Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1906-09-06
PUBLIC TO DECIDE.
President Roosevelt Writes Public
Printer Stillings Regarding the
Changes In Spelling.
NOTHING REVOLUTIONARY.
An Attempt Merely to Keep Abreast
Of Popular sentiment ana
Views Of Practical Educa-
tors and Scholars.

oyster Bay, Sept. 3.-ln letter 10
Charles A. stillings, public printer at
washington, made public Sunday
President Roosevelt wrote that II the
changes in spelling advocated by the
simplifled spelling board and put into
use In official documents meet popu'
lar approval, they will be made per,
manent II not, he wrote, they Will
be dropped. The presidents letter
follows
"Hon. Charles A. Stillings, Public
Printer, Washington, D. G.
"My Dear Mr.. Stillings: ! enclose
herewith copies Of certain circulars
Of the simplified spelling board
which san be obtained free from the
board at No. Madison avenue,New
York city. Please hereafter direct
that in all government publications
OF the executive departments tne
above 900 words enumerated in cir
cular No. 5 shall be spelled as therein
set forth.
IF any one asks the reason Tor
the action, refer him to circulars .,
4, and s, as issued by the simpiiiied
smelling board. Most Of the criticism
of the proposed step Is EVIDENT!
made in entire ignorance Of the vei Z
moderate and common sense views
as to the purposes to be achieved
which views are so excellently SET
forth in the circulars to which have
referred There is not the slightest
intention to do anything revolution
ary or initiate any far-reaching pol
icy. The purpose simply is for the
government, instead Of tagging be-
hind popular sentiment, to advance
abreast of 1t and at the same umS
abreast of the views Of the ablest and
most practical educators of our time
as well as of the most profound schol'
ars-men of the stamp of Prof Louns
bury and Prof Skeat.
"If the slight changes In the spell
ing Of the three hundred words pro
pOsed wholly or partially meet popu
lar approval, then the changes WI
become permanent without any reler
encs to what public officials or indi
vidual private citizens may feel; Il
they do not ultimately meet with pop
ular approval they will be dropped ant
that Is all there Ia about It. The!
represent nothing in the world bu
N very slight extension Of the move
ment which has made agricultural i'm
plement makers and farmers wrlt'
"plow" instead Of plough" which hal
made most Americans write honor
without the somewhat, absurd, super
flous u and which is even now max
ing people write program without tn'
me. lust as all people who spear
nnglish now write bat set dim
sum and fish instead Of the Eliza
bethian bate 'setts' 'dimme' 'summe
and fyshe' which makes US write pup
Mc' almanac era fantasy and wa
ron instead Of the 'publick' 'almanack
'aera' phantasy' and Wagon OF ON
Ereat-grandfathers.
at is not an attack on tue ian
Ruage Of Shakespeare and Milton De
cause 1t is in some instances a going
hack to the forms they used, and II
others merely the extension Of chang
o. which, as regards other words
have taken place since their time l
"a not an attempt to do anything tar
reaching or sudden or violent or IN
deed anything very great at all.
is merely an attempt to cast VIVA
ulight weight can properly be cast OIL
the side Of the popular forces whic-
are endeavoring to make our speilin
q little less foolish and fantastic