The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-11-16
COLONIAL WARS AND SPELLING.
Brander Matthews Take ID the CudseIs
for His Reforms.

The Society OF Colonial Wars gathered
at dinner last night at Delmonico's. Some
300 strong. under flags Of the old Colonies,
mingled with the Stars and Stripes. The
members were decorated, some with medals
of their order and some with scarfs OF GRIM
son or orange, according to the particular
wal that they belonged to. The speakers
were Of a martial and patriotic sort, save
for Prof. Brander Matthews, who spoke
on the comparatively peaceable subject Of
spelling, but treated IL in a warlike manner.
Prof. Wilfred Munro spoke on "A More
Intelligent Patriotism" He said that the
general idea OF patriot ism is too indefinite.
He considered that the erection OF local
memorials on historic spots would help
to givesA mericans more knowledge OF the
things that ought to make them feel pa
triotic.
Col, Robert L.. Howe, commandant Of
West Point, said that according to Sir
Howard Vincent our army was perhaps
the best trained, as to both officers and men,
in existence" He quoted Secretary Roots
praise Of the officers h in their Philippine
service quelled rebels, built bridges, started
schools, advised natives about their crops
and did everything else that came their
way with equal self-reliance and success.
Prot. Brander Matthews had some fun
with Peter Stuyvesant, who spelled going
-goeinge," but thought that George Wash
ington was a pretty sensible sort, because
he wrote tho" without any urging from
simplifed spoilers. He said that our
ancestors must have been so busy spelling
that it was no wonder il they forgot to
look up their own g~randfathers and made
.genealogv so difficult for US Of the present
generation. Prof. Matthews said that the
simplifed spoilers had not proposed a single
Just backed up other reformers' ideas.
In time, he limited, they would think up
some contributions Of their own to spelling
progress, for there was still plenty OF room
for reform.
Roger sherman, he said, when somebody
in the Continental Congress proposed that
the Americans make a new American
language, had made the amendment that
we take the Britishers' and compel them TO
And themselves another That, he said,
was about what the slmpilhed spoilers
would say if Great Britain refused 10 fall
in line after the United States had been
converted.
why" said Prof. Matthews, 10 illustrate
how the British used to spell before they
sDsI,sS our a.b a atSssbsetbinS sn Of IL .i"a0e'nsnS
During the pause that followeds somebody
asked from a distant table: How does
Hartman spell it?"
The speller started again after the
laughter, but his spell was broken.
Rear Admiral Coghlan, rising TO speak
10 the toast OF The Navy" was cheered as
heartily as il he we're an Ancestor himself.
He deprecated being treated otherwise than
as one still alive, however, and spoke OF
most up to date matters to correct any
misconceptions. To-day for the first time
since the civil war we ave a navy to be
proud Of. In the civil war days our ships
were the finest in the world. To-day u
policy OF building the biggest and fastest
ships and putting in the heaviest arma-
e is justified by the lesson OF the Jap
anese victories-our ships are proved again
the best afioat. The personnel n eff
cheney are as fine as the ships. In the
matter Of gunnery in particular. speaking
from observation, l can tell you that we
far surpass all other navies."
The tables got 80 uproarious over these
cheering declarations that the speaker had
to put in O plea for the last word. He told
of a minister who asked a little girl that
we're her fathers last words and OF the little
maid reply: He didn't have any. Ma
was with hiLc until the end" Thanks to
the hint, the Admiral obtained quiet long
enough to propose his toast.