doubt but ye are _the_ people, and wisdom shall die with
you.--_Bible._

As for New Orleans, it seemed to me _the_ city of the world where
you can eat and drink the most and suffer the least.--THACKERAY.

He was _the_ man in all Europe that could (if any could) have
driven six-in-hand full gallop over Al Sirat.--DE QUINCEY.

[Sidenote: _Mark of a substantive._]

186. _The_, since it belongs distinctively to substantives, is a
sure indication that a word of verbal form is not used participially,
but substantively.

In the hills of Sacramento there is gold for _the
gathering_.--EMERSON.

I thought _the writing_ excellent, and wished, if possible, to
imitate it.--FRANKLIN.

[Sidenote: _Caution._]

187. There is one use of _the_ which is different from all the
above. It is an adverbial use, and is spoken of more fully in Sec.
283. Compare this sentence with those above:--

There was something ugly and evil in his face, which they had not
previously noticed, and which grew still _the more obvious_ to
the sight _the oftener_ they looked upon him.--HAWTHORNE.

Exercise.--Find sentences with five uses of the definite article.

USES OF THE INDEFINITE ARTICLE.

[Sidenote: _Denotes any one of a class._]

188. The most frequent use of the indefinite article is to denote
any one of a class or group of objects: consequently it belongs to
singular words; as in the sentence,--

Near the churchyard gate stands _a_ poor-box, fastened to _a_
post by iron bands and secured by _a_ padlock, with _a_ sloping
wooden roof to keep off the rain.--LONGFELLOW

[Sidenote: _Widens the scope of proper nouns._]

189. When the indefinite article precedes proper names, it alters
them to class names. The qualities or attributes of the object are
made prominent, and transferred to any one possessing them; as,--

The vulgar riot and debauchery, which scarcely disgraced _an
Alcibiades_ or _a Caesar_, have been exchanged for the higher
ideals of _a Bayard_ or _a Sydney_.--PEARSON

[Sidenote: _With abstract nouns._]

190. _An_ or _a_ before abstract nouns often changes them to half
abstract: the idea of quality remains, but the word now denotes only
one instance or example of things possessing the quality.

[Sidenote: _Become half abstract._]

The simple perception of natural forms is _a delight_.--EMERSON

If thou hadst _a