should express proper concern; lost is a short cut to 'men so unique as he whose loss we now deplore'.
There are but few men whose lives abound in such wild and romantic adventure, and, for the most part, crowned with success.–Prescott.
The writer does not mean 'adventures so wild, so romantic, and so successful in the main'; that is shown by the qualifying parenthesis, which is obviously one of comment on the individual case. What he does mean ought to have been given in two sentences: 'There are but few... adventure;—'s, moreover, was for the most part crowned with success'.
The Sultan regrets that the distance and the short notice alone prevent him from coming in person.–Times.
This is as much as to say that the Sultan wishes there were more obstacles. Read: 'The Sultan regrets that he cannot come in person; nothing but the distance and the short notice could prevent him'.
48. Demonstrative, Noun, and Participle or Adjective
Of the forms, persons interested, the persons interested, those interested, those who are interested, one or another may better suit a particular phrase or context. Those interested is the least to be recommended, especially with an active participle or adjective. The form those persons interested is a hybrid, and is very seldom used by any good writer; but it is becoming so common in inferior work that it is thought necessary to give many examples. The first two, of the form those interested, will pass, though those who were concerned, all who drive, would be better. In the others that and those should be either replaced by the or (sometimes) simply omitted.
The idea of a shortage had hardly entered the heads even of those most immediately concerned.–Times.
They are the terror of all those driving or riding spirited horses.–Times.
