BOIL IT DOWN

Marlborough Daily Times, Volume II, Issue 149, 24 August 1880, Page 4

BOIL IT DOWN

Whatever you have to say, my friend, Whether witty, or grave, or gay, Condense as much as ever you can, And say in the readiest way : And, whether you write on rural affairs •Jr particular things in town, Just a word of friendly advice — Boil it down.

For, if you go spluttering over a page When a couple of lines would do, Your butter is spread so much, you see, That the bread looks plainly through. So, when you have a story to tell, And would like a little renown, To make quite sure of your wish, my friend, Boil it down. When writing an article for the press, Whether prose or verse, just try To utter your thoughts in the fewest words, And let it he crisp and dry ; And, when it is finished, and you suppose It is done exactly brown, Just look it over again, and then— Boil it down. For editors do not like to print An article lazily long, And the general reader does not care For a couple of yards of song, So gather your wits in the smallest space If you’d win the author s crown, And every time you write, my friend, Boil it down. —Philadelphia Printers' Circular.