Newton's Binomial Theorem 



commonplaces of colloquial speech; and there 

 are, so to speak, coloured words, which may 

 be compared with the brush-strokes strewing 

 patches of light over the grey background of 

 a painting. How are we to find those pic- 

 turesque words, those striking features which 

 arrest the attention? How are we to group 

 them into a language heedful of syntax and 

 not displeasing to the ear? 



I was taught nothing of this art. For that 

 matter, is it ever taught in the schools? I 

 greatly doubt it. If the fire that runs through 

 our veins, if inspiration do not come to our 

 aid, we shall flutter the pages of the thesaurus 

 in vain : the word for which we seek will 

 refuse to come. Then to what masters shall 

 we have recourse to quicken and develop the 

 humble germ that is latent within us? To 

 books. 



As a boy, I was always an ardent reader; 

 but the niceties of a well-balanced style 

 hardly interested me: I did not understand 

 them. A good deal later, when close upon 

 fifteen, I began vaguely to see that words 

 have a physiognomy of their own. Some 

 pleased me better than others by the distinct- 

 ness of their meaning and the resonance of 

 their rhythm ; they produced a clearer image 



297 



