31. Between two Stools
The commonest form of indecision is that between statement and question. But the examples of this are followed by a few miscellaneous ones.
May I ask that if care should be taken of remains of buildings a thousand years old, ought not care to be taken of ancient British earth-works several thousand years old?–Times.
Can I not make you understand that you are ruining yourself and me, and that if you don't get reconciled to your father what is to become of you?–S. Ferrier.
We will only say that if it was undesirable for a private member to induce the Commons to pass a vote against Colonial Preference, why was it not undesirable for a private member...–Spectator.
Surely, then, if I am not claiming too much for our efforts at that time to maintain the Union, am I exaggerating our present ability to render him effectual aid in the contest that will be fought at the next election if I say that prudence alone should dictate to him the necessity for doing everything in his power to revive the spirit which the policy of Sir Antony MacDonnell, Lord Dudley, and Mr. Wyndham has done so much to weaken?—Times.
I then further observed that China having observed the laws of neutrality, how could he believe in the possibility of an alliance with Russia?–Times.
The next two use both the relative and the participle construction, instead of choosing between them.
Thus it befell that our high and low labour vote, which (if one might say so in the hearing of M. Jaurès and Herr Bebel) being vertical rather than horizontal, and quite unhindered in the United States, of course by an overwhelming majority elected President Roosevelt.—Times.
He replied to Mr. Chamberlain's Limehouse speech, the only part of which that he could endorse being, he said, the suggestion that the electorate should go to the root of the question at the next general election.–Times.
Who, in Europe, at least, would forego the delights of kissing,—(which the Japanese by-the-by consider a disgusting habit),—without embraces,—and all those other endearments which are supposed to dignify the progress of true love!–Corelli.
Poor, bamboozled, patient public!—no wonder it is beginning to think that a halfpenny spent on a newspaper which is purchased to be thrown away, enough and more than enough.–Corelli.
But hurriedly dismissing whatever shadow of earnestness, or faint
