The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1859-01-07
Bad Spelling and its Consequences.

Some years ago teacher presented him
self as u candidate for tho mastorship of
school, of which toe salary was fifteen hun
drGd dollars His qualifications were deem
cd satisfactory in all respects trcrpt IN spell.
ing. On account of this deficiency he was
rejected. Sec, now, what ignorance in this
elementary branch cost him. In ten years
his salary would have amounted to fifteen
thousand dollars, throwing out Of the cal
cula,ion the increase which, by good invest.
meut, might have accrued from interest,"
Besides this, the annual salary OF the same
school has since bcen advanced to two thou
sand dollars. But he might have remained
in this position twice or three times ten
wears, as other teachers in the same place
have DONE aud that large nmoGnt might,
consequently, havo boon increased in pro-
portion.
A gentleman Of excellent reputation as a
scholar was proposed to fill protcssorship
in ono of our Now England colleges, not
many years since but in his correspondence
so much bad spelling was found, that his
name was dropped, and an honorable posi-.
ton was lost by him. he corporation of the
college concluded that, however high his
qualifications might be in general literature,
tho photography OF his correspondence
would not add much to the reputation OF
tho institution.
A prominent manufacturer, in a neighbor-
ing town, received business lettor from nm
individual who had contracted to supply him
with largo quantity OF stock but so badly
was it spelled, aud so illcgblo tho pcuman-
ship, that tho receiver found it nearly i'm
possible to deciphcr the meaning. An i'm.
mediate decision must be given III reply =
and vet so obscure was tho expression that
it was impossible to determine what should
be tho answer. Delay would be sure to
bring loss a wrong decision would lead 10
"A still more serious result. Perpcxed with
uncertainty, throwing down tho letter, he
declared that this should be tho last busi-
I ness transaction between him and tho writ
or of such an iliterate communication -
"for," said he, IL am liable to lose more in
this trade alone, than can make in q life.
| time of business with him.
A gentleman who had boon book keep.
or some wears. offered himself as a candi-
date for tho Office of secretary to an insur-
ancc company. Although man of estima-
bic character, possessed of many qualilica-
lions. he failed because he was in the habit
of leaving words mis-spolcd on his books.
| the position would require MIN to attend
to a portion of tho correspondence of the
office, and it was thought Incorrect spHli"e
would not insure the company II very excel
! lent reputation from their method of doing
! business, whatever amount might be trans
\ acted.
Inability to spell correctly exposes ono to
pecuniary loss. IL is. morcOveran obstacle
I TO an advancement to honorable stations -
Such instances as those rected above arc
Q tlnt ii. .e I,,f., -,
ono's education is productive Of mortifca-
ton and mischief, is illustrated by the fol-
lowing actual occurrences
A Young teacher had received assistance
from a friend in obtaining school and
wrote u letter overilowiug with gratitude TO
his benoiactor, but closed it thus; "P!easc
crcrpi accept my thanks for your kind
fnvors in my behalf
Another individual addressed his friend
thus: My dear cur sir
So, in the one case, tho grateful emotions
of Young man arc nulllied by solitary
pervrrso word in tho other, tho writer un'
Willingly applies to his friend tho cPilhCt
which the follower of hlahomet uses, when
hn would degrade his Christian noiehbor to
tho lowest point his language will admit.
We woro about to write brief hOnily on
tho sciouco of spelling al coda To tho ioro-
going, but for the present refrain, with the
hope that few cases like tho foregoing WI!
awaken attention to the Importance
of tho subject, and wo can cxpond
our logic to better advantage hereat-
ter.
In tho meantime wo invite everybody to
furnish facts, rrritdLie facts, tonding to the
same point. the accumulation n of which will
carry with them a weight not easy to be ro-
.sisted.-.q. Parish, i. COHaee!ieut Common
| School JOuenOl.