The advocate. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1901-1913, 1908-07-02

/
the history oil the National Rduca-
ton AssociattOh marked the opening
of the forty~sixth annual conven-
ton OF the orsanization, which began
five-day session here today, >,
Thousands ofSaelegates were kept
busy taking part An the days events.
Cleveland bristled with entertain
ment. The streets and buildings are
gayly decorated. The schoolteachers
and Clevelanaers filled the streets
and public places, ...,
1t was q day of hustling for the
transportation companies as we'll as
for the pedagogues. A special depot
was constructed to care for the bag
gage. Thousands of Cleveland
homes were thrown omen to enter
tain the visitors. Hotels, restaurants
and boarding houses are reaping q
harvest. ..a. ~
The first session in connection
with the convention was a meeting
of the National Council. This was
followed by meeting of the Direc-
tors, where the financial reports
were made and resolutions adopted. ;
The COMMITTEES on Appropriations
and Investigation proposed that It's
work be dropped, owing to the gen
eral financial condition of the asso-
citation and the change In the policy
of the railways throughout the coun-
try in the matter of passenger rates.
The committee recommended that
Congress be urged to make appropri-
atoms and take UP the work of edu-
catlonal investigation under the Gov
eminent Bureau of Education.
Spelling Contest Feature.
One OF the interesting features of
the program, although not a part of
the official convention routine, was
a spelling contest between eighth
grade pupils, In which a team of Is
representing each of four cities en-
tered. The Cleveland schools chaI-
lenged the schools of the country
Pittsburg, Penn. 3tfNew Orleans, La. :,
and Erie, Penn, accepted the ckal-
lenge. = *rE -, 49,
:. First, there was &c written contest
of 100 words, and then oral spelling
of about ESQ words. Cleveland won
with a total of only 38 errors. Pitts
burg was second, with At errors;
New Orleans was third, with 66 err
rors, and Erie was fourth, with IS
errors.
The victory was personal tri-
umph for Marie c. Bolden, aged 10
years, daughter Of a Negro mail car
rher, Of this city, who spelled every
word correctly, both in the oral and
the written tests. The convention
was swept with a storm of applause
at her demonstration, the result Of
which was announced far down the
line on the big blaekboaFds, and at a
time when her score meant victory
for Cleveland, the earlier announce
ments having put Pfttsburg and New
Orleans in the lead.
The little girl was congratulated
by hundreds, even members Of the
New Orleans spelling team shaking
her hands, when President Francis
II. Haserot of the Cleveland Board
of Education, pinned to her dress the
gold medal which denotes the cham
pionship OF Americana public school
spoilers. = >.
Put Aside Race Prejudice.
Just before the contest was begun
several Of the New Orleans children
baked at the idea OF spelling against
Negro girl, but in caucus the
Southern team decided, to go into the
contest, waving race prejudice.
Another child, Mae Thursby, Of
the Pittsburg team, made a perfect
score, and the medal offered by the
Junior Order OF United American
Mechanics, of Pittsburg, will be
awarded to her on her return to the
Smoky City. .
That the contest was 'remarka ole
became apparent to the 5000 adults
who occupied seats,fn the big Hippo
dror1e when the words were pro-
nounced.
Restaurant was one OF the puz-
Tiers, while confederation proved a
stumbling block for several. Other
words that halted the advance of the
teams included separate, together,
accommodate, tettaee.s elm, occur
rent, Judgment, develop irrelevant,
foreigner, deceased, sovereign, sta
tfonary, cemetery, ceiling, descend
ants, government, brethren, pump
| kin, analysis, embarrass, necessarily
miniature, professor, changable, di-
visable, until which, pursue, princi-
pal, partition and arctic, while one
OF the frequently nisspelled words,
by a curious coincidence, was mig
| spelled"
One Pittsburg boy caused a storm
Of applause when, ia the oral test
he was asked to spell "gas." "Gas?'
he repeated, in a questioning tone;
"gas?' why, gas; Eas. And he snhH
ed condescendihgiy;S for he was Har.
ry Marcus, PittabuFz I1eWsbOy, and