Word: dictional
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...best piece of prose in the number is the "The Light-House Keeper's Story." It is a plain, unvarnished tale of the sea, with little plot. The chief charm of this brief story lies in its smoothness of diction and naturalness of sentiment. It is less ambitious than either of the others of the author's contributions to the Advocate, but it is characterized by the same simplicity of style...
...appeared in the Monthly. The metre in which it is written is a happy selection, the swing and rhythm suggesting the graceful evolutions and music of the ball-room. One or two slight errors of rhyme are noticeable, but they are pardonable in consideration of the wealth of poetic diction, delicacy of description, and aptness of similes which characterize the whole poem. "Tomorrow" is a meritorious epigram...
...Truth About Foxy Smith" wants the smoothness of diction of the story which precedes it, although there are several clever touches in the first part of the sketch. The plot has little originality...
...verse of the number, "A Head by Whistler" (anonymous) and "The Sun-Virgin," by W. V. Moody, show much poetical feeling and insight. "A Head by Whistler," especially, has an exquisiteness of diction that cannot but charm, although in the latter part there is an over-luxuriousness of language. "The Sun-Virgin" possesses the strength of diction and imagery which characterizes most of Mr. Moody's productions, but is permeated by considerable vagueness of thought; and such a name as "Xingpal" in the middle of a verse reminds one of a clash of cymbals in some dulcet measure...
...Wyndham Towers," is the latest and undoubtedly the best work of Mr. Thomas Bailey Aldrich. Competent critics have declared it the best poem that America has produced for many years. The most striking characteristic of this work is the beauty of the diction, especially in the lines descriptive of the gradual decay of the old castle and of the break of day. The author never lacks for picturesque phrases. The tale is placed in the Elizabethan are and, as hinted in the preface, the method of the author is obviously influenced by his study of the poets and dramatists...