The Complete Works of Edgar Allan Poe - Edgar Allan Poe [1079]
“The Indian gazed at the house, with that fierce intentness which sometimes glared, in a manner that had got to be, in its ordinary aspects, dull and besotted.” This it is utterly impossible to comprehend. We presume, however, the intention is to say that although the Indian’s ordinary manner (of gazing) had “got to be” dull and besotted, he occasionally gazed with an intentness that glared, and that he did so in the instance in question. The “got to be” is atrocious — the whole sentence no less so.
Here, at page 9, vol. I., is something excessively vague: “Of the latter character is the face of most of that region which lies in the angle formed by the junction of the Mohawk with the Hudson,” &c. &c. The Mohawk, joining the Hudson, forms two angles, of course, — an acute and an obtuse one; and, without farther explanation, it is difficult to say which is intended.
At page 55, vol. I., we read: — “The captain, owing to his English education, had avoided straight lines, and formal paths; giving to the little spot the improvement on nature which is a consequence of embellishing her works without destroying them. On each side of this lawn was an orchard, thrifty and young, and which were already beginning to show signs of putting forth their blossoms.” Here we are tautologically informed that improvement is a consequence of embellishment, and supererogatorily told that the rule holds good only where the embellishment is not accompanied by destruction. Upon the “each orchard were “ it is needless to comment.
At page 30, vol. I., is something similar, where Strides is represented as “never doing any thing that required a particle more than the exertion and strength that were absolutely necessary to effect his object.” Did Mr. C. ever hear of any labor that required more exertion than was necessary? He means to say that Strides exerted himself no farther than was necessary — that’s all.
At page 59, vol. I., we find this sentence — “He was advancing by the only road that was ever traveled by the stranger as he approached the Hut; or, he came up the valley.” This is merely a vagueness of speech. “Or” is intended to imply “that is to say.” The whole would be clearer thus — “He was advancing by the valley — the only road traveled by a stranger approaching the Hut.” We have here sixteen words, instead of Mr. Cooper’s twenty-five.
At page 8, vol. II., is an unpardonable awkwardness, although an awkwardness strictly grammatical. “I was a favorite, I believe, with, certainly was much petted by, both.” Upon this we need make no farther observation. It speaks for itself.
We are aware, however, that there is a certain air of unfairness, in thus quoting detached passages, for animadversion of this kind; for, however strictly at random our quotations may really be, we have, of course, no means of proving the fact to our readers; and there are no authors, from whose works individual inaccurate sentences may not be culled. But we mean to say that Mr. Cooper, no doubt through haste or neglect, is remarkably and especially inaccurate, as a general rule; and, by way of demonstrating this assertion, we will dismiss our extracts at random, and discuss some entire page of his composition. More than this: we will endeavor to select that particular page upon which it might naturally be supposed he would bestow the most careful attention. The reader will say at once — “Let this be his first page — the first page of his Preface.” This page, then, shall be taken of course.
The history of the borders is filled with legends of