Evening journal., 1913-01-03
NEW NEWS OF YESTERDAY
A Great Lawyers Idea Of
Literary Style
By uonand.

Tho late James c. Carter, who was
for years regarded as the leader OF
the New York bar and as ranking
with the first six great lawyers Of the
United States. gave TO me one after
noon an exposition of his understands
ing Of the art of writing effectively
! had said to Mr.. Carter that my
attention had been called by the
former Assistant Secretary Of State.
John Bassett Moore. to a review Of
tho life of Governor Samuel j. Tilden
which appeared in one Of the magaz
ines a year or two after Governor
1gldon's death a review which was
written by MIR. Carter
Professor Moore tells me- said,
"that he regards that article on Til
den as not only of Inherent interest
and importance, but as especially
valuable to any one who is fond OF
studying the manner in which men
are able TO master the English ton
que
~ suppose he refers 10 my style"
said Mr Carter well, that is "a
sIbiect to which I have given good
deal of attention J have sometimes
Thought that I should like TO deliver
lecture before some one of our coll
loge debating clubs of literary assoc
Citations for the purpose OF telling my
hearers what my understanding Of
style really is.
oFirst of all, should say that
think the word is grievously over
kfr InEI
this mans style and that mans
style. and when we have heard all
that is said we don't understand
much more about il than we did at
first.
81 was once talking with Governor
Tilden upon the subject of literary
style. and ! said 70 him that ! thought
that of all American writer's Of whom
had any knowledge he had the most
perfect command of English for the
expression of thought
"Tilden replied that he was glad I
did not make use Of the word style.
For himself he believed that it was
much better TO say of any writings,
This is Burke that is Macaulay, the
other Is Hamilton or Madison ana
still another is Webster For the
use of the proper names in that way
conveys. after ALL whatever meaning
there is in the word style applied to
their writings.
q" I write Tilden said to me, only
what [ think and what / think clear
lv. If my thoughts are cloudy ! new
er try to express them in writing. I
either dismiss them or wait until
they arc cleared up The only thing
that 7 have sought for is to express
my thoughts. first of all clearly, and.
next. concisely. And that is all there
is to what you call my style.
After ] went away ! turned over
two or three of Tiden's addresses
and / was impressed, as -had never
been before when reading them. with
the fact that. aside from the value OF
the Thought itself, the great merit OF
his writings was, first, clearness and
second conciseness.
$50, when / undertook 10 write a
brief study of Tilden for one of the
magazines I said to myself: i Will
simply write of Tliden as I have
known him and have talked to him.
If ! do that 7 shall write acceptably
to myself and to my readers. The
article of which you speak was writ
ten III thdl oVlliAs anu - NV VIZ
Carter and not in any other sense
Style
"There was a great deal of truth in
the old French apothegm, style
style is the man.
Copyright. 1913, by r. j. Edwards.
All rights reserved)
Tomorrow Mr.. Edwards will tell
How a Lucky Chance Brought a
Million Dollars