"splendid piece of society scandal..."See in text(Text of Chesterton's Essay)
The sibilant hissing of this alliteration mimics the sound of the whisper being described. Consistent use of sound-based techniques like this contribute to Chesterton’s colloquial tone; it’s easy to imagine this piece being read aloud. The tonal variety of his diction, combined with the rhythms of his parallel constructions, creates an immersive sonic experience for readers, contributing to his use of pathos by engaging their interests and sympathies on a subconscious level as well as an intellectual one.
"It is not mere business; it is not even mere cynicism. It is mysticism;..."See in text(Text of Chesterton's Essay)
Here Chesterton crafts another tricolon—a three-part parallel construction that posits two false definitions before landing on the proper formulation. Chesterton also makes use of internal rhyme. The phrase “mysticism of money” is a clear use of alliteration. “Cynicism” and “mysticism” rhyme through assonance, as the two words share identical vowel sounds. These musical flourishes contribute to Chesterton’s appeal to pathos; the rich sounds of his language help to drive home his arguments.
