The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1896-02-20
The Spelling Match.

night.
Owing to the bad weather the crowd
was not as large as on the previous oc-
casion, but the entertainment was very
much enjoyed.
Some good work was done on both
sides. Prof. Saunders was selected to
pronounce the words, and McGufey's
speller was used.
Two matches were spelled and Wade
Patton won both of them. In the first
he spelled down the opposite side and
in the second he added to the opposite
side several of his own. The prize was
a small dictionary.
The captains were Cy H. Lyle and
j. E. Brading, the same as at the for
mer match.
The battle began with a serried front
OF dozen opposing factions. All stood
their ground for considerable length
OF time, a few dropping out on Capt.
Lyle's side,
"Wolverene" was given out and the
way it pulled the wool over the eyes of
the heroes was a sight to see. Good
spoilers fell as thick and fast and the
ranks faded as mysteriously as the
army of Sennacherib Finally Capt.
Lyle, with mastery stroke, slew the
awful scourge just in time to save his
side from total humiliation The word
was only given one spelling in the book
from which Prof. Saunders was pro-
nouncing, but in fact it was spelled
correctly by Sam Crumley, the first to
whom it was given, who ended it with
cine" Most of the spoilers had this
ending i'll mind and when it was said
to be incorrect the whole push was
stampeded.
Capt. Lyle and his little band stood
up bravely, but their doom was appar-
ent. The captain himself, after de-
stroying the greediest monster of the
evening, went down on "troubadour, ("
leaving Davy Jones and John Snapp
only to represent his army.
On the other side stood, in formida-
BILE opposition, Mrs. Joe Cass, Mrs.
P. M. Ward, Wade Patton and John
Mathes. For long time the forces
were thus arrayed and word after word
hot as grape and canister was spelled,
but finally Snapp fell on "coigne, I"
dragging with him Mrs. P. M. Ward.
This left Davy Jones the solitary sur
vivor of Capt. Lyle's brave little band
of few minutes before.
Skillfully he rode with glittering he'll
met and sharp lance into the dying
ranks of the enemy. Mrs. Cass swoon-
ed on ''calyx" and the valorous knight,
Mathes, fell beneath the word Gag
grieved."
This left Wade Patton and Davy
Jones the sole and proud survivors of
the two armies who had met in such
deadly conflict. Their duel was wit
messed in breathless anxiety. For
many minutes they rode at each other
in awful clash, but neither was able
to unhorse Just as the spectators we're
beginning to think that it would be a
draw, Davy Jones put an "e' in tie
last syllable of ''interpolator" and his
merciless enemy in q moment was
gloating over his PROSTATE body.
By agreement the dead ranks were
resurrected as before, and at it they
went again. The banner had scarcely
been unfurled when Capt Lyle sank
down at the head of his command. In
his vitals was found the word "plebe-
ian" 1t was too common for Capt.
Brading and both lines of battle were
| left without leader. The word "phi-
| lippic" moved down the ranks like o
salvo of cannons and looked as if il
would sweep both sides from the field,
but Mrs. Ward stopped it in its san.
culinary career and rallied the retreat
ing forces.
'Irrefragable" also cut wide swatl
till Sam Crumley, in an effort to ge-
out of the way, accidentally stopped it
but was so surprised at his proves
that he fell victim to the next littl,
word that tackled him.
On Capt. Lyle's side stood Davy
Jones alone and firm-so steady in fac
that he refused to spell "vacillate" anC
ended the match.
On Capt Brading's side was stand
ing Miss Johnston, Mrs Ward AM
Wade Patton and it was decided to So
which of these could stand the longest
They all came up gingerly for som
time, but finally Mrs. Ward misses
"eying" and went down. 1t was eve
money on Miss Johnston and Mr.. PAT
ton for long time, but the winner c
the former match had been made mel
CHESS from bitter assaults and he re
fused to allow the handsome girl to Sc
him down. After so long time, {
sheer exhaustion, she missed "abridg
ment' and Mr. Patton was declared th
winner.
Light refreshments were served aftt
the spelling and after partaking of IL
8 good things the party adjourned
1t was thought by macy that IL