New-York tribune., 1906-08-25
REFORMERS ELATED.
They Think People WiU FolIosc
ErampIe of President.

DR.. C. T. G. Scott, secretary Of the simplifed
Spelling Board is much elated the Presidents
order
DR.. Scott as a reformer is in a class by himself
He does not think that his theory of spelling will
Immediately all linguistic difficulties. and
he also believes it is better to pass by a single
point than 90 1eopardze hts entire scheme He said
yesterday that he had been in correspondence with
the heads of all the scientific bureaus in Washing
ton the President and the Public Printer and
many government officials.
The Public Printer. he said. had already asked
the board TO aid him in compiling a new "style
book" One two newspapers and some maya
zines. like The Independent" THE Educational
Review and certain trade journals are using the
three hundred simpi1ed spellings suggested by the
board and the superintendent of schools in Duluth
has been authorized to adopt those spellngs IL he
deems il advisable.
The Simplifled Spelling Board brought into
existence last March through the generosity OF Mr.
Carnegie. who had become interested in the move
ment when he first turned author The chairman
Of the board is Professor Brander Matthews. With
him are associated, with many others. such men as
Supreme Court Justice Brewer Mark Twain
Isaac K. Funk. the dictionary makerI ex-Secretary
Gage. President Nicholas Murray Butler of CO.
lumbia, President David Starr Jordan of Leland
Stanford. Professor William James, of Harvard;
Benjamin e. Smith. Editor OF 1.-THE Century Die
tionary"; Andrew Carnegie and DR.. Scott. the sec
retary, who is genealogical editor of THE Century
Dictionary"
At meeting held several years ago at Columbia
University the question of simplfied spelling
up AS possible hacker Of a concerted movement
toward that object Mr.. Carnegie was suggested.
He had already given some thought TO the subject
and on being approached he asked for the names OF
twelve representative men of letters who would
agree 10 a smpllhed spelling OF twelve words
in all their correspondence. Mr.. Carnegie asked
for this TO convince himself that such movement
would be supported. Those who agreed included
William Dean Howells Mark Twain, Thomas
Wentworth Higginson. Richard Watson Glider and
Professor Matthews.
Convinced that the scheme practical. Mr.
Carnegie provided the necessary financial backing
although the scheme has excited much rIdicule
and some earnest opposition.
The purpose Of the board is not TO revolutionize
spelling-not to commit any "fonetic vloense," as
Professor Matthews expressed it. but simplv to
remove superauous letters and then educate tba
public toward phonetic spelling Some of the re-
vised spellings suggested by the board have been
in general use I'm this country for some time The
final "u' I'm such spellings thru" however
gives matter written in the style a peculiar
appearance.
The twenty rules to he mastered by the reformed
speller follows
When offered choice between and chose
. II the choice lies between and no q in words
like abridgment, lodsment. acknowledgment. al
3. Use in place Of ed for the past. or past
P5e P d2p OF pTe dsre huh sh wasB gr
ishng array Of high literary authorities from Spen
ser 10 Lowell is cited In support of this sim
plihcation.
4. stick TO ense in preference to ence when you
have a choice. Example, Defense, Offense pretense.
5. Don't double the in coquet. epaulet, etquet
omelet.
ample: Draft.
ploush, write poW For through, write thru
8. Write the Greek suftix Use. or -ze. with the 4
bv preference. Example; CatechiZe, criticize
4 Where any authority allows il omit the on
words speIled with lite Example: Preterit.
IN lee
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