, 1880-05-02

+ them to become mechanics as 1t is to bec0m
: lawyers, doctors, clerks, statesmen, barkeeI
ers, and hoodlums.
-
sPELL1NG-REF0RM.
> Mr. Ballou, member OF Congress from Rhod
Island, has introduced IN the Lower House
, joint resolution looking to a practical step il
the direction Of spelling reform. The rcsolu
ton provides for Commission OF learned mel
to take the subject under advtsement. Tht
) Commission is to inquire what changes are de
etrable in the spelling OF public documents ant
textbooks used In the public schools Of the Dis
trtct Of Columbia Congress is not committed
to favorable action on the report of the Com
mission. No approp ration is asked for. ant
the expenses of such Commission, at amy rate
would be trihing.
The author of the resolution does not desire OF
advocate system of pure fonetics, but only
such changes as would conform to the etymology
and the analogy Of the language. 1t is probable
that the Commission, composed rs it would be
Of eminent biologists, would be cautious and
conservative. Its work would be largely edu-
caional- Whether its recommendations should
be adopted or not, it would inform the
people OF the great weight OF learned
authority that exists In favor Of a simplihed Or
thografy to the extent at least Of dropping out
useless. misleading, cumbersome silent letters.
1t might also show to the public satisfaction that
practical benefits. including great savings of
time, space, and money, would result from the
dropping of silent letters md the correction Of
incongruous irregular spellinys.
Action By our Congress on this subject is
specially desirable, because the British author1-
| ties have already signihed willingness to CO.
| operate with any Commission appointed on this
| side the ocean More than 10 School Boards in
| Great Brtain-that Of London included-peti-
| toned the late Government to consider the ad-
Visibility OF adopting simpler and easier spell
| ing. Mr. DisraeH himself and several of his
associates professed to be in entire sympathy
| with the movement, and the only effect
| I've objection offered to it was that
| the larger part Of the Engsh-speakng
| race-in America-showed no disposition to
engage in any reform measures. Without the
| active sympathy and cooperation Of the people
| Of the United States, it was forcibly urged, no
permanent and uniform reforms in English
spelling could be accomplished, Il Mr. Ballou's
resolution should be passed by Congress this OBJ
lection would be at once removed, and, as the
American Commission Is authorized to consult
with the British authorities, cooperation would
be not only offered, but incited.
Few persons who have studied the subject can
any longer doubt that simpler spelling IS de-
sirable and easily possible. The few small but
useful simplifcauons adopted by TIE TRIBUNE
few months ego have been readily accepted by
its readers. They have, in fact, called forth
scarcely protest from any quarter, and during
the present year not one. The example set in
these columns has been Initiated wholly.
or in part, by the New York Hume Journal
and Independent, the Utica 'Heruld the Leaycn-
worth Times, the Atchisou Champion, Oberin
Ne,rs and other newspapers. Some OF these
journals have made changes that TIE TRIBUNE |
has not as yet adopted. But none Of them has
met with anything but kindly response from |
the people Everything indicates that the num- |
Der OF the spelling reform press will soon be |
largely reinforced, and that some Of the most |
obvious reforms, defensble on etymoog1cal /
and Ill other grounds, will be widely introduced |
"hlle 1t Is best that changes should be made
Slowly. so that readers may be gradually ac-
customed to the improved spelling, it is also i'm
portant that the indisputable reforms-those
winch all authorities agree in recommending
should be pushed into common use as SOM as
practicable. Such reforms are the dropping
OF final "e" when the preceding vowel is
Short In words ending in ''ive," as "senstiv,'
"legtslat1v." "deceptiy," etc.; and the substi-
tuition OF IT" for "ph," as in "fonctfc.'
" "hlosofer, ~" telegraf," ''emfasis," etc. These
cnanges are strictly In accordance with the ety.
mology OF the language. For example, "hay"
IS the root-Word, and the terminal 'se'' means
notn1ng. It ts simply connectir used to 1oin
the verbal endfngs in the original to the root,
AS We have no conjngations or declensions wa
fT4
nectfvs- In similar way, "f" is as nearly an
equivalent of the Greek Il F" or "phi" as any,
tn1ng We can get In English, and when In Greek |
traces or the mysterious df-gamna appear. We
cannot even indicate it except by the use Of
Therc can nerer be any doubt when ..f'
IS used for "pht," as the Greeks had no other |
u sound in their alfabet These spe1inos
and many others like them thar might be snc, !
rested, make the pronunciation OF words |
,lainer* By dropping the tlnat "e" after short
ana retaining it after long ri"
ne quantity OF the vowel Is more
:iearly indicated than before. Thus, alive.
1sels, revive, survive, archive, ETC.; when the ,
~ iong tne maj should be retained; but when {
is Short as In give, live, elective relative ctc
ne SILENT misleading short should be dropred I
eof IS there any sense, necessity, or etymoloe-
I'LL feason Tor ending words with double conso- |
ants' sucn as add, odd, egg. ebb err, burr char.
tau' Lal' Kno scroll. stress, nssess carelessuess
~, ~ saeer waste OF time and space to write .
no PRINT tnese double consonants. Great good
ould DC done by dropping the silent a out Of
uca words as head. lead, read, bread, Spread. |
ed1tn Jealous, jealous, dredmt, earnest etc. os a
ne use OF the silent misleads the learner In ii
fouunc'auon and adds greatly to the difficulty a
learning TO spell. Dropping the silent / a
ouia oe or great benefit in such words as he 81
e'e' oecease. seizure, aggrieve, conceft 0
cn'e'e, and spelling them simply believe, deceive. II
N6oAN'Sr |OaEEtCf NcQete, etc, Height |
40 saeFe and similar words would be 1reaflr r.
npro'ed oy spelling them hight and siv; tho b
stals se1 and kare among the most confusing and n
ISL In the language. Changes such as these if
ould certainly be for the better, and the NEXT | b
les Will probably ho in this direction. =,
TIE New York Tablet. a Leading catbo1,o ~
urnal. devotes an article Of the Inst fssne ~
rcnnisnop Darboy, who was massacred by tha -.
ar1s Communists The article concludes as -,
1loWs: Qt
He 1ell martyr to duty and religion. and has -
q % On record one of the brightest examnies ~ o1
"a What calm resignation and devoted fortiinda en-
Of bte ae5nn can net M hts death IN the
{. Wash6urne, then United States Mjnistar - - 80 49,
nce I'm E.. MhSn the representatives Of OTHER ua
'ne Us nao nea e. 70 yersaes he alone remained. go
no I snel rlsk 70 himself. to watch over tha in Gu
rests e s OF Americans in Paris With him dutv p
eous niatio 70 safey . and though be bad no B
bic and generous NATURE Urged hirf ~ naE ~ Gu