He then proceeds about his business with a most
solemn face, which is as amusing in literature as it is in comic
representations on the stage.
In practising upon this type of writing one must select a subject that
he feels to be decidedly in need of suppression. Perhaps the most
impersonal and easy subject to select for practice is a popular novel
in which one can see absurdities, or certain ridiculous departments in
the newspapers, such as the personal-advice column. Taking such a
subject, adapt Poe's language to it with as little change as possible.
CHAPTER VI.
THE RHETORICAL, IMPASSIONED AND LOFTY STYLES:
Macaulay and De Quincey. The familiar style of the humorist is almost
universal in its availability. It is the style of conversation, to a
great extent---at least of the best conversation,---of letter-writing,
of essay-writing, and, in large part, of fiction. But there are moments
when a different and more, hard and artificial style is required.
These moments are few, and many people never have them at all.
Some people try to have them and thereby fall into the fault of "fine
writing.
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