nious sound of periods stated in Article I, Chapter III, Part II.

11. The third degree of proficiency consists in developing, enlarging, and expressing in copious language, the elements or ideas of sentences and periods after they have been orderly, grammatically, and variously arranged, or, in other words, after-as some call it the skeleton of the composition is made.

12. This is accomplished by observing the rules of amplification of both ideas and words, as expounded in Chapter IV of Part II.

13. This last degree of perfection is as necessary in a writer of composition, as it is in a painter of distinction to know the mode of transferring to a large canvas figures and objects delineated in a small one.

14. The ideas which a writer or speaker unacquainted with the art of amplification has on a subject, are like the seeds of a plant in a barren soil, which may sprout a little, and bear a few leaves, but will never yield flowers nor fruits.

15. This shows the importance of learning the art of amplification. Yet, it happens not Q. Mention the third degree of proficiency. (11.)

A. It consists in the development and. amplification of the principal ideas which form the sketch of a composition. Q. How is this accomplished? (12.)

A. By observing the rules of amplification concerning both ideas and words.

unfrequently that, in the educational course of studies, youths spend more time in learning the grammatical construction of the words, than the art of developing and amplifying ideas, an art which is so much more essential and sublime than the other, and which contributes so much to develop and perfect those two great powers of Man, called Intellect and Imagination.

16. Hence it is not a matter of wonder if but few students, even after completing a collegiate course, are found capable of writing and speaking with elegance on any other subject than the old trodden ones.

17. The cause of Public Education positively. demands a reform in this particular.

APPENDIX

ΤΟ

THE ELEMENTS OF COMPOSITION.

- OF ORTHOEPY AND ORTHOGRAPHY-THEIR DEFINITION, AND CLASSIFICATION.

1. A Composition is not deemed perfect unless all the words are correctly written and properly pronounced. The first part is accomplished by Orthography, the second by Orthoepy; Hence

2. Orthoepy is "the art of pronouncing words properly." It comprises two parts: First, the right pronunciation of words according to the powers of letters and place of accent; second, the right utterance of sentences by proper em

Q. What is necessary to a perfect composition? (1.)

A. Orthoepy and Orthography.

Q. What is Orthoepy? (2.)

A. It is the art of pronouncing words properly.

Q. How many parts does Orthoepy comprise? (2.)

A. Two parts.

Q. What is the first part of Orthoepy? (2.)

A. The right pronunciation of words according to the powers of letters and place of accent.

phasis, pauses and inflections, which, by English grammarians, is called Elocution. Spelling books, readers and grammars, in every language, treat extensively of these two branches, and to them. the young student must refer for the right utterance of words and sentences.

3. Orthography is "the art of writing words properly," and comprises three parts: First, the expression of words in writing by their proper letters; second, the right punctuation of sentences and periods; third, the proper use of capital letters.

4. The first part of Orthography is closely allied to Spelling, and is, in a great measure, governed by it; hence, the Student must consult the rules for spelling generally found in grammars and readers, as above stated.

Q. What is the second part? (2.)

A. The right utterance of sentences by proper emphasis, pauses and inflections, which is called Elocution.

Q. What is Orthography? (3.)

A. It is the art of writing words properly.

Q. How many parts does Orthography comprise? (3.)
A. Three.

Q. What constitutes the first part of Orthography? (3.)
A. The expression of words by proper letters in writing.

Q. What constitutes the second and third part? (3.)

A. The right punctuation of sentences and periods, and the proper use of capital letters.

Q. To what is the first part closely allied? (4.)

A. To Spelling.

5. Of the other two parts of Orthography, we shall briefly treat here in two distinct articles.

ARTICLE I.

PUNCTUATION.-OF THE POINTS OF PUNCTUATION, THEIR POWER, USE, AND RULES.

1. Punctuation "is the art of dividing or separating by marks or points in a written composition, periods, members, sentences, clauses, phrases, and a certain class of words, for the purpose of denoting the principal parts of periods and sentences, and directing the reader or speaker in the necessary pauses, inflections and emphasis, so that he may convey with precision the writer's meaning."

2. The points of punctuation, therefore, may be divided into four classes. The first class regards Pauses; the second, Inflections; the third, Emphasis; and the fourth, some Directions for the reader.

Q. What is Punctuation? (1.)

A.

It is "the art of properly dividing, by certain marks, the various parts of a written composition, for the direction of the reader or speaker."

Q. Into how many clasess may the marks, or points, of Punctuation be divided? (2.)

A. Into four classes.

Q. What is the subject of each class? (2.)

A. The first class regards pauses; the second, inflections; the third, emphasis; and the fourth, some directions for the reader.