Evening journal., 1908-06-08
Art Of speIIIna.
Leslie's Weekly.

Leslie's Weekly.
Educators in many arts OF the coun-
try have bemoaned the great decline in
our schools of the old-fashioned art Of
spelling It rs refreshing to read Of
spelling contests still taking place in
certain parts Of the land. II Is also
pleasant to know that some of these
develop young spoilers OF phenomenal
ability. The little town of Ryan, Ia,
has in Miss Lucy Robinson, aged 70
a prodigy in this line. Recently teams
of ten each, representing Black Hawk
and Delaware counties, Iowa. met in
a spelling tournament.
Delaware won both team and indi-
vidual honors. the latter going TO Miss
Robinson, who stood out against nine
teen competitors. Hec victory was a
popular one. and all united in congratu-
lating the youthful champion of the
spelling See. Miss Robinson is
daughter Of Superintendent w. r.
Robinson of Adams township She
seems to have an intuitive knowledge
of the construction Of words, and size
thus easily succeeds where many an
older person fails, despite arduous
study. This was her third great vic
tory as a speller. She won the county
championship in the spring of 1907 and
also the championship at the Delaware
County Fair last fall. Her brother
Byron won second place in the recent
contest and first place in the county
contest of 1905, Affairs like these are
great incentives to the mastery Of the
spelling-boolx by school children, and
they might well be more frequent
New Workers View Of New York
New York American.
In a way. and great way II is' the
citizens whose .vocations are such that
they become friends OF the gray dawn are
able to appreciate New York more than
those whose coming and going are in the
fuu blaze OF day amid the tremendous
throng. There is compensation in all nu-
man things, and the weary and wan man.
golng home at last, or the chap driven
ercaningly TO dress by the friendly alarm
clock in the hours Of the sparrows' twit-
ting, sees a magnihcence the more fortu'
nate missl
In the gray dawn New York is a magic
cityi Its towering examples of arohitec'
ture-more varied than ever markad a.
sky line OF human industry-its skysceap'
ers, its old-time brownstone mansions
festooned by the green and kindly vine OF
this vicinity, its outstanding and splendid
police on guard in the silence. its monu-
n'ents, It's long vistas OF streets-all these
things stand forth great and grand In
the gray dawn when the sparrows chirrupl
Weary though he may be from a night
OF toll. or disheveled and half awake. as
he may be, in going 10 his early labor, the
common American man sees the glorles
OF New York and his heart responds TO
the pride OF being a citizen OF so great a
cityi
The Apostle Paul-one Of the greatest,
ii not the greatest man that ever lived
SPOKE with pride of being a citizen Of
Tarsus Il am citizen OF no mean cityv'
said Paul CActs xxi, S9l He spake with
the natural lsiman pride OF the citizen
And II the great Apostle could speak with
pride of Tarsus, a comparatively email
place in Ciiicia who can discount the
iightfui tremendous pride Of the citizens
of New York-cltizens of the magic city
Of the planetl
And the very love we bear for this
noble city is the soundest reason for the
constant effort 10 cut away its barnacles
and excresoenees and make it greater and
greaterl
The spirit should be TO make New York
the centre Of civilization and progress and
order. The everlasting political struggle-
and a struggle II is honoring the city
honoring the efforts OF its good citizens
WHO. loving It, never grow weary in the
fight-that battle is psychological And
the man who sees the Titanic works OF its
people and their genius in the quiet gray
dawn gains hope and confidence.