Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1906-09-04
ORDERS FAIR TEST
FOR NEW SPELLER
PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT TEl'.,,,
PRINTER TO LET a,dso sse,
HAVE FL ,polaoASt
DeerIes The Criticisms Of Announce
ment Of His Coming orders-Are
Only Adopting Shakespeare and
Milton Methods for Modern Times.

Oyster Bay, N. Y, Sept 3.-Prof.
Brander Mathews and Andrew Car
negie indulged in more flgurative
handshaking today when Secretary
Loeb gave reporters copy of letter
written by Presiden. Roosevelt to Pub
lie Printer Stillings, wherein Roose-
velt orders absolutely no quarter to
foolish vowels and consonants that
now clutter the languish of state.
One reason for the governments
adoption of sinlplified spelling, Presi-
dent Roosevelt writes, is to keep
abreast of the times-or words to that
effect. But should the crippled words
run so far ahead as to be lost to view,
why, then, the letter continues, sim
plif1ed spelling will be "dropt," and
that is all there Is about 1T.
Anyway, concludes the President, a
whole lot of folks are making big
fuss over something that isn't anything
great after all.
President Orders Changes Made.
President Roosevelt's letter to Pub
lie Printer Stillings, reads:
Charles A. Stillings, public printer,
Washington: l enclose herewith cop
les Of certain circulars Of the simpli-
fled spelling board, which can be OBJ
tained free from the board at 1 Madt-
son avenue, New York. Please direct
that hereafter in all government pub
locations of the executive departments
the 300 words enumerated In circular
No. shall be spelled as therein set
forth. If any one asks the reason for
the action, refer him to circulars 8,
and as issued by the simplifled SPELL
ing board.
"Most of the criticism of the pro-
posed step Is evidently made in en-
tire ignorance Of the moderate and
common senes views as to the pur-
poses to be achieved, which views are
so excellently set forth in the circu-
lars to which l have referred.
No Revolution Proposed.
There is not the slightest intention
to do anything revolutionary or initi-
ate any far reaching policy. The pur-
pose simply is for the government, in.
stead Of tagging behind popular senti-
ment, to advance abreast of 1t, and al
the same time. abreast of the views Of
the ablest and most practical educat-
ors OF our time, as we'll as the most
profound scholars-men Of the STAMP
Of Prof Lounsberry and Prof Skeat
If the slight changes in the SPELL
ing Of the 800 words proposed wholly
or partially meet popular approval
then the changes will become perma-
| nent, without any reference to what
public officials or Individual private
citizens may feel If they do not ulti-
mately meet with popular approval
they will be dropped-and that is al
there is of it.
the world but a slight extension Of the
unconscious movement which has made
agricultural implement makers anc
farmers write plow' instead o.
plough which has made most Ameri
cans write honor without the absurd
| superf1uous ~ and which is even now
making people write program withou
the me-, just as all people who speal
English now write bat set,' dim,
sum- and fish instead of the Eliza.
bethan bate 'sette,' 'dimme,' summe,
| public almanac, ERA. fantasy ant
wagon instead Of the 'publick' alma,
mack, 'aera.' phantasy,' and Wagon
of our great-grandfathers.
Like Shakespeare Spelled.
1T is not an attack upon the Ian.
guage Of Shakespeare and Milton, be,
cause In some instances 1t is a goins
back to the forms they used, and il
others merely the extension Of changes
which, as regards other words, have
taken place since their time.
''It is not an attempt to do anythin.
far reaching or sudden or violent, o.
indeed anything great at all. It 1,
merely an attempt to cast wha
slight weight can properly be cast O,
the side Of the popular forces which
are endeavoring to make our spelling
little less foolish and fantastic
Theodore Roosevelt"