Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1875-05-06
THE SPELLING BEES.
The Spelling Match.

AAc cPeIh Iouso Wks luil Dut HOL CTOWueu,
last evening, to see and hear the second Gen.
tennial Spelling Bee, which wac, also, the third
trial between Coatesvllle and Wilmington. The
programme announced was carried out fully,
with the exception Of the solo by Miss Ormond
at the close, omitted Oh account OF the late hour.
The curtain drew up shortly after O'Clock,
disclosing very charming scene. Fifteen
Coatesvie spoilers and fifteen Wilmington spell.
lers occupied respectively the right and left Of
the stage, seated 80 that their whole number
formed semi-clrcle. Where the two classes
wouid-Laye me. in the middle,t the presiding
officer. Chas. Il. Lore, ESD, and the Vice Presi-
dent DR.. Chas. Huston. we're seated. Back Of
them Oh Il high seat of Judgment. were the Um-
pres, President Wilson, Mr. Beale, and Prof. J.
X. Taylor The spoilers se,ni-circle had it's ex-
tramitiss at the sides OF the stage
by the boxes, and at each of these the
attorney OF the class--NIr Miller for Coates
vile, and Mr.. Wiley, for Wilmington--werc
Sci ated. platform for Prof. Reynolds, the
''Pedagogue,n had been placed across the or
chestra space, in front. upon which he took his
seat, the arrangement bringing him near the au-
dience,- 80 that their hearing would be better
assured.
Mr.. Lore having made a brief and pleasant in
troductory address, the first in order was the
music. vocal and instrumental-a piano duett
by Misses Ormsby and Cartwright a vocal So
10, "Bird Of the Spring Time by Miss Collins.
who was recalled, and sang with even increased
bucCcsh, Il ShllIlUt tuc Olu SOups, II VOCAL
duett, 81 Would that My Love-" by Misses Clark
and Collins and vocal solo, "When the Tide
Comes In" by Miss Ormond, to which, upon
warm encore, she added another Scottish ballad
of more lively tone and measure.
| The spelling WAS now begun. Prof. Reynolds
who had sat on his elevated platform like the
statue of Abraham Lincoln. in Philadelphia, took
up the business OF the evening, and beginning
with the first Wilmington speller, Mr.. Grnbb,
gave ont first word to Wilmington and then
/ In (lpNtasyila ultaruatiuu npa SIa IN
the other, continuously, SO that each side should
spell All equal number of words, this being the
rule agreed on by the Umpres. The first thirty
words, going just twice around, were quite easy,
and no one missed. Then Prof. Reynolds
reached forward and took up sheet OF
what everybody presumed were the Jaw
| breakers and tongue-twisters, and amid
the suppressed emotion of audience and
spellers proceeded. The list began with ''atro-
cious," and ran for awhile on the varieties of
ceous, clous, tious, No., &c. This brought down
the first victim, Wilmington gentleman who
spelled arenaceous, with an for the second e,
and in moment more second Wilmingtonian,
lady who received prizes both here and at
Coatesville, failed on bibacious addicted to
drinking,) spelling it with an G. These two
failures for Wilmington locked unfortunate to
the majority OF the audience, but III spelling, as
! in other trials Of skill the game not out until
it is played out. The pedsgogue now ran awhile
on words terminating with ible, and able. but be-
fore proceeding far, Mr.. Wiley, representing the
| Wilmington class raised the point that as there
were now thirteen spoilers on his side and ff-
teen on the other, to give the words alternately
to the classes put more trials on each member
Of the Wilmington class than on each member
of the Coatesyiile class. This was true, and it
ID an interesting point quite capable Of discus
sion. The Umpires, however, ruled that each
eide must spell the same number of words as the
other, without regard to how much its individual
members were required to do.
The first Coatesville failure was now made on
~. u.I.-. \ l..l..
omitting one |, A Wilmington lady failed next,
and in a moment the words now running on
the varying termnatons of ize, Use, and ice.
a Coatessllle gentleman spelled criticise
4 with az. He first retired, but the Umpires, on
appeal, found his spellin. Justified hy LIE -nsaGa
was replaced. The rule, after question by
one of the Attorneys. was stated by the Umpres
that the "authorized' spelling OF the author:
ties would be permitted to include not only the
methods act forth r the large type, in the die
tionsries, but also such they quoted, in the
small type, after their definitions, as being al
80 used" $50 spelled by good writer's &c, &c.
The propriety Of this ruling on the present oc-
csson WAS justified by circumstances, and it was
equally fair for both sides, but the Umpires
themselves do not regard ii as sound on general
principles. II certainly il not
The termination ize, for merchandise, could
not be sustained, as criticize was, and Will
mngton lady retired, followed quickly by
Coalesyille lady, who took prize at the preri-
ous Bee in this city. Other failures followed,
the attorneys generally appealing for their res
pective losing companions, and often calling for
Judgment" as against their opponents. The
word torqued, (twisted) puzzled Coatesville
gentleman, and he ticked the surface Of his
brain-pan in vain. failing on the word. Upon
tho question Of admitting such words AZ
peoponnesian, (referring to Peloponnes-
, sus, in Greece) debate occurred between
the attorneys, but the umpres allowed them
to go in, and this word proved fatal to Coates
vile gentleman. Other failures followed and in
few minutes, Wilmirgton's rank which had
severely suffered under storm OF hard words,
} such az insccation. Sisyphean, phlogistian, was
reduced to five spellers go that Coateayille now
became sure OF at least one prize. lady on
& that side, who took the frat prize at the Bee,
mere, two weeks ago. now returned on knaggy
without a k, and she was quickly followed by
another Coatesville lady, VINO also took prizes
both in that borough and here, on dutions fot
duteous-
After two more failures on the same side, the
classes now standing seven TO five, President
o Lore asked them to draw their chairs forward OF
4, the stage, which they did. One gentleman and
. | six ladies remained of the visitors, and three
gentlemen and two ladies' Of the Wilmington
:. class. The contest now became extremely in
teresting. and the audience, sweIteriDg in the
heated atmosphere of tho Opera House, pers
I pired, with eyes elhiindled, countenances ami
mated and hearts pit-a-patting, in behalf Of th'
b contestants. Two Coatesviile gladiators, how
Q ever, quickly failed, leaving the numbers nov
y standing to 5, and making 1t certain that vii
h mington would get at least one OF the six prizes
n The next failure was by Wilmington gentle
o man who spelled the plural Of motto by the ad
l. dtion only Of an $, for which the Umpires ruet
F. there is no authority remaining gentleman
l, on the same side indulged in some pleasahtrie
Y, in his manner of spelling which seemed 8 trii'
Il like dancing on the edge OF danger. though hi
D. 'g-i-double izzard.a-r-d for gizzard WAS funny
1, too, and brought down the house. He present
IF " experienced shock by being put out on hing
ing, without the g but the Umpires found AL
'e thorty, and put him back again. In momen
st more, however, the head Of the Wilmington clas
Mr. Grubb our first prize man at Coatesvllle. an
second prize at the previous Wilmington Bee
s spelled the word prestidigirator, with the eui
II, Rs it is almost universally printed on the show
bills, in the newspapers, and elsewhere. VI
st fortunately, this ending, though 30 commonl
o. used, is the French, and the dictionaries do NJ
to permit it, Mr.. Grubb, after appeal, was p'
h out, proceeding very rcgretful to all who kne
of his abilities as speller.
be and the Pedagogue struck q vein OF easy word
re, on which it seemed likely the classes might col
tend ail.night Occasionally however, the smool
water had an ugly snag in it, and at length-ti
~ the four ladies' fell on Enesd for .Eneid, lea
ing the classes 3 to g. and making 1t certain tn
nm each side would get half the prizes. One OF Il
nn Wilmington ladies spelled ochra for okra, b.
IN. chair back, by the Pedagogue's order, 0
ia fagot, which the umpires found correct,
on a moments search, the classes still remaiiiir
70, and 3. Next the only remaining gentlema
of Mr.. Moore, OF Wilmington, was p'
ia out on arefy for aerify, after
ef long and firmly contested debate. makir
adj him the sixth prize-taker, then Wilmingte
as lady went out on misspellng OF sluce, giyil
AN her the fifth prize and but one lady WAS now 10
M on this side against three Of the visitor. Pre-
emily the spelling of marshal for martial count
,st. of one OF the latter, making her the four
I'd. prize, after tedious discussion and consider
.he ton and at last Miss Miller, the only remaini
ger one of the Wimingtonans, spelled the SUR
mn. cal word escharotic, without the h. Upon u
VA two points were msde-thst the spelling "
sanctioned, and that it was strictly technit
word. Judgment WAS against 10th, and 80
contest, az between this city and Coatesylle
lam settled, they to have the LIST, 2nd, and 4th
the the Sd, 9Th and 9Th. The two Coatesyille Had
OF now only spelled a word or two, before Q
Two rniesed-perhsps purposely-and ended
an whole trial. it being now after IL O'Clock,
ciSl The prizes were then presented Mr.. Lore {
to ing those which went to Coatesvlle, and
d. Huston those for this city, and each adding so
thoughtful and kindly words. Mr.. Lore sale
rop, Miss Gottier, who received the fourth prize
heir handsome satchel, that he hoped she would ca
it home full OF friendly feelings for Coatesyi
,sva from the people of Wilmington. I. The pr
a;no were - follows
'"e 1. Elegant writing desk, s27., Mrs. Bradle.
-. Coatesville.
tues .. PeArl-mounted opera glasses, $3.50, \
oh . yexrsley. Of Coatesyilie.
3. Rogers Statuette. School Examinatie
All