The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-03-22

suburban builder his individual attention
10 the special architecture of a 80 mouse
in Wandsworth. But this method of build:
ing does not make for beauty. The ideal
house is the one which bears the impress
of thought upon material, each detail
must be specially fitted to its place, ana
announce by implication that elsewhere IL
would be out of place. Now If we carry
out the analogy we shall admit that the
reporter is under dire temptation TO build
with ready-made phrases-to think In
cheaper. But just as one would gladly
shatter suburbia TO bits and mold IL near
er to the hearts desire. so one would
like to break IN the phrases into words,
mix them up. and invite the reporter TO re-
arrange them
Dizziness and monotony have some excuse.
We should blacklist the ''well-earned rest
and the scene of her former triumpns,
the young lady of prepossessing appear
ance,' the ample justice" that is done to
the viands beneath which the tables liter
ally groaned, and the wedding presents
that are numerous and costly, but we
admit their use in a world where time is
money and lines are penny; these haoituai
offenders might, after some years absten-
ton from ink, be considered 10 have purged
their offense. Much more annoying Is the
attempt at absurd ornamentation, the
struggle against tautology which results
only in ridiculous turrets and preposterous
pnnaees Of the bs
err and negotiating the spheroid'
are but two of hundred candidates for
the blacklist. These, however, any magis-
defense possible. But why should it be
necessary, when DR.. Johnson has been
mentioned twice, to call him at the third
allusion 1.-The great photographer? No
one, we suppose. could name the writer
who first heard that phrase. and certainly
no one could number those who have clap
ped ii into type 1t is one of the most per-
sistent offenders. and ii should be instantly
Ia iSfo
relation with Johnson's reputation, which
rests now on the careful chatter of Bos-
well. With the great photographer must
pass into obscurity the Swan or Avon.
the Wizard of the North and the Sage
of Chelsea" The phrases ring through the
papers with the maddening iteration of the
latest popular tune that the whistle OF the
which gets ii from heaven knows where. To
the list, too, must be added the infuriating
beginning of a paragraph: 1T is interest
ing to note" If IL were not interesting
there would be no excuse for noting IL.
The professional writer, whether he be a
reporter who talks of a holocaust from
which nearly every one escaped. or a wear
led leader writer who skips from one sub
ject to the other with "meanwhile"-is a
serious offender. But one can see the
reason for his error. 1t is the amateur-the
mi-professional-who Is the most sur
prising. A man knows his subject; he talks
about il over the dinner table: talks well,
and some one, impressed by his vigorous
presentation or a view. says. ny uOn I
you send that to a newspaper" The idea
appeals to him. He goes home. sits down.
spreads his plotting pad, dips his pen-and
reflects that he must be literary. II crave
a portion of your valuable space anent a
question which is en- evidence" he begins.
He makes a correction and proceeds, leav-
ing 'anent' and zen evidence" You may
fill up the gaps, for the subject does not
matter. Rush into print'-"comes as
something in the nature of surprise
woo the muse"-"the force of lanything
you like) could no further go"-''his sable
majesty'-"a place not mentioned in polite
society''-"save the markv'-'I have yet to
learn - gentlemen CD" perish the
thoughtp'-"ye gods and little fishes
.apologizing for taking up much of your
valuable space" And yet across the dinner
table he said none OF these things, every
one of which we consign at once to the
blacklist, every one of which sensible men
write when they write to the newspapers.
For they are determined TO be literary. And
the unusual medium of the pen paralyzes
their thought and throws them back on the
phrase. That is probably the explanation
of the business letter-from the house agent
or the solicitor-which is built out of whole
sentences.