The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1892-12-16
4 SPELL OF MIRlH.
Notable Peoples Notable
Failures in the Lore
of Webster.
AT THE TABERNACLE FAIR
Mrs. Scudder Not Scared by Rats
But Her Reverend Spouse Was,
for Once Downed by
the Fiend.
At THE TABERNACLE FAIR

There was a spelling match at the Tab
ernacle last night A real old fashioned
neutrality-suspicious. ''spellln' Dee,"
and the minister and the minister's wife
stood up too. This was how it all hap
pened.
1t was the last night of the Tabernacle
Fair, and the Entertainment Committee
decided that they would end their work
in a blaze of glory. So Miss Bessie Hunt
prepared this ''spellin' bee" and invited a
stageful of church dignitaries to show
the audience how we'll they stood with
Webster. After little Miss Jordan had
sung my Sweetheart's the Man in the
Moon" so sweetIy that everyone applaud
ed like mad, the roll was called and the
victims stood up on the platform. Among
the lumber were Mrs. Scudqer, Miss
Amelia Meyers of the Hasbrouck Faculty.
Miss Elizabeth Spiers, Deacon Hunt, Mr..
Hill, MIR. Negus. Prof. and Mrs. Il. U.
Wait, Miss Louise LongsUree5 and the
Rev. DR.. Scudder to complete the semi
circle.
Every seat in the church was filled.
Every ear was trained on the platform.
All the air was full of expectancy. aud
the victims hraced themselves for hard
words. Then the leader gave out
Rat!
Mrs. Scudder spelled it out with ease
and dispatch. Then came cat" Then the
manager cameo down to business and gave
out subjective, " eloquent" 'lintermis-
sion, " parallel and such Duzzlers. hi
few moments Mr.. Hill was numbered
among the wounded and removed from
the field. MIR. Negus did not insert
enough SIS in assassinate, and the place
thereof know him no more. Mr.. Wait
stood still until the one just above him
had spelled, and then quietly changed
places, at which the rest of the
class descended upon him. Then the
agony began to be piled on. The"catchy"
words appeared II clustered around
Miss Bessie Spiers, the youngest member
of the company. Analytical, ~sYnthesls.
confectionery. she spelled with deiiber-
alton, and finally, when she chose the
proper i in susceptible, the applause was
from the field. Then the pastor was
downed on iendish. "F-e-i-" Quoth he
saw the mistake. pointed to the sjgu
above his head, shouted Don't forget the
shadow pantomime," and disappeared
from view. The others had bed
long ago, so that d mixed quartette" in
possession stood. 1t took just two
pose Of the first, and Mr.. Wait gently
waved him off the stage with a sweet
smile that vanished when he himself
mixed up the 81 and ~ in guarantee, L
withdrew in confusion.
The excitement was intense. Miss
Spiers was alternately flushed and pale
and evidently scared almost to death.
Miss Meyers, calm and self-possessed,
looked prepared to uphold Hasbrouck to
the bitter end.
'Annihilate." spelled Miss Meyers.
"Diphtheria," replied Miss Spiers.
myriad "Israelite." humidity"
.analvtical," "intermission," "synthe-
sis" 'EDiscopal." quoth Miss Meyers.
Miss Spiers began on "peninsula."
"P-e-n-n-oh, dear!' and the match was
nded.
Rev. DIR. Scudder presented the prize, a
silver aud gold bonbon spoon, to the Win
ner and administered consolation to Mr..
Hill, the BOBBY. by an appropriate gift.
Then every one dispersed to the rooms
where the voting contests were being de-
ciden.
DIAMONDS n BALLOT REFORM,
The chief interest conferred i'll the con-
test for a diamond ring, in which Mrs. j
T. Edwards n Miss Watson, daughter
of Mr.. George E. Watson, We're the lead
ers. Flying about the room were tue
friends of either contestant, subVerting
the franchise in the most open manner.
coaxing votes out OF everybody without
remorse. Mrs. Edwards sat behina her
table, calm, self-possessed. but with a
heightened color and sparkling eyes
that told of an interest none the less in
tense because suDdued. At half past nine
the polls closed, but secret ballots were
received until ten O'Clock.
Then, amid breathless expectancy. the
Judges announced:-"Mrs. Edwards, 121;
Miss Watson, 107," and the agony WAS
over.
The other contest resulted as follows:-
Yellow embossed silk pillow, on Miss
Clerihew's table. Miss Elizabeth H.
Spiers; bamboo screen, on Mrs. Hunts
table, Mrs. Russell; blue silk handpaint-
ed pillow, Miss McGown; travelling
satchel. on Miss Hunts table, Miss Lulu
Jordan.
After the excitement. the selling went
on, and there will be little TO pack away
today. The receipts of the fair are gen.
orally believed to exceed 81, 600.