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Selective Tendencies, etc.

the phrase has been commonly applied since to the tours, with their rear-end addreses, made by some of our Presidents and by most of the candidates for the Presidency.

“To differ with” originated in analogy, “to agree with.” Analogy is a good servant of the reason even if it does occasionally confuse us. If in a sense it is blind, and headstrong in its ways, nevertheless it is an important factor in the motive power of speech. Ordinarily it is constrained by the laws of harmony and the need of clearness. Analogy, as a primitive element of language, is the means by which the mastery of a vocabulary easily is obtained; but when pushed to extremes, it confuses and impoverishes a tongue.

An intensive slang phrase very generally used in America is “good and ready.” It is employed in the sense of fully ready. A countryman says, “I will do so when I’m good and ready,” meaning that he will take his own time about it; that he will not be hurried—the occasional implication being that he will

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