Article #38 - Barnum offer for poem on Jenny Lind

 

Barnum, he offered $200 for the best piece of poetry that could be produced upon the arrival of Jenny Lind.

 

Argument showing wherein the above sentence is incorrect according to some of the various authors now in use.

 

1st: Incorrect because the Nom[in]ative case Barnum has no verb in the sentence, expressed or

implied, to which it can be made the subject. But Comly – Rule 1st – Note 1st, says: There should be no nominative case in the sentence, without a verb expressed or implied, except it be in the second person &c. Therefore the pronoun he should be omitted, so that Barnum may be Nomative to the verb offered.

2nd: Incorrect because the Nomative case Barnum, has no verb in the sentence to which it belongs. But according to Smith – Rule 7th Note 3: Every nomative case except the case absolute, and when an address is made to a person, should belong to some verb, either expressed or implied. Therefore the pronoun he should be omitted as before.

 3rd: Not correct, because the pronoun he is introduced in connexion with the verb offered, which more properly belongs to the antecedent Barnum. But according  to Brown Rule 5th Note 1st: A pronoun should not be introduced in connexion with words that belong, more properly, to the antecedent. Therefore the pronoun he should be left out; thus, Barnum offered $200 &c.

 

On the reverse, as an address:

            Franklin Darlington

                        Locust Grove