davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-09-09
Thoughts. Not Mords. Conn,

To THE EDITOR OF THE SUN-SIr. Tho
violent opposition that the proposed shorten
ing Of spelling has raised once more ilus-
trates the deep seated aversion OF people
generally toward innovation. The objection
to the proposed change on the ground that n
must entail confusion and difficulty in catch
ing on to the new way cannot prove very
strong. Beginners will find the new arrange
ment more natural and easy because more In
conformity with sound. while those who have
already learned TO read can without difficulty
become accustomed TO the chAngs.
The opposition OF Tie savants who fear
the obscurIng OF the origin OF words that tell
their history IL more ~forceful. Yet the es-
pousal Of the new cause by such men as
Lounsbury OF Yale and the ColumbIa pro-
fessors would prove that men can be ardent
promoters of progress without red inter-
est In the study Of the science Of words.
BENJAMIN Franklin once declared. in re-
spouse TO an exhOrtation In behalf OF Ian
glage culture. that as long as his language
could transmit more ideas than he had. he
would employ himself in adding to his stock
Of ideas without enlarging his knowledge of
languages.
This wise man valued words and languages
only so far az they serve as a medium for
thoughts; the emphasis should be placid
on thoughts. Every alteration Of words bet
ter serving the end Of conveying Thoughts
should be welcomed.
Philologists tell us that languages. with
the words that compose them, are subject TO
the same laws OF growth and reproduction
that per Vade all life. and that each Ian RuaRa
With It's words may be- arranged under lie
proper family heading by distinctive traits.
hence the aversion from scholarly sources
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-09-09
Calm Consideration or the Fact,

To THE EDITOR OF THE SUN-Sir: Neither
common sense nor common honesty has
characterized LIE multitude OF attacks on
President RooSe veltis action in the matter
OF the spelling OF the famous 300 words. In
the first place. why all this howl about 80
netlk spelling? The list of 300 words con-
tains, 70 hint of phonetic spelling, except in a
few cases where r" Is substituted for "ph.
which has already been done by scientists for
years.
Why all these silly parodies and aIIusions
to Artemus Ward and Josh BiIinRs7 look
in vain In the list of 300 words for any "komik
wurdz."
Why all this prattle about the indiRpi,v 10
our sacred~ language? In the first place.
more than half OF the speIlinEs are the only
ones known to most Americans and were
simply put in to establish a standard. In the
second place. many Of the forms like -altho-
and "claspt" and "kist" nave been considered
beautiful by the noblest poets. In the third
place, amIng the advocates of the new stand
ard are many OF the most learned and diVnihei
scholars in the country. as well as the leadinS
photographers and etymologists OF both
nations.
u is droll to see the half ed nro,s.,s n.
people whose writing shows no literary charm
and whose misrepresentation shows neither
sense nor decency. w. + r
NRw YORK, September 7
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-09-09
SAVANNAH YACHT RACES.
Contests for Howard Gould and WInsIOw
y. Pierce Cups on the Programme.

For the close Of their season the regatta
committee of the ~SeawanhAka Corinthian
Yacht Club has arranged a most attractive
proVramme Of races. extending over a period
Of four days, beginning next Tuesday, Sep
TENDER II. with an invitation race for sloops
and schOoners.
The cups offered for these races are re-
Usrded by many as the handsomest offered
this wear. Each is valued At $500. the schooner
prize being the gift Of Capt. Howard Gould
and that for sloops OF Vice-COmmodore
WinsIow s. Pierce. Capt. Gould's cup is for
the schooner OF classes A. n. c OF d that makes
the best corrected time. twice over the regular
Seawanhaka COrinthian Yacht Club course
No. 1. ce-COmmodore Pierce's cup IL for the
sloop of classes F, q. H. J. X. and M making
the best corrected time twice over the same
course as the schOoners. There Ia TO be no
time limit and at least two sohOOners and
two sloops must start. The principal YACHT
entered 80 far are the scho0ners Llmina and
Queen and the sloops Rainbow, Yankee
Enort, WeetamOe. Nicola, Isolde. Gardenia
An the New York Yacht Clubs 10 foo, opa
design sloops are enter ed for the in wharton
series to be sailed on Thursday for the Rouse
memorial prize offered by Capt. Charles w
Wetmore. The race, which IL to be sailed in
two heats. the first at 1910 o'clock in the
morning and the second At 2:lO O'Clock in the
afternoon, will be decided on the point system,
ON Friday. September ~. there will he an
extra race for the 10 foot yachts for A Gun
offered by the race committee. The race for
the Pierce and Gould cups was 10 have been
Queen are both entered for the Sandy Hook
race on that date, The annual reRatfa of the
club. which promises to be the biggest Of the
season. win be sailed on Saturday.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-09-09
a

Andrew p. Morrison is the buyer Of Univer-
sity Court. a new six story apartment house
ut the northwest corner OF MorninRside
avenue and nth street. sold recently by
the Robert NJ. Silvcrmap Realty ana Con-
structlon Company.
The Kickert-rinlay Really Company re-
ports the following sales at Broadway
Flushing: Frank Dekum, three lots, s2,A0O:
Wilbert c. Brakeman. three lotS $500:
Mary r.. Jackson. three lots, si,sOo; Fritz
Keller. six lots. 81, 600: Julie H.. Boisse, eight
lots. s., 200: Mrs. Otelie l.. Stransky. three
lots, o., 800: NJ. J. Mulhall. four lots. $4,000:
Wilfred G.. and Madeline II. Shacklcy, three
lots. 81. 400: Catharine G. Coughlin. three lots.
81. 500: Gottlieb Novak. three lots, 81, 500 John
Elder. six lots. $4,000. and AnneO' Hasan. three
lots. % 400.
r. Nelson Ehrhart has sold for s. f. Milling
ron two plots In White Plains Park. West
chester county. The buyer VIII erect a
dwelling.
of No. az West Tooth street to Andrew Httzel.
John J. Mooney Is the lessee OF the north
east corner Of Lenox avenue and l25th street,
a Mot fronting 74lO feet on the avenue and
IS feet on the street. leased some time ago.
seven story building will he erected.
for INA Maurice NJ. oConnor No. si0 West ii25t6
l. v. Rossi 4 Co. have sold for Il. Rifkin
No. ~ Fourth street, Brooklyn. a four story
tenement, on lot 20XlOO.
l.. V. Rossi 4 Co. have also leased for DR..
A. Crocchia No. 22SS Second avenue Tor 9
term of years at an aggregate rental OF
The section Of the Morris Park rscstrSck
20 be sold by the McViCkar-Gaillard Realty
Company is known as the Park Section;
IL borders upon the holdings OF the estate Of
John acob Aston on the one side and faces
the holdings OF the estate Of William Waldorf
Aston on the other. The sale will take place
AZ the Real Estate Salesroom. No. II Vesey
street, on Thursday, September ~. at 1890
A. NJ.
Plans have been filed with Building Super
intendpnt Murphy for making over the four
story dwelling at No. o7I Madison avenue into
flats with stores on the ground floor for the
Georgia Development Company as owner.
The improvements are TO cost $500. ac-
OOrding to the estimate OF the architect. c. A..
LuCkhurst.
The Manhattan new building plans fled
Yesterday comprise two six story fats 10 be
built for Samuel Parnass at Nos. 233 20 237
East EiGhty-fOurth street Mt a cost OF $4,000.
and a i've story public school on Clinton
street TO cost $3.50. 900
No new building plans were filed with the
Bronx bureau.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-09-09
The Chief Objection.

To II EDITOR OF THE SuN-Sir. 7 have
read many diatribes against the new spelling
but have not found in any OF them notice OF
what Is to me the chief objection. Words
are conventional signs used to convey ideas
The main thing Ii that they should convey
those ideas clearly and without distractIrg
attention from them. Words should be a
transparent medium. Now, II in readin0 an
idea conveyed in printed words You run I'm
against something out Of the way Il sWitobe~
you MIND on the point. any small obstacIs
do the very thing one wishes TO proven,
what GO l care now long It takes the printer
to set up something which I have taken Zen
times as long 10 write and make plain.
Suppose ! want to say MFR. BRYAN IN.
already defeated himself through his advo-
cacy on the Federal control OF trunk lines. "
shall ] to-day. TO save the setting TN Of thr..
letters. distract the attention Of nv readsr
from that idea and turn It upon ,peIlins
Not much.
NEW YORK. September q. CHAPMAN
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-09-09

To THE EDITOR OF The SUN-ISir: We note
that President Roosevelt In his letter to the
Public Printer, Charles A. Stlllings. says that
the ~Ellzabethan spelling OF bat. Set. fish,
dim and sum was bate. settle" "fysshe, I"
"dimme" and "summe." 1t ls quite likely that
the proprietor OF Ye Ode Booke Shoppe
would agree with him.
Elizabeth became Queen In 1858 and died
In 1908. Fortunately, we have a dictionary
styled "Baret's AIvearie.- a work Of twenty
years patient toll. published in 1870. A sec
Ond edition was issued in 1880, after his death.
We have a right to look for historical accuracy
In any statement Of Mr.. Roosevelt relating
TO the olden spelling; but we find that the
big stick" Ia spelled bat" set set and
fish Ash in the "Alvearie." Dim" and sum"
are spelled -dimme- and -summe as stated.
IL Is worthy Of note that while John Baret
spelled his name with one r" and one Z, 4"
most OF his contemporaries make the name
Barrett. thus apprislng US OF the correct pro-
nunciation Of the name. j n.
BROOKLYN, September 9
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-09-09

to any change In the constitution Of words
making more difficult Identification accord
Ing to national origin.
Further, that the various Ian reflect
temperamental traits of people may be more
readily understood when IL is recalled how
the French and Italian languages reflect the
musical traits and levity Of their respective
nationalities. and how Ian guages Astounding
in gutturals denote the Anglo-Saxon. Celtic
and Gallo races-all coast Inhabitants OF
aggressive tendencies.
IL Is inevitable. therefore, that the demand
for short methods characteTizing our civilI-
cation. which has given rise to such facilities
as the railroad and elevated, the telephone
and wireless telegraphy. improved machinery
for industrial activities. and even In law to
reformed modes Of pleading and procedure,
should make itself felt in the language.
The proposed change follows from the con-
s~titution of things. II IL could be forestalled
now by the strength Of opposition IL would
only be temporarily kept in allegiance. There
is not a fact in life that does not owe its ex-
istence to e1pediency. Evolutionary ethics
have shown us that even the moral sense il
not inherently implanted in men. but is de-
veloped from utility; men coming to practise
right because Of its conduciveness to happi-
ness and to avoid wrong because of its de-
structiveness Of happiness. Bentham has
shown how laws originate and derive their
sole sanction from utility. men by degrees
Coming to learn that respect for others rights
is the safest way of granting each security
in his possessions against the invasions Of
another.
Languages form no exception to the rule
OF expediency giving rise to conduct, laws
improved implements OF trade, DC. Lam
guaGes and words must have originated pri-
marily to subserve better the material wants
OF food and protection, and. in a later and
more complex state of social union, to pro-
mote more effectively Industrial relations.
The origin and end OF words. therefore,
being to serve mems purposes. why should
lengthy and lncommodious words retain such
unassailable authority when utility demands
brevity?
II would be strange. indeed. II along with
those insensible chan es in the English Ian
guage imperceptibly taking place from time
to time there should not go a more sudden
alteration due to the needs OF a people forg-
ing ahead at a tremendous pace.
HARTFORD. September 4. REFORM.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-09-09

dytes. when a few men set about creating new
words and chan ginR all words, their position
is unscholarly. to say the least OF II. Several
times we have had good souls seriously set
ting about inventing a world vernacular
Who would care to see the great languages
obliterated and emmy -menny.- thru, .
file" flor "vile") and so on, for a million or
more words, words that would rush in even
where the angels Of the tongues would lave
feared to tread? 49,. So
The only really beautiful thing in Latin.
Greek. Italian, Spanish, French, German and
English history is the beauty Of the litera-
ture expressed In the various languages Of
these nations. Take away the literature OF
the nations who have made history and moth
ing at all worth considering would be left,
and most OF all, too. let me add a word as to
the literature In the Hebrew language as we
find 1t in the books OF the Bible.
Imagine as a climax Of our vulgar age the
Book Of Job lone into fonetics! .
Good Lord. deliver usl
MRS FRANCES GRANT TKErzEL.
NEW YORK, September D..
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-09-09
Sack nennrs OF the LANGUAGE.

To THE EDITOR or THE SrN-Sir: There
need be no fear that standard English orthoE-
raphy will suffer any permanent injury because
OF the astounding action OF Mr.. Roosevelt
in issuing his new tangled spelling de-
cree. 1t is simply a case where waiting
ambition o'erlesps itself" His order will
amount to as much as did the command of
King Canute to the rising tide that It should
recede. II was OF no avail, and the laugh
was on Canute.
Will the heads Of the important depart-
ments at Washington obey this order? Will
Secretary Root? l think not. Would Mr..
Choate II in Mr.. Roots position? I'll bet not.
Would Webster, OF Everett. or Seward. or in
fact any one OF the great galaxy Of splendid
men who have held the high place Of Secre-
tary OF State have consented to belittIe him
self by monkeyinR with the photography OF
our language at the behest OF a President?
No. not one. JOHN +. BAXTER.
new YORK. September 7.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-09-09
An Old story.

To THE EDITOR OF THE SUN-Str. There
Ia nothing new under the sun. A good many
worthy citizens are trylng to get glory 40
the originators OF phonetic spelling. Not
one Of them Ia an originator. They are
merely borrowers Of an idea that had It's origin
in the active brain OF Sir Isaac Pitman about
seventy-rEe years ago. when he gave his
shorthand system to the world.
That was the beginning OF actual phonetic
spelling. and I feel free to say that II the
spirit OF this departed gentleman is permitted
70 know what IL happening On this mundane
sphere. he will smile broadly at the comicaI
efforts now being made TO force on q long
suffering public what he would possibly term
as a long handed system Of shorthand.
cir HsGc never intended that his phonetic
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-09-09
CRITICS OF SPELLING REFORM.
VARIOUS THOUGHTS on TIE
PRESIDENTS ORDER.
PhOnetic Spelling IntOIerabIe, says One;
Inevitable, Says Another The Pro-
posed Revision Discussed From Many
Viewpoints -ReFOrmers New I'M Old.

wv bNNAuhVh OtbCuo8CA TT ht Nu8Uy
Viewpoints -ReTOrmers New and Old.
To THE EDITOR or THE SUH-Sir: The
present discussion of spelling reform will
certainly be interesting and valuable-espe-
cially valuable to reform. which Is promoted
by a discussion that makes IL familiar. This
discussion would be still more interesting and
valuable II You could persuade your saner
readers to occupy the space now taken up by
those who air their prejudice and attempt TO
conceal their ignorance by resortinR TO in
sipid jokes, weak sarcasm and profanity.
some one writes Of an -illeRitimate dialect
proposed by som cranks.- It requires a
stretch Of the imagination to call a return 20
some Of the principles Of the spelling Of
Shakespeare and other standard authors
dialect. Is dialect a matter of spelling,
anyway This writer has evidently not
read the names OF the members OF the reform
board. or else he does not know who authori-
ties on English are. II is foolish to call a
board of which the editors Of all the standard
English and American dictionaries are mem
bers cranks.
Those who say that the changes are not
logical are clearly wrong. Speech Ia an
older form Of Ian guage than writing and
must always be the standard. Anything
that makes speech express writing better.
or writing better represent speech, is a
desirable improvement. and one that it Is
entirely proper 10 make.
As for words spelled alike under the new
method-that is not worth worry. A glance
through the dictionary will discover hundreds
OF pairs having entirely different meaninR "a
but spelled just alike. Tho addition Of a
few more such words would not be A serious
matter. These words cause no trouble when
written any more than they do when pro-
nounced alike.
-
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-09-09

where, and vacancies In them are by no
ipfrequent.
The next neighborhood toward the
north is Morningside Heights. The natural
attractions of this section, coupled with
the presence OF Columbia University and
Barnard College, combine to make it par
ticularly desirable for residential pur-
poses. Thanked on the east and west by
Morningside n Riverside parks, and
with a considerable part OF its area given
over to institutions with large grounds
and handsome buildings, the neiRhborhood
affords advantages in outlook and sur
%roundings not to be found elsewhere. Morn
ingside Heights is consequently the seat
of considerable activity in apartment house
building. The new houses are mostly Ct
the six story non-fireproof type, although
some freproof constructions are also found.
The rents range from 50 TO $I2 a room.
1t n on Washington Heights, however,
that the greatest number as well as the
greatest variety Of houses have been erected.
During the present yea the larger part of
the, city's new structural work has been
undertaken there. Along the high ridge
from 135th to 1S1st streets several hundred
new buildings will be ready for occupancy
by October 1. The predominant type is
the six story fiat, arranged for four families
on a floor. Builders have apparently an
ticipated a lively demand for small, mod
crate priced flats Of four to six rooms,
The rents are extremely reasonable, con-
sidering the fittings and conveniences pro-
vided, and will II is believed, attract tenants
not only from the older districts OF the city
but from the suburbs as we'll. Flats on
Broadway contain usually from five to seven
rooms and rent at $3.50 to s. a room. Am
sterdam avenue fats Of seven rooms cost
S42. to SAT a month; four to six rooms on
the same t~horoughfare cost $50 to $40. In
the side streets -four to six room flats are
quoted at S23 to- SIS.
Owing to the rapid increase OF land values
on Washington Heights the building there
is tending toward a higher order Of con-
struction. Five story fats we're first
erected, then six story fats, and now
builders are generally projecting non-fre-
proof apartments. These will no doubt
in turn give way to freproof apartments,
for the history Of the lower West Side IL
expected to be repeated on Washington
Heights.
This fan a number Of non-ffreproof part
ment houses are beinO completed, chiefly
on Broadway and on st. Nicholas avenue.
They rent at about $40 a room. Apart
ments in side streets, may he had at $40 so
to S65 for five to seven rooms.
The housing conditions that exist on
Washington Heights are practically dupli-
Gated along the LenoX avenue subway
north OF l35th street. The rents here are
however. a trife lower.
The figures quoted in the foregoing are
the nominal rents which owners ask. In
many instances, 1t should Re noted, builders
make some concession in order to fill their
houses promptly. On Washington Heights
aud in the IenoX avenue section a rebate
OF one months rent is generally allowed
in new buildings.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-09-09
lPrIVa Sales.

rs.D STREET Shaw Go. have sold for
b. Blum No. 23t West l3ld street, a three
story and basement dwelling. on loG I5xgO.II.
FIESr A~vENTE.-S. SteinRut 4 Co. hive
Glasgow. and j. Macy the southwest corner
Of First avenue and Sixth street, three five
story tenements. IN plot 72xtOO.
FIFTH ANENU E.-Simon 4 Atlas have
sold for John D. HakP No. 1897 Fifth avenue
n 1--WE story fat. on LOT 2jxtOO.
THIRTY-EIGETH S1REET.-Pbilip Liber-
man aud another have bought from William
X. Mason No. 800 West Thirty-eighth sDreet.
q five story fiat. on lot 2jX0S.O. The buyers
will put in stores.
SEVFNTY-FOTRTH STREET Frederick
LIttei has sold for Tr1vers Brothers Com
many the four story brOwnStOne front
dwelling at No. 80 West Seventy-fourth
street, on lot 5ONlO2.c ..
Park AVENUE.-Kidansky + Levy have
sold the northwest corner OF Park avenue
- and Ninety-seventh street, n blot IOn IINiOO
10 Isaac Fox. who will erect three six story
flats, with STORES.
Schmedps has bought from Julia p Schuch-
- man No. IOS West Ninety-sixth street a
Owe story fiat. on lot lsxiOO.fI.
THIRD AEENUE.-Emanuel Simon has re-
sold for George Mund3rG to Morris Freund-
lich Nos 1917 to 1910 Third avenue. two six
= IAnry hats. on plot jIxlOO.
18TH STREET -. ". Reiter has bouVh, for
Abraham MOdney Nos. 3O6 to 3Il East 18th
street. five story ,enemen,s. on plot LOOK
.lVD1l.
AVENTE r. Harry and BENJAMIN Abend
, have bought from 4. Schlossman the five
story with stores, al No. a
Avenue p. on lot 2i.IxsO.
VIZ hE>IER ANENUE.-J Clarence
Davies has -Old for Eliza q Kennedy the
rlot. s7xrlf.ln the south side Of WestcheStsr
eysnue. slo feet west Of Avenue d.. Union
AVENUE William s-t0nsbridss
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-09-09
Dean Swift on Revision.

To the EDITOR or TBE sUN-sir. It If.
almost with a feeling OF awe that va soc
President Roosevelt and Mr.. Carnekie. with
their little band OF followers. charging heed
lessly into the face OF the determined oppo-
sition which the movement for simpliHed
spelling has always aroused.
We're the question q new one We might
regard iC differently. but we do not Mace
much faith In a corpse revived and matched
up after at least one death during the past two
centuries.
Our old friend Dean Swift rises in lndigns-
lion to take up the cudgels for the preserve
zion OF the language. In a letter to Lord
oxford on February -. 1872. Swift wrote
Another csuJe which has contributed MOI
= httle 20 the manning Of our language 10
tbe foolish opinion advanced OF late years
tnAE ought 20 spell exactly az We speak,
Mnich. besides che obvious Inconvenience Of
HSserly oePtroytng our etymoloRy. would be q
tnRs We ehould never see an end Of.
\" Rohks Septenber T.. JONATHAN,
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-09-09
''EOnetIc'' SPELLING

To THH EDITOR OF THE sUN-Sir. For
a sohola! Who loves the shades Of Dean
son. a page OF thru" and emmy ana d.
for damn would he simply intoI.r.hI.
II a scientist finds the name OF an offsn"iv.
greenish gas showing herself before M. 70
luctAnt eyes A. "chlorin, " he ia impeIIsd "a
stare and instinctively ask himself N = 90.
under any other name will be AZ thu ros.
a rose By any other name" and 90 on.
10 so great q subject a. q languages that IN
itself includes the complete lfe nj hI..n.-.
Of The world from the time a ~ 1ra~,.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-09-09
Cry For Mercy.

To THE EDITOR OF THE SUN-Sir: For
Heavens sake shut on the near humorists
h are airing their views in your columns
such komikal spelling. Amt they too
funnyl Let them take a list Of the words
adopted by the President and learn what
they are writing about before forming their
opinions. In the meantime the discussion
will die out-no one cares for their opinions
anyway-and the space their letters occupy
can be devoted to others worth reading.
NEW YORK. September 3. j.. B. G.