The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-04-12
Where The Finest
English Is Found.
Editor of The Tribune.

Editor OF The Tribune.
Sir: In your excellent report of the
teachers institute last week / noticed
that Prof. Corson referred to Lincoln
as master of Clear concise and
simple language" and made the state
ment that lit is the highest proof of
power to be able to tell of a great thing
in simple words" AS / read these most
admirable statements the thought oc-
CURED to me: Why did he not refer
the teachers to the greatest of all
sources in the English language for
these great qualities? Why did ne not
point them to Shakespeare and the
Bible? of course. it may be he did.
or if he did not. he had his particular
reason at that time for calling special
attention to Lincoln, whom everyone
knows. who knows ANYTHING of Eng
lish literature. was one of the greatest
masters of language that ever lived
So do not write this to find fault, but
to call attention to a comparison OF
Lincoln, Shakespeare and the Bible
that was suggested by the article re-
ferred to.
| have at hand three short extracts
Cidedly remarkable specimens of lust
such English as the professor referred
to. Out of the four hundred and sew
cnty words that compose them. three
hundred and thirty-flVe, or over sew
enty-One per cent, are words of one
syllable. Less than ten per cent. are
words of more than two syllables. 7
say this is very remarliab bic English.
But it does not equal either Shakes
peare or the Bible. For instance: |
have taken three extracts Of the same
length from Shakespeare one from
Hamlet, one from Romeo and Juliet,
ana one from PeriCleS, and find a little
over eighty per cent. of one syllable
words and less than four per cent. of
words of more than two syllables.
Then take the Bible. Put it to the
SeVerest test possible That is, do NOT
he content to select three different
short extracts but take the whole four
hundred and seventy words from one
continuous passage, and what do YOU
find? That number Of words taken from
the beginning of Johns Gospel Yields
the following facts: Eighty-three and
nineteen forty-sevenths per cent. Of
one syllable words and less than three
per cent. of words of more than two
syllables.
But the acme of anything that can be
found in this respect in any language
now existing or ever has existed is to
he found in Johns Introduction, that
is his first eighteen verses. Here is at
once the sublimest ode that has ever
been written expressed in the simplest
/ language that has ever been uttered by
the mouth of man. If, then. lit is the
| highest proof of power to be able to
tell Of a grea, thing in simple words"
| we have in this Introduction to Johns
! Gospel the highest proof of power
the world'is capable of furnishing. For
here we find three hundred and ten
words and of these over eighty-fo
per cent. of one syllable and less than
| two per cent. Of more than two sylla-
! blcs. To say nothing Of the match
/ less rhythm and majestic express
/ sion of the English Bible is it wonder
| it can be said of it: 1T is as various
as human life is various. 1t is inter-
| esting to the child, it attracts the peas
ant, it charms the prince, it absorbs the
sage. 1t Is the book of love, salvation
and glory for all the world"
!
! Further than this, / believe it was
! Just because Abraham Lincoln had
such "a thorough and intimate knowl-
edge of this great book he attained to
that command Of good Old Anglo-SaX
he did attain to, and that profound in
sight into the hearts and minds of men
he so nobly gave expression To.
f. S. Ballentine.
The Good Shepherd Rectory, Scranton
Pa, April II.