of thought, which it is the province of Logic to teach. In addition to the work involved in the study of Grammar and Logic, Rhetoric teaches how to add such force and attractiveness as will make our thoughts clear and interesting.

The Utility of Rhetoric.-The advantages resulting from a knowledge of Rhetoric are twofold:

1. It enables us to appreciate and enjoy the beauties in the writings of others. While it does this, it also enables us to detect the faults in the composition of others, and thus be prepared to avoid them in our own writings.

2. It teaches us how to express and adorn our own thoughts, so as to produce the most pleasing and forcible effect on the minds of others. It does this by enabling us to avoid the errors which tend to mar literary productions, and by enabling us to employ all the graces and ornaments that make such productions most pleasing.

Rhetorical rules do not fetter genius, any more than careful training and pruning fetter the growth of a plant. The greatest speakers and writers, either ancient or modern, have been the closest students of these rules, and what are known as impromptu speeches are often those which have been most carefully and studiously prepared.

The following anecdote of Webster illustrates this point:

"On a certain occasion Mr. Webster startled the Senate by a beaut ful and striking remark in relation to the extent of the British empire, as follows: 'She has dotted the surface of the whole globe with her possessions and military posts, whose morning drum-beat, following the sun and keeping company with the hours, circles the earth daily with one continuous and unbroken strain of the martial airs of England.' On going out of the Senate one of the members complimented Mr. Webster upon this, saying that he was all the

more struck with it as it was evidently impromptu. 'You are mistaken,' said Mr. Webster; 'the idea occurred to me when I was on the ramparts of Quebec some months ago. I wrote it down and rewrote it, and after several trials got it to suit me, and laid it up for use. The time came to-day, and so I put it in."'"

Divisions of Rhetoric.-The two important divisions of Rhetoric are Style and Composition.

STYLE.

Style is the manner of expressing thought.

Derivation. The word "style" is derived from the Latin stylus, which was the name of a pointed instrument, made of steel or bone, with which the ancients wrote on tablets of wax. The name was at first applied to the instrument alone, but was soon transferred to the manner of expression.

Mannerisms. Every one has his peculiarity of manner in expression as he has in his mode of thought. When the peculiarities of one's style become so marked and prominent as to attract attention, they are known as mannerisms. Such glaring peculiarities should, if possible, be avoided.

CHAPTER 1.

DICTION.

Diction treats of the selection and right use of words. The word "diction" is also used to indicate one's manner of expression, as when we say, "The writer's diction is pleasing." In the following pages, however, the term is limited to the selection and proper use of words.

An Extensive Vocabulary Important.-It is necessary that a writer should have an extensive vocabulary, as this enables him to have at command words not only to express his ideas, but to express the exact shade of meaning he desires. It also enables him to vary his style at will to suit the demands of the occasion.

Discrimination in Words.-A writer or speaker should not only possess an extensive vocabulary, but he should also be able to distinguish accurately the exact meaning which every word that he desires to use conveys. This will give him such a command of language as will enable him to express his ideas clearly and definitely, and make his diction pleasing and attractive.

Means of Acquiring a Vocabulary.-No rules can secure for one the command of words. There are, however, means by the employment of which we may improve our vocabulary. The following are among the most important:

1. By Conversation.-Children gain all their first knowledge of the meaning of words from the conversation of those with whom they associate. Those more advanced in life gain their knowledge of new words in much the same way. The society and conversation of the intelligent and cultured will therefore be of great benefit to every one having a desire to improve and increase his stock of words, and association with this class of people is greatly to be commended.

2. By Reading. Here, as in conversation, the force and the right use of words are learned mainly by their employment in connection with other words in sentences. Those who read the purest and best literature most diligently and most attentively are they who acquire the choicest vocabulary, and who in their own composition make the most appropriate use of words.

3. By Noting New Words.-No two writers or speakers have the same vocabulary. It is profitable, therefore, both in conversation with intelligent persons and in reading the best literature, to make a note of such words as are new to us. Sometimes the meaning will be reasonably clear from the connection in which the new word is used, but this may not always be the case; hence it is well to note the word and search for its meaning.

4. By Using the Dictionary.-Students should train themselves to the habit of consulting the dictionary for the meaning of words. It is a good plan to search not only for the meaning of new words met with, but also for their spelling, their origin, and their pronunciation. If, then, the words be written or spoken in various sentences, they will become still clearer and their form still more familiar.

5. By Studying Synonyms.-The English language is extremely rich in synonyms, from the fact that it is a composite language derived from many. Some of these eynonyms, as love and like, express wide differences of meaning, while in others, as fatherly, from the AngloSaxon, and paternal, from the Latin, the difference is slight. Here, again, sentence composition will aid the student greatly in selecting the right word.

6. By Studying Etymology.-By the study of etymology is here meant the technical study of the roots of words, together with the prefixes and suffixes by the aid of which other words are formed. The etymology of a word gives us a knowledge of the original signification which we can reach in no other way. But it must be remembered that many words have changed greatly from their original meaning, and that we can use them only with their present signification.

7. By the Study of Other Languages.-One's vocabulary may be greatly increased, not only by the study of Latin and Greek, from which most of our derivatives are obtained, but also by the study of such modern languages as German, French, Spanish, and Italian.

The Essentials of Good Diction.

The essential properties of style, so far as diction is concerned, are Purity, Propriety, and Precision. These all have reference to the selection of the right words.

1. PURITY.

Diction is pure when only such words are used as are sanctioned by the best speakers and writers of the present day.

A violation of purity is called a barbarism.