1937-01-19 — Page 22

10

THE HONGKONG TELEGRAPH. TUESDAY,

JANUARY 19, 1937.

..

S

SPARE

MOMENT PAGE

What sort of letter do you write?

MITH writes to ask for a job: I hope you will not think me presumptuous in addressing you directly, and I can assure you that, knowing how busy you must be; I would not have troubled you if I had not always regarded you as who

A

a man

Smith writes business letter: "Your favour of even date to hand

#1

Smith writes to the papers: "My attention has been drawn to your issue of. Little as I like seeing my name In print, I am strongly impelled to

Cut It, Smith! Wordiness is one of the worst faults of amateur (und some pro- fessional) writers, These uńneves-

sary preliminaries to what has to be

gold are like an

unpractised publle

speaker's

consclous

elenrings;

self-

throat- they

remind, one of the

inadequate Con- versationalists who have to pad their sentences

with

"Well I mean- to say it is sort-of, Isn't it?"

If you mean to

say thing, nay

14 without saying

that you mean to.

Letters ore, for most k the Smiths, the prin- elpal form of

written expres-

keep

side him.

The tele

So much depends-in business, in social life-on

the

way you put your thoughts and feelings on paper. There is always a right and a

wrong This article should

way.

help you.

Smith

knows

what he is

writing

about

tarnished by use ("tarnished" 19 a metaphor that's getting # Bil tarnished), Creaking-corsel meta- phor three paragraphs back seems alive enough to pass muster (that's meta- unpleasantly moribund

an

phor).

Few of us had better dare to try to bring dead metaphors to fe (though M. Poirot docs, by mixing and misapplying them).

Few of us are lucky enough netu- ally to be given horses whileli we mustn't look in the mouth,

JUST

ns. stifling 28 dead metaphors to ay serie of freshness or freedom in a plece of writing are cliches.

A may have

cliche is a stale phrase which once like a dead metaphor, been vivid or Impressive. Cliches occur chiefly the works of lazy or hurried writers (for the latter ren- son sometimes, regrettably, In newspapers). They also wlien a

occur often timid or shallow writer renches a subject Buch as death on which he feels it is safer to make no rash experiments:

Hence such solemn ellches

#18

all that was mortal of, the irony of fate, making the supreme sacrifice.

There is a curious little class of citches which occur In conversation, and there because they

Better, first, to try simple narra- Justifiable tive, without stang. with as few tensify #point, b.t shouldn't "colourful" adjectives as possible, used in writing anything serious.

even it seems dull.

are In-

be

The colour should be implied, Two of them have been printed should grow on the reader without In newspapers in the Inst week: his being aware of the process of Mrs. Simpson' gave no interviews to growth,

the French Press "of any sort <! une else Ands that

2

Don't write: "We stopped at such kind"; some

beautiful, quaint old inn."

-Try this-

HER

ing

TERE is a test which can be dono as a parlour game- Ask somebody to read over to you slowly a list of any twenty disconnected words. By follow

the Inafructions below you will find that if any meurber of the party asks you for any one of them (e.g., "Tell me number nine") you'll be able to give it. Begin by making and memoris- ing a list similar to this:-- One Oll *Two Tooth Three Tree Four

Fort

Five File

Six Stick Seven Severn Fight Eng

Nine Novel Ten Tent When the disconnected words are said, connect each of them In a clear mental image with the, corresponding word in the list: g., 13 Is "Jamp," think of lots of lamps in a tree; if B is "ele- plant." think of an elephant lay- ing an egg.

Then when you are asked to Rive 8 you'll get the following mental process, Eight equals egg equals cliphant laying egg equals elephant.

The lessons learned from this game are: (1) Though Isolated facts or words are not `remenu- bered memorising is easy when the new facts fit into an already known sequence or arrangement Cidea of association); (2) learn- ing complicated things is not nearly as dimeult as it seems to those who don't know the laws of learning.

Don't

Believe It!

-Says the Doctor

It's business has not suffered "in any SUPERSTITIONS, die hard

Sort of kind?

Shape or form?

better to welle something like "We shape or form." slopped at an inn. John hit his head on the oalt beams. The windowa were so small and shaded by Ivy that we could hardly see to read.

Give all relevant material details objectively. It takes more prae- lised writer and profound thinker

we see.

two

ог

of

two hundred concerning health and hygiene are explained and corrected by Dr. August A. Thomen, distinguished lecturer

That the hair can turn groy, quite suddenly, from fear or fright.

of the sudden greying of hair from

Although numerous stories are told

fright, none has ever been selenti- fleally authenticated. Most physicians

the hair and skin doubt the possl- bility of such a happening. structure of the hair and scalp and Our knowledge concerning the

in medicine at New York Uni- sion.

TN the Book of Common versity. A selection of the most phone has nearly destroyed letter are expected to know that they are than most of tis Smith to get away

Prayer pairs of words interesting is appearing on the writing as an art; but there is no a quotation from Sir Thomas with the mere effect on us of what meaning the same thing are often Home Page. To-day the doctor reason why Smith shouldn't sul Browne's "Hydriotophla."

bracketed together: "we have erred a diary; and every Smith is It is impossible to mention Browne, There is far more negative than and strayed from Thy ways like lost explodes the fallacy. bald to have at least one book In- renowned seventeenth century positive advice to be given to Smith sheep.'

stylist, without quoting from him. us he sits down to write. (it had To write well it is not necessary Read this one sentence aloud, in a better be writing, too, unless he is In most of these cases one of the to be well-read. Good prose con ringing tone: "Pyramids, obelisks, an exceptionally clear und

quick

words is of Latin origin, the sists of the best words arranged in were but the irregularities of vain thinker: those who type or dictate other Saxon; it is said that the re- the most effective way. You can and wild enormities of an are far more likely to go rambling dundant words, were deliberately learn what the best

for historical reasons, words" are

magnanimity"

on, to repeat themselves, lo get lost inserted by learning what kind of word and

here is one of his purplest in the middle of jung sentences and may be simply to reproduce so far who have made a speelal study of And phrase to avoid. The most effec- passages

go back and start the original Latin service-books. as possible the liquid cadences (ronthining, despite his not bother to five way of arranging them is a Latin blas, some elangorous mono-

again.). matter of ear as much us eye. That syllables)

chict positive suggestion is In алу "Now since these dead bones have that he should say what he has to superb though its prose-rhythms are, too comes by practice, by the el)-

case, the Prayer-books, mination of obvious nwkwardnesses, already outlasted the living ones of possible in the best English he rather than as a madel for conving of the way the hair grows does not

Fay as plainly and concisely us should be used sparingly as a palette But it does help enormously. to Methuselah, and to a yard have running at the back of your ground, and thin walls of clay, out-

knows; and that "to cudgel one's mind some former writer's rhythm worn all the strong and spacious English because Shakespeare

brains Is not necessarily better which you and all other sensible buildings above it; and quietly rested that phrase than "to think hard.” readers of English know is good. under the drums and tramplings of

This is a good rhythm:

three

conquests: what prince can "Or over the silver cord be promise such diuturnity loosed,

uinto his or the golden bout be relieks broken at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern."

·

· Butt

under

to subsist in bones, and be but pyramidally extant, is fallacy in duration."

&

The

येऊ

THIS

used

་

lend itself to any satisfactory ex- planation of the alleged greying "In

night."

BANKS

HONGKONG AND SHANGHAI BANKING CORPORATION.

Authorised Capital

Reserve under-

$30,000,000

BANKS

THE CHARTERED BANK OF INDIA, AUSTRALIA & CHINA.

Incorporated by Royal Charter 1853 Isted and Pally Pild-Up ..... 26.000.000

HEAD OFFICE LONDON. Tald-up Captial domina Sterling............................,800,000 Reserve Llability of Proprietora... 1,000,000 Konukong Currenes Reserve $10.000.000 Reserve Fund Reserve Liability of 'roprietors. $20,000,000

HEAD OFFICE:~DONGKONG, BOARD OF DIRECTORS :~~

Hon. Mr. J. J. Paterson,

Chairman.

G. Miskin, FR.,

Deputy Chairman,

A. II. Compton, Fa..

K. H. Morian, Fan

Hen, Mr. H. H. Dodwell, T. E. Pentre, Eag M. T. Jolanaum, B. A. L. Shields, Eq..

J. R. Mason, Fa

AMOY

BANGKOK

NATAVIA HOMBAY

V. M. GRAYBURN E., CHIEF MANAGER

CALCUTTA CANTON CHIEFOO COLOMIJO DAIREN YOOCHOW HAIPHONG HAMBURG HONGKEW HARHIN HANKOW ILOILO

JOHORE

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hexiness transacted.

Current Accounts

General Banklög

ono And

Fixed

Depralta received for one year or sharter Berlely at ratre

which will be quoted on Applients.

Tho flanks Head Ofice in Landon under- takes Executer & Trustee business, and clalma recovery of British Income Tax overpaid, on terms which may be ascertained at any of tta Agencies & Branches.

THE YOKOHAMA SPECIE BANK. LIMITED,

Capital (fully paid-up)....... Y. 100,000,000 Reserve Fund Y.130,000,000 HEAD OFFICE-YOKOHAMA, Branches and Apopela at

Gurrent Accounts opened In Local Currency and Fixed Deposits velved for one yent or shorter perlite In Local Currency Sterling on terms which will be quoted on Jangkok application.

IntAtla

Mainking AndAlexandria

ALSO up to date SAFE DEPOSIT BOXES Blin In various aise TU LET.

Bangkong. 11th January, 1937.

HONGKONG SAVINGS BANK.

Karachi

Los Angelea

Blo de

. Janeiro

San Francisco

Houltio Beratung Bhanghai

Kebe Landen

Bombay

Calcutta

Manila

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(Mukden} New York Hamburg Hankow

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The tuainen of the shore lank is con Harbin ducted by the Hongkong and Shanghat Bank-tonalulu Ing Corporation, als may be obtained on Hongkong application.

FOR THE HONGKONG AND SHANGHAI BANKING CORPORATION.

V. M. GILAYBURN,

Chief Manager. liongkeng. 24th February, 1956.

OUR BRITISH

5

W

R

l'aris

Peiping

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Interest allowed on Current Accounts, Deposits received for fixed periods at rates to be obtained on application.

Y. KANO.

Hoogkong. 18th November, 1430,

Kangur.

CROSSWORDS

18

13

13

16

16

17

$26

ACROSS

123

I A doctor in liquor to ally him-

self with a Northern lake..

In many Instances.. premature INDEPENDENT of models blanching is hereditary, occurring in and influences though several members of the same family Smith should be, he had belter equip us early as the twentieth year. us lo brings

the himself with just one book-perhaps amateur writer's most Treasury of English Prose" or I have had occasion to study. "Words and Idioms," by one of the several such families, in one of which common error. In trying to write But to subsist on Browne,

and like the pros he instinctively dresses most eminent of his family, Logan premature greyness occurred during take him for model, would be a úp his sentences

Pearsall Smith; or, for more practicalut least Ove generations. I was im Sunday dangerous experiment for a tyro. best-which

W. Fowler's classic, pressed with the fact that frequently out purposes, H. means bringing THIS doesn't mean that Twe are to imitate such

For better try to write like this of the attic such creaking humorous, common-sense "Diction- the general appearance of greyness "I had slept well in the night, and old corset's ns forsooth, imbibe ary of Modern English Usage." evolves quite rapidly. passage sinvishly. No good just was now no more sea-siek but very (meaning drink) tell it not in Gath, copying its rhythm (To-morrow the cheerful, looking with wonder upon durance

It he knows what, he's writing If one Individual In such a family biggest flm release," is roughly the the sea that was so rough and ter- every avenue.

vile, acid test, exploring about,, Fowler will help him to happened to experience a fright at same as the opening words). But rible the day before.

write it will steer him through any the tme this process was about to we can learn from how effective

The last two of these are "dead difficulties he may have with sun begin, the above faulty conclusion 13 Musical show-quite a bit, in one-syllable words can be; also that-by Deloe.

That's straightforward reporting metaphors." When some one first junctives, possessives and other might readily be drawn.

thought of politicians in conference details which anybody who the same word should be repeated If. 'the spine word is meant.

third

DEFOE often

wrote

Joquially. It is п

ever

6 They always score at least one"

each in a Test Match. ↑ Set-back.

10 Elector or the other way round.

Il Declined.

inct.

It is quite probable that the nutri-14 Trace I get (anag), as avenue explorers, he created a "did" the usual smattering of gram- tion of the scalp could be influenced 17 4 Latin spark frequently mis- vivid picture. The phrase is appal- mar at school has forgotten. For some reason, second-rate

by adverse bodily and mental states, sing in evidence. avriters think I not genteel to re-

lingly dreary now.

so that greying of the hair, while not 10 Come apart and betray a pocret. peat a word which has just been

Metaphors are all right to use if And if, when he has done dipping sudden, many be fairly rapid, Marie21 Couched. used: for

col they are dead enough. Every Eng- Into Fowler, the second and

he hasn't

beenAntoinette and Mary Queen of Scots 24 Dogs prefer it spelt with an E. "broken"

good ish sentence is packed with them, frightened off writing altogether, let became grey shortly before they were in this passage from Ec- thing to write colloquially sometimes; whether one realises 11 or noi (that him go to it.

like this, rather than- clesiastes a modern translator would but, just as the most natural-sound- word "packed" was a metaphor, Probably have substituted "shat- ing stage dinlogue is really not a originally implied "Alled as full as gramophone record of any everyday a bundle of goods wrapped up to- Another, fessur, ndvantage of conversation but ati artful distilla- gether." having read some "standard" writers tlon of it, the best colloquial writing not to mailer). is that you are enabled to pander only seems to be just like the writer

tered" and "amashed to bits."

a harmless snobbery? you can talking.

to flatter

your readers by assuming.

that they will recognise an allusion

or quotation.

In

n review this week a critle writes that an autobiography "is,

In fact, a challenge to the iniquity of oblivion."

Highly flattering is the omission of the quotation-marks which might be round the last three words. We

The Widow's

Choice

1. What is the correct busi- ness way to address a morried woman Mary Jones, wite of John Jones!:

2. What is the

correct bual-

ness way to address Mary Jones, widow of John Jones?

There

have been many dif Kerences of opinion on

these questions among an office staff of forly men and women, and we should like to settle them.

My own opinion is that she is Mr John Jones while married, and Mrs. Mary Jones when abo becomes a widow..

0

In both questions the nama la Choleo, A wonian, whathur married, unmarried, or taldon, may call herself sahate puer ale icon. It is austomary for her to inka har husband's name on marriage, and sho may Tetain 14 during widowhood if Ähe in wjeķes.

to

executed.

+

is now dead long enough Dick accepts gleefully,

sham arriver. Meanwhile in England Ceddie is Or they are all right if they are going on to new

He is quite evidently excited and triumphs--social | tells the Earl when he draws him striking and original, or not too triumphs, Str Harry

Lorridalle are invited to Dorincouri.

and Lady to one side: Lady Constantia Lorridalle,

"I was detained by extraordinary the Earl's sister, has not seen

her news," brother for more than thirty years.

"News" News has reached

What news?" Dorincourt the Lorridalles demands. of the miraculous changes observed in the Earl of Dorincourt since the orrival of his grandson and they are

SELZNICK INTERNATIONAL Frorair',

Little Lord Fauntleroy

chareme

FREDDIE BARTHOLOMEW DOLORES COSTELLO BARRYMORE

A Motion Picture Based on the World- Famous Frances Hodgson Burnell Story

WHAT HAS GONE BEFORE:

An American bou, Cedric Er- rol, learns suddenly that he is succeed to the title of the Earl of Dorincourt. He goes to England to live with his gruf old grandfather, the present Euri who separates the child from hla mother, and seeks to bring him up in a manner befitting his ju- ture station Cedric, or "Little Lord Fauntlerop,” however, proves a staunch young Damo- crat and begins to win over the old man.

CHAPTER FOUR

As the friendship hetween Caddie

and his grandfattur. waxos- stronger

"Later, my lord, later."

After the gay dinner and the

eager to see for themselves Just what music, Ceddle falls asleep. Havi has happened to the tesly old sham and Dorincourt are in fellow.

At a grand dinner given by Dorin-

court in reality to provide an occa~;

sion

the

library when the guests havb de- parted,

"I have bad news, my lord," says for showing off Fauntleroy- Havisham. The worst of news.

his boundless pride in the youngster I'm sorry to have to be the bearer

and his evident jove for him cause of it."

endless talk. Lady Constantia

falls immediately .in love Ceddie,

with

Ho

who, reminds her so much that

thereupon Informs the Earl

a new claimant has arisen to

of his father. The Earl confesses the title of Lord Fauntleroy,

"There's a risk," he says, "of my becoming rather an old fool about him."

#

RA

1}]

to his sister that he is "a ne ifttle American woman of evidently fellow.".

breeding who claims to have been the wife of the Earl's son Bevis and the mother of Bevis' son. This is indeed

bombshell. Dorincourt, obviously shaken, bends over little Ceddie asleep on the sofa,

"And II object to his mother," ho says.

"I suppose this is retribu- tion."

Thoroughly aroused, determined

and they grow chummier Ceddle the following letter to Mr.

tell his

writes Hobbs:

my dear mr. Hobbs I must you about my grandfarther Imme of you?" |diately It is all a mistake about earls being treats my grandfarther

"By the way-the mother,"

alster. "What does she

says thiuk

"I don't know," comes the sharp

is the best carl you ever knew he is answer. "I haven't asked her. But tearing down a lot of

old hovels, am rather indebted to her for to protect the boy he loves, he tells and building nice new coltages, so giving some of her own beauty to Havisham the other must be an in- the people will try harder to de- the boy." serve Il my grandfarther is not

rodd Fauntleroy's letter with friend of his: keen interest. Their. general con- elusion is that it is too bad Ceddle

postor. The salleitor, reminds the Earl of the law, which decrees that

A very lovely young lady, Miss the progeny of the elder son must Sirent at all he reminds me of you Herbert, is introduced to Ceddle and succeed to the title. Dorineourt can he is a unerverste favrit

makes a great fuss over him. An not go counter to the law no matter Back in New York, Hobbs and elderly Dick

nobleman observes to how his preferentes may lie.

When the solleitor "I've known Dorincourt for thir- court

goes, Dorin summons a footman, points would have been a shinin' time he's ever bothered to inquire

ty-dive years and this is the first to. the sleeping Ceddie, and orders: Mr. Hobbs, light in the grocery business," says about my health. Most extraordi-

"Take Lord Fauntleroy to his

(To be continued to-morrow)

lias got to become an earl...

He offers Dick free lodgings and

nary

room.

At the height of the party Hav!-

20 suggest a whip. 27 Ointment.

20 It's pretty good, when it's not

so this.

20 Just over the score (two words).

DOWN

1 Weapon.

2 Remainder in which you may

be found wanting.

3 It will serve.

4 That one and no other.

5 One occurrence in seventy.

6 What Byron's echo answered. 7 Not hundred miles from

Windsor.

THE

120

8 Capture a waistband for a tem-

pestuous tract (hyphen). 13 Frankly, had!

15 Russian prince (two words). 18 Source of illumination that sug-

gests marsh gas.

18 Wicked! The little devil pro-

mises to pay.

20 Le learn (unag.).

22 Cell me? Why, mostly noble! 23 Trail.

26 South Coast resort.

Yesterday's Solution BLUEBOTTLE FOD UMONDAFONA_B■ 1| NOWHERE RASHER S SELENGMET"C|||| A| A TAREMOSES LIMP TEN=RCHIN B B P INDOORS THERE O

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