EXAMPLES. I. After an interrogative sentence.-" Are we not mortal?" II. After an interrogative member." Our earthly pilgrimage is nearly finished; shall we not, then, think of eternity?" III. After an interrogative clause." As we must soon die (who knows but this very night?), we should fix our thoughts on eternity." § 91. Some sentences which are declarative in form are really interrogative (see § 78, Remark IV.), and must of course be closed with interrogation-points. Thus the sentence, "You will remain all night," is declarative in form, and, followed by a period, indicates a positive announcement of the fact. If intended as an indirect question, however, ("You will remain all night, will you not?") it must be followed by an interrogation-point. § 92. After sentences which merely assert that a question has been asked, a period must be placed, unless the exact words of the question are given; in this case, an interrogation-point takes the place of a period, and must stand before the quotation-points enclosing the question. As, They asked me whether I would return."—" They asked me, ‘Will you return?"'" So, if a question is introduced into the middle of a sentence, in the exact words in which it was asked, an interrogation-point must be placed before the last quotation-points, the following word must commence with a small letter, and the remainder of the sentence must be punctuated as it would be if no quoted clause were introduced; as, "These frequent and lamentable catastrophes ask the question, 'Are you prepared to die?' with startling emphasis." The clauses of such sentences, however, are capable of a decidedly better arrangement; as will be seen by the following alteration: "These frequent and lamentable catastrophes ask, with startling emphasis, the question, 'Are you prepared to die?'” § 93. RULE II.-An exclamation-point must be placed after every exclamatory sentence, member, clause, and expression. § 91. What form have some interrogative sentences? How must they be closed? Illustrate this, § 92. State the principle relating to sentences which merely declare that a question has been asked. How must we punctuate questions introduced into the middle of a sentence? How is the rest of the sentence to be pointed? What is said respecting the arrangement of such sentences? § 93. Repeat Rule II., relating to the use of the exclamation-point. EXAMPLES. I. After an exclamatory sentence.—" How slow yon tiny vessel ploughs the main !" II. After an exclamatory member.-"The clock is striking midnight; how suggestive and solemn is the sound!" IIL After an exclamatory clause." We buried him (with what intense and heart-rending sorrow!) on the field which his life-blood had consecrated." IV. After exclamatory expressions.—“ Consummate horror! guilt without a name!" § 94. From the above examples it will be seen that the interrogation-point and exclamation-point do not always denote the same degree of separation, but are used when the connection is close as well as when it is remote. Thus in Examples I. and II. they are placed after propositions making complete sense, and indicate as entire separation from what follows as would be denoted by a period. In the last example, on the contrary, the exclamation-points are by no means equivalent, in this respect, to periods. The two points under consideration, therefore, not only separate complete and independent sentences with the force of periods; but are also placed between members like colons and semicolons, and even between clauses, like commas. In the first case, the words following these points must commence with capitals; in the last three cases, with small letters, as may be seen above. The sole criterion is the degree of connection subsisting between the parts thus separated. § 95. Sometimes the connection is so close that the different parts are dependent on each other in construction, or do not make sense when taken separately. In this case, if each division is of itself distinctly interrogative, varying the question each time by applying it to some new object; or, in other words, if it contains a repetition of the auxiliary that asks the question, or an interrogative adverb, or adverbial clause,―use an interrogation-point after each, and let the following word commence with a small letter; as, "How shall a man obtain the kingdom of God! by impiety? by murder by falsehood? by theft?" If, however, such divisions do not apply the question to any new object, but merely state additional circumstances respecting that which § 94. What is said respecting the degree of separation denoted by the interrogationpoint and exclamation-point? When they separate complete and independent sentences, how must the next word commence? When they stand between members and clauses, how must the following word commence ? § 95. State the mode of punctuating, when the parts are dependent on each other in construction, and each varies the question by applying it to some new object. How are these parts separated if they do not thus vary the question? formed the original subject of the enquiry, they must not be separated by interrogation-points, but by commas, semicolons, or colons, as hereafter directed; as, "Where are now the great cities of antiquity, those vast and mighty cities, the pride of kings, the ornament of empires? " Here but one question is asked, and but one interrogation-point must be employed. 96. Observe, moreover, that when a succession of interrogative adverbs or adverbial clauses commence a sentence, the incompleteness of the sense prevents us from placing an interrogation-point after each of them, as we would do if they stood at its close. The two following sentences illustrate this difference: "Under what circumstances, for what purpose, at whose instigation, did he come?"-"Under what circumstances did he come? for what purpose? at whose instigation?" § 97. The principles laid down in § 95, 96, apply to the exclamation-point with the same force as to the interrogation-point. The following examples will illustrate their application: UNDER § 95. What cold-blooded cruelty did Nero manifest! what disgusting sensuality! what black ingratitude! what concentrated selfishness! what utter disregard of his duties, as a monarch and as a man!-How quickly fled that happy season; those days of dreamy love, those nights of innocent festivity! UNDER § 96. How extensive, how varied, how beautiful, how sublime, is the landscape!-How extensive is the landscape! how varied! how beautiful! how sublime! § 98. RULE III.-An exclamation-point must be placed after every interjection except O; as, ah! alas! hold! For an explanation of the difference between 0 and oh !, see § 68. § 99. In some cases, when an interjection is very closely connected with other words, the exclamation-point is not placed between them, but reserved for the close of the expression; as, "Fie upon thee!" § 100. Two interrogative interjections, eh and hey, are usualy followed by the interrogation-point; as, "You think it suits my complexion, hey?" § 101. RULE IV.-An exclamation-point may be placed § 96. In what case is an interrogation-point inadmissible after interrogative adverbs or adverbial clauses, following each other in a series? § 97. To what besides the interrogation-point do the principles just stated apply? § 98. Repeat Rule III. What is the difference in signification and punctuation be tween 0 and oh? $99. When an interjection is very closely connected with other words, where is the exclamation-point placed? § 100. What interjections are usually followed by the interrogation-point? after a vocative clause, containing an earnest or solemn invocation; as, "O Father Supreme! protect us from the dangers of this night." The comma may, without impropriety, be substituted, in such a case, for the exclamation-point; as, "O Father Supreme, protect us from the dangers of this night." § 102. RULE V.-More than one exclamation-point may be placed after a sentence or expression denoting an extraor dinary degree of emotion; as, "Political honesty!! Where can such a thing be found?" As a general thing, this repetition of the exclamation-point is confined to humorous and satirical compositions. EXERCISE. Insert, in the following sentences, periods, interrogationpoints, and exclamation-points, wherever required by the rules that have been given. UNDER § 90. There is no precedent applicable to the question; for when has such a case been presented in our past history When may we look for another such in the future Who hath heard such a thing Who hath seen such a thing Shall the earth be made to bring forth in one day Shall a nation be born at once UNDER § 91. I have not seen him in a year pose -You intend starting in Saturday's steamer recovered from your injury" "Quite recovered unable to walk" He has grown I sup"You have quite Oh no; I am still UNDER § 92. They asked me why I wept -They asked me, "Why do you weep "-This is the question: whether it is expedient to purchase temporal pleasure at the expense of eternal happiness -This is the question: "Is it expedient to purchase temporal pleasure at the expense of eternal happiness "The question for debate was whether virtue is always a source of happiness -Pilate's question, "What is truth", has been asked by many a candid enquirer "Who is there " demanded the sentinel UNDER $93. How heavily we drag the load of life -How sweetly the bee winds her small but mellow horn-0 thoughts ineffable O visions blest -O the times O the morals of the day -Such is the uncertainty of life; yet oh how seldom do we realize it -While in this part of the country, I once more revisited (and alas with what melancholy presentiments) the home of my youth § 101. Repeat Rule IV. In such cases, what may be substituted for the exclamation. point? § 102. Repeat Rule V. To what kinds of composition is this repetition of the exclamation-point confined? UNDER 95, 96. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ shall tribulation shall distress shall persecution shall famine shall peril shall sword I am charged with being an emissary of France An emissary of France And for what end It is alleged that I wished to sell the independence of my country And for what end Was this the object of my ambition and is this the mode by which a tribunal of justice reconciles contradictions -When, where, under what circumstances, did it happen -When did it happen where under what circum stances UNDER $97. How calm was the ocean how gentle its swell -How wide was the sweep of the rainbow's wings how boundless its circle how radiant its rings -O virtue, how disinterested, how noble, how lovely, thou art -O virtue, how disinterested thou art how noble how lovely -O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God how unsearchable are His judgments, and His ways past finding out UNDER 98. Hark daughter of Almon -Hist he comes-Hail sacred day-Lo I am with you alway -Zounds the man's in earnest Indeed then I am wrong O dear what can the matter be -Humph this looks suspicious-Pshaw what can we do UNDER $99. Woe to the tempter -Woe is me Shame upon thy insolence -Ah me -Away with him -Hurrah for the right -Henceforth, adieu to happiness UNDER § 101. King of kings and Lord of lords in humility we approach Thy altar O Rome my country city of the soul The orphans of the heart must turn to thee, Lone mother of dead empires Men of Athens listen to my defence -Ye shades of the mighty dead listen to my invocation. UNDER 102. An honest lawyer An anomaly in nature. Cage him when you find him, and let the world gaze upon the wonder -A discerning lover that is a new animal, just born into the universe And this miserable performance, in which it is debatable whether there is more ignorance or pretension, comes before the world with the highsounding title, "Dictionary of Dictionaries" MISCELLANEOUS.-Canst thou draw out leviathan with a hook, or his tongue with a cord which thou lettest down -When saw we thee an hungered, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee -When saw we thee an hungered, and did not minister unto thee or athirst or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison -The question, "What is man" has occupied the attention of the wisest philosophers; yet how few have given a satisfactory answer -An ancient sage, being asked what was the greatest good in the smallest compass, replied "The human mind in the human body" "Am I dying" he eagerly asked "Dying Oh no not dying faint but hopeful response -It rains still, hey-Where have you been, eh-Aroynt thee, witch "Ha, ha, ha" roared the squire, who en joyed the story amazingly Ha, ha, ha" echoed the whole company 66 was the |