There is no vice so simple but assumes
Some mark of virtue on his outward parts: 
How many cowards, whose hearts are all as false
As stairs of sand, wear yet upon their chins
The beards of Hercules and frowning Mars,
Who, inward search’d, have livers white as milk;
And these assume but valor’s excrement
To render them redoubted!  Look on beauty,
And you shall see ’tis purchased by the weight;
Which therein works a miracle in nature,
Making them lightest that wear most of it: 
So are those crisped snaky golden locks
Which make such wanton gambols with the wind,
Upon supposed fairness, often known
To be the dowry of a second head,
The skull that bred them in the sepulcher. 
Thus ornament is but the guiled shore
To a most dangerous sea; the beauteous scarf
Veiling an Indian beauty; in a word,
The seeming truth which cunning times put on
To entrap the wisest.  Therefore, thou gaudy gold,
Hard food for Midas, I will none of thee;
Nor none of thee, thou pale and common drudge
’Tween man and man:  but thou, though meager lead,
Which rather threatenest than dost promise aught,
Thy paleness moves me more than eloquence;
And here choose I:  joy be the consequence!

—­Shakespeare:  The Merchant of Venice.

+Theme XCVII.+—­Write a paragraph proving the truth of one of the following statements:—­

1.  It is a distinct advantage to a large town to be connected with the smaller towns by electric car lines.

2.  Vertical penmanship should be taught in all elementary schools.

3.  Examinations develop dishonesty.

4.  Novel reading is a waste of time.

5.  Tramps ought not to be fed.

(Make a brief.  Consider the arrangement of your arguments.  Read Section 72.)

+176.  Errors of Induction.+—­A common error is that of too hasty generalization.  We conclude that something is always so because it happened to be so in the few cases that have come under our observation.  A broader experience frequently shows that the hastily made generalization will not hold.

Some people are led to lose faith in all humanity because one or two of their acquaintances have shown themselves unworthy of their trust.  Others are ready to pronounce a merchant dishonest because some article purchased at his store has not proved to be so good as it was expected to be.  There are those who are superstitious concerning the wearing of opals, claiming that these jewels bring the wearer ill luck, because they have heard of some instances where misfortune seemed to follow the wearing of that particular stone.  What may seem to be causes and effects at first may, upon further investigation or inquiry, prove to be merely chance coincidences.  In your work in argument, whether for the class room or outside, be careful about this point.  Remember that your induction will be weak or even worthless if you draw conclusions from too few examples.