Page 359. “We are heartily tired of these comparisons that go limping along on one foot, or even on hardly the decent stump of a foot.”
Page 363. “Can there be more utter mockery than this? We ask for bread, and a stone is thrown us.”
Page 365. “He does not take the slightest notice of the living and aggressive views of others.”
Page 366. “All this, again, is in our opinion very verbiage, mere turbid talk.”
Page. 367. “The statement is either a truism or falsity.”
Page 372. “We must pronounce Professor Steinthal’s attempt . . . . a complete failure, a mere continuation of the same delusive reasonings by which he originally arrived at it.”
Page 374. “We have found in his book nothing but mistaken facts and erroneous deductions.”
If that is the language in which Professor Whitney speaks of one whom he calls—
“An eminent master in linguistic science, from whom he has derived great instruction and enlightenment,” and “whose books he has constantly had upon his table,”
what can other poor mortals like myself expect? It is true he has avoided actionable expressions, while Professor Steinthal has not, at least, according to German and English law. But suppose that hereafter, when certain small animals have crossed what he calls “the impervious distance,” and acquired the power of language, they were to say, “We have only stung you, and you have killed us,” would they obtain much commiseration?