3.  I ought not to study algebra because it is a very difficult subject.

4.  Pupils ought not to write notes because note writing interferes with
     the rights of others.

5.  All fish can swim;
   Charles can swim;
   Therefore Charles is a fish.

6.  Henry is a fool because he wears a white necktie.

7.  All dogs bark;
   This animal barks;
   Therefore this animal is a dog.

+Theme XCIX.+—­Write a paragraph proving the truth of one of the following propositions:—­

1.  The government should establish a parcels post.

2.  The laws of mind determine the forms of composition.

3.  Training for citizenship should be given greater attention in the public schools.

4.  The members of the school board should be appointed by the mayor of the city.

5.  In the estimation of future ages ——­ will be considered the greatest President since Lincoln.

(State your premises.  Have you shown that they are true?)

+181.  Evidence.+—­We may reach belief in the truth of a specific statement by means of deductive reasoning.  Commonly, however, when dealing with an actual state or occurrence, we present other facts or circumstances that show its existence.  The facts presented may be those of experience, the testimony of witnesses, the opinion of those considered as experts in the subject, or a combination of circumstances known to have existed.  To be of any value as arguments, they must be true, and they must be related to the fact that we are trying to prove.  These true and pertinent facts we term evidence.

Evidence may be direct or indirect.  If a man sees a boy steal a bag of apples from the orchard across the way, his evidence is direct.  If instead, he only sees him with an empty bag and later with a full one, the evidence will be indirect.  If you testify that early in the evening you saw a tramp enter a barn which later in the evening caught fire, your testimony as regards the cause of the fire would be indirect evidence against the tramp.  If you can testify that you saw sparks fall from his lighted pipe and ignite a pile of hay in the barn, the evidence which you give will be direct.

Direct evidence has more weight than indirect, but often the latter is nearly equal to the former and is sufficient to convince us.  Even the direct testimony of eye-witnesses must be carefully considered.  Several persons may see the same thing and yet make very different reports, even though they may all desire to tell the truth.  The weight that we shall give to a person’s testimony will depend upon his ability to observe and to report accurately what he has experienced, and upon his desire to tell the truth.

Notice in the following selection what facts, specific instances, and circumstances are advanced in support of the proposition.  Assuming that they are true, are they pertinent to the proposition?