The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1886-05-26
CURIOUS FAILINGS.
A PLEA FOR TIE BAD SPELLING OF
EDUCATED WRITER'S.


EDUCATED WRITER'S.
Wrong Positions-Words Which Pre-
sent Two Faces-Mcntal Pcculiaritics-
Cases With Il Tinge of Romance.
It is likely to be insisted upon by those
of pedagogic turn Of mind that ali edu-
Gated person must never make mistake in
spelling, or that the least blunder in the
grouping together Of the letters forming a
word is a convincing proof that the intel
lectual training of an individual is far from
being perfect 1t will be found in daily eX-
perience that to be absolutely perfect in
spelling is by no means to be taken as the
criterion Of an educated man or woman.
There are the queerest and stranges5 twists
in mans mind, for there are certain words
over which people stumble, and they will
live all their lives in hazy condition about
the spelling Of them.
Here is really curious case of liter
ary man, who contributes very clever tic-
ton to the magazines This is his absolute
and truthful confession: 81 am afraid to
give my material to an editor who is not
thoroughly acquainted with me or my an
tecedents, and who has not already bought
my stories, or who does not know that what
1 write people like to read for am that
unfortunate creature whose spelling may
be good or bad according to circumstances.
In other words, belong to that miserable
category of human beings who are to be
classed among the accidental spoilers. ,
What do I mean by that: l may write fifty
pages of manuscript with very few errors,
of spelling, then all Of g sudden on page
fifty one will come blunder after blunder.
Words correctly spelled and used over and
over are all wrong now. My mind OF
sudden halts and refuses to arrange the let
ters properly: My little boy OF years
old would deserve a thrashing for such
vulgar blunlers My wife will sometimes
read my copy and clean it up, but when l
am in hurry can not wait for her.
A STORY OF HUMILIATION.
"Do you want to listen to the story Of my
humiliation? took book I had made
some time ago to a well-known publisher.
lie knew me by reputation, and l
was politely received The subject had
chosen seemed to suit him. He had the
tenerity to read the first page of my man
uscript; then he suddenly halted, and was
at once aware that he had found certalnly y
one, maybe half dozen mistakes in spell
ing Under ordinary circumstances might
have corrected the blunders, but if the sale
of my WORK, my life, had depended on
spelling right off the doubtful words could
not have done it. l had no idea how to
spell them. I was conscious that they were
wrong, but the geography, the picture, OF
the word had entirely faded out of my
mind l might have said to that bewildered
publisher, Il will spell those words quite
correctly to day or tomorrow, but just now
it is impossible Fortunately it did not
hurt the value OF the work, for that intelh-
gent and forgiving publisher bought that
book. I feel very much ashamed of my
SELF, however, whenever I see him fancy
my mistakes arise from some sudden oOllt-
Grafton of the mental faculties, for the con-
fusion is not permanent. 1t goes and comes
If say to myself, Now watch out and see
that you pay particular attention to your
spelling could not produce hundred
words consecutively. Yes, it worries me-.
Here is an instance happening to me to-
day: Iam very much interested IN abstract
science, and am reviewing for periodical
q series of works on particular topic, and
have to take copious notes l wrote the
simple word many Nancy don think
ever put the e. in before. That extra e.
fascinated me. 1 was conscious that it
looked funny and original 1t seemed ludi-
crous, and it annoyed me. Then, after
while, did not know whether IL was right
or wrong. had to call on my little girl
and ask her to spell many for me- AS
long as I live never shall write made end
maid without shyiny at them. The verb
and the noun are utterly distinct, but never
thelesS have to think whether The Made
OF Orleans is right as far as it refers to
Joan of Arc It's trick of forty odd
years standing. Despair is another word.
I despair of ever writing it without feel
ing of uncertainty. want to make it 'des-
pare have pitch battle with my pen
before I can work in the i, and as often as
not I put in the after the word is written
/ won't write desperate il l ever can help
it, but must write 'deSpairate.' It's my
worst case Of mixing words. l speak
French and German tluently, read Italian
and Spanish with ease, I delight in the
Roman poets, and am distinguished for bad
spelling in three languages. Go not brazen
it out 1 do not say, 1 don't care
rather solicit your pity for a. very sad In
trinity"
THE MENTAL PECULIARITIES.
In order to satisfy ones self how strange
are these idiosyncracies, it is only necessary