I. Exposition-Definition.-The explanation of things is Exposition. Whenever we seek to express clearly the nature of a principle, the method of doing a thing, the plan of a machine, the essential character of an object, we expound. The housekeeper's recipe for

making currant jelly, Euclid's explanations of the properties of a triangle, the engineer's statement of the means of storing electricity, the economist's elucidation of the character of money, the teacher's explanation of a rule or a passage, are all Expositions. This kind of composition is of high value in the prac

tical world.

II. Theme:-MAKING PEANUT BRITTLE.

One of the very best of home-made candies is peanut brittle. It has the great merit of being easily made, of almost always turning out well, and of not resulting in a dismal and messy compound that refuses to harden or become anything but a sticky syrup.

To make peanut brittle, shell your peanuts and rub off the brown inner skin; then put the nuts on a bakeboard, and crush them with the rolling pin until they are broken to the size of coarsely ground coffee. Measure the broken nuts and take just as much granulated sugar as you have peanuts. Put the sugar in an iron skillet or saucepan on the fire, without a drop of water, and stir steadily as the sugar melts and turns brown. When the last trace of sugar melts into syrup, put in the peanuts, stir at once and pour out into buttered tins. All this last must be done very quickly, or the candy will harden as you handle it.

Plan. This exposition, however simple, follows a definite plan. Definition and general introduction; the exposition proper, the order and number of details, determined by the nature of the theme, and brought forward as if a narration. The purpose here is to make

the process plain to any reader. The value of this mode of writing depends, therefore, on the simplicity, clearness, and adequate fulness of the explanation.

Composition.-1. Following the model above, tell how to make one of the following:-(1) Butter. (2) Cheese. (3) Tomato Soup. (4) Maple-sugar. (5) Currant Jelly. (6) Coffee. (7) Plum-pudding. (8) Bread. (9) Cider. (10) Canned Peaches.

2. Tell how to make one of the following:-(1) Mortar. (2) Plaster. (3) Paint. (4) Silo. (5) Ink. (6) Wine. (7) A Kite. (8) A Baseball Diamond or Tennis Court. (9) A Negative. (10) A Picture-frame.

3. Tell how one of the following is made:-(1) A Crock. (2) A China Plate. (3) Bricks.

(4) Glass.

Pens. (9) Wall-paper. (10) A Book.

4. Describe how yarn is made by a spinning-wheel (see illustration p. 255).

5. Tell how to grow one of the following:-(1) Indian Corn. (2) Tomatoes. (3) Celery. (4) Mushrooms. (5) Strawberries. (6) Grapes. (7) Peanuts. (8) Hyacinths. (9) Sweet Peas. (10) Narcissus. (11) Chinese Lilies.

CHAPTER II.-THE NATURE OF

MACHINES.

LESSON LXIII.

I. Theme: A PIANOFORTE.

A Pianoforte is a stringed musical instrument, played by keys. It is made up of four parts: the Frame, the Strings, the Keys and Action, the Case.

The Frame is the large harp-shaped form on which the strings are stretched. It is made of iron or steel, built so as to withstand the tremendous strain of the strings and to hold them in tune.

The Strings are made of steel wire, and vary in size and length in order to produce the different tones. Below the strings is the sounding-board, a large thin board without knot or flaw, fastened to the frame at its edges. The vibration of this board when a string is sounded greatly improves the tone of the string.

The Keyboard consists of a row of keys communicating with the strings by means of what is called the "Action." Strike a key and at once a little "hammer," made of wood covered with felt, jumps up and strikes the string. As you touch the key a small piece of leather, called the "damper," is raised off the string so that it may vibrate. As your finger is removed, the

damper returns to still the vibration of its string and prevent any jangling with subsequent notes. The "loud" pedal lifts all the dampers from the strings, and so aids in giving loud and continuing tones. The "soft" pedal moves a damper upon all the strings.

The Case is the box that holds the frame, strings, and action, and the legs on which the piano stands. It is made of durable, well-seasoned wood, often beautifully worked and ornamented.

EXERCISE.—(i) What similarity is there in method between the foregoing exposition and that of the Trailing Arbutus, p. 169? (ii) Discuss the plan of this exposition. (iii) Discuss how you might treat this theme as an embellished exposition (cf. The Flag, p. 265).

II. Composition.-1. Following the plan and treatment of the Piano, draw up a formal outline and explain the principle of construction of one of the following:— (1) The Common Pump. (2) A Stove. (3) A Refrigerator. (4) A Common Lock. (5) A Combination Lock. (6) A Canal Lock. (7) A Water-wheel. (8) A Wind-mill. (9) A Locomotive Engine. (10) A Limekiln. (11) A Camera. (12) An Ice-cream Freezer. (13) A Soda-water Fountain. (14) A Dynamo. (15) A Trolleycar. (16) An Automobile.

2. Explain the operation of one of the following:—(1) The Post-office (collection, sorting, forwarding, delivery of mail). (2) The Newspaper (collection, sorting, printing of matter, delivery). (3) A Bank. (4) A Life Insurance Company. (5) A Town Council. (6) A Municipal Election. (7) A Presidential Election.