New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1848-10-05
The Language Reform->preading.

LETTER FROM EAsTERN ASIA
The following letter from " ss.onary IN Siam
Ia reference to the Photographic and Phonotypic
Reform Is 70 as one OF deep interest # the world
had but time TO consider this Reform II could not
fail to adoptit. Might not great many fnd such
time
BANGKOK, Siam. asia Dec. 3, l-47.
DEAR SiRs A lew weeks since. received a
copy Of your Photographic Class Book and Reader
have been much Interested In the philosophical beauty
II the system Of writing contained IN them 80 much
that for my benefit but more especially for the
good Of my children, have spent some time daily in
trying 10 make myself acquainted with the principles
Of the system This system is 90 natural and truly
philosophical that 10 seems hardly possible tlat . should
ever be superseded By any other. Il Is doubtless
cepuoe Of indefinite improvement but cannot con
ceive that any other system ever supersede this
Il would doubtless be great saving OF time every
schoor who would learn the system, though he should
only IN his own private copying. u derive the
greatest benefit however from H. toe knowledge o. .
must become so general that when has letter %
write he may feel safe in writing 1t in the Phono-
graphic characters. To bring about such state OF
things il viii BE- important that all who become &C
quainted with the system, should ieel responsible for
spreading T. Let every man seek b enlist al around
him into learning Photography. few men Of rrm
purpose and strong benevOlence willing TO deny them
selves for the good q their fellow men, acting with
vigorous purpose for the system might do wonders.
Be not weary ia weil-dOing Be not discouraged 10
view Of difficulties DO not stop 70 reply 20 every news
paper scrbber depend too much upon the aid Of the
periodical press, though il ought not 20 be despsed
but seek above all things 10 send the living arguments
10 the land. ! think Of nothing that would
tend 60 much 10 make the English language the univer
sci language the prevalence OF Phonetic printing.
have been engaged 70 some extent, IN teaching the
English language the Sismcse and have uniformly
found that there IS nothing discOurang 70 learners
our shameful photography The SarlCse language
Is almost perfect in il photography there being but
two letters inst represent more than one sound
While there is other language earth go extcn-
svey used the English firmly believe that there is
other language 60 uncertainty represented By signs
VIII you allow % make a suggestion or two
As there are many words that will sdmlt Of several
modes Of joining the Characters II seems 20 me desira
bic that there should be a vocabulary prepared which
shall exhibit the best mode modes Of writing such
words. such r book would do much 10 produce uni
vcrssy in writing. and thus greatly facilitate the read
ing Of Photographic writing In reading, We seldom
look all the letters of which the words composed
but recognize them by their general conformation
This being the il strikes that the Photographic
characters never be read so ea-y As those Of the
common hand until there il a uniform mode OF writing
in the Photographic characters.
One more suggestion. II seems TO me there ought 20
be IN Atlas prepared and printed in Phonotopy am
inclined think that Atlas of this kind prepared
with care u should be- would md purchasers among
sctOoltcachcrs 10 a considerable extent But the sale
of the book should be the sole motive for making &C.
Nothing could do more toward producing uniformity
la the pronunciation OF the Of places, rivers sc
When il ia that the correct pronunciation cannot
be obtained this Atlas viii be- sought tor and
thus PhOnOiyTc printing viii bee recommended 10 the
good sense Of that class OF men whose cooperation II IS
yery important 10 secure. OF course the man who
-houd prepare such work. should take measures %
get the correct pronunciation Of words contained 90
t doubt whether any man 10 the United states 10
I'VE times guessing, could pronounce the word Mcinam
A. it il pronounced by the Sianese It's correct pro
nunciaiiOn Is MOaam. Bangkok or Bank0k, as In the
Aliases. Is pronounced BuRcock
Enclosed send you order on the treasury Of the
American Baptist Missionary Union Il Washington st
for three dollars io which wish you 10 send me such
publications as you may think Will be most profitable 20
BE to send me the beet dissertation on the
application of Photography TO foreign language
Please remember that have the Glass Book and
Reader" should like two numbers Of the
Phonotypic Bible Please send a few Photographic pens
and pencils. with specimens of Photographic walters
and paper. Send a large amount OF matter that
viii be- useful to you can afford to doior the little
-uln able % remit The package can b. eit AZ the
rooms Of the A. b. NJ IT, directed to j. CaswcH. Bang
kok siam Please make as good selection ~ you can
II you think enough good would come H. you are At
liberty put down my name ne member OF me Amer
Ican honographic Society. feel earnestly de-rous o.
seeing This reform going forward and giving promise oil
innate triumph What little can DO for this object
shall De done have just been reading the Circular OF
Mr. Sade the Agent OF the Board OF National fopula
Education The question presses upon mind. How NJ"
these ions of the great West 10 be educated what
field IN which demonstrate the excelcnclcs OF rho
noypy Cannot some Of the leading minds OF the west
be stirred up devise means Tor extending the bless
iurs of lis reform 10 those vast mutudes who are so
soon to give laws TO America There Is scarcely the
slightest hope that one a hundred OF these tens OF
thousands of young at the West, who are unable
to read will ever learn unless they can be reached by
a teacher of Phonotypy Cannot the system Of timer
ant teaching be adopted for the West Let one man
take County his circuit and make It his object t.
bring as many possible OF those who are unable 70
read TO a knowledge of PhonotypiC reading II strikes
me that the great West IT, above all others the field
where Phonotypy mil ht most easily establish Itself
That you may have all the wisdom patience and per
severance needul the attainment OF your noble %
eci the prayer OF your ieOwaborer in the cause Oh
Reform JESSE CASWELL.