The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-07-21
The Mord-Erindcrs.


have come from all parts of the United
States. at their own expense, TO this feast
of languages. Through the three past tor
rid days, from morning till night, they
have held session after session, in one of
the hottest halls Of the city, for the enjoy
ment of their favorite pursuit. They have
entered into 1t with n degree of fcrvor
quite unaCcOuntlble TO those who have
never been bitten by that particular taran-
tula which sets its victims to word grind
ing. Taking in short breaths of the sti-
fing air, aud hopping their forcheads with
pertinacious energy, they have vivaciously
discussed points relating TO Greek gram
mar and verbal criticism, TO the He brew
article, TO the laws OF sans crt, to the SYM
bolical figures OF the Algonquins, TO Ethi-
opic literature, TO old Attic comedy, to
Auglo-SaXon forms, to literal mutations,
and to numerous other questions Of philo-
logical interest.
The Pathological Association is an organ
ized body of scholars interested in linguis-
tics, and holds its annual sessions in differ
cnt cities OF the country, the one OF this
year being held in this city. Philol-
ogy deals with language ana languages
with language as a fact, a force,
and u medium Of thought-with lau-
guages IN their variety OF form and
unity of law, IN their origin. growth, asso-
citation, and mutations. The membership
Of the body is largely made up of college
prof, ssors aud literary men, but it well
comes any individual VINO can contribute
anything TO tuis branch of knowledge.
Most OF the important institutions OF
learning In all the States of the Un,ou are
represented III its membership.
The most interesting feature of this years
session to the general public appeared yes
terday ia the report of II committee which
was appointed last year 10 undertake n
work Of practical Importance TO the Eng
disappearing myrIads of the human race,
10 WIT the .ugse,tion OF a feasible plan
for the reformation and simplincation
Of English spelling. SO complex is
the subj ct, aud so numerous are
its difficulties, that the selection
of proper committee was thing of i'm
portauce. There are SO many unsoieufihc
and fantastic reformcrs of English spell
ing, that people are apt TO be suspicious
of Adventures in that lin. But
the composition Of the committee
was excellent. and lis members were
thus named; Prof. WHITNEY of Yale
College, Prof. MARCH OF lafayette,
Prof. CHILD of Harvard, DIR. HAMMOND
TRCNBULL of Hartford. and Prof. HALpE.
MAS of Pennsylvania University. WHIT
NEy was there to defend the primitive
Oriental elements of our language MARCH
to uphold the Auglo-SLXon groundwork
of our speech, CHILD to sustain the CLASH
cal rights OF our tongue, HALDEMAN to
stand for its native force and TRUMBULL
to look after is common sense.
Ii is the most serious and respectable
attempt in the way OF an Introduction to
spelling reform that has ever been under
taken IN the United States; and IT gives
reason 20 hope for show that would not,
| IN any event, be contemplate. The COM
mittce were aware of the formidable ma
ture of their work knew that they would
be subjected to temptations, aud were
perhaps too apprehensive OF the danger Of
entering on schemes which would be the
| obj ct Of ridicule, or would ut once fall
dead, or finally turn out TO be unproduc-
tive. But yet they felt that the work OF
spelling reform, 50 often begun with en-
| thilsiasm and gwen up in despair, might as
well be once more entered upon by them,
rs the most authoritative body on ques-
| tons of liuguist.cs.
We give their brief report in another
| part of The son. 1t Will be seen that they
| lay down only IA few general principles OF
action, which they desire rs n basis for
| future consideration. They avoid all
| radicalism, and everything in the line OF
revolutionary innovation. They favor the
retention of the Roman alphabet, as we
| now have il, and give no countenance TO
any of the projects for its abolition or
alteration. They propose, in short to
| enter upon the work slowly and safely,
| keeping in view the necessities Of the situ-
alton, and the fact that change, which is
| perpetunlly going on, must be accelerated
| only so far rs circumstances render it ad
| vlsable.
There will be disappointment in some
| quarters with tue report of thor years
work; but il must be remembered that
| the work, instead OF being completed, Is
merely begun. The Legislature OF Con-
necticut, which has authorized them to
furnish a system of reformed photography
for the public printing OF the State, has
allowed tnem three years for us consider
| alton.
In the debate which took place on the
subject, yesterday, IN the Pathological As
ISOLATION, one of the speakers SAID that
only five words in the English language
are pronounced as they are spelled with
the Roman alphabet. Taking this into ac
count, II will be seen that the suggestions
of philosophical and feasible system Of
reform must call for patient aud conscen-
tioIs labor.
The Texas cattle trade has reached huge
| proportions, the number of cattle driven TO n
the southwestern portion ~ that state during
| The sprin. and summer Of the present year, up