The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-06-08
SEVERAL SORTS OF SPELLING Reform.
A Comparison of DIR. Andrews Method
with Thoae of Other Refnrmera.

Comparison of DIR. Andrews's Method
with Those of Other Reformers.
To THE EDITOR OF THE SuN-.Sr: The method
Of reforming English photography advocated
by Prof. E. Benjamin Andrews the Super
intendent Of Schools in Chicago Is by no means
new Most Of the rules recommended by him.
and many Others have been In use by spelling
reformers OF the genuine. dyed ln-the-wool
sort for several years. The principal differ
ence between the process Of reformation cham
pioned by Mr.. Andrews and that proposed by
the Spelling Reform Association some ten
years ago seems to be that the former is
shorter and less comprehensive
In 1890 and in 1891 the disciples OF spelling
reform were uncommonly busy. and 1t Is said
that at times some OF them we're on the verge
OF nervous prostratlon as the result OF their
ceaseess endeavors to make the dictionary an
obsolete volume. What they did at and before
that time has been only partially outlined in
the reports concerning the movement lately
inaugurated in the Windy City. In the first
instance the reformers decided to let eleven
words constitute the basis Of their ATTEMPT.
Here are the words:
Ar, catalog. dehnit, CARL Civ, hav. inhnt. liv
tho. thru, wisht.
The spelling OF those words. 1t was ex-
planned. was 80 simple and 80 clearly sug
receive the sanction OF every body. except per-
haps a few conservative and cranky" indi-
viduals here and there. who might fancy that
ne TGmd the beauty
limipary words had got e good ioothold 60 to
speak. they were succeeded by five brief rules.
designed to shorten and simplify" other
words OF frequent recurrence. These five
rules were as follows:
l. . Omit from the disggraph ca when pronounced
2. Omit silent final after short vowel. as in hav.
8. Write i for ph in such words as aifabet fantom.
-; When word ends with double letter omit tho
8. Change ed hnal 70 twhere 1T has the sound OF t.
as in lasht. imprest. &c.
There appears to be nothing In the rules
given above which is not contained In the sys-
erthographers The real, nieeties Of simple
S spsS with set SaA o Sn
painstaking. They are to, be found in the
Homooraphic Magazine. and are as follows;
liy. Mnyard, believ bronz. singl. engin. grant.
sound OF a. as in hart harien. &c.
T. Drop from 60 having the sound of e. as jeopardy.
Leopard For yeoman write yoman.
8. Drop of parliament.
g. For o having the sound Of In but. write abuv.
DUN. sum. tung. and the like. For women restore
Drop from on having the sound of u. as in jur-
s. Drop silent after y before a. aud in native
English words. as garanee gard CESS gest. Gd gilt,
y Drop anal us in ogoloe eatalos; &C. dsmagog
ii. Dubi oonsonants may be slmplined Final 3.
3 e. all ali al M tE PST 9n S%
consopant. as batl, ripl. writn. &C. Initial unac
s oihes e%ryens
:, IL Drop silent in BON. crhm. Diet, dout. dum
IAN" H. GR.nsa BssR 10 s"'if a ' .Sds4
henae. onse. pense. scarse, sinse. sourse thense.
Il. Drop the OF Oh in camomile coler colera
melancoly scool, stomac. Change TO Elm AXE anker.
ceding sound, a. in ch.fod. CHANGED " ' '''
II Drop in aSast. burg COST. Drop o. in hauty.
s ssq t to Ssanys % has
Is Drop in coud.
~ Drop in receit.
30 Drop in allie. demene. Hand Change TO Z in
distinctive words as in abuze verb. hOuz yerb).
q Drop in sent. sthe.
- Drop T. as in each, pich. wieh. &c.
a. Write for ph as in hlosofv. sfere 81.
Apparently the new School Superintendent
In Chicago does not fqvora Of the amendments
tyfour original rules. and has selected only
those words which. in his Judgment. would not
Els % he
spelling Il In harmony with the rules foTmu-
lated and presented for adoption in the House
OF Representatives by Congressman Lawler in
1890. In the proposed measure it was re-
solved that the Public Printer be and he
hereby Is directed: in, all wurk for Congress
and the departments begun after the passage
OF this resolution. to adopt the following rules
Tor amended spellings. except In educational
and luther wurks where different orthografy
may be required:
|. Drop us at the end OF wurds like Dialogue,
catalogue &c. where the preceding vowel is short.
Thus. spel demsgoy. eplog, synagog. &c. When the
preceding vowel Is long az in proroRue. vogue, dis
embogue, retain Anal letters US at present.
., Drop final in such wnrds as definite. infinite,
favorite. &C. when the preceding vowel il short.
Thus spell 0pposit preteri hypoCri,, rcquisit &c.
When the preceding vowel is long, in polite,
finite, unite, &C.. retain present forms unchanged
8. Drop final ts in wurds like quartette. coquette.
cigarette. &c. Thus spell cigaret. roset epaulet,
vedet. galet, &c.
l.. Drop final in wurls like program. Thus
spell program ortam, gram &c.
3. Change MI to I in wurds like phantom, tele
graph phase &c. Thus spell alfabet paraRraf hlos.
ofy fonetic, fotogrAf &c.
Is. Substitute for the difthongs N and n whom
they have the sound Of that letter. Thus spell eoan
esthetc, diarrheA. subpoena, esofagus athene UNI &C.
NB.-No change in proper names.
ANOTHER REFoRMER.
NEW YORK. June @.