Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-09-02

'EMBER 2, 19O6-PART
that the older people ought to. have little
difficulty in growing accustomed to them.
Mr.. Dancy's Opinion.
John C. Dancy, recorder of deeds for the
District, believes that the success of the
scheme Is assured He stated: II have no.
ticed for years that the phonetic or simple
method of spelling was growing in popular
favor. The President acted when the time
was ripe, in spite of expected opposition.
Since the reform begins with the govern
ment the success of the new departure IS
assured in advance. I am in hearty SYM
pathy with 1t. Should the newspapers back
1t it is bound to win at once"
Attitude Of Newspapers.
Robert w. Dutton, deputy recorder OF
ton that the adoption of the new method
by the newspapers is essential to its sue
cess. Mr.. Dutton said:
This office has, offcially. no notice Of
| the adoption of the simplified method OF
| spelling by the President. nor of his re,
puted recommendation that 1t be adopted
| by the government. When, however Of
| fcially advised or directed, the new method
will be promptly adopted. The correspond
| ence of this Office is not large. and TOT
| that reason the adoption Of phonetic spell
| ing by 1t would not be a difficult matter
| The principal work of the office. however,
| is the recording, by copying into the rec
| ord books, of the thousands of instruments
| filed for record and as these RECORDS must
! be exact copies of the original papers, the
| spelling must, therefore not be departed
| from as 1t appears in the original instru-
ments. 1t is claimed for the new method
| that it is simple and that 1t is economical,
| two features most desirable. But simple
| ity and economy are difficult to secure as
| a general rule where complexity and ex-
| travagance have obtained. OF one thing 1
am certain, the new method Will never De
universally adopted unless the newspapers
adopt it,
Fears Results OF, Change.
Attorney Leo P. Harlow expressed his
misgivings concerning the proposed change
in the following terms:
II have not carefully examined the list
| of words approved by the President, and
hence hesitate to express an opinion as to
what effect the change will have upon the
| preparation and appearance of legal
papers. Personally, l am opposed to the
phonetic system of spelling, as l believe
that it would destroy the etymology of the
language, and would result in endless con-
| fusion. Its effect on legal terms would be
| far-reaching. Most of our legal terms are
from the Latin. Many Of them have been
anglicized in pronunciation, rendering them
harsher to the ear. and in many cases
more difficult to pronounce. Were they, in
addition, to be spelled phonetically, the
| result would be one which imagine would
| not be relished by a great majority of the
| members Of the bar of the country
Thinks New Style is Bad.
Attorney Rosa F. Downing condemns
the innovation in the following language:
II think that the new style of spelling
sought to be introduced is bad. There may
be some words which could be reformed
as through, though, and others, but when
we attempt to change not only the SPELL
ing but the grammar of the language 1t
seems to me that no end of confusion must
changes as stopt for stopped, kist for
kissed, and blusht for bushed For my
part l prefer to spell and do those things
| in the old way. The innovation would re-
quire our children to learn both styles,
otherwise it would be impossible for them
to understand the great poets and writers
OF the past, and l think it would be better
for them to learn one style and that the
one sanctioned by centuries of use."
Compared to the Absurd.
According to the view of Attorney w. Z.
Sullivan the question Is suggestive of alb
surdity. He said: Every man has the
right to conduct his private correspondence
in any fashion he chooses to adopt, how
ever ridiculous 1t may make him appear.
Hnelner or not a representative OF the
PEOPLE has the same right to bring his con-
stituency into ridcule by the form of his
official correspondence Is a very different
question. Language has it's existence and
undergoes its changes through custom and
usage 1t Is. no more a subject of legisla-
ton or official order than life or health.
The whole question is very suggestive OF
the edict of the shotgun. which commanded
that the wheels of time be turned back
twenty years."
Commissioner Macfar1and's View.
Commissioner Mcfarland in explaining
his reasons for supporting the reform meth
cd, said: THE list Of 800 words which the
| simplfed spelling board has recommended
and which have moved shall be adopted
by the District government contains moth
ing revolutionary. Over half Of the words
in this list have been spelled commonly in
the new and better way for years in the
United and the others involve no radical
changes. OF course, like every reform
| however simple and reasonable, 1t may be
ridiculed. but its advocates need not mind
that, since it is certain to succeed But
| no one should take the humorous para
graphs seriously. They are funny, and
should be laughed at, but they no more
accurate than other jokes. The Josh Bill
| lings spelling is a jest and not seriously
considered by anybody. The spelling of
English is more chaotic than that of any
other modern language. 1t Is more diff
cult Tor foreigners, and therefore delays its
acceptance as a world-language. It wastes
the time and money of all who write and
print. 1t Is practical business PROPOSE
| ton.
THE adoption of the simplified spelling
| will not hurt the language in any way. The
| history of the race is recorded in the
growth of its language. but the meaning
| and origin of every word will be preserved
Besides. the steady practice of the race
| has been to simplify the spelling by drop
| ping unnecessary letters, and we only ac-
| celerate this normal process when we adopt
| a number of simpler spellings at a time
| Every change must stand or fall upon its
| own merits. There is. Of course, no author
| ity or final standard of spelling No one
could give such authority or set up such
standard. But we can all help to sim.
| plify spelling by our own practice and
| by spreading information.
Board Representative.
1.-THE simplified spelling board is thor
oughly preventative Of men of affairs, men
| Of letters and men of science. Including
| philologists and the editors of the three
| chief American dictionaries. 1t is a con-
sentative and deiiberative body, SO that it