The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1875-05-08
THE SPELLING MATCH.
A Warm GOntest-The BowdOim Boys
WIn-The Ugh school n Good Second.

School, at City Hall, last evening, drew ou' d
large audience, City Hall being about two
thirds full. For some time past the contesting
parties have been ihdustriously plugging
The girls wrestled an hour or two day Win
the tongue-twisters of the English language
and the boys took turn at fifteen hundred
words before they left Brunswick. So the con-
testants were in excellent condition SO far as
training was concerned.
A. eight o'clock the students, twenty-five IN
number, filed into the hall and took their
places on the right of the.platform. They were
a fine looking set of fellows, quick-eyed and
alert of movement and evidently intent on
carving away three.fifths of the receipts.
All classes were represented from Senior to
Freshman. The following are the names:-
Holmes, rs; Black, IS; Roberts, II; Sabin, rs;
Simmons, IS; Felch, n; Hall, E. H., rs; Pea
w, II; Potter, rs; Mitchell, II; Hall, j. F., IS;
Morrill,, j. A 76; Halves, Is; Couseps, IT;
Beale, II; Watt, 76; Wells, 70; Baston, F. o.,
70; Paysou, IS; Rogers, rs; White, IS; Libby,
rs; Floyd, Is; Sleeper, rs; Lord, II.
A few minutes after the twenty-five High
chool girls bright and saucy, but looking a
rifle Hurried. took seats on the left of the
latform. Their extreme youth at once at
tracted attention. Indeed very few of them
had arrived at the dignity of trailing gowns,
and there were but few of the graduating class
in the delegation. The following are the names
First class, Misses Fairfield, Dodge, Evans,
Hall, Phinney, Read; e,ond class, Misses
Banks, Devoll, Gerry, Morris, O'Brion, Rich
mond, Willis; third class, Misses Susie Dem
ming, Barnard, Izatt, Walsh; fourth class,
Misses Bedlow, Billings, Galley, Gooding,
Nichols, Phinney, Pollister, Shun.
At quarter past eight o'clock George E. B.
jackson, Esq, stepped to the front of the
platform and asked the audience to be quiet
for SPELL Thereupon the audience cheered,
and then became quiet, while the umpire an
nounced the rules governing the contest. All
technical and obsolete terms, and proper and
geographical names were excluded. Instructor
Robinson and Tutor Chandler of Bowdoin, and
Principal Patten and Master Chase of the High
School, acted as judges. S. T. Pullen, Esq,
was word giver.
The umpire sat down, the word giver got up,
the audience craned their necks forward, and
the fun began. In order to accustom the colts
duu uitiCo " tuCil pioOCo olUihoiy ohu Ia
milar" words within the common" 'knowl.
edge of the scholars were supplied" at
first Then, according to the 'method" agreed
upon the "cycle' widened "Analyze" was
tossed to Bowdoin man, and other puzzlng
examinations in ize and use tumbled over each
other in quick succession.
The first spell was twenty five minutes in
duration, and it was arranged that no one who
missed should step out uutil the expiration of
that time. This was severe on the audience,
for people didn't know half the time whether a
word was spelled wrong or right, and so FREE
uently caught themselves laughing in the
wrong place. AS soon, however, as they discov-
cred their mistakes they drew themselves up
with astonishing rigidity, and looked prefer
naturally wise.
For several minutes words were tossed to one
side and the other and caught on the fly every
time. But the word of doom was in the mouth
of the umpire, and Freshman who wore the
escutcheon of Theta Delta Chi insisted on de-
liberately enunciating i-s-e-n-c'e A subdued
and doubtful smoker broke out among the au-
dience. Bowdoin was soon avenged, however,
for "tannary'' and 'nautia" worked havoc in
the ranks of the Amazons. "Callfy" made it
warm for Sophomore VINO wore the escutch-
con pin, "paralisis' 'paralyzed a Junior who bore
the diamond badge of Delta Kappa Epsilon,
and 'philopena" foored another Junior, who
sported the clasped hands of Psi Epsilon.
Then breathing spell was called and five
students and six girls stepped out of the ranks.
After recess of five minutes the contestants
T1,a Gr.t f,s1,
little blonde beauty, who stepped out on "prac-
Sophomore and Theta Delta Chi,
withdrew on 'sresucitate," and two Juniors,
Psi US both, marched in melancholy process
sion down the steps on 'atcess' and 'absc-
sion." bright-eyed girl added an ell and
spelled "acquilline," and was condemned to
exile for her extravaganza.
At nine o'clock fifteen boys and eighteen
girls sat on the platform.
Colocynth was given out and then withdrawn,
being Judged technical. Dromedary puzzled
student for noment, but he triumphantly
climbed that hump. A fellow student, Junior
and Theta Delta, was not so fortunate, and va
Gated his chair on "irasible.' A Senior who
proudly bore the skeleton pin of Zeta Psi,
on "demijon.'' "Effegy" sent wee
bit of girl down to the other side of the plat
form, where an erring sister Joined her on
'facecious." "Fusilade" shot another Sopho-
moric shield bearer from his chair, and 'sguag-
ing" filled the measure of woe for stately
title lady who took her defeat philosophically.
"Mllenium" proved anything but a happy
time for Freshman with the voice of Stentor.
who avowed himself an Ouden as concerned
that word.
"Remeniscence" failed to carry round
checked damsel back to the days of the SPELL
ing book, and "propynquity' was not near
enough to photography to save her seat for
little girl who had held her own
bravely until then. ACKNOWLEDGMENT en-
larged the standing room of senior Psi U, and
''teetotaller' did the business for Senior Delta
Kappa.
At half-past nine, eleven girls and ten boys
sat in the seats of torture. But "prebandery"
made hole in the dove-cote, and sent grace
full little lady into the ranks Of the spectators.
"Staucheon" proved frail reed for a Senior
Delta Kappa to lean upon, and 'trunyon'
brought the first defeat in the wordy battle to
the star and crescent of Alpha Delta Phi.
and she lost her seat.
At quarter of ten, eight girls and six boys
were all that were left of the contending
armies "Teing" sent boy to the rear, while
"enfoefing," "mysyguny," "prophesey,
"poffery" and Embarrassment" unseated in
rapid succession five of the brightest and best
among the girls. ''Vitrefy" carried Senior to
the floor, and "ineffacable'' sent charming lit
tie miss into hasty retreat
AS the clock struck ten but three remained
of the brave little band of Amazons, and four
deep quarters at the Pierian spring confronted
them. Medallion" reduced to an equality the
numbers in the two forlorn hopes, and five
minutes after the armies were reduced to two
each, a Sophomore going out on ''ekeing," and
a feal less little woman who had promptly and
easily mastered every word given her, quickly
following
The interest at this time was intense. The
spectators forgot to be amused, and eagerly
leaned forward, too excited to make even a
rustic. For some minutes words flew to one
side and to the other, and were correctly SPELL
ed. Now, as through all the contest, the girls,
eager and flushed ratified off the words as fast
as given, while the boys, cooler and more cir
cumspect, took time and spoke with great de-
liberation. At last "hypochFondiac" twisted
kha vpart ton,11a IF tho har,.ino opd tho