New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1857-07-24
A WORD ON SPELLING.
TO tA< Editor u The N. y. Tribune.

10 tAe Editor u The NJ y Tribune
SIR Let me take advantage of the presen! spelling
excitement to fatten grudge bear against the liter
airy world. Most fully do acknowledge that decen
respect for mankind should compel every one who ad
dresses them in print to spel according TO the Des
standard OF usage. English photography" is at bes
n chaotic labyrinth provoking enough to the way
tsrer when its rtu,tous elements CONCEALED into
iumobility; but when they have no adhesion or con-
tnuity, moving constantly on each other luxe broken
floating ice, it becomes aa insult A schoolmas.e
who Goes not spell correctly, by somebody's system,
should go abroad, and stay there. But Just here 1t
that nv Indignation kindes. Why do we have these
iIhterste schoomastersl do not stop 10 blame weak
or careless committees The trouble ies higher,
pyers 81 our laI guage, such bunglers or charla
fans in their own profession, that they ought TO be
ashamed to fling pebble at the wort OF spoilers or
even the inventor of Egyptian herogyphics. Why
in the of honesty mechanical skill and common
ssnse do they impose upon the world, age after age
this Imperfect unreasonable, stupid false pao OF WIS
uslzing the vocal tongue Are they not gifted with
brains 10 understand that If aphabets were made true
10 the principle which they profess to rest aud used
simply for the pupose of conveying to the mind OF the
resOer the sound OF the writer's voice when speaking
the words schoomasters would not be needed TO teach
enybody 10 spell A child would then, rs soon as he
mad learned his letters XII how to spell as well as to
spt ali and on being taught to speak properly ne
would Of spsl correctly More than this, II the
press addressed the world with true phonetic alpha
bet giving distinctly the vOcaism of the beet usage,
the humbl,st reader would thereby be ehectualy
taught the light pronunciation of words. Thus our
schools might begin where now, Tor the most
part. they obliged TO leave off.
The misery of the Natter is that is difficult to get
any but blockheads to teach such blockhead system.
We do nncommOnly well when we get hold OF psdantc
durces, " bO ie sch spelling with vengeance and
perhaps the shell OF grammar OF course do not
deny nat there literary saints OF unquestOn-
able genius who devote doom thee. selves T. pain
full beulcaon into the memories of reluctant rebel
hous youth Of all the iocoDgrutes contradictions, rid
dies and SPHINX puzzles Of English photography,
hoping OILY for the heavenly pleasure Of introducing
The dear FOULS the sweet fields that lie beyond the
ecpfounded chapaTal. If don't spell the last word
as ought pl, correct me- and then tell me how it
h pronounced for correct sp ling gives no mere En-.
el,h mind any certainty on that point But the peo-
Die Of geuius who teach spelling are few, and soon
cease rom their abOrs, by death or otherwise. Ea,
gli,h ,nbog ply is coDgenla OILY with stupidity; and
after thirty forty years OF occasont ooservauon In
regard 20 IT, Of opinion t1at good aud successful
teachers Of spelling can seldom write page without
Bisspslipg several words.
On slOther :hiDg have no doubt at all, to wit
that leanDg to spel is discipline perniccas to good
Rtsl habits. The minds Of unchooed children are
eager for facts and The of them and they are
not satisfied with reason i'll they its force. But
Alter ,bey have been schooed through the inconse-
qu.,hsi my steries Of the spelling book, where 70.
Vh mas Less chance Of living than mouse 10 ydcu-
n' hty eIe ready 70 sHal ow anything the book or
40. u.seh'I says with leaden quietude. No thanks
81. pyeo Of our literature if they 10 no. continue
be so taken. W. 'V"e W.
ioui'e, NOBODY win contradict what have sal i,
Ml . hate ,pken with ,esdlog moderation Of
NO. spa csl"rmiy which is barefaced, chronic
and o. piiho'' bu. what can be done shall be
asked. Nothing can be done by The mere miioo.
They are imposed upon, aud NUT submit. But the
men who baye achieved Immortality. the demigods OF
literature, who have the worlds en-, s,J ad,ra,ion
might if they 80 tased, deliver u. from mi. criDDe
Glhaht which is too costly aud stale for Joke aud
iIe The Cherokee inventor Guess piye Ms One vhicb
mankind could use as well ne their tongues without
ue aid Of scboomasters. ELIzuR WR,cur
Boston July a. 1887