Haven't read anything of that level for a long time, maybe never before. I ran it through grammar/spellchecker just for the s--its and giggles and it is 6,;079 words, 32.5 words per sentence (who writes that way today unless a joke?). Passive voice 15%, Flesch Reading Ease 28.3 and Flesch-Kincaid grade level: 14.2! Hell, I can't write at 14.2. The best I've gotten (in one of my more literary moods) was 10th grade!

There were some language differences, some words are archaic now.

All that aside, it was impressive. Honestly, I think those who were educated in those days were educated much more thoroughly than today. They were taught LANGUAGE! I mean, they were taught to put words together. I remember my grandfather only went through the 8th grade. I was a straight A student and would not have gone up against him in mathematics or several other areas.

Sometimes I wonder if our modern way of life if depleting the intelligence of our children. Or perhaps we just are not expecting as much of them. I do know that every time I watch Jay Leno's JawWalking, I get a little sick. One respondent to the question of who fought in the Civil war replied Germany. Holy crap! Some don't even know who the Vice President is! They questioned an older oriental-heritage man one time and he answered all the questions correctly. Then they asked his grandchildren and they didn't have a clue.