UNDER $168. The people of Mayence to show their gratitude to Guttenberg the inventor of printing have erected in his honor a magnificent statue wrought by the sculptor Thorwaldsen-Tyrants when reason and argument make against them have recourse to violence to silence their opponents He comes to heal the sick and set the captive free — Oh that I had the wings of the morning to flee to the uttermost parts of the earth

UNDER $169. A poet aptly asks "What will not men attempt for sacred praise”—Let the thought be deeply engraved upon your heart that every moment which flies is irrecoverably lost — The schoolmen of the Middle Ages occupied themselves with discussing the important ques tion whether spirits can move from one place to another without passing through the intervening space- Let our fixed resolve be liberty or death-The truth of Swift's assertion that no man ever wished himself younger may well be questioned

UNDER § 170. Liars " says Aristotle " are not believed even when they speak the truth"- An angel's arm" says the poet Young" can't snatch me from the grave; legions of angels" he adds with equal truth "can't confine me there" With what motive it may be asked did Chatterton commence his course of imposture For pecuniary profit I answer or perhaps for the pleasure of deceiving the world

UNDER $171. Neither can wealth make a bad man respectable nor can poverty sink a worthy person below the station his virtues deserve As thy day is so shall thy strength be- Whether Jansen is entitled to the undivided honor of inventing the telescope or Metius had previously discovered the principle involved in that instrument is a subject of discussion among the learned-Though he slay me yet will I trust in him

UNDER § 172. They now live more happily than ever They now live more respectably comfortably and happily than ever-Catiline was so overcome with shame that he could not speak · Catiline was so overcome with saame disappointment and anger that he could not speak -The history of the United States shows a more rapid advance in power and importance than has ever been made by any other nationCicero was as vain as he was eloquent

UNDER § 173. To assume that a person is guilty of an offence because appearances happen to be against him is manifestly unjust-The author of these profound and philosophical essays on the abstract questions of Moral Philosophy was a poor blacksmith-Men who have no desire to participate in the factious quarrels and personal animosities which now unhappily distract the land are rudely dragged into the arena of politics - Books and study only teach the proper use of books

UNDER 174. In 1800 the population of the city of New York was 60489 in 1850 it was 515597 showing an increase during this lapse of fifty years of 455108 souls-In 1850 the debt of the state of New York amounted to $22859053 we may call it in round numbers twenty-three millions of dollars-The comet of 1811 had a diameter of at least 560000 geographical miles and a tail eighty-eight millions of miles in length

LESSON XXV.

THE COMMA (CONTINUED).

§ 175. As the rules for the comma are numerous and more difficult of application than those relating to the other points, it has been thought best to illustrate them with a miscellaneous exercise, which will bring before the student's mind, in connection, all the cases in which this point is required. Cautions are first presented, for the purpose of warning the student against errors which the author has found that the inexperienced are most likely to make.

CAUTION I. Do not suppose that a sentence, simply because it is long, must contain a comma. Unbroken connection between the parts of a sentence, no matter how long it may be, precludes the use of this point. Thus: "It is hard for those who pride themselves on the greatness of man to believe that those mighty cities which were once the wonder and admiration of the ancient world could so entirely have disappeared that their position is now a subject of discussion among scholars and antiquaries."

CAUTION II. Do not insert a comma between a grammatical subject and its verb, when the one immediately follows the other. A rhetorical pause is, in this case, sometimes required before the verb; but a comma, never.

CAUTION III. There must be no comma before and, when it connects two words only; as, "A prosperous and happy country'.

CAUTION IV. Observe the difference of punctuation in sentences like the following:

The Romans, having conquered the world, were unable to conquer themselves.

The Romans having conquered the world, freedom of thought and action became extinct.

§ 175. What is said of the rules for the comma? What is the substance of Caution L? of Caution II.? of Caution III.? of Caution IV.? of Caution V.?

In the first sentence, Romans is the grammatical subject of wore, and the parenthetical participial clause between these words must be set off by a comma on each side. In the second, Romans, being used absolutely with the participle having conquered, must not be separated from it by a comma, but this point must be reserved for the termination of the entire absolute clause.

CAUTION V. When you are in doubt as to the propriety of inserting commas, omit them; it is better to have too few than too many.

MISCELLANEOUS EXERCISE.

Supply such points as are necessary in the following sen

tences:

UNDER RULE I. Education if it cannot accomplish every thing can nevertheless accomplish much-Achilles unquestionably was a puissant warrior but had not the poetry of Homer immortalized his name he would now in all likelihood have been as little known as the meanest soldier in the Grecian host

UNDER RULE II. By all that you hold dear on earth listen to my prayer-To accomplish these ends he left no means however insignifi cant untried-If I were not Alexander I would be Diogenes- If fortune has played thee false to-day do thou play true for thyself to-morrow — Never be discouraged however gloomy the prospect

UNDER RULE III. In every line of Dante's "Divine Comedy" we di cern the asperity which is produced by pride struggling with misery - We designate as the mind that part of us which feels knows and thinks - A man renowned for repartee often sacrifices the feelings of his friends to his attempts at wit-The means by which men acquire glory are various

UNDER RULE IV. Hail Patience blest source of peace blest cure for every pain-Sisters and brothers how many may you be Were I even declared king or elected president of such a nation I should esteem it no honor-The genealogy of princes the field-book of conquerors history is well worthy of our attention

UNDER RULE V. Among the noblest attributes of a virtuous man is jus. tice-Over the matchless talents of Washington protity threw her brightest lustre - Of infancy childhood boyhood and youth we have been discoursing-Than pleasure's exaggerated promises nothing can be more alluring to youth

UNDER RULE VI. All that live must die-Apostles prophets and martyrs have proved the truth of the Christian faith All the rules of eloquence the precepts of philosophy and the refined conversation of Athens to which place he was sent by his father for the completion of his education failed to make Cicero's son an orator or a man of talentWorlds above around beneath and on all sides arch thee about as a centre

UNDER RULE VII. The ship having left her wharf a salute was fired from the shore- - A habit of indolence once formed it is extremely difficult to shake it off- The campaign thus fairly opened both parties prosecuted the war with unprecedented vigor Ye men of Rome shake off your sloth

UNDER RULE VIII. The sun sets but he will rise again - We obey the laws of society because it is expedient to do so -Art is long but time is fleeting-Great poets are rare while empty rhymesters can be counted by thousands-Must we submit to such indignities in order that we may have enough to eat

UNDER RULE IX. Man wants but little here below nor wants that little long-Sincerity is as valuable as knowledge and on some accounts more so- - Cunning and avarice may gain an estate but cannot gain friends We are naturally inclined to praise those who praise us and to flatter those who flatter us

studied

UNDER RULE X. English Grammar or the art of speaking and writing the English language correctly cannot in this country be too much The Persians or rather the survivors of them retreated from the field of battle with all possible despatch Young ladies' seminaries or as they were formerly called girls' schools abound in this part of the country

UNDER RULE XI., XII. Modern times with all their boasted progress have never produced as strong a man as Samson as meek a man as Moses or as wise a man as Solomon Life is short unsatisfactory and uncertain Men women and children stare cry out and runCæsar came saw and conquered

UNDER RULE XIII. Deeds not words are the proper tests by which to try a man's character Who is so beautiful who so graceful as the maid of Lodore-I beg of you beware of and avoid the evil-doer How sweet the voice how blessed the words of him who offers consolation to the mourner

UNDER RULE XIV. Poverty and distress desolation and ruin are the consequences of civil war- Virtue without industry and idleness without vice are impossibilities - Generous but not prodigal frugal but not parsimonious brave but not rash learned but not pedantic this prince maintained a happy medium between all objectionable extremes

UNDER RULE XV. Onward onward strong and steady-Blessed thrice blessed is the peace-maker-There we hope to enjoy rest neverending rest rest in which are concentrated all conceivable pleasuresSuddenly there came a tapping as of some one gently rapping rapping at my chamber door - Lochiel Lochiel beware of the day

UNDER RULE XVI. We must respect ourselves to have others respect us- A man must be a genius indeed to say anything new about Niag ara- Eat to live do not live to eat He is going to Europe to see whether travelling will benefit his health

UNDER RULE XVII. It was a principle of O'Connell's that no political advantage is worth a crime-When Xerxes sent a haughty message to Leonidas that he should deliver up his arms the Spartan warrior answered in true Laconic style "Let him come and take them". Language" says Talleyrand" was given us to conceal our thoughts"

UNDER RULE XVIII.-Though Tycho de Brahe who lived near the close of the sixteenth century certainly recognized the correctness of the Copernican system at an early period yet his ambitious vanity and religious prejudices urged him to oppose it Either you must confess your crime or I shall have to suffer unjustly

UNDER RULE XIX. To contemplate abstract subjects only disciplines the mind rarely if ever interesting it - A long course of conduct so entirely opposed to what honest men consider required by the great principles of truth and justice cannot be passed over without the strongest reprobation

UNDER RULE XX. The loftiest mountain in the moon is said by astronomers to be 17138 feet high-The surface of the sun contains 1865312000000 square miles that of the moon 10350400 that of the earth 148512000

LESSON XXVI.

THE DASH.

§ 176. The dash, a character of comparatively recent introduction, has of late, both by writers and printers, been very wrongly endowed with the functions of parentheses, comma, semicolon, colon, and even period; and is now extensively used by many, who find it a convenient substitute when ignorance prevents them from employing the proper point. Against this prevailing abuse the student can not be too impressively warned. The dash has its legitimate uses, and performs a part in which no other point can properly take its place; but it must not be allowed to overstep its proper limits. Use this point, therefore, only where it is strictly required by the fol lowing rules :

RULE I.—BREAKS, SUSPENSIONS, TRANSITIONS, &c.

§ 177. The dash is used to denote a break in the construction, a suspension of the sense, an unexpected transition in

176. When was the dash first introduced? What is said of its use at the present day?

$177. Repeat Rule I., relating to breaks, suspensions, &c.