The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1879-10-23

of the verbs be, have, and do, in sen
tences in which the latter clause mazes
comparison with something set forth IN
the former. For example:
"Lord George also was displeased-,
more thoroughly displessed than had
been his oliope-Popenjoy,
chapter 4"
"Bsnkruptcy !1ss tended, as mighths7e
been expected, 10 produce bankruptcy !;
and for all purposes of panic as we'll as
business, New York and London sre as
close as were London and Manchester q
few years ago.-[Pall Mall Budget, June
5, 1875"
1t is needless to give more Instances; ;
the writing of the day is full OF them,
and Mr.. Trollope, the chief, and one of
the earliest, if not the earliest, of offend
ers, is but the foremost man OF a multi"
tude. This placing of the verb directly
after the conjunction or proposition is a
new trick in style. 1t is sheer affecta-
tion, and, if 90 not err, is quite un.
English. In such sentences al those
given above, the simple English con-
struction is, "more thoroughly displeased
than his wife had bsen," "are as close
as London and Manchester were a few
years ago." The, placing of the subject
of the verb after it. except by poetic
license, or in ve:y elevated prose (snd
even there with great discretion) is not
English; it is not clear +; it is not natu-
ral,e No good style, even in the soberest
conversation. II 1 remember rightly,
Macaulay never uses this construction
nsr Cardinal Newman, very correct
writer, whose taste is unexceptionable.
The fashion came in not long ago
through the desire to avoid a verb OF
one syllable at the end OF sentence.
For example: "Mary was not so beauti-
full as her sister was" To end the
sentence with dissyllabls instead of q
monosyllable "a very weak afectstion),
the verb was trsnsposed, and we had {:
GAS was her sister," Whoever wishes
to write clear, manly and simple English
will avoid this foolish fashion, which,
however, has become SO prevalent that
it appears with most ridiculous incon"
gruity even in such writing as that of
the following passage, from report of a
dramatic performance by "Count joan
nes:"
"In the audience last night were
many Yale students, who were, of course,
boisterous and jolly, and led the attacks
but justice requires the remark that they
did not say as many funny things as
did two or three newsboys in the gal.
lery." =.
The following construction is the CON-
sequence of an afectation Of elegance
similar to that remarked upon:
"The marriage is reported in Pike
county, California, of Reuben G. Rog'
ers, pensioner of 1872, who is 50 years
oldS
"The death is announced at Fort Nc
Henry, near Baltimore, of Brevet Maj I
Genera Barry, the commandant."
"The death is announced at Naples,
on the Oath inst, of Cardinal -"
This overwhelming attempt at elegance
has been made thus far chiefly in the
personal columns of newspapers, and in
telegraphic reports; but, like all afecta.
tions and tricks of fine writing, it is win.
ming admirers. and the fashion has begun
to spread and to rise.
A simple, clear and truly English CON
struction forbids the dismemberment oi
the subject of the assertion, which ia, the
marriage OF Reuben q. Rogers or the
death of Brevet General Barry. The
severance of these into tive parts and
the thrusting OF q verb, a particle, a date
and the name of place between them
makes a monstrous sentence. We nigh
as well speak or write our news psra'
graphs in the style of the Paradise
Lost" if we are to make simple an
nouncement of the fsct in this style.
Another prevailing fashion, still some
what new, but which has passed the
stage of novelty, is the holding of one
proposition in suspense for the introduc-
tion of another, so that both may apply
to one object. One example-the follow
ng, from the London Spectator-will be
enough, for the construction is SO com
mon that it is not only found in al.
most all writing, but has invaded every.
day speech:
"He knows, further, that the keeper Of
the asylum has either been deceived by,
or is an accomplice of, these doctors"
Now, the simple English construction
IN all such cases is, "Has either been de.
ceived by these doctors, or is an accoma