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Exercises in making Sentences rapid. motes rapidity is as likely to increase force as to lessen it; there is no need, therefore, of drawing a sharp contrast between the two qualities. The important thing is, to feel at once when a sentence is too lumbering and slow, and to study ways of lightening or strengthening its expression.

1. Make the following sentences more rapid, and refer each amendment to the rule involved.

The young rogues, because they were hot-headed, would not listen to any proposals for conciliation. (Implicate.)

An inordinate ambition is very liable to lead to disaster if it is not checked. (Lighten the subordinate clause.)

She first went up the street, looking for the child in all the doorways and passages; then into the by-streets and dirty courts; then into the square near by, searching every nook that she could think of, probable or improbable, but with no success. (Cut down particulars.)

Our friend had a great conceit of knowing everything, and accordingly he took occasion to set every one right. (Epithet.)

It is pleasant to sit by an open fire that is cheerful, and talk with friends whom you know well, about the scenes which you have visited with them. (Relatives.)

In Washington when he was praying at Valley Forge we discern the true strength of Washington when he was victor over Cornwallis at Yorktown. (Epithet.)

Ten o'clock had scarcely finished striking from the Parliament tower on Saturday night before a stream of guests who were attired in festal array began to pour into the entrance of the Foreign Office which is in Downing street. (Time-clause and relatives.)

Like children who are led by a father, our confidence is not in the resolution which we have taken but in the hand which we hold. (Relatives.)

The wonderful display of steam-engines and dynamos, of lathes and saws, of clocks and watches, and of ingenious devices for facilitating every kind of work, is a significant indication of American inventive genius. (Cut down particulars.)

No statesman living at the same time with him could equal his skilful manner of satisfying the wants of the nation connected with the administration of affairs at home, and at the same time making the government respected in its relations connected with the administration of affairs abroad.、、

This is a man who is the most adventurous of all who have attempted to explore the wild swamps, the trackless forests, the barren plains, the lonely passes and defiles of this land which has been hitherto unknown.

I will not mention the difficulties which attended the presentation of the work; and they were difficulties which were of no common kind, and which made the preparations slow; suffice it to say, they were overcome, and we have reached a success which may be regarded as truly marvelous.

There is no way suggested by means of which we can secure the relief which we need.

Vindictiveness, which is a fault, and which may be defined as anger which is caused not by sin nor by crime but by personal injury, ought to be carefully distinguished from resentment, which is a virtue, and which is anger which is natural and right (4) caused by an act which is unjust, because it is unjust, not because it is inconvenient (52).1

Paul and Silas were set free from their imprisonment, and the jailer besought them to go, but the apostles were indignant and refused to depart until the magistrates themselves came and brought them out,

1 Quoted from Abbott's "How to Write Clearly."

Good fielding was the prominent feature of the game which we played last Saturday.

2. In rewriting the following, note carefully what sentences are weighted with too lengthy forms of expression, and study how to cut down principal constructions to subordinate, relative clauses to phrases and single words, and in general how to make the expression more clean and crisp.

THERE is a an incident which occurred b in the life of Beethoven, which is very suggestive of the [sadness, suffering, melancholy, sorrow, 2] which (35, 58) is often to be found associated with (49) great genius.

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He undertook (22) d to conduct one of his symphonies (52) when it was newly finished (57) at its first presentation (59), in person (59), ins his latter (2) career, long (1) after he had become totally deaf (52). His greatness was universally recognized at that time (52),h and a large and expectant audience assembled (22), [anxious, curious, eager, interested, 2] both to hear the new work and see (42) the composer who was so famous (57).i Beethoven stood, of course, with his face turned toward (57); the orchestra and with his back to the audience conducting (41) the symphony (52).k It was a wonderful work (57),1 and the successive movements were given, and the hearers became more and more enthusiastic, and when the grand finale came they hardly knew how to give expression to their applause which should be adequate to the merit of the work (57). Beethoven (57)" alone was unaware of all this (52);o until a member of the orchestra arose and took his arm and turned him round so that he could see the people, for they were madly applauding (57). Then it seemed to dawn upon him for the first time (52) that his work had been heard and liked, that that which (58)a had never met his ear— for his ear was deadened (57) had given delight to a large number (46). It

was an almost overpowering (51) revelation to him (52),1 both for its joy and (42) sadness.

V

Some of the greatest names (2)s of history have been tried by the deepest affliction. Homer and Milton, who were (58) two supreme poets who could see in nature and int life things which were (58) invisible (51) to others, were blind; Beethoven's" joy laid (2) in the world of sound, and he was deaf. Dante had a love for Florence, which was his native place (57), a love which was consuming (57), and he was an exile; Michael Angelo was a man whose genius was colossal (57) and shaped joy for multitudes, and he was a man who was (58) infinitely sad and lonely. Perhaps it was necessary that these great ones should have such stern trial (57) * to bring out that which was within them which was deepest (58); perhaps we have these very afflictions to thank, in great degree, for the vitality which (58) makes their work an undying one.

NOTES TO THE ABOVE. -a. This beginning illustrates a very frequent way of using superfluous words, namely, putting in a predicate and a relative clause what can go equally well in a single assertion. Instead of saying, "There is an incident . . . which is," etc., say, "An incident . . . is," etc. -b. "Which occurred" is superfluous. —c. Find a single equivalent word for the clause from "is" to "with."-d. Make the time of the incident begin at Beethoven's actual conducting, and make up the preceding tenses with reference to that. —e. Find equivalent adjective for when-clause. f. Put this phrase immediately after its verb.—g. Begin the sentence with this phrase. For "long" use "some years." ―h. "Recognized" ought to have the emphatic place. i. Condense clause to single word. j. What single verb equivalent to “with ... toward?" — k. “Symphony” does not need emphasis.—1. Give substance of this clause in an of-phrase. m. Try putting this clause first with "as" instead of "and." The sentence as it stands illustrates a frequent habit with young writers of making up their sentences out of a number of and-clauses. -n. Instead of repeating the name, give descriptive epithet: "the creator of the work."— o. Put "unaware in emphatic position.-p. Make lighter by a participle. — q. What single word is equivalent to "that which?". r. Put "revelation in emphatic place. s. A common error. It is not the names but the men who have been tried. t. Preposition may here be omitted for the sake of rapidity. — u. Instead of possessive use relative clause, and omit “and.”

v. Put this in relative clause: "who had a," etc.-w. No need of saying he was a man; that is evident enough. -x. "Such stern trial was necessary." ―y. "What was deepest within them.” - -z. Do not end with such an insignificant word; give the emphasis to the adjective.

3. Work out the following problems:

Find comprehensive terms as equivalents for the following groups of terms: under Indian palm-groves, amid Australian gum-trees, in the shadow of African mimosas, and beneath Canadian pines. (Notice that the countries whose trees are mentioned are all colonies of Great Britain). The clearing of the room, the polishing of the floor, the decorating of the walls, the laying of the crash, the placing of the furniture, before the grand ball. — His lands, his mills, his barns, his outhouses, his desirable residence, a property of great value, for sale.

Find single words, equivalents for the following: to eat up rapidly and completely; to look with fixed eyes; to carry with difficulty and labor; to start back in amazement or disgust; freedom from pride and self-righteousness; a hotel where there are multitudes of guests of every class,

IV. LIFE.

Of the large quality of force in style one of the most important traits is what we here venture to name life.1 By life is meant that vigor of conception and expression which indicates the writer's deep interest in his subject and his determination to make his reader see it as plainly

1 This plain term life seems to come nearer to what we mean than any of its synonyms. The quality is not the same as liveliness or vivacity; for a quiet and restrained style, well managed, may be full of life. Nor is it just identical with vividness; for this refers to the picturing power of words, a quality that satisfies part of our idea but not all. Nor again is it exactly synonymous with vitality, which is a deeper and more organic quality, taking hold not only of style but of thought and character.