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Show R. L. Stevenson Hailed as Master Craftsman If you can rend the great novel and short stories of Robert LoulH Stevenson and understand every word that master craftsmun used, you will have a vocabulary of which you may well be proud, says a writer in the Detroit Free Pres.s. If you enjoy en-joy the gymnastics of lexicography, do the same thing, then, with one of Max Beerbohm's books, such as 'Zuleiku Dob.son." The dictionary will get a greater workout than the book you ure reading, but It is glorious glor-ious fun. Max makes you feel like a chameleon on a Scotch plaid. But for workmanlike words stick to Stevenson. There was a lad I He never used a word unless It meant exactly what lie intended that it should mean. No faulty bricks In his literary wall I If you want to increase your vocabulary vo-cabulary to widen your horizon of thought, your purpose is excellent. If you are merely collecting words as these philatelists collect stamps or others of their ilk collect antique doorknobs, then save your energy. Mere words without meaning are as the gabbling of geese. Never use a word without knowing exactly what it means. If you do that your vocabulary vo-cabulary will take care of Itself. |