The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1875-10-18
J. N. to z. G.B.
BRIpoEPoRT, O., October l6.

EditorI lntelllgencer;
am gratifed in 30 much that have
driven Brother z. G. B. back to his Ori-
ginal question, and promise to keep to
the line as long as he adheres to his own
subject himself. The only apology that
| can offer to the reader is, that he leads
and must follow, and my second writing
was designed TO bring him up 10 tie line.
z. q. B. in his last article tries IN eX-
pertinent in representing numbers, but
this is entirely irrelative to the subject.
II does not conform to any conventional
methods Of expressing numbers by means
Of the Arabic characters, and 1t simply
shows nothing. Whereas, the "monStros-
tiles" Of our English photography are
conventional and permanently estab-
liShed modes Of expressing words. But
to the question:
Will an alphabet OF 43 letters render
the acquisition Of learning to spel and to
read the English language any easier than
by the present alphabet. | answer, No.
Not any easier to teacher or TO pupil.
You will neither gain time nor save labor.
The same amount Of teaching has to be
done by the use OF either alphabet. Err
perienee justlfCs me in making this asser-
ton. experimental on the system OF q
phonetic alphabet twenty-five years ago,
and know whereof | speak, This subject
Is not q ncw one. Ithas been tried before
this. Books have been printed and peri
Odicals published in the type, and in ad-
vocating the system. It has been tried
and found wanting, 1t requires. older
and educated minds to master 1t, II can
be taught and learned, but ii Is not Of any
advantage to q beginner, and this is the
point on which the question vibrates. l
tried it thoroughly for two years. l
have never been proven guilty OF incom-
potency or non.success IN the school
room, but | would not return to inaicting
the punishment Of 43 alphabetic charaC-
terra upon childhood, because
lst. II Ia rs labOriOus as the present
system. I'd. 1t requires more time. Sd.
Il is not the English language in written
form. 4th, II destroys oil traces OF the
history and derivation Of words, and will
blot out their origin. 9th. The written
language Of this system will be an isOla-
ted tongue, without relation or kindred.
9th. 1t will depreciate the value Of lin
Quistic learning, 7th. The names Of let
ters las indicated by my Opponent) con.
sisting OF the p0,Oer Of the letters will
comprise catalogue OF repulsive sounds.
9Th. The vast expenGe attending the
change. Some OF these objections have
been limited at before, but they are none
the less forcible,
OF course we do not teach beginners to
spell words by reference 10 their deriVa-
ton, but see nc advantage in starting
them In a way that hides their derivation
when the pupil becomes old enough 10
apply the principles Of derivation.
In fact the system appears impractical.
The OrthOgraphy Of our words has been
much improved since the days OF the old
authors quoted by Y, q. B., by the use Of
the same alphabet they used, and many
changes could still be made in the form
Of words without the adoption Of Use.
less alphabet.
The difficulty Of foreigners mastering
our orthography does not concern mo in
the least. would not drop all the silent
letters to accommodate any foreign
tongue. lam In favor OF a protective
tariff in our language.
But "the long columns Of words in the
Eclectic spelleF represents difficulties to
Juvenile learners, &C." So they do. And
who at this age Of advancement In meth
ods Of teaching, places spelling books in
tho hands Of beginners, OF even Of prima-
ry pupils? The ''reader" Is the only spell
Ing book the primary pupil should be
Oppressed" with, and the teacher that
attempts to impose columns Of words from
o speller upon young children, does not
teach photography according to correct
principles. Such teaching is behind the
age, unscientifc in practice, and is bung-
Cling unskilliulness. Tho spelling book
with its columns Of meaningleS words to
to the pupil, Ia nuisance In the class.
Experience teaches that the reader Is the
only spelling book that should be used in
a primary school.
! have aimed at brevity.
Most respectfully,