CHAPTER IV.

CASES OF FORMULATION.

Analysis. Introduction is designed to prepare. The Explanatory starts de novo. The Adaptive recognizes the situation. The Conciliatory induces genial or companionable feeling. The Incentive awakens the attention and impresses with the importance of the thought to follow. Movement in introductory matter is medium tending toward slow. Propositional matter presents principles or truths. Formal proposition is the simplest, most like introduction. It is open, steady, moderately full and slow. Definitive partakes of Discrimination, defining, particularizing. It is thinner and sharper. Weighty is comprehensive, logically connected, conclusive. This is fuller, deeper, larger. Expansive paraphrase helps in apprehension and presentation. Transition connects foregoing with following. It has lighter tone and more rapid movement, with change of body in earlier part, growing stable as the transition merges into the following proposition.

I. INTRODUCTION.

Preparation is the general purpose in all forms of introduction. As preparatory, the introductory sentence or passage serves to place before the mind some fact or truth which is to be received as a basis or as a point of departure for other thoughts that are to follow. The strictly introductory element is, thus, matter of perception, and belongs distinctively to the formulative type of utterance. Various kinds of introductory matter will, however, be found to differ from each other in their secondary, or

modifying, elements. We shall thus find our special types of introduction classified according to the differences in secondary purpose, and corresponding to the four general types of utterance.

1. Explanatory Introduction is the purest type; since it is usually nothing but a placing before the listener of simple fact in anticipation of some further use to be made of such matter, or of related thoughts to which this may lead. The purely formulative nature of such introductory matter is seen in the fact that it appeals to nothing but the intelligence.

Examples. It sometimes happens on certain coasts of Brittany or Scotland, that a man- traveler or fisherman-walking on the beach at low tide, far from the bank, suddenly notices that for several minutes he has been walking with some difficulty. The strand beneath his feet is like pitch; his soles stick to it: it is sand no longer, it is glue. The beach is perfectly dry; but at every step he takes, as soon as he lifts his foot, the print which it leaves fills with water. - HUGO.

John Maynard was well known in the lake district as a Godfearing, honest, and intelligent pilot. He was pilot on a steamboat from Detroit to Buffalo. One summer afternoon at that time those steamers seldom carried boats smoke was seen ascending from below. — GOUGH.

2. Adaptive Introduction naturally employs some discrimination, since comparison is almost necessarily prominent in adaptation. Yet this discriminative element is plainly subservient to the formulative purpose of calling attention to the thing to be said or done.

Example.

Fellow-Citizens: It is no ordinary cause that has brought together this vast assemblage. We have met, not to prepare ourselves for political contests; we have met, not to celebrate

the achievements of those gallant men who have planted our victorious standards in the heart of an enemy's country; we have assembled, not to respond to shouts of triumph from the West; but to answer the cry of want and suffering which comes from the East. PRENTISS.

3. Conciliatory Introduction will be tinged with emotion; yet, as an introduction, its main purpose is to present considerations to the understanding. It is, therefore, truly formulative.

Examples. Against the prisoner at the bar, as an individual, I cannot have the slightest prejudice; I would not do him the smallest injury or injustice. - WEBster.

I think myself happy, king Agrippa, that I am to make my defense before thee this day touching all the things whereof I am accused by the Jews: especially because thou art expert in all customs and questions which are among the Jews; wherefore I beseech thee to hear me patiently. Acts xxvi. 2, 3:

See also Julius Cæsar, III. ii.; Acts xvii. 22 and xxiv. 2.

4. Incentive Introduction is designed to move the will, but this is subordinate to the deliberative purpose of gaining the attention. Otherwise it is not truly introductory. This, my lords, is a perilous and tremendous mo

Examples.

Soldiers, if I were leading into battle the army which I had in Gaul, I should have had no need to address you; for what encouragement would be needed by those horsemen who had so gloriously conquered the enemy's cavalry on the Rhone, or by those legions with whom I pursued these very enemies and in their retreat and refusal of battle received their confession of defeat?

Now, since that army, enrolled for the province of Spain, is waging war by my direction under the command of my brother Cnæus Scipio in that land where the Senate and Roman people wished it to fight, and since that you might have a consul as your leader against Hannibal and the Carthaginians — I have voluntarily offered

myself for this conflict, the new general must say a few words to his new soldiers. - SCIPIO to the Romans.

Medium Movement is usually required in introductory matter. It tends to be slow rather than fast, because the thought is presumably new, not apprehended. The attitude is usually that of "repose;" action, slight, — little or no gesture. Exception is, of course, made in the last type, the incentive, where considerable energy of action may appear.

II. PROPOSITION.

Propositional Matter is whatever lays down or places before the mind that which has some weight in itself. It differs from introduction in that introduction leads to something following, while proposition is the thing to which the thought has been led. There is an element of finality in ita settled, substantial character not found in any other farm of deliberation. It appeals to the intelligence with the greatest force. It typically presents a principle to be discussed or a truth to be received. It includes:

Its pure It is

1. Formal Proposition, giving the purest type of formulation. This lies nearest to introduction. type is the statement of a subject to be discussed. well illustrated by the simple "revealing" gesture. Its tone is open, steady, moderately full and slow.

Examples..—“ The principle involved is that of individual liberty.” "A straight line cannot meet the circumference in more than two points."

"The principle of free governments adheres to the American soil." "Our history hitherto proves that the popular form of government is practicable."

2. Definitive Propositional Matter is perceptibly tinged with Discrimination. It is separative, indicative, specifying, particularizing, or amplifying, and is illustrated by gestures that "define" or "indicate," rather than "reveal." Its tone, likewise, is thinner and more pointed than that of formal proposition.

Example. -"Rhythm must be distinguished from meter."

3. Logically Connected, Weighty, or Conclusive Thought. This class may be divided thus:

(a) Comprehensive or generalized thought, characterized by breadth, fullness, a large suggestiveness.

Example. "What, then, is the true and peculiar principle of the American Revolution, and of the systems of government which it has confirmed and established?"

(b) Logically connected thought, blending the elements of transition, definition, and weight. Its pure type is found in a chain of reasoning.

Example. It need not surprise us, that, under circumstances less auspicious, political revolutions elsewhere, even when well intended, have terminated differently. It is, indeed, a great achievement, it is the master-work of the world, to establish governments entirely popular on lasting foundations; nor is it easy, indeed, to introduce the popular principle at all into governments to which it has been altogether a stranger. It cannot be doubted, however, that Europe has come out of the contest in which she has been so long engaged, with greatly superior knowledge, and, in many respects, in a highly improved condition. Whatever benefit has been acquired is likely to be retained, for it consists mainly in the acquisition of more enlightened ideas. And although kingdoms and provinces may be wrested from the hands that hold them, in the same manner they were obtained; although ordinary and vulgar power may, in human affairs, be lost as it has been won; yet it is the glorious prerogative of the empire of knowledge, that what it gains it never loses. On