Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1911-12-22
A SPELLING MATCH
WITH MUCH ECLAT
Modern Words, (and Some
Hoary With Age, Stump"
Tazewell's Best Spoilers.

The spelling match was pulled
off, on schedule time last Saturday
evening in the High School Chapel,
and was the event of the season. The
chapel was filled clear back to the
doors. The contestants were in good
trim, and everything was just so,
and exactly right, except the spelling
of the men, and some of the women,
too. Mrs. John E. Jackson, was the
"last one down." and was declared
the winner of the prize, a silver cup
of beautiful design.
The event was interesting through
out. Prof. A. L. Greever was leader.
and "gave out" the words He made
humorous speech. after fine vocal
music was rendered by four pretty
girls. and solo by Mrs. A S. Hig-
ginbotham, in which all the singers
appeared at their best, and called the
contestants to the stage of action.
The twelve women were ed by Mrs.
HI Peery, like lambs to he slaught-
er. The men filed in, led by their
dignified and solemn leader, j. w.
Spots, i'll apparent prefect confidence
OF glorious victory. But alas They
marched off the stage in a different
manner, their banner trailing in the
dust. They met their Waterloo at th G
hands of their fair opponents "Wom-
en- can't SPELL" was the opinion
expressed freely beforehand. "Men
can't spell worth cent?, was the
verdict. However, it was a Battle
Royal, and the men went down only
after hardfought battle. Many new
words were introduced that some of
the men never heard of before, an d
old words were spelled in manne r
nobody ever heard of before. "My
Lord SPOTS is certain that the word
Exchequer, is blamed hoo-doo
anyhow Other spoilers "got rattled'
and lost their heads, and up on the
whole.it was one of the most amusing
as we'll as pleasant, events, ever wit
messed here. 81 haven't had as much
fun in ten years, il heard on all
sides.
Prof. Greever eased us off with
few simple words to get US used to
it, and to wear off The "stage
fright. - Captain" j. w. Spotts
arose, as solemn as Judge, and
spelled the first word, "abyss. ("
Next followed the Editor of the
Clinch Valley News, Rev. Mr. Hall,
and Rev. Mr.. Wiley. Brother Wiley
fired awaysat the word "alpaca." and
put two .scs" in it and down he
went in establishment, on the first
round. His leading steward, Hon. A.
st. CLAIR, Strengthened up and fired
away at the word anniversary, "and
followed his pastor in rapid succ es-
sion to back seat. And so it went.
Mr.. George Martin went down on the
word "indelible. Mr.. E. L. Greever
tumbled over the word chargeable, /"
leaving out the e. On another round
the Editor of the Clinch Valley News
went down on the word "moccasin, >"
and later got balied up on the word
"manoeuvre. Hope was centered on
the Captain of the mems side, Mr.. j.
w. Spots, but he happened to get
his hoo7doo word, Exchequer, and got
"rattled'' as he said, and put a Z" u"
where the '.e'' belonged, and down
he went. Brother Wiley got the word
s'cigar" next time, and spelled it
alright, and smile played over his
handsome face. His friend and bro
ther, Mr.. st. Calir, got his second
word, "wheeze, and fired away at
it with great confidence, and spelled
it with an "s'' instead of "z'', and
resumed his seat among the yanquish-
ed He was not to remain alone for
long. The next word fired at his pas
tor was "disquisition. He spelled
it "disquition, leaving out the ISL"
entirely and way he went. In the
meantime the women were falling
out, too. in rapid succession, but fin
ally the best two of out three rounds
left the women victors, and in possess
ion of the field.
The contest narrowed down to few
ofcthe women, with the result that
Mrs. jackson was the last one up,
She won out on sthe word, 'Maras-
chino, the name of a brand of can
ned cherries. Some of the best SPELL
ing was Gone by several pupils of the
high school. 1t was claimed that the
women had an advantage Of the men
in the large number of words given
pertaining TO flowers, cooking etc.
However, the sequel showed that the
simplest words were missed, and the
men accept the verdict with as much
good grace as possible. Another spell
iIl ss Is spoken of and the men say.
g ' u get sem next time. !, i.
A A y Il