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The Great Brassey Keeps his Word
Former Luxembourg railways CFL Class 200 No. 211 at Olloy-sur-Viroin.
The railway station as Olloy-sur-Viroin in Belgium, the town where the events in Samuel Smiles’s little anecdote took place. This section of the Sambre and Meuse is no longer operated by Belgium’s national network, but it is still in use as part of the Chemin de fer à vapeur des 3 vallées (Mariembourg-Treignes), a preserved line running steam and other vintage traction such as the diesel railcar shown here, CFL 211, built in 1956.
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The railway station as Olloy-sur-Viroin in Belgium, the town where the events in Samuel Smiles’s little anecdote took place. This section of the Sambre and Meuse is no longer operated by Belgium’s national network, but it is still in use as part of the Chemin de fer à vapeur des 3 vallées (Mariembourg-Treignes), a preserved line running steam and other vintage traction such as the diesel railcar shown here, CFL 211, built in 1956.
“No, indeed, I don’t [replied Brassey]; I supposed he was complimenting me in some way, or thanking me for something.”
“He was complimenting you, sir, to some tune,* and asking, as a souvenir of his happy engagement under the Great Brassey, that you would of your goodness make him a present of the shop, iron, tools, and all belonging!”
“Did he, though! I did not understand that.”
“No sir, but you kept on saying, ‘Oui, oui, oui,’ and the fellow’s delighted, as he well may be, they’re worth £50 or £60.”*
“Oh, but I didn’t mean that, I didn’t mean that. Well, never mind, if I said it, he must have them.”
It must be borne in mind, that at that time, at best, Mr Brassey knew very little French, and his staff were well aware of the fact.
From The Life of George Stephenson and of His Son Robert Stephenson (1868) by Samuel Smiles (1812-1904).
* A phrase meaning ‘extravagantly, to a remarkable degree’.
* According to the Measuring Worth website, £50 in 1854 would be equivalent to almost £5,000 today. This would have to be paid out of Brassey’s own pocket.
1. What is the author aiming to achieve in writing this?
2. Note any words, devices or turns of phrase that strike you. How do they help the author communicate his ideas more effectively?
3. What impression does this passage make on you? How might you put that impression into words?
Based on The English Critic (1939) by NL Clay, drawing on The New Criticism: A Lecture Delivered at Columbia University, March 9, 1910, by J. E. Spingarn, Professor of Comparative Literature in Columbia University, USA.
Brassey’s assistants told him that the blacksmith had not only been singing his praises, he had been asking him to make him a present of the railway’s forge, stock, tools and all, worth a tidy sum. Brassey was taken aback, but declared that he had given his word and was obliged to keep his promise. (55 / 60 words)
Brassey’s assistants told him that the blacksmith had not only been singing his praises, he had been asking him to make him a present of the railway’s forge, stock, tools and all, worth a tidy sum. Brassey was taken aback, but declared that he had given his word and was obliged to keep his promise.
Variations: 1.increase the length of this precis to exactly 60 words. 2.reduce the length of this precis to exactly 50 words. 3.introduce one of the following words into the precis: about, although, because, despite, may, must, since, who.
Spinners Find in Think and Speak
For each group of words, compose a sentence that uses all three. You can use any form of the word: for example, cat → cats, go → went, or quick → quickly, though neigh → neighbour is stretching it a bit.
This exercise uses words found in the accompanying passage.
1 Belong. Tool. Work.
2 Agent. Attention. Something.
3 Along. Completion. Get.
Variations: 1. include direct and indirect speech 2. include one or more of these words: although, because, despite, either/or, if, unless, until, when, whether, which, who 3. use negatives (not, isn’t, neither/nor, never, nobody etc.)
Adjectives Find in Think and Speak
For each word below, compose sentences to show that it may be used as an adjective. Adjectives provide extra information about a noun, e.g. a black cat, a round table, the early bird etc..
This exercise uses words found in the accompanying passage.
1 Express. 2 Mean. 3 Best. 4 Apparent. 5 Great. 6 Good. 7 Better. 8 Near. 9 Happier.
Variations: 1.show whether your adjective can also be used as e.g. a noun, verb or adverb. 2.show whether your adjective can be used in comparisons (e.g. good/better/best). 3.show whether your adjective can be used in attributive position (e.g. a dangerous corner) and also in predicate position (this corner is dangerous).
Confusables Find in Think and Speak
In each group below, you will find words that are similar to one another, but not exactly the same. Compose your own sentences to bring out the similarities and differences between them, whether in meaning, grammar or use.
This exercise uses words found in the accompanying passage.
High Tiles Find in Think and Speak
Make words (three letters or more) from the seven letters showing below, using any letter once only. Each letter carries a score. What is the highest-scoring word you can make?
Your Words ()
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