mttent mmtn mm VOLUME 8. McCONNELLSUUKG, PA., OCTOIU: Rll, 190(. NlLMHUt SPELLING REFORM. Article from the Pen of J. B. Holland a For mcr County Siipt. of Blair County. The opponents of the proposed simplified orthography seem to labor under misapprehensions in regard jo the subject. Let it be clearly understood just here and now that the si niplification of orth ography does not necessarily mean phonetic spoiling. A revis ed orthography is one thing and a purely phonetic Bystetn is au other. Herein is where many of our adversaries are making a grave mistake. It is proposed merely to simplify our spelling by expunging all silent and un necessary letters, and thereby gradually to approximate irrore nearly to a phonetic system, so that in the fullness of time the transition from the present or thography to the phonetic can be made without difficulty or serious objection. Our English alphabet was not intended to be phonetic, nor can it, possibly be so employed, ex cept to a very limited extent, for the reason that we have only twen ty-six letters in our alphibet, three cf which (c, q and x) are re dundant, to represent at least for ty one sounds in the English lan guage. While a purely phonetic alphabet, such as the phonograph ic or stenographic, must of neces sity contain as many letters or characters as there are element ary sounds in the language. But this, as already intimated, is not the present purpose or design of the proposed simplified spelling. As to the necessity for many rad ical changes iu our barbarous orthography, there ought not to be any question, as no intelligent person can fail to observe the ir regularity, the absurdity, and vhimical caprice in our venerat ed English i orthography. The wonder, however, is not so great when the origiu of our language is fully considered. It is a mat ter of history that our alphabet has been traced to the Phoenician alphabet, of which, says compet ent authority, "the Hebrew is a typ3i which was modified to ex press the sounds of th Greek lan guage, and thus became theGreek alphabet, which, in turn, was mod i tied to express the sounds of the Latin language, and thus became the Roman alphabet, which was modified to express the sounds of the Anglo Saxon language, and thus became the Anglo-Saxon al phabet, which then was modified tu express the sounds of the Eng Jish language, and thus became the English alphabet, with all its defects." Our letters do not cor respond witti our articulations uud our spelling of words, says Rev. Dr. Wheedon, "cannot be matched for irregularity and whimsical caprice." While the writer is an ardent advocate, not only of the simplified spelling but of a purely phonetu system, in its entii ety, he has uever favor ed a sudden transition from the common spelling to a phonetic system, nor has he, while labor ing along educational lines, ever fallen iu with "every wind of doc trine," or endorsed any of the mauy fads and crankismsin mat ters of education which have been thrust upon the people and into our schools. Hut this Bpelhug reform move ment is no fad, but dates back to ihe days of Benjamin Franklin, and is to day supported by every htenographcr in Uncivilized woi Id and by hosts of the most eminent educators of the present day, as well as of mar y past generations. It should be remembered that facts, philosophy, sound reason ing and common sense are not fads. It may not ho known to some of the re.' dors of this article that in the fourteenth century, plow was spelled "plowghe." Less than titty years ago the word was" spelled "plough," and if applicants for tchools under the cuporiuteudeucy when fli st estab liahed had Bpelled this word as wo now flo, they would not have been iiceirsed to teach. Thatsince thru we have thrown t io "u" out WANT TO TAX HUNTERS. Game Commission After Law That Will Raise More Revenue. The Slate Game .m mission is engaged in preparing a bill, which will be submitted to the next Legislature, compelling every sportsman in the State to pay a tax before he ispermitted to hunt The tax will be one dollar, and will bo payable to the county treasurer who will give it to the State Game Commission for ex penses. At present the Legisla ture gives the com mission $10,000 and it is txpected to pay all ex penses out of that sum. Game wardens are paid by receiving half of the fine imposed on offend ers, and as a consequence, are un der suspicion half the time of manufacturing cases in order to get their money. One game warden has been murdered, two shot at, and one is now in jail at Wilkes Harre for de lending himself when a foreigner whom he caught shooting song birds, resisted arrest. The bill will provide that no boy under 12 y3arsof age shall be permitted to shoot game, but any farmers' boy from 12 to 21 may shoot on his own premises without taking out a license. All foreigners must pay a license fee of $10. It is estimated ty the commis sion that one man in every thirty is a sportsman and goes hunting, and it is argued that it is unfair for twenty-nine men to be com pelled to pay for the sport of the one. A tax of one dollar on each sport will produce revenue enough to see the commission through with giving the wardens half the tines, for then they could be paid salaries. of the words "labor," "favor," "parlor," and all that, class of words, yet it has not been found necessory to "reprint" the works of Shakespeare, Milton, Dryden, or the writings of others of their day and generation. It is now urged simply that books hereaft er published may he printed in accordance with the reform pro posed. As to the books now in our libraries, they can remain as they are, and be preserved as relics of a barbarous orthography of past ages. Another objection urged by our opponents is that such changes would throw our orthography and language into chaos and be "confusion wore confounded." Now, if there is anything on earth, or anywhere else, more nearly resembling chaos than our present mode of spelling, it would be interesting to learn what it is. Let us here present a tew examples of "cor rect spelling :" If the combina tion d o ne spellsdun, theu r-o n o spells run, and g-o-a-o spells gun, aud f o n e spells fun. Iflau-g h spells laf, then c a u g h spells calf thus violating the dictates of the child's common sense at every step of its progress through out the mazes of Euglish orthog raphy. Examples galore could ho re be adduced if space could bo allowed. The truth is, in snort, that less than one hun dred words ot the English lan guage are spelled as they are pro nounced, ur pronounced as they are spelled. All the rest are ar bitrary, false, contradictory aud down-right lying. No one could or would know that d o g spells dog if he had not been told, or learued from tradition, unless the vowel o aud consonant g were di acritieally marked. Nor can any one tell what sound any vowel has in any word, until he has learned how the word is pronounced ex cept In a few cases, as In fate, late, etc., In which the words end in silent e, to show that the preced ing vowel has Us long sound. This is a famous expedient in tloed, tike many more, equally ab surd. But why multiply exam ples? What individual, laying claim to the least degree of schol-a-ly attainment, does not know tha miserable jargon found in the (Ooulluuuil on yu lour ) HUNTER FOR THE IIIOHWAY. Ride in an Automobile Over a Rough Pike Results in Skinned Nose. Vrom the Pltlxburv I'ost "If any member of the Legis lature will vote a 'ainst a bill to appropriate a sufficient sum to improve trn Pittsburg and Philadelphia-pike, lie has no regard for his duty and the welfare of the people living along the highway." State Highway Commissio.ier Joseph W. Hunter, thus express ed himself to the motorists at Ligonier, after making a record run from Bedford Springs in George E. Turner's car yester day mcrniiig. Commisioner Hunter was given a practical demonstration on wretched roads aud as a memento of the trip, he will carry back East with him two strips of court plaster across the bridge of his nose that cover a cut caused by a Somerset countv "water breaker." The machine struck the obstacle and Mr. Hunt er was bounced upward until his head struck the frame of the cov er. Commissioner Hunter was tak en from Bedford Springs to Chambersburg yesterday e'en ing. Good roads were discussed and CongressmauGeorge P. Huff, of Greensburg, gave his exper ience iu building four miles of th'j pike, and his hurry job at making a portion of the road east of Ligonier, possible for the run. He stated that he had given this old historic pike a great deal of attention. As an engineering feat, he said, it is not surpassed by any military road in the world. Congressman Huff said con certed action should be taken to rehabilitate the road, and, as iho roadbed has been there for 100 years, it could be done at a reas onable price. George E. Turner said that Pennsylvania can easily afford to spend $4,000 a mile on the 150 miles that would have tobiim proved and the route would be come a favorite run for motor ists. Commissioner Hunter was in full accord with the views ex pressed. Asked what would be the best method, he said the state shouid rebuild it, as under the present law, many of the interior townships could not raise suffi cient taxes to pay their share of the cost. Those on the trip are of the opinion that this run and confer ence will bear fruit. Mr Hunt er stated that he has heard no op position to the project nor against the Pittsburg and Philadelphia pike as a state highway. it is also the opinion of those coming through yesterday, that orders will go out to do away with Somerset and Bedford county "water . breakers." There are about 80 to the mile, and they are regarded as obstructions to ve hicles of all kinds. After leaving Ligonier, Mr. Turner'. machine was put out of commission by a broken spring, and the car is at the village of Kingston. ASKED TO SKIDD00. Schuylkill Prohibitionists Thoroughly In censed at Conduct of Swallow and Castle, i Schuylkill County Prohibition ists, at a meeting held iu Potts villo, decided to ask the Prohibi tion National chairman to expel from the ranks Homer L. Castle, the party '8 candidate for Govern or in this State, and Dr. Silas C. Swallow, one of Castle's most prominent supporters. Resolu tions were adopted declaring "that the Standard Oil Company and other corporations have con tributed $50,000 to Castle's cam paign, and that all Castle's efforts are directed toward aiding the cause of that gigantic octupiTs, the most merciless and unscrup ulous corporation on the face of the earth." Thos. F. Sloan and wife, of this place, are away on a trip to Wash ington Cit thl t v, euk. ACCIDENT TO JUDGE SWOPE. Stepped on a Wire Nail. Which Ran Through the Sole of his Shoe and ,,,, Into His Right Foot. ! While taking a little walk last 1 I1U1 PUUJ CfCI lllg ious day in court, , , ,, JudoSwopo stopped to take a look at S. W. 1 Kirk's new house, opposite the i jail. There is more or less build- i ing material on the street in front of the building, aud iu attempting to avoid a mud puddle, the . Judge sprang aoross to a board aud stepped squarely on a wire nail that stuck up from the board. The nail went through the soleol his shoo aud made a deep puuo ture in his right foot about au inch back of the toes. Ho went at once to his room at the Wash ington House, which is directly over the office of Dr. Mosser, whom he summoned. The Doc tor treated the punctured fool, but the Judge suffered much pain during the night, and Fri day mornmg he .was not able to gee his shoo on to go to court. As there was not a great deal of busi ness to attend to that moruing, the lawyers, court officers, and those directly interested in tho business, went to his room. He left Friday noon for his home at Gettysburg, since which time we have not heard anything of his condition. IN THE COOP. Justice Wible Sends Charlie Walker to Jail Seven Days for Indulging in Profanity. Charlie Walker (colored) is spending this week tho guest of the county of Fulton, at Hotel Alexander, one door north of the Court House. Last Saturday ev en lug, Charlie, who it is said had a pretty comfortable jag on, was driving about the town in com pany of a couple of his lady friends. Passing Reisuer's store at a wild-west gait, he ran into Zack Vallance's buggy standing there, and completely demolished the vehicle. This little incident opened up Charlie's safety valve, and for a few minutes he blew off such a column of profanity as made the air smell of sulphur for blocks around, and when the odor reached the olfactory nerves of Chief of PoLee Roettger, he at once winded his game, ind was soon leading him up the hill. When Charles was brought into the presence of the Justice, he was at once recognized as an old offender, and was sent to jiil for a period of seven days. Obituary. Mrs. MaryE. Whitfield, daugh ter of Jacob and Sarah Zimmer man, aud widow of the late Win. C. Whittiold, died at her late resi dence in Hustontowu, September 14. l'JOG. Mrs. Whitfield was born at Me chanics burg, Cumberland coun ty, and at an early age moved with her parents to lied ford coun ty, where most of her life was spent. At seventeen years of age she joined the McKendree M. E. church and remained a member of the Methodist church uutilher death. She was born June :, ls38, and at her death, was 08 years, 2 months aud 17 days of ago Funeral services were held at her home, conducted by her pas tor, Rev. Harry Daniels; and, al so, atthe Union Memorial church, Bedford county, conducted by Rev. Wiese, assisted by the Luth erau minister, now retired, who married her. lutermeut was made atthe Memorial church, Bedford county. H. D. Mrs. S. P. Wishart, Mrs. W. H. B lumgardner, and Miss Maude Biumgardner all of Wells Tanuery, are alteudiug the State Sahbuth School Onven.ion at Gettysburg this week. Hon. S. P. Wishart brought the party down to this place Monday morn ing to take tio noon haek f ir the railroid at Mercersbui , AS TO THE OLD SOUTH PENN. Correspondent Wants Legislature That Will Correct Injustice. The following communication, . . .., 0. , peared in tho Philadelphia Piess L, tit , , Sir: Every one in Southern Pennsylvania knows that twenty five years ago a parly of capital ists started to build au air line between Pittsburg and Harris-i-ui'g Atter woi kingcu the road i pending millions, interests atliiiiilcd with Pennsylvania' in. i'ui railroad got control. How it mis done, 'tis no matter now, Ever since theu the ownerstot said right a a ay have acted as the dog in the manger. So 1 call on all the voters to make sure all sen ators aud assembly men pledge themselves to vote iavora'oly on a bill to be passed allowing the State to take up and sell to the highest bidder all unfinished Iran chises so that we of south Penn sylvania may have the finest high way between the east and the west. Nl-W GRliNAUA. Mrs. Carrie Linikin, of Alle gheny, spent a week visitiug her brother F. G. Mills. Dr. A. 1). Hill, of Fort Littleton, visited our town, aud also took in the sights on the Broadtop coal fields. Jacob Crider and wife, and GrandpapHershey visited friends in Altoona recently. Ora Shope, who has been suf fering from an attack of typhoid fever, is some better at present writing. Mrs. Levi Truax is visiting friends in Altoona. Harry Henry, of Dudley, stop ped in town between trains on Sunday. Gertie McClaiu is visiting in Al tooua. Martha Mills, head nurse in the Pennsylvania Hospital at Phil adelphia, is spending her vacation at her home here. Marion Edwards, of Enid, teach er of No. 1 school at Broadtop City, spent a night with friends here and attended the institute at No. 4 school house. D. D. G. M., J. A. McDouough installed the officers of Waterfall Lodge last Saturday evening as follows : N. G. Richard Alloway; V. G.,' Morgan Watkin; treasurer, Jacob S. Black; Rep. to G. L , Jacob S. Black; secretary, L. L Cunningham; Warden, M. A. Det wiler; Chaplain, Villiam Alloway; 1. G , Walter Watkins; R S. to N. G., Ritner Black; li. S. to V. S., Russell Rowe; Con., L L Cunning ham. Last Thursday, one of George Swartz's sons and oi e of Henry Black's sons, were out hunting. The former accidentally shot the latter witu a full charge of squir rolshot, peppering him from head to foot. Dr. Campbell was phon ed, and succeedod ui removing part of them. He countod in all, 42 shot wounds most of them so deep they could not be removed. The boy is getting along fairly well. We would say right here, that hoys, or men, who are so reckless and careless as to shoot at anything before knowing what their mark is, had better stay out of the woods, or leave their guns at homo. The schoolroom is not a bad place for such boys, but they shouldn't ta'ne a gun along. UPPl-K DUBLIN. Cheatuuts are plenty. John Keebaugh's new house is nearly completed. Chesuut's school is getting along very uicely uuder the care of Maude Fields Miss Fields, accompanied by Edith Denisar, spent Saturday and Sunday with her parents at Clear Ridge. Frauk Bowser aud family were suddenly called to the bedside )f Mr Bowser's mother, Mrs. Sar ah E Deshong, who has been ser iously ill at the home of her son, P. S. Deshong, at Pleasant Ridge. We are glad to state fiat Mrs. i D tihoug Is slo ' recovering. COURT OVER. Adjourned Friday Morning. "News" Gave It Nearly All Last Week When wo went to press last week the Ayr township road plow case was on. The township won the case as heretofore. Then came the case of (ieorge (J my and Milliard Gray, his wife, vs. tin; township of Beth el. . 'I bis was a suit instituted against, the township to Mnvcr three thousand dollars damage for alleged injuries sustained by Mrs. Gray in crossing a footbridge, and two thousand dollars to the hus band on account of damage sus tained by the wife's injuries. The plninfiir clai.i ed that Mrs. Gray, about the 2oth of March 1!05, in walking on the foot bridge across the creek at Paniel's mill in Bethel township, broke one of the hoards, her foot slipped through, and ,-!.e fell violently, sustaining injuries that has since caused her great physical and mental suffer ing. A jury was called, and it was shown that the bridge, while hav ing been built and maintained by the township was not on the pub lie road, but upon private grounds, whereupon the Court ordered a compulsory nonsuit. While there is nothing to pre vent the plaintiffs from bringing action again, this in ad probability ends the contention. There was little left for the court to do Friday morning except to sentence James Hess. Judge Swope after carefully consulting his Associates, Bender and Hum bert, sentenced Mr. Hess to six months in the county jail, three dollars tine, pay tha costs and re turn tho stolen goods. This sen tence was a great surprise to the public as it was doubtless to Mr. Hess, himself. In the case of Rowe Mellott vs. J: T. Bridges & Co., whiuh was simply a suit to recover balance due on hark account, no defense was offered and judgineut was giv en tho plaintiff in the sum of $1327.25. Educational Meeting. The teachers of Licking Creek township met at Harrisouville, Oct. Cth, for the purpose of hold ing an educational meeting. The meeting was called to order by the president, J. Frank Daniels, and the teachers all being present but one, discussed the subjects ably, afte which they adjourned to meet in five weeks at Harrison ville. There will be a local institute at Siloam, Oct. 2Uth. The questions are 1. Regular attendance; how secured. 2. Literature; value of and how taught. 3. Who is re sponsible for the pupils' wasi.eof timo? 4. School virtues; how taught All friends of education are invited to attend. The first local institute in Brush Cfeek township, was held at Locust Grove, Oct. 6th. Tho meeting was called to order by the teacher, Albert Garland, and Win. Sieling was appointed chair man. The questions were well discussed by the teachers. A very interesting program was prepared, for which both teacher and pupils deserve much credit. Adjourned to meet at Akersville in three weeks. Ada Barton, sec. New Engine Invented. Charles H. Rightnour, of Hope well, has recently se;ured a pat ent on a new compressed air en gine. The inventor claims that it will run without the use of coal, oil or fuel of any description and that it will work a revolution in the present world of industry. The drafts of this engine may be seen at the Wishart mine. Jennie Stewart, of Gresuhill, is off on a visit among friends.in Harrisburg and Hagerstown. Subscribe for the "News, 'ouly $1.00 a year. ABOUT PEOPLE YOU KNOW Snapshots at Their Coinings and Goings Here for a Vacation, or Away for a Restiul'Outing. NAMES OF VISITORS AND VISITED Mrs. II. C. Demuth, Lancaster, is a guest in the home of Mrs. M. 15. Trout. Mrs. Geo. B. Mellott and Mar garet Daniels spent a couple of days in Chambersburg last week. Mrs. S. Wesley Kirk aud srn Malcolm, are visiting relatives and friends in Brush Creek Val ley. Mrs. Merrill VV. Naog and ba by Mary Logan, are visiting m the home of D. B. Nace, Cham bersburg. John S. Harris spent last Wednesday in the home of his brother in-law, S. D, Stevens, in Chambersburg. S. D. Stevens, w ife, aud daugh ter Grace, and son Master Har ris, spent Saturday and Sutday in this place. Miss Mary E. Goldsmith and Mrs. Ge-rge Mock spent last Saturday in Chambersburg shop ping. Miss Minnie McGovern, of Bristol, Tenn., is visiting among her many relatives and friends in McConuellsburg. Harvey Doyle and wife, of Al toona, are visiting the former's parents, Mr. and Mrs. Will Doyle, of this place.' Robert Gordon, Webster Mills' hustling planing mill man, was in town attending to business a short time last Saturday. S. Houston Johnston and wife, of Mercersburg, spent a day or two on this side of the mountain during the past week. Mrs. Sebiua Mellott and son Charlie, st;ent last Friday night and part of Satu rday among their McConnellsburg friends. Rev. W. M. Hann and wife, of Orbisonia, were visiting among their friends in this vicinity dur ing the past week. Mrs. S. M. Cook went down to Harrisburg Jast week to hear Teddy makehisdedicationspeech. She is now visiting friends in Chambersburg. Rev. J. C. Grimes was among the number from this place who went to Harrisburg last week to attend the dedication of our new thirteen-million-dollar capitol. Mr. and Mrs. Casper Whorley and two children, of Shippeus burg, were guests over Sunday, of Mrs. Whorley 'u parents, Ben jamin Shimer and wife, on North Second street. Ulaiue Booth, a clerk in one of the car shops in Altoona, was a pleasant caller at this office Mon day. He is takiug his annual va cation, and visiting among friends in this county. George F. Metzler, of Harri souville, was at Harrisburg last Thursday, at the dedicatory cere monies of the Capitol, -and theD went to Philadelphia to visit hi sous, Claude, Oscar, aud Robert Believes in the Newspapers. "I believe in the newspaper," said Mr. Alexander, the singing evangel'st. "To illustrate their carrying power, let me tell a story : "A newspaper, published in England, one day carried in its col urns a .?o.mon by the late Charles 11. Spurgeou. That news paper found its way to Australia, and eventually was part of a bun dle that was thrown under the counter of a store to wrap up packages with. In course of time it was retched aud inclosed some articles that were sent to the house of a most ungodly man. He u. wrapped the goods, aud as he did so the heading of the ser mon struck his eye. The man read it, became thoughtful, read it again. It convinced him, and he became au earnest and devout Christian."
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers