Book Description

Excerpt from The R. I. Schoolmaster, Vol. 3: 1857-8 Still, however, after all its changes and augmentations, the Saxon remains the basis of the English language. Almost all the words in common and familiar use, and those which relate to agriculture and the mechanic arts, are of Saxon origin. He who speaks Saxon English, speaks plain English, which every person understands. If we were to speak of the circumambient air, which is Latin English, some persons might be found who would not fully understand us. If we say the surrounding air, which is Saxon English, we shall be distinctly and universally under stood. Of all the distinguished English writers, none is more remarkable for a general use of Saxon English, than Addison. It gives a pc culiar simplicity to his style, and perhaps was one means of securing to the Spectator, to which he largely contributed, the unbounded popularity which it enjoyed with the mass of readers, at the time of its first publication. Dr. Johnson, equally celebrated, is especially distinguished for the use of Latin English. His Rambler, which was issued as a periodical, like the Spectator, though it contains more depth of sentiment, and greater splendor of imagery, which have ever rendered it a favor ite with scholars, was by no means as popular with the mass of readers, when it was first issued, as was the Spectator. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.