcr.0::011 he repr esr. nt s. The J)nrl c~qne Age c111l> r:1cc ... !he three well-know n fqrms n f co medy, 11~111cly:
th e Old Collletly (caricat ure), the J\Ii1l1ll e Cornc1ly (criticis m), nn rl the Now Corncrly (m:inncrs). 'l'hongh G r eece awl .Ilnm c were the propri etors o f comelly, t h e ~p irit of bur lesque
w:1 ~ rife C\'crywlwrc, eve n among ihn Jew s. In nccoribncc with the principle of the
p nrnl!cl growth of mind rtlld l1111nnr, it wi ll h e nn t iccd that the t]cclinc of hnm o r at tho
time of lhc Ernpirc was cx:tctly prnpnrL ional to tho declin e of menta l nctivil;y.
d. llu nchback Aqe, A.D. ~t"ifi-7':)0.-Thc ba rbarinn s, o f c ourse, had ve ry i;;.lia11ow concepti ons of the lwli t: rons. The 1liscrcp:mcy i11 h eig- h t between n. ta ll ancl n s h ort man,
or nny per.'-ionn.1 d c fo nni ty , wn.s e n oug h to capsize the gravity o f n king. A dwnrf or a
hnn ehh:u:k was an incl is pc11!-'ablc m ember of a. pri11ce 1 s retinue, nnd n. hunc h back wa s n
luxury fi t ror [.I.JI em per o r.
c. Irliot Age, A .D . 750-050.---1\(entnl deformity was d iRcoYe r ed to be more com ical
tlrnn phys ic:i. J, 1\nt] rlili ge11t search WA$ mnde for idi ots t o n<'ld the crowning ~t·nce to nobl e
hon scholds. .Fir~t-class itl iots w e re o f course r cscr vc1l for the king. An e."\:tra-stnpid
idi ot of -" ll)le ri o r imhc~ ility and profonntl oht11sm1ess is sa.icl to have lived jn th e days of
Ch:ules th e Fat. Hi ~ not a n inlcrcf'ting pcriorl to linger over.
f. Clown 1l qe, A. D. U:>0- 1:J!"i0.- Thc r eig n of th e 11atnnil idiot was followed by that of
th e nrtifkia l idi ot. who, thOll!;h ca ll ed li ke hi 8 predecessor a fool, wnsrcally a k een· wittcd
hnffoon. Ton c h~ton e, in'' As You Like Jt, 1 ' 1 :n11l Wnmb:i, so n of Witless, in" Ivanhoe,"
n.rc represe ntati ve " fo ols 11 of t hi s pcri ocl. wh en wit l> cg an to f:parklc n~ n ot llf'forc !"in cc
Terence. Traces of the Clown Age arc still to be seen in t he circus and the p<tntomimc,

Crv..P. VII.]

TIIE GELATlC SYSTEM.

133

r
rl'
1ae A D 1350- l ljUQ -Peo ple> now became eri.gcr for more fnn , aml
g. Ji.asqueral.m(/ L , • •
•
•
. . •• t
. vcr ,_
studied how to d eve lop their own creative humor. H11111ur loo k a fa11tnsl~c urn. e \).
body "r's seized with an in1i tative Fpir it, and !:itrni g litw;?' s1_1rn11g- up the lile~ o[ n. Rho' '_
in which eve rybody might select.. a part and play it Lo ~lilt h1111 s df, the fnn berng propor
It the incongru o u:0.t1ess of th e ncl ion w it h th e ch:t r:tctcr.
t·
1011a o
,
l D 1r:oo lt''l'"' ·- Th e n c:,;:t type of hnmor was personal bnn11· Dinner-'lable Age, / . . u - . J..... .,.. •
•
•
•
l l was wc\conic at all
tcring. Every FnlstafI r ccch·cll s ta11d111g 111 v1ta.t1u11s l o. dmn e ~ i n1 ~ .· . . . , •h the 111ehuurs. ClnlJs were for111etl who1-;c ubjcct; w:rn the evo lution of J OC·L,1~, u, 1tyc:tlno11g.. t ilficlf
rli nm of th e fl o win g bow l, t h e protot ypes 0( so1uc 111oll e rn orgatJ!Z,t t. on .. . J~oj ,LI Y
tried to Uc wit.ty, ns witness the jokes o[ Kin g .Jn11H~8 al the ex pe nse o1f St.cc me.
1
i. Book A(Je, A. D. 1G2:J - 1SSU.--Hu ino r was llf'xt boi!crl tltJ Wll n.111l bottled. np rcnr Y
fo!." use in a book. Three varieties ;1rl! nuticeahlc : aerial, :--.11ch as t.111~ ~h~, ~ c~cl!c,atc,, ~en­
. .
. .·
, f Alliso n StC'ck Gold smit h, lla \Yi,horn e -ufL1·11 :::.o dcli{'1011sly 1..oy a s to
RltlVC:1.ll.lll(>SS O
ll
,
'
·1 11r ·t·J yl! o n
chHh'. iau Yhtcr; grotesque, the c liaracLc 1·istie vnri!'!.y uf a rn.1 1Uey c1~ 11 ~H, I. .~ ( ll S.· l ..
·
g 1 ft
··t r1 by Tolll niHl J e rry : satirir, wlikli ts s o1Jrl1v1tlcd rnto (i) .o::at.11c:1

Q1uxutc, all! a en\, L - ·
''
·
.. _ .
·, · ot
on ni:w like S wi(L' s Onllin.~ r a n d DyrP n· s Du11 .J11 fl.n, :11111 (11) sal ir:i:: on men, l.e ., n

\~·:iy Go<l lrn. 8 seen fit to rnakC' ni;i,n, h11l n11111Pn's1'1-rorn arnl.fn 1h.ks; ... ·
n.l•
I
A n 1 ~·~10 - Th ongh tlw h111J1 orn1H Unok 1:-; .o::t1 ll \\· 11tlcn, arnl,
k . .i\·ewsp,rper .1 (JC,
• ·
' • •
f 11 f · · er
.
.
·
wn.yR wi ll he written it no Jn11ger l.ypifil'R a hi stori c e r :"l. [nd f'~·cl. rf'~1111:t.nts 0 a
Ot nl •
'· . . • . . lo-cln)·' Caronsa\s nre comnwn: the corn c1lin11 .o::t. ill 11ries OpNl th e n~outl~,
ngcs arc seen
·
. . .
, ·f , 1 · 1•1 ·t 8 • harlcrpun still
side-shO\rn ex hibit n111ong oth er wornlmfnl c11r10Rn.1 cs d\\ m s ,\JH .H 0 : '
-

on the

tickles the rib~ ; m:-t Rqnera (lc.o:: n.1111 carnivalR arc Rtill p o1ml'.tr, c~pcc1a l,l:' 111.,rn~1:'l.1~:·: ~:'.:'.;:~
td cs: j c~ts pnRs from lip to lip, nncl Rifl.nf..(", an off-fihoot 11f t!1e U111111· r - ~_ a\Jil! A,....(, 1 ·
"t
f: lu~nriou 8 growth; you call Rit in so litrnfo nml s rnil e a t tlw \":1garics 1..lf yn11r fav 1..i n c
lmt the funny n c wRpapcr man is i:;; 11 prcmc. Ile iR the .Jtipitcr of t h e humorous

~l-tlh~r.

hc~vcn~ aml ea rth,

:.u ;d cvl'ry day you can

1-'t.:C

hi s lightni11gs a nti h l':tr hi" thunder.

DANGERS OF WIT AND HUMOR

"See what a com1rnrnd of hni:(nage tl1oso Iri sh orators
have," remarked so111e 0110 to ArclthiRl wp \Vliatel.r. "See
rather what co1Hllla11u l::r ngnago l1as of tl1ern," ~was the
reply .
.
.
\\Tit, of all poirnrs tl10 most oavwll and dr~adcll, becollleS a enrse when it forgets its legitimate se rnee as one
of mau's agencies of 11sef11l11 ess. Hrnn or, wliieh lightens
every load, illnmines e1·ery darkn ess, cl1eers O\'e ry heart,
di vorts every sorrow, which l 1as well bee1_1 called _tho great
lnbricator of life, mu st· yet rc1n a.in snhordrn ato to .iml g111ont
and duty, or it will prey like a fnng11s, rot.tillg to the core
what it seems only to adorn.
For ]unnor is after all, a view of life tliat <listorts. It
na,r
be diverti1;g from its llovclty to h ave a Mark Tapley
1

I

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I
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i

" R , J• -·

134

DA NGE l.tS OF WIT AND HUl\IOR

[P ART

II.

ex ult in lti s ma;; ter's wretched plig l1ts beca use it makes it
eredita\J le to be j olly; \Jut after all it is better to be wise
cllough to avo id wretclted plights. A view of Jifo that
makes 011r wretelt ed!l ess Jess Liy dwelling 011 the disadvanb ge:.; of those \\'110 arc happy ,1·ill , if eal"l'i cll too far, lead
n s to u11d e rest i11rn te t lt e distance \Jet\Yee11 wre tcli ed uess
and h appin ess, a lld tlws remove the spur to a mbiti on.
Hnrnor is one of the clements of genius ; hut if it predorni1rnto i t b ocn mrs a makeshi fL H nm or accompanies tho d ecad ence
of art, 1rl1ich it (1 estruys :~ml annihihtes.-GOETHE.

E sp ct.:ia ll y is i t tlw tc lld c ncy of hnm or t o break down
th e di stincti o ns of ri ght a11ll wro ng.
IR there some nn e hnmori fi c point common to :iJ\ that can be
eall etl lmmoron s? I am not prepared t_g answer this fnll y, oven
if my timn l'ermittf'll; but, I t.hiuk !.here is, aucl that it consists in
a certain rl'fcre noo to the general an d the universa.l, b y which the
fini t.ii great is Lronght in to ido11tity 1rit.h the little, or tho litUe
1rith tho fini te g roat·., 00 as to nrnko lJoth uothing in coml'arison
1Yit.h the inJinit e. '1'110 l ittle is ma.clc gr el\.t , a.ncl the groat li ttle, in
onlcr to 1kstroy l >o t.h ; h cran se all is equ l\.l in contrnst iYith the infinHo.
J\f.Y <1 c,·il wns t.o be, like Goetl1e's, the universa.l
lrnmoris t., 1rl1 0 sh nnh1 mt1lrn all things va.in a.ml notliin g worth by
a pcrpot na \ c·olJ :d·,i11n o f the great with th e little in th e presence of
t h o infl nito.-Cc11,Ern rn:E.
If we "11·islt 1-o 1ilH1 a J>nssage from irony t o hum or we sh ould
have to look for it in <'nsos whero good-na.tnrn a.ssumes th o positive
at.trilmtP nf im1•:irt.iali h·. lH:cau sc hnmor is a kin<l of clisposition
to allol't t he 1yJi ole of lrn ma11 nntnre, f1rne all its distinct.ions, tolemte all its i11firmitips, am1 assemble vice a.nd misery to receive
rntions of gooLl ch eer. - ' Vmss.

A ll th ir; is w ron g a.nd harmful. So far as lrnm or h elps
n s to h c:u tl1 e ev ils we cann ot h elp it. is a blessin g; hut
let us he,rnrc les t it. rn ake i1 s co nt en t with i111pe rfect ions
that
J1Jig ht r elll ove, faults that we llligltt cure, apathy

''°°

CIIAl'.

VII.]

PURPOSE vs. ACCOMPLISHl\IENT.

135

that unn er ve~ u s. In compa rison with t he infinite, human
accom pli shment is indeed at l1iglicst but ill sig nifi cant.
B ut li11111an ptt11?ose has all th o poss il>iliti os of i11fi 11i twle
itself, a nd m an will approach the i11fi11i tc on ly as 11 0 cleaves
fast to moral distinctioos.
SOUTH MotrNTAlN, CATSI\:ILLS, Septem b er 8, 1867.
Ho w broad and hcan l;i fnl n. belt

Of lan d scape 1l0Lh t h n c.re ntta.i n;
Th e hill s antl vales Iogc llH•r m elt
In to a low and level p lain.
Thus men m·e (Jl'eat rvul men ClJ'c sma ll
I n h.nmrui e.11e,q;
So pnny rill, tliut none loo!.: tall

Seen.f1·01n the 8kies .
Yet .i.rlcnm t h e colors frr.c::h a1Hl !)rig ht.,
'l'hc fi c l d i.; arc ~~ n · 1·11 ; t h 1 ~ ll1Hlso n IJluc;

The h a r vests ba t h e i11 g nl!lcll lig h t ;
Diam o nd ~ sparkle in t he d ew.

So hrrvr. th e n et..~ nf 11 wnankin<l
D isUu cth;e 11 ur. :
JVofJlc f rom base is clea r rlejlned
. I n highe.<tt view.

Sydney Sm ith co nclll!l es : "I wi sh , af ter all I ha ve said
abo11t wit and hrnn o r, that l coHld sati s fy m yself of th eir
good effects npo11 th e ch arndcr a 1t,1 l1i spusit io ll ; bnt I a m
cmwincecl the probabl e te 11d c11 cy of botlt is to corrupt t he
nn de rstandiug a nd the h ear t. " "In ch ec rfnl sonl s,'' says
No valis, "there is 110 wit. 'vVit is a distmba11ce of t he
equipoise."
B ut this is trne only where w it and hnrnor h ave nndne
predomi nance. Says Hazli tt, "l\fan is the only a11i111al
that lang h s and weeps, fo r h e is t he only anim al th at is
strnck with the diffcre uce be twee ll what things are and
what they ought to be." \ \Th en t h e pe rception of t his
difference eanses lang ltter a.lone, 1111mor is indeed co rroding. Ue who can 111 ak e sport of sin s has defective notio us

136

WIT AND HUMOR.

[PART II.

as to their enormity, and leads others to think too lightly
of committing them.
What more plain nonsense can there be than to be earnest in
jest, to b e continual in divertisement, or constant in pastime, to
make extr:wagrrn co all our play, and sauce all our diet? Is not
this plainly the life of a cl1ilrl that is ever busy yet never hath
anyth ing to <lo ? or the life of that rnimical brute which is alm1ys
active in plrtying uncouth and nnlnck y tricks, which, conld it
speak, might snrcl,v pass well for a professed wit ?-BArmow.
l'i'e see in nc e<lleworlrn and ernhroitleries it is more pl easin g to
have a lively work npon a sml and solemn ground, than to h ave a
dark and melan choly work upon a lightsome ground; judge, therefore, of the pleasure of the heart by the pleasure of the eye.-

CHAP. VII.]

TOPICAL ANALYSIS.

137

Wit and humor distinguished, p. 113.
1. Humor expected, wit unexpected, p . 114.
2. Humor continuous, wit instnntaneons, p. 115.
3. Humor may appear in acti on, w.i t only in word, p. 11G.
4. Wit may be imaginative, hnmor involves clrnracter, p. llG.
Puns, p; 117.
5. Humor li es in sentim ent,-.. wit in UJHl erst.a]l(l i 11 g, p. 122.
G. Humor is based on sympathy, wit may be without it, p . 122.
Irony , p. 123.
7. Humor may be cultivated, wit is spolltrm eo us, p. 128.
Disadvnntages of b eing considered witty, p. 129.
Practical jokes, p 131.
The Ge lntic system, p. 132.
Dangers of wit and humor, p. 133.
SUGGESTIVE QUESTIONS.

BACON.

What do you think of Sot.hem's joke (page 131) ?
Are the stories on pnges 71, 88, 22!J, and 253, witty or humorous?

TOPICAL ANALYSIS.
Need of r elaxation, p. !J2.
T h eories of the ludicrous, p . 93.
Hobbes, p. 93 ; Haven, p . 93 ; Hazlitt, p. 94; Quintilian, p. 94;
Sidney, p. !J4.
Laughter n ot necessarily scornful , pp. 94-97.
Herbert Spen cer 's theo ry, pp. !J7-99.
Docs 11ot ncconnt for the plensure, pp. 99, 100.
Aristotle's th eo1·y, p. l 0 l.
ThP. i11con gruons arnl th e inconvenient, p . 101.
The lu dicro us not an absolute relation, p. 102.
Sacred subjects 110t to be trill ed with, p. 103.
Why the ludicrous gi ves p leas ure, p. 104.
Th e theo ry of pl easure, l 04.
Perception of th e lndicrous, 105.
Not unh·e rsnl, p. 105.
Not to be acrp1irecl, p. 10G.
Vain e l! Ot fact.it.ions, p. 107.
Not to lie obtruded, p. 108.
Enjoye<l in proporti on to the difficulty, p . 109.
Conv enti on al jokes, p . 110.
A!nericau h11111or, pp. 111-113.

·- - - --· - - - . --~.

CINCU'C

.

·,·

.

... ,,.

.........

·.. ._..;.

--

-

--

--- --

J

'I

I

I

C;L\P.

\' UL ]

VANITY.

13!)

\d1i ch is li kely to sccnrc th eir good-wi ll. I t alionrnl s in
gra titud e fo r :favors, is lllli ck ttJ ;;y 1npai.11 izc, a,; cage r tu l lll <:
as to he loved, an cl stead fast in foll ow~ hip F;O Jong as it fo 1:h
itself a.p prncia ted.

CHAPTEJ,t VIII.
EGOTIS J\1.
Tn r. pC'st o f ~oc i cty ii:; rgotistl'1.
nn1l fill P t'gol"i ~ L<.: .

1

Ti~

a

T h rrc nrc d n ll a n1l hrig ht., Rn.rr f'rl n.ml ]Wo fiurn, con.r.~o

1l i!-1C':l !'C th ~t ,

l i k r• inlhtt•n za, f a ll s on :Ill 1 ~o n ~t.iti 1ti n i ~R .

In l.hc

d iscnRc k n ow n lo pil yRicia n s ns r·lmi' ea t h e pati,•nt. so111ctirncs t11 r 11~ round an d co n tin nc's to
Fp in s lowly Oil o n e s pqt. l s egotism a l11('t:1ph piica l var iety o[ this mal:idy? 'J.' h e ma n
r n n s rouml :t ring· foJ'IJLC tl by hi s O\Y ll talent, fa ll s into a n allmfrati on o[ it, :i n fl loses r c la·
t ion t o the wor ld . It iR a. te n den cy in nll 111iml~ . One of its 11. nn oyi n g forms is n cra ving
for sy rn pat hy. Th e snfTcn· r s parnU c t.lwir mi se ri es, t ea r t he lin t from t heir b rui sC's. n !H' nl
the ir in d ict a ble cr im e!\ t ha t yon may p ity t.hc m. T hey li ke fi i ck n e~s , beca11 sc ph ysical
pa i11 wi ll ex tort Rome !": h ow of i ntcrr ~ t fro m t h e IJyRtnn ders, rn:; we h a.ver-:cen c hildren w h o,
findi ng l h e rn ~;c \v c s of n o :1cco1111 t Wll l.! n g r ow n p l~ o p le co me in, w ill cou g h t ill th ey sh a ke to
dra w a ttct1 t i o 11 . - J'iME HSON.

In co nsid erin g the relation to conve rsation of one's indi vidu ali ty, cgnt is111 , wliiclt is properly s i111 ply the tendency
to all11 de to one's self, sli onld lie di sting n ishecl from self.
conceit and vanity .
Self-Conceit cl enotcs a n arro w rni11 d and a selfi sh
disp ositi on. I t is i11d epcmlc11 t of tl1 e opini on of oth ers, att rilmti ng ccns11 re to on 1·y a 11 ll i ml iffere11ce to lack of percepti on. ] Ienco i t is 11ot p ro111pted to do k in dly offices in
orde r to ll' in goOll op ini on. J t feels 11 0 gratit ud e toward
those who l1cs t·. ow :fa1·nrs, rece ivin g snch attention as a ri ghtful pen rnis ite. Jt is in capabl e of sy mpathy, of love, of any
r eal :fell owsliip.
No thi n g so l rnn g ht.y a ncl a ssu m ing as i g n oran ce where selfcon cei t \Jitl s i t set up for i n falli\Jle . - S oun1.

Vanity is a wea kn ess, bnt is less selfish. I t is d ependen t 11pon th o op ini on of ntli ers, a11d is helpless wh en 11 eglectcd. H ence it will cheerfull y ma ke sacrifice for oth ers

In fn so vani ty i nto sucl1 n 111l\n w; C:olc1srni t.l \. arnl i t a c1tl s ::t c lc ildl ik e cl1 n rm to his ch :iral'tt:c· ; i t gi1·c s ri ti11gcl o f tle li ghtf nl li 111nor
to l1 i s writings , antl c 1t:1lilc~; hi :; fricwls h> l<>v<'. lein t t h e ll 1Cll'H i1C •ar'. ily 1>< :<'.fl !l.." ' !lt1 ·y h :t\'<' !-.l 1n ri f( lil·. I <> p:ty t. l1 c>111 :;" J';":; l >y :1 !ii.ti " k incll .:
<:on Lt:111 p L ]\fak e ri :nv rnn v:ci11 and l inH J1i H 11u1g nili ce 11t, J'o1·cn uf
miml \1·i.LI lie \\':1st.c <l l ',Y s ill y ,.ff,,1·ts lo a l l 1·:1< }, 1 lin J1ol'irn o[ h is'"""
t e mpomries 1Jy nt.t:wkin g l·h <" ir l H:sL f1«• li 11gs ::tllll :dTcct in g (a sn~rn rf'luo n s tn.s k ) vicos wlti <' lt Jin tlo0s 1wt p oss0ss. 'l'!tn v:cnii y 11f fl
\Vonl s worl.lt eirnhle s lti lll. l o f l'l':tt 11·il It ' i' wfon n11 t1is tlai 11 I l1 c
s n ecrn o[ E<l iulnugh rn1·imrnrs nml 111 0 cl 1tll i11 <liffl'rn1tce o f t lt c
nrnss of h is rnn<1ern; lmt i f; ClJC '011 rng os l1i1n :d s " t o h r:r' o 111 c a Jit <'ra ry s l ovo n , to Rpoil nol Jl c f;l10n g lit l iy g rn v<' lli ng l n 11 g1mg<', :111 11 1n
sub s itl e i n to snp ino ob st r n ctil'c n e s s.·:• Conve rs<'l,v the rn.11 il.y " f
a Pope rn ri lws h im snff,•r 1111 C:JH:rtk :ild u J.mt.111·r·s frnm t lt o sl i 11;~·s of
c rit ics co 1upr1 rccl to wltcll ll .Jo ffrcy \\·:cs :1. gi :ll 1f, l'CllJCl <'Sl'" Jlil lo tl1 n
m enu cst al'f.ificoB to eat.c h Ll1. 0 :tpplrinso " [ l1i.s <'<llii·1·11q >< 1rnT.i1's, :rncl
hnnger rt Lill t li irnt. for t.ltc fno1 l \\ltid t I V0 1·clswnr i·h n: jc' c'.it'cl \\·j j h
cont~mp t. B u t i t a ls o c 11 :1l1l os l1 i m t o l >e eo llle \1·ifhin hi s <J \Vll l im i ts t h e m ost cxr1uisite of rt rti.s t s i n \rnnls, to i 11 c.;rease iu s kill as !1 0
incrcl\sc<l i n yeani, m H1 to coi n phm scs for rt d is tant p osterity even
out of t h e m ost triflin g clmlli ti o n of pas siJJ g s p i te. 'l'he Yrtn it.y of
a i\Ii lton e:\.ci t.cs so m e th i n g approach i n g to ri1rn. T lw v:111ity of :t
Congnwc <'xcites our r i g lt t.f nl cont empt. Vrrn i ty s eems to li e at
o n ce t h e son rne of t h e g reatest. w ea kne sses a n tl o f tl1 c g r<~a t 0st
achi evenrnnt.s.
T o \ITite :t h i s tory of van ity \\·ou!tl li e f;o \1-ril:o
t lto l1ist.(>l',Y of the g r erit m t m e n of o nr rri1·c, fo r sCJl. cli ern rtll<l s fatesrn o n Ji nn~ \Jeen as Yrtin as pod s nn tl art is t s . Ul1 11thrirn \Y:ts v ni ,1 ;
\ Volfc was ntin ; Ndso 11 wn-: c h i l11i s ltl y vriin, a ll<l the great Napole on wns as va in wi t h o \' :t, in n~l;.- ror11hill Jl D 1 r1rr .z in~ .
'l'h.ere arn s o1110 m 0n w l1 0 nc•.e<l p rais e tts nrn ch ns fimyc rs n eed
:;1111sli ine . Y on ca nno t gd t h e lwst wo rk o nt. o f the m w ith on t, it..
It i s vai n to p rmdi to t h n11t snH-rclir1nce; t h ey n ee<l to 110 propped
* Thi s s h ould \Jc att,r ito11 tcd rather Lo sc lf-co uceit t h a n to vau ity.

~I

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Ii •1·11\)·
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I

140

BGOTISM.

[PAlt'l' II.

n,n<l lmttrcssml hy othern' opinions-to he brnced l1y encourngcrne11t n.rnl sympathy. "l'rnise m e, l\Ir. Pope," srtiu Sir Go<lfrcy
Kneller to the poet of 'l'wickenh:1111 n,s the latter sat for his portrnit ; " yo n know I can't d o n,s ,rnJl as I shouhl unless yon praise
me." Hi<licnlous n,s the requ est may seem, who cloubts tlrnt the
crookocl. Jif,tl e poet , go t n, better portrait hy complying with it?
A1ul wh e n wafl prnise more efficricions, wh en ilitl it yicl Ll a richer
lrnrVC'f<t., t.lrnn '\"hen h estowcd on tho sickly poet hims;lf?
Bnlwcr , in his cssriy on "The E!Hericy of Pmise" in "Caxtoni::n1a," ohscrvef< t.hn.t cYery actor knows how n, col1l honse chills him ,
and h ow 1wcessn,ry to tl1e fnll sn:<trtinme.nt of n. gr eat paTt is
th e tlrnncl e r of n.pphnsc. lfo st.rites tlrnt the e.ltler Kean, when
he wn,s p erforming at somo th eatre in thi s country, came to the
nm1mger wl1 011 th e plrty w:t8 half over au<l !'<:iitl: ''I crm't go OH the
stage n,gain , Ri r, if tl1 e pit k eeps i ts l1m1cls in its pockets. Such an
aurliP,11r:e 1m1d<l e.o·ti11:p1ish , ]~!11r1 . " Upon thi s the manager tolil the
audience t.hat l\Ir. K<'rtn , i10 t being neens tomed to the severe intelligence of AmNican citi 7.n ns, mistook their silent att ention for
courteous clisrtppointm ent, n,ml that if t.110.y <lid not applaud l\fr.
K ean n,s he was acc11sto.111ecl to he applatllle<l they conl<l not, see
l\Ir. K ean ac t as he was af'cirntomecl to act. Of course tho n,nclienco
t,ook tho hint., awl a8 th e ir fervor rose so rnse the genins of the
n,ctor, rind t,h eir applause contributed to the triumphs it rewarded.
-

l\fATHEWS.

Reference to One's Self.-So seriou s n fa 11lt is
egotism tltnt it is a common precept. to avoid all allnsion to
011 e's sc i I'. "Don't speak of .ronrnelf at all," nrn s t-l1c old
proverb, "for if yn11 speak ill of yo nrself p eopl e w ill l>c1icve yon all(l d espi se yon for t h e fact; nnll if yot l speak
\mil tltcy will disbcli crn yon and despise yo n fo r tltc li e."
H11t it is poss ibl e to speak of one's self witl1ont such
lioasting as indn(~es di sbeli e f or svch detraction as belittl es.
:No snbjcct of conversatiou is more natnral or more iutercsting.
Egotism is to be co1ul0nmerl only when it offends against time
and pbce, as in a hiRtory or n,n epic poem. 'l.'o censure it in a

Cir AP. vril. J

EGOTISM SELll0111 F ltANKNBSS.

141

monody or n. sonnet is almost n,5 rihsnnl as t.o compln.in of rt circle
for lieing round.
If I coul<l jullge otl1PrR by myself I
shonl<l not h eRitate to n,ffinn t.hat Hw most i11i ercsting passages in
rill writi ngs n.re those in which n, write r ll evelops hi s own fooli1 1gs.
-COI,EUIDGE.

Talk About an Imaginary Self. - Tl1c fact is,
the cgotis1n wlii elt soc iety so j11 stly cu11dc m11 s is not
talk aliout ollc's real self, but talk ahu ll t a desirable self
- not ahollt ''"lw t \l"C r cnl ly arc, lJllt al1out 1d1at we 1Ya11t
0111· fri e1Lcl s to tlti11k \\'C nre.
Th e <'goti st 111 urc or less conSL~ i ous ly conceals the real .-lolin, :111d patd1es ttp by hints
as to ]1is anteceJents, l1is hi sto ry, l1is courage, l1i >i prol1ity,
his tendernc;;s, lti s r ega rd from otlicrn, all id eal Jollll that
sl1all co tupel admiration . -\Ve feel tl1c contrast whe11 in a
rno111 c11t of delight or (liscollragc 111 e11t lie blnndcrs upon a
ge1rni11 e revelation. So close-l ocked dues every n1 au try to
keep the secret of' bi s life tliat few ca ll resist the temptatioll to peer in wlicn li e opc11s t he lid; as few l1 ave t!tc
grnce to li ste n patiently while ltc dc~c rilie s witltont opeuiu"'
it the wouderfol tl 1i1 ws
li e would like to l1a ve us believe
0
0
it con ta iu s.
It is in this opening t li e Jill that th e clmnn of frnnlrn ess consists.
•ro speak without reserve of whn.t most pen;onR conceal iudicn.tes n.
consciousness of ge nernl purity of lifo :t1Hl i11t0g rity of pmpose thn,t
inspires conficlence n.rnl prompts to sirnibr n.vowal. DL .Johnson,
pn,yin g court to l\Irs. Porter, told h er plainly t: hn.t h e 'rns of mean
ext rnction, tlmt h e lmd no money, n,n<l tl1at one of l1is nncles had
b een hn.ngerl. She as fmnkl,I' rcpli ecl tlmt sh e had no more money
tl1n.n lie, n,ml t.lmt tl10ng h non e of h er reln.tives ever had been
han ged sh e lmcl seYernl who on g ht to h e.
The d esire to pl ease, to shine with n, pn,rticnlarly engrtging lnsti:e, 1-.o draw n. foseinn.ting pictnre of one's self, banishes from convcr~at.ion all that is sterling and most of 'drnt is lmm orons. As
soon n.s a strong current ~f mntunl :tllinirnt.i on 110gins to How
th e human interest triumphs entirely over the intellectual, rtml

142

EGOTTSllf.

[PAH1'

II.

th e cnmrne ree of word s, conscio ns.ly o r n ot, b ecom es seco mbry to
I.Ito omn111e rci 11 g of (_'yes. E::wl 1 s impl y 'rnits npoH t h e otl1or t1> l >n
flllmirrnl, n.11<1. t.hc talk dwindles into platitucli11ullf\ piping. - C'or11-

hili 1lfrrr1o i i11 e.

Frank Self·revealment lnteresting. -Jt i s Reldo111 tlmt we are i11diffcrunt to gc1111i 11 c eo nfoss io11 , lrnt it is
very ;;cldolll tl1at "·c l1 car it.
The egotist 1loes Jlot always e11logi7'0 himself directly . H e rn ay
rnrdrn yon fallH'r-confossor a11rl a c knmdeclge to ynn rt fnnH or lrnhil;
that is ex 1 ~et> di11gl y !lishonoml>lo to him--" he c:t unnt help it. ; it if!
Lis "'":'·,. P e rli:i.pR h o lrns rnsolv<'ll at :111 lrn~anls to tnke a promin ent part, ill com·orsat.iou, ow;u tlto n g lt it b e nt th o cxpr n so of hi s
chaTactc r a n rl t.110 comfort o [ tho <ompa11 s . E l,;c lw talks o f his
fault. fl in or1l rr to <10111011 s h·nJo his si11 cerity or som o othe r Yirhw.
"Ho is i1011C1 nf yonr tliss1~1nh\1'm; h <' mus t tell ~-on rd!. " A nni.her
<'.onfessns hi s er.i111Ps 011 p1uposo tn r;hm1· n s his r;l1rmnl11 ess, tad.,
or co nrngo in c o111111it.1in g t lt e .111 , i11 escaping 1lotoctin11 or puni s hm ent; or t lt e g e ner osit-.Y or lii g h-rniwl c <lnoss 1Yi th whil'h he m a <lo
a111om1B for thorn ; t·lrns 1lnes ]t._, glory in hi>< sl mm o. --I-I:rmYEY.
0

Egotism not Eradicated by Silence. - Egotis11t
cannot uc ov c rcrn11 c (> !' co ncealed lJy a1J, t.aini11µ: from m e ntion of se lf. '1'!10 \\Titcl's of J>ort Hoyal 1rnre so disgusted
with the pl'edo111inan ce of the pron o un 1 in co nte 111po l'a1y

\\'riti11gs tl1at thl'Y 1111ihirn1ly sh1111n od it as s:1Y111-ing

l>.[

self- cvn cc it. Unt it is not th e mm of thi s pl'o11on11 that
uetrays the egot. i;;t-it is the fe eling that pru111pts its utterance, as ue trayud l >)' the conn ection and t]1 c tone.
A fal se hu111ilit;v, or, in tho " ·or!tl's pa:fanl'e, n fal se modes t.y , is
rts <'rirni 11al arul off<'nsirn as pritlc, for it i" that, pritlo in tlisguist'.

Pri11e m ay no t J>rornp t the frer1nent use of the pronotm ;. on th e
ot.l 1nr luu11l, 0gnt.ism in t.h e Jirst cl e.C(rPn is oft.en p orpe tmte1l "·hen
t.he ro is a c·n rd nl n,·oirbnce of it; and in g e neml 11 0 who mak es :t
show of gn•:it prt in f; to k<wp aloof from :i fault does tlJOrehy <le<' litre
t.lmt h fl kn1ms him s01f b h e rt(l<lictr,1 to it. Rom e of tlrn Y:tinPst
of m ortal'> :irn ofteu l1oard to say, "without boasting," "I llo uot

CHAP.

VIII.]

SEL l~-ASSl~ B. TION.

like to praise myself," "P:tnlun mo L:r s p o~ kin g of rny self."
Again tlrnro are very lrnml1lo characte rs wl 10 rna.r 11 s" t!tis ki111l ol'
apologot.icrtl phrases. Lot rm lJ owarn of wonls; uut!ting is rnor<'
common than to lie mic;Je :l l >y 01om.--Hmw:rw.
All great m en not 011ly know their lms i11 i:s~ , lmt th(,_,. nsnalhlrnow t hn.t t,Ji cy know it, ttll<l :ire J1nt 011 ],r 1i .~ l1 '. . i11 llwir main opi11ions, but they n snally ]mow Umt they are ri ght. in them ; oul y they
llon 't think mnch of thom r;0h ·ec: nn that. acc01111t.. /11·noll'u knmrn
tlmt he cru1 l>niltl a t;ornl 11"111 0 rd; F.lm·1' 111·n; All• e rt Diirrn: "Tilt)·:
calmly to 0 110 wl1q lrnd fu rn11l fault with !1.is work, "It ca nn ot lm
b ettor rlrn w." Sir fo:c:tc N"11·t.011 lrno"·s t hn.t. ]10 lias worko<l ont, n.
prolJlem or h ><J t.lmt " ·onl1l l1 :L1·c v1nzlc<l a11yl11><l .V else; only th l':·
do not cxp el't their fellnw-111 011 fltmcfo rn t o fall 1l o wn a11rl wnrsl1i p
lh ern. 'f h ey have a curio11s uwl0 rse nsc of pn11·o rless n('S>:, fo elin _l(
that the g reatness i s 11nt :in l11 m11 lint ll1ro11 g h Lhern; t.lmt t.lH'.)'
f'onl1l unt ho an y othm: t l1i11g tlirm Goll rn:1.'1 0 tl11'11L Arn1 ti JC\ \' s<>o
l--'.OIHotl1 i11 g di v.inc a1Hl Go( l-1 11a(11~ in uvo ry oth0r 11utn t.l1 ey llH~<~ t, nn<l
t!JOy arc o utll f'ssly , fooli shl y, :u11l ineroclii>l y n11' 1Tiful. --Hl'SKIN.
'.l'h e diffit:nlty i s to l Jo cel'l~a in tliat this pusitil-o ucss of st rd:1 ' 1Tl f' Ht
!ms th o w a rmnt of gr11ins lichind it. i\[r. Hns kin him self ln1s
u sed mnclt Jnn g nago tlmt rrnl.)' vory great a ss n rn11ee iu his ow n
jmlgmout could warrn11t. Thus iu r epl y t o so me o ne wl10 oLjocted
to the contempt with ,d1ieh h e lmtl spoken of snl'h m e n :ts .Tolin
Stun.rt i\Iill and Goltlwiu Smid 1, coml'lai11i11 g t.lmt the diseiplos of
sneh men are "hurt and rnndo angry when wonls they do not lik e
are u so<l of t.11<'.ir Jend ern," h e an s,rnrotl :
"Wl· ll , m y tl c:-ir si r, I sole mnl y beli ev e lhat the lcsR t.ll C'y like it the better my work
h as bee n d nnc , fot: you will find if yo u t h ink tl ec ply of it tlrn t l h c c hi e f of all th e c11 r:-:cs
o f thi s 1111lrnppy age is the n11ivcrf':d IJ a Uhl e of its fool s arnl o l' the n ock8 tlrnt follow them,
r end ering t h e qui et Yo ices of t;h c wi so 111 r 11 of all pas t I i111 c inarnlilil c. This iR, firf' t, tho
rcsnlt o f t h e inv e nt ion of pri11ti11 g-, :111t1 nf Llie pn sy pmn·r ntt1l cxt.rc 111 c pleas11rc t o v~ti n
perso ns of ~cc: ing th em se lves in print. WhNI it t onk a L\\"P!vc-rn o11th" s hanl work t o ninkc
n Rin gle voh111 1e lq; i!Jl c m en cn n shl f'n'~ l a. little th e ti :ffcrC'tl CC hct.wcr n on e l.Jook nnd a nother ; bnt now \\·h en not onl y n.11ybo<ly C'n n GC't lhPmsr lvcs matlc legible Lh rn1wh nn y
qmmtity of vol11m cs "in a week. b11t t h C' ti ning rn beco mes a m f':u;s r:if livin g to th e m , OIHl
th ey ('fl,11 fill th <'i r st·omaehs wit.h th e fo ofo-;h foam o f t hnir lipf':, th e uniYnsal p esti\.on cc nf
fnl :::clwod fill s I.ho 111ind of th e world a s c ic:-uln.s llo oliH' h •:wcs, an1l th e first ll('Ccssity o f
onr )n Orfll g-ovcrnmcnt is to extr icrttc from nmong the in i:;ectil c 11 n ise the fow books nud
worrl~ that nrc di vin e. Arnl thi s has bee n m y m a in work fr om m y ~'o nth 11p- not en.r in g
to speak m y own worrl s, bnt to di sce rn, w h ctlw1· in paintin g- nr f.:Criptnrc, what is ~~tcrnn.lly
good nml vital. n.1icl to st rik e n.w~1.r frnm it pitil r~"'l .\' \\·hn.t i.o: wor LhJ4• ss aml vc no111011 s . So
that now, l.Je in g old nnd th orou g hl y pra.cti8cd in this Lrad c, I kn ow either of a picture, a

r
1.11

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ll

I. 1}
I

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I

144

EGOTISM.

[P,\HT

II.

book , or n spPcch qn itc sc <:nrc1y, w hether it is good or not, as a ch cescmo nge r k 11 owR
c heese, nncl J have 11 0t t h e lea st 111iud to try to ma ke wise m en ont of foo l ~, o r s ilk 111.irseH
nut of so·vs' ear:->; !Jut lil y o ne Rw ift lm si11 ess i s to brnnd them of !Jase t1ltality nnd get
fh cm onto[ !.he way, nnd l ll o 11 0!; care a coU\Veb1 s weight WIH~ I her I lrnrt th e f(1ll owc rs of
th c!'C ll\f'll or nnt-- tot:d ly ig- 1wri11g Lh c111 n 111l cnri ng nnly to ge t the facts cn 11 ccrni11 g t ho

m en them sel ves fairly r o11rn\c1l nml stntctl for Lh e peopl e whom 1 ha ve real power l.o
kn.ch. Ancl ftw qi uilifkati on of ~ l a l;1•1111' n t thnt! is tlt'i ther tim e nnr m~c d. Of 1 ~0 111" ~ 0
t h ere :i.re fe w write rs ca p ~~Ul c uf: ohtai11i11 g an y pu h lic aU-cnlion who hH VC n ot soni c day

or otlwr i-;ai1l

~o rn c ~hin g

ratiou:1t; arn l man y o( \,Ile fuolh;h est o[ them arc th e a111iablci;t,

a!Hl ha \'C rill sorts of rni11nr qu al itil'S nf rn os l, r ecornm end n.ble charn cter- -pro pricty of llic-

ti on, f'ila.vity o f te mper, benev olence o r <li spof'-ition, wi1lc ncqnaintance with lltcraturc 1 and
what not. But the one thin i; I have to n:-:scrt co ncerning th em is th at they arc m en of
ctc rn:tl ly '"·orthl c!"H intcll cctn: d qnn.lily, wh o nC' vcr onght, to have Hpokc n a word in tld R
\Yorld, o t· to ha ve hrc11 hca.rd i11 it, 011tof tlH'ir fa111ily ci rcles; nnd w hose hoo lrn are merely
so mu ch fl oating fng-ha nk, whi ch the fir;; t 1Jrc1tth of sonnd public healLh nnll sense w ill
blow 1.mck into itR ll!lti vc Llirch CH forc n •r."

"There are so111e g rea t men," says Colerid ge, "wl 10
actnally flatter tlte111sclv cs tl1at tltey abh or all egotism,
and J1 eve r lJetra.r it i11 their writings or disco11rse. B ut
watch tl1e111 na1:ruwly, aml in the greater nnlllber of enses
yo 11 will fi11d t heir t:l1011ghts and feelings aml rnoclc of expression sat11rated " ·itlt th e passion of contt?11J.d, id1Jch is

tlw concentrated vinegal' qf egotism."
The same ant.lwr nw.Jrns frequent reference to diseased forms of
egotism, 'Yl1ielt i,;ee m o<l to him a fascinating study. F or instan ce :
'['h ere is one sp ecies of ego tism which is truly disg usting; not
that which lcn<ls n s to comnrnnicate our fe elin g to others, hut that
which woul<l re<lucc tho fee lin gs of others to an identity with
our owu. - Pref11ce to Poelical 1T"orl.:s.
For some rnighty go0tl sort of p eople too there is not sehlom
a sort of solemn saturnine, or, if you will, ursine vanHy, that k eeps
itself ::dive hy sucking tl10 paws of its own self-importance. And
as this hi gh sense, or rfttlwr sensation, of their own vn.Jue is for
th e n10st pl\rt, grouJHl o<l on nega.tive q ualiti es, so they have no betl <>r rnol\n s of ] ll"Of<On·in A" t.h o sl\rnc ln1t hy nP.gat.ives- t,lrnt is, hy not
<lning nr sl\y in g an y t.hin g t lmt might, h e pnt dnwn for fnnrl , Ri ll y,
or nnnsPm<icrtl: or (to n so tlwi r own phrase) hy n e ver forgett.ing
th emselvoR, "·h ioh some of their ncq1rnintan ces are nn clrnritalilo
enrmgh to think th e most worthless ouject they could l>e employed
in rememl1eriug. - 'l'lte }111provisatore.

CHAP.

VIII.]

ItE'rICENCR.

146

Silen ce does not always mark wisdom. I was at dinner, some
tim e ago, iu company \\·ith a mau " ·h o listened to me and :suid
n othing for a long time ; but h e nodded his h ertd, and I thought
him intelligent. At l ength , toward tlt e ernl of the dinner, some
:tpplo-Jnmplings were plrtce!l on the t.alilc, arid my m:in had no
sooner seen th em than 11 0 lmrst fort,h with - " 'fhem's the jock eys
for m e ." I wish Spurzheim could have examined his h ead. Table Talk.
Qnery, wh ether Coleridge wonl<l l1 rtni lJeeH so ready to rissum e
the man's ;intelligence if h e lrncl -'lwken hi s h ead.

Talk of One's Self an Introduction to Conversation. - Betwee n strnn ge rR a frank nncl easy r ef-

ere nce to one's O\Yll purpose? aud tastes is a1ncrng the
easiest approaches to ~onversatio n .
A l ad y l>y mentioning h er own movements or rtrrnngement.s, or
by r eferring to any matter cmmecte<l with h erself and family, if
not of too private a nature, gives (t l ead or opening to h er visitor,
and affords an opportunity for h er t o take up the thread of the discourse, and to carry it into wi!ler chann els, far b eyond th e ran ge
of the op eras, the theatres, or the wPath er. And in proportion
as the conversation diver ges into friernlly or dom estic talk, so do
the two ladies b ecome more at ease wi th ench oth er, gaining in a
short time a clear insight into each other's clmrncters and pursuits.-Societ,y Small Talk.

It is often assumed that reticen ce eomnrnuds respect.
It is in vain to point out that th e silent fo ol often passes for a
man of wit, b ecause the fool who has wit enough to know this and
act accordingly is not properly a foo l. W ere h e l\ fool he would
not keep silence. 'fhe n egroes attribute this wiscfom to the chimp anzee, who, they say, is a umn, but will not speak l est he should
b e mrtcle to work.
8ile ut people gnt thron g h t h o 'rnrl<l rts wPJI as t h eir tallrntiYc
n aig hbors ; ever y one talks for t.l1 em ; their n od is interpreted
whe re another man would have to make a sp eech; and every one
i s willing to excuse them as th e sl\ilor ox0trned hi s parrot, for, if
they do not speak, they think the more. Foote, the actor, boasted

' I

146

BG01'IS:M:.

(PAHT

11.

of l1is hnrsc tliat it con l1l staml sbll fo~ter th an some h orses co nkl
trot ; a111l I.li e s ile nt rnan is often e1rnbletl, liy the valne attach ed to
his rare utterances, to say more by his silence than fl voluble
talker l>y a string of pl11·ases.-8at1irday Hevie1v.
pcoplt ~ o f r<' srrvci1 rli..,.position arc so often mis1111 tlcrst.ooc1 a~ th ny arc
lt f'Ce rns t n rne t ha t e1·rl.'1i11 per .~ n s of a. frank awl itnpuh;ivc t ern per
nrc rpiitc as apt to Uc 111 iRin tc rprcLcd. Th e co rn11Hlll error uf g ivin g rcsc r ve(l pc r son r:; in s110ic'ic11 L t'n• tli t f nr frelin g : h cc::ltl sc o f lh f' ir h ck of d cmon :;;;t.r al.iu11 1 iR an e r ror into
which rntly the duller snrt o f ub ~(' ncrs fall; hn t kcener-sightrd on es o f Le n make the oppof>ilc nii s bk c\ nntl cli c r i!-;h ihc beli ef i h n.t the )(' RS th e cli,.play the fnllcr arnl <lccpcr its
sources 11111 .' -t he. Thi ~ ic; fo.i- from heiug in vari a bly th e t rn t h . It a pp ear.~ to nm thnt if
rc s cn·cll folk nm m isco n c(' i\•cd it J:i iu n manli e r fa vorn.Ulc bJ t h e ir c haracle r a111l intel le c t,~ arnl w halc,Tr t1p:ni n 11 s m:1 y b r? C' :'\ prr :-:<;<'i l alJo n t Uwm n.rc c nn1mo 11l y acc o mpa11iccl
wi t h the a ck ll O\Y l c ~lg111 e 11t !,hat th t•y am op ini ons only , for w he11n111an is 1101. o nt~ pok c n
nhou t him sf'lf w e 1mty ho!'1 what; not ion we d1011~·c abo11t hint ; bat we cann ot h e lp
kn ow ing thnt th e n1Jtio n is so11wthi11g of nnr own co nst rn c lion, bll$C1l 011 n o real know lcd g-e. On t h e ufll e r h:rn r1, wlH•n n. pe rson i s i11 tlw ltald of talkin g frt.'cl y , i i:; not, chary
of !iii:; opi11io11 and even r cv l'al s ~0 1nc t h i n g of hi s perso nal ta ~ tcs , habits, :rnd fee lin gs,
it is 1w t 11ral t'!lnn g h for tlLo ~ n \\'h o h ear him to si qlposc thcmsch' CS cap:tblc of Cf-itimat.ing:
him. Yet J,hi.i:.; r cry frnnk111• s8 is whnt 111i slcadi-l; we arc n otaw;irc h n w mm:ll is k ept
back by ill f'sf' app:uT nlly com1111111inll.i\·c peopl c -nnwh th:-tt might m odify o r altPr onr
n olio11R of t.h e in. 'J'll py s how 11 s :\ gnod 11cal of them se1ves and we tl~Jlk we know all;

Is it tru e t hat.

f;tl ppo ~cd

t.o lJc?

th t·y have a JH'<'tl o r vt• nl.i11 ;~ th f·t11 f'cl \·cS n.n cl h eg il1 to s peak th e ir thon g h l8 alou tl; yet
thf'y n r c s onll'ti1111·~ n·ry f'1' m.: iti ve In 111isr.n tH't•ptio n or p os:::ibl c ricli c nl c, nTHl nt the
i-: li p. hll· st Ht ,; pi e io11 of <' it,h c r h :1 ,; Lc 11 to sh nt tl1e h :d(-opene(l door of their h e:l rts ;:i.ml wHhdrnw t111 •i r r c ;il i-;1!h ' P s fr n rn onr vi ew . An im p11 ls i ve 1·cr so11 is gm1 c rall y intJffCRs io nnhl c
1u11l eas il y alfr>ctud hy thr: p1:r.-;u 11 nli ty 11f ot.h prs : c ou s cio n sly or 1111 co11scio1rnly h e ndnpt·s
hirn ,.clf lo th ose h e is in c011t.a c t. wi!h , and s h owi;; to diffc re 11t p t· r ;.; o n ~ 1lifTe r c nt si1lCl'I of
himself, so that if an op ini o n w c•rc askC'd for, no two of hi s a cqn a in h m cc, pc rhnp~,
would ngTc f' in l ll C' ir irnprcss ioni>. O f co urse he is h imself to each and all, lmt u ot the
whole o f hiln ~<' lf.
Il csC' rv c so111cl. i11 H's p rocf'<'1l s fro m a !3hy a ntl t imid se n s it iv e n ess , whi c h nrnkcR n o
nppC'al for appr<'c i:i.tinn awl f:y mpat li y, no t 11nri11r; t o nm t;!i e ri !': k o f m eeting- cohln cs~
a nd r cb nfI ; lmt n'fJP l" VP< l p r r ;.;011 F>, :i.s a n1l c, c11joy a most comfortalJlc nl' lf-po iRC n111l intlcpc11Je nr:c of . th e goml or ill op ini on n f oth e rs . It is the µer son s o f fran k, i111 p11\Rivo
lt' 111pc rnmc11t who arc t h e r cn.J 1111fort1111al cs ; t h ey i::;n throug h a goo(l tl ei""of c:qw ricn co
l leforc th<' Y lf':trn tlu ~ wi :>,l om <1f k e1•11 in g U1crnse \vC's lo th e n1 ~c lvc s, and afte r lca rni11g it
arc somctimm; unlucky enoug h lo forget it a.t th::! wron g tnoment. - Atlantic Jlfunthly.

d11AP .

VIIL1

SUGGESTIO NS.

147

senti111 e nts is to lower liy co111parif'o11 the corresponding
posses;:;ions or our cornrade, amt th11 s to render him uncomfortable. It is for this reasu11 that a vaunting tale so
often elici ts from the li care1· a st·o ry yet more marvellou s,
so that lioasti11g leads to lying.
'!'h e discomfort is lt eigltterietl a~ tho t.l1i11 g <~x nlteJ in is l>eyonrl
the r oach of one',.. compan ion. '1'o h o:cst, of h ealth in presence of
r111 iu valitl , of stre ngth to a crippl e, of ll" Ortlth to a pa.ul'er, o.f c.Jncation to t lte illiterate, of so('ial 1li sf·i nct.ion to t hose who get no inv itaf·, inrn1, is as f>tu pi<l as it is n11ki111l , for what- over g rrnl gin g acknO\d<•<lgrnP!lt may be gmnte<1 t h o Jad, is lost in resentm ent at th e
l::tc k of co11si11e rntion .
A man with more m oney tl1an m:rnn ern pansed to talk with u
bborer ho eing in hi P, garden.
"VI' ell, Pat," h e b egau, "it'>< good tu lJe rid1, isu't it;?"
'' Yis, so tT."
"I am rich, very rich, Pat."

',,
/I. ·1·,

"Yi~ , SOlT. ,,

"I own lands, aud houses, arnl l10rnl s, a11<l stocks, and-andan<l-- "
"Yis,
"And
"Not
. m a reh ed

su1T."

what is there, Pat, tlrn.t I lmrnn't got?"
a spick o' since, smT ;" au<l sl1011l <lering his hoe Pat
off in search of a l ess cnnceitetl eml'loyer.

SUGGI<;STIONS.

On the other ham!, 110 reln cta11cc sh onhl be sh own rn
comi11" forward wlien we can add tu tl1 e pleasnre of
otli ers."' One mnst trnst tu l1i s :j11dg111e11t to <letern1in e
wl1 e n he ean contrilinte lllO St to the ge neral enjoy111011t
b y re mainiug rn the baek-gro1111<l a nd wlien by taki11g t11e
lead .

Appl y in g to thi s suliject the general prin ciple o f convenmtiun th:it onr first obj eet sli onkl lJC t o e ntertain our
co111panio11, not to exalt ourselves, we obse rve:
1. R lffi'1'cnr:e to One's S e?( Slwnlcl N ever be Obtruded.
-To lJOast of one's position, connections, aclti eve nients,

A moclernte musician, in whom it ''"°111<1 b e intolemble conceit
to play b e fore a cnltnred arnlien ce, may a11d intensely to the enjoym ent of a country farm-hou se, a[)(l wonl<l show as much egotism in declining to play in the latter case us h e would in offerin g to play in t h e form er. Th ere nmy h e tinws wl 1011 h e kn ows
himself unfit ted to appear and yet 'rher e th e <lem::mtl that h e shall

!i

I
I

'j

I

148

EGuTlSi\1.

[PART 11.

CILIP. V l I l. J

do :io i:i so persistent that. it is .less egotistical for h im to accept
allll d o t h e best h f' f';i.11 , kn o wing he mnst fail, than to d c.la.v tho
e n terl.rl in mrn 1t of t ho <' tJ llll':t.11,1· whil e his hoste;;s, inj udicion s ly kind.
rnfnscs t.o yicl<l tu l1 is p ro tPs ts . Thi s is one of the i ns tanc es \\·h ere
0 11 0 .is ('a.l1 1•1l upon "lPlil.H'rntPlJ hi siw rilfr o nu c's self null to r1cccvt
t h e 11 nj11 s t. 1·1• n li1 '.t u[ pn•tonsil! JJ , lJe ean se to infl ict p oo r nmsio u po n
a co1 11J>:lll.1 fur Ji1u 111i1111L"'' 11ill a1rnoy lhen1 less th:t11 h.> listen f •!l·
lndf : 1.11 li nnr tn n 1H"·\ :: ri •fl<..;r11 1 l'r 11· nr_,t trying. In !111 s11c h ca.-:;cr; th o
nl :l. 71 \\·hn

~y~ fi-· ni:d i r·: t!I_~,- r ep_·itnl s

1lnf-

1ris

11\\· 11

1•11....'a '~ill'\:

f_ )J'

!"!'./1iii:1.Li!1!1,

lin t. t.h n grnt.i lirnl-in11 nf t Ji ,. comp a ny, \Yill sc' l<lom go as tmy . If uecasio nally rnis n n d e rs t-. uod . p1·c n t 11n l ly li is 11n si, l t-is h 11" '~ will h p l'f' •'ugui:;.mL

2. Statem ents 1!f ]- ;11't 8lionlrl lJe Hir;o1•0 11,sl.'I / I r·cu1·afe.
- Jn th e pop 11 h r n1i11<l C\:tggcr:it ion is ~<> associate([ \\'i tlt
boaf' ti n"· tlt at in r c l'e l'l'i 1w to onr8elvcs we ~ l 1011ld ]Jc care"'
"'
f nl ra tl1 c r to di 1J1i1J i"l1 tl1:1.11 to Cll lnrgc tl1c statc 1J1 c nts of
fact . No a lt)r(; i;.; 1:1 10 li ste ne r tu doted c.\aggeral ion tl1at
l1 0 is <1ui tc lik ely son1 e t·irn e to co111 pnrc t ho fa.et. \\'i th onr
stato11J ont o f it. 'l'o fill <l tl1 a t wo ll a\'O clai 111od Jess tl1 a11
\\·as rea ll y trn o 11· ill g ra t·.ify l1i1J1 th o 111 oro hoe:w so tli'is so
se ld o11J J1 a ppe 1J s, wh ile to <li sco \'e r t ha t. even in 1m essen tial
pa rtie u Iars \\·e kt \·e ro11 nd ed out tl1e 11 arr a ti \- e w i J.l in spi re
mist rn st o f a l I 1\·e l1 :wo said .

l

p e rsist in asking qn cst ions abo nt one's p ri rn.te affa.irs aml
wlw vet, wheu one in sli ce r good nat ure lwg111 s to :111s\1·er,
rel ap~e into dreaniy llllliff~rc 1 1 ce'. Tlil.'ru a ru v lliun; \\l1 u lJ)
any rc[crcnr:c tr.l n1H· ' " ,.,,. l!- :ir1 • 11 1s 1.;111 ti ·'. f' ti11111hkd. 1... i 111-PJ:l'llpt l >f CO J'J'f' Sp11n rlin g rP111in i!-Wl! IJ!'!'S :1llf l ( ' (J JJ l(·~~1n 11 s .
'i' l1<> r" :l.J'n f rc<1ueuL UL'.Ca '=' i1Jll:O \I ill'l l 11 11(' 11;1 ;-; 1)( '('11 lt ·d . II l:-l'l.1
rn· 11 -,. ;1 J; J1-, int.<> si;ll'-n :\·c:i.l11H.:nL. :111 Ll ~ uddcul y d1 Fr'<•1•er;;
. I 1t• :1r• I 1·1· I '' " I :11 111.'. ·'
' ." 111 I(' i ·< 111< .' II'
1li:JI.
11·\ 1:·i1·. l1n s :11· ...: J.'
i111 1"' l'aLi1·n tl1 :111°ili:11 i' ll<"-11 l'"l'1·r1•11 1'!e I" • Hi! :.; ' .' ·I i' ,]i._,11 ],_1
~t:1 1 1 t \ v r·e:isR, 11 nt n n\1· rn1t. oi' l'< '_~·:i rd lo 1l1c 11·1:-!1".; "I rn 1t:"
eOll lj )~llJ i lJll, b ut uut. ,_,[ l'!'"l"''·t. \'.,1· (>11 0·~ O\\'Jl d ignity.
'J' ] H ·n~ (t.rn 11 n 1n111J ii· n t.s in Ii i" 111 on· p1·t:t;1011s Llia11 \1·lic·11
ta lks \dth a t ried frie nd o l' Ii i,: lil.l) \1·it l1i 11 . J\ttt such
ta lk ~ltonl d he 011ly he t11·cc 11 t ri ed l l'i c11d s, a11d " nl y in 111 0rn e nts of eo nfide 1J ce a 1H1 f'J lllJ>:t t.l1 y. It. i;.; no t Lo ll :1 rry
Fo ke r tli at Gny \ Va rr in µ;tu ll te ll s l1i s story, htt t to i\. r ~ li1.11·
Pc11 d e11uis, a nd to A r thur Pe11d c nni s onl y when a cns1s lll
his life m akes the story sulc11111 tv him.

Jl:-

on;

l\fan,v p orsnns ne1 J11irc :i gay lrnhit of meny boastin g , or of lmm oro ns ga~wn n n.tl i11 g· -- so ca !J 0d fro m th o Gaseous, a hr:wo n.1Hl ta leute1l l'eo p lo, \\· h o, l1 011·cye r, n Lterly d es troy all respect fo r t h eir
r eal m erit h.'· t.h eir lml 1ils of Yan nting. Ho who would n.Yoitl vanity
slto11l11 hrwe aliso.lntdy n o t.l1i11 g t o <lo wi th it-- n ot cve11 to burl es11nn it. 8df is 011 r rn os t; i nsi1l io11s foe, nnll h e \\·h n l i on.st~ i n
fu n will soo n foul ea rn est t,h oJJ g lt ts g li tli ng in to the cutT0nt of his
j est.s. I n Rh ort, m·oi<l ene1-.1;thi11.17 1cliich may .rn.17,']est, holl'ever r e111 nle~11, In lftn.<e ·11·ith 'll'liom :i;n1t cmwerse the su.<picion that you think
o.f th e P:U-ect yn11 p roduce.-1lr t o.f Conversation.

Distiu gnish ecl from se Lf·co nceit n.nd vanity, p. J :JS.
R efere nce to one's self n:tt. nrnl a11 rl i11 te rnoli11 g, p . 140.
But d isagr eeab le when to a n inrngiu a ry se lf, p . 141.
Bgotism not e radicated by sile nce, p. J 42.
Talk of one's se lf an easy iutrocl nction lo cou ve rsation, p. 145.

3. R~f(' /'f' 11 ce to 011 <''.~ S elf 81umlrl Cease the Jlfom ent It
B ecomes ll ea1·isu7ll e.- Th ere are persons so ill -bred as to

R efer en ce to on e's sulf sh onld ne,·cr bP nhln1d e<l , p. 146.
Statements of fac•t. shou ld be ri girll y ncc u rate. })- 148.
R eferen ce to one 's se lf should cease as soo n as ""!arisome, P· 14R

TOPICAL

ANA LY~IS .

SUGGESTIONS.

150

TOP ICAL ANALYSI S.

[PART

II.

SUGGESTI VE QUJ<;STTONS.
lJo yo11 ng ree w i t. It Co le rid ge i p~.ge :Wl) ?
Do y nu tl1i11k t h e 'nit er i n till) .'ltlrrn fi c ;l[on thly
"·ron g in thinki ng

th c 1 ~l'

t n if-' 111 1ri "r$t11 <. 11 l :i s t J111;;,:P

nt

uf f ra nk a 11rl
1 ·i..~s1_1n·1.> d

j1 111Jld S i \ · l'

( p ~g~

1111) ri gl it rw

te rn pc r as arit t o b t:

di ~ pn ~ it i nu ~

(;Tl:\ T' T KI ~ I X .

\\'li nt do yo1 1 fhi11k o!' ll11_! f'o l ltl\d 11 ~ par:u.!:i·a p li
,\ l o r :iti ~ h :1r1·
; 11111
f) \\ "!l

nr

:t ~~ 11ri11 rr

t n w ,''l'i f.

" " Ili c sor t n(

( 1J11 d 111' \' :1 s t1t·l .\- :11 l \-i :- i11 ::; j t•·" l 'L· {t1 ' 11.· tl1 1· 111 '•· I \·, .. .; ·

t h f' n1 f l! r!f n! I

i~

W"! l

~() \11 11 ~

ii~ :1

l! l iln

rl :irn-.: tn

'J 11 e \"aLtl C uL liii :-: ('Ollll:~L' L •!!' l'UUr· '-' · t·H t iu _- l,\
S<' i ( wi t h w hi ch

S fH' r :i.t ,. ~, w l in k11 0w

e ac h

IH•

.l\ RTJC F L \TTf1:'i' 1\ :\ ll l' ltl1 :\ l'S t' l.\ 'l' IO\" .

l1i;;:

,_l+_.J"-' ll1_b

pcrst•ll li:1 p 1H·11 s lo l;e <' ll rlml" e d .

n. gnnd d Pn l a l10 11 t lii s ow n c l1 a ra1:te r,

li "' f Pll t n him ',·;i lh in!P l 'f "-' L lll ! l ~· ... -.: l l1 1• y ( ' :lH )1•·:1 1· \\ h:it h r ;.;:iy -.: : :tll rl t i 1;\1 \\" ii l1 • >1tl
11l l •' r:111r •p i " 1·:111id :n1 .\ i11 d i -'! i1wl. n n \ ': •·i 1·l i! i •f l1 i..; f.. •· 111 i nw rir ~. 11" •I 1• · 11;'i li
nr ~ r n n n!h1 wso: o f v n il"I'. 11 n •·'<: !'• ·l io- w·•· "f 11 1•,, l 1;l :1( i,, 11, ( ·11qil1 :1<.;i,.:, 111 r· :1 k111·•-, \<, Jll \ !l :L l ·l 1l

' v ill

ass 1~ r tf· d tli ftt

111' \ '•T

l'fTnr1 .

j f 11(' h :tll l11'u 11 t n w lo lii111 ::;u ll' li e woul1l li av u lwu 11 <.1 11 n nf t, l1 u g rea.test
s co u1Hlro b in an :1 t! •J l" Ju ll! ia.rly fu riil u in u11r~d eu 1111_, ,t bl:t1_:k g ua.r;Js. "

I f h i"

l ii 111 I n "'l 'io:1 k

n et nq tn

"' ·

,

S I • :1 '-'

l.n I H1 l1 v a nl •s illt J•J,-..1 ·n 1"

] ' 111:1 Tr: .

A sc n c.: i l•le ma!' Jin ~ nn P. 111ode t•f a1 t k11la!i!Jll , :-ind o H C' PJ!ly . nanwly : niw :1_-, t• ' 1•r 11n m 1n cc lti ~ wo rds i n FlJf'.h :1. 1wu n u ·r as lo U•: n"tdi\y 11nd' T~ l • u)d , hut JJ C\Tr i11 '"' ttl'l i !\ 1n: t 11·
f'X~ it.1~

r P.J n ar k.-LE GOUVK

Defini t i o ns. - /! rtir:ulal iun j ,., P'"' l'er 11 1te r;i11 cc of vocal e1c me11 ts. J >ronwrniat ion :;iµ; 11ilie,; 11 ttcra 11 ec o[ w o n1 ~,
that is, of co111l>i11 at io 11 s o E voca l c l e 111 c 11 t· ~ . ]) isli11d11 1'""
is a ge neral h a bi t of th e voice, l1clo11 gi 11 g to all i1 s sn111 H l ~,
a r ticul ate or i11 art icul a tu, l)ei11 g 11 ot J1J e rc co rr ec t11 e s~, l >11 t
a sor t of compactness of u tte ran cc.
A good articulation co11 Risb; in gil'in g every letter in a Ryll ablc
itR dne proportion of son 1Hl , acccml itt g to Ll 10 rn ost ap pn1,·c,1 c nst om of pronouncin g it; an <l in 111 rtk i1 1g snclt a d isti11 ctio11 l1ct\recn
t h e syllables of ·whi ch >rnnl s a rn <·rn npos<' Ll , 1l1 at tlw ear s l1 all, \ri th·
out clifli culty , ack nowled ge tli eir 1rnrnlJcr, arnl perccil'c rLt onec to
which syllable each letter 1-1elongs.-S tmnmA N.
I n just ar ticulation, t he wun lR are not to l 1e lin rriotl over ; n or
precipitated syllable over syll n,l1lc ; n or, as it wore, m eHc<1 logoth er
in to a mass of confusion . 'l'lt ey sh onltl h e n f'iU rnr ahri <1 go tl nor
prolon ge<l nor swall owctl nor forcccl ; Hiey sh oul<l not; h e trail ed
n or d rawled nor Je t slip ou t careless]?, so as to ch op nnfi ni sh ed.
Th ey are to b e d eli vere d on t from th o l ips rrs h ean t.i fnl coins,
n ewly issued from th o mi nt., clceply antl ace n rnt.c>l.Y impresscLl , perfectly fi nish ed , neatly strn ck ont, hy the p ropor orga ns, di stinct, in
clue succession, and of clue weight. - AusTIN's Chironom ica.

l' ART 111.

LE TTEB-TV'BITIJYG .

CD AP'l'E U. X .
KINDS OF LETTERS.
'!'he po8t is l,hc ir rn.ml con11 ccl. in g lin k of all Lransacti ons , o [ all n c~o t,iati o n i;;. Tl:osc
it is Lh '1 coni:;olat ion or life.-VOLTAJRJ!:.

\\t h o n.rc ubscnt by i t s m ea n s bcco n1 c presen t.;

A Lett er is a \\'r it.ten cu111 1111111ica t io n from on e p er son
to auotl1 er.

,

An early se tt.ler h ad oeeasion to sencl aD I m1ian to a J~eig hb or
u pon an errnml, and scrihLled his communicat.i on upon a chip.
Observing that t h e n ei ghbor upon l ookin g at t.lie chip knew the
errnntl upon wl1ich t.l1 e Irnlian was se nt., th e I mlian regn.rdell t h e
chi p " ·it.11 rnverence, and thereafter wore it as an amul et, calling it
"th e talking chip."
/ I Circular L etter, under gu ise of a p ersonal commnuicatiou, i~
:vet writ.kn rwow<'cl l,v for p nhlirntio n. Orit.icisms, cc1itorial articles, oven entire; n nvds are somf'tim es written in the fo rm of l etters; b u t t.h e l Ptter prnper is n. oommnnicn.tio n intenclecl only for
the p erson or p ersons addressed.

K inds of Letters. -

Lette rs are nsnally (1) ef
ef Business, (4) to News·

Frienrlskip, (2) qf Cvn1·tcsy, (3)
papen .

172

KINDS OF LETTEHS.

[ PAUT

III.

i. Letters of Friendship.-Few dnties arc 1uore
i111pemti vo than to scncl fr c<Jncnt letter s to near kindred
from whn111 \\"O are separated. Tito tics of fam ily nre alJsolntc; tl1 0 son, tlte daug h ter, tlto sister, the Lrother, wl10
::tro iu sc11 sibl e to tl1 cse t ics, who do not recogni ze a nd accept them as Li11di11 g, start in life with a seri ons defect in
their natmes, and with a n almost iJJ snrrnonn table obstacl e
to the attainment of t ru e rn a11hood and womanhood .
These rclatiorn; arc 1iut onl y tli e first into which one enters,
Lut they iu vohe all. that is f 1111da111e11 tfJ in cl1n.rn cter.
The circ111u stan ccs arc very rare that " ·i ll excuse tli c yo nug
rnan or 11·0111.an fo r ai1y neglect of love a ml loyalty to parents aml to hroth crs aml sisters.
Yet as th e m cmh ern o f r1 fami l.Y Rcparnte t o ent,e r en.ch his in clivirlu al p ath in li[P, it to o 0 H e 11 lia.ppcns th at they grow mrny fr om
o ne nnuth er. E ach fornrn n e1Y assoc:ititions, lms n ew friend s, n ew
thon ght s, n ew ideas. On Rpccial oecr1sio1rn the m embers of the
fa mil y nw ct., arc glad to see ('fl.uh o tl1 m , en joy on e another so lo ng
as t.ltey fe d int,crnste<l in recallin g ohl times or iu sn,tisfyi ng their
en ri osity as to t h e nmterir1l fact.s of melt ot11 cr's n ew smoro mHlin gs.
Ent " ·h en it com C's to n'al con vcrsat.ion, to tl1 e interch ange of p redominant t.hon g h ts, to th o real prohJems of the daily life of each,
eve ry m eetin g filHl s t-l w pJn,y .fellnws of b oyh ood more aurl m ore
strangers in n rnt-. nrit._y. ThNo rPnini n r csp <'!".t,, confide nce, l ove
whi ch every year Re<'llls more arnl more trnc.litional ; lmt of t h e
commnni on, t h n rnnt.nal l1 elp of t-ltoRe en.rl y dn.p, less and less is
l eft; the rclatio11 is mUH'l" of a t.ril 1e than of a fa ruily .
T o some ext-c nt thi s mrmt n.l separat ion i s illevitable, but it may
h e parUy cscap C' rl 1\Y fr cr1ncnt and familia r correspon den ce. The
h oy at f'Oll cgc wh o wri tes every "lrnck to his mother of all that h as
mos t inte resk<l l1im, " ·ill avoi d some tl~ings that othen Yise mi ght
m a ke him rnlnr t ant to m eet that mother's , glan ce. Tl1 e young
mau who h n.s jnst co m e from a farm to t h o city, wi ll seem less a
stran ger to hi s Ji t t-le 1,ro th ns a n<l sisters " ·h en h e return s for vacation , a nd will .tinrl h is inte res t in the familiar sce nes of hoyhoocl
for l ess diminish ed, if his letters homo h ave b een reg ular and full-

CHAP.

X. ]

LETTERS OF

l~ RIEND S TirP.

173

h earted . 'r h e m emb ers of n,11 affeetimmte fa111ily, n,ll of whom arn
goo d letter-writern, wi ll n ever grn w very for apart.
It is th erefore imporb:tnt t h at th e h :thi t of iutcr clmn gi ng l etters
wh en separated sh ould Le m1 earJy arnl :m ttcccptcd one. 'l'hc Loy'8
tfrst visit away from 11011rn sh onl<l iuspi re 11is ti rst l ette r honH'.
'l'he girl at school sh ould look upon every incillent as ::m " item "
for h er n ex t l etter . \\7 h en, one b y one, the eld e r children learn
their h ome altogeth er, it sh o uld Le 11 0 sli ght el em ent of t heir purp oses for the future, that there shall Le a weekly letter to the old
folks at h om e.

Thi s pract ice w ill 11 atnrally lJc extend ed t" scl1 uol-mates
othe r i11ti111 ate fri end s. Jn yo uth th e h ea rt is cx nbcra11 t, the se nses arc keen, tl1 e rni11d is act i,·e, a11d tl1 c h and s
nre comparatively nnocc11 p ie11. There a.re l wnrs of musing, of coute lllplati on, of r efle ctiun, of recalli11 g events jnst
pa st, whe11 tl1 e enj oym ent awl th e proJit are doulJl ed if one
can share one's thou gh ts with an absc11 t fri c11d. 1£ sud1 a
COl"l'cspo11d ence be frank, 1111 ass11111in g, and free fru111. gush in g senti111e11taiity, i t is au 1rnsurpa:;sed 11J ea ns uf litera ry
culture.
aiH.1

What to Write.-Bnt \\·l1 at sl iall these letters contain? Ve rdant Gree n's fri end B onn l·er wrote r ognl a.rly
to hi s m othe r, a11d ]1 0 'not:e lon g lette rs, t l1 n.t con tainlxl a
g reat dea l of infonnati on. .Dut hi s plan 1rns to hegin:
"J\[_y d ear m other, I hope yo u arc 1rnl I, as I a Ill at tl1i s
writing, and I should lik en. li Hlc 111oney, as my e xpen ses
a re very h ea vy. I wi ll 11 0\\- rcs1111ie lll .)' d eserip t ion of Oxfo rd from tho poin t wlierc we last left off. " \.Vltcrcupon
he proccecl ecl to copy frrnll tlt e local guide-hook as much
as woukl fill the prcscribell n1milier of pages.
'l'his styl e of composition was n ot fittecl to promo te a very
coufirl e nti::ll iutinrncy with his moth er, o r to lead on hi s pn.rt to any
pronounced m ental d evel opment ; but after all it was a fair typ e of

174

KINDS OF LETTERS.

[PA 1n III.

C llAl'.

J faruaret Fuller Osso/ts Last J,etter.

m ndt famiJ,,- c01Tospornl onco. A l otter wlticl1 is half occnpi c<l \v.itlt
ro111ark111g that "I uow take my pen in ha ml to \1Ti te yo n a few
,,·n nl s," :md h alf with n 'g rett.ing that "I ltarnn 't a ny n e\rs to tell,
!nit. close, assuring yon that I n.m we ll auu hope this epistle will
fi11cl :'on in the onjoune nt o f the srtmo blessin g," is unt acbptrn1
to 110 rnn<'h morn tlmn cli so li ar ge a cl.isag n'ealil fl 1lnt:v in :Lcl·isngrncrLlil c "·n:-. Bnt s11rcl.'· membcrn of th e same farnil.v need n ever pml
u11t fonr p:tgos of co111rnc rni :tl llo tc \Yi.th cnrnm on-pl:ices.

The Creat Mistake in ·m ·i ti11g friendly ]ut ters is to
suppose that onl y tli u rnarn;l lu11s i~ 'n•r ili \\Titill!.!: ah<::>11 t..
It is tli c i11 ci<lc11tr:: ••f e1·ery-day l il'c, 1"11 0 0liarndPri Mi1 ·. lit·ll0
acts a 11<l sp eccl1 es oF t.li e 111 ellll1e rs of t:lte J1011 su l10 ld , t l1a t
u1 10 ]1111gs tu h ear :1h1 111t. \1·li e11 a11·:1y . The great C':c11ts ~i re
to l<l i11 tl10 J11.rn·~ 1 •:1 p e rf', hut onl y t.!1c lot.te l' ea 11 so dep ict
tl1 c 1ui1111ti a! of l1 011rn-l if'c ns to l'" t I. li e n·at.ler lrnck fo r tlt e
rn o111cllt amo 11 g t:li o fri c11d s lie has loft hcliiud.
"I nm gni ::ig to m a ke a sort. of promise t·o rn:vsclf n1Hl to yon ,"
wTit0s J\fa ry Larnh to ]1 p1· that was nft.enrnnl i\I rn. Hazlitt, " that I
\1·i]l 11Ti to yon ki11tl of junnml -like letters •1 the da il!J wlwt-'ice-do
matters."
SI' l·:CHI l·:NS

01'

FAMlf.Y U :TTRllS.

Sam uel Johnson to his rounaer Si.yters.
.Jnnc, 1813.
M\· Dr.An CmLB:
1 am ITil( l y to cry a i n ot ii Ni. dng from JOU. " ' lint nrc you d oi ng ? Arc 11 011 not
j'.!ning Lo let inc int o an y of y• 111r l ittle p lca s nr es or plan ~? My hcn r t b<m n tl s \,·iLh Jonrs
in you r ("ilC a~ ant h o pe~ , nml 111y eye w i\I ReC al\ bca uliful things aS th o11gh it \\'C l'C .)"0111'!" ,
] l<J let Llic •.vur cl s you woultl ~ pl':lk ii i your happi Pf::t 111 0 11 1r 11 t!", in all th eir f n~f; lrn cf::s and
Jiveli 11('f.;R, tnlrn the fnn11 of h·U.er!4 1 anrl 11nss into rny h eart as though I were with you.
Arnl ~n [ 111n with you w lu•rc yon t" all nw.
WilaL shn ll I tell y1J11 o f ? Flowers, lJinl ~, wood ~, wn lks, trnl\ lov i11 g, F- in ccrc Uookswllat? Th <'y n rC' :111 rn·0mHI mo h rrf' . and they are f=.0 rkcp in my love, nml s o n see m so
)lrt 'f'.('llt to lllf', llrn t [ «nn n nt, cl f'f=.c r ihc thf'm: for it f=.CC'nl~ a~ lhong-h yn11 knew liow they
Jr1nkc-11 fl~ WC'll a<:. r. T 1•\ l Ill!' h ow ynn i mnginc things look about llll'. I .it.tic 8 nsn11 n-(0{) 1Tl('S to my r oom every nm\- and then <'arly in the m ornin g, to get m e to go to r ide with
h e r m ot h e r . llut I must sec yo·1t in a letter <;oon , or I shall bo mh;ern.Ulc.
You r ow n ,

s.

175

LE'l"l'EltS OF FIU ENDSHIJ'.

X.]

li' L OHENCI-;, May 1·1, 18ti0,
Dr.An MOTIIEn:
I will Uclic\·c I s hall Uo w elcome wilh my treasures-my liu:-.t11111d a nd clti itl. For 111r,
I long !'O 1r11.tch to HCC ycJ\l ! S hon ltl anythin g hin dc: r nu r 111cct-ing P ll 1·:1r!h. think of y<inr
1la11g h tcr as 1111 c wl.o n.lw:iy s wi s h c1l, at. kasl, to ch her 11uty, nwl wlt" a lway.<> c h c ri s ltt'( l
y1H1 nccorcli n g 0$ li e r mi nd o pc-ned fo 1li f'CO\·cr 1'xcclle1w<'.
1

G i ve 1lcar love, ton. to my \.Jrntli c rR ; aJHl fir s t , lo rn y ~!th• "t, f:1 it h f11l fri<'111l , E11 gP 11 c;
a si st c r 'A l oYe to E ll eu; Jove to all 111y kind, gond a11ni:-:, n.JHI to rny d1';\f cu11s in E- -.

God IJlcss them!
I }iqpe we

l.i

crc'f'R

~ l1all

lJc ftbl c Lo \ 1; 1ss s•imt; UH\•· L··igt'thr-r, yet, in thi ;; ·.1·(, rld .

nther.vi:o:P~luTc.:

a11d he·r.

::/l1;t' ,

(

if Uod dc-

.i. .

I
1,

;.T,\ Jll ;AHF.T.

j

j
1
1

l~ut:

r::y dl:are:,t mu!!:.1 r.

l nllimn TTcury tn
ni.: ,\n.

) Ty

fli,r; r:rrwdnwtli rT.

you'll Ll1 iu k · u s [unny ge t ting nnntllcr leL!cr :igrtifl fn111 1 llH ' ~ () "unti , b11t rm
in a l11t1T Y to IHt\'e m.v falb ·r ;"• ·1 1•1 111c ~ "rtH' 111i'•ll".'" I" ht \ " rny ,;\.: :it• ·.. ; r•w11 ,l(·<l: :1 ~1' J·i1 ll
ir he \\'011 ' t plea,.,c tu !-'f! ll tl lll c lllirty-tlir•·L· <'• ·Jil t- ; ;q1.J \\••two ll a\c 111.1d1..· HI • :1 g(l. i1 1, :111d I
Lh ott~ht y ou wnnl11 likc tt1 knO\\-.
lt h:ul h1Lil rn o0 t thffr r1ay :.:. ~1!111 \'."(' lt:1i\n·t lW!'ll a11ywlu.: re together, or f; pukc n hanlly, an•l l hadn't lu1•k1·1! i1i 111 in Lhf' •· y• ', 1•r i1e Ill•'. C\ ;;1
]\foncl e r Tiry he wanfrd lo keep rou111l n11: all till' t i111", ;11nl lrn\·f' 1l<111l•l·-·- nnll 11;r l. 1,~ellJ< ·r.
li e knew we two hadn ' t Uccn 8Uch c hn1t1s a H \\'(' 1rned U• he, "" he ca1H1· ttp l11 rnc a1Hl sai d,
"Billy, I lhink that Dorry·R a mean sort or a c h:i.p, tlon't you? ..
'' No1 I don'L, ' ' I fiaid; "hC' clo11' t know what 'Lis l o be mean l ,, F or I was n't going
to hav e ·h im co~nin g any .Jc r sr·y on•r ll H~ I
"0, yon nec{l n't be so ~ puuky about it I,, i:;ayR he,
"I ain't spunky!" f'rt)'f; I.
Tlll'n I went in to i,l 1c schoo\-ror)Jll !o Rl11 cly uV<'l' my L atin Cr:rnrn1ar lwfore schoP1
hcgan, and f:at down nmongst the boy~ tliat \\.!'JT nil ('J"n\nlirig r n11n1I !li e f;[on~ . A111l I
w :\S st udy ing a.wny, and tlidn ' t, mi 11 •l ' cm fooling ro nud nw, f vr .l'd lo ~t 0 11 c Jtiark 1lay IJE'·
fo re, and Lli 111·t m ea n Lo lose any m ore, fu r you knnw wl!~t, 111.r f:d l.n pro111isctl mC' , if
my next. r e port iruprovccl much. .A._11d while I was s itting thNf' 1 sl nll y in g rl \Y:-1)' 1 arn l
d rying 111y ltTt, for \r C'' d been had11g- thdrn:s, a1ul ,V . B- - lic ~ t11111pr ~ c1 rn e t o jump on a
place w h f'ro• 1tw nR c·rad;ing, anrl 1· n-vnl in o\'••r hi p~ 41f IJ 110 !,.; :i nd \\·('f, 111 y ft•f't i-n pping
wet. A11d l 11hl ri't uolicc at fin::t, for I \•:mm't lno kiug romtd 1111wll, b u t look ing R.lrni g h t
tlown 0 11 my Lati n Ci1·.u11111ar, nn( t d idn't n otice that 'most a ll lltc Linys Juul go ne out.
O n ly about h alf a 1lozc 11 le ft , anll 11nc o( 'c-m \\·ns Do rry, nrnl he ~at to the ri g ht of me,
abo11t n. yrinl off, s h Hly in g hi r.; l c.=:~on. Th en :rn othrr hoy wr.nt out, nn tl then nn0th cr,
:ulll hy-nrnl -by every o m~ of t h e m was go ne, :tnll IC'ft 11!'1 two s itti n g t l1 cre . 0 , \\'e snt j ust
as still! I kepi". my lwacl d own, an cl we made lJelit· vc Lhink of nothing bnt j ust the
IC'.r;:.son . l •'in::t thing I knew he moved . nnd I lonketl 11p, arnl I. here wns Dorry looking me
ri g h t i11 t h e e_yc ! n. nc1 lt cltl nnt; hi !'l hntHl. " ll (l\V n.rc yon, ~wc·ct Wil liam ?,, sny i: liC', ru Hl
J;:i.nghcd !iomc. Then I cl:lpp<'cl m y lrnrn l on hi <.< F- h o nlrlPr , 11 01<1 Donyma~, hownreyou? 1 '
say s J . And F-O yon HCC. we got over it l h c n! ri g h t away.
Dorr y Fays he wn s n ' t nf': lccp that morn in g " ·hC'H I stootl th e r e, o nly nm.ki ng beli ev e.
Saifl he \,-if::hcd I'd pull, th e n he Wnf'i go i1~g to pull too; nml wrmhln't that bee n n funny
way to make np, pnlling- hnir ? ll c's hacl a kti <' r from T o 111 C u ~ h , an d h e'~ got h ome. lint
fa goi ng awny a g-ni n 1 fn r he rn ~a n s to be n. r c,:! nlar ~n il o r arn l get to he captaiu of a g reat
s hip. He'd comi n g h e re n ext week. l h ope yun wo n ,t forg et t hat thirty-three. !1d just
I

,,i·

f11U~D.,!!JTitt:J::

~ tJ(; :-;s

i'.t11
il

I
'

I

1,
I

I:

\

17G

[PAHT

KIND S OF LETTERS.

III.

rts Ji ves ha ve fif ty, :u1cl tlmt won ltl come better in t he letler, doni t you beli eve it would?
Tha t ph ot·ngrnph saloon h o1-l jn ~ t gn nc hy, nnd th e hoys are runnin g dow n ih c road to
c ltn. "C it. Wh e n Do rry nrn.1 I F>nt there hy the stove, it mad e me rem c rnl>Cr what un cle
Jacob said about 0 111.· picture.
Your affectionate grandson,

CrrAP. X .]

e/ft.

rrnd

Q fl
~CJ/
/
8,/ ftCJ(ta,1

()

.

0 ?'0ltl1J,

ff
{lt?1l6

20,

0 r7e1w
,.,Oj7'

I

~ ltttMrtrt;t

at rrj£t o,c/Jir/
Q)ti"nt't;JI C@ftr,.1c/,

---11
1

rJJJoJl on,

Q//aJ.1.

Mr. & Mrs. E. L. Waterbury,
At 1£0111e,
Tltm·sdays iJ1 JVovn11ber.

60 JJdmont St.

Less formal is the following fro111 Charles Lamb:

r!fvemj7, at tJrx o, cloclf.
( /J

.

01 10107,

/'

111deivrr1,;1,
,fl>
/'
- r/)
. /'
v 'tlet•ct &:/ cz•ent11,

/(!(!J,

c l!tJ. cfli~o11! dlfJ. dflm.tl!,
f.?t z•tle yore, lo meet lhett 1uecc,
c llri1 ?Jal1te! dlotrn1Jenrl,
"'

C-L .

1

rmd

<ftfrrlrl/
2 -f 7

Co

/ lj j .

( /)

f/7,

0rtJt yo1eJee 0 !.

Ii
~I

{ {}
(<)

'

j1

6)

0/~ti,{ c!l hcc!, ·nea/, <fl&z..

0)1,

t.fe

lhr °& .@Ja rr,yi:lr·t,

92 Sha wmut A ve.
,6 ,6

rJ!llt!c/i,

!@~1t£i

f 1 om mne till eleven .

al e;jli) o' cloc/

a.flt.

dflomaJ /

a/fa41rr7c f

Reception,

dl?:a(7evcoi!,
dZ6'omc,

Q -/i,tl.ttt

e//tJ.

t1NHlc 7ort to

a. lnvitation.-- Fonnal notes of invitation should be
si n1pl e, direct, and definite. Amoug the accepted forms
are the following:

Qr//tJ.

177

LE'l"l'l<l ltS 01'"' COlJR'l'ESY.

'VILLI.AM l:IRNUY.

ii. Letters of Courtesy.- Thc line betwee11 letters
of frieml sl1ip a 11d of courtesy can not lie drawn a ruitrnrily,
sin ce inti111acy lll ay clothe a 11ote re<Jl1ired liy co urtesy in a
g :ll"h ,yj1 oll )' iu1 co111·e11 tioual.
Bnt, in general, it may lie
~aid th at \\:l1il e lette rs of fri end ship origi nate in th e irnpnl se or l1 alJit of tl1 e writer, and depend for th eir form
aml nature upon hi i:; rn ood, letters of courtesy are demallded by the cu stoms of society, not only at a particular time,
lint al so of a parti cul ar character.

,,
I''

My clear Sir: If yon can co rnc nex t Rnrn1ay we ~11:111 lie g- l:t<l to
see yon.
Log of Lamb, as before, hot at 4, aml th e h eart of
Lamb ever
Yours truly,
0. L .
30th l\faroh, 1821.

b. Acceptance and Regrets.-In all cases where
one cannot accept an inYitation, wJ·itteu regrets should be
sent at once, that the li ostess may ku ow for how many she
is to provide. \Vritten nccepta11 ces need be sent only when
there are appended to t11 e invitati on tlie letters "R. S. V.

178

KINDS OF LETTERS.

[PART

P.'' ( l?ep ondez, s'1:l vous JJla/t-" Reply, please." )
following form s will Le a snfficie11t guide:

III.

The

Q//;. :Jffj~j7vwv accr;tJ. tvttlt: jlraortte 01/to.
c!J/c(JrN(/',; //ml ri1 vtla/1{w jot QJ;;CJ(!rftf" r/Jt;en01,?.
rfli,c;e!t

d!,6o{{Je, j{t-ne

14.

Qt/rn1felc! 1ryte!,; lhrtt rt- ftev rorr,;, e170/eff'r/l r/;?it i'e ht r/ lk jlraJttle r/ acrrj!ri?

Qf/rjJ

mevt
Q//;.. al/{! Q/!i,;. dJ11rlh,J z°vvticdtcm lo meet Qf/tj,;,
&crr'JIJr'J?t! rm (d rrr.Jt!r'J r!Jvml{ iy.

I J' ..4 <@fr·J(mrf d/)1ce(

/r/Jte

I0 .

c. Congratulation and Condolence. - Tidin gs
of joy Or ue reavc111 e11t l'Cfl'lire, from intimate fri end s a t
least, brief n otes of S.)' lllpat lty. No form of co rros po11d e11 ce
afford s a I1 appi c r opport1111ity for revealing trn e friem1 sl1ip.
Uc wl10 can so p11t. l1i111 sc l.f ill the oth er's place as to know
ju st what will m ost grntefolly t ouch that oth er's l1 eart,
w ill win a place in that other's affection n ot easily attained.

C !IAP. x]

tETTEUS OF COUR'I'ESY.

170

.
d. Introduction and t Recommen d at1on.
P e rso ll s of iutlneuc~ a rc o ve rwhelmed with requests for
lette rs of i11trodnctiu11 aml rccu1r1111 c11dat io11. S o to plirase
these le tters as to sati sf y tl1 c one a pply ill g, without e xcocdi11 g tlic trntl1 , or g11 ara11 tcc i11 g tl1 a t. of which one l1as 110
ce;.ta i11 ty, is 110 easy t ask.
Cantion ·in Giving Refaenccs.- Saug ni11e or nuscn1p1t ·
lous p erso ns so1n e tirn es gi1·e refere nces to pro111in e11t p erso ns whose p c rn1ission t l1 cy ha ve no t asked , in the h ope
e itl1 er tha t the one they l1 opo t o i1dln e11 ce "·ill be sa tisfi ed
by th e n am e, w ith out appl y in g fo r informati on ; or th at if
infor111atiou is asked, a go0Ll -l111111 orcll re port will Le g i,·e1i.
This is n either !10umable nor wise.
'L'h e following letter was recei vc<l l>y a "Wcs tern l1oanl of edneation , fr om a gentlenm n t o whom a candidate for the office of Superintendent h ad " referre d : "
"Dear Sir : Your l etter of t h e 8 th places m e in a d elicate p osit ion. I cannot say anyth i ng gornl of l\Ir. ·· -~-, and I do n ot
wish to say an ything l.Jacl of him \l" hiclt \Yi ll preven t his l eaving the
Sta te. I must therefore d ecli ne to ex.p ress any opinion.
Yours truly,

L ette1· introd uuing J.l fr. A iui uoon to Lewis lhss.
PIITLA DELl'HI.A, September 30, 1833.
~l Y

'I'o N ovello, who h ad just lost a favmite child , L eigh Hunt
wro te :
July - , 1820.
This conH'S from LPi g h Hunt, nwrely to say th at h e Uiinks of
l1is fri c11<1 Yi11 <·c11t. NoYc ll o; aml to h op e that, wl1 cn h e lrns vented
hi ~ first n at11 rnl frelin gs on th e <leath of one so clear t o him, he
will think of nth Prs t o ;rltom li e h i mself is dear, and l et them see
him as soo n again autl as ch eerful ngaiu as possil1l e.

D EAR GovE nNon:
I do n ot k now wllC'n I ha ve d one n. more ncce ptablc se rvice to m y feelings, no r wh en
I ha ve bee n j 11 st in a situation to nfionl n.s mw.: h ,:; r nlilk:1ti~ ·n to yotll°f!, fl.8 in prc!'c ntin g
to yo ur noti ce, a ntl pri vn.te a nd offi c ial frien dshi p, t he l1carcr , 1\ [r. And ulw n. It were
R n p e rflu o n ~

to tell yo n who he is; th P. whole \YOrld kn uws h1 111 nu d res pects him, nrnl no
m an in it h n~ th e heart to cheri sh or the hca.d to app reciate h im , a nd such n. rna11 , beyo nd the cn 1xic ity o-f yo nrnelf.
?.fr. Aud11bon mn kes no rnnrc o f tracki ng it in nll <li rccti on8 over tlii ~, and I may n.chl ,
other coun tri es, t ha.n n shot ::ta.I' docs in erossi ng t he li ea. vc ns . H e goes n.fter w ingcrl
t h ingR, bn t Ro me t ime:=; need!' th e ai d o f at \ c a ~ t n, fe w feather~ . to a;;!'.i!';t hi m th e better
to fl y. H e m ean s to con~t it ngn.i11 ron nd Fl or itl.'l- lrrn.kc n. track t h rou g h A r ka 11 :-:: a. ~-go
up th e Misso uri-pa!'S on to the Rocky Mon11t.n. ins, nn d thence to th e Pac ific. H e will

·'
i'
I

I

i

180

J\T~DS

r cqnirc Ro rn c of yn11r otlkia l ai1l .

OF Ll<;TrEilS.

[PAHT III.

I took a n 11nmeri tP<l li berty wi t h yoer 11:tm c a1 Hl rcadi-

1 1cs~ of purpose, nnd to ld him yu 11 were tile vent mau, a1tl .l uccd not say how ha ppy I
shall Uo tu learn that you ha ve enll on;cll 1ny pro111i<:n nn1l rntified il.
Goll blC'ss yon. lil lrn .:.; t,(',
To the JloN. Lr-:,n s CA ~F:,
THOS. T)o

C HAP.

X.J

B USINESS Lt<;1"l'E RS.

181

Outside she will address the envelope :

l\f cKf~NNE Y .

Sec1'eta'1'!J r~f ll 'm\

\\':tf.; h irigton City.

iii. Letters of Business. - Tt lias Leen well sa id
that tl1e forn1 of :i. h11 si11 ei'R letter is l1test wl1e11 it. most
clearly a 11d <j11i ckl y :i11~ 1q~ 1· s tiil'ee '[ile,tiu11 :,: 1. \\.rl1e1e i:-1
thi s letter fro111 '1 :! . \\rl1 t•11 1 i ~ it fn>J11? ~ . \\rl1:il d" ''"
lw 11·:1 11 t. '.
l3 11 ;; i1ws,; lette r;; f ruu1 i111rd1asers may Le di1·iJe:d into
three r: l:1 ;:ses :
a. I dte1·g '!f' /; 11;1(,il'!f. li. 01'dcl's. c. R emittances.
a. L d ta s 1:1' h11111i1·y.- 1. li s,; A nna L oui se .Ju11es, teachin g in the vill:1 gc of C'entrevillc, Onondn.ga Co1111t:_y, lws
so1uc troul.J c 11·itlt tl1 e p:ircllts of one of her pupil s, and
wants to illfon11 h e rself as tu her legal rigli ts ns a teacl1 er.
She re111 e111l1ers l1:1.1·in g seen a Slllall hook call ed Sd1ool
L1iw, or so111 et l1in g lik e that, whicl1 is proLaLly just wliat
she wa.llts ; sh e thi11k s it is published in Syracuse, a.ml pres11n1 es it is one of tl1 e 8 dwol ll lllletin 1'1tblicatio11 s. Sh e
is 11nt quite sure 1y]1at tl1 e firn1-11ame of t.h e pnblisli ers is,
hut sh e tliillks it is l hv icl Barden & C'o ., or so!ll ctltiu g
like tli at. Tl1 c re is 11obody at l1aml frolll wh om sh e can
get full er infor111 at ion . H ow shall sli e write h er letter?
If she is lik e 111ally tc11.el1 ers we know, she will do it as follows:

(1) To begin \Yitlt the c111·cl01ie, for milrss that is p roper]>- a<ldrcsscd it nmkes no <lif'i(·n'll<'" lt uw f.l11; ld. l<'r is 11T ilf "11; if. 11ill
11e ver reneli the p ernon :td1l1·,,sse<l. For 11:n1L of ]H'"l'Pr <l iTe dion
Jifteen thousand letters a Lla.Y arc sm1t to t.li e l>c:id Let ter Uflic c.
l\I oney is d elllye d or lost, a ppoi 11tme11ts :tl'C missed, onlcrn are rmfill ecl, important tidill gs tire \Yithhelll- ull h cc;1u se adtlrcsses :ire
n ot complete and 1listin ct.
Now if l\Iis8 J:on es \\·ere n.hsoln tdy cerbi11 t lrnt th e fin11-w1rn e
\Yas D uvid JJa n len <C' Co., it 1n ml1l 110 11cccssrtr,Y onl.v to \Hit e th:it
11 ame distinctly, \Yith the irnmn o f th e cit y ancl S tat·l', as it rnrdy
lmppens that t\\·o firm s ill the sttme place ]iayc precisely the sa me
Ullclress.
But l\Iiss Jon es is by Ho 111 c:i11s certain, antl in fact she is cntirel.Y wrong. 'The firm-n :imc as sh e sr1w it was Du ris, llunlw:n d';
Co., and it !ms since b ecom e !J. IV. fl m ·rlee11. 'l'lte eurnlo1ie as alldrcssell is <1nite unlikely to reach its d es tination. " 7lmt sh ould
sh e have done ?

d% @{0'1(-/ _0JJa1clm [}" <@o clo
&r,:/o"/ Sf:ra , (lJlr:I ku 111rrc/ rj rt
Q-/. SJ! c!bncJ.

She R!10ulLl have m:i<le m e of two facts sh e knew, (1) tlmt the
firrn were pnhlishen;; n,rnl (2) that tli cir l ){)nks mwe known us '/'h e
School JJ idlctin P ublications. 'J'h<'sc fads she should hrwe im1icatcd n pon the envelope, :is cntTcrti ow; to nn y error sh e mi ght have
made. If sh e wtts mnch in Ll 011ht aliont th e latter fact, i;he n1ight
have put after that line a (? ). 'l'lrns :

<1f!o1 / iel'I"/?!;
y orr· /'m'c

1

: I

Ii

UHI'l'H_:I:->l\18.

i
) I

1.r

I
I

I

I!
I::

I:;~
I'

I
I

I:

182

[P ART Ill,

KINDS OF Ll'1"l'ERS.

@avtrl !J!j/aulen

!J°

VPo. J

!!ldt;deiJ,
dJ};1acrtJr>

d/r;/ool

o1/5!

fJZ!rrt?:ltjt J!!,--;;ti/lfcakonJ

r.

(?)

'l'hat letter wonlcl reach it,s d estin atfon, in spite of the error in
th e umnc. The geucml principle to b e impressed as to superscriptions is this : If you. are i n donbt as to the exnct address, add
any prt.rliclliu.i·s yon lwpp en to know that may assist the v ostmastei·
i n d<'ler111 iil i11q whom .1/01/. 111ca.n .
In p n,rt,i<mlar, pnt on the lmsincss, and the s treet and number,
'llhcueycr yon know them or cn,n cn,sily n,sccrtain them. 'l'his will
alm ost flh ~o.ln tdy }ll'C' \·C'n t. l1lnmlPrs, not only from er rors of the
wri kr, hnt fro111 pnnrs nf the postman. \\' ln'11 Rnvelopes were addressed to Drw is, Jh rclPcn & Co., t,]mt firm frequentl y g ot letters add resspt] to l>arins J3nl11"·in, a capitalist boanlin g at the J3nrnR H ot el. 1\Iorc t.l 1an once th ese Jotters, op ened careless.l y with th e rest of
a mail, cont.a i.11 0<1 tl rnJf' s for large n,monuts, - once for some li ve thoustirnl 110\larn. On e di slikes to lrnve one's mail g o thu s ast,ray, no
nrntter int o ,\'l1nsn l1nn1ls it nmy fall , and t.lr ese l etters would have
gon e to him strai ght if, instead of b ei ng rtd,lressed:

CIIAP. X.]

BUSINESS LETTERS.

183

(2) Suppose the firm had g ot the letter, it would still h ave b een
u seless to M:iss Jones, b ecause she d oes not give h er post-o ffi ce address. She h eads the letter "Centreville," bnt Centre ville is the
nam e only of the village where sh e lives ; tb c p ost-o.tJice is Plank
Hoacl. An answer to that letter would be directetl to Centreville,
Allegany Co., N. Y. , and as it would u e sim ply a m arked priee-list
umler a one-cent stamp, it would n ot b e re tuructl, aml it wnnld b e
supposed that 1\fiss Jones had receivc<l it. If sh e h ad appmuletl
h er address to her signature, or if, forge tti11g that the p ost-office
was different, sh e had yet r:1clcled t,h e connty, the fi~n wonlcl have
kn own the p ost-offic<', and this error 'rnnld have Leen avoitlorl.
Larg e firm s always have quite an amonnt iu small sums creclitetl
to people who have seut rnoncy awl signed tl1 cfr l et ters, uut have
omitted to name their post-omces. Som etimes th e p ost-office is
named and the letter unsigne1l. In that cnse th e lotter may ue return ed to the postmaste r, who 11iscovcrn the writer b y postin g np
the letter, or some such m cn,ns, if h e d oeR n ot r ncog nizo th o lu:mdwrifang. But when th e post-ofli ce is n ot g ixen a ucl th e n ame is
stran ge, it is sin1pl y impossible to rinswc r tl1 c lntfo r in any way.
'l.' he pri nciple invol vc<l is so simple that to rci tern.te it seems
like remin<ling a youn g lady to wash lrnr fa ce. Allll yet we mnst
impress it as very important to every one wh o writes a bnsiness
letter, to look it nvei· before sending, and be sw·e the zwst-o.J}lce address is given in full.
(3) Even if the firm hml known h er p ost-oflicf', it, is d oubtful if
a r eply wonl<l Lave reacli cd 1\fisR J mrnR, for l ier sig nat.nrn is n su n,lly
recognized as the siguat,nre of a man : n,u,1 milcRs tl ie lmn<l-wri ting
were unmistak ably feminin e (arnl that m en,ns a g roat deal ; very
little harnl-writing is u nm:istalcably either male or fonmlo), th e firm
would address the reply to

5¥/cllztf fU&acl
<YIP:

@ aurbf !!JZJafc/rf;'tl?·,

<i!fJr,lcl !J!llrrt noJ
dJ};tacuoeJ GI":

«y

I

' !

:\!

:,· I II
'I:
1j1

rfineJJ

they h atl h ccn addressctl :

ii

: I

:1

rz!

J\llost post-offices have a m en's d elivery and a women's deli very,
and this envelope would be pnt into the m en's d elivery pi geon-

I!

I

184

KINDS OF LETTERS.

[PART

III.

h ole. When l\Iiss Jones called for her letter the postmaster
would look for it in the women's delivery, and would not find it.
'l'he u est way for l\'.Iiss Jones to sign her name is

But if for any r eason sh e does not wish to give more than her
initials, she should either subscribe herself

CrrAP. X.]

185

BUSINESS LE'l''l'EllS.

points in which she "·as likely to b e interested. But if the writer
was supposed to b e a man, h e might be a trnst,ee, and the qnestiou
might be as to district b ouul1:1l'ies, or th e collection of taxes, as to
which the Common School Laiv has nothiug to say.
So when 1\'[iss Joues was so uncerl·. ain :ts tu t,]1 0 title of the hook,
she wonld h ave clone well to state what sh e wanted. it for, a11cl to
give some illea as to its si/.e n.llll appearance. Sh e l1 :ippen ccl to hit
so nenr th e title, that the firm publishing the book \1·ould recognize it ; but the letter would have been unintelligible to the
larger New York book houses.
Put into proper shape and written with courtesy, l\~s ,Tones's
letter might have r e11d :

Q,//ij,j.

o -f

sr

!¥.fan/! 0/l!oacl, <0wnclaja @o.,

r10J,

Q .f;1j·

.@Javi"c/ .f!llaictn [}" @o.,

"P/ctnf 0/!orul,
(!}llO J11/c1ja,

dJ}tacrtJo,

<?Jo.,

or:cy.

In<leed tlw last form lrns many :idvantages over any oth er, aml
is tlt c least liitbl e to mist.a kes of any kiml. But the principle in,·ol ve<l is: Un less the ruldress is else1clwre :1fren in f nll, an unmarried /({( (1/s signature .<lumld iwlicnle her se.o·, either by 11Titing one
given 1H1111e in fu ll, or h.11 preffrring ( llli.<s); and a married lady's
sig1111t11rc sl1 011l<l be prrji~·e1 l hy ( Jlfrs. ).
('l) If all th ese co rrecl.ions lmd b een made in l\'.Ii ss .Tones's lettN, sh e wonhl lmve got, t.l1 e information desired, for sh e woulcl have
recri n• cl a eircnlar " ·it.Ji clrseri pt.ion a.JJcl J.>riee of Common School
J,mn fnr r'cnn111on Schf>f>l Teachers. Bnt th e firm wonltl still lmve
fplt somewh at nncertain as to whether tl1 at was jnst what sh e
wr111t,Pcl , as the ahrnpt qnestions she asks might refer to the 11 ew
Cud~ rf 1'11/1/ic Tn .</r11ctirm, of which the price if; three clollars. If
the firrn kn ow tlie wrif'·N to h e a woman, it might judge thnt she
w :t'l a teacher, and that the Common School Law would cover all

~

d
:I

i'

or, if she dislikes to d o this, she sh ould append to the l etter:

2Z'fleaoo aclcltctJJ,

l

0 16:

<210:

«JI

s 0, I'8l.J.

r

Irr;; a ovza/1/oo/! Q/" ftawo .1MJ10lhat {e./l! whal ale !h !f.,tal 1rj£!J o/

#want lo
{vlfo/o .1con,

teacftel:J.,
jtaton{iJ..

cyccto!IJ rr,frn cnjl clrj'wir:J aitjo wt!lf

cf' Qf

if'11u:mlet ctirjfl ti wa:J. )tuft°Jfrxl

7 :J!Ot?, anc/ al r:rny Q/"
:;or? can tell
1no alotd cC. o/:;ort can/ mjf rl, anc/ t{.lt'!l rvitle
,; ale

jlcJrm1c

1

mo t(J.l!al

t-1/e/itco c.i, #u1c'/10Mrljot

tC at once.

<j/ort1J. te1j1tcc(rr!lf,

Q.(;uza

(/}

~.

ff,,

tf one.J.

'

:i
I

lPAltT III.

KINDS OF LETTERS.

b. 01'1lers.-- Mi ss Jones, getting a mark ed circnhr which
giYcs the name :rnd pri ce of tl1 e book, decid es to order it.
~li e fol l(ll\"S preced ents if she pnts a silv er h alf-dollar into
tlie fo ll o \\'ing letter:

'J/ Watrlcm
r/ci!Zr; oem/· the loo£ 1tjfl mvay
@rmtir'?'tt:/; <(/}

/ric o

/of

{b

<2--f SJ!

/£m'.I.

CRI'l'ICISMS.

CITAP.

X.]

i ts facc-vnlnc.

BUSINESS LETTERS.

187

Bnt to i:;cn ll nwa.r from home :1 r hc('k o n R J1Jea \ bank ft>r Jci-:1-; tha n ten

(lollnrs is to presu me unwananLably upon t he goud-1 1al11 rc of C\'cry perso n wh o ha s to
h:rn tl lc it.

(2.) In the second phcc, U10 Je tt.er b<~ ing nnreg is tc rcd was very
likcl.\' tu be stole u. lt eosk; t on ee11i·s t.o rP gisto r a lctt .. r, :111t1 tl mt
seem s a l1 erivy rate of in sura1H· o to pa~· 0 11 fifty CL' JJLs. Yet 111 0 Jett e r conta inin g lllOJH"'Y sl1 0 11l<l li e r q;is tt>rccl EYEllY TDIE, nnl ess tl1 0
m on Py is sent as rt clmft u r ft mum•y-o rcle r. Think 110\,. rn rrny
ha1111s rt lotte r imsscs thrnng li 11Pforo it, r cac l1es its <lt•s li11r1tion, a1Hl
eve ry lmncl fee ls thal; 11alf 1loll a r- r1 sk il 1"11l l1 a 111l " ·1111 !.l fop] rt bill,
lrnwcvor Cft rcfnll y i11 s1•rktl. TL is i11q11 1ss ild" for l111 s i11t •ss fin11 s to
h ol<l tl1 e msefres rospo 11 s il1k for J11<11><' .Y sP1>i·, in 1111r1'g is lere1 l le t.\ers,
arn1 t h ey ab sol nt.cly rf'fw:c to tl o so. So lo11 g as ft to11 -1•e11t. l'osh1gc
strtmp will secure l'Orfr-d sa f, ,1,-, 1·11 s l11n1rr>< mu st l.\ :11111' ll1P111 seh ·cs
if th ey l ose th eir r e mitl n11ccs l 1y failin g in n 'g is to r t 11< ir lf'tt ers.
In fact tho n ew form s . of mo111'y-o rcl r rs, a 111l the <' X]ll"l'SS 111 011cy onler s r ecently introtlne e <l , rnnk u t l1 e expcu so st il I ]1 •s.s, so tlrnt
s mft.11 snms nmy b e se nt sr1foly, e H•n for ft kc of t h rnc ccnls.
(:\.) Tint if tJH: :fir111 Jias l"l'l'<'i YC111;Jin llllllll','", [111 <1 jf i t Cl"('1lit i t as
fif ty ce nts (th ou g h it. rt'rt ll y l>ri11 gs in "" '·'· forty -e ig ld) , wlmL is it
to se ud? "The h oo k! " If nliss Jo111• s \\"Pre ftll 0 111_,. co 1T<'S1'011dr11t, o r if the firm pnldish e d 1111 t on e b ook , thi s rni ght h o <'asv.
Tint most firms pnlilis h 111r1n.r books, :11111 snch kiters ,;f i11 1t1tiry ;s
niiss J·ones's, com e in J ,_,. s eon~s . On r cc0ipt of s11cli rt Jf't,f e r as
that., ft cl erk wonl11 go hack on: r fl1n <'<> 1T<'sp o ut1t•1w" of !Ii" past
<hys am1 hnnt np j\f iss .J nncs's Ji rs t·. ]nt IN. l'rnl 1alih 111• 'rnnltl
s0 1H1 h er the h ook sl1 c 'rnnl<'<l, bu t 0 111.r :l fkr wastin g ;1 Jia[f.J1 our
to t1ton o for h er n egli gen ce.
0

(1. ) In t.110 firs t place, h er Je tte r con taini ng th o sil vc r lmlf- dollar
co1J10s wifh "D uE 'l\rn Ct::rrs" on it. A lrnlf-dollar weig hs
HJ~ . U grnill s , while · a ltnl f-ouu ce coutaius o uly 218.75 gmins, l eavi11 g tw e11t.y -fi rn µ;rains for t he writiu g-pr•p cr, e nvelope, ftill1 tl1 c
sliect of 1Jrow11 ]Jftpcr in whi ch th e h alf-dolbr is wrapped. P lease
don't se nd silVer iu le tters : lmt if you do, I.Jc s nre t o prepay all the
p osta ge.
Y e t there is n w o rse faul t than t o scml f: ihcr not fully prepniLl, or ev e n p ostngc-stamps,
That is, to se nd n. c heck for n. f:ma ll amonnt on n. local hun k,
Some 11crsn11 s :1 1T!'ct llti s w a y o f F<cn tlin g- mon ey, 1mrt;l y hcca nsc it fin. ves th em fro m I. he
ri Rk of lus"t in th e nrn.il s, partl y IJccausc it. saY cs trnnlJlc, n1HI partl y because it Rho ws
tha t lh cy kc1 ·p :t lrn.nk fll l <1n 11t. H11t il costs t h e firm receiving it from tc11 t.o twenty -five
cents to collr'd, it 1 nml though a fi rm mny 8tt l.1111i t to the impos ition, it will not feel kindly
to wn nl the pc- rscm who flltcrnpl !'i it. A chee k bl)forc us , sent from Sy racuse to Dawn, Ohio,
bears upon t il e lmck i.h c foll tJw ing c11 d on;e 111c 11ts :
(1 ) 11 l'n .v to o n k r ti f ~hcll <'y & ,\l c rls, A. P . S o n t h wick, , : ('.2) •' T' ny to nn.lf'r o f F n.unc!'I,
Kttmi ch & Co., S hell ey & :\forts .,; (:J) Pay lo Ihe onler o f 0. n. Harnrnnl Ca sh . Frames,
Kmnich & Co."'; (- 1) " T'a y n. C\nrk c or onl (·r, for c•• llcd.ion, rtc~·o nut o f C il y N nt.io11nl
Hank 1 nayto n, Ol1in, C::. H. Jl nrrnn11! Ca R-lli c r 1 ' : (!'i ) " For collec ti o n , accon n t American
Exc h:lll f!C Jrk , Ne w York , n. (.; lnrke . Cash ier · 1 ; (Ii ) H Th e Jtubcrt Gere nan.k l Syracuse,
N. Y.I J11ly 2 1, 1 ~83, l'n hl •I: ('i) "Stat e Hank, Sy rnc usc, Ju ly 2-1. 1883, C20.11
All t.ill's e (' JHl ors.rm c11ts pr<'cedPtl th e collect inn o f th e chcC'k. Of co nrsc, t he m o nc•y
was rct.urnPc l tll ron!!tl ns many ha rnfa nn rl nf!-cr ~cv~ ral rlays1 <lclay .
Jn o th Pr wor1 l s. f,hi s ch eck p:issc1l t, hro u~h thC' hnml s o f six ba nks. every one of w hir.h
had In !llRk<' a rf'1·nn l of il. S11 pp c1sc i t waR for fifty ce nt s. or :m y small n.1no11nt. yon mny
lw s11r<' evr ry ha nk cle rk thn.t c 11l r n•1l t.l1 c name of t h e mnk cr o f t he c hec k wouhl c url hi !=!

whi ch inn n y tirrn s rcfn sc.

0

0

If 1Jnc keep<> a bank account
one cau get. fro m u lm11ll a dr!'lft un n. Ne w York bank which will be good anywhere for

lip with c·nn ti' l!ll't fnr hi s i g 11 om 11<'t' n f h11 si11 css principl"s.

fc,,.

.(lry)'>-

E'very busin ess leltc1 · should be complcte ·i n itself

Hftvin g as<'0rtrti11 r <1 t.11 0 nrt.lllf' an1l prif'c n[ tlll' book sl1 0 'rnnt0d,
n.Ci ss .Jone s shoultl lmve onk rf' t1 it, as tl1nng h there 11 rv1 h nnn no
pre vions cor respondence. In fa d tho l nt.tN 'nm 111 ns1:a] ly go to rt
"·holl y tlilferc nt. clf•rl;, >1· l1 0 m1n l1l 11twc HO oe<·rts iull t o k11 m1· that
any other l e t.ter had lmen recefred.
(4.) To Ray, "Se nd t lrn hook ri g ht awa:·" is nhsolntr taut ology.
Of conrse a bnsin ess l1n11 se filh n r1l1 •rn 111·om pt.h- ns rt rnaf;tN of
ron:.i ne, mid r eganls a rcrpws t lik e tl1at as siwple eviLlcncc of iueJ.;p ~ n e 1~ ce,

I

:i

: l!
'.I

lSS

KINDS OF J,ETTERS.

[PART Jll

Yet it rnn,y be o~ special importan ce tlrnt J\fiss Jones get tho
book .by rnturn mrnl. In t]l[lt, case sLe shou ld stn,te why. It
Rornohmos
hrtppons
a firm
... _
:
.thn,t
.
- is· ont of ,a IJa 1·t·rcu 1ar b oo Jr, an l1
"nitrng for n n ew ed1t10n. Unde r ordinary circumstances an order
" ·on kl l>e ddayed till the n ew edition cam e in. But if Miss Jones
expfamotl t hrtt fl matter iu which she wns interested WflS to b e
brongltt before th e trustees on 'l'nes<by ni g ht, flllll she mirnt hav e
tl.10_ lJoo.k lJe!orolmnd, th e firm "·ouhl search every librnry in the
ld lot h er miss receivin"'
the b 00 J{ 111
· t'·lllle .
cit.)
"PJ lJefore it
] won
.
b
,
Oflso !><'Ill . nght away," is fl pln·flse so cnmrnon as to he m eau1_~1.gloss, l >nt_ fl r;-: d ~1 oc0ss.ity_ for l1:1sto will .l oatl a11y rosp octablo
ium, to put 1tsel I: to rn<'o1we111cnce to :i.ccmnmudat.e ri customer.
Corrected, thou, i\liss J oues's letter would read sornothin
follows :
g as

CIIAP.

X.]

189

BUSlNESS LE'l"l'ERS .

c. RC?nittances.-Lookin g at the catalognc of hooks
sent with the Common 8cl1ool Law, Mi ss Jones tbiuks she
would like a "negeuts' Grau nu a r a nd Key," bnt she is not
sme whethcl' Clark's is among the grammars to which reference is made. So she writes that she wonld like the
hook ~f thi s grammar is 011 the list of those referred to;
if it is, and the fism w ill send the book, she will forwanl
the money at once. The firm. sends the book with bill,
and pt'eseutly gets this Jctter:

<?Jcntl cvt'!/:;
.rJ!l/ 6/cntJ j'/a-mmai

h7

f

01(·/,.1rr/ J/(/ 011e (lo/lri ju1,
Q-( !J!

/£1lC.f.

CRI'l'IOIS1\IS.

<(;} '//:

0lJr1.1rlro1,

dJf

lacrtJr,

Q/f ~'

QJ;;, Qf
d:lci

/Pf

<(;30111111011,

Qh ((,

r·CJt!J,

1JI
c71 cd1e m t£tj r..7tjfcicr/

/i ,,,;[/chjlea.Jc Jcnd 11te

&h ;h l,/

0lJa.trlem'J

Sf:zrv

rclrc!/: c fam ri1/r'/..eJler/ (.f l o ;:;,
rlcarlcr/.{J~ &t~;-/rrJ ,m j/I, cf ,;/a/?Jc! ol/rjer/ /
yorr, rr't!l' h Jrrle t/'at tie loo/ r.J Jent (tt once.
mrrl/r;I, ti1

1ferttJ

1rycc(rd!J,
Q·fmzcz,

SI!

JEncJ..

· (1.) She violates the rule given flbovo, that every business letter
should h e complete in itself, for she assn m es tbn.t it will be rnmemh ered that sh e ordernd the book, tlrnt, it wris sent to h er, mid that
this is to pay for it.
But, th e firm remembers nothin g about A. L. Jones. So for as
answering letters is concerned, the firm employs seveml clerk s,
one enterin g onl crs, m10thor p ostin g np r emittances, another m1sworin g iHri.nirics, aml each lmowi11 g little about the work done by
the others.
·when th e morning nmil is opened, th is seems to be an on1er,
fltHl is refen ecl t o the order clerk. Ho en ten ; the onler and passes
it on to the shipping-clel'lc. 1\[iss Jones is astonished to get another cop y of tl1 e "Regents' Grn.r nmar and Key. " If she does not
wr.iJ.e anrl mik why, or ret.nrn it, she is prcKently ast,onishe<l to get
a bill for the firnt on<', tlrnt sh e m1pposed sh e hacl prtitl for. '-l'heu
she gets angry, arnl writ.es that th o firm ovitlcntly i11teml s to cl1 ertt
lwr, n,nc1 p erhaps h alf-a-ll ozon letters pass 1Jofore the hlnmlor is
d etected and made right at the oJlico of the Jirm.

100

i\JNDS OP LET'l'EHS.

[PART

IU.

All thi s "onld have Leen avoided had l\Iiss Jones written:

:!.!i!kirf rUlloac-1,

fhzonc-lafa C(;}o.,

G1/5! 1f

~Inn lei I, I !J /JJ..
02
_.''. "/I_· r.- ;75

/

_ r/)

((/. / / . J!Jaiar-,·71, 0jiacttJc,

dXi;

;y.

.n AfiJ fJ)/
L:/Y .

cfJoli:! cncloJa! 11zon7-oic-le1.

joy ti'c /rll/oi lk 0Jlrj'en/J
and P1[7 rvt('tc·d Qf1ccet?icd :;cJlctr:hJtk!l':t 1.,

( r1

/ot Jenaft.j7,/

df7an£j;1 yorc-

/ot t/ic

1/ lOJlc;',

1

Q/

rt

jot

one

<j/ta11w1a/,

rvt"tktd

wartt~;t

Cl17t,

portt.J

1cyrc(rr1J,
Q -/mra,.

Hmv Rimplo nil these c1otailR are! Yot 110t a day )lasses that
lrn si11 PsR firms d o n o t receive l ett ern wit.It all the faults we have
p oiute<l o nt. 'rherc is ll O hint h er e "-Ji.i.ch has not come from a
Imi g nxp orienco in tryin g to find out the m111ts of teach ers wl10
lmYe lleYPr l <>anJP(l t u nxproRR th e1m;eJYcR. J... et ev<>ry o.u n 1d10
r earls this lon g hn t n ut n cerll essly Jeng l-.liene<l ar ticle lie sure that
non e o f t.Jio hlnm1 ers h ere m entioned ::ire fouml in his l et ters.Th e S clto()[ lJ 11lletin.

Definite Purpose.-lt is 11ot 11ccessa ry in ft ge11 e rnl
di scnssion of tl1e m1lij cct., tn g i1·e tl1c va rious fornml as into
wl1ich c11 sto111 luis rn o11lde<l tl1 e letters most used i11 b11 ~ i11 e""' such as an 11 01111cenrn11 ts, r-; o] ici ta.ti o11s, le Hers of
credit, 111>tit·cs of draft , and th e lik e. J3nt it is to be
k ept. i11 111 i11d that ft lrn si11c>'s letter is pre-e111i11e11tly a letter
" ·it.Ii a p11rposc: 1°11at 011011gh is to he i::aid to express tliat
purpose clearly, iu co nrteous language, Lnt that llOt one

CHAI'.

X.]

NEW SPAPER LETTERS.

1D1

n1rnecessary word should be add ed. ]\[any firms reeei l'e
two tl10nsa11d le tters a day; and no busi11 css 111en ham
tim e to wade through four pages of s11pertl11 011 s iufonnation to get at the one sig11ifica11t sentence.
iv. Newspaper Letters. - First ve11t11rcs in auth orship are usually in the line of letters to local 11e\\·spapert'.
Juvenis Jones goes to a colelirat.in n inn n cig lilimiu g cify, aml
fe els like " writ.ing it. up" for liis 11 e igl1\Jo rs. 80 li e s i,ll cs into
the edit,or's office, romarking, with rt forti1·e glm1nn, Umt h e JmR liceu
nt Bochester atternlin g th~ Jirern en's pam11c, ai111 t.hnf·, rnnyh e li e
could give the editor a p oint or tw o, if it was •rnrth ,d1ile to say
anything ab out it in the P nllruli 11111.
H e is grntilied to see how readily th e eLlitor accepts hi s ser vices,
and g oes home filled with zeal to pre pare a stunnin g r ep ort. H e
sits up all night, elaborates lti s r ecolloct.io11s into onrnto paragraphs, copies a cloze u foolscap pages l JecauRe of a hlu t on one of
th em, aml g oes to sleep with inky Jiu ge n; nnd Llrearn s of fam e.
N ext momin g h o 1rnlks 1ri t h an iml'ortan t air into t h e sr111 ctum,
anLl hamls the m anuscript to the edi tor, rem arking that, h e just sat
d o wn and scribbled it off, but l101Jes it will aJJ R\Ye r for a lmst.y
sk etch. The eLlitor loolu; at it critie.ally, socs that rtR it; stands it
would fill three <'olmnn s, lint th:i.t 1rit.h the int.rm1ndion arnl condnsion and m omlizin g omittc<l, the c1 oscript.ion itself '1-ill com e
into a dozen inch es, tlrnn ks t.110 aspirin g author, h ows hirn out, and
runs a blue l ead p encil throug h just the p art 1;-hich had cost nearly
all th e labor.
l\Ir. Jones l oiters about tho offi ce w.i t h ill-con cmlPd impnt.ienee,
and in his joy to finLl i;om e t,hin g of his own actually in t yp n, forgets
t o mourn over th e elahornte p arng rnphs t.h at have n .uish e<l. He
now consicle rs himself attach e<l tu the staff of th e n ewsp aper, and
l Joldly offers t o r eport every a ffair of co nseqnence in th e n eighborh ood. 'l'h e e<litor, him self n o \Vnshiu g t.on In·i11 g , gla<ll y accepts
the entlrnsiast.ic lal1or tlurn offer ed with out charge, arn1 , carefnlly
eliminating all ex p ressious of opinion or thought, prints wnek after
week i:tcc.ounts of weddings and pieni p,r;, \Yhi ch t.h e ;vonn g man
pastes away in a scrap-Look,JaLelleLl on the outside, "'l'he Complete

1!)2

KINDS OF J,E'l''l'ERS.

[PAHT 11!

\Vorks of Jnvcnis Jones. Vol. I." Perhaps he b c~comes local corr 0s po111l eut of a city daily, paid liy a free copy of the weekly edit.ion, anrl by a stock of envelopes to enclose hi s contriliutions,
brn.ri11 g 0 1d ~ ide t h e printed adclress of the n ewsp ap er. If so, h e
u ccd h e mt.li er morn tlmu hnnrnn n o t, to grow h:m g hty and s upereilimrn. He nrny try t o b e kind to those n.h out him; but as h e deposits a corn nnrnicat.iou which h e ]mows will be printed next
rn or11i ng in :111 influen tia.l 1iewi<paper, h e can bnt feel the su periority >l"l1 iclt a<.:cornpanies the refl ec tion t hat the safety and happin ess
of hi s neig hbors are largely in his own lrnuds. It is indeed a
fearfn l resp onsibility, bnt if h e is conscientious, h e resolves to be
just and fear not. Far-reach ing as is his power, he will not clog
tli e wh eel s of the· n niverse; Yicc shall s till be thwarted, and modest virtue sl1 all be rewarded.

Suggestions.- - \.\Thi le the lette rs printed by local
n cm,pape rs d o n ot c01 11rn and rn11clt literary talent, th ey
offe r a u:;cf11l fi eld hJ yo un g p er so ns amb it ious to become
11Ti ters. l'ract ice is of all tlii11gs m ost esse11tial, a ud one
is often ;;;tin 111latcJ to effo rt by fee ling that what one
w r if"er-; w ill cert.:1inly lie pri11te<l. Thi s ass nrnn ce may be
pre tt.y cu 11 fide 11 tly reli ed npon by th ose who follow these
direct ions.
a. 1711re 801ne!.hi11q to 'l'ell.-Newspaper l etters should be above
all t hings .r;o.<.<iplJ. The publi c cares ll othing for your general reflec tion s on manners, Rci ence, and political economy, but will lJe
gl:ul to r crtrl Yirncio ns lll'sc riptions of what yon have seen and
h canl. 'l'o cxcel as a cotTcspondent one m ust h ave s h arp eyes,
qni ck rrir s, a nrl an eYer-rcrttly not e-hook.
\Y-lte tli c r it is som ethin g to tell d ep ends not upon w h e th er it
interest.s yon , bnt npon wh e Uter it is likely to interest the reallers
o f t.lt e JI P\rnp:qJ<'r yon a re "Ti ting to. That D eacon Smith is repairing hi s stone feJJcc, or that l\Jrs. Jack son's Lally 11a.s the
m 0asleH, an' fnct.s rn om e ut.ons to the hon seholcl s concerned, without 11ci 11 g of I.h e l east import to the mnltitnde wh o r ea<l the paµer.
b. JJ,.,gi11 Tellinq it ut 011re.-NewRpapC'l' reade rs hnse no tim e
to waste o u introduutions. Yom excu se for occupying space is

CHAP.

193

NEW SPAPEH. LETTEUS.

X. ]

that yon h ave somethin g to tell, and you m u st prove that you h ave
Ly telling i t from the start. 'l'he more abrupt its ope ning, the
more likely t h e l e tter is to b e r ead. H you can t h ink of any incident typical of the whole affair, or any witty remark that snmmari;r,efl it, n se somethin g of that sort. If not, you can at least be
frank and straightforward, telling your story simply, aml b eginning where the story began.
As we correct this proof we find the following iu the morning
n ewspaper:
H POMPEY, August 8.-AJ!ain are we rcmilhlcd thnt life is l>nt the gntc to eternity.
The An gel of Dc:\th, somctimcR cnll cd th e 4 King of Tcrrnr:-:,' h:i s thi s time smnm onerl
th ree old residents of Pompey to that bournc when ce uo t.rn.\·ellcr rct 11 rn R. The first wns,''
etc.

Contrast with this introduction th e following from t h e .Atlanta
Constitution :
" 'AS RINGTON, Jl.\n.

B.- 0 You .will n ow wit.nrfu:,' 1 f-!ni d Emory Fpccr, :l A with Mr.

IJaning!nn, of Cn l urn1J11 !'l, we fil c1l i1 1to t.111 ~ J"e1krnl c0nr t,-ronm in f.ldH city, "the most
f runo u ~, a11'1, in H1 nny 1·cRpcctF: , t he rn o'-t i1 1lf'n•stin g trial on rc<'on l.''

The co urt-room wn H packed. As we en te red the voice o f the ~ h crif[ w:'\s heard ord e ring the «loon:; cloi::ctl, :\R there was sta.rn1iii g roo m for no more peo ple in t he co n rt-roo m .
'l'ho <'rnwtl \\'as nC
. :i be tte r clasR lhn.11 l 11ncl cx pcct.C'1 l to firnl. Til e rno<:.l <'lf'g:mt wom en
rrnd men of por;; ition n.nd clmrncter 11rnde 11p l-1 1c ,;t:tpl<', with li f' rc nn<l the re a strip of
rou g h peo plt\ admitted by the co nniYanc<' o f so me doorkeeper 01- R11 bord i1inlc. · · · ·
" 1f ever I saw a h:rngint; jury,' 1 ::;aid S pee r, "t.hnt is o ne. I l1aw: l'll lllli<•d it. cnrcfnlly,
nn cl i11 the light n[ conRicln:tblc cxpc ri cncc, I t.hin k it iR lhc most dctcrlllillC'd j11ry I eve r
snw, Along e it her li ne tl1crc is 11ot a fncc t hat prn mi f'C'l'l the lc:i.st i-ol'I, of FC ntimcnt or
q11ah11i shn cs.<:. Eve n the t,hinl juror in the fron t row, who gocH to dozing in t he firi;l half
ho nr , nntl !llceps peacefull y until the lm.ilifI roul'cs him nt Lhc cl m;c of the RCss·ion, wnkcs
with a vigor that ill -llcticlcs the prif.:oncr. Jt iR rum ored that s1..1 111 c nf t he jurors hnve
l1 c rPtl it.ary in~nnity in tl1cir familiP~, An<l that; th is rnt'l.y cause n 111 istrial. Thi s is hardly

probable, though.

Guitcnn is before n hnnging j11ry,

i[

c,·cr any man wns.

11

Etc.

c. T eli it Compactly.-Thi s is d one, not by Yagn ely nwntioning
a dozen things, bnt by minutel.v d escribin g the on e of the dozen
which, fairly grn,sperl , will sn gg0st all th e rest. A sin gl e incident
in tlet.ail , a hit of conversation wonl for word, each t.niiml of the
time and place, " ·ill make th e scene more real t l1 an a ny a11 1ount of
gen eralizing. D on't talk a b ont, "A p ortl.v gentl rrna11 from an int erior village," bnt gi ve his nn.nw. B e direct., tlPfi nite, epigrammatic, and let yom: rcrul er <lrnw his O\\".ll concln sions.
d. Stop wh en yon are Thr o11qh '1 1dli11q .li.-If yon ha»c a specially characteristic incident, save it for the las t, allll lc t your reader

11!

:1

1!)4

lctNDS OF LETTERS.

(PAR'!'

Ill.

close with rt smnck of !tis lips. But if yon can't b e witty or startlin g, yo n can at least b e simple, and stop wh en the stOI"J' s tops.
e. H earl over :i;ou1· 1lfwwscript. - In the zeal of accmnpliRhrnent,
yo nn g write rs nre apt to focl rm impulse, rts they n ':tch the fast p;1ge,
to 110 np the mnuu::;eript ltt unee aull seml it off wil.lwuL luukiHg iL
over. 'l'his iR au u11p11rdonable mistake. The r e-readin g and rc"Tit,ing a rc tho m ost Yi:tluable part oft.his prad.fr". 'T'l1" 1irn t. clrnJt
shon lcl b o com posed mpicll y, without too much searelt for eaelt
exprossion, bnt wi th th e main purpose to rcprudneo t he seo ue as
vi 1·icl ly as possible. But in re,·ision, en.ch Re ntence sh ould be
\Yeig hed nncl tn rno<l. D ors i t exp n'ss my m eanin g numiQl.alrnl.ly?
lH it forc ible? Is this jnst the ri ght wonl? \ronld tl1rtt h o rcgrtnlccl as a low or s lrt11 g exp ression? If one h opes some time to
wri to be tte r tit an :local Jotters, one m ust writo Uieso Joual lot.t.c_•rs
\ri th all p nssiblc ca ro.
F.s JH' C'i:tll v is it, i rnporl:rmt to chup "Ji the 7Juruurut 1!1 .< . 'J'ho n •a1le r's attPnf.ion is attrnetocl b y open spaces. One of th e clmnm of
ral'icl dial ogue in pri nt is tlmt th e eye <'ftU gr::tsp rt se11k11 eu or
t,rn at rt g bn ce, without boring iut.o n solid p::trngraph. For t his
as we ll as oth er r raso11s, preference shoukl be given to di alogue
OYe r tl <'sc riJ.lfi nn. Iu gr nernl, see k to b e crisp, as well :ts compact.
f. fl on'tfm·get to write (1) with thoroughly black ink, (2) on one
si<le ('.I) of small p rtgnR, com mercial n ote preferred, (±) cn.refull y
numl.J crn<l, and (G ) never rolled.

The Possibilities of newspaper co rrespo nd ence a re
daily wid ening. Alrea.Lly so111e of the best and tli e Les tp a id literary work in the "·orltl appears as Jctters in tl1e
great daili es. No kind of writing is 1nore eagerly so ngl1t
for or rnnrc liberally rewa rd ed th an tli e g-atlr eri ng of news.
H e "·ho has learn ed wl1at is news, h ow to get it, and l1 ow
to tell it, 111 ay ~ c lri e rn less literary fame than Jlo111er, Lut
h e will uot need to beg iu seven cities for bread.

I

1.
1.

I

Ki11lls of letters. p. 17 I.
I. Fri 011rl s hip, p. J 12.
Wh al tu \H it 1·, p. l 'l:L
Til e g runt uli ....;ta. k1 •, p.
If.

,I
I

i

ii
i I

!

l'~· L

( _:n11rt.1 )sy ~

P- 1'~4.
' '·· I 11 ;,: i I i i ! i ~I! I :.: l I' - I ; J j.

h. ADD1•pt :1.n cu and n· ~ 1· e t s, p. t ·; '/.
c:. Cung r:1l11!af iu 11 a1td 1·11t1d1il1 ·1 w~" 1'· l 'iS.
rl. TJit rod uctiou an•-1 l' L"_:•_ot 1111t •.: 11\ l:Ll iu1t , p. l
lll. B usiiw ss.
a. L t-•tb ·rs of in, 111i r,, · 1 l'· !Sn.
1. Tli o en volo1•0, ]>. IHI.
2. Tli L· post-ollir" :11ldrrss, p . JS: l.

j~J.

3 . '!'li e s ig n:i..ti 1n" p. 1:--t:J .
4. D esc ri ptio11 u[ :irticlo 11-.wteol, p . 184.
b. Orde rs.
1. Sc ncli11 g m o lll '.'", l' · 18(].
2 . Itrg istll rin g IL•t.l.o•rs, p . 187.
;) . 8 1Lo1d<l lHl cu 111pkt1', p. IH7.
4. If 1rnocled ltt. o nec , s:i,y why, p . 187.
c. H1m1itt a n ~os , p. 18!1 .
Rtate fo r w l1at, p . .1 8!).
D e 011i te purposl'• , p. J!JIJ.
IV. N e wspape r, p. ID.I.
Suggesti o ns.
a. B :wc so rn ctlti ng to IL• ll , p . Hl2.
b. IlP!i i11 ttd li11 g it a t o n ce , p. l U2.

c. T ell it ro1npar-t ly, p. t!J :;,
cl. St.op whe n yo n a re l h '"'"fdt te lli11g it, p.

rnn.

c. ltca<l o ve r yo nr M R., p I !J 4.
[. Don't fo ~·ge t: ( l) blrtck in k, (2) on e side , (3) small p ages,
(4) number ed, (fi) not rolled, p. 1U4.

.

~

.
Cl! Ar. X L]

UJ IAI'TEU XI.
GEN'"1.ti\:L

1 wr;1~s

n ow

TO W IU'l'E.

1!)7

so11ietimes reap pear nn e-'pcct·edly a11<l di >:astro usly, yearn
a:fter it \\'as snppused th ey 1rere b uri ed in ubl i1 ivu. Sv
one sh o1d<l l>c sure that express io11s ul' affeet iu11 are ];cp l;
in sid e th e bnm1dary of g llsli , :rnd t hat se11tin1 eut Rtops tl1 is
sid e of sent i111 c11La li ty. J<sp1x: iall y in 11 1attern of gu"s i[1
sl1 011kl one he s11re that unl y Ll'llt.it j,.; h1 1(1 , a11d tl1 at it. is
i-;o told as to do 11 0 fojn sti('u or 1111 kimlness, u1·en Lltvuglt a
thi rd eye so 111 0 t i1 11e rend Ll1 e p ngos.

FOR L:g·rrnR -WJU'l 'ING_

a. Answer Promptly. -]~ett.ers 1rnrthy to be answered at n1l dese rve to he a11 s11·ere<l prmnptly ; 11ot
necessa ril y at once, lrnt at tlie first suitabl e opportunity.
'l'hi s iR important to hot;h cmTeRpoml onts. The ori ginal writer
, 1-ill take rn.oro interest in a reply Umt is rcceivec11Jefor e th e sn l>jcet.s of \1· hicli ]1 0 ·1rrot·e lmvo pasRed ont o f his mind ; arnl _tho
oth<'r , 1-ill write a l1Pf.ter rnpl,1- whil e t ho stimulus of t h e or1grnal
lctt.cr is still fr,.. s ]1. l\fou,1· a you ng pernon lmR times 1rh on l10
"fpoJs jns t li ke" wr it ing a cerbin l etter, aml wonl1l h a1·0 1~-ri~ton
an r:xccll r 11 t o ne. Bnt ]10 is ont of pa,per, or cannot find lus rnk,
awl rlPlays l'Titing ti! I, " ·eeks n.[tonrnn1 , h e is Rham ecl i11to pa<lding
out fo ur pages " ·itl1 a fon11al and n tterly ch aracterless an s1rnr.
In l111si noss, a prom pt repl,1· is impornti vo. To let; li e nnan:rn·er0<1, 1hy afte r 1b,r, ]ct,ter" of proper inqniry, is au nnpanlonal>le l ireaeh of hnsin es!'l et.i 11notte .
L eLtcrn askin g fo r inforrn at.i011 sho11 .l1l allrnys cnol oRo a stamp
for ropl,r. L et t·orn on (' losin g a sbrnp n.1.nst h e t111swme<l at; _once,
e1-<'n if o ne clcclin c!'l t,o µ;ivo t,l1 e informati on d cnmndcd, and if one
m e rely encloses iu the en velope the statem ent that one so d eclines
t.o do.

b. Write Frankly but Discreetly. - Th c cl1 a rrn
o E a lotter ifl it fl casr frankn ess, bu t one shonlcl never forget tl1at it 111 ay co;1 :o:ti t11 te a perm anent r eco r<1. :Man y
perso11s k eep all letters received, arnl t-liesc <l ocu111 e11ts

You ask for smue of ,rom: hhl fat .li c1's lotte r,-; . . I n,m sorry to
say I lmYc llone to se nd yo n. U11m 1 t•ri11<'iple, I l<C'l'l' nu Jd,\<' rn
except those on b nsiu css. I lmrn 1111 t a sin g lu fot ,fer from him,
n or from any human l>oin g, iu my possossio11. -8nJ NEY S MITH lo
H. Jlfoclcintosh.

c. Write

Naturally and

D irectly. --Do11't say,

"In the op i11i o11 o f tl1 c rnHl c r~ig11 cd ,'' ur " H yo11r l11111il1l e
Rerv:.r nt lJJ :t} lie bul ie1·ed," 11·li l'J t y u1l 111en11 " I think. "
Avoid all circ11111l ocnto ry pl11·:1scs. Tu st rn ggle at·, a ge111ti11 e id ea which i t see111s <l itfi e1ll t ur e1·c n i1 11p u~silJle ade<111ately to e., press, is e11 t irel,1- :il l"11·:i,l1le: 11u t it J R tlllpardo11able to s111otli o1· a e1111111w11 -l'l ac:e r eJlceti1111 llJJd cr a
rn ountai 11 o:f labori ous word s.
Never try to write a l ong Jetter- n cn•r nll o11· yom·s01.f, irn1eec1,
to write on e, unl ess yon l1a v0 so rnnoh to sn:v tiin,t, y on <'annot help
it. A long-1\"indecl lett er is only more ou dnrable tlrnn a Jon g-winded
tal ker, b ecause yo n skip th e leLte r, l int the talker \\· on 't l et yo u
skip him. S:iy wlmt yon li:we i·o s:l,1' as briefl y rrs i s cousistout
wil;h sayin g it clearly, and av11 i1l rrl iko l o11 g wnnl s :111tl long senten ces. It is 11ettor to" say" !110,n to" ohs0n·e," to " t rrlk" tlrnu
to "conYerse," to" state" than io "fnrmnlate,"- in fine, sl1ort
wonls an d short sentences b elong to Jpf·tor-writin g, 1r11 id 1 is
n oU1in g if not easy a nd cris p. First li:wo somethin g to s:i;1·. If
there is any occasion fo r a letkr a t, n.11 , tl mt oecasiou is its sul1ject.
Sa,y wh at you h ave to say, and Le contented to stop wh en it is

ii::

!l
ti

I

ms

GEN l':llA L HULES FOR LETTER-WHITING.

[PAHT

CHAP.

III.

f1ll

DEAn S lit: - [ am ovcrworkct.l nrnl grow in g o ld, I slmll bC' s ixty next February 3cl.
On the whole, it Sf'C m s that I mus t decline to lect11 rc hence forth , exce pt in Lhi.c; immc<liatc v ic in ity, if I do at a ll. I cnnn ot promise to visit Illinoi:;; on Lha.t cna nd -ccrtu inly
not now .
Yours,
J\L

d. Be sure your Penmansh ip is Distinct. - " To w ri te a lette r with negli ge nce, witliont s tops, \rith
croul, el1 lin es and g reat :llc•uri ~ltes, is i11 elega11t. I t a rg ues
eithe r g reat ig norance of what is proper, or great iu1pnd c m~e toward t l1 e p e rson to " 'l1 on1 it is addressed. It
m akes 11 0 a111 end s to nll<l nn apology f ur l1 nvin~ scrawl e<l
a sheet uf' paper, for ball pe ns, lieeansc yo tt sh ould l1 arn
J1acl µ;ood ones; or wa.11t uE ti 111 e, for n othing is more i111 pmta11t to yo n, or tu \rl1ich yonr tin1 e can more l'rupe rly be
devoted."-Lo1w UoLLL NG WOOJJ.

199

ILLEGlBLE PEN.MANSllIP.

In Nay, 18G9, Horace Greeley wrote as follow s, m r eply to
invitation to lecture :

s:ti1l. lf ~-0 11 Jin,,-o tho goo11 fo rLnn o to Le witt.y or Lrillfant., or
original in y0 11r way of looki ng :it t.hings, .' ·onr Inf-Lo r \I-ill Jin clorn r ;
lm t if yon arc 11 011 e of t l1 oso yo n r an ho prompt, l.Jri<'f, allll courtoo ns, n,1111 t.lton you \\°ill liarn writtou th e letter of a lruly or a gont.lolll:t11, if not of a l\fad runo do 8 6vigu6 or a Horace \Valpole.Lo uisE UHA:·mt.mi l\IouLToN.
D opetH1 upon it, my rea1lor, that the strai g htforwanl a1ul
nat nrnl writnr who frank ly u ses th e first p ornon siugular, anLl sa_ys,
"I think tltns anrl thus," " I h:wo seen so arnl so," is thinking of
himsnlf a11 1l his own p erno n:tl ity :t mi gh ty deal less t.l1:m tl1 e man
who is a lw:ty.-; employin g awk ward a!lll rounilabont form s of expression to rwoicl tl1 e u so of the obnoxious J. Every such p eriplu·asis test ifies 1rn10istal;abl y tlrnt the nrnn \\·as thiukin g of himself ; \m t tho simpl e, uat n rnl \n ite r, ;rnrm wif.h his suLj ect., eager
to pros'! his vimrn npon h is n~n clo rR , n sps tl1 e I \l·it110nt a thou ght
of self, jn~t because it is 1"11 0 slwrtcst,, most di red, mid most
natnrnr way o[ express in g liimse.lf. Th e rncollcdion of his own
p ersonal it_,, proliahl y Hover crossed his min<l ch1rin g th e composition of t ho paragrnl'lt fr om wliiclt a n ill-sn t c riti c mi ght pick out
a score of / 's. To "a~T' " It is snhmit.tod," ins tead of "I think,;,
"It lms heo11 obsctTrcl ," instead of" I have seen,"" th e presen t
writer," ins tead. of" I ," is mn ch the more r eall y egotistical. You
use tho roaclios t nml rnost n11affect0<l mode of speo()h to set out
your th ong lits of it. Yon have written I a clow n times, but you
lmvo not thought of yoursoli onco.-l•hrncr's 1llagazine.

XI.]

l

n. CASTLE,

Sandwich , I B.

H onACE GnEJ~ LEY.

He was sm1Jrised to r eceive by return mail th e followin g Jetter :
S ANDWI C H,
HORA CF.: G Rl':t! LF:T,

New 1-ork

May 12th .

7'1·ibu11~.

DEAR S m :-Your acce ptance to 1cctnro before on r n.::socintion next wi nlf' r, rnmc to
h:rncl th iR mornin g. Your penm anship not bci11 g- the pbin c;ot, it took so me time to
t ranslate it. but we nnccccdcll, null wouhl rny 1 you r time- " Fe brua ry ~3d." n11tl terms" $ fi0 '' nrc entirely sn Lisfactory.-As yon s nggcst, we 111n.y be able t o get yo u ot hc1· eng agem ents in thi s immediate vic inity; if so, we will n1l v if.l. c: you .
Yours rcs pct.:tfu!ly,
M.

n. CAsn~1L

But this is l\fr. Greeley's signature.

It is said that th e late D ean Riclunoncl, when president of the
Hndson River Railroad, stopporl one thy at a st.ation whore t.lie
agent, not recogni7.in g him , tro:itetl him with g reat rnclonoss. Ou
returnin g to his oflioe, l\ir. Ri ch mond wrote t he agen t a sowre
letter, discharging him. The agent depa rtotl , bnt l\Ir. Richrnornl's
letter, of which the signature alone ;rns ortsil.Y legible, h o u sed for
several yearn as a fre e pass over l\fr. Riclnn oml's own rnilroatl.
An importing m erchant. wrote to .11is age nt in Africa to sernl liim
b_y next cargo "1 or 2 monkeys." He wa'l astonished to get a1lvico that, the market bring short, the agen t Ji:id l1een a.hl e to sornl
only 702 by th e first Yessel, lm t wonltl so 111l t.110 other GOO later.
On explanat.ion it proved that t.li e rncrclrnnt;'s "or" lmtl been
written like two ciphers, making " 1 or 2" reacl " 1002."
'l'!ti s illnstrnt,es o.11 e rna.son ;yJi y, in i111port.ant oomm n11i 1:n,l.ions,
numbers should Le writtou out iu words instead of in figures.

I',

I

; 11

:j I',
'1,

:

'

fl

1

11

200

G.ENEHAL HULES FOH LE'rTEB.-WIUTING.

EYen th en the words must b e written distinctly.
u1g from the P enman's .Art Journal:

[PAU'r III.

CIIAP. XI.]

IMPORTANCE OF SIGNA'rURES.

Note the follow-

-

201

- -- - -- - - - - -

INDIANAPOLI S, I ND., . . •...• .. . 1881.

ONE year after da te, I prom ise to pay order, Three Hundred an<l.

- -, or bcm:cr T hir ty Dollars when I sell Uy

Twcnty~flve

Dolla rs

worth of rnlcnt Sect.li ng Machines

for vn.lue received, nt six per cent. per annmn,

said Thirty Dollars, when due, to be

payable at Ind iana.pol is , Ind.
Sole Agent for .. ... . ... Company.

'rhe clotted line h ere shown do cs not appear on the contract, of
conrse, but as soon as the name is sig ned the swindler has only to
divide the paper at the place indicated, in orcler to convert a conditional contract for thirty dollars into a promissory note for three
hundred ancl twenty-fiv e dollars.

e. Be Careful Where you put Your Signa·
ture. - Tl1i s is n ot the pbce to warn again st knowin gly
emlorsing eomme rcial paper-a habit which h as brought
!llany a rnan to penmy. Bnt it sh onld be observed that,
if a gen 11ine signatm c, h oweve r obtain ed, is appended to
a promi sso ry note or oth er busin ess obligation, the law
h old s tltat the n ote is good in the h ands of an innocent
hokl er. ]<'o r tliis reason, one sh onld !l ever write a signature in t.l 1e 1ni<ldlc PE a blank scrap of paper, and when
appemlin g it to a lette r or other docn111011t should writ~ it
in close conn ection with the matter above, that uothrng
else may he written between.
How important these precrmtions are may be judged from the
ingenuity sh ow n by swindlers in ohtaining signatures. The following iH an illustration of the devices employed :
An agent a pproach es a farm er with a seeding-machine, explaining it8 operation, and invit,in g th o farm er to b ecome sole a~ent for
it. As th o frrm s sC'e m to involve no risk, the farmer consents,
nrnl signs the following contract :

f. Fold Neatly. - The paper commonly nsed fo r
writing lette rs is call ed " Co mmercial N ot:e," th e page
being abont 5} x Sl inches. This folds iuto the urdiuary
No. 5 envelope as follows :

a

b

c

a b eing the t op of the letter, c is folded over b, and then a is
brought down over c, the leaf or l eaves b eing divided into three
n early equal parts, though b will b e a trifle wicler than c aucl a.
"Letter-size" sheets, abou t 8-!r x lO t inch es, b eing about double

202

GENERAL RULES FOR LET'l'Blt-WRITING.

[PA1t'l'

111.

the size of " commercirtl note," require a fold in the miudle Lefore diviuing into thiTus.

••••••••

•••••

•

0

•

........

.

.

..

..

....

OnAr. XI.]

203

'l'HE SUPERSCRIPTION.

g . Direct Carefully. - The form of (1ircction upon
the envelope has been conveutionally determiu ed as follows:

Cfen. dflomaJ /

Q

//r,lj'm1, SJ!.SZ@ ,

5.!!?it1zcjl;a/ cl/2a!o CY/ ~ imal dl/:ltool,
J!ZfotJrlam.-,

If ri is the top of th e shoot, fold b upon a, r1ml then folll m1 in
the example of Commerci:tl Note.
For other sizes of imper, mcrtsnre with the envelope before folding, to fincl how few and which fohh " ·ill 01mhl e t.110 sh eet to go
fre ely Lnt, not too loo~c l y within tho en velope. Of all the ],Jnrnlcrs
of careless letter-writern, uone is more cxaspemti11 g than to crease
the sh ee t this "·ay aml thrit way, in :t dozcu ntin attempts to put fl
rectnnglo 0~ h,r G;j- inch es, into :tu cnrnlopo 3.t by 5, rind finally to
p onml the crnmplecl and sweat-soiled sheet into a little pmlgy
mn.ss thrit Rwell s np a corn er of the envelope like fl tumor.
The one imlispensable characteristic of fl letter is NEATNESS ; ancl
n catnPss n.1,rayR involves ralculfltion, as well as cam. There is o.lwrtys
one way of folding tlmt will bes t :td:tpt a A"iven sheet of prtper to a
given envel ope, arnl tlrn,I; 'rny shonld b e d ct-. e rminet1 b efore the folding is b eg un. It is well to fold the sheet with a paper-knife.

It will be 11otod :
(1) Th e stamp is phcecl in t:l1 e 11ppet· right-li aml corn er,
uear the edge, lmt leaviug sli ght alll1 even 1u argins on top
and side.
(2) The llame au<l tltc h onorary titl es slw11ld
i1pon
the first li11 0.

uo

Actlml honorary t.it.l cs sl1 onl1l not b e omit.t.ecl, nnlesR b y known
l'refcrcn cc of th e pcrnon ::t<hlrcsso11. "IVhere several tit.les belong
to a s i11 g lo iucliv.itln :il, rt grcriter excludes a less of tho sam e kind.
'J.'hu s if one is "A.1\I., Ph . D., LL.D.," t,hc last will b e suffi cient.
"D.D., LL.D.," im·oh-i ng 1liffe rcnt <listinctio1rn, Rlrnulcl. Loth be
reLai ncd. Altl1 ough "D. D. " is so mdi nrns giYcn to t.hosc not clergym en, it is cnst.0111ar.Y to omit t.h e " 11.ev." befo re a nrtrn e when
"D.D." fo llo\\·s. "J\L D." foll nll'in g n. 11amn iR prr> fr>rnl>ln to" D 1·. "
p.rece<ling, aml "J\[r. " hdorc a 1mmf' .iH1n-efornlJ!c to " Esq." fo llowing. 'J.'ho prefix " Hon." is U tiCd very loosely. It belongs

111

I

iii
11
1

1

.

11

·11 ·1
!

.111

~ 111I I
11

·~

i.f 1

204

GT<;NGBAL ltULES FO il.

LETTJ~ lt - \VJU'l'lNG.

il'Alt'l' JJI.

pro pe rly to ]\[embers of Con g ress, arnl some high o fli ees of Gornrnm ent., IJnt is often co,·eted 1.iy Memuers of Lcgisl::ttnres and various p et ty ofliefals. 'l'he following are u sual forms :

CHAP. XL]

IMPElWECT SUPEllSCIU PT!ONS.

Q/t::j!f, alla2Y

Sl}uvie??Cf',

C(f}aie d[ifrm ty c:J)jft
. iu,
2 ()f'

<i[f&;;. c!Jxcefl:J?r;J,

1 &la::rv ro1£,
0-t-lta17, or)

.

,

c&;-,

(Gom 1;1071;1'cal2l C'-!;'r'.,
0.{f(i,}/(lJl,

;plovc;t, «1Jlcvelcmcl,
yovetnot

r

.

Tho same rnl os f\ R t.o t.it.lrs app ly to th o a<l<lress with which n,
letter op r n s, lh o geuernl form aml armngemeut of which appear in
tho l etters rp10ted.

(a) Tl1 e official positi on occ11pie<l, if any, shonld be
mmted i11 the seco nd line. Thi s is dne to the p er son addressed , ns 1rnll as a Ree llJ'ity again st 1nista.ke.
'\ Vli ern tli e p e rf<un addl'esse(l occ11pics 110 offic ial statio11 , the co unty 111 ay, if Ro prnforred, be written n11d e r
the post-office, in stead of to tltc left.
(+) Jn g eneral appeara 11 ce, tl1e tl1ree or fonr main lin es
of the s11persc l'iptio11 sl1 onl rl fa ll Ge tween ob li rF1e pa ral lel
lin es, so rn e tlii11g as fo ll 01n:. a nd exact clil'ection s as to arran ge n1 e nt sho nlll Ge snliordinatc to con sid erations 0£ 0'"eneral effect :

205

c lla;J;J.

(5) Remember that th o11gl1 an acklress mar lie fa111ilin.I' to yo 11, it is 11 ot ll Cl'CSf'al'il y >:o Lo Llie fW on· s ut postoffice d erk s th ro 11g !t wh ose l1a11d ,; t11e letter may pass. lt
is therefore even 111 orc esl"e11ti a l in tlie s11perneriptiu n than
elsewhere that tlie haml·ll'J'itiu g lJe Lli stillctly lvg ilil e.
'l'h e avemge of rnis<li rectetl letters scat lll' i·o this Ll epartmcnt is
over fi ve lmmlretl a <lay ; tlw thy I 1rns the re Inst it nw n p to about
oml thousaml. 'l'ho must Lliflie11lt uJ' those go to J\fr. Stolle, who
is call ed "th e l1lirul rna11," p orlmps liecanse lt o cn,n <lecipher an
inscription that is nttmly ilfog il>lc to a11y oth er mall ill Ameri m. Hi s most tlilllc11H c;is!'s are U1 0 fon•ign lette rs. H orn is a
l otter Llireoted to " Ha11L111ik," wl1il'h ]1 0 umkes ont to 110 Sandy
Hook. Sometimes tho a1Tan gem eut of the namo nutl nclllross is
curious.
F o r Mr. t.homa.c;
Sm it h ]Jri (l gc
por t pn!-i l -olncc

Conn . .A mcri c:i.

is very plain when y on 01100 nn<lurn tn,1111 tl1at. it is" Fnr j\fr. '1.'honrns
Bnt \\'li en a urnn s>Lys
S 111i !.li, Bri.l gcpmt., Conn., A111r ri1·:t."
"Hoi o," l1nw is nnyhrnly lm t. a l .Ji11tl 111nn hi know tlmt li e means
Ohio? One letter roa<ls , "nes t F eet H no de Agne. " Now tho
lili!l(l mn.11 knows tl1n.t "Il,1rn 1l o J\ g ne" is Spanish for ·water
Street, and that th ere is a ·w ater Htrnot in Now Betlfo rtl , J\Inssuclmse tts. "Lysrnm. Warner Co.," ho translates into Lrnr.erne,
li' urren Co. ; and " Commo n Cnnnt)·, I'. A.," is made into CamerP.nt wh n wnnlL1 gu ess !hat "Overn
on Connt.v, rennsyhallifl..
C. D. L oaroy," in ouc line, means that it fa t o go to ,J uburn, iu

I
II
I

I

J
I

20G

GENERAL RULES FOR tET'tEH-WUITING.

iPA1tT Ill.

scr1reh 11£ U. D. L . ? One let ter is diredctl to "Knu shurner
Brancrei, S. I., Amorilrn." l\Ir. Stone recoll ects t h e fact th at
Constance's Brewery is at S trtpleton, Staten I slall cl, a nd the l etter
is sent there. H e roatls '' Iolel " into Iowa, antl " to I' ell rt, in
Yonrnh," h e makes tu g o to l'ella, in th e same State. Nor tloes
Ohio ge t off with one 1niss. Here is on e l etter that, wantR to go
to "Stru1t H ioh Zu11sommLi, Stmsse 15,"- that is t o the State of
Ohio, Ci1wiun ati, Stroot 15. But that is not all. 'l'his otltor nno
wauts to reach !ho sr1mo city ; but it h as a bad sp ell of anoth er
kiml, for its tlirection rn11 s "Scitznat.,1•." And t.h en "Pizm Bnrg
l\Iesscsfii11," is Ht' nt. to Vi cksl1nrg. l\Iil'lrig:w is s11E' llod " JJJ11Lti 11 g. "
"Gbss \rnrks B crirn lii re" is seut to l 'itt,sf-i okl , in B e rkshire
Connty, l\Inssac hn so t.l s, \\·h ero t h ere is a g lnss factory. B nt t h e
h anl os t nn e I saw was a1l 11rPssm1 to "John Herma11 ll fl ch irmc n,"
in one lin t', with tl1 e \1·01H1erfnl >Yor<l "Stagn eka11111l o" for th e
rest. l\Ir. Rinne cnt t.l1 c \l·onl in t wain, arn1 roa<1 it "Clmnt.rnHJna
Conn t.y, " \\·hi le h o t m11slatct1 th e whol A into "John H erm ::rnn,
Shermt111 l'. 0 ., Ul1 rmt an<1ua Cou nty, N. Y." - 1'/w Century.
Care sh o1Jl11 110 taken I-lint alihreviations ns011 in tit.Jes, etc.,
arc eo 1Tt'd , a1J1l fr1 'e fro11 1 :w 11ii g nity. A Jet.t.e ral111rPRRe<1 as foll ows
was roce ivetl b y a ge11tlema11 t1tte11ding ::t d e af t1n d llumb assueiatiou:

cf[6'rm~

oz;:!. /£/;zJon, Qf/.m,
_rfJfn( rrwl .i?lfrrml G-£:J.,

TOPICAL ANALYtlIS.
GENERAL nULES.
rt. An swn r promptl y, p. 1 Dfi.
Ii. Write frnnkly lrnt di scrnut ly, p. !DG_
c. Write naturall y and directly, p. 107.
d. B e sure you r pe um au s hip is 1lis li11 ct, p. 108.
e. B e care fu l ll" lture yo u put yo ur sig natu re , p. 200.
j'. Fold n eat ly, p. 20 I.
g. Direct ea rl)[·,, ll y, l" 203 .
(1) Stn mp. p. 21J:l.
(2) N ame aJJcl t itles, p. 20:1(:J) OJ!i cia l positiou, p. 204.
(4) SI:t,,t, p. 204.
(fi) Write disti11 ct ly , V· 20fi.
(li) Seal an d stamp, p. 20G.

EXAMPLES OF LET'r ERS.
DEAR

Rm:

On th e eve or m y d ep1trf;m e to visit a ll parts of t h e islnn d, ancl rifterwar<l tho princ ip:1l citi es uf t11 e co 11 t.iJJ <JJ1t, l foul an anl'' "t d "s iri; to lie
l10JJ01"Cd by be iJJ g tl1 e bon.ror of a Jt·11· lin es fro m yo 11r ow n h:tncl to
w hn11w vo r you 1~1ay p lease to i11trnil'"' '~ m L» I b0g t h.is or yo u with t he
l1<1po that my L'llorts to :1<lva.JJ co ornil11ol of:: icnl s tiuli<'s, by t he p11b licat1~ " of m.1· collect1011 s :md m a 11usc ripts, rna.v be t h o11g h t worthy of your
klllrl atte1.1t1ons, :i11 tl a u exc use fo r t h11 s i11 t n11-li11 g 011 you r procio11s mom e nts . . Should yon fe e l th e l!'ast sc rupk l'il'ase frankly d ecl in e it
:rn1l b<>l1 ovu m e , dear s ir, that J va lu e s<1 hi g ldy my fi rst rece pti on, w h m~
prcsu JJt.ud t? ,ro n b y my goo1 l fri1·ntl Captaiu llas il H a l I, ancl yo ur subH<'<l' l.t> n t e1vd1 t1es , that I never sh a ll cease to he, with the hig h est resp ec t
:tlld :uluurntiou,
Your most obedi e nt, hu mble se rvant,
JOHN

J.

A U DUBON.

DEA i t ]\'[ re AUDUJlON .

. T rim s u m you will fin cl nrnn _y 1wrsoJJ s IH •t.te r q11aliO ~d tlian myself to
g 1\'U yo u a pa ssport to fo re ig n co 11 .11tri os, si11 ce c ircun1 stm1ces h :tve p r eve1 1 t1~ d Ol~r ofte n er in uc ti11 g, and 1n y ig norance does 11 ot pcrrnit 1ne to

(G) Fin all y, d o n't forget to sea.l yonr Jetter, and to
stan1p it. Cu n1111onpl ace as thi s direction seem s, it is viola ted O\·e ry day in al111ost O\'ery city and co un ty of the
]and , a nd not m1freq 11 e11 t ly by thm;e wh ose pOF: iti on an d
C"\)Or io lll'O sh un Ill r ernle r it ludi crously impossibl e.

say a ny t.lung on t h e brnn c hc's of 11nt 11rnl l1i sto ry of 1rhiclt yo u ar c so we ll
poSSl'SSe d . Bu t I can t·a sily and t ruly sa.y , tha t wh at I ·have h ad th e
plt·a s m e of scc in ~, touch in g yo n r t,a l1·11t s :1111l 111ann ers, cor responds wit h
a ll J h a ve h eard 111 .ron r favnr; rt JJ <l t li:1t 1 :un a sincpr e b0 li e1·e r in the
cx te11t of you r scie ntifi c att:tiJJmt' 11ls, t h o11 g lt J have n ot the know led "e
rn:r•·ssary to for111 a n acc 11rnll' j u dg me JJt 011 th e subj ect. I sincerely
wish yo ur travels m ay iwov e ag rP1) abl e , and r nn1 ai11
Very mu c h you r obed ie nt servri11t,
WALTElt SCO'l''l'.

CnAl'. Xll.]

CHAPTER XII.
NARRATION.
A fnl c

~ h nn M

he j11di c i n11 ~ . d <'ar, f' IH'r:i nct ;

'l'h c ln11 i:;- 11nge plai11 , anti im.: i d e nt~ Wl'll linkc1l;

T e ll 11 o t :1 s new \\·hal cvc ryhull y kn o ws,
And, n Pw or old . ~ till ha ~tt'n tv a cl ose.
Th e re ce nter in g inn fo c u ~, roun d n.1111 nf'at,
Let :ill your ray s o f in fornmt.i un mcct.-COWPER .

The Subject Defined.- As nsod in thi s chapter,
th e 11·ord Na nati on will be li111it·od to t l1 c r elatio n af in cid e nts fo l' tho sake of tho i11 ci<.l e11ts themse lves. It tbus
<liJfors fro11t wl 1at; we l1:we calleJ Story -Telling (see Cl1 aptcr VI., page 8 L) , wl1 crc the 011d i11 vie w is a fo rcil>le
clir11 ax, aml th e inciclc11ts arc selected and arraugeJ solely
with rofcl'e nco to that cli111ax. In like manner it differs
from what in t h e di vis ion of an oration is common lv
call ed tl1 0 N arration, wh ere facts arc stated 011ly as a~
ele r11 ont ol' tl1 e pe rs11 a.sio11 to so1110 conviction tho sp eaker
desires to e nfo rce. ] 11 Nanation at: l1 e rc treated there is
110 n]tor ior object. Tl10 writer has n o climax to reach, no
con viction to e nforce, no mornl to teacl1. Hi s aim is to
tell the story as it is, impartially, accnrately, and forcibly.
Of all Composition the Easiest.-IIe that
tolls a story well is snre of li ste ners. 'vVh en a man prop oses to state his vi e ws of a g iven snl>ject, some effort of
atto11tion is rcc1nired; ind eed, 011e need entertain cons id e ra bl e respect for th e man , to foe ! tlrnt h is views a rc onongh
better tlian one's own to m ake it \1·01t h vvl 1ile to listen.

ADVANTAGES OF

TILi~

N AlUlATOlt.

So in Jescriptiou : one eith er l1a::; 00011 th e re, or rn ay !:.>:o·
there, or can read of it or llca r oJ: it :1t a11 y ti11w a11d i11 a
<lozeu ways, and tltercforc feels 11u i11111wtli:ite neecssi t.y
of listening.
Bnt the co1uhi11 at ion o !' circ11111 sta11 ccs tliat fon11 s a l'crso11 al exper ie nce is n11ic1110. Thi s 111ri11 c:a11 tc:ll i1 s wl1at 11u
otl1 er m a11 ea11 tell in the same 1rny . It is 11 u11',- ur 1101·or.
BcsiLlcR, thc rn iR cn nsb nf-, Ya ri d ._y. An r:ssn.y i.s lng ie:tl. 'L'l1 r rn
is Jll(:IJ101l in it. OJJ c se11 k11t'.(', 011n [>:L1·:i g r:q>l1 , s11µ;µ; es ls a110Lltc r. Oue kn o ws i n rt g e ucral w:Ly \1·\1 rtt wi ll ' '""' " m• x. I. f-l o in
d escription. 'I'h e \rhole is rnLmc11, :tll•l f·. Ji c 11 eseri pl ion of t l1 c
parts, however vivid, mu :o;t fnll.ow a <'c 1·iai11 g<' 110rnl onl1' I'.
Bnt in nrtrrntion, tl1 e iucide llts am i1uli1·i<l1rnl , nnill'<l li,1· t.JH•ir
hav.i ng happ<:110<1 in snccessi<>n to snn1 ohotl y, lint o1 li c n r iso <1 istin ct. If rt man lw gins to !·ell m o :d1ont J\.fou11f·, J\[011 :i.1lll <wk , L\1 p
ver y name calls up i ts lo nclin es.q, its n "'k.Y Ri<10s , th e li:tr<' r Pg i1111
it is lifted np from, the toilsome ascent, the g lor i1111 s snll so t. 'J.']1 0
d escription may h e vi vitl , lmt in rt gcJ1 e rnl \\'ft.)" I 11:Lrn a 11 tieiprtt.n<l
it. No sn oh preri sion oc<'n rn "·hen rt man foll of cx<' itemc 11 t
comes up to m e rtnd exclrtims : "0 yo n 1;lionlrl l1nsn l H'en \\"itlt m o
jnst now! I was crossin g th e hri1l gc, wh en a little girl- - ."
Well , what? J\Iy imagination d ocs n nt. l1elp m e. I mnst listeu,
or I sh all not know wh eth er sh e was drownetl, or rescuccl, or run
over, or rtb<luctCll, or what k tppen cd.

Narration may h e di1·icl od into throe kind s, accord in g
to the somce of the interest it exc ites.
Narration of Incident cl cp cml::; for its interest
npon tho rapid a1Hl 1mex p octetl succession of events tliat
i t narrates. The read e r' ::; cmio,,it.y ii:; kept on the al ert.
H e is greedy for th e rnarvoll on s, and enj oys it th o 1norc
k eenly as it approach es witl1011t 'l11itc r oachin g the improbable and the 11miatnra1.
In fiction, th is is th e pocnli :u fi e](] of th e Uoma11 ce, and
is the uasis of Fairy Talcs, and of the J\[elodrama.

Ill

:1

11

I

I''

i ii

210

NAURATION.

[PART III.

CHAP.

Evcut s that surprise u y b eiu g tm exp ccted, and yet are nnturnl,
01dirn11 g r c:i,t.[y an epic p oem; Lut in such a po e m, if it pre te ml to
cop.)' hmn a n rn :u mern and n.ctions, no improlmlilo incident ou ght
to he a<ln1it.t0<l: that is, 11 0 i1widcut contrary to the ord er allll
conrsc of uatmc. A chain of im agiucd incitlen ts, linked t ogeth er
accordin g t o tltc onler of uat urc, find s easy admitt·ance into t he
miud; aJJ<l n, li \·cly nn,r mtivc o f s ud1 in cident;s occasions cornplcto
inmgcs , or, in other wonls, itlr:tl presence : Lut our judg m ent rcYo lts a g a ins t a n improurthl o incirle nt; and, if we once lrngin to
<1onht of its r<'ali t-.y, farcwdl rolislt awl conceru- a n unhappy effuet; '"•r it; " ·ill l'C<Jnirc 111orc than an onli11:ir y effort to rcs tore
the wakin g <h'<'n 111 , a11<l to 111 :i,ko th e reade r c 011cci ve oveu the
m ore prnbalile in< -. i<lcmts as imssin g in hi s prese nc e . -IL~~rns.

a yom1g !ally 1A sc n• 11 h' c n 1 bro11.~ht. up in '':i se, 111 x 11ry 1 :rnd r eti re m e n t, wi l h 11 0 co mpa1iin11 s 1111 1; I h e tl:ttTO\\' mimktl and illil l' rnle, di ~ pla ys (n s a. he roin e 1ts 11ally <locs) , u n der
th P 1t 1m; t try in g- cin·1111 1:=:t: u H'1's 1 s1wh w i, tlo 1n , fo r ti tu de, ntu l knowlcd gc o f the wo rl rl , n.s
r h c Ut·:-:t in s lrn d;o r s nw l Uw h<':o:.t <'x:trttpll'S e:i. n rarely prrnl ncc wi1h o 11 t the a id of m ore
mn turc a ge• and l\1 11.t.!1· 1· expL' ri cHl'l' . On th e ot h e r h:t11d a flc l ion is still imvrolmble,
th o n.1.!1 1 not 10111aturq l . w h c 11 l h«n.~ is 110 re:u:o n to he a:~8 igncd wh y lh i11 g~sl1 011ld n o t take
1ilace a s n !prc.o.:p r1 kd, c xcC' pt that th e overfwla.11cc of dwnce.~ i s ng ain st it. 'l'hc h ero
m eets, ill !ti s 11ti11•1st di s t;n, ~: ~\ 1nu1; t n1111nr t 11 nt· ly wit h t h e very JJCrsu n to whnm h e lln<l

form e rl y 1l 1111e a s ig 1wl i..:1'rv ic<> , n.1 Hl who h:tJIVt' llS l;o CO!lllHHllica tc t.o him a pic<'C CJ f i11 tc l1i£;"C' 11 CC \\" h if'!1 ~d s :111 l o ri g-lits . Why s h o uld h e no t nll'ct him a " wel l a s a n y 0 11c e lse?
. \ll l11 ;\ t i':111 b C' ~:iir l is t. h:i. t th Pr 1• is no l" C':"LS.O ll why h e f:: h nn ld. Til e i11fn11 t wh o is fin.ved
fr om a \H1 >e k. :i.1 Hl w h o a f! t'rwnnl bC'( "OllH'S f':1 1cll

:i.

co n s tcllntinn nf v i r t 11cs and :i.c comp\i s h-

11w nt :<-: , h1 rn o.: illlt Lo hl' nn ot h e r th:m tl H' 1wphcw of !"he vcr!' l!C' n l lc nmn on wh ose cstnlc
th e W:tvcs had cm;t h im 1 nntl wh ost• lovely da11µ h h· r hr h ru l F.o Jo ng 8ig hed for in va in.

Thcr£' is n n r1•a sP 11 t o I H· gh·c n . f' '.'{('C' Jll. fr om th e c:tl c 11la.t inn of chnnccs, why he s h C111l<l
n ot ha \·c lw• ·n l h rnw11 nn one part o f I.he coa c;; t ns wc11 ~ s n1wt;h c r . N:J.y, i t would be
nnt· hin~ 11n1intnr:i.l , lh n 11 g- h l·h c rn ost <l cl<·1·n1 in c1l 11 ove l-rca<le r \r011hl lie s hockc1l :it its improhahi lil ..\'. if rill llw· IH•rn 1i:i f'llf•111i l"f.: , wliif(• tlH.' }' were con ~ pirin g hi s niin, w1· 1·P. to IJO

fitn1 ck d c::u l l1Jgcth (·r Uy n lucky !lash of lig htnin g ; yet many aC11uuemen ts which are <le~

'J'HlmE K LNDS 01" NAlUtA'l'ION.

21l

cid cdly unn at ural are \Jctlc r tolera te~l than th is wvuld be. We f< hall, pe r Im pf', b ef't explai n
our m c n.nin g Uy ex ampl e...:, t aken fro m a 11ovcl oE g rnat m e ri t in m a ny respects. Wilen
Lord Gl c n t hor 11 1 in whom n. m ost unfavornlJlo cduen.Li ou ltas acted on a most unfnvora.Ul c
dispos iti on. a (tc r a life of torpo r, Urukc n nul y Uy sh ort f'a lli cs u( forc ed cxc rtio11, 011 ·~ s udd e n
r ever se o f fo rtu n e, dbplays :i.t. o n ce the n 111 f' l. p c rscve rin ~ i\iligc n cc i11 f,h c must rnpnl s1vc stl\(_I·
ics ; nnd in lllill i1lc li fe, w iLliout an y p rcvii m s halJil~ of ex e rti on , a11y ~wpc o f cn.rly lm s incss, or th e cxnmplc uf f. 1_·j c ml ~ , or Lh c sti11111\us o[ ad11 al wan t. to t1r ~c hu11,. 0~1i st r 1p s C\' Cry
competi to r , t. h oug-h eve ry corn1wt-.itor h as eve ry ad vn11t.:1ge n~: un s L lnin; L111 s 1 ~ intnrtl w.·a l .
'Vhen L onl G· lcntliorn , th e in sta u t h e is s Lrippctl of !lis e:-: Latcs, 11 1cct s, fall s m love with,
nnU is cond ition ally ucceptcLl IJy the ,-c r y lady wh o i:-: rcmolcly cntitl c<l. to th ose l'~L at cs ;
wh en the instan t h e ha s fn lfi llcll the cnmli tiu11:;,; of U1ei r 111arriagc, the fam ily of th e JlC I"·
son possessed of: th e esta tes b eco mes cxli 11 ct 1 ani.1 Uy th e (' O I H~ urn·nc c o [ circ inn sta nt:es,
ngn i.n st every o ne of wh ich t h<.: chau t:ei-; WC L' C c norm on:;, U1 c hero is rein stalcLl in all J11 s
ohl Llornairu;; this ir; m erely ·i mprol1able.
Th e d i:;t in ctio n whi c h we ha ve b ee n p o inting o n t m :iy Uc pla inl y perce ived in the
eve nts of r c:tl li fe ; wh c u an yth ing la kes place o( suc h a na l ti !'(' as we s h onhl ca ll. in n.
fiction, m e rely irn p roba1Jl c 1 IJccan sc lJ,('l'C' arc many c lia11 cl'S a ga in st i t, \\·c ca.II i L n lu cky
or unlucky nct.:idcnt, a s iu ~rn lar coi n ci d e ucc, !':0111c t h i11g vf'ry cx tra.C1 nl in:1ry, odd, c nriouc;;.
etc . , wh erea s anyth in g whi ch 1 in a fi ctio n , wo u ld lll' call <'cl 111111;1t.t1ra.I, when i t nt'tttall y occurs (a111l suc h things do occu r ), i H !"l,ill <'allec l un11 al 11 rnl, ill(· Xp lil'ablc 1 11n :H..:cou11la1Jk. in-

In hi story, it chroni cles in Anuals only tho unusual occt1rre nces, am! weaves into L egends and :Myths eveuts
that tli e illl agi native ha ve heea bnsy with fo l' generations.
In 1Jiog ra pl1y, it :tppears in Travel s a nd Voyages, th e
Adventnl'es of noted people, aml in such a ut.ouiograpl1y as
is based un a Diary of rn e re ine idcnts.

'J 'he l'u 11nt1ti'ttl w 1,/ th e I mprol1u!)it'. - 'l'll c r1: iR a 1fo;ti 11 c tiu11 to Uc 111ndc between t h o
11n11:tlnrnl arnl t h e nwrcly i111pr11hn.Ul t•. A fi elio n if.: 111111a!11r:ll w h e n t.hcre is so m e Hf':!". ig 11nlilc !'Paso n :1 ~: d11 ~t, I.h t..• <.'\.l' t1 h.; t:iki11 1-{ pht•·n nR 1ksc ribct1 1 wlw 11 111 c 11 an! r c prcr-c11lc1l as
aci in ~ 1'nJJtr:1ry I v t l11 • cha racte r ~1...:s i g n cd t.liern, or to hu111a11 nnJni-e in gen era l ; as whe n

XII.J

con cei va\Jle, Ptc. , c pi t l1 cts whi c h :uc n oL nppii cd t o cvc n LH l h at have m e r ely Lh c bala n ce
of cli an ...:cs a gain st th c11 1. - r2u.arteJ'lf/ R eview .

I

Narration of Character d eal s less with i ncidents
th e msehes tlrn11 with i1wi clents as th ey rnanifost a nd
de rnlop t he characters of th e p er:;o m; in tlic sto ry . TJ1e
read e r's cl'itical fac11lties are called 11pon. Difl th e 11 ero
take the right co urse tli ro11 g h tl1 e con 1pl ic:1ted cn·cn111stances t hat s111To11ndcd l1i111 ? \ Vas tli e li e ruine a t rue
woma11 ? Have l met sn<.; lt peop le? -would I lik e tu?
These are t he q uestio ns s11 ggested, a nd the r eader's i ntel'est cl epemls upon th e rn1t11 rn l11 ess oE tlie in eidents, and of
their effect upon tlie eh ar acte rs of tli o story .
In fiction this is tlie pec nli ar J-i eld of tlie Novel, :tll(l is
the bas is of Fabl es, Parables, A ll egories, a nd th e u sual
II l ustrntio11s i u :trgu111en t .
In liistory it de:t ls not 111 orn w itl1 hattles a nd pestilences
th an with indust ri es and soc ial kth its ; not m ore \rith
crises than with th e sil e nt i11fl1te ncns ceaselessly at work
in moulcliJ1g rrml IT:rnsfo n11i11 g a pc111ilc.
In 1Jiog ra pl1y i t ap pear:; iu 11l e 111oi re;, J 01 m1 al::i, J,dLern,

212

NAHilA'l'lON.

[PAH'L'

III.
C H AP,

a ll that rernals the iuncr m a ll as well as his public r elat ious.
Narration of Impressions de11cllJ s for its illtercst
on th e lig l1 t tl1 c Htory U1r0\1"S, 11 ot 11po n t he iu cid euts rnuratcd, ]Jut 11po11 the person 11 an ati 11g tlic1u. 111 all naJTatio 11 thi s clcmc11 t is rn nrc or less prcse11 t, b nt in so me J, i11d s,
p a rt icul arl y i11 tliat \1·J1 iclt is co nsciously or rn1 c011sciously
l111111 om11 s, thi s c le111 011 t is preuo mi11 aut. (Bee p age 108,
last sente nce.)
WHAT TO 'l'ELL.

Accuracy is tlie pri111 e re<1ui sitei 1111 fL rrnti on. \Vli ctl1 er
our in te rest lJc npo1 1 i11 cide11 t, or cl1:1.rac ter, or impress ion,
t.lie sto ry 11111 st lJL: rc<1 l, :111 tl it i::; real u11ly i11 propo rti ou as
it is ncc urn te in detail. Thi ,; r eyuircs :
a. Close O bservation. - Jt. is tl 1c Ji r.tlc thin gs, the
" sid e tou ch e;;:,'' that giYe a story its r ea li ty . Tell me tlrnt
yo u s:L\\' a li orfic l'llll :may and 111y attent ion is h ard ly a rrnst:ed . D11t dcscrilJe t li e coo l eve11 i11g, th e motli er a11c1
<la11 g!t te r le ism ely r ct11rni11g l'ro111 a pl easa11 t vis it, tl1 e
spiri ted but ge ntle l10rsc trntti 11 g q uietly dom 1 the ]1i11,
tl1 c approacl 1in g lJicyclc, th e sndden leap of tlw l10rsc, tlte
frightc 11 e<l p11lli11g 11po n one re in by tl1e m otli er, th e 0Ye rt11rn , the l1reak i11 g of the \rago 11 a.11tl the frantic pl1111g i11g
o[ tl1 e li or>:e till li e frees l1in1 sclf a11 d d isappears, the apprnach of: tl1e bi cycle r to tl 1e co 11fo sed h ea p of: \rngo n a11d
\\'tl111 c11 , t.]1 0 g roans ancl rep roaches tJrnt g reet l1im , t l1 c a.ssist:c111cc li e r c11d crs, a11<1 so 0 11 , and yon rnakc 111 e sec tl1e
occ111Tc1wc as yo n saw it, aml :Eccl th e same interest in it
that you f elt.
'fl1 c force of hngurige con sists in m1srng complete imriges ;
wl1ich h:-1rn tb P !'!fret. to tmn sport I li e re11dcr rts by nrng ic iuto the
' 'ery place of 1lic irnporb ut action, ::t!Hl convert Lim, as it were,

XII.]

WHAT ACCUllACY JlEQlJillES.

213

inLo 11 spectator, bc l101<1in g m· e 1',)· LJ1in g 1liril-. l"''"''s. 'Jli e rnur:ct.ivc
iu an cvic poem ought to ri rnl a picture i 11 the Jiseliu css auc1 :iccumcy of its revre:sentatious ; no eirenutsl mwe must Le owitteLl
t lmt tends to make a complete im ag e; l 1eca11se au i111pcrfcct image,
as well as any oth er imperfect euu cevLiou, is col<l and unin tcrcsLin g . -KA~J.ES.
A Ji ycly and a ccurnt.c 1lcs<.: ri p th m of rm impo rl:ri.nt e vent., rni !-ics i.J1 me id c~1 s n o k f:S
fli r- ti nct l h:tn if: I hnd bee n ori gi nall y :i.n cyc- wi l n css : I am i11 sc n s il1ly tr:i.n s funn cd into n
p,p cctn t or, arnl lrn vc il.11 impress iu11 t h a t ev e ry in cid eu t i... ; p:u;sing in rny pre ~e n cc. On
the other hand, n i::li g ht o r s 11pN lid:il narra t ive pn)dl\ Cl'S !nit" faint and inc0111pl c tc itka,
of whic h illcal lll"<':-'Cll ce rnakcs 11 '' p art. l'ast Li m e it-l a 1·i n..::1111 ,;ta1w'-' l !t:tl c nlC'l'B in lo th i ~
icl C" a, n s it d ocs in t o n.n in cn rnp1Plc it k n. n f m C'n10r y ; I be!ie \" 1..~ t,ll: it. Sc ipi o ex isted abo11r;
two t howm nd ye ari:.: a go, a1Jtl t h:\!. h e o \·e n ·n. n1 1• JI:i 11 11 ilial in th e f:t n1011s IJatll c of /,am:i.
\Vh (m I r c tl ei..:t so s lightly 11po n t,ha t; llH'llJO rn. l1I~ ! eve nt, J 1;011sidPr iL a~ lo11g pa :c-t . H n t l<'t
it I.le i:;prcacl ont inn li \·c ly nnd Ur:rnlifnl d L"'f'c ri ption , f a 11 1 i11 f-!.C!lf-!.i hl y tran f' fon 11c d into n
spC'dator: I p er ce iv e th ese lwo l1f'r1_1('5 i11 a ct lo ('ng:1 g 1': J pC'tTf'iv c ilH'm h rnrn l jshingth c i r Hwonl s, arnl c li er:rin rr th e ir Lroo11:=;; : :u 1d in tha t, rna nm· r I n.l.t..C' rnl them through lhc
b:itt lc, eve ry inci<lc n t n f wh ic h appt ):l r s lin h~ pas:>i n g in 1n.v s ig h t,.
I ha ve h ad ocrai:: io n t o o bse r ve ! hat i d 1.: a ~ , bot.h of lllC'l!lor y :111t l (I f f.:- J1C'Cd1 , prod uce
cmot.ion s of the i:-a rn c kiml \;;i t h wh at, ar c pn>il ttccd by a n i111111 C'<l iatc vie w of Lh c obj ec t :
onl y fain ter , in i>ro porti on :i.s a n id<: n. is f:i intc r t.l 1n.11 an origi n a l p ~ n..:e pt io n. Th e i11Fight
\VC now have nnfolt \i=: tli:it my s tery: irlcn l pr:c:-:1..•1we s npplics t h e wn n t o[ r c:i l prf' sc 1u__:c;
and i n i dea we pc rcd vc p e rso n s actin g and s nfkri 11g1 pr c ti ~c l y n s ill an or ig irnli smTey:
if our sy 1npal hy be c11g agcd by Lli c \attf' r, i t 111 n s t. rd ,<::o, in .i;;.orn e d q; ree, hC' c11 g agPd h.r t he
form er , es pecially if th e tli .<;tin ct.n r,Fs of itlea.1 p rC'~t'llt''} ap 11 ro;-ich l o th at o [ r t' n.I prC'sC' n cc.
H e nce th e pl crtsnrc o( a I"C\"C'l"iP, w lwrc :-i 1na11, f o r g1•Lt iu g h.im sl'l f, i s tota lly occ u p ied wit h
th e i(lCrtR passin g in his mind, the nhj f·ct•1 ,,f whi c h hr\ f' <J1 1Cei \'C'"' h1 Ile reall y f'X i8ti 11g in
his prcsc11cc. T h <' power of lnng nng-c t o rah.;f' c11 1otio11c: depend s C'H t irC'l y 0 11 th e ni is in g
of s uch liv C'ly and tli st inct inrn ges a s n rc h e r e d csc r ihccl : Lh c rc:uk r' f.: p a ssion s a rc n eve r
sen sibly moved till h e is thrown int o a k itHl o r ren·rip ; in w h i"11 s ia tt\ forge tting- that li e
is r cadi n rr, h o conceives e very inc iiknt a Fo: pn s~ ing in hi s p n·~(' IH' "• pr cci Fc\y n s if h e wer e

nu eye-w it n ess. A g en er a l or H' O C'd i H~ r rme111hra ncc ca n /lo t \ \·arn1 11 <> in t.o an.rem otion;
i t mny be agreeable in so me s li g: ht d Pg- ree : bu t i ts i c h· :t~ a r c too faint :ind obscu r e lo
rai se n.n _r thin g like an e m oti o n : nt H1 were lh Py eve r so l i \'Cl_r 1 t h <' ~' p:l ~!' with t oo nrn r h
prccipi lintion to hnvc th at cffl'Ct : 011r crn0ti o 11 s a r c 11 ev r r i11 f.i lm1lallNl!Hi; C\'Ctl ~11ch m1
c o m e th e Aoon cs t to their hei g h t ha\" C' <l i ffrrc nt p cr irnl s n f b irth a nd in c r e m C' nt; rmcl l o
giv e opp nrtnnit.y fo r these <l i fff•rp nt; pcri 01l S-, it ifoi 11 r('r:<.:i-;ar y f"lrnt. th e cau se o f ('\·c ry emotion b e p re!'c 11 t to the 111 int1a1l11 c l:irne ; fnr an c1 11 n t in n if' nn i e:irri C'•I l o i ls hr igh t hy rci t c rnt c d i1nprcss iom: only. ' Ve know tlial; In he tlif' cnse (I ( P.1110! in n i:; ;-iri l';i n~ fr o 111 olJjcc l H
o f ·"ig ht; n qui r k s ncccs.sion. p\·e n of th o n 10st h C':i.ntifu l ollj PCt f:, s ea.r c <'ly making :rn y i m press io n: nnd if t h is h o \11 in I h l' s n ccc~ s i o n o f orig inal pc rcc p t io11 s , h ow much m ore in
the s uccession of id eas. -l~AME S .

b. A Memo ry for Deta ils.- Thi s is largely a matte r of cnltivation. T he story is familiar h ow Il ondin 's
fath er tan ght him to walk by a shop wind ow, :wd report,
from a sing le glallce, :first, two or three thi11 gs that he saw1

11

"

,I,

214

NAllRATION.

[PAn'I' HI.

presen tly, a dozen, and event ually scores. I t should be a
prin ei plo with yo nn g people so closely to observe and so
accnrate ly to re111 e111 ber whatever they see of interest, th at
t hey can reproduce all that is ch aracteristic i n th e scene
a 1111 th e occnrrence.
c. Selection of what is Typical.-'l'his recognizing what is ch aracteristic of the pnrticnla.r occas ion is
merely a further and lll Oro ca rofo l obse rvation. A g irl
see ms to 111 e ill -dressed ; a JH1 1 ol1scne that sl1 e "·oars
a broa<1 -lffi1rnn ed wl1ite straw l1at, trimmed with blue r il >bon; a white lllll f'lin gow n, with short sleeves, mid belted
with 1lue ; long lJUII mi ts, low-heeled shoes, white lace
abont th e i1 ock, etc. Now, if I am to describe h er as an
il l-drcsse11 g irl , l want to kn ow in whi ch of all th ese parti cul a rs sl1 e is ill -dressed; so, i11 sti;ad of simply ennm erating deta il s, l ohsorrn for t.her, to see which of tl1 e111 it is
th at prOll JJ cos tlie 1111 ploasa11t i1npression. I fiml that it is
the lace she wears. J Lor u ock is sh ort, nml the b ee makes
li er look choked, as if sit e wore wear ing it :is a protection
aga in st sore-tliro:it. So for :is I des ire to r ep rod uce th e
impress ion she rn akes 11pon rn e, l 1nus t tl1 en direct my att on tion to her neck aml h er Jaco, re rn e lll uerin g j nst. l1 ow it
look!", and co111 p:ir i11g her neck with oth ers to fix in my
ow n Jllin tl why it is that wli a.t wo nlcl look well npou a nothe r g ir1 is so 1mbeco 11Ji11g to h er.
To select from the senti ment. scene, or cnmt d cscrilJC<l , those
t ypi cn,l c!Pments 1Yhil'h carry mn,ny others along with t hem; and
f\n, l1y say in g a few tliin gs hut snggcs tin g many, t o ahricl gc J.l1 e
<lcsc ription, is the sc('l'd of proclncin g n, Yivitl impression. An extract from T enuyson'R "l\farirum" "·ill well ill ustmte tl1is :
A.I I 1ln.y w i thin th e 1lrca my b oH!"IC,
'l'h<' tl nor 11pon the hin ge:;; crea ked ,
Th e hlw~ fly ~ 11ng i' til e p:i. n c; the mnn i::.c

l k hind the m o1 1lill'rh1g wninsco t shrieked,
Or from the crev ice peered about.

CIIAP.

X II.}

WHA'r ACCUHACY UEQUrnES.

215

T he several circumstances h ere specified brin g with them nmny
appropriate associations. O ur attention is mrcly drnwn by t he
buzzing of a fly in the window, save when C\'Cry tbin g is still.
·while the inmates are moving about the l1011 >;c, mice mitrnlly keep
silence; and it is only when extreme quietness reigns that they
peep from their retl'C:its. Hence each of th o facts mcntion cu presu pposes numerous ot hers, calls up these with morn or l ess U.istinctness, anu revives t he feeling of dull solitrnlc with whi ch they
arc connected in our experience. I Vere all these facts uetailed instcltd of sngges t,ed, t.he n,ttention woul<l be so fritl;eretl a' my that
little imvr cssion of <lrc:irin css wllnl !l lie proclncccl. Similarly in
other cases. W hatever f',J1 e nlttm:e of Ute il1crn ght to be conveyed,
thi s skilful selection of a few particn lars "-hich imply the rest, is
the key to success. In the ch oice of competent ideas, as in the
ch oice of expressions, the aim mnst h e to convoy th e greal;cst, qn:intity of thon ghts with the smltllcst qun,ntity o [ worcls.-HEHBEHT
SrENCEn.

d. Rejection of w hat is Low or Trivial. This is the newspaper age, and the m ost ch aracteri stic
feat ure of tlie m ode rn n ewspaper is tl1 0 in to1Tiow. Our
curiosity as to the p ri vate life of noted people is st im11lated Ly iufornrn.tio JJ as to h ow rn nch the l>resid on t pays
for his coats, wh ere Jay Go nl d gets hi s hair cnt, and
whether N il sson is fond of clams. \\Ther e f:! lrnll we draw
the lin e as to t he pri vate li ves of p romin ent people, between leg itim ate inter est and t.11 0 cnriosity of a r:inl l'ry?
Historical Value of Revealme nt.-T lte ,-cry
fact th at t he things tol cl a re of a kind eo1mn onl v eo nceal ed gives to minute personal gossip :i, cort:iin foe.tit.ions
in terest; but t here is also :i, real valu e as wP.11 af\ genuin e
en tertainment in th e p ictnro tl1JJ s clnnn1 of a man aR :i,
type of hi s class, or of hi s ago, or of rn:rn I; i nr1. F ew Looks
are more certain of imm ort:ility t11 an T'cpys's Diary, contemptible as i t m akes T'epys l1irn sclE [tppoar; a n<! Doswell's "Life of J ohnson " wi ll always be a class ic, thoug h

II :
I

I'.

216

NARRATION.

[PART III.

it iusnres to Boswell a curl of the lip at every mention of
his nau1 e.
Mac aulay's Descri ption of Boswell.
'rlie '' J_,ife of ,Jolmson" is ftSsnredly rt great, a very greaf; work.
Homer is not more d ccitled.ly the first of heroic p oets, SLakspore
is not more decidedly th e first of dra1mitis ts, Demrn;theues is not
m ore d ecidedly the first of omtors, than B oswell is the first of biogrnpltcrs. He Jrns no second. H e lrns distanced all competitors
so 1focidod ly tltftt it is not worth while to place them. Eclipse
is fi rst., ancl t.L e r est nowhere.
'Ve ft re uot sum that th ere is in the whole history of t.be human
intellect so stmnge ft phenomenon as this book. l\'.Iany of the
grcalt'c; t, m 8u thrtt e \·e1· livrnl lmve writtcn biog.rnphy. Boswell was
one of tlw mnallest men that ever lived, and he lms b eaten them all.
H e \nts, if "·e arc to gi,·c any credit to his own account, or to the
nuitccl tcs timouy of all who knew him, a man of the mean est and feeblest intellect J ol1nson deseribecl him as a fellow who had missed
ltis only chanc e of immortality by not ha\'ing b ee n alive when the
Dn11ciacl W l18 \rritten . B cftuclerck useu his nrtme aB a proverbial
cxprc'ssion for ft l>oro. He was the laughing-s tock of the whole of
t.hat brilliant socie ty which hfts owed to him th e greater part of
its fam e. H e "·as always layin g himself at the feet of some eminent man, and b egging to b e spit upon rmd trampled upon. He
was abrnys camin g some ridicnlous niclrname, and then " binding
it as a c rown unto him," not merely in metaphor, but literally.
He exhil>i k <l h im c;elf, at the Shakspcre jnbilec, to a.JI the crowd
" ·hich fill etl StrnJ.forcl-on-AYon, with a placard round his hat bearing tho i118cription of Corn.i cit R os \rnll. In his tonr he proclaimed
to all th e worlll that n,t Edinburgh h e "·as known by t.he appellation of Prioli B oswell. Servil e anrl impertinent, shallow and peclantic, a hi got ancl a sot., bloated with family pricle, and eternally
blusterin g about the dig nity of a b orn gentleman, yet stooping to
lJe a tale-hem·er , an eavesdropper, a common butt in the taverns of
London, so muions to know everybody who was talk cl about, that,
'l'ory nnd H .ig h-chnrclnnan as ho was, he manceuvr ecl , we have b een
told, for a11 introduction to 'l'om Pain e, so vain of the most childish distinctions, that when he had been to court he drove to the

CnAr. XII.]

HOW MACAULAY DESC1tll3ES BOSWELL.

217

office where his book was printin g without changin g his clothes,
and summoned all the printer's devils to aclmire his n ew ruffles rind
sword ; such was this man, and snch \rns h e contented ftnu proud
to b e. Everything which another man would have hidden, everything the publication of which would have made ::mot.her man
]mug himself, wrts matter of gay and clamorons e:rnU.at;ion to hiH
weak and diseased mi ml. 'V lt::it s il ly thin gs h e saitl, wliat hitt er
retorts h e provoked, how at one place h e was tronLl cd with evil
presentiments which came to nothing, h ow at another place, on
waking from a dnmkcn doze, h e rcrtcl tl1 c Pmve r-liook a ml took
a hair of the d og that hftd bitten l1im, h ow h e. went to see men
hanged and cam e away mamllin, h ow h e added :five hundred
pounds to the fortune of one of his babios hecansc she was not
scared at Johnson's u gly fac e, h ow h e waR fri ghtenccl out of his
wits at sea, aJHl how the sailon; cp1ieted l1 im ns tl1cy would hn,,·e
quieted a child , how tipsy h e was at Lacl y Cork's 0 110 eve nin g and
how much his merriment annoyed the ladies, how impertinent ho
was to the Duch ess of Argyle, and with whrtt s tately contempt she
put clown his impertin ence, how Colonel l\IacleoLl sneered to his
face at his impudent ohkusiveness, how l1is father and the very
wife of his bosom. lan gh ocl aud fre tted at bis fooleri es ; all th ese
things he proclaimed to all th e world, as if th ey had l1een subjects
for pride and os tentatious rej oicin g. JUI the caprices of his t emper, n,ll the illnsions of his vanity, all hi,o; hypochondriac whimsies, all his castles in the air, he displayed \rith a cool self-complacency, a perfect unconsciousn ess th at h e wfts making a fool of
himself, to which it is impossible to find a p ftrnllel in the whole
history of mankind. H e has used many people ill ; but assuredly
he has used nobody so ill as himself.
'.l.' hat such a man should have written ono of the b est books in
the world is strange enough . But this is uot all. l\Iany p ersons
who have conducted themselves foolishly iu active life, and whose
conversation has indicatecl no superior power8 of rniml , have left
us valuable works. Goldsmith was very jtrntly described by one
of his contemporaries as an inspired idiot, aucl by anoth er as a being
Who wrote li ke nn an gel n.nd trilke<l lik e poor Poll.

La Fontaine Wfts in society a mere sim.pleton. His blunders would
not come amiss among the stories of Hierocles. But these m en

218

NAimATION.

[PAl:T JU.

attain<'d literary eminence in spite of their wcnlmesses. Boswell
attrii11 011 it l 1y rnrison of his \rordrncsses. If li e Imel not 1.Jecn fl
g rnritfool, h o w011kl n cvcrltr1 rn l10011 ri grmtwril.cr. Witl1ontall tl1 0
rpmliticR wl1i ch m:ule him th e jes t and Oie torment of thoRc flrno11 g
IYhmn li e li H'<l, \Yithont tl1e nni cionsncss, t h e inrp1isitiven ess, the
effrontery, t.h c tofltl- cfttin g, the insen sibility to all r eproof, h e
ll m·er conlrl ltrive pr0tlncet1 so excellent ft book. H e \ms rt slftve,
pronrl of hiR servit;nrle, rt I':.tnl Pry, convinced tlmt his own cu riosity ftlll1 gft rrnlity were virtn es, ftn nn s:.tfe compm1ion who n cYcr
scrnpl ctl to repn,y th e most lihernl h ospitfllity h y the lmsest violrttion of confirl cnce, ft nmn \rit.h ont d elicftcy, without slmme, w·i tltont se nse c non g h to know \1lwn li e \\'fts lmrtin g tho fe elin gs of
ot.h Prs, or \rhcu h o wn,s exposill g hirnsdf to <lcri sion ; ftllll lrncftn se
of all this Ju"\ hfts, in :.tn imporbnt llq1ftrtm cnt o f l it.crnture, imlll!'rtsnrnbly s1Hpftsso t1 s nclt writers as '1'11citus, Cl11re m1on, Alliori ,
mHl hi R O\\"ll JohnROll.
Of Hw tnl Pnts whi ch onlin n,ril y mise men t.o eminence ftS \ni tern, J3oswoll ]i nd nhsolntPly 110110. '!'here iR not in ftll his h ook s
a single renmrk of hi s own on literntnre, polities, reli gion, or soeid.y, \Ylii ch is n ot ei t h er commonplrtce or nl 1snnl . His dissertrtt.ionll on lwr<'clibry gent.ilit~·, on the Rlrtve-t.mdr', :.tml on t.he ent.riilin g of lrtn<lNl estates, nmy se rvo as exmnplos. 'l'o RltY that th!'so
imssages ftre sophi st.ic::tl wonltl b e to l'ftY them rin ext.r:wagm1t comp liment. '!'hey Jm vo no pret.once t.o ftrgument, or even to m e:.tnin g.
Ho has r eportocl iunnme mbl o ohservations mricle h y himself in
the conrso of co nversation. Of these ouservat.i ons -we clo not remember one -which is :.tbo,·o th e intelloctuftl capacity of ::t hoy of
fift een. lfo has print.eel nmny of h is own letters, mid in these let.t ern h e is 11 hrnys muting or twn<ldling. Logi c, elo(]_uence, wit.,
trtste, n,ll those things " ·ltich are gen em lly con siflered as mnking
11 book vahmble, were utt erl y \rnntin g to him. H e lmrl , indeeLl, 11
rpiick ob servflt,ion n.nd :.t ret.ont.i ve memory. Th ese (]_n:.tlities, if h e
l1ad b een a mftn of sen se nm1 Yirtue, would scftrcely of themselves
lmve snlliccrl to mn,Jrn him conspicnous ; but, b ecause h e WflS a
clnn ce, ::t pamsite, arnl ::t coxcorn!J, th ey h 11ve rnacle him immortal.
'!'hose pn rts of his 1.Jook which, co nsidered ab stractly, are most
utterly worthless, ftrc d eli ghtfnl wh en we read them :.ts illustmtions
of th~ clmrncter of the w~·itcr. Bn,d in thornsel\"es, they are gorn1

CnAJ'. X IL]

now

lHACAULA y DES Clllill-:S IlOSWELI,,

210

dmm ftfi caJl _y, like tho 11 onso11se of Just;ico Slmllow, t h e clipped
Englis LL of Dr. Uaius, or the mispl:.tce tl consonflnts of F.luclleu.
Of rd l cn11Cossors, Boswell is t h e most oft1Hli<l. Otl1er mc11 liave
prctenrl od. to ln.y ope11 l;l1 eir own h0rirts : Hu11ssc:t11 , for ex:rni plo,
a 1ul Lonl Hy1·nn li:wo e l'ir le ntly written wil;h :i cum;ta11t. view to
effect., and ft l'O to h o tlt 011 m ost llistrn s tcrl \1·l1 l' ll th ey scorn to
b e most sincP re. '!'hero is r;cnrcPly a uy 111tm wlw wonk! n ot mth er
riccnso himself of great erirnes rinrl of Lhrk mH1 tempes tnons passions t;lmn proclaim his litHe vm1itics :.tm1 \\'illl fanci es. It \\'Ou.kl
be easier to fiud :.t p erson \\'ho won ld :.tvow rict.ion R like those of
C:usar J3orgift, or Dan toll, t.Jmn on e wh o \1·onl1l pnhli sh a chy-dremn
like those of Aluftschrir and l\foholio. 'l' l1 oso 11·eakn ess<'s wliic!t
m ost mcu k onp cove red 111' in tl 1c m ost secret, pln.r·es of t iLe rninrl,
uut to be di sclosc tl to tlH' nyn of fri <'H<l ship o r of lo Yc, " ·ero prn<'isoly
the wefllmesses which J3os woU l•ftrnrl cd b efore th e worltl. Ho w:.ts
p erfectly fra nk, u cc11uso t.h e wenluwss of his m11lcrst:.t11din g ancl
the tnmult of l1is spirit,s prcventrtl him fru111 knowing \Yltou he
lmd lllfttl c l1irn solf riaic nlun s. His bu nk resemhles notl1in g so
mu ch as t h o co n1·crs::tt.io 11 of tho i11nrntes of tho Pfllace of Trnt.11.
His fam e is gre:.tt ; and it " ·ill, 1rn h ave uo d oubt, be la~ t.in g;
but it is fam e o f fl p ecnli a r ldurl , rirnl in1lcc<l rnf11 Tellon sly rnsnmbles iHfarny. \Ve remember 110 nt.h or case in which the worltl lrns
made so great ft tlistiuctio n u etw eon a lioo k find its ftutl10r. In
g en eral, the b ook n]J(l its anthor ftro con sirleretl flS one. To ftdmire th o book is to admi rn t he ft Ht h or. Th o cri~o of Doswell is ftll
exception, we t hink the 011.ly exce ption, to thi s rule. His \\'ork is
uni vernall y ftllOlrotl to h o inte r<'sli ng, i nst rn ct.in', e mill ent.ly origi1ml ; ye t it hrts l1ronglt t him HoL hin g lmt contempt. All th e world
r e::ttls it ; :.tll tho world d eli gh ts in it; yet \\'e do uot romcmb e1
ever to hn.1·e read or ever to lm1·0 h ennl :.t11y expressinu of l'<'S poct
or aclni.imtion for the m a n to \Ylwm 11·e mm so m11d1 instrnctiou
:.tml :.tmusement. ·while <'<ht.ion n,fter e<liti nn of l1is b ook wns
coming forth, his sou, ::ts l\Ir. Crok er tells u s, 1rns asham ed uf it,
:.tnd lrnted to h ear it mentionerl. 'l'he fee li ng was irntuml n.ntl
reftsonalJl o. Sir Alexftlltl e r saw thflt, in proportion t.n t.he r:PlRh ri(.y
of the \\'01·k, \\':.ts the cleg rrufatiun uf the aut.lwr. 'l'he verv eclit.01~9
of t.hi~ 1111fort1111n.t.n go 11 f-. ]c'111nn's hooks hrt1·e 1'tlrgotf·r11 ti'irir :1llcgian•·•', >111.I , lilu: l110.'-.ic l'111·il:tu r::ts ni sls v;Jiu tuuJ• ;cnrn; L•,Y Uw all,

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220

NAIUlATION.

Ip A lt'l' Ill.

tho rity of the kin g again st hi:o; p erson, have attack ed the writer
while doing 11 01uago to the writings . J\Ir. Croker, fur example,
l1as pnblishe<l two thou sand fiv e hnwlrecl not.es 011 th e" Life of
J"ohn son," arnl yet suan:oly ever m entions the hi ogmphcr \rhose
performance h o has taken such pains to illustrate without some
expressi o n of contempt.

Details of Value, only when Characteristic. --111 an e:;say 011 thi s s11hj ect, Coleridge has llefi11ed
tl1e bo11mbry i11 narrating the lives of g reat meu 1etween
Ji uerty a nd Jicense. J Le says :
"Yet Lon113rteon, 1Jy the expr essions 'public face s ' and 'prop onrnli ng to thorn sel ms a p erson' eviden tly confin es th e biograph er
to s nch fads afl are C'itJ1or susceptible of ;;ome general inference,
or h •wl to illnstrnto t ho:o;c cpmlitics " ·hich distin g nish the subj ect
of them from. onli1mry men; whi_lo the pasmgc in gc 11eml was
m eant to g nartl t h e historian against con sidering, as trifles, 1111 that
might appear so to those who recognize no gre::1tness in the mincl,
an<l can con ceive n o dig nity in any incident which tloes i10t ::1ct on
their se nses b y its external accoml'm1iments, or on their curiosity
liy its immediate cunse<1nences. 'fhings app::1rcntly iusignific::1nt
arc reconunen<1 ocl to onr i10t ico, not for their own sak es, but for
their b earings or infinences on things of importance ; iu oth er
words, wh en t.h e.Y are insig nificant in rtppemance only.
" An iuqn is i ti \'enes:o; into tl1 0 minnte:o;t circumstances and crtsual
sayingK o f emin ent contempomri<'S is irnlce<l 1p1itc irntnrnl; lint so
nre a ll our folli es, and th o more natural they ::1re, th e more caution
shonl<l we exert iu g trnrllin g against them. 'fo sc rilJble t,rifles e\·en
on the p erishable glass of au inn -winL1ow, i s the mark of an idler;
lm t to ong rnve tl1 em on the marhle m omun ent,, sacred t o the memory of the departed g n-)::1t, is somethin g worse than idleness. 'l'he
spiri t of g enuine biog raph y is in not hin g more conspicnou s than
in t he firmne ss \Yi th whic:h it \\·ithstant1s th e eraviog3 of \\·or thless
curiosity, tts <li stingnish ed from the tl1irst, ufter u seful knowl edge.
For, in t h e fir:o; t plrtce, :o; nch an cc<1otcs as derive their wbol o ancl
sole in terns t, frum th e g rC'at name of th e pe rson by whom they a.re
relate<l , and n oitlwr illnst rntc hi s genernl character n or his part.icul::lr n.diuus, would scM·ccly have Leen notice([ or romemlicred except

CnA P. Xtt]

A SUJ'l'AllLE TO NK

221

11y m en of weak min11s: i t is l!ut unlikely, t h ercforn, that th ey
\\·ere misavpreh eml ed at the ti111 0, ::1nll it is most prolmlile t,\1:1t
they lmve beeu relaLoJ ::1s iu cuned ly aK they wure uutie ed injn<li ciously.
Iu t h e seooml plrice, those triJlus arc s nliversive of the great eml of biogrnphy, wliieh i~ to fi\: t he attention,
::1ud to interest the feelin gs, uf rn ou on those <itrnlitios aml ::1ctin11s
which lrnve made a particnl:.1r life wurtlty tu ]Jo r cconlc<1. It is,
no <loulit, t.l1e llnty of :tn ltoucst liiog rnphcr tu pnrb·ay t,]10 pru111iuont imporfeuti ous as \\·ell :1s cxcelll'11ees of hi s h ero; lrn t I a111
at a luss to co11cei.1·e h ow this ea11 be llcc med a n excuse for h enpi11g·
toge ther a mnltitmle of p:uLicnl:i,rs, wl1ich can p ron1 not.l1in g nf
auy man that might not h:wu lJeou safely take n fur grnuted of aJl
m eu."-'l.'he Friencl.
Nobody sh ould suffer his h ero to lrnrn a h bck eye, or to lHi
pulled by the nose. 'l'he Ilial1 \\·onhl 110\·er 11m·e come do\\·11 to
those tinH'S if ' Aga111011111on Imel g i ve n Ach il\1•s a hnx 011 thf' <·:tr.
\Ve shouhl haYe trcmliletl for tl1e i'Enei1l if a11 y 'fyria11 11oldP1111111
had kickc<l the piun s lEnens in tho fonrth rib. l'TI11 eas may li:wr i
d eserved it; but h e coultl not hav e Jonm1f' ll the H oman Empirn
after so distressin g au accillcnt.-8YJJNEY Sunu.

now

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A Suitable Tone. -Ko thi11g i;i rnore important i11
11arrntiu11 tl1a11 th at the 111:m11 e r and t l1 e tl>1te he atbpte<l
to the suuj ect;- aml llot 0111.r to the snuj eet absolu te ly,
lrnt to tl1e sulJject i11 its .relations tu tlte speal; e r a11cl to the
h earers (see page 83) . No art, no wit, rnn ato11 e for insensibility to th e proprieties of th e occasion.
Let u s illustrate this p oiut h y som e references to <kalh--a snbjec t u strnlly h eld sacrc<1. "Nanght s::1ve golH1 of t,\w d ead" is a
rnr1xim founded on a nni vernal instinct, The man is not to be cnviorl t h at can pass a .house \\'h er e th e fu n ern l-services even of a
stmngcr are in prog ress, with o ut tho impulse to Ji[t his h::1t in
silent symp::1thy.
Often lluotecl ::1s 11 type of all that is trnc aud tou ehiu g in rmch

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222

N AltUA'l'ION.

[PAU'f

III.

reforencef\ is the followin g trilm to to his wife by the ::tuthor of
" Day-Drc::tms of ::t Sclwol-nmster : "
lllll g', long whil e ag o 1 I kn e w a sc h ool - ma~ t c r, a ml ~h at
i-chnol -m nslcr ha d a wife ; and she wn s youn g', :tn<l fair 1 and lcarn ccl; l ike thnt princC's.i:;JJHIJil o( old A sclinm , fai r and l earned n s Si<l ncy '!-i f'; i1-lt·1-. l' cmU1ok c' s 1n ol;h cr. A nd her
voice was eve r eo ft, ge n t le, a nd low, r ead e r- an excelle nt thin g in wu111a11. A nd h e r fin g t• r s we re ttllie k at 1wctll e-wo r k, a rnl n imbl e in a ll a hou se wife's c un nin g. A nd ~ he
<:o nld d r aw Rw cc t mt1 8i c fro m t he ivory Uoa.n .l; S\\' Cctc r, strang r r mu sic [ron1 the chil l life
o[ lwr sc hnol -111as t c r -h11 i-;.1Ja11 d. A nd K!1c wns 11low o f heart t o ttnd f' r sta.rn1 m is c hief; !Jut
h er f l'ef, n111 fm· ift t o do good. Arnl fi hc \Yac:i. f' i111pl c with th e Rim pli city o( i:;- ir lhood, nnd
w i f'e with the w i Rrlmn that 1·u1r1c t h o nl y of th e L on l - co m ~ t h rrnly to the c hi l.J r(' n of l h c
Kin g tlnm. A tlll h e r R\\'<•ct y o 1rn g Jirn wa ~ a 1111ir11i11 1-!' hynrn, Rung h y a c h ilcl -\· o icc to r ic h
org a11 -11n1 i:ic. Ti n1c fi ha\l t h row hi ~ dart a t d ca t.h 1 e re dea t h iln t h "lain s nc h an oth e r.
For i-: hc died, reade r, a lung-, lun g wh il e ago. And l s loo(\ on ce by h e r gravr- h c r g ree n
g r:l \T - n nl, far fr0111 dear JJ 1111 ctl in . ]) ii•cl , rca1l c r, for nil Rile wa ~ so f ai r 1 and learn ed, nud
simt 1le, nml go<x l. ArnJ , I :irn loltl, it made a. g rcnl difference lo that s c hOl>l-mn.st e r.
011 cr: upo n n t ime , rea de r ,

:i.

Uontnis t with this the following consecutive prrn1grnphs from ::tn
Elmira uowsp::tp cr :
F.n ga n, th e m:i n killed at, C he m1m i; on Friday ni g ht;, li \·e1l 11 car t h e d e pot;, n.11d leaves
n wift: :rn 1l family. Jl e was wal ki 11g o n t h e t rac k n t t,JiC' t illl c 1 :\ t'lll \\':H; st rn c k hy N o. 12
goi n g l ~ n s t. J/ 1 ~ w a s a sulJc r 11 1:1 11. '.l.'h e n cci tl cnt, oc c urred aliout nin e o 'c l11ck . .H e wn s
im;ta ntl y kil le~ l -n ll 1·11 t to pi<' cC"'•-t h c h <'ad l orn o ff a rnl the b od y man g led .
~ Ir. Jl nrry .M n r ph y 'l" ho111C', whi c h wn s mad e lh c bri g ht<' r h.r th e 1111 fol d i 11 ~ a lit t le time
ngo or a dain ty. tiny r oseh 11tl, s weet :1.1111 prcc io11 f'l . is nnw in 8il arl ow, fo r tl1e ll' 11Ll e r lil tlc
ll m n·r h n s with nC'd. A fl'W \\'(•ekf.: 0 11\y it las l1•d , ye t ~ ufli c i c n t to J1avc its te ndril s c ling
n rn111111 h c:nls that arc ve ry lonely n uw . The pare nts h:.i. ,·e th e sympath y o f mn n y
fri e nd s.

Here i» n,n n,l.tempt·., evidently well-me::tnin g, hut very uuh::tppy,
to fl pply tel'huicn,l term s :
Albert ~ ey m o n r '\'righl, th e a sf:;oc iatc edi to r of t he lt h a.ca ..Jmtr11al, hn s hand ed in
hi s ln r:.t copy and r e nd h is last pr oo f. A sw lde n n.nd fatal illnf' ss c mnn cip:lLcd hin1 nt I.h e
<'nr ly ngc o f 2.1 fro111 t llr. pe rpl ex ;ii cs n r ilk·g il)J(' 1natllt!-\f'l'ipt, tllf' c r iti c i" 1m; o r i11 s11ffcr a1Jl e
cg-ot i H t ~ 1 a.ml !he c x:i s pcrnlin!.! hhm1l Pn; nf tlir. i11tclligc ntc01npo"itor. H e did hi s c~ u t:r in
life, w n~ h o n orf' il 1>.Y hi s fri f' 1Hls, a111l , 11 0 w th at lw is d emi, hi s pin.cc will not IJe eas ily
fill C'd by h is cc l11 al. - R o r fl e.\'t c' I' !Jf: 1110CJ'Ot ru ul (;111'0 11 idc.

Rut t.l1 e 1111pn,nlo11n,hln offence in jonrn fllism is to look upon
cl erlt It n,s n, fi t snl 1jer.I·, for fantr\stir. h nmor n,rnl exor.rnhl e puns.
(Sre J'IL 101 - 104.) 'l'hrn<, n, repor ter on the St.. P aul P ioneer- />1-ess
trll » 11 w tnlo of n, 111 1111 who dnmk fl bottle of whiskey ::tt oue sitting,
arnl <liorl in tlte n,c t., ::ts follows:
f: ('n rgc Dapp n f Q:-; h kush made a IJonJ.ctl w n.rc h ousc of his bay-window, and turn ed bis
toes np tu t h e d ais ies.

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BOMBAS'f.

Even more repulsive ::tre the following :
A Imel 1i ttlc hoy hml som e po ,,·d c r ,
An ll in try i1i g to make it go loud e r
H e rm ccecd ed s o wel l
That hi ~ folk ~ conl<ln "t tell
Hi s remain :. fr om a dis h o [ clnrn t:howd e r.
A latly n:i.m ell Mn.r y Mag u i-a h
Had t r oubl e in l i ~ hti11 g h e r fi -ah.
Th e wno1l be ing i;n~ l·n,
Sllo 11sf' tl kf' rosen clJ•a u ;.;1~ ; thl' ll 1;o nti1111 c Ru h·rn11l y 1]
1
She R go11e w h e re the fnc\ is tlry -ah. - /'1tck.

The s::tme criticism flpplies to mrr lessness in the lan gnage e mployed, even when the in tenti on of the w ri ter is to lie respectful.
A trng ic scene is thn s llepi ctecl h y the lrnml of oJJo of. t he most
11111tter -of-fact of all penny-:t-linern : "'J' lte corpse b y rn it berth
fld joiuing the c::t\Jin, scarcel y yet cold , \Yith the. youu g wife lmng ing over it ::tnd bow::tiling h er loss in tlw most piteons ton es m tho
F lemish t ongue, she l1ei11g umtble to spoflk or und erstand ::t won!
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Bombast.- .While tr itlin g lang uage appli ed to a serious snbj ect is offensive, high-Jlow n lan g na.ge applied to
t ri fling suuj ects is g rotest111 e. Ucnce to ridicnle a tmgill
style is the easiest fonll o [ lrnrl es<111e. Thus :
IN T il l> VAI, E 0 1' SOJtltOW.
8h c took Uie YPi l !

Su yon 11 g 1 i-;o fai r,

She ~cc m cd a lmos t too pure fo r ea r th ;
Ar0uncl h e r sce n1 ed t o l..fff'atli c a n air
That ca.m e o [ more t ha n hnmn n bir t h.
S h e took t h e vei l l S low sun k t h e sun,
As loath tn lea ve ~o fa ir a s ig h t,
To lea ve so bri g-ht and pure n. one
To fn ce th e comi n g gl oo m o f nigh t .
S he took t he ve il ! U11 t S te war t' s clerk,
'Vh o f.:aw h e r ta.ke it;, t ook h e r too;
Th e .Jmlgc sn.ill, " Th is iR prcUy work;
So, 01:1c1n.m 1 ni n ety d a ys for yon.''

" So yon're not going to m::tny E:r.m Haskin s'Rd::tughter, thongh
you know m y h o::trt is sot on th::tt m::ttch, " thnmlered Sir 1\farnm-

224

N ARllA'l'lON.

[PART III.

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Sl'ECU'JU DET A1LS.

II

<111kC', t.lto fair.Y kin g, t.o liis son , Lom l\ifnton, the ox-tam er of
Yellow Spriu gs. " No, sir," m eekly replioll th o yom1 g ma n. " And,
sir," roared the oxaspomtod fath e r, "may I ask yo n wl1 y you thus
<fare tu Ut1nirt m.Y. exp ressed 'rill ? " "Yes, sir," said hi s son, iu a
low, faint voice, like r1 joke l>ofore Lroakfos t, "bocmrno I asked h er
:mil sh e sai<l sl1 o' <l ratl1 er marry a pnmp Jog- for 11rnin s than an yhrnly in this fami.l y." "Ah! " exclaimed Sir 1\form::t<lnke, wi th a
falling .intl eotion , 1t1Hl th en h e turn o<l away to the now Ay rshire cow
in the com er of the lot, a nd said, in the voice of a thnmle r- cloud ,
" Hml<lup yer fo ot, yo fur-t ailed imp of a th is tle patch , or I'll
knock ye over wit.It a neck-yoke !" Aud his own son know tlmt
the proud-spiriteu old man was thinkin g of H or.-IJurlington
JJriu·lceye.
CONSOLA'l'lON.
" Wh y ru e y nn ~ :td 1 B eryl?"
Th e girl t 11 r11 e1l h<' r lw:u l ~lightl y

n~

th ese wor1l s w ere spoken, n.nd n.s her li i:::somc fig-

11rc, w it,h itfl ro n rn.lcd enr ves nrnl IJc ant,Hnl fl es h t i11ts1 ~ toud s h a rpl y o u Ll in etl , ClP: 1.r a.nd
pcrrect as a e:1 1n N 1, in tlw rnnnnb C:\ntR t,h ;\t w ere Jailin g in I\ !'l- il vcr " pray lhrong-h th e
lJm nclws o f t h e li nrl t• n l n 'l'S, th e Hig- h l \\·:1 R i ni l cP~ l a pretty o n e. Ccnrgc \V . S i 111pson
Jo11kcrl nt h(' r <•arncs ily a. 11 1n m c11t, nnd saw t ha t lC'nrs were well ing n p in t he L1 11 sky l.Jrow n

cye5l 1 nnd Fnhi-; t h at co u ld nut lie reRtra in CLl CPll \'lllsi ng t he gi rli i-\h form .

"\Y hy l' honltl I n ot be f.'acl? '1 she snid. The s wee t summ er is dy in g . Th e re nro
holl ows in he r fa ir checks; a patlwt ic droo p about the riJle red li p ~, tlark fi~ncl ows ben eath the }(lvcly eyeR. 1\11 11 nlrl'ady across the h azy h ills nnturn n p eer~. lle ITy s tain s on
h er brow n , ~J i m fi n g e r!= , pnr ple vines trailing nl>ont h cr1 ::c:irlct 1Jml s 1 :ind golden -rod for
th r. eo rcm:il, n11tl a Urokr. n rccLl fo r hC' r ~cc p t rc. A lre ad y the h o ll ow:-; nrc hr immNl wi th
nrnhe r h =i7.c an d th e h ill -hips c p1w nc•1l with 1Jh1 c i:: m okc. Th e fit m look ~ l:rngn itll y thro ngt1
ilrcn m c lou d s ; n. y(· llow l" a( f:i.11 .<: ht• rC' nn c1 t h rrc, :uu l some 1m ul cn t bi rtl R fl y sou t. h w a n l
ere yet t h e firRt f rost m ak es t he frn it ruddy nml ripe n s t h e hnzcl· nn ts in t he h c(lgc~, cm
yet t he .<: 111 nnc (•ntch cs ~0 111 c h\ 0011 drop ~ from th e hcnrt wound o f fain t in g Hummer, and
th e ns.tc r l i)o k ~ with hl11 c :uHl w ii:;tf11l eyes f ro m Lh c woorlla11tl pat h.
0
1
u It is i111h•cd n t im e rm u g llt w ith i:;11 ggc.<:tio n ::: Lha t.. arc m o nrnful 1 ' Srlhl George,
but
Rttrcly th e re iR o n e glea m o f h o pe>. o n e li t.tic ray o f gold en R1111 s h i ne a111id all th e mi s t nrnl
cl o ml R'' -nwl , h C'ndin g: on~ r t he g irl in a l ovi n g- fa ~ hion, h e whi .<:pc rctl n worcl in h er car.
A smil e ch:1 SC'1l away t·h o 1l Ps pnncl c 11t look . a111l the tf'ar.<: that 1limrnccl starry Cj'C'S w ere
q u ick ly <ln~ hP i l nw ny . J'n tti n g h e r nrm s a ro n nc l George's n eck, 13c ry l m n rmn rcd so ftl y
mul with a lnt•k p f p crfC'ct trm::t : " Yon arc ri g h t, swccthc:u t, I had forgolt c n t h e CIJS ~
t cn;.·· -c1i icauo Tri bune.

Descriptions Should be Specific. - Says Lord
](a1n cs : " Ol1j ccts on µ;ht to he p ainted so ac:c nra tely as to
form in th e 1lli1Hl of tli c read e r distin ct and livel v irnao-es.
.
"'
Ji:,·e ry i1seless eircu11Lsta11 ce onglit imlccJ to be snpprcsscd 1

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l>ee:rn sc ev e ry s11 ch eil'(;11111 sl:t111·( ' l11:1<l s 1l1c 11:11T:li i1111 ; 111!1:
iE a eircu1u sta11 ec lJc llC<.; e<;:;ary, l1 0\\ C1cr slight, ii c;:rn111) t
~l1ab; ]' C l'C sa.p, 'Y o11
lie deseribed too 111i11ntcly .
may as well go about to 1.111·11 t.hn ;;1111 to ice liy f':1.1111i11µ; i11
hi s faee with aJ1Ca<.:0<:1. ·'8 Jcatli cr.' Tl1 c pe:w()ek' s fcatl1 c r,
ll ot to rn clltion tli c b ea1it y of 11 10 olijccl, c01 11pl l'lcs tl 1e
illlage : an accnratc i111 agc c:11111 ot be fornwd of tlia.t fa1l('i ful operation witl1rn1 t C<lll< '.\'. i1·i11 g :t l'ar tic11la1· fc :1t l1 e r ; :111<1
one is at a loss \\·l1 c11 llii ,; is n cg lcc tc(l in tli c tlcscriptit111."
'l'l1e economy of tli o r0t:i1,.i1' 11L's 11H' tii:t l em·rg·y, into 1rl1i ch :1ro
tlrn s rcsol valile t.he Ro1·0 ral "" llS<'"' of th o sh 't-' 11 g l!t o ( Raxo n En g·lish, may oqnally b o trnC'C'<l in th o SH1>Priori ty of sp ecific ov<'r
goll e ri c wonls. That, coHC' l«.:te t< '.rm s l>l'(Hlncc mnre vivi1l imprr:ssioHs than ab strnct Oll ns, a1ul ~ h o nl<l, wlt"u p ossilil P, lJO 11 setl i11 stei1tl, is a thoron gh 111axim of cmnpos itinn. As Dr. Cnm plH'll
says, "'l'ho more gnn ornl tl1 e t.onns n.r<', tho pidnre is tl10 (ai11Ll'r;
tli c rn ore sp ecial th ey arc, tlt1) Lrighl ur. " ·wo s honltl arnit1 sul' h
11 sen tence as :
I n pro porti o n n s t.he m fl n11 0rs , c 11 <:.l,nrni-:, n. 1111 ri mu sPnic n tR o f
lmrlmrous, t he regu la tion ::; o f their p ena l cotl c will be seve re.

~t

nali o n arc c racl nw l

Aud in place of it we sh ould 'll"l'ito :
Jn propo rt io n ns m e n

<l C' l i~ ht

in ha!t.lP!'-! ,

h n ll - li g h t~ ,

nrnl co mbats o f g \n11i a.lors, w ill

t h ey puHi E,: h by han gi n g, lntn1i11 g- 1 rrnd l he rnck .

This superiority of sp ecific oxprossions is clm rl y <lne to a saYin g
of th o e ffort r equired to tnw slato wnl'<ls inlo thon g hts. As we 1lo
not think in generals bnt in p::1rticulars- its, wh0nc,·er nn,v class of
thin gs is r eferred to, we r eprcse11t it to onrnelrns by rnlliug to
mind inclivichrnl m embers of it- it follmrn that \rlion an abst.rnct
\rord is u sotl, the h earer or 1"'rt<ler 11 as to choose from his sto ck of
im ages, on e or more, hy whitd1 h o may fi gnre t.o him self tho gC'nns
rnen tionecl. In d oin g this, som e d Pb y mn st ariRe-sornc for co ho
expended; and if, h y empl oyin g a specific tPrm , an appropriate
image can b e at once snggcstcd , au eco nomy i R nehi e 1·ed, rrutl 11
m oro vivid impress ion p ro cln cocl. - HElmmn ~PENCEK
"I have coveted no man's silver or gol<l ur apparel ; 11rr:v, yo
you rselves know that these lrnuLls have ministered to m y nocessi-

NARHATION.

[PAm' Hi.

CHAI'.

ti cs nncl to them tlw.t 1rnro with me. "-Ads xx., 3:J, 34. H n.<1 he
said 111!/ lw.nds, tlic scntcHcc "·onld. lmve lost no thin g, either in
mc:miug o r perspi cuity, lmt very much in vivacity. -OA~lPBELJ;.
Aristo tle has re ma rked "that un cdn cated inen h ave more power
of persuasion amo11g th e ignornut than the edncate,l have; bec&nsc th e latter arc apt t o speuk of nmttei:s of common lmowlellgc
am1 of a gen eral clmrncter, while the former speak from their own
lmowle,l ge, and say the things t.lmt are close to their h earers."
(Hh et. II. xxii., B. ) But th e example of such men as L nther aml
Latimer s hows that tho le:inwd can acr1nirc the power of speaking
o f fam iliar thin gs in th e ]'lain style. - HEJWEY.

Caution sh o11k1 be exer cised , however, in naming p ersons wl1 o m a 11 a rra ti ve r ctlects 11 po11 . U1 1l ess ther e is good
r eason to te ll of another what. t hat other wo uld r egret to
have told, t h e n arrative apprnaches libel, and t h e narra tor
appears at ]Jost as a gossip.
'l;\'r' n<lell Phillips was forme rly severely cen sm·ec1 for personal
criticism a nd coml emnation in his speech es. H e rnplied: "If I

AVOID SUPERLATIVES.

227

llenonnce what seems to b e moral cmrnnlil'e in the ahstrnd, OHTY l>ml y yawns and agrees. If I say I lll<'an E L11rn,rd EnJrnt t,, whn; 11
e:'e~ ',Y b OLly rnspects, and whose politic,d ex:Lrnl'l<J >a' L'lllS to rn o p e rn w1ou s, e\:erylJOdy nmy be sltu<'kl'll , ln1t Lltcy Lil l to tliillkin g."
'l'he pomt of sati re lies iu i ts imli' iil1rn lit,y. Us Yid irn s rnn st
have a local habitati on rtlll1 :1 llame . f·U.Y all11sio 11 , sr'1i1i-(•rin i1·u.. :d
ex prnssion, a11r1 pointPd in si1111:t1·, jo11 , trio well "lcli1tcLl. to frai·e it s
p crno nal application Ll onbfful , tlr cwl'll re, f"nn a large pa rt. of tlr"
diction of jonmalistic al'f.i clns l'C'lrLtiug to socinl ] i ft', whi] o in polit1C'al warfarC' the b ol1lest lilie.ls, tllll JJJost 11ntlisg 11 ise r1 grnss11css of
abu se, alone snit tho pahtc of' l 1mlcfl parhsa11 sl1 i p. .Hf' nc e th e
dialect of perso nal vitnl'crat.i.011, th o i:li d mic of rnal ieo i n all i ts
m odii:i cations, th o art o f tln1,, 1ri11g " ·i tlt f:1i11 t l rrai s(', the s11 C'nr pf
contcm p tnon s iron;·, f-. li n liilli 11 gsg:i,te of Ynlgar li:1k, n11 t hcse ]1n1·o
been so lln~ons l y cn lti1·atml , mul, <~mnhi11 e tl "·itlt :1 certain flippan cy
of cxpress10n anr1 r eacl y com m:tn<1 of a folerali]y ex tensi ve vocalinlary, they arc enou gh t.o mn.kn tli e .furtnn c of :111y sli nr}', sl1:11Jo\\·
unprincipled jonrnn.list, wl1 0 is contrn1t with tir e fa111e a.ml t.hc pl'lf
wlnch the nnscrnpnlons u se of such :1ecomplishn1011ts can lmn1ly
fail to secure.-1\fAnsrr.

The Use of Proper Names.-Hence dates, and
th o 11 a.111 es of 11c rso11 s aml places, give cxa ctuess a nd r eality
to the 11arrati o11.
Every one is s0nsihle, for instance, that the most humorous or
cntcrtaiuiHg story loseth eg regiously wh en the rnlator cauuot or
" ·ill not !lame t.110 persons concerned in it. No donut the Imming
of t.hem ltns tli c greatest effect on those who are acriuainted with
th em, either pcrspnall y or Ly cliarncter , Lut it hath some effect
crn n on those wlio 1ie,·cr hear<l of th em Lefore. It must l>c
an cxtrno l'<li11a1y talc irnlecll 'vhicl1 "·e can b ear for any time to
h ear if the nllrrntor proceeds in this lnngnic1 strnin : A certaiu perso n who slrnll h e nameless on a certain ocmsion said so and so, to
" ·hich a cer tain oUier person in tho compan y " ·h o slmll like wise
be nameless m ad e answer. Na;·, so c1nll doth a narrntive commonly
appear wh erein anon;'mous individuals only are concern ed, tlmt
we choose to give feigned names to the p ersons rather than none
at all. -OAMPBEJ,L.

Xil.]

"

Avoid Superlatives. - " Writcrn o f inferior rn11k
are con t imm 11 y up on t11 e st. rot.ch to 011 li vc11 a rnl e nforce
their subj ect hy e\ngger ati<.> Jt a11d S11[1erbtil'Cs. Thi s, 1111 lnckily, h as an effec t cun trnry tu what iR inte ncl cll ; th e
r ea<.le r, di sgusted with l rrn g un gc tl1at S\rnl1 s 2!Ju1·c tli c subj ect, i s lecl b y co11tra1'f: to t.hi11k 111 ()rn 111 ca11l.Y of tl1 0 ::;11hj cct
tli an it 111 ay possibl y d P8crv c. A 111a11 uf pl'lld c ncc, 11es icl es,
will he 11 0 l oss car cfol to l111 sha11c1 l1i s stre 1wtlt
in 1\'l'iti1w
~
t"'l
tlian in walkin g : a. w rif·c r too lil Jend of s11pc rl a f.i vcs exhau sts hi s wl1olc s t ock i1po11 onli11:1ry in<'idC'11ts, a11,1 rese r ves no sh a re to e xpresi::, " ·ith greate r c 11c1·gy, malt.en;
of imporb11ce."-K111111·:s.
Vmw.-" 'l'his very small won1 is YN.1· oft.en n se tl in the E nglish
lan guage wh en a sentence mm\,1 lH" Y<'ry 11rncl1 s tro nger n111l t l1e
m ea ning Yery rnucl1 mo re forl'ihle " ·i t li onf; it. Il' :t umu Jrns not

228

NARRA1'10N.

. [P AH'l'

111.

mnch hnir on the top of his l1 enL1, it is not enoug h fo r veovlc to 1-;ny
sintply t.Jmt h o is b ald , but h e i s very brtld. A m un is u o t F< l'in gy,
l int h o iH very stingy, when tho on e good s trong '\\·ord ' stin gy '
' ro nhl p ut t h e 'Th ol e v oint forciuly. A d octor of divin ity is n o t
learned , but very learned ; a d octo r of m edicine is n ot crotch ety,
h e i s Ye ry crotch e ty; whil e a lawyer is not cu nnin g, bu t very cunn in g . In th e sam o ' n i,;·, a youn g fatly is not lmn d sornc, lrn t Ye ry
lmrnlsom o. 'l'lt c r111 alifi cr ]lfls liecom o so com m on t h at it is wcnJ, _
onin g t o th o " ·on1 it is joi ucd t o. I n uin c cases out of t en " ·h ere
r ei·.11 is u sed t o i11tc nsi fy limn a n sp eech , a sin g l e, h oh1 " ·ord withou t tl1 0 rery wo1d<l lt it tl1 e m ea nin g like :i lmmmor, an d d rive it ·
h o me with a direc tn ess unkno wn t o d ogged a ml h ampered expressi on.
" 'Very ' seem s to lie a word tl esig ue cl l 1y l'rovi<l en ce for youn g
lntlice1 to ex press t h eir fe elin gs witl1 . 'l'his p ortion of t.he commnnit.,y prob abl y conltl n ot get o n " ·it h ont, th eir utl verli, h11 t t.l1 e
E ng lis h o f t h e r0Rt of tl1 0 race " ·nukl Le strengt he ne <l if t.li c little
qn alilir' r were rC'l 0gal·c11 nlmos t wh olly to the fair clasR to 'd1 orn it
l 1d ongs. n. croPps i nto 0 111: literature as i11 si d io u ~l y as th e mcnsles
into a famil y of li ftcr n, a ntl , oucc tl1 cre, it s tays l ike an oflicesoekor. It u r calrn on t everywl1 cre, eYe11 in the m ost hig h -t on erl
and ' c11H.i rnt e<l ' \\Titin g . A newspaper , wl1i ch is auth ority on tlie
a rt of lite rary com posit ion , i •r int s, f0r instance, a thrilli ng d escrip tion of a lirillia nt p ar ty . E Yery lrHl y pn'1 sent "·as Yery mu ch this
or th a t. 1\Irs. Dln.i1k, wh o wns a very intim ate fri end of l\Irs. General D as h , \\·ore rL V()]',)' h nrn1some g.rren satin d r ess, aml h ntl a Yery
h uml so mc sil H>t' <'o ml 1 in h Pr hack lrnir. ]\Im. G 011eral Dash wore
~n cxrc01l j11gl,r l 'CCr'in riug ,l n's~, i,rl1ie h 11· ~----: yr11·y r l :1. l )nr:i t 0]y rn:ir_l c .
'l\yo yo n ng la<l ies, w h t's<' <1rcsscs ,1·ere c xccnlin g ly 11 ccomin g :rnd
\·c r .v gTa t,;ef nl. w e re a.ct:u ru 1,a 11 ici1 l1y a yu n n11.: 111aa w l11.J Jiad a ve t-y
l i ~d1t-.

111011 s h11·lt1• .

E Yi'l·y l Hid y

\Y:t~ 1•il .!t1•r ' , ·1·1·y, ' 111·

' 1•\ <'l-' f- 1 4 Ii 11 .~'. 1 ,\- , '

u r '1 11u~-d l 1ig ltl.Y' ~ 1 1 111i · tl 1 i 1 1 g . T JH' :l ir L r i ~l l 1 ' 1l w i f11 :-; i 11 11 ·r l:ili \- 1''-' .
" l t <.: o JJtlJin os i11 slntd iv11 11ilh :uuu bt"lll8HL t u <.: u uut ll 1e '\pJ·j, .., '
Ill a

1·o l 11 !l ll!

o r J! p\\ ··..; 1 1 n 11pJ' ndvP1tl~»!!!Plff;;.:.
! :t ·~

1 .. · i t1.~~-

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I

.U•-·!H-•ra.1 l +" !l~ l--'\\" 1 1 ri\ '

1'"" !' '1 ·i:1l\l<' '.\ .. 111: \l l ;111.1 ;\
g·orHl conk. Hlic ] s :t Y1·ry l'l' ~ jl t't' t ald l' \Yr11 11a n a!nl :t \ ' !'!'."' :_.:, · 11,d 1·r ,n h
J t, i s f' n o 1Ed1 . j 11 a- 11 c o11 ~e i P n f'0 . t.n hf sn ld 11f fl ·w n1 n:i 11 U 1fl.t. ~"'' iq
a sn p nrio r >1·:i itr0s.s. 811pr- ri nr its. lf 111crn1s l1dt01· t l1 n.11 c;nn1l , l>nt
:! !' 1·l it ·:11 d

j--;

{'1 •!d t• !1l

\\i\11

1

0

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2~ !)

AVOID SU PJ\ll LATlVES.

C11Ar. XII.]

t his u ncommon wai tress htcks on t h e ·1ronl ' very,' too, :tml thn s
b ecom es very liett.er thm1 good .
"'l'he climax of ve riness i s n'aclic<l , lw 11·e,·cr, l1y n. gi rl. S l1<'l is
' a very com petent cook , rrnclc i:st:L11<l s wait,in g at talile in a 1·e ry
e f.ficient, m a1rn er , and i:-; in aH rnf\p octs very fi rn t-t·ln.ss.' ' 111 all resp ects 1·cry Ji rst-class <1rni li li cn.tions' is goo d . H is o nly <'<prn ll e<l
b y l.l w yo n 11 g m a n wh o was a Ye ry p c rfrd. Ji o rs1•.1nan n1Hl n 1<ln a ve ry
hlnck h or se. A Hue e:rn111pl 0, t oo, o f th e n' t11111<hn t, ' "" "." 'i s t ho
n,ply of t h e ol<l t ar who \Y:ts l1lo1rll orn 1:1Jo:u·t1 at 'l'mf:d gar, :t1Hl
resc ued wi t h m n ch <lilli c nl t.r, an c1 'din, lo ll ~ a ft cnvn n1 , l min g
ash e <l liy a sympa fl1 otic la11y l1 ow lw frlt o n tli a t, occas ion, all s wored : ' \Vet, m a'arn , Ycry wet. ' " - Cim :i11n1tli Cnmmerciul.

11

N mYFP..\I'EH ]~N G l.I S l !. - Now . i11 llu_
' cl ays of 1:r:rnkhat11 !IH' k in .c:. i t was so t·hat
F r :rnkfel p:::, Uw kin g ";;; !l\ess1•11 g(· r , w r nt. u nt into t he b n d (1f Th e / l(ncl:ef;e arn l llUHl c 11 ro-

cl a111 :i.l,io n u11 tn t ile peo pl e, sa y i ng :
'' \\' lrnt d oest; t h 11 11 k 11 0wc ~ t, :u11l ir Uw u k n O\,·Ps t na11 g l: t 1 w h nt h:; it, ?,,
F or he f:a id with in h i rn s('lf, , _Vc r il j', l.1 111,t. \\·hid1 tli e.r kn ow n0t is a s the s:rn1l u pon
t he sea -s hore a s compared with t lJa t wllich tlH •y k ll <1\\', a11 il it \\·il l g o fu rllw r lo til\
u p. ' ,
B ut t h e p 0.0 pl c h cltl th c i1· pence, f4 Jr t h e t imes W Crf' h :ll'rCll :tnil lJH' l'C wa s :\ fa m in e nf
i tc111s in t h e la n tl.
Arnl t.il c k in g'!)

r el11 r 11 c1 l , a111l h(' 4111 11!.C'il

1t1C S:"-(' l l g1 T

n vcrit,y , it is a F Sol P111 u n sa itl w h e n Il e \\· a s local

till

fp1n1

th e

th(' wi:-'r nnrn . :ind R:1icl: "0 {

,J enr .~· 11km

uu:1·taker, there is

11oth i11 g n e w 1111d c r the s 1111 . 11
D 11 t t h e kiu g co rn m arnl cd h im, Rayi ng, "\\'h(lop her n p ! 1 '
A n d i t wa ~ so I.ha t. Fra 11 kfclps1 i tw king 's 1t1 c :'""T ll /.!(' r. wa,o.; wrr1l h, n111l he ~ a i tl : "Wliat
i s th i R t h at th e ki ng co 1n m a11ddJ1? Thal I F: h al l rnn kc- b rick!"= wit hn11 t sf raw ? ''
A n d h e go t h in1 a. 11 otE.- L>ook t.ll nt wa s n s bi g a ~ an aLla !;~ aw l g" i nl c d up li is loin s an d

w en t. f or t h .
Aml h e Fp n.kc u n to a m:i.n on South 11 ill, rn.y i ng- : " Th e i.;mok f' m; of a hnrning nsccndct.h fr om Lhat. bat:k y :1rc l ; tell 111e, l pra y th e1• , •.\"11;,L is t! lf' c: rn ..:•.: th creo i ? ' '
A nrl !h r> :--:011 t h H il l man ,:;~wt: "I If n vf'ri t;y i t i s o n ly t.llr :1 sh h :11T1•i. arnl is i t 1101; a i r 0ailv 1mt o n t?
"Jlr .. :t •!f it\

f ' !nnd..; nf

11

1/ .. :.. ,. :1>1-t

l

l\! 11?'!·:•; ~:~ 1 · d ·:0

J! _\ ( ) 1 I • •I I'.~ I 1

t ] j( '

! , 11 )' j 1 )

\

'\ '1 .. .

ld"!

Ji. . ,.,.,;, ,,, !·

•111!

111'- '!11 !l ~: , f 1 1

t lt \ ( > I >I 1 1 • 1 • ·

,\nd hi-.; ili-:11·1 w :1~ !!l:11\.

. . :.:]+

!

'! l!" f-' i·

1· 1

I "! :1 1 1 1·· ~

\I

J 1;!:'

TL .. l

1: 1 1 I " I~ .. , I

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'il~ ' 1 1 1 c;

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:\1 : .! l! 11·:1 -' " " !l 1:1t ] 1.. 111· t ·1 l « >'. :1• J~. • i], '' ,f

:'1 ·1•1 <

\'

~30

NA RHA'l'lON.

o f_l_I o n f'Rt. F.rt.l e~· p rh:c ! A I'rnmin c 11 t.
Crn pnr nte l' rn 1l cgci.: ! "

B n s in cs~ H ons<> R11in ed

hy Pi ti less Co111pcliti u11 :ui ll

duce a di stinct impression, the two 11·o rd s togeth er 111 er ely
forming n sort oJ poetical circn1lll uc uti tllt for t he 1101111
alone. S nclt epitl1 ots p:Ld out t·lic ll:trrati vc wiU1011t
strcllgtl1 eni11g it, aml arc uft cll ridir;ul u11 s.

.

111 a n

w ho had t :1rr if'd l ong at t h e wi 1w. an d was t ellin g hi s nspinitio n s
nnrl f l':irR C'Vf'll 111Jln I lw s ilf' t1 L J11dir111 \\"!Jn :-:1n t1d d h in f ront of th e c iga r sto r e ntt{l cl c '.1.'lt C' n I H! i-=a w a.

lt~d P tll 1n an k i11 tl w i t.Ji w no dt•11 L11'1:u·Pn. ii.n il wh ilf' l.h C' 1t1a11 t nl k!'d th e n llkc r c ontnrn.nd c ll
tl 1 ~ t. h1~ sliotlld 1111 -.: h it up. A nd h e \Y011ld 1111 t, Im !, spnlrn cV PH yi·t rnur• ! Jornll y . A nd

h nn

lh f' nHH'l'r d :lpJwd t.h c
w h en h e w o uld v ot.
1\11tl ! h t•

1

' cnn1 c alrm gs" orito hirn, and nm lli111 i11 a11d Louk 1ii111 even
1

ll lt"·'~ P n i..w r \n o!·0 i n hi :-: IJook : " DP~poti s m Uu 11ias kccl ! Libe r ty As~a i l cll IJy
Th e Hi ~ ll t. of l"n.!c ~pccc h 'I'rarnplcd Up(l n I Ri g ht of the

'l 'hus a New H ampshire e<lit.nr sperLirn nf a "n e w LrerL<l \rngon,
painted in t he higlrnst style of tl ecornl i1·<' art, li variug upon its sid e
in golden lctt.ers t.h e t:a.li srn nni<· \\'Ord H ithl le, arnl <lrnwn l1y n coa lhlflck steed , dad in a n eat fi t.ting a 11<1 nrna me n lrLl li nrn l'ss, to
" ·hirh were :tthled hrnad 11·l1il o r uin s, s kilrn lly li:rntlletl hy a goo <llooking driver."
J\Iany wrih"rs of t.h at kin<l a1>011 n<l so in C'J'itl1 ots, ns if i1ndry
con sisted entirely iu l1i gh -r;r1111Hlin g \l'<rnls. Trike tl1 0 Io ll oll'i ng
iu stance :

th e Inrn ll a ntl n f M i~..dit !

P cu J>l c t o A F~C ll d•h- n JHl Di s 1·11 :-::-: l ~ n o rctl nml Un t ra g-cd. "

Th e 11 it w_n 8 H.1 t.11 at h 0 1t1ct. a IJuy who h nd t rnd upon o. nail in t,J 1c plrmk walk , and t lte
lad was \\.f'P p lllg nn d S'.H' arin g .

, , A:H1 t h'. · lllC'""f' nge r Rn ii!<'d a111l <'1l tf' rc1l 11po11 h is ch ronidC's : " IJcn r t -r c ntl ing Accide nt!
lh c Lll'C'tl111 g- :111t l ~l :rnglPd Bod y n f !h l' \ .i d im Cunv <' \·<'<l lii h is .l l on ic ! "

1
. 1~1 ::n .. l'. c p n r snt ·d !t i s j nn rn t'.Y a.ml !5aw a \Vest Hill m an at; wor!~, :1.11d h e sa id unto
h im .
I· l' H' nd, wlin. t. d urst t h n n 9 ''
A1 11l Iii <' 111a11 s:1id : " J 1 o • ! h~ 111 •<.: <.C's·
• f 1· I. ·•11 11 1·_:tk1ug
. · · dow n t l11· s ul d rron t gate w hi·c h
m an y yea r s an d a fo1·: 1!:1ng h l1•rs h:i 1·e l'Cll411 •r l'd 11·clJ -nhd i HSl'l<'fis,''
'

", ..An rl t,IH • ki i ig· ..:; !J.lf'S<:t' ll g l'r ~ i g lH •d a. 1111 11TOl 1 ~ !h e h c:1.d - li1 1 P~ in hi s lio{lk u f: c llro ni c lcs :
l~l,C' f<·o n rwla<.: n1 o ! l'm !..!TL'ss ! An 1d.h t•r Old J,nrallnark <: one! n

\Vhc11 hla e k-h ro 11·0il Nigh t h c•r 4lt u.;k_v m:rntl1 ~ pr 0 a.d,
And 1nn11t. in sri\f·n111 g loo 111 11ir• ~: 1 h l< • sk y :
Whe n Rnol.hi11 g S k<·p lwr npJat~· d ews had s lll'tl,

J li e n iL \\'n . :; S I> that, I H• " " ·"'. Yt' I :n10t h0r rnan w ho was lm'-y , :n1d wh 011 he sa w tli :1t t h e
p : it c h i n ~ a li:v l pl :li'<' in ll1 e r n of nf hi s b:i rn wif,h rn~w s hin g ll's, h e ,,-r1J le :

1 1
w:i "
1 11 1

:

lfl'.

: ~ C r ,n nd lla t('ltl'!; I N~ w H11i ldin gs ( :o in g- up on N nrth .H ill!
l\l ot k th e Cl(or1d s, and ~l: dr • l y Pn 11 1t\..i th a t. Ki ss !:li e S tars ! n
11111

An.rl Ji,. l'l f•.-:cd th e hon k

11

1

N e wJi.o{)fs th at

Arnt

n ~ l n 11i ~ l1 t>d, :rncl

My h e art. t he s 11.lij r.d , <•f corr11din g i·nrc :
From ha u JJ ts of 11 1cn wif h w a11d0 r in~ steps :111<1 ,: Jo w
I soli l nry Hlc n.! 1 a n d ,:oolhP 1n y pe 11s i \·c Wt1l' .

'l'l And tli n " '."<::.<.:(· n gi' r rn:i rl p ohcif'a nct' nn to t h e ki ng, nrnl ~~1id ;
te lan1l o f 1'111• lltw·k PtJe i"> J111 \1 •
11 JY o nt t h ree h on r !", :i. nd s ix tr ipl c- h earlN~ wi th
f
-' ·
Ollr wn n l :'I to li e a.r fr ou i ! Onler 0 11 twe ntr q 11 irf•s 0x tr:t, ancl scn1l w1 inl tu t he tra ~ n s 111
ArHl ~YIH·n fh c ki ng- wn s g-o nc o n t . Fr:111kidc lps. the kin g-' s m cc:~f'llf''l'r loo 'rnd a t the
J'O tlll g C's l r-;Pni l,o r of t he k in g . \\' ho h0l LI hi s pra.c('. fo r he wa~ amazed tu~ ! \:· o t ;l ~t ;lo w it
come FO, fr,r h C' liim se l[ li a <l }Jc('11 out. all m o rnin g, a1Hl h a d rc tnrn etl nrra. in u n to hi s IJl nce

o

! inrrf'n .

o

·

, . Bnt tl.1<' k in 1:(~ lll f' .C.:F::(' Jl J:! f' J", w hih• Ji p loolo' d upon t he y 0 1111 g- nw11 Id. f n. 11 th e lid o f: hi s
1
(}f'. t hn t It \\'cll ~ n i g h c losc•1l, :11ul he laid hi " finge r upn n h is ll O:-:f'. n.11 rl h e ~aid 1111to t h e

yo un g man: <l Son n i0. lie o f good eh err; thon ha5t much lo lea rn· n ever t h eless this is
th e way t.h c nl 1l I h in!! wo rk ~ . ,,
i
'
A 11tl the n r xt, d ay tl1 e pa p e r ~n l cl like s moke.

. Aml thP. pen pi e marvPll cd , a111l :;;ai d one to n.notlwr,
tln11 gs ~ h n ulrl hnpp0n in our m id st? : 1

11

I s it n ot dre adful thn.t daily su ch

A 11tl th Py lo1· kC'tl f h e doors e re f ll ey w r n t t.o he ft nt ni g ht.
1

.And th e k in g s llH'S~l' ll .Q' Pr h 0!d h i~ pea ce n rnl looked w ise : and h e said 1111 to the
p c npl c: " No m ;m Out my self k no we t h what a d ay ha.s to bring f ort h "-IJurlin(Jloa
l lawkelfe.
·

Avoid Epithets. - So me adj ecti ves h ave been so of.
ten associated \ritlt certain 11ou11 s that thev 110 Iorwcr IJro"

b

in sil lu•n s lt11111ic·n; 1·v1Ty l'Y'':

B11l, wnt.i ·l1 f11J woe d i:-: f raf'lc.; 111 y ;icliing brr :i " t ,

"JTo w is th e c it,r?"
"Oh 1 king, Ji ve fo reve r !

s ai rl nnto t h e m cs.;::c n g-f' r

~ <·: 1l nl

l\Iy 11·a kd t1 \ l h o11 g hl.r.; admi t 11 0 hahny r est 1
N or th e H\\'f'l' t Uli s:c: p f H> f t nh\ivion s lia rr :

f rt•r•nn l a111l \\·a" nwr ry. n tl(l he lmn 1pr.d !iin 1se lf hack in t o

th e o fl icc rrn d cimmrn.111led t h at t h ey s h •111ld pin.cc befo re lli 111 five b11 rnl les o ( n e w pn pe r
:uul :'\ harrr l o f i11 k .
And tlH• k in g w :-.s

231

AVOID EPI'l'llE'l'S.

CUA!'. XII.]

[PAH'l' III

'

Here every substant.ive is faithfn 11 .v a1.tr1uletl h y snmn tnmi (l
epithet ; like youn g m ns te r, 11·ho ran1 1ot 1rnlk alirn:Hl \\·it hunt, li nv iu g a laced live ry-rnau at l1i s l1Poh
'l'ltn s in rc>rHlin g- \\' itl1 ont
tasl;e, an emphasis is lai.<1 ''" every \l'ortl ; arnl in sin g iHg· \\·itli ont taste, every note is grnce(l. Bm·h n ' tlnrnl:i ncy of epiLl1 ets, ins tead of pleasing, produce sat.i et.y arnl (li sgnst . -KA~ms .
A principal device in the fabrication o[ the rn ock-.,JoqnPnt. sty le
is to multiply epith ets- thy epitlie f,s, l:ii<l on 111<' nnhi ,l e, :H"l inlo
"·hieh none of th e vitality of t.l1 e S<'n1·i11w11t. is fnnrnl to ('irc·nl :d<' .
You may take a great 1111ml ior o f th e \\·onls ont of <'nel1 pa.ge, a1Hl
find that tho sense is ncitl1 c r 1nore nor Jnss for yonr l1a1·i11 g dca1·f' <l
the composition of th ese epithets of el1:iJk of vnrions colors, \rilh
which the tame thongl1ts lrnLl s uLmilteLl to be rul.>lJ etl over in l) rder
to b e made fine.-FosTmc.

I
I

232

NARRATION.

[ P AHT

Ill.

T lie 11n tlii11ki11g use of epi thets leads to ri d icul ous i nco11sislu11cies. Tlru s :
I so.lc11m ly <loc.laro t hat I have no t wi(f11lly committed tho least
mistake. - f:;11·1p.r.
:::;o f;h o Jllfl'C limp i( l i:;l rcn.rn , w hc n f o 11l w ith stain s,
Or n 1 ~ hi 11 g t 1J1T <' ll l S a 11 tl d escend ing rn.im>. - A IJ0 180 N.
I n H•n t.i11 11 , :t R ill l·ourtPsy h0 1111d 1 an a c<'o nnt, o f t.h i ~ cnn sl r nc tio u w h ich ha<; hf•(' ll s<·nt
11 1e. liy a. <' 11 1T1~s po n1 l c 11 t u t1 x io 11 s t o vindicate Shakspe rc fr om h:win g used a m od ern vu l·
ga n s 111. - Ar. FOHH.
-

1"_h u:·s1wrn's h a 1'. in g 11s0tl :t 111odern n 1lp;ariRm is ahnn t cqurtl to
J '. •tl rc.r" n •nmrk li t ] ii i-; l~'.'·" '.il' : "It is well k 11 o wn t.hat th o anc10n ts lia vo s tolen m os t of on r bri gh t thoug hts." - 1\looN.

CrrA r .XII.]

0 1\iIT IlntESI S'l'IBL E IN FErmNCES.

233

over n nd o ve r nga in j an d I sn ppm:c t h n <1<?i:;r.ri pt,io n.q nf hC'ro in cs fr o m n il t h e n ovels nn d
s ho rt l'to rics e vc·r written wo11hl co n fonn t o l' i x o r eig h t n w cl c ls, th at \Vtrnld i n c lnllC
sc vc r:\l ecce n tric t _v pes ; fo r th e g r ea t n ms,.. wou ld h t: i11 cl11d e1J u nd er fu n r m od els .
In t h fl pa pc rn an acd d cn t i ~ a fri g lLtf nl r:atas trn ph c, a st. rcl' t fi g- ht a terri ble affray, a n
a ssau lt is a dia bolica l ontragc, s ui c id e is a rash nct 1 a h:11l mnn if.: a fi e n d in h1mw.11 !-:h a pr·,
l\ JJCn •o n wh o d oes any th in g bad i:; 11 ccc1' 1ls i11 ncco rn p tishin g hi s h e lli s h 1lcs ig n, li re is th e
dev o ur in g elemen t , t h ing s arc vostpo 11c1l 011 ae~ x nni t () f lh e i11 c lu m c n cy o [ t h e \\· (' td;lwr
(tn Ci\ ni n g rai n ), pe op le f!.fC p rc vc n OOd fr nm d o ing t hi ng s hy ci n ;11rn sta11 ccs ovr r whi .-! L
they h :i. vt! n o co11Lrul, aml nc t;o rs n ncl n ct n~ssc~ arc df•t.f• JTCt l fro1n p ln y i11 g by i11d ispos it ion
( 1.nca ni11 g t hat t h ey are sick or i11d isp osc1l to p la y) .- \\' Al i. E ~ l .A N.

Omit Irresistible lnferences. -A story before
us, in tellin g of t he call of tlr e li ern in e :it :i F ift h A venne
rn a11sio11, states that whe n tir e ca rri age stop ped i:;li c desce utlecl, shn t th e carri age-door 1Jel1in d her, m ou nted the
steps, rang th e Lell , 10aited t1'll tl1 1J do01· was op enerl, gav e
h er card to the scrva11t that. appcare<l , and entered th e
lia.Jl. A few of these details mi g ht safely h ave Leen left.
to th e imag ination.
·w e have r eceived a story entitled " A Dark D eed," whi ch is resp cctfn lly clcclinecl. 'l'h e firRt ch apter opens with, " It is micl ni ght." T his is all rig ht. It is oHen mid ni gh t- at leas t so.-011
times a week ; b u t the au thor fo rgot to a1l cl , " and silence b rooded
o;-er th e city." T h is is a fal a l ornrsi gltt. Silence ah rnys b roods
over a city 11·h en it fr; mi d ni gh t i n work ~ of fiction- altl1 on gh nowhere else. ' Ve can't p ri nt rt story i n which silence cloesu't brood
at rn icl nigh t. -Norrislmm. Jlernld.
A rcportcer of t110 1!e1·,,f, [ was n«R i 0 11 N l In st, ni nl1t, t.o "writ.<>
som ething ab out tl1 e weath er- Homet.hin g about th e heat- som et hi ng rtbnn t the scarlPt. r nsh n.n•l t.l1P .l o ~-rhys . anrl n.11 t.l1 a t Rn r t o f
l.h iulO :· \ YlmL li e ev uh 1.;J f1 .. 111 11 11..: j 11111 .. sl. Jt'<:«Ss c:s u f li is ]i , ,.,1, ..
opp r nssetl brrri n is her o presented in 11 r cYi:;cd fo rm '.\°ith lhll' 11pol o ·
gies for its p roduction .
.. 1t was a tim ely t opic
!'V l t11 t i 1n 1'1f'rlint ""l.'.' f r.Hr.• v n•l tl1 n ~ h rmn <:1f ~tr>n1 ,..nl . Io ri o:.: h Pr> n .. 1i 1n i nnt.; d . f o r it. p n.1·1.-.nk"

r.r l'di!or itd

n ..o.;.;;;ri1 Li.i n : n1ul

rt ' l hl r!. er...;

:ir e r:u:

'''' •"• ll " 11 l.o p i c.;,; a..: lfl' ll<::-a l : 1..~ Lli 1. : '.'. L :L..!: .... 1.

( '!Jl l 1:(1 ·, '

i !. u d i ...: t:.J. L'...: i.L c p · ·l i C.', uf : n.: ',

1' 1::..: .L .i :,.J !" . :

:·;.>:t:. l ' ! . •

234

NAURATION.

[PA RT Ill.

Cn Ar. XII.]

[Nothing but n prcsimrc o f hn f" in ef'.I' i ~ nccoun t:ihl c for the n.ppcnrn.n cc o f th ii:; In st

PUESERVE UNITY.

235

A.H., 83 ; 11 A.M., 85; 12 ni., 8(); 1 r.M., 88; 2 r . ~r. , 8!'l ; 3 r.~I.,
!JO; 4 P.M., !Jl; 5 P.~I. , !Jl; 6 P.ill., 89."

i:::cntcn r.c. Of conrsc "nll day lo ng,, t h e 11 h ot, , Rnn hnd " poured do ,,·n n its sco r ch·
ing "ray s l ,, Th e f'llll d on't ~ hil i c-- i n the ni g h t time ; th e r e js n o cohl sun; if t h e s 1111
wns " hot" Ws on ly 11ntnrnl to suppose that its my s we re 11 Rcor chin g .'' a n d if tli c
"fiCorc hing my s ,, hnd p onrctl up t h ere wo11 hl h ave been no n eed of th is nrliclc l The
sa m e old glittering g e n ern.liti e~ I- The Edilor. ]

['J'he Jnst item con ta in ~ :\tn ple info rm:i.tion fo r th e cnli g- hl c nmrnt of t h e rcs i(1 cnt wl.1 ~·~c
pc n;ona.1 e xperi en ce ha s not. co n v in ced him that it w:is vny, ve ry h ot y cs tc~nlay. - I h e
:gllito r.] -Ch icaao 1Ie1·a ld.

"'Vhile it is hardly probable thn.t th e day was the h ottest
kuowu to the memory of the oldest inhabitant--"

Above All, Preserve Unity. - Letyo 1tr stvry lJe 11 ot
0111y abo ut so111etlii11 g, lrn t about sumo one thin g .

[Of cnnrfic it i R H hnnlly proba ble ; ,, the da y of th e Ch icngo fire was infini t el y hotter.
Dc~irl eR, U1 e re porter wni:; not h ere wh e n t h e old t·11t inhal>itnnt arrived , nr h e w o n1 Ll n 1 t
now b e rrp01-1·,i11 g f or n. flnil y Jlll\H' r ; n.1111 tho" ol<lc:;;t inhn.bil:111t ' ' fl. R a g c 11 c rnl thi ng j 13
on ly fi t a n ywnJ to nttcnrl fnn vnd s, sit o n coro ner's jurief', and s wa.p li es with t h e next
oldc 8t inhnbitn.nt.-Th e Ed itor.]

It is one of the clrnrrn s of "HolJi nso n Crn sno " 1·.l1nt. :•ll tl10 i nci11en ts n.re groupeLl ahont a sin g le he ro. Iu D 1111yn.n's "Pilgrim';;
Prog ress " half tho in terest thn.t has lrnc n so 1111fla~.rn i11 gl ,Y maintain ed t hrough the first p:trt e ,·a11o rnt.cs wl1 cn llte a il n·nhll'('S l'ortain to a compa11 y in st.ca1l of a sing le .i1Hli vi1h1:1l. 'J' li n di s1·nvory
of America is ii familiar s tory so far as Col11111hns romn,i 11 s ihe central figme, but wh en tl1 c interes t is di vcrtccl from one to :wother
of a dozen explorers, it soon dimi ni shcs, a 11il fixes uotl11 ug rn th o
m emory.
A sketch in l:Trrrp el''s I f'"eekl,11 b egins tlrn s :

" Every one was fully cou vincecl that the dog days had at last
arriYed--"
[Of co 11rF:c th ey wen". w hen n.11 k n ow th at •l og d:tyR begin .Ju ly 25th and Inst until
Scptcm\JC'r 3d, nnd ·Romctimcs a week longcr. - The Ed itor.]

"'l'ho scarlet rash, that dread scourge of the full-blooded person--"
lTh c r<'RI; o f t h:i t l-lP.11l c ncc hc t r:i.yct l RO g r ci\L fnmilinrity wi t h th e corul il'i nn of t h e
bo<li cs nf th e RWPlt.erin g pnbli c th n.t it wns manifcs Uy nbf:nrcl, 'J'h c r C'po r tc r h i111 sf'! f mny
hn. ve tlw Hcnrl c t ras h o r th f' c rim so n lake crupti on - thnt, s no h ocly 1s bu sin ess but hi s own,
nnd o( no inte rest to t h e r ea rlcrs o f t hi s jo11Innl. - Th c E cl itor.l

T h e boil y o f S tep h e n Girard li e.:..; i n a snrcn p h :i.:.:11 : . ; in ! h t~ \· r·::: t'ilrnl c n f l !l r 11 w i11 1·nllrg r
lH tili l i n g \\·hi ch is built, ;tf lC! r t h ~ 1n 1111cl o f a f': nTia11 t l ·rn pl c : it .-: 0 1 Cnr i n t,h i:u1 c1 1\11rn m :

m ca snrc' s ix feet in 1liamel1• r , ur nl arc!)[) feet hi g h , an d cost .$ 1G, 000 ca t.d i.

T he col lege

opened with 95 p u pil s.

by

"'l' he beer saloons and soda fountains wer e liberally patronized
tllfl thirsty populace- - "

rP o pnhl cC'S n ot thirsty a rc n ot C:t pccted to patronize nny Ot1id -ve ndi11g estn bli fihmcnt.
Mor eov er, the lfer ald i;;; n ot :i free atl vcrti ~in g ag ent of nny s l op sh o p. - Th e Editor.]

"And the exlin.uRtcd toilor siink to restless sleep Lreathing a
prayer thn,t the morning would lirin g reli ef."
[It. w iJi pcr1rnp~ be s urmi sed from th e n.hovc th:it t he e :x h ruu;t ccl toil er wns t h e re~
pnrtcr , n 1ul Urnt h e i::ank to rei:;tl css HIC'C' p n11tl ~cn t down his "co py ,, afterward. Bnt h e
cl i<ln't,. Jl c fini slwd hi s writin g hf' for c h e \ \' C' Jlt h ome nrnl hdorc th C' coolin g ra in fo ll on
the parc hr1l <'art h. ll e hall no ri g ht nor r cn.sn11 to sa y th'lt t h e " C' Xhan st c d t oil er,, snn k
t o " rrstl "~~ fi lrf' p." A n 11 f"x hnu s tn1l ,, t oiler w ill ~l cl" p a r cf:t,JPSf:l s lee p fo r t h e i:; impl c r ca .
i::on that h <' (':i n't.cl o ot h crwi i::e . And t he stntcm cnt th at h e prayed f o r r el ief o n t.hc m or row
iR ~11prrf\11 011 s l11.•cm1 sc a11 the prny cr s in the nation wo uldn't c han ge t,l ie what-is- to-h e, nnd
pq1ying ngain f.i t fate, eve n with Ven nor 011 onc' f3 s ide, if; f ooli Ah nsclesi;;ncss.- 'I'he Edi tor. ]

"'l'hn I r""l'"l'rrtnre ycstcrdny, ns oh~nlTC•l by j\fn.nasse, optician.
88 l\Iad ison St.reet, wn.s as follows: 8 A.JI!. , 80; \) A.M. , 82; 10

''

J

Imagination in Narrat ion. - Tlte trntli oE fi ction
is as real as the t rntli o( faet. I11J ee11, th e re is r• sense in
· jT11 e l' tl· ia11 f ac1'-. ; ·f'nt· \\'h il "v fact deal s
w lii C'l 1 fi1ct ·to11 is
Jaro·elv with m ar ve ls, with tl1 e i11111 s11al a111l tho rtb 11un11 al,
b
"
especiall y with tli o 1111 oxpccteil , li d i• Jlt is tin11·nl'l<:ss except
ftS it deal s with s11 cl1 p\·n1if s rind <""11 se11 11 P.1wns } JS appea r
proha\Jlo. TJ1 e Dilll o _\ 01 el fi11d s l'cadcrr: •n il y :11111J 11 1;
t.h ose tov i1te .'q>e l'i e1H.:e1 l :J.111l ig 11 ura11t to d ctcd . tl1c i111 probabilities th at abo111 11l (sec p:tµ: o 210). Tl1e lieLiv11 s
that Ji ve. ]i\·o 11 o< :a u ~c tl1 c ir tl'11tlt f(I 11 aL 11 rc i;; cv1tlirn1 od
]Jy
the bu~11ornl e .\ pe l'i c11 cc uf' m:1 111'i ml.
•
I can well sympn,tliiw \l'itli the cou tc rnpt m inglcd wit.It iudig -

I

111
j

23G

NA itRATION.

[PAHT III.

nation expressed b y Cicero against cerbin philosophers who fonnrl
fan lt with I'l::ttu for h aving in :t case h e proposes a lludocl to tl 1e
fabn lous rin g of G,v gcs, wliieh lmd th e Yirtue of making th o
"·carer im·isibl o. 'l '.h ey lmcl fo nrnl on t., it seems, that th ere never
was any such rin g. (De 0/T- III., !J.)- \VuA'rRLY.

Facts Supplemented by the lmagination.\Yl1 cn tl1 c fa cts g irn n are th oroughl y a]'prcl1 c11 <1ecl and
mad e r eal in tlt c rn i11d , tli cy cloth e llt ern sc lves in tlt e
im:igiu at ion with i.11 ci<l e11ts not r eco rded, b11t co rrectly con
cci1·cd in proport iu11 as the i111agi11atio11 is vivi<l. S 11eh
inci<lcnt,; 11tay therefore he 11scd to s11ppl e111 c11t aLsolutc
facts, and in nrnch narration arc es~cntial to life-like prcscn tatio11.
It is imag ination th at giYes vivi1l comparison s like th e folloiYing:
'l'h e lia.U.l e of IV:ttcrJoo was fou g ht 011 a piece of g roun1l resemldi ng a capital A. T l1 0 English 1rn re at t he ann ex, t he Fnmclt at
the .feet., and th o l >at.t,le 1n1s <l ecidccl abont the cen tre. - V. Hu no.
The mn.in (]lH's t.ion ns to a novel is- Did it arun.se? Were von
snrpri sC' rl at <1inn or co111ing so soon? Di.11. yon mistake clc1·nn ·for
t en, a111l twel ve fur l'lm·cn? ·worn yon 100 late to clrnss? a111l <lid
yon Rit 11p beyo nd the usnal h our? If a nm-cl prodncns th ese
c fl'ect.R, it is goo<1 ; if it dof's nn t--- story, lan g uage, Joye, sc:.tmbl
it.self canno t RanJ it. It is onl y rn oant to please ; and it must <lo
that, or it 1locR 11 ot,Jii11 g.-8YDNEY S~U'l'H.
A TrHrnmH'N J<; x1•m11 ENCK - Ro 111 0 t C' n years ago I lmcamo a
tC'achm in a large bn:tnlin,g school. '.L'lte hoys 11·orn mos tl y from
wealt hy lrn t nn c11JtirnJ01l famili es, who sent th flir d tildre n awa.y
to school h ocanse tlwy conld not manage t hem at h omo. Of
conrsc it was 1wf; easy t.o co 11 trol tli em, lmt of all times it was
har<lcs t. to k eep t.hem in onlcr on Sunday afternoons. On 1rnck<li1ys, 11·e eonl.1 so lH"eak np their h on rs by meals, ancl reci tations,
nml 1hills, an<l st.udy-honrn, t lrnt they had 11 0 two co11secntive
l1 nurs to t.l1 cn1 soh os, lm t, whrn 11·e ltacl taken th em tn clrnrch in th e
rnm_-ning n1Hl t o cl111rch at 11 a.lf-past on e, there rc111rti11 ecl the l ong
pcn01l from throe o'clock till eight, intorrnptocl only by supper.

CuAP. XII.]

NEED OF IJ\IAGINATION.

237

It seemecl necessary to pnt an h our's Bible lesson into that period, but the principal of the school said h e lrn<l tried that once,
and h e coul1l not make it work. Tho lioys complained that three
h ou rn iu a h ot litt.le coun try clmrch, with two dry serm ons, a rn elod con-lecl choir, cushio11lcss seats, ancl two marks if t.11ey whispore<l,
was religion enough for one lhy; awl h e ttthlcd wi th a clrnckl e
that he tl10nglit tho boys were alJont ri ght.
'!'here ar ose, th en, thi s prol ilc m: h ow f;o interest in a w<>ckly
Bil >le l nsson b oys o f no previons rdi gions trainin g, arnl wi th a
p rej udi ce against anything of th e kind. I resol n •tl t.o soled one
Bilik story for ouch R1rn11n.y, a 11 1l to toll i t ill sueh a way thaf; th ey
woulcl e nj oy h earin g it, nnil 1ra11f, to l1 !'a r ruwt. l1 c r. So I rnaJlp ct1
out my work, rm<l ii mt 111n.1lo myself thornn ghl y n.cq1mi11 tecl with
th e story n.s toltl in t11 e Bihle . T mn.11 1' tahks of r hrnn ology, prel'flr cd n rn.ps, arnl lookc!l i1p all th e ma rginal r nfor encns. 'J'l1 nn I
got all tl1 0 11olps npon wl1ich I con.l1l b y h antls, t\\·o or three
]3ililo <lietionari'.Cs, .fosephrn;, the h ost co mmonfarics, a11:dhi11g
pnhlish c<l which could give d etails. '.l'lw11, 11·lrnn I lmd fairly in
lrnml everythin g I could fi1tcl >rl1icl1 was auf;lu•n tit-, I lill c<l in from
my imagination. I said t o myself, tl1i s story is nut fo r Rl'lwl::trs,
bu t for ron gh b oys, and I must tell i t Rn rt s to make upon t.Jrn 111 thn
same impression that th e 11:1rrnt.ive mak es ·11pon rn o. So I Jill ed
in h ere, I enlarged there, I dwelt. lll'<'ll tll'f" ni ls, I in tr wlnce11 l ucnl
comparisons, I nmclo u se of t.l1 e lioys' 01nt nxporin11 cr, aw1 especially of inci tfonts which hail h a pp01101l at th e sch ool, wlwrc there
wrts any opportnnity to clmw a parallel; and , in s lrnrt., I ma1lo t he
st.ory real to ernry h oy tl1 cr n. I d on' t h elie1·e it son ucl ecl orLl 1011ox; but it h elll the b oys, liecrrn se it. 1rns in sym}'a th,1· 11·iilt il1 eir
thou ght, :t!Hl CXJlerioncc. An1l I 11 o u't 111iJHl ex prcssiug· 111y opinion
th at if we am t o cont,crnl sn rr·C'ss fnll .r 11·i th tl1n fl no <l o f se nsationalism with which the n ews-con11f;crs all<l tl1 e b eads of our l1oys arc
t eeming, we 1mrnt nfTer in i ts 1>.l acc srnn..t hiu g C'lse linsitles lhe
\Ves t.minster CrtteC'l1is m a1Hl Bi sh op South'" so nn uns.
It has lieen well said that tho onl y nnpar<1 011al>l c fanlt in a book
is to be im rertclahl e, heranse if it is i1m·C'rt11ahln it is not a i>nok.
So I \Yonhl sa.v that the 011 l_v rn1t1a.rrl o11able fau lt in tnaclti11g is to
b e nnir; teresting; fo r teachin g whi ch d oes not interest is not
teachin g 'fhe couclition of thon ght-11nicko11iug is EYIUJ'ttth:r.

238

NARRATION.

(PAUT Ill.

HINTS ON HIS'l 'OlUCAL ESSAY-WRITING.

I. Accumulation of Material.
·l. Co nsult cyclop::ed ias for a geneml view of the subj ect, aJ](l
for literritn rc.
2. B end t he b est histories for the subject in its r elations to
geneml hi story.
3. H C'n.<l rn o11 ogrrtphs fo r detrtils.
4. 1\fok e copions notes from works rertd , and seek h y iml ependent, p atient. th oug h t to nml erstand the fac ts in r elation to :
ri. 'l'lteir in trinsic value.
b. 'l'heir rebtive importance.
c. 'l'h e r ebtions of crtnse and effect.
5. J ot do wn every sig niJicant fact and idea th at occurs.

CRAP.

4. Subject th e ess:w tn care ful rnns1on as o :
n. Histo rical: logical, an<'! rh etori eal ;1ualities, correctness
of fact, n.11tl justn ess of p hilosophy.
b. Unity, symm etry, n.ml co mpleteness of structure, comp rehensfre anc1 concise.
C'. Uloar11 0ss, force, e]C'gn.ncC', arnl n.<l np tatio11 of style.
5. Append list of au thorities cousnltcd, aml give references aud
citn.tions.

Ill. Ceneral Considerations.
1. A thorou ghly gootl essn.y will he a deligh t and eneoumgeme nt to th e teach er, r1 m oLl el ttud a stimulus to ' h e class, an h onor
to t he sch ool, ancl in mn.ny wn.ys n. gr eat h elp to the writei·. A
p oo r mmay--hnt th er e Rhoulc1 b e none.
2. An essay sh ould be a growth , bu t growth is facili tn.ted by
cnlti,·atiou ; t.li ercfu re take plen ty of time, a nd--use it. Procrnstiuation is failure .

THE llISTORICAL ES SAY.

239

3. .A. good essay is wor.thy of being well r ead.
4. A full syn opsis spread upon th e bbck-board, or, b etter still,
furni:;h ed to the teacher a nd to each me mber of the class, would
b e creditable to the writer n.nd grateful to his listeners.
5. •rwo useful maxims are :
a. "Bread th without accuracy and accuracy without
b reacl th are almost eq nal evils."
b. " ·w e unde rstand the cliffnse,-we remember the concise."
6. Helpful qu estions :
a. Who? Wha t ? Wher e? When? H ow? Why?
b. (Of events), What then?
c. Why not?
d. What of it?

METHOD OF BIOGRAPHICAL STUDY.

II. Composition.
1. 1\l ake a preliminary sketch or out.line of the essay, and subject it to r evision .
2. 1\fakc a_co m ilete n.unh5is, awl ~i se it.

XII.]

I. Sources.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

Autobiography, if extant.
Diary, journal, let ters.
Accoun ts writt en by contemporaries.
Publish ed works.
Biographies.
Gen eral histories.

11. Accessories.
i. P ortraits.
2. Pictn rcs of pln.ces.
3. P ersonal visit to scen es associated with th e man.
4. Whatever gives vividness to our coucep tions.
PRE LillilN ARY ACCOUNT OF IIIS AGE.

1. An cestry.
2. Birth- a. time; b. place.
3. E ducation- a . h ome; b. sch ools ; c. b ooks (all formative infiueni;:"ls) ; d. nature ; e. public events ; f. tmvel.

..
240

NARRATION.

[PArtT III.

Ill. Arrangement of Materials.
4. Orderly statemell t of tJi e cl1icf events in which h e purticipated, and the part h e took in them.
G. D eath- a . tirn o; /J. pl:ice ; c. circumstances.
G. Estimat e o f cliamclC'l'- 1t. p ersonal appoa rnnco ; b. m ental
qualities; c. moral 11n:tlitioR; cl. iufluence on the world; e. comparison with others. - GEN. 'l'. J. MonaAN.
TWO INCID"NTS WELL-TOLD,
Tnr.y WP.HE so H UNGRY.-': Last, ni ~h t, 11 s:iid P oliceman Doy le of the Mercer
Rt.reef; Stalio n , " I w n s walki n g in Hro: ulwa y, n r ar Bond S treet. .rt w n.s nli out sund ow n.
J\fy atte n t ion w~R attracted by a cr o\\"d o f Ron1 e fou r hnn Llred peop le aroun d t be entrnn co
to t h e !'i Lrn w-hat factory of Drill & H.ay at fi51. Evcryhfldy wns ye llin g 11p nt th e seco nd
sto!"y o f the b u ildin _q . I looked n p 1 and th ere I rn.w :t young woman standing on th e C(Jrnicc 0 11! .~ i dc the l:iCco nd-st u ry window.
11
' J.fnll o ! ' R
ays I.
u ' rm awf11 l hun g r y, ' i::nys sh e .
i: The n sl1 c Rai d that s h L~ and four- other g irl ,q we re locked in .
A man o f mnny words
who ~ tood directly behind m e ke p t s h outing: ' l h ear it's n fi re. If so be a s it is, put it
out! 1
"T hen th e yom1g wo rn a n s h onteil d nw n: '\Ve a rc nll lock et'! in , an tl wc can 't ge t
o nt: nn tl whateve r s hall we di>? Wh e n th ey c losed np t h e building thev loc ked fi\'C of
us in , a111l wc·re so very h nn g ry . 1
'''If s.o l>e a ~ t h ey 1rc lrnn g r_y, 1 says the man behinrl me,' g in~ 1Pm fnnrl.'
1
'
The gi rl in t h e w irnl o w went 0 11: ' Ttw ja ni tor w e nt home w it h the kPv ah01 1t. ~ i ~
o'c loc:Jc H i: r.ri('<1 •:A 11 (Hit! 11 a.n<l t-hen locked t.he d oor a nd went h o m1~. WP. wm·n not
out, :111 tl we're ve r y hu11 g-ry. 1
·~ : If so h e n.s Uwy r.n. n ' t gP. t. n11t 1' ;my ~ th e mnn bP.hinct my ea r, 1 call ont thP firt: <lPparl:mrnt.

!tlld [',t't

n. hnn l( il n •\ lfl.dd 0r. '

fr o m t h e g ir l ~ tll~t. on 0 nf t.IH' prnpri,..t.ot<: n [ thi:- pln~e, .!\fr. T h o:nas L .
JJall , !ivf'1l nt; 117 g:i,st, On~ 1[1111dri:-rl nnrl Twenly·c i ~ h t.h StrC'et. I irnrn edialely nm to
t it,. <.:t;n ifl11 ~rn·l tn\d t h" ~"l' g" ":rnt . He tclt:'gr:i.phcd tr; .\1 r. B.:t!l, rtnd ri !i ttlc lall'r Ju'.>H lie
•· I

:r;

l ~ nrn1•d

Oh, ~Ir. J;a.il,

;il c;i:-;1!

!f ~ :.

11.-.:.

o ;iL.

"i:;l ll -" t\

wr:"r •' ;.;..

1 •·r y l1t!ll'! r _Y . · Ht id

1-ll" v "ul 1 !~

".

'

CHAP.

FAT UEH AND SoN.-·' ' Uome 1 vapa ; I kn ow wh er e we arc. This is th e Bowf'ry, and
Canal S tree t is only a little way up. Com e on . 1 '
Th e s peake r was a boy niJout seve n years olcl. li e was 1watly antl \\·arm ly drcF,scd ,
and a 3 µ rettily s poke n as any of the chihlrc n Llia t p\n.y in Hesc r vui r Sq 111u-c on a summer
afternoon. His haml was c las ped in t,hc bi¥, hcgr illlc d palin o( a man in the drcfm of n
hard -wo rking m ec hanic. The man wni; so Llrun k: that, h e nearly we n t up on all fo 11rf'= , awl
w h e n h e lurch cil fr u m 0 111! Ride to an oth er he j c rkcll the li t tl e fe ll ow fr o m hi s feet. lt
was half-p af-it three o' cl oc :k o n Sn ntlay mornin g.
" Yes, !111 s hrnv ycr papil where to ~o . Co m e r ig h t alnng with rnc. 11
'l'hc seco nd s p c:iker wa s a young tnan \\'it.h broad s h o ul <krs, :u11l \\·c a r in g- clot hes tl1:i.t

were fa s hionabl e t h e year lJefore. H e spoke in a coaxing voice, an d c:rngh t the m::rn 's
h a nd whi le he was 8pea k ing, an1l t,ri cd to hn ;:;t\0 the llHlll and Uoy al ong- from the co rn er
of Divi,;;ion Str eet tO\v:ird t h e New Bowery . 'l'h c li ltle fell ow pn,le ..;tetl that; li e wn11tc~ l to
go up the Bowery t o Canal Str eet. H e clas ped hi s fath cr 1s hand wit h l>11t.h hi s ow n, arnl
tugged manfull y in the direction h e wanted to ~o . say in g : HQornc on, pa p::i.; this is lhc
way."
u \Vha t are ye <loin'? ,,
The tliinl s pea ker growled llrnt; q11c;.:;tion to I.he yon11 g mn.11 wit.h hrn:ul shnul <l e rs.
He was a stont;, l.J ow~ l eggc< l perf;o n, d rcs;:;c<l in cu:usc c!t1 Ut c~, and h e eyell t.he young man
suspic ious ly fro m nnd cr the brim o f a slonc h ed ha t. Th e young 1J1ri.n dr(lppctl the
drunk<'n man's h :md and h 11rric1l :1. \\-:ty.
'I'h e li ttle Loy was n ot alar111c1l at Lh c u\-crturcs or t,lte nmn who lwU go n e. n nr 1lid he
s ho w nny sig n o f: g ratitude tu the man who ha <l int erfP re1l ; h e w:i.R in!cnt oHly 011 gt·tLing hi~ f:\thc r h om e . They Rbtrlc<l up tile U11wpr y, t l1 e fatlll'r st·n. g~e rin .~ fron1 011e ....:ide
of. th e walk to t h e oth et·, a11d the l ittle fellow <.: lin ging to hi s han1l and e11eonrngi n g him
with : •' Come on. papa.; I k now th e w:iy .''
\Vhil c cro::.~ in g the Bowery al. C:rn:tl St n•d , Lhc 11 a n fe ll , aml i t sf' ~ ·n 1r•il in Lhe clrtrk·
Tif"'RR t o t h os~ a. s h n rt d ist: uwc b ehind a s thn111..: l1 he 1!111 "-' I. !1a\' 1• fnlkn u11 ll11' chil l.
T !it.. : ;i
Ll. y tu ~ethcr in Lh c strcc l for :i murne11L. U:1t whe n a p o!icc rn all :u-r!v ··d t.lH' liUlP f· ·l hw
1

wa<: u p aw.l

tn~gin~

at !ii i-: f<1tl t•_·r· ...: Ji;1.11.!.

" ls !.!m t. _y1i11r pcipi s< Hlll.Y? " t he poli ccm:i.n
0 YP•'. ~ir '. It•· "·' 1n y t :\ 1 li •-·r .''
"\\There d o y o ~t !i v~ '! "
.. rn :.l\l u l~ t S l.r l'L'l ·-" 1!!.)' ! ,,.,-, 1-.i .. <'lrc:: on'r
The i1r ll1tk1.. · 11. \H(\U h ;\•l got

t.o

~::keel.

I ~11:nr flll. p ;1p:i: I knnw UP~ w a y ."

hi ..; r. :d., a:ul Lla! 11LLlc lc ll u ·s h:J lli:tl a w, 1y Lu \";ard

-1{ . J.' . /pm..

h i di1 ' " ·

A
!':mall IJ<)y :i. ppen.rcd who R:ii d he kn ew the ):1.llitc r , :md t·•,:nn. ld fr t.('.h hini . y,:J1ic h he t.1!tl.
and the gi rl -; \Yc r e !r:-t ont. When ih c _y \'."C'llt :l\Y:1..Y th e rn;in behind my car Eti.yi:; la: lo
l-'U

\Jc ns

yon~rc

TOI'W.\L

hnngTy , why R"O :ind c:it. ' "

.1\:\ ALYt:; J ~.

.l'\lr. '.l'Jioma s L. !fall w:-i R fn1111\l al. .'ix o" dn1·k yce:f('nlav n.ftcrn oon at hi s nlace of

h11o;inf's:;:. nn d he co rrol.nJ n tlttl the µuli i.:cm:rn\i slo ry. \\7 h ilr~- he n-:1:::: i::p0~kir. _g fi .H • r:irls
~Lai r~. Tin: re po ri.1 ~ 1· fnll•Jwed t.h~m. '£hey
wen~ all Ftandinµ- togeth e r, lnlking and lnu g liiu g, on the s idewn.lk.
u Are } \ 111 l h e 111ifur L 1111a Lt:~· 11
"Oh , plr,n~c tlrm ' t Fpcak to 11 s l " saicl the ol 1Jes t on e.
''Why n ot ?"

f·dippn l out of ihe d uur a u<l ran d o wu the

11

'Cau se wc d on't want t o be printcil , an<l ·,ye' re very: very hun g ry.''-..N.

r . Sun.

241

AN IN CIDEN'l' WELL -TOLD.

XII.]

" .M r. D:d l s aill he l1:tJ 11' L au_y k t!}, n.11tl h u .Jillu't k.11uw where Lhe ja11itor liv1~d.

t.l u:.•in, 'No w, i(

-

'

'T' lt1•

~11l1je c l

+1...,liH'-'il , p.

~!.tl~.

OJ' ,,11 composition the eaoi•c,l, I-" ;CIJ.'!.
Threr kinds:
Narration of in cident, p . 80[) .
N"r rat.i o n of e h a r,, e i<>r, p. '>.11.

Narratiuu of

i111prt~ s::d uHS: p. ~12.

hritn>'.

242

•roPICAL ANALYSIS.

[PART III.

WHAT TO 'fELL, p . 212.
ACCUHACY, p . 212.
Close obser vation, p . 212.
J\l cmory for d etail s, p. 213.
Se /Peli on of w /1at is ty pical, p. 214.
lteject inn of wh:ct is low . or trivi:cl, ]J . 2Hi.
Hi stori ca l va lu e of revcalme 11 t, p . 21fi.
Jl l acanlay's <l cscription o f Boswe ll, p. 21G.
D et a il s of valut', 01Ily wh en characte ristic, p. 220.

x nr.

CU.L\PTEU

P ure nrt. ie t hrtt w hi <'h , wl1cthrr it <lescrillcs

:t

~cc11c . a c h arn.c tc r, or n. sc 1 ~ lim cn t, lay s

h old n ( itr-; inn C' r 111 ca11in ~. unt, its im rfa~c ; the ty pe \Yhiclt t he thin g crn\Jotllc!'=: 11 0L tlu~

HOW TQ TEJ,J,, p. 221.

A RUT'L'AHT,P, TON P., p . 22 1.
JII 11 str a.ti on s fr om 11 ot ic1•s of tleat.h , p. 221.
Bo111 brrn t, p. 2:2 '1.
Eas il y b url t's'lu cd, p. 22!3.
DES<:TI.IPTI ONR S HOULD Jm Sl'l'XJIFIC, p. 224.
T h e use o( prripnr 11 :1 111 .. s, p. 22n.
Cn. nti on in n ;u11ing t l1 ose r e tl oc tc d upon, p. 22G.
AVOID S Ul'E llLATl V ES, p. 227.
V ery, j ) . 22S.
Ne11·s1"11w r E ng li sh , p. 22!1.
AVOJD 1'1'l'l'HET8, p. 2:l0.

Epithets oft e 11 le:cd to in consi stency , p. 232.
OJ\'ll'l' lltRESJSTTBLE INl<'E [tENCJ~S, p. 233.
ABOVE AT,f;, PRI~SEllVE UNITY, Jl. 23[).
IJ\fAG I.NA TI.O N JN NAl'tRATION, p. 2H5.
Facts s 11p1d •' lllf'll l t> d by th e im ag in at.ion , p . 23G.
IllN'l'S ON HI S'l'OllICAL ESS AY-WIHTING, p. 2H8.
TWO WELL-TOLD SKETCHBS, p. 240.

acci d( •JltR; t li c (·on· or l)f'art o r it., ni;t, l hc ac1·C'sf.'1i r icH . A s Mr. H:q. ~c h ot ex 1•ress<?s it, the
p c rf1·ct,in11 o f pure ar L iH "to l" t11 l 1ndy l.ypi1·nl cn n 1·1•ptin n s i11 t,h c choi•·1•<; I, th~ f~WC'S t fH'<"i denU\ Lo embody t h c111 so Lhnl. Pach of t \!!':'<: accidl' o ls may pr ndtl!"e it!-- full c!frct,, nn tl
R1 1 c11 1l1or1y t.ll Plll wiU11mt l' ff11rl. . "

111•-a:ripti" ll '-' of Lh is kind, w l dh ~ tli ny co 11 v1·y l.y pi cal

c<.m cq 1Liu11 s. yt' t rd a i11 p('l"fr ct i11divirl 11:tlily.

11

i'

Th ey an • d111w hy a few Rl,rokeR 1 in the

fewest possible won lR i IJ11l c:ich sLroke tells, each word goes h o111c.-S 11 A t HP.

'I

Allied to Narration.-Ne:ul_y ern ry snggestiu n that
l1as Leen 11rncl e as to Na rration ap pli es a.l::;o tu Uusu rip ti(l tt.
Jn deed the two aru so closely al li ed tk1t. each is co nstantl y
trespass ing on tlt e otl1 er, so that it is se lt10111 easy to <lra\1·
a d isti nct lin e betwee n th01 n. T!t c h:u;is of 11 arrat io11 is
action, prog ress; tli at o E desuripti on is r es t, ab id i11 g el1 aracte rist ics. 13 nt. ac;l.io n CO !ll eS ft't>lll rest, am\ end s i11 it ;
progress depend s npo n clrnrael'cristi cs, a11ll is in terestin g
in propo rtio11 as it de1·clops thelll.
Three Elements enter i ntu :1 co1nplete \lescrip t io11 .
a. CLassijiccttion: t lt e class to whi ch the oLj cct be longs,
and th e points of :i.gree n1 c11 t aml differen ce uetwee11 it
and other objects oE the sa111e <~ l nss.
b. ]>al'tiG 11 lar Fi ·11f111·cs : ]t s :q1 p ea ra11ce , forn1, s i1.e,
color, etc.; its lol'alit.y ur sit11ntiu 11 , wilh tli e t i1m~ a11d
circ11111 sta 11 ce 1111 <lcr \1· hiclt yott see it ; its 11i ~ t.1J1·y fltlll
ch a nges; its str11d.11re, witli ;1 desc l'i p1.io11 .,f ii ~ 1' :1 1' 1:~; ils
ch arn.cte ri sti c foat nres, or pui11 ts of' ~ pe c i:1l i 11t e re ~t; ils
Im.Lits (if it be an au i1 J1al); its kin ds or l' ari cti e<', etc:.

244

[PAltT III.

DESCJUP'l'ION.

c. H cjlections : Its c11 ial ities, 11 ses, i11fl11cn ce, etc.; if so1u etlii11g y o u l1ave seen, its effect npo11 yo ur feelin gs or imagi11atiu11.
Not all these parti cubrn will h e m e n tionoll in conneetion with
eve ry ol1jee t, nor \\"i 11 they often lie rn en tiollc<l in the on1er lrnre
g ivc11. HP!lee ti ons, esp ecially, will h e introd uced as su ggeste d by
t he rn ri om; clem e nts o f the (1 escrivtion. But it will Le well to
lmve in rni11<1 som e R1H·l1 g-enernl fnm 10 11pon which to s tretch th e
m ore typi !'rd fcat.n r es o[ t\10 ol>j cct. to lJc ll osc rilx'd. A fe w analsse::i
from Dal g leis h will 1-rn gges t tl w n so o f l;lti s synopsis.

CIIAP.

XIII.]

DESC RIBE WHAT YOU HAV E SEE N.

245

press ion s, in stead o f s nrn1n ari z i11 g: tl1 t•se o E ot licl'S : we rern c111ber li ste11i11g 0 11 ee to a11 ad111iralJ] e let:t 11rc 011 the
Great P yra11tid, all 011r tleligl1 t i11 ll'h iclt \\'as s11ddc 11ly
dampe uccl wlien t he lecturer eu11 fossed that li e l1 ::vl 11e rn r
lieen in E gy pt. .U e nee preforeuee slionlJ a l wayi:; be given
to what on e has n ot o nl y seen , but sec11 \\'itlt sueh viv i<l
impress ion tltat 011 e·s 01r 1t foc li11 gs will e11tn ll:tt11rally a11<l'
pro111i11 e ntl y i1 1to t h e d esc rip t ion.
;J.i.io:l ~w~...J,

1. A CLO CK.
a. An in !=> lrnm c nt for m <'as11 ri11 g a1 Hl i nd icat in g time-co mpa re with s m Hl i~I; ~ antl ­
g lfl ~",

cl•·.
I>. 'J'h r di al. tliddPtl int l• llo nrs and

mi n llb.! i=:-~ m a ll <' r

ci rcles lli ...·iclccl in to

~<'co ncl s- ­

Jnrn1h• - w •1rk s : wh C'e l ~ m m·<'d h_,. ~ pring o r WC'i .l!h ts-pc11dulmn, i ts n ~c- fm;cc c_y liml cr,
i ts u:-;1·- kilHl s : hoH !'> f: clock, pt1IJ\i< : 1·hwk, wall'h. etc .

c. I V·g 11lari ty-cx act11 e:-:s o f i11dicati 01 1-u sc i 11 rL"g 11 \ating- 0 11r o cc 111x 1t i o 11 s-inq )or ta11 cc
o [ pim cl.uali t,y .
2. T11F. l ron!rn.
rt. ] I oof1·d qn:u lr11pr'1l: <'orli rast wi th Ji nn - 11 n11 -rm11i 11 nti n g : cnntni ~t wi lh ('OW.

b. Fo1111 d in a wil d ~ tah • in T :irlnry awl 1\111 l' r i r ~ - J n 11 g- h ntl y- 1 0 11~ a nd sl(' 111kr kg,o;: 1

ndap ted for rnn ni 11g- d11rahl c hnnfs-:-; i\k c1: nuinc an d rnil -f.;kin covered wit h ~ h ort hair,

filllOOt h an d

gln~ .<: _r -c 11tti11g

l <'{'l h i n fr o nlr-gTi 1uh• rs

whi<'h U1 c hi t. is placefl - g n ·ga ri ons in

,n

wi!1l

l w l 1 i 11tl -~pa cc

1Jctwer 11 th Mc in

grn ~:-: . oat ~ ,

shttc-fccds o n

C'tc. - drau g h t

lt o r :-e- ri~li11 g il or s r - 1-r1 cc r - h 111 ~ t<' r .

c.

T n 111a11 , lh n nin ~ t,

c•tt:,
w•dnl o f th (• :llli111;1.l !-!, in

p<' at'I~ lll' ~ Tl

(•t c. - 1111 ,\li Liefi, c a ~ il y du111Psti cat 1..: d, dncil c n llll alft't.:l io1ia tc,

\\"[tr- ll'n.lli nr- ho rse- ltair ,

patic11t, pc rficvc r ing, cu ur-

11geo11 s.

B.
a . Th <' lll Of:; t

gi ~ n n t

Tu ~

F ..n,v; OF

ic k11 ow n water fal ls

ill the

1

1 AGA1u..

worl~l.

b. f-: it 11n tctl 1111 th e lth·rr N i:1g:1 ra. cnn ned ing- T_, a kcs Eri e a!Hl Onta ri o, i::cpnrnth1 g the

U n ited ~tntrs from Ct11 1 rHl n - f\n•11t· ~· - two ni ilcs from Eri c, fo11rtcc 11 fmrn On t:iri o-stren.a th
o f th e r :q 1id s for a nlil e nhn yr lh r fall s-11n1Tow ing of t,111• chnnr1 cl - g r c:i t decli vi ty , ~ ixty

Jrcl, in U1 r. milc - di vi 1l( •d hy f:o:1t I sland (i-;c vcn f,_r -On :i n.<: rcs) in to lh e Cam ulian or II11rsc~ h oc fall ( :1 R0(1 feC't Uro:Hl, JOI ft>f't h igh ) a11 1l th e .Amr r i1•nn fall ( fiOO feet ln:oarl , HiU feet
hig h )- on Can adian Ride, wnt r r t h row n out to fift'y frl't frnrn lh c ha sc n f l'l:P cl iff, lcn vin g

n p .-i l'orn:..:-C'- On cs t; d <'w n f l lit ~ w holr. n1t·a r:w t frmn '.l'nbl c l touk on Ca 11 a1li:m fi itlc.
c. Vn !< t11 rs~- p owc r -g rn. 1 H l c1 1r- H' ll ~C

(1 f

d:in gcr.

Describe what you have Seen.- lnterest in
d esr ri ption of 11 at11rnl ohjel'ls rl cpend s lar gely 11 po11 tl1 e
a ssmam:e that tl 1c w ri ter is giv in g hi s own Yie\\' s a nd 1m-

F or exerci se, tu 110 s um, it is ol'te 1111 01! Lo w1iteal>nnt. inrngi1rnry
j ourn eys. The pnpil may <l \'s<: 1il 1e lhe iillc h u \101 !\1! tak e rn
goin g fr om l1is h ome tu D os hn 1, Nc11· Orl eans, Lo11 <l n11 , l'c ki11 .
So h e may d escrib e an imagin:try au i1u:d •>1' r:w e o f h ei11 gs; t.ho
appcr:t rnnce awl eiremu stan ucs o f t he 111o mh c rs o f ltis class bY e nty
years h e uce ; a prosp ec tfre lml loo u-Jin e l 1d11·e<'H N c\\" York and t h o
\ln.peo f Gnrnl Hnp0. B11t. ]rt \iirn 11 sn s1wli mnt·.. ,1·i:tl onh· for prn~­
tice l'xoi·cises. \\'h en i t l H!ern ues i1 11 po rLa nL tl1 :it Ili c 1li: s ~ ripli"11
s h onl11 ltavc v11 lu o of its O\rn, :ts :t <ksc rip Lio11, porlutj<R t li e Jirst r cf!llisitc is t h at it Le of what th e writer lms :wtua lly seen :tnd been
irn pressed by.

fa ct., th e personal
d escri ptiun is of fe 1~ ts g reat.est. cha rn1. I ~ec
'l'l1 e r ea<l er sh o uld li al'e l1i s sy n1pat!ty rou sed
by a wa rm imli1· id11ali ty lircatltin g tl1ro11 g h the ncc1111111la ted de tails. Mueh d escr ip t ion d e riH:s i ts grentrst d1ar111
n ot 111 erely from tl 1e fa ct that it r ece i ves us in to tlt e h eart
of the write r, bnt that it opcu s to ns that l1 car t in su111 c
especial mood, as of sacl11 ess, joy, p e rpl e xity . Even tlic
sea and tli e 1r101111t:ti11 s take a n acld iti ou al m eanin g wl 1c11
they are in vested wi th l111111 a11 i11te rmit. Tlie proper stnd y
of mankind is m an ; aml tl1 e w ri te r will h ave few r eaders
if h e d escribes w ith s nch a na lytical precisiou as to elin:i iu ate his owu personality,

>

246

DES CRIPTION.

[PATtT III.

It is ohservcd b y opticians anrl astronomers that a sitle -view of

a fain t star or especially of a comet presents it iu much greater
hrillian cy than a direct view. 'l'o see a comet in full splendor,
yo u sltoul1l not look straight at it, but a t some star a little beside
it. 8omethiug aun.logous to this ofteu takes place in mental p erceptions. It will often, therefore, have a l>etter effect to d escribe
oblirpiely (if I may so s11eak), by introcl ncin g circmrn;t.nuces conn ect.eel with the main obj ed or evcut, a11cl affected by it, but not
absolutely formin g a part of it.- \VuATELY.

CHAP. XIII.]

THE PERSONAL ELEMENT.

247

The brcc;r,c comes whi sperin g in 0 11r ea r ,
'l'lrn.t dl\ndclion!'I nrc bl o!'>~<J1 11i11 g n ear,
'l'b nt maize lu\s s.proutc rl, liha t !"! rrarn s a rc fl ow i ng,
Th at t h e river is b lnc r t han t il e s ky ,
That tl1 c ro!Ji n is phist e rin g his h ouBe, clos(' Ly;
And i [ the brcC7;c k ept the goocl n ews h a c k ~
For other couriers wc s hould not lack:
\Ve coultl g uess it hy yon h e ifer's lowiu g, An<l hark! h o w clear bol1l c lrn11t.iclccr,
·w ar med w ith t.he new wi n e o f t he year,
T ellR a ll in hi s lu sty cr ow in g I

.

Ii

Joy comes, g ri ef g ocR, we k n ow n ot bow ;

./\ nd whnt i R RO rare a ~ n. tlfl.y in June?
Th en , i[ c\·cr. com e perfec t dny s ;
T lu'n I le:ivf' n t ri c~ th e eart h if it be in tmw,
/\ llfl O \' ('r it. sofLly her wa nn r.rff l:ty~ .
\\'h c t;lw r we lnt 1k, o r w hethe r we li f>tC'n,
We hear Jife inunnnr, we sec i t glh;tcn:
:En·ry c lnd f('cl r-: n. Rf;ir o f mi ~ ht ,
An

in s t.irn~t

withi11 it, t hat rt't H:ll ('s arnl towe r s,

A nd ~

g r oping Ul indl y above i t for ligh t ,
Clim ll8 t o a son ] i11 g ra "-R a nti fl owers;

'l'IH· tln :--ll o f life Jllny well be "cf' n
Thr ill in g !Jack ove r h i ll s anti Ya llrys;

Til e cowRli p ,c; t,a r t lcs in meatlows gree n,

Th e l.w f,t er cup catch es th e s uu in it8 ch a lice,
A 1111 th~ ~ r c's nc. vc r a leaf nor a L>lrulc too m ean
T o lie i;:o 111 e happy 1 ~ rc at 1 1r1•' s 1•a!a<;e j
The l it.li e bird sit ::- a t hi s ch i<l r in th e s un,
A~t, ilt OJI a bl osso m arnon .!! t he lf'aves,
.A1 :<1 lc t .-; hi R ill nl!lin ed be in g- o' crrnn
\Vil.I: \.he d r>l 11 i.rn of R111n rn nr it r eceives;
Jli :-; mnt.c• ft•(•l;.; t h e eg~" hc1wn.t.h h er ''"i11gs,
AiHl tl w lw:\n, in h er 1ln 111 h 1Jrcast lln tterf: and s i ng s;
II• ~ s in .~R ti) t ll r witlc wor!tl, and s lrn t o he r 11cs t, l11 the n ice car 0 f N a t u re, whi ch song is the bes t?

No w is !he hi g h· t idP of t h e year,
An<l w ha te n·r in life h alih cbhc1l nwny
C om cR !looiling hack with a rippl y clH'cr ,
.In to e very ln rc in let; aml c reek :tllll ba y :
N ow t h e henrt ii:; so fttll t h :tt n drnp o'crflll 6 it,
\Ve arc h a ppy no w llcc:rn sc God will s it ;
.Nti.rnnt,tc r h ow barren th e pa~t mn.y ha ve been ,
"Ti s c n011 ~ h fo r n s n o w t h at, th e lea ves a re g r een j
\\' c ~ i t in th e warm ~ had c :rnd feel ri ght, well.
lfnw t h e sap c rce p.c; np and t.h c hl o!)!': Olll~ FiWCll ;
We rnn.y ~hnt our eye::;, lm t "-c can not help knowing
'!'hat ski es a.re clear n.ral g ra ss is growin g;

Every t h in g i s happy now,
Ever y thin g is upward Rtri vi ng ;
,'l' i~ as cn.sy now for the h ea rt to lJe trnc
As for grass lio be g ree n or Ride~ to he bliH\ ,~riR t h e nal,11ral wn.y 0f Jivi11g-.
\Vho kn owR whiLh cr the c\011ds lrnvn flcll ?
In the nn s carrecl h r a \'Cll R t lwy lca.ve 11 0 w:ikc;
Aml t h e cy m.; forgrt. !;Il e l <':trR tilC'y hn vc ~ h eel,
'l'he heart for.r;ct.s its so rrow :rnil nclw ;

The ROu l partakes of t h e RCrtson,s y ontll,
And the i;; nlphn ro u ~ rifts of pn.~s i o n nml woe
Lie 1lecp ' n e ath n sil e n ce pure n.1111 i-:m oot ll ,
Li ke bnrnt-out craters healed with snow. -LowELL .

Candor Essential. -The p erso n::il ele111 ent in narrati on is n ot, li owever, ::i resnlt of direct effort. Tl1e
writer who sh onld attempt to a rouse and m ain ta in interest
in himself would be in sufferable. Hi s end m11 st be to reprodnee upon others, as ne::irly a.s p o~s ibl e, tlic i111pressio11s
which the object m a.de npon him, not beca.nse it is lti111 scH
they were made upon, bnt because hi s own i1npressions
are the only criteria by which li e can judge wha.t would
be the impression made npon others. H ence it is an unpardonable fanlt in description to dosl'ril •<), 110t the illlpressiou made npon yoll , bnt the i111preRsion you think
ought to have been made npon you. (See page 49.) TJ1is
produces the flattest of co mmonpl ace, as stupid as it is
in sincere. (Compare page 141.)
l\iark Twain's." Innocen ts Abroad" was popular, not because it

I
I

.1·

1

I

248

DESCRIPTION.

[P AR'L' III._

burles!Jllf'<l t h e impressious of tr:wellers, but hecriu se it <lescrib ecl
them. Giviu g a party of o rdi nary p eople of rnth er l ow tastes, aml
t h ey will be as unapp reciative as t h e p ersons h er e told about.
'l' h e re aro m en who really mi gh t rememb er nothing of one of the
most intorestiug cities of E urope, except tlmt the billirtrLl-table
they plriy o<l ou th ere wris n ot level. Usually they don't toll of it.
Bnt 1\fark 'fwrtin d oes td l of i t for his party, and tliotummls who
]tn,,·e folt e:mc t.ly th e same, lrn t hrtYe n ever dared to own it, read
thi s l1ook wit.Ii ~ e hnck lin g sritisfaction that after all their owu stupitli ty was not ahnorrnrtl. It is n ot rt thin g to be proml of th at
t.lu•so are o ne's impressio ns . B llt to 1lesc ribe th em with brutal
f rnnlrn nss g ives them at kast th e valu e of gc1rnincness, whi ch woukl
b e "·holl y wanting if in their place the book were pacldetl out with
the impressions su ggested as t h e proper thin g b y the g uide-book.

Note Feelings, as well as Facts. -To desc ribe
imprcssio11 s r el1nircs more than candor. Only a habit of
ol>scr vin g and dclining one's feelings, am! of r e11101nheri11g
ju st what they were, wi ll enalJle 0110 to rcp roclnce them for
others. Hut i11 proportion to the ll itll culty of thi s is the
valnc oE it. Th e m ajor ity ut beh older s probably h ave
lll Orc or less com;c io11 sly son1 cwhat the same feelin gs
whi ch they are T111ablc to put into vvords, but whi ch will
he recall ed by a vivid <1 escr iption. T o idealize these feelin gs, so that they sh all Le r ecognizaule by th e r eader as
hi s uw 11 , and yet as broad er and deeper a nd nobler, is the
hi ghest attain111e11t oE descrip tion: it is poetry itself.
Description of Familar Objects most Enjoy·
able. - Th erc is thi s marked diffe rence between 11 arrati on
and <1cscription, that whil e the for111 er pleases ns in proportion as the incid ents arc nO\'el and 1111expccted, the
latte r interests ns in proportion as we are fa 111iliar with
tlte foat m es described. The criticisms we prefer are of tl1e
hook s we h ave read, of the plays we l1ave seen, of the artgall eri es we have visited. The newspaper articles we select

CHAP.

XIII.]

FAMILIAR Oll.JECTS PREFERRED.

249

are those th at tell about th e places we are fam ili ar with,
the celeb ration we atte11 ded, the acc id en t we s~rn-, t11c 111 ceti ug we took part in. A pro111incut feat ure of: the 111 odcrn
newspape r is its minute descri ption of the life of people
we see every day,- th e om11ih11 s-<lriver, the pea1111t-vc11dor,
the organ-grind er, the worlrn1cn at all kinds o:E l111111l>le
employ 111 ents. In the mind as in the eye, th e uea rest objects are the largest.
Of conrse th ere rtre things bettor worth <ksr.r ibing tl1 rin tho life
of an orgau-grin<ler; n o r ca n th e pal.r011i/.i11g cnl'inRity wit.h wl1ich
snl'h an account is n':ttl lie compared. wit.Ji t he f<wli ng" in spirn<l hy
Byron's "Thunder-Storm in the Alps, " or Coleri<lge's "Hymn in
t h e Vale of Clrnrnonni. " Bnt su ch d es1)ri.ptions re11 ni re a B yron or
a Cole ridge, and it i s th e groat rniRtake in d escriptive composition
to imitat.e t he prodnctious of such inim1s without roali /.i ng any of
t h e conditions umler which such mind s wrote. Byron a nd Colerid ge put their feelin gs i nto wonls, hut th ey firs t had to h ave the
feelings. W e cannot command sn eh fe elings, lmt we can at l east
follow su ch auth ors in candor, giving oxpresr-;iou to our ow n gennine
sensations, "·hatever they may b e, and attempti11 g u othi ng l 1eyoncl
our experience. B ettor g()t an organ-g l'imlcr's eonficle nce and jot
down "·h at he tells n s, U]l(ler inspiration of u o h igl1 er feeling than
cm:iosity, than pu:II up aud swell a nd lm rnt in ridicnlons attemp t
wliile b eing a frog to look like a n ox. Ou r rtim sh ouhl b () , 1wt to
b e great, but to b e genuin e. Tho limitations of the former are not
self-imposed, and put no obligation upon u s. If we fail in t he latter, we are at on ce silly aml culpable.

Be Specific.--As i11 narrnti o11 (see page 22!!), general ternis sh ould he avoid ed, a11d eve ry object ]Jresc11 ted
in its clearly defin ed i ml ivid nal aspcd.
Everyt hin g, as I before said, iu tlosCl'ipt.io11, sh onl<l be as nrnrked
and par ticular as possibl e, iu onl er to imprint on th e mind a distinct and compl ete image. A bill, a river, or a lake rise up more
conRpicu ou s to t h e fancy when som e particular hke or ri ver or hill
is specified, than when the terms are l eft geueral.-BLAm.

250

[PART III.

DESCIUPTION.

Int1i vidnals al one h aving a r eal exiRk nce, tho term s d elloting
t h em (crilled b y logicians " sin g ul::Lr te rms") \Yill of cou rne m ak e
the m ost vivid impression on th e min1l, and exercise m ost th e
pmrcr o f con ception ; aml th e l ess remote any term is from th ese,
i .e. , tl 10 more specific or im1ivi l11ml, the morn e u crgy it will possess
in co1npari son with such as are more general. 'l'he impresRi on producetl on the rniull 1Jy a " sing ular term" rnay Le compared to the
d istinct view tak en in b y the eye of any ol>jec t (snppose som e particu lar m an) n ear at h and, in a cl ear light·, which 01mbles u s to distin g uish t he featu res of the imli 1·idnal ; iu a fainter li ght or rather
farth er off we percei ve t.lmt the ob ject i s a nmn; tl1is cor rcsp on(lfi
with th e idea con veyed liy the name of t h o species; ye t for t.h e r off
or in a still feebler light we can (listin g ni sli m er ely som e Jil·ing
obj ect, arnl at len gth lllfcrely so rn e ohj m~t: these term s ll c11 oti11 g
resp cct.iv0ly t h e gcn cm , more or leo;s rcm ot.c. And as each of these
Yi ows conYeys as far as i t goes an equ ally correct iinpression t o
tho miud,
RO in language a gen eric t erm may Le as
clearly understood. --'WHATELY .

Fill in the Picture. --" Jn a d escripti o n, 0 11 t l1 e other
h aml , of a11yt lii11 g tl1at is likel y to aet

Oil

the fee lin gs, tl1is

e ffect 1rill hy 11 0 111 e a 11 s l >e proclncecl as soo n a s tlie nnd e rs t a 11di11 g i s s uffi c ie 11t.l.r in for m ed; de tail and ex p a n s io n

CIIAP.

XIII.]

251

Hmm THE PEllSPECT IVE.

to Aehill es, w h ose fee ling s wo uld 11c s ufll e i01 1t l.r c.\citell

by t h e b nro fact, it i s t old in tll'u 1rnr :l f', IIaTpo1c/\,o<; 1CE[Tat."--\ V.11 i\ T E J.Y.
Heed the Perspective. - - Jt. i s t l1 c fond a 111 c 11tal
prin eipl e of pi ct.11re -111al; in g tl 1at ::;rn11 c 0 11 e po in t s l1 a lJ Le
assnm c d a s that 11pon wl 1i (' lt tl1 c eye is diredcd , and tl1 a t
the s ize a ucl pro111i11 e 11 ce of Cl'e ry uliject drn 11· 11 ~ hall dep e nd upo n i ts rcl:tti u 11 l o t hi s u 11 c p o i11 t.
pai11tin g, there mu s t be

:rn

Su in 11· onl-

:ts p cd. uf' t.l1 e SlT ll C e lea rl y i n

rni11d as pre d o 111i11 n1it , a11d "tl1 c r <ld ~l il s 11111 s t li e ~ (' leetc(l
a 11cl dw elt i1po n ju s t i11 propur t iu 11 a s tl1cy co 11trilJU te t uward lllaki11 g thi s a spect vi1·id.
As I l ook from t.]1 0 \1·in (l o1Y, m,v O,I"' r0stR on inn11m0rahl l' ol ijeds
- on thousands that I can nn.m 0. It is nrnn if0st tlmf; si 11tply t.o
cnnm orate t h 0sc oLjod R wonl tl prntln cl' no pidnrn \l·h :d1 •1·f'1'. J\r,1·
first. t.lwng h t mu st b o, How d o0s tlii s RC't' ll C irnprpss m o? In 1Yh:tt
asp ccf; d o I waut rt11 ot:l1 er t o YiPw it? '.l.' li c n [ mn st. s1•1od. Slll'it
fcatnres as pro(ln co thi R i111 p r0ss in11 , 1~· il'i11 g t·li 0111 prn111 i1w111'f' in
propm'l.ion ns t h ey prm1ncc i t. ; and 111 11 st ig11or0 11 ot 011 1,Y sul' h
fcat n r es as arc corn111 on to a lJ Ja11,lsC"nJ.>1's n11<l 11 :11·0 l1<'rn 11p SJ>< '('i:tl
i>ig nifi can ce, hnt sncl 1 n.R arc ]l• ' < nli ar to t hi s l~t111l s 1· n. JH', 1111 t )1 clfll1 g
to a110th cr asp ec t of it, Rn t h at if in tr <Jllll('Otl i n I hi s tlesn iption
they would di stract, tho attention.
0

are h e re 11 o t 0 11 ly a<l 111 iss ihl e bnt indi speirnablc, in o rd e r
that t1 1e mind 111 ny h ave lc is nre and opportun i ty to fo rm
v ivid and <li stinct ideas.

For, as Quintilian obse rv es, lrn

who tell s i1 s that a c ity " ·as f::tc k e cl, al tlion g h t h at 011 0 " ·ord
i mpli es all t h at occ nrre d , will prodnce littl e if n n y impressi o n 011 the fee lin gs, in co mp ariso n oJ o n e wl1 0 sets before
n s ri. li vely <l es,~ ript.io11 of tl 1e vari o u s l a rn e nta ole eirc u111st.a11 ees.

To tell t he whole, h e

tell cve r ythi 11 g .

Accord i11 g ly

add s, is by no m eans to
it. Ill a} lie observed that

B uild up the P icture Stead ily and Systematically.-" Yo u II' ill Jiud llii :; a goo d ga uge <>l' ('i'i tc ri o 11 of
ge 11ius-- w l1 etl1er it progrc~~( !S aml e 1·0 !1·cs, o r ()11l y s pi11 s
i1 p o n i tself.

T a l; c

Uryd e 11 \

,\( :l1itopl1td a 11d

Z i1111 ·i, -

S li aftc sbnry nnd Du c ki11 gl1 ~111 1 ; m·c ry lin e :itld :; to o r i11ndili es the cliaractco r, 11·lii r.li i s ns it 11T1c

;i

l >t1ildi11:;·

,;P

Lu tl1t~

th o n g h cYery o n e 1111cl e r st a ml s wl1 at i s meant by a wo und ,

\' Cl'.)' la~t verse; 11·li cre;is i 11 l 'n1 w ·s Ti1111111 , f·!c., tl1 n fil'~l

h oar a minute d escri pt ion of

t11·0 o r three cu upl c 1s eo11t:1i11 a l l Lli t: pi t. Ii (II tlH ~ (-. l1:1.1':1d .c l',

th e r e arc so 111 0 who r:a 1111 ot
0 11 0 with o ut ·fointin~ .

Th e rleat.11 nf P a t.rn<'ln s iR 111i1111te ly

r e l ated by 11 orner for t h e inte r est of the r eade r, iliongh

and tJic tWCllt_Y

O J'

tJiirt V JiJI Pf; tJ 1:1t j'.,JJn11· fl l'I'

Si>

:!
ij ·I
I l'I

J

I

1111

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: ii:I di
:!1ii11 1 1I.Iljill
::11':;
:: j1:

llllH'lt

el' ide11cc 01" J1l' OOf of 01·crt ad:; (If j(" ii(lll ~} 0 1· l11 ·i1k, UI'

/II

I

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:I'1 :/j'!'~
;.u.

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fl

I

252

DESClUPTION.

[ PAH'l'

III.

, l"J 1nf"crn r it m ay be tli at is snti;·i?:etl.
In lik e 111a.11 11er
eo111pa re Charl es Lantl/s exqui site eritieisrn s oJ Sh akspere
w ith JI azlitfs ru 1111d aml rn und i mi tation oJ thc111 ."-0oLE-

CrrAP. XIII.]

celehri ty of th e b oo k is th e clegrn<lation of t.h e au th or. In fin e,
we h aYo a m a n " ·h ose weakn ess rn aLle him g r eat, and \Yh ose grea t 11css mad e him contem p tible.
DJo: S CnI BING 'l'J-LF. W HAT JIER.

H1uu " .
An n11m irah l e illn st rntion of thi s 1mih1in g up i s aJionl ed b y
l\facrmh:y's d e>;e ript io11 of Bos,n •ll ( se <~ page 21G) .
Ho Ji rn t mak es i111p r<•ssi vo th o i1npo rtau ce of his snhjcct. I n
a prc n11i n0 n t lin e o [ Jit .. rnt urc, B oswe ll is not ou ly t l10 fi rst, but
i 11 crnn p arnhl,r t.h o Hrst. F ni111 th e sta rt., t.h ero [or e, t h e n ' ad er is
rtss 11 r<> fl tl iat 1·.h o s 11l 1,i <'d is " ·or tl 1y n.f l1i s n,t.t0nt io11 ; n.1111 t.lmt t hi s
t h o11 g h t may b e fnn·i lilo, u o ot. hor idea is admitted in to tL e parag ra ph .
No \\· cnn11's t h0 fi rs t o [ a scr i('S of p arn1l oxes : t h is great es t of
li nnk s \\"rrs wri tl"f• ll l 1y t ho sm allest of nw n. B os well \Yas th or o ng lil y 1• p11t0n q iiilil n. H o li nll :t lll ('flll aJHl k cl >l e i n t(•l l<,r.t. H e
was :1 l1orc, a Jan g hin g-sto<'k , a lick -sl'it.tlc. H e was so stupid as
t o ex ult-. in t lic r i1li1·n lo l1 en pP11 n poll h i m. He "·as sp n ·i.lc, imperti11 ont, slmll mY, p c1l :mti c, s uobb ish , el1 i hl i sld y vain. Hi s weak anu
<l iscasc<l rn iJH1 rn a1l c h i m enncoit.ed ly os te ntatious of wh a t every
o t.1 1cr rn a 11 t.lmt e ,·p r Ji rn<1 \1'<1111<1 l1arn lii Lltlon.
'1'11·0 pages ]1 aY i11 g 1lrns l >coH <l e 1·clc<1 t·o B os,rnlrs ch n.mct e r as
a ma n, all(l tl mt i111 pn•ssion 11a1·in g l>0rn <li, fin ctly 1i x0tl , l\focau lrty
c nrn;id or s h im as a n :mthor. l\Jon f<i ll y in pri rnte life Jiavo wr it.ten
val 1rnlJlo works, lm t fl 11 ',y rli<l so in sp ite of t heir weak nesses. B oswo ll's lJ<1ok is ,-ali rnl>l o l 10c:1nsc ll f l1 is \w:drn cf<scs. If h o h ad n ot
h e<' n a g reat fo ol lru wou l<l n ever h a1·e l icc n rt grmt wr it,e r. It is
l10ca nse li e had H O tlel ic acy or sliarn e or com m ou- sensc, 1hat h e luis
suq1assc <1 'l'acih 1s, nn<l oven .Tol1usou him self.
'J.' his sPcom1 i1ri rml ox h:wiu g b een state<l a nd improssetl , l\facanla,v sl'1_:i ·ifies. J ,o g; i1 ', elur111 cnce, "11·it-, ta.qte, a ll t.k 1t-. mo" t. \nitrrs
n:l y 11 pnn fo r f:une . h e 1rn.t1 nothi11!! of. H i.c: p0~ 1t. i v0 ii11 !1.l ifi ('RH n n ~
\l·e ru 0 1d / l.wu, o l1:-;u 1· n1t-ion rtn ll m em or y . IIm1 lw Lee n :t rnau of
se nse ruH1 vii'tne th t·~'c \\·onl <l lmvc l dt lii 111 a co uimouphwe rna11 ;
], 11 1 l 1p1•n.11sn ltn \Cl S n. tln n <:P. a pa.rasi l n. a 1Hl a co.A.cuJJ 1l1. Uu..:y 11a\ C
1 1i:111" h i1 11 i1 11 1111 1rfa l.
Thi s t l1iJ"(l l'arrul nx li:1,·i11µ: lii'<' ll i ll l1'-:h-af·r1l.
\"d.~ coJ11u io a

1\Jtl r tli . 1) 1:1\, Ll 11..: l! !u:Jt \\"11r il 1l( · <.; p:1r!s ~d· Li--; l 1•J(_1L :11'1'
t..li c 11rns f. tlu!igli li ul. 'l'ilcu curncs a Jill Ir, !lial iu prc•J• c•rlic•u l•J tl1u

253

SOCtAHIL ll'Y UNAP PHECIATED.

Ji' a irly in t h e r oarl 1 a m a n en.me and i;;at d own in fron t o f m e, a n d tu r ned nround nn d
facctl me :
••Col d, t l d~ m orn in ' ,'' h e sn. id.
I folded my F:n q11i1'(;J' w h crC'i tl I h n.d lwrn c 11 joy i11g- C ri Flwi l l, nn <l frtnn r1l m yse l f w it h
it v irroronsly a m omen t or two hc furc l r eplied . Then .l u11bn tto11 cd my coa t ( ': pri\·atc
h\ cllih1r~:,, i t wns origi 11 n.lly a 1,hr<'c-butt.o n cd coat.. bu t th e C'xigcnciPs nf l he i::rn~n n, the
lo n g-

n.lJ~c n cc

froin h o 111 c·, :in d t h f! 11cccssity o f droppi n g !-:01111·t.hi11g" i11 to l111 ? cnntrilnn irm
l illH' I g o Lo c ll 1t ri-! 1 !i n" n :1l 1u;1•1 I it, Lo th e 111i 11 irn11t 11 o r 11 11 cJ~ w i11cd Ill )' rrigid
IJt:cJW with my h n11dlrn rc h icf, a n d Hai1l in p:t11U 11 g- to 11 cs :
" ·1 Llo n 't fi nd it ~ 0 . 11
h n ~ kct. CVP. l" .Y

T h i~

m an loo k ed a sto rii~ h ed . nut }lrCSC'l'lL ly i-oi d :
u :M aybe you've lJC'CH a nlll!H' r ? 1'

' 'No,'' 1 r eplied . "I ha \'C lJcen aslePp r 1) 1· tlw pa ~t, two h ours in a skig h. 11
"An d ye rl i1in 1 t fee l cc hl ? ,, t h f' man in q ni r r d .
u J\l a. 11 ! 11 l ~ni ll , j n Lon C's o f n 11 wzf' 111 e 11 t, "ci dd . o n Lil e !lt,h o f .J u ne?"
0 .li m e?" h e echoed, st r:ii g h t.t•n i 11g u p, ,; an• yon <'razy? J t,'s Lhc !Jtll nr .I n 11 11n r y ! ''
1
' "'el l, ' ' J i: : a i<l, " i t rl' lt l ike LIH' !)t h of ,Jn n r: to 11 11~.· 1
H!t;'s mig h ty fi11e slcigh i11 ', ni l t h e same,'' li f' i-:a.i <l.
I to i<l him , wi tho u t a Ulm;h , t ha t I h ad Jl l'W'I' Hl'C ll t h e mnd w(irsc 0 11 O h io roads s in ce
I co11 l1l r em ember.
'; ' V!1erc 011 cn.rth , ' 1 he ll$kcd 1 in u tter a s lo n ish n1ent, " tfo l you conic front ? 11
" J)aytim , 11 I said.
H is eyps beg-an t o creep ont anrl look at each n! h Pr ovrr the to p of h is n ose.
"When ?" he ri sked .
" T h is mo rn i n 17."' I sa id cal m ly, u s i11 cc cir. h t o'cltick., ,
' ' J ro w ?" 1 h c fa ir ly FS hon tctl .
""I 11 a 0 11e-h on.;e !-!lr ii:di . 11 I ~ a i ( l.
11
Rake~ alive! 1 ' Il e sllrid;l'il
"Jt is irnp o~ c: i!Jlc• . Jt' s <Hlly f'l <'H'll n' C'lnrk now, a nd
Dayton i s fifty-five miles awny ! "
1
"Conhl n·l help i1 1 • I in !-! iStl'<l. u 1 1crt lh <• 1-c· a Ji l tli> nv(' r two h rmr ~ ngn in a i:;l<' ig h,
h atl a poo r hon;e, drove s ll)w ly , a n d t h e mud was up ln 1"11e illlhf' of the wh(•c ls all t he w n.y.
Tt wn.>-: fl$ war m a s J\I ay, n nd [ h ruln' t r-cC' n ~ 1 H_1 w 0110 11 ~~ h lo rna kt.· a u n ~ - ' " 'Y !< li•k in G,O!JO
m i lc ..;.' 1
T h e m a n 's h a ir ~t.no<l o n e rnl 1 ant l h ~ got. np l·o f' !:1 r 1-. n fT- rn1· tl 1c o !-11 ~r <'111 1 n f t;hr. r rn·.
' · 11 you arn ·t

nn

11_\\"f1_1!

c r :-i.zy ~

n.?l d I l w l i..o\·c yon Ii:·:

":·'

liar.,,

i_11tl, [ 1[q Hui, i nik i ike <1. ll n S>\ l!l !d f 1.\"0U]! \ i •!! i. hrn1g iJt ~! li!ll" !!? :t m:~!?J:H • r:!fh " l' lh:! ll :t r!
i1nhf'ciif'. T 11n nor. r•nn1P inln :tr·~·· \\"h<'l"•' tllr> 11i,,1·1r1111111' l1 •1· "''1l"lcc: lh1·"'' , 1,. ,n·1·••<.: 1.. .1" 1'-a:, ·! : c :l : l i:·. i;.;..:.: 'T,\i::.: . ...; . ;·:; , .,,_:, :.:
.. ,.I_ 1: . .
i wa,.; i ll• J';ffi i n c~ .;. •I!! • " if' r ., ! !t l!i i. 'ft \ " ]. i "1.
0

~ l · ·i !_;il . f'pi !l !ll l l.'~ ( )\ '('!'')Ii' 1l1·y, l ' l"i " \'
:+I 1·· 1111 d

!· ·

i 11L.I \ • lf"I. : Lt l i l l"" ' ' , I ,,- ' I :11 1 1•. ) 1 i •!) l!\

I

Ii
ij'ii~
II '

fl

-1 . ;l ..t

;!H! H

254

DESO!UP'i'IO:N.

[PART III.

thin g h e knot.Ya Rlrc~dy, far hctt cr thnn T d n, my month is ~calcd, nml I w ill n e ver s peak .
In ord er to as toni sh h im or s t,art.le h im ! may hav e to lie t.o h im , but t hat is l)c[,tcr Urn.n
lioring him . Yo n mi g h t nr; well i;it flow n and tell m e l hnt twi ce t wo is fonr. a s to tell me
th at i t iR co lii. You mi g h t ns well tcli me that George Washi n gton ii;;. cl cad~ a s to tell m e t h e
sle ig h in g: is gOQll. GCl away, goo<l m a n, go lo s ]C('Jl. l lc ll )'OH it is J u ne, th ere is no sn ow;
th ere iR d m~t 1rn tl th e re n rc r ni::es. It is t wo h u ndred rnil es fro m D;tytu11 to L ovela n d,
an1l I wnlkc1l fro m the n o r t lt pole I.his m ornin g . G o. get t hee t o n. nunnery, a n d wh en
yo n ca n rn o1l cl yo u r con ve rsa t ion on ~01 n ct hi 11 g lJ<'~ icl cs !h e U u itcd Statt ·i-; ~i g nal ser vice
r epor t~, come a.rn1 wnkc m e 11p a nd h old Jll f' in the u1 it.tchl m:;s e lm.rm o f your i11 f.tt:r11 cth·c
t a lk. .I k1111w not w il aL con r e:.c ot her s may take, lm t BR for m r, peri sh t h e m a n w ho tnlks
t o n w nJumt the \Y cath c 1·."
A n il ~ tra i g h twny the 111:in :u+r. and got h im nntn th e a fter wood· box, for h e was sore

nsto ni Rh cil. An tl n ~ l fe ll intn a f:.)111n hC'r th e ron:~·ottcn tlre:u ns o[ which co ntai n more
r eal, vn l11ablc in fo rm:itinn U1a 11 that. r11:t11 ever did or ever will k n ow, I hea rd h im open in£:;"

TOPI CAL ;\ ]'\ ,\ 1,y :-:; rs .

a convc r :-:at in n w it-h t il e t ac:i t nri1 l1ra kc 1!l:-t ll by re111 arki11g ;

" Cold, thi s morn in' I 11- Jlu.rlingto1' llu wkeye.

AL LIED TO NARRATION, -p. 243.
'fl-IRE E ELEMENTS, p. 243.
Olassi fi cation , p. ~4:J .
Parti cnl:i r fent n res, p . 243.
n ., 11.,d .inns, I'· 2,14 .
Analyses from Dal g luish, p . 24 4.

DESORIIlE WHAT YOU H AVE SEEN, p. 244.
The pe rso nal elem en t, p . 245.
Candor esse ntial, p . 247.
Kote f(!tdin g s as \rell a:-: fad~ , p . ~ -i~.

Desc ri ptio n

or fa mi lia r

oujeu!s rnuol- uu joyalJ[,_,, p.

~-1::3 .

HOW TO DESCRlll E.
B e sp ecifi c, p . 249.
F ill in t h e pi ct11rr., p . 250.
H ee<! t h e pe r~ 1w<: ti v., , p . 2G I.
Build u p l h e pi ctu re ste adi ly a nd sysle11rnt.ica ll y, p . 251.

'·

'~

il
';

PART IV.
~~

-

___.....;_-::___ ....
.

--·

-

~

-- -

CH APTE it XVI.
PREPARAT.ION.
S pcn.k not at nll in an y wi se nn til you ha ve f;o 1n cw ha t t o s p<'n.k; care not f': O m 11c h for
t he rc wn rci of yo ur i;; pca.k ing , IJnt si mply and wit h und ivided iniwl for t he tru th o f your
s1 1eak i11 g .- C AHLYLE.

Reproduction vs. Creation. - 1'lrns fa r t he stnden t has b,een directed toward the exp ression of ideas already conceived. I n Con versat iou o.11 e ge ts new though ts ;
h e develops and defin es h is own : bnt tl1 e materi al h e nses
is tlie accnmnl ation of Ji is previo us li fe, th e Rrnn -total of
l1i s cul tnre to the moment of peakin g ; instruction cnn do
little more th an h elp him to make this materi al a va il able.
In Letter-vVri ting, and in Na rrati ou aml D escription carried beyond correspond eJJ ce in to lll Ore fo rm al Ji teraturc,
th e material is st ill experience-wh at on e lias seen and
h eard and felt. Th e most one can hope is p erfectly to reprod uce.

T li e fi rst taRk is not to
eni. T li e essay is at basis a
T o describe iu telligent ly an oeclll'reuce or a
0 ·

30G

PllE PAUA'l'ION.

[PAR'l' JV.

see 11 e, 011 e 11 ecd s pri11 cipall y to h ave ol)sc1Ted k eenly, and
tu li an~ re 111e 111he red di st.:ri111i11 aLingly . 13nt to write au
efisny , 0110 sl1 011ld 1Je tlw rn nglil y ac1nai11 tet1 with the subject itr::e lf a 11d wi th wl1 at ot h ers l1 a1·e sa. id of it, should
l1a1·c l'"11d e rerl it·, ;.;]11nilil l1:1s e re:wl1 cd a definite opi ni on,
a 11d sl101rld h~ aide to 111:1i1it·:1 i11 t·l1at. opinion . Tl1i s i11 vuh·cs
a1 1ot-!1 c r :111d a !1i g l1 cr set of faculties, a cliffcrc11t aud a
lllurc difrieult Ja!Jur.

-

~

-_

~

.

- - -.
....

-"-~~'!'~ ·';

-

,'

... - ·~ :t)'l'/,i'_!J)~ ..~.,,- -·

tho e n.rly composi-

):1se1 o n ll fl rrflti on aml d escrip tion .

Ab-

===~======~;~~'j'!'i~1~1~·J~.e.~s's"t!;olltVhBeim"'. Oberlin
F ew first
etfo~
commence-

11

rn ent. :
.•t bmrt. n rtrtf>,-1.;- irt 11c i~ a good th ing to get a h olt o f.
o f vi r l u c, li e IJ<'Uc r kcP p a holt.

Whe n eve r a felle r gets a holt

lJ0111/"1slic Com111q11;1f11c1"<. - nfan .1· pnpils pnt t ogeUw r a composit.ion ns tl10.r " ·onl tl a 1J-1 111prnt., seC'ki11 g il.1 me m ory or in h oo ks
for C'l Pg-f\1t t phrnses t o nrrn11 gC', f\ud ns lif-t.l e umlertf\\<.ing to Ol'ig i1lftte f\ll itlef\ a s t o r o11 st rnct a rn oss-rose. Hence th o humorist
tl o0;; 110t H<'<' •l t o Pxngg-Prnto wh e n !1 0 calls tl1 e followin g " Phonog r:q>hi e 1':1:lio os [rom C t>1t1rn e u eo u1 e 1) t."
i\ fa n i.;.; ll:r nn·hili-1 ·l of h is own furhmcs .
cveid ~ ,

i 11 n ll f li(' a!' pi ratinn f\ a n d

:1111i1il; in n ~

In :ill th e "\\·rcping curren ts o f h11 mt1.n

uf oL h C' r :iges, h •m· nol Jly -

Xif//i.' hr i 11 gs ('Ht, th: ..;; fmw . [ It nl ~ " h 1·in g's u11 L I. he b11gi-:, bu t, Lil e c~f.my 1wgl cr t·r !l t o
sny :-:o .- .E11 .]
It, i!-; n11l y w h en s111Tmr n.11 11 mi.·~furtwue. h:i.Ye flnrk r_• n c(l o ur l i n.:-~ t h al t he
b t'i() ht er trnit ~ o f c haracte r , t h !! O o d ·like, iu ~ lind s of ma n' :; 11at!l1'e s hi ue furtl1 al!! itl the

(J I lAI'.

XVI.]

307

C:OM i\rnNC'EMEN' l' EC HOES .

'l'o-rl ay w e ntnnd upon the thrcs li old o f l ife, r ead y lo crrn::.~ it \\' it h i n1p a t inn t feet, and
a s we stra in nur eyes lo p it•rcc lh c cm·tai n of the f ut ur,-., on r lll'ftrl~ tt·ll n s that·\ Vhat rn :rn !Jas tlol\(' 1 rnan ca n do. All l.liat. th e pa st has t:lll g h t m:. ;d i that, the li\•cso f
th e g reat· n1Hl good in oth er ngcs have d on e fo r u s 1 a ll t..l wt th e pngt•s o C hi st.o ry, in the
Btorm_v t.iu u,•i:; o f o ld 'l'h ttc,r d idcs, t,Q\\'<' rin g hi g h a.l.J0vc onli n :Hy me n in nn ngc th a t 1·01111 I P1I a 111011g ils
k:i il cr~

and l,('a 1:lw rR !':l wh pod.s :t1H l :i r t i <..: IR :i rHl f: i al pc.: r11" n :rn
l 'h itl i:\ ,c.:, Zc u x is a111l Pa rt'h a s iu :::, l h ·r ndnln s n n d Xeno ph o n,
am o 11 ~ I.h f' 1!rca t, is sa id to lrn\'n r c rnn.r k 1•r\ -

~np l 111f'l1 · s

aud JV:!-i<:hylni:;,

'J.'l11u ;.rd i1l c~ 1

hi1u sc lf gre at

H11t w l 1: d", let n s ns k n n r ~<' h' PS, \\· 1·rn tlir 111c 1!ivP<> o f ;\\rxn 11 t\ 1'1' in l h C"f! ilri lli:i nt
:l(.:hi r\·cme nts? \Vhcn we con f' idcr that 11 0 olllcr eo111tn C' r<1r e ve r clfrd1·d ~o nw c h i n :-::o
s ho rt. a l" imc, a nd w l1en we refl ect t ha t thr. onl.\' mol i\'C t.11 nt lrnl him ln cn n y \\'nr a n d
bl ootl s hc<l ancl t er ror i 11to n lm n ~ t 1..~ vc r .r 11arl; o f l, h c th e n k 11own \\'o r l1l 1 was cold , s fdfi s h,
i11h n 111a11 arnhit in 11, we arr. 1<·11 to cx1·ln i111 wi t h tll P i11 1111ortn l \ \-a!'hin g lo n n ll em;e n fro11111ll crentnres hides ll!c lit •11k ui f• :l e. 1'
A11 d :tlthi•n .!.!' h nft('n we wouhl
f ;i.i n pcn ctrnto lhc 1·efl of the f11 t 1ll'c, ye t a t lcn µt li , in t h e wi ::<clvm of riper ycar f::, lrtng ht in
l,h c rn g~e d f::C h oo \ of ('X j )('J' i Cll <'f' 1 \\'('y iel d tn-J\ [a n , h el p le ::<s in hilll sclf , 11 n t·,a 11g h t hy l h• ~ ir1 st-i 11 d o f tlw k·n-(' r n n i rn al !:i. in c1 q mhle in
hi ~ IHtt11 rnJ cond it io n o f protecti ng him self. n. J1l'f',\' to !ltt> C' !('Jllt' ll t~ :ind :it th e nir r ey t if
t he lwa sls of the fif'ld, yet nickrl, dc\"C•lopf'd, :11111 PIC\'lllt'd Uy the tn ·ntin g a r t o [ h is mn1
Ura.in a. 1111 t' h c ~ k i ll of h is O\\"H h : t11 d ~, h e is fo 1111tl A m 0n g t h e n.n dent C: rc l'l~s. w h ere ,,-i!"d1 11 11 1 i::: t a l"c ~ mn n !' h ip, nrnl :i r t ll n\·c hrcn ll n11 fl1' d
1l ow n t o 11s t h ron g h t h e cen t uri es, jt wa.~ con s idcre1l on e or th e h ight.:!-i tn.nLl first duties 1Jf
t he eit iz<' n f'o p rovid e for ' Vo111 a 11 , ll e;i.\·c11' s l a~ t, h e~t g irl; t.o tn:lll, w h at is 11t.·r mi ~f' i on ? W l1:tt i!-< Ill~ li fr·\\·or k
w aitit1!! fo r her en rn f's t, pa t ien t h a n tl s? Th e h n. 1111 th nt !'t l('k ;.; tlt f' ('r:1tll c t.rnl y rn:1y sh :tk c
th e world; h er stren gth is ge n I l c n f· s ~, J\ (' r ro11rng-c if' 1·011fi1k 1ire, a 11 !l :-: h e w:1lk.·;On th e lJ rond ocea n of life we lnnnch onr hn.rk fcnrlt'f'::< ly we frtt'(' I.he ~l<1 rm s n.s wo
W<'lconrn t h e s 1111 l ig h1·, aJH l io:f' l'l' llP. :w il c·nn!iilt-111, n.111 id lhr d1a11 g i ng •'lllTl'll l <; a n d 1Ja fl li11 g
w iml ~, w e "' lll'('arl ou1· .<;a il s and h nldl y hol1l on r Knows b e, w h o lrno \\' cth him l'<' lf, t h e tirs t 1 1ri1wipt ('~ of h um:i.11 lrnn\\' !(·tlgc'! Tt1 c man
whoJ1low s the w iJHl JH'! V(' I' /' O ill 1h:LI. it; hl n \\' ~ 1111 gon1 l t11 ~: 11111<' ntH'. ;\ rT11-.:<:. th" hr n:l .\ 1,er' nn
o[ life, in lo 0 111" \'Cl')' frtccs th e l t' lll} ll'f; t;;.: 111 a y b ow l, but Ute rca r lc:-::.; :-: aill' l' tllCC!.n Llie slu nll
:rn(l ca lml y Lrim:.: hi f'Corn is king . T n -d:i,v m n rr lltnn ('Yf' r lodnrT. l lif' :l!.!l'i!'l1]111 r~l in inr"' I"" 11 f tlwt'"l!lllry
nrf' 0 \' 1' r ~ l 1:idowing :di oth('r~~ until a s Wf' <"nt:l!'lllJlhlf(' il111 11 i n l h0i r irnnwn<;ily ~\\' c ~ : 1y rnrcwPll. T 11 y11n , w l :,, ... ,. i "d i 1·11· ·· · n11.J "':i·d.,111 lt:1•'. l··il :, ", i r 11 ; ·•iii :.. l 1: 1n<!:-:
nln n g 11i f" (li1.1.y ::.:lt'l'J'S o r knn 1i1i;..(:.; hill , ()!Id l u Y" l l, 1h·;1 1 1;];1:-0:-- 11 1:11• ·.'-' , \\ l 1t• ~ 1· < li<T I f i ll
1J U1'li ~ 1~;rm1

f-lrp1·k1'!/f'.

~nrr n 11 n1li11g

qloom, li krTh c )'J T·~s :nul lhe hallnt-h rix . t he g-n'nt. p a ll ad ium of ~111 111 n n libe rty, wlrn t po we r iR
t h ei r.., in 111o nl d ing t,lw 11a ti n11n.l c b : i m<"IC' ri Rt i c~, whnt; ha s Leen t h ei r infln c11 r c ::is :\gt• nts of

civi l iz:llinn, \\' l1:1 I d n
As w r

th e h11 ri ('d
rst

c~httP .

~·l:1 1w1·

:t:!P ~

!ht ~

1rnf,.Jdin ~

('(' l!t11ri" "' !hat

~t r f'l1· li

l 1d\•: Pt· : 111~

:un i

pa s 1·1 how th1 · ruin s and Wn !ck s of the grn1 1tlc11r o f mnn in hi s protal·

in h i:-: -

n 111i1.!11 t y ri vc1·, ~ prin !!i11g in u11 scr n f o ndn i n ~ 1le<' Jl i11 rnm c 111011n ta in gle n,
1·p a -.:1· l1•"'s l': par kli n g r h•n kt. 1 thn• ug h vc nlan t, nw ml uws n1Hl arl r1w n ma ny
n111l a f, k 11g lh -

T.ifc,

l ilu~

nw :1 11 r k 1·i n ~~ . :t
i:;lcr p ~,

WI' ~ P P -

h:wk ntT1".:s the \\"idt•

nf

Fcm1i { i <11 · ,~· ,,/!j< :c /s . - nlorc m"< ' I ' I he· J1:t1T:tl i<ll J :t11< l 1l c·sc 1·ip l ion
slwnltl li e ahou L 1d1rLt im111 c Lli:Li d _1· L"1 11t n·r 11s «l" lt :1 s i11'1•1:1 ·ss1·.l 11,.,

1''11'il.
f'i y mpft tli y 11·if·l) cl1ildlt<><lll 11·iil '' '''' !' ' '' " r 111 11< i11 d lli:d fl,,.
yo nf',lif11l i111;1 g i11aLi on j ~.- f'a ge r, :w 1in•. 1111 1 li 1n i t ~ · d
T! 1 i ~ 1: 1 ~:1 f.w l
is inqio rt ::mt, li nt-. it is oft. r n f1 Hgott<'1L s ,,1 1tr· 1«· r'""" 1Yl1it:!t J1:1\"u
been the r ou ncl s uf the n c·wsp apv 1-., iJl n~lrnlc iL:

308

Ll' A lt'J'
I

l V.

W i Lh rn y

< ~ h arlf'y

(I ll

OH Mi c f c11ce.' 1

A.u n t ie i!"-l Lirell.' '

I ( I t hi 11k a wh n lc c-o u ld l:t.Y egg-~- do n'I yn:r , ann t·ic ? :·
"Oh , y c R j I g 11 c RR so ,·• ~ai d th e sh nn wl f'<.:8 wo n1 n n.
"J) ill yn n CY C r sec n w hale on hi s n es t ? "
l• Oh , I gn css so.',
u \ \' h c rf'? "

l :n t. I k iH'i lh f' li 11 gcr l ipio::,

And I ~ n .r , 11 Nnw, tell f!H olh c r. 11
"\\" i·ll ." a ll s ni ilC'f: 1 \( 11ow I w ill ' m ence.
], l:1n111 ta, J did f::t-f' a d og:=: i c,
Cn' :1t - h ig-- d ngg: ic , 0 11 I. he fL 11 cc.,,
1

11

l 111 c<.in 110. w -ill ic 1 y nn 111u s t b l' qni et; l ,m ge ttin g
"\Vlint makes yo n c razy , riu 11 t;ic ? 1'
u O h . ll ca.r , yon a fo)k: so mn.11_,. qu es t io n s."
11
Jlill yo n e ve r sec n Ji t llc fl y cat s ug a r ? ,,
''Ye .~ . d(•ar. ' '
"Wh ere?"

H lt a.l ll N !-! i111 iln r , yon r nlor ir s,
A r e n't t hey , 1lc:i.r ? " A sn l>erlook
Sw<' pt ncr oi.:s t lH· p re f ty for c h c:id ,
h t~

300

"\Vhc rc d o s ln r s co111c fr o rn . nu n t 1c ? ''
'' .l tlon't kn ow: n obl11ly k11ows. ' 1
i ; D iel t h e moon Jn._y 'r m ? 11
" Ye~, I g n css RO, " re pli ed t h e wic ked l:Hl y .
" Cn11 t h e mnon ln y P g"~ !'I, too ?"
11
I s npposc f.i l.\. J) o n' t.. h"f ltPr 1 11 ~ ! 11
A ~ h o r t 1'il en cr, wh e n W illi e hrnkc ou t a ga in:
" B e nn y sa ys oxin s is a 11 owl, :un1 ti c ; is th ey ?"
" O h. pe rhap s so I 11

M :u n ma ~ 1nil 1> R . ViY c li t tl e fin g ers
Co \·c r 1111 h f: r l:i.u g lti n g lips.
' ' J!-: oo ln ng h in µ-? ,, u Ye:;: 1 " I tell him,

T IH·n

ID1'~ AS.

0 h. I tlo n' t k n ow. l'tl kcC'p st ill, \Yi!!i c. t h a t."R a d ea r.
Af ter rPm a inin g qui e t a 111 0 111 c n t. li tt le W il l ie br ok e out.. ;

n1y kn ee

(Lill.l e (,wo-yC'n r-ol d , fo rc \' c r
i"
T cn. . . ing, 11 Talk n. ' to ry, P"n"c, t o me ·t'· No w,·• r ,.;aid , .. ialk m e a. 'tf) ry, "
"Wcll, 11 rt'flcdiv cly, "l:ll ' rn encc.
Ma m m a. [ d itl RC' c a k ilty,

Grcat~ l_i i i,t--ki tty:

CilILDltEN' S

14

sit! in g i n lh e tw ili g- h t.,

w:hl

C11Al'. X VI.J

l'!t11ld 1·n c on r :i gc too k,

'' Bn t [ kn nw a ni ce, n e w 1 t.or y,
'Pl <' rnli d, m:1111 ma l Jl cn r m e 'm r n cc.
M a 111111 a . l - d id - scc-n- ulf1111t·,
G rcnL- big - clfunt, on the fe nce I "

fT:t ;r.y

! ,,

' 'Willi e, s it dow n o n U1 r sf'n. t n. 111 1 Ue s l.ill o r r11 s ha ke' yo u . Now, not nnot h.e r \\·onl 1 11
A JHI t he l:it1y p oi n ted h e r lin ger s ha.q 1ly nt; t h e li t..Llc Uoy , a s i f f'ilc wa.~ go in g to
s ti('k i t lh ro11g-h him.
Th e re n rc 8, 0U U!OOO li t tl e b oys li k e Will ie in th e U nitC'll S tatC's. -J11·octo n lr'azette.

Acti ve an<l h ol<l aR is li tt,J e Clrn.rl ey's inmgination, it is limited
Ca t., d og, a11tl clC'pltrrnt arc all sittin g on ~he fence ..
J\lo rco ve r, C' hil tl rnn's itl pnR o[ the refah ons of tlnngs arc of th e
vagu es t, as th eir i11tenuin a1Jle questions are continually s howmg .
l Fnt in o. r a r f'! r nt on t h e S:rn g11s br nn c h o f th e P,a stcr n r oad lH' :ii nd a pale,
A i'. t:h c li ttle b oy was
of n. vr ry inq 11 ; ,. ; 11 q n 11rnl , n ml eve rst-.J1in g s c c nwU Lo att ract hi R n.ttc 11 t10n, I cu ul tl n ot
On e

(lr\.\"

cnn\·\Yfll'll . larl y who \Y:l S biking n lil.t,l c hny fr nm 13of'! bm t·o J\ tal1l e n.

he\!~ ~~~!~~~'~\'~~l~~t,: ,~:~~1 :;: ~ ~~ ~:~-~it:t~ ~~ ~0 y comm enced, poin ti ng t o
1

mar sh.
1
' Oh .

t h at'~

8

hny, d c:i r. ' ' an swer r d th e care- \".' Orn wom a n.

"\Vha l. if.I hn y. n11nti e? "

" \\T h y , hn y i " h !ly, d t.·in."
•: H1 1t wh a t, h-1 Jrn y nia1~ c of ? ,.

Wh y . ti ny i ~ m:~1l e o [ dirt n.ml 'vatcr rind air."
' · \\-1\0 11 1nk r <: it?"

11

"( :011
11

11 1 nk ' '~

it. 1lPn r. "

J) nt'fl h e n1n.kf' it in th e Lfa.y -1..imc or in the ni g ht ?''

"Tn h n l h . d r n r ." 1
11
A1t !l Sn11 d :1yi-: ?"
" Yr " , nll I hr 1i 111P . "

" Ai11 't il w io ·kc tl t o mak e h :1y 011 S unday , a unl ic? "

n sta ck o{ lrny on the

'l'l1i ~ is shown 1Jy the incnnsec11f;i n' ncss dmracterist.ic of comp osi tions on any lm t t.horoug hly familia r s nbj ccts. 'l'lms :
T llll EJ.lWH J\ N T .
Tl1e c lc ph n1i t js ve ry forg e a nd wcigh i:; fou r n r fiv e po11111l ~. H e iR. ~o Rtro n g thnt he
c nn carry :i t.rnnl:; 1 nntl p eopl e l m ild h on ses v11 1t h; li1w k . Jl" is legs :1n~ a s l:i rg-e :1.s pill ow~,
nncl hi s t runk is made o f k n ifc· h arnll es a n d 11tlt e r tl lin .~» 1·ane !l nu t of i vo ry . I le is ve ry
\\'i lll nntl ti c n ·e: an d h e is <'a s ily f d g h tcn c tl by th e f' i ~ ht of 111an, but h e c~m climb u p a
t ree. l [e is nlRo very t a me .

Tim FA Hl \AGU T PAC:llA N T.
Ji'n. r rn g ul; Pageant wnR n. Ye r_v wi .<:e m a n n111l a g reat· " ·:ix 111:1 n to . he " ·oul r\ fi ~ h t t he
ba ttle thr bc::t of n ny 1nn. 11, a wl m ost n h\·n.ys h e ~ pe nt Ii i ~ tiln c 011 th e sea.

A d11 1ir:il F::n rn ~ n t he wn s ~111 u f<'rt'<' r rif U11 • n:n y. lw \\" nS \·c ry llll ll'h 1-c•sp1'<·tr rl b.r hi s
m e n he 1lie r1 a g ootl c hri sl nin h is Fn.tnil.r t·n p rn =:1' ;: in 11 o f h io; f11r111'1 IH• wa R laid i n h i'>
rf'F:. lin g Jn st, fr itlay.- Jo ,·in g-ly hC'a r 1111 • 11nt i n 11' s (\ (•ail i n hn!11(' nr )1 t.':1CC h e was stil l t il e
Rl\JlW rv r r mo<:t tr nc to h ii-> eoun t r.r s <'al l all h 1>11 n r l o f :u r ag11 t :-: n n iJlf' n nnir Jo ,·cd hy the
1o vpl y rever e d by a ll tf' n<l N ly l:l.y h im •l n \..- n to rc."t io>('al !t•r Hwcct fl o we rs oc r h is b rcs t
droo p t h e p ro u d ban n e r h e br:nely <l c fe 11de d H•1rn n UH · lo1Hl g nn for t h e n nlJlc lofc end c cl.

S11qgesiions. - A11 exprrirn cPd tl':W]1 pr says : "Th e wi se composition teach el' will stri ve to enlis L i.11 lJehalf of his own (\epn.rt-

~'\·

~
310

SELECT ING A SUD.JEC'l'.

[PART IV.

rn c nt t ltc plcas nrc ancl tldi g l1 t pf a c<1uis ition so natnrnl to yonth.
:Uis \rny t.o r1c·r·ornpli slt thi s is uloar, h ut 11ot always easy. H e m ust
know 1diat thin gs hi s l1oys aml girls \\·ill take ple.asnro in fimling
nut, nncl rnn st. 110 ahl o to g ni<lc t.h o1n to t he sonrces of know ledge.
'J'hm1 lH' mns t. r nJch tho fanmd il o m orno11t, \rh c u some inter esting
pn pil's rniml iu its_l ,'l.~

l1i s mincl is ''hll \l'ftl'lll \Y it h i t , let l1im n ' port..
"I lin w• 1HH1 gnocl cornpositi nn s \ITitte n on snch tl1 em os as these :
- I l lftrn im·ifo <l m y pupil s to explor e tL e iu torestiug fratun•s of
Bnstcm, it.s an!iqnitins, i.h h ospi k1.h, itH clm ri tioH, it.s rnn se nms,
aml to r<'pnrt t.o tho cl:Lss what Uw,v l.1 :ul learn ed. 'J'hi s takPs them
ont of a Rnt n rcl:i y [orcnnon or aft.m·noon, and rtlrnost invtiriably
rnri.k os a g nsh o[ rn a te ri :ll for a composition. R1wlt <' Ompositions
ltaxn an intcrc•sti ng olij r etivo cllftmcLor. 'l'hny fl.Fl fhvore cl with
tll<' rr•aliti (•s of life. O ne }'nir of g irls- th ey n s nally go in pairs of
CP1irse- nt. tlil' Jl ist oric·rtl i-locid;·'s rooms last yf'ar incl, tlte i\Inyor,
,1-ho t.ook an int f'rr>st. in t hl'ir c rrnncl :mtl RhO\n~ tl tl1em m em orabl u
n.t t c 11 tio11 s. A11ot !tt•r l''Lir, at th e o hl State H_pnso, \\'(\I R fri gh ten ed
t o fin rl th e Jl os toni:m :'iociot..1' in sess ion, I mt n crnrtl10less t h ey
\l'(' l'f' rn nrl o Wl'knrnr ancl wPrn s hnwu rv1•ry th i 11 g. 'I'L oy have h een
e 1'f'll so fat· as 1'il g ri111 Hall in Ply111 ont.l1 , rnul have onl:1rged their
knn11·lP1l gc in t.h l' 111 nst .lPg itinmto way. ·when H ev. Ecl\rnrd E.
H:il0 t.nnk rt class n l' t.J1olll onl; t.n Cn nconl, cm.npns ibo11 mrttter \Yrts
cr(';1,l<'cl in 111111m11 n. g1»1h lu rp lftn t.itiPs. In t.!1 0 lrns pi!rth their sy mpn'.ltiPs 11C're 11rn1·f'cl. 80 alsn in t.li o institu tions for 111 0 r e li ef of
i•oY., rt.y, for tl1 n ran' nf infa11!·s, for t h n protectio n of t.11 0 h elpl ess.
'.L'l1e:;<' gi rl s a 1·1• to l>1•c01nn \1·nrne11. Tl rn knO\de Llge of most \rnrt.h
t.o \1·o m ('Jl is n nt a 11. con 1·C'_vncl in t he sch ool cnr ricnln m. f:lom o
li t.t ic trne g li1npso o f life a nd it,s realiti es Hiey can got in thi s
\\:t_Y.

" In tl1 e p lr asant mnnt.hs pupil s sh onl<1 h e e1wour(tgerl to g et
t.hPir tl1 ornPs o n t nf 1lnnrs. ·what i s t h o B u sRf\Y l11 s htu tion?
\\'ha t. a r11 t li n i\Iicld i<'sPx F ell s ? A Rmrch :for Hel'at.icas, rn: for
Arln1 tns: Hnw tn Show Bnst.nn t o n 8Lrn11 gu r : l':trkor Hill: Histo ric~} H orniuisccuucs of my \Yalk tn Sc h ool , etc., etc."

C11 AT'. XVI. J

TJIT~

KIND OF SU B JECT.

311

1The
l Topic to be Disc ussed.-It is a general
1 snbj oc t sl1011IJ be so met: lting i11 , 1 Jiich one
rn e t iat tie
a lready 11 as a real interest.. Jncl eoJ, it ,~·ill sco 111 rnore
one }i ~~s already a pro1101111 ced opi11i o11 npon it,
-'.an op.uu o11 that l1 aR 11rnt with oppnsiti()11 . 'l'lu rn,
whether
I,,all •1·],
. .
't l · it. has impro ved tli e oo·n111 e of li ·aso·
·
. 1.1.t c1·e1y
p1 e t is e1t•1ier a " eall " or· 'a" 'st
ril·e".
·]
1
·]
'
t
.
1'
\\ le · lCr l . IS 11·or t t
,
'
1
a Loy s.wlule to go to college; irl10tl1 er t lte 1110cl ern circus is
a} benefit
to· the publie; ir ltetli er Jo was tl 10 Lest
. ·ti
·
U •
II 0 1 l
n10wmg of the" Little \V ou1e11 ;" irh etl1 er tho l1 orso-cars
oug h t to. rn n ~11 ~ n11d ~y: <111cstio11 s lik e tl1 ose, 11·J1iclt l1a1·0
Leen top ics of d1 sc11ss1011 alre:1dy, will ass11111 e a rna lih· in
th e essay that wonld be wa11 ti 11 g to tli o111 es fortlter " rem oved from the p11pil's daily tl 1011gltt.
h and , care mnst. ],.. htk Pn t.] 1·1 t t] 108 t 01 ,1· f'"> l'. ('f'f'
. ·
tO
· n t the oth or.
.
l\'(!
nmt h cr pnrso.rntl no 1· L1'i1j·Ll
1r 1J I·1 u t'.l IC S ll I >.].<'<' t. s l1<>11lc l
bn .1ea. mnnt
.
.
e assocrntml ~s elosol,y UR practirahl e \Yil h tli n pupil's •hih li fn
rtnd tl10ng ht., it shonld n o,·er l:w k c1i n11ii 1· ·Lt 111 .1 . l
·
n

<

<

8

r

. ,_

' el.)

'

•

.

.

-

..

'"

•

h

.

', .

-

.

'.\

l l'

npnn an

Ll,Ly s nLJ eo L, but it sl 10nhl criU forth thP pn pil 's b ns t e Jfol't.

Literary an·d· Historical Subjects l1 arn a ee l'tai 11

~.d v~!'.:~ge, r·ovid rng tho boo k(\.)' tl1 c e1 e11t lJe t lwro11glily
h.rn 1li ,i1.. No ~ lie can stud y eard 11 ll y t It o ~to ry of ( )i1a rl cs L
'·~Ithout fon11111g au op ini on as to \\·h ct!t er or JJ ot it was
n g ltt to ?x ec t.1 tc hi111. lf t·. ltc r oadi11g l1 as
e11011gh , it will pro1re an i11 ter es ti11 p; a11d
to m eet npon eitl1 er sid e of tho q11~s ti o 11
b.ro1.1gltt fo rward on the other. ]·,'11t s·11 cl1
l mu ted and spoc iti c.

hco11 m tensive
profitalile task
tl1 e arg11111c11ts
touics nrn st be

to ·a g irl 0f fift
.t .I wonlcl n ot . assign
· ·
1 een as a t bem n for n cn mi.iosi ion
· !1 nr j·. o eonsn H 1·>n ] · ' ,
. ' " I gnatius
· · IO
" .)' n.]a, " anll ll·, ieu rtd vrnc
"Histor of tl 1>
. ,,
. .
, ' ,., ,11 , c s
.
y
rn opes to ge t. th e i1 08l1t'cl m[ornrnhon. 'l' h f' g· il'!
~f· fi fteen, as I know h er, \1·onlcl not do nwre t llfLu tn1nsfnr so11tP.nng from Hrtuko to h er 0\\'11 ·11nires
: sh o '1'01
..1·e nothing for
~
, .llLl on,..•

I
j,

l

I .,

il

I.
:-112

SELEC T ING A SU BJECT.

[PAHT IV.

C ITAP.

J,oy oln,. Yon wonkl ge t n, eornpnsitio n ; y on wo11l1l nrnrk it ; hut
yon rnnst lmrn b een asleep if yon tl1 ong ht i t did t he girl any
g noll.
'l'hc composition must fi rst of n,ll l >e orig inal. 'l'lteroforo the
tl1 eme 1nns t h e sneh rts l1i g l1-scltuol youth ca n tron,t o rigiw:tlly. I
sr1w n, g irl 1.h e oth er 1hy ill h C' r !t ome ma kin g a composil.ion OJ\
" .folrn J\li ltou "- a very b atl kiml of t lieme. She h ehl iu h e r left
h aml Brooke's " J\Iilton " mul in h er righ t h er p en. 'J.'h e rnental
process tltr1t was going ou 1rns n ot compositio n . 'l'he reason why
,folm l\liltou was a l iatl t h eme \rrts t hat i t \Yas t oo vast. U uless
p re 1·ented b y Yigilaut supe rYisio11, pupi.ls will even write on aut;l10rs
o f whose \York'< tlt 0,r l m1·e read 11 othi n g, tlra\Ying solely from encyclop m11ia articles a1Hl simila r so nrces.
P upils un gl1 t to krmt th e et hi cs of a nthorship. There is no
rnl c rcqnirin g a ll essay to b e brilli rt11t: lrn t it must 110 h on est. A
p upil writes, e.g. , ou GolLlsmit-h's " 'l'rnYeller ." S h e renrn rk s tha t
" t-.l te 'l'rnscllcr is th e lllOst al.lluitions of all Golllsmit h's p oems,"
nrnl :J"f~ t s he l1 as n ot mail a 11 otl1 er one. 'l'his a ffedati on of gen erali zin g tai11 ts ma11 y a jm ·enile prmlncti on. 'l'he exer cise becomes
m ornl.l y i11jnrinn s nn lcss t lic teacher reproves rrncl prohibits su ch
t rnH sg rcssion s, cnJLiu g U1 cm by their ri ght names.- S. 'l 'H unnER.

2.

G. "Jt1·itcct o n lit e p er so n s s pcnking or a(' t lfl <T . ~ n 1111
J

nam e, c h nrac tc r, etc.

8. " J.lern ark t h e tim e of a word or a. :

be o bse rved.

11

(lilt•", co1111f 1) , ••rl n ( ·lLion

• cLl•Jn ,

., -

.

rn cludtng tile ti me wltc11 a precept is bJ

H. "Obse rv e p l:we.' '
10. ,1 Co11 ., i1lci tltc pc iso n s addressed ,,
11 "Examine tho p~u tu.: nlnr ~t·1tc o ~ ti

12 ,, C
·1
, .
lC' pe rf: oJi i;: :t.ddr f'~"'c<l -·
. .
o 11s1( er the p r in ci pl es o r a wonl or a c tion ,. i r
. .
pass1 011, o r co n v ict ion ti
.
'
. ·1 f 111r11 wha t. n1nt,ive, 1tlf<'l't.inn,
:PJ " ,
.
, 1c P Cl RO ll sp ukc or ncted .
. . .· .~o n sHl c r ~o n seq ttc nc('s, " i.e., t hr. ll RCS or n!Ju scs IJ •
. .·
.
.
or p c 1 ve r ;.;1 011 ~, t h e 11illt1e n ce or tC'11dc 11ev of t. t}
f . ~ ll ud1 Ill <\ t l1 (• :t ppl ica t ions
111. " llc fl ec t on t h e en d proposed . ~'n mi error s , C'l c.
or scnpc of it.
m a11 ex press ion or action,'· i.e., the airn. 1111rpo,-.:e,
l U. ,, Ccm sidcr wh ct;h er th ere be nn ' th i11 ·r r n . ..
.
actin g,,. e .(f., ''Afore tlrn.n co nq ncro ri: ; ., }' · B , ; . c \1Ja1 J, .i bl c 111 th e ln<Ul n cr o f s pi·a ki1Jg or
16. u Co mpare word s a ntl n.ctio n ~ 'wi t.}. ~- ~ '.~ J ira ham \\·as, T a111 , ·· t' Lc.
Sri.Ha: per~on on rliftercntocca sio 11s .
i i-;1n11 ar word s an( l acti o u s, •· i. e., t-li i1H! of the

17. d Co n trast word s nnd ncl.io:1 ~ ,, o f dlffc. t
.,
18. ·•Examine t h e gro un ds or ea:iscs o f an'~". . p ctH0 11' u,v ''"".J' of anti I
or C<)11il y of it .n
•. ctio n ut exp res.0.:. 1011 ; and s how th e trut h

'""i'.

l!l. 4: nem n.rk the goo 1
11 d .
20 ''
.
.
( n.n c XI. 111 C.\'.prps sio n s anti act ion s
Supvo~e

·

f,hmg-s. 11

22.
etc.

·1

· •

21. ,' ,~ G 11 a1~tl nga.ins t obj ect ion s.,,
Co11 s1dcr c haracters o f ma jest . rn ~

1111H'h :1h1H"c him: t ha t iR, thf'y ~liould 11 1!\'C' r h f' ~ n ch n 'I to indu ce him lo !"tring toge ther

Cr,,um.r;'s " '.l10 J>1cs. "- '!'h e fo llowing" T opics t o Open Sources
of <)hs0r ntt.io11 " arc oft.en C) ll Otetl from the " Ess:iy on the Uomposition of a Sermon," by t.h e H cv. John Claude :

I

7. "He fl cct ou t ho state of Lhc p e rson s i:::peak i1w o r n.ctin • ., .
cu m stn n cc!:!, or mootl of mind o f the p c r so11
o
•
g, i. e.. lhf) con cliti on. o r c i!'-

toil, acquire) c.; 11flicic 11 L inf orr n'nt io n. 81wh R1 1IJJ cc ts will o f cnu r ,:c vary. accordi n g to t h e
l cnrncr' ~ age arnl in lc \J ,,c h1n \ n.tlva nccnwnt. ; \111 t t hey hnt1 better li e rathe r below, th a n

How to Subdivide a Subject.- One of the first
h aliits to h e ncquiretl is tha t o f cxaminill g a s nbj cct in
<l i ffercll t aspectR, a.11 ll select ing 80 ltle foat llre li111ited
e 11 0J1 g li in sco pe to l>e treated iute1ligeu tly within a g ive n
Ii Ill it.

313

.H.iR~. fr om ." Pt'Cics to gcn trn,' ' or fr o111 1•a r tic11ln rf.I 1,o f!r n r·r~l l.c:
"~)ci-:;<C!rnl _r1 nn1 gcn11 ~ to ~pt'ciPR,n or fr•J1t1 g1· 111> n t l1-l I n p:1r!i1·1;hr~

;{.
l te 111a rk th u d iYC'rS cha racte r~ of n. v ice whi ·I . .
. .
. .. .
commc nd cd,11 i.e. the qw lli ties c lin.· t .· . .
c i is fmb1d 1h·11, t>r a v11·11w w J1id 1 is
4. "Qbi:;crvc t'1i c re lat io n o [ ,or1c, I RIC' . C' J rRLlt'!'= , :lll rl i ·v n cn 1 11it:rnb~ u f vi('« ~s n rid virt11l's.
sn ) ] Cct to rrnot h cr "
•t. " Obser ve wh <! l.h c r som e thin g~ n r c n nt s u ' inf:.C'd . . • .
w ll e ll wo speak u f :\ c h:u1 ge th e t, . - .
f. .
I~
\\I n c h a 1 ' ! llq t ' 'X pn.'HHPd, " c.r;.
to w hi c h , and so t h e reve rs~.
e11111nus l ( llll w h ic h n r1 ·1 •sf::uil y s1q i111,<:1•s t!J p t~ ' l"l11 i11·11~

tercs t.in .~ 1.n t h e ~l.u rl1 : 11 t , nrnl on whi c h h o h as (nr may w iLh p lea s u r e, :i.n d with out mu c h

to coll ect dri CLl spcci m('ll:-:..-W 11 ATELY.

SUBDIVISION.

1. ::

Th e olwiou f: nwl tlw only JffC'YCll t ivc n[ th e ev ih; whic h J h ave brc n Rpea king of is a
m n<.>t i=:cn1p11 lnns rare- i n the i-elcclio n o f suc h Rnhjcds for cxcrd>-cs ris nrc li kely to Uc in ·

\'H ~~no g<· w·ra.1 cx 1-irr~sin 11 ~ 1 C(lnvey i11 g 110 di :..:L m ct idea!": to hi :.: own m in d, ntHl Rcco nd -lrnnd
FC' 11 t.i 11 u· 11 !~ w h i,·h lt c cloC's n ot reel. Il e nw y freely trans pln.n t iud ccll fro m oth e r w ri ter s
$1\Ch t.h n u~ llt .c:. a s wi ll lake 1·oot in t h e ~o il o f hi s ow 11 mi nd ; b ut h e mus t ne ve r be t empted

XVI.]

. .),

.. .

.

crnnc::; . . , rnfirn11ty , necef-:!'=- ilj', ulilit·y1 eviden ce, ' '

2i'.!. "Jfomark den- r ecs ·i • e ·
.
2-t ,, . . . .
.~
, ' . '· ., 111 error , igu orn.n ce, nml g u il t.
·. Obs <1v c d 1ff:e rc11t rn te r C'st8.11 Thi m when th e fnr
,
hnncl ~ 11 t he synngog nc o n t h e SalJ bn.th , tile divi n e 11"' d J es u s l~calctl the w itlwr<>d
.Herod rn.ns a.nd th e l' h n ri c;: ecs ha d d ·rr.
t.
alc r, th e afl11ctcd man. and the
tl
.
·l nt:re 11 rntcr e8ts in th e
·
•c lig h t o f h is ow n cha r:1dc r an tl desi r es
.
.
mirac 1c. Each r egarded it in
25. I• Di s t in g ni sh , D e fin e, D i v id (' n . .
2fi. i . Co m pare the diffe re nt pa r ts. o f tile text togeth . · 1
.
L•)ffICAL J\:!ETII O~ i~. a ccord in g to D r. B<'r~;,. , ·t 11 in et .
. .
lllt.C' rnnl rl' la tion s o f thi ngs ; in ot he r word s
~lw n ..11 ~ ~. <'o~nit 1 om: <l <'tenni n cd by the
or s11h:;; tim cc. nnd a tt ri b11te n wl acv ick ut·.
t.:~1 11sc· a:~cc~8 . . :,,~·y .11 1tt' rdrpencl c11ce of be ing
n n (l co11cli t io11nl, of e nd s nnd mc·u is
Tl ." . I' '. . <l pun t1 0 11 o r e ff ect, o f <:on tl it io n
c al and ch ro nologicnl m cth o 1 - .~. :.I· . ns ' ~ ( ist rn g ni Rh ert by h int fro m t h e geo"rn ph1•
. . .
t • \\ li e 1 18 ba;;:cd u u extern al rel · t"
f
.
.
~
SJlfH.: c. De flll1l10n , in pu re logic re l l -. I t I
.i ions o obj ects Ill ti111 c imd
exte nt. 'l'o ilivid e logica lly is to' r c1 ~ e: ,o ti ic co '.1tcn ts o_r a co11c c p 1.io n ; di vision to its

IJ:

,;f

U

ot

I .
t

-

m t he ir rela t ion to co.ch ot h e

i1 r s u1 t

If'

OIJJects w lt w li

.

l .
.
,
, n co nce p!.1 011 c om 1ire hc11ds
r , am m tlic rr re la Lio11 to th e con cept itself. 'l'he offic~

I'
i

•

I

314

SELECTING A SUBJECT.

[PART IV.

CHAP.

XVI.]

of log ic:il 1lid!".i0n if:! t o l'Pg'flr< l n co n ce ption ns a g-cnn !'l, and t o r c!:;olvc it, into .it::: several
i-; pcc icF>, or t.o s u bo rdinate t he partic ular t o the ge n eral , a c a~ c to its rul e, a rnl an inference
to n tmi ,·crsal pr o po ~ iti o n; co nsequ e ntly !hi ~ ki nd of d ivi'-' ion invoh·c::: !he following elcrn r 11 1.~ : 1, A g iven cn nccpti on, or the divh'\ibl c w hole; 2, a prin c ipl e o( di vis io n; that is,
Ronir. ge n eral :ittrilrntc o r the dhis ilJlc whol e, which t1 ctcrmin ci:; the c lrnrn.ctc-r of t h e rliv is inn. As we r cflc d npo 11 a g ive n COllt'{'ption frnm various poinl;s of view, we cliscovcr
in it (lifforent prin ciplt~s o f clivis ion. · Thns we ge t. co ll ntcr~1, l divi sion s. "J\lAN, for cxam ph~,

may h e niriPtt s. ly flivid cLI. "\Ve ma.y t.akc n s th e prin c ipal of divi s io n, ci tl1 cr hi : :; rut ~
tio nnli ty or rcli g io11. or 111orality , or m e ntal qn:lliUcs, or occ11patio n:::;. Jn cnc h di v is ion
th e g i v en conception , rna11 1 is th e r-am e ; but for each n e w prin l'ip le we n1l opt. we ge t
n cliftcr cnt, f::et of m e1nher s o f cli vir-io 11. or ~ p cc ifi c d iffe rences, or va r iow.; parlicnla.rs.
F:ich m c 11 1bc r o f n 1li\'i sion may il!<.cl f b e r q ; anlcd :i s a. tlivi silJJ c \\·J :o!r. from whidl a :::;ub -

nrdin:itc llivi .<:in n lll:ty h e d e ri v1•1l.

Tl111 s w e g d i:: 11 hdh·is i1111 s \Yhid1 rn:iy h<' s 11hj P1 ~ tc rl t.o
That lli vi 8ion to w l1 id1 :i Rnlnli v il-do n is

th e i;a11 11 ~ diddin g pn1 cf ~ss 1.n a lt11 n,<; t any c:-: tent.

immrdiah'ly f.nho nlinatc, is 1•al1 cd

fl. su p C"r inr tlivi ;:;io11.
The t1ivi s ion whi c! 1 CO ll 1p1el: c11d s
all !he 1lifferc nt sc ri m~ of .<:11hdids io 11s is ca llr cl t h e f111Hlam entn l o r pr imrtry clivi "ion.
A"' to the onlc r of did .o;. ion, Ur. Dc('k·s prece p t i:-: : 111 t.he fint plnco e lu c idate th e
given co11 ccptio 11 h y n c111npll-tc 1lrofl11ition; ~C'cm ull y , se ttl e t.h e pr in ci ple o ( 1liviF;ion ,
w h ich nrn st b e an cs~c nt in l ntt rih utc of tbc g ivl'll c< ml'ep t.1011: n ext il cb.:rmin c lJ_y thi s
pr in c ipl e t h e Fcve rn.I 'F' J1Cc i<'!'I of the <l idsih lc w hole; th en take each :;: p ccit•s in tu rn a s a
div is i ble whol e; ngai n ~c t.Ile a pri11cipl e of di v is ion , :rnd de te nni1 1c Ul t' sovcrn l s nbon1i rntt"c .<; pe c i~\c: , n.nd l hn s nchancn till th" proccsf:: is complf'f e. He11 cc 1 a 'F' Z i <" ~lcr tcachcR, it
i s an ofT1 '11 cc agail: sl; logical rncth od when a pren c hcr, e.(f., npon th e pr1•p0Rit io 11, ' ' Why
iR it 11cce!-':-:1try to bridle t he tong nc? ' 1 builds thi i; ns n s ubdivi s ion~ 1 • Wlrn.t is it to bridle the

tOllg'llC?,,

Th e h t \YS of 101::dcn l nwliho·l nrc wor th r e 111 c rnberi11g , a s they co n ~t it.111,c the g round wo r k s nf rh <' !ririen.I 1m•f-J10d . " I t i" t h e fnrnla111 cmlal t cnd c nry o f th e 111i11d , 11 a s Dr. llcck
o!) c: r: rY f' ~. "lo rt'f(•r it.i; rnnnifol cl co n c'f•p f io m; f' a<:h to i t ~ 0\\'11 c:1l<'gor y, ;in d thn ~ 1-e<lt1ce
llH·rn to unif y i11 order t o ('n111 pre he1 u l the m. ll c 11cc it. is 1hc log-ical i11d h otl o nly which
can ~ n t,1 ~ fy tllc d ee pes t w:t11 tR o f the human mHlcrs ta.rnling. ,,- HEUVEY.

Specimen Subdivision. - The advantage of subclivisio11 will !Jo apparent 011 oxan1inatio11 of tli o following
scl1 01n e for th o stndy of tlt e p oems of Oliver \Yendell
H ol111 os, prepnrotl for the U ni ty Cl11b, Chicago. The stud e nt that had fo r a snbjcct notlti11 g 1110re s pecifi c tlian the
11a11ie of the poet won kl write a vagne and valneless essay;
but from th e fifty li111ited topics s11ggestcd, ]10 can select
at least one or two tl1at he can discuss with h ope of sayin g sometlii11g.

S VBJJIVISION.

J.
HOLMES AT

315

u o~ m.

"lrha t tfa hm11fred y ea rs ago,
1'1wse close~sllut lips !md answered, l'lo 1 11
PAGE

nonoTnY Q. ,

2 -13

CON TENTl\lENT,

F ,\ i\ IILY: l tF:G O HD,

3 fG

HHY i\ U': D

OLD C A:"<IBHlJJU& , .

:w.1

Ti m ~Tcny,

LUCY,

2ns

0 1.D l\L\ :s n1rnAMR,

0l'E N"l N G l'IA N O,

] SJ

:Mno1n; CENTf:NNL\1 ,1

Tim ~cr 1 00L - B oy 1

ONC.ii:l\l:om ;;,

I.CJ.. ,

LE SSON,

•

PAGE
170
57- GU

100
210

MEETINn O F Fn I ENJ 18,

r,:~

20~

N 1·: A HI N O RN OW - LIN J·:,

::o

24 8

]HO N <:ATE, I.

I. C:.,

LE Nnnu: 1' 11N<'1 r- Bo wr. ,

fjfi
;.!;.!:j

CT.,

J•: t'lf..,OGU.E, A.D. J(l'j'_!?,

205

Co11versation.-For your p i<'b1re o( t he nmn w:itch him at the
Droakfast 'l'ahle (' 'An toe.mt"- ' ' Professor "-" l'ul't ") and in
otlte:"'" sketch es, as well as in f.]i,, p oe ms aLovc.
Iu " Poetic Loe~1.htie~ of CJa1nl>ritlgo" h e clescrih es l1i s oltl h om e. Your impress1~r~ of th~ m~n-:-lns f~ce,_ nmrrn or, el 1arncter - from his writings?
~'.Juch pa1 t o! ln.s ad vice rn the " n.J 1yrnoc1 L esson" hits your best
.ln eml ?- Not1<'e 11011· often th e n/rl-ng~ f'J:on g ht c>omrs ovr r Holmes.
B.ow c~m e a ~oy to write "'-L'lw L nst L1' af? " Is Ji[f_y ol<l ? CJompn.r e wif·.lt l1J s "R nnw-Liiw " nt.11<' 1" old-ago l'OPm s, - JCiucrsou's
"'l'erminns," I VJii ttier 's " St;, l\Jart.i11°>; Summer " I, 01l"'fellow's
"l\I .
. S
·
'
b
'
ontun alutamus," and his "l'erso1rnl Poem s" in "In the
H a.rLor."
II.

THB FHU.:N ll .

" When you w ere llill <111.<l I was J oe."
P Aft8

°f3J J,T_, AND .ToF.,

I ND1 1\ N Svi\tMEn,

Two Bo xs,
J'. " ' · c .,
O r,nv.:·n F'inF.Nl.J,
A 1,r., 11 r::1n::: ,
01.n C RUIS!i:n,

'J'h c png:c-rcf<'rC'n cn8 nrc to th e u Hou sc h olcl E<li tion, " 11nlcs'F' th e letters I. G . are
n1ld cd t o Indicate th e r ecent co ll ect ion call c<l "Th e !run Gate and other Poem s.' ,

SPEC il\H~N

PAGB

2U'i'
~1 l
21::
218

A I) Ai\T I CUB,
J,AB'I.' S u1n'1von, I. G . .
, \n111·. A N D CT n , Du s, J. <: . ,

2~0

.J As. I" C i.A mo;-:, I. n.,
A Goon 'l'lilrn Gome:,

2.22
22:')

T1n:: ~ uAnowR ,

2:io
n~

r.. n.,
!GU

Co1wersatio11. - ,Vhich is the lies t of th e Glass-Poems? fa it a
Rrt<l or a merry seri es to rea<l ?- I<le ut.ify his fri ernls an<l classmates, if possible (tlie_'l'ri ennin.1 O:ttn.!ngn e of Harvanl College may
h elp) ; and such allus10ns, all through, a~-

31G

SE LECTIN G A SUBJ ECT.

[PAll'l' IV.
CIIAP.

PAG E

XVI.]

~ 1 :1

ront nn cer. Mng 11 01in ,

Ili c l:wgh.,r, Ptc.,
!he lin g ni s t, etc.,
.Joe, Bill, F , W , C., etc.

2 l ·I

~L

41

A11 Uiony,

th e i\lhrscillai sc,
gray c h ie f,

l02
181

20
1'15

I.II.

Convc1-.~ation.-Is our etirly history ricl 1 or p oor in romance?\ Vhy uo Aboli tion poems ?-:--Do h is war-poe ms s tir you? Compare wi th Lowell, \Vhi tt.i c r, an d Lougk ll mY 01 1 silllilar t.li r mrs.
- -'l'he two Loy-poets of" Old Ironsides " (sec l'· 20) and" 'l'hmmtopsis."

THI·: .llOCT OJl.

v.

"JTf•'s killccl th.e Sqaire- l!e' ll l.'ill the D eacnn, tno."

THE i'OET.

; , 111 ose f11''111rl 8pecijlrw tY11t urtJ grrre

Were

n f l )(T

" ,. I s th e 8eru.:oJJ8 slid ol011q,

JJoisecl by wei(}flt.<.; rwd scale8 ."
PAli l•:

Uo1\rnT,

!I

~Tf-: T ll OACO l'F: 80N ~ :.
:l\ l1 N n· ~

D I E T,

Et'f!J'V yem· a. notch of song."
PAGF.

PAO!<:

Assoo. ,

N AT. 8AN'Y

.i:;
10:;

T wo An:i.t1 1rn 1
H. v. "·1NJI1.. r::, ALD. ,

PAOE

l ·lli

To 1\'fv llEADTms,

2~8

rn2

xi.
l!Jl

I'OEi\I. TO OitUF:H,

RYl'•IPATHIEB,

8M JLI N C: LI~TEl'EH,

22H

MURA,

10:1

}',,:.11r.rAH

LErr1·: 1t,

:i11r.

Ev1:rn SONG,

2~7

ATLANTl C JhNNEH,

2!lfi

11 !)

i\1r.n 1c,\L POEM,

) , J\' TNO TEi\If' LIC.

i.i::

CH A y C HIEF,

Or 1;-;N1NG 1:1-n .: W IN DOW,

l t lt~HT S,

2f.0
45
1'15

2·11

l!!o

'!'1-u~ WA.HE S,

2i1

11 ItOORAMJ\lE 1

2!1U

O L D J'."EAH SONG, .

2 11
2.i:J
SU

T. ONGFF. f , f,Q"\Y,

U!

\\1 u ITTIEH's DrnTli! )A Y.

1\1Y ffflrnl Oll!'I

I LT. NE~~!

317

SPECIMEN SUBDJV IS ION.

PAC:E

th r ec -1leck<' r brai11 ,

Utt. S. 0.

HOWE,

('om: ~rso/io11 . -Com p n.re hi s " l\Iecl1 nn ism in Tl10ng ht and l\Ior-

nli<, " nn1l 0ssn.ys in "Cnr ronts an<l Counter-Cnrreuts ;" and for
lH're<lit y Ii i" "Ehio Venn er" a nd "Guardian Angel. "- Sl10ukl
~·o n lik e him fo r rt <loctor? \ Vluit snrt of d octor's-t::i lk and medie i11 p 1nnil1l yon expPot from l1im 9 - - Doos th e" 'l'wo A rmi es" refer
t.o Rolt.liPr 1tn<l phy Aic ia n ?-Are t.h cro 11ny worthy ii oems Ly auy
one on t h e Human Do<l.1·,- its mn.ncl ?- \Vlmt other d octor-poets
or d octors famous in litemture arc th orn?

S IL ENT J\lEJ,OIJY,

I. G.,

V OI CELESS,

\VOHDS WOHTIJ 1

127

nunN s,

Jr)(J

11H Y:\N T ,

2!)!1

r.

(L 1

27

C1mvei·sr!lio11 .- " Th at p oem s of Natnrn d o ynn find? Has li e
the poe t's eye for Nature? \ Vlmt t lii11k yon of l1 is Spring n11tl
Au tumn pictures (00, lfiii, 2±0) ?·-Co rn pare H ol11 ws's illeal of t he
Poet and his l\Iission wi th that of ol".111'1· p not.s. Is p oetry a u ertrn est business or a pas time to him ?
VJ.
'l'Hll \V[T.
11
r neve,· d11J'e to write
As funny as l can. 11

lV.

THE l'ATJUOT.
11

Ay, tem· h er ta ttered ensign down! "
PA GE
HEIGHT OF IlIDICU L OUB,

rAGE:

J>oncnE:>;TF.n G I AN T,

nnonrnn .T.

H.OOINSON O F I ,E YDEN ,

l .SO

::!)

AGNES,

UN.OEH

TO

WMHl 1 N

S1EtTF.n C.,
J<:Li\I,

AIDT\' HYM N,

Il OSTON 'J'EA · i1ARTY.

2-47

S \\"EET LITTLF. 1'IAN,

Bt! Nl\Elf Hl LI.,

300
U2
1

UNI O N AND LIBEHTY ,

AMF. n.

ACAD.

CENT1 L.,

OLD }H ONR JDES.

r . G.,

.

HOSTO N IJELLS 1
Dn ~ TON

!):~

<' o M:-.roN,

VE 8TI G I A QU I NqUF.,

LG .,

1G1
10

Goon Smr UNION,
C 11An.LF. S SuJ\t NEn ,
Gov 1·: n.Nnn ANDHF:w,

J low NoT T O SF.TTr,.,E J: r ,
.J APA NESE BANQUE'!',

1 !):~
Hi-I

155
1G7
1!>8
2.16
270
2!18
2B7
258

D ILEMM A,

12
4

n

PH>E
l'H OJ... O(l U 1-i,
DEACON 1 ~ ~ HAY ,

Jlili
172

Jl ow Oen Hornm \VoN,

:JO!I

Music GnI NDEns,
OnGAN BLowi::u,

~· IG

CONTENT!\f RNT 1

110

F AHF.\'\"J~ LL. Ac;Ass1z.

H OT ~F.ASON,

AUNT T ,\DJTIL\.

DESTl N ATION 1

S·I
171

C llAN SON,

250

J_.A'_l'Tlr.H - l lA Y \VAHNING S,

l'AH SON 'l'. ' s LEGACY,

W ll AT ALL T!-TT N J\,

2!J.{
1S7
11;:1

Co11 ·versotion .- I s i t wit or lmmor? Dnes it ev0 r stin g? \YlrnJ,
ge niality o r solf-control- wlii eh is i t?- fhat s li ow.q in H o ln1 eR '!
But do yon wish he had used lii s power t o s ti ng so me t h in gs?

318

SELECTING A sun.JECT.

[PA 1lT IV.

Compare hi s fun with Lowell's mHl Bret Harte's and H ooLl's.- The
imag iu ati on of t h e poet rtrnl tha t of t.l1 e lnunorist co mparml. D ocs
l111n10.r st(' ::J.l t h e sc.11so o( b ca nt.y awrt.l' ? Uoos i t irnp l_v sh al low
sy111pathiPs? Has Hnln1rs mnch o f t he hnmori st':-; pathos '! lu
"·lmt poems <lo yon fi n<l it ?- Arc " rn et rieal cHsays" to l 1e b or.uo ?
/\re "occas io1ml " Ye rses- " l >O ems se rvf'Ll t.o onle r "- o ft cu l'O<) JllS?
Jlas Ho l111 ('s's goo t1-11att11"e (sPe "Progrmmnc," 2±2) cost·, hilll 1lf'rt r,
or n ot., as p oet. ? ls h o ltll a d .ist n,s to wonls, pl1raseH, a 111l 1u11s ic o f
Ye rHc ? Arn011g onr five el <l Pl" p oetH, \\·h at wonl or t.wo cha1·ack ri;\eH him ruul O lll' cl Pl 1t t.u him ? fa h e a grPat po rP Dy wlmt
p oems \\"ill h e l>c kn om1 in Ul72? \\IJii ch sho\1·s ]1im n,t his uest.,
his prose o r p oe tr,1·? ls n ot his b es t. p oetr y io his prose ?
\ Vl1at. tli rcc p oe ms see m hi s 110u les t to :von ? \ Vh at t hree 11is
fnnni est? His t. lu<'e h est co mplimm1t.s to fri e ntl s? T en fam iliar
•1 notaLio ns? Dette r t h e mottoes chosen n.lJo rn for our lmlf-uoze n
g limpses of the poet.

The Subject Stated. -1\. q uestion defi nitely sta ted
is hal f sett.l ed. So a fm bj ect elearl y co nce ived an d circn111 c:c l'ili ed ic; l1alf t l'eatcd. O ne s11oul d del"en11i11 e 11 ot
0111.r t li e poi11 t <111 1r lii clt ltc wi ll 1Hite, bnt tl1 e rnd iu s of
tl'e:1t n1 ent, an d he nce t.l1 c cil'c11111 fcre nce of e:-;elu sion. Tlte
eil'ele 111ay ha ve a 11 y degree of cxte11 Rion, fo r in the world
of: id eas e1·e ry obj ect is eo1111 eetcd wit.Ii c1·c 1T otl1 er, nllll
111 ay ::: uggP.:::t a ny ot her. lf tl1ef:e s11 ggoc;t ions are fo ll 01rnd
witl1011t syste111 or linii t, tlw di scourse load s t.11 0 rni11d , not
t lt e lllind th o di sco11rso ; and tl1 e writer, li ke t l1 e pil ot. of a
l1 eltnl oss 1·o:::sol, alJallll o11 s lti111 self to an imcer taiu voyage,
Hot k110win g wh e re li e sltall lalld .
'l'hcre fore, i n ord er to lmtl and s nstain th e progress of n. di s<·onrsc, 0 11 0 mnst, ckarl y know wh en ce oue s tarts, n.nLl whith er o ne
g-oes, a1Hl never l ose sig- h t of either t he p oint, of d opn,rtnrn or t he
d es ti nn.tio n. B n t, to e ffect t his, t he rorul must be measurctl h cfore lmntl , aml tl1 c prin cipal <listance nmrks must have h ecn placell.
'!' here is a ri i;k olsn nf l o" in g oue's 1rny, and then , eit h er oue arrives n.t iw eml, eveu after much fatig ue, productive of intcrmiua-

C HAP .

X VI.]

GATHERING JViATERiAL.

3Ul

hle tlisconrses leading to n ot hing ,-or if one at laHt ieach cs th e
d es tination, i t is after an iuJinit.y of t.urns an<l einmi ts, which l1 ave
wen.ricll t.li e h P:t rm aR 1rnll as th e speake r, witl wnt proJlt or pleasu re for a 11 y1Jody.- J3 AUTAl N.
l\fn.11 y sp<ealrnrs resernhlc t h e m en o f n,]l ex plorin g p :uty in n.
n e wly se ttled conntry, wh o h avo no p a rt.fr.nla r oli,it'ct in vie\\"; n.s
l ou g as t h ey d o bu t get nver a cc rt.ai 11 a mo1111t of g round, they are
ca reless as to t.lte clirectim1 t.!tcy may h ave ta ken, ::tlHl are uot runch
snrprised if th ey find at last t h at th ey lmvo lJee n walkin g io n.
circle, and h ave arri ve(l n,t t he ve ry spot fr om \Yl1 i<'h t.h r.y origina lly sta rt.oil : 0 11 th e ot hor Jmncl , 11 goo<l s peaker rnay lie compared
to a n ative of t h e Ranw country, who, striking u nhec;it.n.tingly into
t h e right path, n ever once pn,nscs or turns aside until he attn.ins
the object of his journey.-HAT,coMJJE.

It h as been said tl1 at if th e task of describing t he hippopota.rnn s \\"CJ'C l!:iv en to :u1 .E ng li slt11ia11, a Fren cl11uan ,
antl a Gel'll ian , tli e E 11 g li shn1 :rn would tak e d u1r11 bis g un,
sail fo r Afr ica, slt oot 011 e, o:-;a111i11e it, a nd tell 1r hat li e had
i:;ee11 ; tl10 F'l'Oi1 elt111 a11 1ro11ld ran sack the ]'\ati"md LilJl'ary ,
mall al l tl1 fi t lt ad eve r lJec 11 1H il.t c11 of t l1 e a lli111 al, aJ1d
colllpil e a descrip ti o11; 1T l1il e tl 1e Gel'll ta11 11·011ld lig ht hi s
pipe, loau bac k in l1i s c: h:i. ir, a nd ernlve tlt e l1ippopotam11 s
ont of hi s i11n el' co nsciousness.
ll ELl' T11AT Jl[ UST 1:1•: LnoKKll F\m. - To defin e and
state tlt e snl ,ject w ill r erp1i rn ori g i11 al r ell cet inn ; it will
ind eed call iu to nse 11oa.rly a ll tlt o previou s ge nera l preparatio11 of th e p npil tltat call Le lllad e availabl e. Afte r h e
l1 as clearly determin ed tl1 e po int to be diseussed, the pnpil
is not adv ised to e1'olvo ont of hi s inn er co 11 seionsness any
ideas that li e can get else wh ere. ·with a ll tli e suggestions
th at h e can de ri ve fro111 l>oo ks a nd co n vo r ~ at i o n , he will
still have <p tite enough to do to make l1i s present.at. ion of
th e suGj eet wortli y of attention. .Ui s ai 1u is the tnith of

JI

320

PRE PARATION.

[PA UT IV.

the mntter; and he wonld ue as fooli sh to neglect the
lamlniarks laid down in the books of wise rn eu, as lie
would to 11 egl eet tl1 e path s np a mom1tai11 01· through a
fore st, trodd en l>y men who had been there before, anll
who kn ew th o way . 1f th e paths do 11 ot load li irn where
he wants to go, lie can strike ont for hi1n sclE ; bnt h e will
do \m il to t.ry th e paths first. The boy that is too co11ceite<l to foll ow a track is lik ely to be los t iu th e woods.
A sp Pak0r ft t. ft terwlwrs' ftssocifttion spent, half th e time allotted
t o him in apologizin g for t.he revo]uti01mr.Y clmrnc tor of th e iaeas
he WftS ftb out t o b e tho first to ftnnoun ce. H e kn ew tli e autlience
would he startle11 a nd shocked; p erlin.ps it would be incli gnftut.
H e coultl only say that his views were reached after the consideration of mau y yerin;. The essay he was ab out to rcftd mis the
resnlt of Rix m onths' <li rec t preparation. He b egged his h earers
to b e pati ent with him, ttml to remember th at, h oweve r 11 ere tical,
h e was a t le:1st sin ce re. " ' hat the c01rnequencos of his discove ry
wonl1l l>e, h e conl1l not foresee. 'l'hat th ey wonltl be mom eutous
h e co nhl n ot d oub t, bnt he eould not shriuk fr om the responsil1ili ty. The trnt.lt rnn st. stan1l, thong h th e skies tumLl eLl.
After all tl1is i11 tro1lnetion, h e proceed ed to r ead a vagne ancl
tim orous ex position of the theory that miml is a m a11ifes tatio11 of
ph ysical force : ft theo ry tlmt it. wtts an umloub ted achieveme nt for
him to lrn.\'e r each ed mmided , but which had for yeftrs been familiar to all " ·<'!I-read nwn in th e works of Comte a1Hl Bain.
H ere " ·ns a pitin,l1lc waste of m ental effort. ·when the idea
first suggested it,self to him, h e slumkl have r etlect etl that the
chanee of its b ein g a new hypothesis in the wo rld o f thought was
infini tesimal; so li e shoultl lrnve search ell to find "·h ere it had
l Je Pn propo11n1l<il , wh ether i t h ad b een r efut ecl, or wh at was the
present state oft.he rli Renssion. 'l'his iu vestig:tt.iou m ight h ave led
him to g ive n1i tl1 f1 icl ca as nnwort.h y of fur th er cmrniclerntion, or
to appl y his thinkin g intelligently. In ei ther case i t would have
sa1·0rl him from t ln·o\1·iug awa.y his tim e, and from making himself
Ti1l ien.lon H.
Ul1 P 111i s tr~' n11vn1ir0s bceanse it,s stntlents rn rtk c tl1 ern selves familiar \rith 1rhat oth ms have Lliscovcred aud fi xe d, b efore they
1

CH AP.

XVL]

HELP TH AT MU ST rm SOUGHT.

32 1

ch oose their o"·n narrow fiellls for (1ut.h cr inv«sti g rd inn . Thero
m ay b e among tht>m one or tw o tlmt «·nnl1l in the conrse of lt lifotim e discover oxygen for the u1solvt"s. But why Rlwnlcl they \l·a,s te
laliol' in doing over again \1·lmt P riesl,l ey l1as d one as \rnll as i t ra n
lie done ? It is for e:iclt ge n.eml·,inn to b ng iu where th e last left
oil~ rtml thus to advance in geom etri cal rn.tio.
So in oomposition, tl1 e R11l1j t'cf; l1 :wi11 g h een ch osen and limite1l,
th e first s tep is to rli sco,-er what g rf'a t rnirnls lmve th on ght. rili rmt
it. Th ere will lie fonml e11 011 gl1 variance of np.ininn and diffl'l'(' llCe
of t.r eatment t.o leave exercise' for :in<l g mcnt. a1JC1 tn.sf:e ; nor will it
lesseu th e p ossi uili ty of an original enntrilrnt ion to t.110 snl>j<'d ,
th at the stud ent knows arnl is i11 spi1n l hy the h ost th on ghts of
others.
l' rJsse ssio n i n f. /J e F i11 iler' 8 ...Ya111 e.- Tlt1 Jse w h o luwc t o t r cn.t a ~ nlJj ect wh ich h ~A
not b ee n t r eated lJcfore, nrc oh\i gcd Lu clr aw Jrnrll a 1)0 11 s\ fl 1._' rn ho n of L11 c snb jcd, nnd
from t h e ir own re sources, nil t lwy h ave to say . Th en, a cco r di ng t o th eir g( •niw-i and
t h ei r pc nctrntion, nml in propnrtion l:.11 I.he n iann e r in w hi ch t.11 P~· put t h e1n sel vcs in
prese nce of the thi ng~, will j,Jwir di ~ 1 : 0 11 r :-: r> 1·vi 11 cc m on~ 11r Jto.-.:s tn1th , l':'c1d itwl P, :i n .\

<l<'pt,h .

Th ey n.re

~n r c

to br. nri ~ in al, ~ ii wc tl wy rin~ f-h ,.. flr ~ t -< ' 011 te r R--:-rn .l, i11 g ('\lP r :il.

th e fi n;t v iew, w h ich ii'i n nt in fil H' !lf'l'd hy riny p n• j11dicP nr bi :i :.:.. h11t \\· h ir·h :lri~ " c.: fr nrn
t h e na t 11 r ri l i mpr c ~ !'- i o n of the o hj 1•cl. 1qu1 11 ll w ~ 0 111. pr.,iJ1wn: de;1r ;inil pn•f1111nil idr ·;i c: ,
whi c h r emai n i n t.h c ki n g d om o f r;cieiu.:e o r pf :n! n.=. cn rnnwn 1ir1,pc r ly. a nd a s1•rt (•f
p atr i mo n y f 11r th0f-:c who <'fl!IF' l:ll (' r
J\ fl1· 1 · w~ 1r d. \\' IH·11 l.l1P \1 · :1.1· i~ "!"'rP·d, :11111 1n :1n y
h ave ti·n1 ldl'11 it 1 leaxing tlw ir tr:H'C'S hC'lti111l lh 1'1ll. w lwn :1 s;n !1_i1 Tt Ji a :o; h N• n di ~ 1· 1 1 -.:s,pc] :it
Y ario1 1 ~ ti nl l'R a n1l n. 11 1011g ~C'vcr:ll ('JJTi f':-:, it is klnl !o h t• 1•r ig in:1 l. in I li e ~!rid. ~1 · 11 --1' . 11pn n
that. t o pic : that io.:, t u ha1·c n ew lhoogld~ - th , •n g hf s lll' t t· ., pn·":;:-c d \1efo rc. J~n!· it i~ l !" th
p o~s i lJ l c n!ll l i 1u..: mnbcnt 1-0 h:-\\" c thaL <lf lt 1· r i- 111'(' i(•f.: <1f 111·1'..!·i11:11i1y , wh ich cPn.-i :-:b; in put.t in g for t h 110 i1l eas exc<•pt. sn c h a s 0110 h:i s m a1lP o n p's 0 \\'11 h ~· a <·oncr p t-.io n o f 1111t'' R ow n ,
ancl Urn s qui cken ed b _y th <• \ ifo of 11ne' ;-o; (\\\' Jl n 1ind . T his is callPtl ta k i Jl [J J) ossessin n i11

t h e ji.nrlet'"8 n m 11e : a ntl Mo l il:rP, w ll c 11 h e it n italt ·d I'l a11ttrn n 11 d T l' rt'llCC; L a F u n tni n f',
w h c 11 he bo rro wf'd fro m 1"Eso p rrnd P h:e 1l rn :-:, we n~ n nt n s h:1111 c1 l of t h e pr ac! i('f', Th i,..;

condi! i1m is irnlispen o.: n.Ul e if: life is t u bo i 11 1pa r t c d t.o t h e 1li s co 11rse : a rn l it is U1i ;;.; ,,·lli t'. h
tlis t hq:.!" uis h cs U1 c orator, who dra ws 0 11 h iR nw11 i i d crior n •s 01 irc1•s c \·1 ' 11 wh e n lie l10 1TO\\'S,
fro m til e n et.or wh o imp c r ~o natc ~ , or Ili c r r•n (l " r w h n n T i 1 l · ~ 1il1 e l'P11h w t.i ri 11 f.: of r111n f.hr' r .
.Ftr 8 I ON 01'~ TH E [ DF,AS O F 0 TH E H S. - l n :-: iu :h N. (': l."V t-.h c p rul 1le 111 su-rn d s i h l; rd ure L! 1 11~ :
' Vh cm y on ha ve t o S]H'ri k on a s nlij i>et :i ln •ad y t r ('·nt1'1 l b,V f' C'\·e ra l :1u th1•r:-:. ynn 11 1ust. ea r cfn lly c ull th e ir j u ~ k"'-t. nncl m of:.t sr, ri ldng !1 1011!.! h t~· . a11r1l.\'7.f' ri n11 ~ift t h cf;e wilh nif i('n l
d isce rnme n t nn d pP1wtr atio11 . th e n f n ~c t11 c111 in y m:r u wn a lc111 h ii' h y a p (1 \\'1• r ful ".Yid h cti{'
OpPrntio n, wh ic h. r cj('cl in g wh:.i.lC\'(' r i~ lif~l· ero g t 'llf'Ollf.; 1 Ni\lcd r: a n d kne n. d~ \Yl1: t t f' 1·n i ~
h ow11gc n eo11s or nu1 a lg:una bl c . and ra -- hi•111 s furtll a N)lnplex i•le 1 t!wt ~ha l l n;.c:0 111nc L'Ol!·
nlin~r ,, bho r .
lf WC"! m:-1y com pnrc th in g:" ~pirilu a\ with t.lli n g:; m ;1tC' r ia l,-arnl we a l ways n1~ly , :> in ce
t hry nn: gn1·0 r necl Uy t il e FH!ll C' l a\\"f;, and h e H<·e l.llt'ir :111:1 1 1 1~.\· .- -Wl· \\·nnltl ~a. .v t lt aL. in l11l ~
f o r m :i.tion o f nn itl e n. b y t hi s mctho11 , f.;ntll('fhing o r_·r·11 1·,, s in ~ ii~1 r t o w h .i t is oh ,,.('n (•il in t'•c
prr 11l ncU0 11 o [ t. h c ceram ic or 111od (' 1!1·r·f.; :ll't-, f'o111pn ,;1»l of \' nr io11s cl c 1nr11L;o;, f':1rU1 s . s:1 lt_,: 1

a.lslcrwy, un ity , and cnlor 111 t h e mHl e r --ta1Hling lJy tl1e \"Pry lwat nf fhc

m eta ls, 11 lka lies1 nc hl s, and Lh e res t, w h ieh, wh e n s uitab ly

se p a r ated~ si ftct.l,

p11 r i fiet l 1 a rc

:1
l1

II

1:

,I
I

I
I

'.i
I

I

·1

I
!

PUEPARA'l'ION.

I

[PAH'l'

iV.

first 11nitP1l into one co nqK•mHl, Uwn k1H'n11cd , ~ ha pcrl, m onlde rl , 0 1· tnrn eO, :tnrl finnlly
,,f th e tln) , \\'hich co 111lli11cs th em in unity, an(( gives tu Lhc whol e

1rnl lj t•d c1 l 1.n t.llc nction

Roli tl ity

an~l

s 11h•rnl o r. - 11 AU TAlN.

Nm •F,f.<Sl'l'Y OF IV.rm~ n1, AT>INCT.- "The onttor who sp eak s afte r
rnfln .Y othPrs, f11111 mnst trertt. t.l1c Sfllll f' topic, ongld; firnt to en<lerivM· to nmkP liimsf'lf ae1 [llfli11 t1 .. l 11"it h fill thflt hfls b ee n 'nit.ten
011 tl1e snhjPd., in onl m: tn ex t.met fr om th e mass t h e t.h onght.s
,·1·c his e1111 ; he onglit then to collect fllH1 fnse within
whiel1 l> cst
hi s 011or1 tlion g ht the lig ht"s cmittell by oUier minds, gath er and
coi11·e rgo npnn rt single p oi nt tl1 e m ys of U1osfl vnrio ns lnminnries.
"He canJ1ot ~; hirk this lrtbor, if h e woultl trer1t his subj ec t with
fnl11 oss a1 111 profn1111it.y; in rt wo r<l , if h e is iu parn est with his
h11 sin1•ss, " ·J1ielt is to sook t.r11t11 , an1l to make it known. Like
eH' l'Y ,trnc rirti s t., li e 11n s nn iut.nition of tho i1l eal, rt11tl to tllflt, ideal
h e is i111pPlle<l l1.\' the tliYiu e in s tin ct o[ his iu tclligen<'e to lift his
c011c<'pt.io11 s nrnl hi R thon g ltts , in order to proclncP, fi rst in himself,
a n<l th e n npnn 01'1 101·s, hy s pra ki11 g or by 'l"ltflte,·er is his vehicl e of
ex pr0ss in11 , so111nt.Jii11 g " ·ltich s hall forever t eu d t.oward it, withont nvN at t.a inin g i t. F'11r idea.<, p roperly so called , b ein g the
Y<'r.v co n<'<' pt.in11 s of th e f-; npn•mc ]\[i11<l, tl1 0 l'tem al ri1·ch e t,vpeR after
wliif'h ri.11 1' rcri t·c·1l t.hin gs llflrn b oo n m o<l oJlcd with all their powers,
t.b o ltn11nm 111i.11d, 1rm1l n a fter t·. ]10 image of the Ureato r, ye t always
finit <', '"hn.t ev0r itR force 01· it s li g ht., can catch but g lim p ses of
them l1 crn l> elow, and will ahrnys b e incapable of conceivin g and
of repro<lncin g tl1 cm in. their inrnionRi t,y n,ud infinitude."

0 - 00
fl ·10. r ; a J is linl,ocl with all , m1t rn , nugs of ::1 hi gh er world
t.his is morn csp ociall." ti 10 0rrso, for tlwrc you are in the realm of
soverni g n uuit,v nml 1111i vor salit,y. A philosopher , m 01lita tin g aml
writ.ing, ma,v give ' "in gs to hi s cont.emplntion, arnl h is fii g ltt "·ill
never h o too vigorous, providml his intelli gence b e illumined wit.h
the true light., an11 g uided in th e right path ; but the speaker g enerall y s:a11 1l s J ". f"re an nu,lie1wo who fUe 110t 011 hi s own level,
aml whom h o urns t. tnkP :it (Jie il's. Again, he speaks in a girnn
s iato of thin gs, wi t.Ji ::1 vie w to some imme11iate e ffe ct., so uw d efiuite cml. His topic is restricted by these comlitions, an d h is manl' flS

C 11 AP.

XV I.]

HOW AND WHAT TO READ.

323

n er of treating it mus t be subonlinat.ed to th em, his discou rne
rtlhpt.ed t.o them. It is no lnrniness of his to s:ty :ill t l1at mi g ht
b e sai<l, b n t m erely wl1 ::1t is n ecessary or u se fnl in t h e aot.ual case,
iu unler tu ell.li g h te n hi s h enrnrn and to pe.rsur.ttle th em. He must,
t.lwrnforc, eircmnscril> e his rnr1tter wit hin t he limits o.f h is purpose; and hi s disco urse mus t lrn ve jns t that ext.cn t., tlmt e lcYati ou,
mid 1liserction which the sp cei:1l ciroums t.nu ces d e 1na11tl. (tloc
page 318. )
Hmd, Comprtrc, 1!s.<£111-ilme. - It is with t his aim tlrnt t h e orator
oug ht to prnpare his materials, a nd lay in , as it were, the provisions for his discourse.
Fil'sr., as we have sa i<l , ltn 11rnst coUeot the i11g retlients of h is
compos t. 'l'lteu lte " ·ill do wliat th e Lee 1lnes, whic h rifles th e
flowers-oxadly wlmt. th e h eo lloes; fo r, by n11 a11rn i rnhl e instinet
wh ich n e 1·er 111isleac1 s i t, it ex.t rnc ts frnm tlio cn p oE IJJC fl owcrn
onl y wlmt sru·1·os to fo rm th e wrtx atHl th o hon ey, th e :tro111at.ic aml
th e ol rntgi11 ons p :irl .il\lus. Hn t., lw .it. 11·<'H ol>scn·e1l, t;h o l> ec firnt
n onrisltes itseH with Lhese cxr.rad.s, llignsts t l1 nm, tra ns urnh.\s th em ,
arn1 t urns U1 em into 11·:1x :.tml h oney s(l lcly b,1· n,11 op eration of nuSOl' [>t.ion ~w <l as:<i 111iJ a ti on.
Just so shonl<l t ho sp crikor <lo. B e fore hi.m lie t.Ji c fk l<ls of
scie nce flllll o f li tcratn re, rich i n eacl1. tle:<n ipli on of Jlo11'<'l' a n1l
frnit-eYery hu e, ever y fia1·or, In t·hesc iil'.ltl s li e \1·i 11 se<l k his
boot.y, lJnt witl1 climiernm ont; mHl c lio o,qing o nly " ·lmt. snits hi s
work, h e 1\'ill oxt.m d .t'rnm ii;, l>y //io111Jl1((11 l r n:11li11 g, :tlH1 i>,Y the prn.ceRs of m e ntal t:t'.Jt i11 g (his t l1 011 gl1 ls :i ll aliso rht><l i 11 hi s topi c, a ml
<fartin g nt on ce upon wliatorn r nol:tt.o» to it.), crn ryt.ltiug wliid1 can
mini s ter nut.r iment to his inh; lli gn1we, or fill it., or even perfume
it ; in :.t wo rcl, t h e substan tial or a rnrnatic ele m o n [,s of l1i s h oney,
or itl ca, but over so as to take in a111l to <li gost, like t h e b ee, in
order that there may b e r pn,'l trnns.formatio u n11ll rt p[>l'Opriatio n,
rtn <l co nsequently fl production fmu g ht with life, and to live .BAUTAIN.

Where to Look. - To

k11 n w wh at h ook s to con s nlt

upon a g iven sulij ect is i11 itself a libe ral e<l11 ca l.io11 . Ko
sch ool or co ll ege can clo 11111 cl1 111 ore :fnr a 11ia.11 t. l1 n.11 to sl1ow

ltilll l1o w 11rn cli tli e 1·e i s to be lc:m1 ed, a1Jd how tu lua rn

-

-

.=--'\ '
...

.

:_

(

·.

.

....

.

.

.

~

...

'

324

PUEl'AHATIO N.

[PAH'l' IV .

,rJrn to1·01' li ttle part of tl1 at nw ch it 111 ay be wo rtlt hi s i111 111 cdi:ttc II' hi le to niastcr. As the st rn11 gc r iu to w11 does nut
attc u1p~ to becon1 0 ac<111 ain tcd witl1 cve!'y i:itrect, bnt by
co ns11lt1ng a m ap {jxes in 111in<l tli c 111ain th oro11glifarcs,
so as to keep in n1iml i11 \\'l1 at p :ut oE tlte city 11 0 is, a ml
lww 11 e may ge t to an y otl1 er pal't, so one g;ets from tl 1e
hos t edn cation a uird's-eyo 1·i ew of tlte ,;]1 ole field of
kn owledge; li e d uos not know e\'O rytJ1 i11 ;,;, u11 t Jie kn ows
" ·lmt steps to ta ke to i>cco111e ac<111 a intod \\' itl1 any thin g .
S n ~rn (h:NJ·:R,\L ll rNTR.- ln genOl'll i it m as be sa id th at
011 0 wo11ld 11 at11rnlly consnl t f-irst a oyclupmd ia, two or t liroo
cycl op:udi ns, if so 111 any a rc at ltau<l . I !ere 11·ill Lie fo n11d
not only dil'oct i11fnrlllati o11 , l.rnt re fe rences tu tli c leadiiw
l~oo k s on tl1e ~nbj ~et. T hese books, iE access ib le, will r;~
fo l' to othe rs, a11d tl1ese in t11rn to others ye t., so that witli
pl e n_t.r of ti111 e and a la!'ge 011 011g h lihl'ary one nt:ty h ope
to hit 11pon m ost th at is va ln a ul e in tl1e literatn re of the
su lJj ec t.

":vJrnJ.,

read _books ! " sai<l ouo of the great ligh ts of European
phys10logwal sc1cncc to a 11.ot less e min ent Am eric:t n sc li olar, "I
never re 1 t 1l a b oo k in my life, except tlrn B i ble. " H e !tad time
onl y to glance o\·er t he tlwnsaJHls of vo lum es whicl1 lay aro und
111111, t,o cnnsnl t th<' 111 occasio11 ally, to acce p t the part.ienlar facts or
illnstrati ons which h e ueecled to rt icl him in his own researches.l\I Ans ir.
'J.:h o liest way of rending h ooks ,,·ith rapi<i ity, is to acqn il'e t hat
l'.aln t o f sev~ re at te nt iou to wlmt t.l1e,r co ntain that p erpetn nlly conh11 C'" t he m md to tl1 0 sing le olij Pet it has in view. \ Vlien you
have l'P:t<l enoug h f;o .liarn rwqni rc1l the 11 ahi t of rea1li ug wi th out
"11 ffo ri 11g ,vo11r mi1Hl to '1·anrle r, all< l when yon can hriu g to b ear
npnn yo n r sn h jort. a g reat slt arc o f pre,·ions k nowlerl go, ;·on may
t l1t•11 l'l'llll \\'lt.lt rnp i<lity; befo re Umt, as } O il ha\·e b ke 11 n lO \ITO Jl <Y
r oa<1, f-. Ji 0 f':ts tm you proceed the m ore you will be surn ·to en . ...'.:
SrDNF.Y i:)~ 1 rrn.

C IIAP.

3%

HELP F ROM CON VEHSAT lO N.

X VI.]

I'el'io1licals, espec ially tho 111011tltlics a11tl qn artol'lief',
are UCCO lllill g' lllUI C :w<l lll Ol'O CSSUll tia J f·o t1JO l'<J11g iJ i111· esti gati o11 , n11<l lll Ol'C a1L<l mo re m:eessibl e, tl1 ro11glt careful in dexes. L ittell's l ,ioi11q .L'J:;o will g i1·c 011 0 g li111pRes () t tl1 e
latest t lto11gltt, :wd 1r ill sugges t muclt llOt eas ily fo 1md 111
books.
e-

II

ig c 11 tl 111 ~ ia ~ L a11d \\· ill
g i1
11ot u11 £rc<1ueutly s11gge;;t 111 urc rn a 111i1111te tha11 llli gltt lie
happ ened upuu .i11 a m outl1.
'.rhnck eray illu strates th b 11·l1 e 11 he nrnk<',; Alhl ison say in
versation \Yi th H eu ry E smornl :
" One o r th e g rca tc!:l t o f a g l'c:it 11 1a11' s qn:ll it

i c~

fl

co n-

is s1wcr""c; ; 't ii:; 1h P n ·s nl t. o f :i.ll

t h (~

ollw r R; 'th' a la ten t pu\\'e r i n J1i 111 \Yh it:\1 ('!lltl\Jl.' l s t il e f a\'o r q f Llw gnd .o:. :111d s11 !Jjn g a ll'S

fortune.

O f nil his g ifL·• l H•l ini r e that one in lll<' g rea t J\ I arll1 · n · n11~h . T o hP bran! ? C\'l'l'.Y
i..:, l faw.: y l\p• r c j..; s•1 1nrtlii11g divine. ]11

11wn i s brave, lmt in hl'i ng v i c.:iorio n ~ . a <.:. Ile

prc;;;en ce of the OL'c:1sio11 , th e g r ea t ,.:0111
f essell.

Den.t h itse lf

pf

lh~

k:trl r·r :-hi1 ll'S nnt. nnd till' god is <'OH·

re s pl'Cl ~ hi111 . a 1111 Jl:l 'St'S i >y hi111 to l:l y

t!fllf'rS Ju\\' .

\\'11r n 11 tl cnr ·

11 age fl ee IJc forc him to ran1.gc ot her par t:-: 11[ t he tir.!d , a s I l cdo r f ro n1 I J~ fon ~ t he di \' in1~

Ac hill es. We say h e ha.l h no p ity; 11 1> 11t0n.• IL :! \'(' th e gods . \\'ho arc itlwn· it., :rnd !'Hp(' r hturnrn. The fa i nti ng liatllc ga th ers st ren g th a l hi~ a:-- pect, awl where ve r he ri tlcs \'ic-

tory charges w ith him."

"A coupl e of lh~'S !l.f t er , \rlte11 l\Ir. E smon cl re,·is if ed his poet.ic
friend h e fo und this Lltou g ht, s/r11cl,; 011 ! in. llw f-'1-rni · '!/ co111;ersutio11, i mpro,·ed a nd shaped iuto tl1 ose fa rn ons li nes wh ielt are 111
truth the uoblest in th e poem of the 'Carnp!ligll.'"
' 'J' wa ~

l hc 11 g rc:it

l\fo rl h rf1' ~

mi g h ty sou l w a c.; pro\·ed,

Th:i. t, in !,li e Rhock o f cl ia r g ili g h of-lt f; 11 11n1ov' d

Amiil Rt cc111f 11 i::.ion, horro r , :i.1ul

tle .~pair,

Exnmi 11 1 d all th e rlrcadfn l sce n e~ o f war;
In peRccfu l thonght the field o r denl h survcy 'd,
To faintin g
InRpit"1l

f; !lll~H.lronR Sl' nt

n ~ pul ::;' rl

t.h c ti mely ni<l,

bat.ta l i1t1 1H to C' ngnge,

And ta ug ht t h e doubt ful l..m.tlilc whe re to rrigc.

.I

:I
1 11

!

I'

:I

I I

I

'J

I

rrrnPARATION .

LP ,11t1' IV.

Eo \Ylwn n11 :nq:~ c l by di ,·i nc c ommnn<l
\Vith r b=; i11 g tt' ll1P l'~ l ~ f.lll akcs
Sut:h

:1R.

R.

tzui lty !:incl,

ur late o·i:r pa.l e l3 ri! a. 11ni :i. pa::;t.,

~err- n c he <l r i\'I'~ t.1 1c fnri1111 ::; h lm:;~ ;
A 1ul , p lt·n"'d ill' Ah n ii-! hty'fi orclcr.o; to pC' rfonn,
ltitlcs in t hC' whi rl wi nd, an d directs t,iu' i,,tonn .

Cali n and

Ideas Everywhere.--Jf th e \\"l'i tc l' tak es tl 1e proper

ol' lii ;.; s 1il1j1..~d , l1i s s 1d1j cd. w ill so<1 11 take~ hukl u[ l1i111 ,
:llld i ll11 ~ ll' ale it.se ll' :i t e1·ery turn. li e 1r ill be ast.0 11isl1 ecl
to 11ot ic·e li<1 11· e1c l'y i11 <' id e11 t of l1is dail y li fo, th e J11 urni11 g
11 e11·spapc1·, tl1c b uo k lie pi cks 11p whil e wni t ing ·for l1111cl1 ,
the c o 111 ·e r ~atio 11 li e 01·cl'li carn 01 1 t.li e Jwrne- car, all hav e a
l>car i11 µ: 011 fl1c topic tl1 :1t :1liso l'hs hi111. 'l'lii s is fro111 the
p1'i11 C' i[1lu nlre:uly 11 :t111 ccl , tli :it :ill id e:1s :<re co1111 ectecl.
\\' l1 u11 01 1e li :is a lirni µ:rns p of any on e uf the m11Jti tucl c li e
fo ols t.l1 e p111J 11pP1t it u£ :il l tl1 0 rnst.
l1 olc1

Taking Notes.
j\ hrn._rn n 'r11l i "' ll o r J><'ll c il in l1 rin c1. J\fark t.he 1mrt.s whi ch
rnn'l t s h'il;c' y nn , fli1 1sc' in 'l·l1i "h ynn 1H' l'O<'i v0 !·h e germ o f ri n illen
o r of ri 11 y ll1in g 1101\· fu ~-0 11 ; t.Ji r n , " ·h on yo n l1 ri1·0 fiJ1is h ccl your
r r:i 1li 11g-, n m lrn rt 110to,-let it li e rt snbstnn t.i:d n ote, n ot rt m crn
t.rnn s<·.ri p l in n or Pxlr n.d - rt 1w to 1' m l>oc1y i11 g tlte Yo ry t.h on g h t
'd1id1 yon l1 ri1·0 ripprelwncl r Ll , a ncl which y on k w e :.ilroacly llutLle
y onr own b y <ligestion a1111 rissiu1 i!ftt ion.
Ah ovc rill , l ot t h ese notr-,s li e sh ort :i nd lucid; pu t t ltc m <lo \\'n
0 11 0 1rn1l <'l' t h e ot h m-, so tl mt you urny :.i[terwrinl be a b le to run
01·o r t li o 111 a t, rt Riu g lc view.
J\[i s t.1·ns f. Jo n g readin g s fro m whi<'h yon cmTy no thin g ::i wn.,y. Om
rn i 111l i s nr1 t11rnlly so Jn.:t.y, t. he fah o r of tl 1Crn g h i, is so i rksorn c to i t,
t. lm t, it, g lacll y y idtl.s t o ll1 e pl r• as n re of r on cling olhf'l' 1w opl c's
f,l1 un g ht s , in onl(']' to rt m i cl t h e fro11l1l <' of fo n ni n g any it,s oll' ; and
t.lt e 11 t.i111 n p rissr s in Ollfl lcss r r :uli 11 gs, t.h o p ro toxt of wh ich is some
lin11 t nft Pr rnatm ·i rils. rt11C1 wh ic h cn m e t o not.hin g. 'l '.!1 0 mind
r11i11 s its mnt srip , rt ll(l gc>ts bnnle ncd " -ith tmsh: i t is ns f·h on g h
ovP r!ftcl <' 11 wi t h n ncli gr•s t <'d foo cl , whi ch g ives it n eith 0r force n or
li g ht. (f·:l1•1• 1•:i g·e H'..!J. )
Quit n ut

:1

ho ok uuf;il yon lmve wrested from it whatever r clftte'!

Crur. XVI.]

NJ~ \V

IDE AS DE VEL OPED.

t h e m ost cl osel y t o your suh joct.

327

Not till t h e n go o n t o m1oth e r,

a nd ge t t h e cream off, if I m:.iy so ex p ross m ys l'.!f, i n t h o sarn e rnnnner . H e p erit t his la b or wi th several , until y on find t.liat th e s:.i m e
thiu gs a re b eginnin g to retm·n, 01' n ea rly so, ri nd t l1rLt t h e re is nothi ng to g riin in t l1 e phnHlcr ; or s n[ipusc f;lmt yo n feel yo nr u Jl(lnr s tr111 din g to b e sufli eient.ly fnmi s li ocl , ri ncl t.h a t yonr rniml uo w re'l uires to di ges t t h e Hutrime n t i t ]u s la k en

Development of the Subject. - J111pu r t a11 t as it
clearl y to deli 11 c t l1e F11 hj cet I1c forn tli e i 11 veR ti g:-tt io 11
b ogn.11 , rrn dcr t his trea t111 ent it is al11 iost fi lll'e to tak e on an
altered aspect, if not a wltoJly d iffe rent 111 ea11i11g.
w n.R

It is c n s tom ary to toll good li l-tlo lm_ys rt lHl g irl s tlmt ge nins is
o nl y capacif.,y for ' ro rk ; ::uit1 tl mt sn <' h m e n as Ilacon a nd S l1 a ks p ere a nd B ou rip arte a cl1ievet1 gTL·:it res nlts 0 11 l,v lJOf' anso t h ey
fonno<l h a bits of inte nse ri nd con tiJJ u ctl co11C ·e nf-ratiou of Pno rgv.
'l'h e m oral is, tlmt goo<l li ttle lJOJS ttntl g ir ls 11rns t s trnly h ri nl , 1;1;t.,
like many o the r ex cell e n t mornl s, it i s <'11fo r<' ncl at. the (!X ]l<:'J l'le of
t ru t h . In th e m en t..11at lm1·0 nc""m [i l·is.IH' d m osf'., rt >Hl \\' ]10111 ,1·e
therefore 11rLt11r::tll y ei.t.o fo r illn sl.rnt io11 , g<' r1in s has 11s n a JJ y !Jopn
11.crompunied li,v h rih.i t s o [ industry . Su c h me n, \1·i t h :1 so r t of
rn ocl es t sclf-glorili crit.io 11 , lt rt\'e sollldi 1111's ritLr il111 te1l t l1 <'ir ae h ie\'f'! rn e nts to t h eir labor , i ns tPric l of to 1.1 10 iu s ig l1t t.J1a.t p m 111pi·. rtl arnl
clirect ed tlmt l:ilJor. Bnt them rim rn c11. in tl1i s con11t.r v t lu1.t lmYe
<l e 1·ot ec1 more iuteu sc ri11<l (· on t-i nn0'1 l:tl1f)l' to t.l1 e cli sc o~·l' r.)' o[ perp cf;n a l m otio n tlm n B:wo u gw :p fo lh n "Nov m11 Orgauo n. " A
lm lf-h our's study i u b oy h oo cl of n.n rkm011tftry h•xt-hook of' l'h.rs ics
w o nlcl have p roved t.o t l1 Pm b cyo n<l th e Hh rtcl oll' of tt 1ln 11lJt, t hat
p orpeturil m o tio n is s i111pl.r imposs ible•. 'Tli ri t l 1alf-llf111 r's st.11rly
th ey He Ycr lmd , rincl so t.l> <',Y l mn: \rns lc d t.l1 e ir li 1·os in hn t tin.a;
tl1 eir h erids ::tgriin s t. 011 0 of im t nrc's s f- 0 11P-1rnll s .
N o 11· it, is t h e p eculi a rit.y of 1"·011ins fl 1rit wi t h o nl. t.l1is 11 rilf-l1011r's
s tud y it escapes t h o imp mc t.ieril 1l n r1 11<1 t.11 <' i1 TP.]ov:111t.. lt pnm s
b e nerith th e a ccid en ts to t h e essence, riud t rik es t h e s h o r test i•nt h
to t h e tru th so u g ht.
H ere is n11 exp e rie n ce common to rill o f u s \d1 u lm1·c tric •<1 h • invost.ig-rite a snliject.
"We tirs t think it ove r, g at.J1 e ri 11g rincl d:1 ssify i11 g a ll Umt we

328

PREPAJtATION.

[PAHT

lV,

know aliont it 'I'hen "·e begin to read, proba:ily in the direction
of snpplcmentiug such of our ideas as seem most essentiaJ. Under
this treatment the subj ect brorldens. \Ve are surprised to find
h ow its mots oxteml through every field of knowl ed ge. On e authorit.y comp els us to consult another, until we long to li ve in the
British l\Iusenm, and to lay under tril.mte all Looks, of all times,
iu ftll l:uiguftgos.
Prese ntly we roftch ft point where our new information is of detni ls, ft 111l "e .feel sure t lmt our goncrnl ftllftlysis is sound arnl fundft111 0ntn.l. Th ou we l icgin to write. And in th e very flu sh of our
wisclom, whil e " ·c ftl'C seekin g pe rclm11ce for ftll ilhrnt.nt!.ion or a
lrnppy cx pressiou, ' re cncotmter ft l1int, ti snggesf·,ion, a chftnce rernark , whieh flasli es ovnr 11s th e discove ry that ''"e are uot ye t even
approa(' hiug t.he k eru cl of trnth we snpposed onrselv0s to have
g rns pcd ; tlrnt· " ·e arc groping airnlessl,r about the cireum.fcrence,
nud ham n ot fo uml e \·011 th e pftt,h to the centre.
Now th e mftn of geui.ns escapes this " ·aste of effort. It. is not
th e 1pm11tity of work he <loes : it is the qualit.y. His eYery stroke
tell s, lieeau se the eye tl1at direets it is unel'l'ing.

to t lie title

of

co1 11pos1t1011 .
Not seldom th e yonng writer fi]](ls himself in his final revision
obli ged to omit as ex t raneous the passages which he has polished
the 1nost cftrefnlly. His loss is still g reater if h e does not omit them.

Arrangement of Notes.-J\ s notes acc nnrnl ate,
divi sion s of th e s11hj cct will snggest tlie 111 se lves, and classiti cat.io11 \Yii l 11 a t11rall y foll ow. Thi s is th e lll Ore n ecessary,
that differ ing v iC\n; 011 the sa1n e p oint may b e closely co111parcci , whi ch 111ig l1 t easily 110 neglected in a 11111.sR of um1igcstcd 111 ate rial. B11t aR t11e prin cipl e of c lassif-icatio11 is
a lin ost smc to vary as the iu vcst igation proceed s, all the

C IIAP.

XVI.]

EMERSON'S r,rrmtAJlY METHOD.

329

notes should be r oad O\'e r from time to ti11 10, and redistributed wherever n ecessary.
It hns bee n ]~ m cn•o n 'H h a.b it to F>Jwn•l the rur<' 11 onn in Id ~ ~L ud y, wiLh constant rq; n ·
Jarity, He has n ot wn ited for mood ~ . bt1t cang-lit ihc1 n as tl1Cj' c a.Ill e , arnl used their re·
s uits in ea c h day's work. 11.c has bee n a dil igent though a Hlow rmd pa.i11 sWk i11g worke r.
1t Jrns been hi s wo11t to jot ~ l own hi s U1011ghlfi at a ll h o11r.c.: nnd plaCCH. The F:ngg-ci;:.t ions
which r e8 nlt rro m hi R rc:uliugs, cu u vc r ~ ation !-1 , nnd rn cdi l Rti o n s nrc t r a 1rnfcrrc<l In th e
note-book h e carri cH with him. In hi s walk r.: 111any a ge m o f thong-ht is tlnt~ prese rved;
a n d his m ind il'l al wny~ a lert, quick to sec, hi s powe rs o f ubsc nat inn !icin g pcrpelua\\y
awake. ThP. rc~mltc; o f hi s thinki 11g a.re thus s tored Il l\ to Le 11rndc u se of wh e n reqnirc( L
The story is to ld t hn. t hi s wifr. s udd e nly awa ke n ed in l h e ni g ht,, IJcfo re s he knew hi s
h nb it ~, and Ji ca.n l llilll m ov in g :tho11 t the roo1 11.
She n11xiu11 sly inqnired if lw were ill.
11
O nl .v a n itl oa, 10 wai:: h is r e pl y, and prncPe d cd to j ot i t d1rn·11 . Curtis h mnoro11 f:'. ly ~ ny s
t.lic villl'l.gc n; " r elnte t hat h e h:ts n hu gi~ mn.1 111:.;eript book, in wllkh Ill! i ru..: csmnt,\y reco rd s
t.he c ud s of thoug hts, lii ts nf ob sc rv1dfo11 and 1: x pt ~ ri e 11 ce, Lhc fa cts of all k irnl s-a kind
o f in tell ectual an d sc ic ntifi u scr:qdm g, i11 tu 11 h id 1 all ~di red s am! rc rnna.u ts of conv cn;ati on nnd r e mini scences o( wayside i-eY<'l"ies nre incu11ti 11e n t ly t hnl:-;t. 11
Af ter hi s note- bnnk,_. a.re fill ed. h e Lrn.n sc rili 1'~ l.lwir contc11 tR to n large r commnn 11lace
book. He t..hen writes nt the bottom, o r in th e 1n:.rgi n, the s nbject o f cnc h par:q~r:i. ph.
\Vhcn h e des. ires to write an csi:;ny. he t11nrn l,n hi t:> note-books, t ra11 s1..:r ihcs all h is parng rnph s on t h at s nhj('ct;, tlraw ii1 g ti. 1wrp('wlic1i l:ir lin e th rongh w ha lc\'er h e hn: s t h H!>
<:opied. These scpnn1te j o t t hi g~. pe rlrnpR writte n yC'ars n part, n.11rl in whlely diffe rl'nt ci rcu m st a n ces nn1l m ooils, n. rc bron g- ht t,og'Cl;h c r, :1rrn.ngc1l in such ord l' r n.s is possil1lc, nwl
n.re weldc'l together \Jy f' nch matte r n. s is f: nggcstetl at th e LinH·. Al cott, rl'lates .!Zoin g (in cc
to hi s Rtnd y. to find hi111 \Yi th many Rh<.'<'t.<1 o f manu scr ipt. ::-cattc•n•1l nh11ut on t h e fl r;o r.
which h e Wl\R anxiom~ Ty cn(l eavorin g to arrn.n g f' in ~O lll('thi n g lik e a ~.r f:'. tf'rnntic lrf'al 11:"11t
of t he subj ect in h a wl nt. the time. Th e c s~ ny thu s p rcpn.r"d is. rc:id !,c rurc n.n :iudicnce
to test its qna.lity nnd co n st r 11ctio11. [ ts parts arc frcq nPnt!y r cfl rrflll ).!'i'cl . P erhaps in its
con strnct.io11 po rtion s o f pr cv i o 11 ~ ly ll f:'.Cd lccL11rc" n. rc mr11 lc lo tlo new st r vif'C'. S.Jionl•l t;he
lecture co m e nt last t o he 1rnt into OJH' of h i' t1n ..drn, it, is Jll"tln r>r l nf ~tll hut th e tP lli r1g SC'Jlt<' ll CCS. Hi s l ectures whk h nre rn.pitll y co111 po ~ (· d, for i:;pcci:il o cca ~ i on~. ltrt \'C n continui ty
nrnl flow o( thought qu ite d iffcre11t fnnn t.h" C~"ay:-1 in hi s books. The a1hlr c~s Oil I ,i11 c0l 11,
writte n in o ne eve nin g. sh ows t hi s. Til e pnlilh•h cd e,;say~ arc ofte n th e result s 0 f m:111y
Ject.mes1 t lrn most prcg 11 nn t. s entence ~ ri1111 p ~tra g- rn.phs al on e \Jf' in g r et'lin cd. Hi s app les
are sorted over and over ag ain. 1111 t il only the \"cry rarest, the m0~t perfect n.re left. Lt
d oes n ot matte r that tho!'e t hrow n a.way nre vf'ry goo1 l, a.ml h e l p tu inn.kc dear the po:::s ibiliticR of th e on . : h anl : t h ey a r e 1111111c r<'i(11\l y cast n<>itle. ] ri s es~ayR n.rr, co11 sf'•1'H'llily,
V(' r y slow ly c htborated , wrought out t h ro ug h drtys a.ml montltf'l, :rn r1 c v('Jl y ea r s, o[ 1mt.i c11t th ought.
His csi:mys arc all cn.r c fnll y revi se(l nga in nn d nga in, corrC'ctc11. wro ug ht ove r , porUonR
dropped , nncl new matter achlctl. Jfo is 111rnpa rin g in hi s corre('tio11 s, striking out Rc n tence a fter .se n tence; and pn..ragntph R disappea r from time ti) tim e. Hi s nH\ll\l!)cript is
everywhere crowd ed with erasu re s n1111 corrccti rms ; s<·nrcC'ly a pa ge appea r s tlrnt is not
covered with these ev idences of his 1lil ige nt revisiou. -G. \V. COOKE.

I'

,I

TOPICAL ANALYSIS.

CB APTER X VII.

-

---.......-_....,.__~~~-·~-

.......

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Reproduction vs. Creation, p. flOG.
SELHCTlNG A SUBJHC'J', p . BOli.
Bombasti c comm onplaces, p. 30G.
Famili a r subj ects, p. HU7.
Th o topi c to be d isc nsscd, p. :J11.
Li te rary and h isto ri ca l snbj ects, p . 311.
How to su!Jrlh·itl e a subj ect, p. 312.
Sp ecim e n s ubdi vision, J•· il14.
Th o s11 hj ect stat1·tl , p . 31 8.
GAT.1-rn lUN (} J\'(A'l'EIU AT,, p. fl !!l.
P oss0ss ion in the fi111l er's w1rn e, p. 321.
Fnsion of th e id eas of oth ers, p. 321.
N ecess ity of w irl r~ readi11 g, p. iJ22.
N ot. too mu ch re adin g, p. il22.
WJ11m' to lnok , p . H:!H.
St•m e gen e ral liint s, p. H24.
Jrl eas evc ry wl 1ere, p . 32G.
Takin g notes, p. 32G.
n eve lo pm1rnt of t h e snhj er.t , p. 327.
Arrange ment of n otes, p. 828.

·~

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-----

~..=J

I n ve n t ion , in t;h e t:h ct.o rical sr1u•c, is Llrnt e nergy of I. h e mind by \Vhi ch we di scern
iflPttR 11.1111 their r c!atio ns. V in et lik n n ~ H, lo ~l tl i\·inin g.rod , wh ic h e na b les spmc mi n d s to
di !'t.:Over r k h cs o f l, hn1 q::~ l1 t ~u u l h ca n l ic;;: o f l:111g n a g P to w lli di 11 Lh cr nli n rl R arc i11 f'c11 ;.: ihlc .
.To hn Quincy Adn n rn i:: n.yR : '' rt ~wkd. s fro 11 1 I Il e \\·hnlc 11rn s .- r1 f i tl1~:-1 R cn u cC' ivccl nr F>tor e1l
ill l h c m in d !Jio<:C w h ich <':l!\ most; f'fft'l'lm11Jy p r n11wl e tltl' olJjcd o f di f'COllr!'C; it gnihen~ frnm t l1c whole dnnmin n( real or apparPnt t r ut h i lt ei r i11c x lrn.11 Rt iblc ~ nb !' i llit~s to RCc11 rc the triu111ph o ( pcrs un r- ion ." T h us i t is Sl'C ll to iJL' w il o n ly a n or ig in a liu g, but n
cons! rneti vc foc11\t,y. I t not, 0 11 \y scr>k:o.: nut that w hi• ~h w:1;i. hcforn 11 11 k now11: it, n.l i:m f'Ci?.CS
u po n ol d lrul h s a nd h lcrnls !hc111 l<q.!"ci lwr ill n1·w <'0111hi11:tl,i11 11 '-' . II, fit1df' 11 ('\\" pathw:tys
t lir\111g h old r<'g-io11s r1f lho11g h t . It 11 e\·1·r t·nnt Pnh; il ;:;<'lf with \\·h at others hn.\·c dnne. Out
in c;isls up •m fa s hioni n g- what is u cw t o itse lf, what.ever u ses oLhc r mind s have made of t he
~nine

matcrial. - K I DDEJt .

The Essay Half Done. - T l1 e wo rk thn s far laid
ont h as de 11rnncl ecl nothin g of wl1nt is cn 111in o11l.r looked
11pon as a11tl1o rsl1ip. Jt lw s req11ircd j111l g 1ne11t, but n ot
m o re tl1 a n is n cecl efl in a topi ea.i geog raphy lesso n. ·withont. co 11 siil e ri11g wtti rn talent, it.~ acco mplish111 e nt dep ends
i1pon th e wil l-p o we r oE a ny stncl e nt.
Y et it is i11 aru onnt a nd in ki11cl tli c liard es t p art o:E cssay-wntrn g . :In ertia lr as b een orn rcom e, th e stud ent is
r ow;etl a11d in terested, l1i s llli11d i s foll o f J1 is s1ibj ect, lre
rea ll y wants to kn ow " -h at tl1 c trn t!t o f tl1 c 111atter is, and
h ow to reach it ; if lie h as h ad practi ce 011011glt to OYe rco me l1i s tirn i<l ity, lte is eve n an xio us to lieg in tl1 e actirn
part o f' 00111pos it ion_
The Moment of Action. - " Jt is w ith the mind
as with tlre b ody, after n onri sl1rn e11t a ml rcposo it r equires t o act a11<1 to tnu1 smit. Wh en it l1 as r epaired its

I

I [

332

INVENTION.

[PArt'l' IV.

strength it nrn st exert it; "·hen it lrns received, it mu st
g i1·c; aft er ]1a.ving eonce ntmted itself, it J1 eccJ s dilatio11;
it. mnst :rield Laek wl1at it has absorbed; fnln css nnreliernd is as pa.info] ft R i11 anition. These are the two vital
mo vements- attractio n and expansio11."
Jfow lo J1 e!] i11. - 'l'he mon• cnt thi,; fulne ss is felt, th e moment
of acting or t.hinkin g for yourself lms :1rrirnd.
Yon tak0 up yonr notes and yon ca.refu lly r e-rea.d tlt r m fac e
to face " ·ith th e topic to b e treated. Yon blot ont su ch as dive rge fr ont it too innch , or are not snfficieut.ly snbstautial, and hy
thi s elimin ation yo 11 gra(hudly conccntrnte and compress the
th oughts "·hich Imm the g reatest roci11rocal \Jcnring . You work
these a longer or a shorter ti rn e in yom: 11nc1crntandi11 g, as in a
crucihle, by tl.1c inn e r fire of refl ection, and, in nine cases ont of
ten, they c ml hy arna lg::nn ati11 g aml fn sing into one another, uutil
tl 1cy form a ltom ogcneo ns mn,ss, which is reduced , like th e m etallic
pal.' ticks in i ncarnksccnce, by the Hersistent hammeri11g of thought,
in to a ll eHse aucl soli <l oneness.
As soon as yon J,0co111r conscious of this nnity, yon obtain a
g lim1Jse of t,lw oss <' 11tinl i<l i:a of the composition, and in that, Pssc ntial itlca, th e lcnt1in g j,1eas 11·hich will t1istrilrn te yonr topic, nud
whi ch nlrently appea r like tlte first organic lineam ents of th e di sco urse.

Repress Impatience.
S om ehm cs the itka t.Jrns conceirnd, is c1ernlopecl and form ed
rnpi1lly , aJHl th en t,lte plan of the tli scoursc armng es itself on a
sndt1e11, a1 11l yon throw it npon paper "·arrn with tl1 e ff'rvor of
the coneeption wl1id1 !ins jn st taken place, as t.!1 e me tal in a state
of fn sion is pourc1l into t.ltc rnonkl, a nd fills at; a :>in gle turn all
its lin eame nts. It is th e case mos t fa vo ralil e to elo r1uence, - that
is, .i f the idea has b een well conceived, and if it b e frnnght 1rith
li ght.
])nt in general, on e mnst Hot be in a hurry to form one's plan.
In nature, Ji (c al 1rnys ll CC<ls a d efinit e time for self-organi zati on, and it is only eph emNa.J li r ings 1yhiclt are qui ckly form ed, fur th ey
qni cld y pass a1rny. Evcry t·l1in g cles t.in ecl to lie d1uablc is of slow
growth, nml lieth the solidit y and t,he strength of existing things

CnAi'. XVII.]

FillS'l' STEPS.

333

hear a direc t mtio to the length of their increase and the matureness of their proclnction.

Development of the Idea.
'l'lie thoughts apply themRelvos to a fre1p1ent consiclemtion of
th e i11ea con cei rntl; th ey t nrn it, :m<l retur n it in every c1irec tiou,
look :it it in all it.s aRpec ts, place it in a ll manner of rclat.iou s;
th en th ey penetmte it wit11 th eir li ght., sc rntini ~e its fouml:tti on ,
:1n1l ex amine its principal p artRin s neccssion; thcso begin to corne
out, sr pamt e thPmseh es fr om Pac.lt other, to ass11111e :>harp outlines, jnst as in t.lie bud th e first ru<limcn l"a ry traces of the fl owe r
are di scernible ; then the oth er orgn,nic liues, appe:iring oue after
t,h e other, i11 stiuct " ·itlt li fo, o r .I ike th e co nfused, first auimate
fo rm , which, littl e liy Lit t.le, d cela rcs i tself in all t he fin ish of its
proport,i011s. Ju like ma1m nr, t.J1e itl ca, in the successive stages of
its for1nrttio11, sho\rn itself cael1 day in full er d evelup meut to the
mind which lie:irs it., a1H1 which :wcp1ires ass nmnce of its progress
by p ersevering meditatiou.

Reflection upon the Idea.
'l' here are frequently goo<l id eas wl1ich perish in a man's umlerRtantlin g, aborti vely, "·hctl10 r for " ·aut of n onrislnn ent, or from
th e d ebility of t h e miwl 1d1iel1 , tl1rnngh leYity, imlolencr, or
giddiness, fails to tlevote a s111lkicn t amonnt of reflection to 11·lmt
it has co uceive tl. It is eYen ol1s('l'rnhle that those " ·ho co nc<'irn
with the g reatest <1ui ckn css au.:l [:ieilit:-, bring fortl 1, ge11ernlly,
b oth in t;l10ugh ts and in language, U1 c " ·ralrnst am1 the least d urnhl e p ro(luctions; whet,he r it, be tl1a t Lhny do not tak e time c110n g h
to rnatnrc what th ey luw e co ncn.ivtHl,- hnn:iC'tl into prccoc.io11s display h y t l1 e virncity of tlinir. fon l in gs n11cl i11iagi na tio11,~or ou aeconnt of t,h e impressionaliili ty l1111l ad.i1·ity of th 0ir min<ls, which,
ever yielrling to fresh c111of.i01rn, e:drn11 st-i1 1g fh e111 sd ves in too
rnpirl an alte rnation of r evuls ion s, lirwe 11 11t the s trengt h for p:iticnt
111 e<li tat.io11 s, a11 1l allow t.!1<1 lirtlf-forn 11'1l i<l f':t o r th f' <"rlllle tlio11ght.,
horn wi thout life, to E'seape fro 111tl11' 11n1lo1·stnncli11g. :i\Cuch, th en,
is in our own po1rer to1rnrcl tlte ripenin g autl p erfecting of our it1cas.

Organization of the Idea.
'l'he prepar:i.t.ion of the pln.n of a <1i seo nrsc impli Ps, hflfore anything else, a Irnowlellge of tho tliin gs al1out which yon have to

II

·-·- -~. .--"--~·-=
· ~·~~~~~·.~~~-·----~~---~~-~~ _:
- - - - -- - - -- -- ~

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- -- -

-

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1·1
11

'I

33±

INVENTION

[PAJlT

IV.

s1wrik ; lmt ri g0n oml lmowlerl ge is not en ongh ; yon nrny lrnve f1
g rnat rtn:wtity of maf·. eririls, of Lloc nm e nts, rmd of info:r niation in
votu me1llor y a nd n ot lie aware h ow to 1.Jriu g tlwm to b oar.
It sonrn ti ni es. ~Y<' n happens t hat t.hose \vho lmow most., o r li tt\·e
most ma tte r in their l1 Pri11", are in capribl e o[ rightly co nveyin g it.
'l'hc ovc r-:ibnu1lau ce o[ n."qn isiti on rind wonls crnsh es tlie mi ncl ,
null stiH t•s it, jn st as tl1 c l1 eat1 is prirnlywd IJ.)' a tno g reat; <lel e rlll ination of Ll ood, or a lamp is exting uish ed Ly :.tll excess of
oil.
Ynn 111 nst lJ<'g in , th 0rPfor0, h y mcthrnli ~ in g w]l[lt, yon kn ow
aliout t·hc s uhj1•l't yo n wis h f-. o treat, and t-.l111 s, in crwh tliHco1u sc',
yon rnnsf-. :Hl o p t as yo11r ce ntre or chi ef i1ka, t he p o in t tu lie cxplriinc•l , bnt. s11l>nr11i1 l[ltc to thi s ·i,10a all th n r t>st., i 11 snclt :L way ns
to <' on sf;.i Lntc a Ho rt uf o rgrinisrn , lm1·iu g its lll':Hl, its orgrins, its
rn ain ] imlis, a 1111 a ll t.J1 c 111.c-n.11 s of eo11 nect.io11 a ml of ci r c11l:1t.i o11 hy
wl1i ch tl1 e lig ht uf t.h o parnmou11t icl ea, elllnimtiu g fr om t.]1 e focus,
m:1y h o '" nrn111111 iertl:c11 to th e f1nth os t partR, 01·c11 t o t-h e Jn.st
th qngl 1t., r11ul ]aHt wonl ; rif< in the 11nrnau 1101ly the iil.ood mnnrgcs
fr om tl 1c l1 0:tr t., rt!lll is s11rra11 t-lrnmg h out all t h e tis8u es, animating
a llll co lorin g UH' snrf:tee of tl1 e skin .
'l'hn ;; onl y will t·h<'l'c 110 life in th e di scourse, h ccauso a true
nnity will rl'ig n in it,- tlu1t. is, a natuml unity resnlt.in g from m1
iuto rior tl cvclnpm c nt, a n uHfol<lin g from \Yithin, a nd not from an
ar ti fi eial gath e ring of h oteroge ueous m emhers mill t heir arbitrary
juxtaposi tion. - ]3AU'l'c\IN.

Practical Rules.
I. A<lclross yonr mi ml tn the in vention of thoughts, not words.
\Vunls may be <'rnploycd, lm t 011ly :1s n.nxil.iaries.
.LI. Note d ow n, or oth er wise make sure o f w]l[ltever rel o1•::111t
t.hong ltt-s yunr min11 can crtll to its n.itl, irrespective of ord er or
mainl y so.
III. At, firs t. lie n ot too sc rnpnlon s on tho subj ect of rel eva 1 ~.
Entertriin wl1:1.t.c1·c r sec·rnin gly go0tl thoughts C'O lllC to ;1Jo11 r lf id at
yonr l'all. 'l'ry th e m, push them on t to co nclusions. Perhaps if
Hot arn il n.hl e t:h0mseh es thev will lead to otl1ers tlrnt are.
IV. P n rnne in ven tion in .. eve ry 1·ariety of circum stance, in th e
s t.rnl y arnl ont of it.. J\fak e it th e snl1j c~ct of sp ecial rincl protracted
'-'l'l'll,lmtinn, ancl ahm of ot.:casional attention, when walking..---,
or rid-

______

C H .IP.

XVII.]

ORGANIC GIW W'fH OF TH E IDEA.

33.)

ing, when taking exercise or r est. Oi1o's rnry dreams at night may
so metirneR b e made servi ceable for t.his object.
--V. J\fake use of former s tmlies and p reparations as h elps to in vention rnther than as substitutes for it.
In vention as tlms prnctised will abrnys strrm g t,h en but nevc 1·
ox li anst it.self. It wi ll b eC<llll C a most tleligh t fnl cxe rC' ise, cn.n s in g·
th e mind to g low \\'i t h rnpt n rn at its new creations a 1ul 1•orn 1Ji11ation s. 'While one tl111s m11 scs (in vc nt,i vely m editates) , th e fire nf
i1rnp irnti on bnrns \Vi thin li im, a ntl he Lccomes prepared to sprntk
with h is tongu e. - KUJJJEH.

The Plan of a Discourse "1'.s tlw ol'der cf tlw
You mn st tl1 ercforn
beg in by gathering tl1 ese togetl1 c r, \\·li ctl1 er faet s or id eas,
a nd exa lllining eaeh separately, i11 the ir r elation to tlie
subj ect o r purpo rt of t l1 e di scou rse, a 11tl in t l1 e ir mut11nl
bear in gs with respect to it. Next, after havin g selected
th ose which befit t he rrnbj ect, aml r ej cet ing tl1 ose wliieli
d o not, yo n m ust marslu~l th e m a rn1111d the lllai11 id ea, in
such a way as t o arrange ·thdr11 acco rdin g to their rank and
i111portance, with r e;o;pect t<.'l"tli e r es11lt \rhi ch you ha ve in
view. B11t, 'vh at is worth st ill n1 orc th a u e,·e 11 th is co m position or synth esis, yo n sh ould try, \d1e11 puss iLle, to
draw fo rtl1, by analys is o r deduct ion, t li e c0111plete develo p111 e nt of one single id ea, w l1i ch beco1ues not 111 erely the
ee11tre, bnt th e ve ry principl e of th e r e;;t. Tl1i s is tl1e
liest rnaun er of ex plainin g or developing, 1Jeca11se ex iste nces are tlins produ ced in 11 at11 re, a nd a di seo urse, to ha ve
its foll va ln e and foll e ffi c ie ncy, sl1 o nkl i111itate li er iu h e r
vital p rocess, and p erfeet it by idealiz in g that process."

tilings wliicli llmve to lie w 1folrle1l.

In fact, reason, wh en thinkiu g n.ml ex pressi ng i ts t11011 ght, p erforms a natural fun cti on , like th e plant \\·l1ich ger minates, f-l owcrs,
a nd Lears fruit. It op erates, ind eecl, acco rcling to ri 1norc exalted
p ower, but i t follows in the op eration th e srim c laws as rill b ein gs
endued wit h life ; aml the mctholls of n11alpis and sy nth esis, of

iii

836

INVENTION.

[PAHT IV.

dedndion and induction, essential to it, have their mutual typ es
and sym bols in the vital acts of org m1ic beiugs, which all proceed
likewise h y the way of ex pansion' and coutmction, unfoldin g aud
cufoldiu g, diffusion arnl collection.
The m ost perfect plan is, th er efore, the plan which organizes
a discourse in th e 11111nner nature constitutes any b eiug frau ght
wit.11 life. It is t h e sole rn euus of giving to speaking a real aml
uaturnl nuit.y, a1ul , conseqnently, Teal strength and b eauty, which
consist, in the unity of life.
A 11 f//ogy to th e f-1 111111in Jlody .- In ever y di scou rse, if it h ave
life, th ere is a prHcut. irlca o r fertile germ, aull all the pal'ts of the
<lisconrse are lilrn tl1 0 prinripal organs a rnl rnemlmrs of an animated b od y . '1'ho prnpositions, expressions, a nd word s resemble
those seco n<hl',Y organs whi ch connect the principr1l, as the n erves,
muscl es, vesse.!R, t issues, att,acl1i11 g th em to on e allot.lier arnl r end erin g them co-part11e rs in life 11ml death. 'l'hen arnitl this 11nimate
and oq:;anic mass th ere is the spirit of life, which is in the blood,
and is cYcryw h crn di ffn sed wit h the lJl ooll from the h eart, life's
eeut.re, to the epidermis. Ro iu doqu on cc th er e is the spirit of
the wonls, tlie so nl of t.h c orato r, inspired hy th o snbj eet, hi s int elligen ce illumined wit.It m eutaliligbt,. whi ch circul ates through
the whole body o f th e 1lisconrsr1',11'.;11\l .P01ll'S therein brightucss,
h eat, and life. A diseon rse " ·ithon t a parent i<lc11, is a stre11m
,Yithout a fountain, 11 pb11t, wit.J10nt 11 root, a bOlly 1Yit.h out a soul;
empty phrnses, sounds whil'h ll cat the air, or a tinkliu g cymbal.
Nnt J{ew, hut Neu•ly.- Ne1·ert.110lcss, Jet us n ot b e misappreh cnclcc1 ; if we s11y that a clis('onrse r eqnircs a parf'nt idea, we do
11o t nwrm that this idea mnst lw 1111 cw one, never hoforo eo11oci ved
or cle1·clnped liy any 0110. \Vere this so, no more orators would
b e p ossiulf', since alrcatly, from Rolomon 's day, t.h ere h as been
11 othin g new unde r Ute sn u, ancl th e cycle of ages continually
lirin gs back th o sam e t.hi11 gs uml c r different forrns.
It is n ot likely, th en , that in onr (h y there should b e m or e n ew
i1lca.s thfln in that of th e King of Isrnel ; but ideas, like all the
existences of this worltl, 11re rnn ewecl in each age, ancl for each
ge nerntion. They are re proclnced under m riecl forms ancl with
mo<lifi('n.t,ions of eircum stances: "Non nova se1l nove," saicl Vince nt o f L eri us. 'l'he same things are differently m anifested; 11nd

---- --- --

CHAP. XVII.]

337

MENTAL !NEB.TIA.

thus t hey ad11pt them sel ves to tlie wauts of men, 'Yhich ch ange
with time and place.
For this re11son the omtor may, aml Rh oultl, say all eicnt t hi11 (:(s,
in su\Jstance; but li e will srty th em i11 a not.h c r lll:w11er, <orrcs po111lin g with the dispositions of th e m en of his opocl1 , mltl he will a<ltl
tl1 e origiuality of his indivi1hrnl com:ept.ion allll ex11ro;;sio11. - BAu0

'.l'AIN.

tl1 e rou1posit.i o11 of tlie plan,
1e11
rea.< )' aiH dc111a11d s cx prcssiu11 , i;; prnjudicial to tl1c 11·ork, wlti elt may wither, perish , :111d lJc c n~ 11
st ifled i11 t.l1 e llllll e rsta11.Ji11g for ll'a11t of I l1at :iir a1 1d light
whi ch l1av e Leco111 e i11di spl)11 salile to it;; life, :i 11d w!tic!t it
can derive only from being se t ill tl1c op P11 l1ay."
w

'l'here are m en who ex p e ri n11cc t.11 0 gre:iks t 1lifficnlty i111 agi11alil e
in briu g i11 g forth tl1f'i r t.ho11 gld., , eit.11 Pr front a 1l e fi c if' 11<'.1· of t.]i p
n ectlful vi gor to pnt th f' m fonrnnl a1 11l in vest tl1 ('J11 " ·itl1 n, snihllil n
form, or from 11 natnml itHlol cncc wl1i elt is in<'apal1le of co11t.i 1111 t'1l
e fforts, lik e tl1ose plants wltich wi ll n1'1·<' r pi c ree tht' so il hy t li 1• ir
own unaidecl en er gy, 11lll1 fnr whi ch tli c spn,cl P rnn st lip 11 sc11 at tl1 c
risk of clcs t.royi11 g f'.l ieir tm11l Cl' shool s. 'l'his sJ11 gg·i sl111 nss, ur r:tther incap11liility of prn11n nin g " ·h on t.Ji o tilll c is COllll', is 11 s ig11 of
lll elltal feeblen ess, of a R[><'l'i t>S of i111pOh'nl',I'. It. .i11rn,l'inlJJ,Y lwtokens some signal d e fPo t in th1' i11kllc>d. nal C'o ns l it.11 t io11, ri.1111
tl10se who am 11fl1icte1.1 \ril h it 11·ill 'nifo lit.tit', will \\Tit·c tl mt li t.Lio
with cliOi cnlty, ri.1111 will llt'l'<' r 110 al1l n t.o sp ea k cxtc rnpomn co nsl,1'
in publie,- th ey wi 11 llern r l in or[l.torn.
Nevertlieless, eve n i11 him who is t'apalil c of licco111ing 01w,
there is som etimes a certain i1 l('rt.1wss m11l la z iness. \\'o hrivp nntnrnlly a h orror of l11hor, 111111 of all l<in tls tl1 n labor of t lwn g ht is
the lmrclest and the most tronlil eROlll(' ; so that. fre11n c11t,J,v, for 110
other rnason than to 11voicl th e pain whieh rn11 st. li A n111l crgo nl', n,
p erson l ong k eep s in hi s own h en<l an i1lca, n.lrt'a•l.v l 1erfoC'tly rip<>,
a1Hl reqniriu g only t.o h e pnt forth. H e l'annot·. 11rin g him self to
take up the p en 11ncl put hi s p lan i nto Rhapc; he proc rn st.i11at<os,
day after day, mHlor t.h e fnt .ilc prntf'xt nf no t lt av.in g n'ail Pnon g·h,
not havin g refl ect.eel enongh , a111l that th o m o mnnt is not ynt r c>1111',
autl th11t the work will gain by m01·0 prolon ged s tudies. Then, h.Y

J

338

INVEN'l'ION.

[PART IV.

l

this nn sen,sonn,ble d elay, the fruit fan gnisheR in the nm1erstun<1ing
from \Yant of no11rishme11t; falls hy 1legrees into n,trophy, loses its
vital fon.:e, and cliefl Lefore it is yet bom. Man y flu excellent idea
thus p erishes in t he germ, or is stif-led in its cleve.lo]Jment by the
lazin ess or the \1 obilit.y oft.he mi11<1s which h ave conceived them,
an d which l1avo Leo n impotent to g ive th em fort.Ji.
ThnAl111igilty'f.: gi ft if> ln;;:t. lhrn 11g h ma11' s fault.

Thi~ lrnppen s to 111 cn othc r w isc di i::-

ll11 g1 d slH'1l and ~ if ti• d \\·itlt rnr<.' q11 n! Hil'S, Uni. \\' h o tlrf'ail lhc rcsp on !-t i0ilitil'8 o f d1ay nml

l'l1 p pn >,..:su n • of t ilt' cirentn slrm ccs in \\' hil'h l hl'y may h<.'co 111t' i m ·oJv ed.

Un1kr JffC'lcxt of

11rC'S<' r vi11g- tl w ir f n·l~ dnr11 , I m!; n·nlly in onk r t u indnl !-("C 1.hl'ir iudoi f'JH.:c, lhey i-:111111the 11 c-

cc~~ii .y nf htl Jor , wit h it s <lc11 1andH nn1 l its fati g ues, :mil ! hu s dPprivc thcm:->f' I VCR o f th e

lll os t, aclivP- !'ti mnln s of i11tcl!<. cl.11:l l lifc.
1

G i ve n up tu t.ltcrn sC'lv cF-:, :rnd fearin g every ex ~

l c rn al i11flu e11 cc a s a hnntla.!..' <' 1 tlu·y pa ss their liv es in cone<'ivlng without 1:vc r protlne;i11g
- in n·acling w i tho n t co nl rilmtin g nnythi11g of thei r ow n - in r c!l cmi 11g, or rather in
n11ni11 rdi nl!, w it!Jqn!. eve r ~' ithcr writin .~ or Rpc:akin g p1tl1l idy.

It wo uld h ave iJ<.'f'J I hnppy

for ~iwh 1111"11 to lln vn lir·en nhli gPd i;f) work fnr a livin ~ : fo r. in the Rpm· of w:111t,, their

miwl tt·o11!1l ha vl' fo n11d a sprin g-w hi ch it has m isi;:Pcl , nnd the 11 cccss it.y of s11 ln:: ir. t i11 g Uy
l ah 11 r 1 (•r podtin..• h1111 g( T 1 would ila \'C cffoctctl i n t h e m what t he Jove o f tr uth O!' of g lor y

was twt nhl c to a cco n1pl ish . - n .\ UT AI N.

First, a Bold Outline. - " JJewaro uf iutrod11ei1w
i11to t h e arr:11wc1n
e11t of ·"' O lli' j)lan '· it o twltt
to b~
s t)·lc
•
.-i
b
lik e a11 artil'ifs dra11~lit, tlic s ke tch , which, by a few lines
1111i11f· c lli .~ililc fo c 1·c ry li<1cly save l1i111 wl10 kts traced tli e1u,
d ccidci:; 11·liat is to enter i11to tli e cornpo$ itiCJ n CJf tl1e pict11rc, and eaclt oh j eet's !'lace. Li ()'Ii t aml shadow eolorino.
b
'
~
and exp ress ion, will cu111e late r. "
Or, to hike :rnntli 0r irn nge, th o pln.n is a skeleton, the dry Lo110fran1 c oft.ho body, rqllllsi1·0 to all ex<wpt !he ::t<1Ppt in an:itorny,
lm t fnll o f intPrcst, of n1 m nin g, a1H] of sig nifica nce fo r l1i1n who
l1as stmli e11 it, nrnl wl10 kts pmcf.i se1l difisedion; for thm·e is not a
cm'Lil rtg<', a prot.uhemnce, or a hoJJow which does not mark what
tlmt Rt.rnd.u re onght to snstain - all(l th erefore you h uve l1 ore th e
whol e bod)' in epitome, the entire orgm1i zation in miniatu re.
H eneP, tlt n urnrn ont yon fo e] tlmt yonr idea is mature, and that
yo n urn master of it in its centre and in its rncliations, its main or
trunk lin es, take the pen nnLl throw upon paper what yon see, what
;·ou co 11eei1'e in yonr mind . If you are youn g or a novice, allow
th e pP11 to hani its way and th e current of thou ght to flow on.
'l'hero is al ways life in this first rush, and cure should be taken

·.j
I

CIIAP.

THE HEAVY STIWKES FIHS1'.

XVII.]

3H9

not to check i ts impetns or cool its anlm. Lnt, tho vo lc::mic lava
ruu ; it will ueco me J-ixed a 111l crystallin e of i tsnlf.
l\fake yo nr plan at the firs t h eat, if yon lie impellc•cl to \lo so,
and fo llow your inspiration to t.lie e11c1 ; aft.er whi ch Jot tli i1 1gs
alone for a fow cfays, or at leas t for so1·e rnl ho urs. '!'li on re-rPrrll
n,ttontivcly what yo n have Wl'i tL011, a11<l g iYo a now form to yrn 1r
plrtu; that is, re-writ.c it front one e 11<l tu I.lie ul h L' I", l1·:e1·i11 g nll l,Y
wlrnt is 11 eoessar.y, wl1at is usse11tia l. Elimi11:tk in ux() rnl•l y wJi:,t.evcr is ae<'essory ur s npc• r.fl11.0n s, rLn1l Lrae0, e ngT:tH'. 1Yitl1 \'am t.li o
Jen,<ling cJiarncte ri st.ics wl1icli <1Ph' l'Jllin c 1".11u •·1111f-i g m:lfion of thn
di ~emu·sc, a1ul con t.ain wit iii ll t. lwir <lc marertf. iun s tl1 0 !'arts w Ii ic It
arc to co1111mss it. Only t.ak o pain s to have t.lw ]'l'inci pal foatnn),q
well mark o<l, vivilll y l1 ro11 ght ont , nn<l st.rnn g ly con11t•cll:L1 together, in on1er t.!tat tho lli vision of th e ilisco ursc may ue clear mill
the links Jinuly welded.
The inc xpc r irnccd oralnr is tn confine h iin ~c lf in co n P-tr ndin g hi ~ p!:111 t.1> tile sn li1·11t
f1•n.Llll"l'S o f hi :-: R111Jj el.!f , fn Jay il nw n l10Jdly 1.h C t r11 11k_ Jine ..; o f l h<' di sconn·tl ", Off1 i tling Hl l
filli ng up ; l o rlraw IJrondl y, wit. II hn tchcL-s tndu~s, rn to P-ay, a11d Jl(lt t" ~c t about 1111nctuatin g . n ot. lo gL't Jo:o:t in 1nim1ti:1 ~, whe11 th e lJ n sin c fl.s iH tn 111ark uut L111 : 111:1.in \my s.
Another rul\'ic(• whic h 111 :ly h e g i \"c 11 i ~, to kav<' 11 ot,hi11 g 11hsc 1ll"P, ll flubtfnl , or \'ag 11e
i11 tl1(•sc 011tlin('s, nnct to ad111it IHI fca!urc i11 t·o hi s f'k c t<" h td1ic-1 1 d oc...; 11ut inllicatc ~o mc ­

lltin g o f importan ce.

Hy pr:tdl t" f' arnl the clircetio 11 s of a ski lful mnslt>r, h e will l ea rn lo

cl0al in t h ose poc c llt pC'n ei ll i11 gs whid 1 exp r ess rn mu ch in i-o Hln all a i:;pacc; n.nd thi f-i i t if;

whid1 rnakcs cxtc111 p ori;mli on

s11

er1sy awl siJ copio us, beca use cnc h point of t he plnu hc-

COllH!S in stin ct with li fC' , an <l hy p n· ~s i11 g- 11prm it ns y ou pn so.; alnng- )'Oll i' 1l is<·o11n.: c 111:1 kcs

it a spring

g n ~ li i n g

wi t h l11m inu 11 s id eas a nd in ex hau stibl e cx prcssiow-;,-.UAUT ~\I N.

Cood Sense, Sagacity, Tact. - " Tito ri g h t distribution of yo llt' pln.11 d e p end s n1so 011 yonr manne r of
co nce ivin g yo ur s11b:j eet and the c 11d yo n l1av c in view in
:yo lll' di sco un;:c ; 11or h ave gc 11 c rnl rul es 11t11 L: h practica l
range eve n h e re.
I mt is rerp1 i rell are, gooll sc 11 rn, sngaci ty, and tact; good se n se to RCC tl1.ingR as tliey arc, in their
trnc li g ht, 0 1· in t h e ir 111os t fa1·o ralile aspect, Ro as 1wt to
say what will n ot befi t the occas ion; sngac ity, to t11rn tl1c
snbj ec t over, penetrate it thro11gl1, analyze it, a11ato111izc it,
aml exhibit it, first on paper, then in speaki11g; tact, to
speak app rop riately, le:we in the sl 1aLl e whate ve r ca1111ot
appear withont disadvantage, anu bring out into stro ng

·vv

I

I

--~-- - · ·~-~-·-

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....

-~-- ~--~ -~

---··--

-

~ -~~

-

R-

·-

•

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.

•-

-----

•

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~

- - - - - - -· - -

------

I
340

lNVE NTlON.

[PAHT

IV.

1

li ght wh atev e r is m ost in yo11r fav o r ; to pnt every thing
i11 its own place, and to d o all tliis q uickl y, with neatness,
clearn ess, si111pli city, so tl 1:it in the very k not of tl1 c state111ent of tl1c ea se lll ay be di sec rn ed all the fold s aml coi ls
of tli e rnai11 id eft a bo ut to I.Jc u11itecl and la id fo r th Ly the
di sco urse."
An ill -erlJ1c Pi n 'c1 , rm ill -c1i\-i11etl pbn, wl1i clt docs not at ou ce
Jn,1111 tJi c J1 Cftl'f.'J' J'i !-1; Jif; i11 t,J1 c 1ui(i(JJ n Of t lJ c K11i1j ect and in fnJl l'fl88eSsi o11 nf th o 111n.t.tc r, i8 m t li er an e11 cnm limn cc tl1 rt n a h elp. It
i s a 1frk nt.y scnffol.li ng \\' lii ('.li \ril.l h m r n o t.lii11 g. It 1.mt loa11s a ud
disfi g u res th e lrnilt1ing i1 1:-;leat1 of 8C r vin g to m isc it.

Proportion and Harmony " i11 its p a rts co11t rih11tc to Lh c be:t11ty uE a di seo11rsc. In a ll things hean ty is
t h e r es ult oE Ya ri ety i 11 unity a nd o f uni ty in vari e ty . lt
is th e necessity of u11 c1iess 'd1ieh assig ns to each p a rt its
rank, place, :u1d d i111 ensions."
Fn'1111 cnt.Jy th e c:rnn1inm is too long, ant1 t h e p erom tion inter minable . '. l'l1 crc is little or n othin g left fo r the midtUe ; aJHl you
get a m on Rter \rit h an e norm ou s h ead, a m~ll1surel ess tail, ttllf1 ft
11.irniunt.i,·e b ody . At otl1er tim es it i.; som e limb of tb c di scourse
whit' lt iR le ng th e ned nnt.il tl1 e liotly o f tl1 0 work is ont of sig lit, th e
r esnlt b Pin g rt s h nc kin g <1dormity, a8 wheu a ma n has long a rm s
or lrgs wi t h a <11rn rf's h otl y. 'l'he main i tl e:c ong ht t o com e on t in
each pa rt. ; th e h ertrer on ght t o lie a!lrnys fo11 l1ack to it b y the cl cvelopm out of tl1 c rwccssory tl1on ghts, however imm erous, th ese
Jmvin g ll O r eg nlrtr Yiblity srt''e h,r t he su stain ed circ ulation throu g h
th e m o f the form er. S lw nl11 t.111'.Y g row antl di!rtte t oo mu ch , it
can onl y h e at t.h e cost of t,lie pa re nt id ea; and th ey mus t p ro1l11 ce
<1 e formit.y am1 rt so rt of t1i Rert8e in Hie tli sconrse, like t h ose m ons t ers " ·h e n t h er e is a ny irrpg-nhr or excessivn g row th o f one or gan,
tl1ron g L the a lm orrnal cn ngestion of the lilood, thus withdmwn
from the r es t of the orgauizo.tion. -BAUTAIN.

TOPICAL ANALYSIS"

Invention.
Th e essn v hn lf <l onr, p. fl'.!1.
l'h c rn011lf•11t o l' :w t.io 11 , p . 'l:ll.
1-Jow to hcg i1 1, p. ;) :~ 2..
Il.epress i1npa.ti e.11 r·0., p. 3U2.
Developme.11 t of ll1 c irl ca, p . 333.

He ll ection 1111C111 lht• i1l 0:t, p.

:rn'L

Organ irntion of th o itlea, r . 333.
l'raet icnl ru les, p. :):l4.
I. In vent tho11 p; ltl s, not worrl s, p. 834.
JI. Noto d o \\'11 I lio11 g lt ls, p. :i:l4.
111. l3e n ot too sc r11 p11l ous ns lo rclr·vnncy, p. 334.
IV. Purs11 c i 11vc11 tio11 , p. g ~M .
V. U se forrn t·r s t n d ics as h e lps le' i11 1· c 11tio 11 , p. 305.
Th e pl an of a clisco 11rsc, p . Cl flG .
J\ 11alogy to tlt o 11 u ma11 botl_r, p. 33G.
N ot n ew b11t 'n e \\'ly, p. 3a6.
Too m11 clt delay , p. fl ~7.
F irst, a bo l1l outlin e , p . :1:18.
Good sP 11 se , sn gac i t.r , la.ct, p. 3!1\l.
l'rop orti on and lrnrm on y, p. 340.

~

:I'll'
111
I I

CuAP. XVIII.]

UIIAPTElt X YHJ.
STYLE.
J N "11 Ji tf'rnf11rC' '" hid1 i s ~e m1in c, th e sul nd :mcc or 11 1n.ft ~ r h~ n ot. 11nc thing aml l hc
Rl yle n1111 t. h c r ; tl H·y are i11 se p nrniJI£'. T he f: t y lc is n ot sn 111 l'l h in i::- ~mp c rnchlcd fro m w ith out, :ts w 1· nw y mak C' a w1m d e 11 llo11 st' anti th(' ll pa int it, : bnt. i t is l>r1'ath<'d fr o1 11 with in,
nnd is in ~ l inct, with the p er s•mali t,y o f Uu: writer.

Ocnnin c iilNalnrn l\x prcsscs r.ot n bs lr:wt co n c,. p tio n." . p u r e a nd co l 11rle~f'l~ h ut thnnght.s and l hi11 gs 1 :Hi lhf' SC a rc sre n h y
s0111e i111li v id11a\ 1nind, co lored wi t h all the vi mvi:.; 1 n ssoc i:tLio11 i:: 1 111 c 111 o ri es, and c 111 otions

whic h helo11 i; tn that 111iml.-SnArnP.

VARYING OPINIO NS Ol" l'l'.

343

Buffon, that "The s tyle i s th e man, " is a limite d appli crition of
th e g en eral th eory that. th em is su ch a rebtion b etwee n i.lte milH1
of man and the speech h e u ses, that a p erfect". kuowlecl gc of e ith er
would enable a n ac ute psychological philolog ist to d educe and
con struct the other from it. -1\'L~nsn .
Th e secr e t of good s l.yl e iu writin g is, that won1s h e n sct1 purel y
in th eir re prcsontati1·0 11hamct.e r, alll1 not at all for th C" i r ow n sake.
This it is that so hi g hly <1is t.i11 g ni s lws \Veusto1·'s st.ylethe hcs t y et written on f".11is co utinent. Hi s hn g nage i s so trnnsparent, that in reridin g hi m one seldom thinks o f it, arn1 <"'.an lrnnlly
sec it. lu fa ct, the prnpor cl mrnctc r "f hi s s t·.y]p, is p orfoct., l'nnsumnmte manliness; in wlticd1 qualit .Y T 111ake i>nlc1 to n,flirm tl1at
h e h as no superior iu the \\·l1 ol o rnn go of En g lish authorship. H uvsoN.

I111)!'\I

I
'

'I

,II

J_.f'nrn , RO for :tR possibl e, l.o ho inf,elli g iLl c nrnl lrn11 ::.; pnren t - n(1 n nt,iec tnkf'n n[ ynn r
s tyle, hut sol e ly of \\·hat yo11 cxprc· z.;~ h_r it : Lhii-: i" you r de:i.r r11l C', :rnc l if _yon ha ve :rn ythin g wh ic h i!'\ n ot quite tri v ial tn f'x pr0o:: o;; to y our cn 11 !<'11qu 1r:1ri 0" , yn11 w ill firn1 su c h :i.

rul e a great dcnl m or e difficul t to foll ow t han man y p eopl e th in k. - CAn LYL E.

"Styfo is n o t.ltin g hut, t;lw on1er a nd movem ent in which onr
thou g h ts rnn ," sriys on e \\Tite r.
· 'Yon l1 avc too much sLyl o,'' g rnrnhled 1111 olc1 critic. " Style is
onl y a frnm o to hold th e th o11 g lits, as a \Yill(1o w-sash holds the
p a11os o f g lass. T oo mnrh s:1sh ohscnrcs t.11 0 li g h t."
" If )·n n t hink how yo n arc t,o writ e, you will n eYer write anyil1in g worth l1 caring. I write b ecause I cannot h elp it,," sai<l
l\ [oz:ut.
" \Vh0n 1Ye rn eo t with IJ1 e natu m l s tyle \ l"<l arc hi ghl y cfo]j g htPd ,
l1c<'a11 so we exp ected to sec an autl1 or , arnl we Jind a man," sriid
l'ascri.l.
"Styl e, irnl<,ct1 !" sai1l Go e t.hn. "'l'he sty lo of a writer is alm ost
nhrnys th e foithfnl rnproson ta t ivo of his min <l. 'l'h er ofore if nny
onn wi sh es to w rite a c lear s tyl e, let him b egin hy makiJJ g his
t.h o nght.R c· \pri r; arnl if n,ny wo nlcl write a n obl e s ty le, l e t him firs t
p ossess a no hie·' sonl."
The aphori sm p opuln.rl y 1.Jut p erh aps erroneously attributed to

Excellent precept; lin t, a las for p e rf"onn a nce ! n one ernr hrnk o
the rnl e more habi t 11all.r tlmu Cri rly l<"' ]1i111 se l f. Th l' i c1i om 11·J1i ch
h e nHimately forged fnr him s p]f was a ll <' W arn1 strnn gn forrn uf
English- rn ggec1, rlisjointc.1, often nn eo uth ; in his 01rn pltrnsc\
"vas t, :fitfnl, clecit1ecll y fnli g in on s," hut. yet". brin g in g ont with
m n,rvell ous vividness the thon g hts t hat possossP<l l1irn , tl1 e few
truths which h e sa w r loarl y rirn1 \rns SlE C' of- while it su ggcs tC"cl
n ot l ess powerfully t h o <hrk h:ir k g ro n11<1 o f ig norance agrtiast
which t h ese truth s sh ou o ont. - SnAmr.
Mo,lcrn Engli sh li teraturr. !ms no wh ere any l:rn .~ u: we to co111parc wif,11 tile fif"._rl c o f
th ci:;c [New man' s Paroc h i:tl] !='k n11on s, so s impl e a nd l,r:m s pn.n 1 n l;1 ye t so R td>!lj~ witl::il;
so ._tr o 11 g nnd yet so tcnt l r r ; t he r:{ f":1:"P o f a. sl.nlll g 1nan' s h:i.11d, con1hi 11 r·d w it h t h r.
tre mblin g tcrn l e rnr.ss of a wo n m.ti 'R h r.nrt., (\X prc:ss in g i 11 n fe w 1111111 n ~)" ll a h h~" 1.rnl.11 whi1'! 1
w onl11 ha ve cost oth C' r m en n pag-c o f phil o'-'n phi c vrd1 i:1g c, l:iyi11q- t h e m1tr·: t gPn Llc yet
p c n cl;rn.ting fi nge r on th e \"C ry core o r 1.hi11 gs 1 r cndi 11 g to

11tc 11 thei r U\\" ll most sec ret
th ou ghts better thnn they kn ew them lhcmi;;cl\·es.
Cttrly lc' fi atylc is li ke t h e full 11 n t.11 t orctl swin g o f th e g iant's :-ir m; C ardi nal New -

man' s is Urn n.sRnre.<l i:;c lf-pn.i::se~s i rm. th e quiet grnccf nlrwRs of the fi11i s h e1l a t hk1e. Th e
one, wh e n h e m cnn R t o be <:lfret i\"c, s<'izcs tlrn rno i:;t \'C li e rnr.nt fcC" lin g<.: nn d tl H' .. tronge st
wnrll s w it h in h is r ea c h , n.rnl J111rl !-; t,lw111 i111pc t11011 !'\y at the ohj <'cl,. 'J'hc nt h c-r, \\' it h 1li scipl in c1l m odcrn.tion and <folical C' SC"lf-r C'slra int,_ s hrink s i ns tii:d.i \"f'l.Y from o\·N sl:ll"l'lll C' lll".
but p cnc trn.tcs more diredly to th e cor e l.Jy wonl11 or sober t ruU1 and " vivid cxr1ct11css."'8HJ.IRP.

1!.

:! .

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

-----

344

STYLE.

(PART

IV.

At first s ig h t, 8 hnkspcre a.ml hi s conte mporary dmmnti sts seem to \\Tile in sty les
much alike; nothing 80 easy o.R to fa ll in to t.Ji:i.t of Massin ger nnd the othcn1; whil e no
o ne has ever yet prod uced one scene conceived and cxpres!'led in th e S hakspcrian idiom.
I s uppose it is 1Jccanf4C S lrnkspcrc is uni vcrs:il, nn<l in fact ha s no · manner; jm>t a.R you
can so mu c h mere rcndi ly copy a picture thn.n nn.ture ll erse lf.-COLEHIDGE.
Sty le is of conn;e nothing else bnt tho n.rt of conveying t h e meaning appropriately
nn<l with pcn;picnity, w hate\·cr that meaning may be, and one criterion of Ftyle is that it
s hnll not, be tranF-latalJlc without injury to the m eaning. . . . In order to form a
J!Ooil style the primn1')' rnlc and condition iH, r..ot to att.cmpt to cxprcF>s onri;:.elv cs in la n~ ua ~c bdnrc we t,llo roug hl y k11 ow 011 r own mean ing: when n. man perfectly unders tands
hirw..:clf, nppro pr intc diction will g enerall y ho nt hi s com1 uaml, eith er in writin g or speaking-. In F:11ch c:i<\cs 1".hc t houg h ts nrnl the wonl s nrc nssoc iatcd. In th e n ext placc 1 precisc11CR!'i in th e n sr. of t erm 5 iR rcquire1l, an tl the te~ t if:. wh ether yon cnn t ran slnte the
phra~c :vkf}natcly int o ~ imp l c tcnm;, rcgnnl being h:ul to t he feeling o f the wh ole passage. Try thi!"! upon S h nlrn pcrc or Milton , n.11d see if yon can substitu te oth er simplo
wo rd ~ in any g i\·e11 p:csi:;:1gc \Yitho ut, a viobti on of the mcnn in g or to ne . Th e Botuce of
had "Titi ng iA the tlcHire to he somethin g m or e than a mnn uf scns.c-the nt rainiug to be
t honf!ht, :i gc 11 ins ; nnd it is jn st the same in speec h-m aking. If m en would o nl y say what

"Flt.ylc, in m y Rcllse of the word, is a peculiar recasting and
h cig htc11i11 g, U]l(ler a certain spiritual excitement, a certain pressure of e motion, of 11·hat a man lms to say, in su ch a m anner as to
ad d d ignity anu distinction to it.
Power of style, properly RO calletl, :1s manifested in masten; of style, like Dante and
1\Iilton in poetry, Cicero, Bossuet, and Bolingbroke in prose, has
for its characteristic effect this, to acld di gnity ancl distinction to
it."

'fhc hest style is not that which puts the reader most easily and
in tho sh ortest time in possession of a writer's naked thoughts, but
t hat " ·lt ich is the t ruest image of a great intellect-~vhich conveys
fnlly, and carries farth est into otJ1er souls, the conceptions anu
fee lin gs of a profouml and loft,y spirit.- CHANNING.
Science has to do with things, litemture with thoughts; science

-- -

.
.

-

.

'

..

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

CnAP. XVIII.]

THE STAl\IP OF INDIVIDUALITY.

345

is universal, literature is personal; science uses words mer ely as
symbols, and by employing symboh; can ofte n uispcnse with words;
but literature uses language in its full compass, as includin g
phraseology, idiom, style, composition, rhy1.]uu, eloquence, aml
whatever other qualities are incll!lled in it.-NEWMAN.
Literature b eing a fine art, as I u nderstand i t, a literary man
can no more h elp having a style than a painter his; it may b e
more or less strongly marked, finislieLl or faulty , lmt it ca11110t ue
wholly bad, or even indifferent. 'l'ltere is an id eal of litemry expression which looks upon language as best employed when it b ecomes the pei:fectly trnnsparc nt nwdinm of thonght- like plateglass, as advocates of tliis theory phrase it. It is of conrse always
i n good taste to b e simple, a iul a plainness approaehin g to boldness
is infinitely better than the "fine" .bu g uagc, so call ccl, influlgcd
in b y pseuclo-eultivatetl writers. B n.t I have never been able to
accept the plate-glass theory, and cann ot help fancyin g that it is
the u nconscious refu ge of writers aml r eaders without any keen
apprehension of the clmrms of literary style. Ease aml unaffectedness are irnleed p rime requisites of a good sty le, but wliy should
we forego the pleasu re to b e had from other and more positive
qualities than these? 'l'hc impcrishn.hlc clrnnn belong iug to certain writers lies in their style; it is their nni1prn exp ression of
their thought, more than the th on gh t itself, '\1·c care fo r, as witness
many of Lamb's most delig h tful sketch es; a11ll in the most origiual
writers thfr; characteristic qirnlity of ox pressi01.1 is so much a part
of their genius that it is scarcely p ossible to separate u etween snbstance auc1 form, the id eas a nd their embodiment. In fact, one is
sometimes tempted to call tho thou ght tho grosser particle in this
combination , or interpenetration, so s ub tle aJHl exqnisi t,e may lJe
the charm of mere words, not only in poetry, but in inmginatirn
prose.-Atlantic J1I onthly.
Tnke an cxnmple, nlmost at random , from De Qni n ccy. Speaking- nf the state of:
};ngli sh hy mnology nt 3. certain pcr iocl , he calls it" lhe h owling wild c rnc ~s of prnlm olly ."
1
'
Ah . ~ ' nay8 a pedantic c riti c:, " tha t is rh etoric." Very well ; stn p it of its" rh etoric.' 1
nnd yet express the same idea in itA pl cni tmlc, if yon ca n. It jf; i111 poss i1Jl c. ):"o u c<t nn ot
drop that figure, and yet expre ss the i;:a.mc kind nwl the !':\Ille volnme of th ou g ht. If any
on e thin ks he cnn , we are very safe in rCF>ponding, "Try it,. 11 A 1dccc of Rus!'ia iron is
n ot the f'a me t hi ng w h "!n l!1C'llcd nn d cu mpactecl nnd m o11ldC'd into a sing.
Annlyze n frng mcn t from Rt1Rki11 1 w hof'c l'ly lc is oft.en l. hnn g ht . pcr~o n iti cd . He
wishcR to express vividl y the idea that fcclJ lcu esH in nrt is 1111trnthfulnc86 in effect. Ho

346

STYLE.

[PART IV.

347

NATUltALNJ~SS.

CHAI'. XVIJ I.]

11

writc R, I hC're f o r e , o f the fif. n1 g-g- li11g- cnr icriturc o f the n~c:rn cr min11, whi ch h ca ps its fore ·
~ronnd wi l h eu l os.~al •·olu11111 R, a.m l hl'av cs impos ..-iblc 111011nl_ai n s h1 to Lh c c11c11m be re <l
Akj'.l! Jlm;ldn h ere 1111con ~<..:iou sly im itates hi s thou g h t by hi s voc:thn lnry nrnl sy ntax .
St.r ip it o f that imi tatio n o f Ben se by su n nd n1d structure, nnd wh:it h ave yon lef t ? S;ly
~omct hin g e lse t han " h ca \' es impossible 111onntain ; :; in to t h e cn c n1111Jere1l sky ." Sny t hi s,
1
al n vc 111 11re . • A J)11o r nrti s t, pai n t K mrmnlnin s 'Yh ic h could ueve r l1 :1vc l'Xi~tcd, in n. sky
which ca nn ot co11 vcn i c 11 t ly hold t hem. 11 Jl iwe .rou p:u te1l with no th on g- hL in los in g th e
imi tativ e adroi t n ess of rt11 s ki11' s sty le ? In s uc h examplrs th ungh t i-;o mn stcrncxprc<:si on,
a n d yok es i t to w;c, lh at sty le itself beco mes th o ug h t . You cannot Rcpamte th em hy t h e
chnn~e o f "o mnc h a H a syllabic wit hout loss.- PBELPS.

\Ye arc prone lfl rC'gnnl litcniLurc a s a strictly intellcctun l mani fc~tn ti o n 1 wh en, n c ,·cr·
th e lcFs. th e most cn 11 Fc rn1.Li\·c or presc n nLivc elemen t of lilc ra t11 r\!- h11mo r- i!-I scnrccly
nn i ritcllf'C'I 1rn l qua l ity nt nll. It belongs rather to the emotional s illC of t.h c mind. Th e
dry light o f )Hire r c n.rn 11 ha.;; th e c harm o f flntt.cring 0 11r Fcif·cfitcc m hy g i ving or Fceming
t o give 11s 1u1 i 1 1 ~ i g h t in to t.l1 c re alities of thingF:: but it Jms the defect o f w a 11ti11.!:! indiv iflnnli ty : it at!ni 11 s i~s prese nt sta le j m;t in propor t'.o n nR it; <l iscn.nls a ll pcnai n al fl avo r , nntl
n ppro:u.: h es n. sor t o f algebrai c imper so na lity_ A !Hl w hen rm excc p t iollal min cl , lik£! Bn.r_,n n '·s,
Rucccccl i; in bu rn is h ing rea so n into wit, i t retai n s its h o141 1q 1011 onr R.rm pnt hi cs, n ot be ca u se o r its l.rnth , hut, beca use t ha t tn 1th is i;: !'ri.tcd wHlt a pc n1pi c 11ity and l>rillh111 cc pcc ul ·
inr to Bnco11 , tl e p e ndin g 1wt upon th e rxtc nt o f ]Jncon 'fl infon 11 nt.i o 11 hut upon t h e nd·
1
rnirnblc s trc 11 gt h an d Fllbll (• t.r of h is m e11tal fo c11ltie;;:, ln order to rc:11i;1.f' t.hi s, w e h rwe
on ly to rcOcc:t thnt t h e 1->11111c t ru t h, ot h erwi fic or ga11izc1.l a ntl prcsrm l cfl hy an infe ri or inte lli g-encc\ wo uld fail to 1·s t rtblish a h o ld up011 HR. 'V h at reall y fn ~c inntc~ 11.c: is not t h e
white u11n1 odifi e1l g- larc l• f t h e nh!';<JIHte, but the v:i.rion s-colorn<l r:i._ys prod1wcd hy the p as sage ot that, J:;"lnrc t hnm g h the finit e rnc1limn nf hnmi1n rn i n<l ,c:. : rrnd hnw1•\·r>1· d•ligi•n t!y
the ge11 cra liu11s o f 111c11 may ccldJrntc th e ct crn n l vcrit·icF=, n othin g is 111orf' likely than
that t he C'?fr> rn :i.l v<> riticfo', con.<: it! P-retl in thc111 sc h·cs, IHH' C LnL ll1 c fai11 lc~t nlLrnc tio 11 for
mnnki11cl . H lu•l o n gs Lo 011r 1rntn1 c t lint we Rh.-rnld be to 01irsl"lVf'.<: of pnnnnnnnt·- nrnt na l
i11 tcn!!"t; rrnd !;li e g rn11rnl o f thi s in t·e rcst is hum or in its l>r oi\dcs t Rf'll RC. But hum orl itcrnry h umor especi nlly - h:u; be en r.011v f'nti o1rn!ly li1ni '<''I tn a n :irnH\'C r !'ii~nift c.1ncc
than lhif.:1 1 nn cl it.<.; posscRs ion in n ny noticcnlJlc <kgrce is limi ted l o co mµnra t i ve ly few
write r R. Lik e t on e in p aintin g 1u1tl cx prc1'~ i on i11 rn usic, it is n mat te r of tmnpc rnruc n t ;
a nrl it8 vn.lt1 f' 1 wh e n gc n n in c, is a R µc rma11c11t and ns inex hau stibl e ai:. human nn.lnrc
itsclf.-7'// e Svecto.to1·.

Naturalness, tlt e r efor e, so far from being opposed
t o style, i s th e o n e thing a good styl e sec ures.
Wh en e ver a man poet.ically gi fted expres>;es his ]Jes t thoughts
i11 hi.< hest 1cord.•, th en we h ave t.h e style which is natnrnl to him,

anJ whi ch, if h e b e a true poet, is sure to be a good styl e.-

SrrAuir.
·what is u atnrnln ess of style? W e an swer, those q ualit ies whi ch
are found peculiar to an inclividu al t0he11 science and art have de1:eloped whrit is .IJOOd and r emored 11:hat is bad amo11g his personal
chrwac/e1·i.<tics . It is ou l,Y b y lrn o wl ed ge and trainin g that our
n iitu ral g ifts n11d e ner gies can b e discovered and dis tin guish ed

from such wrong prcjrnli ces a nd Lad lml1its as are t he r esn Hs of
false ias truct.iou early i n life.
.
Nat.nrnlness may Le, awl ofte n i s, nmlcrstoocl to b E: t h at t11rnh ty
whi ch is p eculiar to an individnal, or p ec uliar to th at which is
writL<!H or spoken by h im. spo 11 rarn,011 i-dy nn any occasion , a t; m1 y
p e riod of life. In this sense tito eommuuicatio us of the m ost ign oraut a nd imnrntnre miuth Jm vc a seerni u g na tn.rnluess ; Lut in
man y cnses of this kiml it is nlt.irn atcly fonucl tlni,t \Ylrnt seemed
1rntnml "\\Wl sh eer affectatio n, t li e ch eckcre1l effect of indiscriminate
imita t-.ion, or t he rnrnlom effns inn of 11rnw n i11 11nl'n11c1 enco, o r e lso
t.l.10 111011,;st mistake of one wl1 n Jlf\s a 1no11g ul1joct or a n 1wwise
aim. - HEBVEY.

The End in View 1111 tlie \\Titer\; part sl1 0 11kl lie
e.,net c\p r ess io n of l1i s tl1 11 11 g li t:.

Tl1i ;; i;; a diHi c 111t. altain-

11ic11 t. 0£ all arts i.l 1c :1 r t ol' " J'L'e (·l1 i,.; 111 n ~ L i.11tri(·:ll c, il ;;
111 ns lc r v rno,.;t d cli cal:e.
N11111e of l1i s sc n lP1w es \\· ill cos t.
tl1 n ]i(:;,. i1111ur l1u1w- .

o., pcric~tced

1Li1 ~ . 11,·ek~ .

\\Ti t.e r \1·ill .1r P i1..'."11

Tl1u 111 ...-I, «11·1·1·1· :111.J

c;y 1 11im· 11i.~

foro ]1 0 pen s l1i s last p:trn!..'.T: 1pl1.

i11 Iii;; 111i111I l 1e -

I \11 t t l1 c arti s t

j ;; di " l i11 -

g11 i,.;l1 e il fr o 111 t l1c :1rli ;;:1n i11 ll 1 :1l.l 1 <~11il l :11T (' [ii· 110 ill - liiii1 1g

~ronl

o r pl1rn se . f. u 11 g n s i".1 1c :-:1·a rc lt 11 i:1y li e, ]1 0 1riil h im
l1i s 1·lt o 11 g l1t <n-o r a 11 cl m·(' r i11 l1i s 111i11d till it. ]1 ;1s l' l1dl1c•d

i t se lf in t lt e ve rbal ga rlJ t.li at alu 110 i> cl its it.
SyJney Srnil;h sai1l or JJr. I 'a rr, " 11.n 1"· 1·cr sr:e ms h11rrit:1l li_y
his snhjeet iot.u obvions li1ll' Yil :th l1•J .l :rn g 11:tg« ." .l.n ot. li m mll'l ls,
l1i s t.h nngh ts \Horn Jll'\·pr 1·lva.r ly dl'li111 •il ; ii <' 1rns confr11f<'d "·itli
vag n<\ gen era l, 1Jotc)1 y es 11l'f'hh ion.
'l'h e eoll ocat.i on of 1ninh .is s11 arl ifir-i: tl i11 8lia ksp0 r" rrn il lHi Hon,
th at YOH may as well tl iink of p11 s l1i11 g a b rick nnt. of :t \mil wi t Ii
yo nr ·•forefin~er, as atte111pt to rnmovP a 1n1nl ont. of an y or th eir
fin is h ed passages.
'l 'li e amotion or trnn s pos it in11 ,,·ill altN t l1 c th o ng ht, o r th 0 frd i 11 g, or at l eas t t,l1 e tu ne. '.L' l11•y rtr n as l'i cces of lllnsai<' work,
fr om wh ir'h yo n cannol; s t-. rik c on t tlrt' :-;11 1:Lllr ·"t Llut.:k \\·itl1011t making a h ol e in th e p i ct11ro.-Q11flrlerly R eview.

348

STYLR

LP All'l' IV.

Cowper p ossessed above a ll other m od ern poet s the p ower of
lJ omlin g t h e mos t stubborn anu iutrnc ta lJle words in t he lan g uage
around his thinkin g , s o n.s to fit its ernry indentation anu irregularity of outline, as a s hip- carpenter adju sts th e plan kin g , g rown
ifoxib le in his hamls, to the exact m ould of his vessel. - Huan
l\ln.LJm.
\\'(' pron'l' tl to :i mon• p nrti c ttlar Px :11ni 11:il io11 of t hnl parlil'lila r q11nlily o f i-;1.ylc w hir.h
r c 111 lf'r ...; it, int c lli g ih lc. We !l1 ~ n1 1 1 11i11al c it plainn ess . A t hin g is pl a in ( pl a 1111fi), w h e n lt

if' laid out ope n and P.111 ooth

11po11 n. lt! \'cl f' nrfa r·c .
A n o b ject is in pi:lin sig ht whe n the
form rt11d Rllapc of i t arc <li ::; tincUy vis llJl e. C h aucer, in h i ~ " Can te r bury T alcs, 1' makes
th e fr a n klin , til e En gli sh fr ee hold er of hi s ti ny. to 13ny , whe n ca.l ied upon fo r hi s st ory:

I nev er IC' rned r hctorik c cC' rlaiti.
T hin g th;i. t; T 8JH ' kc, i t mule be bnrc a nti plain ,
T11is q110t ntin n s h owP. t.h nt in Chnucer's ti111 c rh etor ic was t he opposite oI a Ju c itl anti
tl is t in c l prPRt•n tal,in n o f t ruth . 111 h is a ge it had hrcom c excc ~s i vcly a rLil icial in itR pr in ci pl<' ~ ,

nnrl alh•gcth r r rn c cl1:-t n it:a l in its nppli c :~t i o n R

Jl cm cc t h n pl ai n , c kar -lwadcc1

E11gli s lt111a11 , who:;l' s t o r y turn f'; o u t to he 1.nld \\·it h a Silllplic it y n.rnl pc r ,;11ic n itj· ancl
rn c in cs" U111t r e 111len: i t trn ly f'ln qncnt ~ snppo ~ccl t hat i t 111u i::t ll C'cc:;:~ :\l'ily h e faul ty in
Rly lC', h ('c n11 ~f' hi s 0\\"11 good s(' n ~c rmd k f' Pll Cj'<' 111:1 t~ c it. i11 q 10,;sihl c for 11i 111 to <li P.cn ursc
i n t h e affcc lrtl an ll fal se rllt'111ri c , ,f t h e s dJ1 1ol o f thnt dnl' · ]:'o r th is plai1111ci::.s o f sty le is

t.h c prod11d of
t erm s.

/\

~n g a ci ty ~rn d k c•(' IJll<' ~s .

k1·t·11

0 1wr. 11111re :

v i:- in 11 d E>s c ri l ws li ke nn
) l n ~ lt · r y

A i-a g acin11 s n 11 d c r s t ancli11 g

alwap~ ~ pc a k R

in p in.in

f'Y' ' · \\·it n c ~ s . -8 1 11-: vn.

o f la11g11:1 g-c incln dc!" a r<'lc nlive co n trol o f tt YOcnb11lnry, nn d o f
hy w h ic h tlwy slJn.11 nl w:iy s h (• :i.t lrn11<l for 111tc v11 s ciom•

Ynri dieR of l·: n g li ;::; )l con s lrnclion,

.IJo W l ' 1111 t Hffr11 frt'I, for th e r ig ht. w onl , whi c h i ~ j11 :-;t n11 1s id c I.h e closed d oor o f
rn c: n in r y? \\' c lrnow that. tlwre if'! frnc h a word; we know t liat it, i!" precise ly t he wo rrl we
wnn t; rn1 o t ll r r <'an fill ils p ifH'f' i \\'<' ~aw it 111r11t nll y a. sho r t hnlf -ho nr ng-o, l.rn t we bent
th e nir fo r it n ow . Th e powe r we c rave i,q th e powe r to ~:J o re wo rd s within r ea c h, n.11d
h nl1 l tl w rn in rn nnfa l r ci:::c nc till lhry :i.r c wru i t cd , nn d t hen to s11n111um t h e111 by th e 1111 1·1111 sc:i1111s \'i hr:tl .i1111 o f a U1 0 1q.; h t. No t hin g <·an give it t.o n i- hut ~ ltul y :rnll u se o f Lh c
Jn ng n agc i n lo 1ig- -co11Li1111ctl ai Hl cr iti ca l prncticc. It is tli c slow fr uitn gc o f a g rowing
mw.

mind .
Wall-e r Scott, for in s tan cr, snnn tc rs t h ro n g h t h e str ccto; o f l·:rlinhn rg h. nml ov<'rhcars
a \\·n n l, w it idi, in its i·11lluq11inl c o 1111 cc1i o n ~ , 1'."<pn:!-i~C~ a ~lrnt l f' o f t h <111 g h l wl1 id1 is n ov e l
tn h i 111 . H e p n11se~ . nnd nrn k cs n. 11 otc o f i t. nntl wn\k R- on, po tHleri11 g it. t ill it. h a s m ad e
a 1 w~t for it s <'i f in hi s brain : n. rn1 a t lcn v th l hnt wo rd t c a.pp cars in 0 110 o f the m us t
g raphi c F=Cc11 ci-; iu t h e " ]i'o r tu ncs o f Nigcl. " __ .
\\' a !-'hi11 g t o n lr vin g rrln.fP!-' thnl: h e \\"fl !": n11r,P. r i1lin !! wif h '.l'h01na i. l\ fo o r o in T'rtrl fl.
whe n t.h c hi\<: kn r.y -cnar h wrnt, i;:n<l<lC'n ly infn n r11l, ont <.l f w h irh i t f':Llll C w it h s uc h n. JOlt

ns to P.(' ntl th ei r hcnd f\ limn pi n g n~ a inst Urn roof. "By J o Yr, I've µ-ot i t! ,, cried l\l oo r c,
rlnppi ng hi ~ hnml ~ in great gl('C. '' Got, what?,, s n.id Ir vi n g-. 11 W hy, :• snid t,h c poet,
"that won! wh ich J' v<' bee n hunt in g for for s ix weeks t o com plete m y Inst s ollg. That
ra scall y dri ve r h:i. R jolted it o u t. o f m c .' 1 - l'ffELPS .

349

NATURALNESS.

CnAP. XVIII.]

its ex pression of th e ge n11in e th o11 ght of the writer. If
hi s thoug h ts be nou le, aud h e be abl e t.o g ive thelll alleq11 ate expression, l1i s essay w ill lJC nob le; b11t if l1i s
tho11ghts are tri vial, and li e t ries to ex press th em in snch
la11g 11a.gc m; some 011 0 has used to ex p rcss 11uld e 1"11011µ;l1t s, l1i s
wea:r.ened tl1011 gltts w ill see lll al l tl1 e 111ore slirn11k c11 i11 tlw
Jluw ing word-garm ents that flap aro1111d t he111 . Besides,
small th ough ts h ave a place aml a va l11 e as \r el] as grea t
ones. Da vid co11lcl not fi gh t i11 Saul's a rn1 or, lJ11 t wh en
fitly clall in l1i s rnou11tai11 eostu111e h e cu 11ld du execut ion
impossibl e to the lrnrl y k i11 g.
I ap ed .Jol111Rn11, I preach ed Johnson. It was :-t yontl1fnl fo ll~·,
a very groat folly. I mi ght as we ll lmrn r1tt0111pktl t o ,Janco fl
110n1pip e in th o dross o f Gog a nd l\fa gng. J\ ly pnny t h nn g li ts
conld u ot su s tain the l oad o f words iu which I tried to cloth"
them .- Hrnmw1· HALr,.
Aim at t.l1in gs, a n<l y onr wn r1l s \l' ill hn ri g h t 'r ith o n t. ai 111ing·.
Gn a nl again s t lu vu of .l ispla.y, Ju ve of s i11 g 11l:cril y, ]., ,.,, uf Kt·u111iJJ g
orig in al. A i1 n a t u tca.11 iu g wl1a.t ,ro n H:ty, aud ~ay in g ,rJ1 :1..t yo u
in eau. - NEWMAN.
Bnt if h e is a f'1 1i11kn r, w ho km sen n sornn grea t·, !.rn t hs m ore
p o11e trntin g ly, a11<l .li as l'<·lt tl 1<'1<t mo rn .J1ro(,1nmll y t h a n ot lwr m e n
h ave don e, tl1e n iu tb is se nse a t h in].-_,,\' Cnrlyll' ce rta.in ly 'ms.
l solat.od truth s t.here m ay lirtn1 h <'<' ll , l in t. isola t< ·<l trnt.hs lll'H' al l
h e cared or h np< 1l to scu; h n.fn lt. too k e1•11 ly th e 111yste 1·.r of f'11 i11gs
ever t.o fancy f.l mt. 11 11 nr :rn y 0t li " r man " ·111il1l s0n tl11 m n il i11 \\·1·ll rounc10<1 Jian ll Oll y . H \\':1.S ju s t ] 1('('f\11Re h o 8:t\\' :11111 frJt, S <llll O
tru ths so lrne 11ly, t h at h e \m s "" rtlil e<l to J>nint t hom i n w11r<l s s o
Yiv i(ll y. It wa s th n in sig ht; 1l1 a t, " ·as i11 l1i m w l1i1•l1 lll nil1 li i111 •t
wor1l -l'r1.i11her ; \\·itlwnl. t.l1 rlf·. in s ig ht. ,1·onl -1':1.i11ti11 g l1 1·1 ~1 11111·s :r '""\'"
tric k of wonl s. - SHAmr.
1

1

1

A n a111rnd11 g n c<.·011 11t, i ~ g ivr n h _v ·r.o ril J\ f:t r 1111ln y n f n nitir iRnt hy S h f'ri 1lnn 11 p0 n tho
f trili ~ h l ' nrlia11w11 !,.
Sh,·1·i d 1lll
frPtll lhr> JtlPf't\n .t: 11 f P:nlia 1tw11t, :trnl a f r i1 ·11 11 :i :'; \H ·d h int fo r

F-tyl o nn<l nurn11Pr of !\lr . F n:.: n nil T,0n l Slonn 1111!. in lh•'
h rul f'('l11r 11 c(l n 11 c n1or11ing;

To affect a pa rt ic11 lar style is of course ridic11 lons.
·whatever possiul e va lue au essay rn:ty h ave colli es from

l'tlC l! C\V!'l Of t!J C 1l:ly ,

two

11 ic 11.

to11c th at,

I l e J'(' !1Jif'1 l fhnl li e ilnd ~·njny <• d a ]:111gh

O\'l ' I' t,iJ( • ~ Jll'l' l 'J lt'.c;

nf 1h m r

~ ni d Ilia !, Lnrtl S lo nn ont·. l 1c ~ :u1 hy <l1·t :la ri n ~ inn !'1" \\" 1 f-inlen1 11 , 11:1 ~ a l 1Jl11 11n w h C' n - h c-co nsi d c rml- U1c c 11 un11ity - a1H l thc - u1wo11s ti Lutio11al - lc11 li c11 cy

He
11

350

STYLE.

[PAR'!' IV.

..__of th e mr1umrer:;--j11st--propos:cd, he w~s -lrnrr icd-nwny in n- torrent-- o f pas~ion ­
nncl .n - whirlwi nd-o [ im- pet- u- os- i- ty. 11 ..Mr. Ji'ox he describccl afi r iH i11 g w it,h n fipr ing
to ln s feet, rmrl b cgi 1111in g, wit;h th e rapi dity o f Ji g htn i11J!, thns: 1 · Mr. Speaker BHeh i R
t he '1W{J11ituc.l e f:itH: h til e 1mp o rumr~ i::uch til e vitln l iutere.~t o [ t;he qu 0 stiu 11 that J. curm ot
Out implot·c I cnnn ot hu t a <tju.1·e f"tw H o use to come to it with the u Lmost calm ness th e

utmost coo ln e.~s the ntmost rtelib~ration. 11 -P uF.LPS .

'

The. False Idea that style is sometlti11 g snpe rirnp oseJ, lik e a <· 11 po la, upon a st rncturo tlia t " ·o 1t! J IJe co ?llpl ete without it, l1as led to fa lse views of tl1e prnvi 11 ce of
rhetoric, and to fal se ideal s 0 11 the part of y o1111g write rs.
"For es teemin g rrny rnnn pu r ely on account of 11ir; :rh e tori c, I
wonld ns s no11 clwosc rt pilot fo r n gom1 l1 cad of .h nir," said Seneca. J3 nt rltcto rie is t.o the s t: bLesmau wh at s"kil.l i,q to the pilot..
'l'l1 e s tatesman lll a.Y b e ft trnitor, in spite of great o rnl orical auilit.Y .
and U1 e pilot m ay b e in league with wreckers, h owever rtccnrat~
hi s knmvlc(1 ge of th e coas t and of the Ycsscl. Bnt rh etor.i c "ill
~nnl1l e til e s trtt-0s.nmn to say what h o m eans, rtm1 to ~a.Y it con vi uc1n ? ly, 1:hus rn s11rmg l1i111 rtgrti11 st uh1ml crin g rtrn1 weakn ess ; jus t. as
slull will secure t.lte pilot against nuwitting ly ruuuing upon a hitltl e n rook.
'.L'lia1·, rl1ctori m l skill ir; 11nt, nni,·crsrtl or nnc1csimlil e in offi ce-h olders may h r> inferred from the following official n otices. (See also
p ages 2!17- 300.)

CHAP. XVIIi.]

PRACTICAL VALUE OF RHE'l'OlUC.

'l'h c late Hon. Caleb Cushin g of J\fassaclnrnctts Rpent the larger
part, of his mature life as fl m eml.Jer of l egiRlative bodies. For
years li e was t he 1\fe ntor of the J\fassn.clntsett.s L egis htnre at fl
time wh en his politics put him alway s in a m inurity on any p olitical m nasn rc. Yet 11 0 saved tli o f'.ltnt e frolll 111u c l1 n11no11 s til11tio11al
l egislation by his v ower of comm and ove r tlie En g lis h lnn g 1mge .
It lms been srtid that 110 s uit at law is lrno w11 (o l1ave been brought
into court by nny lawye r, in which th e s uccess of t h e snit cle p crn1ct1 on provin g to li e 11 nco11 s Litnt,jo11:d o r 1lefec ti \"(~ rtll.Y statute
of whi ch Calel1 Cn shiu g lmd th o l'Ontrnl in tlw committee \1· liieh
fram ed it. H e was rtl>l c to srty, rtllll to rtssis t. l 0gislrttors to say, so
exac tl y "·hat \l"fiS nH' ant., t.liat. 110 c!C'ar-h nad 011 rtchorni·e ('OH lcl 111i8unde rs tand· the statu te, or filll1 rt flaw in it by 11·hich to sns trtin rt
lawsuit. 'l'hc explan a ti on of tlrnt rare p o wer of l1i s of precise utt eran ce, as g i ven b y those who kn e 11· him l>es t, is, tliat h e rea11
an d cm1ve r sed in h alf-rt-dozen l:mgnagc"', and rnacle lall g na ge the
study of his life. -PHELl'S.

The Qualities of style may be co nsid ered und e r th o

heads of
lJH l'l'Y,
HO l'lll ET Y,

P

l t E C l ~ I ON,

EH Sl'TCU l'J'Y.
ow 1rn.
1-: 11.F l·:CTIO N.

The f'n1 111r<'t i 1;11t T,cg if.tl:tt11rc ras.c;rd a hill for pnyi ng the t.own cle rk of New H avrn for
11
t i rnP 1-i )H 'llt in d l'<'i plH ri11 g l;hnse po rt.i o n ~ o f t h P tow n rt'('Onl ~ whi<' h nre pnr t l r nr w h oll
~ llcgihlr."' fl 1Jw 111u c h fi 111 e wa~ 11 ~cd hy the cl1 'r k in d eci ph erin g wh olly i ll cg i°i..llc r ecord:
1

18 11 uL f' f nfcd.

A po~t in A n ~oni:"!, Co nn. , li11rc a <'n rd with I.he foll owi ng in scrip tio n:
" 'J'licrc did n you ng l'i g Strn y itwa.y on th e 18th or th e pre~cnt m on t h from george
t~1omn i; . o r \\~~F- t Arnm 11i11 o r \Vc u•ly lf i ll an y pPr sn n or pcrsonA Seei ng or g iving i n fon~a­
t 10 n o f the I 1g- would co n fe r n ~ rC'at f('vcr 0 11 th en. n ovc .11
Th e p ig i:-: F>llJIJIORCd to hn ve go ne aft er n Rp('llin g-- l)()ok.
. A C o1111n n n C•·un cilrn n n who W:t !'t on the Committee o r P 11bli c In struc tion in Fall
Hl v<' r, ~hL F-R., draflP1l th r. fn ll nwi ng nrrl cr :

" Ordr rf'd that the F- Hpf' r in tender or Btrcc ts is hrir Ily o rthorb:ccl 2 erect nnd 111nn tnnc

2 ~fr<' f't li t e~ nn j nlrn !'t lrf'P t."

T lv:-ir li F-1: o f 11n prof<'c ted nnrl i111 prisn 1w ll 1mi111 nl!'t noted one 1lny Jn~t week Auc h Jiith t' r.t~i t~ llh C': • n l n ~ c r <'~tun'~ r1R "loo 11 11 rnntl lt•11 tl ngs n and 11 four lit.tel k rrc m cr,ll o r<l doges. •'
)h\ <' I R ronquirnnn~ 11 1 llll l"Cr y :trf' drc;c·rihe<l wit h C'fl ll:\l fid f' lit.y nR 11 wo n yell er dog 11 anrl
'' PC'Y llll h rn11 11 <l r1g-R ." I f h1 a wrctchC'd nn im a l'R flen..th could he addrd a. pan g
wonld
LH' th e kn o wl l· 1lge t lil'tt hi s 01Jit11ary Cl\ li ed him n Jiltcl krcc m collord dogc. -N . r .' 1'1 unuie.

it

351

TOPICAL ANALYSIS.
Style.
l\'1 atter vs. llfann er, p. 342.
On t he othe r hand, p. 344 .
The l>est de finiti ons, p. '344.

Nat11ral11ess, p. ;J4(i.
'l"'he end in vie w, p . H47.

Affec li ng a pal"li c11l:tr st.y le, p. !14 8.
Th" fal se icl en that sty le is supe rimposc<l , p . 3()0.
The qualiLies of sty le, p. UlJ l.

CHAPTER XIX.
PURITY.
Dut how can rnrity, which is m Prn ly a

11 c~alivc

qunlity . th e nbscncc of g rosR bhm-

d cr.~,

be co nsirlen·d n.n clc111011t of St.y lt •, whi ch iR til e po:.;itivc 111n11ifc!=itntio11 of iJHli vhlunl ity? l r eply, ai;; elcailli11 c8H iR an al tr ibut e of l want.y of co u11 t c11a11 c1·, noL c nt(•ri11 g
inlo it, lm t csscnt.ia.l to it. Hcs ide!"l 1 a ficr11p11l u 11 s n·g- an l fo l' cu LT(·c t. 1 te ~f.\ is in itself n rnnni -

festat.ion of individunlity, nnd a 11 1ost pl eas in g one whe n 11ot excess iv e .

Purity requires tli c use of (i.) English .Wonl s, (ii.) in
accordance with Authorized D efinitions, (iii.) i1t Grarnnrntical Constrnction. In accordan ce with t11c nsnal classificati on, subdivisions (ii.) a11d (iii.) will Le co nsiucrcd under the head of Propriety.
Pm·ity, it was said, irn pli0s t.hrce things. Accordingly in three
different ways it may Le illjnrcd. F irst, t.h e words m t1y not Le
En glish. 'l'his fault hath rccPirn1l from grnnu_n:wiaus the denomination of barbarism. SecOIJllly, the conRtrn ction of the sentence
nmy uot b e in the English i1li nm. This hath got th e 11 ::tme of
solecism. 'rhirdly, tl1e words an<l phrases urny not Le employed
to express the precise m cr1uin g which custom hath aflixed to them.
This is termed impropriety. -OA~rPnm,L.

(i.) English Words are th ose accepted by (a) Present, (b) National, (c) Ilepntabl e U sap;e.
(a) Present Usage ex cludes word s that arc (1) Obsole te, or (2) Novel. Tlie general rule lias been th us
expressed :
De not th C' fi n:;t hy w ho m lit e new is tr ied,

Nor yet the Inst to lay th e olt l asidc.-PoPF:.

I.

i

l1

I. .

l'' I

I.
I

I

1

, .

354

PUJ:UTY.

[PAHT

IV.

(I) Obsolete Words a.re those on ce in gooll nsa.ge
that have passed out of speech and writi11g.
'J'hn s, 'l'hack eray, puttin g a n ovel into the form of an au tobiogm phy of the ag e of Qu een Ann e, h fls these expressi on s : "Auel so
t l1 c syl ves te r night passed away ; " "Our troops were drawn up in
bat talia;" "\Vho r espleud etl in purpl e and gold lace."
E.n m 1ples. - Rpensc r, pathetic, spe11Jcs of a lady's face "blnbb cre<l with Lf'arn," aml I-IookN in a g rave serm on warn s sinners of
tl1 e g raYe <lallger of " 'popping down into the pit." - 1\Lrnsu.
AA on t he w ay J itc ncra tcd ,
A rurnll pc r!': Oll I olJ via tc<l,
In terroga ting ti n1es transitntion,
An d o f t he paes,ngc d emonstr a tion.
M y np prc h cn sion cl it1 1 in gc n io ns, f;Can
That h e wn ~ rn ccr cly a simp!i tinn.
S o, wh e n I ~a w h e tra8 extravag an t ,
U n to th e uhsc urc vul g ar commnnn t ,
1 lm d h ini n t.11 b;; h

1 11 o~ t, p r n m i ~c 11 0 11 R l y,

A rhl n ot crm t n1nin atc m y com pan y . - 11.0WLAND S, 1 600.

" \\' ltf' rf' aR, y f, in hi s t.rn e Rpncclt , h e luu; aslrn d him what was
f'.11 0 dock, a11<l \\'hic lt h acl liin l1is 11·:1.,v, hi s i gnorance mi g ht of
f.l1e simplitian bee n informed in b oth."- VmtS'l'EGAN : A R estitution , etc.

(2) Novelties arc e ither (a.) wl1 olly new word s, (/3)
cxp a11 siu11 s o r co11t.rnct io11 s of o\LL word s, or ('Y) co mbi11atio11 s of ohl \\·on.l s.
(a) New Words a rc, i11 n.11.)' spoken lan g nag:e, not
oul y i11 ev itahl e b11t des ira bl e. Tl1 eir co inage slt oulll, h owe ver, lJe r estri cted L_y tl1 0 fo ll o\\·i11 µ; prin cipl es :
1. J.Y ew 17u·nys GJl(l l ' rew 1711)//gli.t8 n eed n ew wo1·ds.
Shakspere's Ycrnacnl ar co llld l1 ave had 11 0 word th at
r epresents oxyµ;cn ; .Addison 11 ever had occasion to speak
of t.li c plto11•JgT a pl1. "Jl ow Co ll hi the id ea of a post-ojjice
be ex pressed in G reek ," asks D e Quin cey, " or tl1 e id ea of
a coquette i11 l lcbrew ?" As civilizati on invents, di stin-

CuAP. XIX.]

NEW WORDS.

g ui shes, rnfi.nes, its vocabnlary mu st keep pace with its
ideas.
T ECHNfCAL

wORDS.

Necessity. - It is occasio11ally lamented that we give
to n ew tl1i11 gs and thoughts n ew wo rds clcri vccl from th e
Greek, in stead of wo rd s 111 ade np Ly c01 uLi11atiou of fami liar word s. S ucl1 critics \\'Otild 11:we us c11\l th e tclcgrnplt
tltc "far-off -write r," th e tc leph o11 0 tli c " far- off-speaker,"
etc. The shall owness of tl1i s cri tieis111 lias Uee11 ex posed
by M a rsh. H e says :
'rlie simple word vei·b is prefer[llJl e to an y oth er d esignation,
n ot b ecause wh en we stncly ety mology we find i t t,rnly descriptive
as iudicatin g !'.l ie relative irnporta nee of thi s wo l.'<l i n th e peri0t1,
b ut 11rccisd y fo r th e opposite rf'ason, nnnic•ly, tl iat to E ng lish cam
it is n ot clescrip ti \'C at :1.ll , li nt pnl.'ely a rbit.rnry, a nd th erefo re is
s 11scep tible of exac t <le fini tiou, n1ul n ot h y i ts Yery fo rm suggestive of incon g rnous images o r m istak en U1cory.
0 nr i::: 11li ~! :i. nt i vc or·irl , for i11 Rt n11 cr, i s T,: 1t i1 1, bu t fn r w n n 1· r> f a nnli Yc ter m, we empl oy
i t n.s a conj nga tc n ou n t o t h e n.dj c'di vc sott r , ::i.n<l i t h a.A IJC:<.: 0111 c a l rn o~t as famili ar n word
n s f.iO llr i lhi;;c\ L U h c 11 ii ~ l r y :td(1p t.c d acid :i s li te t<:1·l11 dcal 11a11 1(.' o f a d n!<s o f bo<li cli of

whi ch th o~c fi rst r ecognized in scie n ce were rec o::! n i zc'J lJ y so 11n1('SR o f t nR t c. nnt ns
c h e m icn l k n ow lcrl gc a fl van ccd , it was d iRrn\·cr ctl that; l'lic r(' w0 n • co 111p!111 11tlH vr cci Rc ly
n.n a l ogo u ~ in C!l'F-P.n t i a l chnrac !cr w hi ch w r r t:! n ot, F:onr , a n d co n F:C'')ll C' n l ly ac id i ty w fL5 lrn t
an acc i tk n ta l q ual i t y o f r-:o mc o f t h c:;c h n (l i t'~, 11 ot a n N·f';..:i-:ary or u 11i vrrr-:nl c h a n1 c ter i ~t i c
of a ll. IL wn F:. U1 011g h t t no lat e to c h n 1wc !h e 11 n m P, 111 111 nccf1 r d i11 g ly i11 n il Lit e 1'! uropea 11
l a ng u:1gcs t h e l crm rtcid. u r i l R <> t·y 111o l oµ- ic a \ c q 11iv:ik 11 t. i ~ 11 ow a p pli ed t o r ock ·c r .r sl n l,
qu n.rtz, nml fl in t. I n l ik e 1nn11 111'1", fr o m a Ri tni l:u m ir-:1q 1pli l'af it111 o f salt in !-iC ic nli fic m~c~
c h e111is Ls c lasR t h e ~ n b r:ot u n c c o f \ \"hi cl 1 ji1 n k-h o1tl ei:: . .Frc nd 1 1ni 1T 1Jr R, \\·i 11rl o w ;;:, n 11<l 01ic r a g la.sses a rc mad e n.m o ng th e .w tltR , w hi le, 011 th e otl1 C' r hn11<1 , an :il yi:: l r-; Jm ,·cclcc1:1recJ th at
t h e esi'.c n t in.I c h a r a cte r n ot onl y o f ot h er i::o-rn ll r <l r-:n l ti:;, li n t. n.l i-:o u f <'•)mnw n k itche n -Ra ll·,
the sn ll; o f sal t s, h acl li< '<.' n nli Rf nk u n ; thn t Emit, iR n o t n l-tn lt, nn d a r c 11 rcl i11 g ly h:tv f' cxcltHlcd Lh a.t s11l>i:;tn.1H'C fro m t h e cla.r;s ( if lH.Hl ici; ttpo11 whi c h, a :-i tlw ir trn c~ t rc prcsc11ta.ii ve,
i t lnid l lt'sl owetl ili:: 1rn 11 1c . . .
I n th e n om en c la t ure n f chc mi s t ry 1 to d f's ig n at c th e Uod i('s w hi c h , bcc:m sc a na lysis is
11o t yet ca rri ed 1Jcy rq1d th e m . a m pro visi o1rnl! y t c rn1 c<l Rim pl e f.itt \Jsta n cc:-:. we e mpl oy
G reek co 111po11n<hi. g i vin g t o 1. h Plll U.: hir n1 :LI d r, li n iti on , a.11tl t h e rr forc ar b it rari ly, a prcci ~c 1 <l is t, in ct, ri !-!o ro nsly sc ii'· n ti li c 11'l r a n i11 i.: 1 r xc lnd ing a ll o th e r tli r rd o r c<11lnl c r ;l\ 1

,I

n g- 11 1 · :1! i vc si~ n ifi 1;:i.t i o m; .
]!l f h c f: r rnran cl 1e m ica l 110111 Cl1Cla l,urc th ese lJo<l ieR
ii c:s ig n :i.tc1l by T e11to11ic cornpnn.11 c1s cle r iv c<l from r ool s n s Lr iv ia.1 n.s :111 .r in t,he lo.ngmi g c. Th e w o rd s ca1·bon, hycl ro ge n , o-:t;y aen, nil1·ogen, empl oyed in En g li s h , do n o t

p r Op C'r o r

tU' C'

I!

35G

I
I

~

PURITY.

[PART IV.

r ecall th ei r etym ology, nncl th eir m eaning is gath ered on ly from techni ca l d efi niti on .
Th ey cxprc~s t h e en lire scien i ili c n otion o[ the obj ect s th~y stn.nd for, and a rc nlJrid gcd
d efinition s, o r rn.t h c r ~ i g n so f c.kfi nit, i o n ~ , o f th ose objects. They are to t h e B 11 g liRh F)tnde nt, as purely inte ll ec tna l Ry m\Jo lA ns th e signs of addi t ion, s11blra.ctio11, nnd. cc111rdit,y i11
nlgcbra, or , to u se n tn o re appropriate s imile, n~ t he ir hitin.l s C for carb on, H [or hydrogen, 0 for oxyg-c 11 , :ind the li ke, wili ch 1 in conj11nct.iu11 w it;h nume ral s, a rc u ~Cfl in° cxp1·f'f.;f-li ng q1rn11tital.lv e propi )rti1 n rn i11 prin1ary cu mhin :d ion s. '.!'h f! 1:orre~ pn1lili n g f:f'l'llt!UI
co mpon11d ~ 1 Kohl Rt.o ff, \ VaRsf' r·Rl.o ff 1 Ra.t1tff -Slo ff, :i.1111
S ti ck -SI.o ff, coal~ s l1tlT, ioater.~f.1((J, «wm· -fil14/f. rrnd choke-stuff, f" .'( pr<'!-'S . each , nnl y n i:; ingle tin e of th e ch:i.r:v:t Pri f; Hl'!'l. o(
the h nrl y to whii:l 1 th ey :ue nppli cd, t.o say 11othi11g- o f- I.he n 11 p hih1 ~o phienl l<' ml ency u[
thtH\ gro ~s ly malcr inlizing a n d v ul gn r i z in g our con cc plion o[ agen cies so s u blil c and

Of a like 11 ecessity iu m etaphyRicR, Coleritlge Rays :
" You nRk 111e Wh?f r u.<:e 1cm'<UI t ltnt n eecl e~:.nlrm atio n? U cca 11 ~0 (I r epl y) on tliis
th er e arc 11 0 othe r s ! Dccnnsc th e clarlmcss and th e nin.in diffi cul t ies that attend
it a m owi n ~ to lhc vag 11r· n cs~ and amhi g- u it.y o f th e word s in c:o rnm011 use, :mil w hi c h
prcc lmle all cx pla.nntio11 for hi n1 who hn ~ rf'st1 lvcll t h at n one is n xpiircd. n cc:w Re tll cl'c
is alrcnc l y n fal ::.ity in t h e very phrai;cf'..l, 1 word s in common 11sC', 1 'the Ja11 g 11a i:;-c of com11M n. i:;cmw. 1 \\'on \ ~ of most f1·eqne11 t m,e th ey may be, co111111on lih e,v nrc no t; hnt t.IJC
lang n agC' n f Uw rn ~1. rlwt, a1111 1 as RI H.~ h , t~:-q ffc,.s in g degrees o nly , mHl th cro fn ro i11 co111 p c t c nt t.o I.he p11rp o.~r \Yl1f•1invcr it h c cw n c~ 11eccssary to (les ii;nate I.h e kind i11d C' pcnd ent o(
all d t•grce. Th e philo;: nph c r 111ay and often d ocs employ the ~a. rn c w onl ~ a s in t he mark e t; hu t d of's thi R H llp c r ~r d c thf' 11f'C'f'ss ily o f a p rcv io ns ex pl anntio n ? AFI. I r efc n:c11 yo n
bC'f1>re to l h e IJo l:rni '-' f , ~ u 11ow t,o t h e du :mi st. T. i~ h t, licn.t, c lwrco:tl. are ev e ry nian·H
word ~ .
B11L.fl.red or iii risible li g h t? T hefnJ::en l11•at. ? Charc onl in i t~ sirnple,_ t forrn :\'"
cliamonil, o r a s l;lad•"lcad ? Wi ll a l' tran~c r t o ch emi st ry be wo rse o ff, would t h e eh em i::t' i; la n gnagc he J,.f's likf'l_v t,o be t111d P r~t.oo1 l by hi s us ing cli.ficrcu t words for dis tinct
m e anin g~ . a s ca rbo n , calor ic, and t,h e like? 11
~ ubj cct

Proper Use. - !Tn11 snal technical word s sl1 011ld be employe<l only where sc ic11ti1i c accuracy is delll a11cled a ml expectetl. To in sert in to speech or writin g intend ed for tli e
pnbl ic a phrnseology ad:tp ted only to tLe profossioual stndy
imli cates p edantry, if not e111piricism.
'rhe liulletins of the com1ition of the late President Garfield
<luring his illuess gave op1iortnnity for criticism. H er e are some
trnnslations 11y the N ew York Sun.

I

11rEDfCAL.

Sometime :'\ up on nwakin J:; fr om sl eep he
hmi

had

l f' mpr1nwy hn.lh 1ci11n ! ion s,

TECHNICAL WOllDS.

357

I

.fudg ing from t h e r eportf:, I concltul ecl
T h e p m; ha!i prolln.IJ!y been poisoning
th e Ry mpt_oms .of py~:cmia. cx1stc~ prior t o t h e. bl ood for a.1uo nt h. There is n o. dou~t
t h e opcr:itton ma.de fur the ope nin g of t h e of 1t now, In s uch cnses the pat.ten t If\
first n b Hcc~ or fin:;t coll ection of co nfined li kely to die.
J'HtR. If: an y doubt had e xi sted prio r to th n appl'arn.11 c1 : of t h e innarn cd cowlition of tho
pn.rot:i d g land rt.>; r cga nlR py mniin. hcin g"'prc.~ c 11 t and :tel in g- an irnpor tn nt part in t he con cn l;l'Hn.I io11 of t.li c Pn~!'!itlc11t . 1 s Ayi-. t.1~111, nn111 • c on PX i l-' I 11 nw . l 'y n: niia occ m-r i n g cl11rln g th e
progTl!!iR u( R(!VC r c i:m rgkn.1 injuri es i ~ r q!ard c d aH o f I.he 11t,u1m:t.g r avit.y, an d 110 a 1; u ~ p<' ctc<l

}l rog u osti c of:\ fata l t c nnin:-it.in n. -

Dn. U ,\nNOU ll AN. r<'porl.<'d in I. he lleralcl, A ugust.23 .

('<)ll-1

r

h a \'(' co nti1 mc1l to fed t h e gr e:th·~ t
fid cu ec in his r eco vcry.-D1t. l3L 1:;s, August

I h o p(' h e wi ll get well.

22.

cl h ercnl in th e ir 1rn.t11rc.

ENGLJS!l ,

He is out of hi:; bend nt t im es.

F:11 Ch

mi g ht. ha ve heen c xpc cl.ed in a palif'nt in hi s con !li f"io n. Th e$e ma n ifrRtatiom; arc
Cftn Rc d hy lh e want or per fed; nutrilion for the brain !lwl by the to xic cond it ion of the
syste m. - J>n. DL1ss 1 A u .~ u s t 22.
f\R

CrrAr. XIX. ]

It was Herbert Spencer who maue the fol lowing definition of
e 1•olution :
Evo lution is a ch a nge fro m a n ind cfi ni lc, i11 co h crc11 t h om ogf' n city ton defini te, cohere n t heterogeneity, t.hroug l1 ClH1 tin11 1111 s 1liffc r cnl ia. l iu 11fi and in teg rati ons.

It wrts the nmthenrntician Kirkman who trnnsla tell the llefinition
into what h e considered plain Engli Rh :
]~vo l11ti o 11

is a cha11 gc fro111 a n o ll ow ii;; h, 1111/; !lkahht1l:i.hl1', ri. 11 -ali ke n cs;.:, to a ROm ch ow-

is h , n11cl in -gc11 crnl -ta.lka.ho11tal>l c n ot-n.L·a ll -a likc n cHs, by coutinnous somcth ingclse ifica-

Lio11s an d

Jn

:t

~ ti c ktog et h c ra t i o n s.

recent S<'icn t.ific jonnrnl I fin d this seuteuce :

Dcgon iaccrc 1 by thei r :rnth cro-co nn ecti,·ai fahric i1ul1 cal.c n. close r elatio ns hip w ith nn on acco- h ydroch a ricleo-nymph xo icl fo rm i.:, n n a.Hlnily co11ftn 11cd hy t h e ~ crp c n l a ri o i1l flcx110so-n{)(lt1l ous s tem , lhc li r iod C'1ulroi•l s ti pnk ~, a1:d ci r.;.~oi< l a nd victori oid folin gc o( n.
l'C!'tai 11 B egonia , and if co11Ri1lcr <'d h ypog.y11011 ;.: , wn1 lld. i n th e ir t ri q11 c trons ca ps ule, nlal.e
~ce1l, n.p c t n li ~ m, and t nft l·cl i:; t:uninnti o n, r PJHT!Sr. 11 L t h e Unral fallri c o f Nepe n t h es, itRc lf
or n.rh~ro l ot: hi oid nrli 11 ity 1 whi le by its pitc h c rL'd lcavt·s, d ircd ,ly Uclo ng in g to Sa rrucc11ias
a11 d Di un a: a s.- MA usa.

ConRiderec1 as :t r epresentation o f th e rrctirnl lan g1mge of life, it
iR a violation of the truth of coc:tnm e to crnm " ·ith tec hnical wonls
t he co nversation of :t technical rna11. All men, except th e verie~t,
narrowest peuants iu th eir crnH, avoid U1 e laug nage of the shop,
aml :t small infusion of uatiYe sense of propriety prevents the most
iguomnt laborer from obtruding the dialect of Iris art upon those
with whom h e communicates in reference to matters uot per tainiug
to it. Every man affects to b e, if not socially above, yet intellectually independ ent of a11<1 superi or to hi s ralhu g, and if iu this re~ p e ct his speech b ewniy him, it wi.ll h e hy words u sed in mere
joke, or by such peculiarities of >i!Jeccl 1, as 11it.11out pruperly be-

7

/58

l'UJUTY.

~ongi11g to t lt o exor cise of hi s p rofession

CHAl'. XIX.)

LPA H"L' IV.

J 'ecl1.11i1·al _il fetap//()1·s a11<l co111pariso 11 s should rn like
rna.1111e r he a1·oided. ] ~vo 11 C'a111phell , wli o says tl1at "in
F:t ri et propri ety teel111i e:il word s sl1onld 11ot he co nsid ered
as holo11 g i11 g to th o langna ge lice:1u se not in ll SO or und erstood by r.J1 c ge nerality C \'lJll of l'CHUCl'S," ll SCS tl1 C followin g fi g nre :
Hnmor, " ·Jtpn 'H' ro ns i1l Pr t li e c:n11tmriet y of its o O'c cts, contPtnpt aucl l:111 g h h·1· (11·!1i1·h c:nn s b tn k wl11it. in •me 1ro:rcl is t·f' rn rncl
1/Prisi1111) , to I l1 :1t sy rnpat hy and Jon' oftc11 procl111;c<1 by t h n prrU1ol.ic,
may in res1wct. of 1.h nsc, lrn a ptly cornpare1l to a eo11cav e mirror ,
wllf'n the ohjf'd i s pln r.f' tl i> f'yo wl t.l1 e fomtR; in which n:tse it, app c:tl'R hy r!'ilnd.i o n lint.11 1li111i11is lt0cl :uul i11w·rtc' <l , c·irnmn s l:tnecs
" ·l1i"11 lrnppil y adnml irnt.n t he co ntcmpt,iblc and t.lte ric:Lic ulon s.
- (i . 58.)

-

1

'
'Vere \\'P. cn dcnvorin g to drn.rnct cri 7.C this work in t he tlialect pccn1i:1.r to rrofCRfiOr
J\n11 t". 1 we shun lcl oh ~cnc thal: it.i:;; inlcn .«iGe l ike il R e~;tensii·e rnag- ni t rnlc i s ~ lll:tll; ns a d c-

tn chl'd 1li;,cpii Riti on or n.!'; n c.-• 11lrih11ti1111 tn the t l1f'nry nf t-:u;t,e it, iR al ik e 11 n i111porta.nt. ; it s
s1tb}1'clil;e i i:;; nR f'li ght n~ its r>t1jef'til'e worlh . Of thP. author we c:.t m wt hut, R11 f.: pc>d thnt hi~
e.11111il'ir"al nc-1111:iint:i.11f'P. \\"ilh wonl io:. u f l:i ~ l c is n nt Cr)m prehf' 11Ri vc; h is r er·e1Jt.ivil.?f f or
aisth<'lie gr at.ifk:tl .io n 1101 l11·li«nle : hi:; tnt 118ceude11tnl tlf'(l 11eti on of t.hc cn tf'f:!"O J'i cs o f critki ~ 1 11

n!'it lll'r 1th,.rt>ti1;e nP r e,""1'/11111 .o.: ti1· ,, : an1l t h:tt the vhenome.na o f beauty , w ith r<.:spcct

to hi m, rank n.111011g the

-I

;i
I
I~

nou.m e ua . - 11ALI~ ,

No anth or evo r Rhack ln1l ]1inrnn lf hy m nrn ahs nnl restridfo11 s,
not even tho lipog mrnmn,l;i sts, o r t-.11 osc " ·11 0 l111ilt, a.Harn and ln1tl'l1 e1l
eggs in verse, than l\Ir. Fox, wli l'll li e r esol vctl to u so ll O o ther
words in hi s l:listor.11 tlrnu \1·er e t.o lie fonl}(l in Dr.n l on.- Sount EY.
T ~()ll~P.iVP. t,l1n.t. 'vnnls n.1·1 lik n IJ)(IJH ',V , nnj·, nip wnr~e ft)J' lH•in g
commoll , lJut t lmt i t is tlrn shmp of cn s to111 fl lon f' that g i1·1•s t !i f' 111
ci rculat ion or Yfl.l1rn. I a m fasi itiinn>< i11 ii1is l'<'spt'd , 111111 11·1_lll]1l
a lmost as soou cnin the eurroll<".Y of tile r o:iim as coun terfeit th e
kin g's E ng lish. I n eYe r i11 rn1 Jt·pt1 or g1i1·0 a 11 01\" a11\l unaut horized
m eanin g tn t111y " ·ord but o ne s i11 g ln 011 n t.li n t ern1 impf! rsnn11I, ap1

,•

1

h e nsion. - HAr,L.
\Villinm Trrylo r, c:as t.ing ri1licnle on ll book in tho Jl fo11th(11 R e-1:ie111 (17!18), iutrocluccs tho foJJow iu g 1rnrds as u11intc.llig i.bl e b a rb 11risms:

359

.LYew wm·d.s, as representin g new ideas, are al so introduced by iutercourse ·w ith other nati ons, especially by
c01n111eree. ~iost of tlie nallles upon a g roce r's catalogue
h ave acco111prrnied from othe r nation s the i111portati on of
th e art ieles they r epresent.
2. J)fa8ters qf style 111r1y eoin rmch words as 111 their
:judg lllent see ms n ecessary or dosiralil e.
D e Qni11eoy 1nakos it a test of a n a11tl1 or's power how
many now word s, pli ra srs, id io11 rn, Rig n ifi ca ti cmR, he is
e nabl ed to eng raft 11po11 l1i s JJati ve to 11 g 11e. Dnt with tl1i s
Ll1 e beg inn er has 11 otl1in g t.o do. l•:n;11 Jun g ex peri enee
aml nnqnostioned r ecogni t ion leav e it still a perilous ta sk
to propose a new word.

have been occasionell b y

it.. - l\TAns11.

.J1funy ?1·ords on ce pnrcly tccl111ical l1:we entered into
eo111111 011 nse, a nd 111 :1y 11 011- lie c11111 Ioycd \\' i t it frcedo111 .
,Jm:t \rl1c 1c to (lr:1 11· t.]1~~ lin e it is 11ot ahrays easy f·o f·ell ;
hut wlwre tl1 cre is do1ilit. as t.u wl1ethcr :t 1rord will lie
llml erstoocl , it is a fia f'c rnl e f·o empl oy so 111 e otl1 cr, or even
a eircnnil oenti011.

NEW WORDS.

plied to feelings; n.nd that ',\·:l~i in :tn :1. l i~Jr,1 ~~c rnct:t1"'! hysical t1iscussion, to express a ,~e.ry 4-1 iflit •.Hll ll jsL.i!icLiu11. - IL\.ZLIT:r.
\Ve must n o t he t oo frorptont; witl1 t.h n mint, every clay eoi11i11 g,
u or fe tch words from the extrem e ::t11tl utm ost a.gos. \Vonls b orrowed of antiquity do len d a killll of nmj es t.y to styl e, rrml are not
without their d elig ht sometimes. For tl1 oy haYe the auth ority of
years, and out of th eir intermission do wi n t o tl1 0111 sel rns a hind of
g race-like newness. But the eld est of Uie present, and n e west of
the past lan guage is bes t. - BEN JONSON .
It is n doubtfnl experim e nt w ith n.n y man In n.d cl n. won l to his nntive tongue. 'l'hc
c reation o f n word is a grC'at a~"11 mpi.i o 11 over h unmn thou g ht. Tt i ~ a c hnll cngc to a JHl tion, s mi11tl. It may be nn a sf:a nl t 0 11 a 11 :11.iun\;; pr<'j111lir f'f'i. It may be rcs is led hy the
whole in omeutum of n untio u's hi story. It may be ejcctctl Uy t he force o f a untion's

;

·~

.1 '

3GO

PUIUTY.

[PAHT

IV.

!
whims . Th e r lrn.nces nrc a s a th ou snnd t o on e ngnin st itR s uccess. Sn c h n. wor d mny
lrn vc e very i::c h o larly qual ity in its fa\·or, and ye t. it m ny die of sh ee r n eglec t. lt di es
without so mu c h ns a Un r ia l. The nal.ion oftP n cl ocR not r cR ist it, does not arg ue nlJout it,
IJut r: imp ly f':tj'B, . : \Ve d o n ot want it." Ci cero hnd 110 nnpc rioras an auth ority in ltourn.n
li tcra t 1irc, ye t h e failed m o re fr cqnenlly t han li e "'m:cccd c'l in his atte mpt!-! to improv e
th e vc r 111w11lar o f hi s co1111lry 111 r 11. Till' ~ :l111 e ii:i. true o f Mil ton nrn1 u f Col c r i1lg e, IJot h of
w h om wrrc 8l,ucl c 11ts o f t h e for ce>: o f la11 g 11agc, mast e rs of racy English, a 11d e xperimenters
in the c rca t,ion o f no\·cl wo rd s .- PH Er_, r s .
CoLE R11 111J.:, in his wo r k '' 011 Uhu rch aiHl S t a.t C',' 1 makes use of th e foll o wi n g cx.trn.
on li11 nry won ls : Injlne11 cive, e:rtroit ive, r ctroitive, and .vro<luctivity. Dr ntlcy u i:;cs :
C'mnmenlitim1s, aUe11r., neoonce, nnd excri bc. Hu t n o other writers adopted these words;
n cl c nr p roo f t.hnt they we re J1'JI. wn11 t e11.
Ch nrl cH Ln mh u ~ cd in hi ~ wri ti ngs scvcrn l wo nl s which hn vc n ot s nccccil cd in maintaini n g a pl:H;C' in the l:i.11 J:\' t1:lf.!e. Am ong l h clll may IJe n am ct l ayni.~ e , bnraeon , nnd a r1'ide.
J.n f.hc writin gH o f t h e lat e N . P. W illis we m eet w i th su c h te rm :-i n A t h e
foll ow in g- : Au 1tnletuprible nature, widemookeitv, v lrnnptU ufle, pocketually speak in g ,
lu?lW!'!<: nitlJ, n 1111 gn.awayn e.~ s .I In t h e Rl'\llH' g 1·11l.lc man· s wril111 gs we occnHionally com e
m-rnss s 11c l1 t•h •g:111t for11 1r:. o f f'X J1 rt'sc:.ion a ~ w hippi n o creatinn,Jl11{}(/i11r; Europ e, n h eav o f
opi11i11ns, tanuaion quick , Pfc. 'l'h l'sc :l11d all Fn ch mu s t he look ed u po n n:-1 nbortion s o r
d c for mi ticA o f our ln. 11g 11ng c : nml 110 Engiish writr.r w h o hns nny rcf' pec t for hi s ow n
r c pntntiou s hould ever t hin k o ( cou n tc11anci11 g 1 fau- less of :ulopting, snc h m un stros itics. G nAnAM ..
Tt i~ not ea sy for mo t o w ri te wit h nn t a. str011 g sen se o f loa thin g t h e 110.m n of t hi s acrid
font.nst. n111l id o 1i1.C'r o f 1Jr11 tc for cc- nt IJ c>~ t n Ua<l copy of nil thn t is m ost ohj cf't ional>lc in
J l u iJl>c ~. T h e wo nl int e r11 n. tirm a.~. i11trollt1ccd hy the imrn ort.al nenth:un . and Mr. Cnr ly l c' 8 !li(J maH itfl-t O coin wh ich , hy t h e \va y, i t wnH n ccC'ssary to in ven t fac tF;-ttre s ig nifica n tly c h nr n.c tf' r i ~ tic o f th e ntili l nrian 11hiln.11 t h ropi st, and of t he futilitarian mi santhropist,
r cs 11cd in·ly .- l f AI.L.
Jn Th e }Jo,.tor ;;.:011t!H' Y g ives hirn ~c J[ free Rco pc. ns n vcrhn ri nn . muc h nftcr the way
or l tabclnif' , Th omas Na ~ h, 'J.'nyl ur th e watC' r-poc t, or F elt ham. These n.rc o. (e w of hiA
vc n t urC's l.hn<':
ngn th o k n.k1>logica I .
h c rbari sm.
qnasically.
t111intclcn1cnt.
nlaTtHltlaJ ity .
hi11pogo ny .
quizzify.
n.n yw h !•re 11css.
h c1>1arc h y.
bihliug ou y .
h11n 111ro logy.
quolationipotcnt.
cn.1:1)1 !1 ·11 1onizc.
ia t rn f'. hy .
r csf'ml>lan t.
cnlio111 ii;;.t irn.l<'.
id olify.
se minuniz.c.
c irc 111 11a 11t lmgi on A.
showec.
i11 so11111olc ncc.
contifkalimi.
s hillis halli cl".
kittcn f' hip .
c rnlJ-gradc: (v. n.)
n1 ag11 iso11nnt.
ste:lli sc r ip t .
c rnzy o log ist.
minify .
Rtockingc r.
crilic kin.
theol og o- j11 ri st.
m ottoc rnt.
dC'11d rn.11th cop ol ogy.
nrpoti o n ~.
thrcn oclin l,
di sre1;0 111mc ndn.tio n .
ol>itu:uist.
trim cst rn.I.
dotr1 C'!1 Ud zc.
typarc hiea l.
om11i e rudite .
errn.h1111d .
0111 11isignitieance.
n g lyog rnp hi ze.
etc:c h'r:i. r h:; t.
o x mn 11 ~h ip .
nn cgofy.
ev('rywh <'r c n css.
pnre nth C's izc: .
nnipscfy .
fn cRirni! cRhip.
p an lopn!:il f 11tnrativcly.
un1 mrnll cllable.
fcli i:;op hy.
p(·11tnmctl'izc.
llll!lTO."!lCri ty .
frrri vorons.
perso11iOcntor.
ntop ia1d7.cr.
gel : u~ t i cfl .
J>hil ofcli sL.
whi:.kC'rn nd ocd.
gi ::! nit,i vc .
phil o th c i ~ t.
1.0Uph 1\i st.
h (•urt "h <'nd.
Ent cvC' n in th e pngcR of th e Quurterlv /lerJie10 1 h e allowed him self s uch tcrmi:i, Romo
of them ,· c ry good one~ , ut: lh crc a lis t of sixty-six words is given, includin g nuthrophn.-

CllAl'. XIX. J

NEW

361

worms.

g istic, l>atracc phngo u s, fl occ ina11 c i11ilificntio n, etc. ] . • . And yC't Sonth r r w ro te t;o
William Taylo r i11 187·1, "Do Rrnn c t im es a sk y on r ~el( I.h e queF- li nn ,y}w t hcr Lil e word y o 11
are about to u se be in the dicti onary or n ot. 11 - H.onnEnos' "Mc1uoir of " ' illiam Taylor,"
i. 4G2.-HALL,

Coleridge says :
Unusual arnl n ew-coi11cd worllS rtr e tloul,tl ess r111 e vil, lmt, Yagn encss, confusion, ancl imperfect uo nvcy:1Ucc of our thou g !it,s are a
far greater.

Aud again :
To co11 vc.Y his m erm ing p reciscl.Y is rt ll cht w.hi"h rin a11 Lil or owes
t,o his reall ern. He th e rpfore w h o, to pseap e tl1c dmrgc o l' pe11antrJ, will Tal li er Le 111is 1111llers L011tl Ll;all s l: t1'i.Ju a f:ts l id ions critic
\rith an 1mnstrnl t erm, lllrt.Y lie uornparcd to tho lllrtll who sh onld
ptty his creditor in baso or countc•; fcit en.in , "·h e n li e lrnil gold or
siher in gots in his p ossession to f,ii c Jll'C Cise a111011nt o [ tlw tlcbt;
a nd t h is, n ud er t,lJ e p r etence of th eir nusktpcli11 ess aud 1rn11t of
the miut-impression.

The following (111otation ii ln strates l 1is

Ill Canin g

:

This catholic spirit \\"flS OJ 'l"'sl' ll hJ t.11c g nost.ic or p cenliru·
spirit- th e l111 rn or of f:mln,s lfr:tl int l' r111·1 •t ri l i1111 of th r nl1l Snip tnre, i n to Chris ti a n rncanin g0. Jt is thi s g no0 is, 01· k 1101ri11:; 11 ess,
which the apostle say:; puffeth up- uot !.;,w,,.fc,/uc as we trnu slatc it.

3. T emp om1·y Coinayc of' n, \\·ord for a p e c11l in r effect,
especially a hu 1uoro11 s effect·,, is vccasiv11al ly pcr111 iss i!Jlc.
Professor .Tr1mos Hn ssnll L owell, fo r c:rnrn plc, is ono of l:h n most
sch olarly c riti cs and a 11 thorn ill onr lrtngnagc. A \1·onl c ni111•(l l>y
him wonld carry all t ho r1n t l1mit.Y 1Yltich a ny 0 11 0 rnrm's 11 :11nc crtu
g ive to a word. Dnt \\·ltcu h o co in s, as ]111 (ln os, sn ch \\·onl s riFJ
" clondhorgs, " r1n il " otlierworldlin ess," rt11tl " ])r. \Yr1t,ts.i nPss,"
h e d escends from s t·,ylc to s!rtu g. He tl<w s not, <' xp ect to S<'e them
in th e next etli tio n of \Vor cps t·er's Dictionary . H e \\«mhl li e
asham ed to sec th em th ere w ith his llf\11 10 as thei r a11l l1mity.
Ho knows, n111l the \\'Ol'!rl of s clwlars lrn ows, thr1t his ow n
scholarly reputation will Lear :ouch ocurtsioual tlcparturcs from

362

PURITY.

[PART IV.

good English, s omewhat ns a very saintly man cun b em: to h e seen
c:irryin g a flusk of brnmly in the street. That which is a literary
peccadilJo from Professor L owell's pen may be unscholarly slovenlin ess fr om one unknown to fame.- I'HE.LPS .
Cole rid ge ! I de voutly wish that Fortnne, who bus mad e sport
" ·ith yon so long, ruay play 0nc fresh rn ove, throw you into L ond on or some pbce u e:w it,, rmd th ere snugify you for life.- U. L AMB.
The ron( l R a rc not passa ble,
N ot P\' <'Tl j:1ckaRsa bl e ;
A111l nll w h o wo11l1l travel 'cm
l\lu st turn out nnrl gravel 1 crn. - J{ashville Amm·ican.

4. F actit£mt8 Noto l'icty given to a new word sometimes
b eco 111cs co u ve rte<l i 11 to p opularity.
'I'hc mann ger of a thmtre iu Dublin on ce passed an evenin g with
certain amat.enrs in lite mtnre ; aml he stak ed a sum of m oney on
tlrn propns:1.l that ho wo111cl <11'RatR a wonl wl1ich shonld belonp; to
no 1:111 p; 11ap;n on the glolio, arnl shonltl he rthsolntely void of sense,
yet it sh on l<l becom e t.he subj ect of the comm on talk of the town
in t\Hrnt.1·-fon r h o11rR. The wrtger wits accepted . H e then RRnt his
ser vaut.R' through tl1 e m ost tlcensely pcople <l streets of the city, wi th
direet.ions tn chalk in Jn.rge capitals t.110 lcttern QUIZ on er1ch alternate <loor allll sh< •p-wi inlo w. 'J'he next day was Sunday. Stores wer e
cloRcd, and the thron g in th e streets lrnLl leisure to re:icl tb e enigmn.tic:il lette rs. E m r y one who snw it, rep eate<l it to his neig hbor;
and !tis neighbor rnspo111led , " ·wliat cloes 'quiz' m ean?" It bad
n o nwanin g. N o la11g1in.ge o\\"\10tl it. Scho lrtrl y taste scouted it.
Yet e veryho<ly la11g hc<l at it, a]1(1 that garn it a m eanin g. From
tlmt day to this, s('holarn hi p has b een compelle<l to recog nize the
word, aud to use it as g ood, souncl English.- PHELPS.
.1\ 11 inc id en t whi ch cxd t cs th e R11 rpri Rc or a ppeals to th e Rympn. thi cs of n wh ole people
will o ft t· n g ive a ve ry ge n e ral nml p crnrnn cnt ('llrrenc.v to n n ew worcl, or :\H cx prm:sion
n ot before in fa mili a r 11!':C . T ak e for cxnrnpk the word f'Oin cid -: nce. Th e v erb t;o inc fd e
nn fl i t q rl c ri vnf i vc 11 01 111 nr c o f r:it h c r r ecen t i11 t ror1 11c t,ion i nto ou r lnn g m1ge . T h ey a re
n ot fn1111<1 in Mini !" lwn, n11 1l th ey occ ur neith e r in S lrn.k ~ pcrc n or in .i\.Yi lw n , th nn g h th ey
m ny r ('rhn p ~ h a ve hc<'n em plny<'il hy 5Cic n t ific w ri lPr R :it n..; rnr ly n d :itc . 'J' lwy b elo n g t o
th e lnn gw1 !'.H ' o r math c rnal k s, ri nd wc r r. orig-i1rnJl y a ppli ed W p oints nrnl lin(' <:: , Thu i;;, if
on e nm! h c nm l ical point b P. s 11pnl'impn ,.;f't l npnn 11n oth er 1 or 01112! :;trni g-ht line he R11pcrimp o~ e d upon !\11ol h c r ~t r:i. i ~ h t li1w hl' t,,·een tlH· ~ nrn c two po int!' ; or if twn lilH'S fo ll ow the
sn.mc co 1 1r~ c! wlrnlc \·c r b e its c tir Yc, IJctwccn t wo p oi n ls, then in th e first case the two

C llA I '.

X l X .]

NEW WORDS.

363

p o i n t ~, in th e laltC'r two th e t.wo lin e~, arc f;fl id Lo co incide, nnrl t h f' i r con fo rmity o[ posit io n is cal\ cll co in c id e n ce. I n like mann e r, an y two cv cn tR happc 11i11 ~ a t, t.h c sam e p e riod ,
o r an y tw o nets or sta le" beg inning at t he !':1mc 1110 111 c 11 t, nrc said Lo co in cid e in lim e, n rnl
t he conjug a.lc n oun, co in cidc u cc, i ~ e m pl oyed t o e x prcHs t il t' Jn.e t; t hat; llwy nrr. so co 11te 111p <mtn eo 11f.:. These wonb so nn pnskcd iti to comm o n 11 se. in t he Fame se n se, and Wt! rc ap pli t·tl a lso fi g nrati vt•ly to itl c nLi t.y o f opini on or clw.rnc tc r in cl iffc r c u t incli v i~lu a l ~, a s well
a ~ to m a ny ol h er ca ses o f cl ose s i1 11 ila r ity or r cRc nibl:tn ce; hn t t h ey st ill hcl o ng-ed r at.her to
I tu : Ja 11g 11 a g c or r11l es and o f sc ie nce llwn 1,n L IL ~ dail y Hpc·cc h o ( co11111 10 11 lire. On t il e
F ut :rth nf J uly ~ l 82ft1 t h e sc111 i·Cr'1t !c1111 in. I j nl,i \cc u f i. ltc cl ec la r:a.ti fl n o r /\tllC' ri cn11 i1HlC·
111·nd<'ncc, 'l'h omas ,Jc fT cr s o n 1 th e auth o r, n 11 tl :J o h n A(larn s, on e o f th e sig ners o f th a t 1·c.
111 n.rka1Jl c m rt.nife sto , IJn th nl Fio c x - Prcf' id c n t R. cli cfl , and t h is co n c mTrn cc in t.h c d ccrac;c of
d isti ng 11 is h etl nien on t he n.nn ivcrnn ry of R(l crit·ic:il a point in th eir li ves :1.11(1 th e h istory
or th ei r co1111 t r y, wa s 11nli cc·1l a ll ov(' r t1l1 e worl (l, but: m o r e ('~ p e c i all y in !;li e U n itccl 8 1,:i.te::,
n.s n.11 c xt rn11nli 1mr.:i' c;oincille11 1·e. 'J.'h c cl cal11 o f l\ lr. J\ fn 11ro1'. nl so an r x- l'rr•s icl c11 t , nn the
l''om t h or .Jn ly , a yea r or two nfte r 1 ~a v e n n ew i m pnl i:.: e tn l hc ci r c nl al io n o f I. h e word co ·
inr i1l cn cc~ n.1Hl in t hi f' coun t ry n.t lc nst i t a t on(·c 11cq 11i rcd and st ill rc l u in s a far m o r e
g e n er a l c u rr c u cy t h a n i t h a d C\' c1:.. p o::-f'.esi-c:d ln: forc . -1\lA1ts 11.

5 . .P opulm· JY eecl of n. Jl e w wo rd 1>cco1n cs r ecogni zed,
ll nw n.lll1 tl1 e11 , n.11 d tl1 c 1Ynrd takes its p lace no t tbrnug h
scl10.lars b11t i11 sp ite of the111.
In tl1is iutr0tlnct io11 of Hew words, m or pm•er, t.he in correct exp ression really 11 0,s the be tter cha nce o f acceptmicc, a ncl for t.wo
r oasous-firsUy, the o<lLls arn vastly i11 favo r of i tR hcin g 1ranted ,
a11cl con o;cqn entl y mad e by au rn1scieu t it"ic p ernon n it.her t han hy a
phil ologist ; and scco11 Lll,r, it has not only n start;, lmt a very l ong
start., of th e more acc urate term. It alm ost ius ariably lJccomes
gcuern.1 in cou versational use lJeforc it appenrn in li temtnre; it
r egularly germinates, bLHls, liloorn s in convernn.t.i nn ; allll it is
rnoRtly in the form o f a fi x eel rnsn H, aR a snrt of gat h N ed print.,
tlmt i t takes i ts place in writtt> u li pCPch ; 11·hile th e l.1 etter wor<l
wl1i ch mi g ht supplant it mnst, t: o d1 a nge 111 y mct:ipl10r, misc bu t
a baby Jin.ml, a nd n tt·cr a treml Jli11 g cry against tho s tren g th of
matnrit;y and th o sh ont of a mau. - BLACKr,i;: :.:.

'i'lw JY eu;spuj1e1·s arc n o t, h owev er, to h e r ega rded as
ex po11 c11ts of th e p opular ll ccd, n or a rc \l' o r<l s to be accep tcll Lecanse elllpl oyed by the m o rnin g j omn als.
N e"'-'prrpm· E11gli.<h .- " Th e t.m mp J1.n<le ri ek, 1"11 0 lmrglccl th e
tw0 lrnnses on WnRf; Hill Jn.st wee k an<l was jn.ilc<l Surnl:iy u.i glit,
brok e out lnst e ,·eni11 g , lm t \\"a ~ p oli rr1l clear to tl1 e ri ver, wh ere,
fuJflin g escape impossible, he wl iarf,xl ]1i111se lf and suicicleJ. 'J'he

3fi-I:

rum TY.

[PAlt'l'

IV.

l 1cH1y p il c: cl itself rd. t h e lJr itl ge :mrl wi ll b e coronerocl in the morni ng . 'J'rnly, i n t h e mitl st of lik, \ rn nre cl cnth ed ."
J\Ir. Geo. I-I. J\IcUhesncy, th e c:-;tensi Yc l nrnhcr clea ler , of Symcnsc, " ·ho su pp lies most. nf th o A11 lmn1 tr:.tLl e, a n d Ch n1ks F. S::mle,
a roti rccl lmnkcr o f t l1 e saline eity, \ritlt tl1oir 11·i1'es, f:hi11Ll iecl iu
Aulmni. -.A uburn .1 ldr ert iser.

C:.1;NJWAL V1Ew.- Of now wonl s 1ro nrny cnnrn ornte nt lcns t five
cli s t i1 ll't so u rrc~ s : ( I) 'J.'l1ose 11·hi C' lt m ay 110 cfl llecl i 1rnpirnc1 aro clu e,
a lnws t 11·ltnl ly, to 1·li c C•HllJJ101l [>('o p.l e; (2J ntJ1prs al'C clabomte11
l 1y t I 1n karnL·1 1; ('1) 111l 1orn are i n1pnsc1l l >y cnnq11<'st, fl$ I he No rman
c lrrn nnt, of th o E11gl ish , alll1 t.110 S1'rnitic c·l c11J1•11t of 1.Ji e Jrnlian
Y1· r11:te n lnrn; UJ o1.l> N s, all t.J 1e \\'Or l11 <Jl'<' t" :tl'C i11 1pm tnll Ly CO lll 111 C'l'l'C; (G) n11 11 ot.l1er s sh ll ar c ii 1h ·ncl 11eecl frnm rli1roncl hy fo sh io11,
or li or ro 1yc11 111e 11 ce for 111cir n sdnlncss. It is 11-it.lt the two fi r st
l'lasscs and tl1 e last 1l mt we ltre conce rned pTu eticnUy . Inspi1·eLl
110nter is ms, as sprin g in g fro m th e m1e<ls of th() ill iterate, often
r cs p01"l to rt g<' IH'rn l 11 01'<1, rtilll nro f'rt8i ly c11 frn1l{'h isccl. Besides,
l 1C' i11 g m nst l,Y rn011osyllahks, 11H'Y rtr c <'flS.)" of n 1me rnhrnnc:o, aucl,
11·li e n 11ot al1b rr1,·i:d ions, b e iu g fon 111l in tl10 mos t obvious a tmlngies,
111 r:y nm rn rd y c'xc·c ·p1 io1rnblo ns ill 1'g it intnte fornmti ou s. Howeve r lc •sfl i1u111 ecl inh,Jy rn.l1in.l 1li; fo r pop11l:ir u se, tl ie coi1mgcs of
scliola rn, iu prol'ol'f ion rt s tl1< ',Y sn l'l'lY n·c •Pgui7.C'(1 1rn11ts, lik ewise
m ake g oocl tl 1c'ir rn lnr: ernntn:d ly by ol> h1 i11 i11 g tl1r: rig ltts of oiti:co11sl1 ip. I11t1'J'l: 01ll'H11 wil It fore ig n conn tri es an t11 lwir inlml 1itrmts
cn11tr il1ntes frtrLlH'l' tn an g 1n e nt o n r li11 g 11 nl 1realtl1 . AnLl 1hns ou r
<' Xch oqn l'r i s <' n11 s1:m1 1,r i 1wrerisi 11 g; nm1, r1t l.lte s:1me t,i rnc, it8 cout e111 s rtrc co 11 s tn11tly liuhl o t n rnn tat inn . O uce it was 110t roo, b11t
nn1rn1l:tys we 111:\,. n1· <'r p:· ns nil i 11rl nl 1il·nl1l <' nrgm11 ent o f rt natiou's
]H'a llh:v aet.iYity, 110111 iii!ol lecl n rt l rtrnl rna1;c ri al, tlrn fact of tlt c e xpr1 1 rnivP n C~R a1ul m ol1i li ly of ih> hmguagc.- J-TAr;L.

CllAP.

3G5

EXPANSION AND CON T Jt ,\ C'l'lO N.

T h o most common co ntnwl;io11s aro of fl1c vc l'IJ 11·ith t ho rulverl 1
not, like "isn 't," "\\'ou't" (see puge 21;2) . Tn c·nllo1111 i:1 l sp ecc li
m1L1 ia fami l iar l etters t lwse lll:L.)' 110 i1 11111lgc c1 ; hnl. l.lo11·h('J'O s ho1 ilil
"ltiu' t " h e Clll J>l oye cl fu 1.· a ny p 11 r1'0S<', IJ()l' s li n11 l1l "11on" t" l >c 11sc1 l
i ns te:111 of" cl ocsu't " i n U10 t li inl p crno11 s i11 g nl :1 r.

("!) C o mbinati on s ()I' olc l \1·onls aru J1111st c.:u11 111 1011
tl1 c Lloubl e cpitl1 e ts a ffected by i1 1fo ri or \ni te rs.

111

Ynry few of t.l1ese l nng -1rinclell , lo11 g -1Yrtisito <l , lun g-to11g11u1l ,
]rrn g- !ni led , rt ncl lon g-«11reil c·11m11011 11lls nm an l liori/.•'1 l Euglis lt.
'l' he l·nste fo r th em tl nsl rnys l,l1 u t:tste fo r rno 11 11syJl aliic: \\'o nls, 011
wl 1ich the fo rce of a s pnl<• ' ll s t.yln sn 1111wh d1' 111'11 1l .'; . A s11 ht ln
sy mp:11"1 1y ex is ts h c' t11T1'11 t.l11 'st! c·o111 t;<> 11 111 b :u11l ]"11 g , i 11 1·"ln!t-1l
Heu toHces. 'B e n oL cl c'cni Ye1l , .i f P<O(':ts i"11:dl y tlJCy Sl'l' ll l Lo s l.n'11 gtl1e n
s tyle. In ll1e g1'1wra l l'll'c'ct 1.ll l',\" ililn te 1t1111 fhl.1c'11 it. ; 111<',I' iHYi1 e
a cli awl in 1leli.,·<'r,V ; lhc1y ll.J'tl rt c1r:L11·J i 11 1·:q1rc'ss inn. 1<'1• 11· fon us
o[ JlllJ,lll lOl'.i.Slll l'llll t.o SJ11· h l' Xtr1•1Jl('S :1s tl 1i:,, \l'l:t ' ll Olll ' C 1110 S!'l'llJ>l l's
of goo11 U s t;o :Lre h rnhl' ll 1111 11·.11 . J\Irn. Jrnury \Vo0<l , in " H11lrL 11 1l
Yo rk e," sp ealrn of tho " 11ot-:1tl.P 111plc'(1-l"-h e -eo111·ectlc"l l'rll'1 ' ." ,\ 11oth er female an tl 1m: n ' 1u:1rk s npon "th('-s111l1l<' ll -;tl.-tl 1n- 11 11 11 ne11 l.tho11g h-fro 111 -l inge ri11 g-.i lli l<'ss-of k- 11 -111·1"· innsly -1':\ 11c•1·I c' d clr:d h " 11f
one of li e r h eroin es. It (lilt's not. n·1111irn sc.lio.l:Lrh 1·r1t1litio11 h1
cl eci clc tJ 1at s nclt n l:1pc:- 11·01·111 as [,Jt is J1:1s 11 o 111·111 "' !' Id :wr' :t lim ·"
g ro11J1<l . '.l.' lte t:1st.1 ~ \\·l1 ic,Jt c111t l1l t nlo rnlu i i. is J11 >1•<'kss hLrl1aris 111.
'l'h e next p l1aso o f rmch en lt11rn is cu 1111ilialism. - .l'1u·: 1•1·s.
'J.' Ji c C< JJnhi11 i11g or n1111pOUt1tli11~ pnwcr i ~ flf diff<• J'(' lli;

rl q.! n ; p :-;

1

1

I

in d iffi.n•Jl f l:llJ.!. pl:lg'P~ .

bu t. i n th e J\T f':x ic:t ll l1111 gn n g1 ~ it j.-; 1•:1rri 1·• l !n :tll i1wn · lil lr' (':'d<'HL

I r ~T" ('OJlllii nal iio n<;

a r e ad111ilt ed i-:oca-.:i ly tha.t lhf' f.: imp] (' <~ t i1ka;..: al \' huri 1•d 1111 il 1 '1" a. ]"ad o f : w cc~:::ri r i e:-: .
] l'0 r <'Xan1p!P., i;IH : \\·ord fo r :t 11rir;.'<I <'n~ 1 :o: i ~ 1 c; of "'' ' \'<' 11 f" ,,· H:i!i! i>~ . :11111 i.e.: l h f' rt ! ~:11ll'1 l
uirrliui"J /l! o/Ji.-i:1 {ff<J.f .":i 11 1

a fath er .

Wh ich

A Rt·ill 111nrc

Jll l'llllR t/i e. 1''3 1'JaJ'tl UiV en

lj t: ll CC . -

(/3) Expans ion and . Con t raction of old. wo rd s is
c·o 11finn all y nltc 111 ptcd. Th e fo rn 1er is 11 s11 ally 1l1 e resul t
of n1 11 b it in ns grflpin p: for i111 p 1·ess irn11 css. l i\;e " p revc 11 t.ati1· c '' for " p re 1· e11f'. in•." Th e l:it.ter co mes fro n1 tl1 e ten (l01H:y i11 spceclt, as in other exe rtion , to escape all avoidalJlc effort.

XI X. ]

)lh

:lll S Ji lt- r:i lly,

1· o mpn·l 11~ 11 s. h· <·
(l

r1 'J lf'i'(l/1!t' 111 inisff>J' oJ" f;o,/.

no t hr:n-

1r//om. {

{1J! ;f' t( H

wnnl is tf1/W//r(l' 1t iloli!q11il 1'f t .'t rp·t11/r1/111 itl i , ;d iil'h

1/1C8Sf!.J/(JCJ' ?l'IHJ bJ'illfJS ((

/lit>rr>(J(1J1Jliii'<tl

11/U}J COlllJ{:!/ill(J inle.Jli-

IJl.AC r.; LEY.

';i,','

A ri r;Loph:nw s ha::; a w nnl of fo11rlf'•' n f:.y llal il f'F: f rom f:. ix 1ndi1 ·:1l !'l . ,<.: ignifyill l! mcanlyf'a rly - ri sin g-· n1111 - lrnr r y i ng !u -! h P·tril 111 tm l-t.n -tl 1 · 11n 1 1 1 1•· i~ - : u1nl lH 'r -f,. r -a 11 in f ra c t i1111 -nf -LI H'l aw - < : 1 11 11 · t· rn i n !! - tl1 c - ~ .\

11orl :i Li1111-11 f -fi g".:.

1n

:t tl!

.t !11•r '"a "•" t hf• s:11111> draniaLi.<:t i·ni n s n w ord

o f ~c v c n ty-two syllab! c:-: 1 a::; I h e 11a11w nf a tli i:: h c n1tlJH ' '"~d o f a 1.r rPa f. 1111111 l w r of in l! r e-

tl ient s, nn d lliclttcr quo tes Fors te r as :rnthori ty fo r a S an :-:cri t compo11n1l o( un u h undred
nn d lifty ·t\W) sy lln.blcR . -~ L\ !{ S JI.

'l' h e first. En g li sh p oet wl1 0 p;avc 1womi1wnc·o t;n tl1iR p nwe r nf
combirrntiou wus Clrnpnrnn, \1·h o ltpplie d it \rit li 11·011<lerfnll y l1 al'l'Y

. I

:.1! I
'1·'

3CG

[J> AU'l' IV.

:PUHI'l'Y.

e ff<' <'t in his Homer's "Ilfad," in tnmslatill g the compouml Greek
epi t h ctf; " ·hich so fr equ ently occur in (.]1 ut poem , snch as swijtfooted, ·11·i1·y-n-rislerl, ·11)1ile-u1'1ned , 1111my -hew(ed, r osv-Ji11ge1·ed, etc.
1\Ios t o( tli ose " ·er e aft e n n1 r<1 acl opt cd h y Pope. 'l'hcr e is a t.cn d l'JH'Y in so 111 0 n w d eru English \1Titcrn t o carry t his compo tulllin g
p o wer to a n rnrn·an·a11! rtl 1lc cxtl' nt, n. pr:t.eti,·o which s\1 0111<1 c·c rtnlu ly l te n 1 s i ~te <l , as l1 (' i11 g oppose1l l,o t.h o ~P 11iu x o f o nr la11 ~ n n.g t\
nrnl a lso gi,·i11 g c,· id onf'c o l' npi11 g aft0 r C:1•r111 rtni<1 fonn s, nnd t li 1lf;
trn11 sgrnssin g the prope r limit s nf tho la ng nn,gc. 'l 'h e late 1\fa,lnm o
D 'Arld ay, i11 her "1\l en10i rn of Dr. Ilnrnoy," s peak s of tl1 0 "vor yhan1lso 111 n, - th ou g l1 - n o - l onger -in- h er - Lloom " :Mrs. Steve11s.IlLA OKl1EY .
The nul h ority o f l\fiHon a1u l Sli:ik f: pcrc mri.y IJc usefull y poinh•1l 011t tn p 11111 g- nnthor :::.
In th e "Uo111 11 ~" atHl otl1cr c:i rl y poci ns of ll li ltn n t h ere is a s 11pc rf1uit y of ci (•lllilc cp i11

th c l R, wliill' in '' Th e Parn tli ~f! f. oc:l" we find V<.'ry few , in 1o'l'hc l'a rml i;.;c Jtcg:li11e<l
sca rcl~ n11y. Tlt r i::;n1 11c rl'111n r k hnltl ~ ahn oi-:t equal ly true of th<! '' Lon" R l, a.ho r l ,ost ,''
0 Jt1111 u •o :11111 Jnlict ," i ; \-('l\ll R n111 l All rmi ;.; 1 11 nlld '"J,11 c n ·cc,11 cornpn rf'd with '· L f' n r,"
"1'f :t<'IJC111. ., •1 Qt lw ll o, •· nnd 1 ~ J latnlcl" o[ ou r great dnt11~ ati ::-t. Th e rul e fur the a.dmi sRiun n f tl n11ll!n t' pithets i-:1:c111s t o ho t hi s : r ithc r t hat th c·y sh uulrl li e alread y ck 11 ize118 o f
011 r 1:11 q:; 11ng e, ~ ll(' h :i s lJ/n od- .~tai 11 Pd, l P. 1'1'fJ1'·.~11'if; ke n , .<;clj-a1J}Jloudi11g; o r whe n a n ew
cpith f't, nr o ne found in h1 Jnk s nnly, is ll :1znnleil, t h at it :tt ka s t, be one worrl, n o t two
word s mn d !• on e IJ y 11 1c rc vi r l1tf'! nf I h t? 111 in t<' r· s h y ph e n . A la nguage wh i('h 1 like t h e
P, 11g l i sh, i ~ nl!11os t ,~·it h o 11 t f':1 ~e~ . is ind eed in i ts \'Cry gC' l\iu s nnfJU-cd f11 r co111p11nmls . If
n wr it1' r cvP ry t i1nc n c1111 1p nm1dcd \\·nnl ~ n ggests itst> lf wnnhl f'CPk for ~nn1e other wa y
o f ('X J 11·~~ i11 g h i 111~clf, Lh c c h a ncci-; arc nlwa_y s g r eatly in fa vo r of h is findin g a bc ller
wvni. - Co r.1;: n1uc;E.

Ye t, Charles Lamh \1Titc8 to this ve ry Colc ri1l go :
T h ere is a ca pilal liuc in you r "'ixLh nmnher:
Th is (lark, fric ze·coat<'<l , kcth- c lrnt!Pri ng month.

Th ey nrc (•xaclly ~ 1wh cpil hct c.; ns Burn :;: wrinlil h a\'l' f;t11 1111Jlccl
"1'hc Pi011gh e1l-11 p lJaii-;y '' _)' ull Rt·c 111 to hn ·• c h ;od ill in i11 cl.

0 11 ,

wh ose poe m o n

and journ ali st Bryant nsed to say that he n ever felt tl1 e
teuip tatiou to use a forei g n \rn rd without beiJJg abl e to
find in Euglish a word that expressed his m eauing with
utorc exactu ess a nd feli city.
\Ye 1w c1l 0 111.v gl a nce in t o o ne o f the peri odi ca l l'(' prcscnl:ati vcs o f fai.; hion nl ll c lilern n ~~ nu l t upon t h f! p nd ly of ll1l'

tnre. o r intu a n ove l o f I.he d ay, t" i:;ee how !-'C riou H lhi H

En g li Rh la11g:1ia gc ha~ IJN.;l\lllC. Th e chanc1 ·s nrc rn o rc th an eq11nl thn. t we ~ h a ll fn!I in
wit h a wri ter w h o con s ider:.;. it a point o f hu n or l o c h oof:c a ll h is 11 1os t e 111plmt ic word "'
fro m a F ren ch vocah n l ary , nntl w h o would thi n k i t a l:11ne ntahlc fallin g ofl' in hi s st.y lc. did
h e wr i te hnlf a d ozen ~c n tcm1 :es wit h ont empl oy in g a t lensl h a.I f t h at n umber o f foreig n
wor d s. Hi s h eroe s nre n.lway s mark ed by nn air 1lisli 11qu (J : hi s v ih! m en arc ~ m e t.o he
blo st!.s ; his lad y fri e nd s uevcr m e rely <Jn.n ee or drei':s well . t h ey da n ce or d ress <t 1iier*

v eille ; n.nd h o hiin self, wJw n loll i11g o n t h e sofa 1111 d cr I.h e i=:pirit o [ lfl z. i11 css, d()CS n ot
simply enjoy hi!; res t., h e l nxn ri nlcs in t h e <lolce far nfe nt P, an d woml cn; w h e n h e wi\1
mana ge to beg in hi s maanum. 01JUg. And ~o h e car ri es U fi lh roHgh h is Rtory, r unning o ff
in to ha ckncycll French, Ita li an, or Lati n cx prc·e~io n ~ . wh c 11 cve r h e hn s n11ythi n g l o s:i.y
whic h h e t h inkE- Rhould be grap hi cally or em pha t.ica l\ y !'aid. It r eally fiCe m ~ ns if he
t h ong h l; t h e Engli sh ht11 gnn ge too m eagre or ton con J1n onpln.ce a <lrcss in wh ich to cloth e
h is thoughts. Th e tongue whi ch gave n. n oble 11 ttc r n11cc t.o the th ought s o[ 8 hakspere
n. rHl M ilto n i!'I :iltogcU1 cr imm tn clc nt to ex press t h e m ore cos m opoli tm1 id ea s of S mi th , ('r
To m k in ~, or .Jenk in ~ I .
. .
\Ve h ave heforc 11 s :in a rti cle from t h e pen o f n very clc\'cr wri te r, arnl, a R it nppenrs
in n, mn g az. ine which s;-iec iall y professes lo re prese nt th e" b r~ t society." it; m ny be tnl;. e 11
ns a g ood sp rci111e11 of the F;tyle. tt cfo:-cribes a tl a11~;i 11 g p nr ty, nnd \ \ ' l' di ~eover for the
firs t t ime h ow much lca rni11 g i3 n ece:-:~ a ry to d esc ribe a. n h o p " prtlperly. T h e r c: ul er is
i n fn r m C'cl t h at a ll thC' peopl e nt th e ,l:i,11r.c IJ( ·ln n~ t·o th e l>ea1t 111011<1e, a s nrn y he SCL'll nt n
C01lJJ rl"tt!il : U1e clemi-mnnfie is ~c rnp11l o 11 !' l y exc!ll(ll'tl , n n rl in fact cv~ Tylh in g nhn11t i t
Ue8pcnkH th e !taut. t.on o[ th e wh ole a ffair. A l:ul y w h o h ns b ct' n happy in Ju·r hair*
d n •ss(' r fs ~ :1i 1l to Uc ('fJ1:0·h? (f nmir. T h f' ll thrr<~ is 1,Ju ~ hol d 1ti:UJ lo ' lcsr ril 1e. Jl.nY in g
ncq11irc d t he savoi:1· foir r., h e is 11 <' VCr nfraid o f 111 n.k il1 g· a ful( :>: pns. lrnt 1111 111atl.f' r whnt
kind o f co n ve r ~ n.tion is start ed pl11n g-cg at on ce tn m edia .q re.~. f ollow in g: him is th e: fair
dr' lw trwt.e, w ho is a lready 0 11 t h e loo k*ont fo r u1 1 lwn 1Jrtl'U, hu t whoc;;c n ez relrouss/> iR n
cl eei d cd oh~l a,' le t o h e r ~lHXC SR Sh e iR of cn 11rrn nP<:o111pn11i('(l by rnarnrnn en m·mute
t oilf:.U e, who, entre 11ou.i:.:, lo•)lu; ra t her ri1 f/e cn•n iu t h e g n-.;li:; hl . Th en, IC'st til e wrikr
:,l1 u !l!11 ."- (' L·Jl1 fr[ '.-0] •1 11 :;1 l\ C

clos- 1)*rlos,

( b) National usage c\ct11 dcs Lli e u;-;e ul" 11 unl:-; :u1 ~1
cu n sl'.rn ct io ns that a rc ( I) Foreign , ur \2) Provin cial.
( I ) Foreign usage rnay cons ist jn (a) inte.rpohtion
}r:t.-_·, l'~q~-1 ; ~ 1 1

tl1inµ: -;~ ;;a·o r

r·r 1 7 ~ ·-· ' ~ · ::.- .t- ~ i-·1:

~"

"~ 1:0

1nr. J.:n< l f pJ.C>f1~ . pnrn·
(/3) adopt.io n of fore ig n cu 11 strn ction, with

citl1 c r fon·ign o r E 11 g l islt "·ord s.
(a) In ter pola t ions ol' for e ig n words arc iul vcrtisern c nts of tlic write r's li111i tcd vocaL11lary. 'l'ltc late poet

3GI

1<'0RE1GN WORDS.

CnAr. XI X. ]

~tlJ:"1.~!1l<•n'' \ Ji•'

:-'l1 1lknJ y

d•

•'lip~[.,: 1

(l f

t! ~ ·

•l "ll ' ' ' , 1·: ~

,)

)'{ ~ :ll ~ · \

to te ll us that Jl o mcr l.H'CIJ!ll f.)5 tirl'<>O n\I' wl wn !JP. ~ ill g"' o r BoW 11u; ;;0Tl' t(l " Il pl]
a. piige.

Tli , ~ ;.; Hj 1j1l·r

Lw; l:c

i 11

wr iter

co n e l rnl cs. Jli:~

e.1l J,. f.J r1,i1 a e.. r;- t:,. P•• H• iili g

;~ 1 w.;;;;L

;, f l ;,;~1 :. i 11 µ , ;1.1;,I Ll. c

a rti cle aft.er iln ving :i.i rcrl hi !' G rcf'k, hi f.t J,ntin, hi A Fren ch, and, in a

s 111Jo rdi 11ntc wa_y, hi s l·: n gli ;:; h.
OE co m·Rc lhis styln h ns Jt!lmirer s a.n il imi tators. Tt is !'h owy n.rnl prctcn tiou 1; 1 nnd
cv cr yt h iug t h nt is !'h owy and p rctenti on A lms adm irers. Th e admixture of foreig n
.. ' ;..; .

"' ~.:.:

p .. ~. ;. :.. . ,.. .. ., : .

;~ ;

'

whu!';c apprt·cia.l ion is limill-d to t h e ~ np c rfi ci al inia g itH' to l>e 1Jrillin.11 cy. Tho,::;e wh o nrc
d efic ient in tastr. and art e(ln cn.t.ion n ot 1mfrcq11 c11lly prCrc r a da s h ing pi cl:nre by yo un g
D:rnb to a i;:lori ous cartoo n hy Uaphael. The !.>right coloring of t h e on e far m ore t han
co11nler 1Jalan ces the love ly !Ju t 11no1Jtnrnivc g race of th e ot!H•r. In n s. imil nr way, you n g
st u de n t~ arc utt.rncll'(l by the fa lse g li tte r o f th e Fre n c h -paste sch ool o f co m posi tion. nnd
instead of ·fonuing t.hcir sen ten ces u po u the benutifuJ m o<l els of th e g reat En g li !-ih mag...

368

[PAll'l' IV.

PUlU'l'Y.

t cn'l, they tw i !'!' t th e m in~o nll sorts of mrnn t n rn.1 Rlm p c1; for no oLh cr eml t h:i,11 t h ey may
introdu ce i t few inapp ro pri ntc F'ren c h or La.Lin ,,·onls, th e use of which t h ey have lca,rn cU
to Lhink looks sma rt.-Leeds .il fercw ·y.

((3) Adoption of a foreign constrnction may b e (1)
simpl y tl1 c atte 111pt to ex press u11e's scH in that la11g nage
i11 stcaLl of on e's ow n, o r (2) the con scious or uucousciuus
use of E 11gli sl1 words in a fo reig n idiom.
(.l) To speak a11 utl1 er lan g nage wl1 e11 mrn ecessary is
an a.ffoctation, and lik e all affectation a fit subj ect of ridicule.
Dr. JcJhnson s neeri ng ly o bser ved to l\facklin , th o d nini:1hst,, .
tha t literary m en sh oultl con verne in the lciirned bIJ g u[lges, rirnl
immccliritoly ridtlresse Ll him in L a tin. Macklin kne w uotl1iJ1 g of
Lrttin, lint retortecl by u tte rin g a l ong senten ce in Irish , wl1 ereupo11 th o cloctor rn t.nr11 ccl to English , saying d.eforentirill y, "Yon
m:i,y sp eak ve ry g oncl G rock , l nit I mn not s nfli cieutly versed in
tlmt <lin lcct to co n nwso with yon iln ontly."
IC em1 , th ough n ot clnssicn lly oLln rnt ed , w:i,s allrnys au xions to
crorito n.11 improssinn to thn.t e ffect, mul therefore interlardcll his
c nn vers:i,lion lillNa.IIy wit.Ji J,n.t,in, which was n s mdl y Jlretty lmd.
Onco \\·li e n l'Jiillips, liis 1>Pci:et.riry, \\·as wnit,i11 g fo r him at ouc of
hi s n octnrrml org ies, tlie foll owiu g conversation occurred:
2 A.M. - J>h.illips. ' Vailcr , wl1:it wa~ ]\lr. K en n do in g when you left. Lhu room?
lJ·ailCJ'. J'J ay i ng thCT p i:i ll(), Rir, :tnd sin g in g.
l'hill!JU~ .

011, tht>n h e's all ri g h t yt'I;.
2. 1ri. - l'hiWJJ8. \\' h at i.o.: J\Jr. Kt•an dCling 1inw ?
WrJit er . ]\la ki n g a i' JlCCc h , si r 1 ahn11t S lrn.k~ p c r c.
Phillip .~· . li t~· -" gett,in go drnnk; yn11'd b cUcr onl cr th e ca.rring e.
'2.80 .- l 'hillips. \V l: ;il's h e nt now?

Wai ter . ll c'.o; tal king Latin, f'ir.
Phtllt1u1 . Then h e i."l tl r nn k .

'Ve mm:t

,;ct hirn

fl.Wrty

nt o n ce.

('I

Lo n i Bclg rn vc h av i 11 .~ d in c h t!ll n speec h in I.hf"! Ho1t f:ic w i t h a lo ng Greek quotation,
S h c r i1lan in re p ly nd rn ittc<l the force I} [ th e qu otati on so fa r a s i t 'Ycn t, " hn t, " ~mit1 he,
" had the n ob le lorrl p ro cccd cfl a. littl e fn r th c1· a n Ll co mpleted t h e p as ~ n.gc h e would h ave
Ree n tlrnt i t npplif·d t h e o th er w:1y. S hc ri<lan th en spontcll wrncth in g-1 m·e r utun rlo,
whi c h had ~ 111 t h e a,i.<1, ois, nw~, kon, and J,:,n.,·. t lrn.t g i ve th e wo nte(l a ssura nce of :t G r eek
riu otnti on ; 11pn11 whi c h L onl Dclr;rnvc very promptly n.nrl hnnclrnm c ly co mpliment ed· the
h onnrnblc 11wr11hcr on hi H n• nd i 11 c ~s o f 1-c1~ollccL i 1111 1 and fra n k ly adrni tlerl that t h o con·
tinnnt.i o n o f t h e pa ~,; n go lin.11 th e tcn tl cnc.v a ~c rilwrl to it by l\fr. S lteri tla.n . n.ml that he
hnrl O\"t' rl ook1•tl i t, wh e n h e g av e t h e quntation. On t h e break in g- up of t h e 1-((lttSC Fox,
w h o p iqu ed hi mself o n lia ving so me Greek, we n t Ul') t o S h eri dan nml a sked him ~ •:Sh eri-

CHAI'. XIX. )

FO JU\J.GN ID lO llIS.

3GD

dan , h O\v en.me yo n RO r en.dy w ith that p:1ssnge? It; is C('r tnin ly a~ you say, b11t I wni::: nn ~
aware o f it bcf1J re you quoted it." lt is 111mccess:u-y to s:i.y t lrnt th e r e is no Greek nt all
in Sherid an' s improm11tu. - Wo rk8 .
Th e J-Iom e J onr11al lc\ls a. fmrn y sto r y a b out l)i ekc11 8 and 'J'ha ckPniy. On ce thC'y
we r e in Pn r is, nml Thacke ray , on goin g- ont, cn11ti o11c( l Lllc scr v:rn l no t to h',t thr. fl re go
out: 11 Gm·rte2 le f en_,: 'J'linckcrny's Frl'11ch pro1111nci;1.Lio n nn t, being pc rfc r:t, tlic serv :in t
11111lf' r st:o(J(l th e l n~t \\'Ord t o he .fou. in s tc nd o f .fcu; f'1 111 ,.:r>rp11•11t·l y he \\"rt ~ not. to l0t. 1Jin
m :ulrn:~n gn 011t..
\ Vhcn T haclu·rny !.!"l hack, Ji p f111111d t he lird<,l in g r r nt 1·xcih•11w11t,
:t!Hl D icken s, in a towc ri1 1g rn g f' 1 stillki n g nbout. \\·h i l1 • the Jan dl •q·1l d(·c lan·1l that !hr~
m:vlnrn.n insh;te1 l o n goin g ont. The peop le in the h otel had Lo im itc th e ir rorccR to h uhl
him in.

(2) Foreign idioms are neve r t.o ll e c111ployecl , c.--;ce pt occasionally m; a kind of s11 ggest io11 , ab11 to <p10tatiu u. ll em:e in tnwslati 11 µ; fro111 a fornig-11 to11g11e, it is
11 ot snflk ic11t to g ive tli c E11gli sh cr1 11iv;i\ c11t uf: t11 c mml s.
:Not. "How do yu n carry yourscll' 'I '' lrn t " JJ ow du yo u
do?" is the proper E 11gli slL rcml cri11g of " ( \ 1111111c11 t vu 11 ~
portez -vous?"
lVlAKING IT EASY mm Hrnr. - A nnrnhcr of Cl 1i11csc lmrn b oou :it
the Grnud Hot.cl, New Yo rk. Yonng J\Ir. Smith , ' dw waut e <l to
lrnve so m e f1111, said t o one of th orn wl ln " ·as makin g a pn ;1,>1lc ont
of the woo<l c n toothpiclrn 011 t.1 10 co 1111tN: " .L11clcrnl cc st.op11no
berc longcc?" "8 ir ?" Najil. th0 C(• I P~lla L "Ht-.op1 H't' Jon gno jn
Now York ce?" r ep c:i,tocl l\fr. Nn1itli , "·i i li ri s111il <'. " \ro slmll remain in t h e city l.rnt :i, hriuf 11nri o<l ," s:i, i,l t.lw .l ' "kin >11:1,11 , ;'prior
to r esnmiu g onr jonrn c.v t o ·\Vnshi 11 g t.01 1. " '1'11<'11 l1 n \ntllrn1l a\nt;v,
and the j1111ior propriot.nr of JJi ,, flrn111l nscnrtai11 l'cl tl1 nt h e lm1l
b een talkiug to :i, l:Ln.rrnrcl grnl11mto w.lrn spok e :o;ix tliiforcut bng trnges b esides Chin ese. - L a11castm· I ntelligencer .
Too L ITE BA I. 'l'nAN SI.A TI ON . - ' ' .B l:111nmc, \drnJ is LhPn· on l.h<· r-anl fo r t he cl inner ? "
inqni re1l the n ew Uo:tnl c r , n.t 0 1ir bon.nlin g-- h o11sc, :i R h e ~cn t c, 1 J1i tn sc lf at; t h e Lnhlc.
' ' Of the f'o1 1p. o f the beef, o [ tl1c i-: hee11, o f tli c ca lf and u f U1e 110111 Lry," rc11licd H!1 e 1
''th e w hi ch wj ~ h JO ll ? "
"A p iece of the h e n rortFtcd.ll Fah l Ju:, ; i nn il <if !h e ripplC'R of i li c g r o111 11l. 1 '
11
4' Wif'h yon of the app les of t h e gru111ul cookcU to the wa.tt r to the furnace?
d ema mlcd i:: h c .
"I prefer them cooked to th e mni::tcr nf ll ntf'i~' , s ni(l he.
"\Ve hnY C n ot o f cook Fn~ n c h ," sai1l 111:t•lame, ,.:hn rpl y, "whf'n th e to h nanl is of f'Hc h
gnoci m arket i t nu rnt thnt we SW<'flJ, liln()~l n.n d waler to 11wk" co11ic togethe r IJ o!.h c n11i::; 1
nnd m ruln.m c w iped o ne tear frnm h e r f'.Yl'.
" Oh , IJri n g- me what yon linsc,' 1 sni cl th e ll C'W hon. n lcr , tcn1ll•n'1l t o t h e i11 ~ t:i.nt; ' ~hu t
di s pn tc h you r;:;cif, as I wi s h acco111pa. 11 y o [ Lli o fr irnd~ to celcl>ra lc t h e fu ne ral of a rni :;.

370

PUH.lTY.

[Pi1n·t• IV.

l r r of two hon rs. Bring me in, sam e ti111f', madam e, if yon pl c::isc, of the pie lo th e eggs,
o r CQ ffCC 1 black, for lhc d rF: ~C rt.,,
E,, sy F 1rn NC H Li-: ssoNs.- D ocR th e ha11 ds1Jn1 c (jolie) mi ss l"n.kc lesso n s o f t h e good
m11 s ic- t t":ach<' r ? Oh , ye~. t he lrn 11 tlsome mi ~s t ak es lesso n s ( te~nn8) o f t h e goorl m usic tcric ht' 1·. T he ho urs of the goo<l m nsic-tcoch er arc very shor t. Are th e bill s of th e mu sict ca chcr Rlsn sho r t ? No, t he l lill s of th e nrn sic-lcac hcr a rc ve r y lo ng . Do yo u kn ow of
ot h e r teach e r s IJ cshlcs t he t ca c h cl' o f yo ur sislc r·A fri cud ? Oh , yes, I kn ow Urnt of th e
R•J ll of th e ga.nlcncr .
Wh nt is t he matte r (qu 1a -t -i l ) wi t h t he mn sic-tca ch cr ? Has he
s ham e (a -t -il hontc )? N n, h e is. n ot a sha 1ncll, h e is j <'al on s.
H a~ th e ~ i s te r of I.h e l; ak c r ta len t ?
N u, sh e ha~ not t.alc n t , but sh e ha~ th e " :Maiden';:.; l'rayc r. '' H as t h e !! r Ot:cr· s h rothc r t il e fi ne so natn ? JI ., I m ~ n nt. t h r~ ti n "' !':.onato , h11t.
1 11 ~ ha!'< ; T a 111 <
YS ha ntc r. " Cn n you l u~a r t he so ft to n e of Lhe g r ea t vi oliu ist? No, I canrw t, !Jcar th e t nnn of l h e g reat v iolini Rt; t ha t iR w h y 1 appl a utl . 1J m; th r. la dy in th e blue
nilk pni 11 'r No, s h e ha!i nu pai n , !Jttl· ~ h e iR si 11gi11g telle cltunte) ; h e r hcnrcrs have imin .

CHAI'.

i

l!~!.'! k e r

IlA lll BU HGir, Date o f t he -ro ~ t:-:t :i.1 11p .

T. Al111A Ill.I·:

EX PlrnITION I

I run i:::o free a ~ tn direct t h o l1111nblc q11cRlin11 t.o Y n11, if Y o u :wc1!pt for m e in
You r P~titn ~ hlc j u 11 r nal :ul verti ~c 111 cn t:::: , for t h e .l:l a 111lJ11rg inn -t o \v ll and ] 111rn Gwl g la11 -

ihi ~

c o 1111 tr y lot t ery?

·111 a n n flirn i:tlivc cnse yon wi ll Le

~o

kin d as to give me a 11 an s wer o n t h e fo ll owi ng

qn e!"lio n ~ :

l)

J[ n w o rf1 ·11 c 11111 es 11 11t;

Ynur j o 11nial?

2) \Vhnf j .;: l hP pri('e n f in ~l' rlinn for a Ji n<> , r <>c;p. r'ighth, fn1irth pnrt, hnl f nnr1 wll nl e
Jrn g c o f _you r j1111n ia l ?
a ) JI O\\' lir11a d ( n a rrow) is n .i.:i 11glc cc1l ur 11 11 (h ow rn a n y
co unl ~

j

•

ISAAC \\' El N llEUG

l\ y

ot.J1 p r DX('l' l it. a:..; " 1..l 11 II11· . '~

=I

A C: r.]"1__11:-;E 0 1ni::: t! L.! rL -

11

go in i l) n nd h ow m n ny slits

Lil e p:i f.!e ?

:J) :\fl(·r w ha t so rtc o f w r i! in g (Nn11 parc ill <' P e ti t . Gnr111 0 1111) <l o Yon acco un t ror the
pri ce of n l int•?
r; ) \V li :11, a l'(' hnt c <l o You <'n11 sP11 t IJI C? T j nin still t o m y T:l s t qn cstio 11, that I am alr e ad y si1wt • mnny yf' :i rs in a l J ircct i11 te n:o11 rsc " ·it h morC' t h a n GOO gcrrnnn n ewspa pe r s,
n 11d Ll int a ll i.I H'.Y o ff <> n• tl rn c at ! h t! ~ :i 1 111 ~ co111 lit.io11s1 \\· hi c h t lt ny grnn l; th e co unter of an111111 11 <.·C's . \\'it 11 tl H >.<.: <~ I di f::Cn11 11 t a fter n g rccmc n t cvf' r y :) o r fj m<m t ll j but I left i t
c• n ti n ,ly tn Your e Rli 111 n1io n, w h at cn n (' c~si n n l <i n will C'ft11~r 11 t m e in concern o f t h is , h ow (• v1 ·r r e xpect: fro111 Ynnr s id e fa vo rn.l1l e Po n dilio11 R, h n.:n. usc my ord e rs Uc ing for t h e grcn.t ·
C!:! t part , cnn s id e r a lJl <.' , a nd m y :lth c r ! i sc 1n e 11 t~ of la r ge c:x t r: n t .
Expectin g n dcf rayctl fa vo ra.li le :111swer J. a m \vi t h eon ~ i tl c ra t i o 11
I S AAC \\" E INHEHG .

371

PROV J.N Cl ALISl\IS.

no rth of the p eople of Sout li e ru aml Cen tral Ne w York, \\·h en ce
rn ost of th o visitors co rn e. Dnt l,y tho pr•ople of l::it. L :l11Te11co
coun ty th is sttm e r egion is for a like rnaso n k1101n1 as "'l'J1 0 l::iontu
Woo1l s." He110e to n sc either term iu .liternturn won ld pr0<luoe
fLIU1Ji g nity.
'l':i kc an ot he r illusl. m! io11 fr orn t.li c sn 111 c rc•g i,,11. No o ne tli:it
h as tn11·ellrnl th ere wiU1 gu i1k s 1rn nl1l U1ill k uf rd cni1iµ: tu tli<;
b~1 gg[l,g e t.J1:·di :l(~ l'()lllll;lll i t •.c.; (l!l(' in 1 IH· l ri1),-) f\'1!!1 1 1l!I(' 1H•it1 L to :Ill ··

n 111 \ n C!I Jl

- ~f1t8fr·11l l fr>.1'f1!rl.

XIX.J

T\1i ;-.; i ·"'"' t !i1' 1'1 ' « ' ()£~·11 i :.<1·d \\-r 1ri! tl1rEiu,!},· l1 -

ont t.l 1: tt. n ·g iPJJ, hil l 11 01il•l 1.. , 1111 i1il<' lli gi lol ,, •·l~. · 11· ! 1 . · r «.
Ac;·a in, :i, ho_y l1ro1 1g lil 1111 n11 :t V •·r:111.iil 1': 1111 1 11•1111.l l11·:1r 11 1··
'rortl ••

el {' Y l' I' ~~ i1 se 1l

otil.\"

to

i11di1 ·:1 b 1

:-~: 1)(lil ·- l! : i!11r1 • .

:\ 1·) 1' \ 1·r t' !1]f

is ou e that c':lll li e n ·:11li1,Y li: u 1.ll•·11; a 1·l1;11•r 111 :u1 io> 0111· 11l1n :i c ce1fos to mu s t rcq11 es !s. Du L i11 Ji i1•1·:d1 1r, ; il l\' ll"l> l'1 l is l lll' :ul.i 1'L't.i ve tha,t COl'J 'C'R J1< 11ld N \\· i i.Ii i:tt•1 ,, i11tli< ·: di11 µ: t'Pli1· ity in C'\ f'<'Hl i on.
'l'J 1e r1ncsl iu 1t tl1 c r•· l'o 1·c afr,,.,, ·\Yli :tl is t lH· sl:t11•h r•l of 11n1it y '!
Is ii~ nsagu .iu 1ny yj Jl ag ~', ol' i11 l:<1 :·d1J11. (Ir iu

J\ 1•\ \ .

·ytf1-l\,

111"

i1 1 l

i ~ f11-

t1011'! l'ro lm l1ly l\[ r. J:i.-l1 a rd (:1·;1111. \\"l1il•· i·1 j1 d i! '1 1•d i11 ""1 11•1 in g that ll1c l'll l'CSt spnkt•JJ J-:11 g li sl 1 is f,, 110 l11·a rtl i1 1 i l10 lws l
SOl'i e l".y of L o11<1o n. '1'11 n s 1rl 1n tiP noi·, <'lite r I l1 :il· l' ircl1• . it is n1l 1·quat,el.Y pOd·l':l,l"rnl ill ([1 0 lJoo l;:-; of i·l1c sf:L11<l:1,1·.J J :11 g Jj :-; J1 :t1i1J1<11 ·s.
'fh c yu nn g \n ·jt e r " ·ill 1' 0 1· fl 1011:.2.· h il l'" l it1~ l in 1'l1P ili('hq11;1r ie:-.: :1!!
t h o l1dp h e <·rt1 1 rn nkr· 11 S <' nf. I \y 11i I igPJJ i, sl.1 1<l,,· of I lt es0, h,,- e:11·1• ful and eritil'al r eadin g, ru11l l1_y ial <• ll ig •·1tt Ji sl1 ·11i11g :t111l d isc11ssioJJ , h e will m-0lll na lh :1e1111 i r1• :1 sPn s.; n[ (it 11 <•ss that 11"il l rnrcl.Y
mislead him in l1is cltoi<"e of 1w nl s.

ny

:u.:c cp l 1•d t l:'= :tge in s p1..'PC h \\'U n11 i\1 •r ,.,f :1.11d U1 :i t. \\· h il' h

co11 .-:.i:.:;te11tly n n 1l

:ulv 1~ r l1· 11 lly,

J<.;

p r:i·· 1i.-wd o r :tp prn\' C'il,

l 1y !hv h< •!-i.I. \\ rii en.; a11d :-. J><': 1kcrs , ,f :1 ny 1.;i,·1 ·11 t.in ll'.

'J'h ('~t~

1p rn lili c a tio11!-; 11rc n c• · e~!'a ry, fo r L a11d~1 r \\'f' ll oh..:1·n·l's, '· (; 1,,1,] \\l'il<·r ..- :11'\' a11 tl1 nrith· o.; fnr

on ly whn t is g"•l•l ,
f ound c v e 11 in
0 11 1~

:i.11 11

by

11 0

Hlt':lll f:', n11'1

i 11

nn

dt ·g rt '1',

fo r wl1:11 i." h:-111, whi<·l1 m:iy 1'<'

th c ni.~, - ll ALT....

jr

w r ite r , t h t: r c f1 1r(', in ( , ht" :-: •~ 1l;lyf.:, s h all t l!ol, fi•ll n w T' i1·r." llt t• l'lo\':111:111 . n o r C f1 \n' r,

n o r L ydgate . 11 11 r yet C ll:itlf'l'r, fo r llw ir l ang11:1gc' i-.: l H•\\ . nnt. o f 11 ..:1! \\'Hh 11 -.: : 111•ithe r yf't
! c• nn ~ of t hP Nn rtl 11 tw 11 . s neh :i s 1 h 1·y H!'P in .J: 1il.\ {:Il k . wlw i lH' r tll «>y lw
nohl r· ni c n o r gP n tlP1w· n or l!H' ir IJ p~f. (·krk'-', 11nr i11 1·ff,. , ·1 :111.\· ·pePc li 110..:1·.J l wy nnd ! ho·
Hi vcr Tren t ; Lh o 11 g h nn lllH 11 c ;1n d•·n y Lita.I; I h 0 irs i<i t lw p11 r 1' r.: I En g l i:-- h S ;tx nn at 1li ifl
day . Yet it is no t so t' 'l\1 1' ! ly , nor :":•) •'t1l'n·11 t :1:-: u11r S•·1it h(·J'l1 E1 q.! !i <d1 i-.:, 110 mnn' is I l ic
far \\"cSlP l' ll 111 :t11 's t=> p r0ch.
I l l' s h :il l. !l11·n· f•>J'I'. !:1 k (• 11H• u ..:11 :11 F. p1·1·r:h o f tl w (' nn rf·, ;111 d
tll a t of T,r mdo11, a 111l th e sl1 irc,i.: lying- nhn11!, Lnlld4'! 11 \\'i!lli n ~ i xty 1n il<1:-.; 1 n n tl n ot 1111 w h
al>o vc . - T' UT'J.' Jo: N ll AM, A rt n.f F:n glish l'ol'.q·e. l !)S~.

,I

t=>li :1ll l w !a kn t he

(2) Prov i ncial i sms often beco1Jle good Engli sh, lrnt
11111st Le :woidcd whil e t hei r use is st ill confined to a loca l it.y .
'J'h1rn, a m ajority of t,l1 osc t hat. fror:incnt t.Ji mn, call th e Acl ironclack 111 ottllhtin s " 'l'lto North \Vootls," uecau se they lie to the

(c ) Reputable usa g e cxc lml ci3 tl: c use of s1a11g.

11

I

372

PUillTY.

tPARl' IV'.

Slang may consist iu " ·ords or expressions (1) that
are 1111j11 st.ifiably created, 0 1· (2) th at arc 111isuscJ.
( I ) Slang Words 11 0 earofol speak e r will e1npl oy in
a11y sig 11ifieatio11. Th ey arc low i11 or igin , low in i1 sagc.
Tli c \" C l".)' so1 1ml of thei n loeates a i:;pcaker as unerrin gly as
a g il t \rntel1 -ch:ii11 wo11 ld.
Yd a lin os t. rt ! I 1lte JH' ll" "·onl s coitH'<l li.1' th o p copk in oli c<licn <'c
t o p opnlrtr 11 n1'.l'ss ily li:i1·e b ee n n :grm lml a s slrrn g w h en firs t cm ployc.1. " J\I,,J, " is a ("on t rnctio n o f mobile 1111/y11-<, au<l was s 11 ecr etl
at co11 tempt11 0 11 sJy li.1· .D1 a 11 HwiH.; ye t to-day it is imlis1ie11sable.
·which of th o s <"irns of w o r1ls tl1:1J. n.ssn.i.l onr m rs npon th e s b·cc t
will l ie ernpl oy c'<1 l>y th n sbtcs111::111 o f tl1 c 1wxt ge uc m.tion? No
0110 kn o11·s ; lint, t.lie prin c iple is t.lmt of th e survi val of tl1 c fi ttes t.
If th o wo rcl is a 1w cessity hi t.li o pnpnlrtt· mincl, it; will h o.h l it.s o\\·n
in spit·c o( t.li o;;c U1at. :ire hl'1' 1H11 l o[ th o " ·o rcls th ry n se, a 11 11 :is in
ll O 11cc1l of th r ir snpport,
If it is 110t a ll<'<'rssii_r, it " ·ill 11isapp Par, 110 maLtt-.r ll'iin n sc• s i t. '1'11 0 sa fo ni.l e , for t ltc y o1111 g writer
at l ras t, is hJ 'rnil·, till !.li e w1m1 lms lll'D ll :wecp te1l l1y wril:crs and
s p ea k e rs nf 1111 c1n l'sl io11 r 1l ant hn ri t.,r.
N o cx.1H·ess io11 emt 11 0 .. omo a 1·11.lgaris111 which has 110t a broa1l
fott11 <htion . 'J' lt n lrt11 g 11 rige nf t.lt n v1 d g:1.r ha.I.Ii its ROlll"t:11 .i.11 phy sics, in lrnuw11 , l' 01llJ."'l\ltc 111l1'1 l , a 111l op <'rat..i vc thi11 gs.- LA NDOU.
'l'h('se vul g arism s m11l corrnphons of lau g uagc <lo u ot come at
once int o gen crnl n sc; t.ltry crnep in strrtlt.ltil y; I.h oy ofte n s prin g
from i g 11orn.n cc or rapri«o ; thP11 t li Py <lo s0111 0 se rvice iu n.n lrnmlJle " ·ay, in Hw 111:irlrnt or th e l' o111ts, .111i11if; tc riu g to t-.110 ll'a nts o f
tli c p oor :111<1 t.110 ig n omn t; th n11 th <'.'- att.rnct t l1 n f:tvnr of tl1 0 press
in its kas t. a11t.ltmit n.!.iv11 for111 , n.11<1 fi11r1..1J y, p :wtl y from assrn11p tirn1
and pn.rlly fr om n occssit.y, t.l10y com e tu h e :trkn owlc<l g l'd as
goo d ci t izen s a utl frocl10J1lcrs iu the reabn .- Quol.ed by ScHEU~ uE
Vmm.
1

(2 ) Slang Signification is a greater clanger to the
yo11ng writ.er. 80 many wo nls, ad1 11irnb1e in th emselves,
a.ml fo 1111d in th e work s of tl1 c hest anthors, have heen dehasctl hy imtl1 i11 ki11 g 111i s11se, th at onl y Yig il :incc and delicaey of apprcl1 ensiu11 ca n g uard one again st tlic1u.

CHAI'.

XIX.]

SLANG.

373

The nc1 jective "nice," for in stnnce, h as n d e fini te and u s eful sig nificntion. Yet liecan sc it has licon maLle fln ornniuns for expres si on of the m os t h eterogeneous qtrnlities (sec p age xxvi), it mus t
li e avoide<1, or used wit.11 nn ap ology.
The n.Llject.ive " genteel " has r.i nolile lin eage, antl in d efinitions
of t h e dic tionaries a11d h ook s of sy nony m s i s s till nni1npe11ch o1l .
Yol; i11 rnJin c1l cir<'l t' 8 a 111l in t·lt e b es t. co11t c 11 1p o rnry litPrrd-nrc i t is
now n sucl to express Hot what is rntin etl , lmt wha t seek s to h e
so, and is drnrnctcri7,ed iiy mtcnsy c011 scio n sn css of effor~, far
rem ove d from the wcll-bre L1 n.ssn rnuce of th e lm1y and gentle m an.
"Cnll;m:c, " agaiu, i s rt wonl so :i1ulisp onsn lil e tl1rtt only a circnml ocu tion " ·ill flppro xiurn.tely <'X J'l't'Ss th e i<lo:t it COJll"<'.)'S ; lin t it
c::tn no l on g L'l' b e freely u sc•l , si ucc iu 110"-sl'rtP•'r eolnnms every
local pol.it-.i cian is as " cnHrn:etl" rts ltc i s "goninl " allll "l1ig lttoned." 'l'hc las t exp ressio n is so Po mpldcly r 0lng:1t.ed tu the
cl::tss of p eopl e \rho lmYo n s11rperl it, tha t ou c gct"s a .li t tl e slJOck of
s nrpri sc to rn cc l th e fol1 01ri ng scu tcu ce iu a u 0 .s.fonl l ecture of
Professor S lmirp :
Agai n Lhcrc arc high-toned

s pirit~

which rC'ganl the worlcl ai::. a scrnc ma<lc to give

sco pe f or mural l1 cruis1u.

'l'h o fact is, t110sc " ·onl s, <'s p eei :tll y those U1 at 1l P11 o to s orinl 11i stinctiou of an y kinl1, fo ll o w the c.s.p r ricueo u[ i·Ji r fashioll s. A new
shape of h ouu e t i s introdncc<l lJy f;u 111 e 011 0 to wli olll tho cornmtlllity is accms to111 r <l to look for g 11i1ln.1we i•1 rn al;lo rs of tas te.
Hi<lcon s as i t mig h t lmvc sccrn C'tl i( iut.rn tln rc•l n u 1l or oth er au s pices, it soon t,ah es 0 11 h y assc1eiat io11 o f ill ca s th e sa111 0 air of JltJtc:ss :twl li nanly tli:it tlte lrttl y l1 a s always sccrn 011 to ]1 rivo ahon t. li e r,
till 1n-csc'J1 tly any oth er slmpc soc111 s ont o f 1fat·c anr1 nul.> ocomi11 g.
Bnt rn rant.im e it h a'! lico n acl npt l'cl an d cxuggc mt c1l b y t h ose
l ook ed upon fls the worst-tl rcRsc<l p rrsou s in tho conununity , rirnl
so ge ts associfl ted with i t.srlf a ll th e nnpfoasant i1leas tl1rtt. tl10ir costumes h ave b een in t.J1 e h a bi t. of sn gges t.ing. It is 11ow full time
for a chan ge, and wh en the leaLl er o f society app e:ws in a n ew shap e
we are tlic more r eady to i;eccive it cord ially b ecause we 11rn s o
h ear til.v tired of th e old.
In like manner , wlten won1s that; are m eant to lie tit.les of admirable 11ualities are a ssumed by those who in the ver y assump-

374

PUlU'l'Y.

[PART IV.

tion of the title show the In.ck of th e qnalities the title indicates,
th e man of sense do es n ot c1ispute 1rith them as to the possession
of th e title, but simpl y declines ii; himself.
"You are no geutleman," scrcrtius an n,ngry dispntant .
"Dn yon cons ider yo nrnclf one?" is th o c1uiet rejoinder.
"YcH, I !lo."
"'l'hon I. a111 g bcl yo n cloH't, tlii 11k me one."
Awl t.l1 at is nli unt nll tli cre iK of it.
\Vli e n the coll Pge i11,.;la·ndor fln<ls that the flistri ct-sch ool t each er
a11 1l f'.li c h ai r-ilr<'SR<'l' a.ll1l t.h e ,rJ1il.o-'rn"'l1 or a cl 1•('rt.ise tl ic ui solves
•· l'ro[cs'<o r Ho-ailll-"'n," h <' dllCS n ot prott'st; h e simply profcn; for
the fn t1 1ro to l lc oallc<l "J\l r."
The Duke of ~:h:rn- ·w< 'i 11uu was, in Alabrima, askcll the quef;tion,
"Are yo n the mlfn t.li at " ·allt.s to go to Sel ma? " aull upon assenting
he wa"' tolLl , "'J.'l1 cn I'm ihe qrmtleman that's goin g to dri1·e yon. "
Precise ly t.11 0 same t.hi11 g nec1uTeL1 to Sir Ch arles Lyell: "I asked
t ho 111 m;tor of tl1 0 in n at Uorniug, who was very n.tlontive to his
g ncsts, tn Jin1l rn y <'.lla<•lt11m1i. H o irnm e<1iatol,\' cnl lf~ <l ont in· hi fl
ba r-rornn , ' \Vli Nc is th n r; r• i;f/<'>11rm tl1 at lJl'o nght t.J1ir; 1111m l1 cro?'
A few clays lJdo r<', a farmer i n Ne w York Imel. styled my wife '"o111r111, f·, Ji ongli. ]") •·ull c<l. Ii.is llll' ll 1litnght.crn lm ties, a 1Hl wonl<l, I lJeJi oH', lnwo oxtc ll11e'1 tli:d; trnn to th o rnaiLl-scrv:rn t.. I know of
a n orator 1rl10 011ce sai<l at a p11l 1lic rn cefo1 g whero b onnets pretl orni11 af;e<l, "'l'he lrt rlies " ·ere the last at. tho Uross an <l the first at
th e 'l'ornh ! " 'l'h e vn lga rif;y of ont<'r.iug a t,mvellor's llrtrne ou tho
regist.er of the 11 011 so as "i\Ir. - - a11<l /rt1(1J" is only surpassed by
plitcin g the sa111 0 wonl s Oil vi"' it.i11g-canl s.- ScHEuB mo: VERE.
A clcrg_y n1n,11 rcatli 11 g in t.l1 e Hook of Daniel, ::tllll feeling unce rtai n of t.h e 11runnnciat.ion of Rlmtlmch, i\Ieshach, an d Atieduego,
refonell to Lhem a secornl lime us the same three gentlemen. - ALFoJm.
In n, mi lroatl m r th e seats were 1111 full except one, which wur;
occnp.ied h y a pl cusant-lookiug Irishm an, and at one of the stations a co uple of evi<lently well-ln·rnl and intelligent youn g la<lies
cam e in to prncnrc seats. Snein g none vacaut, they were ab out to
go i nt.o t.he Jl oxt cu.r, wh en PntTick arnse l w.stily and offered th orn
his son.t, " ·.i th evillcllt plcn,s n rc.
"But yo u will h ave no seat for yourself," r espondccl. one of the

CHAP.

XIX. ]

SLANG.

375

young ladies with a smile., h esitating, with true politeness, to accept it.
"Niver mind tlrnt," said the gallan t Hibernian; "I'd ride upon
a cowcatcher to New York any time for a smile from such Jintlemanly ladies."
Ancl. lie rctircd into the next car amicl tho ch eers of hiH fcllowpassongers.

The two uses of slang are (1) to escape thought,
and (2) to conceal it. (1) O ue escapes the 111 e11tnl exertio n
o:f selecting a fitti.11g exp ress io11 by 11siug a ste reotyped label
that takes tl1e place of all express ions. A few years ago
the slaug adjective was "red-hot. " A p leasi11g e11 tertai11rn ent, a beco mi ng ribboJJ , deli cious ice-cream, all were
a)ike "red-hot." It was less weari so111 e to apply tl1i s
ep ithet to all three tl1 an to select "pleasi11g," "beco min g,"
a nd "deli cio11s" as the s11italil e iulj ediv es. J Lenee tl1 e
• use of slang, even m ore titan th e i11terpol::i.tion of foreig n
word s (sec p::ige 3GG ), indi ca tes a Ji111i tecl vocab1d ary, and
tend s to limit it still fortl1 cr.
As an illustration of the p ecnliarities of E nglish slang the New
Orl eans 'l'i:mes recalls the anecclo.t e of a yonng American lacly in
En gland who, while playill g cro11net, exclaim ed at a s urp~·is iu gly
fortunate shot of an opp osin g p laynr : "Oh! what a lwrriLl
scratch!" whereupon a young Bngl:ish lady remarked: "Yon
sh ouldn't u se such language ; it's slan g." "\Veil, wlmt shouhl I
say'?" asked l\fiss America. ''Oh ! yon should say, \Vhat a beastly
fluk e !"

(2) Bnt slang also panders to a moral l::i z in ess, th at shirks
the responsibility of h aviug convi ction s.
Take for exn,mple the tendency in wlmt are fashionable and
claim to b e refined circles in this cmm try, arnl p orlmps ove n rnore
especially in Bngland, to the n se of vag no antl incle!iliil;e phrases,
not so mu ch to hide a de ficiency of idert8 aR 1.o cover d iRcrect reti cencies of opinion, or prudent suppressions of natmal and sponta-

370

[PAUT IV.

PURI TY.

n eons fe eling. Tho practice of employing these empty sonuclstlwy l1 :wc no claim to Le eal.lcd words-is fo nrnled partly in a cautions d esire of avoilling embarrassing self-commi ttals, and partly
in that vul g ar prcjmlice of polite society which proscribes the expression of tlecicle<l sentirn entfl of a<lmirat.io JJ, approval, or dissatisfa ction , or of p rociRe aud d efinite opiuio nR upon any subj ect, as contmry to th o 1:1ws of goo<l taHk, indicative of a 'rnnt of lmowledge
of the world , a atl mo reover arrogant a nd pethiutic. - J\iAHSH .
li e wa.R Rh rnvi ng t he man lhc nc\v bay nml c th:-it h e was working in a team with the
"Yott wa rrant li illl f':Ot HUl , and perfec tly kinil :111«1 gent.l e? ., Lhe m a.I\ sai d .
''.l'erf1-et l y, 1 ' f': \ id Farrn tT .Joh n; " my wifca.nd (_'hi l drcll dr i \'C~ h i 111 , n.rnl IH' is a perfect pc t
()on1t-s int o th e ho u i;;e li ke a tlog.''
'" l•::1Ry t o s l1 111• ~" askrd th e 111an. d W1 •11, l g u CRRRn;
1
fac t i ~. I ncve 1· !tad hi111 s hod, l du11 ·t believe in it ; lie worlrn l.Jcl tc r \vil11011 I, it,' said Far-

ol d grny.

m e r .1 0 1111. " I low docs he act \\. IH'll yo u pu t th e c rupper on ?'' nsk< (l tho llHlll. 11'nrr11 cr
.Jol lll )wsitah· d. "\Vell , prt'l.ty f.!Ontl 1 I g11css, 1, he sa.ill; " fact iR, I 11 cvc r pnt it 0 11 .''
· • I lo w does it. get on ? •· as ked the man; 1 ' wh o dues put i t on ? n " \Y el l, I kind o( don't
k11n w,' ' said Fanne r ,John ; ~ ' r;tct is, he had th e h arness o n \\'l w n I g ot him, an' it fi t, him
so wel l. an' he seem ed to he so kin e o' co 11t·c nlod i n it;, like. t hat I so rl; of nC\"Cr took it
off'n hi,11 1." ".Arnl h4 JW I o n ~ !i:wt~ yon h:ul hilll ? ''as ked the rnan . J'armcr J ohn c hc wetl
1
a wheat Rt.ra w n~r.r rnC'i\ilath-<•ly. " \V cll,' 1 li e i-nid, u n ot to exceed mure n two yl'n r,
m e hllc.'' A nd tlw rn:tn kt ckr:il a little furthe r away, !llH1 snitl he wou ld '' Ro rt of luok
rn 11111l ii li tt le fu rt he r hc f un • he ho 11ght, like. '' Awl Farm er .Joli n n ever saw him ::i. g ain,

CHAP. XIX.]

SLANG.

377

most exact expression to the tltongl1t as it is. So interpenetrated are thought and language, that slang in
speech, even in the freest aud most familiar interconrse,
betokens sh abb.r ideas, inexact thonght, and a low li terary
standard. Stilted and pedan tic, speech is neve r tu lie; l>11 t
the easiest, most nn ass umiug, an d rn ost delightful la11 g11 age
of daily in terco11rse will be best ass11 rell wl1 cre tl1 erc is
tltorong lt mastery of reputable E ngli sh, and where 110 other
is heard.
ExE1w rsE.- Give purity to tlie foll ow ing sc11 te nees by
alteri11g words and expressions :

1

C Vl'li 1111to t h i ~

tlay. - /J urli11gton ll aw/."f'!Je.

l Vh ere 1"s slun;; J-' l'1'111issiUe ? The answer is easy : NoA \nite r in /Jfw:!. ·1oood's 3fagazine says tliat all
ed ucntcd p eop le 11 sc three d ifferent kinds of Engli sh : "Old
Saxo11 E ngli sh \1·h cn t 11 cy go to l~hurch , or r ead goocl poetry;
vc rna c11lar or co ll rn1ui al Engli sl1 , not altogeth er fre e _from
shw g an<l vul ga rity, 11·hen they talk to one an other i11 the
onlin ary in tcrco m se of life ; arnl li tera ry Eng li sh when
they 111 alrn spcccl1 cs or serm orn:;, and write or road artieles
in rev iews or l>ook s."
This ec rtainl y is not tr ue of all edncated people, nor
should it lie trnc oJ' an.r. The lang uage of ordiu ar_y inte rconrsc is less fo rlllal than that oJ' the essay or th e d iscourse,
bcc:w sc tl1e tho11glit is less fo rn1 al; but w ith ma ny people
there is, allll witl1 all ed11 cated people th ere sl1 o u\d be, the
s:m1e effort in both to g ive the pm est as well as the

w here.

P eople talk about th e c maneiprition of tlrn slavf's, as if it cnnld
be clone n.ff-hand. How chee ring it is to l1 ea.r agrtiu tli e voice of tt
friernl, who has f<n- long been scpnmte1l fro m 11s ! H o lloes things
in a careless, slip-slop mann er. In the fo ll owi ng year t he tables
were turned, and the party of t.h c Q necn- moth or came in to p<lll"Ol".
It was by su ch olJseqnimu-; conduct t.liat lie curried .fnrm· "·it.h the
lead er of his party. He was dosorf;e<l hy l1 is fri crnls fo r good und
all. Those who stick b_1; yon and ;; npport yo n i11 a11versity are true
friends. Napoleon gaine1l a great lot of battles h oforn his career
was finish ed.
The secretary did not comri up lo the .<era/ch till the clnso of the
d ebate, when he more than insinnat.ctl tli:tt lii s mas ter lw1l J>11I his
foot in it.
l\>Iany of th em came readily on <leek, arnl b eing dr!U'n on their
marrow-bones, did not venture to riHe till they \\"Ore positively ordered to do so.
"How do you like my boots, l ove?" ask ed a you thful bride.
"Oh, th ey're immense," h e said.

TOPICAL ANALYSIS.
CUA 1"1'EH XX.
Purity.
I. English words, p. rJG3 .
ri. J>-r 1'8r' 11t 11.wrrr, p. :\fi3
1. Obsolete words, p . rJG4.
2. Nove l wo rd s, p. 3G4.
a. Wholl y 1iew wo rd s, p. 3G4.
1. New tl1i11gs aud n ew thoughts n eecl n ew words, p .
3G4.
TECilNJCAL \V OJWR.
]'rope r nse o f tech" ical wo rd s, p. nGG.
2. 1\las t• ~ rn of stv ie m ay coi n words. JJ. 3ii0.

a.
4.

T c 1npor:n y co inngn or.cnsiona.ll y p e nni ss ibl c, p. DGl.
J!uLv1it.:L.) ;-.\d!H.: Li.!.H•: ;-. L1..: •--•-•H1•_>:! !J'-'i-·~il~ui~-j,

J:acliLivt l:-:

r'

ihl '.?.

si\
I i.;0 tu )h-,\- \.(lrds, r;. ;~C0.
Nu1rf'pn.p e rs not expo11on ts of pnpn ln.r n eed, p. 3G3.
{3. Bx pa.11 :.; iuH ai1d (;(i nt rn.otioH of o l d. ··ffor ds. p. UU4.
-y. t.;u1 11i1 111a Liv 11 f:i ut Uitl ,,-oru;;;;, p. ~:.Vv.
b. 1Vr1tio11rrl 1wrr1r , I'- ilUU.
f;.

I'v j1til a.1 H tul1

! ",:'!

J 11t0. rp nlnJ ion i nto En g li ~h r.n 1H~fruetlon: p. 3G6.

.'-..1 ·· .
2 . Tirnplny in g f oreign idi on1s, p. 3GU.
2. Provincialisms, I'· 070.
c. Beput11blc 1180f!P, p. g1 i.
l. Worrls 1111j11 stifiahl y c r eated, p. 372.
2 . \Vorcls mi s used , p. B72.
Uses of slang .
1. To escape thou ght, p. 37G.
2. T o coJ1 c<'n l thought, p . WIG.
Where is slang pcrmi ssiJ, lc, p. :J7(i,

l'lWPHl.l<.:TY .
~rhc oppnRite to k1g icn l trnth iH p rope rl y errcff ; to rnoral truth , n li e ; to g rnmnrn.ticnl
trutll, a blundcr.-C Al\lPDEL L.

ii. Authorized Definit ions are prolialJly less
kllOWll hy people who snppoi:;c ti 1ey know them, tlrnn any
oth er s11hj eet of inforn1:1Jio11. To tli c 1najority of 111 011 ,
ll!Ost word s 11ot re presc11l:i11 g 1.l 1c 111atc rial i1e<'.e;;s il:i cs oJ' life
arc m ere crn111tern. w;ed a11d J1:111ded about \\'itlt 110 :1pp relteJ1 sio11 0£ their 111 c:i11i11g'. U11e 111aY be a voln111i11 ons
reader, and yet know wo rd s i11adcr111aft)ly. l i 11l m;s li e !1as
fnn11Prl tl1P l1 n hit ,-,f lrn1lcin•,.
"'l ' tl1n .!il' l·ini1•11.,.]i""" ' 'i11n
C:"
v

o f nnn.r'.c11;;ton1r:d wn nl o:;, !:i s 1kli11il irn1 nf th o1n ·wi ll l.•o
h:l~.Rd n po n t.l! P. ?!H~~1nin f'~ hP- en nj 0et11n"": d frnni th0 f'.rn 1 t. 0:~;t.
t.o LavH hHt~n t.1it:ir sig ni fi 1:;i.t.it-,n in l 'ai'f.ii"·nL1.r l•fl. S~ ;.1_ g•~ ~ .

.,,V-1: r.n n::r r~::1 :: :::'. ::. :· "' :- !: ~:. ~. ~:. '.1 :-·.~~ i.".:::: r-. ::~. L:-: . ~-.c.:'.
.c :- ~.-:
definitions : that rnis n11de rsta ndini:'.·s a ucl <} il:uTe1s n.11d
.

Ji! l-t!lL1 Li!'.::i'

.

!,•J

.
LHe

.

.!! 1.~;.::.t!'1.. ;1':

.

.. .

ii. W!!l

Eeern wo r th wli ilc to be snrn one kuows t h e meauiug u£
tlte words he uses.
' Vords are an amazin g 1.muier to the reception of truf;h.
Definition of words lrns b een commonly cr:llled a mere exercise
of grnrnmftrirnrn; b n t 1Yh cn we come to cmrnider th o innumerable
nrnnlern, prosoriptions, rnassacrns, and tortu res i-J1i ch m en have
inflicted on each other from mistak in g the mean in gs of words, the

380

[PAH'l' IV.

PROPltIETY.

L'UAI'.

381

MALA.PROPS.

XX.]

exercise of d efinition certainly b egins to £1ssume a more di g nified
aspect.

pany social intercourse, muturil e ndea rments, aml r eoiprocul preferences. - COLEUIDGE.

l f J Otl chooRc lo qu a rrel with yo ur eltl cst fion, do it; if y ou nrc determin ed to be disgu si.l'll with tlt c wo rld , rmd lo ~ o :rnd li\·c in \\" c!'tmorclaml 1 Uo so; if you a.re resolved to
qui t your country , a nd Fettl e in Am cri1;a, g-o !- on ly, when yl1u hnv e Rcttlecl the rcnsons
111 1011 w l1icl1 yo11 take one or I.he other of tl1usc i:: tcpi: ; , hav e Llic goodn ess to cxn111i11c wlicthcr
t.h e won ls in w h ic h th ese r C'a S~ IJI R arc co nl ained ha ve any di sti nct m ca11 i11 ~; aml if yon

Propriety may Le violatecl by using \\·ord s that for
tlie meaning intended are (a) l11acc11rate, or (b) l 11 app rnpriato.
(a) lna<"curate Words are often call ed malnpropos,
a word which recall s M rs. Malapro]J, a clrnraeter in Sheridan's comedy, "The Hi 1·al ~ . "

!l n cl t h ey h:wc n ot, Ptnhra~c ynu r lii i-:t -hor 11 1 forget Anlt'r ica, nnlnoHC you r pnckn gci\ nuJ
r emai n w lw r c yo11 a.re.-S YJJNF.Y 8 M TTTI.

A lecturer on 11at11ral h i,..,t o ry wn ~ c:tll C'll u11 on the oth e r clay to pay

ror a li ve rn.bbit

w hi ch he lm1l in a bask et in a railway ca r, a11d whidi lih c cornlu ctor. ~n irl would be
d rnrgr{l lh e "amc :1 s a\Iog.

'l'J·, c h•<·lnrer Yainly cxp lni ncd that h e was going: Lo use Lhc

nthhit i11 ill w;;trntio11 of a IN·!u rc h e wo t <\ alH•lll ln g h·c in n11of h('r town, a wl, indi g ua.n lly

tak i11f! a s rnal l liv c t ( n·! o i ~c from Iii ~ pockf't, sid d: "Ynn'll be tc llin ~ m e u ext t.l 1at lhiR i s
a dog, n1Hl tl1a.t I 11111 ~ 1; p:ty for it al so.'' 'J'h H cornln ctnr went [or im pc rior ontcn~ , ancl on

hi s return dvliv c r<~ 1 ] thi ~ Jcct1t rc
to rlu ~

is a h inf5cct. ',

1Jll

nat 11ral h h-1.ury :

t•

Cats is dogs. raiJb irs iH d og~, \Jut a

The p ro f essor h:id tu pay tlog-fare for the ralJl>i t.

Forming Definitions of fa1t1iliar word s is in every
" ·ay ~1 n ad 1ui rah lo O:-(orcise, cspceially in class or in com pany,
wl1ere there is th e st.i1111il11 s of e111nlatio1L. These may be
111 ere l.r formal, l iko tho foll ow i11 g:
'1'11 0 rno<lnrn lJ()(>k is n.n nsse1r1 l1bge of l eaves, of convcn.i eut
form ru11l 1li111c11 s io11 s, SC<"lll'<'l y i111it.1'<l nf; 0110 ml go, wit.h pages
rngnbrl y 11111111H'l'<'<l , i111prcss"tl "· it h churnote rn uf different., but
fi xetl form s, acconling tu tlrnir S('vcrnl u ses, words scparnte<l by
spaces, m cmh orn of th e pc ri o<ls, and the periotls th em selves, di st.i11guis l1<•11 by app rop riate points, rt1H1 the whol e c ut up into prtrngrnphs, :-wdio11 s, n1ul eliaptcr s, nt·conliu g to tho nat ural divi s ions
uf t.li c :-ml1j ect., or t.li c convc nic uce of the writer, pr.i.n t er, or rearl er,
n.1111 , finall y, ah1111<lantl y prm·itlc<l wi th explanatory n otes and r cferouccs, m1t1 ample tables of contents autl il1l1exes.- l\LrnsH.

But th ey will !Je lllOJ'e i11torostin g and Jll OrO valuable
,d1 on they roaeh those in t:1.11g ihle id eas t.liat -l-i11cl their
de fi11i r.io11 i11 011 e's life O.\peri e11ce; that to tho boy are
a l> s t.ract id eas, wl1ile to tl10 rn an they overflow with a tho11sa11d rn o111ories. Uf tl1 ese, the following jg au instance:
S ('nsilJility is a co11st.ituf;io1rnl <Jl!ickness of sympath y with pain
null pleasurn, uutl a keen sense of tlie gnitilicat.ions that accom-

It wris sh e who waJJtcd h er niece to i lli tcmtc a l over from li er
memory, who de clared Sir AutliuHy was an absol n tc misa nthropy,
and who discou rned as fo ll mrs 011 t he e dueatio n of \\"Omen:
Ol>r-: crv c 1111"'1 :=:ir A n tho ny , I wo ttld h.v no mean s wi sh a cl an g h tc' r of min e to be a
progen y o[ learnin g . l don't thiuk ~o 1tllu.: h lc:tn1 ing lJcc11111 es a yc11111i; wonwn; for in stance, I wou ld neve r Jct Il er m ctl dl c wit.Ii Un:-ck, ur IJ c lJrew, or algchra, or si1nony, o r
fitt x ions, or p:irn.ll oxcs, or s uc h i n rla111111atory lm rncl ll's uf lcnrning; nci t ht: r wo nl cl i t be
n cceRs:ir y fo r h er to ha ndle nn y of yu11 r 11inlhc1n:1Li cnl 1 a stnm o1ni<'a l, 1li:1l>oli c:d in stm -

mcn ts. But:, Sir Antlwny, I \\·011\d ~e nd Jw r, a t 11i11 r years ol d, to a hoa nli11 g -sc hool , i11
nnlcr to learn her a l i t.t ic i11 ge 11 11ity nn tl ar tifice. Tli e11 , t; ir, f>hc sho11J tl hav e n. ~ 11 per ­
c ili o 11 ~ k n owlcdg~

i n accom1ts ; allll as Ril e g rew 11p l WPnld h:i. vc h( ·r in s!Tn<'Ll·tl in i..!C011 1·

,,

ctry 1 that s he m ight k now i;;rmKthin g of t he C•Hlt<1 g in11 s 1·n 11n trit•s ; h11t a.hove all , S ir

:i'

nrth odo:-iy, l.Jrnt she 111i g-h t. 110 !: 111i ~-i--; p r: ll 1 n111l mi i;.
prono1rn co wor ds i::o sha.mefnll y ns ~irl~ 11 ~11 ally 110: and likew ise thnt, she 111ig hl; rcprc·
Anthony, she should he

nii ~t n· ~s 11f

1[1
r

h cml Lh e true m ea ni ng of· what. she i s f':a_ri ng-. 'J"h is1 :-;ir 1\11 t. l1011y, i s what I won l!l hav e
u. woman know; a nd I 1lon 1 t t hin k thcrn iA a fmpcr stiLio11s article in it.

P1·cs0nt.ly :-.; li e rc mrirlrn tlmt 11 o f·.!ii11g is so c01wili:tti11g· to yon
yonng p eople as HCYcrit·y , prcpar!.'s her n il' l'fl t o .rocciYc U:1pfai 11
Absolnto's iu rnc::iJions, nnt1 lio]'cs tl1c cnptriin 11·ill not co nsi1ler
her wholly illegible. She is glad to get li e r 11iocc from undo:· h er
intuition, ancl assn res li er m a itl t.l1 a t unless sh e is fait,l1fnl, sh e w·ill
forfeit h er mis tress's m alevo le nce forever, while h er lJCiu g rt simpleton slmll he no excn sc for lrn r lomlity . 'l'o Captai n Ahsolut.e Hhc
1m,ys t h at l1is \l ei ng 11i s fat.lwr 's so n is a s11 tfini c u t r11·co111mrnlaf;io11, l 111t
from the i ugc un it.y of his appcara11<'c slin iH eo1ffilH" C<1 h e tlcscn·cs
tlw charnetm: give n o! him. Fl'w g011 t l('nrn11, shn sighs, know h ow
to n.pprc cint·.c the inoffodna l 1111alit.ics in a woman, a1ul n.[tcr pro11ounoiu g th e captain th e very pine-apple of poli ten ess, drops into
g mmmaticnl pbmse as follows:
I am sure [have clnnc ever y t.hin g in m y pn,\·r r i-:i n<;c 1 c :x pl n11cd lhc nITair.

I lni1l my positive coujunctions on h er never to think on the fellow ngnin.

T. ong- ngo

I hav e siuco

i

[,

:I!
I

r:i'I
i' I

I

!'

I

·I

,'./i
",,

'I

I

I'' '1

•II

11[
l1I

'. J

,I

11

/!!!,I, 1j
ij!

,,

I

382

PIWPRIETY.

[PART IV.

laid f:'i r Anth ony's prcpos iLinn before h<' r; Uut, l run 811r ry to r:;:n.y, sh e RCc rn s reso lved to
d1 :di11 e e\'e ry part.icl1) Umt l t>n jnin Il er.
Rnc l! n dt.'J..:Tc1 · !

. . . O h, i t gi v\'!5 111 (> the 1J s<lrostali c!5 to
1 lliongh t !'h e llf\d p f' r s i ~ ll'd from cnnT·s pornl ing with h im ; but, h<' liold,

t.il iR \'Cry <1rty I ha ve i11t1~roe d cd tt 1tolhl'r lcllC' r frur11 the follow .

.

..

'l'bcrc, ~ ir, n.n

Whal dn y t• ll think of th:tt ~- a n nspcrsio n np 11 11 rny parl s <• r
f.l,t1d 1 a l n·1 1te ! Hun: , if !_ n :p n·ht• 111l an ything in th iR w1n·l d, it. if.I til e

al!a e k npo u ni y lnn g·uag L· I
E' pccd 1 I

\\'a s

l!VL' r

rn..:e of rn_v or:ic nla1· t o11 i.r11c, and n. 11i('c d(· rn11 ge1JH' Jlt, of e1iil:qi h H !

.

Th en h c'Fi RO

wf'\I hn·d- F>o fnll of al :icrily, and ad111:ll iu11, and ha~ Au 1111 wh I n i-;ay for ldtu <.; t'Jf - in f.:.nch
gond l:t11 g 11:1 gP, l oo.

ll is 1'11 y siog 11 n1 11y is sn ~rau1 111al i ca. I.

'1'11<.m hi s p rc!,;Cll t:C iHRO 110\Jlc I

I protci:;t, w l11.: 11 l saw him , l lhoug ll t uf what Jl nrnlet says in the play:
H cs1w ri:rn ~11rl s - th c fron t; <i f JoU hi1 w;clf !
J\ n 1'_\"<• , likP \l:ud1 1 lo t hr1 ·atf'11 at comH HUH] I
A s ta t ion, li ke lf:lrry .i\[crcury, newS0 111 ct hin g- nhn11t ld s~ ing-- 0 11 a h ill - ho \n•v(T, f Ii (' !" irnilit,rn1 P Rt ruck m e <lirr.rtly. . . .
We ll , Si r t\11thn11 y, si nce you (11•s irc it. we \dll not n111 li:ipntc the pru;t i Ro mi nil , yon ng
]wo pl e. ou r r rl l"! )f': )Wcl ion will hr :ill I n the f nt1 1r~ .

Sn? Ro?

.

.

dnAI'. XX.]

Classical Words. - ]t will be n o ticetl that M rs.
blunders nre m ostly in tho use of word s
deri ved from t he Latin. l <'or t his as \\'Oil as for oth e r
r easo ns proferc 11 ce sli uu lcl be g ive n to th e sho rt.e r word s
of A11 g lo-Saxo11 ori g in, wl1 orn the root is 11 ot Jost in tlic
11rnzes of a v olu1nin u11s tai l. llu1re1·er c:o rtai n a wr iter
may be tl1at hi s n so uf E 11 g li sli is co n ect, li e cann ot be
snro that his h earers w.ill appreh end it eor reetly. Every
blunde r in speech r eprose11ts a sco re of 1Jl1111ders in J1 cari11g. The little g irl tl1 at, after singing S und ay after Sunday,
The t:on sccrn.IP1l i;r of's I 1 ll IJc a r
Till dcaLh Rh all FiC I. me free,

.

l:l i111i lar Ll11nd c rs a rc fou nd where th ey co ul d h ardl y be
looked for.
1d.o110t know wl1at. f'iit1rrid.cr yon hrtve for rrccm·ac.)'.-1\fomrn.
J tln1":: '~' l _1tnin0tl :1 c l i~r!lctc r for 11~1tn~·:1.l pn\YCl'S of l 'C:1.fiO l.liiJg,
which I ccmltl 11 of; rnfntP., n.1111 yP.t. wlii cli I folt were lrnucser ved.-.

A. 13. Enw11rn>8.
[An rl1111ost .i ncrctlil 1lc series of blnmlers, but found in Lor re cent novol, "l\IiRR Carew."]
'l'hc rcei prneal eir.i!if;y of antho rn is one of th o m ost ri sible
scenes in f11 0 farc e of lik. - DH. JOHNSON .
'!'h ere arc t\ro modes of estimating tbe r elrttive amonnt of wonls
tl eri \'Cd from <li ffer cn t Ro n rc0R in a given Jan gnago. - l\I11nsn.
l\facrrnhy RJWn.lrn of th n ohsm'l'rrlinn of th e f'lahlmt.h.
\Yi Ili mn Tri:1·lo r "Tot<', in 1814: "A m ornl and politi cal mth er
t.lmn a lw ndiflfl Yalne." Aclcli son s peaks• of apoplectic hal Rnm.
Cowper haci lwlicr1m.< tahmt. I lmve road of a 111.iscellrr neo11s author. Yet we h ave sick rooms aml dying beds, insane asylums,
?nlfd l1onsN1.- l'IALJ,.

Sec use of J.!e!'Sonctl'ity, p.

47.

383

~fal aprop 's

ll f!rc"K fine work !- hcrc' R fine s ni ~·idc, pnrricid t·, and Rin111 lati on goi 11g on

in th e fi1·lil s I A 1al S ir An! ll n11 y not to he fo11111l to pren•ut the anti sl rophc !. . . .
but ho can
'l'li:it g-cntlernan f'i\11 tt• ll ynu-"twas ill' r 11 vrl0pf'd the afTnir to me . .
te ll Y'>ll the pc rpc ndiculnr~.
. We 8honld onl y p:trtici pntc things. . . . Nay,
n o d clm;ion !-; 1o th e past. Etc.

J\iALAPROPS.

inquired with lang11iJ euriu1; it.y 1rliat kiml of a 1 ear a consecrnted crnss-cyed 1car 11·as, a11y\\'a y, l1as J11 a11y u11con sc io11 s follow- snffcrcrs, O\'Cll i11 intelli ge nt cn11grcg:1tiu11 s.
l\lrs. A.: "Now, l\Irs. D., "·ill yon come au cl see onr apiary ?"
l\Irs. 13. (who haR l ieen pntt.in g it. o ff nll tltR afternoon): "\Yell ,
.i\lrs . A., tho tlii11g is , J'Ull Jnw\I', 1·m- J.·m raLher afraid ui moll l u~yR

! ,,

Gent tu Lhe wailer: "Dri11 g J11C su mo gmrnnrnt.ical arn.1 Lypogn1pliica l e rrors. " \V aitcr (Jo o kjn g 1n1zzJ( ~ d at first, but recovering
in a m omen t his nsu al serenity): " \Ve aru jnst ont of tl1e111, sir ."
"Then what d o yo n m ean b y ];oC'pin g th C'm OH yonr bill of fare? "
"Are you the judge o[ rewol mtes?" Raid the Boston l 'ost's
l\Irs. Part.iugto11, as Rhe walke!l into an oflice of a Judge of Probate. "I mn a Jutl ge of Probate," was the rnply. "\Vell, that's
it, I expect," quoth th o olcl lady. "You see, my father cliecl
detested, and h e left several little infalels, and I want to b e their
executioner ! "
A gentleman, wishin g to be nndis turbcd one day, instructed his
Irish servant to a<lmit no 01.rn, awl, if any 0110 shonld iuqn.ire for
him, to give him an " eqnivoC'al a nswer." Nigl1t came, and the
gentleman p roceeclorl to interrognte Pat ns to his call ers. '' Did
any one cn.11 ?" "Yi s, snr, wan gent.lr 111m1.'' "\Vll[lt did he
say?" "He axed \Y!IS yer 11 ouor in ?" " \Yell, what did you

384

PTWPlUE'l'Y.

[PAHT

IV.

tell him ?" "Snrc, I g rim him rt quivikle answer jist." "How
was t.Jmt?" "I rixed him m1s his g rnndmother a monkey! "
Further, it is a ce rlriiu fa ct tlmt when we are much accustom ed
to piut.icnlar term s, we can scarcely avoid fan cying that we unders tand them, wli ctltcr th ey l1aYe a m eanin g or n ot. - CAMPJJELL.
]\fan kiJl(l in gc ncrnl are so lit tl e in the habit of l ooking steadily
at their own m erinin g , or of wei ghing the words hy which they
Pxprcss it, tlmt the writer who is carefu l to do hoth will somet.irn cs mi slcn.<l 11is rca<l ers throu gh th e very excellence which
q1rnlifi cs him to be their instructor; aml this with n o oth er fanlt
on his p:irt tlrnn tltc nt()(lcst mistake of Rll]'posing in those to
whom h e addresses himself a u intellect as watchful as his own.CoLEIUVGE.

Short Words are Best. - While it shonld be t!te
write r's first e ffort to express ] 1is mcau i ng :is c:rnctly as
poss ible, anu \rhile tJii s will often J'Cfp1ire all tJ1e reSOlll"CC S of ltis vocalmlary, alik e of J\11 glo-Saxon :incl of
cla ssical or igi n, yet wh ere tl 1cre is a cl10 icc between tlte
cri sp, vigoro11 s, 1111111i stalrnhlc Haxo11 , :ind th e ornate, sonorons Lati11, cl1o icc slwuld fall 11 po11 tl 1c form er, as not only
in bette r taste, l mt as co111parati r ely free from liability to
111 isapp rchc11 siu11.
Yon " ·ill often find t.Jmt a sentence, every worcl of which m ay l>e
anthori 7.cd En gli sh , hris a Rick ly h aze hang in g over it., n.s you imagin e yon I' ntternn ce nf it to yonl' ]1 erircrs, which is en tirely <lne to
its Lat.in vo•·a bnbry . It b ecomes transparent th e in st.ant you
stl'ikc ont Norma n \\"Ortls from th e points of emphasis, riml put
Srixn11 " ·or.ls i 11 tltoi r l' b ees. --Pimr,Ps.
Ya ln ahl n n.s t.]1 0 L rit.in rt<ljnncts to our lan g nage are, in the ripprnf' iatiou of the ir Ya ln e it, shonl<l never b e forg otten tl1rit they are
a<ljnn cts . Tl 1e fram e, t.hc f<inews, tho n erves, the h eart's hlood, in
hrid, t-h <~ l •n<l y a1Hl sonl o f onr language is En gli sh; Latin ancl
G re ek fnrni sli o nly its limhs and onbrnnl fl o nri sh cs.- R . G. WHITE.

Ex r:1w 1s I<:.- U SC si111 p ler worus in the fol lowi ng sentences :

CHAP.

XX.]

"JOIINSONESE."

385

Their h e:;irts are like thrit of the pri nciple of evi l himself--incorporeal, pure, unmixetl, d ephleg umtml , d efecatecl evil. - B urnrn.
W e may well co!llm e1ul it to th e cha plain of a n ervi ne hospital, in which patients.. congregate who arc afflicted wit.Ii insolllnia.
- PIJEJ,PS.
I \rou ld inculcate the importance of a carefo l stlllly of gcnui no
En glish, aml a conscientious scrnpnlosit·,y in its accnrntc use. l\IAus 1r.
'l'hcre is rnry little affinity, Pith er iu se nse or in s01111d, l Jctwcr n
p i·ecept an<l rlocti·in e ; a11l111otltin g l> nt an oscihw cy from \d1ich llu
writer whatever is uniformly e xcepted , <·:in accoun t for so odLl :t
misapplicatio n of a fomili rir kr m. - CA ~ ll' Bm,L .
'l'hcy ag r eed t0 ho111n/ngale the choiec that 11:-id h ec n nmd.e.
Some writers confin e th eir ritl.e uti o11 to 'lll ·in11/i"' of Rtyle. His demission of offi ce caused a g rc:~t sensrit.i o11 . If \\' O wi s h to i mpro\"fi
our taste, we must h ecoine i•ersr111t with tl1 e lwst elass ical · writ er s.
Cetei·is plln:lms, wh en n. Raxn n and a Lat.in wor1l nlfor t,]w111sdvos,
we slto nld cl1oose tlie Rrixo11. '.1.'lt c r1 111c111l11 !rnJ1orlf /,/" !in.Yin g Ilee n
made, a h os t.ilc m cct.i ng \\W< prcrnn!C'11. 'J.'hn sn l•.i <' d , 11i 11 he
trcatc<l ad l<m:71m1. in tli c JH)xt, n<lit.ion o[ t.lw \rnrk . Th e J>rotl11etion was a chef-d' o' 1wre of ingi nnity . They r 11 i·nr01l into ll1 e concern with g rerit g 11stn . H e \rns evi <l Pntl_v lrthorin g nnfl nr so111C'
hall11ci11r1tion. J\Iy fri cml has n. g rprit k J1 ur·k at. l"<' lllftrk s. 011 r cicrr on e firnt co1Hlnctml n s throu gh t.11 0 pri1wip:tl l>11il <li11 gs nf till \ city .
'l'he m an ia for Fren r h fashi on st ill p reva il s. It 11·n.s no t cnn s i<l en •1l
qnite connne il fmrt for u s t o :tpp<'fti'. 'J.'ltc 1111 i111 11s tha,t JIC'l"l'Mk<l
the address \Yrts rnanifesl; thron g hont. A s th e co111pn.11y rc tirE:tl, rt
ludicr ous contretemps took place.
1

"Johnsonese" is a tcrlll frc•11w11tl y npplicll tn
writ in g that abound s i11 word s uf' Lati11 dc rivat:iun , su called
from Dr. Samuel J oli11 so11 , its g re;ct c xpu11 c11 t.
It is clear t ha t ,John son himself tli<l not think in t.h c <li a lcc t in
which h e wrote. T h n exprn.ss inn s \1·l1i .. h enmo Jil'st t,o hi s tong 110
wer e simple, <'n e rgot i<', a 11,l pfr.l-. nre s1111n. \Vh en h o \IT O t e [o r pnlilicat.ion, he <li<l hir; sentences out of B 11 glish into Jolrnsonnsc. II.is
letters from the H el>ritles to ]\[rs. Thl'~ l e :in ) 1".11 e ori gi11al of tl1 rit work
of which the "Journcy to the I-IeLrides" is th e tn111 slatioJJ, autl

88d

PlWl'RIE'rY.

[PART

IV.

CrrAr. XX. ]

Let but this fo rce be mine. of thongli t nn <l speech,

it iR n,mnsi ng to comprtre the two versions. " When we were taken
np-Rtrtirn," sriys he in one of his letters, "a dirty fellow b oun ced
ont of th e u ecl on which one o.f n s waR to lie." This incident is
recorded in tli e " Journ ey " as follows : ''Out of one of th e b eds
on wl1ich we were to r epose, s h1rtell up, at our entmnce, a man
hbck as a Cyclops from th e forge." Sometim es Johnson translated
al ond. " ''l~ho B eh on,rnn,l,' " h e sai<l, VN".Y nnjnstly, "h as n ot wit
onongh to k ee p it sweet ; " then, rifter a pt1use, "it has not vitality
e11011µ;l1 to keep it from putrefaction."--lY!AcAUJ,AY.
In a note on

And he t hut will may ta Ice the sleek fa!; phra se
'Vhi cll glows n111l bur ns not, t hou gh it g leam nud shi ne;
I .i g h t but, no he at ; a fl m;h wiLh out a blazr: !

.N or is it nll'rfl strength tha.t the l" ilflrt wo rd boasts .
It serv es of more tha.n fig ht o t· st orm to tell,
Tile roar of

Modern taste shows a marked preference fo r short
wol'(.ls. ~larnh giv es a table of percen tagcs to slww that
the best write rs of the present clny l1 auitnally eu1pl oy in
both prose and poetry a larger p roportion of A11glo-Saxon
words than tl1 e Lest writers of th e last century.
Thi u k n ot. t h at Ri rc ngth Hf'~ in th o bi g round word;
Or that the hri f'f aml plain ll1H RL 1wcllR be weak.
T n whom r:m thi H he lrnc w ho once lrn s h e ard
TI H• cry for h f' lp , t h e t ong-11c t: hn.t :ill m e n i; pcak
\ Vli rn want, o r woe, or fpar , is in the throat,
P., 1h:1t ea c h w ord ga s pctl ont is like n s hriek
l 'rc> ~sc<l fro lll the so re h en.rt, o r a F.lrnn g c wild n ote
811 ng hy F:ornc fay ur fi <' ml ? There is n. stren gth
Wh ich ( li e ~ if s t rn l; t~lH'd tno far or l' pnn to o fin e ;

\Vh :ch has more weight thnn breadth, m ore depth t h an length.

\H\VCA t 1 1!~t

clai;; h

0 11

r od•:- l.JomHl

c o a st.A ;

'J'h c crai-: h of ta. II (,recs w h1' 11 t h e wilcl \tri nd s swell ;

Til e !'Oar of

g 11 11 i-: 1

t hn groa ns of

011 blood -Rtain cll Jiehls.

111011

Lltnt d ie

H lla R a voice ns we ll

l;-(.lr th em t;Jrnt WL'l' P; for t.h ctn tha t 11 H.mr11 t.h c dea1l.

Fu r t hem that lau g h, :i.nll d:111<;c, a 11 1l <:l ap th e h atlll:
To joy's quick ste p. :is Wflll as g rid's s low trC>rHl.
'l'h c ~, ...·cot plain wonls we kn r11 t at, first kee p time i
A11d t hong h t h e th eme h1 ~ ~:u l , or gay. nr g r a nd,

Sln l;tcry to Ruc h neat cxccll cncc opposed
Should make tl csirc vomi t from em ptiness:

whi ch J ohn son explrtins, "fed tho convulsions of eructation without plcnitud0."-H unsuN.
Dr. Pan: seems to think thrit eloqnence consists not in an abuncl rince of h cn,nti fnl images-not in simple and sublime conceptions
- uot in th e foe lingR of the passions ; bnt in a s tudious arrangement of snw>ro11s, 1~.1·0/ic, rm il sesquipedrr.l wonlR; a very ancient
<'rror, whfrh c01T11pt s t.he Rt.yle of the youn g, and wearies the patience of scu :;.i IJJc rn eu. - -Sl'JJNF.Y SmTH.
Jnnins did mnclt to limit., Cobbett something t,o overthrow, the
inflnc ncc of th e st.il tcd L rit.inis m of J ohnson mid his school, and
to hrin g b ack the lan guage, if n ot to a Saxon vocabulary, at least
to an idiomatic grammatic structnre. - MARSH.

887

SHORT WORDS.

'Vi th s uc h , w it h a ll , th c!'c may Uc mad e to chi111 c

In thought, or speech, or song, or prose, or rh y111c .
.L ADDISON J\ LE XAN DEll.

The English of our Iliule is good. Now and tlw n some long
words are foullll, aud t.h ey ltlways hurt tho verses in which you
Jiud them.
'l'ake tlmt whi ch says, "0 ye ge neration of vipers, who lmth
warnecl yo n to fl ee from the \\' rath to co me ?"
'!'her e is one loug wonl whicl1 ongh t n ot to lie iu, nam ely,
" generation ." In the o lll version the old word "broo1l" is usccl.
H ead th e verne agn,i n wit h t.hi s te rm, and yo n feel its fnll force:
"0 ye viper's bro0tl , who h ath wa rn ed yo u to 11ec from the wrath
to come? "
Crime som etimes does u ot look like crime, when it is set before
us in many fo ltls of a long 1rnn l. When a mrtn steals and "ll·c c:tll it
' ' tlefalcatiou," we rire at a loss to know if it is a blunller or a crime.
If he cloes not tell the truth, rtrnl we arn told that it is a case of
'' prernrication," it takes n s some time to kno w just what we sh ould
tliin.k of it.
No ma n will ever chea t himself into wro ng-doing, nor will he be
at a loss to judge of others, if be t.ltinks ltnll speaks of acts in clear,
crisp terms.
It is rt goocl rule, if one is at a loss to kuow if rin act is ri ght or
wrong, to write it d own in sh ort, straight-out E ngli >ih. - H ouA'l'IO
8 EDIO U H.

lc.'.nl111plr!s.- 'I'h erc is only OH O princi pl e of public co1ulndD o what you think right, and t(lke p lace and pmcer as an accident.

388

[PART IV.

PIWPllllHY.

Up on an:>' other plan, oJlice is slrnbliiness, labor, and sorrow.-SYDNEY H ~ IITIL

H erc is a Chinese version of th e parable of the P rocli gn,l tlon,
,vhi eh ,rns read at a fc stirnl of th o Uhin o~e Sunday-schools in Now
York:
A 111 a n, he two t-;Q llF'- Son Rpcn k he lo foLh cr ; fath er he g nt money ; g iv e some he ;
fa ther he t.akc it all rig ht. I. j us t no w g ive yo u half. H e give h im half ; be go long wuy
-lik e rn e cor nc Uhi1:a to New Yo rk,
N o he c :i.rd nl of 1noney, ll !':C Luo n11H.: h mo ney , all go ne ; he v e ry hun g ry.

Ile wan t work, he . ~ay , all ri g ht ; he tell him feed pi~s .

m a n.

cn t. wit.Ii

p i~ "

li e g o to

H e give pigs beau s ; he

him self.

Jlc ju st uow talk, •1 My fa ther he ric h man --too much mon ey.
h ere h ungry ?

r wan t to

go back and Rec my fa t.h e r.

i;i c ? ,,
Fi:ty,

"Your brother come bac k; your fa th e r

YC l"j'

~hul

he n o s ick; he k ill fat

r:ow ."

NnmhC' r r1rn • ~o n ve ry ~rn g ry; he n n go ins hlc ; vc1·y nng r_v .
R:ty,

11

l"nth c r he come o u t ; he

Nu he :m g ry. "

Nt11111J er on e ~ 1111 h t~ ~ n y, " [ 1;!.: 1y nll Li 1nc hy f;it.ll cr; n t~ v e r in:1k c lli1t1 nu g r y.

fa the r u cn!r ki ll n11c fat ro,,· fnr m e .

Aly

1\ l y hro thC'r he he ve ry ha d ; h e ll f'C mo ney too

1n11c h: h e h:l.vc fa t cow n11 11 111 n~ i G . 1 '

Fathe r Fay,
back . 11

11

'{nn w1 Re<' ; ho j nst dcatl , h e n ow c1 11nr. t.o life j hn l n~I,, h e n ow come

T ht •y mnke

XX.]

SOLECISl\IS.

389

children is called a troop, and a troop of pa rtridges is torrn etl ll
covey, and a covey of Leanty is caUetl a gal:txy, am1 :1 gabxy of
ruJ\i ans is callml a h onlc, allll a h onlo of rnbhi sh is c:ilJ ed a h m p,
a nd a heap of lrnllooJrn is eall od a drov e, ttllLl a tlrnr c of lJJ:1.-kg m1nls
is called a m o b, and a i11 oli of \\"hales is call m1 a school, arnl a
school o[ 1rornliip ii; ea llod a co11 g rcg:1lio11, a11d a cu11 g n •gr,Lio11 of
engineers is cttlled tt corps, a nd a eorps of rn\Jb ors is ealle <l a lmHd,
aml a lmrnl of locusts is eall ccl a c ro ~nl , n.tul a erowll o[ gc ntll'folks
is called the elite. 'l'ho fast \l"OrLl b ein g .l"n•nch, tho scli olar umlori:;tood it and asked no mo re. (Cornprtro page li.)

Wh nt fur me slay

[ say to h im, I very bad . He knO\\"t3

I Unll. Empi:rvr (G od ) sec _r ha t!. No Uc so n, ma y be coolic. 11
H e go l.ntck; lo ng w a y , fnt hcr s<.·c hi n1. JJ c take li im Oil the n eck. Th e so n 8RY 1 BI
v e ry had . J jn f;t. ll rJ\V n o be yun r !":0 11 ; l ('Oulie."
Hi ~ fa t he r t.alk cy to lilly, a nd i<ay, " Ge t ha.mlso rne co at; g ive he ring, g iv e he Rhocs ;
1.>ril 1g fa t. 1·ow- kill hi m, g ive ll im t o f•at. 11
Th ey ve ry i;lnrl . Il e a.II ~n nH~ drat!, jn ~ t come Un.ck ali ve ; h e lof't; h e get back.
N nmhc r o n e !".O il co me. H e hea.r mn s ic; he te ll i-;c rvant. "What for th ey m a ke nm-

li e

CIIAP.

m u ~i c,

(b) Inappropriate Words may co11v oy the 111 eaniog n11111i stakahly, but arc 110t in aecor<la11ce with tl10
E 11 ~ l isli i<lio111.
A FrPm·hm an , "·hi IP lool\in g at a number of vessels, exclairn ctl,
'' Boo \\·lrn t a fl ock o f s hips!" Ho was to le! tha t a flo ck of ships
wrts r rtll ctl a Hco t, bnt th:tt a fl ee t of sheep was called a flock. 'l'o
assist; hi111 in rn asteri11 g th e i11tr im oies of the Eng lish laug nago, he
w:ts tu l•l that a Jlock of girls was callocl a bevy, that a bevy of
wol ves is cnJl c([ a pack, lm t tlrnt a pack of cards is n eYer call ed a
lJovy, th ongh a pack of U1i cvcs is callccl a gan g , and a gan g of angels is cal IP.cl a h ost, " ·hil o a hos t of porpoises is t erm ed a sl1 oal.
H e was tolt1 tliat a host of oxen is term ed a herd, and a herd of

iii. Crammatical Construction slioul cl l1ave
been lcarne<l i11 pre viou s tc:-\1;-buuks, a11d we c:u 1 nl I 11de
lwro u11 ly to those el' rurs su fn:1111 c11t tl1 at they 11 ccd especia l a vuiclauco. A viulatio11 of prnprioty ut tl1i s ki11d is
calle<l a solecis111.
(a.) In Cender. - 1\ co 111111011 and dep lo rnli lc affcctatio11 i11 speecl1 has bceu tlin s ri di e11lecl:
"So you luWf! fini sh e,l yonr stntli Ps nt. tl1 n sp 111in riry? I 1n1s
mu ch pl eased with t he dosin g cxcn·i sns. 'l'h e a11.t,J1or of t.Jiat
poom- l\Iiss ·w tiit,, I tl1ink you calk<l l1 l'r- l•icls fa ir to l1 ocome
kn own as a poet."
" 'Ve think tl 10 aut l1oross ,1·ill b c•t·m11n L·1•k,l1 ratL'<l as a i1oetess,"
ronmrk OLl tho yo1111 g l:Lcl y p c rt,Jy, " ·i t.l1 a rn: ir.l> c<l urnl'httsis oil t1ro
words of t,he sentence.
"Oh !- ah! " repli.n<l tlw oltl gcnt.le111an, lookin g U11111 ght.fnlly
over his spectacles at f·,Jto yonng l:uly. " I hear lwr s ish•r 1rns <111it o
an ad ress, and ullller l\Iiss Hosm er' s i1rntrudiu11s will n11don Llc,lly
Lecome quite a sculptress."
'l'ho yo ung lady appeared irritated.
"'l'h e sl' minary," cont,i1rn Pcl th e old gont1cman, ,yjt,11 irnperturbable gm Yity, "is forl.111rnt e in h av ing a n nlli eient h oanl of m anageresses. From the prosill f•ntess <lown to tlrn lrnmliles t tc:wheress,
uun strnl talent iRshown. 'J.' here iRl\[i ss Harper, who, as a chornistr oss, is unequalled, a1111 l\I rs. Kuowks l1 as :tlrc:tLly a reputation as
an astron omeress. Aml in the clepar tmen t of !llu::;ic few can equal
Miss Kellogg as a singeress."

i

l,

Ii

1
, ,•I'

3\)0

P JWPHl RTY.

reac hes i ts neck-h e goes ; now it,s chin- it goes ; now it,s noseshe goes. In another moment, except hel p come, the fishwife will
be no more ! 'l'ime presses- is there none to succor or save ?
Yes! Joy, joy ! Witl1 fl yin g feet t he she-E ng lis hwom::m comes !
Bnt, nlrts, tho gennron r; r-;hcl-fem:d o is t.oo late! \Vltero n ow is th o
fat otl fis h wife? It h ns cease<l from its sn lforin g ; it lrns g oue to a
b etter laml ; all that is left of it for its lornLl oues to lam ent over
is this p oor smouldering ash-heap . Ah, woJ'nf; woful ash-h eap !
Let u s take him up tenclel'ly, rnverentl.r , n pPH the lowly shovel,
and bear him to his long rest, with t.he prayer that when he rises
ag ain it will be in a r ealm wli cro he wi ll have on e good. s rprnre r esponsible sex, ancl have it all to himself, inst;eatl of haviug a mangy
lot of assorted sexes scattered all over ltim in SJ_JOts.

T l10 yo1111 g la1l y <lid uot appc:tr to l ike th o chair sh e was sitting
on. Hl1n tn"k l'.110 sofa at t.110 otl1 ur e 1Hl of the room.
"Yes," co nti 11n e1l tl1 e ol<l g ent.k111a11, as if talking to himself,
"those \ Vhi f-.c S istcrn arc rn ry tnlrn1te<l. }'\fary, I rnHlcrs t:irnl , h as
t·.nnwd li er atte11Lion t o ]•:ti11 t.i11g :tn<l tl10 <lra111:1., :tlHl wi ll sn rnly liccornc f:mwns a s a pn.i11 t<,n•ss a11 1l ov"11 as :t lcctnross."
A lornl slammin g of t.Jw 1loor can sed the oltl g entleman to look
up: the criLicess and grnm111 a ria uess was gone.

Perhaps it was on e of he r fo ll ow-stll(lentesses who repli ed, w li e11 askell tl1e gende r of "acade1ny," tltat sli e s11 pposed tli at d epe11dell upon whether it was a Ill a.lo or a
fo 111 ale academ y .
T i1e foi iuwi11 g, fro m til e appemii x. w i\iari~ Twai n:s
"The Tra111p A broad," i ll11 stra tes some of tho difficnlties
of t he G el'll1 an la.11 g 11 nµ; e \rh ieh E ngli sh stnclen ts escn,pe :
It i R a J,Jcn,k <lfl,Y. H en.r tho m in, h ow he pours, mul tl1 e hail,
how ho rn.t.tl Ps ; ruHl sc• n i'lH' s now , l1ow ho thifr.s aloug ; n,rnl oh,
t.!10 11rntl, how d ee p h e if! ! Ah! t.he poo r fish wife, i t is st nck fa~ t
i11 the 1nirn; it has drnppctl it.s IJasket nt ti.shes ; a111 l its 1mnds have
l >cen cnt l>.r t he scal es a s it seiw <l so me of the falli n g crea tn res,
a n<l one scale has e m u go t i n to its eye, arnl it cannot get h er an t.
Jt, opens l1 or month to c ry fo r lwl l' ; b n t if auy son ml comes ont of
lJ im, aln.s, he is 1ho1rnNl l iy the n1.gin g of the stonn ! And now a
tom- cat lias go t one of t.lw fi sh es, arnl sl1 e will surely e sC'ape with him.
No ; s he bites off a fin, s li c h ollls it iu li er mouth- sh e w·ill swall ow her? No; th e fishwi fe's brnve m ot.h er-dog d ese rts his p11ppics
and H' RC IH's the fi n, wh en he eat.s himself as liis re11·anl ! O b , h or ror, th e lig h tn in g hn,s "trn ck the fi sh-lmsket ! H e s ets him on
ii ro. Soe the flam e, how she licks the doom eel utensil with h er
an g ry ton g ne ! Now s he atta cks the fishwife's foot- she burns
h im 11p, all Lnt th e hig to<', aml ernn she is partly consu med; aud
still she Rproa<l s, s hll she waves her fiery tongues! She attacks
t he fishwife'R leg and d estroys it; she attacks its poor worn garm ent arnl d estroys her also ; she attaeks its body and consnrnos
him; she wreatl1 ns h erself al>out it" h eart anll it is consumed;
next a bottt its breas t, and iu a mou10nt she is tt cinder; now she

301

SOLECISMS.

C11AP. XX.]

[I'AHT J V.

l

\OJ i n C ase the comrnonest errors arc sllown m tlte
foll owi ng instances :
H0

"'~l<) l1:'i~

n:1h1r0

1 r~ ~

r r0 rl y i+~ rrn h rT.

rr1 r:nr.r.nrr.

As mad as them.-BoJ,INGBHOJrn.
I esteem yon more tlmn [I 1lo] th ey.
I esteem you more than them [cloJ.
Do you tcJiuvo ~yv ar fLffi1·1ujLlO Ll1e.r at 0 11uL .1tl;Lr1lc tl \\ i1l 1n·lug
b oth him ancl l to g ive up the lady ?- YANlllWlHL
Vv'hy should I b e t old to se rve Hirn, if I llo 11ot know whom i t. is
I serYe ?-Fr,onENCE NWH'J'INGAJJIC.
You can k eep this letter a ml sh ow it to whoever yon like. H. T. Buc1u,E.
These men, no matter 1rlw R1•oke or whom wn,s adtl ressed. DrmmNs.
And now my cln.s.smatc8 ; ye r<' 111 ainin g fow
That nmnber not til e hal f o f th o~c we k new,
Ye agaim;t w hose fn.inillar 11 ;in H' S not yet
'I'hc _fotn l nsteri nk of ile;itll is set,
Ye I saln te.-LONOFELLOW.

Thackeray, h aving been requested to write in a lrtdv's album,
found on scanning its contents the subjoiued lines :
Mont Diane is the monarch of mo:_mtai nRThcy crown ed him lon g ag o;
But w!w they got to p11t it 011
Nobody seems i..o know .- ;\1,BF:n'l' SMITH.

3!)2

PlWPilIETY.

CITAP.

[PART IV.

I know that Alhcr t wrote in n. hnrry ;
'.l'o critici r;c I RC<ircc lJrCRume;
Il11l yet m c think~ l ha t Lindley Mn rray
Jnstend of tc ho h atl wri t.ten 1uh om.-W. M. THA CKER AY.

A great part of the clifferenceR with respect to the lan guage of
the educated clrtsses in the United Ht,ateR rtn<l in EHglruul g row
out of tlrn different circumstances and employments of the veople
of the two countries.- Worcester's Dictionm ·y.

An Amhers t profesRor knock ed at the door of a room 'vhere
stmfont.s \Y<'l"O c:u on sin g Jn,te at ni g ht. " ·who is th ore ? " asked
o ne of tl1 e stndouts. "It, iR m o." "\Vell, who is 'me' ? " "ProfeRsor - -. " " Oh, go away ! you can't fool u s that way : Professor - - wonlcl say 'It is I !'" And Professor - - went away.

Find an illu stration 011 page 7!.l.
As to expressions like " Fi vp dollars was paid," or
"Five dollars were paid ,'' 11 R:1 ge is divided. Tl.e general
rul e is of com se that tl1e verb is to be sing nlar or to be
plural according as the imbj ect is in iclea (not necessarily
in form) sin g nlar Ol' plural. Bnt in th e applicatioi1 of this
rule some writers see m to l1ave as i11di stin ct ideas of what
the plnral nnrnber is as the yo nn g lady 11acl who gave for
th e plnrnl of " forge t.-111c-11ot. "-- " f orgd- 11 >H 1nL" and 11'11 0
"mentioned six a11illlal s of the polar regions" by naming
"three polnr hen rQ , nn rl t"1 1r PP Fen lQ."

(e) In Number, H.ushtou 's mies cauuot be bettered:
1. \Vh cn the two o r m ore n onns in the singular mean different
thin gs, or represent <listinct id eas, put th e verb in the plural. .
2. Dnt wli en the two nom1s mean tho Ramo thing, ur ve ry nearly
tl1 e same, strik e out one of tlie ru, put the verb iu the sing ular, and
l earn to aYoid u sin g two word s where on e i s enough.

Thus th e followi11g sc11tcnces should be corrected :

iii

IllIll

• ii

l!lm !!!
~:: :

iiiliiiiiiii!i

!!!!!!!!!! !!!

:11i
~Ill

3!)3

SOLECISMS : NUl\lBER

A common blunder is to put a plural verb aft er a singular subject, througl1 the misleading influence of attrilrntes
of the subject interveuiug. Tlrns:

U1111er these Tlmck eray speec1ily wrote the following:

'1.'hc r ofere11ec an<l <'OHRt.rnction of tl1e cou clrnling words in th o
ll C,\l qu oLn,J.iull i~ \' Ul'.Y .i11tldlHi L\; . -GA1' il'JibLJl 1.
Arni it will in ge1111rnl ho found thr1 t tlrn u se arnl Rignification ol
1'110 inLcrjeeLiou8 ernplo.Ycd iu auy language furni sh es a tolerable
h-,v tn 1111' t•l1n n1dcr of the ]]C•_•pk \\'lrn speak it. - -1\I.u::m.
NPvPrt.h e l e~s fl.. elca.r ohj ect.ive conception nnd compreh ension of
f;h 0 gc•ncra! principles of 8yntax is very cfosirahh -lVIAmm.
rl 'hP 70nl 0f the .':'E"lD.1:hi1n t•rc.:::.ks fu1t li h 1 a l1cc u1 n iJJ;; 1Y:.tnnth of
se ntiments and expressions, as the charnct.eT whi ch is g iven n s of
J1i.ru dcn e} t~::: th:l..t ,C::f'.:1crou0 SCOIL an'"-1 i11t.rcyi,,..lit_, v.l1:ci1 aLL1...:11;.l ~
ht?r0it.? v.irtue. -Svecta!or.
J\>j .....:.1qH11 ,-pri, ,._. ,,,,,,,j._, . . . ,i . . . 11i1i11~~- i ·· r!'!! ..·!1: l"~!!'P! ~l.J! l t I'!.. Tl"!' Hl ,
a1.1J a cedaiu <lelil;crat.iou and thought in reiatiou tu the details of
the lllrtnncr of liYitH.:r. rrivPR n. n P. r~ nnn.I dianH.v w liif':li i~ n.hf::a'.l nt-. in

XX.]

:i

_j

'l'hu::i, IVorneHLer':; D idiurnir.Y :;ays uu page l :

j
There is a consi<icrabie munbcr o i

'rhe New York

\\'ord~ .

Trif>1111~

lately hn s obstinntcly nf11H'rN1 to !"110
or1nl ·• n t l1;1 t ~-~· nten"·-. ::; Ek ·=- tLc f·.:·H·:,•:,-~ !·:;:..;· ·J! ·_,uh1 h:.:. ·.·c l11 ~ ir ., -~:rLs
in the singular n umbe r: "'1.'he n s trnl numh<>r of applicn,nt"s for n<l\

.. i.,_ ._

_,_i_ ~ lU.

,_~

,.-]"

l '. ! ' .. ~ ' •

ediLurs will Leli us Um.L ~! i1u1H1J e1_· " :..Luci
tive nouns but sin!!nhr as retYanls 1or111

~:n1111titn'1. c : :

Luing coHec-

Ri rn11ld "" ln li1rn·p ,1 li v gi n-

~:::

m

'( \l

j

I'

~ '. 11!

.

l -!

'

(

I!!

!

iI' '

\ !I

j '. :·. I i - i I \

'f

1' I_ ' : I I

< •

I I1

:

1

!l ( i l

·

. . ;·

I

; 1. ,

[J \'."

Rtty - ~a

" '

'I

l' l li

I I•

l

,1

' !'] Ii ,·

pair or bin.tR is Slllf!in g to eaci1 CJ LIH-n-:

pa111c<l uy ·tllc personal tii g niLy which n~l')Uft.B fro111Bucll Te fine!nent.

\Ve n1ust also

of hu1Jit. - j Jail J.1i alt C1azette.

couple of dcn.ths ·was reported./: a.ud

· ~a.

'1

a.

score of persons ts to take

304

[PArn IV.

PIWPRIETY.

CHAP.

part in the services." It need not h e difficult to d etermin e what
i s the apparent and what the real subject of a m rb if one will trust
couunon-scnse. - N. C. Advocate.
It is prolmble I.h a t n ot one in ten of th e En glish plays written before th e time of Shakspere h ave esca ped clestrnction. - R. G.WmTE.
As any of these three r1nalifications are m os t conspicuous and
prevailing. - ADJJ1SON.
Ignorance or <lnlness have, indeed, no p ower of affordin g 11eli g ht; lmt U1ey n ever give clisgtrnt, except wh en they assume the
<1ignit.y of lrnowlcll go, or al'e tho sp ri g htlin ess of wit,,-Ramhler.
I <l onbt if more than one of these deserve acceptation.-HALL.

We m.u st still <1rea<l that extrnonlinary facility to which human
uaturc is so prone, as some times to laugh at what at. nnot.h or tiurn

You are s pcrtking to m e of a man of ·whom I a m p ersonally ignorant, and I srty: "If lte is su ch a mrtn :-ts yo n r C'proscnt him, li e

t.Pn.1·~ . - f1nLP.1~mrrF..

_1_ i i_. - ~t_ ~··p·, .• . ,r j•" i ' !, v.-1.i, ·li

c.: 1,j·n -<.. ;

q c.:

llllj111 · 1; : 111 ' il : 111 11

L ~1- ~ . \ll~ili .-1' .
i 11 J11 .) ;, l .;t.Lvi 11t ; i1~1 ~ 111111 1 1l1· c; r t c

ham a tlonble for ce, all<l are \Jotll more capal.Jle ot snlJ<IUing the
mirnl , than when th ey co me npon u s looking for them, and pre-

Con s trn ct1on s s}1 u nld Lu_· a Yciidcd t11:iJ. n ~r: t11 P ::!1 rn e 'Y0rd
TirsL co!iceI1 Yc iv ano t.ilCil

11111
1

111

dit5i_,niHi L1v e Jy

~ <to~

395

SOLEOISlVIS : MOOD.

Impersonal Verbs. - When a verb is used imperso nally it ongltt un do ubted ly to lie i n the s in g nlar nmnuer,
whether the ne uter pro11011n Le expressed or und e rstood,
aud when 110 nominative in the sente nce can be r egul arly
constrned with the verb, it ought to lie cons id ered as impcrso11al. For thi s reason analogy as ll'ell as usage favor
this 111ocle of express ion, "Tlic condi tions of th e agreement
were as full o10s," and Hot asf(1Zlvw.- UAMl'm:LL.
(d) In Mood, the prin cipal tla11 gm· is tl1e neglect of
the sul>jnnct.i ve. TJwre a rc those \vlio wuu]J do away
\Yitlt tl1i s di sti nction of tho11 ght, h11t. it c:i1111ot be spared
u_y those wl10 would lie urn:slen; o[ exad e .\pre:s:siu11.

To co1111 cct u oth a Ringnl:u a nd a plural ve ru with the
san1 e Sll bj ect is ll Sllally i 11 excusa\1le.

t.h f" v '""··n-nl£1 f! h0d

XX.]

1-Jn_;

Lvµ._io ~t.i~

tnre, who were i11corruptible rn en, was above inHuen ce.
You w-.as i8 ;un vng the tnost offensive of solecisnis.
In convoTsn.tion you ",~jll p erhaps ten tin1es often er hear people
sn.y, "'!'here's t.lie b ooks you wrmteil," than "Th ese are the
b oolrn-; " arnl "Yon w:ts prcse nt," when a single person is atldresso<l, t,Jiau "Yon "·ere presen t." Yet goocl u se is alw u.ys cons ider ed as declaring solely for the last mode of expression in both
cases.- CAMPBE.LL.

ln writings of th e last century, "yon was" is occasionally rn et with.
Yon w·n.s push eel to the utmost by your creditors.-BLAID, ii. 108.
·when yo u wn.s most in earn est. - Id., ii. 133.
Sir, " ·as you ever in l\iuscovy ?- VANBRUGR.

ui l

u Jt: .iJJ r-;t ; li1 '.,\· - nJrh." i i

j ,.,

1·.\. ili1 ; ...... ,-..,,,l

by "if." Bnt l ;y co upliu g ••if " Y1·ith th o ,lcclarat.i;,:-e [in.:licatin::J,
I :i1:: : :h- "! !:"':~ ~:': ill-!:; r,.; ;: ·· r• ~ .• ,..,,.. , · ·;; f~ ~: r:;:;· 4-, · · f-1 i ~:n ? : ··: :·n ; 1 :·:, :·:;~?!'"" f-1?,-·
.!

i

iHg u1_11_1u. L hi111} , iJi..lL ii'
flJ i~Hll · i ~!H'Jl H· l!Ul!l a s

l

1

l i1_:

;_,(a.-..;,

liil

,Ytli_u· Lu ....;Lin 1 1111;~·, [ il..ln \\ il_iiil b t.11

V fll.l !'1-' P!" i_'<..:l' J!(· J!!!!l.

i! P

\\"tji

dn i_j 1q s

(ll!fl i...:n.

To say : "If h e b e such a man as you represent him," "·ould imply
that I tloubl"ed eit.h er yo nr veracity or )" 0111· jn<l gm0nt-. l\Iy t hon g-ht.
expandec1, wo uld be, "If h e b e s nch 11 Hi:.tll as y on represent him
(and on that poin t, uot\l·ith strtn<lin g yon r testimony, l h am no
opiniou to cxprnss) h e wiU <lo th1m an<l so. "
'l'lto te 111le nc_y to ol1li tcrntc U10 di st.iJtdi on tliat l1as h een irnlicatrnl, is Yery strong at tl1 0 prnse nt cl a._y; lm t i t o ng bt to lie prcse rrn cl , mid must- in o rder to t.he iu tellige ut st udy uf En t::;-lish
literature - be nnd crs too<l .- Gu,~lORE.

Th e subjnn ctive fo rn1 is, h owever , to b e a void ed except
where the condition is assn1n ed to be lloubtfnl. Thus:

1.: 11

I II

I
'!
'I

'I .

Surely it would b e d csirnhl o that 80m e p erson \rh o knew Sir
Walter
should b e clmrgecl with this artiel e. -1\IAcaULAY.

_,,
I '

1i J

I

3\JG

PROPUlETY.

[PAHT l V.

It would be a gocKl thing, but it ·is desirnble.
If ever ma n's humor \1·cre [m1s_I use (11l to i1 rn t.rnct as \Ye ll ns u elig ht., it, was that of i\li<'lmel A11 gol.o 'l 'it11mrsh. - G. B. 8 ~ ll 'l'H.
It wonlLl d onhf;l css have exhibited itsoH qnietly e nou g h if it
wore [h:ul b ee n] absolutely meLlitrtteJ . -JusTIN McCAnTITY.

(e) In Tense, a common fa11lt is the use of t l1 e past
for t h e pe rfect; as,
Of anti1pmt.or1 or obsolete \Yonls, non e 11·ill b e in sertocl bnt su ch
as rt rc to h e fon111l i11 anthors \1·.ho wi:of·.o since the accession of
Eli7.:tuc th, from whi clt we date tlto gn l<lc n age of our lnu g nage. Jo.11 NR0N.
Find th e past n sc<l for th e plnperfcct ou page 49.

Or i11 t h e u se of th e p erfect fo r th e past; as,
Iu yostonby's paper we Jmye sho11·u.-ADDISON.

Anoth e r, 11ot 11nfrerp1 e 11 tly a11 a ffeetation on tlte p a rt of
yo ung \\Tite rs wlio e;;tee 111 an ex preRsiu11 eleg:int i11 propor·
tio11 to the n11111he r of ;;y ll a hl es it conta in s, is t li e use of
the perfoet infini t iv e fo r t l1 e prese nt.
'l'ho compornH1 past. inliuit.i rn also, form erly vor,v fr er1uout, is almost <lis nsed . L onl B crn e rs says: slionld ltavc nide1l la hr1re rlestrn1;!'d, Jm,l 111a11e lmst.n lo l!f 111e e11tererl, and tltc Jjko, a llll th:ic; was
cn11; 1no 11 in c1 dlo1111i:1.l mmgc nuti l a ve ry rnceut p eriod. In cases
of thi s so rt., wli c re th o rnl:t t.ions of time am clea rly expr essed l1y
t.h c first a 11 xili :try, it is cvi,lent t h at 11 of-l1in g i" gain OL1 by c111ploy i n .~ a snco rnl a nx iliary to fi x 1norn p rec iscl,l' th e catego ry o f t h e inJiiiiti rn, lJnt where th o s il!lple inflected paRt tense prc,'cd cs the
i1ifi11 it.ive, t h ore is so 111dimec; ground for tl1 c employm ent ·of an unxi.l i:iry \Yil.h th e l:ttlc l'. I in t~1111erl tn go, anrl I i11/c11derl lo hm,e:7011 e,
tl o JH>t necessarily cxpl'ess t.l1e same t,hin g, hnt the latte r form is
not likd y lon g to !'csi st the prese nt inclin ution to make th e infini ti'·" st.rict.Jy aoris tic, a 11 11 sn ch form s as I h·ul in lew led to go will
snpe rst''l c th o past t.on se of the fatt er mooLl.--l\IAnsH.

Ca1npbell tl1n s ill11 s trntes th e distinction:

CJIAP. JG\:.]

SOLEC1Sil1S: TENSE.

3U7

"I commanded him not to d o it, :rnd h e oug ht not to ham
done i t. "

80 on e way say, "I sltunld li a 1·e lik ed to read tlie s tury
yon h ad, but I sho uld like tu h ave rcall tltru1 1g lt every page
of ·we bste r's Di c: tio1wry ."

' I

1

1 1 1

If t.hn tr:t,· c ll nr is in li:rn l·u, :t11cl \\':t ilt,:< rnf hnr t.o l1:i1·n SC' <'ll tlt e
co 1111 t ry rmtl Ili c p ool'le than to see t.ltclll, let l1im t ukc t he tliligeucc.- J.oIIN L ABOUCHE.
If; \Yas the cl,lcr ~11 o ritlan , \Yrts if; not, \\·ltn ns ke1 l hi s so n \1·ith
1lisgus t. why h e i11 s i0t,,11 npon g <>i11 g d o 11' 1l illf o :t uonl 111i11 0 '! "To
say I have been tit.em, " rnpli u1l •t 1t e j1rnior. "'l'ltn11 wlt y I.li e di ckens don' t yon say yo n IHwe b C'e11 t.ltr' r<', :1111! su,·e tlte snot?"
Them are m:w y t.Jmt \1·011!1.l l ik c to have 1loscn1"k1l n coal-shaf t,
who wonlu n ot hu,·c liked to d cscc u<l.

I

Co rrect tl1 e following sc 11te11ces :
I inte nded to lm,·o i 11 sistud Oil this sy n1 pathy at g reater length.
- lt osKTN.
I hud hope1l 110\'Cdo l1avc see n f;]lO s lat ncs r1gaiu wl1cn I missed
th e m ou the Lrill ge.-- i\IA< rAUhAY.
·whe n I iuserfc 'cl th o stripes nncl l'LH'1· cs, h <:' r deli g ht. \\'as sn"h
t h at I g reatly foarn tl site wou ld li:i,·c e11il1rr1ce1l rn c.--U. \\'. Du,KK

U ui ve rsnJ trntli s, o r p e rn1:i.n crnt arra11ge11ie11t·R, arc C.'\pressed in the prese nt tense ; as, Il e tes t i1icll f'11at i11 tl1at
country the snow is rcd.
'J.'he cl1ief oeeasion of mistak e 011 t hi s point is \ l'1 1t' ll :t 11ni1·e rsnl
trut.lt is sta t.ell us 11mi11tainnt1 OI' <lc lli «,1 J,,,. so rnn 011 0 in t.lt« p:is t.,
e.g., "He tlcuiotl t.11:1t clcet ri city uncl mag netis m 1eere ( n. r,~) I.h e
sam e agents. "- HODGSON.

The proprie tor of a snn1111 er rcRo rt, wl10 ke pt in tl 1e
n e wsp a per s a s ta11(li11g :1lh·e rti ;;e 111!'11 t, h ead ed ," Th ere are
11 0 mos<p1itoes at t hi s h ote l! " rl cfo1nl ell !ti111 se lf', "·l1 e 11
swarm s of tltern we re pui11t.<'d 011 t, by c1 ccla ri11 g tl1at t.lie
card was written in the s prin g, wlte11 there was n' t a n1 osqnito to be seen.

I
I
11

, I

Ii
;I
I
I'

I

.I

i

,\

TOPICAL ANALYSIS.

CJIAP'J'EH XXI.
PUECI8ION.

Propriety.
II. Authorized definitions, p. 379 .
Fo rmin g <l d ini tions, p . ?.80.
P r opri ety ,· ioht.c<l l1y u sin g.
r1. ln acc n rat e worcls, p. :38 1.
Class ic:il wo rd s, p. '·18?..
Sh ort worrls are best . p . 384.
.T oll n ~l1 11 0~e, p. H:--:G.
J\lotl Prn ta ste, p. :\SG.
b. Tna ppropri ate \\'o r<l s, p . :188.

III. Crammatical construction, p . 389.
a,. ]~ rr o r s

/J .

c.

d.

e.

in ge nde r, p. H8U.
E r ro rs in case, p. iJ!) J.
E rrors i'n 11nrnbcr, p. 392.
Yon was, p. 3\l4.
l rn pe rso nal Yerbs, p . ?.95.
:Er rors in m ood, p . B!J!J.
Errors in te n se, p . 3!Jli.

'l'hn cnlli ng two or mo re 'liffr r011 t t /l.i11 q.<: hy one ntHl th e ~:i.mc 11r-,nw (rrYJ lt e vocare)
[h ence eq1ti7'rwa tion ] is the RO lllTC u( alrno o:t all error in h uma n 1li !'.c·o11r!-'f' . Il e who
wishrs t o U1 r ow cli1Rt in t h e f')'C' R ti f an o ppon ent, tn hiwl 0r hi s arriving n.t i.lll' rea l frt c lR
o r: a ca!;c, wi ll o f t en have n ·r:o11ri::c to thi R :1 r tin1~1· . n.~d tlin ~ t o eq11i r;ocate, an t! eq1tivocatio 11 h:.t vc atta ili ctl th e ir prc.-;e 11 t scf'o 11 Uary 111ca n in g. - 'J' Ju<:N cu.

Precision r cqn1rcs t he exact ex press ion of th e
th oug ht to be co11,·cycd . It dc111a11cl s a ttenti on (l ) to tl1 c
vVo rd s cn1 p loyecl , m id (2) to t l1 c Cu11 str11 cti o n, t l1 at in
sta tin g t he t ho ng ht t he se ntence niay tell t he t r11th, th e
whole truth. and nothing b11 t th e trnLl1.
( I ) Words m ay h ck precision (rt) tliro11g li tl1 e confoundin g of sy n011 :y 1n f:, (b) throug h fl1 e i1se of E<111i vocal
\V' ord s, or (c) of Ge ncrnl W onJ s.
(a) Synonyms a rc by ety m ol?KY word s th at h ave
prec isely the sam e s ig nifi cat io n. Th e E ng li sh la ng uage
has ve ry fe w sucl1 , beg£n a nd com111 c11ce be in g p e rh aps as
ucar appro ximation s as can be fo11ncl. D ut the te rm is
extend ed to in clud e wo rds th at lia.v e ve ry nearly Ll1 e same
meani11 g, but express sh ades of diffe rence in sig 11iiicati on.
T o for m an idea of t he extent to which onr lan g nage h as been
d esy nony mi:r.ed, one has only to compa re l»ogc tl1 cr onr w o n ls d eri ved m eiliately or immecli at,Ply fro m th e L ::t tfo , and t hose whi ch
they :it fir st represented. Of t,hcse pairs t here are lrnncl re<l s upon
hundreds; an<l yet of J1 ol; rt sin gle p air n.ro t.h e m emb en; stri ctl y
iden tical in import. T ak e fo r exa mp le acid and sour, cordial and

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400

PitECJSlON.

lPART JV.

CrrAr. XXI. ]

401

llOG.E1"S 'l'IlES.\UlWS.

herrrl!J, crim e and guilt, di'lline autl gotllike, jn-venile ::m u youtlifnl,
l11d1 f and hright, mi.<cnihle and 1111hrrppy, p onderous anu weig ht!},
port ion a nd .<hare, y11 rwtily rmll deaf, s11Jficient anu enough. \ Vhere,
mon•on11', t1ro words, on e o[ wh ich is a rnat·eria l corruption of the
oth er, a re taken from rt for eign sonrce, we fiml th em very for from
h ciug R,\' 11011y m s. C11rn an<l crire, e11gi11c and r1iu, parri~11sis a nd
polsy, p ~11 i1< ~11l'e a1Hl 71 ~11rwce , phrmtas!J aml fancy, piety aml pit!J, are
instances in point. - HALL.

in Precision m nst ofte u be left to the detection of t ] 1e
writer l1im self, wlio sh ould know better tliau another exact].)' ·w hat h e wau ts to express.
A n extensive vocabulary is one of th e requi sites
to procision (sec pngcs xxv i, c3-17). O nl y b y Jetti1w al l tl1 e
wnr<.1 8 a lli ed in 111eani11 g pass in rev iew b~fo re tl~e 111 incl
ca n one be ce r ta in tlia t the exact wo rd h as bee n selected. '

H ow i11 1porta11t t hese fi 11 e dist in ctions arc is sh own on
a lin ost c1·c ry pr•ge of. standard a11 t l1 ors. Take the foll owin g i11sta11 ces fro11 1 Cu le ritl gc :

F~.r t hi8 pnrpose th ero is one ai <l so far snperior t.o all others
tlrnt i ts u se slwn.h l b e nnclors l;oo11 cvon by yo nug writers. 'rhis is
Roget's "'.L'hesanrns of English \Vonl s."
'J'o illustrate its compre hensiven ess a11<1 tho manner of its u se
suppose t h e tlwu g ht in my mind i s, "l\Jiss Abh ott's dress look~
ge nteel," but that I h ave jnst learn etl thi s alljecti ve is no lon ger
n sed rn a commemlatory sense (see page 373), an d that. I \ri sh to
r eplace it by a synonym.
'J'urning in the i]j(lex to t l1 e wol'!l "genteel, "•I firnl f'.li e uurnb ern '. ' 852, 875," indicatin g th o p arngrnph R th at i11elu 11c tit is \\'ortl.
'l'unnn g to 852, I fi ud thi s list :

- - ' s face i~ almos t tho only exceptioll I know to th o observation th at Romothin g femi nine- not ~O'e minale, mind, is. di scoverable .i n t h e coun tenrm cos of all men of genius.- 1Vorlcs, vi . 384.
J)r. l !l·111n1 g~~ ~ ai d lo J,n!"licr, 11 Sii\ w h e n yu11 ,i:;:i.y t,liat th e l l oly S pirit i ~ t h e ce rtain ty
i11 th o wonl tu ward "' (:m l, th at i ~, th:'\!; n. m:rn is ce r tn. iu o f hi R O\\" ll mind and op i nio n ;
t h e n ii, 11111 ~ 1. n eeds fo ll ow t,\rn l; a ll scct;R h;tve t h e ll oly G h ost, for th ey will n eeds Uc lllOSL
ce r tain (Jf lh c ir !l oclrinr an d rnli g- ion. ,,_ f,1tthe1·'·"' Table 'J'alk.

L11t:JH' r might h a1·0 answern<l, ''Positive, you mean, not cerk1in."
- \", 278.
I a111 hy t.lte Jaw of in y 11 at;nro n. reasoner. A person who shonld
1m ppuso .L m eant h.Y t,lrnt 11·onl au argu er wonld n ot 011ly n ot nud ornl;arnl m o, hnt would n1Hl erstaml th e co ntmry of m y m oaning.
I can take no interes t. what.ern r in her1riug or sayiug anything
m erely aR a faet--m e ro l,y f\·8 lta1·ing lm ppe11e<l. It must refer to
som cthi11 g within m e b efore I can r egn.nl i t with any cnri osity or
care. My mind is a lw ayR cner gic -- 11lon't moan en ergetic ; I r e•1ni ro i n crn rytl1 iug \rlt:it for lal'k of a nother word I m ay call proJl1'i'Jl.11--tlmt. is, a maso n wh,v the thin g is at rill, aml w h y it is there
or then rnthor than elsewh ere or at another timc.-- vi. 503.

·whil e .Purity d e111 aml s t hat a word Le in itse lf good
E 11 gli sli , a nd Prop ri ety d m11 a11ds that it Le i1 setl in one of
tl 1c sig nif-i eat io ns uc lo11 g i11 g to it, P r ecision still fnrtlier
tl c n1 a11 1l s tli at t liis sig ni11catio u exaetly exp ress the th ought
to he eo11veyed. Faul ts in P uri ty a nd in Prop ri ety can
be tli sec rn ed am! pro11 on 11 ccd upo n by the reader. Faults

l": t~hio 11 ,

stylr, mod e,

vo~ 11 c.

l\ln'.111 e r :: '. IJrccdi n g, polilf' 11 <·~~, ~ood lwhn. v io r, g<' nt ility, dP<'orn 111 1 pnnctilio, fo rrn,

fonnn.h ty, CtH~lletlc, c u ~to 11 1 , rl1~ 111<•nno r, nir, port, ca rriage, presc u cc.
S how, C{ p1 1pagc, etc., Se(~ 8~2.

.
'l'~1c world , t h e fm:hi o nn ll lc world, hi g h life, town, co nrt, ge n t ility ci viliza.tion cidl 1zcd life, see No b ility, 875.
'
'
l "e rb.~. - 'l'o

be f a.shionalJJc, et c.

Adj~c:ive.~. -Fm1hion~hk, in fas hi o n, in VOJ.! llC , 111otli sh, styli:-:h, couitl y, gcntPc l. wi ·ll l.lrcd ,, \\ C ll -~ch'tved, p olli-. h cd , gc11Ut•manly 1 lady- likl',
t c fi rn d. tho1 011c h-hrcd, llll f'ltlhnr r m;f'Cd.

well spukc n , civi l, prcsc11lah\c,

Arlverbs.-Fashi 1mahl y 1 i n fa shio11, etc.

Nmrn of t.h cHe words quit,o r eplace my "gontcol,"
875. Hore I find:

00

J. turn to

N obility. n o1Jlei:;o;;:c1 ari s rncrnny, J1<?f'ragr, gf'ntr r . gPnt ilitv qu:\lily , r:wk, hl o o cl , hirth ,
fn shimiabl c worl fl, etc. 8:12, (li stinc ti 1111 , rk .
.
.'
A pcrmi n:i g~, 111n11 of di s ti1wti n 11 . rank , 1 ~ t e .; a
gc11llc 111n11 , squire, pntrk iu n , l on ilin~ .

nnllit'tl\:1 11 ,

Jnnl, jl{' l' r. ~r:ultl t'f'. !lon,

l'rincc, du ke, mnrq11i R, cnrl, vii:;connt, baron, IJ;m 11 1r t, kni g ht, con n t, csii ui rc. etc.,
see 7·1fi.
VtTh ..... -

T o he n ob le, etc.

Ar/jl'rlir e.\·. - Nobl C' . cx ~ll'rrl , pr in cC'l y. uf rank, !i ili·1l , Jlfllricia11

boru, well ·llorn 1 gc n trcl, gc n t lc 111:rnly, fa s hi onable, ctc. 1 SG2.

1

ari stoc ra tic, high-

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402

PRECISION.

[PART IV

No word h ere quite meets the want, so I turn to the cross references. Under 882 I find:
Oi:>tcHtnLion 1 di !'pln.y, ~ how, fl o111·ish , par:ulc, pomp, ~tate. solem ni ty, pngcantry, dnsh,
glitter, strnt, mag nifi cen ce. po1npuRity, prete nsion s., i::.howing oil'.
l'n gcnnt. F- pPc btc\ f' , p ro<'C'ssio 11 , turn out, gala, rcgnttn.
Ccrcmon.\·, cc re moni nl, rn11111111ery, solc nm mocke ry; form ality, form, eticincttc, punc
tili o1 pun ctil iom:n css. fr i pper y, co urt <lres<:, etc.
r erf1N. - 'J' o be oste n tatio ns, <!le. : to t1 is pl ay, exhibi t, sh ow off, co mP. forw ard , put
one's sel f fo r ward , fla1mt1 e111b la 7.rm , glitte r: make or cut a fi gu re, dash, to fi gure.
To nhst'n·c o r f'tnnt l o n CC'r<'1111my 1 C'tiqnettr, etc.
A rljective.1.,·. -0 slc11tal inus, i; howy, gaudy, gar ish, <l a~hing, flaun t in g, glittering, pomp01u:::1 F:11 1111 1lnou o::. t h eat ri ca l.
l'umpou~, i:;.;oJcmn , sta t.cl.r, hi g h -rn11ndi11g, formal. sliff, cer em oniou s, puncti liom1.

Still I am n11 sati s fi e1l, so I turn to 745. This I tincl to b e, as I
mi g ht lrnvo <'Xpl' ni.cil , rt li st. of titles, useless for t.hi s R<'a.reh.
U nder 8;)2 th e " ·o r1l s gil-en re mind me of "1rnt.t.y," a favorite
with 'l'li ac ke rny. That \rill hanlly a11 swe r my purpose, as it impli c's an nf.tr• mpt :tt e lfocf., like" R}1rnc1~." I look in th e i nclcx for
" natl._,-," but do Hot fincl it, so I tnrn to th e nl.lie<l adj ective
"~J'l'll<"<'." Thi,,; Iins in th e index two references : "ucat, G52;
h cant.ifnl , S-1G." J. fin 1l t.l1 at the words nncle r GG2 lmve refe rence
0111,r to th n co nditi on of an n1ticlo, ' ritli ont refe rence to its materia l o r form ; so 11011 0 of tl1 01 n will answer . Under 845 I find
t lwsc rtlljce ti vcs :
n f'a11t.i f 11~, hnntl ~o m c. fi ll(', p re t ty, lo\·cl,r, g r acefu l. elegant, rlclicnl'c. l"f'finr.tl, fair,
('O lll cly, ~cc rnl y, wc ll -fav o r l'1l , p roper, shapely, w c ll-1nn1lc, well-form ed, wc ll-pro p o rtiffllf!Cl. f'y111 m c t ri ca l, beco min g, goulll.r, n eat, s prm:t' , ~leek, brig h t-eyed, n.ltrnct.iv~,
c ur ion s.

B!oc1111i11g, h r illian t , r-;hi11in g , lJcaming, rc::; plc n dcnt, dazz ling, go rgeon ~ . superb, mngnifi eC' nt, ~u b li n w.

l-'icl11n·sri11 e. n.rti ~ I ica l.
1'asi::ablc, not, nnd ;;;F, lll H.ldorm crl , undc fn cPd, spotless, nn ~ po tlcd .

Of th0se won ls '' c]pgm1t. " is so much n e:trer m y m eaning than
th e ot.Jicrs that I look for it in t.h e index. I find that b esides the
list jns t ci.notcd , it is found uncler "tasteful, 8GO; style, 578."
'J.'nrning first to th e latter, I h ::n-e :
Eh·1:utnce.

g1T1<:t>. C<1~1'.

Th ese <ln not. h elp rn o, ~o l turn to 8GO. 'J'lie a1lj ec ti ves h ere are:
:.cst hcti c.

X.,\:l .]

400

SYNO:NYMS.

I ruu b eginning to think I s kill h e ohligml t o n se " elega nt ,''
bnt first I look np lhe words a.Uiml t.c1 t\rn or three nlhcrs o[ tl10
aclj eeti rns already fornul that. seem Hearest t.o \d1n.t I waut.
Uncler "superb" I fiml iu t lto illlk x onl y 8-lG, tl1 0 list :tlrcrt<l.v
quoted. Under "well-1 •rc<l" I find a referenc e to " Cilndl'ons,
80-1;" unde r "fashionabl e, " to "c11 slc>111:tt','', r.J:-) : ., a 11 1l l ]<11 1k
np lt nlf a do ze n oth e rs, 011 ly to fi11 1l t hat. all lw pdnl li sts !tan'
b ee n already quot0d. Hail t l " ~ rt<lj el' I i rn lioe n \rn ntl'1l to P X p ress :i
jml g ll\eut less p ositi rn, l mi g ht l1a,·e h ecn helped"·'- the fact tl mt
]Jr)s idcs each of lhc li sts o f IH>r<ls rpwtml \rns fonlHl 0 11 0aelt p:ig·e :~
lis t of the \\·onls of contrary m ea11i11 g . Tlnu;, adjoinin g th e Inst
li s t, SGO, we luwo tlins11 ailjedirns :
ln ha ll l;:1stc, vulgar. coar s t\ 11nn·!i1u11 11 gro ~s , lt c•a vr. r wk 1 1111pnli-d1('tl , hnmP ~pn n.
h ollll'h rC'tl, unco11U1, :1 \\·kw:1nl, 011 grncl'f1i!, s l ~1v~·11ly, ~ btlc r nly, i1npolili> 1 ill -1n :111n c n·d,
w wiv il , 11 11gcn t\rmn nl y, nn!:tdylikr', 11nf1•rnini1w, 1111 s l.'1'111ly, 1t1qirc•sc 1i! ;di!(', 11n kt·1 11pt·, 11 11COltJIH•<J.
Jtu ~ fi (' .

boPri ,..Ji. c low ni."1 11 h :1.rha r nus, h a rh:1ri t\ Cnthic, 1m chssi1·a l, lw a !he tJ'ifi h. nnL·

l andi s lt , 11nla111ccl , S'ifi.
Ohsolelr , 011t of fa s hi o n . u11fa s l1ion:ihl c• . a nt. iq nal('tl 1 nld -f:i.shinn r d. gn nc> IJy.
r\ cw-f:\n g lccl 1 01hl, fan!;1 st i«, g- rntr ·s q11 r• 1 st? t? ridi1·11l o11 s . R ~:~. ~ r ' 1·i1H:111tii (' 1 Lra g i-cnni ic,
nn:e1·tccl 1 111r rC'tri ciou -.:,

C' Xl ra va:,.~ a n 1, 111 0 11 -.: I rnu -.;,
Uaudy, lawdr.r, Ue1li Zl' ll C'd, t r a;ki·d oul.

!-> buc•kin~,

horrid, r cYoll in g .

Rnt in this cnso a ncgal i,-,, fnrrn lik e" LLnt. 11LLgrn<·Pful " "·ill n t1t
ex p ress my t.11ought., so 1 run f<>r1·1•d to e litl<1se au10LLg the \nml H
before m e. On t h e whole, if I mn s r. 011tploy a sin g le 1H1nl , l 110cide that " elegant " 11·ill most 11e:wl,1- <'X l' r0ss 1ny meaniLL g; so I
writ.c, "i\Iiss AbbotL's 1lr•'RR ]""ks l' l1•g;c11f.. " 1t is no[. cp1it o 1d1 :LI;
I waut to say, hut it is as· n ea r t.<1 111 .1· t liong!tt as the Euglish Ltug nagc p ermits m e to ge t.. (Sec i mgn :H7.)

So importa nt is pl'acti ee i11 1i11di11g an<l con sill el'in g synony ms, th a t \ \"6 g ive n ll!1111bel' of e.\ereises in wl1idt tlie
pupil is to repl ace tlte \rol'ds i11 it:tlics by othe rs that ex press tl1 e lll eani11g as well or better .

nnl11n\ co11cin11ity, rea din ess, euphony.

1 l <{ir>1·t1n·.~ . -Blcg:i 11 t., pnli <:. hcd , (']:1.<:.sical, Attic. C irnr onia.n, graceful , easy, natural,
milahored, c h a1't<', pure, fl owing-, nw l\ifl ttons . cuph on ioni::, rhythmi cn l.

ln g<iotl

CllAP.

ta ste, la!'t,y (t.a~ tef ul ), un :tftcctcd , pnrc, ch nstc, classicu l, re fined, elcgnnt,

E-i;ample.- Th e brn armies st;ood i n o r1l rn· of hntt.l o.
'rhe two armies stocfl in rrrruy o f liatt1!0. Conrn.g·c i" :;in orlmirablc qnnli ty. 'l'h e d cnmncl is sr.e:a<l i l_y i»erl'flsillfJ · Pl:w ts 11eetL foocl
as well as animal'\. Some .v ears si1we I fni·me1{ t.hc /'l"'!l''''I of \Hir ing a history. The fli es that I h ail 0/1 .,,,1.,.,,1( 1rcrc a l 1 1listiu g llislwLl

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ClIAI'. XXI. ]

r1rncr.sro ::q.

404

from cnch oth er in sh11pc an<l color. Plants are th e haln'tutio11s of
insects. 'l'l1e vict.ory was rm1101 11ceil h y a JJr.al of cannon. 'l'h c re.fl edirm of t.l1 c m oon is i;cen i n th e p/rrcirl lake. 'l'hey trnverne d th e
/r!fi''I 1110 11 ntai11s t.lmt. s11rr11 11n d like a rum1111rt the he:rntifnJ rey ion
of 'cash ml' re. Th n m njnrit.,y of nrnnkiml t'Jf ll"n the ir li vo lihom1 l>y
h 1m l u·ork. 'l.'h e solllicr 01Jc7ctl the c011wi11111 l of his otli ccr wi t,h
nft11Tit11. \ Vl1 Ptt th e c,·pni ng mi.,t e11 r ~lope1l t l1e l'lain , a troo1l of
" ·i ld 1l1ll'ks Rlllltlc nly set//r,, l nn the surface of t.h e \ra ter. The co11 f11.,ion 11·ns at. ]e ng H1 -"lff'"'r /r11 ! by pr1?fo>nlf/ silence. Birds prndict
th e cltn11!1"s nf \l"Cflth c r. f·k: t liinh lmvtl J.'laccs of r eJ1 dezro 11s, where
th cv sernn to 1/1:/iberu/e o n I.he 11/r 11·rs o f th o 1·111)/(bfit:. H ow is th is
cit,):·, o n co so /11// of J"'"J>f1', 11 0 \\' .so solitrn·.1;? H e 1rll,1i11111l a lriglt positirJll b y i111 /11si'l'.'f nJHl p urs('vcrn11 ce. B ooks 1~ // "ord mau y reson1·<'<'.S
in so/it 11 rle. H cn n l ie d1•111011slrt1/erl th at t.h c <'arth is ro11nd. Th e
act·.io11 beca me gc nnal soo n aft e r i t her; 111 . 1lfr 111u11l labor WflR desi1111,,, f a~ n /1/1•s.<i11;1. 'J' he Rl'f1 -coast di."J.>lll.'/-' fl m:1g nifice n t pr.'l-<f11xf.
'l;hc arm y 1rns 1111 1111 ri/l'1f liy t.Ji o spirit of it;; ('01111nmHler. l\ fa n iR
th e s la Yn of f,,1f>it . 'J'l H' sailor e1 ll'n1111/,,rs 111:111,v ;11:rif.< . The ei tizc ns, n111ler t.hl'ir !lullt1i1I g"vl' ru or, Hmtlc au :itlrnirahlc 1/lifrJ11cc.
'l'hc kin g J'''i '•:1111 itoril'/ r<' ftt sl'il th e rr"l'""'l. The 1rnter h elong in g
t o onr ylnlw ('X ist.s in rn.ri ons .</11/r1s . History is fl i·cconl of p uhli c
1i)'r: 11 /s. Uhark11w g 11 <' frnn11/. •1 l ,·nrion s .,e111i1111ries of pnhl.ic iJ.1 str nctio11. So1n c i11ue11i1111-' ex pe rim ents were n1 a,lc.
Jl[1n 1yo /' ark . - \VJ1il c ]\[r. Park w:1s waiting on th e lmnks of the
Ni gn r for a pnssag1', the kin g of tl1 c coun t ry \\"ft8 i11Jornierl th a t a
whit <' 11m11 i11trn11 /e1l to ,· isil; him . On th is i11/r:lliqcJ1ce, a messn 11 ger
1Y:rn insla n t ly 1fe.sp11/c/i 111l l-o tell t ho strnngcr that his m ajesty could
lll> f, 1inss ihly a1l111 it, l1 im to 11.i s l)l'('Sf' tH.'l' h ll l1n 1rnde1·stoorl t lw c11}(.<e
of l1 is rt l'I iva l ; nn Ll also t,n 1rm·11. l1im not to cross t.h e ri ver wit.hont
th e r n.11t1l p m'lll:ission. 'J' li n ?nr!.<wqe was ar·co rdiu gly rlcl-w ei·cd liy
o u c of t.li o ch ic/ 11 a Li vn8 , whu a.11. \ i :-.t~ {l ~ L L l'ar k Lu beuJ,_ i1 lu, lh.i ng
jn nn a r(ju cr!H{ Yillng·n, ftn d )'nJm,i ,;;;,ed to g i ve li.iu1 so111B re~J'i i:-:. itr.; in 1

1

,c:t ru cUrnn; in tl H' n 1 o r11i n ;~ .

t.li i;-.;

•'n; ;;; _, ,~ 1 / lint. n n A nt r-; 1·i n~

!\ fr. P n rk i1n! nct ll !'1.te.! y l'.O!!!plie d wit h
t.hn vil.! rL~f'~ h e i: a<l the 1nm·t!Ji.crrrion to

l in d (•Y er_y d nt)i' (• in~P d n ;~n 111 s r. li;ni.

H1 : \\· :1.~~! 1. l a~ t't": i. u i.' t·. uu i.t t.:~ ; : l
~t

r.:Tn1 0:::.ot._ fl'-.:

hf\ '".::t.~ t i1nnn fT 11\s

I 'ncoq f ! 10 l1i :_:· i•t

l11

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employment in th e fielrls flt oppecl to gazo at him ; and obserni ng his
dejected looks, i11r1ni red from wh at ca11se they procee<led . 1\Ir.
P;u-k end eavored, as well as h e co uhl, t.o mflk e kn o,1·n hi:-; tlest i/11te
si ttmtion. 'l'he wolll flll immediately t ook np his sa<l<lle a n1l bri L1le,
a111l d esii·e1l him to fo llow lmr to h er i·csidence, whore, a[ter lig hting a famp , sh e p resen ted him wi th some b oiled fish, sprcfltl a nmt
for J1irn to lie up on, fl n<l g:we hi.m pennis.,ion to con ti nue un Llor h er
roo f till m orning. Havin g perfo rlllcd t,his henP,,ficent ndion , sh e
swn11w11ed h er fo nmlo compfluions to their spi nnin g, which occ11piecl
t.11 e chief part of the nigh t, while their lalior wns beg llile(l b y a
v:uioty of songs.
(Juslavus Yusn.-This h ero , \Y h o rescncd his co nntry from a
foreign yoke, 1rns allie1l to t lie rnyal fami ly of S \\'o<lc n. On the
invasion of th at co un try b y Uhri stierH IL in l GlS, G wdrw us Vasa
was one of the s ix ltos/11111·.s \\·horn h e too k to D cnnmrk, au1l failin g
in detaching him from his nllrr;ir111cc to his country, h e g:we fi ll
order for his dea th ; lmt aHe rwa.nl clHt ngcil i t to imprisonment in •
th o cas tl e of Copr nl mgc n. E ric Jh nnnr, fl D a nish Hohleinrrn , feeling compn .~sion fo r th e snffc rings of t.ho yo nu g S weil r, obtaincll
leave to take h i m to a fm·f1· c.<s in Jn tl:t11 11, o f 1d1iclt ]10 " ·ns the
gove rn or. H erc G nst:tnui p:i,c;scil 11i.s ti lll c in colllpnrnti1•c sa/i.<.fact io11, nnt.il h e h canl o f t.he rr<X'"'sion o f Ch ris t.ie rn H. to the
S wedi sh cro1vn, 11·h c11 hi s ]1 (':Crt hn rJH'< l 1ri t liin l1i111 , a111l he 1rns
resol ved t o u se eve ry q//i; rl to 1·1·concr tl1 0 lost liliort.i es of hi s
conn tr:y. H e escaped to L nli ec, l >ttt sno n [ 0 111111 th a t t.ltn l h nes
were .in 1J 11 est of hi m, \rhic lt ohJig1'11 him t." :>ssnn w t ltl' !1t1hit a nd
mn.11111•rs n f fl l '"'tsn11L J n tl1i s 1/i.<1111i."' Ii (' )':tsS1'1l I li rn1 1•,li n il
qnar tcrs of th eir ar1 11y, i11 " \l'agu 11 J,,,lll c:,l wi tl1 li:1.y, i111l.i l lico
rr~ :w li otl au olcl fami lv rns tl 1~ :1t f' n,l e r111n1ri:i. I],. ' '"'."' ,r,. /"" / l1'l.l1 •1·s
h rmce to his fricn<ls: lwpi.n g· to 1·011sc tl1u111 to a n a tto nq if. fo r flte
r eeovcr v of their !i_l)Prt1,1; ln1~. 11l0P. ti ng w if·.li li t;t ln ."Nn ·ess arno r1 g· tho
g r 0nt, 1;'0 110 , -t. t.1· i1• ri t.1~0. p P::-t.~fln rr.L J-I(.~ ,· j:--:i le{1 U lt .j ,, ' i I L1.gt·:-. I 1.v
ni p: h~. ~ h 1r r 11 n!J1tr:r /, !l1c 1n :Lt t h c~ ir fc:s ti ~:e 11.'-·.-.····m!:fi ..·.c.:. , h n t '\Yi l !11111 1. t://t'!·I.,
;1.,;:; t ho·\· Uii.ifun ;i/.t/ lolt1 1:i:a iL \'.;~ :'.j i.l l \~j!l r;_
·!' ~h.::-~! ! 1 •' ;:t'.i ' n 1 ;i~· t n
bt•J/,;;· t.h nir r.nnrlif.~ nn. fn r "t1c : t;--:a ~1 !--.: tlw
•. ~- ·· ! ' • " ~1n ~l l" ·0-·n1 1 L~ t.l ;0y
1,·

rnn ;; t iTn1n.i11 .
lhl : ·1•:1 r·f 1::

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t ii l t;.'. i n 11o f 1, •:/i111·if;·,-, 11

t.1:05

SY N ON Yil1S.

[PAH'l' IV.

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PRECISION.

CIIAP. XXL]

[P AH'I' IV.

rn ou laborer at a rni11 0. Hore ho work0<l wit.hiu t ho dr trl.: cave rns
of th e earth : l>ut the fineness of his liu en soon loll some of his
fe ll ow-laborers to suspr:tt th at he was more tlian wlmt h e seemed.
By tho wlnice of :t frioncl, at whose house he cmw:11/ed himself,
Gnst·.a vns repoired to l\ilora, where an u11nual feast of tho po:1srmtry
' rns ]1 cld. '1'horo, as his last. rcso1wce, ho disployerl with so much
1mt n ro, cloc111 onc e, n.11d e11 er;1.11 tho mise ries of his country tlll cl the
t.111·u111i1/ of Chri stiern , that the assemb ly instan,Uy dr•t!J1"mincd to
ta ke 11 p a rms, a nil m /11ptwl him as th eir Jomler . ·while their hearts
"·ere .r;loll•ing wi th an ard ent pufriotisin, G nstavns led them agn.inst
the govt>rn o r's cast.le, whi ch th ey stnrmerl, a nd took or d estroyed
the 11·hole y urrisrm . S11ccess 'incrcnserl his for ces; m11ltitnrles were
eaqr:r to en li s t 111Hler I.ho lmnner of the co1lf1uering h ero, Gustavus.
At th e lwarl of his litt.l e anny ho overran th e neighb ori ng pro1·iucf's, c/!ife11/ed the Arcl1bishop of Upsal, aucl wfranv"l to Stockholm . Christicrn , wh o liacl in vain attempted to .<fop tli e progress
o f Gnstavus h y the threat of 111r1ssr1cri11g l 1is mother arnl siste rs, at
len p;th pnt t.lrn tlreatlful meirnce into e.1·ec11 ticm. 'l'h<' <'rue] deecl
:i11i111:1.tc1l Gnstavus to a se,·ercr rere11ge. Ho assemhlccl the states
of S11·cll <' n rrt \\'aclste 11a, where he ' rns 1111 1111i111011.<f.11 cho.w•11 :.tcl miuistrn tor ; a111l aftf'r a r11ri"t.11 n[ 111i/itury tr,,11.<r1C/im1.<, h e laid sic•go to
S tockholm. 8loekl1 n lcn s 1'1T e11.tlei·ed, aud the D emos wore c;uin jilelr>l!J cxpcllo1l from S1rncl en.
Colmn/)l{s 011. ihr> 1Yr110 JJTorld.-Aftcr a bri~f inler Drrl, the sovereigns
re11wsterl of Coln111h1rn a 1·eci/,y[ of his rtr/M11t11res . llis manner was
srrl11/rJ rrml di g nili c1l, hn t warmed h_v th e .r;lnw of natnml r:11th11sio.<m .
Ho e111u11,;r11/r:rl l·hc .<ererrtl islancls he li acl visited, cYpcr/irrtetl on the
torn pc mt e clt11rr1c/1•1· 0£ th o di mate, anll the ca1H1cir1; of tho soil for
evNy r uri"i.'/ of pro1lnct.ion , rrz>Jwali11g to the sam71les imz1orted Ly
li.i111 as l'l•i1/e11m of thnir nat.n ml p1·;J1/11ctf1,m1css . He chnclt more at
large on I.h e precio11s rn ctal s to be fonncl in those islarnls, which he
inforrocl loss from H1 0 specimens rrctua/(1; obt11 i11 cd th an from the
1111iform /es/i11um11 of t he nat.iw•s to their ab1/))dance i11 tlic u11 e.1plored
r egions of the in terio r. Lastly, he p oi11 t.cd out the wi<lo scope affnn/r•tl to Christinn zeal in the il/11111i11olin11. of a race of mf'n who:se
rninll s, fa r from hc i1 1g w ~dderl to an y system of idolatry, wore p1·e}'arcd h y I.heir r..1·/r.u11P. simplicity for tl 10 reception o f pnrc and unc01-r1qJ/r:rl doct rine. The last considcmtion touched I sabella's h ea1·t

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mos t sensibly; and the whole aurlirm r·A, ki11dled with various qmotiu11s Ly the speaker's eloqu e11cc, iille<l up the perspeetive with the
go1 ·geo11s col01·i119 of their own fa11 cies, as am bitiun, or avari cP, or
devotional feeling predominated iJ1. their bosoms. \VJ 1c n Co lumlrns
ceased, the king and queen, toget her with all present, pros/roted
themselves on their kn ees in gru/tJful th11111.;sgivings, while t.h e solem n strains of the T e Demn were po11re,z forth by the choir of
th e royal chap el, :.ts iu commemoration of so me glur iou., victory.

I

Alfred and the D rm es. - At the co11.f/:11e11cc of the rivers Paret and
T one there "·ere a l>ont two acres of rlry /1mtl, SU1Tuw1r/erl Ly s1wmp.<,
" ·hich afterward beca me celr;fn.,rf,111 unclcr the nam e of tho Prince's
I sland. H ere, alone :.t11tl in <lisguisc, he was sheltcr erl in the cottage
of a poor cowherd, who, in iq1101 ·11nr··~ o f his r wtl r/ig11:it.1;, was ta nght
to believe him some fn gi t.iYc chief \rhose c;ir c11msta111·r·s r e1111i1wl a
temporary seclusinn . A li1!P.(11 pict1m~ of tho ronrlilion t.o which ho was
rr:c111ccd is preserved in the wo.11-known c111r:crlotr1, which lrn l1i111 scJf
was accustomed to 1·ecitr; in his la1ppic1· h onrn, of the chidin.r; b e patir:utly emlw·ed from the shrP.1 ci.'<!1. wife of his host for al/01Ving her
ca kes to be burned. To tl1is u /1·eut lie grru/!lall!J s1m111w1w1l a few
of his mostfa.ithf1tl re/1 1h1 e1 -.<, furl!fi ,.rl its onl y ricces.<ihle rlJ1JJrO(IC1',
ancl began to malw s111·f'r:s.'.f11/ '"''''111 ·.<i1111.< npon s/rrr.rn/iug pa rtiPs of
the enemy. Bnt. th e first ru.11 of hn p<' !mike from auoth cr quarter.
Abo ut four m onths after tlrn iu1,,1.<irm h y Gnthrnrn, an oth er rlivision
of his countrymen, lamlin g in l>ovonsltire nncl cr the f erncio11s
Uhba, laid sir!ge to the castle of K eu wy tJ1, into "·hich the Imme
E:tldorman Odnn ancl a few s1dwrrli11rrl" cltirfs hacl 1111sti~1J tlirrwn
them.selves. In a desper ate srt{/11 the !Jl11Ti.<011 s11rcced Atl in surpri sing tho camp of the in vrrder.o, and sfoying U hba him self; an Cl'ent
which struck s uch terror into his foll owers tlmt Hwy ldt tlwir
encluwtcd sta11tlr1rd, the Haven of '\Vocl en, in the hands of thf' 1'ictrws.
R etreat of Sir J ohn .Ll[om·e. -'l'l w British troops, 1111dor Sir J ohn
1\foore, were now advancing from Portugal into Spain to cn-npr'1"1f/e
witlt the patriots. In the cou rse of his mrtrch, the British general
soon rliscove1·etl how frcllacious :.tBll e.1·ogge1·rrtecl were the imprnssinns
en /e1·tr!i11erl in E ngl:.tud r espectin.'7 t.he condition of t he Spaniards, aml
their ability or inclination to o.ff'er on e.f/'ccth,e resistance tot.he enemy.
He continued his march, h owever, in o rtl er to c01np(11, as far as pn.'sible, with tj10 expectations of the J.i1inistry, ancl the urgent r epresenta-

1•

408

PIWC!SlON.

[PAUT IV.

tirms m n,J o tn him; till at leng th, havin g lecwn ed that J\foclriJ hacl
f,tf/n1, ruul that B onaparte Imel r111ilte1l th at city at th e h ead of a snJ!''l'inr .forr·~, with th e ,.ir! rn of tr1ki11g Ill' a position in the rear of th e
British, whil e another 111·111.11 urnl e r Sonlt /u.11 in front, h o fonncl i t
i11r/i."}1m1.•rtl1le to m ake a prom11t retreat. '.L'his lt e accomJllish.erl iu tho
rnost 111u.<b·r/11 manner, tlum ~ !t t.110 " ·eath er was se1>m·e, pr1misim1s
.< cr nrly, t.h 0 i1;h" hit,ro1t., of th e co nn t r,v cnlrl mlll w>frienrll:r;, aml a veterrm a rrn y, !fl'W r/(11 .'111wrir11· in nnm l)() rs, pressin g on lt i., r em" 'l'his
f11111011s rcfTeat. dosed at Uo rnnna ou the 11th of January, 1800, lrnving l1 PPH u/lr!mlerl ·l('ith. t.he loss of many men from llisrml1n", and the
sw·1·1Ji1·e nf many homes from 11•m1t of forn.ge ; bnt witho nt a stwu lm·,f lining ta ken, or a s i11 g l L~ clieck .,11.,trtinerl in oction . 'l'h o trrws)JOi'/.', 011 h oa rd of \Yl1ich t he troop s were t o m11.lil/rk, mifortw11 1tc(IJ
clicl n ot relfch Cornn11a till t"·o days aft.or tl1 e arrivttl o f t!t e army.
Tu 0111sr'r;11rmcn of thi s <f,,,,,.'I it b ecame 11eces.<11r,11 to risk an e11goge111.e11t on th o Gth, in Yc ry 1/i., flrlvant,1,r;rmns circnm>;tances, aml against
un e11P.111!f greatly snpe rior in numbers.
In spite of t his 1li1<parity,
]10\\' 0V N, t.h e French were P.nei·ywl!m·r! repulsed, ancl cmnpelter{ to r etref!/ wit h th e losR of t\\·o th om a1Hl men. Dnt t h e grrllant Sir John
J\[oo rc was 11101·/f!/!11 \\"<ll11Hlot1 in t h e " ''/io11 by a cann on-ball. Gencrn l Ha irrl b ein g r~l1>n <l isnl1ln\I , Hir .T nllll H ope took t he co mnrnml,
and :< n<' <"nn<l erl in u111/J,,rki11g t h e troops, rtllll bringin g t h em off
·" 1( e(11 wi t l111nt further 1110/estlftion.

How much d epe1Hls upon the choice of words is
sl1 011·n in t.he fo ll ow in g p ne lll o f Cole rid ge's, printed as it
appea rs in l1i s co ll ected wo rk s. with i11 te rlin en,tio11 s in small
type sl10wi11~ t.l1 e changes of cx prcf's io11 m ad e in quoting
it for "Dana's H onsehol<l Book of Poetry."
COJ\:IPLAIN'l'.
[Th e Goud, Grcf\i ~fa n . ]

H o w selll om, fri cn<1, a goorl g reat. m an inherits
Honor o r '"' 'a l t h, with all l1is worth and pu.ins !
[nml ]

It sound s lik e story from the hind of spirits
[seems a ]

[ wo rl clj

If a11y man obtain that which be merits.
[When]

[olo lni 11 sj

Or any m erits that which he obtains.

CHAP.

XXL]

409

EQUIVOCAL WOllDS.
R EPROOF.
[Omilted.]

For sh ame, m y friend ! renounce thiR cn.ntiug strain !
fi •lleJ

\VJ Utt wouklst th on have a goo rl great man olJ taiu .?
Place, titl es, Rrtlary, a gi l<l c<l cl1 ain,
JIV<'alth]

[title[ [•li >( nity]

[i:;olcl c11]

Or t hron e of curses which his Sll'< Jl'll liath sbin?
!_henpj

Greatness and goodness arc not m eaus, but ends,
[Goo<ln css nn<l g' r ea tn c R ~ ]

rfat.!1 .Jie not. rtlWa,YR f', l'CaRlll'e R, rt l\ntys friclltl r; ,
'l'l1 e goocl g r eat man? the se t.rcas nre~, Jo,·e and li ght,
[g rent good]

[t hree·[

And calm tb ong ht.s, equable as iuf::tnt's l1r eath;
Auel three .firm frie11ds, m ore s nrc tlurn Llay an d 11ig h t~~

~

Himself, his maker, and the angel rlcafJ1.
[Maker]

[Den th]

In the third lin e of th e " l ~eproof," for i11 sta11 ce, all of
Co le ridge's word s arc 111ore pO\rn rful tl1an lh11a's, hec:111 se
by expressing less i11tri11 sic rn.l11 e t hey sl10\\· 1t1flrn st rongly
tl1c worthl ess ness of tli c ohjcctr; rdc rrcd to; a11d in the
next line, the wl1stitutio11 of li.eap fur tl11·u11 e e lirninn,tes
th e implied id ea thn,t t he g reat man's elevat ion is not
011ly acco mpanied by bnt lmf'ecl 011 t 11 e w\les pf ot lr ers.
Fo r th e uses of 01· ::i nd u11rl, sec p nges cxxi, c.u ii , \\· he re it
will appea r that both the substituti ons llln,<le are c1To11eo us.
(b) Equivocal Words arc l.h or;e tliat 11rny lie taken
in more sen::::es tl1ft11 011c. " ll c n\•rrlnnk<'d t.li 0 trf111 sr11·tion," may m ean e ither that h e s11per visell it, or that lie
forgave it.
"What I \Y a nt, " shouted a stnmp-s pf'ak e r, "iR common sense."
'' Ex:act.Jy so," replied his oppoll ent. (See a similar example on
page 2GG ..)

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410

PRECISION.

[PART

IV.

" 'l'h e Queen clid not want solici tation to consent to the meas-

ure."
Th e worcl "·want" nrn.y imply eit h er that sh e clicl n ot desire solicit.a tion , or t h at sh e ":as n ot witho!lt it.
"Ha ury hacl b een from his youth aUadtP,d t o th e Chnrch of
Ho me ."
This may mean either th at h e h ad Leen fond ef t.ltc cl111 rcl1, or
llmt, h e had b een n. mrmher of i t.
"Exn.ctly at eig ht t ho moth er came np, a n d discover ed t h at su p p er was n o t far olT."
"Discovered " mn.y be t.a ken in eith er of two senses. It may
imply found 011!, or it m n.y impl,v made kn o1rn, r evertled.
"'l'h c min is tf'r's r esignation, in those circ nms t,a nccs, cann o t Le
too hi ghly pmisc<l."
Docs this m ean h is hnn'11g r esigned his o ffi ce, or h is being r esiqn r<rl t,o his fate? "Reti rement, " " ·oulrl imply the o.11 e m eanin g,
"snl>mi ss.ion" th e oth er. If the fo rm e r i s internl ml, rmy "tl1 e
mini ster's resig ua tion o( hi s ofri ce ;" if tho btter, say " the rcsig 1rntion oxltil.iited Ly the minis ter."

(c ) Ceneral Words in stead of in d ivicl md words
a re ofte n affected hy youn g writers. Th ey are as fata l to
precision as to eve ry other qn al ity of good style. (See
pages 225, 240, '~20 .)
T h ose b eant.i [nl English wonls, ho_?/' nml gir ls, are almost banish ed from our m od ern voeal.inbry. B oys n.nd girls are tmus [orm ecl
into J111Jm1 ilcs ; 1cork1nen h ave b ecome op1w11/ives ; allll p eop/P, in
ge neral are no"· imlividunls . These i11dividu11ls, be it ol>servccl,
a re never di-ess ed, ]Jut always attirell or arr ayed ; they nre n ever
m1r1n1 , lmt often irule ; they never go ·into a shop, though they
Ro ;n ~tim m; cond csce n<l t o enter an emporium, or p e rh ap s a d eprlt;
nnd wh e n they return h ome they never lake CJ.ff their things, Lut
divest th r.mscfo c., '?f t!mir hnhiliments .
A not.h er practice " ·ith these writers is to substitute for si ng le
terms milk-aml-w ator d efinitions of t h em. With th e m a fi.re is
always t!w devmwing fl/ement; a man is rin indivicbwl of the mascnli1w gi:ll({er; afontmrm is a superb m enial; a ncl a school-master is t h e
prin ciprtl ef a. collegiate in-stitution.-GnAHAM.

CrrAr. XXI.]

EXCESS IVE BllEVlTY.

411

The pet phrases [a "pet p h rase " of l\Ir. l\Iarsh himself] o f
h ::tek jonrn ::tlists , t he e u ph emism t.lrnt lint lately cl1 rtmc t.f'r ized t h e
Am erican n e wspapers, are fas t g ivin g place t~ k ss a ffected a ncl
more apprnpriate form s of cxprnss ion . It, is ouly f.h o lowest class
o[ d aili es tl mt sf;iJl r cga nl "\ron1a11" ns not a n h 01 1ornl.ile or re speclfnl des.i g na t.io1t of tli c sex, a1Hl if; is in th eir col nmns alone
t hat, in p bcc of ""·oH-llresRml or l1 a111lsorne \Yoninn," we rea.cl of
" ekgrtn tly att.irnd fonmlos" a nd of "bertn tifnl h1lies."- l\Luisrr.
Cole ri<lge mys of ono of 11 is oJ.1 sclt ool -rnnsters:
Tn ()nr own R n g fo;h co m11 osi1 io ns (:1t Jc:i :-; t f11 r l.lw last U1rcc yea r e; (If om· Eng li sh cd u .
c a t ion), h e 8howcd n n JJl!'rcy lo phrn ~r. 111f· t·ap lwr. or i111n gc, m 1:::1 1ppor tcd by - a sou nd
sc11 ~c , or wh r r c t h e :=::1111 0 se n se mi g h t. h aw• Ileen cn n,·cy <'d with cqn:i.I fon·f> a nd rl igni ty
in plain e r wo nh:. T,1tt P, hrf1'1), nrnl 1!/7'f', )/n .V1', .1/Nsl!R, and i1uqn·ru tinn .~·. J'ega.~ 1 t.c:,
f '11nu1.,·:.:1f."~, :nul ll iJJ/U)1 ·r e111•1 wc ·r c nil :i.11 a bo111i11a t in11 tn hirn.
J 11 fnncy l cn 11 a l m ost
h e a r him HO\\". <'Xcl n imin g-. "J larp? Ha r p ? Lyre? Pl' n nnd i11 k 1 bny, yon rnPrrn I i\fn."c,
boy, l\t11~c? You r 11urse's dau g hte r, you m ean! P icri.111 s pring 'f Oh ay~ ! til e clo ister
µnmp, I s uppm;e . ,,

Colerid ge adds t,lrnt i.t iR wo1th y o[ ra n kin g ns rt m ax im i n crit.ieis m, t ha t \Ylrntevor i R tmnslaf-rtlJle in of;ltor rtrnl s i111 p lN ,rnn fa of
th e ~ame lan g n ngc, without l oss of sense 01· cli g nit _v, ill l 1n 11. By
<11g 111ty, h e m eans th e alise nce of l utlierous or cl eb :tsi11 g associ::tti ons.-iii. 147.

(2) Construct i on w ay lack precisin11 tli m 11glt (a)
Excess ive B rev ity, (b) Hed1111 cla11 ce, (e} 1\ ffoctation, (ll)
Looseness of T ho11g ht.
(a ) Brevity is the so11l of "·it; lrn t it n111st con si8t i n
the co 111paet.11 ess n11d ex;ief 11ess of tl 1e tlt o11g li t, 11ot in a
cur tn il ed ex pression of it. Jt is excessirn 11·!1 c11 c1·c r it
leads to lack of precision, by (i) the 0111i ss io11 ()f J\ eccssary
'vVonl s; or by (ii ) tl1 c 11 se of ;\111lii g 11 011 s J'ro11u1111 s.
Bncl jn<l g es (nrnl h ow few rtl'C n ot so !) 1l csin1 in co111pm;i fi1 n1 th e
<' on cisie n111l ol isenrc; not k11 m1·i11 g f-l 1nt tlic· one 1111 1s l fl'r'' Jll PlltiJ
an sns from pr<UC"ity of iu:tter i:Lls, n 11ll the ot her from i naliil itY to
manage and dispose them. - LA:>lXln.
"

(i) The Omission of Necessary Words is illu strated in the fol low in g exampl es:
I m u s t n ow make to you

11

general asse rtion , wlii ch, if you will

ti

1

1

ii

I
11

I

41~

PRECISION.

[P ART lV.

n ote [i t] <10\rn antl f';rnmin o [i t] at your loisnro, yo n will find u ot.lt
trno aml nsoful. - B us KT"I.
f farry cyerl hen· wi th snch a m ptu re as the first lover is d escribed
!IS hn1·i11 g hy l\.Iilto1i.--'.l'J.LACKEHA'i.
['.l.'hc rn oa11i 11 g probably is, "as the first lover :i s Lloscri.b eLl Ly
l\Iilton ·:ts h:w i ng eyed hi s rni str ess wit h. " J
H ow to nu rse a11 <l take c:ire of thei r child ren long h dorc sh e
h ::ttl 011 0 [•· ltiJ cl j hc•rspJ£. -.TD.
The re is nc YC' I' 1rnntin g a se t of eYil ins tmrnt•n t.s ,;.Jw c it.her out
of m ad ?.cal, pri rntc J1 a i;rcd, or [greed fo rJ filthy lucre, a ro al ways
r ea<lv.·- SWIVL'.
H~ lrtmentecl t,li e fatal mistake the worl d lmd b ee n [1 uakiug] so
l ong in n sing silk-wonn s.- Sw.u·.r.
'J'ltat the <liscon rsin g on p olitics sh all be looked u pon as dull as
ta lkin g on tl w 1H: at.ltol'. - f·'rnelw /dcr.
[Ua111pbe 11 snggests auotlter as b efore th o fi rs t as ; perlrnps to be
wonl<l h o l >otter. J
I <lo 11 ot reckon wo wn.nt a genius more than th e rest, of our
nci g l1 b ors [ Llo] .- Fi wn ·r .
Hi s clic t 11·as :tlJs le 11 1i ons, h is pmyc rs [wcroJ long aml fc r vo nt.GrnnoN .
I am anx ious for th e ti me when h e will tal k as much nonsense
to m e a s l ha,·e (b l ke<I J to him. - LANl!OH.
H o says, i1 1ter nlia :
T he co rrei:;.p011d (' 11 cC' n. l o n ~ w h ich l hn\·c to con du ct is nt on ce ex t cn1'i ve an<l clemnnd·
in ~ t hou g: htfn l a ttl• 11 t, io 11 , lnit L 1 1t~ \·c r

/lave, nor

c Yc r

w ill , nl lo w li tPrary wo rk to inter-

f ere wi t h th e pcrfonna ncn uf pn1'torn.I.

Yo n 11.111w 1· hru•e ri//o"" tllftt, d octor, t.he mag istrate m orms, l\.Ir.
E1l ih ir, and ho ]1opcR, too, that yo n 11e 1;i; r will ullo 1ccll i t, Hover no
more. "Litem r.Y work, " ind.eed. -l\IooN.
F ri oucls and c ltilrlrou who come n.fter m e, in which wa.Y will you
h en. r yonr tria ls ? I kn ow one th at, prnys God will give yo n l ove
rnthcr tha n pri clo, [tll <l t.hat th e E ye a ll-seei ng shall fi nd you in
t he hnmhl e place. Not t.llftt we should jn clge p roud spiri ts oth er" ·ise than charitabl y. ".l.'i s na tu re h ath fashioned some for ambition an1l clorni11i nu, as it h ath fo rmed others fo r ol>ctli ence and
g entl e s11l>missio11 . 'L'h o looparcl foll ows his natn re as the lamb
d ocs l?J. She ea n ucitlter help h er lioan ty, nor h er courage, nor

C ITAP.

XX!.]

AThillilG UOUS P llON OU NS.

413

h er crn elty, not n. sing le spot, 011 li e r sl1i11in g cont; nor t:li e conquerin g spirit which imp els h er; Hor the shot whif'h liriugs her
d own. - THACKEHAY, E~in01ul.
D ETERMINA'l'IVES.- Jn spite of tho necessity of freqnentl,y in tro cln c in g d etermi1mtivcs iu l:111 g n:tgos \\ iU1 fn w infl pe fio11 s, it will in
ge neral be foun d t hat a g i1'<' lt pcrio1l Jr:tm ecl wl1 nll y in AngloHn.xo n 11·ill con tain ns fnw \1"nr1ls, pc' rl mps p1·t·n f1 •1n•r, fl i:tu tl> o
same t hon gh t exp rossc<l i11 tJi p H.orna1u·e ,1i a l0ct <>f Jo:11 g lisl1 . Tl1 n
l'l'rtson of tliis is th at t he unplm sa nt. e ffect of tho fr equent. rec urrence of particles h as obli gell ns to i11 n• nt form s of ox prcss iou in
which such memliorn, th ough g ramrn a tica.Jly r01p1irf' cl to eornpl ote
th e p eriod, are clisp cnscd \1·itl 1, :rn cl we nsn th psn for ms wiU1 less
rnpug uance in Saxon co mliiuatinns, 11·li ern f;]1 r'.' - \ YC' I'<! Ii mt omploy0<l,
than in Latin on r s, wlticl1 are o f Jn.t-.e r in t ro1ln cti on n.nd Joss fa rnil irtr structure. Thus \1·e say, " Tli e ma n I b on g ht tl1 0 h ouse of,"
" '£ lie m an we were talking of;" au<l \YO may wi th eqnal g rnm m af,ical propriet.y say, " '.L'hn go11tlenrn11 I p11 rel1:tsecl t he .h ouse of, "
"'.1.'he person we were co nvers in g o f; " lmt we sl1011ld l>c JHn cli
more likely to employ a m ore fo rrnnl sy n tax, " The gc•at.le111a11 of
wh om I purchase1l the honse, " " '.L' ltn perso n of 11·ltom I\"\ ) \1·ero
colll·erning. " Agaiu, one woul u sa,,-, "I tolrl l1im I ha<l called on
Gen cm l Taylor," 0111it.ti ng the conjnn d ioa tltrit l >eforn the S<'C'oml
rnemher of the period ; hut if 11·0 0n1p l<>y<'<l H o111 :tuee \1·onls, ,rn
sl10nld m or e p rolJahly retai n t.h.e r o11:jn11 ctinn , as, "I in fu rm r tl
him that I had paid my rcspocl.s to t he rrnsi<l<'nt. " 1.' Ul> o11 g h ,
t hen, th e An g lo-Saxon so far co nt.rn ls nil ot.l1 m· t' lo1u e 11 ts ll1 at we
m ay g rnmmaticn1ly empl oy foreig n wonl s in t he san1 r 11·:1,r as
ua til-e ones, yet a h alf-ronsr·i ons so 11 so o f li ng 11i stic co11 gT11i ty
ns nall y suggest.s a mo re for1>1al s fT11 d 11 rn o f tl1 0 p criotl, when it iB
composed cl1iefly of H oma uco nLdica ls. - l\L1.usn.

(ii) Ambiguous P ronouns a l'C so g reat an e vil in
con1position th a,t B ain mys t.li e clea rn ess of co111positi o11 depcllll s m ore upon the u se o f li e, sllf', it, thc!f, tli a11 11po11 an y
other single matter co rnin g w itl 1i11 the scope o f g rn1111n ar.
'J'he word it is the greatest tm nhfo r t.Ji at. I know of iu tlw language. It is so s nm ll , rin11 so con veni ent, tltat fe w aro cnrcfnl
enough in using it. '\Vriter s seltl om spriro thi s \\' Ord. '\Vheucver

'
I

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I .

l

414

PllECISION.

[PART IV.

th ey arc at a loss for eithe r a uomi 1rntivo or an alljcctive to thefr
:o;cntence, they, wi thout uny kind of ceremony, clap in an it.UonnETl'.

Hewrite tl1e followiug sentence so as to avoid the coufosion of its.
It is many times as tronul esom e to make good tL e pretence of
a gooLl c1nality as to lrnvc it; fl·LH1 if a nrnu h ave it 11ot, it is ten to
one bnt he is Lli scoverc<l t·o want it, ancl then all his pains and
labors to seem to l1 :we it arc lost.

UlfAP.

tlmt we cau ring 10,210 changes on your peal o[ h cllA ! Jn oth er
'Yords, that your parng rapb, of l c~s than tf'n lin es, is so amL ig nom; Jy
worded tb at, without nny a lteration of its grn1111n:11.· or syntax, it
m:i.y be read in 10,2±0 different ways ! autl on ly one of all that
uumb er shall be the rig ht way to express your rn ea niug.

------ -

A, these .
B, them ..

Dnriug our stri_y in town one young man hacl his cheek cut
open ; anot h er his und er-lip nearly taken off; a third his seal p
c nt in two ; anll a fonrth the tip of his nose so t horoug hly excised
th at th" m1rl rif his 11,,.,al orgrtn [itj lay upon the groull(l .- HENI\Y
J\L\ Y111m-, O e r111r111 L ife, ii., G7.
A Rnnru:-m I1.r,us'J'HATCnN. - Yo n say, " \Vhile treating of the
prnn1111 eiation o f I hose ''"Jin rninist.er in pnblic, two ot her won.ls
oec nr to m e wltieh nrc vury co 11un only mangled by our clergy.
A

One of these is 'co\·dons,' antl its sulJstant.ive 'covetou sness.' I
hope some who read tlwsc lines will be induced to leave off pros
c
noun cing them ' covetious' a nd 'covctionsness.' I can assure I hem
D

E

F

tlmt when they do tlrns call them, one at least of tlwii· h earers h as
G

his apprecia tion of tltr:ir tcnehing cli sturb ecl."
I l'aucy tha t many a one who r eads these lines will L::we his appreciation of .11ow· teacl 1in g <listurbed, as far as it relates to tlie
Queen's English. nut now for the clmn ges which nrny b e rung
on th ese hell s, as I liavo cnlletl th em. 'l'he first of th em, A, may
ripply either to 11·rmls or to our clergy. On e of these is " cove tous.'' I am sorr,v to ~ny that th e geu cral b elief is t hat th ere are
morn than 011e; but perhaps you know one in particnlar. How1wc 1" my nmmrlrn interrnpt Llte b ell-ringin g, and we want to count
the clrnuges, so I will say no more, but will at once d emonstrate

-

----- - - - - - -....... :Ji
0 c

Noun s lo w hic h they may
apµl y.

The
Pron ou n s.

worc l ~\

C, th. cm.

On the oth er lta11d, it is somet im es needlessly avoided.
Thu s :

415

AMBIGUOUS PRONOUNS.

XXL]

D, th ey . .
E, them...

F, tll ei.1'.
G, thelr.

wo rd ~ ,
"

0

·~

0

o r clergy
2.
clergy, r c nckr ~ , or lin es . 4..
q

1'

,,

No . o f Di ffe rent

H e a1li ng ~.

Zz
.

. . . . . . . . . . ..
:I x by tile rt.Uovc

t:11<'sc

4..
4...

Lh t.:fiC ·I x
tll c ,.;e 4 x

4..
the se 4 x
4 .. . : these 4 x
wonl s1 elcrgy, renders, lin e~ , or
hea re rs. ... . . . . . . . .
5. .. . th ese !"i x

I

"

(l

2=

. .. 2
8

J28 =

Gl2

8=

:J~

l~ S

''

5 1~

"

"

=

2,048

2,0·18 = J0,240

- J\fooN.
,.

H e rl\focaul ay ] has a p erfect lmtrod of pronouns, and for fear o f
a possil1le entan g lement be tw ee n" liiw's" aud "li er's" and "it's,"
h e will ropcrit not merely a s nbstant,iYe lint a wh ole g roup of substantives. Sometimes, to make his se nse nnmistak::i.hl e, li e wi ll
repeat a whole formula wi tb only a change iu th e copula.--LESLIE
8'l'El'~illN.

OTHER I NSTANCES oF Al11mc;uous PuoNoUNs.- 'l'hey [those historian s] who lmve talontR wnut illlln stry or virtue ; they [those] who
have industry want talents .- 8oUTHEY.
H is ser vant lJeing ill , he had conseutetl to allow his brother, a
timid yonth from tlie couutry, to take ldR place for a shol't time,
and for that s hort time he was a constant so u.roe of annoyance.L ife q( C. J. 11fothe1vs.
Lisius promised to his father never to ab::m don his fri ends.-Quoted by 0AMI'BELL.
My good lord often tal ked of visiting that land in Virginia
which King Charles gave u s-gave hi.~ aneestor.-'l'HACKERAY.
'l'hc war then exciting attent.ion to the American Colonies as
one of th e cl1ief points in dispute, tltey came out in two volumes
octavo.- PmoR, Life of Burke.
l\Ien look with an evil eye upon tho good tlmt is in others, and
think that their reputation obscures them, and that their commend-

11

I
I

41G

l'itECISIOM.

[PAHT IV.

alil e q11alities stand in their li ght; and t h erefore the.'} do what
the!; can to cast a clond O\·er them, th at the s hining of their virtu es
ma.y n ot obscure llwm. - 'l'rLLOTSON.
'l'hore are so m e men who allow the sex no virtues b eca use the!J
allow !Item no favo rs. - - FIELDING.
Tho exorcise of reaso n rtppoan< as litt.le in th em as in tho l>easLs
th ey s01netimes hnn t, and by \YlJOm tlte!J arn so meti mes hunte<l.Bo1; rnr11m01m.
Tl1 orn is 110 popul ar Life of Tiossuot to b e foun<l in Frnnce-Canlinal cle l3au sset's is tlie ou ly one [life], and t h at is bulky and
tlry. - - JJ oss11ct ancl his Crm/e111por11ries.
In any testimony (whether ornl or wri tten) tl1 at is nmYi lliu gly
borno, it will morn frequen tly consist in som ething in cidentally
implied than in a di stinct s t r~to m eut. --WIIA'L'EriY.
l\Ir. A. prese n ts his compliments to l\I rs. 13. I l1 :we got a lrnt
whi ch is u ot his; if he lmve got a 11:1t whi ch is uot _yours, no doubt
tLoy are the rniFmin g oue.- -HoDGSON.
Eve n in this Rh ort se nte nce " ·o may discern an inaccuracy- why
011r la11g11oge is le.'·' rr,fi11erl t11.1rn thn.,e of Itrtl.'f, F'rnn ce. and Spain ;
pn t tin g t.h e pru1101111 those in t.J 1e plnml, \\'lieu tlie antecedent s nhHt1111t.irn to which i t rofern is iu tho sing11lar, our ] ,m1g11age. - BLAm .

Lllere Blair is lll anifcstly i11 error. The se1J tence sl10111Ll
r ead, 1.chy ow· llmguage ,;s less rqtinecl tlian a1·e tlic langu.age8 of Italy, Fm11ce, and Spwin. (See page cxxv.) J
Find other in stances of. ambig uous pronoun s on pages

45, 70, 240.
A genderless personal noun is a marked waiit
of the E11 g lisli lang uage, as witness the following:
Wh en ew1·ybody [al!J can ride as soon as tlt.e!J are bom. - SYDNEY
Smn·r.
It is trne that wh en pors11edi ve was first discovered, cve1·ybody
[all J amusecl tlrnmsefres wi th it. - RUSKI N.
F:r1c·l1. of t.h e F:exes sh oul<l k ee p wit hin ifs prop er bounds, and contc11f; tliem ". <lrus to ex nl t within th eir respective di stricts. - ADDISON.
Eac h prayed for tL e other rather t han for thcmsel ves.-1\Ius.
GASKELL.

CuAr. XXI.J

417

A GENDERLBSS PRONOUN.

When it took a t1rnlrnmonth's hard 11·ork to make a single volu me legible, men considered a litt.le t,h e <li ll'crc nco lwt \\·cen ono
book and anoth er; bnt n ow, ·when n ot only r111:'1hou'_r1 m11 ge t tlte111selves made legible, Unong h any qu an hty of Yol111m>s, in a 1wr k,
but the d oin g so 1.Jecornes a li \·in g to the m, a1Hl t.lH'Y cr1n Jill tl wi r
stomach wi th th e fnolis l1 fo am of tl1 c ir lips, the Hll i"'' rsal pest il ence of fal se l1 00<1 fill s th o rnin rl of 111 0 wml<l ns ci"arlas rlo o li1'<)lcaves, aml the Jirst n ecflss ity of 0111· 111 0111.al go\·en1mfmt is to ex tri cate from r1mo11g tlie iuscctal 110ise Ute few n otes ancl words tl1at
are divine. -H.us1aN.

It is prolmbly t.lirongh the l1 aliit. of using a plnrnl pronoun wh en th e antecede nt is of Loth sexes tl1 at the plnml
is somet·imes nsed for th e sing ul ar wl1 e1L the anteceden t includes Oil lj' one sex. Thu s:

; 11

'11

:I

Each of t h e girls went np into th,,ir [h er] separate rooms [room]
to rest and calm th emselves [hersolfJ. - 1\iHs. GA8KEJ,1•.
[Hodgson correc ts th e sentene e as above, lin t t h o rn oaniug is
b etter preser ved by subs ti tu ting all for eac11 r!f. ]

The use of "one " as a pcrso11:1l prononu, corr esponding wi th the 1"rench On dit a11d tl1 0 (i errn an .i1la.n
sctyt, is grnwillg ill favor, and is bcg in11i11 g to be characteristic of the best-b~ed speech.
One doth n ot kn o w
Ho w much a n ill word may c m poison lik ing.-Jfuch Lido abou t

~Nothing.

See examples on pages 4, 5, 0, 18, etc. Avoid awkwarcllless by s11bst it11 t i11 g one for li e or slw 011 page 47.
Reflexive Pronouns r equire care, as witness the
follo wing :
If this trade b e fostered, we sh all gain from one nation ; and if
another, from anoth er.
Which might h elp u s to di scover t h e conformity or di sagre eablen ess of the one to the otlwr. - AnmsoN.
TLe greatest masters of critical l earning differ among on e another.-Spectator.

I
I
I

,1!

418

i'ItECISION'.

C 11AP.

[i'AwrIV.

H e rf'rtfter, wh en trains movin g in an opposite direction are approachin g <~n.c li other on separahoi lines, conductors and en gineers
will h o reciuirecl to brin g t heir respective trains to a dead lmlt b efore the p oint of m eet.iug, a nd be very careful not to proceed until
each train hn. s passed th e other.
A writer in the .11ilr111tic of t,h e death of Dabney Carr, the brotherin-law of Thomas J efferso n, says:
Mi111H11l o f t he r oma nt ic nr! rccmcn t oE their youth tha t whi chever died first, should
lmry l hc oth er 1111clcr th e g iant on.k on .Monticello, etc., etc.

'l'his is rath er hard on " t h e other "- and on ]\fr. Jefferson- and
on the co rpse.-Dm1.bn1·_11 1Y e1os.

(b) Redundance is fatal to precision.
L ooseness fr om r ec111n <lance is specin.lly apt to occur in speakin g
on difli cult tli em es to the popnlar mind. Under su ch comlitions,
on e is apt t o explain, to qualify, to r ep eat, to sp eak in circum locntory phrase, to ex periment, with variation. 'l'hese easily overwh elm t;ltc th ou g h t with words. One then l oses precisio n in the
effo rt to b e perspi<'n ons. 8tyle moves askant a nd ask ew in t.h e
e ffo rt Lo wo ve at, all. So m et im e~ t h e very Rt.rngg le to b e prec ise
-tlw n1 in c1, }u the Vt;r_v act uf co mposin g, lieing intent on precision-may d efeat itself. H ere, again, thought. is overlyorne by
th r. n1:!f•.llin r ry cn1ploynd t.n g lvP. it. nt.t. ~ r~n eP. . \ VTite rs "':vho pride
thorn s<'lvos on philosophical acc nrncy are apt to multiply qualiffr:it.ions, n.nrl circum sta ntial i11 ciJ.0nts, and secondary clanses,
and p arn nth etical discl os nrcs, so t hat no possible error sh all
b e afli rni cJ. ; l.Jut that »cry strain after accnrncy d efeats its aim
through the m ere exprinsiou of bnlk and i11volntion of con ncc tio11s.
'\Vltcu a d own words mi g h t h ave b een understood, a dozen dozen
may fall llcatl on tlie car.
Ellmnnll B nrke snm ct.imns illustrates this. In one of his elaborate sente nces yon wi ll sorn ct.iin es fiwl words a11d clau ses selected
and mnJt.i plied and a r ran ge d an d cn rnpactecl aml C]_n alifiocl aud
d efiu ctl a 1Hl rnpeatell , for the very pnrpose o f ex tendin g rind limitin g tl1 <' trn tl1 t o i ts exac t and undoubte d measure. H e obviou sly
l abors l;o sa,v jns t. \\·hat 111 ) means-no rn o re, no Jess, n o oth er.
Still, 011 the \\·ho le, h e foil s, because h e is so elaborately precise
iu d etails. 'l'he thoug ht is suffocated by the multitude of words

i
I

.
t

XXL ]

419

HEDUNDANCE.-AFFJ.iCTA'l'lON.

employed to give it life. It is lmr i e<l a l.ive. 'l'o change t,h e fi g ure,
yo n can di vicle and sub<li vi de a field into so m :in_y, so small, so
regular, and so exac t patch es, tlrnt th e chie f imµ rcssiou it shall
l eave on yo ur eye is tLat of the fences. Similar is the im}Jression
of an excessively prcciRc style .- PirnLPS.
It is n eedful to inRiRt t h e m ore on th e ener getic efTcc t of concisen ess, because so man_y, cspecird ly yo nn g w riters and speakers,
are ttpt to fa ll into a style of pom pou s Yerb osity, not fr ont n egligence, but from an id ea that they are rHllling to f;lte iwrspicui ty
and force of whrit is sai1l, when th ey arc ouly 011 uumlJeri11 g the
sen se wi th a n eelll os>< Jorul of word s. Aud tl1 ey arc th e more likely
to commit t;l1i s n1is talrn IH' cfrn sl~ s nch a st.,y lo wjll 0 1'!·011 a ppea r not
o nly to the au t hor lin t t.o t,ltc vnlgm· (i.e. , Ynl gri r in in t1r llect)
amo ng h is h eare rs to b e ve ry nmj cs t.jc a nd imprnssirn. It is not
nnrommou to lH'ar :i s peak er or writer of this class m entioned as
lrnvi ug a very t ine ronmwrnl o f ln. ll g n:tgo, ' Yh on pNhn.p s it mi ght
•be said witl1 more coJ"J"cdncss f'11 :1t hi s lfrngn:i,g,~ li n.tl a command
of liim; i.e., tl1 at. h o follow s fL t.rn.in of 11·or1lq r:i.i.11 N t.'!1:<11 of
tltong ht, ancl s triu gs t ogclltm :Ll l LI 10 morn stri I; i ng cxprn:;siom;
t;lmt occ ur to l1im on th o s nbj cc!., inst<m<l of first funning :i clear
n otio n of U1 c sf' nsn ho wishes to 1·on 1·n1·, :11111 tl1e11 "''''J; i11 !-'; llt n mo st
appropriate ,-ehi clc in \':!tich b i cu11 ."t',Y it. I.l,• kv. Int! l!w . nme
0

«' On1n1:1n11 ,,j l n11~-~·1 1:1· ··1~ tl1:1 !

ilte 1·i1li· r

11:t '-\

iii

;1

lHit". '' ' 1l 1:1 i 11 111'-\ :1\\ · :1 y

...

/

For illn stration, on ,pagc 222 it is saill tliat tlt c pri11ter's
place "·ill 11 o t b e eas il y fill ed hy his cq nal. It wonlcl he
precise to say thnJ hi s place \\"(Hild n ot be eas il y till ecl , or
that it wo uld ll vt 11 0 eaRy to find l1i s equal. Bn t there is
11 0 reason why !ti s er111al should 11ot fill l1i s place easily
e11ong h.
(c) Affectation is a prevailin g e 11 c111s ti) precision.
·Yon11g writers arc slow to lea rn t lt at t!t o f' in1pl est, 11 1ost
direct state11 1011t of a tho11 g l1t is tl1 e b est; n1 1d t!t ey stri ,·e
to array id eas tl1at they r ceogni :r.e :i.s co111mo11 place in <listin g nish ed ln11 g 11 age. (Sec pn gcs I D3, 1D7, ~: ,HJ.)
A two-foot rul e was given to a lnl1orer iu

11

Clyde b oat-yard to

•.··•

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".1:20

[PAnT IV.

PHECIS ION.

m eflsn rc fi n iron plnJe. The hhorer, not b eing well np in th e u se
of the rnk, a ftl' r s p01Hling ::t considentl1lo ti111 e, re turn etl. "Noo,
J\Ii ck," flsk ed the plate r, "what si:w is lite plate? " "\Vell," r eplied J\I ick , with a g riu of satis fa ctio n, '· i l's the leugLh of yonr
rule au d two tlnunus over, with this piece of bri ck, an!l the
Lrea11th of my hand arnl rny 11rm fron1 l1 cro t;o th er e, liar a Jiu ger. "
- Pu nch.

\V e la11gh at tl1e workman for rnnploy ing thirty-two
\\·ord s and six kind s of rn casurcn1 ent to exprci=is 11·hat
would l1avc been n1 orc c.\aetl.r 1111J crntooll if: li e kvl 1>aid
"tl1 irty- tl1ree i11 cli cs." B11t l1i s blnnd cr was d11 e to ig norance of tlie 11se of tlw nil e. J la!l li e been acctt stot11 cd to
tli e rnl e, and ltad th e circu1nl oct1 t iu11 bee n an affectal'i on of
eleg:lll ce, or an :-itte111pt to 1nake tlt e 111casnrc111 c nt 1>ecm
111ore illlportant, li e 1rnttlcl lt::tve been di scharged for
idi ocy. Yet his f:w lt wo11ld l1a ve been no g reater tlian
tl1 at of the r epo rter wlio wri tes that" tli e devo11ri11g clern ent is devnstati11 g tlt c capaciot1 s g ranary of 011 c o [ nnr
111 ost. i111!11 ent ial citi ze ns," 1rl1 e1t he tJtcaus that a fire has
brnk en out in J ohn S t1ti th's ba rn.
A writer in th e 1Yestminster
fashi on:

Review disco nrnef! after this

A 11ol l11·r c11r io11 s obi::ert ati on 11pon philos0 pl 1ic n.cli vity i ~.
1

that t tlc co-orrlin aLion o[ nil

the funct ion!'i wh ich con sti t11 tf' the whole intcllccttrnl cnr>r~y of ph ilm:ophi c 1ni nd8 is preservC'1l in it s pl c nitmlc for nnly a. slwrt. period o f thei r whole fl11rn. ti on o f li ft' . Th e re oc ·
c ur ~, arn l i~c n crn ll y nt a pcri ocl t if 111i<l 1l !e l ife , :rn e poc h wh ,..11 th e a<.:s imilat io11 o f ~ cif' n tific

mate rial and lt!=i ul te rior e la bMal ion proccetl \\·ith a n energy more vigoron s and morf' <·o nti11 no11!'I t,hnn is C\·cr ~r tcrward a tt ain ed hy U1r. ~rune mind.

Th is phase of plli lo ~o phi c:ll

lJ.r an in tellectual f)ha!-\C

c harn.l_~erized by lcs::; o.x pcrnli·

s1q1f' rnctivity i!'! alway s s nC'cccd c:rl

lure o r f; i111ultnn co 11 s po wers .

I tlo uot say th at U1is hfl s no nwan ing. J3nt wlrnt is its m ean ·
i11 g ? If I <ln not mi ss it in the volum e of its lon g-tailed vocabuhtr,v, it is t hi R, and thi s is th e " ·h ole of it - that t.he mind o f a metaphysir..ian is morn Yigor0us for a tim e ne:ir miclLUe life tlrnn it
ever is afterward. Wl1 y c011l rl no t t l1 e reviewer say tlmt, if h e must
say a t hing so obvious, and Le content?

CHAP.

XXL ]

BOMBAST.

421

'l 'lmt a profonJHl m i.1111 !loi ng l1 1JJJ P.st \Ynrk can no t m alrn p rofon n<l
Utong ltt cle:tr, implies in to l.l"du:tl rfo;easc or imbC'cilit.y iu t ir e rest;
of ma nkintl to an extent 1rhich is n ever true, except. in effete or
d ecaLl ent races. It is m oro probahle th at sorn c of 0 111· philoso pltical writern sl;rnin a fter t he look of prnfonn!lucss whe n the real ity
is uo t in th!'m. 'l 'lmt 11w; a p er il ous principl<' "· l1ie.h Colerid ge
atl rnueed resp ecti11 g t h e e:tpa~ity 1J f h1lll lall lan g uag", that it cann o t express certain m etapli ysica l i Llo:ts, aml tl1 erefore tlrnt cl earn ess of styl e in r" lu otaphrnical trmtise is p1 ·i11111 /ucie eYil1encc of
superficialn ess. As Coleridge 1rns accnsto m o<l t-o i lln st rnte it., the
p ool in which yon can connt the p ebbl es at 1-110 l1otl;om is slw.llnw
water ; tlte fat h oml!'.qs 1lcp U1 j,.. tli:Lt in whi1· h ~·on can onl y sec th e
rcJfoction of yo ur <111' u face. Tl1i s \\·o nld lie l:l'llo if I hinbn g were
' rnt·.er. Ent t lte prin cipl e opo11 s t.l1c 'rn,v to t Ji ,, luns t. s tnpc1Hl ons
imposi tio11s npo u sp ccnlat ive scil' lll'O. Jt t«1 nl' ts a nJ.h or!'< to th e
g rossest affect.at.io ns in style. In t lte strnly of rn o<l cr n psych olog.)',
therefore, a preach e r u 0cds to b e o n l1i s g nnnl. \\' e mny safely
treat as a Ji.ct.icrn in philosopl1 y :u1 ytlii11 g wl1i• ·lt clni111s Lo l• o tt <li seovcry, yet canu ot make i tsdf n111ll' rston1l w ithont li11 gc aml UD·
man::i.gcaulo con tort ions o f tho E nglish tm1g11 c.- r ru·:Lr s .

Bombast, wlii cli ori g i11all y 111 ea 11 t Ili c cuttu 11 1radd i11 g
with \\'hiclt ga r111 c11ts a rc shilled :111d li11L·d , is 1w11· :-i pprn)Jriately app li ed to i11tlaterl di ctio11, \\·vrd s t:l1at arc big
lm t empty. (Sec v:-ige ~2'2 3.)
As one o f I.he fanlts of over-ci v.ilimt ion , an intell0d1rnl as "·ell
as a p ersonal coxcom liry is apt t.o pre1·nil , "·hil·h i<'a!l s p rnp.le to
exp ect from each othnr a certain Llaslting tnrn n f 1ni11d, nu<l :mappearance at lc;st. of kt\·i11g iLlcns, whctli er !hey eau a ffonl thorn
or n ot. - l1EWH H UNT.
l g1wrnnt aml 11m·0fle!' fiug p e rsons, t.lwn glt t.11<',Y en.min t be,
Rtr·ictly sp caki11g, l'o11 vint'<'1l l1,v wlt:tt t h l'} llo uot 11111l Nsta11 d, yet.
will ve ry often snpposo l'tte h t lmt Ili c n'st lllld<' rsht111l ·it. ; and r•ach
i s ash amed to aclrn owlo1l gc C'Y<'ll t.o h im self his mm 1hrkm'ss aml
p erpl exit.y : so that if tlrn S[)('alrn r "·i t lt :t coll li .lcnt. ai r f\Il1Hll111ces
hfr< conclusion 11s ost.ahli Rh eLl, t;l1 oy will ofte n, acconling to tho
maxim omn e -i:711 otnm 711·0 11u111111Jicn, l:i. i«) for g raHt c1l 11 0 lrns aclvancccl valid arguments, and will IJ e loath to seem IJohindh aud in

1·

iI .
I,

!

I

iI

I:

PHEC ISION.

[PA l\'l' IV.

onrnprC'h onclin g t hem. It n sn all,Y requires that n. m an sh ould h ::trn
so me co rd i<l1 •11 cc in 11iR 011·n nu1lorshrnlin g to vcntnro to say,
"\\'lmt lms lmc n spok en is unin tellig ililo t o m o."- 'IYHATE 1'Y.
I lrn1·c h oard of a preach er who, J csiron s to a}Jpear very profo nnd , a111l In rnakc ol1sc nat-.i nns o n t.l1c cn rn111 011 psf; snl1j cd s, wl1id 1
l1 aLl rn ~ 1·c r oee nrrcd t o rt 11 _y li01 l,y lJei'ore, rc 111:\l·ke1l as ::tn instan ce of
tl1 P gno1l11 csR of Pro1-i <l on<'e tli rtt. the m o111cnts of tim e com e succcss ivl' l.)' n1"l 11 nt simnltrtnl'onsly or togeth er, which last m e tltoJ of
cornin g wo n l1l , h e said , oe1·asion infinite confusi on in the world. CAl\lI' Jn'i lJJ '·

S ee similrH· illns tra tio11 ::tt foot; of page SG.
]~'.1 ·11111)1!1'8

'!f

}Ju111 1'rt 8t ~i re

i1c 11·spape rs nrc full o f' 1.hc lll.
pages :JOG, 307 .)

1111liappily frcc111 c11t ; th e
11 e re a rc a fo w. (Sec a lso

"J\Ir. :tll(l ]\[rs. D - -, B os to n, U. 8. A. BcRt and m os t prosp ornn s r nn nt.ry u1Hl er t;l\O s 1111. 'l'lta 11k Go1l ! .Jns t arri ved from
Uh:w1 ro 1111 y 011 mn\('s; l'l f':tsed 11·ith t.lte monnbin ><." 'l'l1i s i.s an
i11sl•ripfi1111 o n :t S1ri ss l1 o!l'l rrgiste r. 'J'l w rnnks could n ot writ.e.
-

f .'0/1/rn ; (y r•.

A y n11 11 g 111 a11 n.t. Elkha rt , 11111. , has st:1rt0<l a six-colnmu weekl y
p ::t per 11·it.h t.lt n :wowrnl o l1j <'d o f "n ~sto riu g to tho H opnlili c its
11·0J1te<l g rn11d e nr :t1Hl prns [>Cl'ity ." Yon c:rn't tlo it., yon11 g Jcllow.
\Yn tr.i ecl for s ix .'·C'a rs to n •s to ro t he H <•pnl>ii c t.o its won te<l g rnn !l e nr 111111 p ros l'rrit y h.v ]'lll>lis hin g th e :il 1lost pa.per in t his r onn tiy
a ncl taki ng t.11 r 11i pfl ::tn<l s l:d1 woo<l 0 11 s nhscript io11 , and JleYN h:t1l
n1011 ey e 11 0 11 g lt fo h11 y a, dog ; l1uL tJ[ Ja{u yea.Li w e lLa.\ e ]c l. L1 1e
wo11 IP <l g m1111 <• nr of Ille ·1 ~ q111li i i c shirk for itself, an<l on t lw f-in;t
of ,J:cn 1mry ''" lirt<l O\-e r s ix 1lollars. - l'eck'.q 81m .
"Yon11g Nnhscrili o r " "· r~11t s to know " \\·lmt i8 an organ? " It
is th e o pl'os it.ion pape r, 111y so n; th e Yil o and trucklin g sh mit.
tln:ong li wh ose Y<'n o mnn s ma w, fc ticl wit.h Yice n. nd fe sterin g \Yi.th
th o l oa th so lll c 1' nnnpt.in11 111 whic•l1 it. rl n.il y w:tll nwR, t.li A oth er
11,

·I

I ·I
r;

i·

CHAP.

Cong ress lrns b een under Lael inHuen cos, acconling to th e H on.
Rollin M. Daggett, of N e vada, who, in a late sp eech to the H ouse,
r em arked:
11

j '

/; ,

i (

l' I'

•::t

fl

I

;,

.l\fa.n y. t on g ned

h ac; m ore t..h n n hinted

rn cnts o f Jn f' ll, a rnl th at t.h n cn rpn ml.n A\:ultlin s <> f U1n lan d , whose innn e11c1• iL is itnposi:;.ilJlc no t to fee l, cv c 11 in t h e inn e r ch:i.mhc r~ n [ t hi s t·cm1ll c, ha ve c all ed tn th ei r coun c il s
1
b olh th e sig h t less so n o r Cc rc!ll a n d t he stn r -cyc<l cy p ri a n wh o._c h ome i>' 0 11 I.I\(; h cigh ts. '

Mr. Dagge tt himself is inclin o<l t.o l'h ari tahl y <li sh oliovo t h ese
r eports; but oven his a ll eged tlis bc lief is not reass ming , Loc::tuse
this is its basis :
" f•; vc n wer e it p nssihlc for 11 1C' t·o he li c n• thrrn n v n 11 1y shoul d <' r <> I wn 11lcl h n.11g t he
m a u l.le o f rlon b t., and. like the h h.>s~ed o f Noah'f1 ~1111 ~. wal k ha<"kw:in l wilh i t t o cov er t he
iufamy IJcforc t h e wor ld }J(' h cld it Qr onr own (•yes we re iJ la stct l IJy Lite t1ll \\·rJ1..:omc visi on. "

'rhe m::i.ttor would Reem to b e nn o for iaqnir_y , even if the Riglttless son of Ce r es an<l t he st:w-eycd cyprian Imel to u e snmmoned
to t ostify. -N ew Y ork Sun.
A.yo un g la d y, 1\fo.;g Al iec ll g-c nfr iLz. lk li v<' r<'tl an ail1lr css n n jo11r11 aJ i:..: 111 to ! ht' F ou r t h
I owa. D ii:;tri ct l're sH AssoC'in.tion t h e otlwr d :i y . We !incl h r: r t' R'l!l.\' in lh c ll1tJ'li11gton
flrtmkeye. S h e t hin kio: Lh nt t,h c- rn is sHll rno11 1 nt. ! ht~ tnp, a. nd Lha t a 1u•glr ·c-t. o f ll tetn r y
fin is h is o n e o[ t h e great faul t.;; of Anwrican

IH.' \\' S p:q1t' r s .

I H:-: t<'a •l nf <lln·l lint.:"

011

n n (l

p oli sh i n g up l h l' ir id c-as, m en t h ink lll o r e o f 111a.k ing a ~ p eedy :llld ad \·; 111 t 11 gC'n11:-: l"alc o f
th em .
poli s h

Mi ss .Ali e(' is a m t.h er c l eve r girl, hn l.. slw
th c r11

ur too c hho rntcl y .

1111 1s l 11<J I.

'.l'l1 P- 1TS1l!t of ton

ltllH; li

1hndl

11n

h1 •r i <kn ~ ! on ](>Ill!. or

li L1 ·rar y 1i11i -d1 is J.;1 :1 ·11 in s 11uh

nnrnz in g- pas.:ngr8 a~ t h is in h C' r n1l d rPss lo 1h c T11 \\":1. 1·1li to r s : " I_ :i.n 1 L1 1:l!l k f11I fur the

iconoclastic ~pa(lcl-l \Y hi c h are rootin g up vl<l ~a w R I ll at h:WC' IH'CO ll W strippe d o f :d i sig niticnncc, like Cleo pn.t.ra, s Nce(llc, Vy b ci n :; n ' lll O \"C'd from l h('irn at u r ;i\ i- mT0111 1tlin g,..' ' -1Ycw

r01 .(: Smi.
A finicky , [ns.~y, ronnd litt le man ;:;t c ppc 1l np to U11: first waite r in a 11 1..:\\"

") :-- lei

.-, alou1 1

in S ixth Avc nn c , nnrl ~ :ii r l:
" H ave Y'Jll g '-'t nn y rP:\ ll y ni1~1\ fre f'> h 1 goo1l o_v i-t·c rs ? ''

HY""• s ir."
'' 1~ . _,j (, ,, , f:i t,

1.:1!

}''H i'.: 11,,·,\ ·

11•il

!L in . ' i ' 11· r.

w nnt thmn p Arfect ly fr ci-h. 11
11 H ow w ill you hav e th em - half s h ell ?"
" Sto p n mo m e n t.'' !"aicl th e l itll c man: " if yn11 ha ve g nL j n ~ L Llt(• r ig- l1L ki nd in jn st

i i- ...... ; .. 1, 1- ,..,... , .,1 ; 1 ; ,... ,.

l l
j, I :

•:. t , , · li'. 1i .i 1_1 ; 1) t .

r u mor, th e u11hk st cvn n g<' l of r aln m n y,

thn t t.n 1,iie g-litt1~ r o f µ; o lrl h avn l n~1 · 11 a d11rd Lh 1• e ru;h an t,m r-nts n f b eau t y t o wn rp I ltr j 11cl g-

'\ll d

1

423

BOMBA ST.

XXL]

;1

11:.

t :·

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"''~"'"'"

tn l'" hrdf" p i n t

ni

.o:; 111:1 i i

0111•:-; 11 111L

L"" ~ 11 111:; . ) "II:,;,,,·, ,) ;; i; ,l

424

PHEClSION.

C HAP.

[PAI:'l' IV.

t..hc tli ;.;h.

L et it l>c writ.te n on eve r y l c:if I.hat trrnnbh..·s i n t h e Cn.n:i!l ian nn d A m eri c an fo r est.A,
eve r y bl ad e or ~rra s~ th at wav e :-; in th e m o rning- breeze, C'v crs sai l that w hi ten f'l. t h e s en ot
c omm e r ce ; kt it Ulnzc from t h e ~ 1111 a t. noon t id e nntl IJe r el\ c i;tcd in the mild er ntdin n cc
of cv t' ry i-; ta r l hn t tw f\cc k s th e lirnmrn c ntt•f Go el ~ l ei, 1tec ho Lhnm g h t h e arch es of heave n
nn (l rc vc r1Je 1nt c t. hroui:!h t h e cnrrid nr :-: of our 11at i o 11al lc 111nlc. l h at th e q rn.1111 a nd " .v m
p a t ht•1.ic mmb < ~ f Qn cc n Vi c tor ia whi c h fl a Rh eJ 0 11 the wi11g f-I of e lectr icity O\"Cr th e Atlnnti c c n.111 1• a nd h• Jver ed li ke a g: uanlia n an ~c l over the bed of t h e dying J>rc~ id c n t G ar fi e ld, \\'t' H ' wnri J..; o f pcnrh1 nnd d iamo nd s se t in I.he n eck lace of internationa l 1111 ity nud
h n rm onY. hlll H! :t1·o u1 HI t. h 1~ 11 1', ~k nr r lir n ndd f' SS nf Li h f' rt._v - f?rrnsnr . i\ R 1.: , _r .1nTT .
Nu \\- I_ ba. v 1·11· 1, l h c ~ii g ht c ,.:. t; d i ~ p os iti u n t o beco m e hy pc riJ1Jii ca i1 n or in any way torr. isr c pre:-en t o r e:rn ggcrntc t h e i:; ta te o f fa c t ~ rcl:tt i ve to th e r epea ted annoyan ce lo which I
lm vc bcr 11 s nr1j cc tcd, both by e n viou s, j calon ~, an d lialf -e dm.:atcil rcneg.iu l cs nml co nn terfcitR, pre te nd in g to Uc o f m y ow n poli t icit l fnill1 and fri c ntlly lo Bl <', and the r itl ic u lon f" ly
i w;:~rn c an d con tc mptihlc h o wlin gs of a parti:-:an prc:: :R ; bnt I tlo wi s h to say, t h a t if: there
be nn ndnlt o f ma.o: .c nlin P, pc rf"ua ~ ion on t he fa ce n f I.hi s 11n111tla11c f" ph e re, 11po 11 wh om a t t e mpts a~ p c n :l'cn ti1)ll arc IJ (' i11 ~ d ai ly an d hourl y c 1rnct ecl. antl by a class o f 111r11 , 11 ei thcr
rrprcsc n lcll hy t.h c lt tin e -t , fair- 111irn l cd , a1 11l Jrn.rcl -workm g- mechan ic::::, 11or by t h e pn r c ly
l iigh -ton1 ·(l 1 relia bl e, nnd j11 ~ Li1·c -d c a l i 11 g b11 s i11css JJH' n o f th iH co1nnmnity , tli :tt vC'r y unfa vored indi vidu a l is yu nr m ost ohcclient a nd hmublc s nlJ!':icrilJcr. Throwing n sitl c ev c r.rth i1ig in t. h c s h ape o f po li tit'nl 1'ic11ti111c nt, an d givi n ·-{ h cl•r l to n nng ht but tilf~ Rp iri t o f
J H ~ti cc a nd faini ess amnng- uic n, as t,li ey li ve, lll OYC, :rnd h a\' C t.IH'ir bein g in th e worlcl , I
1lcs irc to say that l hn vc. at a ll li11t cR, e ml c avort•cl to c orn p ly st ri ctl.Y, n11d ha.ve c o11iplicd
str ictly, I fl atte r 111ysclf, w it, 11 all t l1e requ ire m en ts ot t,h c ln. w, in the di sc hnrge o f 111 y
o ni d:tl dut ies , a nd th a t it is 111 y i::o lc mn pnr pnsc to C'onti nu • ~ lo d o so <lu ri n g 111 y occnpn n cy o f th e pnhlie po::::il io n wi t h whi c h fo r t 1111e, fat<'. cha11 cr, o r circurnstan ces have
found or lmrd c n cd me. -SHF: H! F fi' CnoR nY, i n the l'icJ.·tihtn-g 1Itrald.

The Am c r i<'nll J)<'nple- arnl we n.rf! g lad t0 rrtll onrr::; rlv<'R th rit.-:uc rnckr<l on t h e
h o-.:r. m o f l,wo 111i g ht;y orc:u1 !-<, who.-;e grn. nitA~ · hon n tl s hore::: :lrc \\·hi tcn ccl b y I.he fl t iatin g
cnn\·as or t he co111111c rcia l worlrl; reac hin g- fr om I.Ile icc-fe t.tcr cd bkc!:> o[ th e no r t h to t hf.!
febri le! \THY!'~ or A11 ~Lrnli a11 ~C'n.<> 1 <:nrnprh·d ng th e vast h 1t.e ri111 of fi ve bi lli on s o! n c rc:-,
wh ose nlluvif\I p lni 11 s 1 r oman ti c 111on11lai11 s, n nd my ~tic ri vers riva l the w i ld est Utop ian

425

promenndes of H cspe ri an gnnl c n ~ . iR prou d Cohm11Ji n, t h e ln ml o f th e fr ee nnd the h ome
of tho brnvc.-Legislat01· HEYWOOD on Ura vel R oad., , January 2 1, 1871.

j)I) .\· (l 11

Th e 111cllow lig ht t h at s nff 11 ~ c d th is vall ey at th e c1aw11 of the nnn iverea r y o r th e birth
o [ libPr ty o n T11 ef.;1lay m or n i n g Wf\f.l rctl cc lcd upon aca n v:ts t hat was p11rc and virg in ; the
brus h o [ c ircm1una n ccs h a d 11 c ,·c r v is ilt•d it, n nd it was rnng up by th e JJivin c Urcator
n111itl Lil e d i n nnd n o i ~ e of tlw 1111ivf~ r sc - yC' s. iL rc\'calcd n. day that was b ri ~ ht, wit h t he
H rrc bel ow l'.vc rylJotly was in :tri apparentl y hnppy ntOIJ(l,
c n11trihntiom; of n ature.
nnd t h e !'pirit o f g oml -fc llO\n :. hip scc111cd to p re va il. T h e a ir was aro11mti1: with the
i:: moku :m d fnuieH o f hot f-'n l t -pc l,n ', an d t il e resonan t 601t11tl of cn.n non was n d 11gled wi t h
th e r oar nf hu111 an voi ces nntl th e ~ hri cks o f strn 111 w h i ... t k !'t . Th e stree ts we r e thron ged
wit.h par t id 1,a n l s i n F our t h n f ,July ff' :- ti v i!i r .~, :ind c vc r yUody nlJan do nctl l hc 111scl vcs to
n g'(' n c r:tl g owl lime. B ui. there was a trn i;<·dy ra pi d ly i11 c1t 1Jnt,i11 g, and it wa:; to cnst a.
glnorn :i11d t.c n :i\Jl e n.wc o ve r the hnppy frat11res of the 1ial.a l da.y o f frcc(l om . 'l' hc bnllc t
w its 1;., p la.r it.s pnr t and s tn.h hil nrity to t h e h c~ irt.. Betwee n t.wo atlll t hree o'cloc k, whi le
prae P ~n pp o rtc d thr .c;ccpt rc, f·11111tn n l ion a nd ~ trifc ~ 11dtl (' 11l y R ch~ed it and t o re a lon g- !In.r ri _<;o n r\ \'C1 111c. 011118 we re ~rc 11 g l iltcr in g m t he s n11Jig:ht, and a man was seen totte ring
a c r oss t h e s t.ree t. lt was To m 1n y C3e 11 n c Lt \Yh o had bee n shot. - L eadville fler a ld.

AFFECTED H Ul\IOH..

cl r e a m ~ that ev er gnt.hercd n.rour:<l th e iw•pircd bard , n~ h e walk ed lh c nmnranthin c

wnrmiri ~

nenr nt h a nd , nn d wh en yo n sec t he first sig n of boiling e m 11ty t h e pan into
t hink you rnn rem e mbe r t hat? 11
"O n n ~ lf'w I ' 1 lhc wai ter c al h:<l 011 t. - Retailer .

c.1ish

L\:I.]

Affected Humor is ak in to bombast. The inconvemence of being a recog ni zed wit lias already been
pointed out (sec page 12()). Even gcn11i11 c li11n10ri sts
so metimes lap over the 1rnrruw l:oun<lary that separates
the facetious from the imbecile.

I

j
1

l3ret Harte, invi ted to appear b efore the Phi Bet.a Kappa So·
ciety of Harrnrtl Collnge, preprirc<.l and read n poem of which the
plot was th e inflation with h ydrog e n and th fl sub ~ equcut ex plosion
of th e skirts of a youn g " ·ourn u who ' m uted ampler crin olin e than
h er n eighbors . :i\Iark 'l\rn.in, rcspoudill g to a toast at lHl Atjan tic
dinner, represented the adveuturrn.; i n a mining dis t.rict of three
gambling cut-throats, who callc<l tl1emselves Lon gfell ow, "Whittier,
und Emerson. The newspapers had already lJegun to quote this
speech as his latest, a11d w·itti est., when it came to light tha.t t he
guci=j Lb lw.ll li~tc u ~ J .fli:oL Yt·iLl1 01.1J,;lo:.._; 0 1.H t LiL c.1.HJ ~.}1 t;ll \\..i.~1. .i.ll-0vHcealec1 disgu Rt, and L!trtt l\Ir. Clc meus hltd written a most abject
letter of apology.
v\ihere men like these fail, it is n ot strnn ge that dabblers are
often misled. For irn;tance :
Iteven gc wnR once mn.n 'i;; hi g h es t duty; r eve n ge bPca111 0 hi~ c h o ices t pl ra«mrc. Now
it h as sunk in t he sea. le o f enjoyme nts t o th e r n 11 k nf \Yifc-bcn t. ing nncl ski t tl es.
Take the ca se of Smile r , fo r in stance. Tlw r p ir::; not a \Je tte r no r a 111 nrc cfJ.nablc c r eature in exh~ t en ce . H e c a n rf' main en.Im wh (' ll h i ~ co0 k ~C J]( ls him 11p n n un c:i. tab le din n er .
T h e nppl'arnn ce of a n u11 c x 1H'c t·cd mill im.' 1"s bill is n ot f' Hfllc i en t t o t hrow him o fI his
balan c P. H e is abl e to w it n ci-:.s hi ~ !':O ll !'t playin g- hn\'OC with his fu rn iture without e:<>:peri encing nn in clin ation to co mmi t murd e r . - / ,1:be1nl Review.

(d)
Looseness of Thought is, however, th e
co mmonest canse of looseness of lan g 11 age. Hhetori cal
p rin cipl es can do li ttle for mind s tlrnt ex press tli e1n sel ves
sat isfactorily in sen tences like t.li e fo ll owing.
H e k new au Irish man who, overcome hy heat, lay six weeks
speechless in the mouth of Au g ust, and all hi s cry was "water."Quoted by S c1mr,E DP. VEnE.
This extraordinary mnn left no children except his brother, who
was killed at the same time.--Memoii· of Robespierre.

I'

, I

42G

PllECISION.

[PART IV.

A dertf man named 'TrtfT was run down b y a passenger tmin and
killed on \ Vednesday morning. He was injured in a similar way
ahout a year ago .-·New J ersey Jo ur nnl.
Monthly school r eports must h e handed in on Wednesday of
each wee k to insu re their publication.
011 a bridge at At.hens, Ga., was th e followin g : "Any p erson
d.riYin g ornr this bridge in a faster pace than a walk slmll, if a
1rltitc person, be fin ed $5, aml if a negro, receive twenty-five
lashes, l1 alf the penalty to be bestowed on the informer."
·
A J\lr. Urispin of O:donl nnn omH.: ed that h e solcl "boo ts ancl
shoos made by celebrated Hoby, Lomlon." I\fr. H oby, irate, put
into th e Oxfonl paper, "'The boots and shoes lVIr. Crispin says he
sells of my make is a lie."- ALFOHD.

Carelessness often leads to expressions so exaggerated as to be absurd , or so loosely constructed as to be
rid icnlous.
A manufacturin g wire-worker in au advertisement invites the
public to com e an d see hi s invisible wire fences.
Of course, crery on e ·ll'ill he tlwi-e, and for the edification of those
wlw are ab se nt, a full report will be fo und in our nex t paper.
'l'he applause at, the end of th e scone was unanimous, having
b een h eard in various parts of the house ; there were fe w hisses.
I follow fn.tc, whi ch docs too fnst punmc. - DRYDEN.

'l'hose who recornme ml the exclusive emplo.rment of either the
simpler or the m or e complex words of our rich English, both err.
- l'opular Grriminar.
Snch was the encl of l\Iurat at th e prematurn age of forty-eight.
- AT,ISON.
'l'he command was r eluctan tly forc ed upon Prince Eugene.AJ,JSON.
Th e first proj ect was to shorten discourse by cutting polysyllables into one. -S,nFr.
To l\iu,T,ERS.·- 'To be let, a wimlmill, containing three pair of
st.ones, a bakeh ou se, corn shop, a nd about five acres o:f land,
clwellinp;-hon se, and garden. - AJ,FOHD.
I h ad like to have go t one or two b roken h eads for my imperti11cnce. -SwIFT.

427

COLLOCATION.

C'HAr. XXL ]

The edi tor of the 1\Tew E11gla11rl J onrnal of Education snys \Ye
referred to that committee mat,ter at the American Iusti t ute in a
"half-serious, h alf-truthful way. "
'l'lmt puzzles u s. Js the lmlf-trnthfnl tho same half im th o lmlfserious, or is it the ot her half? If it fr; tlw samo haJf what is
the oth er half, and how many halves are there to that '!- School
lJullctin.
A not h er !:.' lllall Ua.nn er bore th e device: u J onrn f'ymen Bto11 cc nt lc'rs· Rw:iC'ty; ''on the
ba ek, 11 J•: ig ht H our<; for \\"(i rk. Ei g ht H rnir~ f or Slt'L' Jl 1 ni g ht !lo urs f!lr H.c•: r<>ntio11, an d
Ei gh t Hours for Jtm.;t,' 1 SLil l anc Jliher banner h:ul a Riinilar inscription in C:vrninu.

]~ i.g lit, huurR for 'rork do es nut, som n nnt of U10 1rny, neither
rloQs eig ht honrs fo r sleep; but to mako a tltirty- t wo-lw11r (lrty might
prove a <lifficnlt matter.
J3::H11nm'H tattooed Greek sailor was on exhibition i n Albany,
and the advertisement said :

11I ,·
: iJ I

:I.II

't
,,,

.'

Jl c h ns npnn l1i s Uo<l y 7,000,000 pn ncfnn'i::i., and it

\ \ .{'IF:

all dnnc hy n fC'mal e :::n vngP.

Th e poor man l ost a llrop of blo•·1d null f'hl ·Ll n. Lea r for <'\'('r,Y lHlll c1 tfft\ and \\·ns I he onl y

, I

ono o f twe11ty* fo1tr who Rll rv i vcll the opcrat.inn.

:ill'

Tile wo111:i.n wh 11 dicl the tattooi ng

worked six hour:-: a Lln.y fvr ninety day!-5 lief ore tlw task

,,·a ~

c-011 1pl cLe d.

A mathematician of the Albrtny JI:111res., figured ns follow s :

1

I,11

'J'hc woman mn::<t have gi Yf' ll h im 3J1 1•t111d111 c"

:i.

!'rcn11 tl.

T lw n, if hr lo!'t one rl rnp

o f h lood wi l h CY<' l'.Y pun cl rnT , l\P Josi, C>'" l im:1ling the ti i-'11: !1 nnrt 1lH'r of c lr t> p ~
an rl taking a pint. for a pnnt 1tl 1 G,R: ~:i ponn<l .-:.
!'J)

btlll !~ lii11 g

:1 pi111 .

Or. In put it di ffo rC' n lly 1 ju ,.;!, :S~!I ga ll ons

bl ood, or a tri ffo over twf' n t.v h:1n·P.ls during 11i11C'ly d:i y~.
h!01ld ,

! 11

11

11f

Tf'a r s d nn t weig h as ni1wh as

I he I WO tngd hcr, n1c gf' ntl cin a.11 f ro m AllJ<wia lllll St ha ve lo st about t">J<.!

to us of t h o:-ic fluid s w ithin t.hrce m onth s.

I.I

11!,
; I,,
I

I

Barnum'R age nt re tml ell that., if t11 e Gre1'k lmd not b een a woncler.ful man, he wo11Jd not h am boon exhibited.

Collocation m ay produce ::t11J hi g 11 i ty in sc11 tences
tl1 at ex press the Wl'ite r's mea11i11g, h11t tliat"are s11 secptihl e
(>[ anoth er i11 te l'pl'etatio11 .
Tl11rn , a (lrng-i-;tore advertises
pill s as follows: " Try o ne b ox, an d n i11 wi ll ne 1'er take
a11y o ther rnedi ein e." Of n 1ost artit les, t hi s wonk! he an
unimpeaelrnbl e form of indorse rn e llt; b11t as the box of
pill s would mak e t he gnarantee gootl in case it kill ed the
pnrcliaser, t.lie aclve rti sc1ll1'11t. is a 111l1iµ;11 011s.
This ambignity way Le iut c11tiollal, thus:

I

11

'I
1!
1

i

I,
I

1

ii'
I

''I

I

.

'
~--u~

428

PUI<~ClSlON.

..

[PART IV.

A fan1ili ar mrnrnpln iR the word got, which may rncau either wo.< ,
Thus one boy ~ays to ::mother, with a grnve face,
'' Fred got shot to-clay." "'.Vhere? " aRks the othe r, in a larm .
"He got shot in a hanlware s tore," is the answer - n1et111ing, of
course, that h e h on g ltt it.
A man assured a s tore keep er wl10 hesitatc<l t o trust hi K eompm1ion for a purc li asc : ' 'If h e refuses to pay for it., I will. " His
companion rcfn se1l to pay for it, and so <lid th e speaker- as in one
s ense h e h ad said h e wonl<l.
A sh eriff ask e<l th e wifn of a Q uak er agai ns t wh oin he h acl a
writ if h er hnsLarnl was at. h ome. She replie d : " Ycs ; li e will
Ree thee in a mom e nt." 'J'lw sheriff waite d; bnt tl1 0 QnakN did
not appear. He was co tJtentc<l with seein g the sh eriff; h e did not
care that; tlw shrwiffi; l1 o nk1 see him.
"Ed wanl," sa.i•l l\Ir. H.iee, " what do I hear, t.lrnt yo u lta.ve disOU<\Y<:<l yonr gramllllotlwr, who tol1l yo u jus t n o w not to jnmp
d o wn tlwse s t-.op s?" "Grnn<lma ditln't t ell n s Hot to , p apa, she
only earn e to th e d oor arnl sairl, 'I wouldn't ,inmp <lown those
s te ps, boys,' a.nd I s houldn' t think sh e wonhl, an old lady like
h er!"

orprocw·ed.

"'L'lio <'n111llrs ym 1 sol<l rn o last W<'Pk were very ba<l ," sai<l .Terr ol<l to a tallow-cltamll Pr. "ltHloed, sir, I am ve ry sor1.y fo r Urn!;,''
"Y m;, sir; tln yon know thny lmmt to t.110 mid<ll e, and th e n would
bnrn 110 lon ge r ?" "You s urprise m e ! Wlrnt, sir, did they go
out?" "No, sir, 11 0; they burn ed shorter! "-1liail.
~[a n y pop11hr pn zzl e<.: dc p0n1l o n the n. mhignit.y or <louhl c rm~~ming o f wonl ::; nnrl
phrnf:.1 '~ .

Thn !": \\"C arc tn l<l th ere wa.9 a man who had Rix: c hil!lren. n.nd !i:tfl ll C'H' r see n

r.nc of f: f14 ~ 111.

\V C" arn Jr d t,n .~ 11ppn~ e that 11 011!~ nf the <~ hil clr c n lint!

('V f'r

bee n hr•hc ld hv

lll c ir p:i.rr> 11t. Hn t. t.h c word s 111:1.y lllL'ltll cq1w ll y a~ well th at ~ 111c of tl: P tn had bee n l)o r;l
whiln th e 111 ;u 1 w~t!": 0 11 a Jllnrrwy , an cl he had, co11c;:c1 111 cntl _\', 111 ~ \' C r Sf'l' ll that o ne. 1 \n ot;Jwr p11z 1, le is tlli !-!. Tlwre W:t<; n p;ior 1Jlin 1l beggar who h ail :t l1rotlwr: the bro l, li e r
(l iecl, lm t tlw m )Ln who (lied \i:u l no hrnt: her. What relation was the bcg;,;ar to th r: m:m
whn £liP1 l ? 'Ve are npt to think t:h:1,t th e bcg~ar wai;: ~ mn.n ; h11t, wh e n we t h ink t h at
the hegg;1r mb~ht he a g irl , Uic an<:wc r hccorn cR rin ite plain.
" 'c :ire to ld o f t.n·o lll f' Tl \\" li O 111 ~t e ach l)thc r a t; n.n inn, and g rectc(l c:ich ot he r affectionately. The hotel -ke epe r inquired o[ o ne how he was related to t.hc other, who rep lied:
1
'

Brothrr nn(l 8i~te r ha ve I none,
Yet this 111an's fath er w n.s m y fat h er·~ ~on. ' '

This is a per fpe fl y pl:1.in st :1t cm<'n t. :iml .vet there arc ft~\\' whose min tl !'i arc c lear
('non g h t.o i'><'C at Oll c:"e th:it th i~ jing le of word s is only a ron11<.l abo11t way of say in g that
this man was the sp eaker's so n.

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"'f!(

C H AP .

XXI.]

'~-

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""--=-i

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~~

....

COLLOCATION.

,.____ .. t

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t~ __ _j

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429

"'fhe New York Cm1tral fast <:x1n·oss ran off tho hri<lge at
S ch enectady to-<lay," crieR ont rt nmn , in affecte•l horror, a s h e
nishes up to a. crowd of p<:nple. AHer many excJamatinn.s :11111 in qniries, h e ex plains that; after a train lirLs rnn npon the ln·i<l gn it.
genenLllJ lloes run off again.
"1 hope, my lonl , if yo n. ever P.orno 1r it;hi11 a. mile of m y hon s" ,
you will stay there a ll ni g h t," wrnt.o Bir Boyl e Ho c ho t.o a frinnd.
The proprietor of :t phospltrtto mill a1l vc rt.ises t lmt parties sP n1lin g t h eir own bones to b e g rnrn 1<l 11i11 li e at.t1'11 1lcd to wi th fi1l el i.ty
aml <fospat ch . Tu like rnri.nn e r a cl1 0rni s l· a<h<-' rt.iscs : " 'l'h e g<' ntlcm a n wh o le ft his s tomach fo r :rn:tlys is wi I l plnrtse <•all :Lllrl get. it."
No tice at the door of a rnr11l y-ma1lo eluU1iug esta.hlislnn cnt in
o ne of the poorer quarters of Par.is : "Du not go sonrnwhei:e else
t o lie robbe d ; walk i n h ere. "
"Fnruish e<l Lo<lgings. - A yu n11g irnm is open to h ear of the
above."-Ad1,'t.
He rnns t h e th e ymm g man so easi ly socn thrnngh , h ncansn li e
h a <l a. pa.in in hi s che'lt a.nd in lti 'l l1:wk. ]',c, rlmps it. mts li e I.ha t,
t cs t.ifted iu a.n a.ppli catinn for li fe-ius11rn 1ll'u tha t his li ttle IJru tlt er
di e<l of some fmrn y rrnm e.
"I propo.sc in trotlnci11g s nm o now fcn.t. nrcs iuto th e sc nicc,"
saiLl R ev. J\fr. T ex tual. "All riglit.," r c nmrke d Fogg. "New
featu res in that pulpi t are j ns t wh at I a m lon g in g for. "
A lion 1rnner quarrclle tl 11·ith hi s \1ife , a. pn11·n1·fnl Yirngo, awl
was chased Ly h er allaronnd hi s t e nt. On l1eing· sorcly prossc<l
h e t ook r efu ge in tlrn cage m11011g tho Ji1Jns. "Oh, you contemptible cowanl," sh e i;hon t.e<l, "Cll 1110 out if ;•on 1hro."
An lrisl11nan's frien<l lta1·in g fn.ll on int.n a slnngh , thn Jrisltma.n
'1.'hn ]rLtter , who \\':LS
oaUrnl lonclly to anotlrnr for rt>"sishinc<:.
lrn sil y engaged in cnttiug a log, a.1111 wi sl1<"l tn 111:onrnstirntl<:, i11rp1i1·rd, "How 1le<:p is the go nU ,• m:tn i11 ''" "U p to his :mkl<:s ."
"'l'l1 e n t.here is ple nty of tinw," s:i itl ll1e ot h e r. " No, t.JJlmc is
no t, " 1·pjoinerl th e first; "I for got t.o tdl ,nm h n's in hea.<l J-irst."
'fhis reminds one of t h e m:w who ox nsp ernt.011 :1 painter h y dri1-in g a close b argain for a. h all'-lnng t,\1 portmil.. Tlw p ortrnit was
ddi vernd accord ing i o agronm c ut, hut pro ved to b e of th e lower
h alf, stopping a t the wais t-b elt.
Dominique, when at table with the King, k ep t hi s eyes on a

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430

PUECISION.

rP An'f 1v.

cfod1 o f partridges. Tho Prince, who noticed it, said to the servant, "G ive that dish -to Dominique." "\VIrnt, Sire, and the
imrtridges too?" 'J'lto King replied, "Yes ! and the partrillges
too." So Dominique lmd, with the partridges, the plate, which
was of gold.
A Philaclelphia paper p nblish ec1 th e following pamg mph :
An c 11 n111nrr.il l'h il:ul c lplii :t n h a s bCC'll co n v iclcrl 11f pe Uy l arc<•ny for ahst ract i11 g lii <i
ndon"!1l l)!H'' R ca rlc d e vi f' itl~ fro11 1 lu ~ r ph ot og raph a ll..1u tn; the ,Judge decid ed llmt to s t't'a l
11
n Cl\ rtc., " ·a s a ..; b:1el nR to f' l·ca l a li o r.~c.

A con tmnpomry nmdc use of it as follows, being careful, of
course, to leave ou t the pun:·
A Philarl elphi a .J rnl .~ c cl 1•e i11c::> that st,t·a1ing a gi rl's pho tograph from h er album i s n!"l

ba.d

n.R

stealin g a h orse from n. har11.

Herc is an interesting piece of local information from N c wbnrg:
One o f ou r m oRt th ic kly i11l rnlli te<l strcctR hn.s had a ca~c o f vn r iolni d.

A con temp orary in reproclucing this b luncler s:iys seriom<ly
enough:
Su c h n ews !': h ou Jd mnk c other loc:ili tjcR cnrcfnl alJont vucc in n.l;ion .

In a recent numb nr of n fashionable mornin g pape r there is a
pnmgm pli hca1l0tl, "A Dan ge rou s Cow," of whi ch it is sai tl not
only that it tossed .<r.1>r,ntlperso11s, li nt thal; '' i t plnu ged and tossed
about the street in a formicbbl e nmnner."- l\iooN.
A Rto ry is told n f ~01 Bngli s hman who landc<l at Dublin, fill ed w il'.h app!'f' h cn sio11 l ha t
the life o f :in y loy:ll s nl)jPct of he r i\! :1jc;;;:ty was not W•Jt-t,h a Fa r t h in g th er e and th crc -

niJonts. Th e Lawl L cngm 1 r s1 he imagi ned, we re ail bloo1Uhin;ty as~ ass ! n R, n. nd all that
sort o f t hing-. Bnt. it \HL R hi s <l11 ty to f:rnvc l in the bncl - a duty h e :ippr0a c ll c1l with fcnr
nn rl trcmhlin ~. Now th e re lrn p pmicd to lie 011 hi s ro ul-e :t nm nbC' r n f tow!l s I.li e n a1n cs nf
which lwg in wit h th e s 11gg~st1 \" e ~ylla bl e ' •Ki l. "' They were K ilmar ti n, n.n ~ I i::o 01 1. In
hi s ig n or ance of J!l'OgTa plli ca \ nom cn clat nrc, hi s affri g htcd sc 11 81~ R wr. rn sta rt,lcd ;tncw 011
h earing a follow pa~S.C ll g'C!r ill a ra.ilwn.y f'nrriagc l'Clll:lrk to :tllOtlJ c r llS follow~ : 11 [°m ]li st
nr t h c r bci n' over t o Kilp ;\tri ..J\:. 1 ' "Ancl 1 ,·• r e plied t h e oth e r, "n.111 nH h e r hcin ' ove r to
11
Kilmnry. "
\Vhn.t. 111 11rdcffn~ t!u~y a.re !•· thoug h t ih c P.11g-li shm:u1: 11 n.1Hl t.o think tl1n. t
t h ey talk of their :rns :u;s iimti om~ so p11Uli cly ! '' Bnt th e conversatinn Wt''nt 011. '' Arnl
phnrc arc ye go in' 11 0,,-? 11 a skctl a ssass i11 No. 1. "rm gain" h o n1c, and t h e n to Kil!n orc."
wns No. 2"R r ep ly. T ii e :E11gl i..;; h111an· i:; blootl c unll f'1 1. "K il mo r e . ii:: it? ' 1 ncldPd Nn. 1.
0
Yon"d bc t t hcr h e comin 1 alon g- Wllfl m e to Kiluumlle ! 11 It is r <'lated that t.11 c Eng lis hman left th e tr ain at t h e n e xt fi tn.t ion.

Co11str11 ctio11 s 11111st be avoid ed that make it clifficn1t to
determine which of two parts of speech a word is, or what

CIIAP.

431

AMBIGUITY.

XXL]

relation it bears to the rest of th e se ntence. See pages
cii, 414. Thus, on page 181, "dreams" may be eith er _a
verb or a noun. The amuiguity is removed uy snbst1tnting " to dream," for "and <l reams." .
Care to avoid a mb ig uity from coll ocat10n must extend
eve n to the possiuility oE wi spro111111ciation.
Once wh eu Erlwiu Forres t wn~ playin g "\Villi ltm 'J'ell " in Bost on Sarnem, Gesler's li eute1mut, shonkl have r emarked: "1 soc
yo1: love a jest, but jest not now. " Imag ine yorrost's feel~n gs wh m,'.
· th at worthv d eclaimed : "I see you love a J<'st, but, not Jest now.
Lady (e;1 gr.a-in g footman): "Yon are cleve r at t.able?" ,Jeames ·
•
0
·? ''
"Yes, ma'am." La1l y : "ALH1 yon know your ·111ay to an noun ce.
.Jeames : "\Vell, ma'a.111, I know my weig ht, t,o a pound or so, but
I harclly like t o say to an onnce. " - Fm1.11_11 Fulks.

Some special words a rc RO li able to produce am ui g nity that they sho uld be sc rn ti11i zcd in rc-rcall in g a
composition.
.Any when not modified by a negative, meltns "any you lilw ,"
'
. .g "_ nut every "
i.e., "ovcr_y
;" lmt "Jl ot a11y," i1rnt<'arl o f m ca1111'
means "not a sing le 0 11 e." He nce, when the negati ve i s careless ly
placed, a;i'!J becomes aml1ig11ous, b ecau se we cannot tell whether
it means every, or one, e. g. :

I
I

No person s hall <lerh·e any benefit from this rnle who hn s n ot \Je('n engngcd for n_t least
fi ve yea rs ton hou se of busin c~s employ in g n ot; less th ~n a hundred clerk s nt any t11ne.

11

I

This ought t o mean, " cmploy iu g at no time less than a hnn<lred clerks ; " but any in such cases is often confusecl with some.
Again, in
I can not believe anytfJ.in(J you sny,

!tnd
I cau n ot believe anyth in(f you ch oose to sny,

an_11 thing meflns, in th e first case, '•a single thing," in the second

case " everything."
It is quite impossible to d etermin e, with out full er context, the
m eaning of the word any in such a sentence asI am not bou nd to receive ci ny m csnenger whom you may send.
1,

!

I

I'
I.

I

..,.,._.,.....,.._..,.__

-

~-

-

---

~---------------·

....

-----

i·:,.1

I'

432

PRECISION.

CIIAP.

[PAH'l' IV.

As for the f a lse hood of yonr brother, J fee l no doubt; but what you sn.y is true.
As for the fal sehood of your brother, I feel no doubt but wh at yo u say is tru e,
I expected twelve; bnt (either only or contrary to niy exvecta.tion) te n came.

The followin g is perfectly clear, but shows the possibility of
ambiguity :Th ere's ne'e r a villain dwelli ng jn n.11 Dcnmnrk
/Jut he' s an nrrn.nt lrnu.vc.-Jfam let.-Annorr.

Nothing less than is another phrase susceptible of
opposite interpretat ions. Thus,
J c~ !i

lhnn the crow n,

may denote either,
Nothiug was less nimcil nt by him than the crown,

or,
Nothing inferio r to th e

Cl'O\Vll

could sat isfy hi s :unbition .

All such phrases ought to Le totally faid asiLle.-OAMPBELL.

TOPICAL ANALYSIS.
Precision.
1. Th" 11:01'<78 01111l"//1id, JI· ;J!l!J.
·words rrrny lack preci sion throngh:
a,_ The cuHfu11111li11g u[ sy nonyms, p. 399.
An exte ll siv e vocalrnlary, p. 401 .
The ch o ice of worcl s, p. 408.
7.J. The nsc of equ ivocal words, p . 409.
r-. The n se of general words, p. 410.
2. The comir11.rt.ion, p. 411.
a.. Rre vity, p. 4 t1.
i. Om ission of n ecessary words, p. 411.
ii. Use of ambignous pronouns, p. 41il.

TOPICAL ANALY SIS.

A gernlerless p erso nal n oun , p. 41G.
Th e u se of" one," p. 417.
ReJlexi ve prononns, p . 417.
b. R edundance, p . 418.
c. Affectation, p . 4Hl.
Bombast, p. 421.
Affec ted humor, p. 42[).
d. Loose ness of thon gl1t, p. 42G.
Carelessness, p. 42(i.
Co ll ocation , p. 427.
Som e special worrl s, p. 431.
"Nothing less tli:m," p. 432

fl1it sometimes causes obscurity ; and since it may mean, according to the context, " except, " or " on the other hand," or
"only," must be very carefully handled.

He nimccl at nothing

XX!.]

t

l

433

CHAP.

xxn. :i

PEl rnPICU l'l'Y.

435

eut ahsnrclity 1n tl1 e Gr ecian prolil em :iri ses tlms,- h e<'au se it assnm cs t h e imHJite di visilrility o [ Sl'fLC(', lJnl; 11rops out o[ vrnw t he
con espon <ling infinity of time.' T lwre was rt Jlash o f li gli t nin g,
which illuminateu a darkuess that hall existed for t1rnnt.y-t.l1rec
centuries."

CHAPTER XXII.
l'ERS PWU JTY.

Colerido·c';; explarn:t t5on was precise; as ri c1c1resse<1 t.o D e
wa ;; p crs pi cuons; llll t h ai l i t hec n 111 ad c to a
Q uin cey
class in a prilllary seii ool it Wvllid ] i:ll'C UeC ll d ee id edJy

il

0 uscm e.

Ont of til e r <' lation r.;; of th o u ~ h t nnd ln.ng11:l g(', nnd th e SpC'akpr to the hcn.r cr 1 grow

1.h rnc qn :lliti<'R o f a goo 1l style. T lH•y arc pcn .qdc11ily 1 e nergy, and c \f'ga ncc. l'cr~ picn­
ity cxprc.-:!'c~ I he c kan1 ('~~ o f t h e I h o11~~ ht to 1.11 ~ pf' rcc 11 lion~ of the h earer . En ergy cxpr CRf'f'~ th e force o f Ll w t hnu.!!h l to the ~f' ll ~ ihi l i li cR (I f t.tw h eare r. E lcgaucc cx prcssc~
t he l.Jcan ty of t he tho ll g h t to t he taste of l hc hcn rcr.-f'llF:LPS.

P u 1mT, Prnpri c t.J, a11Ll l'recisio11 a re a ll absolute qnaliti cs. Pers picuity , Power, aml .P e r fectio n arc relative
qmditi es, d e pe 11d e 11t. 11pcm the p cr ception, the sensiuilities,
mHl th e fri ste of tli c reader.
Prcc is io11 d c 111 a 11d s t h at the sc 11 tc11ce my \r h a t the
writ e r 111 ea11 fi. J>c rspi c11ity d e 111 a11d s, furth er, that :it say
,rJiat tl1 e \\Ti te r 111 eri. 11 s so clearl y t.li at tl1c r ea<l er cann o t
111i st.ak c it..' \Vli el'l1 e r a g i\'(:!11 sc1ttc11 cc is p crsp icno ns
d ep e nd s upon wlio is to r ead it. Jl c rucrt Spc1tcc r's dcfi11i tio 11 o f cnll11ti nn (sec p age 3;>7) is prec ise, hnt it is p e rspi c11<1 11 s on lJ to sc ie n t ists. The fo11d ;u 11c nt.:1 l re<p1irclll e11t
o f p e rs pi cuity is mLqit.ati on to t he a 11die11 ec ad<lrcsset1.
"I lrnd remark ed to him " [Col critlgo], says l\Ir. D e Qnincey,
"t.h [l,t; th e snphis111 , ns i t is u su all y called, but the lliffienlt.y, as it
sh o nltl be 0allet1, of Acl1illes 1111<1 th e Tortoise, which lmd puzzled
n.11 U1 e sages of Greeer, \rns, iu fa ct, m erely anoth er form of th e
pNpl<'xit.y whi ch b esets tl Pcinml fractil)llfl; that, for example, if
yo n t.h rew ~ into a d ecimal form , it wi ll nern r tm·minate, but b e
. (j(j()(j(j fi, etc. , ad infinitum.
' Yes, ' Coleridge replied, ' the appar1

Non ut in lc ll igcrc possit, i:;cd nc onwino vossit non !ntclligere curnndum. - Qu1N·

TJLfAN.

U ni vm:mtll y, irnl ce11, a 11 uuprnct .i sc,1 \n iter is li al.Jlo to b e misk<1
l iy Jiis own Jrn n11·l ed ge of hi s own mc:tlli11 g ill Lo s npp0si11_g those
expressions c lrarly i11 t,•Jl ig.ilJk wliil' h rire so to l1i111, JJ11 t wl11 ch nrny
n Pt b e so t o t he r ender, w hose t. li o11 g li.ts rue n o t. in t he snn.1c tnt JLL
And h ence i t is tli:tt so me d o i10 t \\Tile or sp c:i.k \1·ith so 11mch p crspi cuit.y on a snhj nd wl1 il'11 li: is 1011 :..; h rc u Yer y fo111di:c1: t o thern,
as 011 one wh ich tl 11'y nrnl1'rnhi1111 i11 <l <'c1l , l ,u t " ·ii It'' l11d 1 t l1 ey an'
l ess int.imutnly rirn111 n.inte 1l, a 111l in w\1icl1 th eir luwwl0<1 ge lJfls li e<' n
m o re rcceul'l v arn111i.rc(l. In t he fonn er 1·ase it is rt 11ml . t 1~ r of so me
dif.n cnlty to irne p in mind tl1 u 11 cccss il.,y u f ca rnfnlly a 11 d co ['ious ly
explaining principl es 1\'h ich l iy long h :i.uit ha\·e eo 11tc to :i.ssu11:e,
i n our m i n<h;, th e appenm11l'C o [ srlf-lff i1l Pnt t.r111"11 s . Utterly 111correct., tlwrnforc, i ;i nl:tir's 1wli" 11 , t.\1: it. olise nr.it,_y of st._ylc J1 ecessarily springs from i1ulist.incb1 css "[ 1·011 cq il·ill 11. A lil J. ~ c c c~ n Ycrsn­
tion on nau tical nffairs wit.h sriilors, 11 1· on agrwulture with farme rs,
wou!L1 SOOll Ji a,·c ll IH] ecei \"el1 hi lll. - '\\"1LA'l.'Ef;Y.
A Go\·crnm cnl; surycvor tells o f a ll'<'st·e rn piunC'Pl' who RC'01lH't1
iut.ercstetl in t.h c l;h co;1olit.e. Th o slll'\'CJOr 0xpbin 0t1 its wo rking, a11c1 fonud t l1 c pion eer so rit tc utivc th at li e we nt nu to illustrnte the v[l,riabon of thn n en<llc, t l1 c magnetic c nrrc11ts, I.he pri>·
cession of th e e11uiuoxes, rtml finn.ll y t he en,lcnl[l,ti o n of comi11p;
eclipses, congrnt.n laHn g hi111 sclf npon fin ,1in g so inb•Jli ge nt. a
listener. After t11·0 h onrs of t.lti s, tl1 e pione0r for th e first tim e
broke silence. "Ifs ,\·onclcrfn l, 11·0 111l rr f11l ," h n !'x chin H'<l . "A nd
mebbe vou O[l.11 sl1 ow n1 c anot.l1 r r t.l1i11 g llmt.'s :t h\·:tys i>nth crecl me.
·wh y i~· it th[l,t iu aduing up f-i g u rcs,· yu n La ve to carry one for
every ten ? "

I, 1

436

P Ell S l'lCUIT Y.

[PART

IV

T eachers learn t o m casnrc th e information t.hey gi ve not by
'rlrnt th ey tell their scholars, lmt by \\"hat th eir scholars t ell back
to them.
Hi : -; ng rcc rl nm o 11 g: n.11 wri te rs n p on r h<'tnric, that th e fir!'t pr op erty in f.i ty Je is th at br
Yirti1 c o f w hi c h it id in tc l\ ig ihl c. 'J'l 11• 1111 cl 1• r :'-'. la11 d in;; i.-; t h e ri HW ll C t o t h e ma n. N o l)lll]
i s a ffc cl cll hy tru t h w h o lloc::: 11ot, :1 pprc lw11 d it. J)i s cou r .o;p mu st, th c rt'fo rc , fir s t o f all, be
plain. Thi s p rupc rt·. y wa s t e rn w il ]J e1 ·spir· 11it a s , b y Lil e ·r...a t in il1 cto r ici a11 s. J t is t ra m;.
p:1 n'1n·.v i11 d iscou rse_•. n ~~ t h e C'ty11 1o lug-y d{ ' IU •h·s
Th e w 11nl EvepyEi.tJ , wl 1ic;J1 t h e Gree k
rl11• t.o ri c ian s c 111 p l(lyc d t o rn a r k thi s !'l\lll C e haraderi ,.;t ic, ~ i g u ili c8 <li :::; t in ct n c~s of nntlin C' .
'Til e nd j ( ~ rl i \"I'' E l'ri p y ri~ J<;; a ppl ied b y Ho rne r !o th e gutl s~ w hen :tcl nall y appea rin g t u hu ·
m a 11 vi s iu ll in l,J 14• ir U\\" 11 br ig h t forn1 s ; \\"h f' 11, like A poll o, t h l'y brok e U1rnugh t h e di m
eth e r 1h at 11 nl i11:1ril y veil ed tl11•m f ni 111 1n n r tal 1·y e .;:., a nd ~ t· o n d out o n Lli c e cl g e o f t he
lu iri zu n di:-..:t im:Lly tl 1· 1i 11 c 11. 1wl ia nt., :i.nd f' pl•' nd id (011. v ii. 201, 2) . Vivi du css sccm ~ t o
ha ve licc n t h e n ili ng COJ H T !d,io 11 for I.h e Gn ·1·k 1 in thi :-; proper ty o f .... t y lc. nnd Lrnn ~: pnrc n c y
for th e Lali n. Til e J-: 11 g l i sh :n 1d F renc h rl n t o ri d a11 s have t ra.n s fc rrcd t l w La.ti n ver.~pi ­
cu.tta s, Lo d es ig nate Lil e <p rn li ty o ( in te lli g ibili ty in di scourse. The C:errn :i n :-; ltave 11ot
t ra.11 s fC' rrccl t l1 r I ,:1.ti1 1 \Yo rd 1 lwcau :-c th e r c1nar knbl c fl ex ilii li ty o f t h ei r lang 11ngc 1T•lie vcs
th e m from til e ll ecc:-s i t y of t rn11 s fe rri11 g wo nl s from o th er lan g rn1 g cs, b u t th ey ha v e
c o in e d o n e t D arc hsi ('//t i ykeit ) in Lhci r U\\·11 m i nt, w hi c h ngr cefi i11 s ig 11il1c a tion prec isely
wit,h tiw J ,n,t in JJfn "8]"1 it~ 11 ita 8 . Th ese fa <•ts ev in•:c t h at Lile motl e rn min d is in d in nil, wi l h
lh e L a.ti n 1 t o co m pare t h e p rnpe r Ly o f i11 t ct li g ibil it.y o f sty l e l o a cl en.r p cl h 1cid 111cll1urn ;
to c ry f..:t nl v r g la ss , th at p e nnils th e rn y s of li g h t t o go t hrou g h, a nd lhus p er m its th e
h11111 n n eye to s1•c t hro ug h .
1

' Vh ilc , howev e r, lite n. t fl !ll l,io n i<; fix l' d upo n lh ls co11 ce p ti0 n of tra n s pa r e ncy , and Lhc
pro pe rty 11111l e r c11 11 s it1 Prn ti <J n is <l<' m•min a.l ri<l p er spi c uit y in th e r hetori cal n o m c 11 c lat ure,
it i s impo rt a nt n o t b i li J:-'C ~ i gh t o f t h at o t h er co n ce ption of di st in c t n ess. o r Y i \ id1ws::--: ,
whi c h wn s t he lcad ill !! t lll.J f.,r t h e G r<'e k m i ml. S ty le is 11 ot. o nly a rn ellit; m , i t is al so u
form. It is n ot on l y lrn11 s luce nt nm\ lr:1.11 ~ p :t r(' ul· , li ke th e 1:nd efi ned and n!J- p er va rli11 g
n l m o ~ pli r. r e ; it :i !s(l h:i. !-1 1lcfi ni t c o utlin es . l ike ri ~i n g ! c o bj ('ct,
Sty le is w i t, o nl y c h' :ll",
Vi kcth c li g h t.~ iL is r otnn d l ik-'.! t h,.. s nn. \V hi\1\ 1, hc r <' fo re. the co n c e p t io n o f tw r ~ p i c u i t y
o f lll l'di!llll is rc tni n crl , t he r e sh o1111l nJ :-;o he f·o111binc tl \\'ith it, Lll c cnn<"r pt.io11 of foln c ~ :-:; of
011tli 11e. :i.ml vi v idn c Hso r impress io n , so ns to secure a co11111rc h c 11sive n.1itl a l1-i11 cl u d i11 g
idea o f I.ha t fir st f 11nd a 11 1crn:li qtmli t.y Gf s ty le whi c;h r c rn.l cn1 it intc lli g-il 1lc.
It is 11 o t <·11 011g h Lhat. t.h n ng h t..s br- Sl'r·n t 11rnn g h a d ea r ll l<'(li mn ; t hey rn nst be see n in
n cli stirH't s lwpe. I t is n o t e n o11 g h th :d; Lru!.h be Yi si ble in n.clcnr , p11rc n.ir; it m11 st s t n 11d
1 ~ nt in t.lt nt ai r , a s in g le , we ll -dt'fin ()rl ohj cct .
T il e a t m ns ph c rC' rnn ~ t n ot o nl y be c ryi;:l a llinc nn<l ~ p:u k lin g, but t h e t hin gs in it n111 st he ho1111rlc1 t anrl de fin ed by !..: h n. rpl y ·c ll l litH'!': .
'!' he re mn y Uc pen~p i c nily wit h ntll rl i--d i 11c l11 r...:c: , e s peciall y \\'i tho u t tha t v i vi<l d ist,in c tn ci::s
\Vhi c h is implit>fl in tlw <i n ' <> k ( ;·cpy clrx . A ~t.r l c m a.v be> :v~ f,ra n ~ pare n t a s wntc r, a n tl yet
th e tlio ng h t " he d f'~ l.il n tc of h nld n c:;s a nd indh, irln nlity. S u c h n sty le <:nmw t bo dHug cd
with o h <-:c 111·ity. rrn1l ,Y () t it. rl or>s n o t Rr:t tr nth hcro rc t h e mind o f tl w r ('nd c r n r h c;1rcr
in n s t ri k in g nr frnpr c s." i \'e m n nn (' r. Mr 1e i>-o l:il c rl pc rs pi c n it,y ifl a n cg:i.t i vc q imli t".y; i\
fnrni ~ h <• s a g-nnd 1t H'1li11111 n f vis io n. h11 t it <l o !'~ n o t pn!.<-:r n t :i.n v 1li s tin et o bj ects o f vi s io n.
Di .., tirlf'ln<'ss o f 0 11 tl in r- . on t. h c nt.h r. r h:rntl, i ~ i\ p osi t ive rinali t.y . lt; impli es a v i ~ oro us
a c ti m 1 o f Lh f• mind 11po 11 th e l.nr t h, w lw r e h y ii, i ~ rn o nld cd flntl s hnpcrl: w h e reby it i:;:. c u t
nrnl c hi !..:<' ll r 1l lik e a statn c ; w hcrc \..ly it i ~ mad n t.o a ss1111w n. snh st.n,n t.hl nnll well -defin ed .
form w h ic h F' lllil Ps npon th e e y e , anrl. wh ich th e c y<' cn.n tak e in.-S Hr.n n .
11
Onr l:rn (!" t l:J g'!\ " Ra ys (J11 i11t.ili a 11, 11 011 g li t to non\' C' :V 0111· mrorin in g so c lcnrl y t hn.t, t h e
m c:ini ni.! s h n. 11 fall o n t. he he a r e r s' 1m1ul;; nl:' t il e sun iig h t. foil s on o ur eyes .·• ll nt t he s un1

CHAP.

XXII.]

Sll\1PLIUITY.

437

f':.hi.n P. of \\' in t e r is col1l and hnrre n, n,\t h nn g h it s n vlirn H.!P. i,:;; hri g h l f'n c><l h y th e t ran sparen cy oft he :i.ir nncl t h e r c nec li on s of t.h c ice n.n <l F11ow . Til e Rnmmet's F1m hn. s l e~ R brilli a n cy m tl ccd. hut far m o r e h eat - a. h eat t h :i t can sC'S b lnc \·a por s t.o \· e il t.h e d istan t hill s
n.ncl sil ve r mi ~ts to wreath t he g r ee n m o un tai ns, t hnt gn tlw r~ 1;t o rm-cl o ml s w hi ch tlnrkc n
th e c~r th and sk y nn fl rli sch a rg c su c h v o lley s o f li g h t nin g a s r e nd er that clnrko ess all the
tnore ::ipptt.lling .-H U:RVEY.

Simplicity is a prime essentia l to P e rspicuity, anJ
should be aimed at b oth (i) in Thought, and (ii) in Expression.
(I.) Thought is Simple when it is direct, straightforward, intent solely on the tru th co ncern ed, aml its
cl earest express ion. (Sec p:iges 340, 347, 3-±S.) Mozar t
gave as his r eason s :fm 11iarry i11g : " I wi sh to rnarry
because l have HO one to tak e c:i.re o E my liu cn; becanse
I cannot live like the dissolntc 111 e 11 aro11ml me; aud because I love Catharine "\V cber."
Cultivate simplicity, Coleridge ; or rat.h er, I Rh onlcl sny, b anish
elabon1teness; for simplicity sp1.·ings sp untrmeons from the heart,
aIHl carries int.o dayli ght its own modest bmh, aml ge nuin e, s1reet,
aml clear flow ern of ex pression. I flll ow no hot-beds in the gard ens of P:irnassns. -0. L ,um.
Youthful vanity aml iu cxpmience fllon o snfficieutly acconnt for
the great pm·t of the do1·iat..i ons fr om p ropri ety, Rimplicity, and
common se nse now alluded to. 'rhosc " ·h o bull nature in opposition to art a re too apt t o forget Umt t,his ve ry vanity forms a part
of it.
·while some m en talk as if to sp ea k naturally were
t o speak like a nat.nml , ot11 c.1 s talk ::1s if to s peak wi th simplicity
m r ant to speak like a simpleton. 'l'rn o simplicity <loes not co nsist in wb , ~t is trite, b ald, or commonplace. So fa r as r eg:irds th e
lhuu gl1t. it hlf·an~ , no t "Wha t is a1 rcrtfl.,, ~ oh vions t·. n 0v0ryl1 01l y~ bnt
what, th on gh n ot, ol1 vi<>ns, is imme<li:1toly rccog ui zo cl, as soon as
prop onndetl, t,o h e trn c and sh·.ikin g. As it rep:anls t,he expression,
it, moans that th on gh ts wodil hearin g arc exprcsse<l in lau guage
t.Jmt every 011 0 can u1uforntn.rnl. In tli e first point of view it is
opposed to what is abstruse ; iu the second, to what is obscure.WHATELY.

I. C,9t)C~iye of thin gs clearly and distin ctly rn their

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438

PEitSPICUITY.

[PA llT

IV.

O\rn n :i.tnres. 2. Co nceive of thi ngs completely in all
th eir parts. 3. Co 11 ee iYe of things eo 111preb e usively i1: all
th e ir propert ies and r elations. 4. Uo neeive of thiH gs extcn s i\"C I.)" iu a ll tli ei r kind s. 5. Uon ec ive of things orderly,
or iii a p rop e r rn c th cHl. - \VATl'S.
I cannot co11clwl c! thi s l ect,nrc with out insisting on tho irnport::tnco of accu rney of sty lo ns b ein g near akin to verncity and tn1thfnl J1 :ib its of miwl; ]10 \\"ho t liiuks loosely will write loosoly. Cor.mnn(m.
Proprioty of Lh onglit. rrntl propriety of cli ction are commonly
fonntl toge ther. OIJse miLy rmcl affocbt.ion are U1e two greates t
fanlt s of sty le. Obse nrit.y of ex p ression ge nerall y s prin gs [rom
confnsion of idc::is; au cl tl1 0 same 1\'ish to chzzle at an y cost which
procl.i1 ccs affec tation i n t,!w m::iun er of a \\"ritcr, is likely to produce
sopl1istry iu his roasoni ugs.-l\lA c;AULAY.

CHAP. XXII.J

43!1

SINIPLICl'l'Y.

lt ii:: sum cwh al. si ngular that the

n an 1 ~ ·

of anoLl11·r a11cl b rgc r h1Jnk

sh c 11 1<1 al so Q\\'C i ts circ11 \a lin 11 to a mh,("• n<·Pphon cf l hr: t itle' .
ll avP m e t with ''Th e E :x{'11 r si0n" at

llll'l'l'•lll C sccnc!'l-in

plac e~

:i

1Jf

~lnn d c t h t. li e l:m g- 11 ;1g-r. \\'hid1 he 11 ser.l1 f;h uuld ever F:pu:ik o r write in su c h a m a trncr ns to

\w a l! o~C' tht~ r ttnint.cll igi h lC' .

Yet thi !'> is what freqnf' ntl y ha ppe n s.

Th e ca 11l'e o f thi s

fault in an y writt'r l !aim l o lie nh\·;1.y:-: enc or ot her o( 1hr> t hree f oll owi ng : Hrst, ~r e nt
(_·011 r u f' i(111 or th ought, w h id1

if.; ~ ·p1111t1011\.\· aecn m paniC'<l wilh i11 lr ica(:y i n l!lf: cxpre:-;sio n ;

f;pr·n11dlr, affecta.l i1m nr ('.\t·cllent·i· i11 t hf' lliclion; t.hirdly, n toLtl wnnt. o f nH'n nin~ .
11ol 111 1·;d,i •111

a~

one o r lhc

e:w ~r.<1

I do

of thi s i 111pnt.a t-i on a pC' n nry 0f Ja.n g n:v!c; l,hnug- 11 t hi s,

d n11\J t J 4 •:-;~. 111:1\· cn n tr illutc to prnfl ll ('C it .

111 fo c t I n eve r fnnrnl 011c who had a jn st ncso;
him ~clf u111l C'n:•too il in his
n:ttivc t• • 11~11 c, cvC' n thou g h Il e lnul littlC' co mrna.nd of language, und mad e but a. bad

nf n ppr<:ci n ! ii;n, n.n.1 \\'a,!'>

frC'C

from affC'ctnt,io n , :i t n !of->:::: to mnk c

choice t if words. -C.: AMPJlET,T,.

j

gr<' a t. n11 111 l JCr n f inn s ;11\ d

h r1: 1r <li 11 ~

ho11 .c:r>s. in pi<:-

w lwr c imrt.ies gn for Px 1·11 n·dn ns : :tlld n pnn irnp1iry h n"· it. 1111p-

pc ncd th:tt so cx pcn ..: h·e n bn1 Jk w a<-;

p1 1rd1 a ~ f'rl,

,,·Jw n a n nld f '11i1• cr.wfl

, lf11~/rt7.l11f'.

' ' Ath r nian Or aclc, 1' or, nt hc:=;.t 1 on e r. f the " 1Jri1l gf'wat.cr 'J'r e:iti~es,"' \\·nnld dn

ri c:;

\Ye ll

jl

:1n

i~

i· 1

S(' Jlil th e g1 1 est~ t,o sl ec p - L w:1 s g i\' e11 to nn tkn·;lnn d i1~ tlio ~ c sc p:irnl.0. pl:ti·e s t.lrnt. t·JJey
were left by parti es whq h:t<l lini r-;h1!d tl1 Pir 1nat0ria\

(~.\'.t'llr ;.: i o n ,

hnt. alas fnr tlwir 1nf'te,

! '

h nd le ft th eir poetic "F. xc nrsion ., unt on cltc1l - 1111 c 11t, c\·en , IJCJu JUl th e Bl ury u( " Mar-

garct.1' -Cllam.ber s"s J ounial .

The whole merit of violent cleviation s from comrnon style rlep eucls u pon th eir r::iri ty, antl nothing tlnes for ton pages together
but the indi cative moocl. -- SYJJNEY SM r·1·1r.
If you t.ake Soph ocles, Catnllns, L ucre tin s, ancl I.lie h ett,er
parts of Cice.ro, ::ind so on, you rnay, 11·ith ju st two or t.lircc exceptions, arising out of th o differen t itliorns as to cast's, tm11slate page
a fter page into good mother E nglish, " ·ord h y wo1·Ll , witho n t
aHering the ord er; bn t you rnnnot d o so wi th Vir gil o r Tilmll1rn.
If yo n attempt it yon will make nonRense. -- COT.r:ranrnc.
'l'h e writin gs of Addison and Dr. Johnson lin vcnftc u linen corn parecl One of the chief points of contmst in their style lies, I

und e r~

I

J\1 r. \\.or.\s\,·nrth 's
f. irt.n11 P to

Unfortunat.elv, writers are not, <'::treful in their ch oice of nam es,
nn<l t.itl es nre ~ c<'asion:tl l y ucl nptecl wh.ich , instead of ex p laining
tli 0 nnJ nrc of tli n ho ok, r-;n rvc on ly tornis lcarl the lm yer. l\ [r. Hnskin , 11"]1 0 is notNl for snd1 nnin te !J igible Lii;lcs us " Fors Clavigem"
and " Ses::imc un<l Lilies, '' issued a th col op;ical cliscou rse nmlcr the
na111 c of "A T rnatisc on Shee pfol<l s," thus l eadin g ast rny many
lih rnria ns a!lll in<l ex<'rn, :is 'rnll as 1msnspec t.ing farm ers nrnl sh eph cnls. '.l' hc "Divers ions o[ Pnrl ey ," at t.h e time of its publicat.io n,
·1rns onl C' rPcl by a vi ll age book-clnh uncl Pr t.he imprc>ssio n tl iat it
was rt h ook o[ amusiug games. T he "E ss::i~ on Irish Bn lls " was
anot her \lurk 1rhich \las thought by some folks to d e::il \\"ith li ve

a man of SCTl '.'C w ho pcrfr cUy

I

] t, h:l : : hc1' 11 rny

T itles often mi sleall throu g h affectation of q uaintn ess.

p o~~ ihl c that.

1

stock. "l\foth s," a noYel by Onicla, has b ee n nskc <l fnr 11 11 cler the
impression that i t "·us an eutorn ologic:d work, and <_:h:11·l cs Kingsley's "Yeast," lJ}' those in search of' i 11 formntinn nn th e 'l'oru/,,
cerevisfo', or yeast-plant. Colel'i<lgc's "Ancil'nt. l\[al'i11L' l' " ll'ns sol<l
largely to seafaring men, w h o ccrn clrnle<l frnm t.li n i1~. 111c I.hat it
lmll some rcbtiou to rnm Lieal rnattms. Co lcJ'id gn Ii in1 seJ f sa_ys:

(ii. ) Expression is S impl e whe n it ex presses tl 1e
tli onght in th e most dired and nbvio 11 s wn rd s. "Think
with the learned, speak 11·ith th e vulgar ," says na.r01 1.
"Th ere a re six little o nes ''" h o ca ll Ge 11er:1 l G raut
' grandpa,'" wa s a r ecen t 11 e 11"spape r pnragrapl 1. Tlii s \m s
in the firs t p lace 11nt.r11 e, tl 1e cu n11 t. i11g of f.l1 e gra 11d cl1il d ren
l uwi ng been s11ggc::: ted by tl1e bir th of tlic c;i.\t.11 , wito at
thi s ti m e d id n ot call a ny liocly a 11 yt lii11 g . .l111t 011 genera l
pri nciples tl1 e paragraph 1rn11ld lJe 111orc p c rsp ic11011s aml
m ore fo r cible if i t r ead simply , "U eu eral Grant l1as six
gran dehildren. "

On e won ltl ill <l cc<l t,}li nk it, hardly

·11
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I

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I
I

r·I.'III'
/1

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440

[PART IV.

I

1 1
I

4±1

P ARENTIIESES.

CHAP. XXII.]

app re h end, in t h o easy ::tml naturnl recurrence in t,Jie former of th e
Yerh, and the adit\cial preponderan ce gi ven in t h e fa tter to the
n onn . Since Dr. J ohnson's tim e tho substantive lm · bee n gaining
g rouucl ; t h e inftni t i ve rnood, the gerund , and the comp ound participle h ave b een in the same propo1t ion suppressed in m any
works of which th e co mposition is hi ghly elabornte. As for us un s t.rnli ecl writings can be exp ressed in set phrnses, th e us urpatiou
h as ex t.ended even to th ese.- H AI•L.

i

!

rmtSP ICU !TY.

p eri od is to be con<lenmcd wl1 cre tli c -111 ea11ing rni ght as
well l1 ave been cx pressell by sltort sentence:<, it is i11dispcusaLl e to pcrspieuity wh cll the tl1011 g l1t is eo nipl ex.
'l'he fo llowiu g is

1111

example of th e period :-

Cmnpelled hy wan t Lo :ittcndnn cc a 1Hl solicitation, nn1l ."fn m nc h
life, t ha t ho has tnt1 i. l'> llli tt.cil to us t he niost

p 1~ rfcd

w~ r sc l1

dl'l in,.rliio11 o f th n

in co m mon

111 a 1111 c n ;

of li iH

ngc! E rn.flmns .m t NED to h i ~ k11owlci l ge o ( lh c wo rld such app l ica1.i u11 l;o l)fjoks, that he
w ill stand fo r e ve r in the fi rst rank o f lite rary heroes .

]}r. Alle n wn .c:; prf'nc h i n ~ one rla~- i11 T c nnesr;;cc, when a n old Methodi st A frican cam e
to h im ri.fte r t he sc r m o111 nrnl i::aid, " I like to hear yo n preach , for I un derstand your
prcnc hi11 g.'' D r. A ll en repl ied , " T a 111 g l:td of it.'' ; , Bnt; I nnd crstn rul every wo rd yo u
Ka y." " l hope RO," Raid th e clergy ma n, " fnr I t ry to ma.k c m yself undcrl'lt oorl.1' A gain
th e rn nn ca me t o th e ch a rge. " lcs," ho said , ".L m1tl crstand yon j m1' us well as if you
was a n ig~c r. "

,

'The wor ds on \Yh ich the t h read of th o senten ce is m1spenc1 ed
are printed in itcilics. 'l'he iut.rodnctor_y ulanses, "Compelled
. age, " are oh vionsly uttrilrnb vc, a11<.1 lead n s to exp ec t a
Hnlij cc t t o which tlw_y relate. ·w e fi11tl t.hat s nl1j cet in "E rasmu s."
'l'he fa tter part of th o sen tenc;c is l1 cld t ogeth er by t h o correlati ve
p ar ti cles " sn ch " un d '' th at."
The following illus t rntes the loo.<e con stmction :-

Periodic Structure of sentences often m ak es tho
rn ea11i11g clearer, lrnt \1·h en habitua l or excessive becomes
tediou s.

It j:.; i n vnin to

T he p eriod is a r< trnctnrc in which th e compl etion of the sen se
is r< trnp oncled till t he close. 'J.'he an cien t rh etoricians cornpur ed it
to a sli ng, from which t h e stou o is ejected ufter rnuny circuits. A
loose sentence is ouo i u which t h e eml mig ht g rnrn matirally occur
1Jdo re the close . Snch a se nt.once is a ch ain, fro m whi ch a link
m ay ])() clropped fr om the c11 rl , a nd i t wilJ still b e :i ch ain, und will
lmrn au end. 'J'ho peri odic st.rnctnre is rt g lass ball; t o part with
a fra g ment of it is to ruin the wh ole.- Pum,Ps.
J\ ll of t hese a rc inst ances also o f p erfect antith esis with out p eri od ; for each o f th ese sentences m ight g rnnunuticall y b e concl11 cl 0<1 in th e micl cll o. So also, " It i s (indeed ) a just max im t hat
h on esty is t.11 e h er<t p olicy ; lm t h e wh o is governed by that rnu:xim
i s n o t. an honest man ." This antit.l1 e ti cul senten ce is or is n ot a
p eri od , ucconliu g as the word "indeed " is inser ted or ornitted.-

S:l.Y

'

I

.'1'

I

,, .j
1:;

i

t li nt t h e portra.i t.s whif'/1 ex ist o f t h is rc 111arkal.Jlc wo111:111 a rc not

li ke each ot her ; for, 1u11 i11f.;t t. hei r d iscrcpnn<·y, •"n.Ch possesf.:ef'; general f('a.tnr<'s \YH I CH

th e eye nt once nck n owlcLlges as pecu liar to t.11 0 vi"-i11 11, whidl nu r i111a g: i11ation Il a~ ra ise<l ,
while we read her l li~to ry for th e fi rst f.i111C', ancl W HI C H has bee n i m p r c~ s ecl upon it Uy
t he m1 mcrous pr in ts an d pictu res wltlch we have sceu.

'l'l1is sen tence i" n nt only loose', li nt \·ic:i on sly so. Jn t.lte Rf'cond
m ember of it, Ute m ain assert ion c111l s \\·ith "featu res." To tl1 is
word, t wo of t h e nmtaining d a11 ses are clun1sil_y a t,t.ach ed liy
" WHICH, " uncl each o f these has :m other " ·11•h iuh " clanse attach e<l
t o it, oue of t h em l Je i ng s till fu rth er p rnlonge d J,y t h e ubuse beginning with " inhile."
Re-write thi s sen ten ce in p eriodic form .

\VnA l'.E LY.

Parentheses sli onld be avo id ed except 1d1 eu they
express a th onglit m ore complete ly wi thout elvgg ing it.
For many illustrati ons, see pages 271- 274.

J olin Morle,y, in writing of Cobcl en's style, says that
claf'sical training is m ore aptl y calculated to destroy th e
c111 ali t ies of good wri t ing and fin e speakin g t han any other
sys tclll that co nl<.1 li:we been co11trivcc1. H e r efe rs to the
exccssi ve use of the periodic structure ; but much as the

Som e critics lrnve b een so strong ly p ersuaded nf th o b ad effe cts
of p ar entheses on perspicuity as to thi11k t h ey ou g h t to b e discarded ultogeth er. B ut t his I imagi ne i'l a lso an ex t.r crn c. If tho
parenthesis b e sh ort, and if it lie in trodn eetl in a p rop er place, it
will n ot in the Jeust hurt the efoarn ess, ancl may add b oth to the
viv aci ty und t o the ener gy of tl10 scnteuce.- CAMPBELL.

I'
I

Ii
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I
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-"---~ ~=-----

....

-~,

,, ..., ,

·~""'-\.'

~··-

- - - - --- - -

-~·-

.

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-- -- -

--~--~

-

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

... ··~····

-

-

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442

PEltSPICUITY.

[PAHT IV.

"I SAY."--A very b:u1 se ntence t his ; in to which, by t,110 h~lp of
a pare nt.ltesis nn<l oth er int.e rj ec ted circum s tances, bis lordship
lms cun t rive<l t o thrn ::;t so m:tn y thiu gs tlmt h e is for ced to b egill
the co ustrn c tion ngaiu wi th th e phrase I suy, which, whe never it
occnn<, may b e always ass nrnctl as a sure mark of a clumsily illcons trn ct q1l sente nce ; excus:1bl e in sp eak ing, wh er e th e g r eatest
acc urncy is not expec ted, but in polish ed writing unpardon able.llLArn.

Excessive Simplicity see lll s at first an imposs ibility, IJut the re are Certaia CO llsideratiullS Wvrll1y uf atteutiu11.
(a) 8 i111j'licity m 11:.;t 'not be A,t/ ed,'d.- S inipl e lang 11age
is to l>e chosen, ll Ot beca11 se i t is simpl e, l111t beca use it
b est ex presses tlie 1n e:mi11 g . To ass11w e 111111at nral simpli c ity 111H]er th e i1upress iou th a t s i111pli c ity in itself is an
orna111 e nt, aud h eea 11 se it is thoug ht to b e an o rn am e nt, is
m o re ri<licul ous tl1a11 the affectati on of eleg ance.
0BSEHVA'J'lU '.'iS shon.l<l no t b o prop osed in Rch olns tic s tyle, nor
in <'Olll1t1 0 11plrtce g ni se. 'l'hcy s ho ul<l lie sea~ o n e d \Yi th a sweet urb a uit.y , acco mm n11:iJ.cd to the capacit ies of t he p eople, and ad apted
t o th o marn1 cr s of goutl m en. One of t.he !Jest exp edi ents for this
pnrpm;e is rt retln ct.ion of obscm·e mrttt.e rs t o a natunil , p opular,
rn 0<1ern air. Yon m n ne Ye r attrtin this abili Ly nnless yon acquire
fl h rtbi t. of co ncei ,·in g e learly of su bjects yom self, and of exp ressing
th em in a freC', famili a r, er1sy m ann e r, r e mote from every t.hin g
for cf'cl a nd far-fe t ch ed. All long t rain s of rt rg umen ts, all emba rrn ssm e ut.s o f Lli visiuus alll1 snbtl frisions , all m e taphysi cal im·estig :1ti o ns, \\l1ich rtre m os tly impe rt.iue nt., and, like the fi el1ls, th e
cities, arnl the h on sc:s which we imagin e in t.h e clouds, the m ere
cr eatu rns of fan cy- all these sh onld b e a voided.
Ca re nrn s t b e t a ke n, however, to avoid the opposite ex trem e,
wh.iclt co nsists ill m a kill g only p oor, dry, sp.iritless obsenations,
freqn en tly said nuder preten ce of avoiding school-divinity, a nd of
sp eakin g onl y popul a r tl1in gs. End ea vor t o think clearly, and try
also to tlii n k nobl y . Let your observations b e r eple te with
u eauty as well us proprie ty, the fruits of a fin e fan cy under the

Crr"1'. XXI I.]

443

Sil\'IPLICITY.

dir ection of :t sob er jnc1g men t. U yon b e in at t·enti rn to this a rt icle, you " ·ill rmss for a co ntrn u pl'i \Jl o c1e,·l ai1ner, oJ 11tca n a n<l
s hallow ca pacit.y, exliaus ti ug yo ursoH n111l 11o t, e1hfying yo ur h earers ; a very ridiculon s ch a rnct er. - Ci:,,~u.oE.
Word i"wo r l h's w eak s i1l f', a R a p oe t:. wn s h isg rn:i t ,1i m c11 Hy i11 p <' r cc i\' in g

w h t~ n

h C' hnd

:tlH l w l1 c n h e ha d 11 u t f'i\lt:ce cd cd in f n ~ i n g t h e l:ui )'.! 11 ;q..;: " whi c h h e u .0:.1. ! d wi! h Lhe firn o [ hi s
o w n m cdi t n.t iv c p:tc::.sio n. So n w t 1111 c...; i 11 t h e 1ni<lst 1) f a p:Hs:1g1 • n f Lhr~ t n 1f'>'L r a pt 11 r c, li e
w ill d c~ce 1 11 l B1uhlc11 \y 11p•m a li ttle bi t o f d r y, li ar•l h(·t, !1 11 •l 11 r1t b ,. nt~ all aw a r e Unit t h e
fa ct r c nrn. im= l ike an irn ·g111a r, nnl o \·cJ_r e.touc prc:-:sing- d n\\'ll :i gT111tp o f fl o11·e r s, :t 11nJ1Ht-

ll\ Cll t Of l h c Rntl dc n fai! n r c of LlH' IJOWCr n f hi ~ 1•111ut. i r111 ovP r hiR la1q.! 1W gl'. T h 11 s, in i hc
lo ve ly lin r.c::., " Sh e Wfl' a pli :w t w n of r\ r li gh t.,' ' \.It ('. rr·n d (' r i ....; s 11dd C'nly 1Jpp r <·i-;i-:1•<1 hy l w in ~
t,.,J,1 :h :;,L tL c p oi :!. ;; t b ~-t ~cc :; , ' ' ·:;i ! !~ ej·l: :'.t' r ~ ~ t t\ ! !i t ' '.' \ ' ! 'J' p:l! · : ! ~ ,, f '. h ~· 1: ::u ·h:1: t· 1 · • :: '.·. if ~1
phant n nt of d e li .~r ht c1 mhl p m~<; i lil y tiav f' lwe n a 11 u wlii111\ or l'V <'n , l i k l' :1
c n n t n in ed Oil!'.
l n 1 1 ~ .· ·- tJ H 1 11 111•
6L~ P 111

\\' :J.X\\' 11 rk

lig-11re,

T l w n' j ,: t h e s n. 111 0 fa u l t in 11 111' o f Ilic~ fi 1 11~s: , o r t.!11' o ri g in:1l II L y 1·i 1::il l b ! ·

c al lt•1 l " T hi• T llnn i, .. f) f wh i c h

~t r~. f

to h ave \\Ti lLr n w it h a c• 1py of t h P ' ' ! ,yric..;;1!

Hiph a n l . hy the

\\· ;1y .

Bal \;idF: ·· l)e f••r<:! h Pr,

\1·h o

11 1:ik f' ~

dn l'~

n ot

110 HI C'll ·

t;io n . l11 1t whi c h L ord .J e ff n'.Y f·p il4Jl niz ccl, i f we n ·nll'tnl11 ' r r i~ ht ly. a s dc ·snih i n g' hm,- a
w o 1wt 11 iu n r ctl c loa k \\·Pn t u p l ti I Ji n t op n f :t hill and !-'ai d , ' 1 Oll , t n i ~(' ry 1" and t h en
ca rn e cl ow n ng ai n . T heg re a lc r p art·. nf t il e hall:u l. Lr1n l .Jc ff rpy " t n I.h e r 1111(rn ry in a n ywi se 11 o t \•·ith st :t1 Hli 11 g-, 11 :1 ~ t h e l a w yer s :o:n y , i s P•' IH't ra!t•t l tl iron.e; h a n d lh ron g h hy the
1n ns t, ,t:{C' llH ine i rn agin a t i v c JH1 "S io11; l111L \\·li e n , i n I h e for 111 i n \\'h k h t h e po('H I ori gi na ll .v
n pp1 a rcd , \Vord :-; w o rt h fl pcc ili t•d t il e tl itn (' 11 ;.; in 11ft , ,r th e li t t le 11111 d d y pno \ by Lh e infa n L' R
g ra veI' ve ll lf'fl '; H!Wl it f r n m f.; ii lc to s id e :
1
T is l ltrce fe<'t 1 0 11 ~ n n tl f,\\·o feel. with',
1

h t' RIHhl c n Jy prC'C i p if n.il•rl. a <; j~, \\'l'r•·. in t,n !;Jie 1 n id ~ t 11f hi <:: ]•()<' Ill :\ lit t le tkpo~ j t, o f lH:! lY
c lay, wh ic h n ia<lc h is read c rc;, ch ange" t.11c Rl1h w hit'!: !h t:' finrr pnr ls 11f llw 1J a ll :11l •' xd t 1'd
in lfl a. h y-;l f' ri ca l g igg le . \Vo nl s w o r U11s we:1k 1tt•ss- r s 11('ci all y in t h e e arl ie r p a rL o f li i ~
c rtrl.'C I' n s a p oct--,vas t,l1is 1 ! h id, h e n ev e r l; n c w ho \. far h is h11 ng i11 aLi11n l1: 1d tnlll !'\ lll!ll('tl 1
or h:1d fo..Ucd t o t rn n s11111tc , UH? ro11 g- ll c lay 11f rn 11P. c in~n111 s h l!l c ( ~ s in t· n 01 e m:ttc ri :LI of
plas t ic n. r t . lf c wn s n qt, r1 w n k(' n c1l f rom h is ilrf'nlll by s u c h a 1h>.q ·c 11 t ns w e• lia.l'c jns t
q 11otC'd , nrnl h e di1l n ut k now lh :i t ll i..: r f":tt l f' r s, w h o d id !\l it. f ull y l'tl lc r i11! 0 h i;.; 1'('"ta sy,
and pro bably rl id Sf'f', w h :1i W i1n l -:wnr th (' n n\ d 1111t <.:f'f' , th e lml i,. r n u :; co n t r ~ <.; f·~ 111 11 \ i ne ·
qnali l ics o f h is 111 0011 , wo11 ld li e a wn ke n ei l f roH 1 lh l' ir drearn hy t h c .:::c s hot;l.;.-: .- Thc Spe• ·-

ta tor .

(b) Simplic1:t!J mn.qt i1evcr seem ci Oo11clesce·11 sion.- N o t
n1 e 11 alone, bat cl1ilcl rn n a s 11·ell , re'3 e11 t tl1 c i111p11t a tion
th a t it is n ecessa ry t o adapt one's t.l1 oug lt ts aml voealJ11l ary
t o th eir ig noran ce.
It is a ju s t and cnri ou s ob ,,;er rntio n of Dr. K eurick th a t " the
C'rtse of h ngn ag t>s, or rntl1 c r sp eech , lwing <Jni t e f'On trary to that
of scien ce, in th e fo rm er t.l1 e i ~ 110rnnt nrnkrstnm1 t.h e k an1eLl
b et ter tlmn th o learne tl d o the i g no rnnt, in the latter it is othe r·
wise."- C AMPBE LL.

1

.j

J·
I
I

I

4±4

PEllSPICUlTY.

[PAill' IV.

CllAP.

Tho Rt.:rlo of a serm on ma:r, like tho stars, be at once ,·ery clear
arnl ,·cry loft y; while th e p easan t tleri rns fr om th e sfrt rn rnlPs for
formin g and th e nrnriu e r fo r sailin g-, t.110 m a thernaticirm eqn a ll y
clrrms tli onco th e principles tlmt. g nide him in lris ast.1.·011m11ical
calcnl11t.io 11s. Th e form er, 11J1a1Jlo, it ll1l\Y ho, either to roa1l or
wrif;c, can n o n~ rf'.11d css 11ppr0li cncl t.110 starn ns far rtR is uoc0Rsa ry
fo r him; tho la tte r, in s pit.c of ttll his sciont.ific lrn ow] p,d g-e, i:; very .
far from eomprelwmlin g all the st ellar unil-erso.-ANToNio VmYEnA.

Tt

11 111< ~ i, ~

:i•'1 · , 1,f . .

1 : 1:.

;1

1':"11· 1 !:111, l \\ ,-·

1-·1-·1 1111 · ·-·n · I

i : J,-,

~ l 1.-·

:ir-1.-·11-

A clcrg vnmn in t.ho ('Onntr,v luttl a s tmn ger preachin g for him
one 1h.'-, a;1Ll rn eo t.i1J g his sex ton aRked, " \Yell , Smrnllers, h ow di.fl
"\-rill 1-ilai. tl1a. c.: n r1)1r.q t·" -'l:i v ?"
"Tt. ~'.. ~ '3 · ·~t1~C1~ · "'"Y~t' rl~ -ill f1 11d
simpl e for me. I Jikc t.11 110 "sermons licsf; that. jumLlos the jooclg m ont t1n <l confnm11lR t ho Rc nse. Ah , sir, l n evor saw one that conlcl
co111 e np f'.o yonrnol' a t ll mf'.."
Tho nlt.ra-prncti eal Franf'is de SaleR, aft er h earing fr om an oth er
in hi R own pulpit a sn hlime sprmo11 th at greatly rl eligh ted his
m ountainee rs, aske<l so rn o of them what they had gain otl from it.
Onn of them rnpliod : " '.L'his pre:tcltor tc:wlws ns t.o C'Rteem more
highly Lhe g randeur of the mysteries of our religion." D o Sale:i

445

was forced to admit that this mall, at least, had proJitod by the
sen non.
B.iclrnrd Baxter, no rn eau ex ample for reli g ious tcach erR and
catecl1isern, purposely throw out some tl1i1 1g-s in bis so rrnons that
were l1eyoncl t l1 0 co 111pn~ h0 11 s io11 of l1iR hea rnrs, in o.rll or t.11:1t_ th0y
wight learn to 110 tlissatisii e1l " ·itlt th eir cxistiug stoek of Clmst.rnn
kH owled ge. "\Vhorefo re," says Chrysostom iu one o [ hi Rh omilies,
"lmvc I present ed fhis <lifflcnlty an<l n ot append ecl i ts solution?"
H e r<'pli os t.lrnt l1 croin 110 procoecls .like llu vcs, wl1i el1 , as loll g as
th nir young remai n in lh e nes t., foe11 ll> <!m from U1 eir crn·n bills;
Lu t aR soon as Micy aro Jfocl ge cl and l<'rtvn tli e nest., th e mo I lier
lets food fall upon tlw ea rth, atHl tlte li ttle ones pick it up. HimYEY.

So far ns it. is 111 ca11t to gain farnr by patro ni zi ng, f.' 1111)li
l cit1· lik e ot.li c r affcctat io11 s, f a il s o f its cud; for there is
"'
in i.,.11ora11t
111i11 ds a not wlwll •y umcnso nabl e fo1lll11css for
0
tl1 011 gltts tl1 0y hav e to grore aft er. Part of H nfo s
() ]1 oatc's p1m cr 01·cr juri es lay in the delici ous i11dcfi11itencss of: hi s i:;tyi c, \l'lti clt mad e th e 1111lcarnod foci there
\\·a s 11111 ch l;i a d111i1·c" ;111t111·uu1'l lJu llllH: h (.,_, l'•_>11 v i11l'c: .if
tli cy co nld only 1111dcrsta1Jd it.
ti(_•!l ._1f C!1· •· - ',\ 11'.' •..: l1 . . : !·L:d 1 1 ·~ .'!!'.:L:!~i~: l: ~L i·..1:1- . ·...' .r 1~ !..2. l:.L~!.l. l~ :.2.~'. ~~<...:; , L!.Ld.
tlto mo.re 11·eak an.11 ig nora nt rnen are, t.]1 0 less inclinell they are to
r eceive im;trndion, t;n lcsR it i,q in so1n ow.iso coucea.locl, or ni:11le to
p:tss ull<l er anothe r 1ianrn. In pro uf or f;hi s " ·c need Olli .)' m ention
t ho incessant rotnrn o[ the phmso " you know" in talk and corr csp onll euce.-H EHVEY.

Sli\'IPl~ ICI'l'Y.

XXII.]

'l' h c more s im pl c 1 clf'nr , :i.1111 o\JY icms a n y p rinc ipk is r r rnlnr<l, Ill e 111o rc l ik el y is its
expos itio n to cliuit LhC'SC com m o n rc n1ark " : '· l)f c~111 r :-- 1 ' ! o f c onn~ P ! n n un c cnuld eve r
cl r•n lJ ! tlwL ; llii ~ i ~ ~ i ll \"f' l".V tr11 E', 111 1! lh " l'I ' i,; l l' • l h i 11 1 .~nt '\Y \q·,, 11 ~:ht !n l i_c; l1!: 111, f liill '! !l1~1t
w a ~ 11 ut f: u Hil!nr t o l"•Cr.\· un c : tlic !·t· n et·•!-: 1!11 :..::h • " ' l r .. t•·ll !l " tli:1t. "
1 :1 111 ·-· •· :1\ :!1 1_; •_·• l
!,11:1 t n, ve rhu,_,f', rn y~til' :t!, :llHI p:1rLi:tll ,)' ulY ·T \ll"l! 1,n1y of" '.'.Tl! 111 .~· !!!I S!l<'l! : t ~·11!Jj1 ·1°! . i~. l hi• ll: nst,
!i! ~c ! :,·

J'

t ri r·:"JtdJ

t! ~r' :tttc:;~'. n : ;

nf

~ !: r

!":1·:'t~~·: • ' '"'

T ': r· z·· :1 .. r:1 !·· ~- .. r- :.. •:· ', ,.,

0 " -· T·:~t : r·:1

r.f

T:i cil11 ... , o m.n e i (/ ll Vlilll/. j ii' 1J m, 1gnfJl, '•I . an d wlil"ll HH.\ 1hin g L..; rn;;. ol e Y;::·ry 1·ii1l n Lu t/ 11.: m
oo.n; ;;. ;; :, :.u ft ~ t: c•· Uo;o. L LL<;.- i,; o. v ~·. i ~ od;, · : ~ d~ . C;.; ; .:...; ;: J.;;._, J~ .

;:; 1 ~ 11 •r;ccr L'Y r s. THL'r ENJ"Rs. -1.l yo u 0111.ol'l':tiu yonr r eader soJeiy
or cl1i efl y with t l1011 ght s th at a n' oilh <'r trit e or o ll\·ions, you crmnnt fa il to tire 11i1r1. Yon i.utrodnl'e [e w or uo new :;cut;imcnts into
]1is miml, yon gi ve him litt.Jo or no iHfonnation , allll consequently
affor<l nei,t h er exer cise to his r 0aso n Hor entertainm ent to his
fan cv. In what w<'> rea1l aml " ·hat wo l1 0ar, W<'> n J\yn yR SP.Pk for
som ~thin g in on e roRpect or ot.lwr :uow, which \\' O di1l nnt kn ow, or
at least atte nd to be fore. 'l'he leRs we folfl of this, the soo ner we
arc tire<l. Such a triflin g mi1Jute nee<s, th ere fore, in Darmtion,
description, or arg nm ent, as an ordin ary apprehension would
rernl or snperf!n otrn, is apt rtuickly to di sgust u s. 'l'he reaRon is,
n ot l10can se auy t.hin g is s:1id too perspi cnon sly, hnt b ecause rnauy
tl1in gs arc said whi ch mi g ht not to be rnitl at all. Nn.y , if those
, ery thiu gs Imel b ee n expressed. obsem·0ly (and tl1 e m os t ob vious
things m ay be ex pressed obscnrnl,r), tho fanlt would lrnvo been
much greater; b ccmwe i I; wonlcl have n ictni rerl a gnocl det1l of atten tion to 1liseo,·or wl1 a t, a ft er wo lrncl di scovered it., we Rhou lcl
pcrcci rn n ot to b e of sulliciont rnluo for r0t1ui ting our puius. 'l'o

44G

PERSPICUITY.

jl'ilHT IV.

an anthor of this kind we should be apt to apply tlie charnctcr
which lJassa.n io iu the play gives of Uratiww's convcn;ation :
JJ c s pcnlrn n n infini! c tl ea l of no t hin g . His r caR-0 11 s n.rc ns two g ra im; u[ \\·Ji ca.t hi t] in
two 1Jw.;}1 el:; o f c h aff: )'(HI Rhall Sl'Ck all day ere you find thc1u 1 a ull whe n you h av e th c 1n
th ey arc n ot wort h t h e !'jcar c lt . -~lfo·c/urnt of r enice.

It is t.ltcreforn fut.iJit.y in t:hc thon ght,, n.nd not p crnpic-nity in t.lte
Jn,n g na;..;·<', 1dti<·lt is I it !l fault o[ s 1u: lt J>n rfu1·111a11l' cs. Tlt<•ro i s as
little l1 az:ll'!l that, a pit!Cn s h:ill be faulty in tltis r cs1>cct., m; Uiat a
lllil't'Ol' s hall Le tno f:t if.[1 fnl ill refl ecti11 g the inrngeR of ouj ec ts, 01'

tha t, the g l:rnscs of a tc l<•scopc slrnll be too tran sparout.
At t.lt c same tim e it is n ot to be dissembl ed tlmt with iu attcntivc n •ad ers, a p retty Jt11tttt•ro11 s cl::tss, darkness fret,[lH' ntly J>:ts>;es
for d cptl1. 'l'o lJe pNspicnons, on the co u tmry, a11 d to be m1perfici al, are r <:gardr>1 l by tli <: m as synouymnus. Bnt, i t is n ot s nrely
to tli e i,. alJs urll nutious t.ltat our fan g nage ought to be :tLlapl.e d. 0A1\ll'JJ13~JjL,

TOPIC.AL A.NAL 'fSIS.

II

Persp~c~ity.
t "al to p e rspicuity, p. 437.
Simpl1c1ty . ess.en 1
;;
. 'it111plu·it11 i n t/!n11!Jhl , l ' 4 I "
. . 4'' "
l. ~ 1 · 'I'hiiigs should be cn11.:1•1 vrnl .: l1·ottl .v. · "','·
,.R
u
••
c n ~np\ n !"l .) J P· 4 d • .
~·
,.,, 1ni"·"\1P11si1· e lv. p. 4il8:
, .•. '

L

I~ X [I'. I I ~i j

4.
!

i

i

\'t; \ \' •

i 1·

un ie d y , p~ 1:_;:-_;.

G.

-+: ~;-\ ·

Tii.;t!~ , 1'· 4~;S.

.
~
ii . 8 wiplil'ity in e.1·prr.•.•1'111, P· 4.;().
l'P. riodi c strn ct urc, P· 440.

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L•

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h

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•

448

.

!'· 11 '
Ii H!I

i·

CnAP. XXIII.]

DIUEC'l'NESS.

44!)

says what h e m eans, and means wh at he says. Such
utterance al ways commands respect, an<l usnally command s
attention. ·w ithout it, words are as so u11di11 g brass, or a
tinkling cymbal.

CHAPTER XXHI.
POWER.

Power (often known as Energy, Strengtl1, Force) is
that qiwlit,y of Rt.)' Je \d1i clt JJJak es it i111press ive. Precis ion and Perspic11i ty n1ak e th e reader know what is
meant; 1'ower makes bill! fee l what is meant. Precision
and J'erspie11ity make tl1 e l1 ea rer kn ow wl1at li e ough t to
do; l~o wer makes hi1n resolve t o do it.
'l'h 0se 'ronb, wh ich lm,·e their synon yms i n all Jangnageenerg,Y, strnngtl1, fo rce, vi go r- do certainly express an idea not
otherw ise d ofin nhl o t li aa liy interch ange of these words.
T h ey
co n vny a n idea whic h the co mm on sense of me n nern r coufon nds
with t,h c impressi rn ness of a nmth ematical th eorem, or tlmt of a
bird o f pnr:ttlise, or that of tho tnil of n peacock . These words
arc ultimate i n all hn g nages; so that we cannot add to their signifi cance, except Ly rn ateri nl emblems. We can onl y sa.y that
ene rgy fr; a p ee n li ar kind o f i mpressi veness; it is th e impressiveness of st.re ngth, as dis tinct from t.liat of clearness; i t is the im1n-cssiwm ess of force, as <lis tinct from that of b eauty; it is the imJ>ressi rnnoss of vigor, as <listi nct from. that of vivacity.-PHELPS.

(I. ) In Thought, P ower is depe11dellt chi efly upon
(a) S incerity, and (b) Direc tness.
(a) Sincerity co mLin es r eality of con vict ion, and
earn estn ess of pnrpof'e, w ith freedom from unfairn ess and
frolll di shonesty.
Th e Latin ori g in al meant "wit hout
wax," an<l was appli e1l to honey t.li at was just wh at it pnrporte<l to Le. 111 speech we apply tlie word when 011e .

Conviction is more than opinion ; it is firm b elief, att11ined by
consideration , 11nd forti fied by ex pfl ri enco. One who holds only
opinions-vag ue, shifting, em bodyi ng little th ough t or observ11tion-will write nothing forci ule, Lec11use h e has no vigorous
ideas. So trne is this that in t he li ghtest conversation (see pages
27, 7G) one must, take sides temporari ly ev011 npou snhjcc ts that arn
indifferent, or the tr> lk will lio pl::i,t.itulliuons. ln con v01·sr1tion thi s
is sometimes excn sallle nnd evcu 11 ecossary, becmrnc tl1 0 rnnge of
prnctical topics may include 11<>110 upon whi ch both p ersons h am
pronounced opi11iom;. Smuet,imcs in p c rio<lical n ewspaper work
th o same necessity arises; tho e di tor mm;t say som ethin g about a
subject that has no in terest for l1irn , h ccau so hi s rnrulern expect
so methin g said ab out it. J~n t if such O<.: <msi ous a r e fr'"l1w ut,
the editor may b e sure that h e ]ms mistaken cit.her his calling or
his comnrnuity; h e cannot 1011g assum e an interest h e does not
feel, and lie will fin d Ji u ref111el'::> Jur a rtidc:s h u lias 1nitic·n 11i lhout an in ternst. 'f h o excepti01 1s are l':tre f.o t;he rnle th at th e essay
sh ould Le written b ecan se one has a con victio n tP ex press. A conviction has tily and artificially built up b ecause one h as an essay
to write will fall flat.

(b) Directness ch aracteri zes a str ong miHd. To see
clearly, to feel deeply, to speak fo rcibl y, tl ie mind nrn st be
fixed on one thin g, and one th i11 g only. .A clo:>:en argum ents, a sco re of illnstrati ons, a h1111 t1red facts 111ay b~
cited but a ll mu st be snbor<l i11 a ted to th e oue eud i11
view-' selected because tl1 ey prom ote it, a11d arrangetl with
reference to the perspective (see page 251).
These are ascending stai rs- a good voice, winning man ners,
plain speech, chastened however b y the schools into correctness ;
but we mus t com e to the main matters, of power of statementknow your fact, hug yo ur fact. -E~mnsoN .

4-50

:Pow mt.

(PART IV.

(2) In Expression. Prec ision and perspi cuity being
ass u111od, po\1-er is depeudeu t chiefly ou (ct) plai11u ess, and
(b) co uciscness.
(a ) Plainness of speech indicates tlrnt the writer has
so11tetlti11g to say, a nd. that his re li ance is upon the id eas
the111scl ves-11 o t 11pou their verbal apparel.
'l'ho fi rs t valu ::d.dc powor in 11 re11so1rnlilc miud, one would say,
wits tli e p o ll"c r o f pbin st.a te men t, or the power to r ecei ve thin gs
as th ey Lefall , and to trans fer the pietnre of th em to another mind
unalt.orcd. 'Ti.~ a g oo<l ndo of rh etoric which S chlege.l gives'' I n good proso e ve ry wnnl is 1ntclerncored;" which, I suppose,
m eans ne ,·e r it ali c i ~e . Spartn,us, Stoi es, he roes, saints, and g o<ls
n se a s hort a1111 p ositi rn speech . Th ey are never off their ccutrcs.
As soon as th ey s well : m u pant and fi111l truth n ot enoug h for
th em, so fte nin g of th e b rain lms already b egnu. It see ms as if infl atiou were a c1isease inci<lont to too much use of words ; and the
re nw dy lay in recon rne to tltin gs. I am daily s truck with the
forcib le nntfon;!atcurnn~ of p eople who have no literary habits.
Tho low ox p ress ion is stron g and agreeable. 'l'he c it,i w n dwells
in d elusion s. His <lrcss mul <lrnpc ries, hou se and st.::1ul cs, occupy
!ti111. 'l'ltc p oor con11 tryman, lm\"iug no circumstan ces of carpets,
co:w hcs, diJJners, win e and <lrtncing in !tend to confuse l1 im, is able
to .look fl trni g ht; at yon, with out refraction or prismatic glories,
:rn11 ho sees whe the r yo nr he:ul is ::11111le1l 11y this mixture of win es.
'J.'he conn non p0opl c tli111i11ish ; "a coltl s uap ;" "it rains easy ;"
" g oo11 hay in g weathm." 'iVheu a form er means to tell you th a t
he is <loin g \\·ell witl1 his farm, be says : "I don't work as harrl as
I lli<l , and I d on't m en n to. " "When he wishm; to condemn any
trea tment of soils or s toc k, he s::i.vs : "It won't do any goo u."
Urnfor the Ca tskill m onnt.:1ins tho boy in tho steamboat said,
" Com n np h ere, Ton y ; it Jnolrn pretty nnt .. of-r1oors. " -E~mnsoN.
"I 110.n't know li ow to apologiw," l\Iax Adelcr makes a rngamntnu who is aslmme1l of himself exclaim ; "but if you ,rnut to
kick rn c d o wn Llw fr out steps, jtrnt kick away-I'll b e.ar it like an
n,n gc l. "

E,·c u a so pl1is ti catrnl rn.iml is cau ght by plain utternnces. The
nmn wh o has spoiled bis tastes aml sympa thies by an artificial and

451

BLUN1'NESS.

CHAP. :XX!II.J

showy cultivation is nevertheless strnck b y tlio vi gor and rncin ess
of plain sense. In t he phmse of H orace, th ong lt h e l1 as dri rnn
na ture out of hi s urnlerstancling with a fork, s he yet r e turns wh en
tru th appears. Ancl this is : t hold wltich ::t plaiJJ spmk cr has npon
an andi ence of false tas tes mid fal sn rc fi1 w111cnt . 'l'li erc i» au ins tincti ve sag::wity in 111au which neetls Llti s pl:tinness o f presentatio11 , a11<l which c rn,·os it, ru11l .i s s:ctisfi,,. [ wi th it,. - S1 rn1m.
Coleridge slL.)'S of H oger No rth :
H is \nngll!lg-C g ives u s l h c ver y
sationa l E n gl L~ h ;

1 11.~ r ve!

pu lse, a nd

~ i ncw,

of :t l.i ·n rty, hca \Lhy, cu1l': er-

aml li c gives this illnstration of l1i s s tyle :
H e appeared \'C r y amhi UMrn tn k:1 rn to w r ilf'; ;111d qnc o [ t!H~ aUv n li'.\' ~ go!; a. ho:lnl
Jrn ockctl np a.t. a wi ndow v u Lil e top of a ~tnir1·a ·: c; a11d t ll :tt was liiR .\!' <; \; 1 w h e re Il e sa t
and w r olc nl"tcr t:(Jpi cs p ( c our t an d ot h e:· li;n 1d i-; fh at Ll 11: cle rk s g av e li illl.

On th e title·p::tgo to " I'n t Yoursd f in l1 is Pbec," <.: liarlos Ue:1de
thus trnusl::ttes a fam ous se nte nce o f 1-Inrncc's :
I wi ll fra me a wor k o f ri d :in n npo n nn! orl1111s fact·. so t.hn.t nnyhndy ~ h :i ll t·h ink he
c:in d o l h c Rnrn c; s h:tll l aho l' and L'l il , :i.Ue rn ptin~ L\ 11 ~ sa111c, and fn i l -~uvh i:-; t he po\\·c r

of sequ e n ce and co11n cct ion in writin g .

Bluntness is a d eg ree nl' pl :1.i1111 ess so111 et i11ies pe rmi ssibl e, and always forciiJJu wliern it. does 11ut :-; 11 gge~ t i11t propriety.
<:r :l nd, rn11 .!. !' h n l<l l\lar!i n f ,11!h1·r
l~l u nnH · d f a hli· ~,

tl n\\'l:rs u n f11rze :

Th e h t' 1tc r t he 11 n co111.lw r ·

Du

ro s e~

stic k lik P bu r r s ?-

H1 t0WN l NG .

Some people arc so a ffect.rd in th e ir t1di eney, tlmt; their cars
appear to b e tho uiccst im rt a bou t f . l11c111. -F1m, m ~c:: .
I lmve said that tho popnla r crn vi11 g for exact ntt.<'r:tllt'.c of f,n1th
is ofte n cxccssi,·e. l\Icn cm YO a co:u·sc' JI recisio11 , :t .sn 1·:1.gc £n rm of
i·,ruth. Yet ii·, is tho t.rnth after all. Th n <• om111011 111i11<l " ·ill i1ot
Joo g rctniu rt lahr:l o[ a disf.i11 g11isl1 r d 1:1>11f·.n 11q11>1·:tr.v ii" it, is not
tru e. P opular sh11 g, in suc h cr1sr .s, t.lt nng li ct.Y111 "lng·i 1-: dl y lll1 Jsc,
is connnonly clnf'rni t.e to tl1 c p o p1tl :i1· t>: U", n.11t1 sn lis ta 11 t i:1J ly c:rnd .
No la ug nage is more so . T ltns, 11·li 0u n pri11 ee h:i.s p1·111·1·1l hi 11 1si' if
lJol<l , 11llick, d ccis i1·c, J.IOIJ(lc roas i11 eli:trn i• tc r, tl1<• l'" l"1 l:1 r »nit·e
lms sm11med np its vcnli c t in 01w l"i g 1ll''1l.i1·e lmt. n:rnd. title,
"Charles the Hammer." ·wheu a milit a ry ehic[ 11:1s prn vetl him-

l'O WJ<]R

(' n AP.

[ PAH'l' I V.

in e tlrat i n s p eecli t· l ie . m ore n1.l ~ ••r th ey nre th e more e nergetic
I.h ey 11111 s,t 1>e. "Noi.· I f"" it t ru e, as D r. \ Vnnl sn.p , "tbat r onglt
an d ]Hu sh l anguage is more strm1 g- a ud n cr Yo ns t lm n wh en th e
C'O mposition is srnool-. h a nrl lmrmon io uR. A s t.ream 1r luc.h . ru ns
a nwng stones and roelrn m akes m orn 11 01so, fr om t-he o pp o~ i twn ~ t
owets with i n its cu n rs e ; lmt tl1a t wl1ich ha'< nut t h ose i 111p ed1rn oHts fl ows with groatc r force [l,llll str e ngth . "- IJrnwEY.

fle lf mm g ninary, C'l'nol, fer ocious, relen tl ess, the people h ave t old th e
w h ol e sto ry of his life in th e si nglo p h m so, "A!Ya th e B n teh er. "
'l'h e watch word s of p oli t.if'n l pa1:ties again i llus trate t l10 same
t hing . 'l 'lwy arc of ten i nt e nsely fi g nrnt.ive; ye t, i f t h ey lrnvo great
for co wit. It t he peopl0, tliey ar e rts inteu s0ly Lrn e. No s ty le can exp r0ss I.Ito tru th wi t h m ore of th :tt vi vidn ess which is o ftf:'n n ecessary to p r0<'ise i <l 0as i 11 t·ho pop ular m i nd . G cncrnl Harri son owe(l
his elernlion to t h e prnsi d en ey of our r f:' puulic, in large m easure
to his s upposed sympathy with t h e sirnpl c a ncl rude u sages of
ba<' k"·oo1l~ 11 1 011 ; and t.J1is \\·as expressed i 11 the old war-cry of t h e
\ VJ1igs of JR40 : "Log ca bin :1-IHl h nnl cirlc r." Ge neml T ayl or
owrn l hi s elec t.i on to tho sam e oLli co lrtrgoly to t he souri111.wt which
hi s >:0J1liorn g ani h i1 u in t h e J\ [pxiC'an \\"rtl", "Ol d H o11 gl1 rtnd
H<':td,r." Gcn nrn l Snil;t, 1rns l>c l i cn~tl to lrnrn lost h is el octiu.11 b ecn nse of th e 11iclrnn.111 e liy '1·l 1ivlt h is en<>mips rirli cn]e(l fo s wcllkn ow n fm ul11 oss fo r mil it:u-,y ct.i11ndtc, "0111. F nRs a nd F catl 1ors."
'l'ho usa ntl s of ,-otcrs wlw cn.retl u ot.hi ng, n111l k new uotl1.in g , auout
th e politi cs of th e conten(ling parties, k n ew as d efi nitely as you
<lo \Yl rnt tl mso 11-atclrn·onls m eant; aml t h ey voted for and against
t he tlii11 g s 1d1i ch t li e.~ e words p n.in tcd to th eir men tal vision. A
sty le i n whi td1 m e n sni d what t h0y m eant, aJlfl m ea nt what t h ey
Ue] iovetl, eatTi ccl_ t J10 11ay, a lth oug h it 'l"aS made Up Of p op u lar
sfang. - P 11Er,ps.

0

J11 c r i t ic is in g,
oEp r o pri ety h a s

· 11111· 1< l I 1o w t l i e s tan dard
we 11111 s t l ;: eep rn
,-ari ed, :fr01 11 age to nge .

The Hev..Joseph Dwig ht-. 11w; t-.11 0 mi ni s t,e r o f \ Voo rh tcwk, Co nn. ,
l pn :lpit
nf mH . nw n tm
rn
l
1
n. 0 11 t t i H~ yca ·1· i700 · 'l' l1 e ·se 11 ·s·tl·io11·t
' ·
'
.
" If
«ni ili1 lmn1 1y s urpass h iu> in th e tlroJJer.r o l 11:-; ex pr<'ss1011 R.
11 uco n i·e r tel1 rn e n c•Yc r g nt t.o l1 r:in: 11 , " Ji n s:ti 1l : "tlH'Y_ 11·01 il 11 fo ol
as 1111 0asy as a s ha1l 11p t he nok h o f a wliif(,-oak." 'J' l11 s jll'(ll "th ly
see mPtl l ess offonsi 1·e Lu hi s co11 g rl'gat io11 t ha n tf. sp011w.1l not long
a.go, at a prnye r-m cc tin g, w h e n lJ<' nr _" \ V:rnl H (•(•1·li<'r to l1l. nl1'.)11t.
cc rt.nin eclh rs frn lll 1rhi,. 11 malaria l odors a rost', :rn rl snHl th. 't, ,h ist
o ne of th o fami ly ll icil :t iHl t h e n a11ot lH•r fro m l lH' se n1lo 1·s. " .L hcy
cal Jed it mysterio us Provi <l eiwe," Rrt i1l ]\[r. D occlwr. "Nu s uch
thi1 1g; Goel knows i t was rotte n 011.io11 s ."

J n t h e llfie o f wo rd s, aga.i11 , loe; il 11s:1gc 1111 1.<t lie 1·cc-Pg-

li'inrl illnst.rn tiom; on p;lgcs 57, 7 1, 2115.

JLi%Cll.

"Do ta s te

t hi s scn1p ,'' sa id a 11 1':11 g l is lt :y n1111 g

wo niait tu t li e 111a 11 IJe;-; ide l 1 L~ r a l. di1111 ur : ' ' ii. i..; 11 t lt:i! E

Coarseness, l1 oweve r, e n fo e hl es ; for i t prod n ces
cl isg n s t wi t li t l1 e 'Hi te l', 'd1i cli pre ju d i ces t he r eade r

JJ a s t,r ."

aga in s t tlw v ie w s presen ted.

h ee 11 1111pa r do11 :1blc

"You S co tch m eu ," sn.id Ed wanl Irving to Ch almers, " would
11111111!0 an id ea ns a lm tcl10r .LaJHll.m; au ox."
H has g·e n prn lJy l1appo ncd t hat th e most elTocti ve p ul 1li c speakers, 1r h ot.ltcr seculn. r or Rn.crell , h rtYc b y a fastidiou s elasR ueen
acC'n sr<l of Yn] gn.ri sm s. Ro will > Cicero, Dn rk e, a nd Ch atlrnm; RO
" ·it h PafTick H enry a111l Drrni el \r eb s ter ; nntl to t urn to e 1rii11 e11t
p renc h N s, so 11-ith Lnt,]1r r, Latim er, and Whitefi eld. 'l' ho r eason
1rn s t lmt., i nll'nt on tJ1 0 g rcatoRt g ornl t,o t..11 0 g reates t irn rn l>cr , t-l tey
n sml " ·!mt D r. ,Tol1 1rno11 , a ft-.cr ll:u1i el J1 nrg<,ss, err.ll r:1l " n mrkl't
language." An d ye t sonw c:u:ry t,liis 1wtio 11 s u far that tl wJ· imn.g -

453

COAilSEN.Ii;SS.

XXII I.]

Th e rc 11 1;1rk was iu 11 111t iecd t li u r l', h11 t \\"f>lild l1:11· e
at a D u ..;l " 11 t·:1 11' c. 'f
11 r. I j ) 11· e ll in s ists
•

t lt at " p e r spire" is :t vHl gar word , a 11 :! t: lt at. rn il y "sweat ,,
s li o uld Le u ~e d .
Yc t i 11 111 0 .< t ,\1 11cr 1c:t11 "1n: Jc ..; u 11t : rI ll e ~
" ·ell to r e 1u e 111 Lc r t l1 u d i:- li1 1c l ir111 tl1:1t a l1 " l'"l' ..;11·.. :i!..;, a

l
I

i

111 a 11

j)ersii ire s, a nd a. \\'l111rn11 g luw s.

T h e yo 11 11g 111 :lll 11· !10

lJe!rn n a Je tt e r to l1is 11c tru t li c d. "Th u u s wuate~ t , "

rr 1111r l
1

h o·;. no l o n ger S\1· eet to him .
'l'hoso t. hi n ~s wh ieh ·if-. is in1l r,1 ·n11t-. fn <'\'. ]ll"l'KR vivirll y :i rn n.l w:i.ys
siwli as a n'l con ceived t-.u ·1mve som e h u pit-.11.rln in fl ic 11 >, rn LI " ". " " Lun,] or m oral. An exa111 plc of t hi s 11.ccc ncy i n c~ prc ~s w11 , wltcro

POWER

[P AH'l' JV.

th e Sll hj ect Jtn,[,]i som e nn.turn.l tnrpit ndC', JOH will find in :Thfo.rt,]in.'f\
n.u s \\·er , as it is in the o rig inal, wh en o nr f::inxi our grtve onlers to
rem o 1·c t h e s t on e from th e sepulchre of her b roth e r L rtzan rn,
" L ord, by this t ime h e s rncll c th (If<~ •/ :;(< <), for h e lrnth b een d ead
furn: tln.y s." Iu o nr vers ion it is som ewlmf; indelicately, n ot l;o stty
i1111occ nt.ly, r c n<l.e rcd sf:i11J; cth. Our tm 11 sln.tor s lrnve in this in s tan ce llllll l'f'<'ssa ri ly l'l' <'c<letl frnm th l'ir o rtl i1iary 1'11le of kcPpin g
ns cl ose a~ p oss iul c l o Ilic l etter. T l1 c sy nccd och e i n tl1is place
n n s1n.~ rs j n>< t. ns \\·ell i n J<:11 glish ns in G rl'ek; th e iwrn pic11i.ty is
s nc•h as Sl'<'llrPS th o rc:Hlo r f ro m t.11<' p ossiliili t,r of :t rni s Tn.k c, a t
tl1 c sn111 0 f;i.11 ]() tl1 :tt tli e o:q>r('ssio n i s fr t1n fro m f.h c in1l cce ncy witlt
\\·hich f·..Ji o <•tl w r i s t· l1 arg<'n.hln. Bnt if it be n ecessary to :1"oi L1 a
1·i vitl cxl1il1it.iou of 1rh n.t :tppl'a1·s n11 cl cn.11ly t.o th o ex t ernal sl' nscs,
it is nmc h. m orn Hcccss:try in wl1 :i.te1· c r lllrL.)" h n.rn rL t cIHlcncy to p ollnf c t.h o 111int1. It is n ot a lll':t.ys th e m onf-iou o f Yi ce, as s ncl1 , 1d1ich
lt a.~ this tl' 1Hh'DC,v.
1\[:tny of tl rn a trncio ns crim es mn.y b e m cntio11 1'1l 11·i th g reat pbi111H' Ss 1Yi t.h nnt n.n y Rnc lt cln.n gN, a rHl f;h crcforn ll'i t l1011f; th o Rnt:dl ns f-. .i1Hl l'c·n.rnm. \Vlmt. t ho s nhjrn; f;s n.r o wh.id1
nro in tl1i >l ll':L,Y Lh11 g nron e<, it, is .~nrn])' n oo1ll Pss to ex plain. A11 tl
as c 1·f' r,1· 11or son of H<' ll Sf' 11·ill r<':t<li ly co rwC'i1·0 the t rn th of th e gcncml so11ti111 c:11t., t o l'.l' t> [ W SC 1yi tl1 011t rn •cf'ss ity to p rnclnce examples
for t-l1e cJ11 ci1lrrti n11 o f it, mi gh t jns t.ly h e cl iargotl with b ei ng a
lJrench of th at tlecc ncy of wl1it-.li I rr111 f;rcn.t,i ng .- UAMr nm,r,.

The Distinction l1e t ween l1l 1111 t11 eBfi anrJ coarse ness
iB that the fornrer is reeog ni zed by tl1 c wri te r as l1arsh,
lint adopted bc<:anse l1 arsl111 ess see111 s, 1111de r tl1 e circ11111sta11 eef', ttl h e n ecesf':ll'y; 1rl1i le th o lat ter is t lt e i111 eo nscio 11 s 111 1111 i fost~tti o n o f low in stin ct and luw taste.
'l'lms in rl1 y t lu.n " ·lmt won.1 11 if nn conscio ns lie an unpanlormble
l1lurnle.r, rnrry, 11·h e n :.t cc rtn.in effect i s t o h e prouncecl, ap]Jear an
artis t-s trok e . For ins tance,
A nd ten s low wC1 nls oft creep in one <l ull

li ne~

fri n. mos t unmnsicn.l 1·crsc, aucl pm·fcct b ecau se it is un m n sical,
b ein g intcrnle1l to illns trnt.c t.J1 n.t fanlt. Bnt f;he re wonhl b e no
hope for t he writer wl1 0 let sn ch ve rses slip into his p oem s withou t ku o win g t,l rn.t they wero unnmsical.

CIIAP.

XXIII.]

THE VELVET GLOVE.

455

So true is it tha t only the n ecessi ty of s u ch u tteran ce makes
bluntness p ermissible, th a t the sever est r emark g11in s force wh en
it c11n be converted without loss of <listinc tD ess into conrteons expression. 'L'he ed ge of the axe does m ore executi on tlmn the h ead.
'fak e the illustration a t th e fo ot of page 2G4. Th er e w onl1l b e n.
ce rtain hlnnt for ce in s:i.yin g : "Ton n ever di1l a goo<l clee<l in yom
life, whil e your crim es n.re n ot ori ou s." But ho w much cleoper l,h e
accu sation siuks when i t if< pnt thus :
Yon ha ve 1lonr. gootl , rny lonl , by stca.Jlh ;
'l'hc rCF;t is upo n record .

The Velvet Clove.-In fa ct, we are p a rticul a rl y
o·rntefn
l to a SJ)eaker wl1 ose tact r eli ev es us fr om mi ant:>
t ieip:ited n ecessity of lieari ng so me th in g disagreeabl e. IV e
\rant the presurnptu ons pn11i shed , lrnt we shrink fr om tho
al to rc:tti on that r esults wheu h e is 111 e t with hi s 01rn
weapons.
'\.Yltcn a 11 a ntag oni st ari ses, not 011ly bold
en oug h to attack ]1i111 , but skilful e noug h to cli snnn l1im
witli ont g iving l1i1n opportunity to strik e !Jack, 1rn pnt no
stint 11pon our admiration. Th e iron Jiand within a veh et
g love is th e ideal protector of socie ty .
lieig h Hnut's sen siti ve clcli cn.cy was one of his m os t marked
clmruc te ristics, and on e th a t p eculi arly improssc11 i tscl f on t hose
who enj oyed p ersonal co mmnuiou wit.h him . H e was tlcli c:tte ::ts
::t wom a n in conduct, in words, in ways o f thinking . I hn.1·0 l1 cnn l
lrim u se p::trnphrnse in sp ea king of thin gs that t l1 e geu ernlit.y of
m e n n.re accus tomed t o m en tion plaiuly, as a m n.ttor of cnnrso;
a nLl thou gh h e conl•l - on occ:tsinn - n se very strnig htfonrnrd
t erms in treatin g a p oeticn.l suhjeot wn.rmly, or in r ep rol.mt.in g n.
vice stemly, and em p l oy very pl:tyful terms wh en t reatin g a lrnm ornus subj ec t wittily, I n ever h eard him utter a con.me or n. light
word in th e m an y times I have h e::trcl him conver se with fr eedom
amon g int.imn.te friends. Airy elegan ce, sp ortive fancy, mn.rked
his lively talk; levity n e ver. But thoug h L eigh Hunt was alm ost
womanly in his scrupulous delicacy, h e bad not the _ve ry lerrs t
t ouch of effeminacy in his composition.
H e was essentially
manly-of that fine ty p e of man liness which inclmles t.lie b est

45G

POWEH.

[PAI\'!' IV.

g~ut.J e uess aucl tenderness of 'rnmauly nature, blended with the
lu g hest m ornl fortitude of manhood. W e know that the man
who created l ino,r;en, Po1·tir1, Viola, R osrtlind, JTmnlet, Romeo,
_'lhJilus, Othello, compri~e<l this dnal wom anly and m a nly nature
m his own; a nd we kno w that N elson, who knew not what fen,r
" w;, 1l esired when dying to have n, kiss from the lips of his
fait hfnl lion tenant, Hardy. So with L eig h Hunt: li e was se nsiti ve a R a wo11mn, ye t in every fiLre - rn o.m l, intellectual, and phy8ical- t horou gltly a man.-1\fAUY COWDEN CLABKE.
Fi ml illn.!itrnti on s

0 11

pngcs 11 , GO.

Sec als o pnges 2fl, 3B-43.

(b) Conciseness is not sy11onymons with Brevity.
Brevity refers only to tl1 e m1111bcr of word s ; conciseuess
refers to the a111 onnt of tliongltt th ey con vey. Brevity
impli es th e Hse of few "·ords, whatever the tltonght m ay
l.Je ; co ncise ness impli es the nse of no nnnecessary word s,
h oweve r rn any ma y be employed. Tirnvity may be attained
h.r leav in g n 1Heh un said ; conciseness tells it all , but tells
it co111pactly.
A co11 ciso tlisco nrne is like a 'roll-packed trnuk, which contain~
mn ch morn tlm11 at first sight i t n,ppr:us to do; a brief cli sconrse
mny h o like a trunk h alf full; short, hecanse it is scanty. 'VH ATBf,Y.

A Fltrict rrnd succinct style is that where yon can take away
n othi11 g ''"ithout losse, and that losse to b e rnanifest.-BEN
JONSON.
Ti re1·it.y is a m ertns, not au em1 ; it is to b e d esired wh en it gives
h ost ex pression to the th onght, rtncl only then. To assum e that
th ere is a special Yirtne in laconism is to imitate the ab surdity of
Dryden's line,
My wound iR great, because it is so small;

which Buckingham thus parodied,
It would be g reater, were it none at all.

Conciseness is attained chiefly (i) by Pruning, and (ii)
by Co mpression.

CIIAP .

XXIII.]

PRUNING.

457

( i. ) Pruning is possiule in al111ost all eo 111posit io11 to
an extent that will amaze those who li ave 11 ot experimented. No t to spea k of word s lik e 1Jery (see page 227) tliat
yonng writers sprinkl e tl 1rough their n1n1rn iic ri pt as from
a pepper-box, phrase after plirase, clanse after clause, se 11teuce after se11te11cc, parag raph afte r parag raph, will l>e
fonnd snperfiuous l.Jecam;e th ey repeat, or excrescent because th ey are not a grow tlt from th e idea.
"The three enr1s whi ch a stn,tesnmn on ght to propose to himself
in the governm en t of a JJation, " says Co leridge, "am Secnrif;y to
possessors, Facility to acrp1i rcrs, n,n<l Hol'o to all." " ·hy thi s last
clause? It is n ot co-on1inat c with th o ot her two, hut a r esnlt
from t hem. It is not one of three emb, lmt tho siu gle end , to l >o
attained by means of the oth er t1rn.
The Declaration of Im1qicmlence is a famous Jocurn ent, but it
begins with a similar blnmler:
\Ve hold t hese trnth s to he self-evid ent,, th a t nll men arc created cqunl, thnt thry nrc
e ndowed by t.h cir Creator wil h ccrtni n innli c11ablc rights ; that am ong th ese arc li fe, lib erty , nnd the pnrsuit of hnp pin cns.

Life? yes; Jihrrt.y? yes; lmt t.Jie pnrsni t of lirrppiness ? ·wh y
is it an inalienable ri gh t? ffow cn,n ym t prevent, n limn from
"pursuin g " happin ess 9 Yon mn,y h elp him to attai n it, bnt how
can you help him to "pu r~n c" it'!
The fact is, tlmt in nerrr ly h n,lf of the instan ces where three
specifications rne mrrclo, 0 11 0 of th em is e ither snperflnons or ex. crescent. It is a sort; of rhetorical rhyt.lu n to whi ch nmnkiml has
become accustomed, that three specificn,tions give n, sonndin g rotundity to tl1e close of a sentence; so " ·h en only two arfl in volnecl
in the thought a third is tacked on for th e sak e of completeness.

Economy of Attention is the prin ciple npon \d1i ch
the power of conciseness depends. Thi s is a lrn sy age.
P eop le a re overwh elm ed on all sides " ·ith thi 1ws to see
and to hear. Any one tl1ing that absorbs atte1~ion abstracts that attenti on from a thou sand pressing objects,
. and must prove itself of more immediate importance than

4G8

POWER.

[PAH'l' IV.

those objects. H ence tho id ea mu st be presented 11·ith as
few wrappings as puss il>l e. The b11 sy rn ercliant " ·ill 110 t
stop to tear open a se ri es of en volopes to get at a circnlar
from a n 1mkn own co rrospoud ent-euv elopes aud all will
go into the waste-basket.
·w e arc told th at " b revity is tho so nl of wit." We h oar styles
conclcmnoc1 as ver bose or involved. Illriir ;mys that. every needless
pa rt Of a Sentence "i11torr11pts the d eRCTl'iption auu clogs the
image;" an d again, that "loug se ntences fatigue th e reader's att ent.ion ." It is remarked by L on1 Karnes that "to gi ve the utmost
force to a period, it onght, if possible, to ho closed with the word
that makes the greatest fi g ure." 'l'bat paren th eses should ·be
avoic1 ed , and that Saxon "·on1s sh ould ho nsed in preferonce to
th ose o f Latin ori g iu, are established prc<'opts. Ilut, however influ enti al the tluths thus dogmatically emhodied , they woul<l be
mu ch more inflnential if roclucecl to somethin g like scientific ordination. In this, as in other cases, con vict.ion will Le great.ly
strength ened wh e n we un<lerstancl the 'l/)h.IJ . And we mav Le sure
th at a co mpro he nsion of the gm1ernl winciple from wi1ich the
rules of composition res nlt, 11·i Jl not on ly lJring thorn home to u s
with greater force, bnt will di scover to us other rules of like
origin.
On see king for som e clne to t.he law underlyin g these current
maxims, we may see shac1owecl forth iu many of th em the importance of economi ziJJ g the reade r's or h crirer's attention. 'I'o so
prese nt ideas that th ey nrn,v he approh en<1 ccl with t.110 least, p ossible
mental c ffmt, is the d esicleratum towart1 11·hich most of th e rules
above !]llOted point. ·when we condemn writ.ing tliat is wordy or
co11f1rnecl, or intricate - when we praise this style as easy, and Li~me
t~iat as fotigniug, we co nsciously or nn conscionsly assume tliis de81derntnm as om· stancln.l'fl of jnr1 g ment. Regarding lan g nage as
an apparatus of syrn l:ols for the conYeyanctJ of thought, we may say
tha t, as 111 a mechamral apparatus, the mor e simple au cl th e better
a~nrn gc cl iu its parts, the g reater will b e tl1 e effect procluce<l. In
e1f.hc r f'rtSf', wlrntov('r force is absorbed hy tl1P machi1rn is dcc1nctecl
from f he rcsnJt.. A rPatl or or lisf-crner h as at each rn orn cnt !Jut a
limited am ount of meutal power 11v11ilal>le. 'l'o recogui ze aud in-

C 11 1\l'.

XXIII.]

CONCISE~ESS.

4G!)

te rpret tl1 e sy mbols present.ell to him rerp1ires part of thi s powe r ;
to [trrnngo an d c<J niliin c t.hc im agcc; s ngges t.e<l rc>c1uirC's a fnrt!tC'l'
part ; an d only that pr1rt whielt reJ1mi1rn can lm u,..0<] for n·itli;1,iug
the thought couveyo.J . H ent" e, tli e more tim e and al.tent.ion it
trikes to receive awl nmle rs tnn<l each RP n te nce, t.l1 e lnss t.ime a ncl
attn ntion caJt h o give n to tl1e coutainc<l ide:L, i.11.ul tl.1e foss vividl y
\\'i II that idea be cu uceivecl
H ow tn tly l::tn g nage lltllst, hl' rcg:i n1 cil as a lrin d rnm·0 to thongl1t,
though the Hccossa ry instr11111 ont of it., \1·e sl1 a l I clearl y perc·cfre on
romem!Jerin g the c01 nparnti,·c foree \\' ith "·ltich si1uple id eas are
co mmunicated by signs. 'l'o say "I,Pa1·e th e r oo lll" is less expressive than to point; to the cloor. Pfacing a finge r on tho lips is
more forcible than whispering "Do Hot s11eak." A I.J eck <if the
h and is better tliau "Come h ere." No phrase cau convey the id0a
of s urprise so Yivi 11Jy as opP11in g t,l1 e eyes and raisin g the eyeLrnws. A sltrng of th e sh onlclers wonlcl lose nm ch h y tmHsl:it.ion
into words." Again , it may b e rema rked t.hnt. when oral lrmgnagc
is em ployed, the st.rnngest effect;; arc pro1lucecl h y interjections,
\Yhich condense eutire sentences into syll:tl1lcs. Aml iu other
cases, \\·here custom allo\YS ns to expreRs th on ghts by single words,
ns in Hen·are, Heigho, F 11 clfj!!, rnu ch force would be lost Ly expanding them in to speeilic propositions.
Hence, carryin g ont the metfl.p hor th at language is the Yehicle
of thougl1t., there seems r easo n t.o think tliat in all cas'1s the friction and inertia of the Ychicle cleclnct, from i ts ellicicucy, aud tlUtt
in composition, tlw chief, if not the solo t hin g to b e doll e is to re<lnce this friction a nd in ertia to the s ma.l!est po8silJle amount.HEimEm' f-:>ri::NcEn.
'l'he very same sentiment, cxpressecl cliffnsely, will be fl,dmittcd
l1arcly to be jnst; cxp rcssecl eo ncisely will. lie a<1mi recl ns spiritecl.
'l'o recur to ex mnl'les, tho famous an RW<)l." ret m:JLC'< l l>,v the Uo uutoss
of Dorset to the lette r of Sir ,Joseph 'W illiamson, SPcrotary of State
to Uharles the Seconcl, nominating to li er a m em ber for the h orongh of Appleto n, is an exce ll ent illnstmtion : "I ha,-e been bullied, " says her bclyship, "b,) an us111-iJer, I have been neglecteil
-- -----

*''It

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

\Vnnts thn t ! '' sn. i1l Si r .1 nshua l tC'ynolds of a pi ctnrf', 1;11appi11g- hi s fingers.

On

th e tom b of Sardanapn.[ 11!; i s i11scribc1l " l 'n ~s on, i:-;t rnngr-r, c:it, drink, anil nmnsc thy se lf,

for nought else is worth a fillip, 11 and a picture is g iven of fin gers making the same sig n.

4GO

POWER.

[PAWr IV.

CONC I SENESS.

4Gl

Your man

but it may Le expressed in a rn11 l' li sh o rter eompass, with equal
clearness and fa1· g r eater en e rgy, thus :

PtWL IXJT Y.-The re is an eve nt rcconicd in the JJiblc which me n who write books

K in gs will be tyrants from po l icy wl1c1i sub j ects ar C' rebels fnnn 1)ri11eiplc.-CAMrUE LL,

l i,r a court, but I will not be dictated to by a s ubj ect.
s han't s tand. " - UAM..PDELL.
i;: houltl kcl' P co 11:-.tn111 ly in rc' 11 1c111Ura11 cc.
t _h c ea rth wa s

c~vcrl'd by

tJl' Hturi f'~ a"o
\\·i i h l lte cxc~~J ­

It is there !>d [on h I.ha t rn :t ny

n grea t, fl oo d, by w hich the wh ole hu rn :u:

ra tT,

1t 11pJH.mr~ 1 also, that. fnnu tlie1icc a gn:at altcra Li on
1na11 k i11d, \\'liO, fro!!l a rau ge of SC YC ll or c~:g ht h undred

twn of one_ fa1 11Ily1 were destroyed.
wag 111a.rle.111 t il e :on gcv ily 111'

y ear~, w lJH.,; I'. Lhcy h ;id e11jvy1 ·d i.Jdurc the Hood, were co111ined to Uwir 11rcsc nt period of
RP.v.cuty or eig h ty y<•an:. 'J.'h is f')H1t:J, i n t he hi ~tory v f 111 : 11 gn\'C IJi i·t.lt to the two fohl div1 s10 11 o f lh c n11tc1lil11vian and posfdiluvinn ~tyh~ of w r iting-. the Ja.tj('r ()f wh ich natur :tlly. cont r:wt~· : I it!':d f 111Lu th ose inf Prior li1nits wh it:h w ere lJctlcr a<..;CO J111t 10dated to lhe
n.hn d;!L'd Jlf'f1 n d o[ h 11111nn life arnl lill-rar r lalJur.
Jo w to f 11rgct, tl iis

C'\

t•nt., lo

\\T i t c

\\'itl-1 011t th('

f<'a1· o f 111°,_. 11cJ 11 g , 0

h('fof'r:

I ii ~

eyes, rind

l~an·ll c a subject aR if 111n11 ki 111l cou ld lf1un gc O\'t~ r a p;11nphl et for tc:n yt'arH, a s before
t~ i c1 r s11h1 11 er~io n , i s to be g11 ilty 1Jf t he 111ost f!Tic Yon s errnr in to \\"hi ch n .w ri tC'r ca n possibl.~ f:il l. ?'he a1.1t hor o f thi :-: honk i.: lwnlfl ca ll i11 t.111 • ai d 1,f so 111 i· J1ri!li!1JlL P''ll<'il, a 1id
to

.C:tll s ..

1111 : d1 :-: tn~.-.:.-. 111 g- scene" 11f tlw d f' ill ~t· lo he portrayed in fltf• l ll !Jf·:.! Jinily co !11 i s fn r hi s

use .. li e s.hou ld

/:!:17.f'

nt. Nnah, n11d he IJri<"f.

T h e ark sh PHld co 11 ..;La 11U.Y

l'cr11i11tl

hin1 of

the littl e l1r11 c the n ' i s lu ft, fo r rending; and he sho uld ltan 11 a~ t;l:cy did in t.he a r k . Lo
cr o\\'d :t g rC'at tlca.I of 111a ttl !r in to a v<!ry sm all c c11npa:;s. - SYD1'EY SJ\tr.TH.

. DA (~ni nce.Y rntlh tlt e \1-crm:m Rente ncc a n arch lJC b\"C'cn t.li e ri s111[;" and t.lte set.t.in g srni , a nd d ec:Jares t hat, 0 11 0 of I\:ai d;'::; se ntences
was fo urnl by a ca rpen tc• r to be t1rnuty incites l onrr.
L onis XIV , who loH'tl a concise s t.yl e, o ne <lay rncl". a p rieo>t,
whom h e; :is k0cl lin sf.il y : " " ' he nce eo rn e yon? \Vl1i1·] 1('l" n.ro you
go rn g ~ \\'h at do yon mw t.?" 'l'IHi pries t re11li e1l "From BrnO"es
T
r.
'
e· ·
· o ·ans. A IJen c!ie<' ." " l (in sh all lmvc if.," aus11·crP<1 Ui c king.

(ii.) Compression. -" O ne rnn st stud y co11 trnet ion
as well as 0111i 1:;sio11. Th ere are many se11 te 11 ecs wliich
11·01ild not licar I.li e 0111is;; in11 of a sin gle \\·ord co111:; istc 11 t]v
with pc rsp ic_11ity, wl1i clt yet may be ·; un eh m ore co ncisely
ex prcsse<l \nth cc111 al clea rn ess hy the em pl oy 1nc11 t o f diffo reu t words, a11d by recastin g a g reat p art of ti10 cxpressio11. "
Take, for Pxampl e, snch a sentence as the fo llo'1·ing :
.· A

CUAP. XXIII.)

~~vrre nn rl tyr:t.nnicn~ ('XCrciRc of pO \\'Pr

11111 st ilec:o rnc a mat te r of nccr!=:.sary policy

"1th ~llll!'S w hen t hen- RllbJects arc imbued wi t h such prin cip le:o: as ju stify and authorize
r clw1J10 11.

This sente nce coul<l not lie ach antageous ly nor to any con sitl Prable (l egr ee a hri<lged h,r the m ere omissiou of any of th e words;

Ex1~1wrn 1•;.-Cu 11J eu se

the

fu l loll" i11 g

t;e 11 Lcnccs by a

cliange 0£ fonu.
Rrample.-Tb ey disput-ed who sh onlrl lie g reatest.
'!'here arose a clis puto a 111011 g t li P11i , \1·lio s hould lw g r<'atest.
I have ::t doubt \\·lwt lt er UJC) s tory li e trn e.
Generally a discu ssion n.rises w l1 uf.h er a fro sl1al I lie paitl .
I am going to ,ron<lcr gale hi recei ve further ,]in•e ti on lto\Y I
m ay get to t h e p ln.eci of <lei i 1·•·rnncc.
He gaye ns a loll µ; n.•To 111 it li o\\" l1 n ]ifLcl l1< iok P<l t.iu> fi sh . \Ve
arc indelitctl tu lii1n for Llw s 11 gg .. sl io n ns to 11 mk in g n.11 alistrnd.
H enry ~ mi th fa il nc1, 11"11.ic·h asf.0 11i she<l t h P111.
Uom·ersation
with you lms satis ffocl nm as hi l;l1 n fad.
I l m<l oft.en r c;ceivrnl :m iu l".i tn.f.io11 fro111 my fri nrnl .
If we know extcnsivoly, wP i-; hall Ppcrnte exteusively.
Bein g cultivate<l 111eutally is irn11o rt:rnt.
'rh e eriuali ty of tl1 e t hroe a uglos o[ a t riangle to bro ri ght a ngles
is a p reYion s ass rn11p tio11 .
Of the same natn n• \1·it.h tl1 r i11 <111 lgc>11 cc> of tloim•st ic nlh•cf io11 s,
arnl e1111 all.Y re fresh i 11 g t11 1"11 0 s pi ri (s, is f Ii (> i1l 0as11 rn 11· hiel 1 n 'sn lfs
from acts of b onu ty a u!l li c11 elkt•1w!', f' XCrC'isncl 1•ilhc>r i11 gdt ii1 g
m oney or in impad.ing to t hose "· l1 CJ \\"ttnt. it the assistm1ec of on r
ski 11 a ml profession. - r211otc(l /1_11 BA I N.

The Degree of co11 cise11 css ro11 d11 ci11 g; tu po11· er dcpemls largely upon t he c:1paeity of tl1 c· l'lass of r eaders
ad Jressed.
It is remarkc;tl hy mmtomi st s that tli n 1rnf.ritive qnnlity is iiot
t li c; on l.v rcrini sitn iu foocl ; t,li n.t. :t ("<'rhin rl ng reP of cli s tention in
t·hc sto mach is r ecp1i rc tl tn c• 11;1hlf' i t, hi ;wt wi th i fs full po\\·cr s,
and t lmt fo r this reaso n k 1y or slrn11· 11111 st. lie g iYCJt to lmrses ns
wpll as corn, in onl N to sn pp l.v flif' 110c·pssa.r." h11 lk. 8on1ethin g
anal ogo us to this tak Ps pl:i cn w ilh n'spcct t.o t h e t:?;f' IH'rnli t: of
minds, which are incapable of tho rou g hly tlige:; ting aml assimiln t-

4G2

POWE R.

[PA RT IV.

in g \vh a t is presen ted t o them , h owever clearly , m a very small
co m p ass.

Repetition lit a condensed fo rm of a n idea a lready
c xµr esseu at le ugth ofte n produces the effec t of eo1Jcise11 ess.
'l'o an an tlt or wh o iR in his expression of an y sentiment waver in g l1ct weo n t.Jw (1 e ma11 1l s of p erspicni ty a1111 of e11 orgy (of wl1i d 1
t h e fo rme r, u[ co n rse, re11nirn» t h e lhs t ca re, l ost h e Rh o nld fail
of l; o th ) a 11t1 <lo nli l. iug wh ot.he r th e p h mso which h as t h e m o;;t of
forci bl e h rc1·ity \1·ill l>e roa11iJy t a ke n in, i t m:w b e J'P(:< im 1n o11tlctl
t o n sc h o th ex press io11R: li rn t., to expa ml the ;onso s n lli cie nfl y to
Le clea rly n 11 tlo1·Rtou1l , a nd t h oa to eontrnet it i n to I he m ost eo 111 p em1i o ns rtntl s trikin g fn rlll. T his exp <llliout. mi g ht see m at Ji rnt
sig ht, t he m os t tl eeitlellly a tl vorse to th e lJrcvity 1·pcomnH' ntlPtl ·
bn t it .will b e fo un tl in praot.ice t h at t h e atld iti o n ,o f a cni nt ircs~"'l
a nd p it hy e xp rcssio11 of t he Rentim ont. >1'11ieh h as b ee n a lready
s tate1l at greate r le 11g th will lmve t h e effect of brevit.v. F o r it is
to b e rcm o ml H~ rn < l t ha t i t is not o n acoon ut of t h e a~tnal n u m li e r
o.f :von h t h at 1liIT11se uoss is to b e con d emn ed (un less 0 11 e \i·cre
b1111totl to a ce rtain Rp ace or t ime), bu t t o al'oitl t h o fl a t ness aud
t e1li_o wm ess r os nl ti ng from i t; RO t hat if tl1i s ap p m m 11 ce crt n h o
obvmt otl by t he inscrt.io11 o f m1oli an a b ri<l gccl r ep of,il.ion as is h ere
r o<!OI11 Hte 11d ot1 , w hi c h a1l1ls p oig nan cy all(l spi rit t o Uw wh ol e, co ncise ness wi ll 110 pl'acti call,r prom oted by t he lultlition.-·wn ATGLY.
In t he fo ll owin g se nt e nce Ar ch bish op Wh a tely viobtos t he
p r inciple ju;;t laid d own , pnt f;ing t h e compact. o:q1rcssion fi rst.
U ~1 i ve r ~:t ll y , n. w ri ter o r s p1~nk Pr sho11ld f!11 1l <'a \· ur to ma.ii 1t.ai n the : ipp<':t r: i iwt~ o r cxp re ss rn g h11nsi~ lf, n ot a~

if h e w an ted t o m y some t hi ng, b 11L n s if h e> h ad .l.: 011t f'l,h ing to
1t i:i nl>j cc t se t him, a nd \Y:l f.I a n xi ous to co m po·..:o t he 1Jc8t. c~~n.y

f'ay ; i. 8. , m'. t n .~ ir .he hn1l

or declanrn.l,1m1 Oil it t h:Lt h e <'O nld, Ont as if he h ad rn rn c id(':l.S to w h ich he was a ni: iomi

~ g i \'C ul Lcm ucc ; not as if h e wan t<H I to co mpose ( for insta nce) n. ser m on, nntl ·.n is il cF: 1ruuc; o f pe rform ing t hat l_ a 1,; k RaLi s fado rily, lrn t :i. s if t here wa.s so m ethin g in h is m ind
w hi c h h e was desi ro us o f co 111 111 1mi cati11g Lo h is h earers .

Ex.rnw r1 0N to the rnl e that co nciseness is energy freq11 cntly occ11rs i n descri ption. (See p ages 213, 250.)
Etl mnml Bn rkc, i n his sp eech on th e Nabob o f Arcot., d esorih es
t lie clJeets of th e 11·ar carried ou by th e Eas t Ind ia Com pa ny in th e

CrrAP. XXIII.]

ENEUGY.

4G3

Car natic t erritory. An uni 1n ag iua li,•e sp eak er, seeing t hin gs in
wh a t Bacon calls "d ry li gh t, " wonlcl ha,·e said, "T he 1rnr \rns a
war of extermination ; " t hi s wris I.h e 11·li ole of it. Au indi g 11a11t :lll <l
d iJfosive sp eak er , lwi li ng ove r wi th his wrath, woul<l h ave saitl ,
" 'l 'h e war was m urtloron s, inlinnrnu , 1le vilish ." Hi s in vnt·.t.i rn
wo uld have sp ent i tself iu q >it!te ts. B ut Bnrk e, m ore fo rci l1]o
t lmn either, co mpresses lii R iJJtlig nat ion , h as n ot a word to say u f
the ch arac te r u f t lio war, b u t d esc ribes t h e fac t s, aml loav es t he m
to sp ea k for th em ;;el ves. He says :

'1

I

11

'IllI .
,

I

\Vhl' n th e Briti ~ h n. rm y trn vc r ~c d, :1s UH' y d id , t hr Car n ntic fo r huntlre d ~ o f 1ni leH in
nll di rect io n s , thro ug h Lil e w hole l in e o f ll w ir nrn rc h ih Py d id not SCC' o rw ma n, nut on e
w o 111an , no t. 0 11 c <: hi ld! not. o n e fvn r-fou led hensl uf a ny dcsc rip li un wha tc vC'r.

E ne rgy of t h o ug ht h e ro l'oq niros p ar t ic ulari ty of d e tai l ; th erefore en er gy of oxp res;;inu l'e1 p1 i ro;; rn a n,' · wo r1l s.
Sometimes a Ll escri pti,·o sp oakN 11 eetls to gain time fo r a
thou g ht to take h old of a 11 oh t nse h earer. l\Iacaulay say s of tho
effects of t h e Fren c h R ovo lu tio 11 , " JJ0 1rn wen t the oltl eli n l'ch of
France, wi th all i t.s p omp a 111l " ·ea lth ." 'l' his is fo re ilile fact,
forcibly pu t. But h e in te ns ifi es i t b y srt,ri ug , "Th e elrn1Tl1 es we re
cl osecl; t h e b ells we re s il e nt ; t h e s hriu es 1rere pln ml e recl ; t he
sifrer crucifi xes were m elted llo wn ; hu ffoon s d ressetl in surplic es
came dan cin g in th e car rn rtg nolc oven to t.h e h n.r o f t h e Con vent io n." 13y t li ese 1l d.ai l ~ fi111 n is gaiu <'<l for th e i111ng i11a.t.io11 to
reali ze th e main tr uth t hat t h e cl111rl'h m is tles t.royed . Lo11 g i11ns
i llns tmtes t h e two styles h ere contras ted b y t h e examples of D emosth en es n.ncl Cicero. H e says, " D ern os t h e nos w:ts eo ncisc ly,
Cice ro d iffu sely s u b lime. D emos t h en es was a thunder bolt; Cicero was a co ufiagrn tion. " -PLIBU' S.

i

'I,

CHAPTER XXIV.

TOPICAL AN AI,YSIS.

Power.
1. In tlwuglit

.
de71ends on.
rt. S incerity, p . 448.
b. Dir ect11ess , l'· 44\J.
.
2. I n t'.>']J1"f'~.•io 11 1101ct'r nepends on .
lL

7101oei·

P la inn ess, p. 4i>O.
TI\n11t.11 cf'8, p. 4!YI.
Coarsc 1u•f's, P· 4:iZ. .
ar sen css 454.
])istin c lion lrnlwfl<' l\ \ilnntness an c1 co, .
, '

Th e ve l vet. glove , P · 4:;:;.
b. Con cise n ess, P· 4fi6.
i . Pru11i ng p. 4fi7.
. Econ ~ 1 ; 1 y of: atte nti on, P· 457.
. . Compression, p. 4fi0.
ll.
. .
.
461.
D<•grce of: con m8en ess, P·
Rc]1d it io11 , p . 4li2.
Exceptions, p. 462.

PEHFECTlON.

Perfection (usually r eferred to as E legance, Grace,
Beauty) is the a rtistic fini sh p ut npo n composition already
elaborated. The e~say Lein g tru e, precise, perspicuons,
powerfnl, the careful writer goes over it lin e by lin e,
changi ng h ere a word, th ere au expre:::s iou, until each
word. Hot only expresses his rn eaning Lut expresses it
more h appil y than any other " ·ord co uld.
The safest rnlc is 11cvcr dnrin g tl1 0 act of composi tion to study
elegance or thiuk about it at all. Let an auth or study th e best
models, mark their beauties of style a nd lhl·cll upon th em, that he
may insensibly catch the habit of expressing himself with elegance ; and wheu he has completed any composition h e may revise it, and cautiously alter any expression t hat is a"·kward and
h arsh, as well as t.h ose t hat are feeb le a nd obscure; hut let him
neYer while writin g think of a uy beanti es of Rtyle, bu t content
himself with such as may occur sp ou tanco nsly. He sh ould carefull y study perspicuit,y as he goeR along; h e mr1y also, th ou gh
more cautiously, aim in like manner at ener gy ; lm t if h e is endeavoring after elegance, h e will hardl y fai l to b etray t.hat end eavor; and in proportion as h e does t hiR, h o "·ill lie so far from
giving p leas ure to good jnclges, that h e will offend more than by
the rudes t simplicity . -Wm~rnLY .
A man i:;h ould so deliver him self to the nature o f the F:ubj cc t ,..- hcr<-'o f h e io:: p c ak ~, that
hi s hearer mny take kn ow lcdg"c of h is di sc iplin e wi th F:o 111 c 1lcli ght : n.ml i::;o :1pp;1rcl fnir
nnd good mnUC" r that t he stud io11s of c!P~n.ncy be nnt 1lc frn1Hl cc1; rcclccm arts fro rn their
rongh a nd brn.ky sen t ~ , wh ere they lay hid and Q\· c r ~row n w ith th o rn F:, to a p1irc. 0 1w11,
nn<l flowery light, wh ere they mny take the eye, and bo t11kcn by th e huud.-llEN
JONSON,

4GG

[PART IV.

P ERFECTION.

;I Clt rmge of Tnslr..-Blair's " Hhot ori c," fonmlerl npou t.h e styl e
of A<l<l iso n as f\. ll i<l erd , treats of Beau ty as ch aracterizing wr.i ting
of a ce rtain kirul. 'l'he a nt.!10r says:
l r1.111 1 in dr.c1l, in clin ed to t hin k, t hat rc~ 11larit y ap pcnrs 1Jca11 t ifnl t o m; chi efl y, if n ot
onl y on ncco un t or- itR fi11 p:gcs ti 11 g t h e id eas o f li t n c~::., p roµril't y a 111l use, whi ch lln vc
nlwnyH n g reater com1 ec ti o n w ith ord er ly a n d pro port in11 C'd fo r11 1::::, th nn w it h t h ose w h ic h
a p p cn r 11 0!, c0 11 ~l n11·t e1 l R\ '<'un l itig to a n y <'C r tni 11 n1l c • .

.

.

'J' h f' rc i ~, h owcvr.r . n n -

oth cr ~ cmw, ~ 0 1 11 cw l mt m o re lk fin itc. in whi ch bea uty of wri ting charnct cri 11cf.i n. parli cn ln r ma nn ('r : wh e n i t is H"- Cd to Rig- n ify a ce r tai n grace a n d a m C' ni ty i n th e t nr n , eith e r o f
Rtyle or ~e nl '.mc nt, for wh ic h ~i) IJI C' authors h a ve been pa r ticnlarly d i stin g u i~h cd. l n this
se n se, i t d <· notc-; n rn mn er 111~ ith c r rc m ark a Vly sn bli 11 H', t1 or v eh eme n tly pa ssion n tc. n or
1111 co11nno n ly s p:trkhn g : but suc h ri.s ra ises in lhc r cn.cl c r an e m ot ion o f t h e g c n tJc placid
kind , s imi lar to w ha t is r a if.lcil hy t h e <·on tc mp lati o n o r U t~ant.ifnl objccls in nat.11rc; which
n f'it h c r li ft s t h e mi m l \'c r y hi ~h, n or a g ita tes ii; VPr y in uc h 1 hn t; cliffnscs ove r t h e imn g in a·
tion n 11 a g rccahh~ arul pl eas in g- sere ni ty . Mr. Atldhm11 is a wri ter al togeth e r u f thi s c hnr·
a c t.l' r, :rn•l is one of th e ntoGt prnpcr nnd precise <'Xrunplcs that <'flll he giv 1~ 11 o f it.
O f t h e \atl<' r o f t h esp 1 t.h c hi ~ h P sl:, m ost correct nnd or nam e nted deg ree o f lh e s im ple
1wu1 11 C' r. Mr. Addi i:;o11 is , hc yn111 l d nnht, in t h e Bni:rli ~ h l a11 ~ na. gc , t h ' nv 1st )l<' r lcct cx:1m.
pl r.! ; a 11i1 th c rc fn rc, !,h o u g h n o t, wiLll on t som e fo.11lt;:;:, h e i;:;:, 011 i h c wh oln, th t~ ~n.fc~t T1F1c.lc l
for i rnilatinn, awl t h e fr ees t. fro n t co ns id crnhle 1lcfec ts \\· hi ch th e ln n g n a.ge a.ffon ls . P er·
l"' pi c \llnt "l :md p11re h e is in tl u~ hi g he s t cl q~ r cc : hi R prec is ion in clcecl n ot ve r y ~ r en t, yet
n early a s ~ r c a t ns th e ~ ul>j e d ~ w hi c h h e t reats of r equ ire; th e con '-'t. rn ct i o n of lli 5 se ntr-11 f·p ~ f':l' Y· ~l[! n~cn hl c n.rnl r.o rnm nn l_
\· Yc ry m 11!'=ical: c arryim!" a c h aracter of s rnn o thn ns~ .

m o re t.ha 11 o f ~t r e u ~ t h .
lf IH' fail.::. in r1.nyth ln g, it. i ;;:. i n want. of s l.rn11g-t.h an d
p reci l'ii on , whi c h rr rnl c r :'l h ii.; m n.nn c r. though perfectly ,;u i tctl t o suc h C'8.'< i\)"8 n ~ h e w ri tes
in t h e Specrat or, n ot altoget her a p er fect m od e l fur a ny uf the li!gher 11n .\ m ur 1• f'lahorn.te
k i Il ' l

11

f

r • 11 11J •· •

~I

CHAP.

t hi K Kc:uc lt :<(i ,n r IJ etw Ly a~ a ll eud L! Jele i ut~ lJcc:Ll a
lll rtl'ke1.l r e •_t(· l.it_111_. lf". 1 ~ 110 lo11 g {:q· f . h .-~ lan g nid : c o111 p l:i.c c 11 !; style:
of Qnee11 Anne'R rnig n th at is Rong ht a R n rn od el, but the rncy,
vigo rons utl;e mu ce of t. he Elizahe t lrnn write rs.
Th e P,11 g li sh m irn l, a nd , a!'! n.n o fTs h oot o f it , th e Anwr icnn mind n.s well , a r c n ot JKH·
lial to the e legant rpmlit ic..:, i;: p f'eiaily in pnhlic oral n.1 l clrC'5<~'· \Y e are j calu t1 R fo r o nr
, ; ,.,; 1 ,J;
h y "' l· ·~r 1 n t. \ it.nr:vy fnrm .<t

t'""; 11 . r n n

0 11 1·.:.-. l v"'l'l

! ~ : ~-: :i :· ~:.~::

:·c: ::;;'.! . o:.: :1:·o:.:!·..:':::::: ··!: •..: :!.:~:.: .

\VP.

rtr1-!

ln t hi~ r esnec t whn t

o nr

ln n trn a cw

T'.:·..: ~'.!.":..:~! •;.: .. - . ., ..1 t -- ·•·i ... ''·;··n;- "f :-'.; •;1: h ' n ; l.". : : r "!ir~
\Ve h rw c c11l t ivn tccl lea rnin g at the ex pense o f tai:;te;

arc in thi s rc~ p <'ct o ur o pp ns it.cs.
t hey, t.a Rtr nt t h e c ::oq1 e n ~c o f l ea. m i n ~ .
Th i!" pn •jmli cc, m o rc rJVcr, i ~ oft e n nga:rnva t cr l by n.fl'ccta tion s of t h e h ca u t ifn l in liter-

ary cx p re~ ~ i o n. A_IT.1..•c t.nLi o n ~ crC':tlc ca ricat ure:-: of bcirnty i these repel t n"t c, ns they rcp:?l
good s(•n sc. · T hat ca.;.;t o f c harn c t c r w h ich lcad R a youn g m an to wC'n.r lon g lrnir. n n cl to
part i t 111 tlw m idd le, o f t~ n n.ppenrs in litcrntn rr in :\ stra ini ng a f te r the femini ne
qn n.1 it,i1·R of fitylP w h r 11 n o lwa11ly o f t h 'l ng h t 11 11 \\ prl icR nn1l rl c rn n. ntl s Lh ern. T h iR n an~
~ca tPs ~ h nrt · hair. ~d llll'll , a nd ll' nd ,; n •a i:;o n to t h e ir prcjrn l kc a~ a i n st t h e g-enu in e beca u se
o ft.h e c o n11 b~ rr1·i t cl.-g an ce. 1' he ca nt o f l it c m t urc, like that o f reli g inn, i R n eve r m or e
c'li ~J! t1 S lin g- t h a n w he n it t akes lhc fo rm o f the ex qui site. Morbid delica cy ras ps m a nly
ucrvc.-;. - 1.' UF: Lrs .

4G7

EPIGilAMS.

Snch m e n, to he s ure, h ave exis tetl us J ulins Cms:w ; but in ge neral a correct aml elegant s ty le is lmrd ly a tf;a inable by those who
h ave passed t h eir lives in ac tion ; aml n o o ne has s u ch a p orlantic
l ove of g ood writing as to p refer m e ndacious finery t o rou g h and
mtgrnmnmtical tr u th .-SIDNE Y SmTH.

Epigrams a re short p oe ms eml ing in a p oin t o r turn
of wit; as,
A n e p igram is like a lJrc- ·a thi n g
O f li t tle Rizc. wi t h h on ey, :111<1 a RI m g- .- j\l AHTIAI,.

Retort sh o nlJ perhaps be clnsseJ w ith tli e fo rm s ju st
r eferred to, as its effect drpe11cl s 11 po11 tli e tnrn it g i1·cs
to th e w o rJ s o[ th e first s peaker . T h us :
A F r cuch oflfo e r r oproar l1<;tl a R11·iss for f1 g liti11 g· 11pon 1•i t li c r
si<l e for m on ey, "wl1il e 1H , Fn~ 1 wlim 0 n ," sa.i<l. li e, " li g l1t. for
h o nor." " Th at iR 1rntnrnJ," r cpli etl the Rwi sR ; "e1·r"'.Y o ne fi g· l1 h
fur wl mt he uwsl w a11 [ ,s . ''
U rn; 1.bcy 1:>hcri d nn m..t t11·0 l'<'_Ynl d 11k,,~ in ~ I. .la111• <> ~I !•'• ' I,
a111l I.h e .1·u1111 1.tP r Jl i1•1•a 11 i ly r1•111 :1.1k 1" l " I '",'· c; 11,.11·.1· . ''" 11: 11"
.i n ~t
i.~

l ' rnm

XXIV. ]

li 00n

<l lc.; 1 ·n~ r..; i11'..l:

yon r n pill io n . ol tl

\\·lii·flH·r .\-(1 11
hd,\- ·: .. __

:Tl'• '

:1

~h1 • riiLin

~1"·· :11( 1 1·

f()(1 l

(1)"

)"fl '.'.11f'

\d1: 1f

l11J\\j •(\. .'-' J11 iL ,,I, :111 . ] ;1'-;

Iii ~

t nnk r:w h o f t iiPm In· t lH• :ir111 re ]' lir' •I. "\\.11.1·. f:iitli , I li 0 li 01·0 I. :im

LeL \Vtt:u LJl)Lh . " -

Ii 'urk:J.

\Vh e n H enry IV. was :tt Arni.e ns, :wrl vnry nrn ch fati g n c1l, th e
m ayor, 'Yi th his coun cil , ca me to l'"Y tl t<• ir r0sl' cc ts to l1im. T he
m ayor b egan his lrnrnng n e in thi s way : "J\.in g foreve r lileRseclYer v p ni ssant. ver v rl 0m P11t.. YPY V !!!'Pat - " Th Pn tl10 Kin ry ent
l1 i111 s h ort uy sayiu g, " A mi ye r,y ti re d , .. an d S U ('!Hlc<l tlw mayoi"s
fii 11_>

C.:j\(_'• ·•_·11 .

A lawyer, fin ed for e xpreH~ in g contrnnpt of Court, p1"0l;es t,e1l,
urg in g wi th g r eat 0arn es t ncss th a t on the contrary h e lt:.Ltl carefully con cenled his feelings.

B rilliancy is perh aps tli e p rnpc r t e rlll to nppl y to
lang uage whi ch p11 ts tl 1e tl 1011 glit i11 such c·lenr l ight., tl1nt
t he l ig ht itself attracts at1"c ntin11 . Tu lie 11 ;e1110rnl>le, style
must possess somethin g of thi s <listinetion .

4G8

PEilF EC l'IO~.

[PART IV.
CHAP.

Dr . .John son 's fam e now resf·s prin c ipa lly upon Boswell. It
is impossiLle n ot to b e amn secl \Yith 'mch n. book. B u t his bow-wow
rn rtm rn r mu st lm ve lmcl a goo<l d eal to cl o 11·ith the e ffect produced;

fnr 110 one, I suppose, will set. .T o hnso u before Burke, rtml Bnrke
wrts a g r crit, rtrnl nni Ycrsal ta lker ; yet n o1r w e h enr n othin g of t his
exce pt h y some c k111c e rnmarks in Uo,o;wdl. Th o fa c t is, Burke,
Jiko rtll Jll e n O[ gf' 11i11s \\']10 Jove to f·. a]k_ af; rtJl, Wf1S ver y cliSCUl'Sive
n111l pn nti1111011 s ; h 011<'0 h e! .i s n ot, r f' p<>rl ocl ; 11 0 RC'lcl om fm icl t.h e
s h:irp s l1 o rt thin gs t.lmt .Tohn so n n.l111 o st always <li cl , \rhic li pro<l11 ce ;i, m n rf' cl f'(' i1l <'< l ('ff<·d. at. tl1 f' mon 1e nt., ;i,nd w l1i ch are s o mu ch
n wrn o;i,s_y t o carry off. - Co1,r:nu1rrr.:.
I t hink f:lt nc' l<' s l1 ono rnthf'l' th a n sparkl f' cl. 'I'.lwso famons
'"'rr 11.r-r"} 11· it.< o f t lt n e11 ffC'c-l11 m srs . . . \rnnl tl 11rnkn m a ny I 1rillirtnt
hits - l1rtlf a <lozc•n i11 r1 ni g.lil; somC't.i111cs ; lrnt., like sliarp -s h ooters,
whf' n t.h r? lrn<l firPd t.lw ir s h ot th ey were obliged to retire urnler
corn r t.il! t.h e ir pi <'('!'R ll'Ore lortclecl again , and wai t till t hey got rtn oth e r clmn ce rrt t h <' ()ll<' tn y; whorms Diek n e ,·er tl10n g ltt t.h;i,t 11is
b ot.t.lf'-Po mp;i,nio u 1rns ;i, bn tt to aim at- nay, a frieml to s hake b y
th e h an d. - 'l'HAUJrnH AY.

B11t l>rillian cy is leg itimate onl y wli ell it iR tl1 c rcs11lt of
p<>li sli , of fin e iini sh, of art.i st.ic co111l'l cte11css o f nt.tcrancc.
\ Vc Ji a,· c 11 0 respect f or th e id eas of' ll1 cn tl1at seek to say
111·ig l1t thin gs fo r tl1 e sake o l' di sl' lay . W e look 11po11
tlic111, :18 i1pon profess ional wits (sec page 12!l), as. perforn1 cn; ratl1 c r tlin 11 as con 1pan io11 s, <lea I in g \1·it.h words
rather tl1a11 \ri tlt th1n1 gl1 ts, ii t to :w1u ~.e 11 s in idl e m ood,
bnt J1 ot to he cons11l te<l 11·l1 en \\'C arc in do11bt.
·whe n Huskin s;i,ys th at l1 e eoul<l not., even for a oonpl e o f
m on t.li s, live in a connfry Ro rnisomhl e rtR to p ossess n o crts Ues, his
ai m is to lie cpig rnrnrn a tic, hnt lrn o nl y rn:ikes n s impa li eut of his
nwrbi<l affectatio n . Wl1cn Pro feRsu 1· Uli ffnnl leaves fur an inS<'ription o n h is t o rnh, " I \Yf\S not, :wd wn.s couceive cl ; I lived
a ntl clid a lit tl e ,,·o rk ; I am n ot, rtnd gri ovf' not., " t,l1 e Spectator
jus f·.l.r rcm rtrks t h at t.h on g h man y " ·ill f,J1in.k the epitaph fin e, it
\1·011!11 h e fin e r if i t \\"C' l"C i n serilwcl rtl io,·e f1 h om e. Col erid ge
lias matle some of th o most exact clilit,i11 c t:i ou s kn own in literature,

EUPHONY.

XXIV. J

409

but in the foll owing h e seem s to h ave so ug ht strikin g fo rm rnther
than precise expression :
Let n. you ng man separa te l from l\Ic a ~ far nc; lie p(l!""' ihly c:i. 11. n. 1111 rf'move Mc till it
is n\J nost lost in the re mote U. ista ncc. 1o 1 a111 blc 1" i::: as lmd a. fa.n it in in te ll ectuals nnd
morn.JR nR it iR in g ra.rn mnr, while none lrnt o nc-Gotl -<-:a n Ray, "l a1n I," or~· Tha t I
A111. 1' - lVorks, v i. .rn5 .

Euphony is a 1wth c r clem ent o.f li te rary pc l'[cc.:t io11.
\Vorcl s have t h eir aristoc rac-y . f:lornc liave a n olil e bir th; :i
mag uificent his t.or y lies \Jehiutl t h em ; tll('y we rn liurn :tlllitl th o
s 1rnlli1J g antl t h e burs fiug in to lifo of g r e:it. icleas. On tlte con tr:uy, there arn wo rcls 1rhic h h: wc pfolll'i.:t.11 asso('. i:tti.ow;. Som o f1l'O
rliln cult of ei m1H·i at.io 11 ; alltl, lJ.)' a sceret sy m]>atli,v, th e mintl rrttacl1 es to th em t h e clis to r t.ion, p erh ap s tl1 c pa.in , o f th o meal organ s iu tlieir u ttemu ce. A si 11g lo 1111l'o11 t Ii ' r onl rn:iy b e to s ty le
wh at rtn un couf;ro ll alil e g rimace is to t h e c'<> t1 nte 11 a nec. Nei t h e r is
rt thiu g of b eau ty. \Vol'<] s 11 ot i11olt'ga11t in f·h ern seh cs. lJccome so
throu g h pec1 ostrim1 assoei;i,tio11 s wlric ·h enllo11ni:d u sage nf!i:\os to
them. Onr Yankee f:woril e "g tu• ss" is a p or[eC'. l'.l .)' good \\"IH'll,
1•11 rn g ng lisli., o f g no1l s f;nl'k, :11111 ln 11 g s!":tw 1ing in tl 1n .l ~1ng· 11 age.
A b e tter wonl, in it.sp]( co ns i1l P1·n1l , 11'< 1 l1 an1 nnt i11 Eng li sh n se.
Tin t beca nse i t is :t co ll oq11i:i l fa1·o rift', ll S<'1l J1;· C\"C'J',"llncl,\·, Ol\ C\·o ry
v;i,ri et,)' of s nbj eet a ncl o o < ~as i o1 1 , :L111I 11fl.,11 i11 :t ck ;~ m<l <'cl st•11 se, as
in th e oo rnpo un cl "gn oss-work," i.I; h as l >ec:o111e Yn.l gn r in t l1 e sP nse
of ~' .com m o n; " so tl in t in many 1·n n11 Pd.io ns in "·hicl1 th e r Pa l
m 0;i,ni.n g of it wo nl<l h e e 11 ti .rnl_y p e rf.i Hnn t., t.h e \l·onl wonl1l h e
nn el egant.
"CoHj ect nre," or so m n e11ni,·;i,Jent, mn st !rt kc its
p.l :ice.
\ Vol'<l s worth 's pnntry, agn.in , is n ot; 1d1 01l.v d ef e nsihle from f.]10 c h a rge of n sin g in p ontio m eas u re an in elegant
vocal>nl a ry . He h olievo cl in tl1 e po <' try of co mm on th in gs, common t.hon gh t", com mo n p eople , an1l. tl11 •ir cmnm on n.lfoirs . It w;i,s
the ;i,im of his life to lift np int o t.h e ftt,111 nsph ero of r n11m11 c:c t.l1in gs
l o wl y :incl obscn re. "The Excu rsio n " wrnn g ltt. in thi R rcs pPct. o ne
o f th e silent revoln tions of li temtn rc in the clirPd intPr Pst of
Clt risl irtnity. Bnt, in hi s ;i,t.le m p t tn PfT'•'Ct that r ornlnti on , h e r1ic1
l ertll' t o au extrem e. E ven hi s regal inrngin atio n conld JJ Ot dig·
nify s uch lin es a s these; vi7.. :A hnnschold tu b, like one of those

'Vhic h wome n use to wash the ir clo th C's. - PHELrs.

470

PERFECTION.

[PAnT IV.

Notions of euphon y are not the same all the world over . I
once asked a pundit,, a professor of poetry, what h e considered to
b e the most melodio us word in Sanscrit. His reply was, slakshna.
And he was no t jesting. --HALL.

A practice almost indispensable to a satisfactol'y
essay is to talrn it 11 p, a£tel' l'Cvision acco rcli11 g to every
other sta ndard has Geen completed, awl read it alond,
noti ng fo r correcti on 11ot on ly all l1 arsh express ions, b ut
all that t he comb i11atio11 of sounds makes it di fficult to
ell m1 ciate.
In Li 11 coln'R Ji rnt i 11 an g mal occurs the followin g phrase, the
peculiar combi na tion of couAo nants and laLials of wh ich C:in only
be appreciated by an attempt (1rn use the word attempt advised ly)
t o r ead it aloud :
"Will ~· nu hazard f;O <l c~pnaf.P a Rl.0.p, \d lil c an y pnrt ion o r th e i ll s yon fl y from have
n o r cn l exi i::;te 11 1 ·c? \Viii yo u , w h ik t li e ec r tn.m ills yon fl y to arc greater t.han nil th e rent
o n es y on Oy fr om ? "-~lfrr (Jrr zi n e of American Ili stor!/.

Variety is, :fi nall y, one of the n1ost essenti al elements
of perfecti on.
In diction an exf·e11 sive and daily wideuing vocabul ary is in d ispe11 ::;able (see pages 401- 403).
I have lon g b e011 in th e Jin.hit of reading daily some first-class
an th or, chiefly for th e cop i11 rerbormn, to :woitl sinking
int.o ehon. p a nrl bald Jlu011 cy, to gi ve clerntiou, clig nity, so uoronAnoss, and roJin e1n e11t to rn y Yocn.lmbry.- CIIOATE.
It is fl mark of weak ness, of poYerty of sp eech, or at least. of
lxtcl taste, to co11ti1111 e tl10 nse of pet wordfl,* or other p eculiarities
of langnn.ge, after we lrnvo liocom e conscious of th em as s nch . In
di alect, as in <1 reRs, irnli,·icluality founded npon anythin g bnt general harmony and snpe rior propriety, is offensive, and good t.nst.e
demn.wls th at each slmll plensc by its total impression, n ot by its
diAtin gnishable detriils. - l\'Ll.IlSH.
E n g ] ish

* It i!" to bo re mark ed t h a t th i ~ vo ry cx prC"~i:;i011 , 11 pct word ~, ,, i ~ n, pct term of Mr.
Marsh, occurrjn~ n.g nin nn d a gain in hi s " L eet.urea on t.ho En glhh La11guagc. n

CHAP. XXIV. l

VARIETY.

471

~Many or Mr. Cnr1 yl e 1 s pcculiari tici; of sty le a s n wri ter nrc to be avoicl cd rath er than
imi t ntc1l, Uut nt the Finrne t ime a wr iter wh ose pagcH prese nt, no fitro ng- a fro11t ns tlo hi s i ~
w o r t hy o f analytical study. \V hn. t g ivcH t o Mr. Unrlyl C1 Fi Fic n tc n ccR that vi g or nntl fre::.h n css so ma.1ii(e8t to every one? A p artial e xplan a ti on is to be fo und iu th e ric hn c~s o f hi s
v oci1bula ry. l'roliab ly no man li v in g in thiR ngc Wf\f; so t h oron g lll y ncq11 ni11ted with the
E ng lish di cLionnry aR 1\lr. Carly le, or u sed word !i m or e di f'>c riminatiu g ly with out 1narri11g
lu s work with t h e appenr:rnce of labored com;tru c ti on. Take up nn y book of h is a n d n oti ce
h o w seldom he !ins repea ted c\·en t h e s malt ci;;t word !; in n n y gi ,·cn µ assa ge or parn ~ rnp h .
Yo u rnrcly find more than o nt· .1 an d 1 ' in his lon gci:;;t sc n tc1'lccfi. \Yh olc pages rn ny l>e
tra. ver sed with on t di scove ring a s in g le " lh e, 11 ' · to,,. or '·b ut. ': Ta.kc up nu y o f h is
writi n gi:;;, block out n section o f o n e h u ndred w o rd ~ , an d t h en coun t t.h e cl isti nct.. wor ds
t hat occ ur in it, cou n t ing cnc h wo rd onl y on ce. H e rc nrc: a rcw rc:'\nl ts o r su c h a. test.
In "Sar to r ltesa rtus,, t o 0 11 e hun d red word s in t h e Lext tM in d ivitlnn l won.ls : in t h e essay
o n ' · Mirab ea11 ; 1 82 ; in t h e es.•;ay on "Goeth e, 11 7fi ; in th e essay on H Bn n 1s1 " 73; in the
u Fre nch R cv olntion,' 1 90 ; ht t h e u .H.cmini sccnces,11 SJ ; in th e nh or t C~f'i a y o n th e
'' Dea t h o r Goet,h c,· 1 87. This las t section co m111 c n L·cs w it h th e second parn g rnph o f th e
cRi:iny, nn cl 1;o n ra i11 R f ew w o n l R or m ore lha11 on e Ry ll n.IJl c. 'l'h cRc t,cs t sclectium; h n vc all
bee n rnacl c o.t rancl om, our o nly ca re 1Jci11 g to av o id pa!-:sagcR co ntn.inin g scv i~ ral proper
nnm cR rrn 11 t hose cli sng reP.alil c ho m e· mad c ntl jcc ti vC'~ or wh ich J\[r. Ca rlyle was so fond ,
wonl:; genera ll y ending in "i Bh. " T h.c y i:icc111 to th e re nd ~ r to have been brc,,·cd in Urnt
old tC'n pot o f h is. Of course a wr ite r conhl pnt to!!e Ll 1 t~ r intelli g ible se11tc n cer- by t h o
yard with out tlnpiicntin g hi .c: wor d s, bnt what rnnn o r woman d oer- wit h out effor t, and
e ffort painfully a.pparcnt, ever n chi cve t hi s phP11 0111 c 11n.l r es u lt.? l'rolinhly Mr. Ca rl y le
s trove to kee p t h e per cent nge o f n ew wo rd s in eve ry pngc a s hi g h a~ po:-silJlc. T h ere ii;
reason (o r beli e vi ng that h is best pro<l11 ct ion s- t,h osc thnt pour gurg lin g frm n t h e nut.hor'R
h ea rt - ha ve IJee n m e a.~n rcd , weig hC"rl. e ve ry d ro p cxn rn incd in hi s pe netr ating m ental
mi crosco pe, befor e i t wen t for t h to min q lc in l hc fh1011. Hi s wor k wns slow, tiring , nnd
h e cam e to t h e con clnil ion lnt.c in life t hat f.:O 111 11ch p a i11 c.; cost, too m uch . Still Mr.
Carly le·f; fa m e n.s a litcrnr .v art ist mus t hnv c fnllc n s h ort if h e hnd bec11 less ca re ful in
his Rtrokcs. - ..1Y. C. .Advocate.

In movement there mu st be a like variety. Long
sentences rnnst be intel'sperned with sh orter ones, p eriod ic
stru cture mnst be foll owed by sh a rp, crisp ntterance ; t!te
reader 11111st be kept co11 sta11tly 011 tl1 c a lert fo r so111et!ti11g
unexpected, never being snffered to adjnst him self to a
sin g-song gai t of which he 11 as cauglit the r hythm.
"It is h ere," says l\formontel, "that we perceive th e force of
Lucian's comparison when h e desired th at the style and th e
thought, like a horseman and his horse, mi f)'h t h e of one will, rt]J(l
move together .harmoniou sly." Ancl, as th e sam e nn thor adds, this
oratorical motion. is free and vnrions ; th e hol11 and skilful h orseman, whose steed is well-train ed, and obedi ent to the whip and
spur, may sometimes venture to leap the highest fences and clear

472

PERFECTION.

[PART

IV.

the widest ditches, but wh en the chase is over he will slacken his
pace, and be content to walk slowly along the well-beaten bridlepath. -HEUYEY.
In L~ Fontaine, AO ma11y ver~cs, :-;o many different style~ of thought. But once l'[assillon hits on a certain kin ll of a se ntence, he holds on to it with a c.leath-Jike grip, page
after pri.gc. Liken hurse -crtr unable to leav e its tramway, like a cnnn.1-boat, which cannot
qnit its c:uml, on he gocR1 without t.ttrni11g an ineh to the right, ur ldt, ltTHl 011 you go with
him. What is the cunscc1ucnce? A 111011otony thn.t at last pall s on the car and actually

stopF- the rcnt1cr. Be8ides, even the Rplcnclitl proft11'io11 of words is not without its nnifor1nity. His incompnrnlJle t:tlent of F.cttiug forth n F:ingle thon g ht. u1Hll'r such a variety
of 5hapc::- had for a. lo ng tirn c nsto11mled me, diu;zlc<l rnc. I used to lake for n. new idea
whnt \Vas nothing bu t the s:une idea prese nted ata.i11 :md n.gnin nnd cr vnriom; different
fonns. Bnt r crt!ling a}ond won convinced me that there wa.s somcthi11g artificit1l in this
exuberant display. I began to feel n.s yon feel at 011c of th ose piecc3 where the same
actor pn~tenrls to represent five or six different pers onages, whereas in realiLy the only
thing changed is the costume.
'lake n pngc of Saint-Simon, iE yon wi sh to realize more fully the itlca that I wish to
convey. He too repeats the same idea under b,·cnty difl'crcnt shapes, hut h e docs so as a
clever magician turnf\ one oiJject into fifty by the blazing reflec tion of dazzling mirrors j
he <locs so with the fire and h cn t of a man who, under the influence of a bnrning impression, always considers hiB expressions too feeble tu aderttrntcly represent his id eas. He
fi1;ht.R a.nd struggles with his words to coin pcl th em to express what he mcnns. He whips
hi s languag(', Rpurs it., tortures it,, (\rive~ it, overloalls it, until at, last it obeys him, aml
l>ccorncs just as passionate, fiPry, and head.long as himself.-Lr::GouvE.

Felicity of diction is more than exaetness and clear11css. It expresses the idea so perfectly that the mind
lingers for an instant to enjoy the perfection itself.
'l'ake, for instance, the two famous epitaphs by the poet whose
own epitaph, "0 rare Ben ,Jonson," is itself a remarkable illustration of felicity (uote quotations from the firnt on page 222).
ON THE COUNTESS OF PEMBllOKE.
Underneath this sable hearse,
J.Jics the subject of all Yerse.
Sidney'R sister, Pembroke's mother~
D ea th ! ere thon hnst slain another
J.Jearncd and fair, and good as she,
Time shall throw hi s dart nt thee.
Mnrhle piles Jct no man niirn
To her name in after days;
Some kind woma.n, born as ghe,
Heading tliis, like N iobe

Sllnll turn mariJle, and become
Both her mourner and her tomb.

CIIAP. XXIV.]

FELICITY.

.473

ON MARGARET RATCLIFFR

M al'blc weep, for thou dost cover
A dead beauty undcrnenth tb<'e
R ich as natnre could beqneath thee :
Grant then no rude hand rcmo\'c her.
A 11 the gazers in the side~,
R cad 11ot in fair heaven's story
J ~ xprcsRcr irnth or t.rn cr ~Jory
Than the~ might in bcr bright eyes.

H. are ns wonder was her wit.,
A ml like nectar ever ftowi11g;
'I' ill time, Rt1111 g by her bef\towing,
C onqnercd hn.th both life arnl it;
L ifc, whose grief woi.R ont of fashion
I n these times. }..,ew rn have rued
F ate in a brother. To conclude,
For wit, feature, and true pnssio11,
E arth, thou hast not such another.

In the history of the world what has really preserved the memories of writers of verse has not been intellectual force, or the
clear expressi9n of love or pity, or even wit, bnt a certain indefinable felicity of style, a power of saying things as they never were
said before, and so that they can ne ver be forgotten.
It
is probable that this will preserve his [Poe's] verse, like a rose
petal in a drop of glycerine, bonrnl to decay because of its ephemeral and disconnected condition, yet never actually demying.Pall 11fall Gazette.
Every one is familiar, and has been amused, with J\facaulay's
characteristic assertion thftt '' t.l1e Puritan hated bear-baiting, not
because it gave pain to the bear, but becanse it gave pleasure to
the spectators." Few readers, howeYor, are probably aware that
Hume expresses identically the same idea. "Bear-baiting," he
says, " was esteemed heathenish and unchrist.ian ; the sport, not
the inhumanity, gave offence." Inasmuch as J\Iacanlay's mot is
known the world over aud Hume's scarcely at all, we have an evid ence how important is the way of putting things-more important, it seems, so far as notoriety is concerned, than the idea
itself.-Appleton's Journal.
By cleverness I mean a comparative rcadincsR in the invenlion nnd nsc of monnR for
th e reali~ing of objects a.1111 ideaR-often of snch id eas "\·hich the mnn of grminsonly conl<l
have originated, nnd which the clever man perlrnps neither fnlly comprelHmds nor n.cle~
quately appreciates, even at the moment that he is prompting or executing the machinery

474.

PERFECTION.

[PART IV.

o r Lh ei r acco m pli s hm ent. In Fhort, cJc,·cr11 cFs is a so r t of g e niu s frJr in strum e n tn lity. H
j -; tl_H' b rai n in th e ha nd.
111 Jitc ratn re clevern ess is U\ Ore fr e que n tly ftC CO!npanicd by wit
gi· n JU R n11d Rc n .~e by hnm or. - UoLRRIDGE.
'

The fitting word is alm-iys a promine nt ele ment
of feli city.
1i 11 e,

·w ho th at lias ever h canl it can fora-et the
0

H e r vo ice was ever 8ort, gentle, imd low?

S nl>stitn te i:;y no11y ms, as,
J-frr t one wn s always mi ld, tranquil, sub<lned,

a nd wlrnt is there to linge r in th e m emory?

C H AP.

XXIV.]

ON OMATOPCEIA.

'J'h f'Sf' <'< pm.I Ry lhhJf'c;

nlrm~

Th o' oft Lhc 1:ar Lh C' open

r f' qni r n

\· owc l ~

li r e.

Whil e r•xpic ti V('S th e ir feeb le a id do j<iin
And te n Jnw word s 1Jfl c n ' CP in o ne dn ll line.-JD.

Soft i"i the Rt. r a in w h e n zrph y r gc ll tly hl owf': 1
Arn i th r. Rlll' io lli RLrc arn in ;.:m ootl w r 11 111 11IJC'r R fl u w ~ ;
nu t w li c n lo11d s urgc3 la s h t h e so1 111ding s h n re
Th e l1 u:-.ri5c nrn g: h ve r se shnn ld lik e th e torren t ronr. - lD.
\ V lrnt I lik e 8 i r H khanl, r 11r 11 l1li11 g-, n J11 gh. n n rl fi pn:e,
a.n u ~ .

\Yi i..h

nn tl Gl'rffgc anrl Hrnn swi i ·k crnWl l t he ve r se,

with t n ; 111 c111l•Jt1S

sot ~1 11l _yo11 r car :'l a s nll lll'I',
W ith g n11 , d rnm, IT11n1 p et, h lnn df'rh W'- R nnd thmul c r ?
Th e n nll yo11 r 111usc•s F::nftc r nrt di s pl ay ,

I-tend

L d ()a r olin a 1'> 1110nth th e hrndnl lay,

As t ho r0snlt of rill my readin g m1<l meditati on, I rihstracte<l t\rn
cri ticril riphorisms, d ee n1i11 g tli em to co mprise t.]10 co m1iti ous
ai111 criteria of p oetic style : fi rst, tlmt not tL e poem wlii ch we
h a,·e rerid, but ~!mt ~o " ·hich we return with the greatest pleasnre,
p ossesses th e gennrn e p ower a nd claims the name of essential
11oet ry; seco ndly, tli rit whateve r li nes can u e trnnslated into other
words of the . sarn e lau gurige without d imi nution of tli eir sig nifican ce, ~1th er 1.n sense or association, or in any ·worthy fee ling, are
so Ir:r YICIOUS Jll th eir diction.-CoJ.EililJGE.

Onomatopreia, or a correspondence be twee n th e
tl'.ing sig nifi ed and the sonud of the won] elll p loyed, is
of ten a n element of fitness. 111 the lin e fro111 "Lear "
just <1note<l, t he word" soft " so1111 cl s like w!t a t it sio-nifi;s
.
b
'
~pp ea j rn g to t he ea r as well as to tl1e eye, a nd tlrns euterrng tli e n1ind l>y t1ro ave nu es of se nse.
Uo111pare :
Him lh c re th ey fonnd
Squat liken. toad close at th e ea r of Evc.- MILTON.

Grate on t heir sc rnn ncl pipes of wretch ed stniw. -I D.
Th ick t;wnrrnC'd, both on t h e gronnd nnd i n th e air,
Brus hed with the hi ss of ru st li ng wings.-ln.
H e r voi ce h; lint the s hadow o f a sound .-YOUNG.
Up f.he hi g h hill he h cn vc s n. hn g r r onnrl s ton e ;

1.11 11 w it,lt ,\ 111c lia"s l iqu id n :1.1ue Lil e N in c,
Arni Rwcctly !111w thro11g h all th e roy al linc .- f D.

Th e Rl c1Hl cr :H':v:i:i. wonlc l 11nt shak e
On e lo n g

milk ~bloo1 11

on LhC' tree;

Th e white. ln.kc-blo.i;: so 111 f ell into !;h e lnke

While t.h c p i mpern el d oz<'d

0 11

t h e len..--TENNYSON.

H er c th e pl ot iR bln.n c h cd

n.v

Go( Ps i;i ft o f a pur i t y o f sou l

Thn.t will n ot ta ke pol ln lion. 1·rnii11 c -l ikc
A rmed Cro m dish o n or hy i t s ow n sof t R11ow.-l3n owN 1N"G.

Pnstiness an il fbh10 ss arc th e r111rd ities of a [l:Lll <':tlrn, rin <l thn "
far he attaiu ed his aim: lm t. if lie 111crin11 it for lll e, let him place
the accessories ou t he tahle l es t 1dmt is iusipi1l a ntl c la mmy .
g row into duller acc retion rind m oister viseidi ty the more I umsticate it.- L ANDOH, of ·11 ~Jn l.< 1 cor th.
'rher e is a fomi.l irir clfL'<s o f worils called i111,i/nti1;e, or, to use a
h rircl term, 01101110/op()r, /ic, \Yh cro tli cre is an eYid ent connect.ion b etween t he so n1111 aml the sense. These are all, or nertrly rill, wonls
d escripti ve of pa rticular sonnds, o r acts accompanied by charnct eristic so uncls, such ns lmzz, c rnsh , gurgle, grirglc>, hum, whi,,;,
jar, b ellow, roar, wh istle, whin<', creak, cl nck , gabl >le, ''and in conversation we often nllow oursel ves to us A wonls of this class, not to
u e fouucl in th e largest dict.immri es. '['h e rc nmrk of a contemporary of Dr. Jo h nson's, that much of th e e ffect of hi s conversrttion
was owing to b is "bmv-1 ,,mn way, " will b e re meml1ererl b y every
one; A g reat modern En3lish poet, fo llowin g t he auth ority of

T h e httJ!"l' r o1111d Flmio ret urning wit h a huu ncl

T h und er .., im petu ous down, nnd sm ukcs al oug the ground. - roPs .

* Compn.re

h iR~. bn.ng, h cltc r-Rkc ltcr, 1ia.n1h y- po.mby,

scarnm, willy-nil ly 1 n o kn s -v o l e n ~ , hugger -mu gger.

h oity -toity, roly-poly, h a rmn·

47G

PERFECTION.

[PAUT IV.

Ridney, has even introduced into vcrne a word borrowed from the
voice of the sheep, when speaking of certain censuniule follies he
calls them "baaing v::mities."-1\fAnsu.
Besides these properties iu words, of sweetness 01· harshness,
stre ngth or weakness, there is another quality to be attend ed to,
which is expression, or th e pcrn1lirir apt.Jrnss of some words to sta11<l
as sy mbols of certain iL1cas prcfrral1J y to otl1 crn. An<l this aptn ess
arises from <liJforcnf·, canscs; t he fi.rst and most striking is tlmt of
imitation, from \\'ltich proceed t-l10se tlmt may be called rnimical
sounds, such as the lmri of th e sheep, the his.~ of Rerpent,s, the mew
and Jil17'1' of crits, th e 1100·1 of the wolf, the bray o f rin ass, the
u·hin11y of a horsn, th o cri r" of tho raven.
Such wore fa cont:-iin a power of t>xpross.ion from a natuml rese ml 1lmw0 \\'lii ch crin
never belon g tn s ig ns mernly inst-itutrnl. After th ose rni111ieal wonlf•,
whoso whole sou nrls are nearly tho srime with those form o<l by t.lte
several nninrnls from whieh they were taken, there is nuotlter
class which bcttrn a fainter resemblance, merely from so.mo letters
contfl,ine<l in tlt c m, which 1rnre botTO\ved from the animal world.
Tlrns among tho ,·owol " " wa8 lJorrowed fr om the crow, 1/, from the.
goat, ri. from t,he sheep, nn from the (love, u frcm the ox, ou> fr om
the dog, etc. Of t-hc co n,.onants, \Ye borrowed tho b from the
sheep, k frnrn t-1 1() crow, m from lhe ox, r from the dog, s from tl1 e
serpent,, tit fro m th e goosr~ . Ire l1 rive also so nrnh re8em hling t-.J10se
lllfl,do by iuaninrntc ohjuets. Tltus f is like t-he Ronml of wiurls
blowing tl1rnnglt certfl,in cl1inlrn. Vis the noise mad e hy some
spi nniu g-1vhoels when rn.pil11y moved. Sh is the sonrnl ma<le by
squibs and rocket" pre vious to explosion. S by the flight of darts.
lY!J lJy a belL -S 11mrn>AN.

Oare rnnst lJC take n to employ onomatopmia only as a
means to more p erfect expression ; if nsed for its own
sake, it rn ce ts tlic co111n1n11 fate of all :iffoctation.
E specially rnnst the n1i snrn of words of tl1is cliaracter
be avoided. Poe, who uses onomatoprnia with great effect,
tells most happil y of
- the tintinnahuln.tion that w mu sically swells
From t he hell~, bell .o:, bell i:;, bells;

but when Dickens in "Dom bey and Son" speaks of "tl1e

0IIAr. XXIV. ]

477

'l'AU'l'O.l:'llONY.

tintiunalrnlation of the go ng" we stare at the page with
wo 11 Jcr that his taste could have permitted the nse of a
Jigure so iucollgruon s.

Tautophony, or the repetition of the same sound, is
11 swtll v a defect in co mpositi on, lill t is w 111 cti111 es mnployed
with J·;appy effect to prod ncc a pce1diar e 111pltas is.
'l'lrns Epietetus sriys that :ill pl1ilosophy lies in two words, .<usThe resc mhlauce of the two words makes it
easier to rem ember th eir (1i stin ction.
Shedd is fond of this f1gnrc, as, fo r instance :

llfi n aocl ubstain .

E !->scn t ial trnth is t he elem lml, ancl I.he alimenl, of n. rati1J11nl min1l 1 ntHl nothi11~ i::hllrt

of t.Jii ::: form of t ru th cau long sati ~ fy iLHwan tR.

[The use o( "short,. am1 " lo 11 g

1
'

IS l1 C'rc

qncstionnble.]

Ilut sueh usage is permitted only when the contrast between
the two won1s is m~rlrncl and obvimt" . On p:ige 87 of this hook
will b e found two instances; "omitt i11 g- a(l1nitt.ing," nm1 "instinctive - distinctive." For the first pair th ere is a reason, lmt th e
second pair is clue to a slip of the pen that ornrsight, did not correct.

Th is Usage easi ly slides into p1uu1 in g (soc pages 117122), wl1i ch to a cel'!"a in exte nt is pcn ni ss ilJle wh en plai11l~'
a m eans to the for cible expression of an icl e:i. "Trntli rn
rni gli ty," annonuccs one stump-speaker, i1uprcss irn ly.
"Yes, it is mighty," retorts hi s opponent, sarcastically,
" rni g ltty sc~uce:;, There is al ways a ce rtain satisfaetioll
in seein g the person attaekiug beaten lJy l1is own weapo11s,
a 11 cl t:liis occm·s when hi s words arc so dextcronsly turned
as to tell against him.
"You are no thing but, a llemagognc," sairl a tipsy fe llow tn
'l'om l\Iarslmll, who prompt.Jy rcpli e,1 : "Pnt, a wisp of straw around
yon , and you will be notl1i11 g but a d emijohn."
·what is mincl? No mfl,tter.
\Vhat is matter? Never mind.
"We must all lmng Logot.licr," urged I-faneoek, after th e Rigning

I

i

478

PBRFECTiON.

(PA1tT iV.

of the D e<'hrntion of Incl epenclence; "Yes, " 11ikled Frnn.klin, "or
we sha ll all hang sep11mte ly."
A L ondon paper Sflys that "l\frs. Alnm T11tlema woro at rt recent
reception fl dress of gold broea<le, made with a cuimss botlico,
wi th sh o11l<lcr-straps of go l.tl g nipure, and 11 plain p etticoat of gold
color, tri1n111 01l with a deep golLl r nclrn, th o i nsi<le of which wafl
liu cd wit;h g rny-g l'ee n Sfllin." '.L'he Uhicago 'J'rilmne m 1derstf111ds
tlmt l\lr. Alma. '.L'fllle ma "·om fl l oo k of Jlxed mehncholy.

0 11 AP.

ALLI'l'EilA'l'ION.

X.XIV.j

Alliteration or the use of successive words begin' letter, is a fo rm of tautopltouy, am1 is
.
nirw with the same
oft:n employed with h appy effect, espec ially in poetry.
So far has this figure been canied th at long poems a_nd
stori es have been writteu, in which every word began with
the same con sonant.
CACOPHONOUS COU PLET ON CARD INAL WOLSEY.
Ilcgot Uy lmLc hcr~, hu t by bishop~ bred,
How hi g h hi.s ho nor ho\d f.I hi s hau g h ty head.

U r-n _. t hou, g reat Ann a, w hom t hree \Yorld i:; o\Jey ,
])03t, so nH ·t in u·~ con nsel t.nke, a.1111 i:;ometimcs tcn.. -PoPE.

The p nn rnnst Le approp ri ate to th e occas ion, and its
pnrpose 11wHifost, or it will see 111 an oversight; as wh en
Max .Miille r J eclares, that "~otuHl ety mology has 11otlti11g to J o 11·itl1 so n11d. "
Co mpare t he nse of t he sam e wor ds on page GG .
The use of th e sa111c word success ive ly as two differ eHt
parts of speech is usnally to Lo aY oid cd ; yet 1111dor this
principle it is someti 111 e!> effectil'o, as i11 th e fullowi11 g
se nte nce, ·\\'h ere" lllOro" is used :first as an adj ective and
tl1 e11 as a11 ad \·erL.
'l'lrnt h e shoulll h o in <:'flrn es t it is har<l to conceive; sin ce n.ny
reasons of d onut whi.ch ho mi g h t l111ve in tl1is c11se would have
l>eP u reasons of dnnl> t .i n the case of oth e r men, who may g ive
m ore hut Cflnnot g i l'IJ tu urn evident signs of thought than their
fe llow-creatures. -Bo LI No 1moKE.

Care must of co lll'se I.Jo taken not to Le mi sled by th e
r eso111Ll a11co of so nnd. " I 11e\·cr get O\'O t' a first fee li11 g
of repnl sio11," says a yo n11 g writer ; "if I am once repul sed." D11t what h o 11tea11s is, "if I am ouce repell ed.''
"I wi sh to h e fl fri end to t ho friendless," sa.i cl a g ushin g speflker
flt fl h onen>lent m eeting, " fl fath er to the fatherless, aLll>Cl wid ow
to U10 wit10 1desH."
"Oh, I <lon't. nhj ec t to stflndin g on 11 platform a.ml allowing iuforrnat.i on to ooze out of me- to use l\fark Tw11in's simile-like
ott11r of roses out of the otter ! "

479

Mrs. Crawford s11ys sh e wrote omi lino in h er "K11thleen l\Iavourn een" on purpose to confound the Cockney warblers, who
would sing it,
The 'orn of the 'un ter iR'card on the 'ill.

So MooreA. 'cart that is ,umblc m ight 'ope for it 'ere.

Or:
Ha h cle ph a.n t h casily h Pats hat hi s h cnsc
H an tler ~1umbrn.gco u s ln11nbrella trees !

Wh ole p oems hflve b een writt.on whe ro in every word b egin ~
with th e sa.me letter. Of these the l>ost lrnowu is the "Pugna
Porcorum " contaiuing fll.Jout Un·cc lrnmlred lines, every one of
. l 1 b eg1ns
'· w1'th tl1e le tte1· P · · · · 'l'he IJoem "De Laude
wL IC
.
Oa.lvorum" is p erlmps th o most cn rious literary performan ce m the.
world. This poem of one hnn tlrell and forty lines, eve ry word c•.f
which begins with fl C, WltS composed in h onor. of Ohflrles tho
Bald, by Hugbalcli or Hugbakl, a monk who fiounshed a.bout the
ye11r 87G.
.
.
Perhaps the b est En glish alliterntive verse I S the followrng :
An Au strian nnny , awf ull y n..rrn ycd ,
Boldly hy ba ttery besiege Del~ r arl c:
Cossack co 1111na.11dcrs crt11non:t1l ing come ,
Denlin g D estru ctio n' s tl cva"talin ~ doom;
Every eudca.vor c11g inc·cn; e ssn.y,
For fame, fo r for tun e figh ting- fnf'ion!'l. fray .
Gen eral s 1 gain Rt; gen e rals g rnpple ; g rncions God,
H ow honnrs Jl cnscn h ero ic h n.rdihoot.1 1
lnfuriate. inrl iscrirninnte in ill,
Kin sme n ki ll kimm1m1, kirnlrccl kin sm en k ill.
IJ1\.lJOr low lc\·clfl lofti c:.t, longef.it lim·i.. :

Men march 'mid mounds, 'wi ll moles, ,tu!tl mnrde roltS min es;

[.

'~

.
480

PEllFECTION.

CIIAP.

[PART IV.

iI
i

X i1rn:: n c::: 1 X .1.n l h11 1'<, Xa\' icr 7

""i'lci 1l , y it)i d. ye _yo u i,h ; ye yeome n, yield your yell ,
7. c no '~. 7. a rp:i tc· ~ , 7. ornn.s tC'r's zca.l,
Atlrnctin i; all, n. nn ~ ngaiu s t arm s nppnl !

'.

I

!,

·with li k o \rnRte of lftbor Llie L ip of!ramin rrtiRiS excluded some
Jmrti euhu· l ette r fro1u their cornposibo:n5, ·while th e l U n {1ru ut'11tu tists crowd all the l ette rs of th e alplrnbet into each of their sentences. Both these attempts are shown in the following stanza
written with ease with ont c"s,

l

j

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.,.I
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i1

A jov ia l ~wa in mn,y rnc k his Uniin,

T o q11 i7: in vni11 ! for 'tis m ust plain,

-

.

]

~

Lord Holland, in 182,1, \\Tot,e a story, called "Eve's Leg end,"
thn.t contniin ct1 n o other Yo;n:;l except e.
'I'he A crostic is ft p oe m i u whi ch the first l etters of the successirn lines sp ell ft wun1 Umt is the subject of th e whole. The
rrctress I~r>uh el Iev.ui 1cJ Ll1 e i11vs i. <1elica Le compliment the n.crost.ic
has ever p aid. A <lia<lem se t with precious stones was given to
h er, so armn ge<1 that th e initials of the names of the successive
s ton es ·were in their onler th e initials of six of her principal parts,
and in their order formed h er name, thus :
U
A
C
H
E
L

nby,
mct.h y ~t,

ornelinn,
e m:it itf' ,
m e rald ,
npi f'> La z11li,

4'3 1

ANAGRAMS,

If yon t nke th e pnin s to pick t h e fi g nres o nt or t h e ~evP rnl worrl r;:, a n1l rnn gc tlwm in
t h e ir prope r onl e r, you will find t hat t.hi ·y a1n o11n t lo MJJUXV V Vll. , or Jlii l, t,h c y ear in
whi c h the m edal wa s stamped; for, a1; Ro m e of Lil e letter s <fr•ti11gui sh Llt P111 sdv c ~ fr1nh
the r est. and overtop their fellow s, th ey arc to Uc cou f'i id crc<l in a donblc capaci ty, bo t h a R
le t. tiffs :~nd a s figures. Your la\Jo rio un Gc rn w 11 \vjt,,.; will t u rn o ver a wl1t1\ c dict ionary for
on e of these in ge nious d e vices. A mau wonkl thi11k th ey were ~ ca r"11i11g afbT n. 11 apt
cla$8ical t erm; but, instead, th ey arc loo kin g ou t a wonl t ha t ha!': nn ~J , an L ~ ur a D in
it. Wh e n, Lh e rcfor c, we meet with n ny u f lil1 c ...:c i11 sc r ipt,i0Bs 1 we are n ot ::;o much to look
in th·~ m r.. r- 1111• l-11011ght.1 n;;: for th.: y ear of th e L oni.

N ow noi sy no~i o n R 11nmhcrs noti ce nnnght
Or clttlwanl n lJ ~ t : l<' l c~ opp o~ in g- 011ght i
I'o· n- pat rio tR-, part·l y purc hased, partly prcs ~c<l .
Q11ite q11a.ki11 g, qniekly " Quarte r I Quarter J ,, quest .
Jlc a i-u n ret11rn f', rc l ig i1J11 R ri g ht redo11nds.
S o rrow ROu n ~ to p s s uc h i-;nn g uinary sound s.
Tru ce to th ee, Turkey, t ritunµh to thy twain,
U njust;, 1mwi ::.c, 11n111crc ifnl Ukrainr. 1
Vnnh:: h v nin Yii.: ti::ir y ! v:i.nish •: ictory Y:1.i n ~
'Wh y w ith we " ·arfarc : \V he r cfore w clco111 c were
X» r ~..:: cs ,

XXIV. l

j

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.I

J

)
j

'rhe . A1tu yruut hiJt~ s the 'vou1 5ig nified by t r n.nsposin g the lett e:n; so as to fonn a n e w· -word.
Ua1ml e11 g ravely ftnnou11 ce<l that t.h c followin g a11ftg rnm sh owed
the "undoubted rig ht.fol cla.i111 t-.o 1;]1 0 monarch y of Britain , as
successor of ihe valorous Kiug Arthur," of the prince whoso nam e
wai:s Lnt11:j1Ju::;ed:
Charle.<.; .Ta111cR S tu a rt- f; l:titn8

Arthnr~s

scat .

H ere is another :
Jam es St un.rt- A ju st mn.s lc r.

T.n.<1 y lf:lPnnnr nnvir-"s, wifP nf t.llf-' pnPt. Ril' ,Tn]m DaviPs, Wf\S fhf'

Cassandra of her day ; and a,; h er propl 1eei es, in th e tro11h le<l
Lil n(;:{ (; [ C1:;:t d ux II., \\' C l' U tt ;; 11: d J:_1' a g;:, ln :-;L Lli u c:o vc r u1uc u L, :;h e \V a ;;
at one time broug ht in to LL u H1 g l1 tJ.,11rL uI Gummissiuu, ::ihe ll" a:;
nnt. fl, litt.h~ n1ru.1 , f1.n1l fo.n_r_>i t:" tl th ~ ~p irit· 0f Dnniel '.VHC: in h er, r~·orn
an anagram she 'had form ed of h er own llnm e :
El ean or IJaviPs - ltevcar , U l) a1lic l !

'l'hi s n11ngram hntl too rnnc h l>y nn J, nnd too little by nn s, h m
such trifl es as these wer e n o eheck to h er ftspirntions, 'l'lw conrt
attemµt ecl to l:'Xpel the spiri t from I.h e lft<ly; a.nil th e bishops
rtrg ued the point with h er ont. o[ Holy Writ; lmt to no pnrp"so,
She r eturned text for text, until ono o f t,he deans of tltc Arclir1s,
says H eylin, " shot h er tl 1roug h rtnd throu gh with an arrow borrowed from her own quiver.'' 'faking np rt pen, he wrote:

R oxmrn.
A mcni a 1lc.
C nmill e.
H e rmi on e.
]<; milie.
L aodice.

.II.
,, I
, 1;

:!i1

I.II11'
I

i

1!
111

D a me El ea n or D a vies-Neve r so mad a ladic I
I

'I'bis happy fancy set, tlw sol emn court to lrtug hin g, arnl dro rn
Cassandra to the utmost <lej ec tion of spirits, Foiled by hPr 011·11
weapon, h er energy for sook li er ; aml either sh e never ftfl enrn.nl
ventured to enrol h erself timon g t h e onl f' r, or th e anftg rnm <li sarm ed h er utterances, for we h ear no m ore of her amon g the
prophets.

In No. GO of th e 8pectafor, Addison says of the Chronogi'am:
This kiml o f wit np pcn n; vr ry o ftC' n on m od e rn m edal ~. e~pcci nll y th ose o [ Gcr mn n y,
wh e n lh cy rr•prnsC' 11 t. in t h e in f'f' r ipt ion 1 t he year in wh ie h t he y were co in ed. Thus we
sec on n. medal of G u sta v u s J\ 1l nlph11 s t h<' fo llo win g wonh; :
C hrl stVs DuX e rg o trlVMphVs.

l
1

Ii

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'iii

1,,.
l,,
Id

Illi,i

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I 111

11:11
!•

11

· 1:.1

lti
i:

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482

.PERF.U:C'tION.

tPAitT IV.

In Rlwphalic V erses a monosyllable iR followed by fl dissyllal1l e,
a triKyllabJ c, am1 so on to the cud of th e line. 'l'he Palindrome
reaLh; the same either lntckward or forward; like th.is, ascribed to
Napoleon:
A blP. was I ere I Aaw BllJn

j

or this, quite as plausibly r eported as the first speech of the first
nuui:
.Madam, I'm Adam .

E1uivocal Verse reaLlR on e WftY across both of two columns, and
quite another wheu eaclt column is taken separately. 'l 'hus :
TllE HOU S ES OF ST VAUT AND I-IANOVEU.
I lo ve with nil my heart
Th e J-I:m ov<' ria11 part
And for that se ttl e ment
J\t y co n science gi \ 'C!'i consent,
J\fo ~ t ri g htco ns is llic carn;c
'J'o fi g h t for George's law8,
H i~ rny minrl mid hC'art
Tho ug h none will tak e my pa rt,

'!'he T ory part y here
1i:lost hntdnl Ll o th nppcar;
I e ver have denied
T o be on .Jnm cs's Ride,
T o fighl for Ru ch n. king
\V iii Englnntl's r11in bring.

Int.his opinion, I
R ci:>olve to live and di e.

S ei71entine J;ette1·s in like mann er convey one m eanin g wh en read
down crwh page, but, ft conhm·y when reacl across both pages. 'The·
r;windlin g contrnc t on page 201 is an illnstmt.ion.
Cm1 tn I "m·se is made up by patchiug toge ther lines from standard poems. 'l'lrns :
Th e hC':tth t hi s r.i g ht mu st he my b<'d ,- ScoTT.
Y P v n.l t>~. ye s tre am "' . y e g roveR, nrlirn !- POPE.

483

I<'ORM.

CnAP. XXIV .]

E cho Verses have b een famou s in every tong ue.

'Thus :

Ec ho, 111y:-:tcri ow: 11 y 111 ph, tl rcln.rc
Of what y ou're mad e, fUl ll \vhat you nrc.
Echo-Air I

B en ,Jonson speaks of "A pair of scissors and a comb in
verno," and th e Sp ectator ridicules th e fautastie1illy sl1 ape1l pooms,
axes, eggs, ftlta n;, etc., of whieh ft Greek p oet, 'l'heo11ori<,, is said
to have been the iuventor. Oue of the b es t is the foliowiug:
TI Li<] Wl NE -C: L ASS.

\Vl 10 hath \\" OC? \Vh n ha th rn rrow ?
Who hath co11 te nt.io11 ::-? W ho
hath wnn 1Hl s ,,·it:h o nt cn.11 s:c?
Wlto hath n 'dn eRs nf eyer-;?
Th ey tha t rn rr_y lo ng a t Lh e
win e. Th f!y th itt ~o to
RC't'k mi xci l w in e .
11 o t

t h o11

L nok

llpon th e

w in e w hen it. iRn·{l,

w he n it g i\'rl h i ts
co lor in Lhc:

CUP ;
it
m ovcth itse lf
WiH' ll

n.ri g hL.

At
th e laRl:

it hit<'th like a
Rc q w n t, a nd sLi ngdh lik e an nt1(l 'Jr.

Farewe ll fnr aye, e'en lo ve i R d r'nd , - Pn OCTEH.

\Vo n id I conId ndd , reme mlm\.llce too !- IlYnON.

In Cnncfl.tew 1tinn, o r chain-writing, the fast won1 or phrase m
each line is taken for the b eginning of the next. 'l'hus :
TIW TH.
N erve th y son! with d octrin e~ noble,
Nobl e i11 th e walks of time,
Time t hat lend s to an ctcrnnl,
An e te rnal li-fc ~mlJlim c;
Li fe subl ime in m oral Ucauty,
Denn Ly thnt slrnll ever be;
E ver be to lnrc !"lice 011ward,

Onwanl to f.he fonnt.ain free ;
Ji'rcc to every earnest seeker,
~ SC'C' k C' r for th e Foimt.

nf Youth,

Yont·h exnltant in its beauty,

llcn.uty or th e living truth.

Fmther illn strnti011 s o f thi s mi sappli ed i11ge11nity in the
con strn cti on of \'erse wil1 lJe foull(l in Morgan's " J\Iacaronic Poetry," from whi ch most that l1as been said 011 the
suhject lias "been taken. ·" re l1avo treated tlie subj ect tl1n s
full y in ord er to impress the pri11 ciple that the mo111 ent
form is stncli ed for itself, and 11 ot for wl1at it ex presses,
the exercise is i10 longer literary colllposition. I-Ve l1a ve
nseJ the word P erfecti on in prefore11 ce to Bea11t.y i11 speaking of thi s qnality of sty le, l1 eca11 se tl1e onl y legitiniate
beanty of written langnage is the perfec t.i on with whi ch it
expresses tho idea. F orget th e id ea, stll(ly beauty for the
sake of lJeauty, p ermit tLe i11se1-tio11 or the retenti on of an

YJ.SNI

4S4

PEIU<'EC'l'lON.

[PART IV.

111111 ccessa1·y sc11te11 ce for th e sak e of its euph ony, and tl1e
cu 111pos i t ion i s d eg raded fro111 tlte expressi on of thonglit
i11I•• ;-.:ilflH-'!l t!lt :_: :tl.,ir t !r1 r·i 1 ld l 1•-nn k i 11~.

The principal advantage nt :1n :w, 1111i11f.,111·1· 11 iii1
1<> 1·111 i"' ''llii :11 ·i t ir •< i< 1·,.·1di111 •-o-o i11 ili ' <'< Tl 1i1 1::; :111,/ di·"''l' '•[i 11 .c:,
t h e y :tecid eut.allv- ;:q 11H~;.1.1 · .
1\.L1_tfe Lli:-!!l q!P'.P 1:;i_c.

t11c111 \\'lH..: II

lH' iL::p:-1 r "'I. J,, .,.11 111i ,i 1·•I i111" 1·11i1li ,c ]1i11:,:: :I li h_J J , ,1 1~ _\,:ru.-i
I i··. 111 .111-,· 111,. 1·· ii1._11· ,jj,j JluL :.:, i:rn c:c: tL1\\ 11 1lw li 1·,.1 lcll1,1·."

1

,, [ tlw ii 1H '.< \1!11·11 I,,. r•·:1 tl 111,. li11l1 · 1"'"1il l1:1JJdf'd i 11 ; :111d
l 11111dr1·.J-o ,.1· hn1wl':' \r,,nld lt ~n· r r :: e~ped :1 ·" 'ill.J I.. l1:1il

111>:1

:tppJi.,,]

11i ..

1·ri1wi11 i1· .. 1 :--:1·1· 1·1·11 l i1 11' l.1·111·1·<

lrl

r ii1 ·

1·1111tl'w·1 :::l1,, 11·111111 l''I'.."'' :'tll. (',•111 111 ·•111·,I .. !':i l l l l1,.1·1T 1·1·1111d er this lic:;11l. 11,,111"1Pl'. i< T:111l"[' l11111y. ~inly tl1 c rn 0 ~r
"\]" '1· i1·1wr rl '\\Titers c:·111 affL'rd Lu Id :1 11 u,,.,a.Y :1p11<ea 1· lwr,,, -l'
the.\· l1a H' 1-du111·.,,J Li11"1111 g· li ii. (,, ~1· 1· 111:11 ll1e s:11 11 1• ~" 1111.J
is not 1111inte1 1tio11:il ly rP111=-atcrl in H way t.-. e: il...11 flit ~ e:1r
u11pl casa11tl.r. Tl111 s :
R1·cn c at Contincntrtl kursrtal: E n g li sh p11rty 11t ca.rel tabl e" .l'kll o, we are f,1rn tn two." E rJ glish prtrty 11t opposite tab.le" ·\\-e arc two to two, too." Gennan sp ech1tor, who" sp crtlrn English ," t.o comprtnion who is 11cr1niriug the l::tngnrtge- " Vell, now
yon s0e h ow 1lis is. Off you w11nt to gifo expressi on lo yom sclf in
E ngl is lt nll yoH ltarn to do is to lJlay rnit <ler French h om ! " N. Y. S1{}1.

'I'h e fact. is, t.h o rnl of< o f ernphrtsis come 1:11. in interruption of
your snpuosetl ge nernl l n.w of position.- ALF'OHD.
I uw:rl t.lrn word in n.11 1ml!.<1tal sen se, but at the same time one
full.v sanotio necl b y 11snge.- ID .
1lfoy/Je I 11uiy ba able to come b efore the year is 011 t. - CuAULES
LA~l.11 .

Fiml ot h er illn strnt.ions on pages 7G, 125, 205.

l•:x1<:1w rRr·:. --Va ry th e ex press io11 so as to eseape tautoph0 11,r i11 t-11 e fullowi11g l'e11te11ces :
In a cal m m om 1ligl1t ni g ht the sqr~ is a most b eautifnl ol>jec t to

.•eP-.

485

TAUTOPIIO:'-lY.

CHAP. XXIV .]

The abilities as well rts th e virtnns of King A lfrc1l jnst.ly rm t.11 t.li n fil l" nl' t.l!f r (hPo .t.. 'l'n nppns r' tl1i s forrnidolil n in-

ti//,,11 him
\;1· i1• Ji.

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f 1 i! ] !

! · 11 r r·•1 1r nf
11 • /, I
[ '.IJ
11! 1·• 111111) . 11· • 1 \ • ·1 1111· 1 1 \\
' l'i1 1
r·.li: tn:u1 : 1r n 7:·i·l//:·:1 ,,,;i !"1 1 ·· ! r r·n:_:·ll1. lH'l""l1 i r·nil ::. :!) Hl
:-;.; l I J J i_' 1 · /11 {)' ! f r ·/i '/' j I; L '~ r ·/,, / 1 '1 /• ·j , · 1 ·1 _ ' 1 i t l 1· · i I ' 'i' •I' : ' 11• i i 11 i -.., i 11 1 111 11 ! ' · I I I \ i I I i ' '
•i•/1 ' 1 / , , /
Tit; • fi · \ \ - 'YlH · :, ,,1-1., -. / ..-/ t!1P1 !1 111 1 l 11·ir : 1·1 1" l l i1 \\• l'• '

;t n 1l ,·i: i1 "i ll j,• r/ !Ji1n ii-,

1'111 ·111. - : ,1/

\\- \1i (·) 1

J J 11 · I '~ · ~
J !1:ll !

1

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1-·

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i1 11 i'.- 1~·r .. 1 ! · i 11n1 11 11n11 . 1· !1r·

t \

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f() 1 -1 1 . 1 ,~ ; ~< \i ·:i~~ 1 ij' j ] 11, \ .\'I\' ] 1 i:_~·lw .c..:. 1
/ 11!/0 11·/·

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111;11· 11 1·

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Li·

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T it·
!I)

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Ju 11) l' tl1a!.

Ji \:111 '' , , 11,· ,1

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11 1·, 111 i 1:1]

1· , . 1

, 1 / /'' ' d"" ' ·,

\\·~ · \li11 .:· l ., i l

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1/ / 1 ,I 11·!1;

111

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11 ' ;·J '_j "' ; I.-.·

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11 :1 1H l
\(\ !w l'1 · ]i1 · 1." 1·iJ f)'1!JJ J
I '1·, I\ i 1 l··ii•·i· ',·/ ,' !" ! 11 '

11 ·1 1111

1111 . 11 1111 ,c:

1 l1

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i11

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!\at 1. J

!L'![-...:,

Iii :-~ 1lil li 1 · 11!lit·~ -; \\-~· 1 · t· :\I ;111 1· 111! .

Avoidance ul' 1:u1it11il1,,11_1. t»'i•l 'l'i:1ll.1 11 ! 111(' 1·1·1 .. ·tifi 11 11
qf tl1 e S[! Jn e 11·ord. 111:1y, l1<11q•1c 1·, IH~ «:tl'!'i1.,I " " hi' :i.; ln
ohsc111·c t he se 11 su (sec pn~ c .J.)_ l). Tl111.; "\l:1r-olr 11 l'i(c-o
(" l,ect ures on tli e 'E11gli.;li L :L11g 11 aµ·c, " p:igc :2~ J :
I nnrnt he w 011t' o for all m:ikt· ll1 e s:ul t'llJl<'<'ss in11 t.li:tf; mrtn.v of
Chaneer's "·orlrn a rc 1lis fi gn rf'1l , shi i11 <•< I, po lln h·tl , l>y :t gross111' ss
of though t rtnd o l' fanguag o 1y]1it'l1 stnlllgnly :1rnl pai11f11ll y crn.'ti w;h; " ·it.h tho 1leli<':1ey, refi nt.•mc nt, :1rnl 11wr:d <' l1"·ation of hi s
oth er pr~duction s.

c<

H ere we li ave " 11·or b ;" apparently cn nt.raste d \r ith
procl ucti on s," as t·lr ong h tl 1cy 11·<·re 1.11·0 diffcrl'nt. tl1ing.;.

I·
11
I

11
I
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'!
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Tito antltor !lli g lrt 11111clt bet ter l1 a 1· c sa id " nl' lti ~ (>flier
11·o rk s;" tl1011p:h ind eed ," of' t l1 c utlrurs," ur "o l' tlie rest, ''
would be prec ise a1Hl p erspicuous.
Co mpare t h e foll owing:
Tt is said th ere ·11·as a n Anrntcnl :un rn" r<'lmnt. " ·hn h n.rl tlPrtlt.
Jn.r~cly in corn rt ll l1is li fe, " ·ho Ji n.d 11 cn• 1· see n a li1 •J<l of wheat
n-rnw.in g : tl 1is 111 rrn hail tlonbl.l nss nr•1111ir1•1·1liy 1•x111•1·i1•111·p :1.11 ucc11 ;ate judgment of the q1rnlities of each cl cs1·!·iption of corn, - of the

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PEBFECTION.

[I' All'l' IV.

host m e thods of s toring it, of the rtrts of bnyiu g rtnd i-;clliu g it at
prnpcr tim es, et c.; but h e 'roul<l lrnrn b ('en g rratly at a l oss ill its
cnltinit.io n, t h ou g h h e had bee n, in a certrtin wrty, loug convernnut
about corn.

Campbell has well ren1arkcd:
It is jns tl y oh se rv e<l hy Al1he nimn1 IJrnt wl10n a p c rfornrnnce
grnws dull tluon g l1 n.11 excess of irni fonnit~· , it is not so mu ch becau se th e ear is t.ir etl liy tJ1 e fr cqn cJJt l'C'petition of th C' same sound,
as lwcnuse th e mind is fati guetl by U1 n freql1lmt recurre nce of t h e
mmc i<ka. U , th c rdore, there l ie :trema r.lrnble p au city of i<leas, a
tli rnrsity of \H'nls \\· i]] not i:lns\1·er the pm·11ose, or give to t h e work
nn agrcPalil e appcarn n ce of varie ty. Ou tl1 e contrary, when an
a n t hnr is at g r i"rtt pains t.n var.'· l1is <'XJrl'Pssions, nml fo r t h is pur}>nso p1·cn 1kBe rts t.h e common roa1l, h e 'rill, to a u in telli gent
1Ta<l <'r , lrn t the more expose his povcrt.y the more h e is solici tous
to couccal it.

Proverbs, Aphorisms, Apothegms, Para·
doxes, a11cl Epigrams ridn1i t c1•11 sid ernlJle a tt e nti on to
foni1 , b e in g 11 s11al ly 111 a rk cd Ly allti thcs is, cli111a.\, ta11tophony, al literat ion, rr ml oth e r Ji g 11res tha t 1ro11ld IJe oppressi \'l~ i II CO ii t i 11 nccl d i ~CO \ll' Se.
Proverbs, "t!te wit of one :111<l tl1 e wi sdom of m a ny,"
forcih~y express son1 e pract ical trntl1 , the r esult of experi e 11 ce o r 0Lsc rvat io11; as, "lie nrn s far that neve r turns."
ThP pithy qnaintn css of old Howell lms a(lmimbly <l cseribed
t h e in gredi en ts of a n exquisite proYerb to b e sense, shortness, and
salt.
Prnverbs h ave oft.<'ll resnlted from t.Lc spontaneous emot.ions or
the p erform ed refl ections of so me ex lrnor1linary inc1ivi.111al, \\·h ose
enp rge tic expression was cangh t 11y a fait,h£ul ear, n ever to p e rish.
- DISIIAEf,I.
A woman is as oM as sh e looks ;
A mrtn as olcl as h e fee ls.

Aphorisms differ fro111 proverbs in r elating t o abstnwt trnth, rath e r tha11 t o practical 111atters, An ap ho-

()UAP.

XXIV.]

APO'l'IlEG MS.

487

rism is th e snbstance of a d octrin e, a nd is ch aracte ri zed by
the di sp roportion bet ween t!te simpli city of t he ex press ion
a nd the ri chn ess o f the se nti1u ent co nv eyed Ly it (S111itlt) ;
as, H y poc risy is tl1e h om age vice pays to virtue.

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1'h at aphorism of the wise man, " The d esire of the sl othful
killcth him, for h is hands rcfnse to lal>or. "-BAm1ow .
Censure is t h e tax a man pays to t he public for b ein g e minent.
- S\\'IF'r.
There are calumnies against which even innocence loses c01uage. -NAPOJ,EON.
There is a great <liffore nce b et we e n an egg anc1 a n egg-shell, but
at a distance th ey l ook very nmch a lik o. - Cn1,ERm(m.
Tho ug ht wide ns, bnt lames; aetivit.y nrtn·ows , but 1111ickens .Go1n>HE.
J\Ien ride their argume nts as chil rl ren their h mses. 'l'h<'y pn t
t h eir l egs over a st,ick, r nu far afiol1l , arnl make li elievc that t h e
s tick has carri ed them. - DAr,J,AS.
Cu stom h as n o power over n s except as it i111pli es sympathy
with ourselves in past. couclit.ions. - l v.
Increduli ty i s lmt CrP1lnlit.,y seen from beliirnl, b ow in g a.ml norldin g assent to t.h o J-fahitnal rtu <l t li c Fas li ion:ilik. - C1 H,1rnr])(m.
Th o ught is like t h e spriug of a \rnlch , m ost po\\·e rfn.l wlt cn most
com prnssed.
'Vi ~clom consists in th e r eady an d nccnmte p erception o[ an:tlogies.-WHA'l'ELY.

Apothegms a l'e in co111111 on ll!atte l'S \Yl 1rrt rrpl1oris111s
are in hig her. Their characte ri st ic is terse ness, as ~li ow 11
in I>uncli's advice to those abo nt to be rn a rri ed: " Don't."
J\fonrice Block d escribes the American press as ''despotism temp er ed by assassination . "- At/an/.ic 1lfo11th(1J.
"I wonlcl bestow my danghte r," sa.i1l Thernisto<'] <'s, " n pou a
man without money, rnth e r than u pon mn11 cy w.i tlwn t rt rnrt n."
J\Iy living in York shire was so far ont of the way th:1t it was
actu ally twel ve miles from a l em on.-Srn:-rny S;unn.
The following n otes passed b e twee n two celebrntecl comedians :
DEAR J -

: Send me a. Rh i llin g.

r.s.-on F.econd thoughts,

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Yours, B.

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make it two.
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488

PERFEC'r ION.

[PAJ\T IV.

'l'o which his friend r eplied :
]) EAR 11 : l h ave bt1t OllC s hill illl! ill th<~ world.
P.S .- 0 11 RCCu ud th ong ht.s, 1 want t hat for dinn e r.

CrrAr. X.XIV. ]

PARADOXES.

489

Paradoxes are seem ingly abs md rn appearance and
language, but true iu fact. Thus :

Yours, J.

The r eason why so few marriages are lmppy is b ecause young
l::tclies spend their time iu makin g n ets, no t; in making cages. -

SwuT.
l<'ontenell e d eclared t hat the secret of happiness is to h ave the
h eart, cohl arnl tho s tomach warm.
1\Iontcsrp1i e n put forth fl wicked Hpig ram, that the 011ly goou b ook
of t.lte Rpn,nianls is tlmt which exposes t he absurd it.y of all the rest.
Parngrn p]u") l'S gnt, rn ry wealth y if t h ey live lon g en onglt. The
chid 1lilliculty with them i s to get money to live loug enoug h.
'l' his rnm incls m o of th e boy who g rew impatient at the slow
g rin cling o f the wh eat Ito lmd brought to mill. "I could eat tha t
flour frtstm· tlmn you tnrn it out;," he stiicl to the miller. "How
l ong'? " "'l'ill I starved ."
1\fark 'l'wain was asked to contrihnte to tl1 e paper issued at the
. fair in aid of abused childrcu, in Boston, and respondecl as follows :
!IAHTFOilD, November 30, 1880.
DP.AR EnrTons : [ clo it wi t. h ,,1 ca!'= 11n•, .
bnt I nlso <lo it with pa.in , been. use
I am not i11 fav o r of Lhi !"; n10v c me nt,, Why shnnlcl I want n" Soci e ty for Lhc Prcvcnli on
o f Crn c lr.y to Ullild n• n ,, to pro!'pcr, w he n I have a IJa.by tl ow n -Rtain; that kept nic awak e
· Rf'vc rn.I honrR last ni g ht , with 110 pretext whate ver for it bnt a desi re to mnkc me troubl e?
Th iF: occ11rs every 1iig ht-, and it e m bitte rs me , hcenm:c T s ec h ow nccdll'ss it was to put in
t he othe r burg lar ab.rm. a cost.ly anti co111plkntc1l co n triv ance w hi c h cann ot be 1lcpendf'.d
on. hcc:rn sc it' s always getting out; of order nwl won 1 t ' 1 go.' 1 wh e reas, although th e bnlJy
is alwap; g-c tl ing- o nt o f order. too, it cri. n neve rth e less be dcpc11dctl on, for the reaso n that
th e more it. docs g-ct u11 t nf or!lc r the more it do<'i:; i;o.
Yes , I nm IJi ttcr n gai n ~t your Rocicty, for J think th e i1lea of it is all wrong; b11 t if
yon will sta rt a Soc iety fo r the Pre vention o [ Crn c lty to Fath e r~ , I will w ri te y o n a whole
boo k .
Your,:, with e motion,
.M .-\RK TWAIN.

Life wonld h e tolerably agreeable if it were not for its pleas11 n's.-Sm Gr::onoE CoBNEWAf,r, L EWIS.
Onr knowled ge co nsists in tracing ignorance as for back as possihle. - HnY EH Cnr,LAim.
I do not love e ven his fauHs.--- S1mmDAN.
Al'temas \Varel vot ed during th e fate Ci vil war for H enry Clay .
"I ittlmi t that H e nry is d earl," h e oxpfaine<l, "I.mt iirnsmuch as we
tlon't, Reem to havn t• li ve st:itesrnun i11 our N:.tiou:i.l Uuugrm;:s, by
all means l et u s have a first-class corpse ."

Of 1\'Ir. Grote, the historian of Greece, and 1\Irs. Grote, Sidney
Smith once wittily said : "I do like them lrnth ;;n m11ch, for h e is
so l!trlylike, ancl sh e i'1 su ch a p e rfect gentlema11 ! "
Thackeray's idea of a d:i.mly is give n in th n followi11 µ; note :
"My uear Eclwanl, - A 'danuy' is an iudiviilual w.110 wunld Le :i
lady if h e could, but as he can't, do es all h e can to show the world
h e's no t a man."
A beau is eve rythin g of a woman but the sex, rtll!l nuthing of a
man b eside it. - FIELDING.
'l'here are lots of m e n who liavo at.taineil hi g h r eputation for
strict attention to business, but t.he tronble llils been it, wasn't
their own businoss.-1ltitn1lhon Ji1rlr:pe11 d1J11 I.
G lucose is uescribed in a recent Fre nch pa per as fo llows :
"Glucose-a prodnct with which ·win o is 111au11fa.ct.11re1l without
grapes, cider without apples, a rnl confeetionery with ont s11 gar."
D efinitions of the P eriotl.-A privileged p erson- One wh o is so
much a savage when tll\rnrted that civilized persons a voi1l t hwarting him.
A liberal-minded man- Oue who di sdain s to prefer ri ght to
wrong.
Haclicals-M:en who m aintain the supposed rig ht of each of u s
to h elp rnin all.
Liberals-Men who fla tte r rntli cals .
Conservatives-,-1\fen who give way to rnlli cals.
A domestic woman--A woman li ke a dom estic.
Humor- 'I'hiuking in fnn whi le we fool in eamest .
A musical woman- One who has stren gth enongh to mak e
much noise an<l obtuseness enou g h not to mind it. - GEolWI': ELWT.
I owe much; I have nothing. I leave the r es t to th e poor. RAnELAIS's TVi/l.
When U1e superannuated statesman we nt t,o hi s rest,: "Tirtmartine lrns eeaserl to surviv<> lii111 sp lf." a11111>1111<'<'1l a Pari s jn11rn Hl.
Prince 1\Iet.tP1'niPh remark e<l t<> the ]J .. ,1-1ln•""'l L111 y ,,i· th.Seconil Empire: "I noti ce thtit :your 1Jun11 cls ~row small er and
mnall er, and the bills larger anrl larger. Une of the0e days the
ruilliner will bring nulhllig L ut LL" Lill.''

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TOPICAL ANALYSIS.
OllAPTElt XX \T.
PUBPAltATION FOlt TllJj

Perfection.
Epig ram s, p. 4.67.
R etort, p. 467.
Brilliancy , p. 467.
E uph ony, p . 4Gfl.
R en.rlin g t h e essay aloud. p. 470.
Vn.ri ety in word s, p. 410.
Vari ety i11 m oveme nt, p. 471.
Felicity o[ diction , p. 472.
Th e fitt.i11 g mml, p. 474.
Onom atopooia., p. 474.
Tantnphony, }l. 477.
P111111in g, p. 477.
Allit er~tin n ,

p. 47~.

J, ipogrnrnrnat.isl!;, p. 480.
Pangr:unm atisls, p. 480.
Acrostics, p. 480.
Ch ro 11 ogrnms, p. 480.
Anag ram s, p. 48·t.
R h oph ali c verses, p. 482.
Ecinivocal ve rse, p . 482.
Serpentin e letters, p. 482.
Cent.o verse, p . 482.
Co ncnte nalion , p. 482.
E cho ve rses, p . 48fl.
Adrnntnge of an ncrinain tance '!'ith form pecnliariti es , p. 484.
Avoidan ce of lautop hony carried too far, p. 485.
Prov e r!Js, p . 486.
Aphori sms, p . 486 .
A11ntlH•gm s, p. 487.
Paradoxes, p. 489.

rrrnss.

The art o f: prin ti n g 1lc111and s from its J~ng l i .<. : h :i n d Arncrir nn pat ron" nnt a nrnltiplic ity of wunl s m erely, Uut, a :-;t;y \e '~0111bini1u; si111plii :it.y :u1d <':tl.iir1l ir·ity o f ,.;t.rnctnrc 1 <·011form it,y Lo t he pri11eip!C'S of n n ivcr.::::il gr:t 1n 1n ar. :tn d eon~cqu c ntl y n fr cPdorn frun1
prov1 11c irtli sm s and arbitra r y idio t n ~, in t d li .L:'ilJ ilt ly, in ~ hort, to a 11cgrcc n ot r equired in
tl 1t!

litc ra.t11re of any otlic r ngc o r racc. - 1\tAR SI I.

SouT111cY says in l1i s "Coll "'l11i es" that" one of the first
effects of printing was to make prum1 men loo k 011 lea rn in g as di sg raced by be in g tl111 s h ru11glt t \Vitl1in rcadt nf
th e eo 11111wn p eo pl e. -\\Tltc11 lay 1n c11 in l11111il ile li fo \H'l'e
e nableL1 to procu rn boo ks, t. li e pl'icl e of al'i f' h>Cl';H·y took
:Ln alisnnl cnt tr:oc, i11 srn111wlt tl1at at L>ll C ti11ie it. 1r:rn
dcemeLl derug:i LP r.)' tu :L 1wli!P111 :11 t if li e 1·1.11ild n·<1il ••I'
write.
Even selwlars tlt e111 se h ·e,.; l.;0111pl a i11 e1l tl 1at tlte
r ep11tatio11 of learn in g aml th e n· ~ped cl11e it a 11 1l its reward:; 11·ere lo11·e red \\' lten it \\'HS t.1 11·1111·11 open to :ti] m e n.
Eve n in this isLuHl, ig 1w ra 11 l.;c 11·as fur sume ge11 ernt io11 ,;
co 11 sid e recl a lllark uf Ji stin ct io11 , l>y whi ch a 111 :111 uf gentle
bir th ch ose, no t 1111Ere<111e11tly, to 111ak c it appal'e11t tl 1at li e
was no more obli ged to li ve l>.Y tl1e toil of his bra in tl1a11
uy the s11·eat oE hi s IJl'OIV."
l! 011·eve r tr ue t l1i s 111 ay 011 ce 11a1·e lwc11, 11" t 1·:1•'f'" r.f tl1i.~
fec li11 g nppP.a r at. I.lie prnscnt 1la.L Jn J S/II. wlicn (~l;id ­
sto11c aml Di;;1·:wli 1n~]'(' li:iil li11 .u: F"r the prc11ti()rship of
E11 gh11d , a cn rtuo11 i11 1' ";11}1 n •111·! ·s1· 11ts t-l1 P n11P pieki 11 !.';
up from a book- stall a !l()\'(~1 j11,;t LlltiJli shcd liy th e utl 1e r,

4!)2

PHEI'.AHATION FOlt 'l'IIE PilESS.

[PAm ' I V.

w h o, in t11 m , is exa minin g a book Oil 1ny th ology just com pl eted by th e fi rst. Q ueen V ictori a wrote, a 11 d prnde n tly
in1·cstcd th e p roceed s of, a life of he r late hn slJa11 cl, a ml
h er cl a ng h ters h ave fo ll oll'ed iu li er footsteps. Jn no oth e r
ii e ld is distinct ioll so u11i rn rsall y soug h t as in li terature .
A conside rable propo r t ion of i11 t ell igen t p eo ple npp ear in
p rin t i11 so me way or othe r du ring their Ii l'Cs, a ml a larger
p r opo r t.ion t ry to. So it see ms d c~ i ra bl c to add to th e
directi o ns alread y g iven fo r let.te r-11Tit i11 g (see pa ges 102104) some fo r tlt e r !tin ts fo r th ose ll'lt o a re alll b itions to
sec so 111 r, tl1in ~ pr inted 1n orc p rc tc~ 11 t i o11 s th a n 11 cws-lc tte rs.
( I ) Make your M anuscript L e g ib le . - This
po in t h as been in siste<l n po 11 i n letter- wri t in g, bnt it rnn st
h e re l1e e n1pl1 asizcd agai n, h ecanse the re is mn ch more a t
stake. A bl ott ed lette r rn ay came an noyance, loss, serious
d iffi c11lt.)'
. , hn t these w ill lie li mi ted to few p e rso ns, a nd
w ill 11 snall y he tc1npora ry . A n1i spr int is pract icall y fi nal,
a11 d its n1i sclii ef will lie as wid e ns is t.hc circnht. inn o f th e
page it a ppea rs in. Th e gene ra l rnlc is, M ake yo ur 11 ianusc ript rcad ex actly as yo 11 wa nt t.li c p rin ted page to a ppea r,
in spe llin g, in p Hnctnati o n, and in cap itals, as we ll as in
wo rd s.
A si11 g Hlar sHi t came b efore t he co urts of J\Ii cl1 iga n in
\rhi ch t he lette r of t he la w was in eo nfiict wi th its sp il' it,
aud th e qH es tio11 lJefore th e com t was wh eth er th e le tte r
or th e sp iri t m ust b e ohcyed. T he S tate l ,eg islatm e attrn 11 ptcd to p ass a law 111 nki11g it a pe ual offe11 ce to sell
li <11 w r to n1i11 o rs, but, liy a ty pographi cal o r a cle r ica l e rro r,
tli e law was 111ade to re;id m iners. T he inte nt of t he law
wa s too p la in to h e mi stake n, a nd in one of th e connt ies
of the S tate th e prosec uti ng attorn ey Lrong-h t stli t. again st
a s: il on 11 -k ccpcr fo r se llin g liq11 o r to min ors. Tn tl1e t ri al
of t h e case th e coun sel fo r th e defence put i u th e plea

UUAI'. XXV.)

PIWO F .

403

th a t th e act nn cl er whi ch th e act ion wa s broug h t c01 il d n ot
be appl ied to th e case iu q Hcsti v11 , :w ll 11 po n in vest igat ion
it was d iscovered t hat t he act, as it rc:id s, a pp l io;_;; to 111in c rs
a11 d n ot to min o rs. Tl 1e p rosec ut in g at to l'll c_r, li ower e r,
sccm e<l th e con vict ion of th e saloon-kee per , on t he g ro u11 <l
o:E th e iu tent of th e la w, rigl1tly lwldi ng t hat it m is plainl y
lll ca ut to p rolt iiJ it th e sale of li1111or to n1iu ors. T he ca se
''" as appealed .
(2) R e a d your P roo f .- I t is a cmi o ns fact that th e
average compos ito r 11· il1 dev ia te 111orc front pri nted tl1 an
f ro111 1rri l.te11 eopy , sl10 wing tl 1at a leg il1le 111:wu scrip t,
t l1 oug h nrnch , is not all t h at is r eq u ired . O ne can b etter
affo rd to i nsist upon see ing t lt c p roo f, a11 \l to col'l'ect it
ca refo ]J y, t it a n to h e t!i c viet i111 of Sll ClL Ulll lldet'S aS are
freq ne nt e ven i u ca refu ll y ed ited ll e \\'spnpers.
It is s::tid tL::tt :111 ell tire form of th e b st edition of the " E neyclop rl'di::t Britannic::t" lrntl t.o h e rqJl'i 11 tC'( l l 1ec::tnF<€' oft.h o n nnot.ice!l
d ropping of th e Jirnt t fr om t.11e last 1ronl in t11 e fo llowing sen ten cC' :
A pngc w ns t r :i.i nctl to l'C"C<' h ·c h is hrst r C'\rn.n l :rnd \\·n r st p1111 i sh 111r 11 t frnm Lh C' s1n i lf'

or f rrJW ll of t he lad y o r t he <'nsUc, n.n tl, ns he gr ew to 111a nh oorl , to d1f' ri sh a n nhsorllin g
Jll\ SR;o11 m; th e stro ngm;t ~ lim ul n s to a nobl e l i f\'. nrnl j.h f' ennl crnplati on u f fe111:ile v ir t 11 e1
a s c11 1Uodi ctl in an l soltlc o r a Dca tricc, n.s the tr n c ~ t ca rn e ~ t uf fn l.urc immortali ty .

'rhe fl owing r qiorter who \\To te, \\· it.Ji r derenco to a \Yell-known
u elle, " H er dn.in ty feet \\'Cl'C (' ll ('H.RC <l in sl1 oes fl in.t migh t h n.rn
h ee n tak en for fa iry l >oots," t.ie1l hi s 1rnnlrnl>e u p in hi 8 liau tlkercliief arn1 left for partR nnlm o\\·11 \\·lu•n it, app€'n.1·<'rl 1ho next morni ng : " H er dir ty fe et \\·ere e ncased i n slwes that migh t be taken
for [en y l1oats. "
]\[any c1orors O<' Cll l' l i,v tlio omi;;e<io11 o f a11 ini tial Jetter, a8 11·l1 <'rn
" Th e Polish irnmrg ent.s were d efeated wi th g reat laug h ter. " 'J'l1 e
c ntt,i ug off of a fin al lotter is rp1ite as ba<l, as, for in stance, " You
cannot fi gh t ::tgn,i m<t, the fn tn re ; T im is on onr s irl e." Ot her lettcrn are often d ropp ~ d , to tl1 e g r<' at a 11111so nw u t, o f tl1 nso " ·li o e11 joy
the indoli cat,e bl undorn o f th o typ o. A Sou ther n paper s:tyi:; :
Th e stea mer ca me to gri ef th ro ugh rn nu i ng heav il y in lo a 1·a t.

PREPARATION FOll THE PRESS.

[!:'ART IV.

0IIAP.

And another SouUtern prtper was obliged to apologi;;e and explain for having called l\fobile, to the gr ea t indignation of the inhrtbit.antR, "A great, coffee-pot," meaning· innocently enough "a
great coffee port."
Compositors make Rtrange work of scientific statements. I
sometimes fancy they are n ot altogether so innocent in this matter
as th ey wonlcl h:wc n s believe, a11tl tlmt tJH'Y corn pose sometimes
" with their tou g ne" very 111nch '' in their c heek." 'l'hey ::tre fond,
so far ris my own inlli vithrnl exp erien ce is concerned, of substitutin g '' co1nic " for '' cos1nil~,' 1 ' ' plant.R" for ''plane ts," '' hnn1an '
for " known," an<l in other ways m::tki 11 g lrnsh generally of my more
serious aJHl solemn s trrte.tnentR. 'fhe most remarkable clmnge
th e,y ernr arranged for m e " ·as one of whi ch I still retain "doennwntar,v evidence" in a proof of the little book on Rpect,roscopic
Analysh, which I wrot.e for tl1c Society for Promot.ing Uhri sti::tu.
Kuowletlge . Here the words which in the work itself rtppcar - as
they were certainl v written- " lin es, hand s, ::tml st.ria in th e violet
p:u't of i<pectrn," "~ere positively printed "links, Lontl8, a1nl stripes
for the violent kind of spectres."-Pnou'l'OH.
'l'he followiug, from 1lfocm'illan's JJ[agazine, are further specimens :

XXV.]

PRIN'rEilS' EimORS.

495

Here a variation on l\focauby :
And the red glnre on Sk id<law roused the burglars of Carlisle.

Another :
H crm ir,in s on black Auster,
Grave dwplain on g rave steed.

From a d escrip tion of a waterfall :
From ro<'k to rock, th n da.nt; ele11lwnt.
T...cnpR with 1lc>lirious Uotmd,

where, of course, "ele phant" is a varia lectio for " element."

1

When"! 1t•ctddli11g in a tiool of blood
Th e Ura\·c~t 'J'u r-;<·an " ln..,r,

where for "wadLlling" re::t<l "wallowing."
In ::t passage on ·William Hnfns occur the linesWho spacion s n•gio11 :5 gave,
A wai'iteful 7Je(l..'lt I

where the origin::tl has "a w::tste for Leasts."

lf ever two great men mi g ht seem during their whole lives to ha.ve moved in direct
op position, Milton and Jerry niv 1'ail01' were they.

A variation on Scott :
The wny was long, the wi nd wns cold,
The minstrel was infernal old.

Another on l\focaulay :
Hnnl by, afleshe on n block had lai il his vitt/e.~ down ,
Virginius caug ht the vittle.y up, :u1tl hid them in hb gown.
Florence De Laig11c, who recently pnblishcd some VfTSes o n" Antnm11 ' 1 in thcRc c olmnns, writes to ask, ''Who i-" rl' s po nsi !Jlc for the t;y pograph ic:i. l e rrors in the llawkeve t"
J:.can down here, F lorence, whi le \vc whi s per in your 1~ar: u - - i-h; nobody is . The
editor writes so plainl y that even n bli11d man ca n ~pell ont hi s \\·on.ls; the com poi:;itors
are college men who have ct! itcd papers of their own, nnd thC'y 1;ct HP the matter exactl y
ns it is written, ntlll <.!orrcct what mi sbkc~ the <'ditor mri.kC'A; tho proof-rea(lcr i!i a prof<' s ~or of rhetoric and philology in an lowa colkge. aml never rn:itle n 111i sL:ikc in hi R lifo j
n11d he co rrects what few mi stake s the compos itors may make; t he forenrn,n is n Gottingcn grml un.tc, who hn s nothing to do lmt to sec tha~ the n1nttc r is perfect when the
form s p;o down. There isn 1 t n. rni slakc in tile llmvl..:eye when it reac hes the press. But
we'll tell you, as a professional secret, Florence, liow the mi stakes crerp in. Th e pressman told th e manngcr, R.nd the mnn ngcr tohl ll A; it'A tile ink, Flo rPn cc, it" s the ilTk. \Vo
pa,v out tlwnsand s nut! thon~amls o f dollars n yPar for good ink, and we c:rn ·1, g-et n11 arti c le that won•t fairly measle the paper with typographical c rrors.''-Burlington Ila w l.:cye.

No triumph 011fil1ctl that h;u1ghty J1row11,

only differR from t.he origiml by the capital aml the addition of
the fln::tl lette r to the last word.
In a reprint of "Lord Ullin's Daughter" occurs this curious
reading:
Com e lmck ! he cr ied in Greek,
Acro~f'I the stormy water.

H ere is a new version of Scott :
He iR gnnc 011 the monntain,
Uc is \o$;t to thl' forest~
Like a i-;11urnH~ r - dricrl fonntnin,

When our need wns the

.~aw

clust.

:i\Iany of the Llunders of the pre:;:,; are of the wrt whid1 oue
might suppose would Le corrected uy the most carele::;s co111po::;itor
a nd would certainly be detected by the most ordinary of proofreaders. Perhaps this is one reason why these errors appear so
amusing. Not long since th e Ilril.ish pnhlin wi; rn m1ifi ot11i_y tho
interesting informat,ion that twenty -five Russian rncu-of-war were
proceeding to tl1e Black Se::t " to take p::trt in the1rntumn man amvres next summer." Of a like sort was the annonncement that
Beethoven's pastoral symphony wonl<l "be performed ::it the l\fonday Popular Concerts next Saturday." So also the statement tlrnt

11

!I
'

,,

PREPARATION FOR THE PRESS.

[PART

"on one day of last ·week a hundred and forty d eaths b y cholera
occurred in Naples in f or ty-eight honrs." An oth er country newHpap cr in En gla11Ll apologizccl for a :;li ght error in a previous issu e,
iu whi ch it \\·as stated: " l\'.Iuch r egret is felt at, the d eath of Councilman Cooper, who was seventy-eight year s of age, aml has Leen
a m emh cr o f th e council. for o-ver eight.If y ear.<." So again:
" No w paper was first rn a<lc of li nen in 1300. J ,in en w'1.s fi rs t.
m ad e i n 1GG3. but t he in troLl uction of cotton, e te."
That editor sh ould take th e Scotchman's advice "to buy a ba~
of dates and swall ow the seecls."

l•: vf'11 n1nr0 0 xa;:;p Prn.ti11 g are e rrorn rP-srilt:i11 g from \vh at
some prcs11111pt11 ous co1t1positor or proo:E-r ea<l er supposes to
lH ~ 1·<11 -r 1·r · i i11ri:...:

,,r t·1T 111 ·:--:

li\'

CHAP.

IV.

1ip · ;11dh1 1r.

Freeumu\; l1i0Lu L·ic;al c0,,a_1s 1vcre uurnn d c,1 rnorc or less b)- the
P.clit.ors thro n g h whose l1:wcls th11y pass1~ tl for p ublication in th o
H.m· imrn. For h ook-p ubli ca ti on . .Mr. l<'l'cc m:rn h as r es tored the
ori g inal r <''11lin g . E :rn.111pl 1<r> : Edi tor Ev crv rcu e wed i110l:.Lu ec .
.J:'reem an- J:i1·cry fros h instan ce. E cl. - The Tttrks wer e ex1Jelle.J.
F. - Th n Tnrk 'l w e re t1ri1·f' n 0 11 t. JO:d.-.Nevcr -..vrrs Gr eece eit l1er

A11 cmi nc n t FrC'11 c h ph ilolog icn. I w r ilc r. w h f' n nccu f':e<l o f violati n q h i~ow n prin ciplcRo f
ort h og ra ph y in o n e of h is pri n ted c i::sn.p ; 1 l.hn s rc pli CR : H It was rl f\ t l thnt pri n ted m y CR" RY,
i t was i\fr. D iLlot. Now M r. D i1lot. I con fc s.c; i t wi t h pain . iR no r, o f m y opi ni on w it h r r.irn rd
to th e sp elli11 i:: 0 f cc rl,a in plnrnl R, :tnll l ca nn ot ob lige him to print ug nin s t hi R con sc ie n ce
nn :l hnlli t ~ . Yo n knn w tlmt e ve ry pri11 t i11 g ufli cc has itR rul es, it" fi xccl "y i-:;tc> m , from wh ich
it wi lJ
1·o n i;;f' 11 t t o 11.-' pn r t.. F o r c xnmpl C', [think th e prc -·e u l; l-'.)'Hlc 111 o f p1u1 d1 1nUo n
tl f'te ~ l .nhl c , h c c :i. u ~ c th e p o in t ~ an~ nrnlt.i pli f' tl lo a rid icn lntHi c xcc"'P-.
\Veil , I nttc mp t to
prov e thi s by prcc.:l'p t aml 1·.xnrnl'i e, 111111 t..li c vt·ry prinl e r~ whl1 publi sh m y :v·gum en t ~c l\t­
tc-r p o int,<> O\' f' r it rt.!' jf th ey .\\'l'rc 1->h a.k c11 nu t o f n pc ppc r -h() X. It iti t.h eir way . 'Vhnt
won Id yo u h ave? T h ey w ill prin t my theory only o n cond ition t hnt I w ill su bmit to th eir
4

not

vrnctice.''- 1\·f Ans n.

Finail y , tliel.:fl is th e chance of wh oie lin es being misplaced in the transferring of the type from the "gall ey"
to th e pn µ;e . N ot till th e press is fairl y at work can the
author be sure that hi s essay will appear as he wrote it.

49i

CORRECTING PllOOF.

A ludicrous transp osition occurred in th e mak e-up of a coupl e
of telegraphic i te ms in the New H aven J ourn"l n n d Co 11rim· recently, which produced the follo wing e ffect: Tito firnt ite lll read,
"A large cast-iron wheel, re volving 900 tim es p e r rnini.1tc, exploded in that city ycs tcnlay ri fter a Jong and p:i.infn l illn ess.
Deceasctl w as a prominent Tltid.y-scco nrl rlcg rcc 1\fason." T his
WllS f n ]] nwN1 hy t.h o SC'COHCJ j trom. w hi f'.lJ r rorrrl '.

",Tn ]rn T<'rt <l rlron ,

th e \\" t,JJ .Jrnuw n ilmic;t a 11 d real e s ta te 1Jr uker of .\<e1\ 1iu r t. 1: . 1..
- j

died in \\"a1·.J11 ., r & l{11 ssP ll 's

j

Satu rd ::ty, d oing

..,_.,,
j

i
i

s 11 ~.uu·-111ill. at. ( '. r1·s i:1I

~H,001) <hmagr'

La l« ·. 111. , ''"

to th e l i nil rli n~, :wrl injuri11g

sc>·-

eml workmen and Lorenzo Wil cox fat::t!ly. " -JJuston i'osi.
HOW TO CO H.REC'l' l'JW OF.

T h0 fnl lm 1·in~ rl1'0 t li0 <' 11i0 F n il r• -: ,, j,,,.1·1 «<!. ~ 1 1 1 d

uc;ud, liy I 'ri11lt;r,; i11

""1T e • · L i11 ~ 1•r .. ,, J".- f',,1 · 1],,, j•r· · ~,, :
liP n1ad r~

1. N o alt. e rati n n s hould

iJ p f,\ n •1•11

t.!H•

Ji1H' S

'riii (· li lia:-;

11nt

ii

sornP 1nar k npp n<:: it 0 it in t i H' in :1rg i 11~ t n :i t tr :1d t !i 1' ·p ri 11 1, ,r· ::: ,~ y i •

2.

- i;
j

Ecl. --Tli e ], i11<l u.f gu vun11mm t cHtablisheL1. F. - Tl1 e kind o f 1-(0 l' r r nm r n t 1rl1i r' h Wfl '' ,,,,r 11 p . '!'hi • i< n c-00 rl ]p~q 0n nf h • t P in
ch oice of word s. Further than that, in one or twu iu ~ Lauc;e s, the
m eanin g is n ot as preci,ely given by th e editor as Ly the auth or.

XXV.J

i 11 ~t rn d i n n s r n tlt i' pr i n tr ' r ~d 1 1 1 1r ! 11 h11 ' ' l lf'in< »d \Y it iiin :1 1·irr ·l1 ':

:i

\ 11

ri.i ~ Un _s u.i s h

t h c n1 fr0n1 :v l d i t ion::: t t1 t h e proof
:-L \Vh e n :i _p oin t , Je tte r, o r 1o;-n r d is T () 1: 1·: <·11. \ ~1 ;r:n . 1l r:1: .o;- t!H 1 p 1 1 J1
tlir o 11 g li i t , and writ e tlH• 11 11w poiiit , ],,tt.'r~ o r w o rd / 11 //i, 111111 ·!;/11 . ( .....:.. i ·1'
..:'\ os. L :-,. a n d Ii. ; "

4. "\Yl1 l.' ll
tflf--> lll :lrQ" ill ,

poi111 :-; ~ lt ~t t.i • I"...;~

tJI" \\Ol"il:-;

a re Tl.I Bl •; l 1\ :-'l •;H Tl ·; 11 , \\l'ii ..

rtll 1l

mn r k a r' l ' ."1 ' ( l :. ~ :1t t !i n fil :u· 1•
(8ee XPS. ~ . l (i. 1!l , 2-0. a.H1 l j2.2 . )

.1
1

j lw111 Ill

~ rfl !' l' C j JI('\. :l!' C to j 1, , 1ntr11 ··

d ucod.
.
!3. Jn the case of qnota.ti on 1n:trks, astl•ri sks, or apos.trophPs, which
are TO Jm

I NREH'l'ET\

a c 11 r l' e sl 10 11l<l b e d rawn 1111rle r th e m, tl1n s ··

(See Nos. 24, 30, 31, 83, H4,

~

37. )

and

6. In t h e c a s e o f a p e rio <l To i m 1Ns1mT1-~ 1i, il s h o 11l <l be pl :we .1 in th e
marg in 1nithili r1, d rrle 8 , othtH'ffi Ke it mi ght. l1n nv e rloolrn cl. (Rnn N o. 2!l.)

"7.

"\Vl1 u n

:L

p o int, l e tte r , or w o nl j s

the p e n throug h it., arnl write
il5, and HG.)

8. Letters or wo rds placetl
b etween
!)_

th e 111~ a rul a

Letters

,q p(f.f'P-

&,/

TOO

(~ )

altoge tlu•r , dr3.W

(Ree N os.

c1.osE shoul <l ha,·e a

1u a rk e cl in tl1 n 111 :1 rg in

:1, ? '\,

s tr o k e draw n

(SP. P Xo

~i.)

TOO FAH SEl ' AltAT E ll s lioul•l l>n joi11 e 1[ by c11rv es ( ::::: ), anrl

have c urv es m a rke d in the marg in.

*

Tu Bl ·: (J:\llTTl •:n

(1lele) in f.hr_• marg in.

(See No. 12. )

Th r~c NoR. r cfrr to th e numbe r s of th e correct ions in th e
Proof,,, e tc ., on page 499.

11

Ex nmpfo of ft.n Anth o 1" 8

I

I

498

PB.EPARATION FOit

nm

PHESS

[PAUT

IV.

10. " ' h en two paragra.phs are TO BP: CO N.TOIN E P, dra.w a curved lin e
from th e ernl of the one to the beg inning of the oth er, and write in the
margin, "r11 n on." (Ree N o. 7.)
11. When a se nte nce in the body of a paragraph is TO BF.GIN A NF.w
PA ltAOltAl'll, drnw a s•1uare brncket ( [ ) rournl th e first lette r of it, ancl
write in the margin, JY.P. (n ew p aragrapli). (See No. 1.1.)
12 . 'Vhe n a word in itali cs is To .Im l'HINTF.D TN ItOMAN, nnderli ne
it, and write rom . in th e 111arg i11 . (See No . 8.)
1il. ""h e n a word in r oman is To Jm J ' llIN 'J'J<: D IN ITALICS, underlin e
it, and write 'ff,fl. in the margin·. (See No. 10.)
14. Wh e n a word is T<> rm l'HTN'l' ED JN s ~rAT,L CAPITALS, draw a
tlo uu le line nnd er it , a nd write 811 1. rr171. in th e m argi n. (See No. 18.)
Hi. When a le t.tor or wo1·d is TO BE Pltf N'l'l•: n I N CA!'J'l'ALR, drnw a
tripl e lino und e r it, and write '"'JlR. in th e marg in. (See No. :.'3. )
1fi. " ' h Pn a word in r.apitals or small c-apitals is TO HP. PlllN TED I N
R> TAI .L r,1•:'f"1'1•: HR, 11n<1 Arli11 e it, :t1Hl write i11 th o 1n:trg i11 , l. f' . (' 'l owe r
case," th e "case" in which ca.pit.al s are kept being above tl1e other).
(Ree No. 2 1. )
17. Wh en a l ette r is in se rt.Pd U P SlDE DOWN , draw a line tmcl er it,
and mak e a reYe rse 9/ in tl1 n rnarg in. (See No. n.)
18. Whe n a d e le t.,cl worrl is TO HE ltP.TArNEn, draw a dotted lin e
t1111l e r it, an cl 1n-ite .!I r ! (le t it stanrl ) in the marg in. (See Xo. 13.)
1!l. " ' h on a Rl'AClc~ RTT CK R I JT' betwee n two words, it is noticed by a
stroke in tl1 e 1uargin. (SAe No. 14.)
20. Wh e n a lin e s11o u 1,n HE INll'"N'l.'1m, put a S<Jlrnr e bracket at the
point wlc e re th e Ji11 e sh ou ld b egi11, and write -in~'cn t in tl1 e margin.
(Sec No. ·17.)
2 1. Wh en a letter of a rnP'Flc H RNT CHAHA C'l' lcR h as got into a "·ord, a
lin e sl could be rlrawn under it., ai1d 10.f. (wrnng font) marked in the
margii1. (Ree No . 2fi.)
22. 'Vh c n two letters are TO 1m 'l'!lAN SP os rnn, drnw a short lin e nnder
th e m, and 1nih< II'. in th e margin . (See No 28.)
2B. 'Vh e n two or Jnore wo rd s a.re T O Bl·~ 'l'H. A N~POSED, draw a. c ur ved
lin e alrove th e fir st. a nd below th e second , and write t r . in the marg in.
(See Nos . 1!) a n•l 27. )
24. Wh Pn le tte rs or lin es st~nd CltOOJmD on IRREGULAH, draw Jines
auove a n1l lJe low th em. (See No. 32 . )
2;). \Vh pn a secon1l proof, in eorp oratin g first corrections, is wanted ,
write !?l'l iRr' on th e upper corn e r : " ' li en n o s nch proof is wanted, and
it is n·ady to Le printed off, write P!'C.!8 on the tqi p er corner.

C HAP.

XXV.]

4H!)

COB.REC T ING PB.001<'.

. ] cs O Lc ,an Author's· Proo f, with tl1 .e. marks
for
]~<..xamp
.~
mak in g Corrections and Alterations, accordrng to hules
dated on pages 4H1, 498.
Popu1ar glory js a pcrfo t coquette ; . her lovers must
.·
toil feel' every' inquietude,I i rnlnlgejcvory capuce
ami
11
·
·
·
l
"
·
perkqis at last bo Jilted wttlt the 1ar0 a11:/

I

'

2

cf

"

r JV
•'If'~1
-

1

3

into/

0

(True g lory, on th o oth er hancl, r cr.ombles a wonrnn of
no 8 rvm./.
sense : h er- admirers must p1"Y n o t u.· c3.s .• they
· , fool
.

1

9

,

t

•

nm on/
91
1

g reat anxi ety, for t h ey arc sure in ~of b crng reital.(
11
orded
in
woportion
to
lheir
m
erit.
[l
know
not
h
ow
N
.I'.J,
W
1
"
·~
cl f
,, ,-..../
to turn .so trite a su1:.__) cct out of tho beaten : on' o >3
---:._
. ]nee except b y illu stratin g it, rnther)i) th e stet./
I
~ P" ' .
.
.
l " I
.· t·····c·e ofm,·(J·ucl "~ t.han my r;;,:;;:;;-ury , and mstea<
tr.
3SSIS an
J
0
O C lll~" · ~·~'
·' " l/
fl
nJ-·in" r e Uections b y t.clin g u sto ry.
f
m
o
,, , o
"
I
f 11 . l t/
A [ Chin ese who hatl Jong s tucli ccl tho wor rn o " inc.en I
'
t
ti
ncl word s aucl could 19 sin . caps.
Confucius,-wbn kuew fo ur cen 'wu sa
.'
fllh ec/;araatcrs of
:-"t
pnrt
of
:Ver'-'"
book
that
cam
e 11 lns way, once
.~u/ f\in/
reac1 a g re,, "
J
1
. .
h" 1 , d to travel into F,urw<'•\ ancl ouscnc - l.c.
t ook 1t mto is 18,t ·
'
-.
tho customs of a peoplt;_ Jn th e arts of refrn1n g l1po.11
"cu
" ::::,
"
1Jpou hi s arrival a t 3 1nslcnlam, Ins
'P·f
~ g.,
l
every p eli.,ure.
=
I .,
o; o
.
f l etters ·naturally kcl lcim to a br,oksolle ~s l " .!- - '
. " ;!·
passi on or
~o.
li!Jlo I
. ·11 oo · ' / "' t / c G'
h .
cl s h o coc1lcl speak ]Jutch ~ te c1v1 y WJ· . r. ,,_ ~
s op. an a
.
.
t
20
I
o;· g1r
a sk ccl tl~ bookseller for tho worlrs ~ th o 11nmor a1
"'
0
llixifou
Th e b ookseller o.ss ure<l hi m h e h ad Hevor ••
§~
10

0

Jj

h eard

t~e

0

~ §.

bcok m en tioned b efore. " W hat! l mve you
of th at immortal poct, 11returnetl the olher, ao 11!!./
d
n ever h car
·
f ,1
(
d th ' t lig ht of the eyes ' that favou nto o,,,..--- fl!:.,,..---.
1
n1uc l surpn se ,f\ a.

~§-

kin gs , th at r ose of perfoction l I suppose you :mow ~ " ,,...-thin g of t.h e immortal F ipsih ihi, sGcond cousm to~
,,,--''
·"
"
Nothin"'
ut
all
i
mlcecl,
sir,"
re~u.rned
tho
I
JllOO ll r
~
o
:J:J
/ a\\ · ''
"Alas
'"
cries
our
traveller./\
lo
wh
a
t
purposo
,
/\~
f\ti
o , 1er.
,· ·
,,
to cleath ' aml th e oth er
t 1ien Irns one o f these
· f~1astcrl
·
. e>
o!fer erl him hi mself up as a sacrifice to tho Tartarcan 30
ain a renown which has never lnwellecl b~~
enemy t o g
sr r. :.:./
J'Olld the rrecincts of. Cltiua I\

y'

<J/

&

~ ~
..
~ ~

§_

500

l'ItEPAitA'l'lON l"Olt THE PRESS.

[PART IV.

Th o A uth or's Proof after tl1 c co r rection s marked on
page 4!)!) ha \"t) bcc 11 w ade :
P op11l ar glM.r is a iw rf'ect co•piet.to ; h 0r lo v0rs m11 ;;t toi l, fr pl every
iwFii Pt11<l •', i11 1l 11lge l'l"e ry caprir·e, an•l pnli:t ps n.t last " " j il tud int.o
th< · l1aq. ~·:t i11 .

'L'r11 0 g lory,

011

tho othnr

l1 :t1Hl ,

r esc111hl us a wolll a.n of

~ c 11 s 1 ~ : ii <·r n1 llnil'e rs _111u st ll l:t.r _11 0 tri ck::; ; they fee l uo g rt•at a n x iety, f or
fil l 'Y :1 n· ~ lll' U

iii l/u • ('/Id

I k11n w 11 ot. l 1ow

ti)

or

Unin g re wa rd e(l i11 ·p1'(1po rli o11 t.n tl1 pir lll Ul'it.

SI) tri!P a s 11b~ect 0 11 f, of tl1t· l 11•a.ti!11
roaa of
hy i ll 1 1 s trati 11 ~ it, rathP r h_,. t lH• ass isfanf' e n l_' 111 .r

t 11r11

C n AP. XXV .]

EGO l'lSM.

50 1

'rlrns, we would n ot say, "Yon, l\Iary, s hall <l ot.hi s yourselves,"
nor should the editorial writer say, " \ Ve onrse h es made tho
tenth. " 'rhe sentences s h o uld l.J e : "Yon, l\fary, s h a ll do this
yourself," " \Ve ourself matl e t h e t enth."
Cmr ect the following :
The jwlgc is a g- l orio 11 ~ sa ilor as well as ju ri st, a.nd we wonhl g ladly trnst our li ves wi th
Jd m on t he most dangero us 8Cn.R. - .N ew Y01 ·k Stancfm'cl .

lJy tell -

A Li tt.le h ook o f i11 fu r1n atio n for foreign trnvcllc rs , issn od b y
E. l\L J e nkins , collta ins tl1i s so 11tc n cc:

;\ C J1i11 nso 'r l 10 li :td !1111 .~ sl11d it' il the \rorks of: CnNFll<' I U:-·:, w l10 kn ew

A rP1n edy rccommcrnl<'d hy man y, arnl t horoug hly bclicvc1 l in by our w ife, is a mixt u re o f g lycerin e an(l coll odi o11.

f'(ll!111101 1

pl:w c.·,

t'X<' <• p t

J11 f'•1nory tl1a11 n1 y j 11d g 1111>11f 1 and i11 ~ tl •:u l of 1naki11g rell eet ions

in g n sfory .

th o c· l1 a r" d" rs

o[

fo11ri 1'"" thnu s:uul 1rnrds, :tnil r:o ul 1l rcn.1! a g reat part.

of e\·1, ry l 1ook flint, 1·: 1111 1• i11 lii s wny ,

f'HH'L'

into E11r o pt> , a 11d n h~ · · n· p 1li1 · 1·1 1:-:t orn s

\ nry

t1111 1· li

i11 ~·c r inr

f' \' Pl l

upo n Pn' r..r pl1•as11r1 •.

to hi s

on-11

or

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took it. in to li is li (•:td to trav el

I H~ op l (• wli o 1n l1 u tl1011 ~ iiL li nt

co11 11 t ry m e 11 in t.111~ art s of r P li n i11 g

U po n ]ii s arri\·al at A111 st(l rd a.111 , lii ~ pass ion fo l'

lett .. rs 11 at11rally i<'< l 11 i111 to :t li0<1lrn1' ll cr·s sh op: :1111 l a.s· li e ~ou l 1 l speak
:t li ttl0 1>11f ch, li e ei1·i ll v "' '"''l the J.nolu;e ll 1• r fo r th e wo rk s of' tho i111l n (1 rfal lli x ii'o11.

'1'111 • l 1n(1ks.1 •l! Pr ass 11n d l1i111 111"3 lu-t1l ~10,·p 1· hea rd tl1 e
1

l>oo k 1111• 11 tio11 01l hdon• . " \\"h n.t ! h an, .ro11 11 01·e r IH' nrd of t.11 at im 1110rla. l pol't ," r <'lt11·11 p d t1 1e ot her, mu ch s11rpri se1l, " that lig ht of th e
ey es, fl1 "t f'avo1·it" nl" ki11 f!s, th at "''"~ o f p ~ rf"i·c tio11' ] s nppnse yo u
k 11 p\\· not lii11 g nl' 1li c i nun orta.I Fip~ ilii l1 i. SPCOtl<l cousi n to LiH' 111 0011 ? "

"No llii11 g at, :il l i11 dnt>d, ~ ir, ., 1·etur11C>1l tl 1(' ot11Pr .

"A l a~!

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tri(·~ our

t.rnv e llPr, "t.o 11·1i at. l'""l'"se th Lm li:is 011 e o f thuse fasted t11 <l<':tt li , a11 d
th e ot her offon•1! him self 11p ns a sar. rifi ce to tl 10 ·i·nrfarea 11 <'<1 e111 ,· to
gain a re now 11 1\"ltic!t lrns ne1· cr trn1·e l le1l ueyon<l t li e proci 11 cts of <'hi ;1a."

(3 ) Avoid Egotism. - ln cc rta ill ki nrl s of' newspape r a rti cles, espec ially p e rsonal a ll II Ii tc ra ry eriti cisni s,
tl1 c re h as la t·e ly 1Jcc 11 a growin g nJfedat io11 of t: li c nsc of
-" [ "and " Il le" n11rl " lll J," in stead o f t]1 c " \\" C "a11d " 11 8"
and "o nr " l 1ii-.l1 c rto ge 11 P-rally adopted by editors. At
presen t i t sec111 s a ll affectat ion, and in 11 cwspapc r wo rk is
not h) he r ecnrum e ll ded, espec iall ,1' to young wri ters. B ut
in 11 f' in g t h e " we., ca re rnn st be taken :
(a) Not to exte nd the plu ral use beyo nd th e possess ive.

I

(b) To a void a rnbi g no ns expressions.

Tli is reminds o ne of the l\lrs. Brnw n asking for cr ed it. a t a clrygnoll s s tore, who, whP11 l1 Pr ll• ~ 11H1 wn.s 11 o f·, r<'cog11 i zerl hy tl1 c cfork ,
said , 11-ith scarcely justifiabl e olJ i psis, " \ Vli y , llo11 't yo n know m o?
I am T ompkins & Brow n's 1rife."

(c) To use th o "we" o nl y in 11cwspape r a r t.ides of an
editori al ch aracter.
Even n e wspaper l ettern arc now writ.t<m connnnnl y in the siu g nhr, whi le in b ook s, essays, sN1111J11 s, n.11 cl pnl>lic a<l<lrci-;sos tho l1cs t
n sage is prononnce d l ~, in fa vor o f tile s in g ular form , wh e n t.h f'
n.nthor sp eak s of hi m self a par t, from hi s roacl ern. T h is last. r1nali1iration is n ecessary, b ecan so i 11 mus t. i 11sta11 ees \Yh Pro t h e p ro n o n.n
is iu the first p erso n t h o a n t h or i s ca ri.J in g aloll g hi s arnli c ncc 1rit h
him, or speakin g o f g e nernl u sage. 'l'ltn s \\·e slwul1l say " I h:iYe
b een l ed to g ive s pecial stml,v to this s niJj cct," 11· lt pre t.h e refere n ce is manifest ly to t h e s p eak er as an iml iYi<1 nal ; hut "\rn
sh ould say," as at the b eginnin g of t hi s senten ce, wh ere th e m eanin g is that an y intelligent pernon wonltl say so.

(cl) Make as few.refere11 ces to yo urself as possibl e.
lu narration of wlm t one

l rn~

<lo ne or seen , on e nrnst speak o f
one's i-;elf, and sh ouhl do it n a tn rnJJ y and un affectedly (see pages
140, 142, 145, HJ7); sometim es vivitln ess is added to an illustrat ion or an anecdote by mentiollin g tl1c speak er 's part in it; lmt as
a gen era.I rule, statem en ts and argnm onts should b e cas t in imp e rs onttl form . T h e writ er sh ou ld uim to fix the r eader's at_t ~n_t:\.Q.lli.
on th e t h ough t, not on himself.

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PRE PARAT ION FOR THE PRESS.

[PA HT IV.

(4 ) Do not be D iscourag ed by R ebu ffs. Probably m ost experieneed writ ers 1rnuld adv ise a yo nng
p e rso n Hot to w ri te fo r p ul1li cat.i o 11 , beli ev ing tl1 at 11ill e ty 11in e of e r er •)1 h11mlred 1rill 1rri t.e 11 oth in w!.t \YOr th 1·end i1 wU '
a nd t.li at. th e hn1Hlred tli will he so inqw l.l ed to wr ite th at
n o d isco uragen1e n t w ill pre ve n t l1 i1 11 . A nd it lll ay he Fa.id
\r itl1on t q ualifi ca t.io n t hat for gettill g a lirnlil w od al11J ost
c1·ery ot.l1 cr fi e ld offe rs 111 nre imlu cenients th a n li tern tme.
111 t l1 e fi rs t pl:i ce, i t is d iffi c~ 11 lt to ge t st.ar t:ed , as \r it 11 ess
t li e c x pc ri cmce to ld on p:1 ges SS, 8!); and , i11 t l1 e secon d
p lace, tJi e lll C)J) ey r mrn riJ in t iJ e hig h e r \nt lk s Ot Ji ter at ure
bea rs 11 0 p rup ort iuu to tl1 at at ta i11 ed fo r co rresp ondi ng
c n1in e 11 co in oth e r voc. ation s. Th e profess io nal li te ra ry
rn a n is usua ll y a :fo ili 1rr, lrn t timls 11 0 g reat p ri zes a wa it ing
l1 i1 11 if' li e h ap p en s to s11 cceed .
i:',q 0 11 u 111i g l1 t IH' tt:e r h oc c·.orn r>r 11 1ake ho n11 ets tl1 a n
w ri te p <•e n1 s fo r a li v ing; h1 1t it dues not fo llo w t h a t 011 u
\Yl1 0 l1 ns tastes in tl 1at direet io n sli u nld n o t e xe rcise tl1e11J
i n 1rri t i1 1g , a nd t.es t t.l1 en1 in try ing to ge t t l1 e \\Ti t in g in to
p ri n t.. :Ko r sl1ould t he fac t t l1at a doze n edi to rs d eclin e it
111 ak e t h e a11 tl1 or asli a 111 e(l to o ffer tl1 e 11rn1111 sc rip t to a
tl1ir tce n th . TTs11 al ly it " ·ill lJe well lie f'o 1·e offe rin g i t to
a 11 y p11lJli sl1 er t n gn t o a fr ie ml wl1 o~e j11 dg 1n e11t a nd ' Yl1 ose
frn.nkn ess cnn lie t ru sted , a11d lie s 11 rc oE l1 is i11d or se n1 ent
hr. fo re i t is o ffo red at a ll ; ln1t i f it. is rn 11 el1 ed fo r e 111 ph at ic·a ll y hy son1 e o ne 1rli o ouµ: li t t·o k 11 uw 1r li :1t is wo rth pr in tin g, d o11 't let y om lig h t. g o ou t b eca 11 se tl1 e edito r oE tl1 c
,r. .,·,j llrl8l1 tomn lfttyle or of tl 1e ! 'ac~fic H eview d eclin es i t.
K eep try in g , k ee p try ing; b nt in t h e m eantime d on ' t Je t
y our bread a nd b11 tt er b e dep en den t 011 it.
A corresponden t of t he 1Josto11 Transcript tells ah out James
H nssell Lowell 's playing a joke upon t.110 , ltlrmtic. Ile \\Tote an
arti cl e callefl t he "F,ssence of American Humor," which was said

CHAP.

XXV.]

COPYlUGHTS.

503

by friends to whom h e r ead it to be mnong the b es t of Ids writin gs. "He employed some one t o copy it, " says the correspondent, "and signed it 'IV. P errJ P aine,' aml sent it to t he A tl~tnlic,
with t he req uest t hat, as it was a rnniLlen effort, the ed itor wonlcl
g ive an opiuion in writing to saicl I'aine. H e wnitell a for tni g ht,
lrn t hear d nothin g from his pape r, whou, being i n Boston, h e
dropped into tlw ofli ce of th o / l/./rw t-ic, a nd, meetin g Jrtm cs •r.
Fields, adroitly turned t he cmw ersation u pon hnm or, aml remarked
it was sing ular so little was written upon the sn bjec t.. Fields replied, ' W e get a great deal of manuscript on humor, lmt it is so
p oor that we cannot . use it. I th rew into t.he was to-hasket t;l.10
other da.Y rt loug screed christened th o " Esse nce of Arnerican
H um or, " which shonld h ave been styled t he " Essm1ce of Nonsense, " for a m ore ab surcl far rngo of slnff I have never soon .'
L owell , mnch to t he surprise of the editor, lnust into a roar of
laug h te r ancl informed i\'I r. Fi ekls of th e aut h orship of the arti cle.
T h e edi tor tu rned all colors a n<l swore it was one of L owell's jokes.
'Indeed it is,' responded Lowell, 'and the b es t joke I ever played .
I neve r though t, hi g hly of my scr ibbling, b ut, I <li<ln 't believe it
was the most r i(li eulons farrago of stuff yon had orn r seen.' D.Y
way of self-defence, F ield" tleclared h e did not read tl1 e thin g, bn t
Umt h e d id not b elieve t.h at a rn an wh o sign ed his fi rn t name \\·it,h
an initial and th o secon d fu ll co uld write for th e _, l/lrmtir·. That
was ab out as ingenious an excuse as he co uld m ak e for his
par tiality."

(5 ) Copyrights a re eas ily olJta in ed . I t is onl y necessary (a) to h ave p ri n ted ll}J Oll a sh eet of pap er tl1 e t itle of
t h e ar t icle o r b ook , (7>) to fo rwa rd tli e sa 111 e to " Th e
L ibrarian of Congr ess, \Vasli i11gto11 , D. C.," (c) em '. ]osin g
on e d oll a r (w!te renp on t h e copy rig l1 t w ill be e nte red a nd
a copy sen t yon), and ti. na.J ly, 'r!te 11 th e a r ticle or book is
p u blish ed, ((Z) to send h rn cop ies to t h e L i brari a n, fo r
d eposit in th e L ibra ry at Vvashin g ton. A copy ri g l1 t tltn i:;
secured is v alid fo r twen ty -eig h t yea rs, an d may t h en b e
ren ewed fo r anot h er fou rteeu.

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