2nd. Never crowd too many things into one sentence, especially those which have little or no connexion with the governing nouns and

3rd. To avoid the insertion of sentences within sentences,

or, as they are usually termed, parenthetical sentences; because they break in upon the unity of the sentence.

STRENGTH OF A SENTENCE.

Well, let me hear what you have to say as to the Strength of a sentence.

By the Strength of a sentence is meant such a disposition and management of the several words and members of the sentence as shall bring out the sense to the best advantage, and give every word its due force.

We may enumerate seven ways by which a sentence may be weakened, and seven rules by which the weakness may be overcome.

Well, let me hear what you have to say to the first three points of weakness and the rules for prevention.

First, A sentence may be weakened by the use of expletives, circumlocutions, tautologies, and the introduction of unnecessary circumstances, or of words which do not add some importance to its meaning. Hence we draw this

1st Rule, That to promote the strength of a sentence, we must prune out of it all redundant words.

Second, The connecting words, or prepositions may be wrongly placed, and as they are at times very important, being, as it were, the hinges upon which the whole meaning of the sentence turns, we draw this

2nd Rule, That great attention and care should be exercised in the placing of all connecting words.

Third, As in every sentence some word or words are more important than others, because the meaning principally rests upon them, so we draw this

3rd Rule, That the principal word or words should be so placed as to make the greatest impression.

The three points and rules just mentioned are important; suppose we now proceed to the three next.

Fourth, When the first part of a sentence impresses us strongly, if the remaining part be not stronger, or at least equally as strong, we naturally feel disappointed; and so also we feel if the last part of a sentence be not so long as the first. Hence we draw this

4th Rule, That a weaker assertion or proposition should never come after a stronger one; and when a sentence consists of two members, the longest should generally be placed last.

Fifth, It is found that the mind always inclines to rest somewhat on the last word of a sentence, to weigh its import; and hence when a sentence ends with a little word, such as of, from, or some other uninportant word, there is created in the mind a craving or desire, as if it were wanting something on which it could repose; hence we draw this

5th Rule, Never conclude a sentence with an adverb, preposition, or any other unimportant word, if it can possibly be avoided.

Sixth, In comparing or contrasting one thing with another, it has been found that when the same terms are not used, the mind becomes distracted, because new terms naturally introduce other ideas, or the mind feels disappointed if there be not some con

nection or correspondence in the words used with the ideas to be expressed; hence we draw this—

6th Rule, Be careful in expressing an idea to use words having some resemblance or correspondence to the idea; and, also, to use the same terms, when we would, either to show resemblance or opposition, compare or contrast one idea with another.

We have had rather a long stay as respects the strength of a sentence; but let me hear about the seventh particular.

Seventh, The sentence may in every other respect be perfect, yet if it is deficient in what is called the harmony of expression, its force or power will be, if not lost, considerably abated; because sound, though inferior to sense, is nevertheless, in speaking, the representative of sense.

But

you would not sacrifice sense to sound? No; but if the words selected sound harsh, disagreeable, unnatural to the subject, be wanting in smoothly flowing ease, or if the sentence close abruptly, the mind revolts at the connection, and seeks to escape; and so we draw this

7th Rule-Be careful in a sentence to attend to the sound, the harmony, and easy flow of the words in their arrangement, order, and disposition; and that the cadence or close of a sentence be neither unpleasant nor abrupt.

FIGURES OF SPEECH.

Figures of Speech was your fifth division under the head of Composition; explain what is meant by a Figure of Speech.

By a Figure of Speech, is meant the turning or transferring

of words belonging to certain objects to express certain other objects.

It is, of course, a departure from simplicity, but the intention is to give strength and variety to the impression; as when we say the spring of life to express youthfulness, or the winter of life to express old age, we borrow the words spring and winter from the seasons of the year, and apply or transfer them to express different periods of life.

By Figures of Speech language is rendered more copious, the means for expressing our ideas greatly multiplied, at the same time our understanding greatly assisted, and when judiciously employed, as one said of the "words of the wise," they "are as apples of gold in pictures of silver.”

Note-When the figure simply refers to the turning of a word, it is called a Trope, from the Greek word signifying to turn; but when the figure applies to the turning of an idea, it is, by way of pre-eminence, said to be a figure.

You use the term Figures of Speech, are there many?

The Figures of Speech may be considered rather numerous; but we will first consider the seven which are sometimes called the principal ones.

Name the seven principal Figures of Speech.

A Metaphor, Allegory, Metonymy, Synecdoche, Hyperbole, Irony, and Catachresis.

Describe what is meant by a Metaphor?

A Metaphor is a word borrowed from the Greek, and signifies a change in the original use or application of a word, as when David says

"The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want.”

N

The term "Shepherd" is turned from its original use, and applied to God, as the One who will take care of and provide for David as a shepherd would take care of and provide for his sheep.

Describe an Allegory.

An Allegory may be considered as the continuation of a metaphor throughout a sentence or discourse.

Its use is, to convey our meaning under disguised terms when it would not be so well or effectual to speak plainly.

Shakspere put the following Allegory in the mouth of Cardinal Wolsey :

:

"Farewell, a long farewell to all my greatness!
This is the state of man; to-day he puts forth
The tender leaves of hope; to-morrow blossoms,
And bears his blushing honours thick upon him;
The third day comes a frost, a killing frost,
And when he thinks, good easy man, full surely
His greatness is a ripening, nips his root,
And then he falls as I do."

Have you anything more to say concerning
Allegories?

Yes; the parables of Scripture may be considered as Allegories. The largest and most beautiful Allegory in the English language, is Bunyan's well known "Pilgrim's Progress," which, if for no other reason than as an Allegory, deserves close attention, and is next to the Holy Scriptures in the purity of its Saxon idiom.

NOTE.-Care is requisite in the use of Metaphors, but much more so in Allegories, as the danger of inconsistency is greater; take the following as an instance :

"To be, or not to be, that is the question:

Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer
The stings and arrows of outrageous fortune,
Or to take arms against a sea of troubles,
And by opposing, end them ? "