Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1857-12-02
INCORRECT SPELLING.


There is nothing which sooner betrays inn
perfect education, than incorrect spelling
And it seems to us that amid all the advan-
tages so common in the country now correct
photography is gaining very little Roadway.
Men and women of intelligence and education
almost constantly mis-spell the most common
English words. Many write dependency
dependance-superintenda enthusiastically
perfectability-and many other words of the.
commonest occurrence. Pay more attention
to spelling-teachers as well as pupils.
The following article on this subject may
be read with profit:
Bad Spelling and its Consequences.
Some years ago a teacher presented him.
self as a candidate for the mastership of a
school, of which the salary was fifteen hum
dred dollars. His qualifications were deemed
satisfactory in all respects, except in spelling.
On account of this deficiency he was rejected.
See, now, what ignorance in this elementary
branch cost him. In ten years his salary
would have amounted to fifteen thousand dol
lars, throwing out of the calculation the in
crease which by good investment might have
accrued from interest. Besides, the salary
of the same school has been advanced to two
thousand dollars. But he might have re-
NAMED in this position twice or three times
ten years, as other teachers in the same place
have done, and that large amount might, con-
sequently, have been increased in proper
ton.
A gentleman of excellent reputation as a
scholar was proposed to fill a professorship
in one of our New England colleges, not ma
ny years since but in his correspondence, so
much bad spelling was found, that his name
was dropped, and an honorable position was
lost by him. The corporation of the college
concluded that, however high his qualifica-
tons as a professor might be in general liter
ature, the photography of his correspondence
would not add much to the reputation of the
institution.
A prominent manufacturer, in a neighbour
ing town, received a business letter from an
individual who had contracted to supply him
with a large quantity of stock but so badly
was it spelled, and so illegible the penman.
ship, that the receiver found it nearly impos.
sible to decipher the meaning. An immedi
ate decision must be given in reply and yet
so obscure was the expression that it was i'm
possible to determine what should be the an
swer. Delay would be sure to bring loss
wrong decision would lead to a still more Sc
rious result. Perplexed with uncertainty
throwing down the letter, he declared tina
this should be the last business transaction
r between him and the writer of such an litter
ate communication for, said he, l am liabl
to lose more in this trade alone, than | cal
/. make in a lifetime of business with him."
A gentleman who had been a book-keepe
some years, offered himself as a candidate 70
the office of secretary to an insurance compa
ny. Although a man of estimable character
possessed of many excellent qualifications, h
failed being elected because he was in the hah
3 it of leaving words misspelled on his books
The position would require him to attend t
d a portion of the correspondence of the office
and it was thought incorrect spelling woul
! not insure the company a very excellent re
= p~utation for their method of doing business
whatever amount might be transacted.
Inability to spell correctly exposes one t
pecuniary loss. 1t is, moreover, an obstacl
to an advancement to honorable station. Sue
instances as those recited above are satisfat
r tory proofs but that this defect in ones edl
cation is productive of modification and mi
chief, is illustrated by the following actu;
II occurrences.
A young teacher had received a~ssistanC
from a friend in obtaining aschool, and wrot
a letter overlooking with gratitude tohis bel
%efactor, but closed it thus Please ercel
" accept p my thanks for your kind favors
my behalf"
Another individual addressed his frien
thus-"My dear cur" (sirO
So, in the one case, the grateful emotion
of a young man are nullified by a s%olitar
p~erverse word in the other, the writer u
Willingly applies to his friend the epith
M which the follower of Mahomet uses, when
y would degrade his Christian neighbor to Il
h, lowest point his language will admit.
We were about to write a brief homily
the science of spelling as a coda to the fol-
y going, but for the present refrain, with t
w hope that a few cases like the foregoing W
awaken attention to the Importance of t
subject, and we can expend our logic to b.
ter advantage hereafter.