Question

match each excerpt from william dean howellss story \editha\ to a specific tone.
sarcasm
careless amusement
criticism
vacant and fake idealism
\... it wont be much of a war, and i guess gearson dont think so, either. the other fellows will back down as soon as they see we mean it. i wouldnt lose any sleep over it. im going back to bed, myself.\
\... youve done a wicked thing, editha balcom.\
\what a thing it is to have a country that cant be wrong, but if it is, is right anyway!\
\that ignoble peace! it was no peace at all, with that crime and shame at our very gates.\

Explanation:

• The first excerpt shows a non - serious and unconcerned attitude towards war, which is characteristic of "careless amusement".
• The second excerpt is a direct statement of wrongdoing, which is "criticism".
• The third excerpt uses a paradoxical statement to mock the idea of a country's infallibility, which is "sarcasm".
• The fourth excerpt presents an idealistic view that ignores the reality (as it is called "ignoble peace" but still idealized), which is "vacant and fake idealism".

Answer:

1. “... it won’t be much of a war, and I guess Gearson don’t think so, either. The other fellows will back down as soon as they see we mean it. I wouldn’t lose any sleep over it. I’m going back to bed, myself.” → careless amusement
2. “... you’ve done a wicked thing, Editha Balcom.” → criticism
3. “What a thing it is to have a country that can’t be wrong, but if it is, is right anyway!” → sarcasm
4. “That ignoble peace! It was no peace at all, with that crime and shame at our very gates.” → vacant and fake idealism