The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1879-04-03
TER MS.

state to others our doubts: for, ss
rule, we solve them when we do thii
before we hear what they have to say
In most cases what we say to others
not what they say to rs when we con
suit them, settles the doubt.
We must not only think in words
but we must also try and use the bes
words, and those which in speech will
put what is in our minds into th,
minds of others. This is the great ar,
which those must gain who wish te
teach in the school, the church, at the
bar, or through the press. To do this
in the right way, they should use the
short words which we learn in ear.y
life, and which have the same sense 10
all classes of men. They are the best
for the teacher, the orator and the
poet. If you will look at what has
been said in prose or in the verse that
comes down to us through many years.
which struck all minds, and that men
must quote, You will find that they are
in short words of eur own tongue.
Count them in Gray's elegy, which all
love to read, and you will find that
they make up large share of all that
he uses.
The English of our Bible is good.
Now and then some large words arc
found, and they always hurt the verses
in which you find them. Take that
which says, 'Oh, ye generation of Vi
pers, who hath warned you to fec
from the wrath to come p There is one
long word which ought not to be in il,
namely, generation. In the old ver-
sion the word brood is used. Read
the verse again with this term: sOb,
ye vipers brood. who hath warned yeu
to fee from the wrath to Gomez
William II. Maynard, a very able
man who stood high in this country
and his State, once wrote out speech
for the Fourth of July, in words of
one syllable, save names. His strength
was very much due to the fact that in
thought and speech he made it rule
to use as few words as he could, and
those that were short and clear. If he
had lived out his term of three score
years, he would have been known as
one of the great men Of that State.
l do not mean to say that the mere
fa of fhof g "a
clear, but it's true that most clear
words are short, that most long words
we get from other tongues, and tho
mass of men do not know exactly
what they mean, and 1 am not sure
that scholars always get the same ideas
from them. A word must be used q
great deal, as short ones are, before it
means the same thing to all.
Those who wish to teach or lead
others must first learn to think and
speak in clear way. The use of long
words which we get from other tong
aes not only makes our thoughts and
Dur speech dim and hazy, but it has
done somewhat to harm the morals of
our people. Crime sometimes does
not look IKE crime when it is set be-
lore US in the many folds of . long
word. When man steals, and we
;ah it sdefalcation,' We are at a loss to
know If it is a plunder or crime. II
ne does not tell the truth, and we are
;old it is case of 'prevarication,' it
axes US some time to know just what
We should think of it. Nc man will
aver cheat himself into wrong doing,
Tor will he be at loss to judge 9TH
,rs, if he thinks and speaks of an act
n clear, crisp terms. 1t is a good
'ule, if one is at loss to know if an
Ict is right or wrong, to write it down
n short, straight English.
He who will try to use short words
Ind to shun long ones, will, in little
while, not only learn that he can dc
10 with ease, but that it will also
make him more ready in the use of
words of Greek and Latin origin when
he needs them. If he tries to write
n words of one syllable, he will find
hat he will run through great many
words to get those he needs. They
re brought to his mind in his search
or those he wants. When q man is
n search of one fact, he may be led to
ook at every book in his library, and
hus he finds many things.
There is another gain when we try
o use only short words. To bring
hem in and keep all others out, We
ave to take a great many. views of
he topic about which we write or
peak. In this way we may start
many new thoughts and ideas that
would not otherwise spring up. lam
ure, if this plan is tried, men will be
truck with the many phrases brought
o their view of things they study that
hey would not sec if they used the
words i'm the usual mode. In this way
nen not only learn more about the
opic> of which they write, for they
pill not be able to carry out their plan
Without looking at their subject ON
very side.
DR.. johnson loved long words. But
7hen he wrote in wrath to Lord Chee-
erfield he broke away from the fogs
nd clouds and roar of his five syIla-
led terms, and went at his lordship
q way so terse and sharp, that all
an see that he felt what he said.
Love. nor hate, nor zeal, ever waste
heir force by the use of involved or
ong winded phrases. Short words
re not vague sounds which lull as
hey fall upon the ear. They have
lear ring which stirs our minds or
ouches our hearts. They best tell OF
oy or grief, or rage or peace. or life
r death. They are felt by all, for
heir terms mean the same thug to