Arizona republican., 1904-04-15
r1Issouri,s Great Ian.


state of Missouri and to make obeisanca
TO one of her distinguished citizens
Prof. David Jones by name. Prol'
Jones is q country school teacher, ana
he lives near the town of Lancaster. he
has taught school in that neighborhood
for thirty-two years, and correspond
ent of the Kansas City Star reports
that he Is the champion speller OF MIS-
souri, Prof. Jones meets all corners,
and he bars nobody on account of age
size, weight, sex or previous condltlon
of servitude. We are told that numer-
GUS champion spoilers have invaded
Lancaster with blood in their eyes and
dictionaries under their arms. They
left town with the explanation that
they were out of practice, or growing
at the pronouncer. In consequence or
which Prof. Jones modestly closes all
of his letters with the inscription:
THE greatest English speller that the
world has produced"
AS far back as 1875, Prof. Jones had
a spelling bout with a learned doctor
of the University of Kansas. At the
end of four hours the Missouri SPELL
ing Goliath won. He had missed only
fourteen words to the Jayhawkers
seventeen. The match was close
enough to be decidedly interesting, and
Prof. Jones championship belt was
in greater danger than on any other
occasion during the third of century
he has claimed it as his own.
In 1884, Mr. Triplett, the champion
speller of Benton county, Mo, went to
Lancaster to have a go at Prof. Jones,
but he was easy. He carried home an
unabridged dictionary with the words
he missed encircled with blue pencil
marks, a delicate suggestion from his
rival
At a church entertainment last Win
ter, Prof. Jones spelled correctly 1900
words.
For several years Prof. Jones has
been trying to get the best spoilers Of
the state to organize like newspaper
men, bankers and other craftsmen, but
the spoilers seem to be backward
about taking hold Of the enterprise.
Prof. Jones argues that printers,
stenographers and all those having to
do with words owe it to their employ
ers to perfect themselves in spelling,
and, as the art is rarely acquired in
school, he thinks an association for
the object of acquiring efficiency in
photography by the workers with pen
and paper should be encouraged.
II am acquainted with a very pleas
ant young lady who aspires to be a
stenographer," said Prof. Jones, re-
Gently. II asked her the important
question in her line of work. oh, my
spelling never bothers me- she said
lightly. In truth, 1t didn't was her
employer who suffered"
1t is to be regretted that every school
teacher in the land cannot sit at the
feet of Prof. Jones and receive in
structions in the science of teaching
spelling. The grammar schools and
the high schools are annually turning
loose upon the world great army of
educated" young men and women
who cannot SPELL But it is impossible
for the teachers to get personal advice
from this Missouri genius. and as the
next best thing they should ponder well
his dictum that pupils cannot learn
how to spell by writing daily a few
words on a blackboard-the system
which now prevails in the up-to-date
progressive" schools. The philosophy
OF spelling. Prof. Jones sums up as
follows. Spelling is not mastered in
twelve easy lessons and he who
would walk with the elect must sacri-
flee hours TO study, as in any other
thing worth knowing. Good spelling
is an evidence of culture. Did you
ever hear a person who can properly
spell and define words that range out
of the ordinary use slang or incorrect
expressions? To spell we'll also i'm
plies the ability to talk well. Some
accuse me of egotism about my SPELL
ing. Perhaps they are right, but most
people are proud of something or
other, and I'm thankful for my gift
just as other men are of their powers
OF oratory or ability to break down
the other sides centre in football"