| OCR Text |
Show Man a Habitual Liar. "Through Its emphasis ot the super- 'JM latlve our ago Is in danger of losing all fH power to tell tho truth," writes Iter. iiH Newell Dwlght Htllls, D. D,, of "The jl Diffusion or Happiness Through Con- iH version," In tho August Ladles' Home 9 Journal. "Tho modem collegian hM r-r-jH reached such a stuto of culture thaft "ffiH tho posltlvo and comparative degrees jM ore unknown. It Is uo longer possible "M for the school-girl to find either an ad- -vm Jectlyo or an adverb to express hor oo- fl staoy of feeling. Abslluonco and so- JD brlety In speech are rapidly passing 1H "David Swing onco oxpressod the ijH fear that through excoss tn tho use ot j mljcctivos our generation would loso fH all sonse of proportion and symmetry -H In tho statement ot facts, He noted If J that tho adjectives most loved by our jfl ago aru In themselves gross cxaggora- WM lions. In studying tho history of lan- ffl g tin to ha found that very early toon B began to say that 'the sun wont down J-fl in a bod ot gold tho moon turned nit ifl things to silver; tho eyo darted forth jH (lames; tho faco was brighter than the j9 sun.' Having used such expressions fl for twenty years man awakens to And jjfl himself a habitual llnr. We must also iH nolo that tho modern school of wit H doos not deal in tho puro, dollcato -'.W humor of Sydney Smith or Charles H Lamb, but for Us effects dapends upon III gross exaggerations and word-pllings. U Thus, not only tho play-ground and "1 school-room, but tho papers and books. $m als'i; through extravagances, aro teach lug in on to strain language to tho very uttermost. In literature that stylo Is IS best which him modt abstinence, for H swearing adjectives and adverbs, aud U (fouling In tho simplicities, Thatohar- m aotcr also Is finest which Is simple, and jl founded on frankness and truthful- JH nesa." IM i hi 111 |
