Reading Help How to speak and write correctly Ch.VII-XV
onward progress to the goal of success. `
` `
` If untoward circumstances surround you, resolve to overcome them. Bunyan `
` wrote the "Pilgrim's Progress" in Bedford jail on scraps of wrapping `
` paper while he was half starved on a diet of bread and water. That `
` unfortunate American genius, Edgar Allan Poe, wrote "The Raven," the most `
` wonderful conception as well as the most highly artistic poem in all `
` English literature, in a little cottage in the Fordham section of New `
` York while he was in the direst straits of want. Throughout all his short `
` and wonderfully brilliant career, poor Poe never had a dollar he could `
` call his own. Such, however, was both his fault and his misfortune and he `
` is a bad exemplar. `
` `
` Don't think that the knowledge of a library of books is essential to `
` success as a writer. Often a multiplicity of books is confusing. Master a `
` few good books and master them well and you will have all that is `
` necessary. A great authority has said: "Beware of the man of one book," `
` which means that a man of one book is a master of the craft. It is `
` claimed that a thorough knowledge of the Bible alone will make any person `
` a master of literature. Certain it is that the Bible and Shakespeare `
` constitute an epitome of the essentials of knowledge. Shakespeare `
` gathered the fruitage of all who went before him, he has sown the seeds `
` for all who shall ever come after him. He was the great intellectual `
` ocean whose waves touch the continents of all thought. `
` `
` Books are cheap now-a-days, the greatest works, thanks to the printing `
` press, are within the reach of all, and the more you read, the better, `
` provided they are worth reading. Sometimes a man takes poison into his `
` system unconscious of the fact that it is poison, as in the case of `
` certain foods, and it is very hard to throw off its effects. Therefore, `
` be careful in your choice of reading matter. If you cannot afford a full `
` library, and as has been said, such is not necessary, select a few of the `
` great works of the master minds, assimilate and digest them, so that they `
` will be of advantage to your literary system. Elsewhere in this volume is `
` given a list of some of the world's masterpieces from which you can make `
` a selection. `
` `
` Your brain is a storehouse, don't put useless furniture into it to crowd `
` it to the exclusion of what is useful. Lay up only the valuable and `
` serviceable kind which you can call into requisition at any moment. `
` `
` As it is necessary to study the best authors in order to be a writer, so `
` it is necessary to study the best speakers in order to talk with `
` correctness and in good style. To talk rightly you must imitate the `
` masters of oral speech. Listen to the best conversationalists and how `
` they express themselves. Go to hear the leading lectures, speeches and `
` sermons. No need to imitate the gestures of elocution, it is nature, not `
` art, that makes the elocutionist and the orator. It is not _how_ a `
` speaker expresses himself but the language which he uses and the manner `
` of its use which should interest you. Have you heard the present day `
` masters of speech? There have been past time masters but their tongues `
` are stilled in the dust of the grave, and you can only read their `
` eloquence now. You can, however, listen to the charm of the living. To `
` many of us voices still speak from the grave, voices to which we have `
` listened when fired with the divine essence of speech. Perhaps you have `
` hung with rapture on the words of Beecher and Talmage. Both thrilled the `
` souls of men and won countless thousands over to a living gospel. Both `
` were masters of words, they scattered the flowers of rhetoric on the `
` shrine of eloquence and hurled veritable bouquets at their audiences `
` which were eagerly seized by the latter and treasured in the storehouse `
` of memory. Both were scholars and philosophers, yet they were far surpassed `
` by Spurgeon, a plain man of the people with little or no claim to `
` education in the modern sense of the word. Spurgeon by his speech `
` attracted thousands to his Tabernacle. The Protestant and Catholic, Turk, `
` Jew and Mohammedan rushed to hear him and listened, entranced, to his `
` language. Such another was Dwight L. Moody, the greatest Evangelist the `
` world has ever known. Moody was not a man of learning; he commenced life `
` as a shoe salesman in Chicago, yet no man ever lived who drew such `
` audiences and so fascinated them with the spell of his speech. "Oh, that `
` was personal magnetism," you will say, but it was nothing of the kind. It `
` was the burning words that fell from the lips of these men, and the way, `
` the manner, the force with which they used those words that counted and `
` attracted the crowds to listen unto them. Personal magnetism or personal `
` appearance entered not as factors into their success. Indeed as far as `
` physique were concerned, some of them were handicapped. Spurgeon was a `
` short, podgy, fat little man, Moody was like a country farmer, Talmage in `
` his big cloak was one of the most slovenly of men and only Beecher was `
` passable in the way of refinement and gentlemanly bearing. Physical `
` appearance, as so many think, is not the sesame to the interest of an `
` audience. Daniel O'Connell, the Irish tribune, was a homely, ugly, `
` awkward, ungainly man, yet his words attracted millions to his side and `
` gained for him the hostile ear of the British Parliament, he was a master `
` of verbiage and knew just what to say to captivate his audiences. `
` `
` It is words and their placing that count on almost all occasions. No `
` matter how refined in other respects the person may be, if he use words `
` wrongly and express himself in language not in accordance with a proper `
` construction, he will repel you, whereas the man who places his words `
` correctly and employs language in harmony with the laws of good speech, `
` let him be ever so humble, will attract and have an influence over you. `
` `
` The good speaker, the correct speaker, is always able to command `
` attention and doors are thrown open to him which remain closed to others `
` not equipped with a like facility of expression. The man who can talk `
` well and to the point need never fear to go idle. He is required in `
` nearly every walk of life and field of human endeavor, the world wants `
` him at every turn. Employers are constantly on the lookout for good `
` talkers, those who are able to attract the public and convince others by `
` the force of their language. A man may be able, educated, refined, of `
` unblemished character, nevertheless if he lack the power to express `
` himself, put forth his views in good and appropriate speech he has to `
` take a back seat, while some one with much less ability gets the `
` opportunity to come to the front because he can clothe his ideas in ready `
` words and talk effectively. `
` `
` You may again say that nature, not art, makes a man a fluent speaker; to `
` a great degree this is true, but it is _art_ that makes him a _correct_ `
` speaker, and correctness leads to fluency. It is possible for everyone to `
` become a correct speaker if he will but persevere and take a little pains `
` and care. `
` `
` At the risk of repetition good advice may be here emphasized: Listen to `
` the best speakers and note carefully the words which impress you most. `
` Keep a notebook and jot down words, phrases, sentences that are in any `
` way striking or out of the ordinary run. If you do not understand the `
` exact meaning of a word you have heard, look it up in the dictionary. `
` There are many words, called synonyms, which have almost a like `
` signification, nevertheless, when examined they express different shades `
` of meaning and in some cases, instead of being close related, are widely `
` divergent. Beware of such words, find their exact meaning and learn to `
` use them in their right places. `
` `
` Be open to criticism, don't resent it but rather invite it and look upon `
` those as friends who point out your defects in order that you may remedy `
` them. `
` `
` `
` `
` `
` CHAPTER XI `
` `
` SLANG `
` `
` Origin--American Slang--Foreign Slang `
` `
` `
` Slang is more or less common in nearly all ranks of society and in every `
` walk of life at the present day. Slang words and expressions have crept `
` into our everyday language, and so insiduously, that they have not been `
` detected by the great majority of speakers, and so have become part and `
` parcel of their vocabulary on an equal footing with the legitimate words `
` of speech. They are called upon to do similar service as the ordinary `
` words used in everyday conversation--to express thoughts and desires and `
` convey meaning from one to another. In fact, in some cases, slang has `
` become so useful that it has far outstripped classic speech and made for `
` itself such a position in the vernacular that it would be very hard in `
` some cases to get along without it. Slang words have usurped the place of `
` regular words of language in very many instances and reign supreme in `
` their own strength and influence. `
` `
` Cant and slang are often confused in the popular mind, yet they are not `
` synonymous, though very closely allied, and proceeding from a common `
` Gypsy origin. Cant is the language of a certain class--the peculiar `
` phraseology or dialect of a certain craft, trade or profession, and is `
` not readily understood save by the initiated of such craft, trade or `
` profession. It may be correct, according to the rules of grammar, but it `
` is not universal; it is confined to certain parts and localities and is `
` only intelligible to those for whom it is intended. In short, it is an `
` esoteric language which only the initiated can understand. The jargon, or `
` patter, of thieves is cant and it is only understood by thieves who have `
` been let into its significance; the initiated language of professional `
` gamblers is cant, and is only intelligible to gamblers. `
` `
` On the other hand, slang, as it is nowadays, belongs to no particular class `
` but is scattered all over and gets _entre_ into every kind of society and `
` is understood by all where it passes current in everyday expression. Of `
` course, the nature of the slang, to a great extent, depends upon the `
` locality, as it chiefly is concerned with colloquialisms or words and `
` phrases common to a particular section. For instance, the slang of London `
` is slightly different from that of New York, and some words in the one city `
` may be unintelligible in the other, though well understood in that in which `
` they are current. Nevertheless, slang may be said to be universally `
` understood. "To kick the bucket," "to cross the Jordan," "to hop the twig" `
` are just as expressive of the departing from life in the backwoods of `
` America or the wilds of Australia as they are in London or Dublin. `
` `
` Slang simply consists of words and phrases which pass current but are not `
` refined, nor elegant enough, to be admitted into polite speech or `
` literature whenever they are recognized as such. But, as has been said, a `
` great many use slang without their knowing it as slang and incorporate it `
` into their everyday speech and conversation. `
` `
` Some authors purposely use slang to give emphasis and spice in familiar and `
` humorous writing, but they should not be imitated by the tyro. A master, `
` such as Dickens, is forgivable, but in the novice it is unpardonable. `
` `
` There are several kinds of slang attached to different professions and `
` classes of society. For instance, there is college slang, political `
` slang, sporting slang, etc. It is the nature of slang to circulate freely `
` among all classes, yet there are several kinds of this current form of `
` language corresponding to the several classes of society. The two great `
` divisions of slang are the vulgar of the uneducated and coarse-minded, `
` and the high-toned slang of the so-called upper classes--the educated and `
` the wealthy. The hoyden of the gutter does not use the same slang as my `
` lady in her boudoir, but both use it, and so expressive is it that the `
` one might readily understand the other if brought in contact. Therefore, `
` there are what may be styled an ignorant slang and an educated slang--the `
` one common to the purlieus and the alleys, the other to the parlor and `
` the drawing-room. `
` `
` In all cases the object of slang is to express an idea in a more vigorous, `
`
` `
` If untoward circumstances surround you, resolve to overcome them. Bunyan `
` wrote the "Pilgrim's Progress" in Bedford jail on scraps of wrapping `
` paper while he was half starved on a diet of bread and water. That `
` unfortunate American genius, Edgar Allan Poe, wrote "The Raven," the most `
` wonderful conception as well as the most highly artistic poem in all `
` English literature, in a little cottage in the Fordham section of New `
` York while he was in the direst straits of want. Throughout all his short `
` and wonderfully brilliant career, poor Poe never had a dollar he could `
` call his own. Such, however, was both his fault and his misfortune and he `
` is a bad exemplar. `
` `
` Don't think that the knowledge of a library of books is essential to `
` success as a writer. Often a multiplicity of books is confusing. Master a `
` few good books and master them well and you will have all that is `
` necessary. A great authority has said: "Beware of the man of one book," `
` which means that a man of one book is a master of the craft. It is `
` claimed that a thorough knowledge of the Bible alone will make any person `
` a master of literature. Certain it is that the Bible and Shakespeare `
` constitute an epitome of the essentials of knowledge. Shakespeare `
` gathered the fruitage of all who went before him, he has sown the seeds `
` for all who shall ever come after him. He was the great intellectual `
` ocean whose waves touch the continents of all thought. `
` `
` Books are cheap now-a-days, the greatest works, thanks to the printing `
` press, are within the reach of all, and the more you read, the better, `
` provided they are worth reading. Sometimes a man takes poison into his `
` system unconscious of the fact that it is poison, as in the case of `
` certain foods, and it is very hard to throw off its effects. Therefore, `
` be careful in your choice of reading matter. If you cannot afford a full `
` library, and as has been said, such is not necessary, select a few of the `
` great works of the master minds, assimilate and digest them, so that they `
` will be of advantage to your literary system. Elsewhere in this volume is `
` given a list of some of the world's masterpieces from which you can make `
` a selection. `
` `
` Your brain is a storehouse, don't put useless furniture into it to crowd `
` it to the exclusion of what is useful. Lay up only the valuable and `
` serviceable kind which you can call into requisition at any moment. `
` `
` As it is necessary to study the best authors in order to be a writer, so `
` it is necessary to study the best speakers in order to talk with `
` correctness and in good style. To talk rightly you must imitate the `
` masters of oral speech. Listen to the best conversationalists and how `
` they express themselves. Go to hear the leading lectures, speeches and `
` sermons. No need to imitate the gestures of elocution, it is nature, not `
` art, that makes the elocutionist and the orator. It is not _how_ a `
` speaker expresses himself but the language which he uses and the manner `
` of its use which should interest you. Have you heard the present day `
` masters of speech? There have been past time masters but their tongues `
` are stilled in the dust of the grave, and you can only read their `
` eloquence now. You can, however, listen to the charm of the living. To `
` many of us voices still speak from the grave, voices to which we have `
` listened when fired with the divine essence of speech. Perhaps you have `
` hung with rapture on the words of Beecher and Talmage. Both thrilled the `
` souls of men and won countless thousands over to a living gospel. Both `
` were masters of words, they scattered the flowers of rhetoric on the `
` shrine of eloquence and hurled veritable bouquets at their audiences `
` which were eagerly seized by the latter and treasured in the storehouse `
` of memory. Both were scholars and philosophers, yet they were far surpassed `
` by Spurgeon, a plain man of the people with little or no claim to `
` education in the modern sense of the word. Spurgeon by his speech `
` attracted thousands to his Tabernacle. The Protestant and Catholic, Turk, `
` Jew and Mohammedan rushed to hear him and listened, entranced, to his `
` language. Such another was Dwight L. Moody, the greatest Evangelist the `
` world has ever known. Moody was not a man of learning; he commenced life `
` as a shoe salesman in Chicago, yet no man ever lived who drew such `
` audiences and so fascinated them with the spell of his speech. "Oh, that `
` was personal magnetism," you will say, but it was nothing of the kind. It `
` was the burning words that fell from the lips of these men, and the way, `
` the manner, the force with which they used those words that counted and `
` attracted the crowds to listen unto them. Personal magnetism or personal `
` appearance entered not as factors into their success. Indeed as far as `
` physique were concerned, some of them were handicapped. Spurgeon was a `
` short, podgy, fat little man, Moody was like a country farmer, Talmage in `
` his big cloak was one of the most slovenly of men and only Beecher was `
` passable in the way of refinement and gentlemanly bearing. Physical `
` appearance, as so many think, is not the sesame to the interest of an `
` audience. Daniel O'Connell, the Irish tribune, was a homely, ugly, `
` awkward, ungainly man, yet his words attracted millions to his side and `
` gained for him the hostile ear of the British Parliament, he was a master `
` of verbiage and knew just what to say to captivate his audiences. `
` `
` It is words and their placing that count on almost all occasions. No `
` matter how refined in other respects the person may be, if he use words `
` wrongly and express himself in language not in accordance with a proper `
` construction, he will repel you, whereas the man who places his words `
` correctly and employs language in harmony with the laws of good speech, `
` let him be ever so humble, will attract and have an influence over you. `
` `
` The good speaker, the correct speaker, is always able to command `
` attention and doors are thrown open to him which remain closed to others `
` not equipped with a like facility of expression. The man who can talk `
` well and to the point need never fear to go idle. He is required in `
` nearly every walk of life and field of human endeavor, the world wants `
` him at every turn. Employers are constantly on the lookout for good `
` talkers, those who are able to attract the public and convince others by `
` the force of their language. A man may be able, educated, refined, of `
` unblemished character, nevertheless if he lack the power to express `
` himself, put forth his views in good and appropriate speech he has to `
` take a back seat, while some one with much less ability gets the `
` opportunity to come to the front because he can clothe his ideas in ready `
` words and talk effectively. `
` `
` You may again say that nature, not art, makes a man a fluent speaker; to `
` a great degree this is true, but it is _art_ that makes him a _correct_ `
` speaker, and correctness leads to fluency. It is possible for everyone to `
` become a correct speaker if he will but persevere and take a little pains `
` and care. `
` `
` At the risk of repetition good advice may be here emphasized: Listen to `
` the best speakers and note carefully the words which impress you most. `
` Keep a notebook and jot down words, phrases, sentences that are in any `
` way striking or out of the ordinary run. If you do not understand the `
` exact meaning of a word you have heard, look it up in the dictionary. `
` There are many words, called synonyms, which have almost a like `
` signification, nevertheless, when examined they express different shades `
` of meaning and in some cases, instead of being close related, are widely `
` divergent. Beware of such words, find their exact meaning and learn to `
` use them in their right places. `
` `
` Be open to criticism, don't resent it but rather invite it and look upon `
` those as friends who point out your defects in order that you may remedy `
` them. `
` `
` `
` `
` `
` CHAPTER XI `
` `
` SLANG `
` `
` Origin--American Slang--Foreign Slang `
` `
` `
` Slang is more or less common in nearly all ranks of society and in every `
` walk of life at the present day. Slang words and expressions have crept `
` into our everyday language, and so insiduously, that they have not been `
` detected by the great majority of speakers, and so have become part and `
` parcel of their vocabulary on an equal footing with the legitimate words `
` of speech. They are called upon to do similar service as the ordinary `
` words used in everyday conversation--to express thoughts and desires and `
` convey meaning from one to another. In fact, in some cases, slang has `
` become so useful that it has far outstripped classic speech and made for `
` itself such a position in the vernacular that it would be very hard in `
` some cases to get along without it. Slang words have usurped the place of `
` regular words of language in very many instances and reign supreme in `
` their own strength and influence. `
` `
` Cant and slang are often confused in the popular mind, yet they are not `
` synonymous, though very closely allied, and proceeding from a common `
` Gypsy origin. Cant is the language of a certain class--the peculiar `
` phraseology or dialect of a certain craft, trade or profession, and is `
` not readily understood save by the initiated of such craft, trade or `
` profession. It may be correct, according to the rules of grammar, but it `
` is not universal; it is confined to certain parts and localities and is `
` only intelligible to those for whom it is intended. In short, it is an `
` esoteric language which only the initiated can understand. The jargon, or `
` patter, of thieves is cant and it is only understood by thieves who have `
` been let into its significance; the initiated language of professional `
` gamblers is cant, and is only intelligible to gamblers. `
` `
` On the other hand, slang, as it is nowadays, belongs to no particular class `
` but is scattered all over and gets _entre_ into every kind of society and `
` is understood by all where it passes current in everyday expression. Of `
` course, the nature of the slang, to a great extent, depends upon the `
` locality, as it chiefly is concerned with colloquialisms or words and `
` phrases common to a particular section. For instance, the slang of London `
` is slightly different from that of New York, and some words in the one city `
` may be unintelligible in the other, though well understood in that in which `
` they are current. Nevertheless, slang may be said to be universally `
` understood. "To kick the bucket," "to cross the Jordan," "to hop the twig" `
` are just as expressive of the departing from life in the backwoods of `
` America or the wilds of Australia as they are in London or Dublin. `
` `
` Slang simply consists of words and phrases which pass current but are not `
` refined, nor elegant enough, to be admitted into polite speech or `
` literature whenever they are recognized as such. But, as has been said, a `
` great many use slang without their knowing it as slang and incorporate it `
` into their everyday speech and conversation. `
` `
` Some authors purposely use slang to give emphasis and spice in familiar and `
` humorous writing, but they should not be imitated by the tyro. A master, `
` such as Dickens, is forgivable, but in the novice it is unpardonable. `
` `
` There are several kinds of slang attached to different professions and `
` classes of society. For instance, there is college slang, political `
` slang, sporting slang, etc. It is the nature of slang to circulate freely `
` among all classes, yet there are several kinds of this current form of `
` language corresponding to the several classes of society. The two great `
` divisions of slang are the vulgar of the uneducated and coarse-minded, `
` and the high-toned slang of the so-called upper classes--the educated and `
` the wealthy. The hoyden of the gutter does not use the same slang as my `
` lady in her boudoir, but both use it, and so expressive is it that the `
` one might readily understand the other if brought in contact. Therefore, `
` there are what may be styled an ignorant slang and an educated slang--the `
` one common to the purlieus and the alleys, the other to the parlor and `
` the drawing-room. `
` `
` In all cases the object of slang is to express an idea in a more vigorous, `
`