European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - October 21, 1985, Darmstadt, Hesse Page 18 the stars and stripes monday october 21, 1985 columns & comment Cean simple style of . White by feb. White who died oct. 1 at 86, was above All else a writer s writer. He was a storyteller an essayist a poet. He could be marvellously funny in his own wry and understated Way. He was a sentimental Man especially about animals but he never lapsed into sentimentality. He knew the English language As 3 horseman knows a fractious horse and he knew Liotto hold a tight rein. In the concluding chapter of the elements of style published in 1959 by Macmillan White set Forth 21 suggestions and cautionary hints for writ ers who would improve their writing. The chapter is so mrs 19 pages in All but it says More about the it of writing than Many a 200-Page textbook. The whole business of style said White is a mys Tery. Who can confidently say what ignites a certain combination of words causing them to explode in the mind1 a part of the mystery lies in the sound words make on Over and Over while coun seed us to listen to what we write. A successful sen tence is partly a matter of cadence but much More is involved than the rhythm of words. The words must be accurate words and As a general Rule they should be familiar words. White s first piece of advice is aimed especially Al Young writers but it is sound advice for All of us to achieve style begin by affecting one of Amer Ica s brightest Young conservatives has chosen unwisely to ignore the advice he has affected the style of 11.1 Mencken and it does t come off. Not Long ago in Japan i stupid tried to write a travel piece in the style of Mark Twain. At first i thought my piece uproariously funny. On reflection i found it affected. And Tore it up. While counselled us to Wiric with nouns and verbs not with adjectives and adverbs. The adjective has l been built that can pull a weak or inaccurate noun out of a tight he warned against Over writing and against unorthodox spelling. Avoid fancy words and foreign that is some sound advice for you. Young writers said White Oflyn suppose that style is a Garnish for the meat of prose a sauce by which a Dull dish is made palatable. Style has no separate entity it is non detachable in Filterable. The beginner should begin by turning resolutely away from All devices that arc popularly believed to indicate style All mannerisms tricks adornments. The approach to style is by Way of plainness simplicity orderliness White practice what he preached. Look at the Lead on his classic Farewell my Lovely in tugs the Reader into the piece i Sec by the new Buck Callog Hal in is still possible of buy an Axle fur a 1909 Model t Ford but 1 am not who could Slop Al Hal Point one of while s funnies pieces concerned a Man who brings a chess machine Mio a bar when the Man came in carrying the machine most of us looked up from our drinks by cause we had never seen anything like in before had an effortless feel to them As if the words had just naturally fallen into place. This was deceptive. White endlessly revised his stuff before turning it in for publication. Writing is for most laborious and slow. The mind travels faster than the pen consequently writing be comes a question of learning to make occasional Wing shots bringing Down the Bird of though As it flashes Uii Uii. No Winum univ air patience be May have to work Many covers to bring Down one Par-tride.". . While was a crack shot. He lived a Long life my he brought Down some memorable game. Scot shr a the . Iwu pm. Hot Duck much umm Dohi Mersl cfthtoolh1 today s crossword by Eugene Sheffer across 1 Arm Oreg 5 scribe 8 Al arts ii Itle Risland 13 teachers org. 14 pert Youn girl 15 Siorek broker s advice 16 lil Etcor Minani it sorts18 Irish port 20 new zealand natives 21 Odd Scot. 23 French artist 24 most irascible 28 Farmer s place?31 Eskimo knife 32 double curves 34 Ross a Bering 3s the so walk inform water Ipa Nema 86 Conger 37 dead 87 ? 39 soviet plane 41 pack42 hits 45 pea Good time to
