strength can be imparted only through the use of long sentences, and in them of necessity complexity of thought mainly finds expression. Re-write the following paragraph in shorter sentences, compare with the original, and state your conclusions.

As there were only six elders they could sit in state, besides leaving space for any penitents who came to confess their sins and receive absolution, or some catechumen who wished to be admitted to the Sacrament. Carmichael used to say that a meeting of Session affected his imagination, and would have made an interior for Rembrandt. On one side of the table sat the men who represented the piety of the district, and were supposed to be "far ben" in the divine fellowship, and on the other some young girl in her loneliness, who wrung her handkerchief in terror of this dreaded spiritual court, and hoped within her heart that no elder would ask her "effectual calling," from the Shorter Catechism; while the little lamp, hanging from the ceiling and swinging gently in the wind that had free access from every airt, cast a fitful light on the fresh, 'tearful face of the girl and the hard, weatherbeaten countenances of the elders, composed into a serious gravity not untouched by tenderness. They were little else than laboring men, but no one was elected to that court unless he had given pledge of godliness, and they bore themselves as men who had the charge of souls.

IAN MACLAREN: Beside the Bonnie Brier Bush.

EXERCISES.

1. What do you understand by Unity in the sentence? By Coherence? To what qualities of style does the arrangement of words in logical and connected sequence of thought contribute? earness

Esily understons

SENTENCES: SHORT AND LONG.

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2. What are the uses of the short sentence? should you find short or long sentences in a nervous, animated style? should you expect an orator, speaking under the stress of strong emotion, to use long or short sentences? Enumerate the uses of the long sentence. ty

3. In argumentation should you expect to find short or long sentences the more frequent? Why? Where and for what uses should you find sentences of a different length?

from

4. Show the uses of the long sentences in the paragraphs from page 62 to page 81.

5. Should you expect to find short or long sentences predominant in writing having the quality of emotional force in high degree? in a writing displaying high imaginative qualities? Illustrate from the selections on pages 72, 80, 123, and 211.

6. On the basis of the answers you would give to the questions following, write a composition on each one of these subjects, and come to class prepared to justify your use of long and short sentences.

1. Edmund Burke. Were his mental qualities native or the product of culture? What was his relation to the policy of the government under Lord North, and what in his character led him to this attitude? What other course having to do with England's foreign relations did he advocate unsuccessfully, and with what power did he conduct the case? What striking characteristics do you find in his style? Was it simple, clear, ornate, terse, impassioned, dignified, elaborate, abrupt, rhythmical, forceful, weak, emotional, oratorical, or intellectual? (References: Cambridge literature series No. 2, pp. x., xi., xii., xix.-xxv., xxvii.-xxx., 28-50 and 131. Taine's "English Literature," Book III., Chapter iii., Section 8, conclusion.)

2. A Night Ride. If you were a prisoner of war confined in a tent in camp, and knew that at night a friend would place a horse at a short distance from you in the hope that you might reach it and escape, what should you do? And what, if other forces of the enemy were thick in the country about? And what, if it were twenty miles to any place of safety? And if the country were very rough, and covered with wooded water-courses? And what, if you heard the

clatter of hoofs in front of you? And what, if you knew that pursuers were close behind? And should you, nevertheless, escape, and how?

7. Study the following sentences with reference to the choice, number, and arrangement of words. Make any corrections you think necessary, and be prepared to give reasons for the changes.

1. We have received a basket of fine grapes from our friend W., for which he will please accept our thanks, some of which are nearly two inches in diameter.

2. Pedal teguments artistically illuminated and lubricated for the infinitesimal remuneration of five cents.

3. He enjoyed the universal esteem of all men.

4. The hotel's night watchman enables gentlemen to be called at any time, and adds greatly to the comfort and security of all.

5. He promised his father he would never forget his advice.

6. On arriving at the station, he stepped from the train, looked about for a cab, hired one, got into it, told the driver to move on, and reached his house without accident.

7. Madame L- gave a vocal recital last evening at Steinert Hall, assisted by an orchestra, which performed several high-class selections, and considerably enhanced the evening's proceedings.

8. To be disposed of, a mail phæton, property of a gentleman with a movable head-piece as good as new.

9. Annual sale now on. Don't go elsewhere to be cheated come in here.

10. She had not yet listened patiently to his heart-beats, but only felt that her own was beating violently.

11. The annual anniversary of the landing of the Pilgrims, celebrated yearly, took place a few days since.

12. It looks as if ex-President Harrison might be aspiring to anticipate the Supreme Court on the absorbing question as to applicability of the constitution to our new possessions.

13. The secretary of the navy dismissed from the naval academy last week, on recommendation of the superintendent, a cadet found guilty of "gouging," which is the slang for dishonesty in work, in this case the copying as his own a theme written by another cadet, and of falsehood.

14. A brazen statue of Justice stood in the public square, once in an ancient city, whose name I no longer remember, raised aloft on a column, upholding the scales in its left hand, and in its right a sword.

8. Study the following selections, and criticise them with reference to unity and coherence. Re-write each, and show wherein you have improved it in these respects.

1. This is a most charming chapter of the story, which is full of pleasant incidents, and which the reader will find well worth perusal.

2. The place was approached through a pasture-field, we had found it by mere accident, and where the peninsula joined the field (we had to climb a fence just there), there was a cluster of chestnut and hickory trees.

3. We suggest very seriously and earnestly that a department of human health, with special attention to the stamping out of dangerous national diseases, like consumption, should receive immediate government attention.

4. Our esteemed contemporary is looking for some western member of the legislature who will rise to the opportunity, and try to make a name for himself in following up the Record's suggestion that nobody can make a greater hit on Beacon Hill than to support by practical action the governor's vigorous call for real economy.

5. The most disquieting part of the report of the state board of health is that which shows that during the year there has been an unusual increase of adulteration of jellies, jams, etc., mostly by the substitution of cheaper kinds of fruit, such as the refuse portion of apples, to which is added glucose instead of cane sugar, together with aniline dyes to imitate the color of natural fruit.

9. Criticise the following passages with reference to clearness. Study them carefully, and re-write them so that they will be clear.

1. Vanity is the next danger to our democracy, according to Professor Griggs, who deftly denounced imperialism without mentioning it by saying that it was to answer a charge of lack of courage that we selected an enemy and conquered him, and to prove ourselves capable of world power that we have gone around the world and assumed foolish responsibilities, leaving behind the quiet paths of self-development that were leading us to unparalleled power and glory by our own paths, when we were solving the intellectual problems of civilization.

2. A writer in a rural exchange says that he saw "two men starting for town with a gray horse and sleigh seated upon a box containing holes that had been made with a two-inch auger going after a pig."

3. Last evening a runaway horse owned by John Welch caused a good deal of excitement. He started near the Brighton station and ran down Western Avenue. When near the cordage works he ran into a team driven by Joseph Colby. He was thrown violently to the ground and received severe cuts about the head. A doctor was called who ordered his removal to his Newton home.

4. The young man did not want natural talents; but the father of him was a coxcomb, who affected being a fine gentleman so unmercifully that he could not endure in his sight, or the frequent mention of, one who was his son, growing into manhood and thrusting him out of the gay world.

5. The critical position of the new free.state, which is being founded in Africa by the king of the Belgians, is owing to its present jurisdiction on the Congo, being an island, and to the rights it possesses on the sea coasts to the north of the Congo being coveted by France.

6. In order further to advertise my business, I will send my new pipe organ to any one sending me $75, provided I receive fifty names, the same as given away at the concert of December the 3d.

7. An Alabama paper, speaking of Florida, says: "There are also numerous small lakes of pure water, filled with fish, some of which are only a few rods in extent, while others are from two to ten miles long."

8. We are becoming altogether too horse showy. I am afraid that with these small summer resort collections of favored horseflesh, the big, crushing Madison Square Garden affair will have its teeth drawn, and there will be no bite to it. There is always danger of making good things too

common.

10. Why do you think it is advisable to employ sentences of varying lengths in your writing? Do you think that you should weary of a succession of long or short

sentences the more quickly?

II. Are topic sentences in paragraphs usually short or long, and why?

12. Do short or long sentences contribute the more to regular and logical sequence of thought? Why? Which give the more abrupt and which the more regularly flowing rhythmic effect? Why? In regard to this make comparison of the paragraphs on pages of 211 and 212.