Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1875-04-17
NalIomelI local Menus.
Another Big Spell.

On Thursday evening last the second grand
spelling match of the season came off at WilsoL
Hall in this city, under the leadership of Col. D.
p. Livermore and Mrs. Z. S. Decker. The names
of the "spellists" were placed in a hat, and the
leaders drew alternately until the ranks were filed
Rev. Mr.. McCully acted as chairman. Rev. Mr.
Paine performed the duties Of pedagogue, and
Rev. Messrs. Harding and Emmons, and the Rev
Miss Haynes occupied positions assigned them as
impartial judges. The tournament opened with
an innocent fusade Of monosyllables, calculated TO
give confidence to the victims for sacrifice on the
altar of popular criticism. The assembled multi
ude, brave and accomplished spoilers all, no doubt,
in their own estmations at least, were awaiting
with breathless interest 10 witness the first and
succeeding failure, in order that they might man
fest their delight much after the style OF
those IN ancient story over the success or discomh-
ture of their favontes or subjects OF aversion,
struggling FOR the mastery in Roman or heather
amphitheatiical death struggle. "Quince" proved
bitter fruit for voungster on the Decker sde'
while 'glebe, "teud" and "cornice sent TO the
rear three more unfortunates. The tables then
turned for a brief space, and "seethe" cooked one
victim on the Livermore side, 'prodigious' aitec-
ted another most prodigiously, while third,
brave veteran from the suburbs, suffered most
painful "crucfxion" by mixing up his letters IN
defiance of rules laid down by the arbitrary com
pliers of our standard dictionaries. "Exharate'
raised the expectations of another on the Decker
side little too high. followed By a gallant
aquatic. sportsman swimming on the PACK OF
lhiuoScioo, N""h
from pit to dome, and decimating the ranks
of the colonel another unit. A lady who never
allows any one to "tyrannize" over her, stepped
down next in order from the same side, while
"etymoogy' in the opposition quarter became
completely buried from sight beneath pondierous
pile Of Snow. "Aborgnes. '"alliteration," "hiero,
glyphic, documentary, "vicissitude,
"lachrymose," and "meerschaum," thnned the
ranks on both sides to fearful degree "Pansy,"
anthracite" and "logarithm" retired several
who failed because the words were so easy, and
with laudable purpose to get out of harms way
before proceeding to close quarters.
The great event of the evening seemed to centre
on single word, 'philippic" by name, which
brought to grief the successful champion Of
former trial, together with gentleman from the
rural districts and the leaders of the contendng
wings, who retired in state, with eclat of unmisa
kable demonstratveness "Genseng," "hssion,"
"ecstacy" "eryspelas" and Caterpillar reduced
the number to Mrs. jose on the side Of Mrs
Decker, and Mr.. Horace Hathaway on the side of
Mr.. Livermore. After brief parrying, each main
tanning with honor and distinction their respective
positions, Young Hathaway yielded to "polliwog,"
thus ending the contest Mrs. Jose, who is sister
of the successful contestant of the former trial.
received the first prize, "Bryant's Library OF Poe
try and Song" Mr.. Hathaway the second prze,
"Whittier's Poems" and Miss Amanda Snow all
elegant bouquet and vase. The occasion was
of Interest," the only complaint having been in
consequence Of the feeble voices Of many Of the
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