LESSON XXVIII.

ELEGANCE. - FINE WRITING.

Elegance as well as Clearness requires the avoidance of Fine Writing, that is, the use of exquisite phrases, long-swelling words, affected expressions, and voluble circumlocutions, instead of saying what one means in a simple, natural, and straightforward

manner.

Sometimes this fault manifests itself in a desire to interlard one's writing with poetic phrases or quotations, as "the festive board," for "table"; "the cup that cheers, but not inebriates,” for "tea." Such quotations are allowable when they are in keeping with the rest of the writing, and are in point.

This pretentious kind of language is so much used by public speakers, and in newspapers, magazines, and other periodicals, that it bids fair to destroy the native simplicity, force, and beauty of our tongue.

In Fine Writing people do not live in houses, "they reside in residences"; fires are not put out, but "conflagrations are extinguished"; the law does not hang rogues, but it "launches into eternity the victims of unbridled passions"; people do not send for the doctor, but "call into requisition the services of the family physician"; they do not die, but "the spirit wings its flight into eternity"; a man does not breakfast, but he "discusses the morning repast"; he does not go to bed, but "retires to his downy couch"; he does not go to church, but "attends divine service"; he does not lose his mother by death, but "sustains a bereavement of his maternal relative"; ladies are not married, but "led to the hymeneal altar"; doctors do not order a poultice, but an "emollient cataplasm."

KEEPING.

Elegance requires all parts of discourse to be in Keeping. The mode of treatment and the style should be suitable to the subject; the language and the subject should support each other; discords of all kinds should be avoided; and bold figures should be sparingly used.

1. The different parts of a sentence should correspond to one another; as, "All proper nouns should begin with a capital." Here the first part of the sentence is plural, and the latter part singular. Say "Every proper noun."

2. The harshness caused by making two verbs or prepositions govern the same object should be avoided; as, "In the battle, he furiously sought to close with, and cut down, his rival."

3. Low or trivial language must not be used in serious composition; as, 'Blessed are the meek,' that was one of His obser

vations."

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4. The same word should not be used at short intervals in different senses; as, "If the show of anything is good for anything, sincerity is better."

5. The repetition of the same word at brief intervals even in the same sense, is offensive to the taste as well as to the ear; as, "The Colonel ordered the subordinate officers to order their troops to come to order."

Exceptions. Sometimes, however, the same word may be repeated with a fine effect; as, "Nothing is omitted; nothing is crowded." "An unpardonable fault, the fault of tediousness, pervades the whole of the Fairy Queen."

Sometimes, also, the repetition is necessary in order to make the sense clear; as, "Can it be laid down as a general rule that the movement of political and religious truth is rather downwards from the government to the people, than upwards from the people to the government.”

Similarly, a succession of phrases or clauses of the same kind becomes disagreeable.

6. The practice of beginning sentence after sentence with "he" or some similar word, is an inelegance into which young writers are very apt to fall.

7. A poetic metaphor should not be used to illustrate a prosaic subject; as, "Consols soared to 944."

8. Incongruous statements should not, in serious composition, be united in the same sentence; as, "He was a loving husband, a tender father, and a good shot."

9. A literal statement should not follow immediately after a metaphor; as, "He was the father of chemistry, and brother to the Earl of Cork."

EXERCISE XLII.

FINE WRITING.

DIRECTION.- Express these sentences in language better suited to the

thought.

1. Those individuals were eagerly hastening towards their parental domicile.

2. That institution was inaugurated under the auspices of a most distinguished personage.

3. Previous to making a sudden transition, you should execute a survey of your surroundings. (Look before, etc.)

4. In recompense for his splendid munificence, he was made the recipient of many grateful acknowledgments.

5. The house that was lately in process of erection, has been destroyed in its entirety by the devouring element.

6. In the intensity of his passion, he indulged in minatory expressions.

7. His parental relative was a gentleman long identified with the building interest.

8. Please convey to me that dissecting instrument.

9. A petrified body of rotary motion has no affinity for gramineous matter. (A rolling stone, etc.)

10. Pedal teguments artistically illuminated and lubricated for the infinitesimal compensation of five cents per operation.

II. One of those omnipresent characters, who, as if in pursuance of some previous arrangement, are certain to be encountered when an accident occurs, ventured the suggestion. (A bystander.)

12. While pursuing my esoteric cogitations on the empyrean atmosphere, I was approached by an erubescent damsel, who informed me that the nocturnal revelries were about to ensue.

13. I opine you adorn the bountifully furnished table of the excellent lady who provides so liberally for the company that assembles around her hospitable board.

14. When the luminary of day had driven his chariot behind the mountains, the eminent agriculturists began to discuss the succulent bivalves.

15. After attending divine service, a vast concourse congregated to behold the victims of unbridled passions launched into eternity.

16. After being the recipients of multitudinous favors, and participating for some weeks in the hospitalities of their host, they took their departure.

17. The friends speedily called into requisition the services of the family physician, but the disease had taken so firm a hold of his system that after a few hours of agony his spirit winged its flight into realms unknown.

18. The remains of the departed author of my being were placed in a casket and conveyed to their last resting-place.

19. Before she was led to the hymeneal altar, she had charge of the culinary department of a prominent hotel.

20. The patrons of husbandry, having thoroughly examined all the inventions of genius to be found within the machinery hall, retired to an adjoining apartment to partake of some liquid refreshments.

EXERCISE XLIII.

KEEPING.

DIRECTION. - Correct the violations of the rules of Keeping. Give a reason for each change.

1. All verbs agree with their subject.

2. The fairest of her daughters, Eve.

3. The first project was to shorten discourse by cutting polysyllables into one.

4. We are at peace with all the world, and seek to maintain our cherished relations of amity with the rest of mankind.

5. In the construction of the Act, "teacher" shall include female as well as male teachers.

6. That author approaches the subject from an unusual standpoint.

7. The brain needs rest as much, if not more, than the rest of the body.

8. He looked very unnatural after he had received that unnatural treatment.

9. He successfully avoided threatening evils, and steered the ship of state into a safe harbor.

10. An anxious face opened the door and led us upstairs.

11. The chariot of revolution is rolling onward and gnashing its teeth as it rolls.

12. I was sitting at the table enjoying a cup of coffee, when a gentle voice tapped me on the shoulder.

13.

In the beginning it was intended that all men should marry but one wife.

14. He was a firm believer in the immortal gods who are now dead.

15. Shakespeare was the sun among the lesser lights of English poetry, and a native of Stratford-on-Avon.

16. He guided the people from the quicksands of protection into the safe harbor of free trade, and saved the country several millions.