If, instead of writing “a fleet of ten ships,” we write “a fleet of ten sail ,” the picture of a group of vessels at sea is more readily suggested; and is so because the sails constitute the most conspicuous parts of vessels so circumstanced.
— from Essays: Scientific, Political, & Speculative; Vol. 2 of 3 Library Edition (1891), Containing Seven Essays not before Republished, and Various other Additions. by Herbert Spencer

If, instead of saying "a fleet of ten ships," we say "a fleet of ten sail ," the picture of a group of vessels at sea is more readily suggested; and is so because the sails constitute the most conspicuous parts of vessels so circumstanced: whereas the word ships would very likely remind us of vessels in dock.
— from The Philosophy of Style by Herbert Spencer

The architectural background is not in happy proportion in relation to the figures, but the effect of vista and space is more remarkable than in any North Italian master.
— from The Venetian School of Painting by Evelyn March Phillipps

One weekend my real aunt comes to visit and sleeps in my room, so I go to stay with Aunt Kate, and I pretty near turn into cottage cheese.
— from It's like this, cat by Emily Neville

Dinah was an old black woman who once had been a very attached servant in Mr. Rossitur's family, and, having married and become a widow years ago, had set up for herself in the trade of a washerwoman, occupying an obscure little tenement out towards Chelsea.
— from Queechy, Volume II by Susan Warner

She would not encourage Rachel to dwell on the hateful subject; she only replied by pressing her friend's hand in silence, and she began to speak of Mrs. Ormonde's visit, and succeeded in making Rachel laugh at the little woman's description of the means she adopted of reducing Colonel Ormonde to reason.
— from A Crooked Path: A Novel by Mrs. Alexander