That here is an action of the first kind, none will deny.  But it is contended by the old systems that there is no object on which the action terminates.  If that be true then there is nothing run, no effect produced, and the first law of nature is outraged, in the very onset; for there is a cause, but no effect; an action, but no object.  How is the fact?  Have you run nothing? conveyed nothing, moved nothing from one place to another? no change, no effect, nothing moved?  Look at it and decide.  It is said that a neuter or intransitive verb may be known from the fact that it takes after it a preposition.  Try it by this rule.  “A man run against a post in a dark night, and broke his neck;” that is, he run nothing against a post—­no object to run—­and yet he broke his neck.  Unfortunate man!

The fact in relation to this verb is briefly this:  It is used to express the action which more usually terminates on the actor, than on any other object.  This circumstance being generally known, it would be superfluous to mention the object, except in cases where such is not the fact.  But whenever we desire to be definite, or when there is the least liability to mistake the object, it is invariably expressed.  Instances of this kind are numerous.  “They ran the boat ashore.”  “The captain ran his men to rescue them from the enemy.”  “They ran the gauntlet.”  “They run a stage to Boston.”  “He ran himself into discredit.”  “One bank runs another.”  “The man had a hard run of it.” “Run the account over, and see if it is right.”  “They run forty looms and two thousand spindles.”  “He runs his mill evenings.”  Such expressions are common and correct, because they convey ideas, and are understood.

Two men were engaged in argument.  The believer in intransitive verbs set out to run his opponent into an evident absurdity, and, contrary to his expectation, he ran himself into one.  Leave out the objects of this verb, run, and the sense is totally changed.  He set out to run into an evident absurdity, and he ran into one; that is, he did the very absurd thing which he intended to do.[14]

“I walk.”

The action expressed by this verb is very similar in character to the former, but rather slower in performance.  Writers on health tell us that to walk is a very healthy exercise, and that it would be well for men of sedentary habits to walk several miles every day.  But if there is no action in walk, or if it has no object necessarily walked, it would be difficult to understand what good could result from it.

“Did you have a pleasant walk this morning?” says a teacher to his grammar class.