PRACTICAL RHETORIC

A COMPLETE AND PRACTICAL DISCUSSION OF

CAPITAL LETTERS, PUNCTUATION

mitg topious

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a:t"b lo:tslrod'.cn:.

BY

ALB~RT

,N. RAUB, A.M., Pn.D.,

EX-PRESIDENT OF DELAWARE COLLEGE, AND AUTHOR OP'" LF•.,,..,lSS 1:-i ~G­
LISH,"" PaAc11CAL ENGLI:s11 GKAM!>IAP.," "STt'Dl eS IN EsGLISH

Ln t:1tATt:1:f:,"

A.ND Aln:it1CAN

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PHILAJ)ELPHIA :

RAUB &

CO.

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PREFACE.

f"l 1..- "°(

object :nimea nt in the prepnratioti of this work
has been to compile a treatise on the subject of Rhetoric
and Composition _that may lay claim to being wholly
·-practical and te~chable.
_ Th~t mnny who ·have pursued the theoretical study
of Rhetoric have foiled to make practical use of their
knowledge is a fact to be deplored. The object of rhetorical teaching is twofold: first, that of securing to the
student ease, grace, fluency, and correctness of composition; and, secondly, that of enabling him to discern,
appreciate! nnd enjoy the beauties of ·thought and lanTHE

Copyright, 1887,

··-

BY ALBERT N. RAUB.

I

guage th at may be gleaneJ from literary fi eid.s. The
first of these objects may be attained by th e stuJy of

correct principles, by the selection and criticism of
appror1riate exau1 ples. arHJ lay t};e frequent construction of sentences in illustration of the principles studied.
The second object may be attained by the application of
grammatical and rhetorical principles in the critical
study of literary masterpieces, as indicated on page 31 G
of this work.
It matters little how much theoretical discussion may
be given to the subject of Rhetoric; unless the student
apply the principles of the science as he learns them,
the results of the work will be meagre and uusatisfactory. For this reason each topic or principle discussed
s

•

PREFA OE.

4

in this work is followed by copious exercises for practice.
Nor does the author limit these exercises to selections
alone. Criticisms of faulty expressions are required, na
well as the construction of sentences, figures, etc., which
make a practical application of the principles stated.
Special attention has been given to punctuation and
oth~r essentials, because they are the subjects whose
principles the student will have occasion to apply most
frequently in his own composition.
In Rhetoric proper the subject is discussed logically
under the topics \Vords, Sentences, Paragraphs, and Figurative Language, but it has not been thought necessary
to give practice in the construction of simple, complex,
and compound sentences, as this is the province of
Grammar, and should be completed before the subject
of Rhetoric is presented.
The Author lays no claim to recent discoveries in the
field of Rhetoric; he has simply tried to arrange the
materials at hand in such a manner as to make this
treati1m interesting and practical as a text-book. Nothii1g is buggesteJ that lHiS i1ot firot 1JeBll W&tc(1 i11 t1H)
crucible of class experience. He hopes thnt tenchen. will find the work commendable because of its
eminently

A. N.R.
NEWARK, DEL.,}
July 1,

1887~

C 0 N TEN'l'S.
~ ·

..
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.;;

9

CA.PIT A.L LETTERS • •
··~

-

_.;-!'.-::

i:'UNCTUATJON · .~
The Period . . , ~~ • •
The Comma .·· . "".
. The Semicolon .... . i •
The Colon • • • • , •
The Interrogation Point
The Exclamation Point .
The Dash . • . . • •
Marks of Parenthesis •
Quotation Marks .
The Hypheu . . •

17
18
20
32
37
40
41
43
47
48
50

• • •

er,
U<J

55
57
60
67

LETTER-WRITING .
The Heading . • • •
The Introduction .
The Bo<ly of the Letter
The Conclusion . .
The Superscription .•
Letter Models . . . •
Acceptances and Regreta .

68

72
78
80
93
95

RHETORIC.
STYLE • • •

96
98

DICTION •

Purity.
Propriety
Preciaion

• 104

• 114
I

-

__

____ ,., ...

· CONTENTS.

CONTENTS.

6

~.HW

.120
. . . • 120 .
•• 123

SENTENCES. • •

Kinds of Sentences
CleameSB

• 139
• 151

Strength .•
Unity ••
Harmony
Solecisms

155

169
180

PARAGRAFIIINO

FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE

"'

Simile ••
Metaphor
Personification
Allegory ••
Metonymy.
Syneodoche
Exclamation
Hyperbole .
Apostrophe
Vi:;iou ••
Antithesis
Climax · •
Epigram.
Interrogation
Irony . . •
T r ,,_nsferred Epithet
lllinor Figure::;
VARIETY OF EXPRESSION
SPECIAL P.ROPEltTIES OF STYLE

SuWimity
Beauty
Wit •••
Huf:llor

VARlETIES

OF STYLE

C,"OMPOSITION
INVENTION

-

._ ._

.

..

.

p .A.BTI

PJwsE

CoMl'OSfrION

Discow11e.F'': ' •

280

Z-20

YERSIFICATIO~

• 235

23.5

242
247
• 251
• 253

,•

Treatises ; B. .
Travels ' . ~:,;~ •
Yr!-to
~E
.J:UJS ry l· • :·-· ·
Fiction · :~:~: '

PomY

232

. . . . . • 264
.
. . . . . . •• 264
265
. . . ..
. . . • 268
. . . .•. . . • 269

• 273
• 273
273
275
275
275
276
277
278
279

Letters ··
News
:Editoriajs : . •
Reviews; • ~;

183
187
194
201
204
206
209
210
210
213
213
214
215
216
217
219
2:21

...

OF CoHPOSITiox • •

Narration
Deacription
Exposition ••
Argument ••

'1

.lG.

P.

.......

Essays. · . i.

Epic
Lyric
Elegiac
Dramatic
P"'8toral
Didactic • •
Satirical

• 2&5
286
288

290
290
292

292
293

H.hythm

M eter •
Rhyme
Blank Verse
Stan%&8

R.IIE'NRIC AND LITERATURE

• 300

303
304

•• 318

-- - - ..... __

Inexperienced writers use italics or unde1'8cored words
freely to indicate emphatic words; this is not only unnecessary, but it also insinuates a lack of compreheu·
sion on the part of the rea<ler.
Leads are thin plates of type-metal by which the
lines are spaced apart. Matter spaced in this wny
is said to be leaded; that which is not thus spaced
i.B called solid.
Composing, as a part of printers' work, is setting up
the type.
The quantity of printed matter is counted by enl.8.
An em is the square of the body of the type used.
SIZES OF

BooKS.

a

A book is called a Folio when the sheets on which it
is printed nre folded once, so as to make two leaves. It
is called a Quarto, or 4to, when each sheet makes four
1
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"h
(Thtw
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v J O"' 8"0 J \"hon
• """"""" ea"h
""..
..,..... eetv m
..-u.lr
....... PQ
....,.., e1' t:>•
leaves; a Duodecimo, or 12mo, when each sheet makes
twelve leaves; also a 16rno, 18mo, 24mo, 32mo, etc. according to the number of leaves into which a sheet is
-n • •

•

n

\....C..

.1..

Y

n

folded.
·
I nasmuch as Fh e:c ls of printing p~q ier vary i n size,

books known ns duodecimos also vary considerably.
Tlie same i OJ t ru e of ocUtvos a n d of all oth or s izes.

CHAPTER III.
LETTER- WRITING.

A LETTER is a :w~tten communication from one per·
to another. r-•;
.

!(Ill

'

.~

A letter takes t~'e. place of a conversation or an oral
communication; affd this fact determines not only the
character of the le~ter, but also its style, form, and, to
some extent, its -'length.
~ · Letters may be either public or private. Priv.ate letters nre by far the most numerous; they embrace Letters
of Friendship, Letters of Courtesy, and Bi1,si:ness Letters.
Letters of F'.riendship.-The chief essentials in letters of friendship are that the style shall be simple and
the manner of expression natural. The reputation
v;hich tho poet Cow per acq u ire d fu r cxct:11c ncc as a
lrtt cr-1vri t cr came Ln g c1y frurn t he fa ct tLat hi s let-

ters were not written for the publi c, and l1en cc were
tl 1cy i1·ere

cluractcrizccl by a s tyl e so 11atuL1l t l i :L t
c:il1r:d "t~-Jki ng ]r:tt.c:r:::."

Too little attention is given to the cultivation of excellence of style in epistolary correspondence.
Neatness and correctness are essential in letter-writing
of all kinds. Nothing excuses a carelessly written letter. Neat, plain penmanship is preferable to flourishes
or to the uncouth angular hand lately so much em·
ployed.
~t should be remembered, in writing letters of friend,.
65

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..... -

.-

~~~~'·.~>~.~-~~~f~i4~.·
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66

LETTER- WBITINO.

ship. that whnt one writes to another may by accident
or otherwise be read by those to whom it has not ~
addressed. It is wise, therefore, never to write anything that might be misinterpreted, or that might, if
preserved, be likely to give trouble either to the writer
or to others. ·
It is not the grent events that make a. pe~onal letter
inter,e sting, so much as it is the incidents of every-day
life; and therefore anything that would be of interest
in conversation would be of like interest if embodied
. in a letter.
Letters of Courtesy include Invitat.Wris, Acceptrmca
.md Regrets, Letters of Congratulation, of O:mdolence, of
Introduction, and of Recommendation.
All of these are closely related to letters of friendship,
")Ut they are more formal in style. Letters of friendship
may be written at any time as impulse or habit may diotate, but letters of courtesy are demanded on particular
vccasiohs according to the customs of society.
Business Letters include two· kinds-Personal and
Jff.cial.
-~ Pcraon..~il 1usincss letter is one ::J~~ i ; ert~or1:.il or l;!'i vate
'::usiness.
Among personal bus1nrss letters me inc1ur1ed th e letj~rs of nH.:rch:mLs, manufacturers, banker.s, ]Jrofcssio11 D--l
:ncn, .and others iu connection 'IYith their bu" t !~t:o ~ 1 C'ither

as in(lividuals or as business firms .
_A_n. Official lmsine:::s letter is one written either by R
:;mblic officer or to him, on business pertaining to his
::>ffice.
Official business letters include the correspondence of
the various officials of a city, state, or nation, togeth(Jr
with beads of <lcpartments and officers of the army anJ
the navy.

.p ,•

.- LETTER- JVB1TIN0: - ~ ~-

.

..

-,

fi7

PUBLIC LETTERS.

Public Letters embrace news letters intended for publication, and essays nnd reports addressed to some person
or persons.
News Latera are communications to newspapen! cont.dining accounts ?f local incidents, persons; and places.
Sotnetimes they den.l but slightly with local matters, and
give more particuln.rly incidents of travel and observations on pln.ces nnd the manners and customs of inhabit.ants. Frequent_ly n writer publishes a letter addressed
to some promineh_~ person criticising his opinions or his
actions, or puttifig;:io him a number of formal questions
with the view of .-securing a published reply. This is
usually called un ~open letter.

THE

DIVISIONS OF A LETTER.

In writing letters the most important things to be con·
sidered are-

1. The Heading;
2. The Introduction;
3. Th e Body of the Letter;
4. T he Conclusion;
5. The Superscription.

The mcc11anical p:nt of a lett1_: r f'11 11 11 ]1l Prlt }! .~. I"'_:1cc tr· 1l.
'l
. ::i 11 1urc .111 'l ic appearance or,. a JL:ltcr f-rcql!cnt I y cxerCl:'t

:rue in letters of courtesy.
THE HEADING.

The Heading of a letter consists of the name of the
place at which the letter was written, and the date wheu
it was written.
When the letter is written from a large city, the name

I
n

I
:

'.- "f.d;i

-----

.....

- ~

- - - --··

LETTER- WRITING.

LETTER-'WRITING.

of the place should include the door-number, the name
of the street, and the name of the city; all of which
should occupy the first line of the heading, aud the
date the second line. Thus:

Figures at:e employed only for the door-number, the
day of the month, ~he year, and the number of the postoffice box.
\\'hen the heading is short, it usually occupies rut
one line, as follows:

68

-fP.!()

~~ ~" ~~"
of'1)/f.l. .

.!(),,

8/o.z . .(.!61,, ~~~Uz.. ~.,,
1)/fJ.,

.! ()"

.f I I

I.

lf the letter be written from the country or from a
village or small town, the county as well as the State
should be mentioned; as,-

If the letter be written from a prominent hotel, a
boarding-school, or other institution, the name of the
hotel or institution should occupy the first linP. of the
heading, in which case the heading may occupy three
lines, as follows :

dUA ~ of<U#id~~
&enk., off,,
~d I,,

I., -1117.

-111 I.

'\Vhere one does not care to have his residence known
or is not permanently located, the post-o.ffice box number
may be given instead of the door-number, as follows:

of'

..

st~c~ ~.., ~·

69

-1117.

\Vhen the headi~g occupies more than one line, the
lines following the .first should each begin a little farther
to the right than t~ one preceding, as in the foregoinO'0
examples.
·~
The first line o( the heading should begin about an
inch and a half fr9in the top of the page, an<l a little
to the left of the· middle of the page.
Every important part of the heading should begin
with a capital letter. .
A period should follow every abbreviation, and the
parts should be separated by commas. A period should
·
be placed also at the end of the heading.
The Date consists of the month, the day of the month,
~

nnd the ycnr. 'fhc dny of t11 c mnnth js scp r::t cd fr nm
the year by a comma. (See th e for egoing examples. )
It is 11ot n ecessa ry to wr i te tlie for m s 1st, 7th, 2'.ld,
etc. ; the figures 1, '7, 23, etc., may be used instead.

Thus:

Should the forms 1st, 2d, 15th, etc., be used, no perio<l
must be placed after them, as they are not abbrevi·
ations.
Note that the proper forms of the ordinals ending in
2 and 3 are 2<l, 3<l, 22<l, 23<l.
By some writers the date is placed at the close of the

LE_TTEB-WBITING.

60

letter. In such cases it begins near the left edge of the
page, on the line next below that on .which the signature
is placed. In ~uch cases also the name of the person
to whom the letter is 'written must appear in the introduction.
Business-men and clerks sometimes use figures to
indicate the number of the month, but it is permissible
only in business letters.
EXERCISE.

Write the following heading& correctly, punctuating th.em a.a they
ahould be in a letter :
·

1. Pa West Chester June 9 1878
2. 66 Broadway N ew York Apr 16 18473. I' rinccton l~ qll1'gt~ \1f ~-:c\V .T cr.:.;cy ~\ J _ ..\p:
4. (kt lC Rdt i::1 ',r ·~ :'.lhl 1711 C:t! wrt ;-;t

1-118 ~6

C. '.!'.) ~filk ;; t l h <rm ~UY G JSi)-i
G. :2G-± La SJ.lle SL Cliicagu ~v.- lC> l SSG
7.

~t:1te Nnrm~d ~\·hn:Jl (];L-;tine

1\-Ic

()~t

6

1.S.'~7

of the letter in case it were lost or mislaid in the absence
of the envelope.
Titles should not be omitted, but they should be used
sparingly. It is generally sufficient to use the most
rrominent title of the person addressed.
The Address may tnke up one, two, or three lines, ench
- line followed by a comma, until the address is complete,
when it should be followed by a period.
Nam.a and. Titl~.-Tl1c n~m e of t!1e r~e rs on 0! fi rm tr:;
whom a letter is written should he written plainly nnd
in full. Titles sho'Q:Jd be omitted only in writing to n.
member of the S_oci~ty of Friends. The titles generally
used are Miss, ltfrs:, Mr., and Esq. A lad is addressed as

Master.
Ti U10- aro prefixed a'i follow:-i:
},fr. to r. gent1cm::m:s name;
Messrs . (for Mcs::;ieur::;) tu the
t-lcrnen ;
i f-,_ ,.. , _ .. ,... .f. h n

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

~I. 7-1~

61

LETTER- WRITING .

11. 159 Wabash Ave Chicago Feb 16 1887
12. Write the h eading of a letter datR.d from your own home
THE INTHODl!CTION.

The I n troduction cu11si,,t:-; ot the furmul culrlre.<3 and

0
...... .. ...... _._. nf
. . . . ....

..

;

l lll 1 11: t rr i c d

h i1 _\' ;

Misses to the names of several lllllll:trrit:cl Lul ic·:;;
.Mrs. to the name of a marrie<l lady or a wi<low ;
~Mesdames (pronoun ced ma di.i.m' ) to the n am es of
Eievcrnl married belies or wiclo\YS;
·~
r
l . -.. ~ n; ~
l>r. (plura l J) rs. ) t o t i1 e n:un, 01 .'' p.1:- ""~ ""' ,
.,
}i»I'. (p1uLtJ J:n·c:.) to tJ1C lJ:L lll!~ O f :c c\ ·!':.'.Y llLl i l,
}t,-;• ,
1

.

'1 l

•

1

(i f

ir' 111:-1 C~hri:-)ti :u1 11 u11 is lln;~i ·,\·1 1 t yuu;
>
j. ) · f ) jl~ t]l
c' ,,',.r·n·J ·l "ll
I:cr. I )r. or }1.cl'.
- -~ ·,
~
r- _r • ._ .•.
~ u uoctor or c11 v1n1r.y •
.Only one title of courtesy should be n~xed to a ~a.me.
Thus, it would be wholly incon:ect to wnte Mr. W1lh~m
1)

1: :

-.l / . ,

•

of busines<S or the residence of the person addressed.
In some cases the name and the title nlone are used
as the address. \Vhile this is not objectionable in social
letters, it is not the best form for business letters, as
there would be no way of ascertaining the ownership

•·

~

Jlr .~

T he furmrLl aclrlrc '' 1-arics with the style of the lcttl'r

l\ n V "'

'nOTYlO

J,/ i '-~ to t l 1e name o f :rn

Hro:d·:.-:cy :\c·,y York Ucc cl k,:i/

10. Camden N .J Oct G 1835

~·· '--'

•

•

·"

1.

•

...

"--'

.... . ....

-

Jones, Esq., nnd similar forms. In the ~ase of marncd
ladies, however, it is correct to affix the title of cour.tesy,
Mrs., an<l at the same tirn e the honorary or professional

~~·~·- ·~it~~'ti~fl!!t!~t:~i'.-;}~~~*'~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ·_' .'
62

LETTER-WRITING.

63

title of the husband; as, Mrs. Dr. Smith, J-Irs. General
Grant.
Two or more literary or professional titles :nay be
used together, provided none of them includt nny of
the others. In thia latter case the titles should bo written in the order they nre supposed to have been con·
ferred; thus, Prof. John Storm, A. M., LL.D.; S. S. Hal
deman, Ph.D., LL.D., F. R. S.
\Ve should, however, guard against the excessive use
of titles. A man may have as his titles A. M., M. D.,
Ph.D., nnd LL.D., but even in such case it is best to
write his name with his highest title ·alone; us,
Rev. Dr. JAMES l\IcCosH, or
JAMES McCosH, LL.D.
The place of business or residence, sometimes called
the inside address, s~ould give the name of the person's
post-office and the State in which it is situated; us,-

I rI

th,,.

t~

-~-~- m~-L-

1 --"J~t- uuH_, e

ue

! n<>

i. ......

"t
CLj.,

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co~s1ocr~oiP

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F1Z'\
lno

door-number arnl the street must also be given; thus,-

44

-·

. :~ii~,r~ tf:·~·;.:';tlf

cf~dh~ Q~e-n

efl,,

S{ancaa/u,, ~.
The Sa1utation.-The comp1imentary salutation
varies with the formality of the letter or the position
occupied by the person ad<lressed.
Strangers may be addresse<l ·us Sir, Afadam, Rev. Sir,

General,, etc., though the first two of these should be
avoided as far as possible, as they are too stiff and
formal.
Acquaintances may be addressed as Dear Sir Dear
. Clark, etc.
'
Madam, Dear A1fUJS
Friends are usually addressed a.'! Dear Friend 1 Dear
Mary, Friend Braum, J;fy dear Madam, etc.
Near relatives nnd other close friends are usually addressed as A1Iy deg.r Daughter, My darling Child, My dear
Mary, etc.

.

When nddressirig a firm consisting of several persons,
the term Sirs or P~ar Sirs, or the word Gentlenum., may be
used as the salutation.
, Note.-Never use-. Tu. as an abbreviation of Dear, or Gml3 for
Gentiemt:n ,· neither is · ~rrect.

A military or a naval officer is saluted by his official
title ; as, Captain, .Major, Commodore, General, or by t:rn
common title Sir.
A Governor is addressed as His Excellency, Governor, or
Sir.

.i.\ nu;_rric J la rl.1z1 or an c1c1 crJ\T
u:1rnarr icd • L~ d ..,\· }3 ~~ ,1 ..,·
d ressed in a business letter as .Maclam, Dear Madam, or
11ly dear 11faclam.
111 addressing a young unmarried Lu1y the s:t!uta li( 1n
1 1 e( 1 · ··s jg b J.. "'l'
"'v \·1·n1°
n . 1 "'
1t
.t
i_, 1,,. . t ,
<'- -)

o/6wa S{u7 of/Ian,,
9~,,d.~..

@14 ~ ~ a~~e -lk ucef'/
- /~cu-t

~/k,, ~.

~i;;, ;:;·;~~:'~it_ti,,{'.1,;.·;.~~~-~~~~W:f~'.f'~Pii:if..:w.1;7;~~,~~~t~:~~.,.._. ~·~~~~;~~~~

t

.

•

-

.

LETrER-WRITING.

LETTER- WRITING.

This form is used to avoid the repetition of the word
"Miss." It would seem better, however, to address these
also by the same term as _marri~d la.dies, the word
"Miss " preceding the name showing, if need be, th~
position of the young lady in life.
.
There is also no objection to the followmg fonn,
though some feel a delicacy in using it:

!ff,ee:u

When the address consists of

linP.s, the salutation
begins about an inch farther to the right than the second
line, but it may begin under the first letter of the first
line.

~.rif~I~,,
~4k,,

~,,dc.

The address is usually placed in the next line after
th.e h eading, or the next lh~e but one. (It should begin
at the left side of the page, ne&.r the margin, and when
it occupies more than one line, each iiLe eh~~d begin a
little farther to the right than the one precerung.)
Sometimes the address is placed at the bottom of a
letter, b ~gi nn i ng on the li ne next below the si~~aturo,
but a t the left side of the page, in the same pos1t10n as
if written before the body of the letter.

When the address consists of three lines, the salutation
should begin under the first letter or figure of the second
line, but it may begin under the first letter of the first
line.
MODEL 3 .

j?tJtJ

MODEL 1.

of~t. cff:

Cfl.

1/lea-t.

~~·
~"

d' ~ ~ _tz k a& _tz '
aat ./he ~~ h<UJ-e canu ~ kna{ e-k.

<lJ.hea/nu./ ~"
(%{;/cl c/efi~ft "a.

The E:tlut:1tion s110uld follow the auc1r es.'l in tLe ne:d

1

!Pa.

d~,,
. Jrt~.t" ~~~µaµ
~~/ a-tde-t d ~.

c/de ef6£L #ul ~a4r-uackd'

line below, and sh ould be followed by a comm a.
\Vben the address consists of but one line, the E:cluta'
• 1 ' oic •.ne
tiorr sl1ould begin about one inch t~J tuc
ng.tt
m~rgin:i.l line :

two

MODEL 2.

~ ~~,,

~"""

65

f!1ea-t ©':ta,-- cff°k Looha wkd d1

m
~

!!!!!!!I

If th ere is no ad dress p receding the s:ilutation,
latter should begin at the marginal line.

the

MODEL 4.

~ ~<U ©""an,
d'~~a~ea~dancf
~~

anu.-L--

1

- -·

_____

..

____

_..

-- ·- ..... _... --

- _,....

_, ___

~

,.

THE Bony
CAUTIONS.

l~ Separate the parts of the address by commas, and
place a. period at the end of the address.
.
2M Begin every important word of the address with a
zapita.1 letter.
3. The first word and every noun in the salutation
should begin with a capital letter.
4. A comma should be placed after the salutation
except when the,. body of the letter begins on the same
line,. when a comma and a dash should follow the
salutati0n.
. ..
5. No two succes.sive lines of the heading, the intr~
duction, the conclusion, or the superscription of a letr
ter begin at the same vertical line.
EXERCISE.

Write and punctuak properly the f ollawing headinga and intr<r
duciiom:
1. Baltimore 342 Calvert St Oct 15 1864 Messrs Bunn.& Co
D e.ar Sirs.
2. 916 Chestnut St Philadelphia. Dr. Samuel Waters 16 W
F utUtb St Cincinnati 0 D ear F riend.
:3. Albany N Y Juue 6 1884 Col J as McFarland Ithaca NY
My dear Sir.
4. Dover Del :Feb 3 1887 Supt Jam&i 1\fcAlidter Pliil~.<ldp hia
Dear Sir.
:>. Lafayette College Easton Pa Jan 7 1886 Rev Dr McCOih
Princ~ton N J My dear Friend.
6~ State Normal School Trenton N J Sept 15 1875 My dear
Father
'i. 1674 Arch St Philadelphia Dec 17 1877 My dear little
Boy.
8. Wilmington Del May 3 1887 Messrs D N Thom.son & Co
177 Chestnut St Phila Gentlemen

OF THE LETI'ER.

The Body of a letter is that which contair.s what is
communicated from the writer to the person addressed.
When the introduction consists of three lines or less
the body of the letter should begin on the next line b~
low, the first word commencing a little to the right of
the first word of the preceding line.
MODEL 1.

.

~./on~ # ~c../

~/pt~
!/dea-t ~4/
~c.~~ knc/ 4du

caHte

~

ha.n d

de& ~/· - ~ "~/ ~.
'Vhen the introduction consists of more than three
lines, the body of the letter rnny begin on the same
line as the salutation. In this case a dash should follow the comma after the salutation.
MODEL 2.

of6ea<Ua.

7"'"

@le-t/co.£! fo

c!fZ'oma.0-1-:/

c§i"~ ~L/
<ffk/acl~/ ~­

.k#~en/-r/nckecl~
u~~and

~

tU-HU

r

~~~

~ta
#Ul-n-M•

LETTE~ WBITINO.

88

LETTER- WR.ITI.NO.

The body of the letter should vary in style and length
according to ita character. The language should be
natu.ml and not.stilted. It should also clearly express
what is intended. The penmanship should be nea~ and
legible, and devoid of flourishes, er~ures, blots, m~r­
Jineat.ions, cross-lines, and everythmg. else t~at :Will
detract from its neatness or from ease m reading it.
Paragraphs should begin only when the subject is
changed, and care should be taken not to change too
frequently. Tastes differ, but generally a new p~ra­
grnph begins about half an inch farther to the nght
than the beginning of the other lines;
Business letters should be short; omitting nothing
that is necessary and avoiding all repetitions and unnecessary explanations.
It is the practice of some to write on th,e first p!,'?e,
then the third, then the second, then the fourth. lbe
better plan is to write on the pages as they follow one
another=--first, second, etc.

~9

be used, ns follows: Your friend, Your sincere friend,

Yours with esteem., Yours ajfectWn.ately, Your loving daug~
ter, Your affect:wnate mother, Ever yours, Ever your friend,
Faithfully yours, Yours very s-incerely, etc.
Official letters usually close in a more formal manner.
(See mo<lela.)
MODEL 1.

if~ a ~<U -t:i "'" ~:e..
~~~-te<JH

- ~dedUd.~
d
!ff__
MODEL 2.

a'~ de ~o~ ,ta Le

fu

U#ta~

<Jto~ ~Md~~

dt

TnE Co~cLusro:<.

c§(___ _

The Conclusion of a letter consists of the complimentary close and th e signnl1lre.
.
'.flic forms of tl1e c1»tn]1limcnbry clnse vary 2..ccon1mg

t.o the r eb.tiuns of the -initcr to tltc pcr:oon nddrl'~S c tl.
Letters of fri endship require some expre::s::;ion uf Te-

ga.rd while busin ess lct~c:s require respect 0!"!1y.
S~me of the most common forms of complimentary
clo5e for business letters are the following:
Yours, Yaurs truly, Yours TCS'pectjully, Yours very truly,
Vo-y re,spectjully, Truly yours, Very truly yours, Yours very
~~fully.

For Letters of Friendship more endearing terms may

~OD~L

if~~

a

4.

,t<UUU -1a -ete..

~~~~' .

~ ~£ ok4Md ~
f£_

d. ~---

-

70

LETTER- WRITING.

LETTE~ WRITING.
MODEL C>.

if <Un/ ~ea-t €1~/

These forms are, however, frequently abbreviated to
"Yours respectfully,'' "Very respectfully," and even
"Re:pectfully."
Note.-The salutation and the complimentary close should cor·
r!.'!'Jl-On<l. Thus, if the salutation ill "My fri"end," or "My dear
friend," il would be absurd to close with so formal a term as "Respecifully ''or" Very respectfully." It would be better to end with
some term rorresponding with "Dear friend," WI "Your friend," or
something else equally familiar.
Never close a letter with the form" Yours, eic."
ln closing a letter begin each line of I.he compli11.lt:11tary cl.,,,., with
a capital leU.er, but do not begin the 'other wordB of the line with
. capitals. ·
Thus, write Yours very truly, Your nnart fricul.-not Yours Very
1.'ruly, or Your Sfricert Friend.

71

Office, where it is opened. If it contain the writer's
name nnd address, it is then returned to him
'fhe signature should be plainly written. Tirn writer
should remember that while he or his frien.ds ma be
11 ble to recognize his signature, however poorly wn.Ytte
n,
. h
•
h e l 1as no rig t to puzzle others with illegible writin<Y
In writing to a stranger a lady should sirrn
her n~·me
0
with her title pre_fhed. Thus:

,_

~.

dwna 81. ~ .

~

oRJa"'7 rJ. #e-e~.

The latter form may be written ns follows, if preferred

Cantion.-'fhe title should be prefixed only in writing
to a stranger or to an inferior.
A married lady should use her husband's name and
initials; thus:

The Signi'-turo. -Th e sign :cturc consists of lb..: L"me

of the person who writes the letter. It should. Le pl aced.
to the right-hand si9e, at the bottom of th e letter, immedide1y follov.-ing the complimentary close.

A widow should use her own name and initi:ds ; thus:

MODEL.

EXERCISE,
Writ~

tM following conclusiom, punctuating and putting ead WI

proper f onn:

In letters of importance the writer's name should be
eigned in full.
,\
A letter which by accident or otherwise goes astray or
fuila to reach its destination is sent to the Dead-Letter

1. Yours very truly 0. H. Maxwell.

2. Very respectfully yours J H Jones.
3. Very respectfully S M Hart Supt of Schools.
4. Sincerely your friend Mary E. Robinson.

tt•..:.
~
' ' -

16. I am Sir very since~y yours Martin Hendenon.
6 Your obedient servant Hamilton Fish.
1: We remain gentlemen yours very respectfully Smith Jone.
&Robinson.
8. I Ju.ye the honor dear sir to be your most obedient servant
Henry R. Stewart Collector of the Port.

A period must follow every abbreviation, and one must
be·placed also at the end of the complete address.
A comma separates the parts of the address.
Th~ county may be omitted in the case of ~itiee.
MODEL 1•

. ~.

GENERAL EXERCISE.

P..4

tJµ.~ };;l.l!J1..!!i.'!?g

in

@I"~ ~-nu~
fi/J
.t
u7 ii-#_L,f~.-i.(Vrf:,

c~e-':t form.!.

1. H~ing.-Jan 6 173 Calvert St BalLimore Md.

.

,.,..,,,.

-

!£.J.L/

.-~

7

,: _

.

,/

!'
_... _,_

. (

.

(...j<~"1j (.!
.::,-"

f;J (

;: .;:

\.._'-_/..-

.

...

· - ·-'..

/

f<!.!

l. • """""""\.

!...:C:D.2L 3 .
[)t~~ ..

Th r Sups!"scri ption i:; t1:c: out.side addrc:::s pl
on
it con;~ i .~L:; o~ th,J r1:t:i1~e of th t~ }V,' ~~-·~- 1: ~ tz)

"-/ ..r ·,-/ ,.,.,

th·=· 1211"'y~c}npc:.

whom the letter is written, together with his proper titles

and his post-office address.
Gre at care should be Lik en to mrike this address clear,
that lcltcrs rn:.iy not Le rni::c:'. rried or l ost. 2e»cr:~l rni lliii11"· c,:· letters ;,ire S(·nt t u the ])ctc1-Lf;ttd Clfi'tce at
\\':L:i'.1iu;.-'to 11 e ve ry yc:u, a l:t.,-ge n uwLcr of which, it i.3
ni(l , :ir:; 1ioo:::ly (\f irnpru11cr1:; llircct •·cl.
'J' ::~ z-:ru1:~ r aJJr e.s~ gi v ~~ tl:e tit.l e, Uie 1:.::.1n-::: 1 t!.! t: i ~~~ t­

office, the county, and tho state.
All the words in the address except preposition.a and
articles should begin with capital letters.

,_,
-.-=.:..'.\i

if __
..,
_,

'~ i

~

iiiiiiim

~:::: Ti:t~~
-

n.p.:::2s::;:ty f;:r
-

-

-

l!1d ~ :~:~:,, t : :: i_~
-

-

-

there are five .New Yorks, nine

L

!.!:::: :.=:- :.. ~:.. ~ -2-. -~

•--;

"'!

"'!

"!

j

•

....

-

rn11aae1p111a~,

- --

£ . .. . , _

_'!

ttnu.

-'"\

.;.

~ .. _ _ _

! _____ : ... ·.

L~e. 1 vo

Bostons in the United States shows that there is necessity
for indicating the State in every case.

LETTER-WBITING.

LETTER- WRITING.

Letters addressed to a city should have, in addition to
the post-office, the door-number and the street or t.he
post-office box.

The other lines should each begin a little farther to
the right than its predecessor, so that the name of the
et.ate comes near the lower right-hand corner.

74

MODEL 1.

75

MODEL.

1$t. / &!.

~~~/
.( ~1 cJ ofllJadd ~,
6'/t~:tzcle ,~ /.:~,

-·

0 --

-

•-~

:~.i~

--~ ~ ~

/

~~

Yeh~

c@o.,,
, ....

~·

(:;·;.[

l

_I

\Vben a personis official <l esigrrntion is given in fuli, it
furma the second line of th e superscrip ti on.

M ODEL 3 .

2',fOf>EL .

I"' _,,7

c";t](t-H.

Cure ~hould t =e tnken t(-; v;-rite t 1-10 bupcr-~cri}-1~io 11 l:vri:zonb11y on tile enveiopc. T l1 e prncLicc of ·w ri ting in an y
other than a horizontal d irecti on on an eu velupt:: b in

~- F

<-..__ }

•

/'r;,'

L77f_{l ~(! ) t,./

bad taste.
CAUTIONS.

The superscription should begin about the middle of
the envelope, the title or the name beginning usuallJ
near the left edge.

\Vhcn a letter is addressed in the · care of some other
person, the form is usually as follows:

II

- ·~-

"'

-·

__,,
77

LE'lTEJl,. WRITING.

78

d~ @r~ ©'nu~

ej<'

-

~c/~ rij~

qJ~~/

d./

U. may also be written ns follows:

Care must be taken to write the abbreviations of the
states distinctly. Pa. and Va., Penn. and Tenn., N. Y.
and N. J ., are thoRe most likely to be mistaken and
confused.
A non-delivered letter in an envelope con.tnining the
writer's address printed on it is usually returned direct
to the writer, instead of being sent to the Dead-Letter
Office.
When the county is piaced nt ihe low er 1eft-hnnci
corne r of the envel ope, it Eliould lie follo\Hd by a com ·
rr1n 1 HS it is onlt.e ftR rrrnc.h f!,. :1 :1..rt of t h~ add ress r;.s if
placed immediately above the nu.m e uf tlrn cl.ate.
- -

A

:

Place the stam-p i1'1 the upper riglit-h:md corner of--tlre
envelope, y,-ith ils ecJg cs p:uallel to those of the envelope.
Sometimes foe county is phicecl in the lov,-er leftkrnd corner of the enveiope.
MODEL.

I

l
1·

0

//

D

i :i.J t .

~ako~J

~-%-o_.,,_ _ _ _ _~_a_.

--1

L. ~
EXERCI S E .

H'ri!c ti.c following correcU!J, a:; you tcu1dd p!ac<: thw~ on Wl'cfop~.l:
1.
2.
3.
4.

~fr. Tic lln· \'.'.

IT u nt,

L :i.flc:1~tcr, J' :t.

Jacob \\'.°Thonq,:-;un, A . ?Ii ., Llkt u11, Md.
P.ev Dr. Cn u.:; A.Jam.:; llG .Dbin St B u ffalo~ Y
H.cv J E~t~lJrook Su pt l' uu In~tru ct :r1 n L:i.rhinc; ;,rich .
5. Miss Su:-;:i.n D Burr Dl'1awarc City Nr1Yc:i.~tlc Co Dci.
6. Hcv Hcmy Thorn p:;on LL}) Corn of Scho ols 01.ark ?llu.
7. P r C3 i<lcnt Clevclallll \V ashi ng ton D C.

8. His Excellency President Cleveland Washington D C.
9. R ev Mr Sa mu els 159 Walnut St Phil adelphi a P a.
10. Gen J olrn Eaton LLD P resi dent M:i.rictta College Mari~tla 0.

Ad c1rcc0." nn cnvclo11c to tour11c 11H:111licr of yo Lir fami ly
;\ddn·:':-J an cnn~lop e to some n1 i:-:u1t fr iend.
Ad \lrcci:-i an enYc101:c to
a. The Governor of your Etate.
b. The President of the United States.

c. Some business firm.
d. SoIT?e prominent school-officer.
e. The minister of your chnrch.
j '

--- -·-

~- ~ ·

79

78
or,

LETI'ER-MODELB.

Letters of friendship need no model, as every letter
will depend on what Urn writer has to say at the time.
Letters of courtesy are written only on the subject
which calls them forth. They should,. like business
lettera, be brief, and should be clearly expressed. They
a.re among the most difficult to write.

o/6t. ad•o/{Qµ,

~h~ @I: ~~HU

ait ~~.la P}:t. and o/(pµ.

;u~n£

@l'-/k#i ~ PJ~,, ~ -ured ~ ~
Md7dM~d.d'~~~~u~
~,, ~c4k1,, a£7(J~.
MODEL 8.

lNviTATIONS.

To

An Invitation is a formal note of courtesy. InvitationB are usually written in the third person. The fol·
lowing are correct models:

F

_Q,,

F1icnda.

~. ~~ (#&u. dell. (/J)f: ~<VU~<VH ~

7

de /;&aattu
7Mu C-{)~a'"/ .us
cffd"? ~m7,, of~~ .ti,, fom U:,tM'

MODEL 1.

=

UiUJi.

~~Ieet

'

.~ ~

(J

~a( ~ ~nu£

~;~]

fu:ii:'J

!I
Miiiii

c.7i

&'u,uc/a/

l;:1

(lv.e,,n-£;, // a/ dl-'z

-f.{<14'

l

~ ~

.

==

!!I
I

~

,,

g

£,fe

.

A

A

~u-u c.j 7out c~~ a/

~ ~ ~~ e-iunPnjf,, 6'~ ·

7-~'-

I,,

d.

i

Birthday Invitation .

.

~
~

MODEL 2.

-

MODEL 4.

•

•

of6t. and of6!4. c(J. cl. c~f~at-lv~t u7u<>J!
, Q

;;;

,,-£..a

.....--~

,.; -

.~. . . -""-1-'tAA
_ ---

£/...eu a.a-n

/

d

<J -#~
.~r

;"

r"

_;

--

..1

•

'U_~-t'UU

~7·

~-c;.,.;;z~a n-:,;

.£~

;.,,.,.

/~ /
./
.-:;-(!.-U-{.1.-!~;..... ~

.

//·//_/ _
r=:;V. /
,f.v_.1.e-n-t/t;t.z /£'144 -t.~ ~&;.u.a.71 en ~2 a .. <<-i~
"

,,

/

p

~ ~~,, <t:I~~ t,,

~.5 ".{< ~~d ~

Note.-The initials R. S. V.
rl&it-Answer, if you plea86.

,

,;rrl.

&G. ?/. ~ #.

J?. stand for Respondes, a'il volll

. .-·..

- - ··

~ -~ -

LETTER- WRITL.VG.

80
The following are given as examples of less formal
invitations:

1.

Dear Allsop,
lVe are going to Dalston on WedMBday. lVilZ you
l.ast oif us to-morrow nig"'~·ou
and Mra.
~BU the
1...-y
Allsop t
Youra tndy,

My dear Sir,

,

If you. can come next Sunday, we Bhall be equally gl,ad
eee you, bid do 'iifll tr-uBt to any of lrfarti-n's appointmenlA
- t'fu] j "U ...f··r-t:. T ,.~ nr l ~ ..,.,..,ul a"· U'-J
1. .,r,lli,.,..C' ) (' ' 1,,. 1r])f• '-' r,,_,,_ ar• •-1
tJ1
11
J. J.J
"r;·r t:L-L-1
,, .•,..
u/,U
f t.0 l LC(l r ;.' -ru.,.f I a'"
Yours tndy,

fu

-l,.i._

J_ __..ilJ

lj

~Lii l-

(..-<.)

4-'.-

it. • -1..~/ -

..,t_,.) ;,.·

j

'.J t l.I )

i.- '- ¥

J

C. Lamb.

AccE?TASCEs

A!ID REGRETS.

Answers to invitations are either Accep!ance.:J or ReAn acceptance is an affirmative answer, while a
regret explains a non-acceptance.
When Necessary.-Most invitations do not need a
re ply if the person invited intends to accept, unless tlie
i uitials RS. P . V. accompany t he i n vitation. .A failure
to answt:cr is underst-O•Jd to oe an accept;in ce.
An invitation to dinner or tea, however/requires a
promy:,t answer of either acceptance or regrets. It is
highly important that the entertainer should know just
bow many guest.a to expect and provide for. After having accepted an invitation, shoul<l one find it impossible
to be pr~ent, he should, as soon as such discovery is

grets.

-=
.... _
,
I

-~Jo1 1 lla.y (;"L't~Ilt'°' 1L{I ..

I-I

.
-

..l

R"-'<'•
f',,.,"'1

i

.

.

81

mn.de, send his regrets at once, and these should give
bis reasons for absence.
Answers to invitations to weddings, balls, receptions,
etc., should be sent not later than the thir<l day after
receiving them. Should anything occur , nt the last
moment to prevent one's atten<lance, he should send
bis "regrets " the day aft~r the party or other occasion.
The nnswer to· nn invit:ition should be acknowledged,
and Rddressecl to tl ie p er~on in lvh usc nan1 e th e inv1t<l-·
t ion i3 given_ If givc: 1 liy a h11y :e nd a gcntl• 11i:tn tu
gether, it should be ncknowledged to hoth, but be addressed on the envelope to the lady nlone.
What are kno\vn as "At Home" invitations do not
require an answe r. They are m eant simpiy to notify
the persons to whom t hey arc sent that such persons
wi ll be welcome on the cccn~ion if plP~~etl to c~t11. 'l' b~' Y
diffe r frum mo:s t ot1ic:r i11vitation::: , wl1iclt nrc: furin:d r equ ests.
A Rr;;rel t:d10ulJ always state, at lc:ast in gene ral tcrrn;;,
the reason why the person invited cannot nccept, and
this statement choukl bo ns Lricf a.q 11ossibl1;; no
l engthy apology or explanatiun is 11ccess:i ry .

Alhreviatiun6 nru not ullowaLl e in i1witation s, accept·
ances, or regrets.
Initials, h owever, nrny be used.
Thus, -,.:hile 1ve m:1.y >vrite 11fr. arul Mrs . Thomas A. lfcndrict~ or Afr. anrl ]firs. 'P. A. llenclrick.i, "·e rnust nut
write /.fr, and ~Vrs. 'l'ho,c;. A. Hr:ndrfrkB.
Uncivil r ep lies, as 1vl1erc r1 u r.ea8o·n i~ given fo ~ rt•grt:lh;

are rude.
.
.
One may regret that " a preVIous
engagemen t ,,, ,, rn·
tended absence," "sickness in the family," or a similar
reason prevents acceptance.
A first invitation should, if possible, always be aocepted.
cs

/

.. -~· -

.. .

- ~

LETTEI'¥- WBITI...VG~

The words "presents compliments,n "genteel," and
•polite" a.re now usually discarded from _notes of ceremnnv. The words "kind" and "very kmd" are IlC\W
sQlllJStitu ted. Thus, "Your very kind notie..._ of yeaterdray," etc.

Foru.rs

2.
ACCEPTANCE.

~. 4i'Hd ~. ~~ ~ ~aue4 «c..
~£~d~d ~ ,{~,~~
o/fu. a~~. C(Jhada @I: @f-dd~

'l

OF AcCEPTANCES AND REGRETS.

L L~v;wA d dP.rr~~

-!1

~-!~~h, F-o/:1._A -7~
~--·

.a

.,.
J

,,

C/:-~t-d:f.-

3.

REGRET.

of~ of{JoMUon -terdadd~~

/O·HZ.
.,,.,,,--y:.jr.~ 17
-1 (~
r"/:
4 ;;,.c{- f'-<..£-C- {!.

Lj-'"T

4

,t

~.""3{'...!~-:.--r_,

..f

-

__-:--;;~

/t{e v;l;t- -f,(,L{// /ue~-;.J ~r&'t
/I

;

u, ·~<t.

v

.f/rp

/{

01d 14 .

an a.

/t-~ ;.</ <- ~;.1Lr.-/a.. /r_~,;_
cf)
tf, .

,/"

;J'<J-$--i--Yl4--a~;/-

ACCEPTANCE.

"

-a~!.

<fdk/nd ~"

,

/
C--!4

r-1,:.-

c:;:;/ .

La -nt-ee-.! /./..:£.~

,.

-r.-_!L.£.. ;?-:4i--9-

(.7'/7

,;<(J <~ n:-;;:;-

.r-

?1-U

,#

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.fl.

,..._...,

I
-~
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... '" ~-............ l ... - ~·

_

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.

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~

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-~

84
REGRET.

~ ~~

(IJf:

"'~ ~ ad •

~~~~~~Ca
e~~ 4/ ~. and of/au. CfJ. d ~.
.tvn~ ~~ .k-kjiA~d d
~~ c./ ~ ~~ .t«L4µ ~
~..- °'"' ~-&~ e-v-en--/7.. ?rie>nk t .

should be taken never to give a letter of introduction to
any one with whom the writer is not thorourrhly ac·

q~~d.

a

Letters of introduction are usually delivered in person; they should therefore be short.
They should also be left unsealed, and the name of
the person introduced should be written' on the lower
left-hand corner if it is to be delivered personally.
See the following form for the superscription:

~,.,~ §ffl.e ~
REVOILTNG ACCEPTANCE.

~- a#/ of~. @r~ ~ Jff}"~
jz...ac~ud .?i a.-;,..vr·~e ,b{a-f a ,n

acco.u·n--1

<Vte

~

£k ~aLl ~ a -n.uu -t~~ /~ a-!e
j~d !,I -t~vo~ du ac~-j~i~
off&.
vo.-;.n,,,

'l

~

of/au.

~~
!J6

C(J4a"~ @I: @f-~anta' ~

fo

cff'IU-4~ ~~.

The following are a few specimen forms for lcttcni
of introduction:
(1.)

ef' did <Effl.

Jlarrislmrg, Pa., Aug. 4, 1SS6.
Rev. Thomn,s Smith.

LETTERS OF !NTRODUCTION.

A letter of introduction is one used for the purpose of
introducing a friend or acquaintance to an acquaintance
who is absent.
Inasmuch a.s the writer to a certain extent vouches
fo= the t;'JOd character of the person he introduces, care

Dear Friend,
I take pleasure in introducing to your acqiwintc..wfl
my friend, },fr. Henry Jr!. Oshorne, whom I commend to yow
kind ottenti.-On.
Very truly yotLrs,
Samuel Allison.

)J1 ..'.·"-"'" :\··"'""':\it~•

LETTER-WBITING.

87

,~,

FroIL Sir Walter Scott to Robert Southey on his becoming poet-laureate :

!.I

(1.)

(2.)
Oincinnati, 0.,

Jun~ 16, 1881.

Dr. N. C. Harris.
D..rar Sir.
I !u:..lli.e lhe h011.or of introducing to '!}()'!), my (,Sf.u:rr".d.

fri.T. .d,. J):r. WilHam H. &llers1 nf Trr:ntrm; N. J. Any a.ttr··~~ ,_.')~! ~~·J f~"'!n !>777!. ~ mil 1111 rrrntP.fu]ly 01-.71reei,1(r.d tr1l

I

Edinbm-gh, Nov. 13, 1813.
oourne-11. w Ba11 m11 m-nf11Jnfnl"
Long may you li~e, ~ Paddv Balis. t~ rule ;ver ~-.,<~~-,;·;~-;~~
de.em the croum of Spenser~f T>ryrlr.n t,-, '.; ;Q-~:"'~
'

,..,,..

_,,..,,,

... ......, '"""

,;,.,;,,......

~!It

J_

·my U(;UT

Cf

...

•

-

:f ,:,:.

and

• • • ~ • • • ·• j

'

• •

'

;: ·ti.1: //;_..

: -- : t '.'"- .·:~: ~
¥

•

-

...

-~

-

•

:t_ ..l' 1~ - --~ ;-'

_ . . , . . -- -

.

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

, - _ ~·
..

,_!

L'oJa I"_j

r£.· .: _,

I'"·lr JC.:.:r,

a-nrt

y<>1 ,

'j"'f.._1~..3 1L"'itl

·introduce to y 1 ~1u r kin d C(17i._:::.irltrn tion l:t··v . ._l u/ii;
lVi/l;:.- i, a ·<,cr711cortl1y r; cnllcmrrn, 1cl10 desires lo consult you cm
mnt -'.us u.1rich he trill c.rplain tu y uu pcrsernnlly.
Very re;:,71ectfully,
Th011u!.$ D. Brooks.

(

1
\,I_·,

! t/. r ~.~ c ::
lli~1 1 t!u.: ·1.;cry h:nol uf l't ut·irZ1..' w ·,;'.; m·-rcZ..·,

7l l~'f

ttt'r>

,-r_;n gratut 1c ~on ~-

•

I

I

~ , .- _. _ .
.•1 ~ ~ .. .

ivith !Jr.

.'

:/'

·

j j !i"UU1 t'HLU~ 'LCtlCn ] jTU l UJUllClit(j ,r;roJ~t~ (; / '~'-'~· (l

·

1

·._

o.i rL ]''''
·

fi 1_ ... , •. ,.ll~j

-

r

. . .

1Uy l.J e'3t cumpli mcnl3 allr:nd Mrs. SGulhe:; and yuu r f lwtily.
E i·cr yours,
Wal!t::r Scolt.

(2.)
Wash1'nglon, D. C., Aug. C, JSSJ,..

LETTERS OF CONGRATULATION.

A l,euer of Congratulation is one written for the purpo:o:f; of expressing one's joy to a friend ·who h as
~.X ~\f:rienec<l

rnrne sudJen good fortune. Such letters
s!Jc ul<l be written in 3. style 1Jefitting the OCC:1Sion, and
sl 10CJ1d , of cour::: c, li e cheerful in tone rrml express the
actu:d joy tlic 1vrilcr feels in th e succc:os and good -for... -...

± l !<;

,.... l l

.

l tn l 0 Wi!\ g

erepfoyed:

a re

of th e Hid e usun.Jly

"

Dr. James B. Harriwn .
.My dear Friend,
I most heartily congratulate you on the 81.tccess you have,
met with in conducting the i nstitution over which :;ou presirle.
1 hacl fn.ith enovgh in :;ou to l.Jeliei:e u-/i('1l yon icrre mn. rle it.,
chief o.fliccr thnt 7;on woulrl succeed without a rloul1 I , /;ui. lei ' '' ~
wy tlial your succc.,.,s lw::J !Jecn ec:en 11wre morked tlia n yu llr
bc.1JI frienr.L>had anticiputccl.
1 ui ncc:rcly trust that your pro.,71erity mny continue wuzf,11/t'cl,
und. thut yu1t mri:;Jind ylj: n · n11rk rntird:; oyrt'r nl1!1·.
Very lru/:1 21u1 u· fri c-n1 l,
He-rm1 B . Walters.

.

.;

:

~ - --

-·· . _ .:._..:·-

--- ·

88
I

LETrERS OF APPLICATION.

/LETTERS OF CONDOLENCE.

A Letter of Condolence is one written for the purpose
of sympathizing with a frien<l who has suffered some
great loss or sad bereavement.
_
Gre.at care must. be ta.ken in writing a letter of con·
_.,_,_~-~ ........

t1UH::: .aill.:C: LU

t~ r~ms:~

,..._ ......... _ ....... ro ....

t; A pJ.c~o

_ _ ......,,, .....
VJl\; 0

fr0f:h f'nrrow.

~· ... 1~n"•l..

OJ

u1

v

U.\IUJ

;n

s11nh

.&.U

U\..11.J

a. .."""'J
,.,n,,.

no 'l""\n•
c..l.:J

.u v ..

\Vh:it the heren.ved recinient of
Li:-: c~·= 1 : 1 :·~ ..:1,J

t ],,'-· ],~<_: . - r Ut ( (1_:; i _-=::.-: :,1- n11): L~ tiy~ 2.~.d tLi _ 3 :.; }.1~(u :d

ir:

;~_~\ }'.i\- i11 ,. .~ \Y l if\J ~ ~1 . . ; J 1 i) .- ~i l

Th(~

f1illowing wi ll se rre as a spccirncn of lett e rs of
cui .cl.olcnce :

Inasmuch ns an npplicant's fitness for a place is often
to· some exU:nt judged by his letters, the writer of n Let,.
ti...-r of Application should compose such a letter with great
cure, making it strictly correct in all its essentials as to
Loth orthography nn 11 form. The· penmn.nshio should
ht= neat :11~d p!;1in, .tnd the 1angu;Lgc ernp1o)'.ecl clcn.r
{ -~

: , •'l

c· 1 1 l , c· 1 ,-; : • •

I :· 11·l1y li i 11 i!l1',
f~r
til e position bc,ugl it, lJut :t:i tu hi:; mura l ch:tr:t d1: r atu.i
h i.3 special fit r;ess for tLc po .~itio11 :-: 1i u ~;lit, it j,; lkr
to give references.
The fo'. l owin~ arc spccin1c 11 11·! lc r:-; of ap1ilic:c l i1m:
'fli C; ,\·r1tc· r

~:11 · ·t ·,·

:-~t: 1t (

1 :.

( 1.)

J.Yorfulk, Va., Jn n. 3, l .S87.

My dear Erolhcr,
I cannot express to you the sorrow I felt on hearing of
your grievous loss in the death of dear little .May. I ear7Ustly
wish I could be with you to help to sustain and comfort you
and your loving wife.
Darling J.lay was a favorite with all of m, and we had
hoped to enjoy her innocent prattle when all of you should
visi.L m in the coming spring. But God in h'is omniscience
has ordered othenoise, and we can but b<YW in lrnmhle subrnis3ion to his decree, with the hope that your angel child i8
·but another link in the chain of love that b-inds the home to
hea.-r;en.

Accopt rny most tender sympathy, ancl rrw.y y01t be comfort<d with the thought that your darling t:hild hu 8'imply
pom before to aw'.lit your c<Yming.
Your lot-lng sister,
Mary.

H'illllinglun, Dd., July 8, JSS7.
Jos. L Clmk , Ew; .,
Prf,3. Board of Directors,
Linwood, 1-'n.
Dear Sir,-I have just learned that the p rincipuLhip oj
your scl1oolJ is vr1.cant. Permit me to a.Der my.,e(f lVI n cnncli·
<fo.te for the vacant position.
l n.m a graduate of n Pennsylvania Stale Normal Sehnol,
mul have 8'ince my graduation taught three years 81tcces.efully
in the schools of Wilmington.
As to niy per.:;onal fitnes8 for the place, I shall ue glad ~
have you correspond with Supt. D. S. Harlan of 1Vilming
ton, urnler whose 81.lpervision I have taught for the 1iast thre<
years.
.
Fim} enclosed copies of testimonials from Supt. T. N lVil
liam..!1 and Rev. IIennJ TV, Johnson.
Very rrspec(fllll?J,
Sam1tel JV: Wilson.

...... _ ,

• •

I

·-..u.:.
.: ..
·;,.:._< ,

91

LETTER-WBITDlO.

1.

(2.)

Trenton, N. J., J'!J,'M 6, 1887.
lfJfM1'8. n~pson

«Ch.,

113 !Karkd St., Phil.a.

Dem-SirB,
Ha-ving learned that you are in need of a bookkeeptr,
1 Jaire to ·make application for the posi.tion.
I hwJ;e lwd five yeari!' experience in my present posil:u""", and
J ~=J=r y~~=L 7 l:-f; pr~1i.'t..--ri.a-:i: to r:r:y 1rre.:!!:'11.l ernf1ifry~rs 1 }~fo~.'t~h {{;
OJ.,, as i1D my competency.
_
SJW'liM, a personal interview be de,sired, I Bhall be glad to
preient myself at such time and place as you 11UJ,y be plea8ed
t-0

-

1!!~1rne..

SPECIAL RECOMMENDATION .

Baltimore, Md., Ja.n. 7, 1887.
H<m . Gwrge Gray,
Wilmington, Dd.
Dear Si.r,- It gives me pleasure to recommend !o you
Mr. Albert B. Janes, the bearer of lhis, as a young man 'Jf
great personal worth.
He desires to enter. upon the study of law under your direc·
1:-.-.,..!Lil l

a

rr~
-.; 1;1 l-/m~-lf
~~ .. -.i;,,
,,,,_()_,; •• ~r t-11..~•
~ ,., •.A..:(Y'i
!!.!~)'HJ
l!: H.-O~·:_i _,._,,
t.-1~~· !-i! i__...O_. ~t..O_.,_. L:_l
!~ .;_.i_,._, jii! ._:/•_.._O._t \, •) n• ..

~

~

young man OJ

..l.!.~ i_•_
• • t "nte
.
•,
1 f
'ol.( I •
•
I
8inc i
yrny mw. Jaw".! tu in every Jiarlicuwr.

•• ,,,·11;,.,,.. "v
'" ,,..,1.,,
J...:'YYI ""'".....,."'' ::I"'~lfYllT
It -·nl "'1J..,.,1
"\A.4f '!""' ,.....,.,.,.,,e~
_v _
...
'""'"'
I think you will .find hiiii' worthy of your confidence.
Very respectfully,
I U..04'

;,VW

11""'-Al:J

~"vv"'"!I

•1'Y>rlJYT"

,~,.· v

JT. B.

of Recommendation should never be ~iven to
p--c-1".' 0 fl ~ wl! O P-rt" n0 l k ll o wn to Le wo rthy o f r ce-ei vi ng
ti c:rn, r,or should s uch klters express m o re tl ian th e
t.ruth. The practi.::e of giving letters of recommenda-

tion to persons discharged for incompetency is rcprcb ensiUe, and lJrings on ly reproach on thos e who re com Lc ::nd. 1 t ought t o Le t l1c J)[icl e of every man w h o w ritee
L }dtu of rccu 11rn1 crnhl iu11 trl feel tln thi::; l cltu wil l li:tni
r' ' )~i . :. l« c::lEC i ~ is b1oy;11 t1 1:tt 1ic r ccornrncmb 0·11y Ot o
\!~r ~illg ri..n d t l1c corn1Jctcnt 1 and rccon1 n1cnd3 truthfu.lly.-

Reoommendations addressed to an individual or a
firm are known as special; those without an address
are known as general.
The following will illustrate both forms:

-•~

NTT"P

...,_ , .....

A1irI·TSUct.

Stale 1Vurmal School,
Bu.ffalo 1 1'..1. Y. i Mav B, 188fJ.

LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION.

7AJn-.~

.... .. _..

Tu v.· h11m i l mny c11 nccrn:
I t ojli 1rd., rn e pleo sure lo /1'.' llf!i /() tli'
c!uu« ·1'.a
and marked tcacliing ability of MiJs Mary S. Allen, u ho lw..3
just graduated from this institution.
Sl1e w rL young lady nf superior scholarship and yrrat
tiierg y, awl posscs.ses i n a mu rked tlcy rce tlw l scU-cu 11 I rul .sn
t lu' ,,) r" ~/ 1 d 1Zi.«· ip1i111 u-iil I!.
.-,,
'
·l·
', . ( .I I '
.,, . ' . . . ) I ... l •'
,.,.J,,.... ,J
~tV..t-'.-!1 CU111:J, lrt.,hw
l.v1
v i.. ...... . '_ ! .........
-· ~
I V.:.,J y C t~~J
~ti1-' <a.,:< cif (ut crcclfr nl i-cw ·hi..:r.

nr1"1'.-:.'11ry In

1

'11)/

A. C. Apgar.
Note.-The beginning of a letter of recommendation seems to
many people the most difficult part of the letter. The foregoing
forms may be used. The following are also correct:

'

't''

-----

-·--

- --

LETl EI',,- i'!.EITI.NG.
1. • lft. E;amuel Adams being about to leave my employ, h gin1r

•
.' " etc.
me grut
plea.sure to test.I·r,.y,
2. 111 Mr. Samuel Adaka; the bearer, who ia leaving my eu1ploy
h aa 'fi>eern,,'' et<..
3. "' Tibia is to certif.v that Mr. Samuel Adams, who hu been in my
employ jfor the past five years," etc.

PART II.

GEN ERAL SUGGESTIONS ON LETTER ·WRITING.
~

~\;

,

.s uu·h u
JJD:- :..:1.~-.~ ~ i'- . ,.,,,· .-~.1 /.. ll t'r.';

u ~ i»~, ~,v11c:1

. rc ·, JUl:·. :-.;

-:::::~ r--r n D I n
-•-• -1...!.4
\..J
'J
J_

_!....\

e

~;.:. ~~: ~ .3\·1-t_, r ,

;.;:Lr1u 1(1 nt·\·f'r 1Jt : v,·ritt('. ll or:.:_

-~ --

\'".'~

l ~ -/, ~: r: or dt·1icatL·1y-tir1:c ~l i<q,c:r 13 the tic:=:t r~:-:d r~1n~t
t.asa=ful.
Jn ·writing to a stranger it is best for the writer to sign
l 1i• fr11 n~rne .
- ~ 11;!c Hriltrn rn tiu; third pui c1n ;.;l rnuld never L:cn: Uw

- ~-.: __ 11 __ · 1 :~ . --;1

u.:..:..::;.:..:..:.u.11.r

. .•l

.!.!!...!..!!:..-·~· ·-!..

t.
._,., .

; . 1.• .~ :-_,· ~i.l· :_. ~: .r c_
. _:-_
: i:_._._,_:- _·,· ,_., ·_· -~--.'.-.:·_,._,__._.•-, l
~

-

--

-

-

..

cL' C•JUr-.':e. }\nt t'ince t}1c v i11r:i1;i< :-i \VJ."
:q
to
spoken discourse aPJ;1y 1vith c•1u :tl f·;r'i.:•,, to y;rit'.,_:n
1

; · '. : :

discourse, the meaning of th e term has been so ex·
t.cnd od as to incl ude both written and spoken com-

0

. ~-1 ·A1,.,.p 1;,:i1::1triu1J·1 tt

11n i1 n r~tr· ftir the on

1; '; ~it

i.i .L tlcJ7r~--·t }"i''T··,-,n

\ ,; Le> ~11~:-: \ '1·l-,L~

to u .-·,c

t}1c

it i:3 }1j;:f1ly
tLir (l r cr.·.: ()Jl.

Tl--.t: Relation of r?.lwtoric tn (.;.rn.rnrnrcr ~encl I ,(ic~ ic .
~-J :Lt·~i1: · ic l i t ' t ' t · ,~-.: ~ ::il\v

i!l\-11l\·c.·; ::.

l~r: l\'."l ·"l ,,-. 1 '~~ (;r ·. r::::· ~ r
!'

1

[1··

c.:~_y :::~ :: ~--:~ 1 ... - ~ - - 1 r ~ J ' ; • , ' -; [ ' ' ' - I
1:::; th~ rr_· ~ d !".n!:~ 1Httst ; -..:

t.he cru:d of the p erson introduced, and should be sealed.
In ere:ry letter you compose write nlainlv. sne11 correctly.
= .
and use the best language at your command.
...

--

...

..,:

•

..i..

- - -

-

..

,

c~-;:1.;truct ed_
!"

a nee with established gooa usage 01
.•
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,. ,...
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it is the omce OI l__T ffJ..i11il1U..L L<V ,uu.• u.'-'

·;;· : ·"···

',TT,11iCh
anJ the

l ... - ..... ,,, nrro

rn ue,u.'-"b"l

1..-nnw
n '.
......... ....... -- I

ideas must be expressed in accordance 'tvith
113

-

-- - - ....._.....

I
~

for one to write anything of value unlc~s h e ha. ve a
theme in ~is mind on which his thoughts are steadily
fixed.
.........
f.-• ... - J . .
j .. --·

-1. ! ~ !

!

·- ~ t '. ! :.

-

Co,r POo ':r 1u:-r j ,:.; tL c mt. o f i n venting i d eas au a cxpre13J ·
L-1·. • th em .~\ ... w eans or hngu :1gc.
n

-

ClI A PTEH I.

8,Jccl luu } )ru1ul n ,c,·1 1 i~j,,,. t.- -It is
t ()11 ic· tl :,~ L c;u·;·i1·~ ': 11', :1.~ 1 ·~,.!
in on e line of thou g h t tl 1a n on a t11pic ill \1·l1 icl; tl 1 1~ li: 11_-:-;
of th oug ht k1\·e n con sta n t ten clc11cy to d i \·crgc. Fur tlii s
reason a to pi c li ke Coed u cation is b etter tl 1an t he suLject of Ed ucat ion in gen era l.
2. J: e Carejlll n() t

niu(' l 1 c~1~ier

Inventfon, as used in U h cto ric, is t hat which trea t.B
~f finding thought to be expressed in worjs.
Stri ctly spc:lking, I1wention docs not belong to Tih cto ric as an. art. It is not the province of Rh etoric to fi n d
what to S:ty, but to tell how to say it most effectively .
As h as h·2cn sai d by Dr. H ill,'' lf it w ere otbcn visc,
Rhetori c would be n. universal science,'' laying <lowr..
rules for the members of every profession. A few condensed s,uggcstions on the topic may, however, be of
value.
The pnacesscs in Invention arc three:

1. The Choice of a S ubject ;
2. 'l.'h e Accumulation of Materials;
3. Tlie .Arran_qcmcn t of tlz e Malter.
1. T he Ch o ic e of a Subj oct .

Th e fi n;t ste p in com j iti:'ii tion is th e selecli m1 of 11 subject, an d it is often a ditlicu!l s lep. llu l iL is impossiLle
llil

t (J

[1J

,1\·r i lc~ ()~ l a

3. A void TrileSubjccts.-It is not pro1J:c11l e t11at a y oun g
'T riter can say a nyt hing either new or intcr9st in g on a
subject already worn t hrea dbare. lJu t, ind cpcndi:nt of
tl1is, th e writer ·will n ot fin d it in teresti ng, even to h imself, to be saying over what oth ers hav e alreaJy fre-

quently said.
4. Select a Su!Jject in which yon are In lcrested.- On e ca nnot write well on a subj ec t in whi ch li e has no i n terest;
but, on the other hand, if the topi c li e o ne which is Jierso n a ll y int er es tin g to the write r , tl1 o ug h ts \Yill co me
rapidl y a n d fr ee ly. Compos it ion on u n i1 1terest ing top ics
al w:1 y s rnakcs t:1sk-wur k .
5. Stlect a ,S'1 d1jcct 1·n tcliich yo 11 !Jt'!iae.- T h is is r::< pecially impo rtant in n.rgmnen tati\'e \Hitin g . Earnestrn:ss on tii c µ:u t of t li c wr ite r wil l go far t cm ar ~l conv in·
ciug tbosc to whum tho com posi tiun is nLhlres:ie<l.

CO!lf POSITION.

6.. S uit your Subject to . the Occasion.-Even the 'best of
-."lijr:cts. ma.y fail of its purpose if unsuited to t.h.1e occa·
sii£lln:. ul1ich calls forth the essay. The subject should be
i1~ bum ony with the feelings proper to the occasion, inc~ng the character and sentiments of the persons
a:.1falJ,1essed.
i. Select a S ubject of Present I nterest if Possible.-The
t+~~_!:""r. :"~-)n .-~f t !10sc: called llpc~n tn 1!~t~n Lo n.n ~"'"-'....-:2.\.: is
:·: r " ,';~ ':1 _ c:· ~ ~ ·ct:..:l; \. ~~o: ('U ~t...'(1 ~L1'. 1 l h ·:1J \vh c·:c:. t11·' ~ CI::~ i~
F. ,_l-,· -,·i·! ~"",:. : ]; ;- /·. .' ~ : .\,;('(·[ tn tht· (/(n r-rrd ]nlc!li:'/Pn>' or {/ i.J!,
"~ ·,. > :·c:. -J->c: n ~r.· ic1 : t. i~t :-; ~ . 11 1t 1· tinll' S rnak1: ·:l:c wis1.1 it ( ;f d 1:--l'.~l::~ iil,~ }J U 1)'_icly lir'fi 1 :- ~ : Jir( ) J ~li :?eU :L~ nu . 1ii ·l cl . i fUti~ t ·Ct:i \\ l: icli
arc 1rndt· r :iLuud Ly 11 c1t .1 :; ::::el l
J' L:l'ri 'nt::i~1,: of thc1:::c 1\li o li,.;tcn . To secu re the aLt<;nt.ion
nf~u i ~:uilicncc, anrl lwl d it, ~;w+ topi t·s slwnhl l 1c chc,sen
il1r t:j:~,u~.~ icm as th :lt a w li c nc c ful ly unrlcr:0t:111rl.
~t .St'Lte your Sul~jcct In tclliycnlly.-Tlicy \Yho a r:e to read
: ll1F p:-c1(\u c:tions or ]i :-; t e n to them liave :c righ t to know
w'.· :'. t prn: · ~c1 ::m: p!'O ]H l~r to cove r. Th" rnr>1d: ll eff<i r t
of 1'111: n ::H1er m:ly tl111s b e economized, instc:1.c1: of beinj!
o_p.:~11t in tr_yillg to unclL:L:;Lrncl \Yliat the author i ~s a tternpt-

i n·;g. to sh ow.
.Some p opular auth ors have violated the provisions of
ton.1s caution by giving to th eir books such titles as The
lh1sl, the Present, an d the Pulnre, Sesame and Lilies, Chip s
,Jrwm a German ll 'urL~Jwp, and tl1e like.
1t\ LiJ/l il ynur ,')'u!'.jrrt to tiir: Points lo be Cur1-rtd.--If
~ ,-< n r top;c is Tl 1c l k11 r fits of Commerce, don't give it
t:! r t":-l' ,l< l ti tle' '' CrllllllllTl't>. "
!tote. -- 11 i ~, hr1\H'l·cr, rliilir·rilt tn i:1d 11 <'C hc;.:;in11cN tn RdherP to
L"J

~?'~ L~~ \' t h . .· f 1.> ~- t ·h 11i11 g ,

3'i::~le:r

\ \· l1 t'U cv c u :--tH'li \', :itL·1~ ~1..:; l\11:-1k iu :~ nd
vi .. Lte lii ~1 n \,_y gil'i11g f:u1 d rui titlt:~ to tl 1eir bof .i>: d.

}:1!\X

..-2; Accumulation of Materials.

Next in order to the selection of a subject is the gath·
ering of materials-thoughts, facts, proofs, nn<l ill nstrntions. The young writer who has nothing to s:i y but
what has frequently been said before will claim tiie at,..
tention of but few. It is necessary that he should havo
new fa.cl'! to present, n e w !)roofa t o offe r, n e w i 1111"! r:tt!u! 1~

t!)

gi•/ ~ 1

if }i
tho:-;c fur

tiLlll,

Hn,_1

! ! ":::" ·",'/

: ~! : '1 u:'! ~ ii · :~.~ ! !:µi1! ' " ~,_; ~~f ! '' . . ._... , .~: ·-

}i\ ij.J t::__~ lO t:ll
\ \ · l1(Jll1

Le

:.Ji;. · lJ,t.• c.t

Y,rit1:~.
ct ! \ ~
1

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1

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fnr _1n , t1i: ~ t it n1:1y 1·r c:1 rri c·1l i n ont" '. .:. p 11ck~·t, '\\·i: ' ·1 i''. ~ ir 1convc11icncc. In it the \nitl'r :::i1o t:'. d not1· ,, ,,);.~ 1. -. .. -r
facls, thoughts, or illll,;tra l iu11,; rn :1y cu 111e to lii .~ i::i1i1l
a ft er l l lC suuject lias once Leen cliu::en .
2 . Ob.'w1-rc Closely.- \ \ -h:1 tcwr the sulJjcct ch1.-'cn , tho
writer should be n. close obscn·er of ~;uch i11ciJ c1ll:s a11d
f1cts as 11a\·e a bc~1ril:g uti th e su1 1jL·c t. 'llil.~ \\·i i l a11 1l
not only to the writer's originality, tJUL abu lu Li1t..: iutcLest of the manner in which lie t rc:tts the sulij,:c t.

3. R ejlect.-\Vh en on e t hi nks closely on any suhject,

he is almost sure to hn.ve som ething origin al to say ,
especially if h e b e interested in t he subject which he
pro poses to di scuss. S uch th ough ts as suggest tlic rnseh es should bo note Ll in the LLrnk -book for future
ref(· re 11n:.
,l_ Rend on the Su!~cct . -\\'h c n one 's snhjcct is suc h : \.~
h: is 1J e ,. n '\. r i tt (·n on l)y o t l w r.~, tl w c' ':1 _\' i" t sh o ·1 l rl rr :11 l
\1 h:tt. otl1ers li:1\·L: :o :li ·J , nut for the ]''. lrp o~t' of' qu11 '.i n~' (Ir

c :ltchini-~ their itlc:1s , \1ut \,,• t ' ;\U :-'•~ t!i c· tl1" t1 gl 1LJ of ,,,]:,·:-1
·will n1Yaken t h ou;;Lts ill l•lH c1\Yn rniLll:o. Th·::c Lt tc:

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262:
ehomlill be not1ed down as tfuey suggest themselves to ui::,
n.ndl not wli:tt 0U 1crs f":ty <>1r th ink. Should the subject
not hf. one on whicl1 others have written, there may still
be 1ro\fatcra1 subjects on w·hich it may be profitable to
read hccau~e <Of tl1e thou,g1ht likely to be suggested.
~Iu ch

that is not found in
:eonvernation with persons

•

collected and arranging them as topics for pnragrn.phs.
The following sugge.~tions will be found helpful in arrn.ng·
ing an outline:

1. &arch for the Leading Thoughts.-The material which
lia.s been gathered should furnish a. numucr of lea<lin(Yh

t.houg hts. These should be selected, an<l each should
be ma<le tho basis. of n. paragrnph, and the subor<linato
; ·· ·

'·. J

I . ' - ·, ~

l

11: •

l'. i '. :

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.;

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:~: 1 tL :~~ [ L ·\·e rt· :: .i u!"" rL
1! (1r lt ;1r; 1:_·, i 1 •• rt~u! tL 1.. · .,,.,-Ji ,, \
,: l 1:" (;; :- ·:- L l}
"j .
l'>t(··1:1 y .. .: ,_· li. i:\ : ~ ( 11 .. · .1·.1.1 :1 ti t-.<i:: -1 tL c v,·L~1t tLe :i...:
,_·1:-

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l:tr.

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'"

i:-:: di ~~rc~:~rdc·(i;

ti i1J>'

Ht11l

t! ~ J:)

L)

l1~trl!·

i:o al! clu11(;11l.

~

J •. " ..,_

fir. J:\rnc1ld, t:;c ~r1...·: 1t I':n:· li _-~ li lt:. · ~1 · 1 ;f' r :ll l~n ,~ ~ 1 1 y ,f~:1Ye 11i~ n1 :!r: !(«n.
LvUuw s: ·· ~l h:.:t is the li('st co:np.:; .. ; itiu11 \\·hich s} 1ows t i1:.it tl: l~ LHJ)'

has reaJ and th.oug ht for himself; that the next Lest which shows
th:l1 l 1e has reacl se\·eral books, an<l digc;;te<l what he has reac.l; an tl
th:i.t the u-orst which shows that he has followe<l but one book, a nd
th:i'1 'Without relltction."

3. T'.:.lo A rr an g- orrn.• nt of :Ma to r i als.
'L.e n::1·Jr:11-; }1:tvi11g k· · ;; g:ttlic·rc'. d , tl1e C>rl11.·rly :tiir1
h;·17111:3:-ii()u .-.; :~~r ~~i"l'.-'"L'n 1c11l (J ; · tl1c;;c 1 1::1 t c~·i:d.:; i _;.:; ncc \_ · ~_:-::~ry
tr 1 r; ::\:('. ;~ L(· .. tit. ifu l ~;_ : :d 1:'.-.~p rL: ~-·~~l\·t : l it i· r~l r)· proc1tlz'~:r,~t.
Ti '.' i:!qicirt:11 :t i'tep next t>J ],;_'. tak1.·n is the uino;tnwtioll
of "- J-rv,:;~wv;k 0r uulLittl vf tl1e tlh::; lut. -'Jl1i6 i~ JuIHJ

1 ; f ;1~

J11.1irc:-:(·;1L i 1;,-~

(~l l

~ L r t: 1l

uf

v.·ill ht·1p greatly
d 11i l, L: t l': l t i () 11 ~ th :Lt

11 1a11)· p:,uLl uc tiu~1::i 11LL.)

l

f )

(Jl;1\'

.~ t l" '. 1·1. ' 1,_ u

ti:(\.:~~ t~i1 ; ":_:':.

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],t·__: lf;H ·(_·d d11 l'1~ l

r

l' i ; ' . v.

I "

i

_\- t •J t'.1·

!' i

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1l

th ~i.t WC':tk m at erial;;, whi le tlll'y arld n :it l: i n'~ 1.11 ti:c
titr(;l1gtl1, have Leen retain ecl to s 11·ell the oizc.

Incl epenclen t of th e foregoing, the following rnri.y be claimed
as the important advantages of an outli n e :
1. It enables the \Hiter to compose within prescribed limit.~.
:2. lt rnahles him to write more (' :b ily.
::: . It cn:tl ilt•:i him to cunlinc his ] ' I"l')".i r:l'.ory r.·: u li11;; to tho
w l1jcl.'l i n li:cnd.
·L Jt fun iisLc.s v:du~ ~11L : 111·--· n t:Ll di:.; eiplir ,-.
of
0. It 11 1:lkt'-"" thr• coriq1r1...;,e>r t-'y~t t' t1 Llti1: l1(1t!t in hi~~ Il i 1,<h 1

t.o nhow tb.ci= truth u· d im port rr'l ce,

t1nd intelligenily events which are not clear in his own
mind.
5. Sufficient Details should be Given to make the Narrative
wholly Intelligible.-Facts which otherwise might be irrel&l'ant frequently may be used with good effect in prepar·
ing the mind to understand subsequent occurrences.
.,
6. In Order to be Effective every Narrative shollld have a
Culminating Point.- This jg especially true in fi ction,

"I,
CHAPTER II.
'THE P./.lRTS OF CO.?tfPOSITlO.lf.

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I ·.·

7. ln l nu1 i · :i /l;; ri:: _;'\~ :. i7'1 it ic
l>:cn th f.! ur( l i 11 ar \' rc~ 1.1 L ·r
1

}/i] l l

S uGGl,STiO:lc:l.
In rn:r:!>c•:: ition of a n:·trr:ctive c:li '.lu cu.- the full •J\Yin;·;
E 'J ::': :(·E :i o ::.; ::lio u 1cl be 11eccl cd :
fic i1·r:~ {=·:·r:an1r_·nt s110111d 1)c:

11~crl

1 n·:~ : e

to

i::Jt~ IC< :r .; .·, :LIHl }C ~ 11ot f.0 JllU Ch a.:-~ tt}

o1iir·· rt~

t he :tr·cn unt

Tlic:

~J.ttcn­

t iotl frc,I1J tric facts of tl ic l1[lrr:1\i\·c it:-odf.

L:) ~ L z~

rndrl l;c C\;77i]!l,'tr.-.:\ 1Llrr;:-i..tiYc ·\\·Lic11
id
Ll : . _- ' ~ ti :.: ~~- Lc: t ()r \ . .

4,•

H r d cr i-;h,r,ul1l huve a Clear I de.a vf llie E ve-Hi.s l1J od

(,..

~~.~.~ ,..\~rlrrutice

.t l: i i11t 11·t~uit d1. ·~: Lll~ ur fl· ~( · }if~ · ,--:, :·. 1J conc1u :-: }un

..il. i..:.

Na~-It

is e\~dent thn.t

011e

car1not relate clearlv

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~·-:'." ·,·- ";"".-.'i~~ 7"-:-~~T ~..- · -~·

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thr1.t;

n:1tur:t1 ~l_'t;ttt·r\· 1 u~·

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f\)l!u1\ · 111~;

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cxtract.s \\"lll

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eitl1cr 111:1 : ,.;·;:·,

1 :~ .

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tu

i:1u~:r: 1L·;

fun11-;:

l. Dickens' Description of .Arnc r icZln C?lr'l . -" Tl1·.· .·:cr' :1re
like shabby omniuuses, Lut larger, holding thirty, fo rty, or fifty pt:opl e. Th e seal<;, instead of ~tretchin g from end to enJ, are place1l
c r osswi oc. E ac h ~e at hold s tw o p e rs<Jn s. The r e is a ]<Jn g rnw of
the 1n <Jil (·ach sid~~ uf tLc c:lr:l \· a n, ~i.. u:u·;-\}',\" p:t.--.::<1: :c tq• d1t' J: 1i,1,'.\_)
fttHi a d 1.1• 1r at L.ith t'n,1-:'.
111 thl: centr" (•f tlll' Ltr r i:~._,.t• t ]1, ' i"" i."'\
. I \:,·1~11
. ' CIJ:lfl
'
· l
" "l"""~•I 11··t ;, ,' ! ,• , .,' ·.•. 1• • 11' I 1 i ··l: '1 · ' " ' l'
ai' l ya htl)Vt\ lc'L
' 1Ll
nH_1:.:t r:trt red hc1t. lt i-; i1:--;\lfft. 1rahl_v c \1) ·1'" :'tn :l yu ll k(·c tli·~ L : ~~t r
f1tJ1tPrin :..~ )1ct\\·;:_·en y{1~1r:-: i 'l1· :u;1l a1 1y t ~ L\· r c; ~)_ . '_ ·1 ·t )" 1;1: n1:~::
:~] t •,'L !_,J
1

2. E~mts shcn.dd be Related in the Order of their Occurr tnif'.e.- T ii. ere may be exceptions to this rule, b u t, i n
VC:L tr<J . ~'.., is be-s t to J1J1lu\V tJic natural unlcr of L\"l:llb.
} n l: i, :. ~ _,- tr1 i-; n:1tu r:d urdL·r is grc:Lt1y :ci•lct.l by Lhtc::: .
1~~:.t ·.-~---~

f

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T lic '-'uliicd'i l1su:ll]\·
.
-· d cscrihcil arc

~i,r­

dra ·\y tL(;

I

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'.2. lJDscri pt ion cunc.;i:; LJ
or tl11·ir c·L:u actc-ric.;tic;0 liy l1il::u:~
'

\·,,., ,,r nit F!,·,;.n ,t ,c,·11J,, .cJ.r,11717 /,p Ar lrr' ·1,·,l.--

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2 B~ott 1 s DeBcriotiou o f a :a:·- o.& klih i:r o l "' O!(.;; St. - - '· 'JL~

S'.1:1

w~- Sc~ting upon one of the rich gra.:..'Jy glades of this for~L I-Iundreda

-·-

r:nJ! J'!JSJ'l'IC1-"\'.
_': _J_ L - - - -·- 1.,...1

""",, J t":"•1 1 1. tt f'L fl 't"" .l

llritnesi-cJ mie rliaps t l 1e :Htatd.v marc!i of the lfom:m so ldiery, linng
tlteir gnarl ed arms O"l"cr a thick carpet of tl1e most delicious greensward. I n !<il!!l<' phH·cs they were intermingletl with Leeches, hollies,
tt iul mpi;e"·' w" I of vario us Jescriptio ns so cl()S()ly II-'! totally to interf_ '- ·' - ~ ! ! ,1 · t. -: ;-= '. he-- ·· ~'.,• r-: 1 ~·t_"' ~ '.~~ \.:- ~~'~ ~ ~··• • ;~~ ~ .i t ...._.r"! *~! ..... ~· ~,._--- 1 .o.- 1 f ro•• •'
F~ :·~ ~ nd~ ~ ~r fr~ !. ! !! ~ !! ~ ~ 1~ ·_,~,_:\r'

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Notice the following extract:

11osition.

From Lew Wallace's Ben Hur.- " Opposite ns is a frnit-stanJ.

-~ ;. ;r; . -;1• ~- .... ;
0• '

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t : '. _: I

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i!. !t·r ~ z· ,· i , · · ~ ; ,f- ~- \·: \ · ;:1 ;~ f '1! :1.t: 1 ~ · · . Jl1·:--1 t!. •.•
:- l,f, t a l 1ru~: c;: 1 :1 , ;1\ {: ;_._::, ;L,r;.\ ! l:;-;1:: th;_1 ~ r:~:- : i:i~J _..­
} 111 1,.. ; ~ 11 ,1 1n t i:-· ~ h:1t re :-t' d l 1( )1J_g l1" a nd n:i)·~-"iy tn 1nks ci f t L ·~· trL<·~ ; :~. r: 1 1
ti 1t·:-e t! 1~ ·.~ · ill · :i n i1:: 1 : l'- ~ . i:1 hri lJ,:u: t r :: t t·li c:-· 1 t Lc i 11 )rti (: :l s c f t ::r f t()
11
V• 1i . 1: l l ~ l ' -~· l ! 1 :t ' j L t l, •',:: r \:, :l ·; .
t : •·: . :

in Character.- This gives vivid11ess to tlc.scriplivc com-

t 1,,. 1 ·- ~!] ,..; ti •: · ;_ - ~ \'.

•1~ - t L1~

!--ll l'l

i

'.\ . Coo;icr ' s Descrlptio:1 o f David Ga r.Ju t, t he Singin g r::i.as t c r. - " T h e pC r"n!l or th is re m:uk al ile i11ll ivid11 :d wa.s to t he l:i.ol
dl' ::ree u n:.::-iinly, wi th o u t bein;: i11 an :• 11:irtic11 hr 111a1111e r d d "rn1ed.
!!" li: 1d .~!i t Lr hr·1:r;; :-iti •i jn ints oi o:i1l' r men, withm1t :my of th,~i r
!•r11pn rti fl;i .;_ ErcLt, l1i 5 stat u re 51irpas_-.ed tli :it of his fello;;·s, t l1ou;..:h
H.::1 ted li e ~pp eare<l red1wed within the o rdina ry limits of ou r r ace.
'l'lic sa 111 e cvntrariet_r in h i3 m cn1L1ers f ccmeu to exist throt:gh ou t th e
wl1"le lllnn . }! is l1eJ ,\ w :L<; l:trge ; hi; sh oulder;; \\"ere narrow, b is
: 1n1,~ Lin;; ::.n\1 d:n: Fli u,;; ·1.-Lil c Li_s l1 :l:J .ls \\"er e ~rn : tll, if r: e; : C LLz · ~:c .
Jlis k ·gs an•l th ig li 'i we r e th i n n earl y to emaciat ion , but of ext~ or ­
clinary len gth; and his kn e es wonl<l liave Leen considered tremendous
l1atl they not Leen ontdone by the broader foundations on which this
fal se supe~trnctnre of blended human orders was so profanely reared.
The ill-a.s.<0rted an<l injudicious attire of tlie individual only served
to rend er his awkwardn ess more conspicuoui;."

r.: r11nnd."'. gctii~~s: t'!/'"': ru1d 1 ~< ii11 1 ·; :r: 1 ii:ttt 0 '-'.

1

1
1'11 Li 1
1: Jj;1-, ·,· ci ·r,., ~
we c:.t!llHJ t 111.:lj, l\1(.kin~~ . t l :( lilL:li f11:- n r11Jt ht·:; r 1·: i..;,q1 t l. ~ l: 1 tl1:·,t
\ rl 1i l·! 1 lixed rn:r eY l'.l 11 po;1 !li e g l:u l: :1turs: IHe i ; f1 ':i '.i_·; I , :1 :; : ;:··i1 -··
1, 1 , 1

•

' \ l 1( J1!1

r.1H·;.1:itii'1d (;rt?t·k .

,.\ r (;1 ;r:d

iii ~ lt.'!iq :lr·:--; 1 l. 11 i1 l1: 1,:_i; tl.~· \:. :\\·i:: '.! ti:·

H

a cruwn uf 111yrr.i•.', t'J wl:id1 hti!l cli1:;..; t! 1c 1•:1k ti11\', ,. ,, 1\11 •! l1·1 l t" ri1 ··J
l »e rri es. llin t i1!1i (' 1 :-;c;1r let i1 1 cnln r, is nf the ~; o f1 r.··~ t \ 1,· 1 .. ;\"n r. ~ :l '." i 1 · ;
bel ow the gird le of L1di' lcatl1cr, wh ich i.'l ci:1:;1:ed i1 1 fr "1 1t J,;-" t":t1 :tast ic <ledce of 1il1 inin;; g11ld , tl1 e i,kirt dr"I'" t1J tlie k 111'1: i1 1 f,,J,J ;
}, c;1v y with cn11. r n ld ~ ·ry o f tli c i-::unc r,iy al rn 0t:l1 ; :-i. ~r · : ~ ··f, :11··( \ y;ni!'.,, : ~
and fi f mix e<l white and ye llow, <l'•iSSb Iii.-; tl1r "al ;i; 1,I hi!.; lr:1il i 1 : ~
!t l lii ti b:1ck; l1iJ nrn1;; and ],:;:; ~ . \d 1ere exp"' ('d, ;1rl' 11 l1i1 ,· n.; i·.- 11 r \·,
a11<l of tlie 1 )(J li~ h i11q io~ib lc e xcqi l Ly pl'rfcct t1e:tt1 1: L'11t w it l1 L :i t l 11iJ i i,
brushes, anJ pi11ccr:;."

1

\

S6-GG ESTIO~.;s .

0

1. In Nul,in1 a Dc.s cr1)1!ion tl1e Cl1irj I'uinls rf fnl a c.st
si1n :Jrl le l\~nsi1/c:cd.-It mu st be ta ke n for grantee! t hat
tlic n:::ulr>r un dcr::;tancls and appreciates tl1e ordinary
poiE:.S in the sul1ject to be de;;cribed, and it i::; better,
thcn: fo rc , to gi\·e le::;s allenlion t o these un J more to tLe
ch ief :p'}ir.ts of interest.

3. Qualilie.s sltnuld be Jifcntinncrl in tl1cir 1Ynlurnl Onll'r.The more closely we follow the ord er in wl1i ch our observation was exercised in viewing an ohjcct, the more likely
we shall be to create n. vivid impression in the mind s of
those to whom we give n. description. The r caJ cr will
al so more readily und erstand and npprcciatc th e d escr iption whe n g iven i n th is order, and see the ubject
ns seen by t he ' vritcr.
4. Th r, C< r nf 0.Jmpurisnn .q mnJ1\9 JJcscrip!ion Vit id .)hny dcc;cript ions mve rnuch of their b ea ut y to tlio
trnp loymcn t of Ri rn ilcs. Sec Golds mitl1 ':::i clus inl! de·
fJcription of .tlio vill:igc pastor:
" A B wme tall cliff t hat l iftg its a wful for m ,
S wells from the vale, and midw:1y leaves the sto rm,

-

COMPOSI'J'IO.:.Y.

268

THE

/'l'hou~h rounrd it.la breast the rolling clouds ar:e epreaJ,

2. Only the Carefully-informed should Attempt Exposition.

Eum&l sums['lirne settles on his head."

SometiIDes the use of a single adjective aids greatly
in illmnnn ati n g; ~ scene. Thus:

-It is very evident that those who are not well informed
on any subject are not well prepared to instruct others
on such a subject. Exposition in such cases would be
•

tr

.A

-

';

';

:

,

---·-

~- - .1

•

•

iiTi~ ~,,.:; LlC~ no~nt

r:.r~ r w.:!;~ ".:'" r?tt~

.. - - - -

269

OF C03IPOSITJON.

...

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'":

~nt~

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'?

:_:oul~l

11ut. ue

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r0;_:~:..:-:..:

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iL<li.iTU.
(f

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!-

·1 . ./i. rf; un 1 t.~ ~ -1t

·. --'1 IH · t'L,_· 1 ~· t

}Jn-~.- 1 1 ~ '}'(: ..
u! tLi~ i J t•J ~-' r i 11,_! tL1 _ - 1·t11 n · y;1i• E!- h. :·1;r1; t li e ll1i1Hl uf tlie r•:.idt r, '"Lile: it .il .'• J
en :1 h~
t ~ · " y,-r J. _c-r t ; 1 ex nrc·:-=~ liiri i.:::1_-lf ·si th <r ri_~!tc~r t r \~_ L\ 1 -

th e

~ t 1,r i )} Ht<itin;L

i -~

t1H· f~ ! :t t 1·~: H ·1: :

(= :., n ,

··! ..-·

~

l

•

-

0 •

cliar: 1c;.~1- t•)

suit..

fi gu re,, a!: cl

w ·11:

J n l:ithcr
1n•:nl i::i

ca~c

the use of ap11ropri:1te

p u!lli ~"il Jl e.

3. E:xp .::isition f'nn:;i .~ts in the di .'-'cm~io n of snme

nus:r:rt: or g<:ncr-a ~ topic.
lt i.o genc r:!.l ly app1 ied to foe di s cu ss ion of some s cien-

tific s ubject, setting forth its rules, principles, and facts
for the purpose of instruction. Thus a treatise on grammar or b otany consists principn.11y of exposition .
In its most ex:lendecl sense young writers l1avc but
little tn <lo with e xposition; but inn. mnrc limited s c11se
toni
, c~:cif t11is kind, sucl1 as ic;duc:tti on.' hlior, tlic arL", life..
etc. , ~et:l!l to be L~\·oritc:-; with y(lu ng writers.
ScGGEST ro~s .

1. I r: J-,':::p•1,-1·1i .:- 71 a .Xo1t ,
Si.1;!~ slirn1!rl Le" [;c
·.:rl.l n ;::.::.J1: :.1c'.i : t,.; tl 1• 2 s:rnp1c object uf expos iti on i:i c1carnt::•R
r,f ~ x:,!-~!':~ ' - ' t' , t~re n~~turc of t~c st1 hjcct 1n mo~t c :-~sss
exclu ~ies urn -ament.

t·,:· ;!. .

/\ r ;.~ Ulli \.' l~t i~ ri. -~ dt· \\· 1:.L t ! i'-: \' l · ·,·,·

(<.

11 1-

i Jl;; t) I i ' \i 1;) I ( ' f lll l .J (' I ) I l d \l : '. t I,! Ii 'J :i L < Jt j l t) ! f'
! ~H ~.-· t irJJp: irt:tnt c.1 f :tll C\ 1n 11 ,1 _-·il:lll l , Ci).~ tL ,_ · r:_ , \. 11 l~ t1~:d.
tl1 i·rl· is Fc_:: t r .·(·l y : u 1 i11di \·i11u;d \\·'.· 1() lLJ··~;
Lr 1 ( :i.:·.:1 1l l1
tj i u .-; ('. a rguuH~11t , eithe r lJL ti ur \\·ritti._· il, fli:· th 1· 11·_:;·1 , , of
i:ll\uc:ncin g t Lc b r:lici" a11d C()11duct c: f J:lc. ::.'' :l(''. .11."' .
J\ r~' \l l!ll'l1t ni 111 s t1 1 iwr;;u:ule; tl1n'' a r c tiic r •·l-,>r1'. t \';o
cnnditionc; to lie i rdlu c11cc•l, 1 ic:f :cr:11 L: cl ir1'.!.
j\ i l' ' l l (

11

1

C. 'l'l.J_ 5,·.! 1 ,- /1~ .cl; n}1l ( 'r .·1Tt-;porul tn t.'u~ (:1!1 n rn(ftr r,( tle
8td· ·c. ·: .- -Ti 1u .-: . l'. the :;1il1j l·ct Le a :::u ~ • l i rnc o ic , t] , n h1 ' r-uu~ !! r ~ -, ,:.. '!; ·1 ·:1 d
- 1\r ~ 11 '. ldt -~ t o C' CllT t ·~: 1ll1 n(l: and if 111•:1ut':
th e lc. h ..:r c -'. i: ::~:- .c :c -ri ~t i r, tL c: hn ;:u :::'.C' ;;: :1 cJJ1(1 L"~ ··1:· :1

i · ):·

i1\1r

1

1-'' 1

The fir:.;t o1iju:t of arg unH·11t i.':l to cun\· in c·: 1;;· C•lll lr"l
tl1 c beli e f of the pcr;.:rin or )il'I':-'• 1!1:i :t lil r. -.,,.,]. T1 i il .1
tl1is, argument.-; mu st b e 11rodlllTrl , cur 1s1·c1uc11 cc·s 1:1u-:t
h e shown ancl reasons rnu::t L•c ~'.t\TI!.
1

)

The sceoml ol 1j cct of arg u1 11c11t is to n: o\ c tltc f" ··:l in '._'.s .
Facts may be produced ancl reasons Le g iven, and yet in
such n. way that the feelin gs are not influen ce d. In
addition, th erefo re, to convincin g tl ie p erso n ac1d resse c1 ,
t li e fact s a ncl arguments must be presen t ed in f:l uch ri.
, 1-av as to arous e tlie f('.(~ li11 ;,:: ...;. Ccncr:tll y, tli c ~1p1 1 c:tl to
tl 11: fcdin'.!s i:-; the rnur c po11crful ot the ll\'n in tl11: !l1dtcr
c'f cuntrollin g conduct.
SuuGE~1no;c;:ci.

T :1e f11llowin'.! :1n: ~'urnc <if tl1 e rno .-; t i11q 1or t:tJ1t
t irn1~ on ~1rgunH·nt:ttir 111:

COJIPOSITION.

THB PARTS' OF COMPOSITION.

infilnence beli ef, a mere efTort to c·omwince is st..ffiC:ent.
At other times it may lbe more imporiam to appeal to
tihe- feelings, \vhiJe at still others it may be Lest to rnmb ine, both forms of nrgm nent. In an'\" c:ise tf1ere should
be a <lctinite r1lan of attaining the object sought.

5. &au the POBilion Clearly at tlte Outset.-l\Iuch debate
is valuele'3S because of the fact that the disputants sometir.1es do not make clear nt the outset what they propose
to establish. It is no uncommon thing for men to argue
for hours, nnd finally discover that the <lifferc11cc between their positions nt the outstnrt was not of sufficient import:mcc to merit an argument.

2u 17ie Chara.cl.er of the J>eriMIU to b.e .Addre.ssed ~lwuld IJ~
ll1wkr,;tond,-\\'hetlier t h e argument b e om.I; !LY in tli~
e"ltle of <lcli:ttcs, speeches, n.ddrcsse.~J lectures, and seri-=:;~~ =~~, ()i \:· t ~e~t-!;::r it l:c: \~' r i t ~r~ n , t h ~ y-;..~r=nr~s L •l r ! rr :~>· : · r l
F-~ 0 -r ~d he l : r:r!0r? t n 1- -)d~ ~:~ \\' t·· J! ~ 1 ."' tL~·:: · f:t'IJi·r~· i J 1·L1, i t~ 1
t ~1·~ r r1;~~·tl 1 1H! :., lf tJ1;tt1 ._:l it. tl1 ir d. ; i ~.\- .-· 1 1rr1Jt11 1 d. 1 ! .';~ . :'.r;. {
, . . .--, . +l i j, 'l' '
1 ·1::.11 lL .it ll' "L\' Li• ·
.. L.
·, 1•i l .,,. !..;. ...,;.~__ :..(~ l. n <'o.ntrHHHt
T1 '
_ Lt~ ·~
lh~ l
:..:
1

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l...- 1 ..

1

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.. .. L

_ •. _ .....

t ht:r tl:u u,:..:ii~ ;lJill ac: t i•

..,

....

) "'

T he J J l ( l :- '. SUCCL':S:'ful wrill' rs
r:·.nr1 spc:ikers rirc nn t t hnsc wh o hi>.,t un d e r" l: t:1 •l t lic·ir
~nt-l_ I-~-.
· ·t·
,- 1 t lJ H~ } H: Uf t l ~ \ Vtl'
' H!l
_/~ c +c bu + l \' C.'--:)
.._c \ ' -1
.d,( ) l ·i· ·• d ii( j,
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l

d

t '.1" -.· ; l1Idn·:-.~.

.

1

·.:. Lcy

u u~ l1:.

1l.

J;.,, .1l,

'fJ,(~ :- n. r d

JLu p l 1.; a;:; tl ie:y arc ,
~:

1

l l(X :L;

i

,.

u t' :ouccc c..-; l it·s in :lild r1 ·...;,..;ino..,
-

tli cy a ru sup j>O::ied l•) l>e or

t u Lt:.

0:. Arg ument rnn_i1 li e l llu:<!rntrrl.-F:ir:t.s nuv Le f't:llC' d
111 melt a way as t o con ,·incc, hut :ljlJHopri:~ te illustra·
1tio1r1 ndds force, especially where the feelings are to be
ire.~ched. Gough,. i1: his temperance nd<lresses, always
ll:ehe<l much on !us 1nexliaustiLle fund of anecdote ancl
illustration. So also of other evils: more has Leen done
lo correct them by vivid illustrations than by direct

appeals.
4 . The Validity of Argument depends upon Ungucstimu:d
&atements.-A statement -that may be doubte<l should
not he employed in argument, for the reason that if it
d oes 11ot possess the element of certainty, it weakens
.rather than strengthens an argument, and shows the
v e:akness of the principle to be established.

Quc.~tion _f'airly.-lt

6. State tlte
r :; r

f l ~' l 1;·dr·r }: ~_;; 1r~ n r1 t ~ f-;.~;1 y· 1 d~

271

is imperative that n.

f: !d c: n f tL f:

q :: c· ~· :. H i·;:1 ,

1j:1t

t h:-i. t r1 f h L=:; nppn n·rn t. j t i~ n l ~~: ~~, i rnp.'l r ~· 1ri t t: -. ·1t ~ !: .~~
i 1_(ii.;11ut:1L·:,_ 1"J i11b i11:td1: J,v :t11 11 1:1 11 ' ' '"· 11! i,,, '" •: :"• ,\, il.
_.· utL:ug L:·i1. t; ~ cu11\' icLi u11 Lu t lic l111~1d.J uf l:c.t :·t..-r.-J ~ 1 -'

:~ ! - ~-)

j

t~ Urt i 1y

'

(l.)

•

'

t i lt.; i ~ 11prc::):-, ifnl tli:lt \ \·l1l:li u 1 i ~ oiler .--; :tr~u1 : ; :1:t

l1 • dnr·'.i RO fa i r l y, co n;;e ic11 ti 1l\ !.-i ly, :u1d wi t h fl.i l l cu11 c•;st:ion to unquLstionccl fa cts 011 tll'._; utl1cr ::iid1"
1

7. Fn:c:.~i 0 /c O!Jcclion8 ,'ilw ulrl lJ e .A 1Ll ici; i!Ll erl .-T J1 is 1,;
("::: pcc ial ly tru e where, in a. d e\1:ttc, each dc \,:tt cr l::l
lirn ilc1l to n. sing le SJ>CL·cl1. 111 ~1·11c:·:tl, it i.-; k ..~t t ( l
anS\H:r t he:se olij cct ion s lJ cfo rc cn tcr i1 1.;.; on t l1c m :1 i n
argument.
'fl 1e hearer is thlh bc i.l cr i1rq,:n cil tu
listen to the direct argument.

8. Complete each Argument Sqi aratclv. - Tf each argnrnent be made conclusive in itself, the gc1teral arg urn c11t
will not only be clearer, hut it will al so 1nake a Je epcr
impression, and the h ea rer will Le enab led the rnu rc
r eadil y to r each a conclusion .
9. In citing A utliorilies, cite nnl!J those that are A cce.1si6/e.
-This is but fair to your opponent, an<l it avoiJa the
possibility of one's being accused of unfairness or
pedantry .

10. Analvze the Argument of your 0,nponcnt.-Nothing
is so effective as the dissection nnd vualysis of 01iposi11g

- .. ······ ... ....., ..
,~

- --

-- · __ . . . -

271

CO,lfPOSITION.

THE PARTS OF COMPOSITTON.

infl uence belief, ,a, mere effort to convince is st..ffiC:ent.
At odrter times it may be more important to nppeal to
the feelings, whil1e at still othen; it may be Lest to <omhine U1oth forms of argument. In any case there shoulcl
be a dcti nite plan of attaining the object sought.

5. Sta.Uthe Posilion Clearly at the Outset.-Much debate
is value1e5S because of the fact that the disputants sometir.1es do not make clear at the outset what they propose
to establish. It is no uncommon thing for men to argue
for hours, nnd finally discover that the difference hetwcen their positions nt the outstart was not of sufficient importance to merit an nrgument.

270

2. Tlte Character oj the J>erso 1L.:J to [,e .Addressed blwuld be
Undu.;tuod.-\\.h ether the aq. ~ument be om.I, a.S i n tlie
C<1':;C of debates, specc he~, ntldrcsses, lectures, and sern-=1.:..E~ = o~ \\· ! : r ~:J :r-r ~t. be '\\·r1t~c n : tho lr.:~r:=t_:n ~. !~t.ld; t_~;::cJ.
Fh (J:-:I-f he r:nr!:· ;::tntJd: :1·---: '\',·cII :-L=) thc·ir gt_; ll(_·r~J 1~-1L~~--: .
tl-tt'i,-- lfH · tlH~•l:-7, {~:~ l.li o !: .:.~ l1t.: t),. ,ir · L~ily ~ urru_u ~ 1 rJ j 11 ~~. :: r:~!

c·;cr\"t; ·: !u:: e!!::'.t: t.h:~t 1n:1y Uc of infin P. nr.e i11 ••i-,JI:~- .. : :~ t11r
r
t};ei r t;:t!t.l~11L a.n •-1 ~H_:tiun. 'l~li~ liio~L :;ur.c~'ls~ful v~~r } t ;:..1~
:end ~T tal-~t:r::: arc n r)t ti11 J"t ' wl1u li e :-'l U1J(le r.-'L t11 ·l j],,.;r
~

-

~__,

'..

1

- ·

. ..

.

-

-

-

--

~

.,_,..

¥

...

.....,. ...... . . . . . .

unr l er:-::t~tncl the I)C.Qf)1 P \r 11 i };n
~1 · c1 ·l_ t ,if· .~u ~_·l_ · t·:-· .-1 Jie :-; i11 ~1(1(lr1·.-~ .-:i !; ~~
J

f3Un~~ t·f·~ ~: .) Ut t!!n~·: ' \'h f, . -, ( 1 ~t

t1:\ · :~- :~

l1l:- l· .- .: .

pc:o;1'.·2

;>.,; t l 1c~: :t : L·, 11u~

Ci..-..

1:<;

uu~l1t

.!'r-;..._:

:ts tli ,:y :trt.: blljlpu:;•~d to lJ·: ur

tv iJ ·.:.

3. A r:;umcnl 1:Wj /1,' 1 il11.,fr11l,.1l.--F:t ct.s m~1 v b t.: s '. :l tvcl
in Ei:t:li a ,1.:>. y :ts (,, c11111·iw·,·, ln1t apprupri:;tc illu,tr:it ion adds force, especially where the feelings are to Le
reached. Gough , in his temperance a<lJ.resscs, always
rcl ic<l much on his in exhau stiLl e fund of anecdote a~J
illustration. So also of other evils: more has been done
ln eurrect them by vivid illustrations th:m by direct
a pl, ': ~:Li .
' 1· z·
4 • .i'I'J ;e l;wu
it:; ~t- Ar'.7wnenl dqicnd.s 11pon U1u1uc.<:lionnl
Slu!em<Hl-3.-A statement that may be douLte ll should
not Lt t:n111loyecl in argument, for the reason that if it

does uot possess the element of certainty, it ·weakens
rather than strengthens an argument, and shows the
weakness of the principle to be established.

6. Stale the QueAt-ion ' Fairly.-It is imperative tlinl n.
f~~1r c~cl 1 ;1t17r 0!:itr, n n t. ~ nd .Y h! :-t ~;!di~ nf l i:~~ tFt~:sL!tn1i !::r~
;\.J~ ;- 1

th ~Lt

f h i -~

1;· 1:· t: t : : ~ l t ::: ~ ~ '. ; •·
Jndi~}'t. ttal;l +-; 1 ·•;\1 tt."4 iHil~L~ 1}_\: ~:i t \~1·1~1j :; {_ , :L l;~; c~;l;~'.: d;_;,1.
No~hing l.Jrin;;s C{i: 1 Y i~ti:; :1 tu lhe !!:l!!Jj uf 11e : t1e~' ~ ~·)
hUr~lv a~ tl1t:: i1nprt~~-;:.-iuH t.Ln L \\'l :~ '. i! Ul! l'. un ·,~ l:~ (lf;_:: :_ tl l1l_;~L
lw d "'o ico f:tirly, cu1 1 :,1: i .- 11 ti1 ; 1 1.~ly , ;1:1d \1 it l1 Lill ty'.1
r::on tn llnqnf~~tione(l f~ ,::t ~ on th•~ nthr,r r-:idfl .
n

'",~. J )u~:.);[Jlc

n 1i ! ; i J1 i r'; i

(J(/,;1·ti11} i.S

L

1t I>'. :d :··i J

;. .),u1 ,Zi[ /.1,~

? ~:;

~'1i '·1 /,.-;j ·~! r l. -

-'l iii..:

i-"

c-:-;pccially true \Ylir:r c , i11 :l dcl 1; 1ll', (·:1 c li d, ], ,, t ,_· r :·;
Jirnitecl to a single spcl·clt. 1n gt·11n:1 1 , iL j,; . lw ..;L .tu
~rn..,;1rcr thc~c ohjcctions lwfnrc l'11tc r i i1.'~ "11 t 1n · i r:: t111
ar<,,' lllllC'IlL
Tlie lic:rn ·r i.-i tl1u.-; tJcltcr l'~·c)e.l itd to
Ji:;ten to the direct argurn cnt.

8. Cornplele each Argument Separatelv .-If each argument
made conclu si ve in its elf, t11c gc11cr:tl :tr.C' lll\ll'l\t
will not only be clearer, but it \\'ill abu lli:tkc a dcl') 1c r
irnprcs::: iun, and the h e:ircr will be c11ablctl the l!lurc
rt·adily to reach a com:l u:0inri.

ue

9. In citing Aulhorilics, cilc nnl!J tli o. c th nt ore .11CCC-'-'ilh.
-This is ln1t fair tu your opponent, arnl it avoid6 the
lJOssi b il ity of one':; b eing accmccl of U!lfairne:'S or
pedantry.
0

10. Analvze tlie Ar9!lmcnt of your Opponcnt.-Noth~ng
is so effective as the dissection and tmalysis of opposlllg

~"'<l<"l'
~f:~·.-"·q,~- l~ ..
~

,. , .,__

·~--·~-

·'

- -~--

-

;_

2721

COMPOSITION.

arwu.ments
when one is able to show that they
either
0
.
•
bawe no strength, do not bear on the question, are a
meJie repetition, or are in themselves self-contradictory.

:El. Avoid lVeak .Arguments.-This is always best, un·
less you have a weak cause to defend, and even here it
is best to use the strongest arguments possible. In ad·
ditiion to this, it is not best to use too many arguments,
for -0rne's cause may be really weakened by ·such an overaht11ndance of argument as to tire those who are to prononmce judgment. Similarly, over-strongand voluminoos arguments against a weak cause ar~ unnecessary.
It does not need the charge of a bat,tery to demolish a
- m omse.

12. Argnments slwuld be Put in the Form ef Clirnax,strvngcst. and most forci'b!e arguments short1d be :re=
taina1 for the last.. "\\1 herc it is deemed neces.sarJ~ to

Th ,~~

f~atn t-ht

attenti on of i11c hearers, as 'vhcre the att,{?.nt.ion
h ns l11pf'n captured hy another speaker, it is well to hegin
·with a fe,v forcible arguments. In any case, the one who
of .!.:-:·;~ 1~l~ 2rgu1nc11t~ ~l1uul J l1ave n. clc2r iJc.:i in. LL-:. rnind
o f \ '>-i i~lt lie; pru!Hl:-'l'::i tu s:ty; ancl in tliis respect no tL ing
can i Je more helpful to h im than a carefully-prepared
ou '.1 ir; e_

; CH;APTER III.
PROSE· COMPOSITION.
Prose ia the term applied to ordinary, natural,
straightforward ' COII1position. It includes nll writing
not expressed i-~. v~~ra:~.

_1
I

;;

=
~

A ,.'gu/rnrn.ar-y sh..ciuld J.r· ;(;ll,nw at th-e (fl-A1se of t}le A r0vmenu.-This will put the whole argument in a concise
form, enable the hearers to associate closely the strong
p0>ints, and round out the whole discussion in such a
way ~to present the importance of the subject in the
roosi impressive an~ most convincing manner.

1.

Lt:TTERS.

,....,

!!!

Not.e .-Tlie fml~ect of LP.tters and Letter-writing has been
fully discus.-;eJ on -pv.05 w 1:12, .im~ l u.-;i.- .::, anll tll..:;r..:;fo:c i.:i

,...,.,
t ··'

o :n lLt1__:1__l }1t re .

-~,
..!''
.

13~

Divisions.-The .chief divisions of prose composition
are ~tters, News, Edi_toriuls, Reviews, Essays, Treatises,
Tmvels, History, Fiction, n.nd Discourses.

.'

~
;=;;;

-Ii

2.

NEWS.

Next to Jetter'°, tlie 1nitin~ of nc\YS items is both t he
most common an<l the mosl frc,1ucnt kincl of com1J o:' i-

tion.
The literary character of news items is not generally of
a 11igh order, chiefly because a large part of the work
hns to be done in great haste. The writers have but
little time to make an effort at elegant style, nor would
such a sty le be in good taste.
The chief features aimed at by the writers of news
are accuracy, condensation, nnd clearness. .
18

271

'·

_,,,...

.

----

. -··--··276

COMPOSITION.
i

1. A.icc'l'lll"acY.-Accumcy in a news item has a hrofo)]d signi!lication. A news item should be accurate not
omly as to the facl.s, but ~lso ns ·to the language. T?e
klter es;prei:ally comes within the ·province of Rhetonc.
The f21mlt.~ mOiSt likely to be committed by new&V,ilitcra mre inacc:<uracies of construction and inaccum·
cfies in the use of words. It is especially important,
1tberefoir~ that such wri ters should be thoroughly ac"""'";nt!Pi with both the subject of Diction an<l that of
,, - -~~"· c

.

•

•

2. Oon.densation.-The news-writer should express
h.imself in as brief a manner as possible. ~ A fact or
am occurrence· should be stated but once, and that in
t-@lcis~ L..r.gunge. An expert writer wql express him.Er~lf in nmch less space than one unaccustomed to

A .fault which writera should avoid is that of using
slax:g. Slang is neither wit nor a 1mbstitute for wit.
It may appear witty to .the writer, but it bas an un·
pleasant effect on the reader, ancl should be rigidly
discarded.
_,.

/3.

EDITORIALS.

In the arrangement of n newspaper or a mnguzine a
porli nn of Rp!!.ce ·is a1wn.ys reserved for tlie editor o!'
€U
,::p,_,_,
:.. ,.,
.,.l . !-1., +.., .., -c· '"' - " "<" H.,,., :,.
i t;\..i &aJ
, .. 1f li..1.\..ril
vv 4.;.a.!J ... v.._;v """' ........ "

,.,_., : ~:..,~ ,,,

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the topiCH of the ·<lily. Ti1e productions occupying
this spnce are ·.:. = ... ns Ed·itorialg.

know'n
.:...:;;,~.

Th!_Edit.or aTeaohe.r ,-Jn a 11en:ie, the editor is n teacher.
The personal opinions :he expresses are, in general, intended to

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tllpica on which he ~a~1es are as various as the entire range

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of m~tte-r in h1s pap~r.
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I·~ j:; u::u:-i.11y t11c rq1ortcr or \niter who C1!1
J -jyc thf 'f' ri :trl i :uhr:" i:l t] 1e lilll'it interesting JJ;~~l:LCr

',;;:nb.
:~:Lat

is ,_:--~'"-, .:t

t;t!

~·ct.~ .~ :-~.: 1.

Yo ~n:~ ·writers, however, will find it a. safe practice t-0
t ~·~·11 itcr:1s of JH'\1· s 1w fo re pt:'nnilling t1iem to

!f.'.Yi se

r<t.'S :in: v the l .anc1s of the e,1itor, \"; h o rn ay frt.'1 cc m;1 ·]lrrl '. :i r«jt.·cl the itc·:11s l•ecau:-;c of tLcir not L~:n,;
-'"~.:.iht-~i. :_:.:.
cu11 J c:1.::c '.l.,
-i.

JI0 i~ privilPg{ld tn PXp!"~_q hi~ opinion
t)n c·:.r:.:::-ry ir:1~;-.:;~n~ble gn 1 ~ tt·t.J l'!';;tL'. ;;; i; i::~ i J : · ct:!~:
. ~~12,J

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i\ Hev i o-1.v differs Jrn rn an cclilori:d rn Ji1-. i1
rn< •nl
l'Xtcw1ed. 11Ell::LCl (If <;CC\\}i_vii..c: :t :-:r:;. '11 ]' 1r t i";' uf
space, it usun.l1y occupies many p:1gcs of a rnag:i zinc.
1

'

},f-u:-au!rzy'.~ artir:!e on J,fi!ton in the Fdi n!J11n/h J>riew i~ on e of
tl1e rno~.t notable ex;implcs of a rC\·ic11·. It i-i :i. kind r1f writ in,:;
for wlii ch ?.faca'Jhy \\':Ls faniouo , and Jij, ]'f(lthcti111i:; i 1: tl1i .-1
dir('1_·ti;J:1 r..rc 1:1u.JcLs tl1al. 1: :t YC giyc·n tL ~ ·ir ~~ ~- itl 1
:\ y,· (,rld - wid~-~

1

3. Clea.rne-ss.-TJ1e readers of news hn.ve not time to
discnfau gle baclly-constructed or · ambiguous sentenees>
a nd it is imperative, tlierefore, that writers of news
11hould give especial attention to the subject of clear·
ness. Every sentence Ehould be so constructed that its
lneaning cann.ot be misunderstood. ·

R-eviews 1 like editorials, e1nbrace a .great "'°"ricty of :::.~Jj c~:~0.
Usually, though not always, the subject reviewed is some treati.se
or book.

5. EssAYS.
An Essay is a composition on any subject. Usually,
it is a short composition, but th~length may be extended

. . ..

__

27@;

COMPOSITION.

This is the C1SC in thr; e8.3.2.JS or ~~ ~­
caruay, tn.<O!'Se vf Carlyle, an<l ot.hexs, svme vf whid1 are
known aJ..:r.; by tho titl e of reviews.

Thl: :mlnect of

to many r,.-;,.gts.

R.au.y;· dife::- f rc'ff?. revieu.'s, !10?t"ever, in some r·es1rects.
RJl C!,8a)' d.oes not u.sun.lly express an indi-widual opiriin~"

as tl.~£::! f;n edjtoriJ.1 or !l :re-.--1P-TI=--. ~r he E~-~te i 1~e n;5
cf r:_r: ~E::-1:_-; !!. r~~ !!l<Jre ge! ie r~ d. It ra rel _y takt-H a l 1t J!. .,k. ft:I"
1i.,~ ·:oui.Jj td. It nL:o trc:1ts of a n1bjcct in a more forrn:1I.

and

iiivst.ti~ti c

manner than is done by a re>ievv.

Style..- Essays may be written on almost a ny subject,
a nd alm<OSt any style may be employed, the only requisite being that the 8tyle of expression shall be suitable
to the thought.
There :are but few authors who confine themselves to
essays alone. Most of the prominent essayists have
m a de th e:rr reputation in other departments of literature
d.s-0. .A.mong those whose works are chiefly essays are
Emerson)! Carlyle, and Lamb.
/

A.

TREATISES.

A T re&.tise is a written discourse setting forth the princi]ples and facts of some subject in a systematic order
Thus, ,x;orks on grammar, rhetoric, mathematics, science,
etc, are all properly treatises, whether desig~ed for textb rnoks or as books of reference.

A Trw.tise dijfers from an e/3say in being more formal
an d scientific, and in being divided into chapters, sections, etc-_ It is also more complete. \Ve might )lave
a u essay on any departme_n t of a subject, as the importance of algebra, the relation of algebra to other studies,
etc.: b ut a treatise would discuss the science of algebra
fully and completely in all its divisions, and set forth
ita principles.

.,

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trenti.~P
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uv&. ·

ence,~ ,._,. l1il_e that cf an cssa),. m~)'~ be an:f toi1ic, scientifio

or

otuer1v 1se~

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.... '""' ""Y'"' VJ .... ., LU (.1.<!t; Jo:! pt<llU7 HllllllLUllg Ill Jew 11gu res,
while in an essay much ornament may be useJ to add
'
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,
LH...:a ut,y or l:1n g uag e tc; 11ea: i t2.
f t 1; (::: u Lt.
1

7.

{ ;

TRAVELS .

A Book o f Travels gives d escr ipt ions of }Jhccs and
people as seen l1y tl1c writ{'r. Such a Look shouhl co ntain
a record of things intcrcs tin7 and important as observed
by the trn vclc r. It shouhl also contain the auth or':3
observations, drawn from what h e has seen or learn ed
duri ng his travels. Too many works on travel are lacking in value because they contain chiefly d escripti ons
of places and people, without touching upon th e habits,
customs, ancl manners of the people visited, and with ou t
any evidence that the obsen·er studied the peo pl e and
their institutions with the view of giving enlightenment
to others.

AcC1Lmcy is the essential element in works d escriptive
·of travel. Inasmuch as a book of travel is supposcJ to
be written with the purpose of conveying informati on:
. it is necessary that the statements made by the writer
be correct and reliable.
The style in a book of travels shoulrl b e attractive.
Humor may be introduced with good effect, ancl interesting and exciting incidents of travel should not be
forgotten. 'l'he more variable the style and the incidents portrayed, the more entertaining will be a book
of this kind.

.--

- -~ -

---. . .
H

COJIPOSlTIIJJl.

A Illstor7 i~ n narrafrl.-c of c-.:;cr.is~ H is a record of
ttlhe pai.<St, ~i v:ing the facts concerning both n:ations and
mdividuals,. and showing to 1Sorne extent the causes of
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Anna.ls are usually historical facts a.mmged in a
chronologicai order.

8. HisroBY.

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!Jeld th: Sl lv!l.cc'c L j nfl UCllC c: i1 l lllUU Jdi1 1;,; t lic J:; OY.:rn111L:11t wi:h wliicl1 1h;y b an: jJcen. conL ::clc:•l.
;: :St:

ii~(J@~lft~~;fltlf~f~fflv~;;;;i°l~~~!Pfi)t~~ctj_!:~~~~~b 1l j;11 CJ C·

1ncn t~- o (a vi.: il-wri tte n Li.~t u r y.

~\ n ~: ,;tEo'"tL:cs no rig l 1 t
to be p~rti al to any of his heroes, c::;pccially where such
p artiality may do injustice to others. He must also be
faithful and accurate in all liis st:1tements, leaving the
n~a<ler to draw his own conclusions.

The topics ,li.~cussed in a histo ry may be greatly varied.
Former histories cl welt ·mainly on wa.rlike exploits, both
naval and mil itary, while many of the later histories
d well to a great extent on the civil pursuits an<l prog·
1·css of the people. It is JHOuably better that both
shoul<l occupy a prominent place, especially the important e\·ents that have ha<l any infl uence in deciding·
the growth a.nd <les,tiny of a nation.

The_ style of a history should be both dignified and
entertaining. It need not, ancl sh ould not, be limited to the dry statement of facts, but figures, where
a ppropriate, may be introduced with good effect. H
shoul<l never <legrmerate into mere flippancy au]
frivolity .

Memoirs nre the most noteworthy nnd important
fD.cts, usually, in connection with the life of the writer
o r falling under his personal obserYation. They are less
.... . .... .. .. . .
~J ; gn1i1cu ti1at1 lll stur,y.

-

Biography i.s tLe i1ic;\1 1ry of :llt im1iviil \1c1. Jt diff,rs
from lii :itory in 1Jeiu;; Ji1nilccl to n. h·ss cx!L-ndeJ fl ~ld,
wh il e liistory , on the other h and , deals 'Yith tl1c puulic
l ife o f n nation .
0

An Autobiography i:i n 1Jiogr:t)'hy of a pe rson written
\Jy liim::clf.

9.

FICTION .

A work o f fiction is a story of the Ii ves of imaginary
persons. It may deal with real men und women, but
when it does so, it uses fictitious names, and. docs _not
pretend to gi\'e their actual conversations and doings.
The aims of fiction ure various. Sometimes, as in
Scott's historical novels, it is to teach history; some. times it is to expose social vices, as in most of Dickens'
novels; and in some cases to enforce moral or religious
truths, as in the novels of E. P. Roe ancl in most Sunclayschool stories.
The chief classes of fictitious literature are Novel.8 and
Romances. The latter ure regarded as n. class of fiction
which deals with the more extravagant incidents and
fH.mtiments of life. Present writers, however, make but
little distinction between the two c)n.sses.
A dialogue is a fictitious conversation between two or
more persons.

..

-- -

'

-- ~

. ----- .

28!

PR.usr; C01iPOSiTitY:..f.

COMPOSITION.

28-0

a. An introduction should be easy and graceful.

The ~~-t71tidl t,., ~.e.ss in a good work of 6~tion are a
,.,-,,.-,c-l ;:-;!,-,~ m · en~! !! of irn·irlPnl"' umt a strikirig a.u<l. ili'clik~ -r£;rtraitn""Z of eha.rnder. These both are i mportant,
•
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c. It Dllli!t not be characterized by veileme11cc or pa.:ision.

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tr: th£: <li ~.c

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r:::- ·.~7· s o·f" Dis C' ()l11'Sr_-' _-'I' he 1H·i n c1p ~-t1 kind~ uf d >-·.cc :cL".-~ ;c re ( ;, ,,, ' i on.:i , .A 1ld rc>'·'C-),

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Sjiccc!ic-J, Lccl1Lrc. ~ , Scrrn o ·2.>,

l ·;. t 11 e s t ro :ig c~ t.
c. .Arg11 rn cnL;: rnu:lt no t br t no freq :1c-:1tly re 1 1 · · :~~ n 1 1

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~ o u1 e

1. O :-;-:. tio :. .::.--An Or;:.t ion is a rlisco u r-:;e of the U •J::' t
d ~ gni fi.f.(1 and d::i borate kind.
Th.: ::•.:lij i:· ~·- i3 L u:d ly some i mporL'm t person or eYent ;
~ E":.t.::r:tt'.s o.::ltion on " \\.ash ington :: ; \Veost.er 's ur;Lti un
0 ~1 "I,Jcr't.y ;:.nll Unio:1 ";Burke's" Im pc:i.chme ut of

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t( 1i'1

greatly c x pan J"J .

3. The conclusion or peroration of the di::c oursc sliou1c1
leav e a ~ tron;; in: p rc::;t-i on . Tt ~h r ~ td dl t li ·r1 f()r,:·1 1n; 1)~·t.:­
pared with speciol care. Somdilll cs this is du!le Ly givincr
a' brief stunman:
a Ikatl .1· -turnccl
.. 0
.J, ancl surndi111u by
•
sentence which sums up the mos t powerful a rgum ents
previously · advanced. But, h o wever d one, it sh ould
· a lways be <lone in such an effective way as to win
immecliate recugnition from th e audience as being >Yell
cl one.
1

llinSti.ug-s.''
Son:mtimes the term is applied to the graduating and other
F.pectdi,.,S {)f student.5 at school, but h ard ly with propriety, as the
f!~2-1i0a ~;; a p n ..::k 1c tion of such an ord er that it is beyon d the
:'t ! l T

;<l) ( l ( ~~l :i l t i :

1r: ct.hod uf t rt al rric- i it fi1r l : \ · t · r y· :.;u L_;1_·l· L
H ~g gc r1 cr:l l 5 ~ 1/S l ' ~.)tiu~; ~~ 1r1 .t y \ J( ' u:· t~
a. ( ) r1 l y

r~_~2,~:·1 { f

i ::.::~th B.;;~l Cti:. L :.:..:t:::!'

·:.'

b:.i: th ·.:· ll11 JS ~ finis~1ecl S } J C ~L~Cr~ .

1. The object of the introduction is mainly to gain the
attention and good-will of the audience, and put it in a
condition to listen to argument.
The following suggestions are given without argument,
as essential to it good introduction:

2. Deliberative, the object of which was to persuade or advise. The subjects here discussed were war, finance, politics,
aud public improvement.
3. judicio.1, the object of which was to accuse or defend.
This kind of oratory wa8 confined wholly to the courts of taw.

I

;·rs~.:'~:~··--~ ~~~~~i.~.{~:~.~~~~
1

QuALITIES EssENTIAL TO AN ORATION.

From the nature of an oration it is evident t.hn.t the
stJ1le sh~uld be elevailed. Ornament ma.y be freely in·
tmduced, h mt it m ust. be of the most. exalted character.
The fol! omng are among the most imvortant essen::_;;;~!: ~

shir.. This was true of Burke, 'Vebster, Pitt, and others,
espt'cially in the topics which they chose as the subjects
of their oi:at1ons.

2. A Knowledge of :Men.-Those who can best infiu·
enc<! men nre they who most thoroughly un<lerstand

4

L Direct Address.-Dircci adtlrc:>s rn ll!)t. Le empiuyeti,
~use

the

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(ll•_it:(·:t. erf the

Unity. - - ~\
~_· ct.

'r·:. ~~

(1r.1t il)n iB

u.n

f1f) }J~r1l t(1

lt:cll ng?S are !II urticr l11u !, lie ma v k!tuw 11uw to cull·
tiol t];en1; arsd ·h~ j~ rrr:nerrdlv ntn~t. r::inc:\:f·: ~.~fu~ in thi::1
J

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.

In :: r ! ~::t10:-: t.:: th e r!::~(~~-=: ~?.;: o!" :: :~~ :- r:s;: :
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!83

PROSE COMPOSITION.

co~VPQSITION.

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frc1 1n di~ -

1~~ 1_ · \·l· r1t Lli 1: h J _,it:.~il~c.-r

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"rk , ;end ha-, fttll li:·li:
(\f tli c SL' t ' t; :· 1r:n ts h c ex p n:c::cl ':o.

at:C •: uf l:i,

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in tl1t· 1rnp;:t. c:: .:.:

(J nly i11 ll:C: irn pr: rl::r:"" ,,f ti:" 1·:\ l i "
1·:· · · ·~.'>,
but :J.-.:q iu hi1ns l:1f a .~ LL:i nµ- aLlt· t\) Jii·l - ~t:J::t 1.1.; ~ ;1Un10nt' 1n :i f .. ar ]cc;.:o rn:1 n111· r and \., t -.r itl! !';-.·1; .._r J:: :i ·r11\:l

Digni:yr-1 t i::; l~ut i i 1C()ll:Si.~tc· nt \\'J t}~ the p~ijt:Ct oi'
z::-·. o rat i (! n :-' i 11 '-I\" 1u :~: l u •_l 1 w i t :t n cl l 1u m u r, li u t 11 cit li e r
-:.:~ .'. ·-..:ld Le ~ ; :L .1Ll l ·d
(L. ·:r:Lct fru:11 ~~1c g ~~11c.L ~ ~l <..1l~1lil, ~,·
i>.

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-C:~_-.- -~ : L I1 1,J·__:c}

,<,· t:, ·~·l'f.\°

:~1 1l . l!l:ll l 1 :-~Ltit } '. l.

-i. Ornari!-ent.-As kis uccn sai<l, figuratirn language,
bnt only a.f the :nost exalted kind, is conducive to
fr Lito ry; L.J! suisc sl1uuld nut lJe sacrificed to sound,
L·>!. shou1.J uni:t 11 1cn t Ltke tlic Jilaet~ of fact.
Energ; .--T i1i~

i.L ll l}.

2. A ddrufi..ses .-An address ...i" :l rl i.~•'( )\l r:.; ::; S'l!r:c
~,t
similar to an oration ' b ut . not of su lii .,:. i:l1 a chara cter.

Add resses may• be of brr rcat yari ctv• and be delivered on
any

UCC: LSl UI I.

:3 . Speecl1e s.-J.\ speech difTt·r:--; "fnJn1 nn rrddrc:--:s only
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; ·d t i.i: it. . 1' t 1" "~:
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:.< ., \l.,·),_:,1, i. ' ,'ll~• ~L lil[·1·,,.;:-:. !J ~ -\ ' 1 ·~

i o 11111r1_: 11c:cc,.:,.: :ny in an or:lti1J:1 tl1:cn
_::. 1\· o ._/_, . . ·f:i! : d u:· d'.:..:.·:i 1.1:·:-:,_·.
'fl.:=: sl\'l t' u:' tL1..· ()r~ ;.t1 J::m11~u!d b e such as to enn.ble l1in1 to S\Va)' his ~u<lience ut

. Il
1

trill, demand ing and ~ontrolling their sympathy wilh
every sentiment expre ssed.

und on uny topic whatever. Thus, we have political
speeches, postprandial or after-dinner speeches, speE-chcs
to school-children, to town meetings, to legislative bodies,
etc.
Among_ these, the after-clinner speech, which should
abound in wit und happy allusions, is one of the most

1

QUALIFICATIONS ESSENTIAL TO THE ORATOR.

1. A Thorough Knowledge of his Subject.-The great.
tst orators in all ages haye been men of sound scholar-

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A p!m is an om.I discourse or speech delivered :.Jy a
l'lwye1I' t-0 a court or a jury. .
4. Lectur.es.-A lecture is an om.I discourse delivered ·
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CHAPTER IV.

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5. S 2 :-m on s .- A sermon i:o an oral di"cour::: c ddin~rtd
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Sermons mn.y also be delivered-by. others than clergy1men. These are call eel lay sermons. Coleridge was noted ,
for ha lav i;e.rmons.

L It m uot tJ>c t h e Pro ehl.ct () (" fop I n: :,;i r: ~c~: :.:: . is m uch v cr:-:e tl 1at ca11n ut 1i r·u v:r11 y •tic· C tl' I" . '1 i" >c L;-:; , :: : :~ i'
for ,vhosc existence as verse t11crc se1•111s to 1,r_; 110 p ri,:.sible excuse, except that the meter aml tlic rl1:,-u10 ]1k•~c
the ear. Poetry rises nbove wh:tt i:~ merL"ly u:Lrr;t:i'.'c:,
descri p tive, or arg umc ntatiYc. It i:;; the prnd~1c t c,f fl.
creative imagination under excitement. It is an ideal

' creation of the mind. Ita characters, it.s incidents, it.s
scenes, and even it.s language, are dra.wn from the writer's imagination, and not from the real world. Shakespeare, himself one of the greatest of poelo:, th us pictures the proce;:;s :
"'I'f~ e r·->+:"t 1 s e:·e, in fin e L. t~ n ?. y r 1 i1il11~ 1
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