The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1895-05-23
HOW TO SPELL.
The New and the Old Way-Camton
Champions-What They Think
About 1t.

Canton has some good spoilers and some that
are not so good. The latter probably outnum
Der the former. The spelling bees held here
two years ago revealed the fact that the good
spoilers were principally from the country and
that they had learned to spell in the old con-
tests when the boys and girls stood up' and
spelled down. NEARLY all the Canton experts
at one time were residents Of the rural dis
tricts.
Probably the best spoilers in the city now
are teaching in the schools. Principal j. M
Sarver of the high school, Mr.. Stokey, Messr:
Wyman and Hiner are among the champions
And then there is Allen Cook who can handle
all sorts of tongue twisters, and other outsiders
who seldom miss word.
When the old spelling matches were held
here some of the latter day spoilers smiled
inwardly and thought: "Aha! we will scoop
these old fellows. They learned to spell years
ago but spelling has changed since their time, u
Results and the dictionary however kept the
laugh on the side of the old spoilers.
Both the phonetic and old style spelling are
now being taught in the schools here so that
which ever style prevails in the final outcome
of the contest between the two styles the
pupils will be equipped.
81 don't take much stock in the new
phonetic spelling said ex-superintendent John
II. Lehman this week, in discussing the sub
ject II hardly think ii will prevail. / really
do not think it is as far along as it was fifteen
years ago. OF course there have been and will
be some slight changes but radical change to
the phonetic system do not think will come. y
\ 4, a Al -
method of spelling. should be adopted" said
Superintendent j. ]. Burns, but there is nc
prospect of any radical change from the pres
ent method soon. The English language
however is gradually changing. When / was
boy music and public both ended with the let.
ter k. Ten years ago there was more agita.
ton on the subject than there is now"
| Said Mr.. Saryer; "The revised method OF
spelling would be splendid thing. The only
objection that l could find would be that we
might loose sight OF the origin of words If the
finals letters were dropped in many cases. A
| ago to have the official documents printed ac-
cording to the phonetic method and there has
| been considerable agitation on the subject OF
late Several educational journal are drop
ping the ough, spelling thought thot, and
though, tho. The change to this method OF
spelling will only be gradual, however
81 remember several years ago." said s. III.
Rockhill, this subject was agitated until books
with the new phonetic spelling were actually
gotten out and they brought them and put
them in the schools up at Marlboro. But the
system was soon discarded there and they
went back to the old way of spelling"
A business man speaking on the subject OF
silent letters in words said: II have been
making little comparison and calculation and
as near as / can see, about
one letter out of seven in general
reading matter is OF no use. Now Just look
what saving of time, money aud energy
would be made If they were cut out. Cores,
pondance would be shortened one seventh; 9
book that now has 700 pages would only have
900; newspapers could tell the same news In
six columns that II takes seven for now, ETC.
etc. And IN few years people would be ac
custsmed to the change and wonder why Il
was not made sooner"