Wilmington daily commercial., 1875-04-16

six offered. The only question was as to posi-
ton in the rank of fame and reward One lady,
however, secured her place sixth, by chang
ing to q, in ignitible, and presently three 9TH
or ladies followed, (though, before doing 80 one
of them, If our reporter and others heard cor
rectly, spelled whiffie-tree without an h. and
was not ruled out.) One failed on matrass, a
measure, used by chemists, "a word which is
technical, and now obsolate even in the labora-
tory,) another on catechrmen, and the third on
exacerbate-the last an error by the speller
which she detected herself in an instant, but un-
fortunately too late.
A lady and gentleman remained-the former
Chest Ter county girl, the latter gallant young
Delawarean. Some question arose whether he
would fail purposely. We do not think he did.
Once he was ruled out for varia-
on in gyrd9;son Mord really
preferably gerfaieon' by Worcester, s's and even
written by good authorities jerfalcon,) but the
High Court Of appeals restored him, amid great
applause. Onlya minute or two Of respite, how
ever, for soon came hermeneutics, (another
technical word, in our Judgment Jon which he
fell to rise no more. The referees were APP
peeled to, and bent their wise heads patiently
over the lexicons, but they found no APP
proval of the method now proposed, and the
lady was left mistress of the field. Great ap-
plause greeted her and bouquet was sent up
from the audience.
About Thousand words were given out in all.
The prizes were then distributed after few
remarks by President Wilson, as follows;
1st. Miss Enma Speakman, of Coatesville.
One share of centennial stock with certificate,
and Websters Unabridged Dictionary. Total
value, 1922.
| End. Henry p. Grubb, Wilmington. share
| of centennial stock with certificate, and Apple
toms Biographical Dictionary. Value SIG.
3rd Mrs. Geo. A. lie Maistre, Coatesville. A
bronze centennial medal, and Webster's National
Dictionary. Value, $40.
| 4th. Miss Ella Speakman, Coatesvle solid
oil nio1t al a,I par nirtt
of Quotations. Value, So.
5th Miss Lizzie Grubb, Wilmington.
bronze Centennial medal, and Webster'a Count
ing House Dictionary. Value, 80. so
9Th Miss Emma Houston, Wilmington. A
bronze Centennial medal.and Wheeler's Diction-
arp of noted names. Value, 80 90.
The 7th prize, Centennial pocket guide, Civ
Ell to the first person spelled out was won by G.
| Stnson, but he declined, il present, to receive
| it when called for.
The exercises were concluded by vocal du.
| EFT by Miss Ormond and Mr.. II. +. Pickels-
'.Larboard Watch"
The furniture on the stage was kindly loaned
| by JOS L. Booth.
CRITICISMS BY AN ACUTE oBsERvER.
To the Editor of the Commercial:
| Words should be clearly and distinctly enunci-
ated and correctly pronounced. The word
matrass, on which one lady was spelled-out VI
was incorrectly pronounced. 1t is an obsolete,
technical word the definition was
vague, incomplete and calculated to con-
fuse. The term flask is now used by
all chemists and dealers, instead OF
matrass. There ia no such word as diukes
in the English language. Honor tc the spellei
| who guessed that donkey was the word intend
| ed. "Felly' can only be found in the vernacu
lar of the carter Chandelier was pronounced
as to the ch like Chandler Was not one lady
ruled out because she spelled eligible with one
II And, let me add, bowie-knife is not pro
nounced buoy-knife.