Rutland herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1823-1847, 1840-02-11
TOWNS SPELLING-BOOK.


In former article, in reply to the Vermont
Chronicle, we did not think it necessary to tell
our readers, that we were selling Towns
Spelling Book, for our advertisement stated
that fact. Now, we were probably mistaken
in supposng that the Chronicle had some pc
cuniary motive in attacking the book, for it
declares the contrary-and we are left in the
dark as to the motive which called forth this
kind of criticism which appears in the Chron-
icle, not venturing TO presume that it could he
desire to guard the public veal, on account
of the perfect "aloofness"s (excuse the word)
of the articles from candor and fairness, which
ought at least to characterize a religious pa
| per.
We have before us a copy of Towns spell
king and defining book, oighty-third edition,
New York 1899, and the first thing is leaf
containing recommendations, among which is
one "from Rev. George Bush, Prof of He
brew and Oriental Literature, New York City
University" another "from Charles Anthem,
L. l.. ID. Prof. of Languages in Columbia Col
lege, New York'--another from Rev William
X. Weeks, ID. ID. Newark, n J. a well known
and successful teacher-"a resolution adopt
ed at meeting of the members of Congress,
Dec. 1888, VIM. Cost johnson, of Maryland,
being in the Chair"-another from Rev. Alex
ander Proudft, ID. ID. well known in this
country-ano,her from the New York Evan
gelist--anoher from the Inspectors and Com
missioners of Common Schools in the City
of Albany another from William Meter of
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. from VIM. F. Broaddu S,
Virginia, one from Erastus Flint, and one from
J. Orville Taylor We will not here descend to
the language of the Chronicle in relation to
J. Orville Taylor, shut the reader can Judge
whether the recommendations of this book are
worth what they purport to be-"
1t would not be strange, if in book of this
size, there should be some incorrect spelling,
but the first example given by the Chronicle
dntocrasy, according to our Dictionary is not
ncorect-the other examples have been cor
rected by the author, for they are all correcl
in the book before u.s. Wonderful. in work
OF l60 pages, three errors in spelling are de-
tected.
In relation to he definition, the Chronicle
says On this point we have two remarks to .
make -
81. The plan is bad. 1t must of nocessily
teach error Very few words are strictly sy-
nonymous, so that one defines the other; but
here is an attempt to furnish SYNONYM or
two for nearly all the primitive words in the
English language. The learned and wise in
every age have endeavored TO promote precis-
ION and accuracy in the use of words They
have seen the importance of teaching peoule
20 discriminate between meanings nearly allied
ana Tor that purpose, to give each word the
meaning that belongs to it, and no other. Mr.
/ owns plan goes, IN It's very nature, to coun-
eract all these labors, and to promote a loose
ma inaccurate use Of words. His whole book
goes to teach that it can be Of little or no CON
sequence, in any given case, which Of two or
hree words is used. Thus the plan is 10 toach
'rror' from word to word, from column 10 col
INN, and from page to page, through the whole
'ook; not general error only, but particular
rfors, and in connexion with almost every I
yord." ,
We will quote from the authors preface 1
cw sentences in relation to his plan. which
he Chronicle says is bad:-"In spelling. each 4
word has us synonym, or ,oord If The ncare,, \
orrc'ponding import one or the other Of
'blch will IN most cases be known - ao,i, !,
In this work, nearly all the primitive words q
} this language, are collected and cop,leJ
nth one or more synonyms. If such svno. /
yms are properly chosen, they mus, Of cou,se .
eiine each other as nearly as different ,co,l, a
M Now, the application Of this princ,,le II
I'h 'he exercise Of little common ,,n,c 81
ou'u sho" most men that the elan is no, a
l''e so bad as the Chronicle would have Then, b
INK The Chronicle says as above quoted g,
WI towns plan goes, in its very nature 10
'ui'efac' all these labors,' &c. "Tbus tho a,
d" Is 10 teach error, from word 10 word 50
G. These sweeping assertions, for they are D,
'unhg MORE constitute grave charge agains, L,
{ DOOR, and their truth or falsity should be "a
oef'ained' Let US then look a li,tle al ,bo,o III
possibly there may be al leas, the sem. al
'"ce oil truth at the foundation. We vg la