AS

"But words are things, and a small drop of ink,
Falling like dew upon a thought, produces
That which makes thousands, perhaps millions, think."
LORD BYRON.

I. Introduction

The exposition of ideas is difficult and important. It takes many forms,
but only three can be noticed in this chapter: (1) Exposition through
Narration; (2) Exposition through Condensation; (3) Exposition through
Comparison. The three following models illustrate these three forms,
respectively.

II. Model I

PUFFERS

The wise men of antiquity loved to convey instruction under the
covering of apologue; and, though this practice is generally
thought childish, we shall make no apology for adopting it on
the present occasion. A generation which has bought eleven
editions of a poem by Mr. Robert Montgomery may well condescend
to listen to a fable of Pilpay.

A pious Brahmin, it is written, made a vow that on a certain day
he would sacrifice a sheep, and on the appointed morning he went
forth to buy one. There lived in his neighborhood three rogues
who knew of his vow, and laid a scheme for profiting by it. The
first met him and said, "Oh Brahmin, wilt thou buy a sheep? I
have one fit for sacrifice." "It is for that very purpose," said
the holy man, "that I came forth this day." Then the impostor
opened a bag, and brought out of it an unclean beast, an ugly
dog, lame and blind. Thereon the Brahmin cried out, "Wretch, who
touchest things impure, and utterest things untrue, callest
thou that cur a sheep?" "Truly," answered the other, "it is a
sheep of the finest fleece and of the sweetest flesh. O Brahmin,
it will be an offering most acceptable to the gods." "Friend,"
said the Brahmin, "either thou or I must be blind."

Just then one of the accomplices came up. "Praised be the gods,"
said this second rogue, "that I have been saved the trouble of
going to the market for a sheep! This is such a sheep as I
wanted. For how much wilt thou sell it?" When the Brahmin heard
this his mind waved to and fro, like one swinging in the air at
a holy festival. "Sir," said he to the newcomer, "take heed what
thou dost; this is no sheep, but an unclean cur." "O Brahmin,"
said the newcomer, "thou art drunk or mad!"

At this time the third confederate drew near. "Let us ask this
man," said the Brahmin, "what the cr