the art, though in some of their details they have since that time undergone considerable modification.

§ 74. Punctuation does not generally receive in educational institutions the attention its importance demands; and hence, in the case of otherwise well-informed persons, there is too often a lack of accurate and practical information on this subject. Even those who have made literary pursuits a profes sion, have regarded this important art as altogether beneath their notice, and leave their manuscripts to be supplied with points entirely at the discretion of the printer. As there is no man at whose hands business or friendship does not require an occasional letter, so there is none that ought not to be able, by a proper use of points, to make his meaning intelligible; particularly since the art is simple in itself, is founded on the principles of grammar, and often admirably illustrates the latter science.

§ 75. Punctuation not only serves to make an author's meaning plain, but often saves it from being entirely misconceived. There are many cases in which a change of points completely alters the sentiment.

An English statesman once took advantage of this fact, to free himself from an embarrassing position. Having charged an officer of gov. ernment with dishonesty, he was required by Parliament, under a heavy penalty, publicly to retract the accusation in the House of Commons. At the appointed time he appeared with a written recantation, which he read aloud as follows: "I said he was dishonest, it is true; and I am sorry for it." This was satisfactory; but what was the surprise of Parliament, the following day, to see the retraction printed in the papers thus: "I said he was dishonest; it is true, and I am sorry for it!" By a simple transposition of the comma and semicolon, the ingenious slanderer represented himself to the country, not only as having made no recantation, but even as having reiterated the charge in the very face of Parliament.

§ 76. It is frequently objected to the study of Punctua

§ 74. What is said of the general neglect of punctuation? Why ought a knowledge of the art to be possessed by all?

§ 75. What does punctuation often prevent? How may a complete change of sen timent frequently be made? Repeat an anecdote illustrative of this fact.

tion that good usage differs widely in this respect, and it is therefore impossible to lay down any fixed rules on the subject. To a certain extent it is true that usage differs. Punc. tuation is an art in which there is great room for the exercise of taste; and tastes will be found to vary in this, as well as in every thing else. Yet it is equally true that, as an art, it is founded on certain great and definite principles; and that, while considerable latitude is allowed in the application of these, whatever directly violates them is wrong and inadmissible. As well might it be argued that the study of rhetoric is unnecessary, because different authors use different styles of expression; or, that there are no grammatical principles from which to deduce rules, because even in celebrated authors we have frequent instances of false syntax. The faults of others, whether in grammar or Punetuation, should not be seized on by any one as an excuse for nis own ignorance; but should rather lead him to redoubled diligence, that he may avoid the rock on which they have split.

§ 77. Old grammarians taught that points were used merely as aids to reading; and that, when the pupil came to a comma, he should stop till he could count one, when to a semicolon, till he could say one, two, &c.; and some writers, in accordance with this principle, use points, without reference to sentential structure, wherever they wish the reader to pause, determining what mark is to be employed solely by the length of the pause required. From such a system grave errors necessarily result. However convenient it may be to give such instructions to a child when beginning to read, it will soon be found that, if he remembers them and carries them out, he will not only constantly violate the principles of elocution, but will for the most part fail to understand the meaning of the sentences he enunciates. Punctuation is entirely

§76. What objection is frequently made to the study of punctuation? Does usage differ? For what is there great room? On what, nevertheless, is the art founded? Is there any ground for the objection?

§ 77. What did old grammarians teach with regard to points? What will result from carrying out such a system? What connection is there between punctuation and

independent of elocution. Its primary object is to bring out the writer's meaning, and so far only is it an aid to the reader. Rhetorical pauses occur as frequently where points are not found as where they are; and for a learner to depend for these on commas and semicolons would effectually prevent his becoming a good reader, just as the use of such marks wherever a cessation of the voice is required would completely ob scure a writer's meaning. This may be seen by comparing a passage properly punctuated with the same passage pointed as its delivery would require.

PROPERLY PUNCTUATED. The people of the United States have justly supposed that the policy of protecting their industry against foreign legislation and foreign industry was fully settled, not by a single act, but by repeated and deliberate acts of government, performed at distant and frequent intervals.

PUNCTUATED FOR DELIVERY. The people of the United States, have justly supposed, that the policy, of protecting their industry, against foreign legislation and foreign industry, was fully settled; not, by a single act; but, by repeated and deliberate acts of government, performed, at distant and frequent intervals.

From a paragraph punctuated like the last, little meaning can be gathered.

§ 78. Let the following principles with regard to Punctuation be constantly borne in mind.

I. Points must be placed without reference to rhetorical pauses. In the expression yes, sir, if we consulted delivery we would place no point after yes; grammar, however, requires a comma there.

II. The principal use of points is to separate words and clauses, and indicate the degree of connection between them. Thus, clauses between which the connection is close must be separated by commas; those in which it is more remote by semicolons.

III. Points are also used to indicate what part of speech

elocution? How does a passage properly punctuated compare with the samo paxage pointed for delivery?

$78. What must not be consulted in the use of points? What is the principal of points? What else are they employed to indicate? Illustrate this with the verd

a word is.

Thus, shame is in most sentences a noun or verb; if used as an interjection, it has an exclamation-point after it, to denote the fact-shame!

IV. Another office they perform by showing to what class a sentence belongs. Thus, "George is well," followed by a period, is a declarative sentence, asserting that George is in good health followed by an interrogation-point, it is an interrogative sentence, and implies belief that he is well together with an inquiry whether it is not so; in other words, it is equivalent to "George is well; is he not?" This important difference of meaning can be conveyed in no other way than by the use respectively of the period and interrogation-point.

V. Points are also employed to indicate a sudden transition or break in the construction or meaning. Thus, where a sentence is suddenly interrupted or broken off, a dash is placed; as, "Woe to the destroyer! woe to the

VI. Finally, they are used to denote the omission of words. Such is the office of the commas in the following sen tence : "Reading maketh a full man; conference, a ready man; writing, an exact man." The verb maketh being left out in the last two clauses, commas are inserted to denote the omissions.

VII. Never introduce a point unless you have some positive rule for sa doing. Whenever there is any reasonable doubt as to the propriety of employing the comma, do not use it. The tendency of punctuators at the present day is to introduce too many points.

VIII. Be guided by rules and principles, no matter how many or how few points they may require. Sentences may be so constructed as to need points after almost every word; while others, even of some length, require no division at all.

shame. What other office do they perform? Show this with the sentence, "George is well." What do they frequently indicate in the construction or meaning? What else are they used to denote? When there is doubt as to the propriety of employing a comma, what is the safest course? What is the tendency of punctuators at the present day? What is stated under the eighth head respecting the frequency and paucity of

IX. Remember that "circumstances alter cases :1 ; and

that, therefore, a mode of pointing which is accurate in a short sentence may not, in a long one, be either tasteful or even strictly correct. We shall revert to this subject from time to time hereafter.

§ 79. The characters used in Punctuation are as follows:

We shall proceed to take these up in turn. Careful attention to the rules, and particularly to the examples that illustrate them, will, it is believed, enable the writer to punctuate with propriety every sentence that can occur. If, after diligent trial, he finds himself unable to do this in the case of any sentence of his own composition, he is advised to look over it carefully, to see if he has not violated some principle of rhetoric or grammar. Punctuating often leads to the detection of such errors.

LESSON XVI.

THE PERIOD.

§ 80. The word PERIOD is derived from the Greek language, and means a circuit. This name is given to the full stop (), because it is placed after a complete circuit of words. The period is found in manuscripts of a compara. tively early date, and was in use before any other point.

points in a sentence? According to the ninth head, what is to be regarded in punctuating a sentence?

$79. Name the characters used in punctuation. What advice is given to the writer, when he finds difficulty in punctuating a sentence of his own composition?

§ 80. Give the derivation and meaning of the word period. Why is the full stop so called? When did the period come into use?