"In modern English," says Mr. Marsh, "the inflected possessive of nouns expresses almost exclusively the notion of property or appurtenance. Hence we say a man's hat or a man's hand, but the description of a man, not a man's description. And, of course, we generally limit the application of this form to words which indicate objects capable of possessing or enjoying the right of property, in a word,1 to persons, or at least animated and con scious creatures, and we accordingly speak of a woman's bonnet, but not of a house's roof. In short, we now distinguish between the possessive and the genitive." 2 The rule laid down by Mr. Marsh is sustained in the main by the best modern usage, but it has many exceptions. Though we should not speak of a house's roof, there is the best authority for "a year's work," "a day's pleasure," "at death's door," "for con. science' sake," "the law's delay," "for mercy's sake," "for pity's sake." Though careful writers avoid in our midst; in our humble midst, no one hesitates to write " on our account," "in my absence," "to their credit," "for my sake," "in his defence." 8 Such expressions, however, as Bennington's Centennial, silver's death, the fire's devastation, London's life, whether regarded as examples of the objective genitive or of vicious personification, are indefensible." Nominative or objective ase? III. The object of a verb is sometimes put in the nominative case, the subject in the objective. "Let they who raise the spell beware the Fiend."6 "Lay on, Macduff; And damn'd be him that first cries, 'Hold, enough!'"8 "You know as well as me that he never swerves from his resutions.' 999 1 Query as to the position of "in a word," as punctuated. 2 Marsh: Lectures on the English Language, lect. xviii. 8 American newspaper. 4 Biography of Disraeli (anonymous), chap. ii. 5 For additional examples, see "The Fouudations of Rhetoric," pp. 43, 14. 6 Bulwer (Lytton): Richelieu, act ii. scene i. Robert Burns: To Robert Graham. 8 Shakspere: Macbeth, act v. scene viii. 9 Benjamin Disraeli : Coningsby, book viii. chap. vi. "What would be the feelings of such a woman as her, were the world to greet her some fine morning as Duchess of Omnium!" 1 "On the other side, we have in the second part, 'On the Social Condition of France,' a specimen of the style and manner of Louis Blanc, a style which belongs to no other than he." 2 "With a freedom more like the milk-maid of the town than she of the plains, she accosted him.” 4 "Now I hope I shall demonstrate, if not, it will be by some one abier than me demonstrated, in the course of this business, that there never was a bribe," &c.5 "He found two French ladies in their bonnets, who he soon discovered to be actresses." 6 "Mrs. Hemans and L. E. L. were the favorite poets who young ladies were expected to read."7 "Seated on an upright tombstone, close to him, was a strange unearthly figure, whom, Gabriel felt at once, was no being of this world." 8 "Those whom he feels would gain most advantage by being his guests, should have the first place in his invitations."9 "A correspondent, describing what he thinks the disastrous effects of my advocacy of it is me,' says, 'I have heard persons whom I knew were in the habit of using the form "it is I," say instead, "it is me.' 99999 10 "He entered the service of Sir William Temple, whom he expected would advance him by his influence." 11 Usage, however, justifies the awkward phrase than whom.12 1 Anthony Trollope Phineas Finn, vol. ii. chap. liv. 2 The [London] Spectator. Than whom. 8 Would the substitution of her for she remove the difficulty? 4 Scott: The Abbot, vol. i. chap. xix. 5 Burke: Speech in the Impeachment of Warren Hastings. 6 Disraeli: Coningsby, book viii. chap. vii. 7 Mrs. Oliphant: The Sorceress, chap. i. 8 Dickens: Pickwick Papers, vol. ii. chap. i. 9 Helps: Social Pressure, chap. x. 10 Henry Alford: The Queen's English, chap. iv. sect. 355. 11 Student's theme. 12 Professor Conington, in his translation of Virgil, has than who. "Which when Beelzebub perceived, than whom, Satan except, none higher sat." 1 "I am highly gratified by your commendation of Cowper, than whom there never was a more virtuous or more amiable man.' "Two subjects, than whom none » 2 IV. The emphatic pronoun in -self is sometimes confounded with the reflexive. The reflexive pronoun stands alone, the emphatic is usually joined with the corresponding simple personal pronoun. In Pronouns in -self. stances of misuse are: "He told me amongst other interesting things, 'Doctor Welsh's death was the sorest loss ever came to the place,' that myself 'went away into England and - died there!'" 4 "And then it was part of his honest geniality of character to admire those who 'get on' in the world. Himself had been, almost from boyhood, in contact with great affairs.” 5 ... 6 "that long quiet life (ending at last on the day himself had predicted, as if at the moment he had willed) in which all existence,' as he says, had been but food for contemplation." " “Bedford was forced to be still at times, for Bulkeley was nine inches taller than himself.”▾ V. Sometimes a pronoun or an adjective is made to Prononn with refer to a word which is suggested but not out grammati cal antecedent. expressed. "He will know more clearly and thoroughly than ever he knew before that English policy, so far as it is pro-Turkish, is policy in which she stands alone." 8 1 Milton: Paradise Lost, book ii. line 299. 2 Landor: Conversations, Third Series; Southey and Porson. 8 Lord Byron: Sardanapalus, act ii. scene i. 4 Letters and Memorials of Jane Welsh Carlyle, letter 113. 5 Walter Pater: Macmillan's Magazine, March, 1886, p. 349. • Ibid. Appreciations; Sir Thomas Browne. 7 Thackeray: Lovel the Widower, chap. iv. 8 The [London] Spectator. - the "As a text-book, the volume has one technical defect, lines ought to have been numbered either as in the other volumes or on each page. Its absence is a source of annoyance.” "She went up Grange Lane again cheerful and warm in her sealskin coat. It was a thing that suited her remarkably well, and corresponded with her character, and everybody knows how com fortable they are.' "2 "Though he slurred woman as a sex, he loved some of them passionately." 8 "She had not yet listened patiently to his heart-beats, but only felt that her own was beating violently."4 "The first project was to shorten discourse by cutting polysyllables into one." 5 “This one [a portrait] is rouged up to the eyes, and Madame du Barri never wore any at all." 6 "To-morrow is Hospital Sunday, and we trust that it may result in a liberal subscription for those most useful of London charities."7 "The forefinger of the right hand touching successively those of the left." 8 "The gray plover, our accurate observer remarks, is a winter shore bird, found only at that season and in that habitat in this country." "9 66 Luckily, however, they [the elephants] did not keep straight below me, but a little on one side; and one huge animal, which, as I could not see those appendages, was probably a tuskless cow, came and stood within ten yards of me. "10 "The captain saluted the quarter-deck, and all the officers saluted him, which he returned." 11 1 American newspaper. 2 Mrs. Oliphant: Miss Marjoribanks, vol. ii chap. xii Tauchnitz edition. 8 Student's theme. * George Eliot: Middlemarch, book ii. chap. xxx. 5 Swift: Gulliver's Travels; Voyage to Laputa. 6 Souvenirs of Madame le Brun, letter x. 7 The [London] Spectator. 8 Scott Rob Roy, vol. i. chap. xx. "Principal Shairp: Life of Robert Burns, chap. v. 10 W. H. Ponsonby: Large Animals in Africa. 11 Charles Reade: Hard Cash, chap. vii. Misuse of VI. The pronouns either, neither, the former, the latter, are sometimes incorrectly used. Each of these pronouns properly signifies one of two persons or things. Instances of misuse are: either, neither, "Dryden, Pope, and Wordsworth have not scrupled to lay a profane hand upon Chaucer, a mightier genius than either."1 "Country journalism offers better opportunities than either of the three learned professions.' ” 2 "Each of the three is constituted of such genuine stuff that neither of them will lose anything by having his name thus early brought to the front." 8 "The most prominent among them were Ligarius, Cassius, and Brutus, the latter being Cæsar's dearest friend." 2 Singular or plural ? VII. No error is more common than that of using a word in the singular instead of the plural number, or in the plural instead of the singular. Sometimes this fault occurs in the use of pronouns. "She studied his countenance like an inscription, and deciphered each rapt expression that crossed it, and stored them in her memory." 66 "4 Mr. Rodney was generally silent, and never opened his mouth on this occasion except in answer to an inquiry from his wife as to whom a villa might belong, and it seemed always that he knew every villa, and every one to whom they belonged." 66 5 Everybody had been dull, but had been kind in their way.” "Not a servant was ever allowed to do anything for me but what it was their duty to do.”8 "Who can judge of their own heart?"9 "He assured us he had known many a man who 1 Marsh: Lectures on the English Language, lect. v., note. 4 Charles Reade: Hard Cash, chap. ii. Is a word omitted here ? could 6 Disraeli: Endymion, chap. xxii |