New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-04-04
FOR SIMPLE SPELLING.
CELEBRATE FIRST YEAR.
advocates of photographic indie
pendcnce Meet.

<AslOiia Inc cnoce or this hosiery the simple
spoilers seemed to Colonel Thomas wentworth HS-
ginson to call for some explanation Colonel Hig-
glnson said that economy was all right in the way
OF words, and simplicity in human speech was with
out doubt thing to be desired but when 1t came
to eating, the simple spoilers were as complex lot
as those who won't follow the Presidents example
in adopting in their official correspondence those
three hundred reformed words approved by the
simplied Spelling Board.
Two hundred simple and hardy patriots. to give
them their own designation, sat down in the
Myrtle Room and partook Of the feast which
marked the first anniversary Of the beginning of
their battle for the easier and more economical
method Of spelling. Foremost among them ana
acting as their toastmaster was Andrew Carnegie
who is not only the George Washington but also
the Alexander Hamilton OF this new fight for
progress. Unlike Washington, Mr. Carnegie said
he never lay awake at night troubled by the future
Of his country that of his race or his own, but
that was after Henry Holt of the Simplihed Spell
ing Board. had told its patron saint that he had
builded his own most enduring monument. though
IT wouldn't bear his name. when he made possible
the work of the board.
Many other nice things contained In the
resolution of appreciation of Mr.. Carnegies work
for the cause which had been adopted unani-
mously by the board at its executive session
yesterday afternoon
Among the diners were college presidents and
professors editors and scholars from all over the
United States, with here and there capitalist
among them. In the absence OF Ambassador
James Bryce. who. Mr. Carnegie declared, knew
more about everything than anybody else, William
Archer. OF The London Tribune" spoke 10 the
toast "Our Kin Beyond the Sea- and Canada had
two representatives among the speakers. William
f. Mclean. NJ P. OF Toronto editor Of THE To-
ronto World and DR.. Alexander H. Mac Kay. Of
Halifax. Commissioner OF Education for Nova
Scotia
Ambassador Bryce sent the following letter TO
the simplihed spoilers. which read by SecTe-
tary Scott
British Embassy, Washington, March 49, 1907,
Dear sir: am oolged by your kind invitation TO
attend the meeting and dinner of the Simplihed
cannot have the pleasure Of accepting that invita-
ton. as have promised to be in Canada at that
Speaking no sense either officially or sernI-ofi-
Ion, may say to you that have for long felt
that the time must come when those who tho
the necessity of bringing spelling into closer
accord with our pronunciation. I recognize and
that lie in the way OF such a reform But the
ties ono Of them is the enor, eHose uIii ~
would be effected in the time spe by children in
learning to read and spell Another ie the swift
and wide extension that would be given to the use
OF English as means Of intercourse all over the
world, 6y foreign nations as well as by the Ameri-
can and British people in their dealings with
Sooner or later the question must he faced
What particular reforms 10 propose is doubtless a
oussion. But cannot begin too soon 10 consider
the subject seriously for & will take great deal
ginning to be so considered here. and assure
pholoasts and scholars feel It's pSrianre nng
ere olsLcsed 10 Cooperate with YOU in endeavornx
way. But the first thing IS 10 make the public I'M
GER tand that It ~ not in the least n ohimera II
whose solution would be an 1 e6se pra6d Pr0 Sa
Win hest wishes for successful meeting am
Charles p, c. Scott. Esq. s,cTota Si5:' BRYCE
TOR SIMPLE SPELLING"
Mr. Carnegie won "A laugh from Tho -,-o,,,- -
stating his belief that the success Of the cause
was assured by the presence OF so many OF the
FAIR sex at the banquet A toast was drunk stand
Ing to the President of the United States whose
order to the Public Printer last August won him
the undying gratitude OF the patriots Mr. Car.
negle then asked tho diners not 10 forget the debt
America owed 20 the republic OF France IN drink
ing the toast 10 ''Our Kin Beyond the Sea" I'VE
lhclude them an Mr. Carnegie said. sentiment
which brought cheers from the diners
William Archer declared that tcnRlish spoitne
deserved to be called "cacography' rather than
"''40sIaPHy with such a surgeon rs Mr. Car
hesle' said MT Archer. let hope that that
instructive. irrational shrinking from In. novel
which Is barring our progress as IL bars the proo
ress OF all movements for humanity may be cut \
out" Mr.. Archer wondered at the opposition OF
literary men to the reform OF English smelling
For. he said, there IS no reason why a man
OF letters should insert superfuous letters"
William =. Mclean NJ p Mr. Carnegie said
was enc OF the best editors he knew, and most
editors he had met had been partial to reform
Ahe toastmaster gave the Toronto editor his fur
Their approval by telling the diners that he was a
"Mac" and "I5ielander." With such an introduce
dOn It was perhaps natural that the speaker pre-
faced his remarks TO his talk on simple spelling by
telling a simple story simple but strong Scotch
whiskey
When the laughter had subsidized Mr.. Mclean
said the only thing needed 10 give the reformed
spelling movement a start In the right direction
was intelligent direction. We have reason. scholar
ship, argument and ecoEony side." he de-
clared, "and 20 oppose them, what2 Only jest and
gibes; and this from whom? From the very peo-
pie who should be heart and soul with US, the
journalists" Mr. Mclean declared that a saving
OF one-siXth would be made in every newspaper
ofhce-one-sixth of composition and one-sixth OF
the white paper-the latter the greatest saving OF
all II the newspaper propretors would only adopt
sane and reasonable method of spelling.
Colonel Higginson said that even in England tho
demand for smplinod spelling is growing every
day. Ours, however. is the more pressing prob
lem; a may be- there needs to rank among the
must bes' in swifter life"
THE souvenir Of the dinner was little booklet,
in emulation Of the New England primer OF Colonial
days The greater part Of the three hundred sim
plhed words recommended by the board had been
deity woven into simple rhymes in Tho Simple
Spener OF 1907 after the manner Of its Colonial
predecessor, Mr.. Carnegie quick TO appreci
ate the opening rhyme for the letter a:
Beneath the spell.
Reforms lookt we'll
The meeting opened with an executive session
yesterday afternoon. at which twenty-seven Of the
thirty-nine members from all parts Of the country
present 1t decided 10 incorporate under
the laws of this state, the motion to do having
been made by Judge Morrow, OF the United states
Circuit Court at San Francisco. When incorporated
a.