of singular courage, and of such mighty strength that with one hand he could stop a mill wheel in its most rapid motion. Here he is defending single handed the passage of a bridge against a great army.

Cervantes makes a certain inn-keeper, completely given over to the reading of these impossible romances, say when one of his guests denounced his stories as a pack of lies, "Lies! They can't be lies! Why, sir, are they not in print?

One of the humorous touches in this picture is the unconcern of the hero's mighty steed in the midst of awful combat. He stands at the other end of the bridge, quietly eating grass!

Artist or Writer. — Prepare a talk on either Doré or Cervantes. Describe the Picture. - Study the picture, and describe it. What are some of the characteristics of Doré's style, as shown in this picture? Books Written in Prison. This book was written in prison. So were The Pilgrim's Progress, by John Bunyan, and A History of the World, by Sir Walter Raleigh. Give a brief outline of one of these books.

Vocational Training. You soon discover in studying vocational training that all pupils do not care for the same things. Your ambitions are not alike. Endeavor to discover what your tastes are, and perfect yourself in the things that will be helpful in that direction. Of course you may change your mind, but, in many cases, pupils of the high school begin to know what they would like to do when they get out into that larger world that lies beyond the high school and the higher institutions of learning.

Are your tastes literary? Do you incline to writing? Some will at once say, No; but there are others who have an ambition to try their hands at writing stories. If you are one of these, take the following exercises on story writing. They are designed especially for those who have literary tastes or ambitions.

EXERCISES IN VOCATIONAL TRAINING

(a) Short Story Work. — Bring to this work an ambition to succeed as a writer, and as a result of this, a determined purpose to master the mechanical side of literary work.

1. Study the way in which any recent writer has become successful. Take Jack London for instance. It is to be regretted that a writer of such promise passed away before he had time to do his greatest work, but his success was unusual. It was not, however, accidental.

He tried many kinds of work before he made up his mind definitely that he was going to write for a livelihood. He went at it with the same vigor that had always characterized him. His stories came back to him, but he determined to know why. Taking the magazines that had rejected his articles or stories, he studied what they did accept; to discover what they would accept. This is what you must do, if you are to succeed.

2. Submit your finished work to the editorial committee. The members of this committee will doubtless be able to be of material assistance, and your instructor in English is a member ex officio of that committee.

3. Take these comments in the right spirit. Do not be afraid to recast your work, if they suggest it. No matter how good it is, it will become better by what you omit. Count your words, and make your words count.

4. Rewrite your story and send it to a magazine. While waiting for it to come back, do two things: (1) Study the magazine to which you sent your story, to see why it may come back; and (2) write another story. Shape your story to suit the magazine you are writing for, and keep on writing.

(b) How to Write a Story.1- Take some character that strikes you.

1 The Report of the Committee on English, N. E. A. Commission on Reorganization of High Schools, says, "Expression in writing includes, for those who have literary tastes or ambitions, ability to write a short story, or other bit of imaginative composition, with some vigor and per

Study this character until you know him or her well. Think what he would do, under certain circumstances. Think your story out before you put a word on paper. Do not try a story founded on fact. Use your imagination, and let it be your story. When you know your story, write it. As you write, the story may shape itself. Let it do So. In a sense, a good story tells itself.

(c) Writing a Play. — Much that is said as to the story also concerns the play. But in the play you must say as little as possible, in order to make it mean as much as possible. Study some successful modern play, but write yours some other way. Study the moving picture play to see how much can be said without saying anything. Present your play at school.

sonality of style and in proper form to be submitted for publication; and to arrange suitable stories in form for dramatic presentation." This is quoted with approval by the English Syllabus, Board of Regents, New York.

CHAPTER XVIII

EFFECTIVE EXPOSITION

The value of exposition rests on the thoroughness of the thought that precedes it. - ARLO BATES.

Exposition Defined. Exposition is an explanation, or an attempt on the part of one who understands a subject to make that subject plain to the minds of his hearers or readers.

If you direct a stranger to the post office, or show one of your classmates the mechanism of a new fishing reel, you are giving an exposition. If you demonstrate a problem in algebra or a theorem in geometry, or give a careful definition of some term in botany or zoology, you are using exposition.

Methods of Exposition. There is great variety in the methods by which exposition is applied. The most important are (1) definition; (2) illustration or example; (3) demonstration; (4) comparison or contrast; (5) the use of details.

Exposition by Definition. - Exposition by definition explains a term by establishing the limits to the meaning of that term. An exact or logical definition includes all the members of a class referred to by the term defined, and excludes everything that does not belong to that term.

The Definition of a Gentleman

It is almost the definition of a gentleman to say he is one who never inflicts pain. This description is both refined and, as far as it goes, accurate. He is mainly occupied in merely removing the obstacles which hinder the free and un

embarrassed action of those about him; and he concurs with their movements rather than takes the initiative himself. His benefits may be considered as parallel to what are called comforts or conveniences in arrangements of a personal nature; like an easy chair or a good fire, which do their part in dispelling cold and fatigue, though nature provides means of rest and animal heat without them.

The true gentleman in like manner carefully avoids whatever may cause a jar or a jolt in the minds of those with whom he is cast, —all clashing of opinion, or collision of feeling, all restraint, or suspicion, or gloom, or resentment; his great concern being to make every one at his ease and at home. He has his eyes on all his company; he is tender towards the bashful, gentle towards the distant, and merciful towards the absurd. He can recollect to whom he is speaking; he guards against unseasonable allusions, or topics which may irritate; he is seldom prominent in conversation, and never wearisome. He makes light of favors while he does them, and seems to be receiving when he is conferring.

He never speaks of himself except when compelled, never defends himself by a mere retort; he has no ears for slander or gossip, is scrupulous in imputing motives to those who interfere with him, and interprets everything for the best. He is never mean or little in his disputes, never takes unfair advantage, never mistakes personalities or sharp sayings for arguments, or insinuates evil which he dare not say out.

If he engages in controversy of any kind, his disciplined intellect preserves him from the blundering discourtesy of better, perhaps, but less educated minds; who, like blunt weapons, tear and hack instead of cutting clean, who mistake the point in argument, waste their strength on trifles, misconceive their adversary, and leave the question more involved than they find it. He may be right or wrong in his opinion, but he is too clear-headed to be unjust; he is as simple as he is forcible, and as brief as he is decisive.

The Idea of a University, by John Henry Newman