The word them should always be used as a pronoun. It is a very bad mistake to use it instead of those or these as an adjective. As a pronoun it should be used in certain noun constructions only. (§ 53).

Exercise 110

Write two sentences in which you use the pronoun them correctly.

Write two sentences in each of which the adjective those is added to the subject. Two in which it is added to the object.

Write sentences in which the adjective these is added to the subject. To the object.

Topics For Oral And Written Compositions

1. Describe a certain tree in your neighborhood, your favorite kind of tree, your favorite flower, or your favorite fruit. (See if the class can tell what you have tried to describe).

2. Describe an air ship.

3. Reminiscences of George or Martha Washington or some other person who lived in Revolutionary or Colonial times.

4. Some good color effects that can be obtained in plant ing shrubs, perennial herbaceous plants, annual flowering plants, or a combination of two or more classes of plants.

Include these points, arranging them in good order; plants used, colors, nature of plants, height, season of bloom, location of group.

6. Describe a tramp, an attractive child, a queer person, "the pop corn man," some one that aroused your curiosity when you were away from home on a trip.

6. Describe a country store, an auction, a shop window.

7. Describe a snowstorm. Before you write this read descriptions of snowstorms and watch a real storm.

Exercise III. Class Conversation

After you have studied the impressive figure shown on the opposite page and have read the account of its history which is given below, find out all you can about Black Hawk's life and about the life and work of Lorado Taft, the creator of this image of "a vanished race." Then be ready to talk in class about your impression of the picture and the facts you have learned.

The Black Hawk Statue

Mr. Taft's "Big Indian," as he calls his great work, stands on a lofty promontory overlooking the picturesque Rock River in Rock County, Illinois. The artist spent many summers with a party of artist friends at Eagle Nest Camp near this spot. He could never forget that in this neighborhood occurred the tragedy of Black Hawk's life. The wish grew upon him to present to his native state an heroic figure that should be a symbol of this tragedy. One day, as he was watching the progress of some reinforced concrete work in Chicago, it occurred to him that the same method of construction was adapted to the formation of an enduring figure of heroic size such as he had dreamed of.

The Black Hawk Statue. Lorado Taft.

The artist, like the poet, is a creator; and when an idea has taken shape in his mind, he cannot be happy until he has put it into such form that others can share it with him. So Mr. Taft, while refusing other work that would have brought him large pecuniary returns, gave without stint of his thoughts, his time, and his money to the creation and construction of this noble figure; and thousands of persons are richer for his gift.

The following description of the statue was written by Harriet Monroe, and appeared in the Chicago Tribune in September, 1911.

"The lines are extremely simple, the heavy folds of the blanket suggesting the man's body without following closely its outlines. And the figure rises out of the cliff as if it belonged there, as if almost it were a part of it, the gray tones of the cement blending admirably with the colors of the rock. Indeed, it does belong there; it is the right word in the right place. It expresses the soul of the dying race, its finer spirit of bravery, patience, endurance, its poetry, aspiration, sorrow. Once seen this statue can never be forgotten; our successors in the land will make pilgrimages to it."

Topics For Oral Compositions

1. A description of the "Big Indian."

2. The story of the " Black Hawk War."

3. Black Hawk's thoughts as he looks down upon the old home of his people. (Study his attitude and the expression of his face).

4. The construction of the statue.

5. Some of Mr. Taft's other works.

6. An Indian legend.

7. Mr. Taft as a friend to other artists.

8. Why I like the statue.

9. Some ways of showing patriotism besides going to war.