EXERCISE.-Express forcibly by means of one of the preceding figures of speech:-(1) He slept like a (2) She seemed as happy as a

(3) The snow

(6) There was about him an infinite number of upturned faces. (7) A short period of time may destroy an empire. (8) His heart was to receive and

to retain. (9) A sharp tongue is the only thing that grows keener in with constant use. (10)

They oppress the poor. gone, and forever.

(12) In the noontide heat every flower was motionless. (13) The instruments of peace are mightier than the instruments of war. (14) The reason is as plain as (15) Perhaps in this neglected grave may lie unknown to fame some poet or

some statesman.

IV. Composition.-I. Describe some building of historic or antiquarian interest, such as the following:(1) An old Dutch Mansion. (2) The Van Cortlandt Manor, New York. (3) Fraunce's Tavern. (4) The Jewell Mansion. (5) Trinity Church, New York. (6) Washington's Headquarters at (7) The Old South Church, Boston.

Pioneers.

(8) The Log House of the

Substitute other appropriate local themes if not familiar with these.

2. Describe some memorial of historic interest, such as (1) Grant's Tomb, New York City. (2) The Soldiers and Sailors' Memorial. (3) The Obelisk in Central

Park. (4) Stuyvesant's Tomb, St. Mark's Church. (5) The Statue of Liberty, New York Harbor.

Substitute other appropriate local themes if not familiar with these.

3. Describe some public building, such as (1) The City Hall. (2) The Museum. (3) The Aquarium. (4) The University.

4. Describe the house and its surroundings represented in this picture.

CHAPTER VII.-PERSONS.

LESSON LIII.

I. Memorize:-TRUE PERFECTION.

It is not growing like a tree

In bulk, doth make man better be;
Or standing long an oak three hundred year,
To fall a log at last, dry, bald, and sere;
A lily of a day

Is fairer far in May,

Although it fall and die that night—
It was the plant and flower of Light.

In small proportions we just beauty see;
And in short measures life may perfect be.

-Ben Jonson.

II. Theme:-HISTORICAL DESCRIPTION-PERSONAL APPEARANCE: OLIVER CROMWELL.

"His Highness," says Whitelocke, "was in a rich but plain suit-black velvet, with cloak of the same; about his hat a broad band of gold." Does the reader see him? A rather likely figure, I think. Stands some five feet ten or more; a man of strong, solid stature, and dignified, now partly military carriage: the expression of him valor and devout intelligence— energy and delicacy on a basis of simplicity. Fiftyfour years old, gone April last; brown hair and mus

tache are getting gray. A figure of sufficient impressiveness-not lovely to the man-milliner species, nor pretending to be so. Massive stature; big, massive head, of somewhat leonine aspect; wart above the right eyebrow; nose of considerable blunt aquiline proportions; strict yet copious lips, full of all tremulous sensibilities, and also, if need were, of all fiercenesses and rigors; deep, loving eyes-call them grave, call them stern-looking from under those craggy brows, as if in life-long sorrow, and yet not thinking it sorrow; thinking it only labor and endeavor: on the whole, a right noble lion-face and hero-face; and to me royal enough.

-Thomas Carlyle. From "Oliver Cromwell's Letters and Speeches."

EXERCISE. Note the means by which the writer gives us a visual image of a striking figure. His introduction tells what the ordinary observer would notice the clothes of the man. He then states his theme impressively by a rhetorical question, "Does the reader see him?" which makes us alert for the picture to follow. Then comes the general outline, all the more striking from its low pitch. General details follow on methodically,―stature, carriage, expression. Then more definite details are added,-age, hair, mustache, head, wart, nose, lips, brows, eyes. A general summary, now highpitched, concludes.

III. Principles-Style-Force-6. Figures.—Other figures of speech that contribute to force in writing are hyperbole and litotes, epigram, and irony.

(iv.) Hyperbole. Sometimes a high degree of effect

is attained by the rhetorical form of exaggeration or overstatement, called hyperbole (hi per bol ě).

He is the very genius of famine.

This fellow, Shadow, presents no mark to the enemy; the foeman may with as great aim level at the edge of a penknife.

NOTE. Colloquial language is full of ineffective hyperbole, especially in its use of words like awful, terrible, perfect, lovely.

Litotes. Sometimes a strong affirmation is got by understatement, especially by denying the opposite. This is called litotes (lit' ō tēz).

He is no saint.

I am a citizen of no mean city.

(v.) Epigram.—A forcible form of expression is the epigram, which in brief, pithy, and unexpected form, contains some shrewd generalization.

To err is human, to forgive divine.

The epigram is a frequent form of wit and humor:

Give me the luxuries of life and I will dispense with the necessaries. Woman will be the last thing civilized by man.

(vi.) Irony.-A forcible as well as humorous effect can be produced by the use of words in a double sense -the one expressed being literal, the other understood —the real meaning being satiric or sarcastic.

I had my money and I had my friend. I lent my money to my friend. I lost my money and my friend.

EXERCISE.-Point out the nature and effect of the figure of speech in each of the following:—(1) Penny wise and pound foolish. (2) That man is no fool. (3) Pleasures are like poppies spread. (4) The child