Hi, Alexander!  Recently you wrote in a message to All:

AK>  From the story about dr Jekyll & Hyde:

AK>  ....I was in the mere stupidity of wonder, before    
AK>  terror woke up in my breast as sudden and startling 
AK>  as the crash of cymbals, and bounding from my bed, 
AK>  I rushed to the mirror.

AK>  Why "the crash" not "a crash"?

   
          Dallas & I agree that we don't feel strongly about it either way, but IMHO a cymbal crash is quite distinctive... as is e.g. "the skirl of bagpipes", or "the sound of a great Amen" in THE LOST CHORD.

          Another point Dallas brought up is that the author had already used a number of words beginning with /a/ in close proximity there.  He was writing at a time when the vast majority of his audience would hear it read aloud....  :-)




--- timEd/386 1.10.y2k+