He whispers, murmurs, booms, and blurts; But never by any chance says. He hisses, wheezes, whines, and howls, He husks and brusques, he grunts and growls. He (horrors!) nasals, yells, and wails, He warns and scorns, he rails and quails He wanders and ponders, considers and wonders, He argues and quibbles, defends or accuses, He flutters, worries, rants, and tears, O, shades of Thackeray and Scott, Of Kipling and that hapless throng, -New York Evening Post. Winning with Daylight Between. This shows a fine finish in the mile run, with an excited crowd of spectators urging the other runners to the top of their speed. The crowd offers an interesting study. You can almost hear the wild roar as they cheer the contestants on. 1. A Track and Field Meet. - Tell your experiences at such a gathering. 2. How he Won. - Write a short story, using this picture to illustrate how your hero came in ahead. Crowd it with incident and interest. 3. Preparing an Illustration. - Nothing offers a finer illustration of the value of persistence than some such scene as this. Prepare such an illustration for use in an address. Do not go beyond one hundred words. CHAPTER XXIII. THE SENTENCE A form of speech . . . of such a length as to be easily comprehended at once. - ARISTOTLE. Sentence Defined. A sentence is a group of words, phrases, or clauses, so arranged as to make sense and bring out one complete thought. The fundamental rule of the construction of sentences, and that into which all other rules might be resolved is, to communicate in the clearest and most natural order the ideas which we mean to convey to the minds of others. - Blair. Short and Long Sentences. Sentences are distinguished as short and long. At present the tendency is towards short sentences, especially in newspaper work. There is no hard and fast rule, but there are a few general principles in the use of sentences which it will be well to note. Short sentences give clearness and force to speech or writing. But, where there are too many short sentences, the sense is split and broken, the connection of thought is weakened, and the memory burdened by presenting to it a too rapid succession of minute objects. When well managed, long sentences lend dignity to the thought. But they require more attention than short sentences, in order that we may perceive the connection of the several parts, and take in the whole at one view. Moods Influencing Sentence Lengths. What the speaker or writer feels will manifest itself in the length of his sentences. In time of danger, sentences narrow to single words of warning or command. Intense excitement will show in short, quick, nervous sentences, especially at the beginning. Deep feeling, or thought where the writer has himself well in hand, will express itself in longer sentences. Importance of Variety. - A proper distribution of short and long sentences gives effectiveness to language, and gratifies the ear. The short sentences add sprightliness, while the longer periods confer a gravity and dignity which would otherwise be lacking. Each relieves the monotony of the other. This is well illustrated in the selection given below, from Patrick Henry. They tell us, Sir, that we are weak; unable to cope with so formidable an adversary. 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? Shall we gather strength by irresolution and inaction? Shall we acquire the means of effectual resistance by lying supinely on our backs, and hugging the delusive phantom of hope, until our enemies shall have bound us hand and foot? We are not weak, if we make a proper use of those means which the God of nature hath placed in our power. -Patrick Henry's Speech before the Virginia Convention. Component Parts of the Sentence. A sentence is made up of words, phrases, and clauses. A phrase is either a preposition and its object, or some form of the infinitive. A clause is a part of a sentence which contains a subject and a predicate of its own. The illustrative sentence on the next page is from Thomas Jefferson's First Inaugural Address. Error of opinion may be tolerated where reason is left free to combat it. This sentence contains one prepositional phrase, of opinion; and one infinitive phrase, to combat. Besides its principal clause, error of opinion may be tolerated, it also contains a subordinate clause, where reason is left free to combat it. The Balanced Sentence. A sentence composed of two clauses similar in form, and having these clauses set over against each other in antithesis, is called a balanced sentence. If used skillfully, and not too often, it is very effective. The following passage is made up of balanced sentences: Homer was the greater genius; Virgil, the better artist; in the one, we most admire the man; in the other, the work. Homer hurries us with a commanding impetuosity; Virgil leads us with an attractive majesty. Homer scatters with a generous profusion; Virgil bestows with a careful magnificence. Homer, like the Nile, pours out his riches with a sudden overflow; Virgil, like a river within its banks, with a constant stream. - Pope. Loose and Periodic Sentences. - With regard to the manner of their construction, sentences are loose or periodic. The Loose Style. In the loose style of sentences, the sense is formed into short, independent propositions each complete within itself. Of the two styles, loose and periodic, the loose is the livelier and more striking. The following are examples of loose sentences: I confess it was want of consideration that made me an author. I wrote because it amused me. I corrected, because it was as pleasant for me to correct as to write. I published because I was told that I might please such as it was a credit to please. Alexander Pope, in his Preface to his Works. |