New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-06-16
EUROPEAN TOPICS.
SPELLING. HISTORY. AND SOCIETY.

lFROM REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF TPb IklBUNk-t
LONDON, June 1.-THE array Of respectable
names at the Spelling Reform Conference
will not save it from a shower Of deserved
ridicue. There are two sets of people who
want TO alter our spelling There certain phi
lobbyists, of whom Max Miller-a German with an
English reputation, the extent of which the learned
IN his own land contemplate with some amazement
is perhaps the best known. Max Miller and his
comrades object to the existing spelling as incon-
veInent for the purposes OF pathological research
Then there are the school-board people, of whom Sir
Charles Reed Chairman of the London School Board.
is the most eminent representative. They are for
reform because the child could be taught easily
under some other system than the present. That
would make teaching quicker, and hence cheaper.
and the ratepayer is therefore To be appealed to on
the ground that he would pay less rates if there
were a new spelling. This is ingenious, and touches
the Brton in sensitive spot perhaps the only spot
which would make HIM, in his capacity a.
Taxpayer, listen readily to an argument for
innovation. Grouped into these two general
divisions are endless varieties of crotchets aud
erotchet-mongers. Mr. Robert Lowe has lent them
the authority of his name, aud has, in his logical
way, presented the argument in a form which
amounts to the reductiO dd absurtam. There are,
am informed, 80 sounds in the English language.
There are "a letters think that each letter should
represent one sOunu Iilat I'D new 10
added so that there be letter for every sound and
that every one should write he speaks" Pre-
csely. and as the variations in speech more nu-
merous than those in writing-Or even than those
between speaking and writing-the proposed reform
would land US in quite hopeless confusion. But
what has Mr.. Lowe done with the other two letters
of the alphabet There used to be PC. At meet
ing next day less than nine separate schemes OF
"reform" were proposed. The phonetic people are
in higl elee. They hope to compel all to learn
our language over again. The printers and paper
makers ought to enjoy the prospect still more for all
existing Libraries will soon be useless. l mean to
become publisher if this mad plan succeeds in my
day. Once get il adopted and all the publishers will
| make fortunes.
| Mr. Matthew Arnolds remarks about Hampden
have stirred up other admirers of Hampden than
Mr. Goodwin Smith Imay perhaps quote para
graph from letter / received lately, dealing with
| this sentence of Mr.. Arnold's: Alas, yet with
| what benign disdan might not Jesus have whls-
! pered to that exemplary but somewhat PhilistIne
| Bucknghamshre squire, seeking the Lord about
militia OF ship-money: Man, who made .
Judge or a divIder over your" Upon this my friend
| saws:
;, What handling of Philistine Hampden with scented
gloves! What "A delicate flavor Of musk III that purely
artificial in no sort felt alas" Mr. Matthew Arnold
Inc having no occasion TO seek the Lord he ana the Lord
being always at home To each other Is as intimately
sure of the benign Jesus's sentiments respecting j.
Hampden, Phisne as Paul CassagILic Is OF nltle ma
poleons respecting Gambeta and the coarse Republic
Ii would be curious TO know, from some one else
as familiar with Jesus Christ IS Muscadn Arnold, what
type of disdan his whisper would take If addressed
to this unsuted Matthew after reading this PASSAGE
higher no than Matthew Arnold Yet Jesus--as have
read only tolerably Trustworthy reports OF his
dongs and brief speecnes-hougb a. lucid as Matthew
Arnold. often enough left the sweetness out ASK the
money changers and generation OF vpers, aud sorbes
To the literary and Matthew Arnold of Jerusalem he
was evidently very much OF a Phlster'
| SO much by way of defense for the Philistines,
| or otherwise.
writer who is, or who processes to be, an Ameri-
| can woman, is contributing to of the Boulevard
weekIies a series of intercepted letters" They
purport to express American views English
| topics and are diversified with what seem to be
meant for eulogies on America, and loud assertions
of American superiOrties. She discusses this week
the relative physical merits of the women Of the
two countries and adopting Hawthorne's criticism
which gave deep offense-that English women at
forty are fat and beefy," says of American women:
Now We keep figures and the color OF our skins
New World; but what's the odds. so long as we're
happyl our business is to improve ourselves by EN-
bracing all creation utterly IesardieSS whether efeon
responds or not; isn't 1t, Elaf
The playful creature who writes this signs herself
"Pussv She believes no doubt, that she is doing
service to her country and her sex. With every re-
spect for wcll-neant effort, think some iudicious
friend might tell her kindly that she is making
mistake
To one of those gossiping weekly papers on which
| look with pi0us horror, but which generally read.
am indebted tor the rather surprising information
that there bicycle clubs in London. Yet it is
only seven years since the first the Pickwick was
started, and at one time then, bicycling
seemed likely to become extinct rinking
promises soon to be. But | should like to know
what this elegant writer means when he says that
"the deyotees Of the art of locomOtion on wheels
rejoice III the possession OF three opponents in tho
press ~ Does he mean that the blcyclists own three
papers And if he does, why does he not say so,
without more ado Perhaps is only three editors
whom they own. If dared, | should like to repeat
a story once told me by member of Parliament,
who affirmed that he offered newspaper.
weekly and local, including the editor, for a sum
which his memory permitted him to fix at $780,
He was inclined to apologize for the smalness of the
sum, but did not look upon the proposal as other
wise remarkable; did he accept it. There was,
SUPPOSE 10 great demand in that part OF the
country for editors.
saw your friend the Emperor Of Brazil at tho
opera ia Paris last week. 1t was rather a grand
night. and the house blazing with diamonds.
but Dom Pedro appeared, his custom is, in
morning coat This an improvement on his
toilet when met ham some years ago la Edin-
burgh at an evening party. He then wore a light
oyercoat and carried a stick in his hand. But the
French are not nearly precise in the matter Of
evening dress for men rs the English Not only
an Emperor, but any ordinary mortal may 20 to the
opera. if he likes, in loungng jacket whereas in
London tlle swallow-tail is Indispensable You
could no more enter Covcnt Garden without il than
you can enter Russia without a passport. The Elm.
peror is rather liked in paris-though they do call