The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1875-04-15
Spelling School.

At last the excitement has reached
Toledo, and the citizens of our town have
had a spell" Last Thursday evening
according to arrangements previously
made IA match was held in the Court
House. There was large number prt
sent, ana the meeting was called to order
by G. Z. Guilford G. l.. Bailey was
elected chairman The rules to govern
the match were read after which the
champions or captains Mr.. G. c. Guilford,
and Mrs. L. n. Barker began choosing
sides. Mr. Guilford had the first choice.
When sufficient number were chosen the
pronouncers, Mr.. H A. Brown ard Mrs.
A. II. Sterrett took their places with book
in hand and then the struggle commenced.
Not wishing to be too severe on the spell
ers the pronouncers commenced on words
of one syllable such as bad" lad" &c.
Failing to bring down any game on such
words they advanced to words OF two and
more sylables. 1t had been previously
announced that prize would be given to
the first and last ones down and there seem
ed to be struggle to see who could secure
them. Mr.. G. Ii. Goodrich went down on
the word dissolute, leaving out one IS
after several more rounds Of spelling the
combat deepens and words are selected
which have silent and unlocked for letters
in them. The "Deuce" proves to much
for Mr.. S. w. Hutton, and Bro. Messmer
cover on the other side" was let down on
ribbon" Rev. Chi,ds struggled with
Gar and sne "zarr" proved too many for
him. His struggles were evidently hard
as he sank down exhausted and was fan
ned while great drops OF Precipitation were
wiped from his brown by friendly hands.
Catholicism was too heavy subject fol
MI. Sterrett and Dir. Boynton. MIS-. E. l..
Dillman tackled caitiff and though she
succeeded in putting an 81" out she did
not come off victorious. Mr.. G.. Jaqua
spelled allege with Cd" which was e.
roneously decided wrong, as Webster
gives the word both with and without the
I'd" Judge Graham wrestled some time
with ere which was pronounced as though
spelled air. He spelled air, heir, and are
and then gave it up saying that was all
the airs he know anything about. The
word "grazieT" finished up the class.
| Many and amusing wee Incl -ents o.
the evening. 1t was arranged to have {
match between the "old folks" or thost
who were married; then between thu
old and young folks. but SO much TIM
were taken up in organizing the frs
match that it was decided to post-pon
the others till some future time. Tn
prizes were then awarded. The frs
one down Mr.. G.. H. Goodrich, receiye'
two very fine pairs of leather spectacle
with which to study his lessons in tn
future. 1t was presented to him by tn
captain of the opposite side, Mr.. G. c
Guilford, with an amusing speech. MI
Sterreit then gave the victor, Mr.. Gull
ford leather medal who took it as
precious memento and said he would han
it down to his little ancestors as a
heirloom of great value.
! After the presentation of prizes arrange
ments were made for another match t
take place in the school house on Monda
evening of this week.
Some seventy-five persons assembled o
the evening mentioned and general goo
time was enjoyed by all present. Tw
matches were held-the first between tn
young folks, and the second betwee
young and old together, chosen Pre-
miscuously. We have not the space t.
give detailed account of this. Suffic
it to say that the captains were John Fra
zee and Miss Eliza Dexter; the pronoun
ces, Mrs E. L. Dillman and A. II. Sterrett
Chairman, N. Fisher; Umpire, DR.. Boyn
ton. The winners Of the first match wa
Miss Lizzie Conant; of the second Mis-
Hattie Alden. We think this school wa
more enjoyable than the firstonc from tn
fact that there seemed to be none of tina
reserve and dignity which prevailed to
great extent at the first one.
Another match will be held at the Coul
House next Monday evening, which It
expected will be The match Of the season
The book which will be used on tina
occasion is Henderson Test Words, from
the list to the 84th pages inclusive.