Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1903-10-27
Shall.
Montreal Star.)

(mOnbrcui CsohD
The word "shall'' is dying out of the
English language on this side OF the
water at least. 1t is a pity, for 1t has
distinct meaning of its own, which ought
not to be loaded on to the word "will."
The latter word used in the first per-
son. always carries-at least properly
carries-the idea of voluntary action.
The word sshall'' on the other hand,
CONVEYS the idea of action that is in no
way dependent on the will of the person
speaking. The minister says: swift
thou take this woman?" etc. The
answer is, 81 will'' because it all depends
upon the persons will. In like manner
the Prodigal Son says: 81 will arise and
90 to my father" All right, for his
will is concerned in the matter. But
when your will is not concerned In the
least; when the result depends on other
peoples arrangements, or upon the laws
of nature, then the word ''shall' is what
you want. Take a few examples: shall
catch cold if sit in this draught." VI
shall miss my train if I don't start at
once" s'If l leave at four, shall ar
rive at SEVEN" 81 shall be disappointed
if you don't come" 81 shall have hard
work to get his consent" In all of these
cases there is no affirmation of desire or
purpose, but simple prediction of a result.
1t is pity, therefore, the two words
being so distinct in function, that just
through a kind of intellectual laziness
of which our forefathers who did not
press electric buttons, and who knew
nothing about the X-rays, would have
been ashamed, we should consign one OF
these words to practical desuetude.
President Roosevelt, in his recent speech
on the trust gave, as reported, two
examples of the proper use OF "shall,
and also two of the improper use OF
twill" He said: eff we recklessly
try to do too much we shall do nothing
or else we shall work ruin" Here we
have not affirmation of purpose, but
simple prediction of result. Unfortu.
nately, the next chance he had to uphold
sound grammatical principles he missed
or else the reporter did the business tol
him: We read: "We will either do moth
| ing or we will do damage, if we strive
| ignorantly to achieve the impossible"
Manifestly this case is exactly similar to
the former, and calls for "shall" as the
President certainly does not mean, ave
desire to do nothing, or we desire to dc
damage, if" etc.
We find a few people abusing the
word "shall," that is to say, using i
when they ought to use will; " "Wil
you have a cup of tea? eyes, thank you
/ shall" That means, eyes, thank you
| am going to have one" which is rather
a snub to the person making the offer
The person saying 81 shall" in such
case withholds that gracious significa
ton of the will which the one making
the offer has the right to expect. We d'
not want any one to predict to us wha
he or she is going to have when we maxi
a polite offer. But if we say, "Do you
expect to succeed?" that form of answe
is the proper one. 81 think 1 will
would not be proper.
| 1t is the word "shall'' however, that i
in danger of extinction, not the wore
will" Cannot some of us make an ef
fort to give this good old English word
little longer lease of life, if we cannot re
habilitate it altogether