Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-10-26
Rosebery's Jocular Remarks.


As he rose to respond to the sentiment
assigned to him Lord Rosebery said that
he had come to Hdwick because he knew
he should hear great deal that would in
terest him. In that he had not been disap-
pointed. but in one particular he was dis
appointed. previously disappointed. He
came especially to Hawick to hear some
thing fall from DIR. Murray's lips. and 1t
had not fallen. He wanted particularly to
know-and IL was worth while coming
some sixty miles in motor at the le-
gal rate of speed Qaughter)-and under all
the moral and legal obligations laid down
in an act of parliament to hear it-what
DIR. Murrays opinion of President
Roosevelt Qaughter). Might he offer one
observation with regard to that contro-
verSy, and il was this-that the blow
struck at the recognized spelling of the
English race was blow struck al morality
Itself. Cheers and laughter) AS a we'll
known statesman on "A famous occasion
said, he heard smile. Laughter) But
he thought he could prove his case Who
was it who were hampered by the laws of
spelling? 1t was only the conscientious and
he virtuous. The INSCRIPTIONS and the
intrepid spelled ahead according to pho
letic rules of their own-Qaughter)-and
themselves and sometimes understood by
others Uaughter) But the man of con-
cience puzzled over his spelling. and he was
lot at all sure that our archaic rules of
pelling. laid down strictly as they were
rom tradition and as stereotyped by die
ionaries. had not filled half the lunatic
lsylums of the country. Uaughter) The
Inscriptions man spelled ahead. but the
conscientious man pondered until his brain
got added; tried the word on paper in
lalf n dozen different forms before he ven
.ured to commit 1t to his final manuscript.
md in that way his intelligence reeled
Think of those words that were spelled
believe" and conceive" and those analo-
gous words-what miseries had men and
women and children undergone in studying
to spell those words Alright 1t was strictly
true. as they would be told, that there was
very simple rule for spelling those words
and that they could be guided by their de-
rivation from the Latin, or the reverse. But
II you know no Latin, what is the use of
the rule? uaughter) and so he might
claim that II Is the man who tried con-
scientiously TO write those words Alright
who was apt to fail. who was to be dis
treSsed In his conscience. and to be re!e-
gated to "A lunatic'S scene of repose, where
as the man who had no nerves, no con-
science, no bowels -0aughter)-spelled on
without regard TO correctness and pre-
served his intelligence. such IL was, in
tact. and might in the last moments of his
life be honored by the homage OF the Presi-
dent of the United States. Uaughter.)
DR.. Murray smiled at -ord Rosebery's
humor, but made no reply.
DR.. Murray a Celebrated Man.
DR.. Murray is a very celebrated man, and
his opinions are accepted as final in Eng
land. We don't know so much about him
In the United States. but every scholar
and student in the united kingdom regards
him with reverence He is tall, large
framed Scotchman. with very little hair
on the top of his head and a great deal
upon his face. His white beard reaches
almost to the equator.
He has spent the greater part of his life
compiling a dictionary of the English Ian
guage which is being published by oxford
University. He began the work when he
a young man. and 1t will take him at
least ten years longer to complete it. He
is now siXty-nine years old. SO that very
little else can be expected from him after
this monumental undertaking Is completed
1t is called The oxford New Englsh Dc
tionary." and is intended particularly for
scholars and students. although the pub
fishers would not object to selling copy
TO every family in which the English Ian
.age is spoken. 1t is university af-
f,-ir. II is being edited and printed by
the university press. and the expenses are
being paid from the funds of the unver-
sity. 1t has cost S575,OOO up to today. and
the investment will probably run up to
$T50OOO before the last page is printed
The manager refused to tell me the size
of the edition. He said II was trade
secret.
The English are very funny about trade
secrets. The other day ! went to inquire