Editorial omniscience clothes itself in a martial array of unwavering units. There is no quickening or slackening in their irresistible advance. There is no weakening in their ranks, nor are they subject to sudden accessions of strength. All is as it was in the beginning, perfect wisdom without flaw.
All this is in prose what conventional meter is in verse. The writer sets himself a tune, which he follows. The political orator, the preacher, the editorial writer, the philosopher, the rhapsodist, knows that his writing acquires prestige from the class wisdom whose rhythm he chants. The reader who does not examine the thought too critically, but who recognizes the rhythm, is satisfied with the writer's credentials and bolts the whole piece. The reverence the average man has for print is largely due to the hypnotizing effect of its rhythm.
What we find intolerable is the setting of the tune at the start and the grinding it out to the end. In revenge the reading world consigns the much-vaunted Sir Thomas Browne's[131] “Urn Burial,” De Quincey's “Levana,”[132] and Pater's[133] famous purple patch about Mona Lisa to the rhetorical museums; but it never ceases to read “Robinson Crusoe,”[8] “Pilgrim's Progress,”[8] and “Gulliver's Travels,”[134] and it devours G. B. Shaw[135] with delight.
SUGGESTIVE QUESTIONS
- Explain just how prose rhythms aid in communicating thought.
- Show that it is perfectly natural to adapt prose rhythm to thought.
- What honesty of style does the writer demand?
- Why is an artificial rhythm unsuccessful?
- Why is a continued rhythm unsuccessful?
- What sort of prose rhythm does Dr. Lipsky advocate?
- Point out figurative language in the essay? Why is it used? What effect does it produce?
- Point out conversational expressions in the essay. Why are they used? What effects do they produce?
- What advantage is gained by making references to various authors?
- Why does the writer quote from several authors?
SUBJECTS FOR WRITTEN IMITATION
| 1. Public Speaking | 11. Stories in School Papers |
| 2. Tone in Conversation | 12. School Editorial Articles |
| 3. Selling Goods | 13. Written Translations |
| 4. Style in Letter Writing | 14. Laboratory Note Books |
| 5. The Art of Advertising | 15. The Sort of Novel I Like |
| 6. Coaching a Team | 16. Good Preaching |
| 7. Style in Debating | 17. Interesting Lectures |
| 8. The Best Graduation Oration | 18. Directions |
| 9. Newspaper Articles | 19. Good Teaching |
| 10. School Compositions | 20. Useful Text Books |
DIRECTIONS FOR WRITING
Think of a thesis, or statement, in which you believe strongly. Explain, first of all, that it is entirely natural for any one to act in accordance with your thesis. Illustrate your thought by making definite references to well-known characteristics, and by making apt quotations. End your work by writing a paragraph that will correspond with the last paragraph of Dr. Lipsky's essay.
FOOTNOTES: