as this latter word deserves the distinction.

If we should say, "how

kind to inferiors he invariably is,” the adverb creates a distinction for the verb and makes it worthy of the emphatic place. "Obstinate and unprincipled though he was, yet he could not face an angered father, in spite of his effrontery." This last phrase should go before "he could not face,” etc., both according to the third specification under Rule 81, and because the distinction really belongs to "could not face," etc.

It is especially hazardous to end a sentence with a phrase or clause beginning with not or which, or with a restrictive element beginning with at least, at all events, and the like. The added element is almost sure to weaken the end of the sentence; liable also to impair its unity.

EXAMPLES. 1. Ending with negative. "This reform has already been highly beneficial to all classes of our countrymen, and will, I am persuaded, encourage. among us industry, self-dependence, and frugality, and not, as some say, wastefulness.'

2. Ending with which-clause. "After a long and tedious journey, the last part of which was a little dangerous owing to the state of the roads, we arrived safely at York, which is a fine old town."1 ending really belongs to another sentence.

3. Ending with restriction.

This

"Financial matters will not be stable

and confident again until the present silver law has been repealed; at least in my opinion."

83. Join matters that belong to the same thought; separate what is distinct.

What matters are closer in thought and what more remote is a question that has to be answered in each case by test and revision, and no list of degrees of relation can be made out. By way of example, however, we may say:

Be cautious about separating a relative clause from its antecedent.

1 Examples taken from Abbott's "How to Write Clearly.

Be cautious about separating a verb from its object or predicate noun.

EXAMPLES.

Compare each of the following sentences with the

improved arrangement in the second column:

"The old man had struck, in sudden and uncontrollable anger, his nephew."

"These specimens are, to my way of thinking, both in form and in marking, the best examples of this class that I have seen."

"The old man, in sudden and uncontrollable anger, had struck his nephew."

"To my way of thinking, these specimens, both in form and in marking, are the best examples of this class that I have seen."

Study is needed to determine, between prepositional phrases modifying the same word, which expresses the closest relation and should accordingly be placed next its principal. Generally an of-phrase ought to take the precedence, though the rule is not invariable

ILLUSTRATIONS. In the above example it is hard to say which is better, "the best examples I have seen of this class," where relative clause and antecedent are kept close together, or, "the best examples of this class that I have seen," where the of-phrase stands next its noun. Probably both are equally correct.

"The death by consumption is announced of Mr. William Bailey, aged 45 years." This is an awkward arrangement, which, however, it is not easy to amend. Perhaps the best order would be "Announce

ment is made of the death of Mr. William Bailey, by consumption. He was 45 years of age." In any case the of-phrase should take the precedence of the by-phrase.

84. Give like form to matters like in significance.

This important requisite applies especially to the voice of the verb, and

to words, phrases, or clauses paired

together or set over against each other.

Be cautious about changing the voice of the verb, from active to passive or vice versa, in the course of the sentence. The kinds of action and kinds of agency ought to be kept uniform, except for special reason.

ILLUSTRATION. 66 Seeing the venomous reptile so near her, she started back, shuddered, and a low tremulous cry was heard." Better, "and uttered a low tremulous cry." Το say, "and her companions heard a low tremulous cry" keeps the active voice, but changes subject needlessly.

So, too, be careful to give like construction to elements that are paired together; that is, give them the same parts of speech, and the same manner of connection, so that they may be recognized as conformed to each other.

ILLUSTRATIONS.

·(From Abbott.) Thus, write "virtuous and accomplished" or "of many virtues and accomplishments," not, "of many virtues and accomplished"; "riding or walking" or "on foot or horseback," not "on foot or riding." Avoid such sentences

as the following :

"He had good reason to believe that the delay was not an accident (accidental) but premeditated, and for supposing (to suppose, or else, for believing, above) that the fort, though strong both by art and naturally (nature) would be forced by the treachery of the governor and the indolent (indolence of the) general to capitulate within a week."

Conforming different sentence-members to each other in structure is called balance, and gives rise to a type of sentence; see below,

Rule 90.

85. Secure exact shades of relation by connectives.

A very important thing in sentence construction is to determine what to subordinate to other things and what It is by connectives, prin

to make a principal assertion. cipally, that the kind and clearness of relation is expressed; and careful study of the degree and power of connectives is a great aid to delicacy of style.

ILLUSTRATION. The following sentence illustrates a very prevalent tendency among young writers to make every assertion of equal importance:

“The alarm was clear and close at hand, and he was startled; he arose hastily; he made as little noise as possible; he roused his men quietly, and soon he had everything in readiness for a vigorous defense."

All this we may put in a narrative sentence (see Rule 76), but not all the facts are of equal importance. What do we most need to say? Evidently (1) that he rose at the alarm, and (2) that he got his men in readiness for defense. The rest we can subordinate. Thus :

"Startled by the alarm, so clear and close at hand, he rose hastily, making as little noise as possible, and quietly rousing his men he soon had everything in readiness for a vigorous defense."

II.

Exercises in Sentence-Organism. — Two things are to be had in mind in arranging a sentence: first, its internal structure, the relation of part to part, which gives importance to endings, placing of connected elements, and likeness of paired constructions; secondly, its structure as related to other sentences, which gives importance to beginnings and connectives.

1. Rewrite the following sentences, amending according to the foregoing rules for sentence organism.1

He studied the subject so diligently that by Christmas a book was writtena and ready for the publisher, setting forth various claims and rights of the working classes, among which the claim of arbitration was a very important one.b

с

He determined on selling all his estates, and as soon as this was done, to quit the country, believing that his honor demanded this sacrifice and in the hope of satisfying his creditors.d

The young man was thrown upon the untried responsibilities of the world at a peculiarly critical time,e compelled to break off his studies in the middle of his course, and with the loss of his father's (33) guidance, who had died suddenly at the age of fifty-eight, just as he had succeeded in establishing his affairs on a prosperous basis.

I was compelled to get, for more accuracy of investigation, and to illustrate more phases of the subject, a large amount of costly apparatus.

To be suddenly brought into contact (49) with a system which forces one to submit to wholesale imposture, and to being barbarously ill-treated, naturally repels one.h

It was his custom to do most of his work in the morning and beginning the afternoon, and the latter part of the day was devoted to reading and recreation. Thus his brain was kept clear for hard study, and he spent his nights in sound and refreshing sleep, not in troubled dreams.

The general was quite conscious (2) how treacherous were the intentions of those who were entertaining him (49), and of the dangers from which he had escaped lately.i

The friends of sound government were naturally, and not without justification,j encouraged at every step gained in edu

1 For several of these exercises acknowledgment is due to Abbott's "How to Write Clearly."