and these may be arranged in greater or less conformity to the
law of easy apprehension. Of course with these, as with the larger
members, the succession should be from the less specific to the
more specific--from the abstract to the concrete.

24. Now, however, we must notice a further condition to be
fulfilled in the proper construction of a sentence; but still a
condition dictated by the same general principle with the other:
the condition, namely, that the words and expressions most nearly
related in thought shall be brought the closest together. Evidently
the single words, the minor clauses, and the leading divisions of
every proposition, severally qualify each other. The longer the time
that elapses between the mention of any qualifying member and the
member qualified, the longer must the mind be exerted in carrying
forward the qualifying member ready for use. And the more numerous
the qualifications to be simultaneously remembered and rightly
applied, the greater will be the mental power expended, and the
smaller the effect produced. Hence, other things equal, force will
be gained by so arranging the members of a sentence that these
suspensions shall at any moment be the fewest in number; and shall
also be of the shortest duration. The following is an instance of
defective combination:--"A modern newspaper-statement, though probably
true, would be laughed at if quoted in a book as testimony; but
the letter of a court gossip is thought good historical evidence,
if written some centuries ago." A rearrangement of this, in accordance
with the principle indicated above, will be found to increase the
effect. Thus:--"Though probably true, a modern newspaper-statement
quoted in a book as testimony, would be laughed at; but the letter
of a court gossip, if written some centuries ago, is thought good
historical evidence."