The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1839-11-23
From he Baltimore American.

The venerable scholar, Moan WEBSTER, is expected
TO deliver address the second centennial snniyeI
sary Of the establishment OF the Connecticut colony
DIR. Webster was once the mighty monarch Of the
school-room from Passamaqnoddy TO Appslachcoa.
We regard him noU with the highest respect we once
looked To him with something like veneration. He has
written Dicilonary-we prefer to know him as the
author Of The "Spelling Book . Webster's Spelling
book was once The classic Of the middle benchesthe
benches without backs--from which no aspiring ne
ophyte was promoted until fit for initiation into the
mysteries Of pot-hooks and the multiplication table
How well defined and marked the several steps up
this ladder Of orthogrsphyfron al abs" to baker"
from baker" to crncifr," from erueifr' to da-
phragm," and here the toling became srduous. Go
penhdgen and Nic0demus' crowned the summit, where
the youthful tryo rested, with pslptating heart and
joyous pride, ~ hear the delightful encomium-s Sir
yon can spell any thing in Webster" There
time when we regarded with some misgvings the scho
larship OF any young gentleman who had not learned
his rudiments in this book II well nigh incon-
cevable how any one could know how spell without
going through Webster. The image Of this book is
stamped upon the memories Of thousands and associa-
ted with "reminiscences which not the hustle OF business
nor the cares Of life can oberate. The pictures
how can they be forgotten Manga trembling tongue
has first learned put words together from letered
page, by reading that an old man found rude boy
up of his apple trees'-a fact which the annexed
cut rendered selfevident, and gave the curlyhesjcd
beginner first to perceive that printed words might
her pail Of miik," "The For and The Flies with
several others, each followed by Bit Of very pleasant
reading and a MoraP-ihe only part which was not
diligently perused.
The remembrance Of Webster is unaloyed by the
recollection Of much Jerruiing. Dworh and Lindley
Murray have that TO answer for The excitement Of
the spelling class was OF SO exhlerating kind, stnu
lated by the ambition Of getting "head," that fage-
lation seldom required as quickener. Besides,
the spelling generally came on Just before dismissal
it was the haIbnger of emancipation twice day, and,
like brnger Of good news; it was hailed with delecta-
ton,
Books like dogs or the fashions, have their day
spelling books among the rest In the rage OF impov
ing every thing rife in this age, orthography has
not escaped any than cotton spindles steam
engines. New modes Of teaching the one, keep pace
with inventions for the better of the others
We cannot say that the advantages derived in both
cases are equal But i" Webster" has long been sop
planted in the hearts Of Juveniles In vain will the
grown-up pupil Of former days look for the well known
volume OF his childhood among the crumpled and brok-
en- backed books scattered over the school rooms
Of this date He might well expect to the "old
familiar iaces"-the shining morning faces" Of his
whlome companions chubby and demure, as they sat
with him at daily tasks, now frightening with some
merry conceit which conveyed from to another
in whispers from behind books and directed with
solemn intensity upon pages upside down. the glance
OF the master shot an awful meaning towards the de-
tected pratlers,
But we are straying from our purpose, which was to
speak word Of respect and affection for the time
honored whose has given rise to these and
many other recollections which to u.s. was iona
than David, Every pleasant" His life has been
long and laborious-may it be heightened to the full
measure Of patriarch's days-yet he cannot outive
his well earned honors Apart from the strlfes of men,
he has pursued his way calmly, and, doubt not hap
PLY. He may have the satisfaction Of knowlngs
that the world is the better for his having lived in it
With learning aud abilities fitted for high pursuits and
absrnse research, he has thought unworthy to be
a dispenser Of rudments a teacher Of men, he
also willing TO be benelactor to children 1t Is in
this latter character that love consider him. His
great Dictionary will carry his name to posterity-but
the present generaon-those at least who school
boys within the last twenty or thirty years--will not
forget his humber bu, no less useful labors.