P R EC I S WR IT IN G

F O R A ME R I CA N S C H O O L S

METHOD S OF AB RID GING S UMMA RIZ ING

,

C OND E NS IN G
WIT H C OP I O U S E! E R C I SE S

ED ITED BY

S AM U E L I H UR B ER
Newton High S chool

F OR EW O RD BY
K
C HA R LE S S WAIN TH O MA S
Harvar d Uhiverszty
’

B O S TO N I

LITTLE , BR O WN ,
AND C O MP ANY

1 936
 FOREWOR D

D UR I N G a re ce nt v isit t o En gl an d , wh e re I h ad t h e op p o r

t unit y of w o rk in En gli sh in man y of t h e b e s t

s e e in g t he
kn o wn scho ol s o f Gr e at B rit ain I w as g r e at l y in t e r e st e d in t h e
,

su p e r io r qu ali t y o f t h e ir in s t r u c t ion in c o mp o sit io n As I .

s t u die d t h e v ar io u s m e t ho d s by whi ch t his supe rio rit y is

se c ur e d I b e c ame c o n vin c e d t h a t n o small p ar t o f it is d ue t o
,

t h e ir fun d ame n t al c o n c e p t ion in En glish t eachin g o f makin g

t h oug h t an d c o n t e n t b asic In m o s t sch ool s far mo r e a t t e n
.

t ion is p aid t o t his t h an t o t h e t yp e of d rill wh ich e mp h asiz e s

me ch anic s an d p e rf e c t ion of f o rm And on e o f t h e classr oom
.

p r ac t ic e s w hich se c u r e s t his e mp h asis up o n t h o u gh t an d c on

t e n t is t e chn ic all y kn o wn as pr écis wr iting P r a c t ic e in p r e c1s
.

writ in g is t h e r e c omme n c e d at a c omp ar at ively e arly ag e an d

con t in u e d t h r o ugh t h e upp e r g r ade s an d o n t h ro ugh h e
univ e r sit ie s .
t
I of c o ur se r e aliz e t h at in s ome of o ur Ame ric an s ch o ol s w e
h ave don e wo rk which carrie s o u t t h e same g e n e ral in t e n t as
t h at which di r e c t s t h e making o f t h e p ré cis ! w e h av e e x e r c ise s
in ab ridgin g summariz in g ab st r ac t makin g an d c on d e n sat io n
, ,
-
,
.

In de e d r e c e n t qu e st ion s O f t h e C olle ge En t ran c e Ex amin ati on

,

B oar d e sp e cially t h e En glish C ompr e h e n siv e E x aminat ion s

, ,

hav e t ake n t h e value of t hi s wo rk in t o st r ic t acco un t Y e t in .

pr ac t ic all y n on e of our sch ool s h av e w e p ur su e d t his me t h o d

sy s t e m at ic all y ; it h as all b e e n sp o r adi c an d limi t e d p r e t t y
,

e x cl u siv e l y t o t h e closing y e ar of t h e se co n da r y s ch ool wh e n ,

man y of o ur t e ache r s h ave c e n t r e d t h e ir at t e n t ion up on t h e

drill which p r e p ar e s t h e ir p u p ils for t h e c oll e ge e n t r an ce e xami
n a t io n s .An d c e r t ainl y in all t h e se e ffo r t s w e hav e e vol ve d
n o acc e p t e d t e chni qu e fo r t h e making o f a sat isfac t o ry p ré cis .
Vi F O REWOR D
In En glan d , o n t h e o t he r h an d , t h e c omp o sit io n c o ur se s are
fo r t h e mo s t p ar t f o rmu lat e d w it h t h e id e a t ha t préc is writ ing
is su er t o be one O f it s in t e g r al p ar t s . Wit h t ha t c o n c e p t ion
d ominan t man y g o o d B rit ish t e x t b ooks o n p ré cis writ ing h a v e
,

b e e n p ub lish e d an d are in c urr e n t use in English classe s

t h r o u g h o u t Gr e a t B r it ain .

B e l ie vin g t hat t he r e is a d is t in c t ad van t age in su ch p ub li

cat io n s I Wish e d t o se e an Am e r ican b oo k on pré cis writ in g
, ,

w it h e x e rc ise s suit ab le t o o ur Ame ric an sc h oo ls As t h e.

Ge n e r al E dit o r o f t h e At l an t ic T e x t s I a cc o r din gly in vi t e d

,

Mr S amu e l Th urb e r an e xp e rie n c e d wr it e r an d t e ach e r t o

.
, ,

p r e p ar e su c h a v ol um e Th e r e sul t s O f h is lab o r s are ap p ar e n t

.

in P r écis Wr iting for Amer ican S ch ools I t is Offe r e d t o t e a c h e r s

.

an d s t u d e n t s in t h e b e lie f t h a t Mr Th u rb e r s d e t ail e d e xp l a
’
.

n a t ion O i pré cis wr it in g an d t h e n um e r o u s e x e r c ise s w h ich h e

h as p r e p ar e d w ill p r o vid e an e ffi c ie n t m e an s O f makin g r e adily

,

v
a a a il b l h
e t e b e s t m e t h o d s o f p ré c is wr i i
t g
n — me t h o ds t h a t
n o t o n ly w ill in c r e ase t h e st u d e n t s p o w e r in mas t e r in g t h o ugh t
’

b u t w ill p e rf e c t h is skill in mak ing t ha t t h o ugh t c le ar ly

ar t ic u l a t e .

C HA R LE S S WAI N TH OMA S
THE GRADUATE S CHOOL OF EDUCATION
HARVARD UNIVERS ITY
 P REF AC E

NO qu e st ion s t h at fac e u s w h o t e ach En glish in se c on d ary

s ch o o l s ar e mo r e imp o r t an t t han t h e se ! W
h y is it t h a t o ur
st u d e n t s t hin k so lit t le w h e n t h e y r e ad ? Whatc an w e d o t o
‘

d e v e l op in t h e m t h e h abit o f r e adi ng se n t e n c e s t h ro ug h t o t h e
e n d o f w e ig hin g an d c o n sid e r in g t h e s u bj e c t in h an d s o t h a t
, ,

t h e y r e all y un d e r st an d t h e t h o ug h t of a p ar ag r ap h ? What
me t h o d s c an w e e mp lo y t o disco u r age t h at h ast y , t h o ug h t
l e s s skimming O f w o r d s w hi ch l e ave s in t h e min d s O f yo u t h
'

n e it h e r cl e a r cu t imag e n o r ab st r ac t id e a ?
-

D urin g my t e a c hing e xp e rie n ce wit h p up ils O f c omm e r cial ,

t e chn ic al an d c oll e g e p r e p ar at o r y c o ur se s I h ave f ou n d t h e

,
-

m akin g O f sho r t we ll c on st ru c t e d summ arie s on e O f t h e mo s t

,
-

e ffe c t i v e me an s o f t r ain in g in c ar e ful r e ading an d c lo se t hin king .

It is n ow mo r e t h an t we n t y ye ars sin c e I b e gan t h e r e g ul ar

pr a c t ice o f r e quirin g my s t u d e n t s t o wr it e o u t fr e qu e n t ly t h e
gist O f p ar ag r ap h s O f p r o se fr o m I rvin g S c o t t an d Haw t ho rn e
, ,

in t h e low e r cl asse s fr om B urke M ac aul ay C arlyle an d

, , , ,

R u skin in t h e se ni o r ye a r . Th e se summarie s we r e always

sh o r t g e n e r all y onl y a s e n t e n c e o r t wo e ach ; t h e y t o o k bu t
a fe w min u t e s t o w r it e an d s t ill f e w e r t o r e ad ; b oy s an d girl s ,

I so on f o un d r a t h e r e n j oy e d w rit in g t h e m ; b e st of all t h e y
, ,

d e ve lop e d as t ime we n t o n a h ab it of mo r e t ho r o ugh r e adin g ,

, ,

an d an ab ili t y in s ome c ase s t o dig o u t t h e c e n t r al t h o ug h t o f

, ,

a p assag e o f f air ly s t iff p r o s e In d e e d so val uable did t hi s

.
,

p r ac t ic e in t h e making of s u mm ar ie s se e m t o me as a yo un g
t e ac h e r t h at I h av e mad e it e ve r sin c e a fu n dame n t al par t of
Vl ii P R EFAC E

the wo rk w it h all my classe s in t h e t e achin g o f b o t h lit e r at ur e

,

an d c omp o sit io n .

In t his v o lum e I h av e b ro ug h t t o g e t h e r o n e hu n d r e d and

six t y se l e c t ion s s uit ab l e fo r s u mmar iz in g o r pré cis w r it in g

in Am e r ic an se c on d ar y sch o ol s Mo r e t han half o f t h e m I

.

h ave us e d in my own classe s e it h e r as w e c ame up on t h e m in

,
‘

t h e b ook s w e we r e s t u dyin g o r a s I g av e t h e m o u t in mi me o
,

g r ap h e d f o rm Th e y are arr an g e d ac c o r ding t o t yp e

. n arr a

t iv e e xp o sit or y d e s c r ip t iv e ; an d wit hi n e ach s e c t ion I h av e

, ,

t r ie d t o p l a c e t h e p as sag e s in t h e o r d e r O f t h e ir difli c ul t y t h e ,

e asie r s e l e c t io n s in e ac h p ar t c omin g fir s t S ome O f t h e Sh o r t e r

.

p a r ag r a p h s w ill b e f o u n d s u it ab l e fo r n in t h g r a d e p u p il s -
,

t h o u g h t h e b o o k as a wh o l e i s plan n e d for O l d e r s t u d e n t s ,

e sp e c ially fo r th e upp e r c l asse s Of t h e se n io r h ig h s c h oo l .

I have in c lu d e d in my in t r o d u c t io n O n p réc is w rit in g an d

'

also amo n g t h e s e l e c t ion s t h a t f o ll o w a n um b e r o f b r ie f sum

,

mar ie s wr it t e n in cl ass by high sch ool p up il s Th e se I r e ali z e

-
.
, ,

are in n o w ay e x t r ao r d in ar y Th e y simply sh o w w ha t b oys

.

an d girl s o f six t e e n an d se v e n t e e n c an d o w it h a li t t l e pr a c t i c e
, ,

in t h e makin g o f sh o r t ab s t r ac t s o f simpl e p r o se an d p o e t r y .

Wit h t h e e x c e p t ion o f some c o rr e c t ion s in p un c t u a t ion an d

sp e llin g t h e y ar e pr in t e d h e r e j u s t as t h e y w e r e w r it t e n .

S e v e r al O f my c o lle agu e s in t h e En glish D e p ar t me n t o f t h e

N e w t on H ig h S c ho ol h av e g e n e r o u sly assis t e d me in t h e pr e p a
r at ion O f t h is lit t l e volume To M iss Lo uise Ric har d son an d
.

t o M r Mayn ar d Max im in p ar t ic ul ar I wish t o e xp r e ss my

.

g r a t it u de .

I wish al so t o t h ank t h e foll owin g p ub li sh e r s fo r t h e ir kin d

n e ss in g r an t in g me p e rmissio n t o use c opy r ig h t e d ma t e r ial .

Th e At l an t ic Mon t hly P r e ss ! for s e l e c t ion s fr om R alp h

B e rge ngre n B ru c e B liv e n L e B ar on R usse ll B r igg s C h e st e r
, , ,

Firkin s Will iam T F o st e r J ohn Gal swo r t hy R ob e r t M Gay

,
.
, ,
.
,

Wilfrid Gib son Jo se p h H u sb an d F L L ourie t E dwar d S

, , . .
,
.
 P R EFAC E ix

Mar t in He n r y Me r win William Allan Ne il son Rollo O g de n

, , , ,

William L yo n P he lp s Agn e s R e pplie r E dwar d Ro ss H e r man

, , ,

S c h e ffau e r E ll e r y S e dgwick
,
Marg ar e t S h e r wo o d S ime on , ,

S t r un sky William L Un d e r w oo d C h arl e s R Walke r , E dwar d

,
.
,
.

Y e oman s .

Th e C e n t u ry C o mp an y ! fr o m Ja c o b Riis an d fr om Th e o d o r e
Th e S t ren uous Life
’
R o o se v e l t s .

D o dd , Me a d C o mp any ! fr om L af c a dio H e arn .

Ge o rg e H D o r an . C o mp an y ! fr om Ar n ol d B e n n e t t .

D o ub l e d ay , P age C o mp an y ! fr om L u t h e r G Gul ic k .
,

William Mc Fe e .

Ginn a nd C o mp an y ! fr o m H elo ise E H e r se y . .

H ar c ou r t , B r ac e an d C omp a n y ! fr om H W C ollin gw oo d . . .

Harp e r an d B r o t h e r s ! fr o m Ge o r g e Willi am C u r t is, An t h o ny

Gr o ss , J C o t t e r Mo riso n S am u e l S mile s Wo o dr o w Wil so n
.
, , .

H o ugh t o n Mifli in C omp an y ! fr om Rich ar d C C ab o t . .

,

C alv in C ooli dg e R al p h Wal d o E me r son E dg ar F awc e t t

, , ,

O liv e r We n d e ll H olme s L au r a A K n o t t H e n r y Wa d s w o r t h
,
.
,

L ong f e ll o w B r an d e r Mat t h e ws N a t h anie l S S hal e r H e n r y D

, , .
,
.

Th o r e au Th e se se l e c t ion s are in cl u d e d by p e rmission Of and

.

by sp e cial arr an ge me n t wi t h H oug h t on Mifili n C omp any ’

pub lish e r s o f t h e w o rk s o f said a u t h o r s .

L on gman s Gr e e n 81 C omp an y ! fr o m We n d e ll P Garrison

,
.
,

W E H L e c ky
. . . .

Th e Macmi ll an C ompan y ! fr om S amu e l S D rur y F r ank W

_

. .
,

Tau ssig .

P e rry Mas on C omp any ! fr om t h e Youth s C ompani on

’
.

G P P u t n am s S on s ! fr o m Ar t h ur C B e n son Th e o d o r e
. .
’
.
,

Ro ose v e l t s Amer ican I d e als

’
.

Fl e mi n g H R e v e ll C omp any ! fr om N e w e ll D Hillis

. . .

C har le s S c rib n e r s S on s ! fr om Ho r ac e B u shn e ll Max Eas t

’
,

man J ame s Hun e ke r R ob e r t L o uis S t e ve ns on He n ry Van

, , ,

D y ke .
x P R EFAC E

Th e S u cc e ss P ub l ishin g C o mp an y ! fr o m J ulie t W To mpkin s

. .

H . W Wilson. C om p an y ! fr om E dmu n d an d Willi ams ,

Toas l er
’
s Hand book .

Y ale Un iv e r sit y P r e ss ! fr om B u r t on J H e n dr ick s The Age

’

“
.

f
o B ig B usin ess , on e O f t h e v olume s in Th e C h r on icl e s o f
”
Ame ric a .

TW0 p assage s fr om William Jame s s Talks t o Te achers on

’

P s ychol ogy a r e p rin t e d by sp e c ial p e r m issio n O f Mr H e n ry .

Jame s of Ne w Y o rk .

S AMU E L TH UR B E R
N E WT O N HI GH S C H OO L
S EP TE MB E R 1 9 2 4
,
 CONTENTS
P AGE
I N TR O D U C T I O N
What P r é c is Writ in g Is
Ho w To M ake a P r é cis
E x amp le s Of P ré c is Writ ing by High S chool S t u de n t s
P ré cis of O ral Re ading
O r al P ré cis
Narrat ive P ré cis
P ré cis of a P o e m
P ré cis o f t he S o nn e t
P aragraph S t u dy
-

Re vie w ! ue st ion s o n P re c rs Writ ing

S o me B o oks ab o u t P r é cis Writ in g

S E LE CTI O N S PR A C T I C E IN PR ECI S WR I TI N G
F OR

N arrat ive P assage s

P ar agraph s o f E xp o sit io n an d D is cu ssion
P aragraph s o f E xp o sit io n an d D is cussion ( longer and more
d ifiicnl t)
S ho r t D e scrip t ive P a ssage s
Se le ct ions Of Tw o or Mo r e P a ra gr aph s
L e t t e rs
P o e t ry
A Group Of S o nne t s

In d e x
 P R EGIS W R IT IN G
Its P urpos e , Value , and M e t h od , wit h Exampl e s

f m
ro Work of H ig h -S c h ool S tud e nts

WHAT P RECIS WR ITI N G Is

P r é ci s Writin g in En g li sh S ch o ol s Of lat e y e ars a t yp e O f

.

comp osit ion wo rk c alle d pré cis writ in g h as t ake n a p romi

n e n t p l ac e in t h e t e achin g o f E ng li sh in E ng l an d Th e l o ng .

r e p o r t O f t h e D e p ar t me n t al C ommi t t e e ap p oin t e d by t h e
“

P r e sid e n t O f t h e B o ar d O f E d u ca t ion r e f e r s c on st an t ly t o
1
,

an d O f t e n qu o t e s t h e t e st imo n y O f
”
t h e pr ac t ic e O f p ré c is ,

t e ac h e r s as t o t h e e d u c at ional value o f t h is kin d O f wr it in g .

In all t e x t b ook s o n E nglish co mp osit io n p ub lish e d r e c e n t ly in

Eng lan d o n e chap t e r a t le as t is d e v o t e d t o t h e p ré cis
,
Mo r e .

o ve r,
a c o n sid e r ab l e n um b e r o f man ual s o n t h e s ubj e c t h av e

b e e n is sue d b e aring t it le s all t h e w ay fr om P r écis Writ ing for

,

B eginn ers an d P r écis Wr itin g for S chools t o A H and book of ,

P r écis an d A P r ogr essive C ourse in P r écis Writ ing E ve ry b oy .

Of se v e n t e e n in an English sch ool kn o w s t h e r e fo re b o t h in , ,

t h e o r y an d by c lassr oom p r ac t ic e wh a t a p ré c is is , .

Th e F r e n ch t e rm p ré cis (p r on o un ce d pray s ee) lit e r ally -

me an s a p r un e d o r c u t d o wn s t at e me n t
-
In o t h e r w o r d s
.
,

it is an ab st r ac t o r s umm ar y In n o se n se is it e qui val e n t t o a

.

p ar ap hr ase or a t r an slat io n or a r e st at e me n t A pré cis o n

, , .
,

t h e c o n t r ar y is m e r e l y t h e e sse n c e
,
t h e p it h O f a p ar a
g r ap h O r o f se v e r al p ar ag r ap h s o r e ve n o f a whole e ssay
, , .

”
Y o u t ak e yo u r mat e r ial ,
t o quo t e o n e E n glish wr it e r an d ,

boil it do wn so as t o g e t rid of all t h e p ar t s t h at d o n o t r e ally

1
P ubli sh e d in 1 9 2 1 un de r t h e t it l e The Te achi n g of English i n England
, .

3
4 P RECIS W RITING

m at t e r ; y o u t hen c olle c t w hat is le f t an d p ut t h e se p oint s

t og e t h e r in a Sh o r t c o n c ise summar y ,
B u t t h e r e sul t must
.

n o t b e m e r e ly a lis t o f imp o r t an t p oin t s o r a se r ie s o f j o t tin s , g .

I t must b e t h e same s t o r y t ol d cl e arly an d r e ad ab ly in a v e ry

,
”
m u c h c on de n se d f o rm .
1

Th e t e n d e n cy in E nglish sch o ols O f la t e h as b e e n t o use t h e

'

t e rm pré cis writ ing mo r e n arr o w ly ap plying it chie fly t o ,

s u mma r ie s o f b u sin e ss l e t t e r s an d Offic ial d o c ume n t s Y e t in .

it s b r o a d e st se n se as t h e t e r m is in t e rp r e t e d in t his vo lum e a
, ,

p réc i s m ay b e a n y t yp e O f c o m p o sit ion s t o r y e s say v e r se , , ,

le t t e r or S p e e ch
,
.

Val u e of P r é c is Wr itin g Th e fir s t an d p e r hap s t h e g r e at e s t

.

val ue O f préc is wr it ing is t h e d e man d it make s up on us t o r e ad

c o mpr e h e n din g ly an d t ho ug h t fully Ne w sp ap e r s mag az ine s
, .
, ,

b o oks su rr o un d us an d t h r u st t he mse l ve s in t o o ur b usy li v e s .

S O ov e rw h e hn e d are w e by t his avalan ch e of r e ading mat t e r

t h at b e f o r e w e kn o w it w e b e c ome me r e Skimme r s Of t h e
p rin t e d p ag e
”
. We g lan c e fr o m he adlin e t o he adlin e fr om ,

sp o r t ing c o l umn t o c ar t oo n I f a p ar ag rap h is lo n g o r d ull

.
,

w e skip it ; if a se n t e n c e is a b it invo lve d w e lo se t h e t h o ug h t ,

an d l e t it g o ; if a w o r d 1 s un familia r w e d ash o n ,
Time is .

p r e c io u s
. A h u n d r e d o t h e r t h in g s w a it t o b e d o n e B o o k s .

mo r e b OO ks O ff e r t h e ir h o n e y for us t o sip .

No w t his gl an cing in t o man y p ag e s t his fl it t ing b ut t e rfly ,

f ashion o v e r prin t is a d e b ilit at ing pr o c e ss I t de ve lop s a

,
.

h ab it O f se e ing an d t hinkin g sup e rfic ially O ur t ho ug h t s r e m ain .

c o n t in uall y fl ut t e r ing o n t h e su rf ac e O f t hing s Wo r se s t ill .

,

o ur min d s ar e t r ain e d t o w an d e r t o s t a r t an d j ump t o sn at c h

, ,

a b it h e r e an d a b it t h e r e t o l o o k a t b o o k s as t h e y l o ok at
,

p ic t ur e s t h at g lide by on a shimm e ring sc r e e n an d make n o

last in g impr e ssio n B u t t o wr it e a p ré c is w e mu st lo o k s t e ad
.

f as t ly at w o r ds an d carry se n t e nc e s t h r o ug h t o t h e e n d We
,
.

c ann o t skim We mu st r e ad t o d ig e s t t o di s t ing uish be

.
”
,

1
G N P o co ck P r écis Writing for B eginners
. .
, .
 WH AT P RECIS W RITING IS 5

t we en uni mp o r t an t de t ails an d t h e c e n t r al t ho ugh t t o un de r ,

s t an d p e rf e c t ly t h e ve r y h e ar t O f th e wh ol e ma t t e r In a wo r d .
,

we m u st t hink S u ch r e ading e ve n if i t b e of on ly a fe w p ag e s
.
, ,

is o f p r of o un d e d uc at ional val u e Th e wo r d s O f R u skin are .

j ust as t ru e t od ay as t h e y w e r e se ve n t y ye ar s ag o w he n h e
wr o t e t he m ! I f yo u r e ad t e n p ag e s O f a g o o d b o o k l e t t e r by
'

le t t e r , t h at is t o say w it h r e al acc u r ac y , y o u ar e f o r e v e r ,

mo r e in some me asur e an e d uc at e d p e r son .

P ré cis writ in g no t only d e man d s c a r e an d t h o ug h t w h e n w e

r e ad ; it r e quir e s disc rimin at ion wh e n w e writ e We m ust .

e xp r e ss o ur se lve s cle ar ly b r ie fly p r e cise l y ,

In t o a fe w w e ll
,
.

o r d e r e d s e n t e n c e s w e m u s t p ac k t h e e sse n c e o f a p ar ag r ap h or ,

e v e n a wh ol e p ag e TO d o t his e fle c t iv e ly w e mu s t e xp l o r e o ur
.

s t o c k O f w o r ds arrange an d r e arr ang e t h e m h un t ing fo r t h e

, ,

most c on cise an d at t h e same t im e t h e most e x ac t t e rms

, , , .

P r olixit y v e r b o sit y r e p e t it ion l o ose ne ss O f s t yl e

, , , t h e se w e
mu st c on que r for t he y are t h e b it t e r fo e s O f p ré cis wr it ing
, .

O ur wo r d s m u s t fit o ur t h o ug h t s lik e a g lo v e an d b e n e it h e r
”
t oo wide n or t o o t igh t Th us t h e making O f an ab st r ac t is an
.

e x e r c ise O f t h e h ig h e s t v al u e in v o c ab ul a r y b u il din g in s en t e n c e ,

c on st r u c t ion an d in cl e ar c o n cise e xp r e ssion

, ,
.

B e sid e s b e ing an in t e ll e c t u al e x e r cise o f t h e hig h e s t o r d e r ,

t h e p ré cis is al so O f g r e at p r ac t ic al use Th e r e are many o cc a .

sion s in t h e li v e s o f o r di nar y c it iz e n s wh e n t h e y are r e q ui r e d t o

g r a s p qui c k l y t h e se n se o f a Sp e e ch o r d o c u m e n t t o t ur n it ,

ro un d in t h e ir own min d s an d e it h e r t o g ive j u dg me n t o n it

,
” 1
t h e ms e l ve s or t o p ass it on for t h e c onsid e r at ion of o t h e r s .

I f it is n ot a sp e e ch o r a do c ume n t it may b e a st o r y t h e p lo t , ,

O f a p lay a l e c t ur e or a se rm o n w hich w e wish t o summariz e

, ,
.

Ha r dl y a d ay p ass e s t h at w e d o n o t make an o r al ab st rac t of

n e ws . Th e p e r son wh o cann o t j udi cio u sly c on d e n se t h e s t o r y
O f wh at h e h as se e n or h e ar d is almo st sur e t o b e a b o r e ; wh e re as
h e wh o speaks b rie fly b u t s t r aig h t t o t h e h e ar t o f t h e mat t e r
, ,

1
C L Th omson , P récis
. . Wri ting for S chools .
6 P R EC IS W RITING

c omman ds s t e adfast a t t e n t io n P ré cis writ ing mo r e t han any

.
,

fo rm of c o mp o sit io n as it e n c o u r ag e s t h rif t an d c ar e in t h e u se
,

Of w o r ds o ffe r s a pr ac t ic al t r aining in t h e mo st u se f ul ar t Of
,

b e ing c le a r an d b rie f an d t h e r e f o r e in t e r e st ing

, ,
.

Th e val ue o f préc is wr it in g a s an in t e lle c t u al e x e r c ise O f t h e

” “
high e st o r de r h as b e e n appr e c iat e d by t h e C oll e g e E n t ran c e
‘

E x amin a t io n B oar d . N e ar ly e v e r y C o mpr e he n siv e E x amin a

t io n in E n g lish sin c e 1 9 1 7 h as c o n t ain e d a sh o r t p oe m o r a ,

a sa e Of pr o se o r bo t h t o b e c o n d e n se d in t o o n e or t w o
p s g , ,

we ll c on s t r u c t e d sen t e n ce s Th us on t h e J un e p ap e r O f 1 9 1 8
-
.
,

f o ur t e e n lin e s Of p oe t ry are pr in t e d w it h t h e se t w o p r oble ms

,

at t ach e d ! ( I ) P ar ap h rase t h e f o ll o w ing lin e s fr om L o w e ll s

’

C ommemor a tion Od e r e st a t ing e ac h id e a in simp l e p r ose

,

( 2 ) C o n de nse t h e t ho ug h t o f t h e se lin e s in t o o n e se n t e nc e .

He r e in o n e que s t ion is an e x e r cise in p ar aph r a sing an d also in

pré cis writ in g .

O n l a t e r p ap e r s s u ch d ir e c t io n s as t h e se fr e qu e n t ly o cc ur
E xpr e ss t h e g e n e r al t ho ug h t O f t h e f oll o win g p as sag e in
”
o ne g oo d se n t e n c e .
( 1 9 1 9)
C o n d e n se t h e mat e r ial of t h e f ollowing p ar ag rap h in t o a
”
b rie f st at e me n t t hat is also c le ar an d o r de rly ( 1 9 20 ) .

P ut t h e g is t o f t his p ar ag r ap h in t o t w o s e n t e n c e s (1 92 1 ) .

S t at e a s b r ie fly as p o s sib le in y ou r o wn w o r d s t h e
, ,

sub s t an c e o f t h e f o ll ow in g p ar ag r ap h (1 92 2) .

Te ach e r s w h o c o rr e c t C ompr e he n siv e p ap e r s h ave O f t e n

t e s t ifie d t o t h e g r e at v al ue Of t h e se p ré c is q u e s t io n s The y .

”
are , t o q uo t e o n e r e a d e r t h e sur e st in di c a t io n o f fun da
,

me n t al w e akn e ss O r of r e al p o w e r A s t u de n t w h o c an p ick
.

o u t quickly t h e c e n t r al t h o ug h t s Of a p assag e an d t h e n p ac k ,

t h e m in t o a fe w g oo d se n t e n c e s Of h is o w n is ahn o s t sur e t o d o
,
”
we ll on t h e r e st O f t h e p ape r Th is is n o t h ar d t o un de r s t an d
. .

I t simp ly m e an s t h a t t h e c an did a t e h as ma s t e r e d t h e ar t o f
r e ading c ar e f ully t h ink ing pr e c ise ly an d writ in g a cc u r at e ly
, , .

Mo st o f t h e se le c t ion s w hich have appe ar e d sin c e 1 9 1 7 On

 P RECI S W RITING

w o rke d o ut e x e rc ise s in summariz in g h as su r e ly se n se d t h e

f o rc e Of b re vit y an d p oin t B o t h h is r e adi ng a n d h is o wn
.

writ in g mus t n e c e ssarily b e n e fit fr o m t h e c le ar e r g r asp o f

o r g an iz a t ion o f m at e r ial M u ssy t hinking will h av e r e c e ive d a
.

t r e me n do u s b lo w so t h a t t h e p u p il t h r o ug h h is pré c is wr it ing
,
” 1
may c on c e ivab ly b e a b e t t e r cit iz e n .

HO W To MAKE A P R ECIS

Th e F our S t e ps . NO h ar d
f ast rul e s c an b e l aid down
a nd

for writ ing préc is . Th e le n g t h an d c h ar ac t e r Of t h e se l e c t io n

t o b e s umm ar iz e d t og e t h e r wit h t h e e xp e r ie n c e o f t h e writ e r
, ,

n a t ur ally in fl u e n c e t h e m e t h o d Of pr o c e d u r e H e r e ar e f o u r
.

s u gg e s t io n s
,
h o w e v e r w h ic h m ay w e ll b e f oll o w e d by h ig h
,

s c h oo l pup ils w h o h a v e h a d b u t li t t l e t r ain in g in pré c is wr it in g .

Th e y app ly e sp e ciall y t o t h e t yp e O f w o rk d e man de d by t h e

se le c t io n s in t his b oo k an d by t h e pré c is p assag e s t h a t ap p e a r

o n t h e C o mpr e h e n siv e En g lish p ap e r s Of t h e C o ll e g e E n t r an c e

E x aminat io n B oar d .

1
. R e a d sl o w ly t h e se le c t ion w hic h y ou are g o ing t o s umma
r iz e D O n o t Skim S e e e x ac t ly w h at e v e ry w o r d is an d r e ad
. .
,

e v e r y s e n t e n c e t h r o ug h t o t h e e n d F o rg e t e ve r y t hin g e l se
. .

C o n c en t r a t e all yo u r a t t e n t io n t o fin d w hat t h e au t h o r is
d riving a t w h at t h e p assag e r e all y me an s N 0 n o t e s sh o ul d
.

b e t ak e n at t his fir st p e ru sal .

2
. R e ad t h e se le c t ion ag ain N o w t h at y o u kn o w in g e n e r al
.

what it is ab o u t yo u r t ask is t o se p arat e t h e e sse n t ial p oin t s

, ,

w hich y ou are t o use fr om t h e d e t ails w hich y o u must t h r o w

, ,

a w ay . I f t h e p as sag e is sho r t an d fairly simple y ou wil l n o t ,

n e e d t o t ak e n o t e s I f y o u fin d yo ur se lf w an de ring o r g e t t ing
.

c on fus e d jo t do wn o n pape r t h e p hr ases w hich y o u are sur e

,

1
L F ranc es Tu cke r He ad of t h e English D e p ar t me n t C lassical Hi gh
.
, ,

Sc ho ol Ly nn Mass in The Englis h Leaflet May 1 9 24

, , , ,
.
 HOW TO MAKE A PREC I S 9

c on t ain t h e c e n t ral ide a O f t h e p ar ag rap h At fir s t t hi s may be .

t o o diffic ul t a t ask for y o u t o un d e r t ak e alo n e Th e c la s s a s a .

whole sho ul d t he r e fo r e wo rk o ut o rally p r ob le m s in se le c t ing

t h e e sse n t ial fr o m t h e n o n e sse n t ial u n d e r t h e g uidan c e o f ,

yo ur in st ru c t o r A fe w such l e ss ons w ill t e ach y o u h ow t o

.

fin d t h e r e al p it h O f a p ar ag r ap h an d also sho w y o u h ow mu ch ,

O f t h e o rig inal t o r e t ain an d h ow m u ch t o di sc ar d .

3 Wit h t h e se n o t e s b e fo r e y o u or wit h t h e ir e quivale n t

.
,

cle arly in yo u r min d c o nst ruc t a fe w se n t e n c e s

,
t h r e e o r f o ur
ar e u sually e n o ug h t h at will g ive t h e sub s t an c e o f t h e se l e c
t io n .Af t e r a lit t le p r ac t ic e it is b e t t e r t o lay a sid e b o t h t h e
,

o rig inal p as s ag e an d y o u r n o t e s b e f o r e y o u b e g in t o wr it e .

4 R e a d ag ain t h e se le c t io n on which y o u ar e wo rking

. .

Th e n e x amin e you r p ré cis t o mak e sure t hat y o u h av e o mit t e d

n o t h ing imp o r t an t S t r ik e o u t u nn e c e ssar y w o r d s r e vise an d
.
,

c opy yo ur c omp osit ion an d yo ur t ask is don e , .

N O TE S AND WAR NIN GS

This in g e n e ral is t h e b e st w ay t o g o ab o u t t h e wo rk O f
, ,

making an ab st r ac t B e f o r e c o n sid e rin g vario u s e xamp le s O f

.

pré cis writ ing y o u w ill g ain fur t he r in sig h t in t o t h e p ro ble m

,

fr om t h e n o t e s an d warni ng s t h at foll o w .

1 Topic S e n t e n c e s
. TO qu o t e a se n t e n c e v e r b at im fr om
.

a p ar ag r ap h for in s t an c e t h e t op ic se n t e n c e at t h e b e gin
,

nin g is n o t t o wr it e a p ré c is An ab st rac t is t h e c on d e nse d

.

fo r m of an e n t i r e se le c t ion A t o p ic se n t e n c e O f t e n mak e s a
'

g oo d s t a r t ing p oin t b u t o nl y in r ar e c ase s c an it t ake t h e p lac e

-
,

o f a s umm ary .

2 Y our O wn Wor d s
. Th r e e o r fo ur se nt e n c e s quo t e d
.

fr om a se l e c t ion se l dom make a sat isfac t o ry p ré cis D O n o t .

ke ep t oo clo se t o t h e wo r d s b e fo r e y o u Th e lang u ag e O f .

t h e o riginal m ay some t ime s b e s uit ab le for y o ur p u rp o s e b u t ,

” 1
it is mo r e lik e ly un suit ab l e Th e cle ar e s t pr oo f t h at y o u
.

1 F E Robe son A P ro ressi ve C ours e o P r écis

. .
g , f Writing .
Io P RECI S WRITIN G

h ave un de r st oo d a passage is t h e abilit y t o r e pr od uc e t h e

se n se in w o r d s o f y o u r o w n c h o osin g Mo r e o v e r t his de man d .
,

w ill in e vit ab ly in cr e ase yo u r mast e ry Of En glish .

3 Ri gh t P r opo r t ion
. B e g inn e r s in pré cis writ ing are ap t
.

t o s p e n d t oo mu ch O f t h e ir e n e rgy on t h e fir s t p a r t Of a p as sag e .

“
Th e r e sul t is vir t u ally a p ar ap h r ase O f t h e op en ing se n t e n c e s ,

w it h lit t le o r n o t hing t ake n fr om t h e c o n clusio n TO o ve r c ome .

t h is f aul t r e ad t h e se l e c t io n o v e r an d o ve r un t il y o u un d e r
,

s t an d it as a w h ole The n lay it aside an d writ e out b rie fly

.
,

t h e t h o ug h t w hich t h e au t h o r h as l e f t in yo u r min d not t h e

s ub s t an c e o f an y p ar t ic ul a r p ar t b u t t h e t o t al im pr e ssio n
, .

4 O rd e r
. . AS a r ule t h e log ic al o r de r O f t h e o rig in al
,

p assag e sho ul d be pr e se rv e d A pré cis is n o t a r e arr an g e me n t

.

o f t h o ug h t s o r f ac t s I t is a c le ar c on c ise o r d e r ly ab s t ra c t
.
, , .

5 C oh e r e n c e
. Un d e r n o c ir c um s t an c e s d o e s a pré c is c on
.

s ist O f di s c o nn e c t e d n o t e s or p h r ase s O n t h e c o n t r a ry it .
,

Sh o ul d b e a mo de l O f c omp le t e co he re n t se nt e nc e s Abb r e vi
,
.

a t ion s lis t s se n t e n c e fr agme n t s ar e n o t t o b e t ole r at e d

, ,
-
, S uch .

c onn e c t iv e w o r d s as how ever mor e over t her efor e again als o

, , , , ,

fin ally may w e ll b e in t r o du c e d t o b in d t h e vario us p ar t s mo r e

,

c lose ly t og e t h e r .

6 B r e vit y
. .Omit all mat t e r t h at h as n o imp o r t an t b e ar
ing o n t h e le ading t o p ic O f yo u r se le c t ion Th u s p a r t ic ular .

d e t ails mus t b e e it h e r omit t e d al t og e t h e r o r r e plac e d by g e n e ral

t e rms . S imile s me t ap ho r s ill us t r at ion s , an d qu o t at io n s mus t
, ,

be disc a r d e d Adj e c t ive s an d a dj e c t iv e p h rase s as a r ule

.
, ,

mu st be t h r own a side B e c o n c ise simp le d ir e c t ; ab o ve all

.
, , ,

d o n o t r e p e a t y o ur se l f .

7 Le n g t h o f P r é cis
. In Eng lan d t h e pr ac t ic e is t o r e quir e
.

a p ré c is t o b e ab ou t o n e t h ir d as l o ng as t h e o r ig in al A s at is
fac t o ry ab st r ac t h o w e v e r c an Of t e n b e sh o r t e r e sp e cially if
, , ,

t h e p assag e t o b e c on de n s e d is a sin gle p arag r aph O f app r oxi

mat e ly t w o h un d r e d w o r d s Many Of t h e se le c t io n s in t his
.

volume c an be r e duc e d t o ab o u t on e f o ur t h of t h e ir p r e se n t
 HOW TO MAKE A P RECIS 1 1

l e ng t h . A fe w may b e ab ridg e d in t o a sin g l e sent e n e . c

( N o t ic e e x amp l e s o n p ag e s 1 5 , 1 6 , 2 0 , 2 2 ,

8
. Tim e
R e q u i r e d —
As wit h all c omp o sit io n w o rk sp e e d
.
,

an d a cc u r acy In p ré c is wr it in g g r o w wit h pr a c t ic e A b eg inn e r .

may n e e d h alf an h o u r o r mo r e t o c o n de n se e v e n t h e sho r t e r

p ar ag rap h s in t h is coll e c tion Wit h a li t t le e xp e rie n c e an d.
,

e sp e ciall y wit h a f o un d a t io n Of c lass co op e r a t iv e p ré cis wr it ing

un de r skillf ul g ui dan ce it is p ossib le fo r a hig h s cho ol se nio r t o

,
-

mak e an ab s t r ac t of n e arly any p assag e in fif t e e n min u t e s .

Many h av e a c t ually b e e n don e in le s s t im e .

9
. L o n g e r S e l e c t i o n s a n d P o e t r y
—
Th e p ré c is O f a long.

p assag e diffe rs in n o e sse n t ial r e sp e c t s fro m t h e summary O f

h alf a p ag e I f t he r e are s e v e r al p arag rap h s e ac h on e sh oul d
.
,

s t an d as a se p ar a t e p arag r ap h in t h e final f o rm o f t h e a b s t r a c t .

Th e pré c is O f a p o e m b e ing in yo ur o wn wo r d s an d g r e a t ly
,

simp lifie d m us t ab an don p o e t ic f o rm s u ch as r hyme an d

, ,

me t r e an d mu ch O f t h e p oe t ic di c t ion B u t t h o ug h it c e as e t o
,
.

b e p oe t r y yo ur p ré cis may s t ill c on t ain t h e imag in a t ion t h e

, ,

t h o ugh t an d e v e n t h e f e e ling O f t h e o rig in al lin e s

,
.

1 0 Fin al F o r m
. I t is imp o r t an t t h at t h e c omp le t e d
.

p ré c is sho ul d r e a d smoo t hly ; for t h o ugh t h e h ig h e r g rac e s o f

s t yl e mu st b e s ac r i fic e d t h e se n t en c e s sh o ul d b e p o in t e d an d
,
” 1
we ll b alan c e d as w e ll as ab solu t e ly c le a r in c on s t r uc t ion
, .

In o t h e r w o r d s p ré c is writ in g is n o t a de s t r u c t ive fo rm O f
,

c o mp osit ion su ch as t h e t aking of no t e s O n t h e c on t ra ry it

,
.
,

is hig hly c o n s t r u c t ive I t me ans c lo s e t hinking c le a r j u dg

.
,

me n t o r de rly arrang e me n t A p ré cis may n o t be a t hing of

, .

b e au t y bu t it sh o ul d al w ays b e n e at l ucid an d in t e g ral

, , , .

1
C L Thomson , P r écis
. . Writing for S chools, p . 1 8 .
 I 2 P REC I S WRITING

E! AM P LE S OF PR ECI S WR ITIN G
BY H IG H —
S CH O O L STU DEN T S

LE T Us n ow fr om t h e t h e o r y an d pr ac t ic e Of précis writ
t urn
in g t o a s t u dy o f se v e r al c o n cr e t e ill u st r at ion s Th e p assag e s .

w hic h f ollo w are c h o se n n e it h e r b e c au se Of t he ir d iffiéul t y n o r .

b e c au se t h e y O ffe r any sp e c ial pr ob le m b u t r at he r b e c ause t h e y

,

ar e w e ll su it e d t o t h e ab ilit ie s O f h ig h s ch o o l s t u d e n t s Mo r e
-
.

o ve r t h e y ar e f air ly t yp ic al of t h e p ar ag r ap h s in t h is c oll e e
,

t io n . S um marie s Wr it t e n by p u p ils in t h e c l assr o om h av e b e e n

se l e c t e d as m o d e l s t o Sh o w w h at c an a c t ually b e d on e in p ré cis

w o rk by Ame ric an b oys an d g irl s of h ig h sc hool age -

.

He r e is a p ar ag r ap h O f 1 90 wo r d s fr om Miss Hers e y s Talks ’

t o Gir ls Re ad it c ar e f ully
. .

IT is e as y to Enl arge y ou r vo c abul ary ! first , t h at y o u may

s ay ,

e n t e r u p o n t h e privile g e s Of a c ul t iva t e d wo ma n ; a n d se con d , t h at

”
y ou may b e ab l e t o t e ll t h e t ru t h e a sily a n d a ccu r at e l y B u t it .

is an o t h e r an d m o r e di ffic u l t ma t t e r t o pr e scrib e t h e me an s by whi ch

t hi s is t o b e d o n e Eve ry girl mu st , t o a l arg e d e gre e , w o rk o u t h e r
.

?
o w n me t h o d T h e re adi n g Of t h e b e st b oo ks an d co n ve r sat ion wit h
.

cult ivat e d folk are b o t h h e lp s t o t h e fre e u se Of word s Th e dic .

t io n ary is t h e b e st frie n d fo r y ou r t a sk Ne ve r allo w a s t ran ge wo rd

.

t o p ass un ch all e n g e d Usu ally it is wise t o l o ok it up at t h e mo me n t

.
, .

If t hat is imp ossible it mu st b e writ t e n firml y on t h e me mo ry an d

,

t ra c e d a t t h e first Opp o r t u nit y It is go o d t o e n c ou ra g e in you rse lf

.

t h e h ab it Of d aw dl in g a lit t l e o ve r t h e d ic t io n ary I t is t h e o nl y .

pla ce Wh e re d awdl in g re ap s a h arve st To l e arn t wo ne w wo rd s .

a d ay t ho rou ghly t o l e arn t he m so t h at t h e ir u se will n o t h av e a

,

fo re ign a cce n t is t o in su re a l arge vo c ab ul a ry b e fo re y ou r e a ch

mi ddle ag e .

Now w h at is t h e c e n t r al t h o ugh t O f t hi s p assag e ? D o e s it

lie in t h e que st io n Of t h e in t ro d u c t io n , in t h e mi ddle , or in t h e
c on cl usion ? Th e p arag r ap h b e g in s by s ugg e s t in g t h at e ve ry
 E! AMPLE S O F P RECIS W RITING I3

c ul t ivat e d woman n e e d s a larg e voc ab ulary ; me n t ion s t h e f ac t

t h at e ve ry g ir l m us t wo rk o u t h e r o wn me an s O f in c r e asing h e r
s t o c k o f w o r d s ; s ugg e s t s t h a t r e adin g an d c o n v e r sat io n ar e t w o

O f t h e b e s t me ans ; dwe ll s u p on t h e di c t ion ar y and it s use s ;

an d c on cl u de s wit h s ome s t at is t ic s u p o n vo c a b ul ary g r ow t h .

Which of t h e se as t h e main t he me Of t h e p assag e shall we

, ,

t ake as t h e s t ar t ing p oin t o f o ur s ummary ?

To g e t a t t h e h e ar t O f t h e mat t e r l e t u s e xamin e t h e p ar a ,

g r ap h p rin t e d in t his f ashion

1 . I t is e as y to s ay ,
“Enl arge yo u r 1 INTRODUCTION
. Ge ne ral re .

vo cabul ary ! fir st , t hat y o u may mark about imp ort an ce o f l arg e

e nt e r u p on t h e p rivil e g e s of a vo cabul ary .

cul tivat e d w oman ; an d , se con d,

t h at y ou may b e abl e t o t e ll
t h e t rut h e asily an d a ccurat e ly . 2—3 INTRODUCTI ON CONTINUE D
. .

2 B u t it is ano t he r an d mo re
. Eve ry girl mu st wo rk o u t h e r o wn
difli c ul t ma t t e r t o p r e sc ribe t h e
. w ay of in cre asin g h e r vo cabul ary .

me ans by whi ch t hi s may b e done .

3 Eve ry girl mu st , t o a l arg e

.

de gre e , w ork out h e r o wn me t hod . 4 .INTRODUCTION CONCLUDED .

4 Th e re adin g of t h e be st books
. R e ading an d conve rsat ion bo th
.

an d conve rsat ion wit h cul t ivat e d h e lp .

folk are bo t h he lp s t o t h e fre e u se

of wo rds 5 Th e dict ion ary is t h e
. .

be st frie n d for your t ask 6 Ne ve r . . 5 .S TATE MENT OF THE ME Th e .

all o w a st ran g e w ord t o p ass un dic t ionary is t h e be st me an s of

chall e nge d 7 Usually it is wise
. . e nl arging your vo cabul ary .

t o l oo k it up a t t h e mome n t .

8 If t hat is imp ossibl e , it mu st be

.

writ t e n firml y on t h e me mory and 6 —10 TH EME . E! PANDED . Loo k

t rac e d at t h e first O pp o rt unit y . up e ve ry n ew w ord on the sp o t , o r

9 It is goo d t o e n co urage in you r

. ho l d it in t h e me mory an d co nsul t
se lf t h e habit O i daw dling a lit t l e t h e dic t io n ary l at e r Ge t t h e habit
.

ove r t h e di ct io n ary 10 I t is t h e Of gl an cin g o ve r t h e dic t iona ry It

“
. . .

onl y plac e whe r e daw dlin g re ap s

”
is a dawdlin g h abit t hat p ays .

a harve st 1 1 To l e arn t w o n e w
. .

words a d ay , t ho roug hl y t o l e arn

t he m, so t hat t he ir us e will n o t have 11 C O N C LU S I ON
. Th o r o u gh l y
.

a fore i n ac ce n t , — is t o in sure a
g _
mast e ring t wo n e w words a d ay
lar ge voc abul ary before y o u reach means a l arge vocabul ary by middle
ag e.
 1 4 P RECIS WRITING

As y o u r e ad o v e r t h e rig h t han d co l umn y o u

not e s in t h e -
,

s u r e ly se e t h at t h e h e ar t
o f t h e p ar ag r ap h lie s in t h a t se n t e n c e

( 5) in w hic h M iss H e r se y says t hat t h e dic t ionary is a g irl s

’

b e st frie n d in t h e t ask Of e n larg ing h e r voc ab ulary Th e fir st .

four se n t e n c e s O f t h e p assag e p lainly le ad up t o t h is st at e me n t .

S e n t e n c e s 6 1 0 un f o ld an d amp lify it
—
Th e l as t se n t e n c e in
.
,

c o n cl usion sums up t h e s ugg e s t ion s O ffe r e d c o n c e rnin g t h e

,

dic t io n ary .

In t h e lig h t o f t h is e x amin a t io n w hich o f t h e se fiv e t it le s

,

will b e s t fit t h e se le c t ion ?
1 . E NLAR GING O NE S VOCAB ULAR Y ’

2 . ADVANTAGE S O F A L ARGE VO CABULARY

3 . THE I NF LUE N CE O F B OO K S AND C O N VE R S ATI ON UP ON TH E
VOC AB ULAR Y
-

4 . EVE RY ONE MAK E S HIS O WN VO CABULARY

5 . TH E D I CTI O NAR Y A S A M E A N S O F E NLAR GIN G TH E VO CAB ULARY

Un qu e s t io n ab ly t h e last of (all o f w hich w e r e

t h e se t it l e s
O ffe r e d by v ariou s me mb e r s o f a se nior hig h s c h ool c lass) c ome s -

n e ar e st t o t h e c e n t r al t h o ug h t o f t h e p ar ag r ap h ; fo r i t is ab o u t

t h e dic t io n ar y an d sp e c ific way s of u sing it t h a t M iss H e r se y

, ,

is wr it in g .

Thu s by loo king int o t h e st r uc t ur e O f any p assag e by e x ,

p lo ring it s se n t e n c e s t o fin d w ha t is in t r o d uc t o r y ma t t e r wh at ,

is c on c lusion an d w h at t h e c e n t r al t h o ug h t an d t h e n by fin d
, ,

ing for it a suit ab le t it le w e g at h e r an d a rr ang e o ur mat e rial

,

for an abs t r a c t .

He r e is a pré cis o f t h e se le c t io n w e have b e e n an alyz ing It .

was wr it t e n by a g irl in h e r l as t ye ar in h ig h s c h o o l T w e l ve .

min u t e s we r e g ive n t h e c lass t o r e a d t h e p assag e an d wr it e a

summary .

Tit l e D ICTI O NAR Y C HIEF AID To GIRL S VOCAB ULARY

’

P r é c is E v ery girl must wor k ou t h er own way f

o e nlar ging her
voca bula ry . Two good ways are to r ead the best books an d listen
I 6 PRECI S WRITING

t hat t h e writ e r use s sev e r al c o nne c t ive s ,

an d c orr e c t ly h andl e s
bot h a c olon an d a se mic o lo n .

IT h as b e e n t h e l o t of t h e un fo r t unat e ab o rigine s of Ame ric a, in t h e

e arly p e rio d s Of c o lo niz at ion , t o b e do u b l y wron g e d by t h e whi t e

me n ! t he y h ave b e e n di sp o s se sse d of t h e ir he re dit ary p os se ssion s by

me rce n a ry an d fre qu e n t ly wan t o n w arfare , a n d t h e ir ch afac t e r s h ave
b e e n t ra du ce d by bigo t e d an d in t e re st e d writ e rs Th e c olo ni st .

Oft e n t re at e d t h e m like b e ast s Of t h e fo re st , and t h e au t ho r h as

e n de avo r e d t o j u s t ify h im in hi s o u t r age s Th e fo rme r fo un d it
.

e asie r t o e x t e rmin a t e t h an t o civ iliz e , t h e l a t t e r t o vilify t h an t o

discrimin at e Th e app e ll at ion s o f savage an d p ag an we re d e e me d

.

sufficie n t t o san c t io n t h e h o s t ili t ie s o f b o t h ; an d t hu s t h e p o o r

wan de re rs Of t h e fo re s t w e re p e rs e cu t e d an d de fame d , not be c ause

t h e y w e re guil t y , bu t b e c au se t he y we re ign o ran t .

Tit l e I ND IA N S D O UBLY WR ON GE D
P r é c is Indays , t h e I nd ians were wronge d by t he white me n
ear ly

i n two ways ! in t he fi r st place , th e se ttlers s t ole the ir la n ds , and in

ge neral trea t ed th e m like be a s ts ; t he n a ga in , th e wr it e rs of the age
maligned their cha racter and defen de d th ose who persecuted th em .

(46 word s)
E ng lish in s t r u c t o r s w h o t e a c h p réc is wr it ing almo s t inv ari
ab ly fin d t h at t h e ir p oo r e r s t u d e n t s wr it e t h e l o n g e s t ab st r ac t s ,

an d t h at kill c o m e s wit h pr ac t ic e t h e t e n d e n cy among t h e ir

as s ,

ab le st p up ils is t o c o n d e n se m o r e an d mo r e e v e n t o t h e w rit ing ,

o f sing l e se n t e n c e s To a c e r t ain p oin t t his s t r aig h t c u t t o w ar d

.
,

e x t r e me c on c isen e s s sh o ul d b e e n c o u r ag e d ; a g r e at V ir t u e o f

p ré c is wr it in g is t ha t it c omp e l s t h e p up il t o avoid r e p e t it ion

an d wo r din e ss N e v e r t h e le ss t h e sing l e se n t e n c e id e al Sho ul d
.
,
-

n o t b e t oo s t r o ng ly ur g e d In t h e fir st p l ac e a g oo d pré c is c an
.
,

s e l d om b e c o n d e n se d wit h in so b r ie f a sp ac e ; in t h e se c on d
p lac e fe w high s c h o ol st u d e n t s c an su c c e ssf ully m an ag e a
-
,

s e n t e n c e o f o v e r f o r t y wo r d s p ar t ic ularly wh e n pr e sse d for

,

t ime . M uch mo re sat isfa c t o ry is t h e ab st r ac t Of six t y o r

se v en t y fiv e w o r d s ma d e up o f t h r e e o r f o u r s e n t e n c e s c lo s e ly
-
,

knit t og e t h e r by a skillf ul us e O f c onn e c t ive s .

 E! AMPLES O F PREC I S WR ITING 1 7

Th e p ass age t hat fo ll ow s is t he s e c on d p ar ag r ap h of

Mac aulay s Life of John son

’
.

WHI LE h e w as t hu s irre gularly e du cat in g himse lf his famil y w as ,

sinkin g in t o h op e l e ss p o ve r t y Old Mich ae l J o hn son w as mu ch

.

be t t e r qu alifie d t o p o re up o n b o oks an d t o t alk abou t t he m t h an t o

, ,

t rade in t he m His bu sin e ss de clin e d ; his de b t s in cre ase d ; it w a s

.

wit h difli cult y t hat t h e d aily e xp e n se s o f his h ou se hold we re d e

‘

fraye d It wa s ou t of his po we r t o suppo rt his son at e it he r uni

.

ve rsit y but a we al t hy n e ighb o r O ffe re d assist an c e ; an d in re li an ce

, ,

o n pro mi se s whi ch pro ve d t o b e o f ve ry lit t le value S amu e l w as ,

e n t e re d a t P e mbro ke C olle ge O xfo rd Wh e n t h e young sch olar p re

,
.

se n t e d him se lf t o t h e ru le rs o f t h a t so cie t y t he y we re a maz e d n o t

,

mo re by hi s u n gainly fig ure and e cce n t ric manne rs t han by t h e

quant it y Of e x t e n sive and cu rio u s info rmat ion which h e h ad picke d
u p du rin g man y mo n t h s o f de sul t o ry b u t n o t un pr o fit ab l e s t u dy
, .

O n t h e fir st d ay o f h is re side n ce h e su rprise d h is t e ach e rs by qu o t ing

M acro biu s ; and o ne Of t h e most le arne d amon g t he m de clare d t hat
h e h ad ne ve r known a fre shman o f e qu al at t ainme n t s ( 1 7 3 w o rd s) .

He re are the s j o t t e d do wn by t wo diffe r e n t b oys in

n ot e

r
p p e a r a t io n for w r i t in g a p ré c is o f t h e ab o v e s e l e c t io n

Old J p oo r b u s man
. sinks in p ov
. coul d n ot se n d .

son t o c o ll
— n e ighb o r O ffe r s assist
. S am goe s t o O x — man
. . .

n e r s amaz e prof s al so r e a din g an d qu o t e s

. .

2. S J go e s t o P e mbroke at O xfo rd
. . h e lp e d by frie n d
—

fat he r t oo poo r make s gre at impre ssion by quo t in g Macrobiu s .

C omp ar e t h e se ke le t ons o f t h e p arag rap h an d t h e n de cide

s ,

if y ou c an , whi ch s t u de n t wr o t e t h e following p ré cis

Tit l e JOHN S ON G OE S T O C O LLEGE
P r é c is While Johnson was educat ing himself as
best he could , his
fa t her
’
s bus in ess was s t ea d ily dec lining Thr ough the gener osi ty of.

a nei ghbor , h owev er , th e boy was sen t to P e mbroke College At .

Oxford the professors wer e as tonished by his ma nners , hi s r ead ing,

and his a bility to qu ote obscure Lat in aut hors ( 48 wo rd s)
'

This ab s t rac t which was writ t e n in t wel ve min ut es

, , red uc e s
t h e original from 1 73 word s t o 48 or ra t he r more t ha n , a t hir d .
I 8 PR EC I S W RITING

'

P assin g on t o l o ng e r se l e
c t ion s l e t u s c o n sid e r t his p ar a
, .

g r a p h Of 3 5 0 w o r d s fr o m M a c a ul ay E x a m in e t h e r ig h t h an d
.
—

c olumn t o se e t h e e x ac t r e lat io n b e t w e e n t h e préc is an d t h e

o r ig in al . No t ic e t o o t h e w ay In w hic h d e t ails ill us t r at ion s
, , , ,

an d d ir e c t q u o t at io n s a r e d isc a r d e d in t h e s umm ar y .

S e v e n t e e n minu t e s w e r e allo we d for t his e x e rc ise .

O rigin al P r é ci s
Ne v e r , sin ce
lit e rat ure be came a Auth ors were n ever s o poor ly paid
c alling in En gl an d , h ad it be e n a as wh e n John son ca me to li ve i n
l e ss g ainful c allin g t han a t t h e t im e L ond on .

whe n John so n t o o k up h is r e side n c e

in L on don In t h e p re c e din g g e n e r
.

a t ion a w rit e r o f e min e n t m e rit w a s Th e peri od w hen wr it ers fl our is h ed

su r e t o b e mu n ific e n t l y r e w a rde d by u nd e r t h e patr on age of s t a t esme n h ad

t h e g ove rn m e n t Th e l e as t t hat h e
.
passe d .

could e xp e ct w as a p e n sion or a
S in e cu re p l ac e ; an d , if h e sho w e d

an y ap t it u de fo r p o lit ic s , h e mig ht

hop e t o be a M e mbe r of P a rliame n t ,

a L o rd o f t h e Tr e asu ry , an Am B u t t he ti me had n ot yet a rri ved wh en
bassad o r , a S e c re t ary o f S t a t e It . t h ey r e cei ved l ar ge profits fr om t he
w ou ld b e e a sy, on t h e o t he r h an d , s al e of t h ei r books t o t h e pu bli c .

t o n ame se ve ral w rit e rs o f t h e n in e

t e e n t h c e n t u ry o f w ho m t h e l e a st
su cce ssful h as re ce ive d fo r t y t ho u

s an d p o un ds fro m t h e bo o kse ll e rs .

B u t John son e n t e re d o n h is v o c a t ion

in t h e mo st d re ary p ar t o f t h e dre ary
in t e rval w hi ch se p ara t e d t w o a g e s
O f p ro sp e rit y L it e r at u re h ad c e a se d
.

t o flou rish u n de r t h e p a t ro n ag e o f
t h e g re at , an d h ad n o t be g u n t o
flou rish Un de r t h e p a t ro n ag e o f t h e
p ublic On e man of l e t t e rs , in de e d , Wit h t he ption f
P ope , wh o
.
exce o
P op e , h a d acquire d by h is p e n w hat mad e a large for tu n e by wri tin g ,
was t he n c on sid e re d a s a han dso me li t er ar y men r emai n ed miser ably poor .

fo r t un e , an d live d on a foo t in g o f
qu alit y wit h nobl e s an d min ist e rs
of st at e . B u t t his w as a s olit a ry .

e x c e p t iOn . Eve n an au t ho r who se_

re p u t at ion w as es t ablishe d, an d
 P REC IS O F O RAL R EADING 1 9

w ho se wo rks w e re p op ular suc h an ,

au t ho r as Tho m son w ho se S e ason s

, Thi s was true eve n of su ch popular
w e re in e ve ry li b rary su ch an au t ho r
,
aut hors as Th omson a nd F i eldi ng
as F ie l din g who se P as qui n h a d h ad
.

a g r e at e r r un t han an y drama sin ce

Th e B eggar s Oper a , w as so m e t im e s
’

g l ad t o Ob t ain , by p awn in g his be st

coat , t h e me an s of din ing on t rip e
at a c o o kshop un de rg ro un d , w he re

h e coul d wip e hi s hand s, aft e r his

g re asy m e al , o n t h e b ack o f a Ne w
fo un dl an d d o g It is e asy, t he re
.

fo re , t o im ag in e what hu milia t io n s
an d p rivat io n s mu st have aw ait e d

t h e n ovi ce w h o h ad st ill t o e arn a

n ame . On e o f t h e p ubli she rs t o
who m John son app lie d for e mpl oy
me n t me asu re d w it h a sco rnful e y e
t hat at hl e t ic t ho ug h u n co u t h frame ,
an d e xc laim e d ,
“Y o u h a d be t t e r g e t S o d re ary, ind eed , was the cond iti on
a p o r t e r s kn o t , an d c arry t runk s
’ ”
. of lit er atu r e t hat John s on wou ld
No r w as t h e advice b ad , fo r a p o r t e r '

probably ha ve earn ed a be tt er livi ng

w as like ly t o b e as p l e n t ift
. fe d as a porte r t han as a pr o essi on a l
f
an d as comf o r t ably lo dg e d as a p o e t . wri t er
.

(3 5 1 wo r ds) ( 1 00 ds)
wo r

PRECIS OF O R A L R E AD IN G

P ré c is wo rk may be profit ably v arie d by h av in g t h e class writ e

ab st r a c t s o f se l e c t io n s w hi ch t h e y h e a r r e a d b u t d o n o t se e ,

b e fo r e t h e m S u ch a ssig nme n t s at fir s t m ust b e e x t r e me ly

.

simp le an d fo r a whil e t h e p assag e s sh o u l d b e r e ad t w1 c e

,
It .

is as t oni shi ng h ow r ap idly p o w e r t o d o t hi s so r t o f wo rk

in cr e ase s Wit h a lit t le e xp e rie n c e an d if n o t h urrie d
.
, ,

b oys an d girl s of t h e sop homo r e ye ar c an writ e in a f e w

se n t e n c e s ab st rac t s O f st o rie s o r e di t o rials t h at t ak e t h r e e o r
four min u t e s t o r e ad alo u d B y t h e se n io r ye ar fr om a single
.
,

r e ading by t h e in st r u c t o r it is p e rfe c t ly p o ssib le t o se c ur e an

,
‘
e x c e ll e n t pr é cis O f a f air ly diffi c ul t p ar ag r ap h O f ab o u t t w o
20 P RECI S WRITING

h un dr e d wo r ds S uch an e x e rc ise r e quir e s t h e c lose s t at t e n

.

t ion! in d e e d t h e g r e at Vir t u e o f t h e t ask is t h e in t e n s e

,

c on c e n t rat io n w hich it e ng e n de r s .

D uring t h e r e ading an d t h e p assag e mu s t b e r e a d sl o wly

an d dist in c t ly p upils Sho ul d be allo we d t o t ak e n o t e s if ,

t h e y so d e sir e .

Th e f ollo wing p ar ag r ap h fr om Ge o rg e Elio t was r e ad j us t

o n c e t o a c lass of hig h sch o ol s e n io r s
-
B e lo w it are p rin t e d
.

f o ur of t h e summarie s t hat w e r e wr it t e n in t h e e igh t min u t e s

all o t t e d .C omp ar e t h e m w it h t h e o r ig in al an d d e cide for ,

your se lf which is t h e mo st s u cc e ssf ul p ré cis Are t h e y as c om .

p l e t e as y o u w o u l d e xp e c t un d e r t h e c ir c um s t an c e s ? Ho w in ,

g e n e r al mig h t t h e y b e imp r o v e d ?
,

ALL hono r an d re ve re n ce t o t h e divine b e au t y o f fo rm ! L e t u s

cul t ivat e it t o t h e ut mo s t in m e n , wome n , an d chil dre n — ln o ur
garde n s an d in ou r hou se s B u t le t u s lo ve t hat o t he r b e au t y , t o o ,
.

which lie s in no se cre t Of propo rt ion , b u t in t h e se cre t Of de e p hu man

symp at hy P ain t u s an an ge l , if y o u c an , wit h a flo at in g Viol e t
.

rob e , an d a face p aled by t h e ce le s t ial ligh t ; p ain t u s y e t of t e n e r a

Madon n a, t u rnin g h e r mi l d face u pw ard an d op e nin g h e r arms t o
we l come t h e di vine glo ry ; bu t d o no t imp o s e o n u s any aest he t ic
rule s which sh all b anish from t h e re gion of Art t ho se O ld wo me n
s crap in g c arro t s wit h t h e ir w o rk w o rn h an d s -
t h ose h e avy clo wn s
t aki n g h oli d ay in a di n gy p o t h o u se t ho se rou n de d b acks an d
s t up id , w e at he rb e at e n f a c e s t h at h ave b e nt o ve r t h e sp ade an d

don e t h e rough wo rk o f t h e wo rl d t ho se ho me s wit h t he ir t in

p an s , t he ir brown pit che rs, t he ir rough c urs , an d t he ir onion s .

( 1 64 wo rds)
P r é c is 1 . D ivine bea uty s hould be reveren ced a nd culti vated; but
tha t sy mpa the tic beau ty see n in th e t oil a nd dr u dger y of ev ery d ay
life sh ou ld n ev er be forgott e n .
( 2 4 wo rd s)
P r é c is 2 . Women scra ping carrots , men diggi ng ditches ,
chi ld r e n

s lavi ng
i n factor ies al l t h es e s h ou ld be i n clude d i n ar t , for t h eir

beauty brin gs forth h uman sympa thy , a s tha t of a ngels doe s n ot .

(3 0 wo rds)
 P RECIS O F ORAL R E ADING 21

P r é c is 3 . B ea uty should be cul t ivate d ev erywher e , bu t i t mus t n ot

ta ke th e pla ce of h uma n s ympathy Mad onnas and angels , of
.

c our s e , ha v e t h ei r place i n a r t Ye t th ey ough t n ot to r eplace

.

pi ctures of plain hu ma ni ty which sugges t the beau ty of sympathy .

(4 1 w ord s)
P r é c is 4 . Let d i vi ne bea uty of for m in h uma n i ty , i n
us cu lt iva t e

our ga rd e n s , and i n ou r h ou ses L et us l ove also tha t oth er be au ty

.

which li es in d ee p h u ma n sympa thy P a int u s a n ge ls a nd

.

Mad onn as , but d o n ot impos e on us an y r ules which s hall banis h

fr om a r t old c arewor n w om e n an d th e men w h o d o t h e h e avy w ork

of the world .
( 6 1 wo rd s)

He r e is p r oo f O f t h e s t a t e me n t t hat wit h p r ac t ic e yo un g
a

p e ople c an Of t e n d o r e markably g oo d w o rk in p ré cis writ ing .

Th e f oll owin g se le c t ion fr om C ar dinal Ne wman c on t ain s 3 2 5

w o r d s It w as r e ad o n c e sl o w ly t o a se c t io n of b oy s in t h e
.

win t e r t e rm of t h e ir fr e sM an ye ar at c oll e g e Th e y we r e .

all o w e d t o t ak e n o t e s an d w e r e g iv e n t e n min u t e s t o w r it e an
,

ab s t r a c t .

B e low t h e o rig inal se le c t ion are prin t e d t h r e e of t h e b e st

s umm ar ie s ! t h e sh o r t e s t wh ic h is c o n s t r u c t e d in o n e se n t e n ce ;
,

t h e l on g e s t wh ich is an e x c e ll e n t p ie c e Of w o rk ; an d o n e of
,

me dium l e ng t h a g oo d t yp e o f t h o se wr it t e n by t h e maj o r it y

of t h e c l as s I t will be a val uab le e x e r c ise t o s t u dy t h e se t h r e e

.

s umm ar ie s cl ose ly C omp ar e t h e ir me r it s ; p oin t o ut t he ir

.

de f e c t s ; de cide for yo ur se lf whi ch is t h e b e st .

I T is a gre at p oin t t he n t o e nlarge t h e range o f st u di e s whi ch a un i

ve rsit y profe s se s e ve n for t h e sake o f t h e s t u de n t s ; an d t hough
, ,

t he y c ann o t p u r su e e ve ry subj e c t whi ch is Op e n t o t he m t h e y will ,

b e t h e gaine r s by li vin g amo n g t ho s e an d u n de r t ho se w h o re pre se n t

t h e whole cir cl e Thi s I co n ce ive t o b e t h e a dvan t age Of a se at of
.

uni ve r sal l e a rnin g co n side re d as a p l a ce o f e du c at ion

,
An a s se mb l age
.

o f l e arn e d me n z e alou s fo r t h e ir o w n s cie n ce s an d rival s o f e a ch

, ,

ot h e r are brou gh t
,
by famili ar in t e rcou rse an d fo r t h e sake o f in
,

t e ll e c t ual p e ac e t o adj u st t o ge t h e r t h e clai ms and re l at ions of t he ir

,
22 P RECIS WRITING
re spe c t ive bj e c t s o f in ve st igat ion Th e y le arn t o re sp e c t t o con
su .
,

su l t t o aid e a ch o t h e r
,
Thu s is cre a t e d a p u re an d cl e ar at mo sph e r e
.

Of t ho ught which t h e st u de nt al so bre at he s t ho u gh in h is o wn c ase

, ,

h e p u r sue s only a fe w s cie n c e s ou t o f t h e mu l t it u de He pr ofit s by .

a n in t e lle c t u al t ra dit io n which is in de p e n de n t o f p a r t icul a r t e a ch e r s ,

which gui de s h im in h is ch oic e of subj e c t s an d duly in t e rpre t s for ,

h im t ho se which h e choo se s He appre he nd s t h e gre at ou t lin e s o f

.

kno wle dge t h e prin cip le s on wh ich it re s t s t h e s c al e o f it s p ar t s it s

, , ,

ligh t s an d it s s h ad e s it s gre a t p oin t s an d it s li t t l e as h e o t h e rwise

, ,

c anno t appre he n d t he m H e n ce it is t hat hi s e du c at io n is c all e d

“lib e ral ” A h ab it of min d is forme d which l ast s t hrou gh lif e o f
.

.
,

which t h e at t ribu t e s are fre e dom e quit able ne ss c alm n e ss mo de r

, , , ,

a t io n an d wis d om ; o r wh at in a fo rme r di sc o u r se I h ave ve n t u r e d

,

t o c all a phil o so phic al h ab it This t h e n I w oul d a s sign a s t h e sp e cial

.

fruit of t h e e du c at io n fu rn ishe d at a u ni ve rsit y as con t rast e d wit h ,

o t h e r pl a c e s o f t e a chin g o r mo de s o f t e a chin g This is t h e main .

purp ose o f a unive rsit y in it s t re at me n t of it s st u de n t s .

(3 2 5 words)
CARD INAL NE WMA N The I d ea of a University ,

P r é c is 1 . I t is w e ll for a un ivers i ty to e nlar ge i ts ra nge of s tu dies ,

s o t h a t e v e n if a s t u d e n t d oe s n ot pu rs u e ma n y s c i e n ces , h e w il l a t

l eas t be influ ence d by th e as s oci a t ion a n d a tmosph er e of men r epr e

s e n t i n g a ll bra n ch es of l ear n in g , a n d will con t rac t t h e phil osoph i ca l

h a bit which is t h e bas is of a li bera l e du ca tion ( 5 5 wo rd s) .

P r é c is 2 . I t is a gr ea t poin t to e n la r ge th e r a ng e o f stud ies wh ich

a un ivers i ty pr ofesses , if only for th e sa ke of th e stud en ts In a .

u n ive rs i ty l ear n e d me n are asse mbled , wh o ar e r iv a ls i n th eir

var ious fi elds of learn ing and who by wor king togeth er
, , i n th es e
d iffere n t fi e ld s come t o re spe ct con sult a nd a id each othe r
, , ,
Thus, .

surr oun d ed by broa d i n t e ll ect ua l t radit ions , a s tu d en t i n a un i

v ersi ty liv e s in a cle a r a tmosph er e of th ough t B e caus e of the wid e.

r a ng e of s c h olar ly i n te r es t s a bou t him, h e appr eh e n ds th e gr ea t ou t

l in es of kn owled ge , al th ough s tu dy ing bu t a fe w su bjects F or th es e .

’
r eas ons , a s t u de n t s e d u ca t ion i n a large u n i v ers ity is ca lled liber a l .

He ge ts me n tal free d om a n d e qu i ta blen ess , which l ead t o a ser ene

life . H e gain s , too , wha t is ca lled th e ph il osophical h abit To .

spr ead befor e i ts s tu d e n ts ma n y bra n c h es of lea r n ing , a n d cr ea t e

t h e a tmosph er e of a libe ral e d uca tion , i s th e ma in a im of a

university , as we ll as th e main d u ty ( 1 6 1 wo rd s)
.
24 P RECIS WRI TIN G

de sc rip t ive se nt e n ce s c onve r sat ion ,

all mus t g o Th e p ré cis .

of a s t o r y is t h e r e f o r e m u ch s h o r t e r in r e l at ion t o it s o rig inal, ,

t han t h e ab s t r ac t o f a d e sc r ip t io n o r o f a p as s ag e p ack e d f ull

,

of t h o ug h t s an d id e as Thi s is p ar t ic ular ly t r ue o f long e r

.

narr a t iv e s an d o f t h e d e t ail e d s t o r ie s o f a ccid e n t an d c r im e

,

s uch as ne w sp ap e r s pr in t O f t e n t h e se may b e re d u c e d in a
.

pré cis t o a t e n t h o r e ve n a t w e n t ie t h o f t he ir o rig inal fo rm .

P ag e s 3 4 43 c o n t ain a n umb e r of an e cd o t e s s ui t ab le fo r
—

summariz ing in t e n or t w e l v e min u t e s .

G
Y ou all know t h e f amo us s t o ry of Jac k an d t h e B e an
In M r P W C o usse n s s c oll e c t io n of f o lk s t o r ie s t hi s
’
st a . . .
-

le g e n d is t ol d in f o u r t e e n p ag e s or ab o u t fiv e t h ou san d wo r d s
, .

He r e is a pré cis o f t h e s t o r y in 1 50 wo r d s .

P r é cis Oncepon a time a boy na med Jac k was s en t by his mother

u

t o sell a cow H e soon me t a bu tch er t o wh om h e s ol d th e ani mal

.

f or a fe w c ol or e d bea ns H is moth er w as very an gr y , a n d threw

.

the m a way Now one of t h e beans fe ll in th e gar d e n , t ook r oot ,

.

a nd grew so rapidly i n on e n igh t t ha t in t h e morn in g t h e t op r e a ch e d

int o the h eavens Jac k climbed up th e vi n e , a nd ca me t o an e x

.

te n sive coun t ry Aft er vari ous adve ntur es a fa iry me t him a nd

.

directed him t o th e h ouse of a gia nt , from wh om h e acquir e d gr ea t

w e al th S evera l times h e r e tu r ned , an d th e la st time h e wa s pu r
.

s ue d by the gian t Ja ck scrambled d own th e vi n e , a nd as th e

.

monster a tte mpt e d t o follow, he seiz ed his ha tch et an d cut a way t h e

bea n stalk, whe reupon the gi an t fell
-
an d wa s killed . Jack a nd h is
mother lived aft erwar d in c omfort .

We b st e r s
’
New I nternational Dict io nary

PRECIS OF A P O EM
An b s t r ac t of a poe m is in no e s se n t ial r e spe c t s difle re n t
a

from an ab st r ac t o f a p assage of p rose As a rul e t h e p ro ce ss .

,

is more diffic ul t P oe t ic dic t ion fig ure s o f spe ec h an d inve r t e d

.
, ,
 P RECIS OF A P OEM 25

c s some t ime s o b sc ure t h e t ho ug h t Te ach e r s O f pré cis

se n t e n e .

writ ing hav e usually f o un d it a g oo d p r ac t ice t o le t p up ils

t r an sl a t e t h e p o e m as it we r e in t o simp l e p r ose b e f o r e t h e y
, , ,

b e g in t o w rit e a summary O t he r wise most s t u de n t s un t il

.
,

t h e y h ave b e c o me e xp e rie n c e d pré cis wr it e r s w ill h o l d t o o

,

close ly t o t h e lang uag e O f t h e p oe t and d e velop a st il t e d r ep r o

,

d uc t ion rat he r t h an a c o n cise simp le s t at e me n t in w or ds of

“

t he ir o wn . He r e as e lse wh e r e in p ré cis s t u dy c o op e r at iv e
, ,

c lass w o rk don e o rall y wit h t h e in s t r uc t o r is t h e b e st fo un d a

, ,

t ion fo r t h e su cc e s sf ul m aking o f ab s t r ac t s .

P o e ms an d p o e t ic al se le c t io n s for summariz ing may be f o u n d

48
—
on p ag e s 1 1 9 1 .

b e ginni ng of an E nglish p e rio d on e mornmg

At t h e in Jan u
ary a se ni o r cl ass w a s a ske d t o o p e n The Gold en
’

S ongs and Lyri cs a t t hi s p o e m !

DEATH THE LEVELER

Th e glo rie s of ou r blo o d an d st at e
Are sha do w s n o t su b st an t ial t hing s ;
,

The re is n o armour a g ainst fate ;

D e at h l ays his ic y h andl o n; king s
S ce p t re an d C ro wn
Mu s t t umble do wn ,

An d in t h e dust b e e qu al made
Wit h t h e poo r cro oke d scyt he and spade .

S o me me n wit h swo rd s may re ap t h e fie l d ,

An d pl an t fre sh lau re l s wh e re t he y kill
B ut t h e ir st ron g n e rve s at l a st mu st yie l d ;
The y t ame bu t on e ano t he r st ill
’

Earl y or l at e
The y st o op t o fat e ,
And mu st give up t he ir mu rmurin g bre at h
Wh e n t he y , p ale cap t ive s, cre e p t o de at h .
 PR EC IS WRITING
Th e garlan d s wit he r o n you r bro w ;
Th e n b o as t n o m o re you r migh t y de e d s ;
’
Upon D e at h s pu rple al t ar no w
S e e wh e re t h e vict o r vic t im bl e e d s ! -

Your h e ad s mu st come
To t h e c ol d t omb ;
Only t h e a c t ion s o f t h e j u st
Sme ll swe e t an d blo s som in t h e ir dust
, .

JAME S SHIRLE Y

He re ar e t wo of t h e be s t su mm a
rie s wh ich we r e writ t e n in , t en
min u t e s Which d o y o u t h in k is t h e mo r e sa t isfac t o ry ?
. In
what way s c o uld t he y b o t h b e impro v e d ?
P r é c is 1 D ea th tr iumphs ov er all men t he s trong , th e we a k, th e
n oble , an d t h e hu mbl e E v e n glor ious d ee ds of war coun t for
.

n ought Virtue , a nd virt ue a lon e , l asts through e ter nity

. .

( 2 9 wo rds)
P r é ci s 2 D ea th comes to every on e , h umbl e peasa nts a nd kin gs
—

a like . E ven h er oes of t h e ba ttl efi eld mus t y ield a t la st , captiv es

t o F a te S o , t oo , th e fa me of migh ty d ee ds fa des a way i n time
. .

On ly actions tha t are n oble a nd j ust live on through th e a ges

a nd n ev er d i e .
(48 wo rd s)

PR ECIS O F THE S O NNE T

No f o rm O f p oe t r y offe r s mo re in t e r e st ing p r o b le ms in pré cis

writ ing t han t h e sonn e t In it se lf it is c omp ac t an d c lo se ly
.

“
kn it t og e t h e r It is n it
x rin t h oug h t
e ssion an d
‘
u‘
. a p a e

sin gl e e mo t io n o r a Sing le c le ar c u t p ic t ur e In arr ang e me n t it

—
.

is o r de rly an d b o un d w it hin c e r t ain c on v e n t io nal r ule s

,
I f it is .

a so n ne t of t h e S h ak e sp e a r e an t yp e b u il t up o f t h r e e s t an z as ,

o f f o u r line s e ach wit h a c o up le t at t h e e n d t h e pré cis will

, ,

n at u r ally f all in t o t h r e e o r f o u r s e n t en c e s f o llo wing t h e p l an ,

o f t h e o r ig inal I f it is divid e d in t o o c t ave an d se st e t t h e

.
,

s o n n e t may o f t e n b e c o n d e n se d in t o t wo se n t e n c e s o n e fo r ,

e a ch division Mo r e o f t en st ill a single we ll con st ruc t e d se n

.
,
-
 P RECIS OF A S ONNET 27

t e nce may suffi c e for t h e w hole p o e m B e c au se of t he ir p e c uli ar

.

ad ap t ab ilit y t o p ré c is wr it ing , a n umb e r o f f amo u s sonn e t s are

pr in t e d t o g e t h e r o n a
p g e s 1 3 7
—
1 48 o f t h is v o l u me .

Th e s onn e t which follows is by John K e at s R ead it c are .

fully an d t h e n e x amine t h e t w o s ummarie s w hich we r e w rit t e n

,

by hig h school se niors in t w e l ve min u t e s D o y o u ag r e e w it h

-
.

t h e class t h at t h e sh o r t e r is t h e sup e r io r p ré c is ? P oin t o u t

some of t h e e xc e lle n t p oin t s in e ach .

THE H UMAN SEAS O N S

Fou r S e ason s fill t h e me asure o f t h e ye ar ;

The re are fou r se aso n s in t h e mi n d o f man
He h as his lu s t y S p rin g , whe n fan cy cle ar
Take s in all b e au t y wit h an e a sy sp an !
He h as hi s S umme r , wh e n luxu rio u sly
’
S prin g s ho ne ye d c u d of you t hful t hough t h e
To ru min at e , an d by su ch dre aming high
I s n e are st u n t o he ave n ! qui e t co ve s
His soul h as in it s Au t umn , whe n hi s wi ng s
He furle t h clo s e ; con t e n t e d so t o lo o k
On mist s In idl e n e ss t o l e t fair t hin g s
P a ss by un h e e de d as a t hre sh ol d brook .

He h as hi s Win t e r t oo o f p ale misfe at u re ,

Or e l se h e woul d fo re go his mo r t al nat ure .

P r é c is 1 Th e mi nd of man ha s four seasons , even as t he y ear has .

I n youth h e h as his ha ppy S pring , wi th i ts fanci es and th ough ts

of bea uty Th en comes hi s S ummer of da yd reami ng , whe n h e i s
.

ha ppiest of all Au tumn follows , h is se as on of repose a nd qui e t

. .

Th en his Win ter comes , reminding him th at h e i s morta l and tha t

the end is n ear .
( 63 wo rd s)
P r é c is 2 Man s life
’
, t oo, h as four
his S pring of beauti
seasons!

ful fancies; his S ummer of though tfu l d r eaming; his Autumn of

idle conte ntme nt; his Winter of cold oblivion ( 2 7 word s)
.
28 P RECI S WRITING

P AR A GRAP H— S TUDY
IT is in t h e las t t w o y e ar s o f hig h sch oo l E ng lish t h at t e ach e rs
-

fin d t h e ir p u p ils r e ady for a s ome w h a t in t e n siv e s t u dy of

p a r a r
g p a h c o n s t r u c t io n S
. u ch a s t u dy fi t s in a dmi r ab ly w it h

pr a c t ice in préc is w rit ing E ach supp le men t s an d h e lp s t h e

‘
.

o t he r. E spe cially d oe s t h e c lo se e xamin at ion o f a p assag e t o ,

s e p a r a t e it s c e n t r al t h o ug h t fr o m un imp o r t an t d e t ails a ssis t ,

yo un g st u de n t s t o ap p r e c iat e p ar ag rap h de v e lop me n t fr o m

t o p ic se n t e n c e s . Th e wr it ing o f a cle ar c o n cise w e ll a rr ang e d , ,
-

pré cis is also e x ce lle n t t r ain ing in p ar ag r ap h c omp osit ion .

Many o f t h e se le c t ions in t his b ook may t h e r e f o r e se rv e a

t w o f ol d p urp ose ! ( 1 ) t h e y may b e u se d a s m at e r ial for p ré cis
w o rk ; ( 2 ) t h e y may b e s t u die d as mo de l p ar ag rap h s o f vario u s
f o rm s of p ro se .

F oll owing are s ome of t h e mo r e c omm on t yp e s o f p ar a

g r ap h s wit h r e fe r e n c e s t o se le c t ion s in t his volum e t h at may

,

b e u se d as mo d e ls for s t u dy an d imit at io n .

Narrat ive p aragraph s ( S e le Ct ion s 1 — 1 3 )

Climax in narrat io n ; ho ldi ng p oin t o f s t o ry unt il e nd o f
P aragraph ( 3 5 6 7 1 2 ), , , ,

P aragraph s of con ve rsat io n ( 5 7 8 9 ) , , ,

D e scrip t ive p ara graph s ( 7 3 — 8 5)

D e scrip t io n s o f p e rson s ( 7 6 7 7 7 8 8 1 ) , , ,

D e scrip t ion by e nu me rat io n o f sp e cific d e t ail ; a ccumul at io n

o f de s crip t ive t e rm s ( 7 3 7 4 8 1 8 3 8 4 8 5 8 9)
, , , , , ,

D e scrip t io n by e ffe c t up o n o t he r s ; de scrip t ion by su gge s t ion

( 1 3 3 3 7 9)
. .

P aragraph s o f e xp osit io n or e xpl anat ion ( 1 4 7 2 an d 86 1 0 3 )

,
— -

O rde rly a rran ge me nt in e xp o sit io n ; cle arnes s in e xpl an at o ry

p aragraphs ( 1 6 2 0 5 8 66) , , ,

Topic se n t e n ce at o p e ni n g o f p aragraph s ( 1 6 1 8 2 1 2 2 2 3 , , , , ,

Top ic se n t e n e c wit hin p aragraph s ( 3 3 , 3 4, 3 6 , 3 8 , 4 1 , 6 1 ,

6 7 . 9 6)
Topic c
se n t e n e at e n d o f p arag raphs ( 2 8 , 4 5, 7 1 , 9 3 , 9 9)
 PA RA G RAPH STUD Y —
29

P aragraph s t h at p as s from ge n e ral st at e me nt s t o sp e cific

de t ail s ( 1 3 . I 9 . 2 1 . 2 5 . 2 9 . 4 2 . 4 5. 5 1 . 59 . 9 2 . 9 7 )
P ara graph s o f ill u st rat ion an d d e t aIl t o pro ve op e nin g st at e
me n t ( 2 5. 2 7 . 40 . 46. 4 7 . 5 3 . 5 7 . 64)
Re p e t it ion an d re st at e me nt for cle arn e ss ( 3 2 , 5 5, 63 )
S h o r t se n t e n ce s for fo rce o r e fle c t o f rap id a ct ion ( 8 , 1 3 , 2 0 ,
2 4. 7 3 . 8 7 . 94 . 9 5)

C ohe re n ce in p a ragraph s ; c onn e c t ive wo rd s b e t we e n se n

t e nce s ( 7 , 1 6 , 2 0 , 44, 57 , 66, 6 7 , 68 , 8 7 , 1 00, 1 0 1 , 1 04)
D e ve lop me n t o f t ho u gh t in p aragraph s by qu e st ion and
answe r ( 2 7 . 3 7 . 43 . 5 2 . 6 1 . 64 . 8 7 )

C limax at e n d of p a ragraph s ; clima c t ic o r as ce n din g c o n

st ru c t io n ( 2 1 . 3 6 . 40 . 44. 4 7 . 4 9 . 63 . 7 1 . 8 4. 8 5 . 8 8)

S umma riz ing se n t e n c e s at e n d o f p aragraphs ( 1 2 , 1 3 , 1 6 , 2 1 ,

2 9 . 3 1 . 44 . 49 . 5 6 . 6 8 . 7 3 . 7 6 . 8 5 . 8 9 . 9 7 )

Tran sit io n s b e t we e n p ara graph s ( 5 , 9 , 1 1 , 1 3 , 8 6, 9 0, 9 3 , 9 8,

99 , 1 00 , 1 0 1 , 1 0 2 , 1 03 , 1 0 7 , 1 0 8 , 1 0 9)
S ummariz ing p aragr aph s ( 8 6 , 9 5 , 1 03 , 1 0 7 )
30 P RECI S W RITING

R E VI E W ! U E S TI O N S ON PRECIS WRI TI N G
TH E f ollo w ing qu e s t io n s ar e d e sig n e d t o se rve b o t h as a r e vie w
o f t h e p r e vio us p ag e s an d as t op ic s fo r c l ass dis cu ssio n .

What are t h e origin an d me aning of t h e t e rm p r écis ? ”

What is t h e diffe re n ce b e t we e n a pr écis an d a p araphrase ?

Which is t h e mo re difficul t t o writ e ? Wh y ?
Ho w is pr écis writ ing chie fly prac t ise d in En glish s cho ols
t o d ay ?
-

Wh y are so man y youn g p e op le u na b le t o g e t t he e x ac t

hough t
t fro m a print e d p age ?
What are t h e pe n alt ie s of t h e skimmin g h abit of re ading ?
-

What is t h e diffe re nce b e t we e n a we ll t raine d rapid re ade r

-

an d a p e r so n w h o c ann o t fo cu s his at t e n t ion t hro u gh a

lo ng p aragraph ?
Ho w may pré cis writ in g impro ve re adi n g hab it s ? -

In wh at w ay s is t h e writ in g of pr écis an e xc e ll e nt t rainin g in

co mposit ion ?
What is me an t by proli xit y and ve rb o sit y ? Wh y d o t he y
no t fl o u ris h in pr é cis wo rk?
“
What is me an t by clo se ly knit se n t e nce s ? What by
an e p igr amma t ic s t y le ?

How do e s pré cis writ in g t e n d t o de ve lop su ch se n t e n c e s an d

su ch a s t yl e ?

Ho w may pré cis writ in g b e an in t e l le c t ual e x e rcise o f t h e

”
high e s t o rde r ?
Whe re in t h e daily pre ss d o we fin d go o d il lust rat ion s o f
précis writ ing ?
Ho w may it b e Use d in t h e h an dl ing o f b u sine ss c o rre
sp o nd e nce ?

N ame o t h e r w ay s in which précis writ ing is o f e ve ryd ay ,

pra c t ical value .

How an d whe re h as t h e writ ing of pr é cis b e e n u se d on coll e ge

e n t r an ce e x amin a t ions ?
 P RECIS WRITING

36 . He re is an a t t e mp t t o summariz e se le c t ion No
. . 29 on

p age 5 1 P oint o ut S I! diffe re n t w ays in which

. it is a

poo r pré cis .

“
A GRE AT I MPR O VE MENT
P r é c is Th e world h a s be e n l earnin g h ow t o ca tch criminals
be tter than i t use d t o In th e 1 8 cen t men were c ond emned to
. .

dea th for !

2 . s t eal in g

3 . injuring tr ees
4 . h op ba n d s
c u ttin g -

5 . var i ous oth er t h in gs .

'

P ennsylvani a , K en tu c ky , a nd Virgin i a used t o h ave a grea t

many cr imes punis h a ble by dea th I a gr ee with th e au thor th at
.

t his was v er y unjust , t imes h av e i mproved s in ce then

a gr e a t dea l .
 ’
BOO K S ON P REC IS W RI TIN G 33

B OO K S ON PR ECIS WR ITIN G 1

EVA N S , L E , A Ha nd book of P r écis Writing

. . .

C ambridge ( Englan d) ! Uni ve rsit y P re ss . 1 91 3

GAY R M Writing
. .
,
Through Reading Ch . . IV .

B o st on ! Th e At lan t ic Mo n t hl y P re s s . 1 9 20
MEIK LE JOHN J M D Th e Art of Writing English
,
. . .
, .

Ne w York! App le t on CO 1 91 9 .

MURI S ON J T P récis Writing

,
. .
,
.

C ambridg e ( En gl an d) ! Uni ve r sit y P re s s 1 91 4 .

P O C O CK G N P r écis Wri ting for B eginners

,
. .
,
.

L ondon ! B l ackie S on 1 91 7 .

RO BE S ON F E A P rogressive Course in P récis Writing

, . .
, .

O xfo rd ( Englan d) ! Uni ve rsit y P re ss 1 91 3 .

TH O MS ON C L P r écis Wr iting for S chools

, . .
,
.

L on do n ! Ho ra c e Mar s h all Son 1 9 20 .

RE AD Y A W P r esent Da y P réc is
,
. .
,
-
.

L on do n ! Ge o rge B e l l S on s 1 922 .

WINB O LT S E Matriculation P récis

, . .
,
.

L o n don ! Ge o rge B e ll So n s 1 92 1 .

Teaching of E nglish in Engla nd ( S e e I n de x) .

L o n do n ! His Maj e st y s S t at io ne ry O fli ce
’
1 921 .

1
Th e books an d ar t i cle s he re
list e d d o n o t con s t it u t e a c omp le t e bibli
og raph y of p récis w ri t ing L it t l e h a s be e n w rit t e n o n t h e subje c t in
.

Am e ric a Mo st o f t h e boo ks he re name d c an be o bt ain e d o nl y by imp ort in g

.

t he m fro m England .
 S E L EC T IO N S FO R P R A C TI C E IN
P R EC IS WR IT IN G

NARRA TIVE PASS A GE S

THE S ho r t cdo t e s of P ar t I are adap t e d t o e le me n t ary work
an e

in p ré cis wr it ing The y may also b e use d as p r ac t ic e mat e rial

.

in making o ral ab s t r ac t s ( S e e In t r o d u c t ion p ag e

.
,

Similar ane cd o t e s may b e f o u n d in mag az in e s su ch as Th e

C ompani on , Th e American B oy , an d The Open R oad
’
Yout h s .

C e r t ain t yp e s of n e ws it e ms , e sp e c iall y t h e so c all e d h uman -

rie s make e x c e ll e n t n arr at ive mat e rial for

in t e r e s t st o ,
”
p ré c is
wo rk wit h b oy s and gir ls ( S e e No 4 p ag e . .
,

1
THERE was a sal t marsh t h at b oun de d p art of t h e mill pon d on -
,

t h e e dge o f which a t high w a t e r w e u se d t o st an d t o fish fo r min

, ,

n ows . B y mu ch t r amp li n g w e h ad ma de it a me re qu ag mi re
, My .

propo sal w as t o bu il d a wharf t he re fit for u s t o st an d u pon and I ,

sho we d my c o mr a de s a l arge h e ap o f s t o ne s which w e re in t e nd e d ,

fo r a ne w h ouse ne a r t h e marsh and which wo u l d ve ry we ll suit our

,

pu rpo se Acc o rdin gly in t h e e ve ni n g whe n t h e wo rkme n we re go ne

.
, , ,

I as se mble d a numbe r of my playfe llo ws and wo rking wit h t h e m ,

dilige n t ly like so man y e mm e t s some t ime s t w o or t hre e t o a st on e

, ,

w e brou gh t t he m all away an d b ui l t o u r lit t le wh arf Th e n e x t .

mo rnin g t h e wo rkme n w e re su rprise d at mi ssin g t h e s t one s which ,

we re foun d in o ur wharf I nquiry w as made aft e r t h e re moVe rs ;

.

w e we re di s c ove r e d an d c omp l aine d of ; se ve ral of u s we re c o rre c t e d

by our fat he rs ; an d t ho u gh I ple ade d t h e u se fuln e ss o f t h e wo rk
, ,

mine convin ce d me t h at n o t hing w as use ful which was no t hone st .

( 1 7 7 wo rd s)
B ENJAMI N FRA NKLIN Autobiography ,

34
 N ARRATIVE P AS SAGES 35

E x amin e c are fully t he se t hr e e summa rie s Of F r anklin s an e c ’

do t e o f h is b oyhoo d ( NO Th e y we r e writ t e n In e ig h t
.

What de t ails of t h e o rig in al

L
min u t e s by hig h s ch ool p up ils
-
.

d o t h e y all o mi t ? Wh y d o y o u t h ink t h e y all in cl u d e t h e

t h o ug h t O f t h e last t w o lin e s ? Is t h is n e c e ssar y ? Whi ch o f
t h e t h r e e make s t h e mos t sat isfac t o ry p ré cis ? Give r eason s for
yo ur d e cisio n .

P r é cis 1 Once , with th e aid of my playmates , I mad e a wharf a t

th e e dge of a marsh by th e mill pond To bu ild this we secr etly
-
.

o bta ine d s ome lar ge s ton es fr om a h ou se wh i ch was be ing con

s tr uc t e d n ea r by B u t we were di scover e d , a nd though I pleaded

.

the us eful ness of ou r wor k, my father convi nced me t hat n othin g

was us eful which wa s n ot h on est ( 6 2 words)
.

P r é c is 2 W
ith my playmates I once constr ucte d a wha rf on th e
'

ed ge of th e mill-pon d , c arry i ng s t on es a t n igh t fr om a h ou se which

was goin g u p n ear by . W

h en we wer e caught , my fa th er showed

me the folly of bei ng d ish onest for any reason wha tever .

-
(43 word s)
P r é cis 3 —
As a small boy I le arned tha t n othing was e ver us eful
which was d is h on est My fath er taught me this i mportan t lesson
.

when h e was t ol d tha t I h ad been s teali ng st on es from a n e w h ou s e

to buil d a wh arf by the sh ore of the mill pon d (44 words) -
.

2
I he ard a t rue st o ry , n o t lon g fon d of dogs an d ac
ag o , o f a l ady ,
cu st ome d t o t he m w h o we n t t o Visit a frie n d t h e o wn e r of a sple n did ,
‘
,

bu t mo st fo rmid ab le ani mal a mast ih if I r e me mb e r righ t l y,

Th e .

visit o r did no t h app e n t o me e t wit h t h e d og t il l sh e su dde nl y came

up on him in a do o rway sh e w as ab ou t t o p ass t hro u gh I t ch an c e d .

so me ho w t h at sh e di d n o t se e h im an d s t e ppin g h a st il y sh e u n
, , ,

fort unat e ly t ro d upon h is foo t o r hi s t ail Th e huge fe llow in st an t ly .

laid hol d of h e r ; b u t b e fo re t h e do g s mast e r a s ho r t dist an ce o ff

’
, ,

coul d hast e n t o t h e re scu e t h e lady h ad l ooke d down e xclaimin g

“
, ,
”
qui ck as t h ou ght Oh I b e g you r p ard o n l whe re upon t h e mast ifl
, ,

as quickl y le t g o h is gra sp It is pl ain t h at t his l a dy h ad a prop e r

.

re spe c t fo r t h e fe e lin gs o f do g s in ge ne ral prompt ing t o an h abit u al ,

kin dl y t re at me n t of t he m an d in st in ct l e d h e r t o ap ologiz e at o n ce
,

for t h e inadve r t e n t in j ury as sh e wo ul d h ave done t o a p e rson

, .

Atla ntic Monthly! D og s

36 P RECIS WR ITING

3
TH E goo d ship had crashe d a t sun se t again st a sunke n ro ck; t h e
b o at s we re t oo fe w t h e se a was ru shing in ; sh arks w e re t hru st in g
,

t h e ir h orrib le b l ack fin s t hr ou gh t h e whit e bre ake r s o f t h e b o ilin g

su rf ; and amid t h e s hrie ks of w o me n an d chil dr e n so me on e cl amo r e d

t h at all s h ou l d save t he m s e lve s w h o c ou l d Th e n c l e ar an d lo u d

.
, ,

ran g ou t t h e voic e of t h e go o d co lo ne l b idding t h e me n t o t he ir ,

ranks That o rde r me an t no t hi n g le ss t h an d e at h

. de at h in t ho se
ragin g wat e r s de at h amon g t hose s avage sh arks b u t it was in
s t a n t ly o b e y e d In p e rfe c t o rd e r t h e b o at s w e re p u sh e d from t h e
.

sh a t t e r e d ve sse l r o win g t h e w o me n an d chil dre n t o t h e sho r e whil e

, , ,

in ch by in ch t h e sh ip sank do wn an d d o wn b u t s t ill u n d e r s t e a d
, ,

fast me n t ill t h e last gre at wave ro lle d o ve r h e r an d o b e di e nt

, , ,
”
e ve n un t o de at h brave me n lo y al t o t h e ir chie f loy al t o E ng
, ,

l an d l oyal t o God
, sank t o t h e ir nob l e b u rial un de r t h e b l o o dy

su rf .

FR EDE RIC K W FA RR AR Th e Wreck of th e B ir kenhead

.
,

! Sp e ci al D isp at ch t o Th e H e ral d!

HIN SDALE July 5 The re w as gre at e xcit e me n t in t h e Vill age

,

t o n igh t wh e n w o rd w as p asse d t h at C o nst ab l e F a sse l s co w w as

’
-

walkin g o n t h e r ail ro ad t r ack in t h e di re c t ion o f P it t sfie ld an d t h at

t rain NO 40 w as d u e
. .

B u sin e ss for t h e t ime w as fo rgo t t e n S t o re cle rks and n e arly

.

e ve ry one o n t h e s t re e t s a t t h e t ime ru sh e d t o t h e cros sin g wh e re ,

B e ss coul d b e se e n a t a di st an c e w alkin g slo wl y u p t h e t r a ck .

John C larky t owe rman w as summone d wit h h is flag t o signal t h e

, ,
.

t rain Cl arky w e igh s 2 0 0 p o un d s

. He r an alo ng t h e t r ack an d
.

re a ch e d t h e co w j u st as t h e e xpre ss coul d b e h e ard roun ding t h e

cu rve .

In d e sp e rat io n C larky w ave d t h e flag at t h e c ow bu t sh e f aile d

, ,

t o b u dge Th e t r ain c ame close r

. .

S u dd e nl y C larky dropp e d t h e flag s e iz e d t h e c o w by t h e t ail and

, ,

wit h all t h e force o f his 2 00 p oun ds g ave a might y he ave an d o ld , ,

B e s s an d C l arky l an d e d in a pile in t h e g ul ly a s t h e t rain whiz z e d by .

Wh e n t h e crowd arri ve d o ld B e ss was sit t ing on C larky s che st

,
’
.

Th e Vill ag e rs un scr amb le d t h e me ss and nob o dy w as hurt .

The B oston Hor ald

 NARRATIVE PA SSA GES 37

5
AMO NG ap art y of B ost onians w h o sp ent some t ime in a hunt in g
camp in Maine we re t wo colle ge profe s so rs No soon e r h ad t h e .

le arn e d g e nt le me n a rrive d t han t he ir a t t e n t ion w as at t ra c t e d by t h e

un u sual p o sit ion o f t h e s t o ve which w as se t o n p o s t s ab o u t fo ur fe e t
,

high .

Thi s circumst an ce affo rd e d o n e o f t h e pro fe s so rs imm e di at e op

p or t unit y t o c omme nt upon t h e kn owle dge t h at woo d smen gain by
o b se rvat ion
“Now ” said h e t his man h as di scove re d t hat h e at e manat in g
.

, ,

from a st ove st rike s t h e roof and t hat t h e circul at ion is so quicke ne d

,

t h at t h e camp is warme d in mu ch le ss t ime t han woul d b e re quire d

”
we re t h e st ove in it s re gul ar plac e on t h e floo r .

B ut t h e o t h e r profe sso r ven t u r e d t h e o pini o n t h at t h e st o ve was

e le vat e d t o b e ab o ve t h e win dow in o rd e r t h at c ool an d p u r e air
.

migh t b e h ad at ni ght .

Th e host b e in g of a pra c t ic al t urn t hou ght t hat t h e st o ve w a s

, ,

se t high in o rde r t h at a g oo d su pp ly o f g r e e n wo o d mi gh t b e p la ce d

un de r it .

Aft e r mu ch arg ume n t t he y calle d t h e gui de an d aske d why t h e

'

,
“
st o ve w as in su ch a p osit io n
“ “
.

Th e man grinn e d .We ll ge nt s h e e xplaine d whe n I brou ght

, , ,

t h e st o ve up t h e rive r I lo st most of t h e st o ve pip e o ve rb o ard ; so

w e h ad t o se t t h e st o ve up t h at w ay so as t o h ave t h e pip e re ach
”
t hroug h t h e roof .

EDMUND A ND WILLIAMS Toaster s Hand book ,

’

6
O WI N G t o his u nu su al b ring ing up , B runo h ad n e ve r b e come
-

a c qu ain t e d wit h t h e o r di na ry ani mal s o f t h e wo o d s an d fie l d s , a n d

so I w as cu riou s t o se e wh at h e woul d d o whe n h e me t any o f t he m .

D o wn in t h e g arde n o n e d ay I foun d a l arge fat t o ad , and whe n

t h e b e ar w as at lun ch I pl ace d t h e w ar t y cre at ure on t h e groun d b e
side t h e sau c e r fro m which t h e c ub w as t aking hi s fo o d B e ing qui t e
.

hun gry , at fir st h e p aid no at t e n t ion t o t h e in t ru de r ; but pre se nt ly ,

a s t h e sau c e r b e c ame e mp t y , h e c au gh t sigh t o f hi s cu riou s Vi sit o r .

Wit h a j e rk h e raise d his he ad , and for a mome nt , wit hou t mo ving a

mu scle , gaz e d in ast oni shme n t an d wit h some misgiving at t h e
st r an ge mo n st ro sit y in fro nt o f him His n at ural curiosit y, h o w
.

e ve r , so on ove r came his d oub t ful frame of mind , h e was a bo rn

3 8 P RECIS W RITING
inve st ig at o r and t hi s t hing mu st b e l ooke d int o Ve ry c au .

t iou sly h e re ach e d fo rward his p aw an d e ve r so ge n t ly h e t ou ch e d

.

t h e cu riou s t hin g o n t h e b ack .

Th e t oa d di d a s t oa d s u su ally d o wh en t ickl e d fro m b e hin d It .

hopp e d , an d wit h su ch fo rce t h at it we n t qu it e ove r t h e sau ce r .

S imul t an e ou sly t h e b e ar s t o o d e re ct He h ad a p u z z l e d look of .

amaz e m e n t a n d di sm ay o n h is h airy visa ge ; h e app e a re d t o b e

u t t e rl y o ve rc o me wit h a s t o ni s hme n t It di dn t se e m re a son ab l e t h at
’
.

an in sign ific an t missh ap e n cre a t u re like t h at c o u l d , wit h n o app ar e n t

e ffo r t , co ve r so mu ch grou n d in o n e l e ap B ru no s p aw s hu n g ine r t ly

’
.

in fr on t o f him an d his t o n gu e l oll e d st up idly from h is mou t h H is .

bre at h c ame in sho rt e xplo sive gasp s .

S u dde n ly t h e t o ad ho pp e d ag ain , an d wit h a h oof, wh oof, wh oof, W

aw ay r a n t h e b e a r r o u n d t h e co r n e r a n d o u t o f sigh t No mo re .

t oad s fo r him ; one w as gh fo r a life t ime !

e no u

WI LLIA M L UND E R WOOD Wild .

,
B rother

7
O NE d ay Lin coln and a ce r t ain j u dge w h o w as an in t imat e frie n d of
his w e re b an t e ring e ach o t he r ab o u t h o r se s, a favo rit e t op ic . Fin ally
Lin co ln sai d!
“We ll lo o kh e re Ju dge ! I ll t e ll y ou wh at I ll d o I ll make a
’ ’
.
’
, ,

ho rse t ra de wit h y ou on ly it mu st b e u po n t he s e st ipulat io n s !

-
,
’
Ne it he r p ar t y sh all se e t h e o t he r s ho rse un t il it is pro du c e d he re
in t h e c ou r t yard of t h e ho t e l an d b o t h p ar t ie s mu s t t ra de h o rs e s .

If e it he r p art y b acks ou t o f t h e agre e me n t h e do e s so u n de r a ,

fo rfe it u re o f t we n t y fiv e dollars
-

“Agre e d crie d t h e j u dge an d b o t h h e and Lin col n we n t in

.

, ,

que st o f t he ir re sp e c t ive animals .

A cro wd g at h e re d an t icip at in g so me fun an d whe n t h e j u dge

, ,

re t u rn e d first t h e lau gh was u pro ariou s He le d o r rat h e r dragge d

,
.
, ,

a t t h e e n d o f a h al t e r t h e me an e s t b o ni e s t rib st arin g qu adru p e d

, ,
-

blin d in b o t h e ye s t h at e ve r pre s se d t u rf B ut pre se n t ly L in coln .

c ame alo n g c arrying ove r his s ho u lde r a c arp e n t e r s sawho rs e The n ’

.

t h e mir t h o f t h e crowd w a s fu rio u s L in c o ln so le mnly se t h is h o rse

.

do wn an d sile nt ly su rve ye d t h e j u dge s animal wit h a co mical lo ok

,
’

o f in fin it e d is gus t
“We ll Ju dge h e fin ally s aid t his Is t h e first t ime I e ve r o t
.

, , g
t h e wo rst of it in a h orse t rade -
.

ANTH ON Y GRO SS Lincoln s Own S tories ,

’
40 P RECIS W RITING
man fo r t hre e y e ar s . He w oul d no t ke e p up t h e lin e fe n c e an d I
”
h ad t o go t o _
l aw a n d make h im d o it .

I lo oke d o u t o f t h e win do w on ce mo re an d saw an o t he r light t o

t h e no r t h o f u s , di ml y visib le in t h e d arkne ss
“ We ll , t he n le t u s
.

h h r ghb r I aw s e ve ral me n t he re as I c ame by

”
g o t o t i s o t e n e i o s. .

Th at man ! I w ou l d n t t rust him wit h fift y c e nt s, an d h e wo ul d

’

b e su re t o e le c t him se lf t re asu re r
“We ll far across t h e p ast u re I se e st ill ano t he r ligh t S hall we
.

.
,

g o t h e re ?
“No t hat man doe s n ’t kn ow e nough t o o int o t h e h ou se whe n
, g
it rains .

Y e t he re w as a man w h o p lanne d t o brin g all t h e f arme r s o f t h e

c oun t ry t o ge t he r ! H W C O LLI N G W OOD , Hope Farm Notes
. .

10
As I was o n ce sailin g , said h e , in a fin e s t o ut shi p a cro ss t h e
b anks o f Ne wfoundl an d , one o f t hose h e avy fog s which pre vail in
t h ose p ar t s re n de re d it imp os sib l e fo r u s t o se e far a h e a d e ve n in
t h e d ay t ime ; b u t at ni gh t t h e we at h e r w as so t h ick t h at we c ou l d
n o t di s t ingu is h any o bj e c t a t t wice t h e l e n g t h o f t h e S hip I ke p t .

ligh t s a t t h e mast h e ad , and a co n st ant w at ch f orw ard t o l oo k ou t

for fishing sma cks , whi ch are a ccu st ome d t o lie a t a n ch o r on t h e
b ank s Th e win d w as blowin g a smacking bre e z e , an d w e we re
.

goin g at a gre a t rat e t hrough t h e w at e r S u dd e n ly t h e wa t ch g ave

.

‘
t h e al arm o f a sail ah e a d !
’
It w as s c arc e l y u t t e re d b e fo r e w e w e r e
up on h e r S h e w as a small s choone r , at an ch o r , wit h h e r broad side
.

t o wa rd s u s Th e cre w we re all asle e p , an d h a d n e gle c t e d t o ho ist a

.

li gh t
. We st ru ck h e r ju st amidship s Th e fo rce , t h e siz e , t h e weight
.

o f ou r ve sse l b o r e h e r down b e lo w t h e w av e s ; w e p asse d o ve r h e r

an d we r e hu rrie d o n o ur c o u r se As t h e cras hin g wre ck w a s sin kin g

.

b en e at h u s , I h ad a glimp se o f t wo o r t hre e h alf nake d wre t che s -

ru shin g from h e r c ab in ; t he y j u st st art e d from t he ir b e d s t o b e

s wallo we d , s hrie king , by t h e w ave s I h e ard t he ir dro wn in g cry
.

minglin g wit h t h e win d Th e bla st t hat b o re it t o our e ars swe p t

.

u s ou t o f all fa r t h e r h e arin g I shall ne ve r forge t t hat cry ! It w as

.

so me t ime b e fo re w e c ou l d pu t t h e s hip ab ou t , S h e w as un de r su ch

he adway We re t urne d , as ne arly as we c oul d gue ss, t o t h e place

.

whe re t h e smack h ad an chore d We cruis e d ab ou t for se ve ral h ours

.

in t h e d e n se fog We fire d signal g un s , and lis t e ned if w e migh t

.

he ar t h e h alloo of any su rvivors ; bu t all was sile n t we n e ve r s aw

o r h e ard an yt hing of t he m mo re .

— W AS HIN GT O N IRVIN G Th e S ketch -B ook

,
 NARRATI VE PA SSAGES 41

11
NOT lon g ag o I l e arne d t h e t a c t ic s
c e rt ain owl in de fe n ding
of of a

it se lf t h at we re b o t h amu sin g an d in t e re st in g Wh e t h e r t h e m e t ho d .

is co mmon amon g o wl s I d o no t kno w ; t h e b ird prac t ise d it on

,

mo re t han o ne o cc asion .

Th e o wl w as a gre at b ig he a de d cre at u re cap t ure d in t h e woo ds

-

an d t ie d wit h a r op e t o a s t ake in t h e y a rd I t s e n e my w a s t h e d og .
,

which s ee me d t o t hink t hat it was a common fo wl Of cou rse t h e .

t hi n g t o d o was t o b ark an d t o frigh t e n it in t o fligh t B u t b arkin g .

h a d no e ffe c t wh at e v e r e xc e p t t o m ake t h e dre adf ul e ye s glo w mo re

bright ly an d t o pro du ce a so rt of sharp snapping t hat se e me d t o
come from t h e bill which was almo st hi dde n among t h e fe at he rs
, .

Aft e r some t ime t h e d og made a fie rce run .

No t a move did t h e o wl make No t a fe at he r t wit ch e d ; b u t t h e

'

e y e s g l o we d like fire an d sn ap sn ap we n t t h e b ill

, S u dde nly j u st
,
.

a s t h e d o g c ame cl o se t h e b ird w e n t o ve r on it s b a ck in a he ap It .

w as an u n d ig nifie d p osit ion su re l y bu t t h e re w as a p u rp ose in it , .

Th e d o g a ssuming t hat t h e st range b ird h ad falle n up on t h e

,

g roun d in frigh t d ashe d u p an d t hrust h is n ose amon g t h e f e at h e rs

, .

I nst an t ly st e e l like claw s s harp as kni ve s fast e ne d up on him an d

-
, ,

wit h a y e ll of t e rro r an d p ain h e t ore loo se an d r an for h is life F rom '

.

a safe di st an ce h e t u rne d t o lo ok b a ck S ole mn an d app are n t ly .

h arml e ss st oo d t h e owl as b e fo re .

I t w as t oo mu ch fo r t h e d og Ano t he r ru sh b rought him ag ain

.

wit hin re achi n g di st an ce o f t h e st ran ge e ne my On ce more t h e .

bir d fe ll on it s b ack an d o n c e more t h e d og t hru st h is no se int o t h e

,

fe at he rs o nl y t o fe e l t h e cruel t alon s sin k in t o his t en de r nose ; wit h

a y e lp h e fle d F rom t h e s he lt e r of t h e p o rch h e vie we d t h e st range
.

bird n o lo nge r a digni fie d b arn fo wl bu t a dre adful mon st e r t o b e -

,

Th e Youth s Companion April 1 9 1 92 3

’
l e t ab solut e ly alone
'

.
, ,

12
ONE d ay whe n I we nt out t o my wo o d pile o r rat h e r my pile of -
,

st ump s I ob se rve d t wo l arge an t s t h e o ne re d t h e ot he r mu ch

, , ,

l arge r ne arl y h al f an in ch l on g an d b l ack fie rc e l y c ont e ndin g wit h

, , ,

o ne an o t he r Having o n c e g o t hol d t he y ne ve r le t g o b u t st ruggle d

.
,

an d wr e st le d an d ro ll e d on t h e chi p s in c e s sant l y L ookin g fu r t he r .

,

I w as su rprise d t o fin d t hat t h e chi p s we re cove re d wit h su ch c om

b at an t s t h at it was no t a due llum bu t a be llum a w ar b e t w e e n t w o
, , ,

race s of ant s t h e re d always pit t e d ag ainst t h e black and fre que nt ly

, ,
42 PREC IS W RITING
t wo re d on e s to one b l a ck . he se myrmi don s cove re d
Th e l e gion s of t
all t h e hill s an d val e s in my w o o d y a rd an d t h e g ro un d w a s alr e a dy
-
,

st r e wn wit h t h e d e a d an d dy in g b o t h r e d an d b l a ck
, It w a s t h e .

o nl y b at t l e which I h av e e ve r w it n e sse d t h e o nly b a t t l e fie l d I e ve r

,

t ro d wh il e t h e b a t t le w as r agin g ! in t e rn e cine w ar t h e r e d re pub ,

licans on t h e one h an d and t h e b l a ck imp e rialist s o n t h e o t h e r O n

, .

e ve ry side t h e y w e re e n ga ge d in de a dl y c o mb at y e t wi t h ou t an y ,

n o ise t h a t I c ou l d h e a r an d hu man s ol d ie r s n e ve r fo u gh t so r e so
,

lu t e ly
. I wat che d a cou ple t hat w e re fast lo cke d in e ach o t he r s ’

e mbr a c e s in a lit t l e su nn y v all e y amid t h e chip s n o w at noon d ay

, ,

pre p are d t o figh t t ill t h e su n we n t do wn o r life we nt ou t Th e , .

smalle r re d ch amp io n h ad f ast e ne d h imse l f like a vic e t o h is a d

v e rsary s fro n t an d t hr ou gh all t h e t u mb li n g s on t h a t fie l d n e ve r

’
,

fo r an in st an t c e a se d t o gn aw a t o ne o f h is fe e le rs n e ar t h e roo t ,

havin g alre a dy c au se d t h e o t he r t o go by t h e bo ard ; while t h e

s t ron ge r b l a ck one d as h e d him fro m side t o side an d a s I s aw o n , ,

l ookin g n e are r h ad al re a dy d ive s t e d h im Of se ve r al Of hi s me mb e rs

, .

Th e y fou gh t wit h mo re p e r t in a cit y t h an bulld o g s Ne it he r mani .

fe s t e d t h e le ast disp o s it ion t o re t re at It w a s manife s t t hat t h e ir

.

b at t le cry was ! C o n qu e r o r d ie
-
.
( 3 2 5 word s)
HENR Y D TH OR EAU Walden .
,

He r e is a c t ion fr om Wald en ( No
p ré c is o f t h e ab ove s e le .

I t w as by a hig h Sch ool boy Wh at is

writ t e n in t en min u t e s -
.

t h e ma t t e r wit h it ? Af t e r dis c ussing it s f ailing s an d c o mp ar ,

ing it in d e t ail w it h t h e o rig in al w rit e a s umma ry o f t h e se le c

,

t io n wh ich will b e an imp r ov e m e n t in e v e r y r e sp e c t .

P r é cis One d ay I wa tche d a battle be tween some bl ack an ts and

s ome r e d an ts Th ey fough t wi th th e per tin aci ty of bulld ogs , a nd

“
.

i t was manife st tha t th eir battl e cry was Conquer or die

”
.

( 3 3 word s)
13
TH IR TEE N ye ars h ave p asse d sin ce bu t it is all t o me as if it h ad
,

happ e ne d ye s t e rd ay t h e clan gin g of t h e fire b e lls t h e hoarse shou t s -

,

o f t h e fir e me n t h e wil d ru s h an d t e rro r o f t h e s t re e t s ; t h e n t h e gre at

,

hu sh t hat fe ll u p on t h e cro wd ; t h e se a o f u p t u rne d fa ce s wit h t h e

fir e glo w u p o n it ; a n d up t h e re a gainst t h e b a ckgro un d o f b la ck
,

smoke t h at p ou r e d fro m r oo f an d at t ic t h e b oy clin gin g t o t h e,

 EXP O SITI O N AND DISC U SSI ON 43

nar o r w le dge so far up t hat it se e me d hu manl y impos sible t h at

,

he lp coul d e ve r c ome .

B u t e ve n t he n it w as c omin g Up from t h e s t re e t while t h e cre w

.
,

o f t h e t ru ck c o mp an y w e re l ab o rin g wit h t h e h e avy e x t e n sio n l a dde r -

t h a t a t it s l on ge s t st re t ch w as man y fe e t t oo S h o r t cre p t fou r me n ,

u p o n lo n g s le n de r p o l e s wit h cro s sb ar s ir on h o oke d a t t h e e n d ,

-
.

S t an ding in one win d ow t h e y r e a ch e d up a n d t hru st t h e h ook

,

t hrou gh t h e n e x t o n e ab o ve t he n mou n t e d a st o ry h igh e r

, Ag ain .

t h e crash o f gl a s s an d ag ain t h e diz z y as c e n t

,
S t raigh t up t h e w all .

t he y cre p t lo okin g like human fli e s on t h e c e ilin g an d clin gin g a s

, ,

clo se ne ve r re st in g re a ch in g on e re ce ss o nly t o s e t ou t fo r t h e n e x t ;
, ,

n e a re r a n d ne a re r in t h e ra ce fo r life un t il b u t a s in gle sp an se p a ,

rat e d t h e fo re most from t h e b oy An d no w t h e iro n hoo k fe ll a t his .

fe e t an d t h e fir e man s t oo d up on t h e st e p wit h t h e re s cu e d lad in hi s

,

a rm s j u st a s t h e p e n t u p fl ame b u r s t lu rid fro m t h e a t t ic win d o w

,
-
,
'

re achin g wit h imp ot e n t fu ry for it s pre y Th e n e x t mome n t t he y .

we re safe u p on t h e gre at l adde r w ait in g t o re ce ive t he m b e lo w .

The n su ch a sh ou t we nt up ! M e n fe ll o n e a ch o t h e r s n e cks and

’
,

crie d an d lau ghe d at on ce S t ran ge r s sl app e d o n e ano t he r on t h e

.

b ack wi t h glist e ni ng fa c e s S hook h an ds an d b e have d ge ne rally like

, ,

me n go ne su dde nl y ma d Wome n we p t in t h e st r e e t Th e drive r o f

. .

a c ar s t all e d in t h e cro wd wh o h ad s t oo d t hrou gh it all sp e e chl e s s

, ,

clu t chin g t h e re in s whi pp e d h is ho rse s int o a gall op an d drove away

, ,

y e lli n g like a C o man che t o re lie ve hi s fe e li n gs Th e b oy an d t h e

,
.

re scu e r we re carrie d a cro ss t h e st re e t wit hou t any on e kn o wi n g h o w .

P olic e me n fo rgo t t h e ir digni t y and s h ou t e d wit h t h e re st Fire .

,

p e ril t e rro r an d los s we re alike forgo t t e n in t h e on e t ou ch o f n at u re

, ,

t h at make s t h e whole wo rl d kin .

Fire man Jo h n B inn s w as m ade c ap t ain of h is cre w and t h e ,

B e nn e t t me d al w as pinn e d o n h is co at on t h e ne x t p ar ade d ay -
.

— JA C O B RII S Her oes Wh o Fi ht F ire

g ,

PAR AGR AP H S OF E! P O SI T I O N AND D ISC U SSI O N

THE S E se le
c t io n s in P ar t II whi ch ave rag e rat he r less t han ,

t w o h un d r e d w o r d s ar e in t e n d e d fo r b e g in n e r s in pré cis wo rk
,
.

Many of t h e m h av e b e e n u se d suc ce ssf ull y wit h p up ils of t h e

e l e v e n t h g r ad e o r hi g h —s ch oo l j uni o r s
, Th e p ar ag ra p h s are .
44 P RECIS WRITING

arr an g e d appro ximat e ly in o r de r of t h e ir d ifli c ul t y B e ginnin g .

wit h No 3 0 t he y are suit able for p ré cis writ ing in t h e sen ior
.
,

ye ar S um marie s writ t e n by s t u de n t s are p rint e d on p ag e s

.

447 5 2 , 5 7
14
WE cannot kno w who m w e woul d ; and t ho se whom Wé know w e ,

c anno t have at ou r side whe n w e mo st ne e d t h e m Y e t t he re is a .

so c ie t y co n t inu ally op e n t o u s o f p e op l e w h o will t alk t o u s a s l o n g

,

as w e like t alk t o u s in t h e b e st wo rd s t h e y c an ch o o se an d o f t h e ,

t hing s n e are s t t he ir he ar t s An d t his so cie t y b e c au se it is so num e r

.
,

o u s an d so g e n t l e an d c an b e ke p t w ait in g r oun d u s all d ay l o n g

, ,

kin gs an d st a t e sme n lin ge rin g p at ie n t l y n o t t o grant au di e n ce b u t

, ,

t o g ain it ! in t ho se pla inl y fu rnis h e d a n d n arro w an t e rooms o ur ,

b ookcase S he lve s w e m ake no a ccou nt o f t ha t co mp any p e rh ap s ,

n e ve r li st e n t o a wo rd t h e y woul d s ay all d ay lo n g ! ( 1 2 4 wo rds)

,

JOH N RU S KIN S esame and Lilies ,

He r e is s p ar ag r ap h ( No
’
p réac is o f R u sk in It w as .

writ t e n in c lass by a hig h s ch o ol j unior in e igh t minu t e s C om

-
.

p ar e it w it h t h e o rig in al H as t h e w r it e r c aug h t t h e c e n t r al
.

t h oug h t of t h e p ar ag r ap h ? H as h e omit t e d any n e c e ssary

de t ails? What imp r o v e men t s wo ul d y ou sugg e s t ?
P r é ci s —
Fr ie nds whom we can a lways h ave with us kind a nd
t a l ka tiv e fr i en ds ar e books B ut beca use they a re s o n umerous ,
.

a n d so very well behav ed , we some times forget t he m, a nd d o n ot go

t o t h e m for a dvice .
(3 7 wo rds)
15
A MA N S min d is
’
x ac t ly like a P aris o mnibu s o n whi ch t h e
no t e
“ ,
”
drive r pu t s up t h e Sign Full whe n it will h ol d n o more p asse nge rs .

We S houl d lau gh at any o n e wh o we nt ab ou t wit h su ch a S ign o n his

”
fo re he ad ! Full no mo re ide as c an g e t in he re A s chool t o b e .
,

su r e is so me t hin g like a r ailwa y t r ain which all t h e p as se n g e rs h ave

“
, ,

All ou t for B ost on

’
t o l e ave wh e n t h e j ou rn e y s e n d is re a ch e d !
for Ne w Yo rk fo r C hic ago ! All ou t fo r t h e Gramm ar S ch ool fo r ,

t h e High S ch ool fo r C o lle ge ! Make ro om fo r a n e w se t of p asse n ge rs

,
”
an d a n e w s e t o f s ch ol a r s B u t ho we ve r far t h e min d is c arrie d
.

al o ng in e du cat ion by t e a ch e r s it c ann o t b e said t o h ave r e ach e d it s

,
 EXP O SITI ON AND D I S C U SS ION 45

j ourne y s e nd It h a s st ill some t hin g t o le arn and if t he re are no

’
, ,

t ea che r s t o b e h ad it can t e a ch it se l f
,
.

WE NDE LL P GARRI S O N P ara bles for S chool and Home

.
,

16

A FE W ye ars ago an En glish manuf ac t u re r se e kin g t h e e xplanat ion ,

o f Ame rica s ab ilit y t o pro du c e a n e xc e ll e n t c ar so ch e ap l y ma de an

’
,

int e re st in g e xp e rime n t H e ob t aine d t hre e Ame rican au t o mob il e s

“
.
,
”
all o f t h e same s t an d ar di z e d make an d gave t he m a lon g an d ,

rackin g t ou r o ve r En glish highways Wo rkm e n t he n t ook ap ar t t h e .

t hre e c ar s an d t hre w t h e di sj oin t e d re main s in t o a promi s cu ou s h e ap

Eve ry b ol t b ar g a s t ank mo t o r whe e l an d t ir e w a s t ake n fro mit s
.

-
, , , , ,

a ccu s t o me d p l a ce an d p ile d up a hi d e o us mass o f rubb ish

, Wo rk .

me n t h e n p ain st akin gl y p u t t o ge t he r t hre e c ar s from t he se di s

o rd e r e d e le me n t s
. Thr e e ch auffe u rs j ump e d o n t he se c ars and t he y ,

imme di at e ly st ar t e d do wn t h e ro a d and ma de a lon g j ourne y j u st as

a cc e p t ab l y as b e fo re Th e En glishm an h ad le a rne d t h e se cre t o f
“
.

Ame rican su cce ss w it h au t omobil e s Th e one word s t an dardiz at ion

.

e xpl aine d t h e my s t e ry .

B UR T O N J HE ND RI CK The Age of Big B usiness

.
,

17
NO gron b oy can afford t o st op e at ing for a we e k, or a d ay ; and
no y ou t h , amb it io u s t o gro w in t e ll e c t u ally , can affo rd t o le t a d ay

g o by wit hou t a lit t le so lid re ading Th e t ask ne e d not b e lo n g !

.

t w e nt y minu t e s physic al e xe rcise will ke e p up t h e mu scl e s , on c e

’

t h e y h ave b e e n de ve lo p e d , an d a h alf hou r s ke e n int e lle c t u al wo rk

’

will ke e p up on e s c ult u re , pro vidin g t h e you t h is ale r t an d awake

’

all d ay l o n g, loo kin g o u t u p o n lif e W

it h hun gry e ye s, and h arv e st in g
t rut h on e ve ry side . A no t e b ook an d l e ad p e n cil will make a re cord
o f a s co re o f g re at f a c t s , p icke d up by t h e y ou t h wh o h as op en vi sio n

a n d an o b se rvin g min d .

NE WE LL D WI GHT HILLI S , The Contagion of Charac ter

18
I WA S al ways fon d visit ing new sc e ne s an d ob se rving st range
of ,

ch arac t e rs and mann e rs E ve n wh e n a me re chi l d I b e gan my

.

t rave l s an d made man y t our s of di sco ve ry in t o fo re ign p art s an d

,

u nkn o wn re gio n s of my n at ive cit y t o t h e fre quent al a rm of my ,

p are nt s and t h e e molume nt of t h e t own crie r As I gre w int o -

.
 P RECIS WR ITING
b oyhoo d I e xt e n de d t h e ran ge of o b se rvat ion s My holid ay aft e r
,
.

noon s w e re sp e n t in r amb le s ab o u t t h e su rrou n din g c o u n t ry I ma de .

myse lf familiar w it h all it s p la ce s f amo u s in hist o ry o r f ab le I kne w .

e ve ry sp o t wh e re a mu rde r o r ro bb e ry h ad b e e n co mmit t e d o r a ,

gho st s e e n I visit e d t h e ne ighbo rin g vil lage s an d a dde d gre at ly

.
,

t o my s t o ck o f kno wl e dge by n o t in g t he ir h ab it s an d c u s t o ms a n d
con ve rsin g wit h t he ir sage s an d gre at me n I e ve n jOTIrn e y e d on e
.

lOn g su mme r s d ay t o t h e summit o f t h e most di st an t hill wh e n c e

’
,

I st re t ch e d my e y e o ve r man y a m ile o f terr a in cogni ta an d w as ,

a s t o nish e d t o fin d h o w vast a glo b e I inh a b it e d .

WA SHI NGT O N IRVI N G Th e S ketch B ook ,

19
TH O U SANDS of you ng wo me n h ave t o go t o wo rk in w ays t hat se e m
t o t he m pu re ly me ch ani c al wit h n o fu t ure b e yo n d a dollar o r t w o
,

mo re a we e k Th e re are mo re t h an e igh t y six t hou san d s t e no graphe r s

.
-

in t h e Unit e d S t a t e s an d by far t h e most o f t h e m sp e n d t he ir lit t le

,

le isu re cu rlin g t h e ir h air an d e lab o rat in g t h e ir b lou s e s se e in g in ,

t he ir wo rk n o p o ssib le gain bu t a hu sb an d No w and t he n c o me s

.

one w h o r e aliz e s t h a t h e re is t h e ch an ce o f a lif e t ime t o l e arn t h e

way s o f b u sin e ss ; S h e u se s h e r in t e llige n c e as we ll a s h e r h an d s ,

an d pre se n t l y sh e is pro mo t e d fro m t h e ro u t in e w o rk t h e f o rms an d ,

c irculars t o t h e more in t imat e bu sin e ss for an e mplo ye r is quick

,

t o pro fit by any Sign o f ab ilit y o r e du c at ion in h is s t e n o graph e r .

S h e u se s h e r sp are h o u rs t o improv e h e r En glish and ke e p up wit h

t h e t ime s an d in a fe w y e ar s s h e gra du at e s in t o a b u sine ss of h e r
,

o wn ; o r so me t ime s sh e b e co me s h e r e mp lo ye r s con fid e n t ial se cre

’

t ary an sw e rin g l e t t e r s w it h o n l y a wo rd o r t w o o f su gge s t io n an d

, ,

re c e ivin g t we n t y fiv e or t hirt y dollars a we e k inst e ad o f t h e S ix

-

dollars at which sh e st ar t e d .

JULIE T W T O MPKI N S Women Wh o Work

.
,

20
WHEN y ou shake hand s alway s look your frie n d in t h e e y e P ract ise
,
.

t hat wit h t h e family t o n igh t ; h av e a lit t l e se cr e t prac t ic e af t e r

-

su pp e r in t h e impo r t an t ar t o f S h akin g h an d s Ho l d ou t yo u r h an d
.

in a h ear t y h osp it ab le f a s hion t ake t h e o t h e r s p alm in a fir m grasp

’
, ,

an d l oo k t h e o t h e r kin dl y in t h e e y e Th at is t h e firs t p o sit ion

. .

O nly o ne mo r e r ule n e e d b e no t e d L e t y ou r gra sp b e firm bu t n o t

.
,

t o o mus cul ar Avo id b ot h t h e flabby an d t h e fig h t ing h an dsh ake

. .
48 P RECIS WRITING
re ce sse s Whe n sprin g an d su mme r co me t he y le t t he ir t ail s grow
.
, ,

an d de ligh t in whi skin g t h e m ab ou t in t h e win d o r l e t t in g t he m b e ,

whi ske d ab ou t by it ; for t he se t ail s are p oor p as sive t hin g s wit h ,

ve ry lit t le will o f t he ir o w n an d b e n d in what e ve r dir e c t ion t h e

,

win d choo se s t o make t he m Th e le ave s make a d e al o f noisy .

whi sp e rin g I h ave so me t ime s t h ou gh t I coul d u n de rst and t he m as

.
,

t h e y t alk wit h e a ch o t h e r an d t h at t he y se e me d t o t h ifik t he y made

,

t h e w in d as t h e y wa gge d f o rward an d b a ck Re me mb e r wh at I .

say . Th e n e x t t ime y o u se e a t re e w aving in t h e win d re coll e c t ,

t h a t it is t h e t ail of a gre a t u n de rgro un d man y a rm e d p o lyp u s like ,

-
,
-

cre at ure which is as prou d o f it s cau dal app e n dage e sp e cially in

, ,

summe r t ime a s a p e a co ck o f h is g o rge ou s e xp an s e o f p lu mage

-
,
.

O LIVE R WE ND E LL HO LME S Over th e Teacups ,

23
SUC CE SS gro ws ou t o f s t ru ggle s t o o ve rcome diffi cul t ie s If t he re .

we re n o di ffi cult ie s t he re wo ul d b e no su cce ss If t he re we re no t hin g

,
.

t o st ru ggl e o r c omp e t e fo r t h e re woul d b e n o t hin g a chie ve d

,
It is .

w e ll t he re fore t h at me n shoul d b e un de r t h e n e ce s sit y o f e xe rt in g

, ,

t h e m se l v e s In t his n e c e ssit y fo r e xe r t ion w e fin d t h e chie f sou rc e

.

o f hu man a dv an c e me n t t h e a dvan ce me n t o f in di vi dual s as o f

n a t io n s It h as l e d t o mo st o f t h e sp le n di d me ch an ic al inve n t ion s
.

an d impr o ve me n t s o f t h e ag e I t h a s st imul at e d t h e S hipb uil de r

.
,

t h e me rch an t t h e manu fac t u re r t h e machin ist t h e t r a de sman t h e

, , , ,

Skill e d wo rkman In all de p art me n t s Of pro du c t ive in du st ry it h as

.
,

be e n t h e movin g po we r It h as de ve lo p e d t h e re so u rce s o f t his an d

.

o f o t h e r co u n t rie s t h e re so u rc e s Of t h e soil an d t h e ch ar ac t e r an d ,

qu alit ie s o f t h e me n wh o dwe ll upo n it It se e ms t o b e ab solu t e ly .

n e c e ssary fo r t h e p u rp ose o f s t imul at in g t h e gro w t h an d cul t ur e o f

e v e ry in dividual I t is de e p ly ro o t e d in man le a ding h im e v e r t o

.
,

s e e k af t e r an d e n d e avo r t o r e aliz e
,
so me t hin g b e t t e r an d high e r ,

t h an h e h as y e t at t aine d SAMUE L S MI LE S Thrift .

,

24

WE fo rgive t h e ab se n ce o f any qu alit y e xce p t kin dline ss of

can

he art An d whe n a man l acks t hat w e b lame h im ; w e will n o t

.
,

forgive hi m This 1 s o f c ou rse s can dalou s A man is b o rn as h e i s

.
, ,
.

b orn An d h e can as e asily ad d a cu b it t o his st at u re as ad d kin dli

.

ne s s t o h is h e ar t Th e fe at n e ve r h a s b e e n done An d y e t w e b l ame
. .

t ho se wh o h ave no t kin dl ine ss We have t h e in cre dible insufle r .

,
 E XP O SITI O N AND DIS C U SSI ON 49

a ble and o diou s au d acit y t o blame t he m We t hink o f t he m as

,
.

t ho u gh t he y h ad n o t hin g t o d o bu t g o in t o a S h op an d b u y kin dli

”
ne s s
. I he ar y ou say t hat kin dl in e ss of he art can b e cul t ivat e d .

We ll I hat e t o have e ve n t h e app e aran ce o f cont radict in g y ou but

, ,

it c an b e cul t ivat e d on ly in t h e b o t anic al se n s e Y o u c an t cul t ivat e

’
.

viole t s on a ne t t le A p hilo sophe r h as e nj o in e d u s t o s u ff e r fools

.

gladl y He h ad mo re u se fully e n j oine d u s t o suffe r ill n at u re d

.
-

pe rson s g ladl y AR NO LD B E NNE TT Menta l Efi cie ncy

.
,

25
E VERY fe at of he roism make s u s fore ve r in de b t e d t o t h e man wh o
pe rforme d it Th e whole n at io n is b e t t e r t h e whole n at ion is
.
,

brave r b e cau se Farragut lashe d in t h e riggin g of t h e Hart ford

, , ,

fo rge d p ast t h e fo rt s an d o ve r t h e unse e n de at h b e lo w t o t ry his ,

woo de n st e m again st t h e iro n clad hull of t h e C onf e de rat e ram ; be

cause Cu shing pu she d h is li t t le t o rp e do b oat t hrou gh t h e darkn ess -

t o sink b e sid e t h e sinkin g Al b e marle All daring an d co u rage all

.
,

iron e n du ran ce o f misfo r t un e all de vo t ion t o t h e ide al O f hono r and

,
-

t h e glo ry o f t h e flag make fo r a fin e r an d nob le r t yp e of man ho od .

Al l of u s lif t o u r h e ad s highe r b e cau s e t ho se of our co un t ryme n

,

whose t rade it is t o me e t dan ge r h ave me t it we ll an d brave ly All .

o f u s are p o o re r fo r e ve ry b a se o r ignob le de e d d o n e by an Ame r ic an ,

for e ve ry in st an ce of se lfi shn e ss or we akn e s s or foll y on t h e p art of

t h e p e o pl e a s a wh ol e If e ve r w e h ad t o me e t de fe at at t h e han d s
.

Of a fo re ign fo e o r h ad t o submi t t ame ly t o wron g or in sul t e ve ry

, ,

man amon g u s wo r t hy o f t h e n ame of Am e rican woul d fe e l di s

ho n ore d an d de b a se d On t h e o t he r han d t h e me mo ry of e ve ry
.
,

t riumph wo n by Ame rican s by j u st so mu ch he l p s t o make e a ch

,

Am e rican n o b le r an d b e t t e r E ve ry man amon g u s is mo re fit t o

.

me e t t h e du t ie s and re sp on sib ili t ie s of cit iz e n shi p b e cau se of t h e ,

pe ril s o ve r whi ch in t h e p ast t h e nat ion h as t riumphe d ; b e cau se o f

, ,

t h e b l oo d an d swe at an d t e ars t h e l ab o r an d t h e an g ui sh t hrou gh

, ,

whi ch in t h e days t hat have go ne our fo re fat he rs moved on t o

, ,

t riumph THE OD OR E R O O SE VELT America n I deals

.
,

26
WITH hi s onl y me ans of ea rning a living de st roye d, ne c e ssit y com
p e ll e d t h e e l de r C a rne gie t o se e k o ccu p at ion so me whe re b e yond t h e
limit s of t h e quie t S co t ch t o wn Acros s t h e At l ant ic a g re at ne w
.

re public w as ju st reaching it s young manhoo d It s fast -sailing .

50 P RECIS WRITING
c lipp e r s h ad made t h e S t ar s a n d S t rip e s o f it s flag kno wn on e ve ry
se a , an d t al e s o f t h e d ar in g Y a nke e S kipp e r s h ad bro u gh t t o co m

pla ce n t En glan d a ru de awake nin g from h e r p e a ce fu l s e n se o f mari

t ime s u pre ma cy Wit hin it s b oun darie s e ve n gre at e r de ve lopme n t s
.

we re t akin g form un de r t h e fir m han d s o f t h e Am e ricans A rich .

inlan d e mpir e w as d isclo sin g we al t h b e yon d dre am s o f me n ! mi n e s

o f iro n a n d “c o al an d variou s me t al s , fo r e s t s u n e x p lo rB d an d s e e m
’

ing ly limit le ss , milli on s o f rich a cre s un t u rn e d by t h e plo u gh sh are

a nd de s t in e d in t ime t o c o me t o fe e d t h e wo rl d Al re ady min d s o f .

vision we re o rganiz ing railro ad s t o bring t oge t he r t he se rich e s and

t o make t h e m a cc e s sib le t o t h e n at ion as a wh o le Al l o ve r t h e .

world p e ople we re t urning fro m w ar sc arre d an d t ime wo rn n at ion s - -

o ppr e s se d by t h e ru le o f kin g s t o t his fre e l an d o f pr o mise M en .

an d w o m e n an d l it t le ch il dre n cro ss e d t h e br o a d At l an t ic , t o live

happil y in a count ry whe re me n rule d t h e mse lve s by se lf imp o se d -

laws , an d wh e re e du cat ion g ave t o all an e qu al o pp o rt un it y An d .

wit h t he se we n t al so t h e C arne gie family , t o add t he ir s t u rdy st re n gt h

t o t h e g re at Re pu b lic .

—
JO SE PH H US BA ND , Amer icans by Ad option
27
THE Minu t e man Re volu t ion ! Wh o w a s h e ? He wa s t h e
of t he
husban d t h e fat h e r w h o le f t t h e plo w in t h e fu rro w t h e h amme r
, , ,

on t h e b e n ch an d ki s sin g wife a n d chil dre n m a rch e d t o d ie o r b e

, , ,

fre e Th e Minu t e man o f t h e Re volu t ion ! He w as t h e O ld t h e

.
,

middle a ge d t h e yo un g H e w as C ap t ain Mil e s o f Act on w h o

-
,
.
, ,

re pro ve d h is me n fo r j e st ing o n t h e march He w as D e a con Jo siah .

Haine s Of S u dbury e igh t y ye ar s O l d w h o march e d wit h h is c o m

, , ,

p any t o S ou t h B ridge at C o n co rd t h e n j o ine d in t hat h o t pu r su it

, ,

t o L e x ing t o n an d fe ll as glo rio u sly as Warre n a t B un ke r Hill

,
He .

w as Jame s Hayward o f Ac t on t we n t y t w o y e ar s O l d fo r e mo s t in
, ,
-
,

t h a t d e a d l y ra c e from C h arle st o wn t o C o n co rd w h o rais e d h is p ie c e

“
,

at t h e s a m e mo me n t wi t h a B rit is h so l die r e a ch e xc laimi n g Y ou , ,

are a d e a d man
”
Th e B rit on dropp e d s ho t t hro ugh t h e h e ar t
“ “
.
,
.

Young H ayward fe ll mo rt ally woun de d ,

Fa t h e r
”
s aid h e I .
, ,

st ar t e d wit h fo r t y b all s ; I h ave t hr e e l e f t I n e ve r did su ch a d ay s ’

.

This w as t h e Minu t e man o f t h e Re vo lu t ion ! Th e

”
w o r k b e fo r e .

rural cit iz e n t raine d in a c ommon school t h e t own me e t ing w h o , ,

c arrie d a b ayon e t t hat t hou gh t an d wh ose gun loade d wit h a , ,

prin ciple brou gh t down

,
n o t a man b u t a sy s t e m ,
.

GE OR GE WILLIAM CURTI S O rat ion de live re d April 1 9 1 8 7 6

, ,
 EXP O SITION AND DISC U SSION 51

28
TALKI N G wit h a youn g man ab ou t su cc e s s an d a c are e r D o c t or
“
,

Samu e l J o hn so n a dvise d t h e y ou t h t o kn o w so m e t hin g ab o u t

”
e ve ry t h in g an d e ve ry t h in g ab ou t so me t hin g
,
Th e a dvice was .

goo d in D o c t o r Joh n son s d ay wh e n L o n do n w as an isolat e d

’
,

Village and it t oo k a we e k t o g e t t h e n e ws from P aris Rome and

, , ,

B e rlin To d ay if a man we re t o t ake all kn o wle dge for h is pro vin c e

.
—
,

an d t ry t o kno w so me t hin g a b ou t e ve ry t h in g t h e all o t me n t o f t ime

,

wou l d give on e m in u t e t o e ach s ubj e c t an d soo n t h e you t h woul d

,

flit fro m t op ic t o t op ic as a bu t t e rfly from flo we r t o flo we r and ,

life wo ul d b e ab ou t as e vane sc e n t a s t h e bu t t e rfly t hat live s for ,

t h e pre se n t h on e y an d mo me n t To d ay c omm e rcial lit e rary or

.
-
, ,

inve n t ive succe s s me an s c on ce n t ra t ion .

N E WE LL D WIGH T HILLI S The Contagion of Cha racter

,

29
THE wo rl d h a s be e n le arnin g t o dis crimin at e mo re care fully b e t we e n
t h e d e gr e e s o f crime . In t h e e ight e e n t h c e nt u ry me n we re c on
d e mne d t o d e a t h fo r fo rge ry ; fo r st e alin g fro m a s hop t o t h e value
o f fiv e s h il lin g s o r from a h ou s e t o t h e v alu e o f fo r t y S hil lin g s ; fo r

malicio u s inj u ry t o t re e s cat t le o r fish p on d s ; for t h e cu t t in g o f

, ,
-

h o p b an d s fro m t h e p ole s in a p l an t at ion

-
Wit hin e ight y ye ars
.

c apit al puni shme n t h a s b e e n infli ct e d in En glan d for she e p st e alin g -

an d for r obb e ry fro m a ho u s e Th e l aw s Of P e nn sylvania at t h e

.

t ime o f t h e Re vo lu t io n e nu me rat e d t we n t y crime s pun is hab le wit h

de at h ; in Virginia an d K e nt u cky t he re we re t we n t y se ve n Mo de rn -
.

le gislat ion r e co gniz e s t h e fu t ili t y as we ll a s t h e fun dame nt al in

j u st ic e of su ch crass an d in dis criminat e re t ribu t ion an d re se rve s t h e ,

fin al p e nalt y fo r t h e su pre me crime again st t h e li fe of t h e in div i du al

o r t h e S t at e HE NRY VAN D YKE E ssays in Applica tion
.
,

30
THE t ru t h ab ou t c onve r sat ion is t h at , t o make an y t hin g of it , p e ople
mu st r e aliz e it as a de finit e me n t al o ccu p at ion , an d no t me re ly a
dr ibb lin g in t o wo rd s o f c asual t hou ght s To d o it we ll implie s a .

ce rt ain d e lib e rat e in t e n t ion , a ce rt ain un se lfish ne ss, a ce rt ain z e st .

Th e difficul t y i s t h at it d e man d s a ca t holi cit y o f in t e re st s , a full

min d Y e t it d o e s no t d o t o h ave a subj e c t on t h e brain , an d t o
.

int r o d u ce it in t o a ll co mp anie s Th e pit y is t hat conve rsat ion is no t

.
52 P RECIS WRITIN G
mo re re co gniz e d as a de fin it e accomplishme nt P e ople wh o ca re .

ab ou t t h e su cce ss o f so cial ga t he rin g s ar e ap t t o invit e an in st ru

me n t ali st o r a S in ge r o r a man wit h what may b e c alle d p arlo r

,

t ricks ; bu t fe w p e ople are e qu all y c are fu l t o pl an t o u t t wo o r t hre e

conve rsat ionali st s amon g t he ir p art ie s o r t o t ake c are t h at t he ir
,

c onve r sat ionali st s are pro vide d wit h a symp at he t ic b ackgroun d .

AR THUR C B E N S O N From a College Wind ow

.
,

31
C ONCERNI NG r I pe rh ap s have more fe e lin g fo r t he m t han
s t ai s !

most ; but I am quit e su r e t hat I sp e ak at l e a s t fo r a large mi n o rit y .

It is t h e flat ne s s o f t h e flat it s ve ry co n de n se d an d r e st ric t e d c o z i

,

ne ss it s v e ry l a ck of u p st airs an d do wn st air s which pre ve n t s it

, ,

from e ve r at t ainin g c omple t e ly t h e at mo sphe re o f a h ome Th e .

fe e t which cro s s t h e floo r ab ove my h e ad are t ho se o f ano t he r famil y ;

t h e soun d s w hi ch r e ach me fro m b e lo w are t h e n oise s o f st ran ge r s ;
t h e life h o riz on t al of t h e flat se rve s it s conve n ie n t u se bu t o nl y ,

e mph asiz e s t h e in d e p e n de n c e an d s e lf re sp e c t o f t h e life ve r t ic al

-
,

mas t e r Of t h e floo r ab o ve ma st e r like wise o f t h e b ase me nt I fe e l

,
.

mo re hum an le ss like some in ge niou sly con st ru c t e d doll whe n I

, ,

can t ake my c an dl e in h an d an d g o u p st air s t o S l e e p I want n o .

bun galow The re is some t hin g fine in go in g t o sle e p e ve n on e flight

.

n e are r t h e st ar s an d aw ay fr om t h e dinin g r oo m ( 1 60 words) -

.

RALP H B ER GE NGRE N The S ervantless Cottage ,

He r e is a sh or t , b ut r at he r e ff e c t ive p ré cis of Mr B e rg e ngre n s

’
.

p ar ag r ap h ( No No t ic e t hat t h e au t ho r b e gin s an d close s

.

hi s ab s t r ac t wit h a quo t at ion fr o m t h e o r igin al I s t his a goo d .

p lan ? Has b e o mi t t e d c
any n e e ssa ry d e t ails ? Wh y may t h e
p ré c is of t h is t yp e O f p ar ag rap h be v e ry sh o r t ?
“ ”
P r é c is — It i s th e fl
a tn ess o f th e flat the soun ds o f other

families th an my own a bove me a nd below me tha t ta kes from

an a partmen t th e feeling of h ome Th en when I go to bed I wan t
.
,

to go upstairs t o sl eep jus t a littl e nea rer the sta rs (48 words) .

32
THE immen se ly large c ap it al now re quire d for t h e con du c t of a
daily n e wspap e r in a gre at cit y h as h ad imp ort an t con se que n ce s .

It h as ma de t h e ne wsp ap e r more of an inst it ut ion , le ss of a p e rsonal

 EXP O SITI O N AND DIS C USSI O N 53
o rgan . Me n lon ger de sign at e j ou rn al s by t h e o wne r s o r edi t o r s
no
’ ’

n ame
’
I t u se d t o b e B ry an t s p ap e r , o r Gre e l e y s p ap e r , o r R ay
’
.

mon d s , o r B enn e t t s Now it i s S imp ly Times , Heral d , Tr i bune ,

’ ’
.

an d so on No sin gle p e r so n ali t y can s t amp it se lf up on t h e whole

.

o rgani sm I t is t oo v a st
. It is a gre at p ie c e o f prop e r t y , t o b e
.

a dmin ist e r e d w it h skill ; it i s a c are fully p l ann e d o rganiz at io n which

b e st pro du ce s t h e e ffe ct whe n t h e p e rso n alit ie s of t h ose wh o wo rk

fo r it ar e sw allowe d up Th e in dividu al wit h e r s , bu t t h e n e w sp ap e r
.

is mor e an d mo re Jou rn alism b e come s imp e rso n al Th e re are

. .

n o mo re gr e at e d it o r s , b u t t h e re i s a fin e r e sp rit d e co rp s , b e t t e r
“t e am p lay ” an in s t it u t ion mo re and more firml y e st ablishe d and
,

ab le t o j u st ify it se lf .

R O LL O O GD E N , Th e P rofession of Journa lism

33
IT w as t h e hot t e st n ight o f t h e summ e r at C on e y I sl an d All d ay a .

s t e amin g cu r t ain o f mis t h id t h e su n fro m t h e e ye s o f me n a nd

wo me n an d ch il dre n ; y e t prove d n o shie l d a gain st t h e blast in g h e at .

Humidit y an d no t t h e sun rays h ad b e e n t h e e n e my An d whe n a

-
.

clare t co lo re d disk s ho we d dul ly t hrou gh t h e n acre ou s vap ors j u st

-

b e fo re se t t in g w e kn e w t hat t h e nigh t w ou l d brin g lit t le re spit e

“

from t h e h o rro r of t h e w akin g hou rs It w as a t ime t o t ry me n s .

’

n e rve s Th e a ve r age o b ligat io n s of lif e h a d fa de d in t o t h e abys s of

.

ge ne ral in diff e ren ce on e t hat h ad ab sorb e d t h e e xa c t ion s of dail y

,

b e h avio r p olit e n e ss o rde r sobrie t y an d de ce n cy Ad d a fe w

, , , .

no t ch e s upw ard on t h e t he rmo me t e r an d m ankin d s oo n r e ve r t s t o

,

t h e h ab it s an d c o n di t ion s o f h is primit ive an c e st o r s Th e ap e t h e .

,

t ige r an d t h e j a ckal in all of u s co me t o t h e su rf ace wit h s ho c kin g

,

rapidi t y We ar e in a re aso nable an alysis t h e vic t ims of o ur e n

.
, ,

v iro n me n t t h e sl ave s of t e mp e rat u re

,
H e at an d co l d h ave p ro .

d u ce d t h e African and t h e L ap l an de r At C on e y I sl an d du rin g a .

t o rrid sp e ll w e are v e ry n e ar t h e soil ; w e c ast t o t h e win d s mo de st y ,

pr ude n ce an d d ignit y Th e n life is wort h livin g only whe n st ripp e d

,
.
,

t o t h e skin JAMES H UNE KER New Cosmopolis

.
,

34
Y O U may h ave wo n d e re d why y ou f ail t o c arry o ve r int o y ou r writ
ing t h e vigo r an d e ase of yo ur o rdin a ry conve r sat ion Th e prob a .

b il it y i s t h at wh e n y ou r w o rk is crit iciz e d a s st iff an d fo rmal , on t h e

on e h an d, o r as t ame an d colo rl e s s , on t h e o t h e r , y o u are in y our
54 P RECIS W RITING
writ in g simply n ot b e in g fair t o yo u rs e lf Y o u h ave a s so ciat e d wit h
“
.

”
t h e t e rm comp o sit ion ide as o f un re al dign it y or o wlishn e s s O n e .

Oft e n de t e ct s t his t on e in t h e l e t t e r s o f pra c t ical me n wh o d o n o t

writ e mu ch O r y ou may have b e e n so dist u rb e d by t h e n o t ion t h at
.

o u m u s t b e c l e ar co rr e c t an d c o n c is e an d m u s t di lige n t l y h e rd t h e
y , , ,

u ni t y c o h e r e n c e an d e mph asis
”
s a cr e d c o w s o f c o mp o sit io n , , , ,

t h at y ou r writ in g h as l o st all t h e n a t ive h u e o f r e solu t ion ; all t h e

h g f i an d it h as b e c o m e fl accid p a le t ame A ll
jyo a s on e o u t o t ; , ,
.

writ in g don e wit ho u t joy — o r love o r h at e o r pride o r o t he r , , ,

qu ali t y o f e arn e st n e ss is like t hat In yo u r co n ve rsat ion y ou .

we re n o t t hinkin g of rule s ; y o u we re e n j oyin g you rs el f In yo ur .

writ in g y ou we re mise rable ; an d t h e mi se ry shows j u st as pl ainl y

in t h e o ne a s t h e joy in t h e o t h e r
"

R OB E R T M GAY Fact Fancy and Opinion

.
, , ,

35
WHA T in cub u s w e m ale s c arry wit h u s in t h e du ll an d sol e mn
an

mon o t o n y o f o u r cl o t he s ! Th e y ar e se rio u s a s t h e s cho ol his t o ry o f

E n gl an d u se d in Ali ce in Won d er la n d , t o dry t h e w e t c o mp an y
ab ou t t h e p o o l o f t e ar s
“ It s t h e drye st t hin g I kno w , said t h e
’
.

D o do . O ur g arme n t s , w e b o a s t , are qu ie t , st aid , an d un o b t ru siv e

y e s , like t h e m ie n o f t h e dro o p in g h o rse in t h e t re a dmill ! B u t n o t
b e c au se any on e re ally like s t h e m It is Simply b e c au se w e are t o o
.

st up e fie d by cu st o m, t o o mu ch c o w e d by t h e t hr e at o f f as hio n , t o

d o o t h e rwise t h an a s o u r n e ighb o r s d o Wh o c an bl ame u s ? To .

p u t a fe at h e r in o u r c ap m igh t lo se u s o u r job , an d t h e re are man y

b e t t e r c au se s fo r se lf sa c rific e t h an dre ss re fo rm B u t le t u s n e ve r
-
.

ag ain in su l t c h ild re n o r chil dl ike r a c e s by in vit in g t h e m t o s t e p u p

‘

t o ou r l e ve l an d b e c o me a s du l l an d u gly a s w e ar e in ou r g ait , o u r
dre s s, an d o u r b e h avio r L e t u s cl e arly re c o gn iz e t h at w e have
.

st e ppe d do wn t o a l o w e r l e v e l wh e n w e g ave u p p l ayfuln e s s an d

a d o p t e d t h e me r e l y se r io u s c a rriage an d t h e
“quie t clo t he s o f t h e
mo de rn civiliz e d a du l t RI C HARD C C AB O T , Wha t Men Live B y
. .

36
TH E game gre at fe at ure in mo rale and t o a c e rt ain e xt e n t in
is a , , ,

e t hic s B u t t h e t e n d e n cy t o su rre n d e r t o o mu ch t o gro up loy al t y

.
-
,

an d t o ido l iz e Vi c t o ry a n d a ggr e ssive n e ss g e n e r all y 1 5 al w ay s pr e s e n t ,

an d Of t e n o ve r s h a d o w ing Th e d e f e c t s o f t h e s t ro n g Ro o se ve l t ian
.

t yp e b e c ome su fficien t l y app are n t alo n g wit h it s vir t u e s

,
P e o ple .
5 6 P REC IS WRITING
fun dame nt al t han t h e de man d fo r ple asure It S ho ws it se lf in .

e arl y chil dho o d it st e e r s t h e amb it io n s o f m an h oo d it s fulfillme n t

, ,

is t h e cro wn o f o l d a g e Th e d e g re e o f t h e chan ce t o a chi e ve it is

.
'

t h e me asu re o f t h e d e sirab ilit y o f a c oun t ry a s a p l a ce t o live in ;

an d it is fair t o s ay t h a t t ho se w h o h a ve c o me t o Ame ric a o f t h e ir

o w n a cc o rd h ave do n e so b e c aII se t h e y b e lie ve d t h at t h e se Uni t e d

'

S t at e s ab o ve al l c ou n t rie s Of t h e wo rl d give m e n t his ch an ce t o

, ,

make t h e mo st of t he m se lve s .

WILLIAM A LLA N NE IL S ON in I n t ro du ct ion t o ,

Americans by Ad option by J ose ph Hu sb an d ,

39
LE I S UR E and I said We sle y
“ have t ake n le ave of on e ano t he r
, , .

I prop o se t o b e bu sy as lo n g a s I live if my h e al t h is so lo n g in du l ge d
,

t o me
”
Th is re solu t ion w as ma d e in t h e prime o f life an d n e ve r
“
.
,

w as r e so lu t io n mo re p u nc t u ally Ob se rve d L o rd le t m e n o t l ive .

,
”
t o b e u se l e s s ! w as t h e pray e r which h e u t t e re d aft e r se e in g o n e
whom h e h ad lo n g kn own as an a c t ive an d u se ful magist rat e r e
d uc e d by a ge t o b e
.
“a p ic t u r e o f hu man n at u r e in di sgr a c e f e e bl e
,

,
”
in b o dy an d min d sl o w o f sp e e ch a n d u n d e rst an din g
,
H e w as .

favo re d wit h a c on st it u t io n Vi go rou s b e yo n d t h at o f o rdin ary me n ,

an d wit h an a c t ivit y o f S p irit wh ich is e ve n r ar e r t h an h is sin gul ar

fe li cit y of he alt h an d st re n gt h Te n t ho u san d c are s o f vario u s

.

kin d s h e said w e re n o m o r e w e igh t o r b u rd e n t o h is min d t h an

, ,

t e n t h ou san d h airs we re t o h is h e ad B u t in t ru t h h is o n ly c are s

.
_

we re t hose o f sup e rint e n din g t h e wo rk of h is amb it io n w hich c o n ,

t in u ally prosp e re d un de r h is h an d s Re al care s h e h ad no n e ! n o

.

an xie t ie s n o so rr o w s
, n o gr ie f wh ich t ou ch e d h im t o t h e qu ick .
,

His man n e r o f l ife w a s t h e mo st f avo rab l e t h at c oul d h ave b e e n

de vise d fo r lon ge vit y He ro se e arly an d lay down at n igh t wit h
.
,

n o t h in g t o ke e p h im w akin g o r t ro u b l e h im in sl e e p,
His min d .

w a s al w ay s in a p l e asu rab l e an d wh o l e s ome st at e o f a c t ivit y h e w as ,

t e mp e ra t e in h is d ie t an d live d in p e rp e t u al lo co mo t ion ; an d f re qu e n t
,

ch an ge of air is p e rh ap s of all t hin g s t h a t which mo st co n du c e s t o

, ,

j oyo u s h e alt h and lon g life '

; ( 2 6 7 wo rd s)
ROB E R T S O UTHE Y Life of Wesley ,

F ollowing are t hre e p ar ag r ap h fr om

su mmarie s of the
S o u t he y ( No Th e y we r e all writ t en by b oys in t h e w in t e r
t e rm of t he ir s e nio r ye ar Whi ch on e is t h e b e st ? C ompare
.
 EXPO SITI ON AND DIS C U SSIO N 57

th e ways whic h t h e t h re e writ e r s w e n t ab o u t t h e ir t ask

in .

S ug ge s t impr o v e me n t s an d t h e n t ry t o w rit e in t e n min u t e s

, , ,

a st ill mo r e sa t isf a c t o r y pré cis .

P r é c is 1 Wesley took a v ow t o be busy as long as he could preserv e

h is h ealth His n aturally st rong con s ti tu ti on , his h ealthy manner
.

of li v in g , an d his un u su ally ca r efr ee life ma d e i t possi ble for him

t o be un t rou ble d in his s l eep, a n d i n t ensely act iv e wh en h e was

a wa ke . Th us h e kept both his mind and body s ound dur ing th e
ma ny year s th at h e liv e d .
( 63 word s)
P r é ci s 2 R esolving in th e prime of life n ev er t o be idle or us eless ,
Wesley carried out his r esolu tion t o the letter Healthy and str ong ,.

acti v e in mi n d , fr e e fr om a n xi e ty a nd sorrow , an d most ca r eful i n

a ll his ha bi ts , h e liv ed a l ong life of pr osper ity an d ha ppi n ess .

(4 7 word s)
P r é c is 3 Wesley ,
a ma n of vi gorous con s tit u ti on a n d great ac tivi ty
f mind li ved
o ,
a long a nd us eful life , free from sorrow , by h old in g

firmly t o his r esolu ti on t o be for ev er busy and n ev er idle .

(3 3 word s)
40
Y OUR min d , like y ou r b o dy , is a t h in g wh e re of t h e p ow e r s are d e
v e IOp e d by e flo r t Th at i s a prin cip al u s e , a s I se e it , o f hard wo rk
.

in s t u die s Unle s s y ou t rain y ou r b o dy y ou c an t b e an at hle t e ,

’
.

an d un l e s s y o u t rain yo ur min d y ou c an t b e mu ch o f a s ch ol ar
’
.

Th e fou r mile s an oar s man co ve rs a t t op sp e e d is in it se lf no t hin g

t o t h e go o d , b u t t h e phy sic al c ap a c it y t o h ol d ou t o ve r t h e c ourse
is t hou gh t t o b e of some wo r t h S o a go o d p ar t o f wh at y ou le arn
.

by h ard s t u dy may n o t be p e rmane n t ly re t ain e d , an d may not

s e e m t o b e o f mu ch fin al v alu e , b u t y ou r min d is a b e t t e r an d mo re

p o we rfu l in st rume n t b e c au se y ou have le arn e d it “ K no wle dge is

.

”
po we r , bu t s t ill mo re , t h e facu lt y o f ac quir in g and u sin g kn o wle dge
is p o we r If y ou h ave a t rain e d an d p o we rful min d , y o u are b oun d
.

t o h ave s t o re d it wit h some t hin g , b u t it s v alu e is mo re in wh at it -

can d o , wh at it can gra sp an d u se , t h an in wh at it c on t ain s ; an d if

it we re p o s sible a s it is no t t o com e ou t of co l le ge wit h a t raine d

an d di scip lin e d min d an d no t hin g u se fu l in it , y ou wo ul d s t ill b e

ah e a d , an d s t il l , in a man n e r , e d u c at e d Think o f y our min d as a

.

mu scle t o b e de ve lop e d ; t hink o f it a s a se archligh t t h at is t o re ve al

t h e t ru t h t o y ou ; an d don t ch e at it o r n e gl e c t it
’
.

ED WAR D S MAR TIN , A F ather t o His Freshma n S on

.
 58 PRECIS WRITING

41
NO b oy c an affo
rd t o ne gle ct his work an d wit h a b oy wo rk as a , ,

ru le me an s
, s t u dy Of cou rse t he re a re o ccasion all y b rilli an t suc
.

ce sse s in life whe re t h e man h as be e n wort hle ss as a st u de n t whe n a

b oy T0 t ake t h e se e xce p t io n s as e x ample s woul d b e a s u n safe a s it
.

would b e t o advo cat e blin dn e ss b e c au se some blin d me n h ave w on

un dyin g h o n o r by t riumph in g o ve r t h e ir phy sic al infir mit y an d

a cc o mp lishin g gr e at re sul t s in t h e w o rl d I am n o advo cat e o f .

s e n se l e ss an d e xc e ssive crammin g in st u die s b u t a b o y s h oul d wo rk , ,

an d S ho u l d wo rk h ard a t h is l e s son s — , in t h e fir s t p l ace for t h e ,

s ake Of wh a t h e will l e a rn an d in t h e n e x t p l a c e fo r t h e s ake o f t h e

, ,

e ffe c t u p o n h is o wn ch ar a c t e r o f r e so lu t e ly s e t t lin g do wn t o l e a rn

it. S hif t le ssn e ss S la ckn e s s indiffe re n ce in st u dyin g are almost

, , ,

ce rt ain t o me an in ab il it y t o g e t on in o t he r walks of life O f cou rse .

,

a s a b o y gro w s Ol de r it is a goo d t hin g if h e can s h ap e hi s s t u die s in

t h e di re c t ion t o wa rd whi ch h e h as a n at ural b e n t ; b u t wh e t h e r h e

can d o t his Or no t h e mu st p u t h is who le h e ar t in t o t h e m
,
I d o not .

b e li e ve in mis chie f do in g in s chool hou rs o r in t h e kin d o f animal

-
,

sp irit s t ha t re sul t s in makin g b ad s cho l ar s ; a n d I b e li e ve t h at t hose

boys w h o t ake p art in rou gh h ard play o u t side of sch ool will not ,

fin d a ny ne e d fo r ho rse pl ay in s ch ool While t he y st u dy t h e y sh oul d .

st u dy j u s t as h ard as t h e y p l ay fo o t b all in a mat ch game I t is wise

“
.

t o o b e y t h e ho me l y ol d a da ge Work while y ou wo rk; play while,

”
y ou p lay THE O D O RE ROO SE VE LT Th e S tren uous Life
.
,

42
S TRI NG is one of t he c ommo ne st of t h e pe t c
e on o mie s . Have n
’
t
y ou a frie n d ( I h ave ) ways an d in e vit ably up on
w h o in sist s , al ,

s t o pp in g t o un t ie t h e kn o t s in o rde r t o s ave t h e s t rin g ab o u t t h e

p arc e l ? No mat t e r wh at h ast e or imp at ie n ce at t e n ds t h e op e nin g ;

n o ma t t e r t h at t h e re is a gre a t w ad o f j u s t su ch s t rin gs o n t h e n ail in

t h e p an t ry Unt ie d it mu st b e an d t h e s t rin g save d It migh t come

.
,
.

h an dy Now I st an d h e re an d de n oun ce t h at prac t ice as an irra

.

t ion al illo gic al ab su rdi t y

,
I am e man cipat e d from t h e s t rin g h abit
.
,

an d I kn o w Th e re is n o t hin g e xce p t m at ch e s S O ch e ap in t his d ay

.
, ,

a n d a ge a s s t rin g
,
Th e inve st me nt o f fift e e n ce n t s will st o ck a
.

hou se hol d wit h st rin g e nou gh of as so rt e d Siz e s t o last a ye ar Y e s

, ,
.
,

fo r t h at amoun t y ou may r e v e l in s t rin g s t rin g w it h ou t kn o t s o r

t an gle s an d o f in t e rmin ab l e l e n gt h
,
NO fif t e e n c e nt in ve st me n t t h at
.
-

I kn ow of g ive s su ch ample and sat isfac t ory re t u rn s in a ye ar as t h e

 EXP O SITI ON AND DIS C U SSION 59

strin g inve st me n t And o n t h e o t he r han d I kn ow of no mo re

.
, ,

lab o rio us w ay t o save fif t e e n ce nt s a ye ar t han by p icki n g kn o t s

an d che ris hin g t wine t h at c o me s wit h e ve ry p a cka ge B u t I ne e d .

no t argue t h e c ase Th e st rin g e conomy is n o mo re r at ion al t han

.

my c ollar bu t t o n o r Mr Ro cke fe lle r s golf b all e con omy It is j u st

-
.
’
-
.

one o f t ho se p e t e co n o mie s o f which I am sp e akin g

“
.

The Atlantic Mon thly P e t E conomi e s ,

43
A C E RTAIN amount of discipline is n e ce s sary for a d og If le ft t o .

h is o wn de vic e s h e is ap t t o b e c ome some wh a t d issip at e d t o S p e n d

, ,

his e ve n in g s o u t t o sc at t e r amon g many t h e affe c t ion which S h oul d

,

b e re se rv e d fo r a fe w B u t on t h e o t he r h an d a d o g may e a sily
.
, ,

re ce ive t o o mu ch discipline ; h e b e c ome s like t h e child o f a de spo t ic

fat he r A d og pe rfe c t ly t rain e d from t h e mart ine t p oin t of Vie w
“
.
, ,
”
o n e w h o n e ve r j u mp s up o n y ou n e ve r lay s an e n t re at in g p aw
,

o n yo u r arm n e ve r ge t s in t o a ch air o r e n t e r s t h e dr awin g r o o m

, ,
-
,

su ch a d o g is a sad sigh t t o o n e wh o re ally kno w s an d l o v e s t h e

a nimal . It is against h is n at ure t o b e so re pre sse d Ove r c are ful .

-

hou se wive s an d p e rson s wh o are bu rde ne d wit h co st l y su rrou ndin gs

t alk of inj u ry t o c arp e t s and o t he r fu rnit u re if t h e d o g h as a righ t
o f e n t ry eve rywh e re in t h e h o use B ut wh a t is furnit u re fo r ? I s it
.

for di spl ay is it a gua rant y o f t h e we al t h o f t h e o wn e rs o r is it fo r

, ,

u se ? B l e s se d are t h e y who se fu rni t u re is so in e xp e nsive o r so s h abby

t h at chil dre n an d d o gs ar e n o t e xclu d e d from it s sacre d pre c in c t s .

P e rh ap s t h e h appie st hou se hol d t o wh ich I e ve r h ad t h e h ono r of

b e in g a dmit t e d w as one whe re it w as some t ime s a lit t le difficul t t o
fin d a c omfo r t abl e vac ant ch air ! t h e d o g s al way s t oo k t h e ar m .

ch airs Al as whe re are t ho se hospit able chairs n ow ? Whe re t h e

.
,

do gs t hat u se d t o S it up in t he m an d wink and yawn an d give , ,

t he ir p aws in humo rou s e mb arras sme n t ?

HE NR Y C MERWI N Dogs and Men .
,

44
I T is a ba se un t ru t h t o say t h at h appy is t h e nat ion t hat h as no
hist o ry Thrice happy is t h e n at ion t h at h as a glo riou s hist o ry
.
“
.

Fa r b e t t e r it is t o d are migh t y t hin g s t o win glo riou s t riumph s , ,

e ve n t h ou gh ch e cke re d by f ailu re t h an t o t ake ran k wit h t h o s e

,

po o r spirit s w h o ne it he r e n j oy mu ch no r suffe r mu ch b e cau se t he y ,

live in t h e gray t wil igh t t h at knows n o t v ic t o ry no r d e f e at If in .

1 8 6 1 t h e me n wh o l ove d t h e Union h ad b e lie ve d t h at p e ac e w a s

60 P RECI S W RITING

the e n d o f al l hin g s an d w ar and s t rife t h e wo r st of all t hing s an d

t , ,

h a d a c t e d up t o t h e ir b e l ie f w e s h oul d h ave s ave d hun dre d s o f

,

t h ou san d s o f live s w e s h ou l d h ave s ave d hun dre d s o f mil lion s o f

,

dollars Mo re ove r b e side s saving all t h e bloo d an d t re asu re w e

.
,

t h e n l avis h e d w e s h ou l d h av e pre ve n t e d t h e h e ar t bre ak o f man y

,

wo me n t h e dis solut ion o f man y h ome s an d w e S houl d have sp are d

, ,

t h e c o un t ry t h ose mon t h s of glo o m an d sh ame wh e n it se e me d a s if

r

o u r armie s m a rch e d on ly t o d e f e a t We co ul d have avoide d all t his.

suffe r in g simp ly by s hrin kin g fro m s t r if e And if w e h a d t hu s .

avo ide d it w e s h o u l d h ave s h o wn t h at w e w e r e w e aklin g s an d t hat

, ,

w e w e r e un fit t o st an d a mo n g t h e gre a t n a t ion s o f t h e e ar t h Thank .

God fo r t h e iro n in t h e b loo d o f our f at h e r s t h e me n wh o uphe l d ,

t h e wisdo m of L in c o ln an d b o re s wo rd o r rifle in t h e armie s o f

,

Gr an t ! L e t u s t h e chil dre n o f t h e m e n wh o c arrie d t h e gre at Civil

,

War t o a t riumphan t co n clu sion praise t h e Go d of our fat he rs t hat ,

ignob le c oun se l s o f p e ac e w e re re j e c t e d ; t h at t h e suffe rin g an d loss ,

t h e b l a ckn e s s of so rro w a nd d e sp air w e re un flin c h ing ly fa c e d an d , ,

t h e y e ar s o f s t rife e n du re d ; fo r in t h e e n d t h e s l ave w as fre e d t h e ,

Un ion re st o re d an d t h e migh t y Ame rican re p ub lic p lace d on ce

,

mo re a s a h e lrne t e d que e n amo n g n a t ion s .

TH E OD ORE R O O SE VE LT The S trenu ous Life ,

III
L O N GER PAR AGR A PH S OF E! P O SITI O N AND D I S CU SSI O N

S O ME st u dy an d pr ac t ic e Of préc is writ ing w ill be n e c e ssary

b e f or e hig h s c ho ol p up ils c an su c c e ssf ully summariz e t h e p ara
-

g r aph s oi P a r t III The y are spe c ially sui t e d t o advan ce d

.

w o rk in t h e se nio r ye ar Th o se p assag e s t ake n fr om t h e C om

.

pr e h e n siv e E ng lish p a p e rs o f t h e C oll e g e E n t r an c e E x ami

n a t ion B o ar d ar e s t arr e d an d f o llo w e d by t h e l e t t e r s

C E E B
. . . S e e I n t r o d u c t ion p ag e 8
.
, .

S umm ar ie s wr it t e n in c l ass by high sch ool s t u d en t s are

,
-
,

p rint e d on p ag e s 6 1 66 7 0 7 1 7 9 , , , , .
 LO N GE R EXP O SITI O N AND DIS C U SSI O N 61

*
45
C . E . E . B .
,
1 91 9
I N me di e val an d e arly mo de rn t ime s t ho se art icle s o nl y coul d be
t ran sp o r t e d for a ny con sid e r able di st an c e w hi ch h ad gre at value in
small b u lk S u ch w e re drug s sp ice s fine Clo t h s rare S il ks an d
.
, , ,

co t t on s choice we ap on s an d armo r The se we re u sed chie fly by

, ,
.

t h e small c ircle of t h e rich ; t rade in t he m did no t affe c t t h e m as s o f

t h e p op ul at ion Wh e re wat e r t ran spor t at ion could be u se d t he re
.

w as in de e d S ome p ossib ili t y o f t rade an d e xch ang e in t h e b ulkie r

‘

c ommodi t ie s Fo r t his re ason En glan d wit h h e r in sul ar p osit io n

.
,

a nd mu ch in de n t e d se a c oas t
-
w a s able at a c omp arat ive ly e arly
,

s t age t o e xp o r t su ch c o mmo di t ie s as wo ol copp e r an d t in a nd t o , , ,

de ve lop in some de gre e t h e ge o graphic al di v ision o f l abo r Wit h t h e .

improve me n t and e nl arge me n t of ve sse l s t h e gre at e r se curit y o f t h e ,

se as an d t h e use o f t h e ma rine r s c omp as s t rade by wa t e r gra duall y

’
, ,

gre w t o gre at e r an d gre at e r dime n sion s A st ill furt he r e x t e nsio n .

c ame in t h e l at t e r p art of t h e e igh t e e n t h c e n t ury whe n p art s of t h e ,

in t e rio r of t h e civ iliz e d co un t rie s we re t app e d by c anal s B ut t h e .

m ost far re achin g de ve lopme n t o f t h e ge o graphical di vision of l ab o r

-

c ame wit h t h e rail way ; for t h e rail way c an re ach all p art s of t h e
l an d . Th e in du st ry o f almost e ve r y p art o f t h e wo rl d h as b e e n
t ran sfo rme d by t hi s mi gh t y so lv e n t
1
( 2 1 6 wo rds)
.

Th e p ré cis t h at f oll o w s w as writ t e n in fift e e n minu t e s by a

high school b oy ab o u t t o g o
-
up fo r his fin al e xamin at ion s .

N o t ic e t h at it is mo r e t han a t hir d as long as t h e o rig in al Is .

t h is n e c e ssary ? Wh at min o r d e t ail s h as t h e wr it e r in cl u d e d ?

Make a p ré cis O f h is summary t o se e h ow mu ch y ou can c u t
it down .

P r é c is Until recent times the only good s tha t were tran spor ted
a n y gr ea t dis ta n ce wer e th ose which wer e s mal l a n d ea sy t o carry .

C ou ntri es r eac hed by transportati on on the ocea n , an d l ater by

c ana ls , wer e t h e firs t t o d ev el op commer cia lly , be cau se mer chan d is e

of la r ge bul k coul d be carr i ed on boa ts I t was the railway , h ow .

ever , th at br ought the most i mporta n t a dvan ce t o i n d us tr y; for by

railroad s came compl et e and e asy d is tri bu ti on of man s l a bor i n t o

’

all parts of the wor ld .

( 7 8 wo rds)
1
R e prin t e d from The P rinciples f Ec onomics , by F
o . W Taussig by p e rmis
.
,

sion of Th e Macmillan C omp any , b h

p u lis e rs .
 P RECIS W RITING

FR O M Gre e no ck t o Glasgo w
t h e t h un de r o f me ch ani sm
46
re soun de d t h e clango r of h amme rs and
P l a t e by p lat e rive t by rive t an d
.
, ,

b e am by b e am t he re gre w b e fore my ve ry e ye s t h e S h ap e s of h alf a

,

hu n dre d s hip s I se e m o re cle arly s t ill now what I me an t by in

.
, ,

sis t in g o n t h e c on se rva t ion o f in t e l le c t u al e n e rgy My frien d p oin t s

“
.

p it e ou sly t o p ast p e rio d s and say s The y c an t d o it now old

, ,
’
,

man An d I smile an d p oin t t o t ho se s t e e l s t e amship s growing in

”

“
.
,

gra ce an d b e au t y as I wat ch an d I say Th e y c o ul d n t d o that

, ,
’

”
t he n o l d m a n !
,
Ju st a s t h e physic al e n e rgy in t his un ive rse is a
de fin it e t o t alit y so is t h e in t e lle c t ual o r spirit u al e ne rgy Th e D a
,
.

Vin ci o f t o d ay l e ave s h is L a st S upp e r u n de p ict e d ; b u t h e drive s a

-

Tub e t hro ugh t h e L o n do n cl ay C e llini n o lo n ge r c a s t s a P e r seu s

.

an d al t e r n a t e s a mu rde r wit h a Tra tt at o; h e b uild s e ngine s an d

railroad s an d s hip s Mich ae l An ge lo smit e s no S ibyl s from t h e
.

living s t o n e b u t h e h as c arve d t h e face o f t h e v e ry e ar t h t o his

,

d e sign An d t hough no fair you t h st e p s fo r t h t o p ain t t h e une ar t hly

.

nimb u s l igh t aro un d t h e bro ws o f h is b e lo ve d M a d o nn a I co un t it

-

fair e xchan ge t hat from e ve ry re e f an d p oin t o f t his o u r se agir t isle

t he re s hin e s a rad ian c e no n e c an w a t ch w it h ou t a c a t chin g o f t h e
bre at h .

WI LLIAM MC FEE An Ocean Tramp ,

47
FR OM t h e kno wl e dg e an d t h e le arning of t h e s ch ol ar t h e re ought t o
b e d e v e l o p e d an ab iding f ait h Wha t is t h e t e a ching o f all his t o ry ?
.

Th at which is n e ce ssary fo r t h e w e lfa re a n d pro gre ss o f t h e human

race h as ne ve r b e e n de st roy e d Th e disco ve re rs o f t rut h , t h e t e ach e rs
.

o f s c ie n c e , t h e make r s o f in ve n t io n s , h ave p a s se d t o t h e ir l a s t r e w ard ,

b u t t h e ir wo rks h av e su rvive d Th e P h oenician g all e ys an d t h e

.

civiliz at ion which w as bo rn o f t he ir c omm e rce h ave p e rishe d , b u t

t h e alph ab e t wh ich t h at p e o p le p e rf e c t e d re mains Th e she phe rd .

king s o f I srae l , t h e t e mple a nd e mp ire o f S o l omo n , h ave gon e t h e

w ay of a ll t h e e ar t h , b u t t h e Old Te s t ame n t h a s b e e n pre se rve d fo r
t h e in sp irat ion o f mankin d Th e ark o f t h e c o ve n an t an d t h e se ve n
.

pro n ge d c an dle st ick have p asse d from human Vie w ; t h e inh ab it an t s

of J u d ma h a ve b e e n disp e r se d t o t h e e n d s o f t h e e a r t h , b u t t h e Ne w

Te st ame n t h a s su rvive d a n d in cre a se d in it s influ e n ce amon g me n .

Th e g lo ry o f At he n s an d S p ar t a , t h e gran de ur o f t h e I mp e rial Cit y ,

are a lo n g lo st me mo ry , b u t t h e p oe t ry o f H o me r an d Ve rgil , t h e
-
64 P REC IS WRITING

of b ot h side s e nt e re d t h e army wit h high moral purp ose s t heir ,

mo t ive s may save t he m from t h e wo rst e ff e c t s of t he ir life a s sol die r s ,

a s it did o u r goo d me n in t h at t im e o f t rial ; b u t t h e re w e r e t e n s o f

t h ou san d s w h o w e re so gre at ly harme d by t h at c on fli c t t h at t h e y

we re af t e rw ard s u nfit t e d fo r t he ir du t ie s a s cit iz e n s Th o se w h o .

kn o w b e st wh at c iviliz a t io n a n d t h e t rue cit iz e nship o n whi ch it

re st s re ally is se e cle arly t h at in all m e n ho we ve r w e ll e s t ablishe d
, , ,

t h e re is s t ill t h e re mn an t of t h e an cie n t cru e l l awle s s sava ge mo , ,

t iv e s
. It ne e d s all t h e g oo d influ e n c e s o f family an d s o c ial life t o
ke e p d own t h e se vile t e n de n c ie s of me n War ine vit ably t urns me n
.
-

t o w ard s t h e le ve l o f t h e b e ast .

NATHA NIE L S SHALE R Th e Citiz en .

,

50

B U T wh at I say now , a s I said b e ginn ing is t hat L at in and

the
‘

at ,

Gre e k are d e ad l an guage s Fo r . u s fo r t h e fu t u re for t h e co mp e t i

, ,

t ion s of t h e mo d e rn in du st rial an d s o cial e ra t h e cl a ssic s are n o

,

goo d For a fe w orname n t al pe r sons a kno wle dge o f t he m may b e a

.

ple asin g a ccomplishme nt B ut t he y are luxurie s n ot n e ce ssarie s

.
, .

Th e y b e lo n g t o a bygon e age .The y h ave n o t hing t o t e ll u s ab ou t

t h e t hing s w e mo st n e e d t o kn o w che mi st ry and physic s e n gin e e r ,

ing an d in t e n sive agricul t ure t h e dis cove ry of n e w fo rm s an d

,

app lic a t io n s o f p o w e r,
t h e o rganiz at ion of l ab o r an d t h e di st ri
b u t io n o f w e al t h t h e d e ve lopme nt of me ch anical Skill an d t h e
,

in cre ase of pro du c t ion ! t he se are t h e t hin gs t h at w e mu st st udy .

I say t he y are t h e only t hing s t hat will count for su cce ss in t h e ne w

”
de mo cracy
“Th at is what ou sa
.

y y ,
replie d P rofe ssor D e Vrie s dryly B ut .

t h e wise st me n o f t h e w orl d h ave said some t hin g ve ry diffe re n t .

No de mo cra cy e ve r h as su rvive d or e ve r will su rvive w it hou t a n

, ,

ar ist o cr a cy at t h e h e ar t o f it No t an arist o cracy o f b ir t h an d

.

privile ge b u t one of wo rt h an d in t e lli ge n ce ; n o t a b an d of he re dit ary

,

lo rd s b u t a comp any o f w e ll ch ose n l e a d e rs

,
- The ir value w ill d e
.

p e n d no t so mu ch up on t he ir t e chnical kn owl e dge an d skill as up o n

t h e bre ad t h o f t h e ir min d t h e cle arne s s of t h e ir t h ou gh t t h e lo f t in e ss
, ,

o f t h e ir mo t ive s t h e b al an ce o f t h e ir j u dgme n t an d t h e st r e n g t h o f
, ,

t h e ir de vo t ion t o du t y . F o r t h e cul t iv at ion of t h e se t hin g s I say

p ardo n t h e app are n t c o n t ra dict ion of wh at you said I say t h e
”
st u dy o f t h e clas sic s h a s b e e n an d s t ill is of t h e gre at e st v al ue .

HENR Y VAN D YKE Th e Valley of Vision ,

 LONGE R EXP O SITIO N AND DIS C U SSI ON 65

51
MR WALTE R LIPPMANN h as re ce n t ly p oin t e d o ut t h at me n d o no t
.

ac t in a cc o rdan c e wit h t h e f a c t s an d fo rce s o f t h e w o rl d a s it is

“
b u t in a cco rd an ce wit h t h e p ic t u r e of it t h e y h ave int h e ir h e ad s
”
,

N o wh e re d o t h e form an d pre ssure of t h e re al worl d diffe r mo re

Sharp ly from t h e pict ure in me n s he ad s t h an amo n g diffe re n t so cial
’

an d r a cial group s in in du st ry Nor is anywhe re t h e a ccu ra cy o f t h e

.

pic t ure of more imp o rt an ce An op e n he art h fu rn ac e h e lp e r wo rk

.
-
,

ing t h e t w el v e ho u r d ay an d a B o st o n broke r o wn in g fift y s h are s

‘
-
, ,

o f S t e e l P re fe rr e d ho l d as a rul e s t rikin gl y d iffe re n t p ic t u re s o f t h e

, , ,

s ame fo rce s an d co n di t io n s B u t wh at is of gre at e r imp o r t an c e is

. .

t h a t d ire c t o r m anage r fo re man by re a so n of t raining in t e re st o r

, , , , ,

t radi t io n are o f t e n qu it e a s u n ab l e t o gu e ss a t t h e p ic t u re in t h e
,

w o rke r s h e ad an d he n ce t o un de rst an d his act io n s a s t h e more

’

di st ant st o ckh ol de r — C HAR LE S R WALKE R S teel

. .
,

52
B UT t h e su pre me obj e c t ion t o gamb ling in all it s fo rms whe t he r in ,

sp o r t o r in sp e cul at ive bu sine ss is t h a t it w o rks h arm a nd l o ss t o

,

s o cie t y
. As s o on as any pr a ct ice or co n du c t is fo un d t o be so cially
hurt ful it t he re by be come s wron g wh at e ve r me n may h ave t hough t
, ,

o f it b e fo re D oe s no t all mo r ali t y rise t o c on scio usne ss t hrou gh

.

t h e f ac t o f so cial adv a n t age or inj ury ? Now t h e l on g an d c o s t ly ,

e xp e rie n ce o f ma nkind b e ar s un if o rm t e s t im on y a g ain st g amb lin g ,

t ill a t l ast t h e ve rdi c t o f civiliz at ion h as b e c ome as n e arl y unanim ou s

as human j u dgme nt c an b e t h at it is an in t o le r ab le n u isan ce
,
It is .

a d ang e r o u s an d un so cial fo rm o f e xcit e me n t ; it h u r t s ch ar a c t e r ,

de mo raliz e s in du st ry bre e d s quarre ls t e mp t s me n t o se lf de st ruo

, ,
-

t io n ; an d it w orks sp e cial in j u st ic e t o w ome n and childre n We .

may no t kn ow pre cise ly why mo rphi ne pre y s u p o n t h e ne rvou s

“ ”
Th e fa ct is t h e m ain
sy s t e m an d h as t o b e l ab e le d p o isono us .

c o nside rat ion S o wi t h t h e st imu lus or e xcit at ion o f gambling

. .

Gran t t h at I pro fe ss myse lf willi ng t o p ay for my fun Th e fun is .

de gradin g like t h e priz e figh t o r b e ar b ait ing

,
-
.

CHAR LE S F D OLE .

Th e Et hics o f Sp e culation The At lantic Mon thly ,

66 P RECIS WRITING

TH E lit e rat ure of any ag e r e fle c t s curre n t p ub l ic o p inio n , a nd if w e

wo u ld kno w h o w wome n we re re garde d an d what qu alit ie s w e re
t h ough t mo st de sirab le in t h em , all w e n e e d d o is re a d t h e lit e rat u re
o f t h a t p e rio d Eurip ide s re fle c t s Gre e k se n t ime n t wh e n h e make s
“
.

Iphige n ia s ay t o Achille s , B e t t e r a t hou san d wo me n sli ould p e rish

t h an o n e m an c e a se t o se e t h e ligh t . Th e L at in mo t t o , B ene v ixit
qui ben e lat u it ( S h e h as live d w e ll w h o h as ke p t w e ll c o n c e al e d) ,
sp e aks e lo qu e n t l y o f w o ma n s p la ce in t h e d ay s o f t h e Ro m an E mp ire
’
.

In t h e me t ric al ro man ce s of t h e me diae val p e rio d , wome n se e m t o

“
li ve o n ly t o gr ac e a t ourname n t o r t o fu rn i sh opp o r t unit y fo r a fe a t
o f chival ry on t h e p ar t o f so m e kn igh t e rran t In C h au c e r s t im e
’
-
.

su ch s t o rie s as t h at o f P at ie n t Grise l d a fo rc e u s t o t h e c o n cl u s io n

t h a t S h e w as t h e mo st h ighly e st e e me d w oman w h o p at ie n t ly e n
d ure d t h e gro s se st inj u st ice an d t h e mo st crue l wron g Th e w e ak .

an d s e n t ime n t al wo me n o f F ie l d in g , Rich ard so n , an d o t h e r e igh t

e e n t h — c e n t u ry no ve list s c all f o r t h o u r p it y wh e n w e r e al iz e t h e

pu rpo se le ss live s t he y we re e xp e c t e d t o le a d We mu s t no t o ve r
.

look t h e f a c t , ho w e ve r , t h at in e ve ry a g e t he re h ave b e e n marke d

e xc e p t io n s t o t h e g e n e r al r u le F ro m t h e t ime o f D e b o r ah , o r l o n g
“
.

b e fo re , e ach ag e h as h ad it s n e w wo me n , it s n o n conformist s, w h o
in sist e d u p o n do in g t h e ir o w n t hinking . Mo st o f S hake spe are s ’

he roin e s are o f t his t yp e .

( 2 3 8 wo rd s)
LAURA A K NOT T, Vesper Tal ks to Gi r ls
.

f ollowing p ré cis o f Miss K n o t t s p ar ag ra ph

‘
’
S t udy t h e . It
w as wr it t e n by a se nio r h ig h s c h oo l g irl o f un u sual ab ili t y
-
. In
w hat w ays do e s t his abilit y app e ar in h er ab st r ac t ? C an you
sug g e s t an y impr o v e me n t s ?

P r é c is S ince litera ture is a mirror of pu bli c opin i on , if we wish

t o kn ow h ow wome n w er e est eemed i n var i ous a ge s , all we n e ed t o
d o i s t o r ead t h e gre a t li t erary masters of past time F rom E uripid e s
.

of a n ci en t Gr eece t o t h e e igh t ee nth ce n tu r y , we fin d woma n ke pt in

t h e bac kgr oun d a s t h e play thi n g of man . N ever th e less , every a ge

ha s had i t s e x cept ions , and th ere ha s always exist e d th e n ew

woman , wh o th ought for h erse lf a nd l ed the ad va nce of h er s ex .

( 83 words)
 LO NGE R EXP O SITI ON AND D I S C U SSION 67

*
54
C O E . E . B .
’ 1 9 20
MR . HE NRY JAME S on ce sugge s t e d as a t e st of t h e rank o f a no ve l , ,

t h at w e a sk ou r se l ve s whe t he r it a rou se d in u s t h e e mo t ion s o f sur

prise o r t h e e mo t ion s of re c ognit io n If it amu se s u s only by t h e .

ing e nu it y o f it s s t o ry an d by t h e s t ar t lin g e ffe c t o f it s un su sp e c t e d

in cide n t s it st an d s o n a l o we r p l an e t h an if it p l e a se u s by re ve ali n g
,

u n e xp e c t e d re ce s se s o f t h e h um an so u l which w e a cc e p t as v e r a cio u s ,

al t h ou gh w e h ave n e ve r b e fo re p e rc e ive d t he m Th e s ame t e st is .

as v alid in t h e t h e at r e a s in t h e libr ary ; an d in a se rio u s dr ama as ,

we ll a s in hi gh come dy me re su rprise mu st always b e subo rdin at e

,

t o t h e sub t l e r re c o gni t ion We e xp e ct t h e dramat ist t o e xp lain u s t o

.

o u rse l ve s a n d t o t urn hi s lan t e rn o n t h e hidde n co rne r s o f ch ar a c

t e r wh e t h e r t ragic or c omic
, Whe n w e se e a p e rson age in a play
.

d o t hi s o r whe n we he ar him say t h at w e o ught t o fe e l in st an t ly

, ,

t h at h o w e ve r u nf o re se e n t h e de e d or t h e s ayin g may b e it w a s
, ,

pre cise ly wh at t hat p e rso nage w o ul d h ave don e or said at t h at

p art icular mome nt of hi s life .

B RA ND E R MA TTHE W S A S tud y of the Drama ,

55
C ON STA NT e xp e rie n ce h as S hown me t h at gre at p urit y and e le gan ce
o f s t yl e wit h a grace ful e lo cut ion co ve r a mul t it u de of faul t s in
, ,

e it h e r a sp e ake r o r a writ e r For my o wn p ar t I c o nf e s s ( an d I

.
,

be lie ve most pe ople are of my min d) t h at if a sp e ake r sh oul d u n

grac e fully mut t e r or st amme r out t o me t h e se n se of an ang e l d e ,

fo rme d by b arb arisms an d sole cism s or l arde d wit h vul garisms h e , ,

s hou l d ne ve r sp e ak t o me a se c o n d t ime if I c o ul d h e lp it Gain t h e , .

h e ar t o r y ou gain no t hing ; t h e e ye s an d t h e e ars are t h e o nl y ro a d

,

t o t h e he a r t Me rit an d kn o wle dge will n o t g ain he art s t hough

.

t h e y will se cu r e t he m wh e n g aine d P r ay h av e t h at t ru t h e ve r in .

your min d ( Eng age t h e e ye s by your addre ss air an d mo t ion s ;

.
.
, ,

so o t he t h e e ar s by t h e e l e g an c e an d h a rmon y o f you r d ic t io n
; the
he ar t will ce rt ainl y foll o w and t h e whole man or woman will as
,

c e rt ainl y foll o w t h e he art ) I mu st re pe at it t o y ou o ve r an d o ve r

.

a g ain t h at wit h all t h e kno wl e dge which

, y ou may h ave at pre se n t
o r h e re af t e r a c quir e an d wit h all t h e m e rit t h at e ve r man h a d if
, ,

y ou h ave no t a grac e ful a ddre ss e n gagin g mann e r s a pre p os se ssin g

, ,

air an d a go o d de gr e e o f e l o q ue n ce in sp e akin g an d writ in g

, y ou ,

will be nob o dy EAR L OF C HE STE RFIE LD L etters to His S on

.
,
68 P RECIS WRITIN G

56

NO THI NG h as b e e n more pro du c t ive of inj ury t o young lit e rary

s t u de n t s t h an t hose s t o rie s o r l e ge n d s ab ou t gre at writ e rs
having writ t e n gre at b ooks in a ve ry sho r t t ime Th e y su gge st .

wh at mu s t b e in a millio n c ase s imp ossible as a comm o n p ossibilit y , .

You he ar o f J ohnson h aving writ t e n R asselas In a fe w w e e ks or of ,

B e ckfo rd h avin g don e a similar t hing of v ario u s o t h e r no t ab l e s

'

n e ve r c o rr e c t in g t h e ir manu s crip t an d t h e y o u t h w h o h a s mu ch

se lf co n fid e n c e imagine s t ha t h e c an d o t h e same t h in g an d pro du ce

-

lit e r at ure . I d o no t b e lie ve t ho se st o rie s I d o n o t say e xac t ly .

t h at t he y are n o t t rue ; I o nl y say t h at I d o no t b e lie ve t h e m an d ,

t h at t h e b ooks a s w e h ave t h e m n o w c e r t ainl y r e pr e se n t mu ch

, ,

mo r e t h an t h e wo rk of a fe w w e e ks o r e ve n mo nt h s It is mu ch more .

valuable t o re m e mb e r t h at Gray p asse d fo ur t e e n y e ars in co rre c t ing

an d impr o vin g a sin gl e p oe m a n d t h at no gr e a t p o e m o r b ook a s
'

, ,

w e n o w h ave t h e t e x t re pre se n t s t h e fir st fo rm o f t h e t e x t
, (Take .
,

fo r e x amp le t h e p oe t s t h at w e h ave b e e n r e a din g It is co mmo nl y

“
.
,
”
said t hat Ro sse t t i s B l e sse d D amo se l w as writ t e n in h is ni n e t e e n t h
’

y e ar This is t rue ; b u t w e have t h e t e xt of t h e p o e m as it w as

.

writ t e n in h is n in e t e e n t h y e ar an d it is unl ike t h e po e m as w e n o w

,

h ave it ; fo r it w as ch ange d an d co rre ct e d and re c orre c t e d sco re s of

t ime s t o brin g it t o it s pre se n t St at e o f p e rfe c t io n ) Almost e ve ry .

t hin g c o mpo se d by Te nny son w as ch an ge d an d ch ang e d an d ch an ge d , ,

a g ain t o s u ch an e x t e n t t h at in al mo s t e ve ry e dit io n t h e t e x t di ffe r e d

,
.

Ab o ve all t hing s d o no t imagine t h at any g oo d wo rk c an b e done

,

wit hou t imme n se p ain s .

LAF C ADI O H EARN Talks t o Writers ,

57
PE RHAPS t h e mo st no t e wort hy achie ve me nt of t h e t e le phone is it s
t ran sfo rmat ion o f coun t ry lif e In E urop e rural t e l e ph one s are
.
,

ahn o s t u nkn o wn while in t h e Unit e d S t at e s o ne t hird of all our

,
-

t e l e ph on e s t at io n s are in c oun t ry dist ri c t s Th e f a rme r no l on ge r .

de p e n d s up o n t h e mail s ; like t h e cit y man h e t e le phone s This ,

.

in st rume n t is t hu s t h e gre at e st civiliz ing fo rce w e h ave for civ ili ,

z at io n is v e ry l arge l y a mat t e r o f in t e rc ommunic at io n I nde e d t h e .

,

t e l e ph on e an d o t h e r similar ag e n cie s su ch as t h e p arc el p ost t h e

, ,

ru ral fre e de live ry b e t t e r road s and t h e au t o mobile are rapidly

, , ,

t ran sfo rmin g ru ral life in t his co un t ry In se ve r al r e gio n s e sp e ciall y

.
,

in t h e Mississipp i Valle y a farme r w h o h a s no t e l e pho n e is in a

,

cl ass by himse lf like on e w h o h a s no mowin g—ma chine Thu s t h e

,
.

l at e st re t urn s from I o w a t ake n b y t h e ce n sus a s far b ack as 1 90 7

, ,
 LO N G E R EXP O SITI O N AND DIS C U SSION 69

sh o we d t hat ve nt y t hre e p e r cent of all t h e f arms

se -
o ut
of h ad t e le p h one s and t h e prop or t ion is un que st ionably
,

gre at e r now Eve ry ot he r farmhou se from t h e Atl ant ic t o t h e

.

P a cific cont ain s at le a st one in st rume nt The se st at ist ic s cle arly .

S ho w t hat t h e t e le phon e h as re move d half t h e t e rro rs and isolat ion

Many a lon e ly farme r s wife or d augh t e r o n t h e ap
‘
o f ru ral life
’
.
,

proach o f a suspiciou s lookin g ch arac t e r h as ru she d t o t h e t e l e

-
,

phon e and call e d up t h e n e ighb or s so t h at n ow t ramp s n o t o riou sly ,

avoid h o u se s t h at sh e lt e r t h e pro t e c t in g wire s In r e mo t e se ct ion s .

,

in sanit y e sp e ciall y a mon g wo me n is fre que nt ly t h e re sul t o f l one

, ,

lineSs a calami t y whi ch t h e t e le pho ne is doin g mu ch t o mit igat e

, .

B UR T ON J HE ND RICK Th e Age of B ig B usiness .

,

58
AB O UT t hi s t ime I me t wit h an o d d volume of t h e S pectator It w as .

t h e t hi rd I h ad ne ve r b e fore se e n any of t he m I b ought it re ad

. .
,

it o ve r an d o ve r a n d w a s mu ch d e ligh t e d w it h it
,
I t hough t t h e .

writ ing e xce ll e n t and wishe d if p ossible t o imit at e it Wit h t his

, , ,
.

Vie w I t ook so me of t h e p ap e rs and making s ho r t hint s of t h e se nt i ,

me n t in e ach se n t e n ce l aid t he m by a fe w days an d t he n wit ho ut

, , ,

l ooking at t h e b ook t rie d t o c o mpl e t e t h e p ap e rs ag ain by e xpre ss

, ,

ing e a ch hi nt e d se nt ime n t a t l e ng t h an d a s ful l y as it h ad b e e n ,

e xpre sse d b e fo r e in an y su it ab l e wo rd s t h at s ho ul d c o me t o h an d
, .

The n I co mp are d my S pectator wit h t h e o riginal dis cove re d some ,

o f my f aul t s an d co rre c t e d t h e m
,
B ut I fo un d I w ant e d a s t o ck of .

words or a re adine ss in re colle c t in g an d u sin g t he m which I t ho ught

, ,

I sho ul d h ave ac qui re d b e fore t hat t ime if I h ad gone on maki n g

ve rse s ; sin c e t h e co nt inual o cc asion for wo rd s o f t h e same imp o rt ,

but of diffe re nt le ngt h t o suit t h e me asu re or of diffe re nt sound fo r ,

t h e rhyme wo ul d h ave l aid me un de r a c o n st an t n e c e s sit y o f se arch

,

ing for varie t y and al so h ave t e n d e d t o fix t h at varie t y in my min d

,

an d make me m ast e r o f it The re fo re I t o ok so me o f t h e t ale s an d

.

t u rn e d t he m in t o ve rse ; and af t e r a t ime whe n I h ad pr e t t y we ll ,

fo rgo t t e n t h e pro se t ur ne d t he m b ack again I al so some t ime s

,
.

j umble d my c oll e c t ions o f hint s int o c onfu sion an d af t e r some ,

we e ks e n de avore d t o re du c e t he m int o t h e b e st o rde r b e fore I b e gan ,

t o fo rm t h e fu ll se nt e n c e s an d co mpl e t e t h e p ap e r This w as t o .

t e ach me me t h o d in t h e arr an ge me n t of t hou gh t s B y c omp aring .

my wo rk aft e rw ard s wit h t h e o rigin al I di s c ove re d many faul t s an d ,

a me n de d t h e m ; bu t I so me t ime s h ad t h e p le asur e o f f an cyin g t hat ,

in ce r t ain p ar t icul ar s of small imp or t I h ad b e e n lucky e nough t o ,

70 PRECIS WRITIN G
improve t h e me t h o d o r t h e l a n gu a ge ; an d t h is e n c ou r age d me t o
t hink I migh t p o s sibl y in t im e c o m e t o b e a t ole rabl e En glish writ e r
o f which I w as e x t re aml y ambit iou s .

B E NJAMIN FR A NK LIN , Aut obiography

59
THE RE is no t hing so h orrible as langu id st u dy ! wh e n y ou sit l ookin g
a t t h e clo ck w ishing t h e t ime w as o ve r o r t h at so me b o dy w o u l d c all
, ,

o n y o u an d p u t y ou o u t o f yo u r m ise ry Th e o nl y w ay t o r e a d wit h
.

a n y e ffi c a cy is t o r e a d so h e ar t ily t h a t din n e r t im e co me s t w o ho ur s
,
-

b e fo re y ou e xpe c t e d it To sit wit h yo u r Livy b e fo re y ou an d h e ar

.
,

t h e ge e se c a cklin g t h a t s ave d t h e C apit o l ; an d t o se e wit h you r o w n

e y e s t h e C ar t h ag in ian su t l e r s g a t he rin g up t h e rin g s o f t h e Ro man

kn igh t s af t e r t h e b at t le o f C ann ae an d h e apin g t h e m in t o bu s h e l s ;

,

an d t o b e so in t im a t e l y pr e se n t a t t h e a c t io n s y ou ar e r e a din g o f ,

t h a t whe n an yb o dy kn o cks a t t h e doo r it will t ake y ou t w o o r t hr e e

,

se c o n d s t o de t e rmin e wh e t h e r y o u a r e in yo u r o wn s t u dy o r in t h e ,

pl ains of L o mb ardy lo o kin g a t H an n ib al s w e at he r b e at e n fa c e an d

,
’
-
,

a dmir in g t h e sp l e n do r o f h is sin gl e e y e t his is t h e o nl y kin d of

s t u dy which is n o t t ir e so m e an d alm o s t t h e o nly kin d wh ich is n o t
,

u se le ss ; t his is t h e kn o wl e dge which g e t s in t o t h e s y s t e m an d ,

which a man c arrie s ab o u t an d u se s like h is limb s wit ho u t p e r ce iv ,

ing t h at it is e x t r an e o u s w e igh t y o r in co nve nie n t

, , ( 2 0 5 wo rds)
.

SYD NE Y S MI TH L ectures on Moral P hilos ophy

,

Ex amine c ar e f ully t h e se fiv e s ummar ie s of t h e f or e g oing

p a r ag r a p h .C o m p a r e t h e m w it h t h e o r ig in al an d d is c u ss t h e ir

r e lat iv e me r it s an d f aul t s Th e n arran g e t h e m in o r de r o f

.

e xc e ll e n c e Wit h t h e t h o ugh t s of t h e p ar ag r aph cle arly in min d

.
,

writ e a pré cis of yo u r o wn t h at Sh all be mo r e s at isfac t o ry st ill .

P r é c is 1 How much more profi ta ble an d perman ent is kn owl edge

gai n ed f m in telligen t
ro in t ensiv e study , wh en y ou foll ow your
an d

cha ract ers i n all t h e y d o a n d pu t your s e lf in t h e ir pl aces , tha n is

a n un i n t er est e d pursu i t of know le d ge , wh en you s it wa i ti ng for t h e

cl oc k t o go r oun d or for th e be ll t o r ing ( 5 2 w o rds)

.

P r é c is 2Do n ot thin k of the time wh en reading or s tud ying .

La nguid study i s horri ble L ive i n your book so tha t you d o n ot

.
7 2 P REC I S WRITIN G

61
IN theb e gin nin g o f t h e t hir t e e n t h c e n t ury whe n t h e clou d s and
,

st o rms h a d c o me W ,
he n t h e g ay s e n su o u s p a gan lif e w as gon e whe n ,

me n w e r e no t livin g by t h e se n se s an d un de r st a n din g whe n t he y ,

we re l ookin g fo r t h e sp e e dy co min g of An t ichrist t he re app e are d in ,

I t aly t o t h e no r t h o f Ro me in t h e b e au t iful Umb riam c ou rit ry at

, ,

t h e fo o t o f t h e Ap e n n in e s a figu re o f t h e most m ag ic al p o w e r and

“

charm S ain t Fr an cis His c e n t u ry is I t hink t h e most in t e re st in g

,
.
, ,

in t h e hist o ry of C hris t iani t y af t e r it s primit iv e ag e ! more int e re s t

ing t h an e ve n t h e c e n t u ry of t h e R e fo rm a t io n ; an d o ne of t h e chie f
figure s p e rh ap s t h e ve ry chie f t o which t his in t e re st at t ach e s it se lf
, , ,
'

is S ain t Fran c is . An d why ? B e c ause o f t h e pro foun d p op ul ar

in st in c t which e nabl e d h im mo r e t h an any man sin ce t h e primit ive
,

ag e t o fit re ligion fo r p o p ul a r u se
,
He brough t re ligio n t o t h e p e o p le
. .

He foun de d t h e most p o p ul ar b o dy of mini st e rs o f re ligio n t ha t h a s

e ve r e x is t e d in t h e C h urch H e t r ansfo rme d mo n achism by u p
.

roo t ing t h e st at ion ary monk de live ring h im from t h e b on dage of

,

prope r t y an d se n di n g him as a me ndi can t friar t o b e a s t ran ge r

, , ,

an d s o j ou rn e r n o t in t h e wil de rn e ss b u t in t h e mo st cr o wd e d

h aunt s of me n t o co nsole t h e m and t o d o t he m go o d This p opular

,
.

in st in c t o f h is is at t h e b o t t om o f h is f amous marriage wit h P o v e r t y .

P o v e r t y a n d suffe rin g ar e t h e co n dit ion o f t h e p e o p le t h e mul t it u d e , ,

t h e im me n se maj or it y of ma n kin d ; a n d it w as t o w ard t his pe ople

t h at h is so u l y e arn e d .He list e n s
”
it w a s s aid of h im
— “ to
”
t ho se t o wh o m Go d Himse lf wil l no t lis t e n .

MA TTH E W ARNO LD E ss ays in Criticism ,

62

ADJU ST ME NT is e x ac t ly wh at a man gain s whe n h e c ome s t o himse lf .

S o me me n gain it l at e , so me e arly ; so me g e t it al l a t o n c e , a s if by
o n e d is t in c t ac t o f de lib e r at e a cc o mmo d a t ion ; o t h e r s g e t it by de gr e e s

an d quit e imp e rc e p t ib l y No do ub t t o most me n it come s by t h e

.

sl o w pro c e s s e s o f e xp e rie n c e at e ach s t age o f life a li t t le A .

coll e ge man fe e l s t h e fir st sh o ck of it at gra du at ion , wh e n t h e b oy s ’

life h a s b e e n live d o u t an d t h e man s life sudd e nl y b e g in s H e h as

’
.

me asu re d himse lf wit h b o ys , h e kno ws t h e ir c o de an d fe e l s t h e sp u r

o f t he ir ide al s o f a chie ve me nt B ut wh at t h e w o rl d e xp e c t s o f h im
.

h e h a s y e t t o find out , an d it wo rks whe n h e h as discove re d it

a ve rit ab le r e vo lu t io n in h is w ay s b ot h o f t hough t and of act ion .
 LO N GE R E! P OSI TIO N AND D I S C USS IO N 73
He fin d s a n e w so rt of fit ne ss de man de d of him e x e cut ive t ho ro ug h , ,

goin g c are ful of de t ail s full o f dru dg e ry an d Ob e die n ce t o o rde rs

, , .

E ve ryb o dy is ah e a d o f h im J u st now h e w a s a se nio r a t t h e t op Of

.
,

a wo rl d h e kn e w an d re ig ne d in a fin is h e d pro du c t an d p a t t e rn o f
,

go o d fo rm Of a su dde n h e is a n o vice a gain a s gre e n a s in h is fir st

.
'

s ch ool ye ar s t u dying a t hin g t h a t se e m s t o h ave n o ru le s

, a t se a

amid cros s win d s an d a b it se a sick wit h al

-
,
P re se n t ly if h e b e made
.
,

o f s t u ff t h at will s h ake in t o s h ap e an d fit n e s s h e se t t l e s t o h is t asks ,

an d is c o mfo r t ab le He h a s c o me t o him se lf ! un de r st an ds what

.

c ap acit y is an d what it is me an t fo r ; se e s t h at h is t rain in g wa s no t

,

fo r o rname n t o r p e r so n al grat ificat io n b ut t o t e ach h im h o w t o u se

, ,

himse lf an d de ve lo p facul t ie s wo r t h u sin g He n ce for t h t he re is a .

z e st in a c t io n an d h e l o ve s t o se e h is st r o ke s t e ll
,
.

WOODROW WI L S ON Whe n a Man Comes to Himself ,

63
Ti n s t he n b e t h e mo s t imp o r t an t guide fo r u s in t h e choice
woul d
o f re adi n g . We s hou ld re a d o nl y t h e books t hat w e wan t t o re a d
mo re t han o n ce , no r s ho ul d we b uy a ny o t he r s , unl e ss w e have
so me sp e c ial r e a so n fo r so inv e st ing mon e y Th e se co nd fa c t d e .

man din g a t t e n t io n is t h e ge ne r al ch ara ct e r o f t h e value t hat li e s

,

hidde n wit hi n all su ch gre at books Th e y n e ve r b e co me O ld ! t he ir

.

you t h is immor t al A gre at b o ok is no t ap t t o b e compre he n de d by

.

a yo u n g p e r so n a t t h e fir st r e a din g , e xc e p t in a sup e rficial w ay .

O nl y t h e su rf a ce , t h e narr at ive , is ab so rb e d and e nj o ye d NO yo u ng .

man c an p o s sibly se e a t fir st r e adi n g t h e qu ali t ie s of a gre at b o ok .

Re me mb e r t hat it h as t ake n humanit y in many c ase s hun dre d s of

ye ars t o fin d out all t hat t he re is in su ch a bo o k B u t acco rding t o .

a man s e xp e rie n c e o f lif e , t h e t e x t will unfo l d n e w me anin gs t o h im

’
.

Th e b o ok t h at de l ight e d u s at e ight e e n , if it b e a goo d b ook, will

de li gh t u s mu ch mo re at t we n t y fiv e , and it will prove like a ne w
-

bo o k t o u s at t hirt y ye ars Of ag e At for t y w e s hall re re a d it , wo n de r

.

in g why w e n e ve r s aw h ow b e au t iful it w as b e fo re At fift y o r .

six t y y e ar s Of ag e t h e same fa c t s will r e p e at t he m se l ve s A gre at .

’
bo ok gro ws e xa c t ly in propo r t ion t o t h e gro w t h of t h e re ade r s
'

nd . I t w as t h e di sc ov e ry o f t his e x t r ao rdinary f a c t by g e ne r at ion s

of p e o p le lo n g de a d t h at m a de t h e gre a t ne ss o f su ch wor ks a s t ho se

of S h ake spe ar e , o f D an t e , o r o f Goe t h e .

LAFCAD IO HE ARN , Talks to Writers

74 P REC I S WRITIN G

64

FA ITH FULNE SS t o t h e b e st an d fine st in t h e p ast an d in t h e pre se n t ,

’
rat he r t han h orrifie d gap in g at t h e pre se n t s wo rst is t h e at t it u de ,

t h at me an s c o n t inue d an d b e t t e re d life ; for w e b e c o me wh a t w e

will What are w e O ffe rin g in t h e w ay Of c on cre t e e x ample s o r o f
.
, ,

fin e ly e xpre sse d t h ou gh t ab ou t vir t u e t o t h e y o ung t o t h e ign o r an t

, ,

n at io n s t h a t are p o u rin g in u p o n u s t h at wi ll he lp t h e m f o rm t h e ir
,

vi sion o f t h e p e rfe c t ? Wit h ou r n arro wing kn owle dge Of t h e gre at e r

p as t o ur choice of he roe s be co me s mo re an d mo re lo c al an d n at io n al ;
,

y e t o u r hie r archy Of sa cre d de a d is t o o sm all t o affo rd t h at v arie t y

Of h e ro ic a c t ion an d he roic choice t hat sho u l d always b e ke p t b e fo re
t h e min d s o f y o u t h We t e ach t he m t hat Ge orge Washingt on n e ve r
.

t ol d a lie ; w e t e a ch t h e m so me t h in g a n d t h e r e c o ul d b e no t h in g

b e t t e r Of Lin c oln ; b u t t ho se t w o figure s are lo n e ly u p on Olymp u s ,

a n d t h e gr e a t t r a gic s t o ry o f t h e w ay in wh ich L in co ln f a c e d t h e

gre at e s t crisis in ou r hist o ry will no t alone su ffice t o h e lp t h e e ve ry

d ay cit iz e n sh ap e h is t h ou gh t a n d ac t io n t o w ard co ns t ru c t ive ide al
ism . Th e l e sse r h e ro e s O f o u r yo un g r e p ub l ic h av e a c quit t e d t h e m
se lv e s n o b l y in t his s t ru ggl e an d in t h a t b u t t h e s t r u ggle s h av e b e e n
,

t oo c lose ly akin in n at u re t o give t h e e mbryo h e ro t h at br e ad t h an d

de p t h of nu r t u re t hat h e re qu ire s We n e e d an e nl arge d visio n Of
.

hist ory an d t h e sigh t o f gre at m e n of all age s fait hful t o small t asks
,

as t o gr e a t ; w e n e e d t h e c o mp an io n sh ip Of h e r o e s o f o t h e r t ime s a nd

Of o t he r n a t ion s an d no t Of milit ary h e roe s alo n e S ain t F ran cis

,
.

w it h h is u n c e asin g t e n de rn e ss t o man a n d b e as t F a t h e r D amie n a t

,

wo rk amo n g t h e le p e rs migh t far b e t t e r o ccupy t h e p age s o f o ur

,

mag az ine s t h an t h e p ict u r e d d e e ds of crimin als a n d t h e a chie ve me n t s

,

Of co n t e mpo rary mult imill io n aire s .

MAR GARE T SH E R WOOD The Other S ide ,

65
THE P urit an w as made Of t wo diffe re n t me n t h e o n e all s e lf
up ,

a b ase me n t p e n it e n ce grat it u de p assion ; t h e o t he r prou d c alm

, , , , ,

infl e x ibl e sag acious

,
He pro st r at e d himse lf in t h e dust b e fo r e h is
.

M ake r ; b u t h e se t h is fo o t o n t h e n e ck Of h is kin g In h is d e vo t io n al .

re t ire me n t h e praye d wit h c onvu lsio n s an d gro ans an d t e ars He

, , ,
.

w as h alf ma dd e n e d by glo riou s o r t e rrib le ill u sio n s H e h e ard t h e .

l yre s o f an ge l s o r t h e t e mp t in g whisp e rs o f fie n d s H e c au gh t a .

gle am o f t h e B e at ific Visio n o r wo ke s cre amin g fro m dre ams Of

,

e ve rl a s t in g fir e Like Vane h e t hou gh t himse lf e n t rust e d wi t h t h e

.
,
 LO N GE R E! P OS ITI O N AND D I S C US S I ON 75
c p t re of t h e mill e nni al ye ar Like F le e t woo d h e crie d in t h e
s e .
,

bit t e rn e ss of h is sou l t hat Go d h ad h id his face fro m him B u t .

wh e n h e t ook h is se at in t h e co un cil o r gir t o n his sword for w ar , ,

t h e se t e mp e st u o u s w o rkin gs Of t h e so ul h ad l e f t n o p e rc e p t ib l e t ra ce
b e hi n d t he m P e ople wh o saw n o t hin g of t h e go dl y b u t t he ir u n
.

co u t h visage s and he ard n o t hin g from t he m bu t t he ir gro an s an d

,

t he ir whini n g hymn s migh t l augh a t t h e m

,
B u t t hose h ad lit t le .

re ason t o l augh wh o e n co un t e re d t he m in t h e hall of d e b at e o r o n

t h e fie l d Of b at t l e . Th e se f an a t ics brough t t o civil an d milit ary
afi air s a c o oln e ss of j u dgme n t a n d an immu t ab ilit y o f p urp ose which

s ome writ e r s h a ve t ho u gh t in co n sis t e n t wit h t he ir re li giou s z e al b u t ,

which we re in fa c t t h e n e ce ssary e ff e c t s of it Th e int e n sit y Of t he ir .

fe e lin gs o n o ne su bj e c t ma de t he m t ran quil on e ve ry o t he r O ne .

o ve rp o we rin g se nt ime n t h ad su bj e c t e d t o it se lf p it y an d h at re d
‘
,

a mb it ion an d f e a r . D e a t h h ad l o st it s t e rro rs an d p le asure it s

charms The y h ad t he ir smile s an d t he ir t e ars t he ir rap t ure s an d
.
,

t he ir sorro ws b u t n o t fo r t h e t hin gs o f t his wo rl d

,
.

THOMA S B AB ING T ON MAC AU LAY Essay on Milton ,

C . E . E
920 . B C
,
1

THE o rigin alit y of fo rm and t re at me n t which Ma c aul ay gave t o t h e

hist o rical e ssay h as n ot , pe rh aps , re ce ive d d ue re c og nit io n Wit h .

o u t h avi n g in ve nt e d it , h e so g r e at l y impro ve d an d e xp an de d it
,

t h at h e de se rve s n e arl y as mu ch cre dit as if h e h ad He did fo r t h e .

hist oric al e ssay what Haydn d id fo r t h e so nat a , and Wat t for t h e

st e am e n gine ! h e fo un d it ru di me n t a ry an d un imp o r t an t , a n d l e f t it
-

comple t e an d a t hin g of p owe r B e fore his t ime t he re was t h e

.

p on de ro u s hist o ry , ge n e rally in quart o , an d t he re w as t h e ant i

q u arian d isse r t at ion The re w as a lso t h e hist o rical r e vie w , c on t ain
.

ing al t e rn at e p a ge s of e xt ra ct an d comme n t , ge ne rally dull and

grit t y B u t t h e hist orical e ssay , as h e con ce ive d it , an d wit h t h e
.

promp t in spirat ion of a re al di sco ve re r imme di at e ly put in t o prac t ical

s hap e , w as as goo d as u nkn o wn b e f o r e him To t ake a bright p e rio d
.

o r p e rson a ge Of hist o ry , t o frame it in a fir m ou t l ine , t o co n ce ive it

a t on c e in a r t icl e siz e , an d t h e n t o fill in t his limit e d c an vas wit h

sp arklin g an e cdo t e , t e llin g b it s o f c ol o r , an d f a c t s , all f use d t o ge t h e r

by a re al ge ni us for narrat ive , was t h e s ort Of ge n re p ain t in g which -

M ac aulay appl ie d t o hist o ry . An d t o t his d ay h is e ssays t e

main t h e b est O f t he ir class, no t o nl y in Englan d , b ut in Europ e .
76 P REC I S WRITIN G
S lig h t or e ven t rivial in t h e fie l d Of hist o ri cal e rudi t ion and crit ical
«

in quiry , t h e y are mast e rp ie ce s if r e garde d in t h e ligh t of gr e at p opul ar

cart oons o n subj e c t s t ake n from mo d e rn his t ory The y are p ain t e d ,
.

in d e e d , wi t h su ch fre e d om , viv id ne ss , and p o we r t h at t he y may b e

said t o e nj o y a so r t o f t a cit mo n op o l y o f t h e p e rio d s a n d ch a ra c t e r s

t o whi ch t h e y r e fe r , in t h e e st imat io n of t h e ge n e ral p u bl ic .

I C O T TE R MORI S ON, L ife of T B Macaulay

. . .

67
HE RE , in Euro p e , t h e me chanically prop e lle d w agon m ade it s
as

app e ar an c e in e ar ly t ime s
. . This ve hicle , like t h e b icycle , is n o t
e sse n t ially a m o d e r n inve n t io n ; t h e r e ason a n yo n e m ay manu
fac t ur e it is t h at pr ac t ic ally all t h e b asic ide as a n t e dat e 1 8 40 In .

de e d , t h e au t o mobile is re ally O lde r t han t h e railro ad In t h e .

t w e n t ie s an d t h ir t ie s , s t e am s t age co a ch e s mad e r e g ul ar t rip s b e

t we e n c e r t ain cit ie s in E nglan d a nd o cc asio n ally a mu ch r e so un din g
powe r- drive n c arriage wo u ld come car e e rin g t hrou gh Ne w Y o rk an d
P hila de lphia , s c arin g all t h e h orse s an d pre cip it a t in g t h e in t e r
v e n t ion o f t h e au t h o rit ie s . Th e h ardy sp irit s w h o de vise d t he se
e n gi n e s , a ll o f who se n ame s are r e c o rde d in t h e e n cycl o p e dias , d e

se rv e d ly r ank a s t h e
“ ”
fat he rs of t h e au t omobile Th e re sp on si
“
.

”
bilit y as t h e a c t u al inve n t o r c an prob ably b e n o mo re de fini t e ly
pla ce d Howe ve r , h ad it no t be e n fo r t w o d e ve lo pme n t s , ne it he r o f
.

t h e m imme diat e l y re la t e d t o t h e mo t o r c ar , w e sh oul d n e ve r h ave

”
h ad t his e fficie n t me t h o d o f t ran sp o rt at io n . Th e re al fat he r s Of
t h e au t omob il e ar e Go t t lie b D aimle r , t h e Ge rm an w h o ma de t h e
first su cce ssful gaso line e ngine , a nd C h arle s Go o dye ar , t h e Ame ric an
w h o d is c o ve r e d t h e se cr e t o f v ul c an iz e d r ubb e r . Wit hou t t his
e ng in e t o fo rm t h e mo t ive p o w e r an d t h e p ne uma t ic t ire t o give it

four air cushio ns t o run on , t h e aut o mobile w oul d ne ve r h ave p ro

-

g re sse d b e yon d t h e s t e am c arria ge s t age I t is t rue t h at C h arl e s

-

“
.

B al dwin S e l d e n , Of Ro ch e st e r , h a s b e e n p ic t u re d a s t h e inve n t o r o f
”
t h e mo de rn au t o mo b ile , b e c au se , as lon g ag o as 1 8 7 9 , h e appli e d
for a p at e n t o n t h e ide a o f u sing a g asol in e e n gine as mo t ive p o we r ,
se cu ring t his b asic p a t e n t in 1 8 9 5 ; b u t t his , it must b e admi t t e d ,

forms a flimsy b asis for su ch a pre t e nt ious claim .

B UR T ON J HE ND RIC K , The Age of B ig B us iness

.

68
THE most plausible sche me fo r ge t t ing rid of in div idual we alt h and ,

t he re by e nriching t h e wh ole p eop le is t h at by which t h e gove m

,
 LO N GE R E! P O S ITIO N AND D I SCUS S IO N «

77
me nt shoul d prop e rt y and t hat it shoul d e mploy e ve ry
o w n all the ,

o ne a t a like w ag e guar an t e e ing t h at all s h oul d h ave e n ou gh t o live

,

on . Th e Obj e c t io n t o t his pr oj e c t is simple ! it is t h at go ve rnme n t

‘
work c an no t b e do ne in a w ay sufli cie n t ly e co n omi c al t o make mon e y .

It h as ne ve r b e e n so d o ne an d w it h human nat u re as it is w e may

, ,

b e sure t h at it ne ve r will b e t hu s don e Th e man whose p ay is t o b e .

t h e same whe t he r h e su cc e e ds or f ails will n o t an d c ann o t w o rk

, ,

as if su cc e ss o r f ailu r e d e p e n de d o n t h e t oil an d c are wh ich h e g av e

t o his t ask D one by t h e go ve rnme n t wo rk is o f t e n e xce lle n t in

.
,

qualit y bu t it is ne ve r e conomic ally p e rforme d If all t h e busin e ss .

o f t h e p e op l e we r e c arr ie d o n in t h e mann e r in which o ur nat io n al

a dmini st r at ive t asks ar e e x e c u t e d t h e r e sul t wo u l d b e t ha t n o sav ,

in g woul d a ccru e ; t h e w e al t h no w e x ist in g t h a t is t h e re main de r ,

af t e r t h e l ab o r e r s a re p aid woul d so on be e at e n up an d ge ne ral ,

impo ve ris hme n t wou l d e nsue In o t he r wo rd s v e ry so on af t e r a

.
,

che ck was p la ce d on t h e vigil an ce fore sigh t an d lab o r o f t h e b usi , ,

n e ss me n w e s ho ul d so far as w e al t h is c o n c e rn e d r e t u rn t o t h e
, , ,

e sse n t ial p osit io n of sava ge s ! no t hin g w ou l d b e l aid by ; t he re

w oul d t hu s b e no pro visio n fo r all t h e v ast an d c o st ly wo rk of
gove rnme n t an d e du c at ion and charit y .

NA THA NIE L S SHALE R Th e Citiz en .

,

69
THE cit y is a goo d frie n d t o t h e p o o r It give s t he m d ay nurse rie s .

fo r t he ir b ab ie s , kin de rga r t e n s for t h e ir lit t le chil dre n s ch o o ls fo r ,

t he ir b oy s an d g irls p l aygro un ds swimmin g p o o ls re cre at io n p ie rs

, ,
-
, ,

re adin g rooms librarie s church e s club s ho spit als ch e ap amu se

-
, , , , ,

me nt s op e n air c on c e r t s e mp lo yme n t a ge n cie s t h e co mp an io n ship

,
-
, ,

o f t h e ir kin d an d t h e ch an c e o f a frie n d at n e e d
,
In re t u rn t h e .
,

poo r love t h e cit y and c lin g t o it wit h re ason able b u t some wh at

,

s t ifli n g affe c t ion The y kno w t hat t h e harde st t hin g in l ife is t o b e

“
.

iso l at e d un re la t e d t o u se C arlyle s ap t w o rd ; a n d t h e y e s c ap e
’
,

t hi s f at e by e sche win g t h e mu ch l au de d fie l ds a nd f arms The y -

.

kno w al so t hat in t h e coun t ry t he y mu st s t an d or f all by t he ir o w n

un aide d e ffo r t s t he y mu st l e arn t h e h ard l e s so n of se lf r e lian c e
,
-
.

Many o f t he m prop ose t o live as d id t h e ast u t e au t ho r of P iers ,

P l owman ,
in t h e t oWn a nd o n t h e t o wn as w e ll ,
”
More ove r .
,

ple asu re me an s as mu ch t o t he m as it doe s t o t h e re st Of us We .

h ardl y n e e de d Mr C he st e rt on t o t e ll us t h at a visit t o a c orne r

.

salo on may b e j ust as e x cit in g a n e ve n t t o a t e n e me n t —house dwe ll e r ,

78 P REC I S WRITIN G
as a din n e r at a gol d -
m arb l e ho t e l is t o t h e ave r age middl e cl ass
an d — -

cit iz e n ; an d t hat t h e t e n e m e n t h o u se dwe ll e r m ay b e j u st as m o de ra t e

-

in h is p o t a t io n s ! Me rrily t akin g t wop e n n y r u m , an d che e se wit h

”
a p o cke t kn ife . AGNE S RE P P LIE R , Our L ad y P over ty

70

THE value o f mon e y a s an e le me n t o f happin e ss diminis he s rapidl y

in p r op o r t io n t o it s a mo u n t In t h e c a se o f t h e hum b le r f o r t un e s
.
,

e a ch a cc e s sio n br in g s w it h it a l a rg e in cre ase o f p le a su r e an d c o mf o r t ,

an d pr o b ab l y a ve r y co n side ra b l e a ddit io n t o re a l h app in e ss In t h e .

c ase Of rich m e n t his is n o t t h e c ase an d o f c o lo ssal fo r t u n e s o n ly a

,

ve ry small fra c t io n c an b e t ruly said t o min ist e r t o t h e pe rso n al

e n j o yme n t o f t h e o w n e r Th e d ispro p o r t io n in t h e wo rl d b e t w e e n
.

ple asu re an d c o st is in de e d almo st lu dicro u s Th e t w o o r t hre e .

sh illin g s t h a t g ave u s o u r fir s t S h ake sp e a r e wo u l d g o b u t a sm all

-

w ay t o w ard pro vidin g o n e Of t h e p e rh ap s u n t as t e d d ish e s o n t h e

de sse r t t able Th e cho ice s t mast e rpie ce s o f t h e hu man min d t h e
.
_

wo rks o f hu man ge n iu s t h at t hro u gh t h e lo n g c o u rse Of ce n t u rie s

h ave do n e m ost t o e nno ble c o n so le bright e n an d dire c t t h e live s
, , ,

o f me n ,
might all b e p u rch ase d — I d o n o t say by t h e co st o f a
l a dy s n e ckl a c e b u t by t h a t Of o n e o r t w o Of t h e lit t l e s t o n e s o f which
’
,

it is c o mp o se d C o mp a r e t h e re lish wi t h which t h e t ire d p e de s t rian

.

e a t s h is br e a d a n d ch e e se wit h t h e app e t it e s w it h which m e n sit

do wn t o so me s t at e l y b an qu e t ; co mp are t h e le ve l Of spirit s at t h e
vill age dan ce wit h t h a t o f t h e gre at cit y ball who se lav ish sple n do r
fills t h e so cie t y p ap e rs w it h ad mir a t io n ; c o mp ar e t h e ch a rm o f
co n ve rsat io n in t h e c olle ge co mmo n ro o m wit h t h e we a ry f a ce s t h at
—

m ay b e Of t e n se e n aro u n d t h e millio n air e s din n e r t ab le ’

an d w e

m ay g ain a go o d l e sso n o n t h e van it y Of riche s Th e t r an sit io n fro m .

w an t t o c o mfo rt brin gs wit h it ke e n e n j oyme n t an d mu ch last in g

happin e ss Th e t ransit io n fro m me re c o mfo r t t o lux u ry brin gs
.

in co mp ar ab ly l e ss an d c o st s in co mp ar abl y mo re
, ( 2 9 6 wo rd s) .

W E H LE CK Y Th e Map of L ife
. . .
,

B e lo w is a r e mark ably g oo d bu t v e ry shor t s um mary of t h e

,

par ag r a p h fr o m L e c ky s M ap of Life I t w as wr it t e n in t w e l ve
’
.

min u t e s by a g irl wh o h a d s t u die d préc is writ ing in En g lish

s c h o o l s b e f o r e c o m in g t o Am e r ic a E x t r e m e c on c ise n e ss w as
.

c h ar a c t e ris t ic Of all h e r p réc is w o rk In w h at w ays d id t his .

80 P REC I S WRI TIN G

c . E . E . B .
,
1 92 2
E! TRE ME busyness whe t he r ,
c o lle ge k irk o r marke t is a
at s ch ool or , ,

sy mp t o m o f d e fic ie n t vit alit y ; a n d a f a c u l t y fo r id le n e s s imp lie s a

c at ho lic app e t it e an d a s t ro n g se n se of p e rso n al ide n t it y Th e re is .

a so r t o f d e a d a live —
h ackn e y e d p e op le ab o u t w h o ar e s carce ly
, ,

co n sciou s o f l ivin g e xce p t in t h e e x e rcise o f some co nve n t ional

o cc up a t io n . B rin g t h e se f e llo ws in t o t h e c o u n t ry o r se t t h e m ,

ab o a rd sh ip an d y o u w ill se e h o w t h e y p in e fo r t h e ir d e sk o r t h e ir
,

st u dy Th e y h ave no curio sit y ; t h e y c an n o t give t he mse l ve s ove r

.

t o ran do m pro vo c a t io n s ; t he y d o no t t ake p l e a su re in t h e e x e rcise o f

t h e ir f a cu lt ie s fo r it s o w n sake ; an d u n l e s s N e c e ssit y l ay s ab ou t
t h e m w it h a s t ick t h e y w ill e ve n s t an d s t ill
,
I t is n o goo d sp e aking .

t o su ch f olk ! t h e y c an n ot b e idle t h e ir nat u re is n o t ge n e ro u s e n ou gh ;

,

a n d t h e y p ass t h o se h o u r s in a s o r t o f c o ma wh ich are n o t d e di c at e d ,

t o fu rio us moilin g in t h e gol d m il l Whe n t he y d o no t re quire t o go

-
.

t o t h e O ffic e whe n t h e y ar e n o t h un gry a n d h ave n o min d t o drink

, ,

t h e who le bre a t hin g wo rl d is a b l a nk t o t h e m If t he y h ave t o w ait .

an h o u r o r so fo r a t r ain t h e y f all in t o a s t u p id t r an c e w it h t h e ir
,
“
e y e s op e n . To se e t h e m y o u wo u l d supp ose t h e re w as no t hing t o
,

l o ok a t an d no o n e t o sp e ak w it h ; y o u w o ul d imag in e t h e y we re
p a ralyz e d o r alie na t e d ; an d y e t ve ry p ossibly t he y are h ard w o rke rs
in t he ir o w n w ay an d h ave go o d e y e sigh t fo r a flaw in a d e e d o r a
,

t urn Of t h e marke t Th e y h ave b e e n t o s cho o l an d c o l le ge b u t all

.
,

t h e t im e t h e y h a d t h e ir e y e o n t h e me d al ; t h e y h av e g o n e ab ou t
in t h e wo rl d an d m ix e d w it h cl e ve r p e o pl e b u t all t h e t im e t h e y ,

we re t hinking o f t he ir o w n affairs As if a m an s so u l we re no t t oo .
’

sm al l t o b e g in w it h t h e y h ave dw arfe d a n d n arro w e d t h e irs by a

,

life o f all w o rk an d no p l ay ; u n t il h e r e t h e y are a t f o rt y w it h a ,

lis t l e ss a t t e n t io n a min d vac an t o f all m at e rial of amu se m e n t an d

, ,

n o t o n e t h ou gh t t o r ub ag ain st a n o t h e r while t he y w ait fo r t h e ,

t rain . B e fo re h e w as br e e ch e d h e migh t h av e c lamb e re d o n t h e

,

b oxe s b u t n o w t h e p ip e is smoke d ou t t h e snuff b o x e mp t y ,

-
,

a n d my ge n t l e man sit s b o l t u prigh t on a b e n ch wit h lame n t ab le ,

e ye s. This do e s no t app e al t o me a s b e in g S u cce ss in Lif e .

RO BE RT L OUI S S TE VE N S O N Virginibus P uerisque ,

 IV

D E S C RIP T IVE P AR A G RAP HS

THE p récis of a d e sc rip t iv e se le c t io n o ffe r s a d iffi c ul t pr o b le m .

How mu c h d e t ail c an b e t h r o wn a way , w hil e s t ill p r e se rving

t h e p ic t u r e c o n t ain e d in t h e o r ig in al ? At t h e o u t se t , a g o o d
de sc r ip t ion is usually mo r e c o n de n se d t han an ane cd o t e o r
dis c ussion . Th e r e sul t is t h at s t u d e n t s w he n making an ,

ab s t r a c t ,
ar e t e mp t e d me r e l y t o p ar ap h r ase t h e o r igin al in

w o r ds Of t he ir own wit h bu t lit t le re d uc t io n in n umb e r O f

,

wo r d s or imag e s .

Th e only w ay t o make a s a t isf ac t o ry pré c is of a d e sc rip t io n

is t o g iv e in a s e n t e n c e or t w o t h e t o t al impr e ssio n or g e n e r al ,

e ff e c t o f t h e o r ig in al p ic t ur e Thi s me an s t h at p r ac t ic all y al l
.

de t ails m u st b e discar d e d For inst an ce in t h e se le c t ion from

.
,

P oe t hat f oll o w s ( N O 7
,
. me lan cho ly gloo m is t h e g e n e r al
imp r e ssion which co me s t o t h e r e ad e r Th e min u t e d e t ail t ha t
.

c r e at e s t his at mo sp h e r e su ch as t h e t r e lli se d pan e s

,
”
the ,

t h e t at t e r e d an d c omf o r t le ss fur nit ur e

”
fr e t t e d c e iling ,
c an ,

n o t b e in cl u de d in a summary O f t h e p as sag e .

73
THE room in whi ch I foun d myse lf w as ve ry large an d loft y Th e .

win do ws we re lo n g , n a rro w , an d p oin t e d , an d at so vas t a dist an ce

fro m t h e bl ack o ake n flo o r as t o b e alt oge t he r in acce ssibl e from
wit hin F e e bl e gle ams o f e n crimso ne d li ght ma de t he ir w ay t hro u gh
.

t h e t r e lli se d p an e s an d se r ve d t o re n de r suffi cie n t l y di st in c t t h e mo re

promin e n t obj e ct s aro un d ; t h e e y e , ho we ve r , s t ru ggle d in vain t o
re a ch t h e re mo t e r an gle s of t h e chamb e r or t h e re ce sse s o f t h e
vaul t e d and fre t t e d c e ilin g D ark drape rie s hun g up on t h e wall s
. .

Th e ge ne ral fur nit u re w as pro fuse co mfo r t le ss ant ique and t a t

, , ,

t e re d
. Many b ooks and mu sical in st rume n t s l ay sca t t e re d ab ou t ,

b u t f aile d t o give any vit alit y t o t h e s ce ne I fe l t t h at I bre at he d

.

an a t mo sph e r e o f so rr o w An air o f st e m d e e p an d irre dee mab le

.
, ,

l oo m h un g o ve r an d p e rva de d all ( 1 3 6 wo rds)

g .

EDGAR ALLA N P OE The F all of the Hous e of Usher

,
 P REC I S WRITIN G
H e r e is a p ré c is which r e d uc e s the p ar ag rap h fr om 1 36 wo r ds
to 29 .

P r é cis Th e roo m D imly l igh te d

wa s la rge , high , a n d ch eerl ess .

a nd h eavy wit h d ar k d raper i es a n d clumsy old furnit u r e , i t ma d e

an impre ssi on upon me of s orr ow a n d d eep gloom ( 2 9 words) .

74
HARD by t h e farmhouse w as a vast b arn t hat migh t h ave se rve d ,

fo r a church e ve ry win do w an d cre vic e o f wh ich se e me d b ur st in g

,

fo rt h wit h t h e t re asure s Of t h e farm ; t h e flail w as busily re so un din g

w it hin it from mo rni n g t o ni gh t ; sw allo ws a nd mar t in s ski mm e d
t wit t e rin g ab o u t t h e e ave s ; an d ro w s o f p ige on s some wit h o n e e y e ,

t u rne d up as if wa t ch in g t h e w e a t he r so me wit h t h e ir h e a d s un de r
, ,

t h e ir win gs or b urie d in t h e ir b o so m s an d o t h e rs swe llin g a n d

, , ,

co oing an d b owing ab out t he ir dame s we re e n j oying t h e sun shin e

, ,

o n t h e roo f S le e k unwie l dy p o rke r s w e re grun t in g in t h e re p ose

.
,

an d ab un d an c e Of t h e ir p e n s ; whe n c e salli e d fo r t h n o w an d t he n , ,

t roo p s o f su ckin g pigs as if t o snu ff t h e air ,

A s t at e ly s qu a dr o n o f .

sn o wy g e e se w e re r idin g in an a dj o in in g p o n d c on vo yin g who le ,

fle e t s Of du cks ; re gime n t s of t u rke y s we re gobbling t hrou gh t h e

f arm y ard and guin e a fowls w e re fre t t ing abou t it like ill t e mp e re d
-
, ,
-

hou se wive s wit h t he ir p e e vish di sco n t e nt e d cry B e fore t h e b arn

,
.

doo r st ru t t e d t h e gallan t c o ck t hat p at t e rn Of a husb an d a warrio r

, , ,

an d a fin e ge n t le man cl appin g h is b u rnishe d win g s a n d cr o win g in

, ,

t h e pride and gl adne ss o f hi s he ar t s ome t ime s t e ar in g u p t h e

e a r t h wi t h h is fe e t a n d t h e n ge n e ro u sly c allin g h is e ve r hun gry

,
-

family of wive s an d chil dre n t o e n j o y t h e rich morse l which h e h ad

discove re d WA SHINGT O N IRVI NG The S ketch B ook
.
,

75
RAIN h as c olor . Th e ! r g ray
hard rain h as a soft vani sh
uake of a

ing qualit y far l e ss du r able an d t an gib le t h an t h e filmy co bw e b .

S ome t ime s ahn ost whit e Of t e n blue mo st fre qu e n t ly r ain r e sp on ds

, ,

wit h unusu al se n sit ive ne ss t o it s e nvironme n t an d sh ado ws b ack t h e ,

gre e n Of apple t re e le ave s o r t h e sombre brown of a dust y highway

-
.

Most b e aut iful is t h e silve ry S h e e n o f rain o n warm summ e r d ays ,

whe n t h e d e sce n t is int e rmit t e n t an d o ne h as t h e ple asu re o f S p e cu

l at in g o n t h e qu alit y of t h e rain t o b e Th e p oe t s h ave a gre a t de al .

t o say ab ou t gol de n r ain b u t t h a t fall s o n ly in t h e Go l d e n Ag e ;

,

w e se e t h a t cl e ar cry st allin e r ain f all o n l y against a glowin g gol de n

sun se t in April The Atla nt ic Monthly
.
“ Rain ”
,
 DE S C RI P TI VE P ARAGRAP H S 83

76
P H Y S ICALL Y , Jame s J Hill w as a man w h o se e me d t o e xpre ss in his
.

app e a r an c e t h e fo rc e an d ch ar ac t e r wh ich di s t in g uish e d him me n

t all y amon g me n .S ligh t l y un d e r ave r age he igh t wit h a gre at h e ad ,

firmly se t o n s qu are p o w e rful shou l de r s h e co mman d e d at t e n t io n

, , .

He w as phy sically st ro n g an d h is p o we rs of e n du ran ce whi ch se rve d

, ,

h im so w e ll in t h e l on g h ard days o f h is e arly l ife re maine d uni m ,

p aire d almost t o h is de at h His firm mou t h w as h alf hidde n by a

.

be ard whit e ne d in his lat t e r y e ars His bro w w as high Hi s e ye s

,
. .

we re ale rt an d lo oke d ou t fro m b e n e at h S haggy e ye brows He was .

a m an o f a no t ab le app e aran ce which d e m an de d r e sp e c t an d in sp ir e d

co nfi de n ce . J O SEP H HU S BAND Americans by Ad option ,

77
MY aun t w as a t all h ard fe at u re d l a dy b u t by no me an s ill l ooking
,
-
,
-
.

The re w as an infle xib ili t y in h e r fa ce in h e r vo ice in h e r g ait an d , ,

c arriage amply sufficie n t t o a cco un t fo r t h e e ffe ct sh e h ad made

,

u p o n a ge n t le cr e at ure like my mo t h e r ; b u t h e r f e at u re s w e re r a t h e r

h an dsome t han o t he rwise t hou gh unb e n ding an d au st e re I p ar

, .

t ic u l arly n o t ic e d t h at sh e h ad a ve ry qu ic k br igh t e y e He r h air , .

,

whi ch w as gray w as arran ge d in t w o p lain di v isions un de r wh at I

, ,

b e lie ve wou ld b e c alle d a mob c ap ! I me an a cap mu ch mo re -

,

common t h e n t h an now wit h side pie ce s fast e n in g un de r t h e c hin

,
—
.

He r dr e ss w as Of a lave n de r colo r an d p e rfe ct l y n e at b u t s c an t ily , ,

ma de as if sh e de sire d t o b e as lit t l e e n cumb e re d a s p o ssib le I

,
.

re me mbe r t h at I t hou ght it in fo rm mo re like a ridin g habit wit h

, ,
-

t h e sup e rfluous Skir t c u t O ff t h an an y t hin g e l se ,

S h e w o re a t h e r .

Side a ge n t le man s gol d w at ch if I might j u dge fro m it s siz e an d

’
,

make wit h an appropriat e ch ain a n d se als ; sh e h a d some line n a t

,

h e r t h ro at no t un like a S hir t collar an d t hin gs at h e r wrist s l ike

-
,

l it t le shirt wrist b an d s
- CH ARLE S D ICKE N S D avid Copperfi eld
.
,

78
B UT t h e t hird man re main e d o b s t in at e l y sile n t un de r all t h e st roke s
fro m t h e kn o t t e d co rd He w as ve ry diff e re n t in asp e c t fro m his
.

t w o fe llo w priso n e rs
-
Th e y we re yo un g a nd h ardy , an d , in t h e s c an t
.

clo t hin g which t h e avarice Of t he ir c ap t o rs h ad le ft t he m, lo oke d

like v ul gar , s t u rdy me n di can t s B u t h e h ad p asse d t h e b oun d ary Of
.

O l d ag e , an d c o ul d h ardl y b e le ss t h an fo u r o r fiv e a n d —six t y His -

.

be ard , which h ad g rown lon g in ne gle ct , and t h e hair , which fe ll

84 P REC I S WRITING
t h ick a nd st raight roun d h is b a ld n e ss , we re ne arly whi t e His t hick .

se t fig ur e w as s t ill firm an d upr igh t , t h ou gh e m a c ia t e d , and se e me d

t o e xpre ss e n e rgy in sp it e of ag e an e xpre ssio n t h at w as p ar t ly

c arrie d ou t in t h e d ark e y e s and s t ron g , dark e ye brows , whi ch h ad

a st r an ge ly isol at e d in t e n sit y o f c olor in t h e midst o f his y e llow ,
bloo dl e ss , de e p wrinkl e d f ace wit h it s lank , gray h airs An d y e t
-
.

t h e re w as so m e t hin g fit ful in t h e e ye s , which co n t ra d ic t ed t h e o cc a

'

sio u al fl as h Of e n e rgy ; af t e r l oo kin g r o un d w it h qu ic k fie rc e n e s s a t

win do ws an d fa ce s , t he y fe ll again wit h a lo s t and wan de rin g look .

B u t h is lip s w e re mo t ion le ss , an d h e he l d h is h an d s re so lut e ly do wn .

GE O R GE E L I O T , R omola
79
WILLIAMS an d I p ause S u bway e n t ran c e s an d wat ch t h e
at the
e a r t h su ck in I t l e t s it se lf b e swal lo we d up wit h me e k
t h e cro wd .

goo d n at u re O ur amaz in g goo d n at ur e ! P olit ic al philo soph e rs have

-
.
-

de plore d t h e fa c t The y h ave u rge d us t o b e quicke r t e mp e re d ,

.
-

more re se n t ful of b e in g st e pp e d up o n , more in clin e d t o writ e l e t t e r s

t o t h e e d it o r I agre e t hat o nl y in t hat way c an w e b e rid of p olit ic al
.

b o sse s , of bru t al p olic e me n , of t icke t sp e culat ors, Of t axicab e x t or

-

t io n e r s , o f in sole n t w ait e rs , o f j anit o rs , o f in d e c e n t c o n ge s t ion in

t rave l , o f unh e at e d c ars in t h e w in t e r an d b arre d up win dow s in -

su mm e r . I am at h e ar t wit h t h e so cial phi lo sophe rs B u t t he n I .

am n o t t yp ic al Of t h e cro wd Whe n my ne ighbo r s e lb o w inj e ct s

.
’

it se lf int o t h e small o f my b ack, I t wist aro un d an d gl o w e r a t h im .

I forg e t t h at h is e lb ow is t h e in no ce n t me ch an ical re sul t of a whole

se r ie s o f e l b o w s an d b acks e x t e n din g t h e l e n g t h o f t h e car , t o wh e re

t h e first c au se Op e r at e s in t h e fo rm o f a st at ion gu ard s sh oul de r

’
-

ramming t h e hum an cat t le in t o t he ir st alls In t h e face s ab ou t me

.

t h e r e is n o r e se n t me n t I nst e ad of smashing win do ws , inst e ad o f

.

r aisin g b arric ade s in t h e S ubw ay an d han g ing t h e t rain g uards wit h -

t he ir o w n l an t e rn s ab o u t t h e ir n e cks , t h e cro wd sw ay s an d b e n ds t o
t h e l u rchin g o f t h e t rain , an d y ou n g vo ice s c all ou t ch e e rfully ,
“P le n t y o f room ah e ad ” S IMEON S TRUN S KY , The S tree t
.

80
AR OUND , as coul d se e t h e re w as hardl y a y ard of le ve l
far as one ,

groun d ; all w as hill an d holl o w t hat long ago h ad be e n re claime d

,

from t h e mo or ; an d a gain st t h e dist an t f ol ds Of t h e hills t h e f arm

house an d it s t h at che d b a rns we re j ust visible e mbowe re d amo ngst ,

b ee che s and some dark t re e s wit h a sof t bright cro wn of sun ligh t
.
 DES C RI P TI VE P ARAGRAP HS

o ve r t h e whole A ge n t le win d brou gh t a fain t rust li n g up from

.

t ho s e b e e ch e s an d fr o m a l a rge lim e t re e t h at s t o o d by it se lf ; on
,

t hi s win d so me li t t l e sn o wy cl ou d s ve ry high an d fu git ive in t h at

,

blu e h e ave n w e re alw ays movin g o ve r B u t what st ruck me mo st

,
.

w e re t h e bu t t e rcup s Ne ve r w as fie l d s o light e d up by t ho se t in y
.

l amp s t ho se lit t l e bright p ie c e s Of flow e r chi na ou t of t h e Gre at

,
-

P o t t e ry The y co ve re d t h e whole gro un d as if t h e sun light h ad

.
,

fall e n b o dily from t h e sky in t e n s of mil lio n s Of go l d p at in e s ; an d

,

t h e fie l d s b e lo w as w e ll do wn t o wh a t w as e vide n t ly a s t re am w e re
, ,

j u s t as t hick wit h t h e e x t rao rdi na ry w arm t h an d glo ry Of t he m .

J OH N GAL S WO RTH Y B u ttercup Nigh t ,

-

81

TH E mir t h comp an y w as gre at ly promo t e d by t h e hum ors of

of t he
a n e cce n t ric p e r so n ag e wh om M r B r a c e bridg e al wa y s a ddr e sse d wi t h
.

t h e qu ain t app e ll a t ion o f M as t e r S imon He w as a t ight brisk lit t le

.
,

man wit h t h e air o f an a rr an t o ld b a ch e lo r His n o se w as sh ap e d

,
.

like t h e b ill o f a p arro t ; h is fa c e sligh t ly p it t e d wit h t h e small p o x

_ ,

wit h a dry p e rp e t u al bloom o n it like a fro st b it t e n l e af in au t umn -

.

He h a d an e y e o f gre at qu ickn e ss an d vivacit y w it h a droll e ry an d , _

l u rkin g w agg e ry o f e xpr e ssion t h at w as irre sist ibl e H e w as e v i .

d e n t ly t h e w it o f t h e f ami ly de alin g v e ry mu ch in S ly j oke s an d

,

innue n do e s wit h t h e l a die s an d makin g infini t e me rrime n t by h arp

,

in g u p on O l d t h e me s which u nfo r t un at e ly my ign o r an c e Of t h e

, , ,

famil y chro n icle s d id no t p e rmit me t o e n j oy It se e me d t o b e hi s .

gre at de ligh t du ring supp e r t o ke e p a yo u ng girl n e xt h im in a c on

t inu al ago n y Of s t ifl e d l au gh t e r in sp it e o f h e r aw e o f t h e re pro vin g
' '

,
.

l o oks O f h e r mo t h e r w h o sat o pp osit e

-
,
I n de e d h e w as t h e idol of
.
,

t h e y o u n ge r p ar t o f t h e c omp an y w h o l au gh e d a t e ve ry t hin g h e
,

said o r d id a n d a t e v e ry t u r n o f h is c ou n t e n an c e ; I c o u l d n o t w o n d e r
,

a t it fo r h e mu s t h ave b e e n a m ir ac le o f a cc o m
,
plishme n t s in t he ir
e ye s. H e c ou l d imit at e P u n ch an d Ju dy ; m ake an O l d wo man Of
h is h a n d W it h t h e assis t an c e o f b u rn t c o rk an d p o cke t h an dke r
,

chi e f ; an d cu t an o ran ge in t o su ch a lu dicrou s c aric at u re t hat t h e

young folks w e re re ady t o di e wit h l au ghin g ( 2 58 wo rds) .

WA S HI NGT O N IRVI NG The S ketch B ook ,

Te n min u t e s we r e all o w e d a c lass O f se ni o r girls t o w rit e a

p ré c is o f I rv in
’
g p
s ic t u r e o f M a s t e r S imo n H e r e is t h e sum .

ma ry t hat w as vo t e d t h e b e s t How d o y o u acc o un t for it s .

86 P REC I S WRITIN G
b r e vit y ? Make a list o f t h e d e t ails w hich t h e wr it e r h as
o mit t e d D o y o u f e e l t h at a l ong e r pré c is w o ul d b e mo r e
.

sat isf a c t o r y ?

P r éc i s M as t er
S imon , a br is k little old bach el or , a d d ed greatly t o
th e merr imen t of th e compa n y H e s ee med , in d ee d , t o be th e family
.

w it .Th e youn g people i n par ticular w er e amu s ed by h is humor ous

tr ic ks , th ou gh ev er y on e i n th e r oom was kept i n g ood spir its by his
s ly jokes an d c omi c al express i on .
( 5 1 words)

82

WE rove up do wn t h e wo o ds snappin g t h e flowe r fro m it s

an d ,

s t e m t hru st in g a sid e t h e br an ch an d t h e brie r

,
Th e s quirr e l b arks .

at u s l ike a s o r t Of sy lv an ca n is mi n or; t h e bro o din g b ird s t ar t s

a w ay wit h an aggrie ve d an d a cc u sin g cry ; e v e ry t h in g pro t e s t s a t

o u r r u t hle ss an d un m ann e rl y h a st e o u r e age rn e ss a n d c u rio sit y

,
.

B u t l e t u s S it do w n so me wh e re in t h e d e p t h s Of t h e w o o d s qu ie t l y ,

o b se rvan t an d gr a t e f u l min d e d ke e p in g o u r n o t e b oo ks in o u r p o cke t

—
, ,

sin c e t h e p o we r s t h a t b e h e re ar e m arve lo u sly cl o se an d c o n se rva t ive ,

an d alw ay s d is t ru st f u l o f t h e in t e rvie w e r It is n o t l o ng b e f o re w e
.

are t h e c e n t r e o f an in cr e asin gl y c u rio u s c ircl e o f sp e c t a t o r s Th e .

sn app ish s qu irr e l c o m e s b a ck t o l ook at u s sil e n t a n d a l e r t b u t n o t , ,

in imic al ; t h e chip munk d a r t s d o wn b e fo re u s a n d dive s t hro u gh hi s ,

t rapdo o r givin g u s t h e impr e ssio n t h a t t h e d e vo u rin g e ar t h h as

,

ma de a cl e an m o r se l Of h im Th e b ird s p e rch l o w e r e ye in g us
.
,

wit h no t u nfrie n dly gl an ce s ; w e e ve n c at ch glim p se s Of t h at S hy

r t y —c o l o r e d w oo dl an d e r t h e r e d st a r t fl it t in g am o n g t h e br an ch e s
p a , ,

o ve rh e a d I t is S O quie t t h at t h e sl igh t e s t n o ise b e c o m e s sign ific an t

“ Wo o dlan d Myst e rie s
.

The Atlan ti c M on thly

”
an d n o t e wo r t hy .
,

83

THE Y c ollid e d blin dly wit h o t he r me n ; t he y c alle d o u t an grily .

Gre a t se as cr a sh e d o ve r t h e b u l w arks an d smo t h e re d t h e m ; in visib l e

t o r re n t s p o u re d o ff t h e fo r e c as t l e h e a d an d w a sh e d aft b e at ing t h e m
-
,

do wn s t un nin g t h e m F ro m so me wh e re o u t o f t h e d arkn e ss c ame

,
.

t h e vo ic e o f t h e mat e b awlin g o rde r s

,
Th e y f e l t fo r t h e c l e w l ine s
.
,

making t h e most Of t h e in t e rv al s b e t w ee n t h e b o a rdin g se as High .

ab o v e t h e m t h e y kn e w a m an w as m akin g h is w ay alof t in t h e d ark

n e ss t o e ase u p t h e ch a in s h e e t s Th e y h au l e d an d sw o re a rchin g
.
,

t he ir b acks ag ain s t t h e se as t h at t o re a t t h e ir gripp in g finge rs an d

33 P RECI S WRITIN G
85
UP O N t he main we ird an d muffle d p an de moni um
t horou ghf are s , a

pre vails . o u t t h e h e ar t o f t h e y e ll o w r e ddish mu rk r e so un ds

F ro m -

t h e b e at o f h o rse s h oo fs ; n o w a n d t h e n a S p ark flie s c lo se fro m

’

t he ir iron s h o e s Ho ar se w arn in g crie s are h e ard from e ve rywhe re

.
,

an d som e t im e s wh e r e t h e fo g fo r a mo me n t is t hin n e d g ragg e r at e d

, , _

S h ap e s an d mo n st rous figure s lo o m u p an d cre e p alo n g gre at t ruc ks , ,

w ains an d o mn ibuse s wit h lan t e rn s lit an d t h e drive rs le ading t h e

,

horse s Th e n again st ra n ge m an s h ap e d spo t s app e ar like de mon s

.
-
,

c o me from inf e rnal c orridors ; t he y swe ll o ut o f t h e d arkn e ss su r

roun de d by fain t re d h alo e s The se are p e de st rian s pre ce de d by
.

lin k b o ys b e aring t h e ir flamin g t o rche s t o g u ide t h e ir p at ro n s o n

-
,

t h e ir w ay Th e lo f t y an d p o we rful e l e ct ric arc ligh t s so ke e nl y

.
-
,

radian t wh e n t h e air is cle ar n o w sp ut t e r dismally in visible save at

, ,

a fe w y ard s Fr o m dire c t ly b e lo w t h e iron s t a n d ard s t h e fie rc e

.
,

whit e arc is dimme d t o t h e lu minosit y of a re d h o t e mb e r B e fo re -

.

so me o f t h e r ailway s t a t ion s w ave gr e a t gasolin e fla mb e aux an d fire s ,

in iro n cr e s se t s s t ruggle wit h t h e fog like b e a c o n s b e fore t h e se a

c ast le o f so me me diae val ro bb e r—lo rd Th e d e t o n a t ors place d up on
.
,

t h e r ailw ay t r ac ks in p l ac e Of ligh t sign als in c e ssan t ly r e n d t h e air

, .

Th e curb s ar e cumb e r e d wit h u se le ss h ackn e y an d h anso m c ab s t h e ,

horse s un h arn e sse d t h e drive rs dis consolat e Th e crawling omni

, .

buse s b lun de ring alo ng t h e in di st in guishab le st re e t s o ft e n me e t o r

, ,

moun t up o n t h e side w alks a mid crie s an d wil d c o n fusio n an d t he re ,

t h e y r e main like s hip s b e calrn e d a t n igh t

, Tho se hu ge B e h e mo t hs
.

an d c ar s o f J u gg e rn au t t h e giga n t ic d ou b l e d e cke d mo t o r o m ni
, ,
- -

b use s wit h t h e ir t w o lurid ye llo w e ye s an d lit t l e sp arks of re d an d

,

gre e n st an d t re mblin g and sno r t ing wit h imp at ie n c e im me rse d an d

, ,

o b lit e r a t e d in t h e fog Un ive rsal n igh t e n t hralls t h e wo rl d me t rop o

.
-

lis ; it s curre n t s Of co mme rce s t agn at e in it s v e ins it s migh t y pl a ns ,

an d p u rp o se s are fru st ra t e d o r d e l a y e d a n d t h is c e n t r al h e ar t o f t h e
,

t rade Of t h e whole e ar t h is st an din g st ill in a d ark p araly sis .

HE RMAN S CHE FFAUER Blac k F og in London ,

 S E L E C T IO N S OF TWO OR MO RE P ARA GRAP H S

IT is us uall y b e st t o di vide a p ré cis in t o as man y p ar ag r ap h s

as t h e o r ig inal p assag e c o n t ain s Un do ub t e dly se l e c t ion s 9 7
.

1 0 3 in t hi s v o l um e Sho ul d S O b e t r e at e d w h e n summ ar iz e d .

Wh e n p ar ag rap hs are e x t r e me ly shor t ho w e v e r an d t h e whole , ,

as sa e c o n t ain s b u t t w o o r t h r e e h u n d r e d w o r d s it is r a t h e r
p g ,

mo r e sa t isf ac t o r y t o c ompr e ss t h e p ré cis in t o a sing le p ar ag r ap h

Those p assag e s t ake n fro m t h e C om pr e h e n siv e E ngli sh p ap e r s

O f t h e C olle g e E n t r an c e E x amin at io n B o ar d ar e st arr e d
Th e sum mar y O f se le c t ion N O 9 7 is t ak e n fr om an E nglish
.

b oo k o n p ré cis writ ing .

86
A H UND RE D y e ars N ap ole on wit h t h e sword c arve d ou t of
ag o , ,

To a cco mp lis h t his t h e live s o f me n by t h e

“
Eu ro p e an e mp ire .
,

t h ousan d w e re s a c ri fic e d Wit h mise ry an d b lo o dshe d it s b oun darie s

.

we re e x t e n de d an d in a fe w y e ars it h ad vanis he d in t o t h e h ist ory

,

Of t h e p ast In like mann e r fo r c e n t u rie s h ave me n of dominan c e

.
,

chan ge d t h e map s Of t h e w o rl d wit h armie s and t h e swo rd

,
.

B u t w it hin t h e me mo ry o f me n w h o l ive t o d ay a no t h e r kin d o f -

e mp ir e b uil d e r g ave t o t h e ne w w o rl d a n e mp ir e o f ano t h e r kin d

-
.

Wit h p e ac e an d pro sp e rit y ye ar by ye ar h e de ve lop e d it s vast

, ,

s qu ar e mil e s of t e rr it o ry Wit h rails of st e el h e p u she d it s b o un darie s

.

e ach y e ar s t ill fu r t h e r in t o t h e wil de rn e ss E a ch y e ar h e o p e ne d up

.

t o t h e wo rl d n e w acre s of fe r t il e fie l d s rich min e s an d t h e t re me n

, ,

dou s n at u ral re source s o f a virgin c o un t ry It is an e mpire t h at t ime .

can n e ve r d e s t ro y . It is an e mpire t h a t h as brou gh t prosp e r it y t o

t h e wo rl d .

All t hi s w as d one by a p oo r C ana dian b oy b o rn in a l og c ab in at ,

t h e e dge Of t h e fo re st in t h e P ro vin c e Of On t ar io in t h e y e ar I S3 7 ,
.

Jame s Je rome Hil l w as h is n ame .

( 1 9 8 words)
J O SEP H H U SBAND Ameri cans by Adoption ,

A g r o up high s cho ol se n ior s w hen giv e n t h e se le c t io n

of -
,

b ve
a o to s umm a riz e w e r e t o l d t o d e c id e fo r t h e m se lve s wh e t h e r
,
90 P REC I S WRITING
t h r e e p ar ag r ap hs or o n e w o ul d b e t h e mor e suit able . E ve ry
p upil p r e f e rr e d t o u se b u t a single p ar ag rap h He r e is . o ne of

t h e b e st t h at w as writ t en in j u s t
,
t en minu t e s

P r é c is —
Napoleon like oth er war l ords with misery an d bl oodshed
, ,

cr ea t ed an e mpir e t h a t s oon fa d e d awa y fr om th e face of th e e a r th \ .

B ut th e e mpire d eve lope d i n th e Ca n a dian Nort hwe st by Ja mes J .

Hill will las t for ev er for i t i s foun d e d on prin ciples of pe ace a n d

,

prosperity an d d evel opmen t of th e land ( 5 1 w ords) .

87
TWO me n I hon o r an d n o t hird F irst t h e t oilwo rn craf t sman t h at
,
.
,

wit h e art h made imple me n t lab o rio u sly c on qu e rs e ar t h an d make s

-

h e r man s Ve ne rabl e t o me is t h e h ard h an d croo ke d c o arse

’
.
, , ,

whe re in no t wit hst an din g l ie s a cunn ing vir t ue in de fe asibly royal as , ,

o f t h e sc e p t re o f t his p l an e t Ve n e rabl e t oo is t h e r ugge d fa ce all

.
,

w e at he r t ann e d b e soile d wit h it s ru de in t e llige n ce ; fo r it is t h e

-
, ,

face o f a man livin g man like To il o n t o il o n ; t hou ar t in t h y du t y

.
, ,

be o u t o f it w h o may ; t h o u t o il e st for t h e al t o ge t h e r in disp e nsabl e ,

fo r daily br e ad .

A se con d man I hono r an d st ill m or e highl y ! h im w h o is s e e n

,

t oilin g fo r t h e sp irit u all y in disp e n sabl e n o t d ail y br e a d b u t t h e ,

bre a d o f life Is no t h e t oo in h is dut y ? If t h e p oo r an d humble

.

t oil t h at w e h ave foo d mu st n o t t h e high an d gl o rio us t oil fo r h im

,

in r e t urn t h at h e h ave ligh t h ave gu id an ce fre e d o m immo r t alit y ?

, , , ,

The se t w o in all t he ir d e gre e s I ho n o r ; all e l se is c h afi and dust ,

which le t t h e win d blow whit he r it lis t e t h .

TH O MA S C ARLYLE S ar tor R esar tus ,

88
I T is a rule wit h fe w e xce pt io n s t hat t h e st an dard of sch ool an d
,

colle ge at hle t ics run s le ve l wit h t h e st and ard o f pu blic Op inion in

schoo l an d co lle ge C o a ch e s m ay in t ro d u c e dir t y t ricks ; an o ccasio n al
.

t e am may b e w illin g t o b u y a vic t o ry at an y pr ic e ; b u t in t h e l a st ,

an aly sis u n d e rgr a d u at e p o licy an d a c t io n ar e d e t e rmin e d by so c ial

,

re wards an d so cial p e n alt ie s If t h e fe e lin g on ce ge t s abro ad t hat a

.

champion ship h as b e e n t oo d e arly b ou ght t h e high price will not be ,

p aid a se con d t ime .

No t m an y y e ar s ag o st an dard s Of h o no r in t h e classroom w e r e no t
mu ch highe r t han t ho se o n t h e a t hle t ic fie l d t o d ay Th e probl e m -
.

t h en w as mu ch like t h e prob le m n ow It was solve d n ot by imp osin g

.
,
 P REC I S WRITIN G

90
I S UP P O SE t he most
vide n t c e rt ainly t h e most pic t ure s que e xhi
e , ,

bit ion of s ch o ol sp irit is t o b e se e n in co n n e c t ion w it h at hl e t ic s an d ,

it r e ach e s it s climax in an in t e r s ch o o l game Th e au t ho r it ie s o f

-
.

s o me s ch oo ls s ay fr ankl y t h a t t h e y p e rmit su ch g ame s wit h t h e ir ,

in t e rru p t ion o f se riou s w ork an d o t h e r d isa d v an t ag e s \chie fly b e ,

c au se t he y t e n d t o de ve lop s choo l sp irit an d s cho ol loyal t y At hle t ic .

c o n t e st s are goo d fo r t he y give t raining in se lf sub o rdi n at ion se lf

,
-
,

co n t rol ale rt n e ss an d dogge d p e rse ve r an ce Th e in dividu al lo se s

, ,
.

himse lf in t h e goo d o f t h e whole This make s fo r ch ar ac t e r an d goo d

.

cit iz e n ship We must n o t u nde r e st im at e t h e valu e Of t h e e n t hu siasm

.

which c ome s from rallyin g again st a c ommon an t agon ist Wh e n .

t h e rivalry is go o d n a t u re d an d e ve ry ru le Of fair p l ay is Ob se rve d

-
,

t h e e ffe c t is whol e so me .

Y e t it is n o t alway s t h e s t u de n t w h o ch e e rs most l o u dly for t h e

t e am an d w h o is mo st c arrie d aw ay by s ch oo l Sp irit o n p ub lic o cc a
,

sio ns w h o is a t h e a r t m o st loy al t o t h e s cho o l

,
The re is a gre at e r .

lo y al t y e v e n t h an t h a t ge ne rou s spirit which pro mp t s o n e t o r e j o ic e

in vic t o ry It is t h e d e sire t h at on e s s ch oo l sh all st an d o n ly for
’
.

t h a t which is righ t It is t h e d e t e rmina t ion t h at it S h all b e

.

re sp e c t e d and st ill more t h at it shall b e w o r t hy o f re sp e c t

, ,
.

LAURA A KN O TT Ve sper Tal ks t o Gi rls

.
,

91
’
P E RH AP S t h e final t e st of anyb o dy s lo ve o f d ogs is w illingn e ss t o
p e rmit t he m t o make a c ampin g gro un d of t h e b e d The re is no -
.

o t h e r p l ac e in t h e w o rl d t h at su it s t h e d o g qu it e so w e ll On t he .

b e d h e is saf e fro m b e in g s t e pp e d up o n ; h e is o u t o f t h e w ay o f
draft s ; h e h as a co mman din g p osit ion from which t o su rve y wh at
goe s o n in t h e w o rl d ; an d ab o ve all , t h e su rface is soft an d yie ldin g
t o his o u t s t r e t ch e d l imb s No me re man c an e ve r b e S O co mfo r t ab l e
.

as a d og l ooks .

S ome p e rson s Obj e ct t o h aving a d og o n t h e b e d a t n igh t ; an d

it mu s t b e admit t e d t hat h e lie s a lit t le he avily up o n o n e s limb s ;
’

bu t why b e so b ase as t o pr e f e r c o mfo r t t o co mp a nio n ship ! TO _

wake up in t h e dark nigh t an d p u t y ou r h an d on t h at w arm so ft

b o dy t o fe e l t h e b e at in g of t h at fait hfu l he ar t
,
is n o t t his b e t t e r
t h an un dist u rb e d sl ot h ? Th e b e st n igh t s re s t I e v e r h ad w as o n c e
’

whe n a co cke r sp an ie l puppy w h o h ad j ust re co ve re d from st o mach

,

a ch e ( do se o ne t o t w o so d a mi nt s) an d w as a l it t l e frigh t e ne d by
-
,
 TWO O R MO RE P ARAGRAP HS 93

t he stran ge e xp e rie n c e cu rl e d up o n my shoul de r like a fur t ipp et

, ,

ge n t ly p u sh e d h is col d so ft n o se in t o my n e ck and t he re sle p t

, ,

sw e e t ly an d so un dl y un t il mo rn in g .

HE NRY C ME R WI N Dogs an d Men .

,

C . E . E . B .
,
1 92 1
E! P E R IE NCE IS a con t inuo us pro ce ss o f choice and c omp arison ,

se l e c t in g o n e t h in g an d c o rr e l a t in g t h a t in t h e min d w it h an o t he r .

I b e lie ve t hat cho ic e an d co mp arison ar e in so me de gre e pre se n t

e v e ry t ime t h a t an yo n e is r e all y con s c iou s o f an y t hin g I t is e asy .

t o S h o w t h at ch oic e is al way s pr e se n t ; y o u h av e o nl y t o g o s ome

whe re an d st an d st ill an d re fle c t h ow man y t hin gs t he re are ab ou t
, ,

u w hi ch o u ar e no t s e e in g E x is t e n c e is t oo fu ll fo r y o u Y ou
y o y .
.

se e o nl y t h e t hin g s t h a t yo u r t as t e s a n d p u rp os e s d e t e rmin e an d o f ,

t he se y ou se e S h a rp l y o n l y su ch fe at u re s a s a ffe c t t h o se t ast e s an d
pu rp o se s O t he r p e rsons will se e o t he r t hin gs an d o t he r fe at ure s
. ,

o f t h e same t hin gs .

S upp o se t h at y ou ar e s t an ding by t h e side Of t h e ro ad an d a ,

ho rse an d w agon j ogs by Y ou se e t h e h o rse an d w agon an d y ou

.
,

o b se rve t h at it is p ic t u re s qu e Th e ho r se is s h aggy a s t rawb e rry

.
,

ro an Bu t su pp ose t h at t he re is a farme r st an din g b e side y ou an d

.
,

h e s e e s it t oo ; h e Ob se rve s t h at t h e ho rse is l az y e w e ne cke d p o t ,

-
,

b e llie d h as a ringb o n e on t h e le ft hin d fo o t an d o t he r fe at u re s which

, ,

re l at e t o t h e pu rp o se s of ag ricul t u re Ho w diffe re n t is yo u r p e r .

c e p t io n fro m h is t ho u gh y o u are l o okin g t h e s ame w ay an d st an din g

,

almo st in t h e same t r a cks ! It migh t b e in d e e d if y ou ch o se t o l o ok , ,

a diffe r e n t w ay an d if y ou h app e n e d t o h ave t h at ge nius fo r c o n

,

ce n t ra t in g y o u rse lf up o n wh at y o u d o se e wh ich is c alle d ab se n t

min de dn e ss it mi gh t b e t h at y ou woul d n e ve r b e aw ar e t he re w as
a h o r se t h e re at all o r so mu ch as t h e n o ise o f a w ago n
, _
.
.

MA! EA STMA N The E njoymen t of P oetry ,

93
Y OU will di sc o ve r work an d play t aken as mode s of
at on e , c t hat ,

me r e o u t ward mu s cul a r ac t iv it y c ann o t b e dist in g uishe d The re is

, , .

mo t io n i n b o t h t he re is an e x e rcise o f f o rce in b o t h b o t h are un de r

, ,

t h e w ill as a c t in g o n t h e mu s cul ar s ys t e m ; so t h a t t ake n ou t w ardly , ,

t he y bo t h fall in t o t h e s ame c at e go ry In de e d t he y c anno t b e .

,
94 . P REC I S WRITIN G
dis criminat e d t ill w e p ass wit hin t o vie w t he m me t aphysically , ,

c o nside rin g t he ir sprin gs Of a c t io n t he ir impu lse aim and Obj e c t , , , .

H e re t h e dist in ct io n b e co me s e vide n t at on ce ! n ame ly t hat wo rk ,

is a c t ivit y for an e n d ; p lay a c t ivit y as an e n d ,

One pr e p ar e s t h e .

fun d o r re sou rce s Of e n j oyme n t t h e o t he r is e n j oyme n t it se lf Thus

,
.
,

whe n a man go e s in t o a gricu lt ure t rade o r t h e s hop h e co n se n t s t o , , ,

un d e rgo a c e r t ain e xp e n dit ure Of c a r e a n d l ab o r which i s t h e o nl y ,

form o f p ainst akin g right ly name d in o rde r t o o b t ain some u lt e rior ,

goo d which is t o b e h is re ward B ut whe n t h e child go e s t o h is .

p lay it is no p ain s t aking no me ans t o an e n d ; it is it se lf rat he r

, ,

bo t h e n d an d jo y Acco rdin gly it is a p ar t of t h e dist in c t io n I

.
,

s t at e t h at wo rk s u ffe rs a fe e lin g o f ave rsio n a n d p l ay e xclu de s

, ,

a ve r s io n Fo r t h e mo me n t any p l ay b e co me s w e ariso me o r d ist ast e

.

ful t he n it is w o rk ! a n a c t iv i t y t ha t is ke p t up n o t as b e in g it s o w n
, ,

b f m l r i r e n d o r u n d e r so m e kin d Of c on st r ain t
jo y , u t o r so e u t e o ,
.

H O RA C E B U SH NE LL Work and P lay ,

94
IN b ad p lay w e may fin d rhy t hm do min an t an d all o t he r fo rm
sa crific e d Rule s , limit s , an d fin ish are at t h e minimum D ash ,
. .

risks , co nst ru c t ion , an d o riginalit y are n o t e n co u r age d Eve ry t hin g .

is b o un d wit h t h e fe t t e rs Of p e rfe c t safe t y o r Of p e rfe c t f at alism .

P e o p le can ke e p game in de fin it e ly o r fit fully wit hou t a

up a b ad
t e n de n cy t o r e b o u n d in t o wo rk o r c onst ru c t ive t h ough t P as sivit y .

an d re c e p t ivit y ar e S O c o mp l e t e l y in p osse ssion Of u s t h a t t h e re is

“
lit t l e for t h e a ct o r t o d o b u t t o sit st ill un t il h e b e come s a me re
”

Spe c t at o r Gambling list e nin g t o le ct ure s gossip swinging ro ck

.
, , , ,

in g ch e wing t o b a cco o r g um Opiu m smokin g an d in so me p e ople

, ,
-
, ,

ciga re t t e smokin g are amuse me n t s o f t h e v icio us t ype The y have

-
,
.

no e n d or fo rm Th e y l e av e y o u a s p assio n l e ss an d p assive as t h e
.

sub u rb anit e r e a ding h is af t e r br e akfast n e w sp ap e r o n t h e t r ain t o

-

t o wn .

Goo d p lay is subj e ct t o r ule s ; it h as a cl e ar c ut fo rm an d o rgani -

z a t io n It may u s e rhy t hm an d re p e t it io n b u t sub o rd in at e s t h e m

.
,

t o impro visa t io n a n d a dve n t u re I t g ive s in t e nse and v arie d d e

.

ligh t b u t in su ch dy n amic f o rm t h at p l e asu re is e ve r qu ickly l ost

,

an d f o un d ag ain It is full o f giv e an d —t ake dramat ic al ly l ose s it s

.
-
,

life t o fin d it a n d e ve r se e ks asks kno cks at t h e do o r o f t h e un e x

, , ,

p lo re d It s h o u se is full Of symb ols and e mp t y of idol s

. .

RICHARD C CAB O T What Men Live B y .

,
96 P REC I S WRITIN G
or d ist ort e d This o ccurs o ft e n e r n o w t h an fo rme rly an d b ids fair
.
,

to o cc u r y e t o f t e n e r in t h e f ut u r e .

ED WARD A RO S S in Th e P r ofessi on of Journ alism

.

97
THE fo n dne ss for rural lif e amo n g t h e highe r c l asse s o f t h e E nglish
h as h a d a gre at an d s alu t ary e ffe c t u p o n t h e n at io n al ch a ra c t e r I .

d o no t kno w a fin e r ra c e Of m e n t h an t h e E n glish g e n t l e me n In .

s t e a d O i t h e so f t n e ss an d e ff e min a cy wh ich ch ar a c t e r iz e t h e me n Of

rank in mo st c oun t rie s , t h ey e xhib it a unio n Of e le gan c e an d s t re ngt h ,

a ro b u s t n e s s o f fr ame an d fr e s h n e ss Of c o mp l e x io n wh ich I am in ,

c lin e d t o a t t rib u t e t o t he ir l ivi n g s o m u ch in t h e Op e n a ir , an d p u r

su in g s o e age r ly t h e in vigo r at in g re cr e a t io n s o f t h e co un t ry Th e se .

h ardy e xe rcise s pro du ce also a h e alt hful t o n e o f min d an d spirit s ,

an d a m anl ine ss a n d simp lic it y o f m ann e r s , which e ve n t h e fo ll ie s

an d di ssip a t io ns Of t h e t o wn c anno t e asily p e rve r t , an d c an n e v e r

e n t ire ly d e s t ro y In t h e c o un t ry , t oo , t h e di ffe re n t o rd e r s o f so cie t y

.

se e m t o appro a ch m o r e fr e e l y , t o b e mo r e d isp o se d t o b l e n d an d

Op e ra t e favorably up on e a ch o t he r Th e dist in ct io n s b e t w e e n t h e m
.

d o n o t app e ar t o b e S O m arke d an d imp assab l e as in t h e c it ie s Th e .

mann e r in which prop e r t y h a s b e e n dist rib u t e d in t o small e st at e s

an d f a r ms h as e s t ab lish e d a r e gul a r gr a da t io n fr o m t h e n o b l e man ,

t hro u gh t h e c l asse s o f ge n t ry , s mall l an d e d pro pr ie t o rs , a n d sub

s t an t ial farme rs do wn t o t h e l ab o ring p e asan t ry ; an d whil e it h as
,

t hu s b an d e d t h e e x t r e me s of so cie t y t o ge t h e r h as infu se d in t o e ach

,

in t e rm e di at e r ank a sp irit of in de p e n d e n c e This it mu st b e c on

.
,

fe sse d is n o t so unive rsally t h e c ase at pre se n t as it w as fo rme rly

, ,

t h e l arge r e st at e s havin g in l at e y e ars o f dis t r e ss ab so rb e d t h e

, ,

small e r a n d in s o me p ar t s Of t h e c o un t ry al mo st ann ihil at e d t h e

, , ,

st u rdy r a c e o f sm al l f ar me r s Th e se h ow e ve r I b e l ie ve are b u t
.
, , ,

c asu al bre aks in t h e ge ne ral sy st e m I h ave m e n t ion e d .

In ru ral o cc up a t io n t h e re is n o t h in g me an a n d d e b asin g I t l e ad s .

a ma n f o r t h amo n g s c e n e s o f n a t u r al gr an d e u r an d b e au t y ; it l e ave s

h im t o t h e wo rkin gs o f h is o w n min d Op e r a t e d up on by t h e p ure st

,

an d mo st e l e va t in g o f e x t e r n al in flu e n c e s
,
S u ch a m an m ay b e
.

simp l e a n d r o u gh b u t h e c ann o t b e vu l g ar
,
Th e man of re fin e me n t
.
,

t h e re fo re fin d s n o t hin g r e vo l t in g in an in t e rc o u r se wit h t h e l o w e r
,

o rd e r s in r u r al life as h e d oe s whe n h e c asu ally min gl e s w it h t h e

,

low e r o rde rs o f c it ie s H e l ay s a sid e h is d ist a n c e an d r e se rve an d is

.
,

gl ad t o w aive t h e d is t in c t ion s Of r ank an d t o e n t e r int o t h e h one st

,
 Two O R M O RE P AR AGRAP HS 97

he art fe l t e nj oyme n t s o f c o mm o n lif e I n d e e d t h e ve ry amuse me nt s

.
,

of t h e c o un t ry br in g me n mo re an d mo r e t o ge t h e r ; an d t h e so un ds
'

o f h o un d an d h o rn b le n d all f e e lin gs in t o h a rmo n y I b e li e ve t his .

is one gre a t re aso n why t h e no bilit y a n d ge n t ry ar e m o re p op ul ar

amon g t h e inf e r io r o rd e r s in E n gl an d t h an t h e y are in a ny o t h e r ,

c oun t ry ; an d why t h e lat t e r h ave e n du re d so m an y e xce ssive

pre ssu re s an d e xt re mit ie s wit h ou t re pini n g mo re g e n e rall y at t h e
,

un e qu al dist rib u t ion o f f o r t un e a n d pr ivil e ge ( 47 6 w ords)

'

WA SHINGT ON IRVING The S ketch B ook ,

Th e follo wing p ré cis of I rving s co mme n t s up on rur al lif e in

’

Englan d is t ak e n fr om t h e in t r o d u c t ion t o P r éci s Writ ing for

S ch ools by C L Th o mso n p ub li sh e d by H o r ac e M ar sh all
,
. .
,

S o n in L o n d on No t ic e t h a t Mr Th o mso n r e d uc e s an
. .

o r igin al o f 4 7 6 wo r d s t o 1 63 ; t ha t h e f o ll o w s c lo se ly t h e o r d e r

b ut n o t hi s w o r ds ; t ha t h e u se s t h e
’
o f I rvin g s r e aso ning ,

p ar ag rap h p lan Of t h e S ket ch B ook M r Th omso n s summ ary . .

’

se rv e s as an e x c e lle n t ill u s t r a t io n O f w h a t t h e t e a ch e r in E ng

lan d e xpe c t s O f En glish b o ys an d g irls in pré c is w o rk H ow .

doe s it c ompar e w it h t h e ab s t r ac t s ma de by Ame ric an hig h

s c h oo l s t u d en t s p r in t e d e l se w h e r e in t hi s v o l um e ? C an y ou
e xp lain an y Of t h e diffe r en c e s w hi ch y o u n o t ic e ?

P r é c is The ou td oor life le d by the u ppe r cl asse s in E nglan d has

had a mos t s alu tary ej ect upon t he n a tiona l c h ara cter L iv in g i n .

t h e ope n a ir , a n d pa r ti cipa ti n g i n r u r a l r ecre a ti on s , t he y h av e

r es is t e d t he en erva ti n g i nflu e n ce s of ra n k, a n d pr es erv e d a h eal thy

t one of mind a n d body I n the cou n try , t oo, me n of d ifieren t ra n ks

.

are mor e fr i en dly wi th on e an oth er t ha n i n ci ti es This i s d u e to .

th e dis tribu tion of the l an d i n to es ta t es of v ar i ou s siz es , whe re by

'

cl ass d i stin c tion s ha ve been par t ly obli t era t ed , t h ou gh t his caus e ha s

opera te d l ess s in ce t he l ar ger e s ta te s ha ve begun to a bsor b t h eir

poorer n e igh bors .

B ea u tiful sce ne ry h as , mor e over , so e nn obling a n ej ect upon

cha r ac t er t ha t men of r efine me n t fin d n oth in g r ev oltin g in in t er

c ou rse wi th t he peasan ts , wi th wh om t he y ar e frequ e n tly a ss oci at ed

in rural spor ts . To this is due the exceptionally good fee ling

be tween the upper a n d lower classes .
( 1 63 word s)
 P R EC I S WRITIN G
*
98
C . E . E . B .
,
1 92 1
C O ULD t h e yo ung but re a liz e h o w soon t he y will b e come me re w alk
“

ing b u ndl e s o f h ab it s , t h e y wo u l d give mo re h e e d t o t h e ir con du c t

while in t h e p last ic st at e We are Sp in ning o u r ow n fat e s , goo d o r
.

e vil , an d n e ve r t o b e u n d on e E ve ry smalle s t st ro ke of vi rt u e o r o f
-

vice le ave s it s n e ve r so li t t le sc ar Th e drunke n R ip Van Winkl e ,

- -
.

in Je ffe rso n s p l ay , e xcu se s himse lf fo r e ve ry fre sh de re lic t ion by

’

s ay in g ,
“ I won t coun t t his t im e ! We ll , h e may n o t coun t it , an d
’ ”

a kin d He ave n may n o t c ou n t it ; b u t it is b e in g c ou n t e d non e t h e

le ss. D o wn amon g his n e rve —ce lls an d fibre s t h e mol e cul e s are
cou n t in g it , re gis t e ring an d st o ring it up t o b e u se d again st hi m
whe n t h e n e x t t e mp t at io n come s No t hing w e e ve r d o is, in st ric t
.

s cie n t ific lit e r alne ss , wip e d o u t .

Of co ur se , t his h as it s goo d S id e as w e ll as it s b ad on e As w e .

be come p e rmane n t dru nkards by so many se p arat e drinks, so w e

b e come sain t s in t h e mo ral , an d au t ho rit ie s and e xp e rt s in t h e p rac
t ic al an d sc ie n t ific sph e re s , by so man y se p a r at e a c t s an d h ours of
wo rk Le t no yo u t h have an y anxie t y abo ut t h e up sho t of h is
.

e du c at io n , wh at e ve r t h e lin e o f it m ay b e If h e ke e p fait hfull y .

busy e ach ho u r Of t h e wo rkin g d ay , h e may safe ly le ave t h e final

-

re sul t t o it se lf He c an wit h p e rfe ct c e rt ain t y coun t on w aking up

.

so me fin e mo rn in g t o fin d h imse lf on e o f t h e co mp e t e n t o n e s o f h is

ge ne rat ion , in wh a t e v e r pu rsu it h e may h ave single d o u t Sile n t ly , .

b e t w e e n all t h e de t ail s o f h is busine ss , the power of judging in all

t h at c l ass o f mat t e r will h ave b u il t it se lf u p wit hin h im as a p os
se ss io n t h a t will n e ve r p ass a way Y o un g p e op l e shoul d know t hi s
.

t ru t h in a dvan c e . Th e ig no r an ce o f it h as prob ably e n ge n de r e d

mo re disco ur age me n t an d faint he ar t e dne ss in you t hs e mb arking on
-

a rd uo u s c are e r s t h an all o t he r c ause s p u t t o ge t h e r .

WILLIAM JAME S , Talks to Teachers

99
ATH LE TIC S are con duct e d e it he r for e duc at ion or fo r busine ss Th e .

ol d dist in c t io n b e t w e e n ama t e u r an d pro fe ssio nal at hl e t ic s is o f

lit t le u se Th e re al pro bl e ms Of co lle ge at hl e t ics lo om l arg e b e sid e

“
.

t h e co n side ra t ion s t h at de fin e o u r u se Of t h e t e rms

”
profe ssion al
an d
“ “ amat e u r
”
. Th e aims of at hle t ics re ve al t h e fac t t hat t h e
I OO P REC I S WRITIN G
pre cisio n We want t o g e t ou r e ffe c t t o amu se an d st art le and
.
, , ,

p e rsu a de Fo r t hat pu rp ose w e c olor fa ct s t oo highl y t wi st t he m

.
, ,

dist o rt t he m amp lify t he m le t t h e rich o r he avy bru sh Of o ur im

, ,

ag in at io n p l ay o v e r t h e m t ill t h e o r ig in al t issu e is qu it e d isfigu re d

,

o u t Of it s n at iv e su b s t a n c e We all n e e d t o cul t ivat e pre cision a

.
‘ ,

c are ful slo w t ho u gh t ful a ccu racy o f s t at e me n t t h at le ave s n o t hin g

, ,

t o b e c o r re c t e d o r r e g re t t e d af t e rward s .

An d y e t col o r is t h e ch arm Of sp e e ch We may a dmire Vol t aire , .

b u t w e lo ve S h ake sp e are S o t o o t h e p e r so n s wh ose t alk w e l o ve

.

a r e n o t alw ay s f a u l t le s sl y pr e c ise b u t h ave a q u ick vivid p iquan t

, , ,

w ay o f p u t t in g t h in g s which make s u s r e me m b e r t he m
,
.

C o lo r is t h e ch arm of life Of c ou rse w e mu s t c ul t iv at e a ccur a cy

.

an d c o rr e c t n ess an d pr opr ie t y ! t h e y ar e qu it e in disp e n sab l e But .

wh at make s o u r sp irit s at t rac t ive t o o u rse lve s an d t o o t he rs is

colo r t h e wayw ard t h e u n e xp e ct e d whim fan cy gra ce P re cisio n
, , , , ,
.

may b e t h e fou n da t io n a n d b e e fy nou rishme n t Of l ife ; b u t col o r is

all t h a t make s it w o r t h livin g .

The Youth s Compan ion March I 1 9 2 3

’
, ,

1 01
I H AVE no wish t o u t t e r a j e re miad ; b u t it wou l d also b e fo olish t o
palliat e a c o n dit io n as familiar t o my re a de rs as t o my se lf To d ay .

t h e ch ara c t e r Of j o u rn alism h a s b e e n al t e re d by a se rie s o f m e ch ani c al

inve n t ion s ! t h e t e l e ph o n e h igh Sp e e d ro t ary pre sse s s t e r e o t yp in g
,
-

, ,

t yp e se t t in g ma chine s color pre sse s ro t o gravu re t h e e le c t ric

, , ,

t e l e graphic t yp e writ e r All ie d t o t he s e is a se rie s o f in st it u t io n al

.

de ve lopme n t s ! an e no rmo u s in cre ase in t h e bu lk of a dve r t isin g ,

gre at ly e nlarge d circulat io n s u n ive rsal u se Of sy n dic at e d mat e rial

, ,

chain n e wsp ap e rs in variou s cit ie s un de r co mmo n o wn e rship

”
.

The se s e ve ral fa c t o rs w o rk t o ge t he r t o pro du ce a nu mb e r Of

imp o r t an t r e su l t s wh ich I will c at alo gue brie fly
,
.

First t h e as c e n d an cy of t h e af t e r n o on ov e r t h e mo rn in g p ap e r
,

(b e c au se p ape rs l ive o n a dve r t isin g a dve r t isin g is dire c t e d at wome n

, ,

a n d w o me n h ave mo re l e isu r e in t h e e v e n in g t h an e a rlie r) .

S e c on d a c on s e que n t pre mium p u t o n h ast e wh ich me an s t h a t

“
, ,
”
t h e n e w s is mo re a n d mo re pre se n t e d in frag me n t ary ske l e t o n iz e d , ,

an d o ft e n g a rb le d fo rm .

Th ird an in cre a sing u se o f p ic t u r e s wh ich h ave b e e n f ou n d t o

, ,

app e al t o l a rge n u mb e r s o f p e o p le w h o ar e al mo s t illi t e ra t e bu t ,

po sse ss t h e b uyin g p o we r which t h e a dve rt ise r se e ks .

 TWO O R MO RE P AR AGRAP HS 1 01

Four t h , wit h a fe w c o n sp ic uo us e xc e p t ions , a c o n t inu in g d e g e n

e r at io n a n d flabbin e ss o f j o u rn alis t ic E n glish Thi s is prim arily d ue .

t o h ast e , fa cilit a t e d by t h e use o f t h e t yp e wr it e r , an d s e c on d arily t o

t h e u se of t h e t e le pho n e , b e c au se of w hi ch t h e man wh o writ e s is
l e ss an d l e ss Of t e n t h e m an w h o h as p e r so nally se e n .

Fif t h , a st e a dy co n de nse n e ws art icle s in t o me re

t e n d e n cy t o
t ab loid summ arie s This is d ue t o t h e gre a t in cre ase in t h e physic al
.

vo lume of adve rt ising an d t h e de sire n e ve r t he le ss t o h ol d d own t h e

,

bulk o f t h e p ap e r .

S ix t h a w ide r an d wide r u se Of syn dica t e d m at e rial so t h at

, ,

n e w sp ap e r s all o ve r t h e co u n t ry ar e p a r t ly id e n t ic al fro m d ay t o

d ay in t h e ir co n t e n t s Thi s is t r ue n o t o n ly Of t e le graphic ne ws
.
,

o b t ain e d fro m o n e o f t h e t hr e e gre a t n e w s g at h e rin g a sso cia t io n s -

,
”
b ut Of fe at u re art icle s drawings e ve n e dit o rials T0 d ay t his
, , .
-

pro ce ss is b e in g e x t e n de d t o t h e lo c al n e ws t hro ugh t h e de ve lop me nt ,

o f co Op e ra t iv e sy s t e ms o f ga t h e rin g a n d d ist rib u t in g a t l e as t t h e

rou t in e it e ms in e a ch muni cip alit y .

S e ve n t h t h e gre at inv e st e d c ap it al an d e ar ning p o w e r of a su c

,

ce ssful p ap e r t o day B e c au se Of t his f a c t

r . t h e re sul t o f t h e in
cre ase in a dve r t isin g o wn e rshi p h as slipp e d o u t o f t h e h an d s Of
t h e e di t o r wh o se t yp e o f min d is r are ly c omp a t ib l e w it h l arge b u si
,

n e ss d e alin gs an d h as p as se d t o t h at o f w e al t hy in div idual s o r

,

co rp o rat ion s This me an s t hat in t h e o ve rwhe lmin g maj o rit y o f

.
,

c ase s; t h e e dit o rial a t t it u de of t h e p ap e r re fle c t s t h e n at u ral c o n

se rv a t ism o f t h e se
“ c apit alis t ic o wn e rs o r is o f a W ishy—w ashy ,

t yp e whi ch t ake s no vigo ro us st a n d o n any subj e c t .

Eigh t h t h e p assin g Of rival ry fro m t h e e di t o rial t o t h e b usine ss

,

o fli ce. S in c e t h e t e x t u al c o n t e n t s of ne w sp ap e rs are so l arge l y

ide n t ic al t h e re is n o l o n ge r t h e fie rce e dit o rial rival ry which fo r
,

me rly insp ire d t h e j ou rn alis t t o se e k co nst an t impro ve me n t in his

p ape r I n st e a d rivalry h as b e e n t ran sfe rre d t o t h e b u sin e ss an d
.
,

circula t ion de p ar t me nt s Th e chie f j ou rn al s Of e a ch cit y s t ruggle

.

h ard for t h e co ve t e d po st of le a de r in vo lum e Of a dve rt isin g .

C ircul a t io n me n figh t t o t h e de a t h fo r e ve ry l ast hun dre d sub

s crib e rs . Unf o rt un at e l y t he ir ra ce for a dde d sal e s is re fle c t e d
,

e di t o rially in t h e pro du c t io n o f j o u rn al s which mo re an d mo r e

re pre se n t no t an e di t o r s n o t io n of a go o d p ape r b u t a Circulat ion

,
’
,

manag e r s n ot ion o f a goo d se ll e r

’
.

B RUCE B LIVE N O ur C hanging Jou rn alism ,

 P REC I S WRITIN G

1 02

IN a pre ce din g p ap e r I h ave sp o ke n o f an En glish S un day In t h e

co unt ry an d it s t ran quiliz ing e ffe c t upo n t h e l an dscap e ; b u t w h e re
,

is it s sacre d in flue n c e more st rikingly app are n t t h an in t h e ve ry

he ar t o f t hat gre a t B abe l Lo n do n ? O n t his sacre d d ay t h e gigan t ic
,

mo nst e r is ch arme d int o re p o se Th e in t ole rab le din an d s t ru ggl e

.

o f t h e w e e k a re a t an e n d Th e sh op s are sh u t . Th e fir e s o f fo rge s .

an d manu f a c t o rie s are e x t in g u is he d ; an d t h e sun n o l o n ge r o b s cu r e d ,

by murky Clo u ds of smoke p o u rs down a so b e r y e llow ra dian ce in t o

, ,

t h e qu ie t s t re e t s Th e fe w p e de st rians w e m e e t in st e a d o f hu rry
.
,

ing fo rw ard w it h anx io us co un t e n an c e s mov e le isure ly al o n g ; t he ir ,

bro ws are smo o t he d from t h e wrinkl e s o f bu sin e ss an d c are ; t he y

have p u t o n t he ir S un day lo oks and S un day mann e rs w it h t h e ir
S un d ay clo t h e s an d are cle an se d in min d as w e ll as in p e rso n
,
.

And now t h e me lo dious cl an go r Of b e l ls from chu r ch t o w e rs

su mmo ns t h e ir se ve r al fl o cks t o t h e fol d F o r t h from his m an sion .

issue s t h e family o f t h e de c e nt t rade sman t h e small chil dre n in t h e ,

a dvan c e ; t he n t h e cit iz e n a n d his co me l y sp o use follo w e d by t h e

grow n up d aught e rs wit h sm all moro cc o b oun d pray e r b ooks l aid
-
,
- -

in t h e fo l d s o f t h e ir p o cke t h an dke rch ie fs Th e h ou se maid l ooks

-
.

af t e r t he m fr o m t h e w in do w a d mir in g t h e fin e ry o f t h e f a mil y ,

a n d r e c e ivi n g p e rh ap s a n o d an d smile fro m h e r y o un g mis t r e sse s at

who se t o ile t sh e h as assis t e d .

Th e r in ging Of b e lls is at an e n d t h e r umb lin g o f t h e c arriage h as ,

c e ase d t h e p at t e rin g of fe e t is he ard no more ; t h e flo cks ar e fo l de d

,

in an cie n t church e s cramp e d up in b y l an e s an d c o rne rs o f t h e

,
-

cro wde d Cit y whe re t h e vigilan t b e a dle ke e p s wat ch like t h e S he p

, ,

he rd s d og ro un d t h e t hre sho l d o f t h e san ct u ary F o r a t ime e ve ry

’
, .

t hin g is h ushe d ; b u t so on is h e a rd t h e d e e p p e r va d in g so un d o f t h e ,

o rgan rollin g an d vibrat in g t hro ugh t h e e mp t y lan e s an d co u rt s ;

,

a n d t h e s w e e t ch an t in g Of t h e cho ir makin g t h e m r e so u n d wit h

m e l o dy an d pr aise N e ve r h ave I b e e n mo re se n sib le Of t h e san ct i

.

fy ing e ffe c t o f chu rch music t h an wh e n I h av e h e ard it t hus p o u re d

fo rt h like a rive r Of joy t hro u gh t h e in mos t re ce sse s o f t his gre at
me t rop olis e l e va t ing it as it we re fro m al l t h e so rdid p ollu t ions
, , ,

o f t h e w e e k a n d b e ar in g t h e p o o r w o rl d wo rn so ul on a t id e o f
,
-

t riumph ant h arm o n y t o h e ave n .

Th e mo r nin g se rvic e is at an e n d Th e s t re e t s ar e again al ive .

wit h t h e c o ngre gat io ns re t urnin g t o t he ir h o me s b u t soon again ,

re lap se int o sile n ce Now c ome s o n t h e S un day dinne r which t o

.
,
1 04 P R EC I S WRITIN G
vivise ct io n ist like D o ro t hy C an fie ld t he re a re fo r t y p e rsons wh o h ave
t h e bru t alit y t h at c o m e s fro m l a ck o f imag in a t io n D o s t oe vsky .
,

wh o wro t e o n sm all t o wn l if e In a m ann e r t h a t m ake s M ain S tr ee t

-

s e e m che e ry said ,
E ve ryb o dy in t h e pro vin c e s live s a s t h o u gh
,

h e w e re un d e r a b e ll o f g l ass It is imp o ssibl e fo r h im t o c o n c e al

.

any t hin g wh a t e v e r fro m h is ho n o r ab l e f e llo w cit iz e n s Th e

p rovin cial by h is v e ry n at u re o u gh t t o b e a ve ry profo un d p sy
, ,

c h o lo g is t . Th at is w h y I am so me t ime s ho n e st ly a maz e d t o m e e t
in t h e pro vin c e s so fe w p sycho lo g ist s an d so m an y imb e cile s ”
.

M an y ar e su rprise d t hat t he re is so mu ch mo re t ole ran ce Of

Opin io n in E n glan d t han in Am e rica an d mo re in Ne w Y o rk t han ,

in P o dun k B u t t h e r e aso n is c le ar e no u gh
. Tol e ra n c e an d in di .

vidu al lib e r t y a ccomp an y a diffu sio n o f in t e llige n ce an d civiliz at ion .

The r e is no t o l e ran ce wh at e ve r a mo n g small b o y s .

Miss M o n t ague h as de s crib e d a wo m an an d a man w h o p e rh ap s , ,

n e ve r o u gh t t o h a ve b e e n b o rn bu t W ho se birt h w as o nl y t h e b e
,

ginning o f t he ir b ad lu ck Ju lie Ro se is a cre a t io n ab solu t e ly re al

.
, ,

w h o su ffe rs as t h e ch r o n ic ally t imid always su ffe r in a h arsh e u

v iro n me n t Th e vill ag e t yp e s are cle a rl y d e pic t e d ; sh e is t h e o nl y
.

an
”
o n e w h o h as n e rve s d is t h e re fo re in c o mpr e h e n sibl e t o h e r
,

vu lpin e n e ighb o rs w h o in pl ace Of symp a t hy an d u n de rst an di n g

, ,
.

have simp ly pre d at o ry in s t in c t s S h e is a doo rma t cu rse d wi t h .

,

se lf c o n s cio u sn e s s
-
a n d f e e l s a cu t e l y e ve ry h o b n ail
,
In a s t o u t .

he art co u rage may rise wit h d an ge r b u t t h e mo rbidly fe arful n e ve r

“
,

b e co me c allo u s n e ve r g e t u se d t o it
,
i t b e in g life Th e y are —
.

like g un sh y do gs t h e o f t e n e r y o u sh oo t t h e w o rs e t h e y f e e l E ve ry
—
_ ,
.

fre sh o u t rage is a s de vas t at ing as t ho u gh it we re a cco mp anie d by

t h e sh o ck o f su rprise .

Julie is save d no t by an y kin dly mu s cul ar champion b u t by t h e

, , ,

a pp e ar an c e o f a m an e qual l y s hr in kin g a n d un a ss e r t ive Uni t e d .

t he y s t a n d divide d t he y fall
,
Th e u n io n o f t h e se t w o will se e m
.

impro b ab l e o nly t o t ho se w h o re g ard t h e m as co n t e mp t ibl e ni n

co mp o op s t o t h o se whose min d s ar e h e rme t ic a lly se al e d in fa t
,
In .

o rd e r t o u n de r s t a n d t h e d e sp e r at e a dve n t u r e o f J u lie a n d B ixby ,

o n e mu s t r e m e mb e r t h a t me n an d wo me n w h o s e e m Ob s e qui ous an d

s e l f o b lit e r at in g a re o f t e n b oiling wit h suppr e sse d r age

-
It is t h e .

sp irit u al h ist o ry o f p o lit ic al r e vo l u t io n s .

To writ e a n o v e l wi t h su ch a h e ro and su ch a h e ro ine r e quir e d

o rigina lit y an d u n usu al lit e r ary skil l Th e au t ho r of D e ep Cha nn el .

h a s b ot h an d h as su cce e d e d in pro du cin g o n e Of t h e b e st n o v e l s o f

,

t h e ye ar . WILLIAM L YON PHE LP S in The Atlantic s B ookshelf

-
,
’
 L E T TE R S

ALL b ooks t hat d e al w it h p ré cis writ ing in Engli s h sch ool s l ay

g r e at s t r e ss up on t h e f ac t t h a t pré cis wo rk O ff e r s pr ac t ic al
t r ain i n g fo r t h e C iv il S e r v i c e an d for p osit io n s in c o mme r c ial
h o use s . It is e vid e n t ly a mo r e c ommon pr ac t ic e in E n glan d
t h an in Ame r ic a fo r b usin e ss me n t o r e quir e t h e ir cl e rk s t o
mak e summarie s of a lo n g c o rr e sp o n de n c e .

Th e
p ré c is of a l e t t e r Sh o u l d alway s b e wr it t e n in t h e t hir d
p e r so n .As a r ule it is we ll t o f oll o w t h e p ar ag r ap hing o f t h e
,

o r ig in al .

Th r e e of t h e le t t e r s t hat fo ll o w are old an d famo us Th e .

o t h e r s d e al w it h affair s o f mo de r n lif e .

1 04

S amue l Johnson to the Ea rl f Ches te rfi eld

o

F e br uar y 7 , 1 7 55
My L ord ,

I have b e e n lat e ly in fo rme d by t h e proprie t o r of t h e World t hat

t w o p ap e rs in which my D ic t ion ary is re c omme n de d t o t h e p ub lic ,

w e re writ t e n by you r L o rdship To b e so dist in guish e d is an ho n o r

.

which b e in g ve ry lit t le acc u s t o me d t o f avo rs from t h e gre at I

, ,

kno w no t w e ll h o w t o r e c e ive o r in wh at t e rms t o a ckn o wle dge

,
.

Whe n up on some slight e n co urage me n t I fir st visit e d yo ur L o rd

, ,

ship I w a s o v e rp o w e re d like t h e re s t o f m an kin d by t h e e n ch an t

, , ,

me n t o f yo u r addre ss ; an d cou l d n o t fo rb e ar t o wish t h at I migh t

b o ast myse lf le vainqu eu r du vain qu e u r d e la terr e t hat I migh t
Ob t ain t hat r e gard fo r which I saw t h e w orl d co n t e n din g ; b u t I
f oun d my at t e n dan ce so lit t le e n c ou rage d t hat ne it he r pride n o r
mo de st y woul d suffe r me t o con t in ue it Wh e n I h ad on ce addre sse d
.

yo u r lo rdshi p in pu blic I h ad e xhau st e d all t h e ar t o f pl e asin g which

,

a r e t ir e d an d u n c ou r t l y s cho l a r can p osse ss I h ave do n e all t hat I

.

could ; and n o man is w e ll ple ase d t o have h is all ne gle c t e d b e it ,

e ve r so lit t l e .

S e ve n ye ar s my L o rd h ave no w p asse d sin ce I w ait e d in yo ur

, , ,
1 06 P REC I S WRITIN G
out w ard roo ms o r w as re pu lse d fro m yo u r do o r ; d ur ing w hich t ime
I h ave b e e n p ushin g o n my wo rk t hro u gh diffic u lt ie s o f which it is
u se l e ss t o c o mp lain a n d h a ve br o ugh t it a t l a st t o t h e v e r g e Of
,

p ublic at io n wit ho u t o n e ac t of assist an c e o ne wor d o f e n c o u rage ,

me n t o r o n e smile o f f avo r S uch t r e at me nt I did n o t e xp e c t for I

,
.
,

n e ve r h a d a p a t r o n b e fo r e .

Th e S he phe rd in Virg il g re w at l ast ac q uain t e d w it h L o ve an d ,

fo un d h im a n at ive o f t h e ro cks .

Is no t a p a t ro n m y L o rd o n e wh o lo o ks w it h un c o n c e rn o n a
, ,

man s t rugglin g fo r life in t h e w a t e r a n d whe n h e h as r e a che d gro un d ,

e n cu mb e r s h im w it h h e lp ? Th e n o t ice wh ich y o u h ave b e e n p l e a se d

t o t ake Of my l ab o rs h ad it b e e n e arly h a d b e e n kin d ; b u t it h as
, ,

b e e n de laye d t ill I am ind iffe re n t an d c an no t e n j o y it ; t ill I am

'

so lit ary an d c a n n o t imp art it ; t ill I am kn o w n a n d d o n o t w an t it

, , .

I ho pe it is no ve ry cy nic al asp e rit y n o t t o co nf e ss Obligat io n s whe re

n o b e n e fit h as b e e n r e c e ive d o r t o b e un willin g t h a t t h e p ub li c s ho ul d
,

c o n side r me as o win g t h at t o a p at ron which P rovide n ce h as e n ab le d

me t o d o fo r m yse lf .

H a ving c arrie d o n my w o rk t hu s far wit h so l it t le Ob lig a t io n t o

any f avo r e r o f l e a r n in g I s h all no t b e d isap p o in t e d t ho u gh I s ho u l d
,

c o n clu de it if l e ss b e p o ssible wit h le ss ; for I have b e e n l on g wake n e d

, ,

fro m t hat dre am Of ho p e in which I o n ce b o ast e d my se lf wit h so

mu ch e xu l t a t io n my L o rd , ,

Yo ur L ordship s most hu mble most ob e die n t se rvan t

’
, ,

S AM J OH N S ON .

1 05

B enjamin Fr anklin to Ge orge Washington

-
P AS S Y, 5 Mar ch ,
1 7 80
S IR
I h ave re ce ive d b ut l at e ly t h e le t t e r Yo u r Exce lle n cy d id me t h e
ho no r Of writ ing t o me in re comm e n dat io n of t h e Mar quis d e
L af ay e t t e His mo de st y de t ain e d it l o n g in h is o w n h an ds We
. .

b e c ame a c qu ain t e d ho we ve r fro m t h e t ime o f h is arrival at P aris ;

, ,

an d h is z e al fo r t h e ho n o r Of o u r c o u n t ry h is a c t ivit y in o u r aff airs

,

h e r e an d his firm at t achme nt t o ou r c au se an d t o y o u impre sse d m e

, ,

wit h t h e same re gard an d e st e e m fo r h im t h at Yo u r Exc e ll e n cy s ’

l e t t e r wo ul d h ave d o n e h ad it b e e n imme diat e l y d e live re d t o m e

_ ,
.

S h o u l d p e ac e arrive aft e r a no t h e r c amp aign o r t w o and affo rd u s ,

a lit t le l e isu re I sh o u l d b e h appy t o se e Yo u r Exc e lle n cy in Eur o p e

, ,
1 08 P REC I S WRITIN G
As t o t h e p olicy I se e m t o b e p u r suin g , a s y o u say , I h ave not
me ant t o l e ave any o n e in doub t .

I wo ul d save t h e Un io n I wo ul d save it t h e s ho r t e s t w ay un de r
.

t h e C on st it u t io n
. Th e soone r t h e nat io n al au t ho rit y c an b e re st o re d ,
”
t h e n e are r t h e U n io n will b e t h e Un io n a s it w as If t he re b e .

t h ose w h o wo u l d n o t save t h e Union un le s s t h e y co ul d at t h e same

t ime d e s t ro y sl ave ry , I d o n o t a gre e wit h t h e m My Daramo un t
I

o bj e c t in t his s t ru gg le is t o save t h e Un io n , an d is n o t e it he r t o sav e

o r d e st r o y sl av e ry. If I coul d save t h e Un io n wi t ho u t fre e ing any

sl av e , I w o u l d d o it ; a n d if I c o u l d s ave it by fre e ing all t h e sl a ve s ,

I wo uld d o it ; and if I c oul d save it by fre e ing so me and le avin g

.

o t h e r s al o n e , I w o u l d also d o t h a t Wha t I d o ab ou t Slave ry an d

.

t h e c olor e d r ac e , I d o b e c au se I b e lie v e it h e lp s t o sav e t h e Un ion ;

a n d wh at I f o rb e ar , I fo rb e ar b e c a u se I d o n o t b e l ie v e it w ou l d h e lp

t o save t h e U ni o n . I s hall d o le ss whe n e ve r I sh all b e lie ve wh at I

am do in g h u r t s t h e c au se , an d I S h all d o mo r e w h e n e ve r I s h all

be lie ve doin g mo re will he lp t h e c au se I S hall t ry t o co rre c t e rro rs

.

whe n s ho w n t o b e e rro rs , an d I sh all a do p t n e w vie ws so fast as

t h e y s h all app e ar t o b e t r u e v i e ws .

I have he re s t at e d my p urp o se a cc o rding t o my vie w of O ffi cial

du t y ; and I in t e n d no mo dific at ion of my oft e xpre s se d p e rso nal -

wish t hat all me n e ve rywhe re c o u l d b e fre e .

Yo u rs ,

A LINC O LN
.

6 3 FO UNTAI N S T REE T
HAR T FO RD , C ONN .

Ju n e 3 0 , 1 9 24
S T ONE , C RO SS WE LL , AND MARDE N ,

8 6 5 C o ngre ss S t re e t
P o rt l an d , M aine

GE NT LE ME N !
In t h e chu rch of my home t own Of B ra t t le b o ro Ve rmo n t t he re , ,

is an o l d o rg an o p e r a t e d by w a t e r p o w e r O cc asio n all y du rin g t h e

.

wint e r t h e wa t e r will fre e z e an d o n e o f t h e b oy s will b e c all e d up o n

t o man t h e b e ll o w s in o rde r t h at t h e se rvi c e m ay g o o n I t u se d t o .

b e my e sp e c ial d e ligh t t o g e t in b a ck o f t h a t O l d o rg a n in a li t t l e ,

n arr o w p as sa ge w ay all c o ve re d wit h du s t a n d dir t a n d p ump t h e ,

han dle up an d down so t hat t h e o rganis t ou t fron t migh t make t h e

,

raf t e rs o f t h e chu rch rumble .

 LE TTE R S 1 09

And now I wo n de r if t hat is n t j us t t h e kin d of fe llo w y ou h ad

’

in min d whe n y o u in se r t e d y ou r a dve r t ise me n t in We d ne sd ay s

’

Her ald ! a f e llow w h o can g e t in b a ck in all t h e dust an d dir t a ,

fe llow w h o c an ke e p his h e a d up b u t hi s nose e ve rlast ingly o n t h e

grin ds t o ne w h o can ke e p t h e b e ll o ws c onst an t ly goin g up and
,
-

do wn an d give t h e o rg anist ou t in fro n t t h e whe re wit hal t o make

t h e b usine ss W
'

o rl d rumb le If t his is t h e ki n d of fe llo w y ou h ad in

.

mi n d woul d y ou be willing t o t alk wit h one wh o use d t o wo rk t h e

,

b e llows han dl e n o t so ve ry lo n g ag o ?
I am yo un g will b e t we n t y t hre e ye ars o ld t h e l at t e r p art o f t his
,
-

mo n t h . I h ave j u st c omp le t e d my ac ade mic wo rk at t h e C olle ge

Of B usine ss Administ rat ion of B ost o n Unive rsit y an d am no w loo k ,
'

ing fo r t h at ch an ce t o t ake h ol d Of t h e b e ll o w s h an d le I am fiv e .

fe e t e l e ve n an d t hre e qu art e rs in ch e s in h e igh t an d we igh o ne

-
,

hun dr e d an d Six t y—fiv e p oun ds I h ave bro wn h air bro wn e ye s

.
, ,

a n d a f airl y fu ll f a c e My he al t h is e xc e lle nt
. .

While I was goin g t o high school I u se d t o work in a combinat ion

ne w sp ap e r O ffi c e pr in t ing s h o p an d s t at ion e ry s t o r e
, ,
I did e ve ry .

t h in g t h e re from b e in g prin t e r s de vil t o e dit in g t h e n e wsp ap e r

’
It .

w a s w o rk I like d an d I w as in t e re st e d The n whe n I c ame t o B os t o n

.

Uni ve rsit y I t rie d t o ke e p in t ho se an d kin dre d l in e s as mu ch as I

co ul d.

Fir st I s t a r t e d in t akin g Eng li s h c our se s e ve ry o ne I c o ul d

'

p ossibly g e t in t o my s che dule L at e r I s t u die d publi cit y wo rk an d

.

a dve r t isin g I we n t o u t for p o sit io ns o n t h e Uni ve rsit y p ublic at ions “

.
,

an d su cc e e de d in Ob t ain in g p l a c e s o n t h e e dit o rial s t affs of t h e E U . .

Ne ws t h e we e kl y n e wsp ap e r an d t h e B eanpot t h e hum o rous mon t hl y

, , , .

I am re a dy t o g o t o wo rk no w an d n at ur all y I t u rn t o t h e fie ld
,

whe re my in t e re s t lie s I don t e xp e c t t o make a for t un e in S ix

.
’

mon t hs o r an y t hi n g like t hat Wh at I d o w an t is a pla ce wh e re I

.

c an g e t my h an d s o n t h e b e llo ws a g ain an d an opp o r t uni t y t o wo rk ,

t h e m h ard e n o u gh so t hat t h e o rganist will fe e l t hat my e ffo r t s are

wo r t hy o f a d e ce n t livin g w age .

If y ou t hink t hat y ou h ave r oo m for me in you r busin e ss an d

t h at I am t h e kin d of fe ll o w y o u wan t I wo ul d appre ciat e a n op p o r ,

t uni t y t o t e ll y ou mo re full y ab ou t mys e lf .

Yours ve ry t rul y ,

B E RNAR D L KE MPE R .
I 10 P REC I S WRITIN G

5 9 O TI S STRE E T
R ED B ANK , I OWA
August 1 2, 1 9 24
MR .D AVI D WATE RMAN
C o mm issio ne r o f Highways
R e d B ank, I o w a

MY DE AR MR WATE RMAN !
.

I wis h t o pro t e st mo st vigo ro u sly against t h e at t it u de t ake n by

you r de p ar t me n t co n c e rnin g t h e r e p airs on O t is S t re e t ab o u t which
I wro t e y ou o n July 2 o t h I h a ve re ce ive d n o re ply t o my le t t e r
.
,

n o r h a s any t hin g b e e n do n e t o r e me dy c on dit ions t h a t ar e gro wi n g

e ve ry d ay m o re ann o y in g a n d d an g e r o us May I on ce mo re c all

.

yo u r a t t e n t io n t o t he se co n dit io n s .

D ire c t ly o pp osit e my fro n t w alk O t is S t re e t is l o we r by n e arly a

foo t t han it is t o t h e no r t h an d so u t h At t his lo we st p o in t t he re is
.

n o dra in o r se we r as t h e re s ho u l d b e w it h t h e r e sul t t h at w at e r flo ws
,

in t o t his ho llo w fro m b o t h di re c t io ns m akin g a small p o n d whi ch

,

o f t e n d o e s n o t e n t ire l y d isapp e a r fo r t hr e e day s af t e r a h a rd s t o rm .

In t h e t h aw s o f Ma rch b o t h st re e t an d S id e w alks ar e Of t e n c o ve r e d
wit h t hre e in che s of wat e r ; an d a ft e r t h e he avy sho we r Of Jul y 1 6 t h
for n e arly t we lve h ours it w as imp ossib le t o approach wit h in a
hun dre d y ards of my walk .

The n again t h e he avy t ru cks of t h e D ufo n t S an d an d Grave l

,

C omp any h ave bro ke n t h e su rfa ce Of O t is S t re e t Opp osit e my h o u se

so b a dly t h a t no w whe n p assin g t h e y b ump an d cl a t t e r in a mos t
, ,

dis agre e ab le mann e r . Dish e s r at t le o n t h e sh e lve s o f my d in in g .

room close t an d t h e p las t e r o n t h e c e ilin gs of t hre e roo ms h as cracke d

,

an d b e g un t o fl ake O ff P a t chin g su ch as yo u r d e p ar t m e n t di d a
.

y e ar ag o do e s lit t le o r n o goo d Th e e n t ire s t re e t n e e ds re su rf a cing

.
—

fo r a d ist an c e o f n e arl y fif t y y ard s Opp o sit e my pro p e r t y . To p ay

t h e ro a d t ax e s wh ich I am asse sse d an d t he n h a ve my ho u se sh ake n
,

t o p ie c e s by t r u c ks b ou n cin g alo n g ov e r a st r e e t rou gh e r t h an it h as

b e e n fo r t we n t y ye ars is a co n dit ion of t hings un warrant e d and
,

unb e ar ab l e .

In t h e t hird pl a c e O t is S t r e e t is n e v e r spr inkle d

,
. Wh y shoul d
t his be so wh e n e ve ry o t he r st re e t in t his n e ighb o rh o o d is r e g ul arly
,

wat e re d t wice a d ay in t h e summe r by t h e Cit y sprinkle rs ?

Will y ou ple ase look in t o t he se mat t e rs at you r e arlie st co n
v eni en ce ? I h op e y ou will c ome an d s e e fo r you rse lf t h e c on dit io ns
 I I 2 P REC I S WRITIN G
w h o h as b e c ome proficie nt in t h e u se of a ddin g comp ut ing billing , , ,

an d b o okke e p in g machin e s an d w h o is pro b ab l y qu al ifie d fo r a p osi

,

t ion in y ou r a cc o u n t in g o r au dit in g d e p ar t m e n t s .

If y ou wish t o se e e it he r Miss D avi s or Miss C ran dall ple ase c all ,

Ne wt on N ort h 2 500 .

You rs ve ry t ruly ,

O LIVE R M CARDWE LL .

110
WHEE LO CK B AD GE R C O M PA NY
C he st nu t an d Marke t S t re e t s
P H I LAD E LP HI A , P E NN .

Mar 4, 1 924
MR GE ORGE B OND
.

Me di a High S chool
Me dia P e nn ,
.

MY DE AR MR B O ND .

Th ank y o u fo r se n din g in Miss Wait e t o us t h e o t he r d ay

. It is .

a g ainst t h e r ul e s o f t h e o rg aniz at io n t o e mp l o y g irl s un d e r six t e e n ,

b u t inasmu ch as Miss Wait e is t o b e six t e e n in D e c e mb e r an d is ,

plan nin g t o co me in onl y for sp e cial wo rk while st ill c ont inuing

s ch o o l I am willi n g t o c o n c e de a p o in t
,
.

I h ave discu sse d wit h Miss Wal s h t h e nu mb e r o f girls whom w e

c oul d use for S at u rd ay p o sit io n s an d holiday work We b e lie ve t hat .

w e c o u l d use t hre e j un io r o r se n io r g irl s fo r sal e s p o sit io n s o n S at u r

days provi de d t h e y h ad h ad so me wo rking e xp e rie n ce pre f e r ably
, ,

in se ll in g The se girl s wo ul d b e p aid $152 50 p e r d ay

. . In t h e case .

o f any n e w s ale sgirl wit hou t s t o re e xp e r ie n c e w e s ho ul d w an t h e r

,

t o co me in o n e af t e rn oo n in a dvan c e of e mp lo y me nt fo r s t o re ,

t rainin g .

We coul d also u se re gul arly o n S at urdays t hre e girls as st o ck

gir ls o r in t h e c ashie r de p art me n t Any s t o ck girl wou l d re c e ive
,
.

p e r d ay which is al so t h e p ay fo r c a sh ie r s o r e x amine rs as
, ,

sp e c ial s if t h e y are o v e r e igh t e e n

,
If u n de r e ight e e n t he y wou l d
.
,

b e p aid Th e st o ck g irl h as t o d o a c e r t ain amoun t o f c arry in g

an d n e e d s t o b e a f airly hu sky t yp e al t h o u gh t h e w o rk is n o t so
,

s t re nu o u s as t h at d on e by t h e s t ock b o y s .

I c ou l d pro b ably give re gul ar Sa t u rday pla ce s t o t hre e b o ys .

This w oul d b e in s t o ck w ork an d t he y w oul d b e p aid or

a we e k r at e ) a cc o rding t o whe t h e r t h e y w e r e o ve r o r u n d e r

e igh t e e n .
 LETTE R S 1 1 3

Any t he
yo un g p e op le t hat y o u se n d u s woul d work t h e re gular
of

s t o r e ho u r s fro m , to
O f co u rse w e s ho ul d w an t t o se e a n y p e o p l e t h a t y o u migh t
,

su gg e s t b e f o re w e make fin al arr an g e me n t s fo r hi r in
g t he m fo r
sp e c ial w o rk .

Sin ce r e ly you rs ,

L E O NARD H S MI TH .

E mpl oyme nt Ma nager

111
HAYE S AND RI CH MOND
R eal E sta te a n d I n su r ance
40 0 S ou t h S t re e t
B ALT IMO RE , MARYLA ND
January 3 0, 1 9 24
MR HOWARD WE LL WOOD
.

7 2 6 Gran d Ave nue

Fo r t Wo r t h Te x as ,

In cco rdan ce wit h you r re que st o f M ay r o t h I h ave l ooke d

a ,

o ve r t h e h o use a t 2 0 2 Wal n u t S t r e e t t o d e t e rmin e wh at re p airs

,

sh o ul d b e m a de in o r de r t o p u t it int o c on dit ion fo r r e n t al .

I t app e ar s t h a t t h e r oo f l e aks in f o u r o r fiv e p l a c e s Th e se p l a ce s .

a re smal l an d c o ul d b e p a t ch e d S O t h a t t h e r oo f wo ul d b e t igh t fo r

prob abl y t w o ye ars Th e e xp e nse wo ul d b e small comp are d wit h

.

t h e co s t o f r e s hin gling a t t his t ime wit h fir e pro o f s hin gle s Th e .

co st of a n e w roof co ve rin g t hat wo ul d me e t t h e b uildi ng re qu ire

-
,

me n t s w oul d b e a t l e ast $ 3 00
,
.

Th e ho u se wil l g o ano t h e r ye ar wit hou t p ain t in g e xce p t fo r t h e ,

win do w sashe s which shou l d be p ain t e d ou t side and inside t o p r o

,

t e c t t h e p u t t y an d impro ve t h e ge n e r al app e ar an c e o f t h e h ou se .

Th e o ak fl o o rs in t h e t wo fro n t r oo ms are wo rn an d s t ain e d .

The y c oul d b e s he lla cke d an d v arnishe d at a c o st of ab out fif t e e n

doll ars b u t I woul d adv ise havin g t h e m re finishe d wit h a p owe r
,

s an din g ma chin e -
Th e fift y o r six t y doll ars t ha t t his woul d c o st
.

woul d ad d e nou gh more t o t h e re nt al value of t h e ho use t o warran t

t h e e xp e n di t ure .

O n t h e fir st floo r t h e hall fron t room li ving ro om a nd di ning

, ,
-
,

room n e e d p ap e rin g an d p ain t in g and t h e ce il ing s s houl d b e whi t

,

e ne d . It wou l d prob ably c ost fif t y d ol lars t o d o t h e wo rk in a

t ho roug h mann e r using p ap e r co st ing an a v e rage of fif ty ce n t s a
,
1 1 4 P REC I S WRITIN G
rol l Th e walls an d woo dwo rk o f t h e kit che n an d p an t ry c o ul d b e
.

p aint e d at t h e same t ime wit h w at e rpro of p aint a t le ss e xp ense

t h an if un de r t ake n l at e r as a se p arat e jo b al t ho u gh t h e s e rooms ,

are in fair c o n dit io n .

If y ou wan t de fin it e fig ure s on al l o r any p ar t o f t he se re p airs ,

I will g e t a re liable b uilde r an d p aint e r t o make e st imat e s an d will ,

d o all I can t o h ave t h e w o rk co mp le t e d pro mp t ly an d sat isf a c t o rily .

Th e ho use t h e n ough t t o re nt fo r e igh t y fiv e o r n in e t y fiv e do ll ars - -

a mon t h .

Ve ry t ruly you rs ,

J OH N H RICHMOND .

112
MURRAY ,
ORR , AND ! UINLA N
S porting Goods Athle tic S upplies
a nd

4 7 We s t 3 9 t h S t re e t
NE W YO RK C ITY

MR . N ANDE R S ON
F . .

Go rham N H ,
. .

DE AR SIR !
B e f or e fillin g y ou r o rde r of J un e I st . for
1 # 1 3 0 Te nni s Ne t
2 C ampb e ll R a cke t s

6 C h amp io n Te nnis B alls

1 S e t D ou b le C o u r t Tap e s
we must fu rt he r info rmat io n re gardin g se ve ral it e ms
a sk y ou fo r .

Unfo rt un at e ly ou r s t o ck Of # 1 3 0 Te nn is N e t s is e n t ire ly so l d o u t .

It will b e a t l e ast t e n d ay s b e fo re a ne w supply is re c e ive d fro m t h e

fa ct ory Ne t # 1 3 1 is t h e small Siz e It is made Of a Sligh t ly he avie r
. .

co rd t han 741 3 0 an d cost s ,

mo re S h all w e su b s t i t u t e t h is .

n e t in p l a c e o f t h e o n e which y o u o rd e r o r s h all w e S h ip t h e r e ,

maind e r o f t h e o rde r a t t his t ime an d se n d t h e n e t whe n t h e n e w

,

su pp ly c o me s in ? O r woul d y o u pre fe r t o h ave u s h o l d t h e e n t ire

o rd e r un t il s hip me n t c an b e ma de in o n e lo t ?

Th e C ampb e ll Te nnis R acke t s which y ou o rde r e d are m ade in

fiv e diffe r e n t w e igh t s ! 1 2 1 3 1 4 1 5 an d 1 6 oun ce s
, , It woul d b e
, , .

we ll fo r y o u t o sp e cify which we ight s ho u l d b e se n t wit h yo u r o r de r .

Th e ligh t we igh t s a re suit ab le fo r immat u re p l a y e rs while t h e ,

he avie r ra cke t s are ma de t o me e t t h e d e man ds o f st ro n ge r an d

mo r e e xp e rie nce d p laye rs .
1 1 6 P REC I S WRITIN G

1 13 B

C IT Y HA LL , S YRA C U SE , N Y . .

D ecember 1 9 , 1 9 2 3
HARRY P B OURDON .

4 2 Hill side Av e .

S yra c use , N Y . .

MY DE AR HA RRY !
Whe n I saw t he Hamlin
prop e rt y b e in g cu t up l ast fall I won ,

de re d my se lf what t h e b o ys of Ward 1 6 w e re going t o d o for c oas t ing .

You r sugge st io n fo r u sing Hillside Ave nue is a goo d o ne an d ,

t h e re is onl y o n e p ossib le o bj e c t io n t h a t I c an fo re se e Th e j un c t ion .

o f Hillsid e Ave n ue an d C ou r t S t re e t is alr e a dy a d an g e ro u s c o rn e r .

C o ast in g o f co u r se wil l make it onl y mo re so

, ,
This f a ct will make .

it n e c e ssary t o h ave an O ffice r st at ion e d a t t h e co rne r t o w a ru au t o

'

mob ile s as we ll as t h e b o y s a nd girls c omin g do wn t h e hill

,
.

Ho w e ve r I will pr e se n t t h e ma t t e r at t h e n e x t me e t in g o f o ur
,

C o mmit t e e o n Highw ays an d if n e c e ss ary w ill c all a p ub lic he aring

,
.

In t h e me an t ime y o u mus t r e p o r t t o yo ur Clu b t h at I sh all c e r t ainl y

d o e ve ry t h in g in my p o we r t o h e lp t h e m fin d a saf e an d sui t able
plac e t o co as t .

Sin c e r e l y you rs ,

CH ARLE S I S TE NGE L .

1 13 C

B ER LE MAN AND R O LLI N S

R eal E s tat e B rokers
6 8 F ro n t S t re e t
S YRA C U S E , NE W YORK
December 2 8, 1 923
MR . CHARLE S I S TE NGE L .

C it y H all , S yr acuse , N Y . .

DE AR SIR !
As pro p e r t y -
o wne rs an d he avy t axp ay e rs on Hill side Ave nu e in
Ward 1 pro t e st again st t h e gran t ing of a l ice nse for p ublic
6 we
c o as t in g o n t hat st re e t
We have t wo ho use s fo r sale and t hre e for re n t ne ar t h e co rne r
o f C ou r t S t r e e t an d Hil lsid e Ave nue The se p ie ce s Of valu ab le
.

re al e st at e will b e se riou sly inj u re d by s uch coast ing priv ile ge s as

h ave b e e n alre ady grant e d in Wards 4 and 5 In f a c t it is quit e .
,
 LETTE R S I 1 7

p ro b a ble t h at w e sh all be o b lige d t o br in g in a suit for d amage s

agains t t h e cit y if t h e ave nue is t u r ne d in t o a p ubli c c o ast in g—p ark .

Hoping t hat y ou will se e o ur busine ss p oint of Vie w , we re main ,

Y o u r s t r ul y ,

B ERLE MA N RO LLIN S
113 D

1 1 HI LL S IDE AVE NUE

3
S YRA C U SE , NE W YO RK
December 2 9 , 1 9 2 3
ALDE RMAN S TE NGE L
Cit y Hall

DE AR SIR
I am bo t h sho cke d an d su rprise d t o he ar t h at y o u ar e in f avo r o f
g rant in g a co as t in g p e rmi t fo r Hillside Ave nue t hi s win t e r I llne ss .

pre ve n t s my at t e n ding t h e he aring t o m o rro w e ve ning I t he re fo re

-
.

se n d y ou t his writ t e n pro t e st ,

which I re qu e st y o u t o re ad at t h e
pub lic me e t in g .

I o bj e c t t o coast ing on Hill side Ave nu e fo r many r e aso ns b u t ,

fo r t he se t h re e in p ar t icul ar ! Th e ro a dw ay b e c o me s so slipp e ry
t h at it is d an g e rou s fo r au t o mo bile s as w e ll a s fo r p e o p l e o n f o o t
wh o may wis h t o cro ss ; t h e l au ghing an d s cre amin g af t e r d ark is
ann o yin g t o us w h o d e sir e t o live in p e a c e an d quie t ; wo r s t o f all ,

c oast in g w ll brin g t o Hill side Ave nue an un de sirable e le me nt fr om

i

t h e l o we r p art of t h e cit y who m w e d o n o t n e e d and wh o o t he rwi se

, ,

woul d ne ve r come on our st re e t .

Yours t rul y ,

( Miss) C ON S TA NTIA D INNENB ACK

113 E
HI LL SIDE AVE NUE
1 06

S YRA C U SE , NE W YORK
D ecember 2 9 , 1 9 2 3
MY DE AR MR S TE NGE L
.

I am so rry t hat I must b e o ut of t own t o morro w an d t h e re fo re

-
,

c anno t at t e n d t h e me e t ing b e fo re yo ur commit t e e co n ce rnin g t h e

mat t e r of pu bli c coast ing on Hill side Ave nu e .

B y all me ans l e t t h e bo ys and girl s h ave t his privil e ge b ut onl y ,

un d e r t wo co ndi t io ns ! ( 1 ) D uring co ast in g h ours t he re shoul d b e a

1 1 8 P REC I S WR ITIN G
c ap able c r o n g uard at t h e co rn e r o f C o u rt S t re e t o r t he re will
o ffi e ,

b e ano t h e r t r ag e dy like t h e P a rke r c ase o f l as t wint e r ; ( 2 ) All

coast ing sho ul d b e pro hibit e d aft e r PM a t t h e l at e st in fair
.
,

nes s t o t h e re side n t s o f H il lside Ave nu e so me o f who m re t ire e arl y

, ,

an d a lso in c o n side r a t io n o f t h e chil dre n t he mse l ve s .

'

I fe a r t he re is g o in g t o b e st re nuou s oppo sit ion t o grant ing t h e

p e rmit but ho p e y o u c an c on vin c e you r c ommit t e e t h at t h e ma
, c

jorit y o f u s d o not Obj e ct t o Hillside Ave nue b e ing use d for co ast ing
p urposes .

S in ce re ly yo u rs ,

AR THUR L S TAP LE S .

1 13 F

42 HI LL SIDE AVE NUE

S YRAC U S E , N Y . .

Jan . 1 0, 1 924
D EAR MR . S TE NGE L
At a me e t ing of t h e Aj ax C lub las t e ve ning up in S id F arrar s
’

at t ic y ou we re u na n imo usl y e le c t e d an ho no rary me mb e r , t h at is ,

’
y ou h ave all t h e privil e g e s , b u t w on t h ave t o p ay any due s .

Y o u ma de a gre at figh t for us , Mr S t e nge l , and I h o p e y o u he ard

.

us che e r ing y o u ou t sid e o f t h e Cit y Hall aft e r t h e c o mmit t e e vo t e d

t o all o w c o ast ing o n Hill side Ave nu e t his win t e r S o me of t h e .

fe llo ws want e d t o h ave a t o rchlight parade right o ff, an d march u p

and d o w n t h e hill sin gin g a n d ch e e rin g , bu t I t ol d t h e m w e migh t

g e t y o u in t ro ub l e if w e d id , so w e we n t up in S id F arrar s a t t ic
’

a n d h ad a r e gu l ar me e t in g t he re .

Th e fe llo ws h ave agre e d t o b e as quie t as p ossible while co ast ing ,

an d t o g o in at h alf p as t n in e
-
Tha t w as all t he y w an t e d anyway
. .

F re d S e t o n an d I h ave g o t o u r n e w doubl e ru nn e r fin ishe d , an d -

it s p ain t e d r e d an d gr e e n
’
Whe n w e have some sno w w e wan t
.

y o u t o c o me o u t an d se e h o w sh e go e s We 11 le t y o u st e e r or pu sh
’
.

o r sit in t h e m iddle S h e s g oin g t o b e t h e f ast e st sl e d o n t h e hill

’
. .

Thank y o u for g e t t ing us t h e p e rmit t o c o ast .

Yours ve ry t ruly ,
HARRY P B O URD ON , .

P resid en t Ajax Cl ub

PS. . F re d an d I w an t to na me o ur new d o u ble “Th eFl y ing

”
B e r t h a fo r M rs . S t e ng e l . D O y o u t hink sh e wi ll min d ?
1 20 P REC I S WRITIN G
P éc
r i s — I t is n ot s ta tu r e th a t ma kes a man great i n charac ter .

Nor d oes h e become a ny be tter for living many , ma ny ye ar s , like

an oa k tr e e. A lily which lives for bu t a s ingle d ay may be perfect
in form and beauty .S o i t i s wi th man H is life , too, may be .

short an d yet be perfect .

( 5 7 Words)

115

WH EN all wo rl d is yo un g lad
t he , ,

An d all t h e t re e s are gre e n ;

And e ve ry goo se a swan lad , ,

An d e ve ry l ass a que e n ;
The n h e y fo r b o o t an d ho rse lad , ,

And ro un d t h e wo rl d a way ;
Youn g bloo d mu st h ave it s co urse ,

An d e ve ry d og h is d ay .

Whe n all t hewo rl d is Old l ad

'
, ,

And all t h e t re e s are bro wn ;

And all t h e Sp o r t is s t al e la d , ,

An d all t h e whe e ls r un down

C r e e p ho me an d t ake y o ur place t he r e
, ,

Th e sp e n t an d maim d amo ng
'
’

Go d gran t y ou fin d o n e f ace t he r e
Y o u l ove d whe n all w as young .

C HARLE S KI NG S LE Y

B RE A THE S t he r e t h e m an , w it h soul so de ad ,
Wh o n e ve r t o himse lf hat h said,
This is my own , my nat ive l an d !
Whose he art hat h ne e r wit hin h im b urne d ,
’

AS home h is foo t st e p s h e h at h t urne d ,

F rom w ande rin g o n a fo re ign st r an d !
If su ch t h e re bre at he , g o , mark h im w e ll ;
For him no min st r e l r ap t ur e s swe ll ;
High t h ough h is t it le s, prou d h is name ,
B o un dle ss h is w e al t h as wish c an cl aim ,
D e sp it e t hose t it le s , p o we r , an d p e lf ,
Th e wre t ch , c on ce n t re d all in self ,
 P OETRY 1 21

Liv ing , sh all fo rfe it f air re no wn ,

And , doubly dyin g , shall g o do wn
To t h e vile du s t from whe n ce h e spr ung ,
Unwe p t , unh ono re d , an d un sung .

WA LTER S C O TT , The Lay f the

o L ast Minstrel

THE mo un t ain an d t he s quir re l

Had quarre l
a ,

And t h e fo rme r c all e d t h e lat t e r Lit t le P rig

B un re p lie d
“Y o u are doub t le ss ve ry bi ;
,

g
B ut all so r t s o f t hin gs an d we at he r
Must b e t ake n in t o ge t he r ,

To make up a ye ar
And a sphe re .

And I t hin k it no disgra ce

To o ccupy my p lace .

If I m not so large as y ou
’
,

Y ou are no t so small as I ,

An d no t h alf so S pry
. .

I 11 no t de ny y ou make
’

A ve ry pre t t y s quirre l t ra ck;

Tale nt s diffe r ; all is we ll an d wise l y put ;
If I c ann o t carry fo re st s o n my b a ck ,
”
Ne it he r can y ou cra ck a nu t .

RA LP H WA LDO EMER S ON

1 18

AB OU B E N ADHE M may hi s t rib e in cre ase !

Awoke o ne night from a de e p d r e am of p e ace ,
An d saw , wit hin t h e mo onlight in hi s roo m,
Making it rich , and like a lil y in bloom,
An an ge l writ ing in a b ook of gol d .

E xce e di ng p e a ce h ad ma de B e n Adh e m b ol d ,
An d t o t h e pre se n ce in t h e roo m h e said
“What writ est t hou? ” Th e visio n raise d it s he ad
,

And wit h a vo ice made all o f swe e t a cco rd ,

I 22 P REC I S WR ITIN G
”
An swe re d , Th e n ame s Of t h o se w h o lo ve t h e Lo rd
“And IS min e o n e ? ” said Ab ou “Na n o t S O ”
.

y, .
,

Re plie d t h e ange l Ab o u spo ke more lo w ,

“
.

B u t ch e e rly s t il l ; an d said , I pray t he e , t he n ,

Wr it e me as o n e wh o lo ve s h is fe llo w m e n ”
.

Th e ange l wro t e , an d v anishe d Th e n e x t n igh t

.

It c ame ag ain wit h a gre at w ake n in g l ight ,

An d sho we d t h e n ame s who m l o ve of Go d h a d b le st ,
-

And , 10 , B e n Adh e m s n ame le d al l t h e re s t !

’

H UN T

119

I S TOOD , o ne S und ay mo r ning ,

B e fo r e l arge C hu rch doo r ,
a

Th e co n gre g at io n g at he re d ,
An d c arriag e s a s co re
From o n e o u t st e pp e d a la dy
I o ft h ad se e n be fo re .

He r h an d w as on a praye r b ook -
,

An d he l d a vin aigre t t e ;
Th e Sign o f ma n s re de mp t ion
’

C le ar o n t h e b o ok w as se t ,

B u t ab o ve t h e cro ss t h e re glist e ne d
A go l de n c o ro n e t .

Fo r h e r t h e Ob se qu i ou s b e adle
Th e inne r doo f flu n g wide ;
Ligh t ly , as up a b allroo m,
H e r fo o t st e p s se e me d t o gli de
The re might b e goo d t hought s in h e r,
Fo r all h e r e vil pride .

B ut af t e r h e r a woman
P e ep e d wist fully wit hin ,
O n wh o se w an faCe w as gr ave n
Life s h arde st di s cipline
’

Th e t r a ce o f t h e sad t rini t y
Of we akn e ss, p ain , and sin .
“
1 24 P REC I S WRITIN G
’
Ble st , w h o dl y fin d
c an u n c o n c e r n

Ho u r s, d ays , an d ye a rs , slide so ft a way

In he al t h of b o dy , p e a c e of min d ,
! uie t by d ay ,
S o u n d s le e p by gh t ; s t u dy an d e ase
ni

To ge t he r mix t , swe e t r e cr e at io n , _

An d in no ce nce , which mo s t doe s pl e ase

'

. Wit h me dit at io n
‘
.

Thu s l e t me live , un se e n , u nkn o wn ;

“
Thu s u nl ame n t e d le t m e d ie
S t e al fro m t h e wo rl d , an d n o t a s t o n e
Te ll whe r e I lie .

—
ALE ! AND E R P O P E , S ol it u de

'

O F T in t h e
.
s t ill y ni ght
E re mb e r
sl u chain h as b o un d me
’
s ,

Fo n d Me mo ry brin gs t h e ligh t
Of o t he r d ay s aro un d me !
Th e smil e s t h e t e ars
,

Of b o yho o d s ye ars
’
,

Th e wo rds Of l o ve t he n sp oke n ;
Th e e ye s t ha t s h one ,

Now d imm d an d go n e
’
,

Th e chee rful he ar t s n o w broke n !

Thu s in t h e st ill y n ight
_

E re slu mb e r s ch ain h as b o un d me
’
,

S ad M e mo ry brings t h e l igh t
“
Of o t he r d ay s aro u n d me .

Whe n re me mb e r all
I
_

Th e frie n d s so link d t o ge t he r
’

I v e se e n aro un d me f all
’

Like l e ave s in win t ry We at her ,

I fe e l like o n e
Wh o t rea ds alone
S o me b an qu e t h all de se r t e d
-
,

Who se light s are fle d

Whose garlands de ad
_

An d all b u t h e de p ar t e d !
 P OETRY 1 25

Th us y ni ght
in t h e s t ill

Ere slumb e r s ch ain h as b ound me

’
,

S ad Me mo ry brings t h e light
Of o t he r days aroun d me .

TH OMA S MOO RE “Th e Light o f O t he r D ays

,

Th e fo ll owing p ré cis o f Moo r e s p o e m (No 1 2 2 ) was

’
.

wr it t e n by a hi g h sch oo l boy in t e n min u t e s

-
Has h e suc .

c e e d e d in using l arg e ly hi s o wn w o r ds ? No t ic e t h e t w o
se n t e n c e s t o c o rr e sp o n d t o t h e t w o s t anz as What o t he r .

g o o d p oin t s d o y o u fin d in t his ab s t r ac t ? C an y o u sugge st

an y imp r o v e me n t s ?

P r é c is Often at night , before I fa ll asleep, I reme mber the

ju s t
ha ppy yea rs of my boy h ood a n d t h e fac es of old fr i e n ds wh o a ll ,

all ar e gon e . The n I feel as sad a nd l one some as one wh o is l eft

al on e i n t h e dr eary gl oom of a great banquet ha ll , fr om which all -

the gue sts ha ve gone .

( 5 5 wo rds)

THE qualit y of me rcy is no t st rain ( 1 ’

.

I t dropp e t h as t h e ge n t le rain from he ave n

Upon t h e place b e ne at h It is t wice ble st !
.

It bl e sse t h hi m t h at give s an d h im t h at t akes .

T is mi ght ie st in t h e might ie st ; it b e co me s
’

Th e t h ro ned mo n arch b e t t e r t h an hi s cro wn .

His s ce p t re sho ws t h e fo rce Of t e mp o r al p ow e r ,

Th e at t rib ut e t o awe and m aj e st y ,

Wh e re in clo t h sit t h e dr e ad an d fe ar of king s ;

_

B ut me rcy is ab o ve t his s c e p t re d s way ;

I t is e n t hro ned in t h e he ar t s of kings ;
I t is an at t rib ut e t o Go d h imse lf ;
An d e ar t hl y p o we r dot h t he n S ho w likest God s ’

Wh e n me rcy se asons just ice .

WILLIAM SHAKESP EARE The Mercha nt of Venice,

I 26 P REC I S WRITIN G

S WEE T d ay , s o cool , so c alm, so brig ht , _

Th e bridal o f t h e e ar t h a nd sky ,
Th e d e w shall w e e p t h y f all t o nig ht ; -

Fo r t hou must d ie .

S we e t rose , whose h ue , angry an d brave ,

B ids t h e r a sh gaz e r wip e h is e y e ,

Th y r oo t is e ve r in it s grave ,
An d t ho u must d ie .

S we e t
prin g full of s we e t d ays and rose s
s , ,

whe re swe e t s c o mp ac t e d lie

A b ox ,

My music sho ws y e have y o u r clo se s ,

An d all mu st d ie .

Onl y a swe e t a nd vir t u ous so ul ,

Like se asone d t imb e r , ne ve r give s ;
B ut t ho ugh t h e whol e wo rl d t u rn t o Co al ,
The n chie fly live s .

GE O RGE HE RB E R T , Vir t ue Immo r t al

SAY not , the st u r ggle

ght availe t h n ou ,

-
Th e lab or an d t h e woun ds are vain ,

Th e e ne my f ain t s n o t no r f aile t h, ,

An d as t hings have b e e n t he y re main .

If hop e s we re dup e s fe ars may b e liars ;

‘

I t may b e , in y o n smo ke c o n c e al d
’

Yo u r co mrade s chase e e n no w t h e flie rs ,

’

An d , bu t for y ou , p osse ss t h e fie l d .

For while t h e t ire d w ave s vainly bre akin g , ,

S e e m he re no p ainful in ch t o gain ,

Far b a ck t hrou gh cr e e ks an d inl e t s makin g

, ,

C o me s sile n t floo din g in t h e main

, ,
.
1 28 P REC I S WRITIN G

WHE TH ER Id a s s hady brow

on
’
,

O r in t h e ch amb e rs of t h e E ast ,

Th e chamb e rs o f t h e sun t ha t no w ,

F ro m an cie nt me l o dy h ave c e ase d ;

Whe t he r in He ave n y e
wan de r fair ,

Or t h e gre e n co rn e rs o f t h e e ar t h ,

O r t h e b lue re gio ns Of t h e air ,

Whe re t h e me lo di ou s winds have birt h ;

Whe t he r cryst al ro cks y e ro ve
on

B e n e a t h t h e b osom o f t h e se a .

Wan de ring in many a co ral grove ,

Fair Nine fo rsaking P o e t ry

,
-

Ho w h ave y ou le ft t h e an cie n t love

That b ards of ol d e n j o ye d in y ou !
Th e l angui d s t rin gs d o s c a rc e ly moVe ,

Th e so un d is f o rce d t h e no t e s are fe w,
.

“
WILLIAM B LAKE To t h e Muses ,

1 28
IN a n ag e of fo p s an d t o ys ,
Want ing wisdom void of right , ,

Wh o S hall ne rve h e roic b oys

To h az ard all in F re e dom s figh t ’

B re ak sh arp ly o ff t h e ir j olly g ame s ,

Fo rsake t h e ir c o m ra de s g ay ,

And quit pro u d ho me s an d y ou t hf ul d ame s

'

F o r f amine t oil an d fray ?

, ,

Y e t O n t h e nimb l e air b e ni gn
-

Sp e e d nimb le r me ssage s ,

That waf t t h e bre at h o f gra ce divine

To he ar t s in slo t h an d e ase .

S O nigh is gran d e u r t o o ur dust ,

S O n e ar is Go d t o man ,

Whe n D ut y whisp e rs low Thou must , ,

Th e yo u t h re p lie s I ca n ,
.

RALP H WALD O EMER S ON Volun t arie s ,

 P OETRY 1 29

WANTING wh at ?
is
S umme r re dund ant ,

B lue ne ss ab un d ant ,

Whe re is t h e blot ?
B e amy t h e wo rl d y e t a b lank all t h e same
, ,

Frame wo rk wh ich w ait s for a p ic t ure t o frame ;

Wh at of t h e le afage what of t h e flowe r ?
,

Ro se s e mbo we ring wi t h n aught t he y e mbo we r !

C o me t he n comp le t e in comp le t ion O come r
, , ,

P ant t hrough t h e blue ne ss p e rfe c t t h e summe r !

,

B re a t he b u t one bre at h
Rose be aut y ab ove
-
,

An d all t ha t w as de at h
Gro w s life gro w s lo ve
, ,

Grow s love !
RO BE RT B RO WNI NG

1 30

HO ME t he y brough t h e r w arrio r de ad ;
S h e no r swoo ne d nor u t t e r e d cry ;
,

Al l h e r maide n s w at chin g said

, , ,

Sh e must we e p o r sh e will die .

The n t he y pr aise d him, so f t and low ,

C all e d hi m wo r t hy t o b e lo ve d ,
True st frie n d , and nobl e st fo e ;
Y e t sh e ne it he r sp oke n o r move d .

S t ole a maide n from h e r p l a ce ,

Light l y t o t h e w arrio r st e p t ,
Took t h e fac e clo t h fro m t h e f a ce ;
-

Y e t sh e ne it he r mo ve d n o r we p t .

Rose r o f nine t y ye ars

a nu se ,

S e t his chil d up on h e r kne e ;

Like summe r t e mp e st came h e r t e ars
“S we e t m chil d I live for t he e ! ”
y ,

ALFRED TENN YS ON
 P REC I S WRITIN G

B RE AK , br e ak, bre ak,

On t h y c ol d gray s t o n e s, 0 Se a !
An d I w ou l d t hat my t o n gu e co ul d ut t e r
Th e t ho ught s t hat arise in m e .

Oh , w e ll fo r t h e fish e rman s b o y ,
’

Th at h e sho u t s wit h h is S ist e r a t p l ay !

Oh , w e ll fo r t h e sailo r l ad ,
That h e S i ngs in h is b oat o n t h e b ay !

An d t h e s t at e ly ship s g o o n
TO t he ir h ave n u n de r t h e hill ;
B u t o h , fo r t h e t o uch Of a vanish e d h an d ,
And t h e so un d o f a vo ice t h at is st ill !

B re ak, bre ak bre ak

, ,

At t h e f oo t o f t h y cr ags 0 S e a !
,

B u t t h e t e n de r gr ac e o f a d ay t h at is d e ad
Will ne ve r come b ack t o me .

ALFRE D TE NNYS ON

I WH O have lo st t h e st ars t h e so d
, , ,

Fo r chillin g p ave an d Ch e e rle ss ligh t ,

Have made my me e t in g p l a ce w it h Go d
-

A n e w an d n e t h e r n igh t

Have fo un d a fane whe re t hun de r fills

L o u d c ave rns t r e ni ul o u s ; an d t he se
,

At o n e me fo r my r e ve r e n d hills
'

An d m o on lit sile n c e s .

A figme n t in t h e cro wde d dark ,

Whe re me n sit mu t e d by t h e roar ,

I ride u p o n t h e whirrin g Sp ark

B e n e a t h t h e cit y s flo o r
’
.

In t his d im firmame nt , t h e s t ars

W
hi rl by in b l az in g file s an d t ie r s ;
Kin me t e o r s gr az e ou r flyin g b ars ,
Amid t h e sp innin g sphe re s .
132 P REC I S WRITIN G
He ave n give s o ur ye ars o f fading s t re ng t h
I n de mnifying fle e t ne ss ;
And t hose of you t h a se e ming le ng t h, ,
’
P rop o rt ion d t o t h e ir sw e e t n e ss .

TH OMA S CAMP B E LL “Th e Rive r o f Life ,

*
1 34

C . E . E . B .
,
1 9 20
P ERHAP S in t his ne gle c t e d sp o t is laid
S ome he ar t o n c e pre gnan t wit h c e le st ial
Hands t h at t h e ro d of e mp ire migh t h ave
O r w ake d t o ecs t asy t h e living lyre .

B ut K nowle dge t o t he ir e ye s h e r amp le p ag e

Rich wit h t h e spo ils o f t ime d id ne e r unroll ;
’

C hill P e nu ry r e p re ss d t he ir nob le rage ,

’

And froz e t h e ge nial cu rre nt o f t h e soul

. .

Full many a g e m, o f p u re s t ray se re ne ,

Th e d ark, u nfat h o m d c ave s o f o ce an b e ar ;
’

Ful l man y a flo we r is b o rn t o b lush unse e n ,

And w ast e it s swe e t n e ss o n t h e de se r t air .

S ome village Hampde n , t hat wit h daunt le ss b re ast

Th e lit t le t yran t of h is fie lds wit hst oo d ;
,

S ome mut e ing lo rio us Milt on he re may re st ,

S ome Croin we ll g uil t le ss of h is co un t ry s b lo od
'
’
.

TH O MA S GRA Y
Ele gy Writ t en in a Coun t ry C hurchyard

A THIN G of be aut y is a joy fo reve r

It s love line ss in cre ase s ; it will n e ve r
P ass in t o no t h ing ne ss , b u t st ill wil l kee p
A b o we r quie t fo r u s, and a sle ep
'

Full o f sw e e t dre ams , and h e al t h , and quie t b reathing .

The re fo re , o n e ve ry mo rrow , are we wreat hing

 P O ETRY 1 33

A flo we ry ban d t o b in d us t o t h e e ar t h ,
_

S p it e o f de sp o nden ce , of t h e in human de art h

Of nob le nat u re s, of t h e glo omy days ,
Of all t h e un h e al t hy and o e r —darke ne d ways
’

Made for rching ; y e s in sp it e o f al l

o ur se a , ,

S ome S hap e of b e au t y mo ve s aw ay t h e p all

F rom o ur d ark Sp ir it s S u ch t h e sun t h e mo on
.
, ,

Tre e s o ld and young spro ut in g a s ha dy b oo n

,

For simp le she e p ; an d su ch are d affo dil s

Wit h t h e gre e n worl d t he y live in ; and cle ar rills
Tha t fo r t he mse lve s a coo l in g co ve r t make
’
Gains t t h e h o t se aso n ; t h e mid fo re st br ake -
,

Rich wit h a sprin klin g o f fair musk ro se bl o oms ; -

An d su ch t o o is t h e gran de u r o f t h e dooms
We have imagine d fo r t h e might y de ad ; “
All love ly t ale s t ha t w e h ave h e ard or re ad
-

An e n dl e ss fount ain o f immo r t al drink ,

P o uring un t o us from t h e h e ave n s b rink

’
.

J OHN KE A TS Endymion ,

1 36

I WO ULD no t ent e r on my list Of frie n ds

(Thou gh gr ace d wit h p olish d mann e rs an d fin e
’
se nse

Y e t wan t in g se nsibili t y) t h e man

Wh o nee dle ssly se t s foo t up on a wo rm .

An in a dve rt e n t st e p may crush t h e snail

That crawls at e ve ning in t h e p ublic p at h ,

B ut h e t h at h as h umanit y fo re w arne d
.
, ,

Will t re ad aside and le t t h e re p t ile live

,
.

Th e cre e p ing ve rmin loat hso me t o t h e sight

, ,

An d charge d p e rh ap s wit h ve nom t h at in t rudes ,

A visit o r un we l co me int o sce ne s

S acre d t o ne at ne ss and re p ose t h e al cove , ,

Th e ch amb e r o r re fe ct o ry may die

, ,
.

A ne ce ssary ac t in curs no b lame .

No t so whe n he l d wit hin t he ir prop e r b oun d s

An d g uilt le ss o f o ffe n ce t he y ran ge t h e air
, ,

O r t ake t he ir p ast ime in t h e sp acious fie ld .

1 34 P R EC I S WRITIN G
The re t he y ar e privil e g e d ; an d h e t hat hun t s
O r h arms t h e m t h e re , is g uil t y o f a wrong ,
Dis t u rb s t h e e co nomy o f N at u re s re alm ,
’

Wh o whe n sh e fo rme d , de sign e d t he m an abo de .

Th e sum is t his ! if man s co nve n ie n ce , he al t h,

’

01 safe t y int e rfe r e , h is righ t s an d c laims

Are p aramoun t , an d must e x t inguis h t he ir s .

Else t h e y are al l t h e me an e s t t h ings t h at are

As fre e t o live and t o e nj o y t h at l ife ,
As Go d w as fre e t o fo rm t he m a t t h e firs t ,
Wh o in h is sove re ign wisdom ma de t he m all .

WILLIAM C O WP E R , The

*
1 37

C . E . E . B .
,
1 91 8
OH , we ll for him whose will is st ro n g !
He s uffe rs b u t h e will n o t suffe r lo n g ;
,

He sufle rs bu t h e c an no t su ffe r wron g

,
.

For h im n or mo v e s t h e lo u d wo rl d s ran dom

’

No r all C alamit y s hu ge st w a ve s c o nfo un d

’
,

Wh o se e ms a promon t o ry Of ro ck ,

Th at c o mp a ss d ro un d wit h t u rb ul e n t sound
’
, ,

In middle o c e a n me e t s t h e s urg ing sho ck ,

Te mpe st b uffe t e d cit a de l c ro w n d

’
- -
.
,

B ut ill fo r h im w h o , b e t t e rin g n o t wit h t ime ,

Co rrup t s t h e s t re ng t h o f h e ave n de s c e n de d Will -

,

And e v e r w e ake r gro ws t hro u gh a c t e d crime ,

O r se e ming ge n ial ve nial faul t

-
,

Re curring an d sugge st ing s t ill !

He se e ms as o ne who se fo o t s t e p s h alt ,

To ilin g in imme asu rabl e san d .

,

An d o e r w e a ry su l t ry lan d
’
, ,

Far b e n e a t h a bl az ing v au l t ,

S o wn in a wrin kl e Of t h e mo nst ro us hil l

Th e cit y sp arkle s l ike a grain o f sal t
ALFRE D TE NN Y S ON “Will ,
1 36 PR ECIS WRITIN G
In crad le of t h e rud e imp e rious su rge
And in t h e visit at io n o f t h e winds ,
W h o t ake t h e rufli an b illo ws by t h e t op ,
C u rlin g t h e ir mons t rous he a ds and h angin g t h e rr
Wit h de afe ning clamou r in t h e slipp e ry clou ds,
Th at , w it h t h e hu rly, de at h it se lf awake s ?
C ans t t hou, 0 p r a t ia l S le e p , g ve t y re p o se
i h \
To t h e w e t se a b oy in an hour so r ude ,
-

And in t h e calme st an d most s t ille st ni ght ,

Wit h all app lian ce s an d me ans t o b oot ,
D e n y it t o a king ? The n happy low , lie d own !
Une asy lie s t h e h e ad t hat w e ars a crown .

WILLIAM SHAKE SP E ARE , K ing Henry I V, P art II

1 40

FA RE WE L L ! a lon g fa re w e l l , t o all my gr e at ne ss !
This is t h e st at e o f man ! t od ay h e p ut s fo r t h
Th e t e n de r le ave s o f ho p e s ; t o-mo rro w b lossoms ,
And b e ars h is b lushin g h ono r s t hick up o n h im ;
Th e t hird d ay co me s a fro st , a killin g frost ,
And , whe n h e t hinks , goo d e asy man , ful l sure ly
His gre at ne ss is a rip e n in g , nip s his roo t ,
-

’
And t he n h e fa ll s , as I d o . I h ave v e n t ur d ,
L ike l it t le w an t o n b o y s t hat s wim o n b la dd e rs ,
This many su mme rs in a se a o f glo ry ,
B ut far b e yo n d my d e p t h . My high b lown pride
-

At lengt h bro ke un de r me , an d now h as l e ft me ,

We ary and old wit h se rvice , t o t h e me rcy
O f a r ude st re am , t hat must fo re ve r hide me .

Vain p omp an d glo ry o f t his w o rl d , I h at e y e !

I fe e l my h e art ne w op e n d Oh , h o w wre t che d
’
.

Is t h at p oo r man t h at h angs on prin c e s f avo rs !

’

The re is, b e t wix t t hat smile w e w oul d a sp ire t o ,

That s weet asp e ct Of prin ce s , an d t he ir ru in ,
Mo re p an gs an d fe ars t han wars o r wome n have ;
And whe n h e fal ls , h e falls like Lu cife r ,
N e ve r t o hope again .

WILLIAM SHAKE SP EARE , K ing Henry VI I I

 P O ETRY 1 37

To b e , o r no t t o be ! que st ion
t h at is t h e .

Whe t he r t is noble r in t h e mind t o suffe r

’

Th e slin gs and arro w s of o ut ra ge ou s fo r t une ,

Or t o t ake arms against a se a Of t ro u ble s ,

An d by o pp osin g e nd t he m To die ; t o sle e p ;

.

No mo re ; and by a Sle e p t o say we e nd

Th e he ar t ache an d t h e t housan d nat u ral sho cks
T is a c on summ at io n
’
That fle sh is h e ir t o .

D e vou t ly t o b e w ish d To di e ; t o sle e p ;

’
.

To sle e p ? P e rchan ce t o dre am ! Ay t he re s t h e rub ;

’
,

Fo r in t ha t sl e e p o f de at h wha t dre ams m ay co me ,

Whe n we have sh uffl d off t his mort al coil

’
,

Must give u s p ause The re s t h e re sp e c t

.
’

Tha t make s c alami t y of so lon g lif e .

Fo r wh o woul d b e ar t h e whip s an d s co rn s o f t ime ,

Th e Oppre sso r s wron g t h e prou d man s con t ume ly

’ ’
, ,

Th e p ains Of dispriz d love t h e law s de lay

’ ’
, ,

Th e inso le n ce of Offi ce an d t h e spu rn s

,

That p at ie nt me rit of t h e unw o r t hy t ake s ,

Whe n h e himse lf might his quie t us make

Wit h a b are b o dkin ? Wh o would farde ls b e ar ,

To grun t and sw e at un de r a w e ary life ,

B u t t h at t h e dre ad Of som e t hin g aft e r de at h ,

Th e undisco ve re d co unt ry from wh ose b ou m

No t rave l e r re t u rns puz z le s t h e will
,

An d make s us rat he r b e ar t hose ill s w e have

Than fly t o o t he rs t h at w e kn o w no t o f?
Thus c onscie n ce do e s make co w ards of u s al l ;
And t hus t h e nat ive h ue o f re so lu t ion
Is sicklie d O e r w it h t h e p ale ca st O f t h ou gh t
’
,

An d e n t e rprise s o f gre at pit h and mome nt

Wit h t his re gard t he ir cu rre nt s t u rn awry ,

And lo se t h e n ame o f ac t ion .

 VI II
A GR OUP OF S ONNE T S

For a disc ussio n of the son n e t an d pré cis writ ing se e In t r o

d uc t io n p
,
2 —
ag e s 4 2 7 .

S e le c t io ns 1 46 1 48 1 5 1 1 56 1 59 an d 1 6 0 h av e app e ar e d
, , , , ,

o n p ap e r s o f t h e C o lle g e En t r an c e B oa r d E x amin a t ion s .

O n p ag e s 1 4 1 1 44 1 4 5 1 46 will b e f o un d summarie s wr it t e n
, , ,

by high —school st ude n t s in c lassroom p r ac t ice .

1 42
WH EN
‘

L e t t y h ad p asse d h e r t hird glad y e ar

sc ar ce ,

And h e r yo un g ar t le ss wo rds b e g an t o flo w
, ,

O ne d ay w e g ave t h e chil d a co lo r e d sph e re

O f t h e w ide e ar t h t hat sh e might mark and know
, ,

B y t in t an d ou t line all it s s e a and l an d , .

S h e p at t e d all t h e wo rl d ; ol d e mp ire s p e e p e d
B e t w e e n h e r b aby finge rs ; h e r sof t han d
'

Was we lcome at all fron t ie rs Ho w sh e le ap e d .

,

An d laughe d an d pra t t l e d in h e r wo r l d wide b liss ; -

B u t wh e n w e t u ru d h e r swe e t unle arne d e y e

’

O n o u r o w n isle sh e raise d a j oyous cry

“Oh ! e s I se e it L e t t y s home is t he re ! ”
_
, ,
’
y , ,

An d whil e sh e hid all E n glan d wit h a kiss

, ,

B righ t ove r Europ e fe ll h e r go l de n h air !

CH ARLE S TE NNY S ON TURNE R Le t t y s Glob e -
’
,

1 43
ERE LON G I p ace d t hose clois t e ral aisle s e re lo ng ,

I mo ve d whe re p ale me mo rial shap e s co nve ne ,

Whe re poe t warrio r st at e sman king o r que e n

, , , ,

In o ne gre at e le gy of s c ulp t ure t hro ng ,

Whe n su dde nly wit h he art b e at s glad and s t rong

, ,

I saw t h e fac e o f t hat lost frie n d se re ne

Wh o rob e d Hiawat ha and Evange line
In su ch b e nign simplicit y o f so ng !
The n swif t ly as ligh t mis t s on mo rnin g le as
, ,

All his t o ry le ge n d Engl an d b ackward drawn

, , , ,

Van ishe d like vision t o in co rp o rat e air .

1 40 P REC I S WRITIN G

C . E . E . B .
, 1 91 9
MUCH have I t rave l e d in t h e re alms of gol d
And many go o dl y s t a t e s an d kin gdoms se e n ;
Roun d many we st e rn islan ds have I b e e n
Which b ards in fe alt y t o Ap ollo hol d .

Oft o f one wide e xp an se h ad I b e e n t ol d

Th at d e e p brow d H om e r rul e d a s h is d e me sne ;
’
-

Y e t d id I ne ve r bre a t he it s p u re se re ne
Till I he ard C hap man sp e ak o u t lou d a nd b ol d .

The n fe l t I like so me w a t che r o f t h e skie s

Whe n a ne w p lan e t swims in t o h is ke n ;
01 like s t out C o r t e z whe n w it h e agle e y e s
,
‘
He st are d at t h e P a cific a n d a ll h is me n

Lo ok d a t e a ch o t h e r wit h a w il d su rmise
’

Sile n t up o n a p e ak in D arie n
,
.

“
J OH N K E A TS O n Firs t L o o king in t o C h ap man s Home r ’
,

This so n n e t , No . 1 46 , w hic h
pp e ar e d on t h e fall p ap e r o f
a

t h e C o lle g e En t r an c e E x amin at ion B o ar d in 1 9 1 9 pr o v e d t o

'

b e a s t umb ling bl o c k in s e v e r al classe s o f hig h s c hoo l se n io r s

‘
-
.

All b u t a fe w s t u d e n t s f e ll d o wn o n t h e fig u r a t iv e lan g u ag e in
t h e fir s t e ig h t line s Th e fir s t t h r e e summarie s b e l o w S ho w
.

t h a t t h e wr it e r s c o n sid e r e d t h e so nn e t a p o e m ab o u t t r a v e lin g .

Th e au t ho r of t h e f o ur t h pré c is saw t hat it c o n c e r n e d r e a ding .

Th e misun d e r st an din g o f t h e p oe m may b e a t t rib u t e d t o

”
se v e r al f ac t o r s Th e wo r d s
. e xp an se d e me sne ”
f e al t y ”
, , ,

as u se d by K e a t s l e d man y s t u d e n t s as t r ay
”
an d se r e n e , , .

Th e n t h e ir kn o wle dg e o f my t h ology w as me ag r e Th e y h a d .

n o t r e a d H o me r an d C h ap m an me an t n o t hing t o t h e m
,
Ab o v e .

all ,
t h e y lack e d imagina t io n so t h at wh e n t h e p oet b e g an
, ,

Much hav e I t r av e le d t h e p ic t ure t h at came t o t he ir min ds

'
”
,

was of t rains an d ship s an d a u t omo b ile s In t h e same w ay .

,

lac k o f imag ina t ion l e f t almo st me aning l e ss su ch e xp r e ssio n s

”
as t h e r e ah ns Of g o l d
'
a nd ro un d man y w e s t e rn islan ds .

In a w o r d t his sonne t w as t oo d ifli c ul t for hig h sch oo l s e nio rs -

t o han dle al one

 S O NNETS 1 41

P r é ci s I have t ravele d fa r and visite d ma ny kingd oms , bu t n ot

un til I he a r d Chapman speak of H omer s la nd d id I appr e ciat e
’

its e xiste nce .

P r é c is Alth ough I h ad h ea r d consid era bl e of Homer in my for eign

t rav els , I felt n o in terest in h im un til Chapman gave me a great
thrill s uc h a th r ill as one ha s on seein g for th e fi rs t t ime a new

a nd wond erful s ight .

P r é c is I h ave traveled in many places wh ose beauty is ascr ibed

t o Apoll o, bu t th ese wer e as n othin g t o th e w id e a n d gl or ious ex
m apma n s acc ou nt of it
’
p an s e of H o e r wh en I read C h .

P r é ci s —
I hav e read many wond erful books in my lifetime ,
a nd I
hav e espe cially e nj oyed th e gr eat poe ts t old of
I h ad oft en been
.

th e wor ks of Homer , bu t I n ev er h ad had a ch an ce t o re ad th em

until Ch apman gav e th e m t o me Th e n I was s o d eligh te d tha t I
.

c a n only compare my wond er t o the feeli n g tha t a n as tr on omer ha s

wh en he disc overs a n e w s tar , or th at an e xpl or er h as when h e l ooks

for the first time upon a n ew world or a new ocean .

He r e is a o n e -s e n t e n e c p ré cis w rit t e n a ft er t h e p o em h ad
“

b e en dis c u sse d in class .

P r é ci s — In all my wid e reading o f the gr ea t English poe ts I n ever

mad e s uch a wond erful discovery as I d id when I first read

Chapman s f H omer
’
t r an sla tion o .

1 47
To o n e wh o h a s b e e n lon g in cit y p e nt ,
T is ve ry sw e e t t o l ook in t o t h e fair
And op e n f a ce o f h e a ven t o bre at he a praye r
Full in t h e smil e of t h e b lue fir mame n t .

Wh o is mo re happy , whe n , wit h he ar t s cont e nt ,

’

F at igue d h e sinks in t o some p le asant l air

Of w avy grass , and re ads a de b onair
And g e nt le t ale Of lo ve an d lang uishme nt ?
Re t urnin g home at e ve nin g , wit h an e ar
C a t ching t h e Of P hilo me l an e y e
not e s ,

Wat ching t h e s ailin g c lou d le t s b righ t care e r

’
,

He mo urns t hat d ay so soon h as glide d by ,

’
E e n l ike t h e p assage Of a n an ge l s t e ar
’

That fall s t hrou gh t h e cle ar e t he r sile n t ly .

J OH N KE A TS
 P REC I S WRITIN G
*
1 48

C . E . E . B .
,
J un e ,
1 92 1
THE p o e t ry r t h is n e ve r d e a d
of e a .

Whe n all t h e birds are fain t wit h t h e h o t sun

An d h id e in c oo ling t r e e s a voice wil l run ,

Fro m h e dge t o h e dge ab out t h e n e w mown me ad -

.

That is t h e grasshopp e r s — h e t ake s t h e le ad

’
,

In summe r lux u ry h e h a s n e ve r d o n e
,

Wit h h is de light s ; fo r whe n t ire d out wit h fun

, ,

He re s t s at e ase b e ne at h some p le asan t we e d .

Th e p oe t ry o f e ar t h is c e asin g ne ve r .

O n a lo n e w in t e r e ve n in g wh e n t h e fro st
.

Has wrou gh t a sile n c e fro m t h e s t ove t he re shrills

,

Th e cricke t s so n g in w arm t h in cre asin g e ve r

’
, ,

And se e ms t o o ne in dro wsine ss half lo s t

, ,

Th e gr asshopp e r s amo n g some grassy h ills

’
.

J OHN KE A T S

I ME T a t rave le r from an an t iqu e lan d ,

W h o said ! Two vas t an d t runkle ss le g s o f st one
S t an d in t h e de se r t N e ar t he m o n t h e san d ,
.

Half sunk, a sh at t e r d visage lie s , who se fro wn

’

And wrinkl e d l ip an d sne e r of co l d c omman d

Te ll t hat it s s cu lp t o r w e ll t ho se p assio ns re ad
W h ich y e t surv ive , s t amp d o n t h e se life l e ss t hings ,
’

Th e han d t h a t mo c k d t he m an d t h e h e ar t t h at fe d
’
.

And o n t h e p e de st a l t h e se w o rds app e ar

“M n ame is Oz rn an d ias king o f kin s
y y , g
L ook o n my wo rks, y e M igh t y , and d e sp air !
”

No t hin g b e side re main s Ro un d t h e de c ay .

Of t h a t co lo ssal wre ck, b ou ndle ss an d b are ,

Th e lo n e and le ve l san ds s t re t ch far aw ay .

P E RC Y B YSSH E S HE L LE Y
“Oz ymandi as of Egyp t
,
1 44 P REC I S WR ITIN G
Th e fo llo w ing summarie s Of No 1 5 1 we r e writ t en in t e n
.

min u t e s by p up il s of t h e se nio r y e a r in high s c ho ol Re ad -

.

t h e m c ar e fully an d c o mp ar e t h e m w it h t h e o r ig in al Which .

is t h e b e t t e r préc is an d w hy ?

P r é ci s Th e world is too much for us We lay waste our powers

.

a n d see i n Natu re l ittle tha t is ours , for we h av e given our hear ts

a way . We ar e out of tun e with everything Great God ! I would .

r ath er be a pa ga n , if I on ly might h ave glimpses th a t wou ld ma ke

me less forl orn; ha ve s igh t of P rote us r isin g fr om th e sea; or hear

Tr iton bl owing his wrea thed h orn !

P r é cis S o a bsor be d a re we in worldly ma t ters , such as ma king

mone y and spending it , tha t we can n o l onger a ppre cia te th e bea u ty
,

in N ature a ll a bou t u s As for me , I wou ld ra th er be a pagan and

.

bel ie ve in t he beaut iful old my ths , than giv e my hear t a way to

s ord id thin gs.

1 52
MILT ON ! t ho u shouldst be livin g at t his hou r
8 °C
En gland h at h ne e d Of t h e e ; sh e is a fe n ?)
Of s t agnan t w a t e rs ; al t ar swo rd and p e n
, , ,

F ire side t h e h e roic we al t h o f b all and b o we r

, ,

Have fo rfe it e d t he ir an cie nt En glis h do we r

O f inw ard h app ine ss . We are se lfish me n .

Oh r aise u s up re t u rn t o us a gain ;
, ,

An d give u s ma nne rs vir t ue fre e do m p owe r !

, , ,

Th y soul w as like a S t ar an d dwe l t ap ar t !

,

Thou had st a vo ice who se sou n d w as like t h e se a ,

P u re a s t h e nake d h e ave ns maj e st ic fre e ;

, ,

S o d id st t ho u t rave l o n life s co mm o n w ay
’

In che e rfu l go d line ss ; an d y e t t h y h e ar t

Th e lo wlie st du t ie s o n he rse lf d id l ay .

WILLIAM WO RD S WOR TH
1 53
OH , FRIEND ! I kno w n o t which w ay I mu st look
F or c o mfo rt , b e in g , as I am , opp re st
To t hink t hat n o w o ur life is onl y dre st
F o r sho w ; me an h an dywo rk Of craft sman , c o ok,
01 gro om ! We mus t run g lit t e ring l ike a brook
 SO NNETS 1 45

In t h e Op e n sunshin e , o r w e a re u nb le st ,

Th e we alt h ie st man amon g us is t h e b e st

No gran deu r no w in nat u re o r in bo ok
D e ligh t s us Rap ine , avarice , e xp e nse
.

Th is is idolat ry , and t he se w e ado r e ;

P lain livin g an d h igh t hinking are no mo re ;
Th e h ome ly b e au t y o f t h e goo d o ld c ause
Is gone ; our p e ac e , o ur fe arful inno c e nce ,
And p ure re ligio n br e at hin g ho use h ol d laws .

WILLIA M WORD S WORTH

1 54
WHE N , d isg ra ce wit h Fo rt une and me n s e ye s
in
’
,

I all alone b e we e p my o u t cast st at e ,

And t rouble de af he ave n w it h my b oo t le ss crie s ,

An d lo ok up on myse lf an d c ur se my fat e , ,

Wishing me like t o o ne mo re rich in ho p e ,

F e a t u r d like h im like him wit h frie n d s p osse ss d

’ ’
, ,

D e siring t his man s ar t and t ha t man s s co p e

’ ’
, ,

Wit h what I mo st e n jo y co nt e n t e d le ast ;

Y e t in t he se t h ou gh t s myse lf almo st d e spisin g
'

Hap ly I t hink o n t he e ; an d t he n my st at e ,

Like t o t h e l ark at bre ak o f d ay arisin g

F rom sulle n e ar t h sin gs hy mns at he ave n s g at e ;
’
,

For t h y swe e t lo ve re me mb e r d su ch we al t h brings

’

Th at t he n I s c o rn t o ch an ge my st at e wit h kin gs .

WILLIAM SHAKE SP E ARE

Whi ch p ré c is , Of _
t h e t h re e b e lo w of No . 1 54 se e ms to

y o u t h e mos t sat is a f c t o ry ? P o int o ut the s t ong r an d we a k

p o in t s of e a ch .

P r é c is Whe n I int o the d epths of d espond ency , I sometimes

fall
t h in k of thee , and t hen s udd en ly a ll my d is conte n t pas ses away .

( 2 1 wo rds)
P r é c is When dis grace a re all around me , and I am
trou ble and

d iscont ented with everything in my life , I s ome t ime s thin k of thy

swee t lov e The n my h ope s rise again , and I a m so happy that I
.

would n ot ch ange places with a king (43 wo rds) .

1 46 P REC I S WRITIN G
P r é c is S ome ti mes e ve ryth ing goes wr on g I s e e m t o h a ve n o .

i d a nd a m g en e r a lly dissa ti sfi e d wi th my se lf I en vy on e ma n
fr e n s .

hi l ks , a n oth e r for his wealth , a n d s t ill an oth er for h i s skil l

fo r s oo

in fact , I a m cont en ted w ith n othin g and d e spise mys elf B ut .

if, wh e n I am in th is miser a ble cond iti on , by any good ch an ce I

h appen t o thin k of y ou , my spir its r ise up aga in l ike a bird a nd I
a m happy on ce mor e F or wh en I r emember y our l ove , I feel as
I

r ich as a king .
( 8 8 wo rds)
1 55
WHEN t o t he Of swe e t sile n t t hought
se ssio ns

I summo n up re me mbrance o f t hin gs p as t ,

I sigh t h e la ck Of many a t hing I so u ght _ ,

An d w it h o l d w oe s n e w w ail my de ar t ime s wast e

’

The n c an I drown an e y e u nu s d t o flo w
’
, ,

Fo r pre cio us frie n ds h id in d e a t h s da t e l e ss ni ght

’
,

And we e p afre s h love s lo n g S in ce c an c é ll d wo e

“ ’ ’
,

An d mo an t h e e xp e n se Of man y a v an ish d sig ht

" ’

The n c an I grie ve a t grie van ces fo re gone ,

And he avily frpm w o e t o w oe t e ll o e r

’

Th e sa d accoun t o f fo re b e mo a n d moan
’
-
,

Which I n e w p ay as if no t p aid b e fo re .

B u t if t h e while I t h ink o n t h e e d e ar frie n d , ,

’
All lo sse s are re st o r d and so rro w s e nd .

WILLIAM SHAKE SPE ARE

*
1 56

C . E . E . B .
,
Sept . 1 9 20
THA T t ime Of ye ar t hou mays t in me be hol d
Whe n ye llow le ave s o r n o ne o r fe w d o han g
, ,
.

Up on t hose b o u ghs which shake a gain st t h e col d ,

B are ruin d cho irs wh e re l at e t h e sw e e t b ird s sang

’
.
,

In me t hou se e st t h e t wiligh t of su ch d ay
’

As af t e r sun se t f ade t h in t h e we st ,

Which by and by bla ck nigh t do t h t ake away ,

’
D e at h s se con d se lf t hat se al s up al l in re st
,
.

In me t hou se e st t h e glo win g of su ch fire

’

That on t h e a she s Of h is you t h do t h lie _ ,

As t h e de at h b e d whe re o n it mus t e xp ire

-
,

C o nsum d wit h t h at which it w as nourish d by

’ ’
.

This t ho u p e rc e iv st which make s t h y l ov e mo r e st rong

’
, ,

To love t hat w e ll which t hou must l e ave e re l o ng

‘
.

WILLI AM SHAK E SP EARE

1 48 P REC I S WRITING
*
1 59

C . E . E91 9
. B .
, 1

m
WHEN I conside r h ow “ y light is Sp e nt
Ere h alf my d ays in t h is da rk wo rl d an d wide ,
And t hat on e t al e n t which is de at h t o hide
L o dge d wit h me u se le ss , t h o u gh my sou l mo re b ent
To se rve t h e re w it h my M ake r , an d pre se n t
My t rue acco un t , l e st He re t u rn ing ch ide ;
“D o t h Go d e x ac t d a labo r ligh t d e nie d ? ”
y
-
,

I fo n dly ask B u t P at ie n ce , t o pre ve n t

“
.

That murmu r , soo n re p lie s , Go d do t h no t ne e d

Eit h e r ma n s W o rk o r h is o w n g ift s
’
Wh o b e st .

B e ar h is mil d yo ke , t h e y se rve Him b e st His s t at e .

Is kin gly ! t ho u sa n ds a t h is b iddin g Sp e e d ,

An d p o s t o e r lan d an d o ce an wit hou t re st
’

The y also se rve w h o o nl y s t an d an d w ait .

J OH N M ILT ON , On His B lindne ss

*
1 60

C . E . E . B .
,
1 91 7
O NE le sson , N at ure , le t me l e arn Of t he e ,
'

O ne l e sson wh ich in e ve ry w ind is b lo wn ,

One le sson o f t wo du t ie s ke p t at o ne
Though t h e lo ud wo rl d pro c laim t he ir e nmit y
O f t o il unsev e r d fro m t ran quillit y !
’

O f labo r , t ha t in l ast in g fru it ou t gro w s

Far noisie r s che me s , ac comp lish d in re pose ,
’

TOO g re at fo r hast e , t o o high for rival ry !

Y e s , while on e ar t h a t h o u san d disc o rd s ring ,
Man s fit ful uproar min glin g wit h h is t oil ,
’

S t ill d o t h y S le e p le ss m inis t e rs mo ve on ,

The ir glo rio us t asks in sile n ce p e rfe c t in g ;

_

S t ill wo rking , b lamin g st ill o u r vain t urmoil ,

L abo re rs t hat shall n o t fail , whe n man is go ne .

“
MA TTH E W ARNOLD ! uie t Work ,
 IND E!
(Numbers re fe r t o p ag e s on wh ich p assag e s occur .
)

ARNOLD, MATTHE W , 7 2, 1 48 . F o st e r , W
illiam T 9 8 . .

F ranklin , B e njamin, 3 4, 6 9 , 1 06 .
B E NNE TT , ARNOLD, 48 .

B e nso n , A C , 5 1 GAL SWORTHY, J OHN , 8 4

Garrison , We ndell P 44
. . . .

B e rg e n g re n , Ralp h, 5 2 . . .

B lake , William, 1 2 8 . Gay , Ro be rt M , 5 3 . .

Blive n , B ruce , 1 00 . Gibson , Wilfrid W , 1 4 7 . .

B OO K REv mw , 1 03 . Gray, Tho mas , 1 3 2 .

B riggs, L B R , 7 1
. . . . Gross, An t hony, 3 8 .

B ro wning, Robe rt , 1 2 9 . Gulic k, L u t h e r G , 9 5 . .

B ushn e ll , Horace , 9 3 .

Byron , Lo rd, 1 43 . HE ARN, L AFCAD IO , 6 8 , 7 3 .

He ndrick, B ur t on J , 4 5 , 68 , 7 6 . .

C AB O T, RICHARD C , 54 , 9 4 . . He rbe rt , Ge o rg e , 1 2 6 .

C ampbe ll , Tho mas , 1 3 1 . H e rrick, Robe rt , 1 2 7 .

C arlyle , Tho mas , 9 0 . H e rse y, He l oise , 1 2 .

C he st e rfie ld , L o rd , 6 7 Hi llis, Ne w e ll D , 4 5 , 5 1 . .

Ho lme s , O liv e r We n dell , 4 7

.

C lo ugh , Art hur H , 1 2 6 . . .

C OLLE GE E NTRANCE B O ARD E K AMI H un e ke r , Jame s , 5 3 .

NATIO NS , se le c t ion s fro m, 6 1 , 6 7 , H un t , L e ig h, 1 2 1 .

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I 49