The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1894-08-18
LITERARY.
A GOOD LITERARY STYLE.

IT | were asked to name the two first
essentials OF good literary style, |
should uuhesitatingly reply, simplicity
and sincerity. Perhaps the second named
should be placed tirst--sincerity. For
this implies that the motive in writing is
good. II young writer wishes to wri e
merely for the sake OF being called a
writer, merely for the sake of winning
personal distinction, his or her aim is
unworthy, and c0nse queutly the writing
will never amount to anything or win
any permanent place III literature. l
would have all young writer's ask them
selves the question" What is my motive
in writing? And if tho trae and sincere
answer is that it is because good
thoughts and desires stir the heart and
brain and cause a desire Tor expression,
so that these good thoughts and aspira-
tions shall be passed on to others, then
by all means let the young writer take
heart and press forward. With this first
essential of sincerity attained, the next
thing is to express thought with divect
ness and simplicity. This does not imply
too great brev!ty, or coacisenosS. Grace
full end elegant forms of speech, care
fully chosen words, harmonious ind mus
ioal sentences and periods are all COM
patible with true simplicity. One thing
10 ust be carefully and constantly aimed
n IL nlnarlv
thought that is IN our own minds. Often
times thought is not quite clear to ou!-
selves. Very often an idea is not quite
clear to ourselves. Very often an idea is
hazy as well as luminous. To clear
away the haze and to increase and per
feet It's luminousness is the work of the
conscientious writer. 1t is e great
imposition on those who read III these
busy and hurried days, not 20 mako our
meaning so clear that he who runs may
read and understand. On the value Of
clearness and simplicity our greatest
modern writer's have long insisted. Mat
thew Arnold, in his Essays and Crit
o!sm, insists again and again that the
chief merit of the best modern writing
is this quality Take Matthew Arnold
himself, take John Stuart Mill or Her
bert Spencer or John Ruskin as examples
aud models. Note how clear, how direct
how simple are their sentences. They
seem to have but one aim in view, and
that is to declare the truths they see aud
feel in such a way IS shall make others
feel and see them. Take Washington
Irving or James Russell Lowell, or HGw-
thorne or Emerson, among our Amsri-
can writers, and note the same quality.
After the habit has been acquired of
expressing thought in a clear, well
ordered sentence. comes the possible
embellishments Of style by figures of
speech. The rule that metaphors must
not be mixed the young writer can
easily understand, especially after hsv-
ing his attention called to examples of
mixed metaphors. One thing which all
writers who have a good style learn TO
avoid is exaggeratiou of statement 1t
is a saying of Emerson's in regard to
manners that culture kills exaggeratiop,
and nothing could be truer. And finally
one of the best possible aids to the cul
tivation of a good literary style is to
read and study good models from among
the great writer's of all time, and to read
the critical estimates by good critics on
the literature of the past or the present.
The way is clear, the helps are many for
the ambitious, persevering, industrious,
writer of articles, or books, in his effort
to acquire that most delightful and use
full art, good literary style.