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Observe, also, that, in each reading, the important word is that which expresses the distinctive idea; and when the idea in any given word is not distinctive, the word is not emphatic; and, when trying to think out the meaning of your reading-lessons, keep in mind, to aid you, this first principle of "Logical Analysis”:

THE DISTINCTIVE IDEAS ARE EMPHATIC.

PART II.

First, there must be some distinct "thing" we are to read about, and attention should be called to it by emphasis, as "winter," or "summer"; then, there must be something "said" about it, distinct from all other sayings, which needs emphasis: as, "Winter has gone, and summer has come"; or, "Winter is often too cold, and summer too warm; and so spring and autumn are pleasanter seasons of the year."

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The last words, "seasons of the year," should not be emphasized; for winter and summer are seasons of the year" too. That idea, then, is not distinctive of "spring" and "autumn," and is not emphatic. The writer did not intend to tell us that they are seasons of the year' (he supposed we knew that), but merely that they are "pleasanter."

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Hence the second principle of "Logical Analysis":
WHAT IS WELL KNOWN, OR UNDERSTOOD, NEEDS NO

EMPHASIS.

Its great

Emphasis is too valuable to be wasted. use is to INTRODUCE to hearers the NEW important ideas. And so, when an idea has been introduced once, it does not need to be emphasized right over again, any more than a man needs to be introduced to the same person over and over again. Nor do persons well ac

quainted with each other need any introduction. No more do ideas, familiar and well understood, need emphasis.

If we add to the thought above, that spring is pleasanter than winter, too, "because the birds and flowers come then," the ideas of "spring" and “winter," and that the one is "pleasanter" than the other, having all been given with emphasis once, only the new reason that the "birds and flowers come then "—requires the "extra force."

"The light shines.”

Both "light" and "shines" are new, and need emphasis.

"The moon shines."

"The stars shine."

"Shines" was emphasized before, and only "moon" and "stars are new.

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"The stars shine dimly to-night."

Now both "stars" and "shine" are understood, and only how they shine, viz., "dimly," needs emphasis.

"The stars shine dimly to-night, because the moon is so bright."

All is understood now, and unemphatic, except the reason why they shine so dimly, "because the moon is ɛo bright."

PART III.

Read this verse from the story of the "Prodigal Son," in the New Testament:

"But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet."

What did the father order his servants to bring forth?
The "best robe," and a "ring," and "shoes."

These, then, are emphatic, because they are all dis

tinctive points; for the poor prodigal was ragged, and his hands and feet were bare. But if we try to make "hands" and "feet" distinctive (reading, "and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet," as we too often hear it), we put, in the place of the gracious command, a most absurd and foolish one: as if the servants needed

to be told just where to put the ring, lest they put it in one ear, or in his nose; or just where to put the shoes, lest they put them on his hands! Often we can not tell how to read a line until we look at what is before and after it.

"You have done that you should be sorry for,"

would be the right reading of Brutus's words to Cassius in the quarrel-scene from "Julius Cæsar," if these words stood thus alone. But when we read, just before these, the words of Cassius,

"Do not presume too much upon my love;
I may do that I shall be sorry for,"

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we learn that the words "that" and "sorry distinctive at all, but common to both sayings, while "have" and "should" stand out in sharp contrast to "may" and "shall "; and that the true reading of this reply must therefore be,

"You have done that you should be sorry for."

Read these few lines from the "Pickwick Papers": "What's your name, sir?' inquired the judge. 'Sam Weller, my lord,' replied that gentleman. 'Do you spell it with a "V" or a "W"?' inquired the judge.

That depends upon the taste and fancy of the speller, my lord,' replied Sam; 'I never had occasion to spell it more than once or twice in my life, but I spells it with a

"V" Here a voice in the gallery exclaimed aloud, 'Quite right, too, Samivel-quite right! Put it down a "we," my lord; put it down a "we."""

Thus we see that anything, from a single letter to a thought in Shakespeare or in the Bible, may be the distinctive idea requiring emphasis.

A general rule has been given that a word once read with "extra force" needs it no more. But sometimes a word or phrase is repeated for the very purpose of more emphasis; then, of course, the word is spoken more and more earnestly as it is repeated. "You must not, you MUST not go so near the edge of the steep bank!”" "Oh, how beautiful, how BEAUTIFUL the rainbow is!" "Come over, come oVER the river to me!" Oh, dear mamma! oh, DEAR MAMMA !" So, too, words like "himself," "itself," "yourself," etc., are used for the sole purpose. of emphasizing another word, as, "He did it himself"; "You yourselves are to blame"; "It is an attribute to God himself."

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V. THE SPIDER AND THE FLY.

1. "Will you walk into my parlor?" said the Spider to the Fly;

""Tis the prettiest little parlor that ever you did

spy.

The way into my parlor is up a winding stair,

And I have many curious things to show when you

are there."

"Oh no, no," said the little Fly; "to ask me is in

vain,

For who goes up your winding stair can ne'er come down again."

2. "I'm sure you must be weary, dear, with soaring up so high;

Will

you rest upon my little bed?" said the Spider to the Fly.

"There are pretty curtains drawn around; the sheets are fine and thin,

And if you like to rest awhile, I'll snugly tuck you in!"

"Oh no, no," said the little Fly, "for I've often heard

it said,

They never, never wake again who sleep upon your

bed!"

3. Said the cunning Spider to the Fly: "Dear friend, what can I do

To prove the warm affection I've always felt for you?
I have within my pantry good store of all that's nice;
I'm sure you're very welcome-will you please to
take a slice?"

"Oh no, no," said the little Fly; "kind sir, that can
not be:

I've heard what's in your pantry, and I do not wish to see!"

4. "Sweet creature!" said the Spider, "you're witty and you're wise;

How handsome are your gauzy wings! how brilliant
are your eyes!

I have a little looking-glass upon my parlor shelf;
If you'll step in one moment, dear, you shall behold
yourself."

"I thank you, gentle sir," she said, "for what you're
pleased to say,

And, bidding you good morning now, I'll call another

day."

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