Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1875-03-19
puRLIC SPELLING m Al. HE'S.

Every winter developes, says the |
Atlanta Constitution, some mental
epidemic in this country. Last year
it was the crusade; this year it Is
spelling matches. We donot mean to
say that the latter were originated this
year, or this century; but we mean TO
say that they have just become SO
popular that charity finds them use
full avenue to the pockets of the peo-
pie, SO interesting that the theatre is
temporarily eclipsed as place OF
amusement. The change may be due,
both in New England and in the West,
10 an extreme cold winter. We know
of no other way to account for the
sudden appearance of so many public
matches. from one end of the country
| to the other.
| A few cases will illustrate the nature
of the popular fever. At Providence.
| Rhode Island, two hundred contef
tants were marshalled, under leader
ship, into two sides. Some of them
were pupils from the city schools, but
| the school days of many more of them
we're over long ago. The first misse d
word was "acc .mmodate" 1T brought
down three victims. The intellectual
strife went on until there were only
four left-two young ladies. man,
and small boy. "Ammonia' seut
/ foH. 70 AL tu N
very naturally upset the man, and one
of the young lad es spelled ''sillabuh'
with "y," and the other fair intestant
took the prize-a copy of Webster's
unabridged.
Cincinnati early succunbed to the
gentle movement, and at a recent pubic
match the wisdom and beauty of the
! city were gathered, not only as specta
tors but as participants. The two cap
tains, gorgeously arrayed III button
hole boquete, each led nineteen chan.
pion spoilers. The words were inge'.
! iously grouped for the purpose of mis-
t leading the victim by similar pronun
Citations of syllsbles. For insta'c
2 | "inoculate" with one "n" would b
followed by 'innocuous, with two
Q etc. After II learned Judge had falle
D in trying to spell "miliennial," onl
one was left on either side-a marie
and a single lady. The books wrr
g ransacked for difficult words, but til, r
was 10 hesitation, no mistake on IL
: part Of either and the struggle endt
in draw. The two ladies were 81
d pointed captains of the next mattel
g which is awaited with great interes
e by the people of the Queen city.
s AS the matches spread from city I
Il city in the west, increasing at evel
= point IN size and interest, they b.
: come known as spelling tournaments
b which is the lopular term just nov
It They create no end of amusement an
o in IpdianaEolis spelled the wor
"osier," with 81" ard the pepper
are full Of similar blunders by ieadin
7 m II 10 the matches. st. Louis is no
o l one III WHICH IO1iS lit
It most prominent men are entered. I'll
|. mayor, the British contnl, and sewers
n of her ex-9overnors and senators al
It in this spelii book contest
It All thee matches are conducted f.
d charitable purposes. While a deal {
: harmless aud mirthfui sport is evoke
l. the spell OF words is made to bring
= spell of happiness to the sntfrrin
a poor. In some of them person VIII
a misses can try again 10y paying a fin
of twenty five cents, which y INN,
} diately collected by ladies'. The cal
q tains, umpires and enuncistors al
y chosen by the audience. LouisvilI
i. and Knoxville propose 10 utilize til
new popularity; and We suggest tha
our leading ladies and gentlene
it seize the opportunity to give our CIV
r useful Benevolent Association a roy,
q lift. Fun and charity would be blend
ed In the novel entertainments