Author Charles Peter Mason explains in a single sentence how he is “pushing condensation of expression and economy of space to their utmost limits” in the preface to his fourth edition of A Shorter English Grammar with Copious and Carefully Graduated Exercises (Toronto & Winnipeg: Gage and Company, c. 1879).

This Shorter Grammar has been published in accordance with the urgent representations of several by whom my ‘English Grammar’ has been largely used, to the effect that a book containing the ‘pith’ of the latter, with fewer minutiae and discussions, and more copious apparatus of exercises, would better suit the requirements of several schools, in which is was found difficult to secure sufficient time for grappling with the large amount of materials, which, by pushing condensation of expression and economy of space to their utmost limits, had been accumulated in the fuller work.”—CHARLES PETER MASON

Professor Mason, a fellow of University College in London, was also the author of several other English grammars and a contributor to William Smith’s Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology (London: Walton & Murray, 1870).

I’m very glad I never had to use this grammar book in school.

Title page from Charles Peter Mason’s “A Shorter English Grammar with Copious and Carefully Graduated Exercises” (Toronto & Winnipeg: Gage and Company, 1879).

Book Notes

Mason, Charles Peter (1820-1900)
A shorter English grammar with copious and carefully graduated exercises.
Toronto & Winnipeg: Gage and Company; London: Pardon and Sons, Printers, c. 1879.
[3], vi-xii, 253, [5] p.; 19 cm. Fourth edition.

OCLC: 848524055
Digital copy: HathiTrust (only 8th edition available online)