The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-03-08

Usually they were those who had won
regulations in previous matches. but
often mere social prominence guided
the choice, for it was no little distinc-
ton. The captains took up positions on
opposite sides of the room and pro-
ceeded to choose sides.
A penny was tossed to see who
should have first choice. A murmur of
subdued comment went around the
room as the fortunate captain proceed
ed to announce his initial selection
Here was a chance for much diploma
cy. If the captain happened to be
young man who figured as a beau at
all, ne was often placed in a per-
picking situation. OF course there were
one or more renowned spoilers in the
room whom he wanted on his side, but
if he first chose the tall, thin, homely
girl who could rattle off such jaw
breakers as meteorological" "hen-
orrhage" and therapeutics what
chance would he stand of walking
home with the plump, red-cheeked
belle who might fall an easy victim to
such words as Choral or asthma"
He had to make his choice, though,
and take the consequences,
All these fine points Of the situa-
ton were fully understood and keenly
reliShed by the spectators, and many
sly nudge was given or wink flashed
around the room as the two generals
mustered their forces for the impend-
ing contest. The first dozen or so
names were selected after careful con-
sideratiOn, but when the reputed spell
ers had been picked out the choosing
was done in a rapid, random way.
Then the school teacher laid down
the rules of the match. One trial on a
word was all that was ever given.
reasonable amount of time for thought
would be allowed. but promptness In
answering was requested, and the
spectators were warned not to inter
rupt the proceedings either by remarks
or laughter. The words were some
times taken direct from the dictionary,
but sometimes the school teacher pre-
pared long lists Of words.
Then the long lines stood facing each
other and there was a momentary hush
as the teacher began. The first words
were so easy that those in line smiled
as they spelled them out. By degrees
harder ones were given, and soon the
unlucky individual who was the first
to miss sided shame-facedly to seat
in the rear of the spectators to hide
burning cheeks and often tear dimmed
eyes, for the name CT the first to fall
was always remembered in telling the
history of the match. 1t was not so
inglOriOuS to go down in the thick of
the fight, and the unfortunate one who
had given up only after a struggle had
more company in his misery.
What swaths the puzzling "ei's' and
les" did NOW in the ranks! Some
times those at the very head capitu-
lated under this sort Of fire and lamely
excused their defeat by saying that it
was a mere slip of the tongue. Before
the list which the schoolteacher held
had been more than half used up the
lines had been thinned until only a
handful remained on either side. Then
h. ton 4 H.,
t2tOrs could be seen heads bent and
eyes strained in eager excl ed scrutiny.
With what admiration were the remain
ing champions watched as they proud
ly rolled forth the letters which make
up the polysyllabes
But the climax came when only one
remained on each side. Then the i'm
placable master Of ceremonies turned
to the end Of his list, where he had
placed the words with silent letters,
those with double 'Ps" where single
FPS" would be expected and catch
words taken from the geography. When
the end came and one competitor fell,
it was the custom of the crafty school
teacher to put to the victor, flushed
and triumphant. a few "shOW words
which were really easy enough to spell,
but which sounded extremely difficult.
Then, in mock despair, he would give
1T up and produce the prize, generally
some acceptable volume of poetry. and
hestow it, with a neatly turned phrase,
on the photographic hero.
But the spelling class and the spelling
book are under the ban. The scholar
of today has no chance to win glory
by spelling down the school," and
pink teas and progressive euchre par
ties have supplanted the spelling match.
Who knows, then, whether the rising
generation may not spell phthisic With
''z'' as well as begin it with a "t?"
-SeWell Ford