The Findlay Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Hancock County, Ohio) 1870-1881, 1875-06-25
gome, farm and garden
spenIne Matches-Keep tkem:coing.

Spelling Matches-keep tken.coing.
The s'speIling mania" has been very |
contagious during two or three months
past. One can hardly take up a news
paper, printed anywhere from Maine to
Nebraska, without finding in it an ac-
count of one or more spelling matches.
Probably not less than 25,OOO such
contests have been held this year, In
which an average of fifty persons have
been directly engaged, and all OF these
million people, young and old, have per-
formed a deal OF study over the right Or
biography of a very large number Of
words. Then an average OF over lVO
persons have attended these matches a.
spectators, and carefully watched the
spelling of every word put out, " so that
at least 3. 600, 900 TO 1000, 900 people
have improved their spelling ability to a
considerable extent We know that IN
asingIe locality at least 100 families were
actively engaged, parents and children,
morning, noon and night, in going over
and over the spelling-book and lists o1
"test words" while in the shops, stores
and manufactures the right spelling OF
this and that word has been the main
topic of conversation. Even in barber
shop the retailing Of scandal and unim-
pOrtant news has given place to spelling
discussions; and had not the ''Beecher
trial" come in to claim extraordinary at
tention, perhaps threefOurths Of our
whole population would have had ''spel-
ling on the brain"
We look with good deal OF favor up
on all this. Even if it stops right here
the influence will continue many years.
Everybody will be more careful about
sending out letters and other written
documents defaced with badly-spelled
words, which always gives the impression
of illiteracy. These matches have af-
forded much amusement, and that Of a
far more useful character than n major
ity of the entertainments commonly sup
piled. For example, take two benevo-
lent societies we know Of One of them
held ''fair," for which lot of fancy
articles of nearly a useless character,
were got up with much time and ex
pense, and the attendants were dragoon
ed into buying what they did not want
and had no earthly use for-all 'Ior tn,
good Of the cause" The ending anC
chief attraction of the affair was a sor
of ''kissing bee" The net proceeds wer
sixty-five dollars, including the incom'
of lottery ring-cake and lottery grab
bag. The other society had a spelling
match, to which few leading citizen
lent their influence as participants, an
were followed by the young people gen
orally. The only preparation was tn
useful spelling study in families. TIL
net result of the quiet but amusing en-
tertainment was over seventy-five do
lars taken at the door. This last is onI
one of several thousand similar doubl
useful enterprises of the present year
We sincerely hope that the spelling cam
paign will reopen next autumn with in
creased energy, and also that the goot
old plan of choosing sides and spellin,
matches in all our public schools will b
the order. They will furnish legitimat
entertainment, having no unhealthfu
moral tone, and we shall, as a nation
become far better spoilers "-America,
AgricULturist.