The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-02-12
A study In Advcrbs and AdjeCtivcs.

vi VI" cAtllcu ENpClIlN' p"rsoIlupe
whom Secretary GARRISON. II sincere
and straightforward man. is politely
unable IL tolerate any longer. il may
be instructive To examine one Of the
features If Dr. WILSON'S justly nd
mired literary style. Judge GARRISON
In only the latest. and probably not
the last. of n long line of political and
personal associates I % discover the
moral significance Of certain adverhs
and adjectiyes which issue readily
from the Presidents mouth and flow
%copiou>ly from his pen.
Ever since the time of the famous
campaign correspondence between the
Hon. WOODROW WILSON and Colonel
GEORGE HARVEY. those who are curl
Gus in the matter of rhetorical pro-
clivitieS as indicative Of character |
have noted the Presidents unconQuer-
able fondne>S for the word very"
Perhaps subconsciously rather than
consciously on the Presidents part,
this unnecessary intensive seems 10
force itself into position in front Of
his adiectiyes. The excessive use of
the adverb every" has been regarded
rs u distinctivcly feminine trait
but no ever worked the word
harder than does this statesman and
philosopher.
For example. in the two brief notes
written by the President tn the See
rotary Of War The day before yester-
day In" feminine idvcrb occurs o
less Than nine times: and in every
instance it registers II Vice Of compo-
sitiOn. Mr.. WILSON does not merely
take into SERIOUS consideration he
takes into every serious Considcra-
ton" lie does not merely deem il
n SERIOUS mistake: he deems it n
"very serious mistake" lie is not
merely 'much obliged; he j. very
much obliged" He does not merely
confess Ia feeling great SURPRISE:
he confesseS 10 feeling very great
surprise" He does not merely eX-
press warm appreciation; he eN-
presses very warm appreciation"
And 81 through numberless instances
In these and other letters and also
In his speeches this habit of over
Gus usc of tn" advert, very *
constantly mauitc>ting itself. In the
astonishmcnt Of the critical AMI tn
the sorrow of the %iudicious. II is
perhaps the most marked character
istic of II literary style which in
many respects j. II model of expert |
phrasing. In II man or woman of i'm
pulSiye temperament the habit would
signify nothing more than that impul- !
sive temperament. liut nobody who
has known Mr.. WILSON we'll or long
suspects him of cardiac cffu>ivenesS:
and in the case of 81 prncti>ed Il
writer the effect is unpleasant.
Even more unpleasant. and "" al
most fear even NOR" significant of
that which is behind the words. is
the Presidents continued assertion of
the frunknesS of his attitude and the
g%enuinencsS of his sentiments.
In one of the short notes of Frbru-
equally brief communication Of Janu-
airy II the word frank occurs five
times. lie calls for n frank inter |
change" of views. He thinks the
Congress will expect him Ia be-
"frank' with them. He has had ~
delightfully."- frank conference with
Mr.. HAY. He ~ to Judge GARIT.
RoN Il frank repetition" of his views
and policy. II" is obliged 10 tn"
Judge for his frank %ayowal,' II is
u favoritc Introduction of the PrcSi-
dents 10 any communication he has
to make: and even more than in the
case of the superintendent "v"rys"
the effect produced upon the mind Of
the person or persons thus approached
Is far from frlicito,Is. In the ordi-
nary ~intrrcourS" of liz" we are apt TO
scruliniZe more carefully the utter.
anccS of n man who j. always aSSur.
ing us that IN this especial occasion
ne Is going to be- perfectly or entirely
or absolutely "frank.'
Til" letter of the President 10 Mr..
BRECKINIlDGE, dated February 10, |
contains only two paragraphs, yet in
these two paragraphs the adjective
'genuinc' appears twice. Mr.. VIII.
son accepts Mr., BRrrEINKIDGE's res.
ignatiun moi merely with regret. hut
with "g"nuin" regret aS if there
could h" IN his mind !; regret that was
fraudulent. "" s"cs the unicinl r,lu. |
tionship ended l"t merely with sor- |
row, but with "g"nIlu" Surrow." as If
there could hc in his heart "A sorrow
fhnt wnS counterfeit. \ person who |
mas 1t necessary To insist that tho
sentiments ne expresses are true and