SUGGESTIONS ON COMPOSITION. 61 written thus. The reader cannot fail to recognize the truth and thought conveyed in this stanza of Cowper's, beyond the words themselves: "Judge not the Lord by feeble sense, But trust Him for His grace; "O, the grave the grave! It buries every error, covers every defect, extinguishes every resentment. From its peaceful bosom spring none but fond regrets and tender recollections. Who can look down upon the grave even of an enemy, and not feel a compunctious throb, that he should ever have warred with the poor handful of earth that lies mouldering before him. "But the grave of those we loved what a place for meditation! There it is that we call up in long review the whole history of virtue and gentleness, and the thousand endearments lavished upon us, almost unheeded, in the daily intercourse of intimacy; there it is that we dwell upon the tenderness, the solemn, awful tenderness of the parting scene-the bed of death, with all its stifled griefs, its noiseless attendants, its mute, watchful assiduities - the last testimonies of expiring love-the feeble, fluttering, thrilling-O how thrilling! - pressure of the hand- the last fond look of the glazing eye, turned upon us even from the threshold of existence- the faint, faltering accents The idea expressed in these few lines brings up in long review the trials of a past life, and the recollection of sorrows and afflictions which we afterwards, not unfrequently, discovered to be blessings in disguise, and in reality seemingly struggling in death to give one more assurance of affection. designed for our best good. There is much food for reflection in the follow ing stanza from Gray's "Elegy": "Full many a gem, of purest ray serene, The dark, unfathomed caves of ocean bear; With this reading comes up the thought of those of our fellow men whom we know to be good, noble, and worthy, but whose names will go down to the grave unhonored and unknown. Very plainly we see the meaning beyond the words in the following, also from Gray: "Perhaps, in this neglected spot, is laid Some heart, once pregnant with celestial fire- A similar idea is expressed by Whittier, though in fewer words: "Of all sad words of tongue or pen, The saddest are these, 'It might have been.'' "Ay, go to the grave of buried love, and meditate! There settle the account with thy conscience for every past benefit unrequited, every past endearment unregarded, of that departed being who can never-never-never return to be soothed by thy contrition." The Bible abounds in beautiful and expressive sayings, that reveal much in few words, as shown in the following: "The wicked flee when no man pursueth." "Boast not thyself of to-morrow. Thou knowest not what a day may bring forth." "A soft answer turneth away wrath." "Better is a dinner of herbs where love is, than a stalled ox and hatred therewith." "Hope deferred maketh the heart sick." "Cast thy bread upon the waters, for thou shalt find it after many days." Care should be taken to prune out the unnecessary words with an unsparing hand. Thus, in the sentence, "I have got back, having returned yesterday," it is better to say, “I returned yesterday." Two young men, upon going into the army during the late civil war, were requested by their friends to telegraph at the close of any Both stanzas are deeply freighted with thought battle they might take part in, concerning their beyond what is expressed. Those extracts, whether in prose or poetry, that are destined to go down to coming generations, are so laden with ideas and suggestions that in listening or reading, the scenes they suggest seem to move before us, and we forget words in contemplating that which the words describe. Prose writings often contain gems of thought told very briefly, especially in the works of our best authors. In the following, from Irving's description of the grave, the reader becomes so abscibed in the picture portrayed that the words themselves are lost in the emotions they enkindle: condition. At the close of the battle of Perryville, one telegraphed the following: next question would then be "How is Hiram ?" To answer that, he had simply to telegraph one word. In a letter afterwards, he gave the particulars. The following rules should be observed in writing: First. Never use a word that does not add | tion or passion, we greatly exaggerate what is founded in truth, by magnifying the good qualities of objects we love, and diminish and degrade the objects that we dislike or envy. EXAMPLES "That fellow is so tall that he does not know when his feet are cold." "Brougham is a thunderbolt.” Personification consists in attributing life to some new thought, or modify some idea already things inanimate. expressed. Second. Beware of introducing so many subjects into one sentence as to confuse the sense. Third. Long and short sentences should be properly intermixed, in order to give a pleasing sound in reading. There is generally a rounded There is generally a rounded harmony in the long sentence, not found in the short, though as a rule, in order to express meaning plainly, it is better to use short sentences. Fourth. Make choice of such words and phrases as people will readily understand. EXAMPLES"Thy word is a lamp to my feet." "Life is an isthmus between two eternities." "The morning of life." "The storms of life." An Allegory is the recital of a story under which is a meaning different from what is expressed in words, the analogy and comparison being so plainly made that the designed conclusions are correctly drawn. EXAMPLE-Thou hast brought a vine (the Jewish nation) out of Egypt; thou hast cast out the heathen and planted it. Thou preparedst room before it and didst cause it to take deep root, and it filled the land. The hills were covered with the shadow of it, and the boughs thereof were like the goodly cedars.- BIBLE. EXAMPLE-"Hatred stirreth up strife; but love covereth all sins." A Metonymy (Me-ton-y-my) substitutes the name of one object for that of another that sustains some relation to it, either by some degree of mutual dependence or otherwise so connected as to be capable of suggesting it; thus cause is used for effect or the effect for the cause, the attribute for the subject or the subject for the attribute. EXAMPLES-1. Cause and effect; as "Extravagance is the ruin of ,"— that is, the cause of ruin. many, 2. Attribute and that to which it belongs; as "Pride shall be brought low"- that is, the proud. A Synecdoche (sin-ek-do-ke) is a form of speech wherein something more or something less is substituted for the precise object meant, as when the whole is put for a part, or a part for the whole; the singular for the plural or the plural for the singular. EXAMPLES-"His head is grey,"- that is, his hair. "The world considers him a man of talent," that is, the people. Antithesis is the contrasting of opposites. EXAMPLES" Sink or swim, live or die, survive or perish, I give my hand and heart to this vote." "Though deep yet clear.” Irony is a form of speech in which the writer or speaker sneeringly means the reverse of what is literally said, the words being usually mockery uttered for the sake of ridicule or sarcasm. Irony is a very effective weapon of attack, the form of language being such as scarcely to admit of a reply. EXAMPLE"Have not the Indians been kindly and justly treated? Have not the temporal things, the vain baubles and filthy lucre of this world, which are too apt to engage their worldly and selfish thoughts, been benevolently taken from them; and have they not instead thereof, been taught to set their affections on things above?" Paralipsis pretends to conceal what is really expressed. EXAMPLE-"I will not call him villain,because it would be unparliamentary. I will not call him fool, because he happens to be chancellor of the exchequer." Climax is the gradual ascending in the expression of thought, from things lower to a higher In Hyperbole, through the effect of imagina- and better. Reversed, it is called anticlimax. Allusion is that use of language whereby in a word or words we recall some interesting incident or condition by resemblance or contrast. EXAMPLES "Give them the Amazon in South America and we'll give them the Mississippi in the United States." After the signing of the Declaration of Independence, Hancock remarked to his fellow signers that they must all hang together. "Yes," said Franklin "or we shall all hang separately." The allusion in this case turns to a pun, which is a play upon words. EXAMPLE-"And the Doctor told the Sexton A continued allusion and resemblance in style becomes a parody. EXAMPLE -"Tis the last rose of summer, left blooming alone; PARODY All her lovely companions are faded and gone; -"Tis the last golden dollar, left shining alone; PUN All its brilliant companions are squandered and gone; Exclamation is a figure of speech used to express more strongly the emotions of the speaker. EXAMPLES-"Oh! the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and the knowledge of God!" "How poor, how rich, how abject, how august A beam ethereal, sullied and absorbed ! Though sullied and dishonored, still divine! Interrogation is a rhetorical figure by which the speaker puts opinions in the form of questions for the purpose of expressing thought more positively and vehemently without expectation of the questions being answered. EXAMPLES" He that planned the ear suall he not hear? He that formed the eye, shall he not see?" "O Death, where is thy sting? Grave, where is thy victory?" "But when shall we be stronger? Will it be the next week or the next year? Will it be when we are totally disarmed, and when a British guard shall be stationed in every house? *** Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery?" "Can storied urn or animated bust Back to its mansions call the flecting breath ? Or Flattery soothe the dull, cold ear of death?" Euphemism (u-fe-miz-em) is a word or sentence so chosen and expressed as to make a disagreeable fact sound more pleasantly than if told in plain language. EXAMPLES-"Deceased " for "dead;" "stopping payment," instead of becoming bankrupt;" "falling asleep," instead of “dying:' "you labor under a mistake," for "you lie;" "he does not keep very correct accounts," instead of "he cheats when he can;" "she cer tainly displays as little vanity in her personal appearance as any young lady I ever saw; " for "she is an intolerable slåttern.' "I see Anacreon laugh and sing; Apostrophe like the exclamation is the sudden turning away, in the fullness of emotion, to address some other person or object. In this we address the absent or dead as if present or alive, and the inanimate as if living. This figure of speech usually indicates a high degree of excitement. EXAMPLES-"O gentle sleep, Nature's soft nurse, how have I frighted thee, Thus King David, on hearing of the death of Absalom, exclaims, "O, my son Absalom, my son, my son!" Ossian's Address to the Moon, is one of the most beautiful illustrations of the apostrophe. "Daughter of heaven, fair art thou! The silence of thy face is pleasant. Thou comest forth in loveliness. The stars attend thy blue steps in the East. The clouds rejoice in thy presence, O Moon! &nd brighten their dark-brown sides. Who is like thee in heaven, daughter of the night? The stars are ashamed in thy presence, and turn aside their sparkling eyes. Whither dost thou retire from thy course, when the darkness of thy countenance grows? Hast thou thy hall like Ossian? Dwellest thou in the shadow of grief? Have thy sisters fallen from heaven? and are they who rejoiced with thee at night no more? Yes, they have fallen, fair light! and often dost thou retire to mourn. But thou thyself shall one night fail, and leave thy blue path in heaven. The stars will then lift their heads; they who in thy presence were astonished will rejoice." "Thou lingering star with less'ning ray, My Mary from my soul was torn. Vision is a figure of rhetoric by which the speaker represents the objects of his imagination as actually before his eyes and present to his senses. EXAMPLES -"Soldiers! from the tops of yonder pyramids, forty centuries look down upon you!" "We behold honses and public edifices wrapt in flames; we hear the crash of roofs falling in, and one general uproar proceeding from a thousand different voices; we see some flying they know not whither, others hanging over the last embraces of their wives and friends we see the mother tearing from the ruffian's grasp her helpless babe, and the victors cutting each others' throats wherever the plunder is most inviting." 7. When words become obsolete, or are never used but in particular phrases, they should be repudiated, as they give the style an air of vulgarity and cant, when this general disuse renders them obscure. 8. All words and phrases which analyzed grammatically, include an imperfection of speech, should be dismissed. 9. All expressions which, according to the established rules of language, either have no meaning, or involve a contradiction, or according to the fair construction of the words, convey a meaning different from the intention of the speaker, should be dismissed. General Summary. Dr. Blair's system of rhetoric sums up the most important qualities of style in the six following terms, being thus condensed by Kerl: “Purity, propriety, and precision chiefly in regard to words and phrases; and perspicuity, unity, and strength, in regard to sentences. He who writes with purity, avoids all phraseology that is foreign, uncouth, or ill-derived; he who writes with propriety, selects the most appropriate, the very best expressions, and generally displays sound judgment and good taste; he who writes with precision, is careful to state exactly what he means - all that he means, or that is necessary, and nothing more; he who writes with perspicuity, aims to present his meaning so clearly and obviously, that no one can fail to understand him at once; he who observes unity, follows carefully the most agreeable order of nature, and does not jumble together incongruous things, nor throw out his thoughts in a confused or chaotic mass; and he who writes with strength, so disposes or marshals all the parts of each sentence, and all the parts of the discourse, as to make the strongest im pression. A person's style, according as it is influenced by taste and imagination, may be dry, plain, neat, elegant, ornamental, florid or turgid. The most common faulty style is that which may be described as being stiff, cramped, labored, heavy and tiresome; its opposite is the easy, flowing, graceful, sprightly, and interesting style. One of the greatest beauties of style, one too little regarded, is simplicity or naturalness; that easy, unaffected, earnest, and highly impressive language which indicates a total ignorance, or rather innocence, of all the trickery of art. It seems to consist of the pure promptings of nature; though, in most instances, it is not so much a natural gift as it is the perfection of art." Laws of Language. The following rules by Dr. Campbell, in reference to the construction of sentences and choice of words, will be found of service. 1. When the usage is divided as to any particular words or phrases, and when one of the expressions is susceptible of different meanings, while the other admits of only one signification, the expression which is strictly of one meaning should be preferred. 2. In doubtful cases, analogy should be regarded. 3. When expressions are in other respects equa!, that should be preferred which is most agreeable to the ear. 4. When none of the preceding rules takes place, regard should be had to simplicity. 5. All words and phrases, particularly harsh and not absolutely necessary, should be dismissed. 9. When the etymology plainly points to a different signification from what the word bears, propriety and simplicity require its dismission. Specific Directions. PARAGRAPHS.-One or more sentences form a paragraph. When a deviation or change is made in the subject a new paragraph is commenced. The first line of each paragraph in writing should commence about one inch from the left side of the sheet. Preserve a space half an inch in width between the left of the writing and the edge of the sheet. Write as close to the right edge of the sheet as possible. When lack of space prevents the completion. of a word on the line, place the hyphen (-) at the end of the line and follow with the remaining syllables on the next line. Words may divided, but never divide syllables. Rules of Construction. be 1. The principal words in a sentence should be placed where they will make the most striking impression. 2. A weaker assertion or argument should not follow a stronger one. 3. The separation of the preposition from the noun which it governs, should be avoided 4. Concluding the sentence with an adverb, preposition, or other insignificant word, lessens the strength of the sentence. ORDER OF ARRANGEMENT.-Young writers will find it well to prepare a memorandum of the subjects they wish to treat on a separate slip of paper, and the points they wish to make relating to each subject. Having the subjects clearly fixed in the mind, they should commence with the least important and follow through to the end, considering the most important at the close. acquiesce, agree, consent, assent, comply, yield. Accept-admit, receive, take. Acceptable-agreeable, grateful, welcome. Accession - addition, augmentation, increase. Accommodate serve, suit, fit. Accomplice-abettor, ally, assistant, accessory, associate. Accomplish - complete, achieve, fulfill, execute, realize, finish. effect, Account-explanation, narration, description, recital. Accumulate-heap, collect, gath er, amass. Accurate-precise. exact, correct. Accuse-asperse, arraign, censure, impeach, defame, calumniate, detract, vilify. Achieve-execute, complete, fulfill, realize, accomplish, effect. Acknowledgment-confession, concession. Acknowledge - confess, avow, grant. own, Acquaint-inform, communicate, disclose, make known. Acquiesce - comply, yield, consent, agree, assent. Acquire-gain, attain, procure, win, obtain. See the word accurate in the dictionary, accompanied by synonymous words. Example. He made an excellent address in the morning, and his colleague made an excellent address in the evening. IMPROVED. He made an excellent address in the morning, and his colleague entertained the assemblage with an eloquent speech in the evening. Example. The patient suffered untold agony for years; during which time he suffered not only agony of body, but agony of mind. IMPROVED. The patient suffered untold agony for years; during which time he endured not only torture of body, but anguish of mind. Acquirement-attainment, gain. nimble, agile, alert, prompt, industrious, busy, brisk, vigorous. Actual-real, certain, positive. Actuate-impel, induce, move. Acute-sharp, keen, subtle, piercing, shrewd, pointed, penetrating. Adapt-suit, fit, adjust, accommodate. Add-join to, put to, increase. Address-speech, utterance, ability, courtship, skill, direction. Addition- augmentation, accession, increase. Adhere-stick, cleave, hold, at tach. Adept-apt, quick, skillful, expert. Adherent-disciple, follower, par |