The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-01-03
6. H. La Fetra, Clyde D. Will
liamS, A. J. Tyrer, and
George I. StOrmOnt Fol-
low in the Order Named.
Difficulties Met in Examina-
ton of Hundreds of Lists
Submitted "A Valuable
Experience.

-
In fuldllment of its promise, The
Times today announces the result of the
word contest which ended two weeks
age. To those VINO have been anxiouslv
awaiting the report, but have not fully
appreciated the amount of labor which
has been required to comprehensively
examine the enormous volume of words
which have had to be reviewed, the in
terval has undoubtedly seemed unduly
long.
To Others, who have called at The
Times Office to inquire when the report
would be published, and have noted
what was essential to a proper consid-
Grafton of the problems which con-
fIonted those intTusted with deciding
the contest, it has been evident, in or
der to reach a fair conclusion, that the
work was being prosecuted with all
reasonable dispatch.
A Flood of Answers.
The contest. which developed many
remarkable and unexpected features.
began November l. Answers were re-
ceived daily thereafter until the con-
test closed. but a great many contest
ants. who commenced work on the puz-
zle when Il first appeared. held back
their answers until the last days. de-
voting in the meantime many hours
OF study TO the proposition. and maxi
ing necessary a like amount OF study
and consideration in passing upon the
merits Of the respective combinations of
words
The contest was begun specifically for
tho benefit and entertainment Of all the
readers OF The Times. and with the de-
sire, as was reiterated in these columns
OF giving each contestant an equal
chance with every other Conceived
ana begun upon these lines the same
spirit has been conformed to in seeking
conclusions in regard to the hundreds
OF lists it was necessary to examine in
order to reach the result which is an
nounced today.
Tie Interest Widespread.
Probably. within its scope. no word
competition has ever attracted more at
tention or greater study than the Times
contest Artistcally prepared lists,
many OF which were re-75a7-za f,Ie ex-
hi0its OF penmanship and other handi-
craft. emphatically demonstrated that
the proposition had appealed strongly to
Times readers. and in addition to the
hours, days, and weeks consumed in
study. scores OF contestants devoted
much time 10 uniquely and artisticalIy
tabulaung their words. This feature
was unexpected. and should another con-
test be decided upon, some cognfzance.
IN the way Of a prize. will be taken OF
the most artistically and uniquely pre-
pared exhibit
~ is not 20 be presumed that every
one who participated in the competition
VIII wholly agree with the deductions
OF those who have decided the contest. |
This is not TO be wondered at. however. |
when Il Is remembered that accredited /
and eminent authorities. who make vo-
cabulation lifelong study. frequently |
disagree upon either the definitions or /
usages OF words, and also upon their
'admissibliity or exclusion from diction- /
aries Perhaps no other newspaper con-
test Is as difficult 10 decide as a word
contest. This is largely true because Of /
The Inconsistencies which besct the Eng /
llsh language. Exceptions rather than
rules predominant TO create difficulty I'm
both constructing a series OF words I'm /
conformity 10 required conditions. and
also in determining. i'm many instances.
whether conditions have been complied
with
The Modern Dictionary.
To those who followed the dictionary
closely in the selection Of words and
who may question the striking out OF
certain words. The Times cites the in
troductory Of the dictionary as showing
that the modern word book is largely
an encyclopedia which aims 10 give com
prehensive terms and expressions Of
specialists on q wide range of subjects !
and IL also performs a duty not only 20
those who are familiar with what might |
be termed United States English" but |
also to the English-speaking peoples liv-
ing IN South American countries. IN ia
pan, in China. and on many islands Of
the sea. whose vocabularies Include in
provinciaIisms which are un-
known here. Wherever words Of this
characte- have been discovered. The
Times has taken the ground that they
should be stricken out because they did
not conform 10 the spirit Of the con-
test
In regard 20 the elimination Of words
other than those of the character above
il might also be said that
authorities disagree. not
alone upon the admissions and exclu-
sions Of provincialisms. but also differ in
their opinions about rules Of admissi-
bility and exclusion generally. As stated
In the preface OF the dictionary:
Where 70 draw the lines has been
an oft-recurring problem. II is more
than probable that some readers win I
diner with US as 10 what are the more 7
important words; some will Insist. per- 7
haDs. that words Of less Importance have ]