St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1891-06-20

DROUTH vs.. DROUGHT.
The English language Is replete with
words that have many meanlngs, &C.
cording to the sense In which they are
used, yet spelled the same way, and
also with many words spelled different
ly that have the same meaning. A man
who would undertake to reform and
simplify the language would have life
task before him. A united press could
do much toward accomplishing this OBJ
ject, and by adopting . uniform code Of
spelling, and expunging Ill superhuous
letters, greatly simplify matters. There
Is tendency to this end, - is shown
BY the way the late ''drouth" was ham
died. According to Webster, either
''drought," ssdrouth'' or ssdrowth" Is
correct. A good rule to follow In this
case is that ''the simplest way Is the
best" We prefer 'sdrouth" because It
is the shortest word and fully conveys
the meaning; because It IL easier to
spell and easier to read; because It
looks better and sounds better than
Hdrought. In order to see how our
views on this question agreed with our
confreres Of the press, We examined
our exchangee closely this week, and
give the result below.
The following spell 1t ssDROUrH:"
mes-Democrat, Daily States, Iber.
Vile South, Amite Independent, Louis.
lana Sugar Bowl, Donaldsonville Chief,
Hammond Louisiana Sun, Acadia Sen
tinel, Texas Farm and Ranch, St. Lam
dry Clarion, Pointe Coupoe Democrat,
Lake Charles Commercial, Morgan City
Review, American Farm News, New
Iberia Enterprise, Marksville Review,
Colfax Chronicle, Amite Florida Par
ishes, and the State Agricultural So
ciety In it's Annual Report. Total, IS.
The following spell It DROU0Hr,
New Delta, Critic, Southern Guilt
vator and Terrebonne Times. Total, I.
The following spell It both ways:
Picayune, City Item and Louisiana
Review. Total, s.
Now We don't sec how any paper can
consistently spell the word both ways.
1t shows . woful lack Of uniformity and
ssoaice STYLE" and there should be no
such thing q being con the fence" In
such serious matter - s'drouth."
It would be better to follow the example
Of some Of our exchanges, who appear
to studiously shun the use OF the word
and refer to 1t only q ssthe recent long
continued spell of dry weather"
In reply to our remarks Of last week,
the City Item says:
In criticising confreres for their
should be sure that he Is right, and thus
avoid placing himself in the ''harbar.
Gus" and s'inexcusable" position to-
which he assigns Others. BY . refer.
ence to Webster's dictionary, be win
see that drought II correct, and that
while stdrouth'' Is permissible the
preference Is given to drought"
The shove reminds % Of an incident
that occurred during the Mexican war.
The American troops were approaching
the City Of Mexico, and had halted for
the night. The wagons containing the
supplies had Jagged some distance be.
hind. Gen. Scott wrote IN order and
sent 1t to the Major inchasge, instruct.
ing him to "huTry along with the
Wagon train" It arrived in due time,
and that evening around the camp IRE
the Major remarked: ssBy the way,
General, BY what authority do you
spell wagon with two 'tg'ss" The Gen.
eral replied: sswell, Major, I spell
Wagon with two 'sg's" by authority Of
Major General Winfield Scott, Com.
mander.in-Chief Of the United States
forces in Mexico" The Major consid-
cred that was good enough authority,
and had nothing more to say.
In the matter Of spelling the word
s'drouth," the almost unanimous voice
Of the press represents Gen. Scott,
while only three papers represent the
Major. This should be authority
enough to convince the great minority,
and II sscustom makes the law" they
win promptly join in the effort to purify
the language, and antiquate al such
'sinexcusable barbarians" ~ ssdrought."
Then burdensome superfuity win give
place to charming simplicity in our
great American lingo.