The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1876-01-22 00:00:00

A SPELLING BEE AT HOLLOWAY.

The Daily News thus describes a "Spelling Bee," on a
rather large scale, so far as the competitors were concerned,
which was held the other evening at the flolloway Hall
The interest which this form of entertainment excites
appears to be on the increase, to judge from the nume-
rous audienc3 that assembled, especially as the price
charged for admission to any part —two shillings—
seemed somewhat high, and the night was by no means
a pleasant one. There were six prizes offered for com-
petition, the first being the wqrks of Charles Dickens
complete, and amongst the others was a " Webster's
Dictionary." The competitors were limited to CO,
to consist, if possible, of 25 ladies and 35 gentlemen..
The 60 competitors were forthcoming, and a hundred
or so more would have entered had the arrange-
ments permitted it. The rules were clarefully laid
down, and it appeared that every precaution had
been taken to prevent the introduction of a bone of
contention in the shape of words of similar sound
but different meaning. In case, however, of such a
word being given, the competitor had the right to ask
which word was intended. The rest of the rules were
those usually in force, viz., oral spelling ; one word
mispelt ruling the speller out, &c. Disputes between
the interrogator and the competitor were to be decided
by referees, and the standard of correctness was to be
the new edition of Webster's quarto Dictionary.
The hall, which under ordinary circumstances is used
as a skating rink, is of considerable extent, with a
spacious platform at the end. The body of the hall
was occupied by the audience, and the competitors
were arranged on the platform, the ladies, of whom
there were about 18, being on the right of the chair-
man's table, and the gentlemen who made up the
complement of 60, being on tile left. The prizes
were conspicuously placed in the centre of the plat-
form. .

The competitors were ushered to their seats, at about
a quarter past seven, by Mr. John Broome, the
manager of the hall, and precisely- at half-past Mr.
George King took the chair. The interrogator for
the occasion was Mr. Arthur J. Kestin, who produced
from a case cards bearing the words to be put, and
commenced with a young lady, who at onee retired,
being vanquished by the word "cincture." The fourth
gentleman having gone out over the word "cougar,"
which he spelt " kugar," a gentleman in the body of
the hall requested that the meaning of the words
might be announced by the interrogator for the infor-
mation of the meeting, and it was arranged that this
should be done in the case of a difficult word, recourse
being had to the dictionary •vhen the interrogator him-
self failed to give the signification. A gentleman was
soon after ruled out on the word "conjurer," Mr.
Kestin giving it as" conjuror," but on reference to the
dictionary it was found that either mode was allowable,
and the competitor resumed his seat triumphantly.
The next to go was a lady who rendered
" beavertien " as " beav erteen," and she was soon .fol-
lowed by another lady who insisted upon two " n's" in
"baronial," appealing to the dietionary in support of
her opinion, but, of course, in vain. It now became
the turn of the other side to fail, and after a few
questions correctly answered a gentleman left out the
second " c" in " escutcheon," while another competi-
tor added a second "p" too many in "gossiping," and
both had to leave the platform. " Cronometer" thus
spelt proved fatal to the next gentleman's chance, and
a lady having, after a long pause, spelt "condescen-
sion" as " condescion," the first round came to an end,
the ranks being thinned by eight candidates. Those
who had failed were allowed to retire without being
subjected to much
.ridicule, and it appeared that mis-
takes were recognised by but few of the audience. In
the next round a lady having requested a definition of
"cupboard," spelt it correctly amid some laughter, but
very soon " bankruptsy," " desireable," " domilicary"
, for domiciliary,' " hymenial," so spelt by a lady,
" cotterie," and " cornopian " weeded out a few more.
The game went on briskly during the nexttwo or three
rounds, and the retirements became more frequent.
Among the more notable examples was a gentleman
who put two " f's" in "chafing-dish," and
another who was guilty of " gillotine." " Pdellium"
brought down one of the juvenile candidates
who had been spelling well up to that point, but who
omitted the "P ;.' and after him " adiposery,"
" sillouette," " marlinspil4," "aninometer " "sea-
line," and " raciocination " were the next failures. A
gentleman, trying twice at "antithesis," was ruled out
for commencing incorrectly, and on the conclusion of
the seventh round a short adjournment was made. On
re-assembling only twenty-two out of the original
sixty came to the platform, and at the request of the
chairman, they closed up their ranks, but only to be
picked off one after the other as their fellows had been
before. A gentleman who had excited considerable
laughter by the loud and confident way in which he
had answered the questions put to him was now re-
quested to spell "Jesuitical," and comniencing with a
shout "Ju " a peal of laughter warned him of his error,
which he vainly endeavoured to retract. One or two
more gentlemen came to grief over some undeniably
puzzling words, and the word " apophthegmatical '
provoked some discussion. Owing to a mispro-
nunciation by the interrogator, the "competitor"
received another "life," which, however, he speedily
lost with "amigdaline." It was thought a hard
case when a young lady, who had been spelling
timidly but well up to that point, was given out by
" yclept." But the referees had no alternative, and as
Webster laid it down as " ycleped," the young lady
retired. After " exterrorality " and " incompata-
bility " had further reduced the numbers, a lady, who
had spelt very well previously, failed to spell "incon-
sequentiality "properly, and only six were left to take
the prizes. It was decided that the first failure should
take the sixth prize, and the one in longest should take
the first. Mrs. Kemp was the first to go with
" daguerrotype," and Mr. Dunn followed with stron-
chian." " Onirocriticism " spoiled Miss Porteous's
chance of the third prize, which fell to Mr. Beard,
who went out with " catachristical." Mr. Watts fol-
lowed suit with "line-aloes,"
_leaving Mr. Hume the
victor. • _ _ _ .

_
Loud cheers igreated all those who stayed longest
when the inevitable mpment of their departure came,
and Mr. Hume was especially and deservedly ap-
plauded. The usual compliment to the Chairman and
promoters concluded the evening.