The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1879-08-22


Wisconsin, Connecticut and Pennsylvania;
and in other States the legislature has been
invoked to asimilaT end. In the public
schools Of st. Louis the reform spelling
has already been adopted; and the sys-
TEN Of teaching children 10 spell by the
phopetie, method is found to WORK ndfnl'
rably, not only saving much time, but I'd.
ding very largely tothe proficiency OF the
scholars. Text books, printed in the new
spellings, have already made their appear
ance, notably the reader, prepared by 7.
X. Nickroy, Of 81. Louis. DR.. March also
alludes 10 the progress which the spelling
reform Is making among the newspapers
u the United States, and gives a list 0t q
large number which have already adopted,
more or less iully, the "ave rules ap.
proved. BY the pathological association
and frequently publbhedin these columns.
DR.. March believes that the day will
some time come when the English.speak.
ing millions will consentto use a phonetic
alphabet. He describes the proposal al.
phabet which has received the approval Of
the association. II Is 4 Roman alphabet,
Every much on the same plan as reformed
German or SPANISH"
ut fixes tho old letters in their Roman
or Anglo Saxon powers as nearly as may
be, accepts the digTaph c"onsonAntsin h, u,
Oh, III, etc, and declares 1t necessary TO
have three new letters for elementary VOW
els which were unknown 70 the early 10
mans-those in fGi, not and ba. For these
1t suggests notifications Of Il, 0 and u. A
diacfitical mark is added, when great &C.
curacy Is needed, to denote a long vowel
sound"
This does not involve anything 80 start
lingIy radical as TO be impossible. DR..
March alludes Il the fact that every die.
~tionary has 10 invent an ideal alphabet-a
KEY alphabet, to use in denoting the pro-
n~uuCiation Of words, and philoIogiss have
10 do the same. So alec do scientific
writer's using foreign terms and wsrds, at
would be u prodigious gain" he adds, "ii
there were an agreement upon the alpha.
bet Of the future, simply iorsCientidc use"
When 1t Is done, the reform can be said
10 stand upon an established system and
method, like the metric system Of weights
and measures, and there will be nothing
further to do but to push 1t steadily into
use. With this end practically in view, a
number OF leading philolOgists last year
prepared a memorial to Congress, praying
Tor the appointment Of a commission to ex.
anime and report how far the reform is
desirable, and what amendments may be
wisely introduced into the public docu.
ments and the schools Of the District oil
Columbia, and whether It is desirable to
move the government OF Great Britain Ia
unite in appointing a joint commission to
consider the subject.
Dr.. March admits that %thetriumph d
the reformed photography Ia aquestion b
time, and a long time. mo generation
reared in the old spelling can be expected
To adopt the new one for any ordinary pur,
pose. But their prejudices may he over,
come and their reasons convinced so fAi
that they will agree that their children
shall be taught the better way. A genera
ton, probably two or three generations
must grow up familiar with the new spell
ing before it can become universal" IL
the mean time, a progress has been made,
in the approval and education Of public
opinion, which ls more encouraging than
the most sanguine could have hoped foI
three years ago. In the concluding world
Of DR.. March, 1.-THE air is full oil hope."