Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-10-25
'SNUBBED THE ENGLISH.
Action of the SimpIified Spell
ing Board.
DR.. WRIGHT'S STATEMENT
Foreign Philologists Were Invited to
Cooperate.
THEN THEY WERE FORGOTTEN
Proposed Reform Appears to Excite
Only Ridicule in the United
Kingdom.
THEN THEY WERE FORGOTTEN
BY WILLIAM E. CURTIS.
Special Correspondence Of The Star and the Chicago
Record Herald.

BY WILLIAM E. CURTIS.
Special Correspondence of The Star and the Chicago
Record Herald
LONDON, October II, 1906.
A gentleman wrote the King of England
the other day to inquire whether he ap-
proved the spelling reform policy of the
President of the United States. Sir Francis
Knollys, private secretary to Edward VII,
replied:
II have the honor to acknowledge the re-
ceipt Of your letter, and regret that 1t is
impossible to reply to questions on subjects
which have never been brought to the at
tention Of his majesty"
There has been great deal Of talk In the
newspapers, chiefly ridicule, and at the
clubs and dinner tables Of England, but
thus far the subject has received no serious
attention from philologists. In private con-
versation, however, they do not hesitate to
criticise the way in which the reform is
being conducted and accuse the American
leaders of the movement of discourtesy and
even bad faith. They feel that they have
been treated in contemptuous manner,
and 1t is difficult to convince them that they
are the victims Of an unconscious and unin-
territorial oversight.
have seen the highest authorities on the
English language concerning this subject
and have asked their opinions for publica-
ton. They agree that they would like to
encourage the movement but confess frank
ly that they feel that they have been treated
with discourtesy by Prof. Brander Mat
thews of Columbia University, New York.
and Prof. Charles P. G. Scott one of the
editors Of the Century Dictionary in New
York, the president and secretary, respect
lively. of the "simpliied spelling board"
When I tried to explain that the apparent
rudeness of these estimable gentlemen was
due only to our great North American habit
of haste and taking things-for-grante the
learned dons smiled sarcastically and re-
marked that perhaps it might be desirable
to correct our habits as well as our SPELL
ing.
The simplified Spelling Brand.
1.-THE simplifed spelling board consists Of
twenty-eight persons, and has its headquar-
tiers at l Madison avenue, New York. Mr..
Carnegie furnishes the funds In addition to
Prof Brander Matthews, the president, and
Mr.. Scott, the secretary, the members are
Isaac K. Funk, editor of the Standard Die
tionary; Benjamin E. Smith, editor of the
Century Dictionary; Henry Holt of New
York and o. c. Blackmer of Oak Park, ILL.,,
publishers; r. w. Glider, editor of the Cen
fury Magazine; William Hayes Ward, editor
of the Independent; William 7. Harris, re-
Gently United States commissioner of edu-
cation; Samuel L. Clemens, Justice Brewer
of the Supreme Court, Judge Morrow of the
United States circuit court of California
fessors connected with the leading institu-
tions Of the country. These gentlemen, 1t
appears, invited the leading philoogists of
Great Britain and other English-spea king
countries to cooperate with them. The in
vitation was generally accepted whereupon
the board proceeded to issue a list of re-
formed words, 300 in number, without con-
Sulting their colleagues in this country, and
have not even been so thoughtful as to send
them any information on the subject. All
that the learned dons over here in England
know about the matter they have learned
through the newspapers, and yet it is official
ly announced that they have approved of
the changes proposed. Very naturally they
feel that the American committee has taken
an unWarranted liberty with their names
and regulations
1 called upon DR.. Joseph Wright, the sue
cessor of Max Muller as professor of COM
paratve philology in the University of Ok
ford and editor of dialect dictionary re-
Gently published. 1t is monumental work
and places its author at the top of the list
of English philologists. Dr. Wright is
hearty, good-humored Yorkshreman and
looks more like a farmer than a university
professor. He has massive head and a
rugged face covered with a shaggy name
and grip like a prize fighter. He laughed
heartily when I told him my business and
replied:
DR.. Wright Sore.
"Why, yes. 1 haven't the slightest objec-
ton to talk about the simplifed spelling
feel little sore. Several Of my friends
as we'll as myself, were asked by Mr. Mat
thews and Mr. Scot joined the association
and were delighted to do so. We wanted to
give the movement every encouragement in
our power. We accepted membership in
the society, or whatever they call it, and
our names were printed in the list. Then
they published list of reformed words
as If we Endorsed them, without consulting
us or anybody else in England. You must
agree with me that such treatment was not
right. 1t was not the square thing. We
may approve of all the reforms proposed
but we do not even know what they are
We certainly will approve of some of them
but it would have been only decent, ordi-
nary, everyday politeness to give us
chance to say so. 1t was an audacious and
unwarranted liberty from our point of view
Perhaps our American friends do not con-
slider our opinion Of any Importance. but
that ought to make them all the more care
full to protect what little reputation we
have. We certainly cannot permit unknown
persons-because we do not know who made
up the list-to judge for US what reforms in
spelling should be made. We would much
prefer to be consulted, but there has never
been conference on the subject, to my
knowledge. At least we have never been
invited to express an opinion. Somebody,
according to the newspapers. has prepared
list of words with simplified spelling, and
has handed 1t to your President, who, as
the newspaper dispatches inform US, has
it shall be observed in the correspondence
and publications of your government. 1t Is
announced that the proposed changes are
approved by the society which a number of
gentlemen in this country Joined upon invi-
tation, but that is not true. I have not seen
the list, as l have already told you. / do
not know anything about 1t beyond what
have learned through the newspaper dis
patches, and 1 submit that such a proceed
ing is a very poor way to go about SO i'm
portant matter.
English Efforts at Reform.
1--WE have been trying to get the spelling
of the English language revised for several
years. We have an organization over here
known as the London Pathological Society.
which, after years of study and conference,
drew up a list of about 5000 words, the
spelling of which, we thought, might be
simplified, but the public wouldn't adopt
our recommendations. The reform fell fiat
and no organized attempt has been made
since. Individuals have tried and have
failed. We have kept up an agitation, try
ing to educate public opinion. A great deal
has been written and published on the SUBJ
ject. We have lectured, we have discussed,
we have passed resolutions we have written
articles to the magazines and the news
papers, but thus far have not accomplished
anything. The British public will not
- ,zr1g