The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1860-03-28

Com. OF Ravenna Township.
TIE SPELLING Misunderstanding to
previous announcement, the scholars Of the
several schools in this village have been
actively engaged during the past week in
the spelling contests. The excitement was
by no means confined TO the participants,
but extended throughout the whole commu.
nity-the parents, relatives ard friends of
the scholars being more or less affected by
il. The exercises were held at the Town
Hall, and each evening long before the time
appointed for the commencement of the
contest, every available space was occupied
by the anxious spectators.
On Friday evening, the High School,
Grammar School and the two Secondary
Schools spelled for the first prize, which
was a copy Of "Webster's Unabridged Pic
torial Dictionary" The number OF scho
lars competing for the prize is estimated at
200. The school was organized by the np
pointment Of Hon. DARIUS LYMAN, ss Mod.
era'or, ond ALPHoNso HART, Esq. as pro-
pouncer Of the words to be spelied-he be.
ING at liberty to select any word in McGuf
fey's Eclectic Spelling Book. At 1t o.
clock the spelling commenced and c0ntia-
ued until l04 o'clock, when all The contest
auts we're spelled down but Mics JULTETTE
BUTLER, of the Grammar School, TO whom
the prize was awarded. The spelling
Throughout the whole evening was excellent,
evincing alike thorough training and close
study. The contest was warm and exciting
to the scholars, and especially TO those OF the
Secondary Schools, ell Of whom did them.
selves much credit. The greater part of the
words mis- spelled were common and IA
miliar.
On Saturday evening the scholars of the
High School had their contest for the fol.
lowing prize: "Life in Spain," "Fate of
Sir John franklin" "Greely's Overland
Journey to California" and "Gold Foil"
by Timothy Titcomb. P. B. CoNANr, Esq,
was appointed Moderator; Prof. D. D. P1cK-
Er, the Principal, pronouucing the words
Master JAMES CATL1N, who was out spelled
by his successful competitor on the previous
evening, carried off the prize. The number
of scholars who took part in the spelling
was about 30.
On Monday evening" the Grammar School,
numbering about 10 scholars, spelled for
"Las Cassas' Memoirs of Napoleon" in
volumes. The words were pronounced by
H. H. STEVENS, Esq, the Principal. The
prize was awarded to Miss ELEANOR HUGHES.
The exercises of the evening were enliven-
ed by appropriate vocal music by the school.
On Tuesday afternoon, the scholars Of the
Primary Schools, Nos. and Q, spelled for
the following prizes: No. l--"Peris Of
Greatness" ""Retiring from Business" and
"Debtor and Creditor" No. 2--"Hurrah
for New England" "Keeper's Travels"
and "A Strike for Freedom" The words
were pronounced by the teachers, Misses
CocHRANE and ROBINSON. The prizes were
awarded to Master ORION SPERRY, Of No.
/, and Master EDALBERT BEAN, of No. a.
Master Sperry spelled both schools down.
On Tuesday evening, the scholars Of the
Secondary Schools competed for the follow
ing prizes, viz: No. 1--"History Of the
United States," in two volumes. No. g.
"Fate of Sir John franklin" "Wirt's Life
of Patrick Henry" The words were pro-
nounced by Prof. PICKETT. The scholars
to whom the prizes were awarded are: No.
l--Miss MARINDA BUNTs; No. 2--Miss
ADA BRAINARD.
SERIOUS AccIDENT.-As the Express train