davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1897-04-03
FUTILITY OF THE SPELLING GRIND
Maturity Said to BE the Leading
Factor in Learning to Spell.


Factor in Learning to Spell.
DR.. j. NJ. Rice in the April Forum.
Believing that the most rational method
OF determining what our teachers might
be expected to accomplish would lie in dis
covering what results the more successful
one had been able to obtain 1 ventured to
undertake a series of researches which l
hoped might serve as an initial step toward
bringing this problem to a solution. The
material presented in the present article
is intended to show what our teachers have
accomplished in spelling, and what, there
fore, may be reasonably demanded of our
schools on this subject. The traditional
standard in spelling is perfection; but this
standard Is unreasonable and consequently
cannot be too soon abandoned. My
researches in spelling were made in the
form OF tests, the number OF children ex-
amined reaching nearly thirty-three thous-
and. My first test consisted of a column OF
nifty words; the second of words in sen
tences; and the third Of spelling as found
IN compositions. On directing our
attention tc the results of these tests we
are confronted by a number of interesting
phenomena. The most striking of these are:
First, that in the vast ma jority of instances
the results are very close. In fifteen of the
twenty-one schools shown in table No. =
the averages on the second test were from
73.3 to 779. Second while the results in
the lower grades of different schools showed
considerable variation, those in the eight h.
year classes. which represent the end of the
school course, were also remarkably even
In twelve of seventeen eight-year grade $
the averages were from 81 to So and in
htteen OF total of twenty sets Of eighth
grade compositions. examined for spelling,
the variations were only .three-tenths of l
per cent, the results lying between 20 |
and E4. These figures become doubly re-
markable when we consider that the twen-
ty-one schools OF only represent institu-
uons in many sections Of our country but
that, in addition, they are samples of
schools conducted under all conceivable
conditions. Further, from a pedagogical
standpoint, all varieties of schools are in
cluded, some of them belonging to the most
mechanical. while others are among the
most progressive In our country.
do not these results indicate that, in
learning to spell, maturity Is the leading
factor, while method plays only a subordi-
nate part? And. If the superiority of the
old-fashioned spelling grind cannot be
demonstrated. is 1t not our duty to save the
child from this grind? Moreover as the re-
suits prove that. beyond a certain mini
mum. the compensation for time devoted to
spelling Is scarcely If at all apprecia Bile
have we not here discovered an element of
waste. which, II eliminated, would open the
way to an equal enrichment of the cuurse
Of study, without detrimcnt to the formal
branches?
Evening star., 1897-04-03
If We Knew.

If we knew the woe and heartache
Waiting for us down the road
If our lips could taste the wormwoOd,
II our backs could feel the load:
Would we waste today In wishing
For time that ne'er can be;
Would We wait in such impatfence
For our ships to come from sea:
II we knew the baby fingers
Pressed against the window pane
Would be stiff and cold tomorrow
Never trouble us again:
Would the bright eyes Of our darling
Catch the frown upon our br0wf
Would the print Of rosy fingers
Vex us then as they do now?
All. these little ice-cOld fingers,
How they point our memories back
To the hasty words and actions
Strewn along our backward track!
How those little hands rt mind us,
As In snowy grace they lie,
Not to scatter thorns, but roses,
For our reaping by -and-by
Strange we never prize the music
TIL the sweet-voiced bird has flown:
Strange that we should slight the violets
TILL the lovely flowers are gone!
Strange that summer skies and sunshine
Never seem one-h half SO fair
As when winters snowy pinions
Shake their white down In the air.
Lips from which the seal of silence
None but God can roll away
Never blossomed in such beauty
As adorns the mouth today.
And sweet words that freight our memory
With their beautiful perfume
Come to us In sweeter accents
Through the portals Of the tomb.
Let us gather up the snnbeams
Lying all along our path;
Let us keep the wheat and roses.
Casting out the thorns and chaff;
Let US find our sweetest comfort
In the blossoms OF today,
With patient hand removing
All the briers from the way.
Evening star., 1897-04-03

X. Hill. The congregation adopted resou-
tions asking the coming annual conference
to return to them their present pastor, Rev.
Samuel J. Smith.
The young ladies of Metropolitan Baptist
Church gave sociable and taffy pull yes
terday evening.
The board of control of the Washington
District Epworth League is 10 meet We'd
nesday evening next at Foundry Church
and arrange for a celebration of the eighth
anniversary of the organization of the E,p-
worth League.
The annual congregational meeting of the
North Presbyterian Church was held last
week. and Messrs. William c. Selby and
William ID. West elected trustees for a
term of three years: Judge John Z. Jories,
secretary of the congregation, and Mr.. vii
liam Henry auditor.
AS a result of revivals held during the
past winter there have been 800 converts
added TO the membership of the local col!
ored Baptist churches.
The new officers OF the Junior Christian
Endeavor Society OF Kendall Church are a
follows: President, Charles Tabler; vice
president Miss Elsie Willis: secretary, Miss
Ethel Vernon, and treasurer. Glenn T.
Jones, jr. The annual Sunday school rally
of the church is TO be held tomorrow
The Ladies' Mite Society of the Me;ropoli-
tan Presbyterian Church held social last
evening I'm the church lecture room.
A farewell reception was rendered the
tiring pastor of Mt. Vernon NJ. +. Church
South, Rev. /. W. Canter, Thursday even
ing.
The Ministers Association sof Colorod
Baptist Churches has changed its place of
meeting from Mt. Carmel Church to the
Vermont Avenue Church. At the meeting
this week paper was read by Rev W
Bishop Johnson, ID. D., on "Phe Rise OF
Baptist Principles"
Rev. NJ. McVicar. one of the secretaries
Of the Baptist Home Mission Society. was
In Washington this week on business con
nected with Wayland Seminary.
AT ST. Matthews Church on wednesday
evenings during Lent Rev. Charles Warren
Currier of Baltimore is delivering a series
Of sermons. A retreat in charge of Bishop
Curtis recently closed.
Next week at Epiphany Church there are
to be monday services for men. under the
auspices of the Brotherhood of ST Andrew
oI IN 1ha C,.r ,,,- loo,.,-o 49,
Evening star., 1897-04-03

in every part with extravagant genius The
walters were dressed in green coats with
gilt embroidery, like members OF the French
Academy, and their first coats Were actual
secondhand garments which Sails had
found means of procuring. The laugh on
the prudent academicians who sold their
old uniforms was not the least or the
amusement. Guy de MaupaeSant was made
the hero Of the Inauguration. He, too. with
the fate of McNab, Jouy, Charles Della
court and SO many another Of these geni-
uses, was to die few years later in the
madhouse.
Throwing on the Mask.
Meanwhile Rodolph Sails grew rich, and
did not pay his artists. His poets had
their food from him, but they complained
that that was all. Last year they ventured
a little tour IN the provinces on their own
account, advertising their Chinese shadows
and verse recitals as the Chat Noir of
Paris, and Rodolph Sails, the friend of
genius" and who was made by them, has
tened to appeal to the courts for an In
junction. 1t was time to throw off the
mask.
Frankly. masks are not uncommon in
bohemia, wherever the tricky kingdom sets
itself up, for a time, to dumfound with
admiration, fear and veneration the SIM
minded middle class, which the French
call bourgeoise. For this reason the bour-
geoisa have an instructive shrinking from
Bohemia as not too true. The masks are
nest innocent.
The Typical Poor Artist.
He was of the band of Montmartre art
lists. You can imagine what this word
"Montmartre' brings to the mind of the
respectable French reader in the line OF dis
orderly existence. He was dirty, and his
garments were of uncouth cut. 1t was in
this new Athens he was to be always
found. A year ago he signed the manifesto
OF the "enra ged-cow' procession, and in
tfat apoth -osis of 'penniless art there was
actually the of Henri Pile 1t
showed him, in person, the typical poor
artist moving rather than pay rent. In
reality, he almost if not quite rich
and had spacious apartment for his wife
ard children. He was always working
paid all his debts, and understood that he
should be paid in turn. Even money he had
leaned out to other Bohemians he was not
above dunning for.
Henri pile understood the essence of all
Bohemianism He reduced to the minimum
the restraint of social proprieties. He was
unconventional he was dirty-5ut he was
not lazy and he was not poor,
STERLING HEILIG.
Evening star., 1897-04-03

pilot boat is said to be manned when there
are 10 pilots on board The boatkeeper
must serve for three years on one boat.
If he leaves without permission from the
governing board or is discharged for any
good reason he loses the benefit of the
time he has served. and must put in three
years more on another boat. If he passes
safely through this fve-year period he
comes up for examination as to his fitness
to become a pilot. This examination Is
conducted by the pilot commissioners, who
usually call in one or two old sea-dog
pilots to aid them In proving to the appli-
cant that he knows nothing whatever
about the harbor and its pitfalls. But the
candidate who survives this ordeal must
a full-fiedged pilot. For the first year he
is allowed to take charge of light vessels
only: during the second year he can de-
vote his attention to vessels having draft
of between Is and % feet, and after that,
having served seven years in apprentice
ship and probation. he is allowed to take
charge of the proudest, or, what is more
to the point. from his way of looking at
ii. the biggest ship afloat. and to bring her
into the harbor where he happens to ply
his trade.
Life on Board.
The provision Of the law which requires
a captain to accept or at least to pay for
he services of a pilot in case they are
offered, ard to take the first pilot who
applies. results in many exciting episodes
for the pilots themselves. Races between
the trim little schooners and some ship
anxious to avoid the pilots, or with other
pilot boats equally anxious to capture a
big prize, may occur dozen times a day
and lend plenty of variety to an existence
that IS at no time likely to become monoto-
nous.
In the old days of fierce competition the
pilot boats were often to be met with 100
miles or more off shore. but now they sell
dom go out more than a dozen miles. Still
the pilots life is rot one of ease and idle
ness. especially in winter, when every wave
that breaks across the schoonerS S prov
coats her deck with covering of ice. turns
ner masts and sails into miniature ice
bergs and wraps the lookout man in a
blanket of the same frosty material. Just
what the pilots lot is in cold weather may
Evening star., 1897-04-03
A De Quincey Heroine Dead.


From the Westminster Gazette.
Readers OF De Quincy will remember the
very touching account which the essavist
gives of a family OF children who for TWO
days and two nights were showed up in
their lonely cottage In Easdale. The par
en;s had gone TO a neighboring village, were
overtaken by terrible storm and never
came back. The eldest child, a girl OF
twelve. who had played the mother to her
brothers and sisters in way which only
some children can, ultimately made her
way to a farm house, search party was
got together, and the frozen bodies of th..
parents, who had been unable 10 make their
way against the wild force of the storm
were found near the famous Easdale Tarn
The incident has frequently been the sub
5ect of story, and. if We remember rightly
Wordsworth also utilized it. We refer to il
now in consequence Of the death of Mrs
Hall, the last survivor of the orphan fam
lily, at the age of ninety-two. She was the
youngest of them ALL and IT is a singular
coincidence that she should have passed
away at a time when the snow-which had
such a momentous effect upon her carly
life-again lies thick upon the Fells.
Evening star., 1897-04-03
Dfscipline-Military vs. Domestic.


From the Philadelphia Press
A courier had arrived bringing the in
telligence that Troop B was surrounded by
hostiles, and was standing them off with
the greatest difficulty; that, unless aid
reached them very shortly, Troop 3 was
doomed to massacre.
The quiet post sprang to arms Troopers
and officers hurried hither and thither.
Noise and confusion. tempered by discip-
line. reigned. In an Incredibly short time
the bugles sounded boots and saddles, and
the battalion filed out.
There was no song, no jeStirg nor laugh
ter to tighten the march in all that column,
The peril of their comrades weighed upon
each heart; the stern determination to save
or terribly avenge was stamped upon each
face.
Suddenly there was a sharp exclamation,
and one of the troopers, with a pale, set
face. turned his horse from the column and
trotted back toward the post. In another
moment an officer swiftly gained his side
and, with a wrench that nearly jerked him
from the saddle. stopped him.
You cowardly cur hissed the officer
what does this mean?"
IL forgot to tell my wife that l
wouldn't be home to supper" exclaimed the
trooper.
Evening star., 1897-04-03
How 1t Could De Done.

From the Chicago Evening Post
II want a good likeness" she told the
photographer.
"Of COURSE" he said.
But at the same time" she continued,
Il naturally want the most attractive fea-
lures given special prominence"
Yes. yes." he returned. Under those
circumstances we'd better make it q full
length portrait 80 as to get in all Of your
gown"
Evening star., 1897-04-03

and will bring about the gradual dis
persion of what has been for many years
the most interesting group of vessels of all
that go TO make up the varied life of the
great harhors Many a land luhber has
wondered at the lively little schooners.
trim-rigged and stoutly built. almost too
small for seagoing work and having too
Evening star., 1897-04-03
A Vocation That Requires Great Skill
and Daring.
SOMETHING OF THEIR LIFE AT Sea
Lying in Wait for Vessels to Ap-
pear.
BRI y GING IN y Ii y f r
written for The Evening STAR.
ANNOC CNCE-

ment that the asso-
citation of Sandy
Hook pilots will put
into commission the
first steamship built
exclusively for pilot
service about May l
points TO a new era
in the picturesque
business of guiding
ocean vessels into
port. The new steam
er will undoubtedly
be followed by others,
Evening star., 1897-04-03

-
Is Just dead, was
surely one Of the
foremost Partisan
cranks. To his un-
disputed talent as a
painter and an artist
in black and white
he Joined as undis-
puted an unconcern
for the conventional
tiles of dress and
cleanliness. 1t was
Henri Pile of whom
II was said. "f hiS
Evening star., 1897-04-03
RADAm S
.MICROBE
KILLER

and give II trial? All ycu want is health. You
will get 1t surely and positively IL You drink a
little Of this Microbe Killer every day It is pure
water charged with antisertic gases. II VIII Kill
the millions of microbes in your blood that are
making you sick. No matter where the seat ~
your disease may be- Radam's Mic.ohc Killer vii
the trouble.
Remember that It cures all diseases because they
in the blood and when the blood is made per.
fectIy well. the whole body will be perfectly well
too.
That is what Radam's Microbe Killer does IL
makes sick people well all over by making ey,ry
drop Of blood I'm their veins healthy IL has cured
thousands upon thousands during the past ten
years. and every day its sales grow larger aud
larger
Full information and testimonials about this great
remedy can be had FREE in a ffty-page book
which will be sent on request. Address The Will
lam Radam Mcrobe Killer Co., l2i Prince ST.,
New York. Washington Office. l0Is eth ST. NV
Evening star., 1897-04-03
An Appeal
to Reason

III you are silk with any Kind OF disease. aad
the doctors don't help yoi. why lose further tim5
with them? Your ailmcn; is surely carving you %
the graveyard.
IL Won have been taking ali sorts of patent ru,l.
cines without benefit is it wise to continue ,l.ss
WHY not be fair to Yourself and those who de-
pend npop yonf Why no, a., fair to
Evening star., 1897-04-03
Well Flushed.

From the Philadelphia Press
Carrie-"Well, 1 was in great luck last
night"
Stella-"Indeed, in what way?'
Carrie-"I drew to another diamond and
filled. That makes five men I'm engaged
to-"
Evening star., 1897-04-03

Want ads. in The Star pay because they
bring answers.
Evening star., 1897-04-03

Deserves No Encouragement.
From the 81. Louis Globe Democrat.
About the poorest industry in this coln
try is that in which ninety-nine disappoin:
ed men watch one man secure an Office n,
can hold only a few years.
Evening star., 1897-04-03

Where Oblivion In Bliss.
From Life.
Angelina (after receiving a score of kiss
es)-"Are you sure you love me- Edwin
"Oh, Angelina"
"Then you may kiss me-"
Evening star., 1897-04-03

Want ads. In The Star pay because III
bring answers.
Evening star., 1897-04-03
Henri Pile, the Paris Artist, and His
Long-Haired Friends.
4 REMARKABLE GENERATION
A Man Who Was Broken Up by
Money and Success.
CHI A T NO1R AND M. SAILS

Special Correspondence OF The Evening Star.
Evening star., 1897-04-03

PARIS, March 49, 1897.
Evening star., 1897-04-03

II you want anything. try an ad. in The
star II anybody has what you wish, you
will get an answer
Evening star., 1897-04-03
The Decorated Walls.

The artists decorated walls and ceilings
with exquisite panels and frescoes, where
the Black Cat mingles in the adventures
of Plerrot and his lady friend. To an ac-
compartment Of Chinese Shadows a poet
declaimed his dramatic verses 1t was like
an artistic Punch and Judy Henri Somm
composed for It burlesque melodrama
and songs and parodies. Chartran, who
has now painted the portrait Of Mckinley
was ore Of the young men Of the place
and 30 was Jean Richepin, the author Of
Yvette GMlbert's La Glu," accused Of
heartlessness by some one in New York.
evenings at the Chat Noir. Soon a whole
house had to be bought to accommodate its
public, and the artists again decorated 1t
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-11-01

Lucy n. by Attimo .,.... 9,9ilo TO Q,ooia
Wentworth brig. foaied 1899, by Bob Proc.
or-Lar by Orange Duroc, 49,, 21TL 10 2:Opip
W. Ii, a, b. e, foaled 1891, by Marssiiiaiseo
woodford Jay. CHI. g., fosled isGi, by Jay.see.
Jay-Caivenia, by woodford Knox, ..2;ibs, 10 2:1O
Colonel Kuser, 2:11A. the stallion by Stranger
out OF Incz, by Jay Gould. that has out-cam-
paigned everything on the European trotting
turf this year, SEEING to have much OF tho ouai.
ity OF his p~aternal grand dam, Goldsmith
Maid, 2:14. He has secured the fast
est mile record of Europe. 2:i4 ito,
repeating in 2:1A $40, after having
trotted tho greatest campaign ever known
there. But another Of his sons, Nominee, 2:17A.
that was exported 70 Russia, some two years
ago, won the great froc-for.all stallion race OF
tho year at 81, Petersburg, thus acquiring tho
highest turf honors.. This latter horse pcculi.
arly represents the blood Of three OF Tho most
famous %trotting mares of their dny. for through
Stranger no takes from Goldsmith Maid and
Lady Thorn. while his dnm was a daughter OF
their stable companion. Lucy, a trio of trotting
queens that twenty years ago were even moro
widely known than AliX, Nancy Hanks, and
Sunol are to-day.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-11-01

last OF this week, because Of his injured collar
bono, and Capt. Rodgers will probably not last
v wsSSpos, rom ons a h rocons as.nss; OF ScG fSgep. OF T S,s
task Of settling seven positions in a single week
is 9 stift problem for the dozen coach RS.
up.to.datc plays that they will spring on Har-
ward and Princeton. There Is some grumpling
that some Of them were not used against Brown
and West Point, but IL they are produced In
time for the big games the discomfort will DO
quellcd.
ton arc conditioned in their studies and cannot
play half and quarter back is quite a setback to
the team. Yale expects a hard game on next
homo tea fears tho Chicagoans because Phil
Draper. their full back, twice scored against
years ago. Yale's ends are her weakness. There
are eight candidates about equally balanced for
the places. It is oven. guessing who will be
c eaSsiHf abboii, Eddy, and Dudley are the leaders,.
ATLANTA, Oct. 31.-Richard Won Cannon.
full b,Il S ,ssn' on ai tsI S Se4s ss s: 9t e S!SISsds f ri:
morning OF conclusion OF the brain, caused
by an accident n Yesterdays, game be-
tMiee Of Virginia. The home team was
outclassed by the Virginians, who were much
heavier men,. In the Georgia in.
ond half Of the game had begun. Virginia
was handwriting in one corner of the field.
The attack was directed against Cannon. He
fell on him. Some assert that Gammon's body
was doubled and that his foot struck his head,
causing tho injury, but no definite account OF
the affair can be had.
When the men untangled themselves Gam.
mon lay on tho field unconscious. He was
was given to him. but he died without regain.
ing consciousness. He was only ID years old,
but well developed 2nd an excellent student
bid any more university students entering into
the game Of football.