The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-03-25
REFORMED SPELLING
ANDREW CARNEGIE ARGUES FOR
 PROPOSED CHANGES.
Millionaire has Agred to Finance Move meat for the Sinplifieati0n of the OrthOgraphy of the Eng
 IiRh Language.

Hot Springs. Va. March 24.-Andrew Carnegie made statement today. giv- ing his views on the proposed reform of English spelling. He said:
 From Chaucer's time and before till now our language has been constantly changing and improving, not under any rule or system, but simply as oc- casion has required new words and new spelling.
 The great Oxford dictionary now under publication gives the history of each word and shows that words creep into our language in the most hap hazard manner. A new word expresses a new want. or an old want better than the word in use, and so forces itself into use. What Is slang one year is correct English a few years later, and thus is our language enriched.
 The organized effort I have agreed to finance is not revolutionary. Far from it. Ito action will be conserva- tive. Word after word 1t will endeavor to improve the spelling and the lan- guage: slowly, of course, but hasten ing the pace if possible.
 The editors who are disposed to rid icule the effort themselves use words and especially spelling which their pre- decessors of century ago would have denounced as degrading to literature. uG G0ANOAG VI Niid itAl StHNAAJ WAtl HI turn marvel at the uncouth spelling of our present scribes
 Since our language has been con structed through unceasing change. lit- erary men should welcome new words and new spelling with favoring eye since it is by these alone that further improvement can come. Scholars de- nounced blow for plough. for instance. But blow has been accepted. So with many words that will readily occur to readers.
 Our language is likely to prevail in the world and we may hope 1t is to become finally the universal language The foreigners have the greatest dif- ficulty in acquiring 1t because of it's spelling. This is, at least. his chief obstacle; for it's grammar Is easy
 Hundreds of scholarly men have agreed to use improved spelling for twelve words. These words are al- ready started in actual use. Other simplifications will be suggested. If meritorious, they will be accepted.
 Teachers have assured mo that chill dren would be saved more than year s instruction If our spelling were sim plifed.
 Why the perverse 'ough' spellings should be continued. one cannot under stand Why not write tho" It eX-
 
 though and expresses the sound bet ter. Indeed. tho with the supertiuous apostrophe, abounds in British authors, from Addison down. We just drop the apostrophe That tho will get into general use soon k certain.
 If he be benefactor who makes two blades of grass to grow where one grew before, he is no less a bcnefactor who plants a shorter and simpler spell ed word where a longer and irregularly spelled word cumbered the ground be- fore.
 q hope that thoughtful people will give this important and conservative reform due consideration and resolve to use at least two or three simplified words and thus range themselves with ms i'm our effort 10 carry on the unceas- ing work of improving our mother tongue and adapting it for its noble ] purposes and high destiny.0