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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."