EXERCISE TO BE WRITTEN. Let these sentences be punctuated agreeably to the preceding Rule and We all admire this sublime passage "God said 'Let there be light;' and there was light." (Rule, and Remark c.) Now, pray, remember this Unmixed carbonic acid gas, when inhaled, is a deadly poison. (Rule.) The infinitive mood is often used as the nominative to a verb as, "To err" that is, error, "is human." (Remark d; and p. 128, Remark.) When the Roman historians describe an extraordinary man, this always enters into his character as an essential part of it he was of incredible industry and of remarkable application. (Rule.) Ye who still linger on the threshold of life, doubting which path to choose, remember that, when years shall be passed, and your feet shall stumble on the dark mountain, you will cry bitterly, but cry in vain "O youth! return: oh! give me back my early days." (Remark c.) Silvio Pellico, in his excellent work on the "Duties of Men," thus remarks "To love our country with truly elevated feeling, we ought to begin by supplying it, in ourselves, with citizens, of whom that country need not feel ashamed." (Rule.) Listening intently at the chimney, which communicated with that below, I distinctly heard the husband utter these words "Well, come now: must we kill them both?" To which the woman replied "Yes;" " and I heard nothing more. (Rule, and Remark c.) When the love of fame acts upon a man of genius, the case appears to stand thus The generality of the world, distinguished by the name of readers, observe, with a reluctance not unnatural, a person raising himself above them. All men have some desire of fame, and fame is grounded on comparison. (Rule.) One of the best writers of the present day, but perhaps one of the least known,- John James Tayler, says, when comparing the labors of the philosopher with those of the prophet "The philosopher, on the other side, cautiously accepting the material transmitted to him, explores it with the keen edge of his analysis, and pares off from the vital substance of truth the impure accretions which it has contracted in the grosser atmosphere of the popular belief, and which must check its growth and expansion when placed in the thin, pure air of a higher region." (Rule.) RULE IV. The Chanting Service in the Liturgy. A mark similar to a colon is inserted in every verse of the Psalms used in the "Book of Common Prayer," and in works of a like nature; as, "My tongue is the pen: of a ready writer." REMARK. This mark does not represent a grammatical point, but is inserted for the use of choirs, where the Psalms, and other portions of the Liturgy, are chanted; and serves only to divide a verse into two parts. RULE V. Terms in the Rule of Three. In arithmetical works, the terms used in the Rule of Three are set off by colons. Thus, the expression, "As 111 lbs. is to $6.45, so is 37 lbs. to $2.15," is put in the form,-"111 lbs.: $6.45 :: 37 lbs.: $2.15." CONCLUDING REMARKS. a. Some of the rules on the proper application of the colon and the dash ought to be rejected in works where their observance would occasion ambiguity; as in books of arithmetic, where colons are used for proportion, and where the dash is put as a mark for subtraction. Should these marks frequently occur, it will not be improper to substitute a semicolon where the construction requires the grammatical colon or the dash. b. In works printed prior to this century, the colon was sometimes used to denote abbreviation; and, even at the present day, it is occasionally so employed in writing. This mode of punctuation, however, may be justly regarded as erroneous; the period being almost universally preferred as the mark denoting the contraction of words. The PERIOD, or Full Point [· ], serves to indicate the end of a sentence which is assertive in its nature, and independent of any following sentence. RULE I. Complete and Independent Sentences. When a sentence is complete in itself, and is neither connected in construction with what follows, nor of an interrogatory or exclamatory nature, its termination is marked with a period. EXAMPLES. 1. Truth is the basis of every virtue. It is the voice of reason. cepts be religiously obeyed. Never transgress its limits. Let its pre 2. The right is the supreme good, and includes all other goods. In seeking and adhering to it, we secure our true and only happiness. REMARKS. a. For the mode of pointing short sentences which are slightly connected with each other, see page 125. b. A full point is admissible between two parts of a long sentence, though they are closely connected in sense by a particle, when either of them can be divided into more simple parts, separated from one another by a semicolon or a colon; as in the following passage, in which the writer treats of Shakspeare: "Other men may have led, on the whole, greater and more impressive lives than he; other men, acting on their fellows through the same medium of speech that he used, may have expended a greater power of thought, and achieved a greater intellectual effect, in one consistent direction; other men, too (though this is very questionable), may have contrived to issue the matter which they did address to the world, in more compact and perfect artistic shapes. But no man that ever lived said such splendid extempore things on all subjects universally; no man that ever lived had the faculty of pouring out, on all occasions, such a flood of the richest and deepest language." c. When the two larger portions of a continuous passage are joined by a conjunction, they may be separated by a period, if several of the minor parts are united to each other also by conjunctions. - See p. 134, Remark b. d. A full point should be used between two sentences, joined by a conjunction, though their parts are incapable of being separated by a semicolon or a colon, if they do not depend one on the other in construction, and are not directly connected; as, "There are thoughts and images flashing across the mind in its highest moods, to which we give the name of inspiration. But whom do we honor with this title of the inspired poet?" e. From the last remark and example, it is evident that the kind of point used depends less on the connecting word than on the construction and nature of the sentences. Accordingly, we find numerous instances, particularly in the Bible, of not only sentences, but paragraphs and chapters, beginning with and, and other conjunctions; as," For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is a householder, who went out early in the morning to hire laborers into his vineyard. And, when he had agreed with the laborers for a penny a day, he sent them into his vineyard. And he went," &c. ORAL EXERCISES. Mention the grammatical use of the period, and the reason for inserting that point in the sentences that follow : — The benefits of conversation greatly depend on the previous attainments of those who are supposed either to communicate knowledge or to receive it. If, therefore, instruction be neglected, conversation will grow trifling; if perverted, dangerous. Knowledge is not only pleasant, but useful and honorable. The liberal student will therefore endeavor to collect ideas on subjects which can enrich the understanding. Languages, and a taste for elegant letters, will form but a small part of his literary objects. He will dedicate a great portion of his time to the sciences properly so denominated. He will search for knowledge, not only in books, but in the exchange, the manufactory, the world at large. From these various sources, he will collect food for the mind, on which he will afterwards ruminate. There lies upon the other side of the wide Atlantic a beautiful island, famous in story and in song. Its area is not so great as that of the State of Louisiana, while its population is almost half that of the Union. It has given to the world more than its share of genius and of greatness. It has been prolific in statesmen, warriors, and poets. Its brave and generous sons have fought successfully all battles but their own. In wit and humor, it has no equal; while its harp, like its history, moves to tears by its sweet but melancholy pathos. Be servants of truth and duty, each in his vocation. Be sincere, pure in heart, earnest, enthusiastic. A virtuous enthusiasm is always self-forgetful and noble. It is the only inspiration now vouchsafed to man. Blend humility with learning. Ascend above the present in place and time. Regard fame only as the eternal shadow of excellence. Bend in adoration before the right. Cultivate alike the wisdom of experience and the wisdom of hope. Mindful of the future, do not neglect the past: awed by the majesty of antiquity, turn not with indifference from the future. I would say to the people, You cannot, without guilt and disgrace, stop where you are. The past and the present call on you to advance. Let what you have gained be an impulse to something higher. Your nature is too great to be crushed. You were not created what you are, merely to toil, eat, drink, and sleep, like the inferior animals. If you will, you can rise. No power in society, no hardship in your condition, can depress you, keep you down, in knowledge, power, virtue, influence, but by your own consent. Make yourselves worthy of your free institutions, and strengthen and perpetuate them by your intelligence and your virtues. This world is full of beauty,- full of innocent gladness. Open your inmost sense to all the influences of what is brightest and happiest in the scenes around you. Let the spirit be clear and transparent, to receive and transmit these blessed influences of the Creator's love, and send out the light of them on other hearts. Only a pure and gentle soul can feel them. Keep yours so that they do not come to you in vain. There is impiety in letting all this beauty rise and set on us daily unfelt. To sympathize with the loveliness which blooms and sparkles in every aspect of this terrestrial paradise is silent praise, that worship of the heart, more audible to the ear of God than the chanted litany of the cathedral. |