Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1899-11-02

they were simply monosyllableS for
his honor.
Spelling is an education of the eye
more than the eat. 1t is the ability
to know whether a word looks right.
The perfect spelling faculty Is rare
gift, just as the perfect color faculty
is rare one. To get some partlcu-
lars regarding his ability as a speller
Judge Kelly was seen in his beautiful
home at st. Joseph. He is a most
genial person, but also a most modest
one. He disclaims the honors of the
photographic champion of the world,
but what he leaves unsaid his friends
say for him.
Il was born IN Hamilton county,
Ohio. near Cincinnati, on the eigh-
teenth day of December, 1882" said
the judge to your correspondent. In
1901 l moved to Henry county, In
diana, and settled on farm about ten
miles north of New Castle and en-
gagged in farming. l entered a dis
trict school in the fall of 1888, going
to school in the winter time until 1850,
when l left the farm and took up my
residence in Marion, Grant county,
where l had better school advantages,
my father having moved to
that county in 1916.
Soon after going to Marion |
studied law, was admitted to the bar
and commenced practicing law in 1873,
and l have been engaged in the law
either upon the circuit bench or at
the bar all of my manhood life. In
1866 / settled in Savannah, in Andrew
county, Mo-, where | lived until 1887,
when l removed to st. Joseph, where
now live. Incidentally I have
given some attention occasionally to
other things. l have edited news
papers, lectured in the Missouri state
university from 1873 to 1889 upon
criminal law and practice and plead
ing and practice
In civil cases | have lectured on
medical Jurisprudence in medical col
leges, have contributed many articles
to the Central Law Journal, published
in st. Louis, and assisted in revising
the Missouri statutes in 1879. l am
the author Of several lawbooks of a
local character, which are standard
authority in Missouri, such as 'Kelly's
Treatise for Justices of the Peace and
Constables, 'Kellys Probate Guide
and Kelly's Criminal Law and Prac-
tice.
when these books were being pub
lished directed the typesetters to fol-
low copy, something unusual, because
most writer's depend upon the COM
positors to correct the spelling, etc.,
in the manuscript. AS consequence
the printers watched very closely to
discover any mistake in the spelling
as well as in other respects, but they
soon declared that it was no use, that
it was impossible to find mistakes
where there were not any TO be found.
dispute arose one day over the spell
ing of a word and bet of $40 was
proposed. / remarked that | would
take the bet and from that circum-
stance it was claimed that l had made
a standing offer of $40 for every mis-
spelled word that could be found in
my copy.
Il have, of course, had something to
do with politics, having been several
times a candidate for Office from city
alderman to candidate for congress,
in the Blaine campaign in 1884, with
varied results, about half the time
successful.
when | was a schoolboy going to
school in Henry county, Indiana,
great deal of attention was given to
spelling. Spelling matches, spelling
bees and polemics or debating contests
were engaged in frequently and extern
sively throughout our neighborhood
and country round about, for edifica-
ton, amusement and instruction. One
district school would challenge an
other for a spelling match and the
challenge was always accepted. Then
both schools would put in most Of
their time and do their best in pre-
pairing for the contest, and the schools
and scholars for miles around would
go in wagons, on horseback and on
foot. Some of the best spoilers in our
school have gone eight and ten miles
TO a spelling match and the spelling
would begin about o'clock p m. and
last until or 3 a. m. These matches
were usually on Friday night.
1T frequently happened that some
of our spoilers did not miss word
during the whole evening. On one or
two occasions the contest was draw,
perhaps for want of time, neither side
being able to win. When preparing
for spelling match everything else
was pushed aside and the whole atten-
ticn of those who We're to participate
in the contest was given to spelling.
Our teachers were infected with the
mania and eagerly participated. They
were generally selected to pronounce
the words to the spelling match, and
they closely watched and sharply
criticised for any mistakes they might
make. We used Webster's school
dictionary and sometimes the spelling
book"