a series of sentences, each growing out of the one preceding it,
each receiving a push from the sentence before, and the last having
the combined force of all. This may be styled a serial arrangement of
sentences, since in such a case each contributes to the topic only as
one in a chain. The former overcomes by its mass; the latter strikes
by reason of its velocity. The one advances in rank; the other
advances in single file.

An illustration of each will help to an understanding of this. In the
following paragraph from Macaulay's essay on Milton, each of the
details mentioned points directly to "those days" when the race became
a "byword and a shaking of the head to the nations." Their aggregate
mass enforces the topic of the paragraph. They are all one body
equally informed with the common principle which is the topic. Notice
that one sentence is not the source of the next, but that all the
sentences stand in a similar relation to the conclusion. This
arrangement is common in description. In the second paragraph, from
Irving's "Legend of Sleepy Hollow," each detail contributes to the
appearance of Ichabod, not through some other sentence, but directly.

"Then came those days, never to be recalled without a blush,
the days of servitude without loyalty and sensuality without
love; of dwarfish talents and gigantic vices; the paradise
of cold hearts and narrow minds; the golden age of the
coward, the bigot, and the slave. The king cringed to his
rival that he might trample on his people; sank into a
viceroy of France, and pocketed with complacent infamy her
degrading insults and her more degrading gold. The caresses
of harlots and the jests of buffoons regulated the policy of
the state. The government had just ability enough to
deceive, and just religion enough to persecute. The
principles of liberty were the scoff of every grinning
courtier, and the Anathema Maranatha of every fawning dean.
In every high place, worship was paid to Charles and James,
Belial and Moloch; and England propitiated those obscene and
cruel idols with the blood of her best and bravest children.
Crime succeeded to crime, and disgrace to disgrace, till the
race, accursed of God and man, was a second time driven
forth to wander on the face of the earth, and to be a byword
and a shaking of the head to the nations."

"Ichabod was a suitable