The Washington times., 1902-12-31
LINGUISTS WOULD
REFORM SPELLING
Committee Named by Mod
ern Language Association.
Or. GREENE PROPOSES PLAN
Many Interesting Topics Discussed.
Dinner to Prof. Bright at
University Club.
Or. GREENE PROPOSES PLAN

BALTIMORE. Md. Dec 31.-Two ses-
bions Of the Modern Language Associa-
tion Of America. now in annual conven-
uon at the Johns Hopkins University.
we're held yesterday in the morning and
afternoon. The attendance at both ses-
sions was very much larger than az the
opening meeting on Monday
To Reform English Spelling.
The principal feature OF the morning
session was the appointment of a com
mittee 70 act as a sort OF reform
league" as il were. in The matter OF
English spelling This subject was first
brought before the association az its
meeting last year az Harvard University
through paper by Prof Calvin Thomas.
Of New York. one OF the leading Ger
manic scholars in America
Prof Thomas idea, as expressed IN
his paper OF last winter. was succInctlv
given by himself yesterday in the dis
cussion which followed the motion Tor
tae appointment OF q committee. made
by Or. Herbert E. Greene. OF Johns Hop
kins. Prof. Thomas said:
years
prove English spelling have been very
sporadic. and nobody seemed willing 10
take the initiative in a matter so vital
and so open 10 criticism
The Present Purpose.
Our present purpose. however. rs TO
enlist the influence Of the association
on the side OF what Is reasonable in our
spelling. We are not trying to move too
last. we are trying simply 20 fix the at
tehtioA OF the association upon a very
Important subject in which radical
changes are needed and in which these
changes can be made and developed
soberiy and at proper times We are
merely trying TO crysralHze the un-
questionable tend OF the last two or
three centuries"
IT. Greene's motion for the appoint
ment OF committee By the president
or the association was carried. and Prof
Bright named the following gentlemen
70 serve in that capacity. PROF n +
Emerson, Of the Western Reserve Uni
vers'ty; Prof. II. c. c. Brandt OF Ham
llton College; DR.. c. G. Child. OF the
University OF Pennsylvania; Or. Herbert
F. Greene OF Johns Hopkins Prof
George Hempi, OF the University NJ
Michigan; DR. ". F. Mead. OF WESLEYAN
University; Prof. E S. Sheldon. OF uar-
ward. Prof Calvin Thomas. OF Coluu-
Tia University. ana Prof. II. A. Todd of
New York
Experimental Phonetics.
Prof E. ". Scripture. OF Yale. closed
the morning session with very inter
ostirE though decidedly technical exbi-
oition o. his recent researches in ex-
perimental phouetics. in the accomplish
men, OF which he has been assisted bv
the Carnegie Institute. He showed the
wonderful apparatus which he has en-
pioyed in his ingcsiigations. and give
exhibits OF voice curves.
Prof Scripture Is the rreatest phone
ucian in America. and his researches
have made him famous throughout the
world.
A. O'Clock the members and pueste
OF tho association lu1chod at the Rem
ners
Dialect Society Meets.
The annual meeting Of the American
Dialect Society. which Is Tot a part Of
the Modern Language Association. but
which is composed largely OF the mem
bers Of the latter body. Was held az 2.20
O'clock in Dr. Grcene's lecture room IN
Mccoy Hall
The meeting was devoted exclusively
10 business. The reports Of the secre-
tary Rnd treasurer were read and ac-
ce1tc-, and upon the Recommendation OF
Prof o. r. Emerson $50 was approprf-
ated for additional publication OF the
Investigations ana researches Of the
members OF the society.
Morality Of Tristan
The afternoon session was called bv
President Bright in the large assembly
room in Mccoy Hall a 3:2O o'clock. The
attendance was considerably larger Than
in she morning
The FIRST paper. entitled "Gottfried's
Tristan from the Standpoint OF Moral
iiy' was read by Prof. Daniel r. Schum-
way cf the University o. Pennsylvania.
In IL. be essayed 20 prove that the
charge Of immortality 80 freouentlv made
Is undeseryed. arguing thar the morality
OF piece Of literature is to be judged
BY the underlying motive
In closing Prof schumnay said. "The
ideals OF the Middle Ages differed I'm
many respects from those OF today.
Gottfried Is a child Of his time and must
be judged from his own standpoint. not
from ours. His intention is to depict
an overDOweriDg passion, and the mis-
cry n wrought and he observes thc ut
most delicacy and tact In dealing with
delicate situations
America in German Poetry.
America in the Popular and student
Poetry Of Germany" by Emil A. C.
Keppler. Of Columbia University. New
York. was the subject Of the second pa
per. Mr. Keppler's discussion had to do
with the reason why there is no early
mention Of America in the popular and
3idactic poetry OF Germany. He stated
that this peculiarity seemed du< 70 the
sources Of the folk and STUDENT songs.
50 Tar removed from those Of America.
At 8 O'Clock a dinner was given at the
University Club IN honor of Prof Bright. /
director Of the English department at
Johns Hopkins and president Of the Mod /