Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1875-04-20
SPELLOMANIA.
Paris uilI has an Attael<--symptoms u
Another spasm.


h,,drsd nersons asse bled In the Court
IIouse TO witness the first spelling match
held in Paris since the sport went out oil
6ate in The rural districts. Ii Is little
singular that this entertainment which
originated in the school districts oil Ne"
England. should be now returned 10 us
popularized and made fashionable ny
those who. few years since would nave
sneered at tho spelling match as rura'
pastime.
Ii properly conducted. thse matches
must be productive Of good-and we are
inclined TO think. the research when Is
instigated by the expectation OF speiIing
before an audience. is OF great value.
whether lhe"spell" be properly conducted
or no. ], is useless TO introduce technical
and uncommon words into these exer
cises. But. NJ there are so many words
in every day use. which constants laii To
spell correctly. We are not in much danger
from carry the war 10 such extremes as
are resorled TO in Boston and the larger
cities.
Our spell was under the general man
agement oil S. X. Carter, Esq editor aud
proprietor OF the Oxford Register. lie
called the meeting to order, and in 4 few
appropriate remarks introduced Avah
Black. Esq. AS pronounccr. and Rev.
DR.. Estes as referee.
j. S. Wright. Esq. Clerk Of Courts,
and Miss Pcrsis y. Andrews were selected
to lead the sides and those who proposed
10 spell were requested To "stepup to The
bar" aud wait their turn
II Was a strange gathering which as
sembled there so eager for the fray In
age they varied from seventy five years
to twelve brief summers, and in rank
from General to a school girl. There
were two Dcacons, Sexton. Sheriff.
two Traders. Crer. Farmers. Lawyers.
and Women in numbers, with a spatter
ing OF little children.
Twenty. were chosen on each side.
and the prouOuncer proceeded 10 give
out the wordS-yery easy ones Mt first,
that the contestants might regain their
composure and steady their nerves.
Inreporting these spells, ii is customary
to apply misspeIled wolds TO the parties
who tailed upon them. and though never
built for iokist. We feel obliged. on
account oi outside pressure and numerous
suggestions OF friends, 10 MAKE feeble
attempt. So here goes.
Before the first round was completed
teacher who has presided over ut least
finy schools, found The position OF scholar
so broad he could not Fillei. The sexton,
who is supposed to place persons beyond
the reach OF carnjvorous fowl. was him.
self Gevoured by buzztrd with only
one 10 il.
Second round. A Young lady first
dropped out on apos,rophe. and our post.
mistress lost some oi her gaiety when
she misspeiled biilhrsomr. Two children
and n rich merchant were put into a
Caldrou. where the latter irund oppOr
iunity To repent vi the siG he committed
10 promising 10 give the second prize.
handsome bouquet, Ia nearly d dozen
different ladies. The senior descon'> 81 lie
pluralized Chromo with e.. and was pro.
nounced wrong. An appeal was taken,
but rs no such word could be found 10
the dictionary. il was decided TO allow
the lady 10 retain her seat. A little boy
found his Calibre too small for the contest
and retired.
Third round. Captain No. , was
ordered 10 surrender her commission ny
a Caliph. She was followed by her LETT
hand bower. lady composilor who does
mol have exercise ehough 10 make her
familiar with Calislhenics. but the word
was rapidly taken up and spelled by i
lady W it'll four oil five small children. A
daughter of a good Baptist sister tailed
TO successfully meet Calvinist. and so
'bade farewell To every tear" but her
eyes were as dry rs one OF the old gen
temans sermons. The saddest part OF
the battle was when the General, our
pride, our hope. our JOY. vas confronted
by . formidable Caterpillar. lie looked
the Toe carefully over aud remarked be
had seen the insect befOre. but as it ad
vanced upon bis right suk. the Generals
courage failed aud he beat u hasly retreat
without striking one blow. Then a
farmers wife failed on Cavalier, owing
to the lack OF romantic chivalry in n
farmers life, no doubt. and II recent Rep
resentative TO the Legislature put only
ore I'm" in Commonwealth. thus making
it rather uncommon. The ex school
committee man thought his present occu
patton was not Comparable with his
former employ mont. Two school boys
and the senior Deacon had their self cou.
fidence destroyed by Competency.
Fourth round. A farmer, though be
spelled well, could not master the art OF
Emphasis. Next came terrible slaug hler
OF the innocents. 4 halibut took our
Deputy Sheriff in 81 one moulhiul. then
treated one OF our rising young men 10 |
the same manner. and iull OF sorrow at
making GOODNESS and division in family,