Owen—Eijbrid Parts of Speech. 
237 
inconsistent with the structural indications usually offered by 
the word-inflections of the lateral clause. 
(3) The humorist solved the problem created by the afore¬ 
said jealousies, by marshalling the widows toward the grave 
without precedence, twenty abreast—a formation the many 
advantages of which might well arouse a wish to imitate it in 
the use of words, but in vain, as, for obvious reasons, words 
(to say nothing of ideas) do not synchronize; and even if by 
the use of several speakers, or a suitable arrangement of echo¬ 
ing surfaces, the several words of a phrase were made to reach 
the hearer’s ear together, it is plain that only confusion would 
result. Accordingly, although reluctantly, I renounce the above 
formation, including the special arrangement of three in a 
line oblique to the line of march, as I do not obtain from it 
any guidance to the knowledge of linguistic methods. I also 
neglect the possible precedence of two exactly or inexactly 
abreast, as quite unmatched by linguistic usage (compare “Re¬ 
vision,” pages 83-4). 
In orderly arrangement of the considered three, it appears 
accordingly that one must precede. The variable disposition 
of the remaining two appears in the following cases. 
(4) One of the three may precede, the others following side 
by side. This formation cannot really occur in the use of 
words; but as two following words may be on a footing of 
parity in their association with their leader, I allow tihe case 
to stand, for the sake of its suggestive value. The possible 
obliqueness of their line, to the line of march, is neglected as in 
case (3). 
(5) One of the three may precede, the others coming after, 
one behind the other. 
Following now the suggestion of the last two cases, I note 
that the constituent first-term, mid-term and last-term of lateral 
thought may in that order (or the reverse order) approach 
association with central thought—say in Indian file, or in 
what (as indicated in (4) above) is suggested by a wedge- 
formation headed by the middle term; or, in obstetric parlance, 
head or feet or breech may be presented. 
