The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1875-04-08

From the Boston Transcript
A Spelling Match in FIaunders-
Vile.
FLAuNDEKsyILLE, March 25, 1875.
Mr. Editor The people of our town,
as you very well know, make point of
keeping up with the times, and therefore
it will not surprise you to be told that no
sooner had they heard and read of the
famous spelling matches that are coming
OIL throughout the country than .been
in our own Town Hall was decided upon.
1t took but q few days for preparation,
and Tuesday evening last was assigned as
the time tor the contest.
Without going into minute details.
which would be wearisome. let it suffice to
say that twelve of our most intelligent
and highly educated ladies on the one
side, and an equal number of our foremost
| toWnsmen on the other, We're stationed
upon the platform of the Town Hall with
| the understanding that word was first to
be given ont to lady, then to gentle
man, and so on altern ately. A prize of
barrel of cranberries. according to the de-
! clslon OF the Committee Of Arrangements
was to be awarded to the person who held
out to the last. and second prize of
barrel OF apples was to be given to the
next best speller Mr. Double Dott, the
village schoolmaster, was chosen to give
out the words, and he, in turn, selected
Squire Bascom as umpire, in case any dis
putation should arise between him Double
DotD and the spoilers.
Everything having been declared ready,
10 tb, t1,1..,
given to Mrs. Iemmenwav, the wife OF
the postmaster. Spell bombazinen ? ex-
| claimed the school-master, in loud and
ringing tone, and rapping the table before
him with his walking stick, so as to add
emphasis to the words
Bum (bum) b-a (ba-bumba) z-e-e-n
| (zeen-bumbazeen 7, was the response OF
Mrs Hemmenway.
Not correctn shouted MIR Double Dott
step to the rear, Mrs Hemmenway, to
the rear say \
1t is correct Z cried a lady among the
audience, Ct think it was Miss Pettingill,
u writer in The Flaundersvile Weekly
Fire Flash)
Squire Bascom, said the schoolmaster,
shaking with excitement, turn to the die
tjonary and see how the word is spelt'
And the Squire put on his spectacles, re-
marking, i think myself it is b-u-m-b-a-
z-i-n-e,-in fact I'm sure on'tn He then
proceeded to open the dictionary, but it
was q long time ere he found the word,
and, when found, he turned very red in
the face, and looked rather cheap all over,
observing to the audience, Its bonn, after
all as sure as my name is Calvin Bascomn 2
The next word was given to DR.. Shut
tleworth, and highly esteemed citizens.
Spell ipecacuanhan rOared Double Dott
knowing that the Doctor is hard of hear
ing, and for that reason indeed he repeated
the word in still more stentorian tone
At first the good man wayered, but pres
entity he struck boldly out, 'i-p- (ip) i-Gpi)-
k-a-c-k- (kack- -ipkack )-u- (ipikacku) h-a Il
n-a-h-Gpikackuhannah)
'And that's what's the matter with
Hannah" rudely broke out reprobate
among the boys on the front seats
Silence !" screamed Mr. Double Dot,
"Sience Or I'll have every boy OF We put
out OF the hall I" Then turning to the
Doctor he said, "retire to the rear, r.
YOU have made q shocking muss of tt
retire to the rear | sayn And | really
pittied the poor old man, more particular
" when noticed Mrs Shutt.eworth, who
sF4}tu sF4}t ng4r the platform, point her finger at
heard her mutter ''I'N hannah him with
vengeance his mind is forever running
on Hannah Ross, that little witch -
Miss Nancy Hawthorne, said the school
master, tits now your turn (Miss Haw
thorre also writes for the Weekly Fire
Flash as the editor informs me) Spell
carniyorous = And she began, 'k-a-r (kar)
Stop. stop cried Mr. Double Dott,
putting up both hands to his ears, as if to
shut out the sound OF her voice. tor mer-
cy's sake, stop where You are, or | shall
20 raving mad go to the rear, Miss
Hawthorne. 60 TO the rear =
why, You don't gin TIE poor critter no
sort OF chance said Farmer Frizzle ris-
ing from his seat in the audience; She
haint skeercely begun, and YOU can't tell
how well She may fetch up
'Fctch atp Z exclaimed Double Dott,
who ever heard Of beginning the word
'carniyorous' With a k, | would like to
know =
'Let rs have fair play, muttered Squire
BAscom, as he again put on his glasses
aud reopened the dictionary. He turned
to the letter K, and husily searched for
'karnivorous, while Double Dott looked
on actually wrlthing with disgust and
indignation.
And 50 il went on, Mr.. Editor, till at
last our pretty little school-marm, Miss
Cordelia AraDella Archibald, was left the
last, and she spelt the word haberdasher'
Just as easy as You and | can spell cat
(cat) or dog (dog) Of course, the
barrel OF cranberries was awarded Hiss
Archibald. and, all the rest Of the contest
ants having made a failure of it, tEe ques
ton arose, what Shall be done with the
barrel Of apples The committee finally
decided to donate the fruit TO our worthy
and excellent pastor, the Rev. Mr.. Slash
aWay-a decision that no one found fault
with, saving Mr. Double Dott, who limited
that school teachers stood as much in
need Of lift Of that sort as ministers.
Wen, take it all in all, our spelling
match afforded us an entertainment that
was both amusing and instructive, and
there is some talk among our people OF
getting up another. The ladies are full
of the thing, and declare there's nothing
like it, The Rev Mr.. Slashaway, too,
tayors the movement, telling tclks that
apples always come in play, and are both
toothsome and wholesome But Mr.. Dou-
BILE Dott, as | learn from Mrs. Double D.,
is inclined to throw a damper upoa the
project of q second contest. He is a
tidous creature, however, and (outside 0.
the schoolhouse) Of no great account.
Yours faithfully, PHANUEL FnIPps
KISSING IN CHINA 1t is a singular fact
~. ,I..a.