The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1906-04-26

TERMS: saeG sia Mogsss yssss' 81 i esnss sSSsnes
cious use ofsynonymous terms. We are
too often inclined to ignore the fact
that synonym rarely conveys the same
degree of meaning as the word of which
it is synonym; that, altho possessing
like significance in the main there is /.
definable unlikeness as well. The
possession of such words renders our
language all the richer, as they enable
us to give fuller and clearer expression
to the various shades of meaning, and
delicate varieties of meaning, that have
their conception in the mind of man.
Fernald emphasizes this fact in con-
nection with the word ocumen and its
synonyms: shreaOdness, cleoesness, sa-
90ctty, ability, acuteness, Gstuteeess,
ingenuity, penetration, insight, DIS
ceannaeat, sharpness and perspicacity.
He points out that 0cumeaa-a word,
by the way, that is almost universally
ispronounced-is the sum total of
sharpness, acute'aesS insight and pen
etratioal plus the ability to use these
qualities to some advantage. And.
then, he further exemplifies, thus:
"Acumen is sharpness to some pur-
pose, and belongs to a mind that is
comprehensive, as we'll as keen Cleo
ermess is practical aptitude for study
or learning. Insight and discer'ament
are applied oftenest to the judgment of
character; penetration and perspicacity
to other subjects of knowledge.
S0g0city is an uncultured skill in
using quick perceptions for a desired
end, generally in practical affairs;
0c,Lnen may increase with study, and
applies to the most erudite matters
ShreaDdaaess is kee1laaess or sdg0city
often with q somewhat evil bias, as
re ndy to take udvantdgU or duf1e1 I1-
tellects. Perspicacity is the power to
see clearly thru that which is diff
cult or involved. We speak of the
0cuteaeSs of an observer or reasoner,
the insight and discerr1naeaat of stu
dent, clergyman, or a merchant, the
sagacity of hound. the keenness of q
debater, the shreaOdness of usurer,
the penetration, perspicacity and
acunen of q philosopher"
1t goes without saying that the
ability to make these acute distinc-
!, tions, and nice determinations, in the
use of words is not the requirement of
day, or month, or year. In fact,
. none of us attain perfection even in a
, life time, but, by reason of the very
: effort to acquire it, our minds eventually
: become disciplined storehouses in
. which are garnered words with which
we are not so familiar, and, Thus, we
= are enabled, gradually, to add them to
: our vocabulary and to incorporate
: them into our daily speech.
= I come back, therefore, to this: that
a desire to increase ones vocabulary,
- and to conform reasonably to cultured
. customs in the use of our mother
tongue, is not only commendable but
: it is even possible of attainment. And
yet these things are neglected among
= u.s. Why is it SO?
~ Partly-I take it-because we do
a not sufficiently appreciate that they
o are desirable things, and deserving OF
q our consideration. We need to be re-
# minded of it, and it is my pleasant
Q. privilege not only to remind you but
N also to give to such reminder the
Is added weight of little preachment
from the pen of Julius Hare. In bis
~ Guesses at Truth, he says:
le "a man should love and venerate
e. his native language, as the first of his
~ benefactors, as the awakener and
stirrer of all his thoughts, the frame
and mold and rule of his spiritua
ID being, as the great bond and medium
e. of intercourse with his fellows, as thu
" mirror in which he sees his own ma
10 ture, and without which he could not
~ even commune with himself. He whit
no thus thinks of his native language will
ts. never approach it without reverence
is Yet, his reverence will not withhold
ev but rather encourage him to do wha
I: he can, to purify, to improve, and Il
IL understand it." A. KsAR BEN.
es,
le. When Sir Henry Irving was rehears
y ing for his production of "Faust" b.
experienced much difficulty in restrain
" ing the exurberance ofthe supers, VIII