National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1875-03-19
oLD-TIME SPELLING MATCH.
Staten Isl nd sOlOns Testing Their 0rthog-
ranhu
From the New York Sun, March 6.

tFrom the New York Sun, March 81
at gives me great pleasure" says Mr.. ]. W.
Simonton, of the Associated Press, as he stood on
the platform Of the Association hall, in Factory
Vile, Staten Island, last night "ss president Of
the Young Mems North Shore Christian AssOcia-
tion, to welcome you all here. We have met, as
amateurs in spelling, to find out who is the best
speller and who is the worst on the North Shore
here. No professionals Will be allowed to enter
the contest, and under the head of professionals
we rank school teachers and school children, so
that no one can plead rustiDess to excuse himself
from trying for the prize. We are all rusty, and
we must enter into this thing with fOrmality, like
children going to their play. This gentleman
here" and Mr.. Simonton pointed to tall man
dressed in a pedagogue's true suit of black and
with a big red head, Twill act as pioneer to
choose the words and PROFOUND them to the
classes. 1t rests with you to elect two captains,
who will In their turn choose classes Of equal
number. Will somebody nominate the osptains2f'
One voice brought forward the name OF W. r.
Eadie, and another that Of VIM. L Sexton, and
the two gentlemen named, after the nominations
were ratified by the applause ofthehouse, mounted
the platform and tossed penny for the first chsice
Of followers.
The room was crowded, and every face was ex-
pectant with the expression of hope Of beng
called, If only for pleasure Of having chance
to refuse, and this interest did not cease until
tlemen were ranged in each opposing army. Then
Mr.. Eadie led lady to his side, and while Mr..
Sexton looked on in dismay, Mr.. Hartman Brown,
Of Wall street, one Of Mr.. Sections men, bal
anced the hOpors by securing another lady and
leading her to his seat Two more we're after
six spoilers were ready for work.
BEGINNING THE BATTLE
"Enbarrsssment" was the FIRST word given out
by Pioneer Sprague. "E-m-b-s-double r-a-doubls
f-m.e-n-t," quickly replied Mr.. Sexton. "Intelli-
hinteli gil gi-intelligi b. le- inteiliEible," re-
sponded Mr.. Esdie, amid the applause Of the
house.
Sc things ran smoothly until one ofMr Eadle,s
men tried TO make "t-y-ra-ntc-Le" spell tyranni-
cal, and Mr.. Spragus invited him to step down
Sections army q man, and "e-x.h-i-LLEr.a-t q"
carried of another. "D-Lse-e-r.n-a-b-Le" and
Unacceptable paired with each other, one
staying soldier Of Eadie's, and the other knock
ing down and out q very dis gusted man who had
been spelling with more confidence than correct
Then came . word ever which the debate ran
high and warm. "A-p-O-s-t-a-c-y" was the way
an Eadie man spelled It, and when the pioneer
everywhere in the air. There were many speakers
to uphold the unfortunate speller, and the poor
Pedsgogue who had ruled otherwise was IL
proved that he was right. Then Mr.. Brown OF
Wall street rallied around him with an ~ told
you So"
Osclllate was the next word that brought death
In the camps, and It killed the man dead who
tried hard to spell Il with one J, and Indirectly
il iOr model for the word COSTLY which she AZ
EumentatlYsly diSSsctsd into "O-Ec-LEy."
AsToNIsHNENT.
when the truth was forced upon the house that
her logic was bad, and that her effort would not
satisfy the demands Of photography, there was Q
look Of stunned dlsmay on the faces Of more than
half Of the audience, and Il was easy 70 read 10
S SsS y GG STnS TO-
In the moment Of confusion Mr.. sexton missed
an easy Merd, and a. he stepped down and out
man, who tried 70 palm of "Ld.i.o s.y.n.o:nRcy"
- being all Right, and who was Compelled 10 con.
sequence 70 e Yield b. Pl.c. 70 yoS1g lady ThS
and "R.sso.LLI.Ln.A.t.Sh were tho notI which CO.
tangled two phonetic spoilers, and enc too many
"x"i.i d.s.S,S called out one A SSaiISmsS IN 70.
step down. hS demurrsd, and friends rallied
sumS until . reference 70 tas Dictionary showed
an old but satllfAetoFy authority for tho gentle
m5p,I nsth9d: Then some miserable eoyI IN the
htSo lSGshsr, itEFlsd IhriIl, SxsIpSrGiInE his,
which made the pedagoEueG face for the moment
brighter than his hair.
OLD, But GOOD.
~ have o personal Itatemsut," said he, saw.
agely, 40 make 70 those boys who hISIsd, ~ and
ne ~ Locked y,ry SISa '.I though ss would ,Stss
he eSniinSsd, us more than nIty years old but
Al this stage the Losses on both sides were
equal but there we're only ten len or the original
tWenty-Hix. "C-o-n-d.en-Ec-e-n.LLo-n and per.
:SS nGSS sAS SBP.n parties "a. G sS.
three 10 three, besides depriVlng each Of its
leader.
"Lc-th.Y.o-Log.y," slowly spelled Mr. Brown,
and when he was warned that he should have
used another b, he cried out, ~ meant 20 put it
In, indeed did," But his plea ayailed him
nothing, aud he looked sadly at his diminished
colleagues rs he moved away, and then glanced
ct bis opponents across the room, who Just then
lost man on "m--E 40 n-e-tte."
NARROWING DOWN THE CONTEST.
Mr.. Gary and Mrs. Ford then were len TO con-
test the victory with Messrs. Simonton and Bend.
The lady had spelled promptly and well, buG "m- |
i-LLenLa-l" Il was that beat her, and "h.e-m-o- |
Rage" carried OF Mr.. Bend.
Mr., Simonton spelled diptheria "d-Lp-t-h-e- |
ri O." and was uphold by the pioneer, but con- |
fessedly failed on "innuendo," from which he
omitted an n, leaving Mr.. Gary, lawyer OF 90 |
Wall street, sole survivor and, therefore, winner
Of the prize offered, which consisted Of set Of |
Macaulay's History Of England or Of . Websters |
Unabridged, at the option Of the victor.