Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1917-03-09
WHITMAN COUNTY GIRL
MADE GOOD SHOWING
Miss Babinski of Cotton Was One of
Seven Highest Contestants
I'm State Spelling
Contest

Olympia. March defeating
thirty-three other contestants, Miss
Ruth Lindsey. l9 years old, daugh-
ter OF Mr. and Mrs. G. NJ. Lindsey Of
Blaine, who represented Whatcom
county in the contest, today won the
statewide spelling match and was
awarded the diamond medal emblem
attic of the honor, offered by Rep
resentatiye J. w Summers. of Walla
Walla, who, with Mrs. Josephine c..
Preston. superintendent of public in
struction, was instrumental in ar
ranging for the statewide meet.
Second place was won by Miss
Mary Carson, l3 years of age, of
Mabton, representing Yakima coun-
~. She was awarded a gold medal
of honor. She stood up with the
winner and competed for first place
when the other thirty-two contest
ants had been eliminated and when
she faltered on the word pewter"
and misspelled it "peuter," the hon
or of receiving the diamond medal
went to Ruth Lindsey. the tiny en-
trant from Whatcom county. The
first place winner was an eighth
grade student, while the second
prize winner Is student of the
seventh grade
The spelling contest proved a big
success from every standpoint. Ow-
ing TO press of legislative business
ii could not be held in the house
chamber as was originally planned
but was held In the Methodist Epis-
copal church. Ferry, Skamania and
Wahkiakum counties were the only
counties falling to send representa-
tves, leaving thirty-six contestants.
Two of these, Eunice McAlpine, of
Benton county, and Eulah Ledger
wood. OF Garfield county, did not
come to Olympia owing to sickness,
leaving thirty-four contestants, OF
whom twenty-three were girls and
eleven boys.
A written test consisting of 25
words was first given, the words
being pronounced by Mrs. Blanch A.
Nagel, of the office of superintend-
ent of public instruction,
An oral test followed. each con-
testant being given 25 words. At
the close of this test Mrs. Preston,
who presided. announced the seven
highest contestants, or those who
had not missed written or oral
word. These seven included Ken
meth Furgeson of Lincoln county
Hugh B. White, of Pierce county;
Elizabeth Culman, OF Snohomish
county; Arlie Cruger, of Stevens
county; Ruth Lindsey, of Whatcom
county; Amelia Babinski, of Whit
man county, and Mary Carson. of
Yakima county.
A yolley of difficult words was
fired at these contestants by Mrs.
Nagel. The first one to be eliminat-
ed was the Snohomish county en-
trant, who misspelled silica.
The Whitman county girl went
down on the word acetylene and
Kenneth Ferguson took his seat on
the word mineralogy, which left but
four contestants.
On the word ubiquity Arlie
eralogy, which left but four contest
ants. On the word oblquity Arlie
Cruger, of Stevens. met her defeat
while Hugh B. White. the lone boy
contestant, who had won the plaud.
It's OF the audience by his brilliant
work, fumbled the word incompati.
BILE and was eliminated. Mary Car.
son lost her chance for first place
by misspelling pewter which left
Ruth Lindsey the winner. NOT hay
ing missed word during the after.
noon session.
GOV Lister was present and said
word OF welcome to the spoilers
The Judges were Arthur T. Wilson
assistant superintendent of public
instruction: Mrs Sadie Dickinson
deputy superintendent, and Mrs
FrLeda Inland.
Al the close of the contest Rem
resentative Summers presented tn,
medals TO the winners. The peoplf
IN the audience were challenged by
Representative Summers TO compet,
with the two winners. and the chal
ienge was not taken up.