Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-04-02
THE GENERALS ARTICLE.
The Good Result of Paying Extra AT
tention to the Study of Rhetoric.
ArbGnsdlo TrdC5kIer.
-t-,-.-.-. =. In, Il n tin1, of orrnat

ArEGnSdlo lFdc3lteF'
Gen. Meckleham, in imitation OF greater
men, decided upon writing a series s -;
var articles. "Wbv shouldn't |, Mary"
no asked of his wife, who belongs 10
literary society and who is considered an
excellent critic 81 should just Ike TO
know WHY ought not to give my expert
encp2 went through the war and served
wit3 distinction, if l do say it myself.
/ Another thing in ny favor is that kho"
/ how to write. / understand the construc-
/ ton of sentences. L understand Ihe USE
of vigorous English. what DO you say
M8ry?'
.1Why. by al means write your expert
once. / do not see why you should keep
back ANYTHING that might prove OF inter-
egt to the public and result in proht to
Yourself"
That's it. Mary; that's it. You have
hit the nail on the head. w hle was at
college the students used 10 laugh al me
for continuing TO devote so much atten-
lion IN rhetoric. 1t Will all come in
| handy now, you see. wen, shdI ~ "
| work at once"
The next evening, when the lamp had
been lighted, the General said:
'Aiary, are you ready to hear my war
Yes"
He read it to her.
'What do you think OF lt|'
cit is gOOd.'
"Don't you think it's irst-classp
"Yes, | do"
81 have never said much about it, Mary,
but am a writer. Many time Wnlie
visiting newspaper offices, have sad 10
myself 'Ab. well, YOU fellows think that
Won are great writers, but you haVn,t
learned vou7 first lesson So you think
its first-class, Ell? Now, l shall wad 1t up
and send it tn a magazine. ought 10 geU
at least 500 for it." %,
sYou are going to copy it, are you not:
ooh, no, not necessary. It's as PLAIN as
print"
81 didn't know but you might want to
make a few corrections. Let me see the
manuscript a minute. Listen to this para
graph: Gen. Beauregard, seeing that the
left wing was weakening, determined to
reinforce them DON'T you think that
YOU should say Ill instead Of them|
"Why? Refers to the soldiers"
s'No, it means wing, which should be
it,
'SWeU, 90 on, 90 on"
"'rhe General at one time continued
the woman, finding another Objectionable
paragraph, was much moved to see
soldier dragging a gun with a broken
Leg"
"Wbats wrong with that? It's fact,
for ! saw 1t myself
Eyes, but how did he drag gun with
a broken leg?'
sConfound 1t, don't you see? The fell
lows leg was broker, but 50 determined
was ne that he still stuck to his gun"
But he didn't drag 1t with his broken
leg"
''Hangit, the fellows leg was broken
81 understand that"
''WeI. then. Leg was broken, but un-
willing to retire from the field, he crawlec
along, dragging his gum"
''With his broken leg?'
MARY, haven't you got any sense al
{, all? The statement Is as plain as day
light. When you strike woman on mil
, itary matters, dad blame it, she can't set
= / two inches"
I Il understand it well enough. The maj
= was dragging his gun with his broken leg
! which, I should think, would differ yer!
little from dragging his broken gun Will
: his Leg
y The General wheeled around in hi
chair, showed both hands into his pockets
ana IN a calm voice, slightly trembling Of
the bosom of a struggle, SAID:
when | married, | thought that m,
wife was sensible woman. | though
e that she was a woman of literary taste
n An, Lord, Mary, your blamed blindnes
l. has confused me. Read the paragraph
o again"
b Z" The General at one time was mucl
1 moved to see a soldier dragging a gul
j with broken Leg All, l see," she ex
2 claimed.
e Il am glad you do, Mary"
5 cine soldier was dragging gun wit
o broken leg-the guns leg was broken.
n "Gimme that paper" he exclaimed.
"A "TIl be eternally burned If l allow an
d one to-Mary. l am ashamed Of you. G
e on away and leave me alone. To sudder
K ly discover such ignorance totally crushe
r me DO you think that gun has legs an
l. arms like a man? Do you for mOmeI
J. suppose-gO on away, tell YOU"
y 'YOu mean thata soldier with a broke
o leg was dragging his gun, don't you?
d "Hah?"
it She repeated the remark.
il The General took the manuscript, folde
n it with mock precision and put it in th
5 stove.
r ''Why do You burn it, dear?"
ID con, | was afraid that it might brea
e one Of its legs. l reckon it's safe enOugl
b now. The next time you ask me to writ
1t anything, III do it. On, yes, Pl seize
it brOken-leg pen, and write the life out of /
It A prophet is not without honor and so o.
Z You have beaten me ont of 500 in cas-
n and l hope you are satisfied"