The Portland daily press., 1886-05-26
Nv IA111IL]N . Z q
Boston Advertiser,
BAD SPELLING.
AMagazIne Contributors Confession
Of IdyIosyncrasies-
[From the New York Times.l

From the New fork IlmeS.J
1t will be found in daily experience that to
to be absolutely perfect in spelling is by no
means to be taken as the criterion of an edu-
Gated man or woman. There are the queerest
and strangest twists in mans mind, for
there are certain words over which the people
stumble, and they will live all their lives in
a hazy condition about the spelling of them.
Here is really curious case ola literary
man, who contributes very clever fiction to
the magazines. This is his absolute and truth
full confession; II am afraid to give my ma
terial to an editor who is not thoroughly ac-
quainted with me or my antecedents, and who
has not already bought my stories, or who
does not know that what write people like
to read. for am that unfortunate creature
whose spelling may be good or bad according
to circumstances. In other words, l belong
to that miserable category of human beings
who are to be claSSed ameng the accidental
spellers.' What do / mean by that? may
write 80 pages Of manuscript with very few
errors of spelling, then all of a sudden on
page 81 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 letters prop
erly. My little bopof eight years old would
utSGINt d. bUIdollllIS lUl ouOl fuASdl blulluClo.
My wife will sometimes read my copy and
clean it up, but when | am in hurry can
not wait for her.
DO you want to listen to the story of my
humiliation? took book had made some
time ago to well known publisher. He knew
me by reputation, and was politely received.
The subject | had chosen seemed to suit MIN:
He had the temerity to read the first page OF
my manuscript then he suddenly halted, and
/ was at once aware that he had found certain
1 scfn lYnc in
ing. Under ordinary circumstances might
have corrected the blunders, but If the sale OF
my work OF my life had depended on spelling
right off the doubtful words | could not have
done it, / had no idea how to spell them, L
was conscious that they were wrong but the
tirely faded out of my mind. | might have
said to that bewildered publisher, L will spell
those words quite correctly to-day or to-mor-
row, but just now it is impossible Fortu-
nately it did not hurt the value of the work,
for that intelligent and forgiving publisher
bought that book. | feelyery much ashamed
of myself, however, whenever | see him. l
fancy my mistake arises from some sudden
obliteration of the mental faculties, for the
confusion is not permanent. 1t goes and
comes. If l say to myself, Now watch out and
see that you pay particular attention to your
spelling,' / could not produce a hundred
words consecutively. Yes, it worries me.
Here is an instance happening to me to-
day. l am very much interested in abstract
science, and am reviewing for a periodical
series OF works on particular topic, and
have to take copious notes. l wrote the
simple word many nancy | don't think
| ever put the 'e' in before. That extra 'e'
fascinated me- was conscious that it looked
funny and original. 1t seemed ludicrous and
annoyed me. Then, after while, did not
know whether it was right or wrong. 1 had
to call on my little girl and ask her to spell
many for me. AS long as live never shall
write made and maid without shying at
them. The verb and the noun are utterly
distinct, but. nevertheless, have to think
whether 'Thc Made of Orleans is right as far
as it refers to Joan of Arc, Its a trick OF 40
odd years standing. Despair is another
word. | despair of ever writing it without 5, q
feeling of uncertainty. | want to make IT
'despare' have pitched battle with my