EXERCISE 46 1. Model.- LINCOLN: Debate with Douglas (see preceding page). Douglas argued that slavery was a domestic institution and should not be disturbed because variety in domestic institutions is necessary. Lincoln distinguished the proposition, admitting its truth where such institutions brought advantages, denying it in the case of slavery, which was a source of conflict. The specific instances are interesting, clear, and forceful. Subjects Answer with specific instances and with distinction these propositions: There should be freedom of the press; therefore publish anything. The people do not object; therefore permit any kind of plays. We should not interfere with personal liberty; therefore no prohibition. My home is my own; therefore I may make explosives in it. 2. And now we are naturally brought on to our third point, which is on the characteristics of Holy Scripture as compared with profane literature. Hitherto we have been concerned with the doctrine of these writers, viz., that style is an extra, that it is a mere artifice, and that hence it cannot be translated; now we come to their fact, viz., that Scripture has no such artificial style, and that Scripture can easily be translated. Surely their fact is as untenable as their doctrine. Scripture easy of translation! then why have there been so few good translators? why is it that there has been such great difficulty in combining the two necessary qualities, fidelity to the original and purity in the adopted vernacular? why is it that the authorized versions of the Church are often so inferior to the original as compositions, except that the Church is bound above all things to see that the version is doctrinally correct, and in a difficult problem is obliged to put up with defects in what is of secondary importance, provided she secures what is of first? If it were so easy to transfer the beauty of the original to the copy, she would not have been content with her received version in various languages which could be named. And then in the next place, Scripture not elaborate! Scripture not ornamented in diction, and musical in cadence! Why, consider the Epistle to the Hebrews where is there in the classics any composition more carefully, more artificially written? Consider the book of Job - is it not a sacred drama, as artistic, as perfect as any Greek tragedy of Sophocles or Euripides? Consider the Psalter are there no ornaments, no rhythm, no studied cadences, no responsive members in that divinely beautiful book? And is it not hard to understand? Are not the prophets hard to understand? Is not St. Paul hard to understand? Who can say that these are popular compositions? Who can say that they are level at first reading with the understandings of the multitude? - NEWMAN: Literature. This passage is a good example for debate because of its careful transition and good division in the first paragraph and because of the directness, lively tone, short sentences, concrete proofs, found throughout. Subjects Refute the following propositions : Reading of biography is dull and unprofitable. Newspapers are models of style and sources of correct informa tion. Washington's career was commonplace and uninspiring. The orators of America are inferior in composition and deficient in thought. Our club is weak and unskilled (a school organization). 3. Was Philip Francis the author of the Letters of Junius? Our own firm belief is that he was. The evidence is, we think, such as would support a verdict in a civil, nay, in a criminal proceeding. The handwriting of Junius is the very peculiar handwriting of Francis, slightly disguised. As to the position, pursuits, and connections of Junius, the following are the most important facts which can be considered as clearly proved: first, that he was acquainted with the technical forms of the secretary of state's office; secondly, that he was intimately acquainted with the business of the war-office; thirdly, that he, during the year 1770, attended debates in the House of Lords, and took notes of speeches, particularly of the speeches of Lord Chatham; fourthly, that he bitterly resented the appointment of Mr. Chamier to the place of deputy secretary-at-war; fifthly, that he was bound by some strong tie to the first Lord Holland. Now, Francis passed some years in the secretary of state's office. He was subsequently chief clerk of the war-office. He repeatedly mentioned that he had himself, in 1770, heard speeches of Lord Chatham; and some of these speeches were actually printed from his notes. He resigned his clerkship at the war-office from resentment at the appointment of Mr. Chamier. It was by Lord Holland that he was first introduced into the public service. Now, here are five marks, all of which ought to be found in Junius. They are all five found in Francis. We do not believe that more than two of them can be found in any other person whatever. If this argument does not settle the question, there is an end of all reasoning on circumstantial evidence. The internal evidence seems to us to point the same way. The style of Francis bears a strong resemblance to that of Junius; nor are we disposed to admit, what is generally taken for granted, that the acknowledged compositions of Francis are very decidedly inferior to the anonymous letters. The argument from inferiority, at all events, is one which may be urged with at least equal force against every claimant that has ever been mentioned, with the single exception of Burke: and it would be a waste of time to prove that Burke was not Junius. And what conclusion, after all, can be drawn from mere inferiority? Every writer must produce his best work; and the interval between his best work and his second best work may be very wide indeed. Nobody will say that the best letters of Junius are more decidedly superior to the acknowledged works of Francis than three or four of Corneille's tragedies to the rest, than three or four of Ben Jonson's comedies to the rest, than the Pilgrim's Progress to the other works of Bunyan, than Don Quixote to the other works of Cervantes. Nay, it is certain that Junius, whoever he may have been, was a most unequal writer. To go no further than the letters which bear the signature of Junius the letter to the king, and the letters to Horne Tooke, have little in common, except the asperity; and asperity was an ingredient seldom wanting either in the writings or in the speeches of Francis. MACAULAY: Warren Hastings. This passage has not all the directness a good debate should have, but it will serve well as a model for debating because of its orderly grouping of the proofs and its clearness. The external evidence is given first, followed by the internal evidence. The external evidence is grouped under the words "position, pursuits, and connections." See the essay for a further proof drawn from the moral character of Junius. Macaulay exaggerates the strength of his arguments, which are not accepted as conclusive. Subjects Group aptly and arrange clearly the proofs that: Wendell Phillips is more forceful than Macaulay. Some one model of this book is more interesting than another. The The automobile is the best in the market. encyclopedia is the most useful for school. street in The century is the greatest of all centuries. 4. Take any passage of argumentation, exposition, or persuasion in this book; form sides in the class and follow the model in brief oral or written debates. Most of the subjects will furnish debatable questions. 5. What is the best sentence or paragraph for clearness, force, or interest? What is the best paragraph of narration, description, etc.? Choose a passage from this book or from elsewhere; write it on the board, and prove it better than the passage writen by an opponent. For proofs use the rules and remarks found in this book. 6. Debate the enacting, abrogation, or amendment of a local ordinance. 7. Let two, three, or four students choose each a different general, statesman, writer, and prove his choice best. So also with books, inventions, literary periods, battles, buildings, famous centuries, etc. The predicate may be "famous," "important," useful," etc. Sometimes the choice may be told to the teacher alone until the day of debate. 8. Reproduce a session of the Senate with brief selections of speeches of the Senators. Re-enact some famous trial in a brief form, e.g. Impeachment of Warren Hastings. 9. Humorous debates may be had occasionally. They should be well prepared and conducted with mock seriousness and should not be allowed to degenerate into anything low and careless. The following may serve as suggestions: What year in the high school is the most pitiable? What profession is the least interesting, that of doctor, lawyer, teacher, or editor? What business would you advise for your opponent? What is the most excruciating noise? Is it better to be fat or thin, tall or short? The night lunch-wagon is a menace to mankind. Wedding presents should be chosen by the bride. Fashions should change no oftener than once every four years. If imprisoned for life, what one book or instrument would you take with you? What one thing would you do in five minutes with one hundred dollars? CHAPTER XIV STORY 97. The story is a narration with a plot. This definition is sufficient for the practical purpose of this chapter. Special works discuss fully the exact difference between the tale, the short story, and the novel. The following synopsis is designed to illustrate by examples all remarks upon the elements of the story. See Homer's Odyssey, Book IX, 105–565. THE MONSTER AND THE MAN CHAPTER I. THE GIANT'S CAVE Ulysses, a Greek chieftain, returning from the siege of Troy, came near to the land of giants, called Cyclopes, who were a lawless people. He remained for a day on a neighboring island. Next morning he took from the fleet his own ship and reached the mainland. He chose twelve companions from his crew and carrying with him a goat-skin full of a special kind of strong wine, he approached the cave where lived Polyphemus, the Cyclops, a huge monster. The giant was away, and the Greeks entered his wellstocked cave and helped themselves to his supplies. CHAPTER II. A MERCILESS MONSTER At evening the giant came home, driving his flock of sheep before him and carrying on his shoulder a load of wood. He dropped the wood with a crash that drove Ulysses and his companions trembling into the recesses of the cave. After putting a huge stone against the mouth of the cave to serve as a door, the giant kindled a fire for his supper. He discovered the Greeks and asked who they were and where their ship was. Ulysses, begging in vain for pity, told the giant his ship had been lost. Polyphemus turned a deaf ear to the plea of Ulysses and falling upon the Greeks, devoured two of them for supper. While Polyphemus was sleeping, Ulysses was about to kill him, but he refrained because the big stone at the exit could not be removed and escape was impossible. |