The Portland daily press., 1875-04-05
The Smelling Match.

the enthusiasm with which he takes hold OF q
new idea; and this enthusiasm is by no means
in proportion to the Importance or gravity OF
the subject. He displays the same amount OF
zeal in the game of base ball that he does in
subduing rebellion, and as much enterprise
in inventing new toy as in projecting new
railroad. Another national characteristic is
the rapidity with which a novelty spreads
over the country. No sooner was croquet
set introduced into Pennsylvania than every
grass plot in the land was numbered with
hoops and stakes. No sooner did the epizoot-
ic break out in New York than every coun-
Try village had its sick horse.
The latest illustration of these traits is the
spelling match. This popular and humliat-
ing entertainment was started in the West a
month or more ago and has already reached
the banks of the Penobscot. The energy dis
played In these Photographed tour
naments," as they are called in the barbarous
language of the West, is fully equal to the
zeal with which people have persisted for
years in writing Cataline, and camelia and
millennium. They evince as much enthusi-
asm in spelling correctly as they have for an
indefinite number of years in spelling incor-
rectly.
The entertainments are provocative OF a
vast amount of fun, and unquestionably OF
some good In settling the orthography of
words in common use. Their merits and ad-
vantages have been repeatedly and elaborate
ly set forth, and need no further repetition.
1t is time to call attention to the many and
serious dangers which arise from them. 1t is
said, with great show of reason, that the
spelling matches originated with the publish
ers of the dictionaries as shrewd device to
increase the sales of those cumbrous volumes.
Any cause which tends to stimulate the riv-
airy of the dictionary-makers is to be depre-
Gated; for when competition runs high the
rival publishers Immediately announce re-
vised edition containing thousand more
words than were ever printed before; and
these words are found to be invariably use
less, often barbarous, and sometimes actual
blemishes upon the language they are intend
ed to enrich Another danger arises from
the practice of giving out technical, obsolete,
a9amay By XSsgd ESs men mhsfs Mno words
scribbling communications for the newspapers
and who will mercilessly seize upon the first
opportunity to rush into print with their
newly acquired knowledge. 1t is but Justice
to say however that this infiction may be
compensated by the familiarity acquired with
the photographed niceties of words in COM
mr. Still ax,;l
these spelling matches is the practice which
has lately sprung up of carrying them on by
telegraph. We consider it duty we owe to
the public to point out the appalling risk of
entrusting the orthography of the English
language to the tender mercies of the aver
age telegraph operator, and to protest, mildly
but firmly, against the continuance of the
practice. We are not aware of the exact
distance between Indianapolis and Evans
villa, the two towns which are spelling by
telegraph, but we are firmly convinced that
out of five hundred words started at one end
of the wire, two hundred will come off at
the other end, manged beyond all recogni-
tion. Here passing thought intrudes ITSELF
We suggest to the New York Tribune the
framing of a conundrum, the answer to
which shall set forth the resemblance be-
tween Senator Logan and telegraph wire.)
But the evils above alluded to are trivial
in comparison with the danger which mena-
ces the language itself. There is growing
feeling of discomfort with the photographed
eccentricities of the English tongue. The
variety of spellings allowable in some words
sadly shakes confidence, to begin with.
Then men who pride themselves upon their
culture and scholarship are deeply humilia-
ted at defeat In the spelling ring, and are
apt to visit their censure upon the unoffend-
ing words. As the matches are being held
in every hamlet in the land, and as there
can be but one successful competitor in each
match, the number Of disappointed ones
must be enormous. Here is the evil. There
is danger of the formation of large discon-
tented class,-a danger which publcists and
other thinkers are continually warning us
against. The murmurs are growing louder
and more distinct every day, and there is
great reason to apprehend that, ere long, a
movement will be set on foot to abolish the
English language-that noble tongue in
which Shakespeare wrote and Milton sang
and Andy johnson fumed. Look to it sirs,
or the most sinewy and comprehensive of
modern vernaculars will soon pass from out
the mouths of men.
We have considered it solemn duty to
bring to the notice of the public the dangers
to be apprehended from the continuance of
the spelling match. Its merits are obvious.
Both sides are now before the people. As
1t is manifestly unjust to condemn until the
case is made up, the matches may be al
lowed to so on until final judgment is
given. Meanwhile let the evidence be care
fully weighed, and a speedy decision arrived
at, for perhaps the very existence of noble
language depends upon the result.