and "enquire" is not yet settled, nor us a provincial journal which, in describ-| writer of forty years ago gives us another ing a spelling-bee, states that "it was dis- example, "allege" and "alledge," but covered that an individual had escaped an | usage has now determined against the lat interrogatory by changing his seat." It ter form. The dispute between " "inquire" would have been difficult for the writer, who had probably been at the trial himself, to consent to say that "it was found that a person had escaped a question." Long words are like fine clothes. If we have them, why should we not make use of them? We do not know the precise meaning of "bee," but if we conjecture rightly, we shall expect soon to hear that an "orthographical conglomeration" has been held in some provincial town. It is wonderful, if we come to think of it, how much force and charm of language may be gained without ever troubling the long words at all. The beautiful lines beginning," Drink to me only with thine eyes," have been often quoted to show this. Another instance is the speech of Hamlet, "To be or not to be." Or take that text of Jeremiah which denounces one of the kings of Judah, "O earth, earth, earth, hearing more than very minute differences the word of the Lord," etc. Or the words of the burial service, "Man that is born of a woman," etc. Or Pope's "Universal Prayer." Or several stanzas of Gray's "Elegy." Or the lines in which Scott describes his countrymen's stubborn fight in Flodden. All these and many more of the best-remembered passages in English literature might be searched in vain for words hard enough to set at a spellingbee. In some remarks on spelling which were written about forty years ago we find the sensible rule laid down that the contemporary usage of persons of cultivation is the authority to which each person who aspires to write correctly must defer. The writer gives some examples in which variety of usage existed at that time, and if he be accepted as sufficient authority, it follows that at the time he wrote "complete" and "compleat" were equally right, or at least neither was wrong. But we fear that, if the latter form were produced at a "spelling-bee," shouts of laughter would proclaim that the respondent's chance of the prize was gone. In Ainsworth's Dictionary of 1751 both "complete" and "compleat" are given in the English-Latin part, although it would appear that the latter is preferred; and in the Latin-English part "completus" is rendered "compleat." In the middle of the last century "expence was usual, and we could not now say that it is exactly wrong, although we should certainly write "expense." The from the spelling of the present day. A knowledge of Greek and Latin must save competitors in spelling from many pitfalls. If the ladies who gained distinc tion were ignorant of these languages, they must have been gifted with retentive memories. Take for example such a word as "sympathetic," and it would seem quite possible for a person who knows no Greek to put "i" for "y." And in " metamorphosis" there would be an opening for "f." A mistake would be easy in "internecine" or "parallelogram." It might perhaps be said that it would take longer to learn Greek and Latin than to learn spelling as a mere collection of instances without principles, but the latter would be very hard work. It is difficult enough for anybody to learn English spelling, because of its irregularity. The rule which compels us to write "succeed" and "precede" is merely arbitrary, and even some educated people have to think twice before putting on paper "believe" and "receive." We have now settled to write "surprise,” but in the last century this and other compounds of the French prendre were written with "z." A place in a spellingclass ought not, we think, to be lost by using "z" in any of these words. But a person who knows French would prefer to write these words with "s," just as a person who knows Greek would write "analyse," although we find this word spelt with "z" in the edition of Pope before referred to. The word "schedule," which was lately set, is a trap, at least if it be pronounced, as some people pronounce it, softly. It is usual in correspondence to speak of an "inclosed" letter, but Parliament still passes "enclosure acts." Such words as abridgment and irreconcilable are thought by many people to want another "e," and, whatever be the correct rule, it is certainly convenient to drop an unnecessary letter. The oldfashioned pronunciation of "obliged " may have led many into what can hardly be called an error. As for "honourable," and other words of the same class, there will perhaps never be, and there certainly is not, agreement. We should write of the "license" of the press, but acts of Parliament require publicans to take out "licences." It is perhaps desirable to be strict in spelling, because pronunciation varies, and if spelling followed it there would soon be no standard of correctness 66 66 66 she was very ignorant or very careless. When we have once heard and understood this word, it would be difficult to misspell it. The popularity of these competitions in the United States is one of the many fortunate circumstances of that country. It cannot be too often impressed on American speakers that when they come to write they must add a "g to the word which they call "fixins," and that they must not spell calculate with an "i." It might be awkward if the manager of a "spellingbee," either in America or here, pronounced words as he hears his friends and neighbours speak, and then applied the standard of some dictionary to the spelling of them. It appears that a "spelling-bee" has lately been "inaugurated" at Gloucester, and it is proper that a big word should be made to do duty on this in speech. But it is possible to carry occasion. This competition was finally accuracy to an extreme. There is a wide decided on the word "ecclesiastic," and difference between spelling "supernumer- it may be inferred that the person who ary" without its penultimate syllable, and failed to spell it correctly had never spelling "postillion" with one "1." The heard it before, and did not know whence former, if not carelesssness, must be it came, or what it meant. Spelling gross ignorance, like that shown in spell- such words as this is a test, not so ing quadrilateral" with an "o" in the much of spelling, as of the general educalast syllable, or commensurate " with tion and associations of the competitor — o," instead of "u." Here, again, a not that that is an objection to them. The small knowledge of Latin would have pre- same remark might be made on "millenvented mistakes which seem to have nium," with the addition that failure in this arisen from an untutored ear listening to word would imply ignorance of Latin, a vulgar tongue. A person who said which it is hardly expected that a comquadrilatoral" or 66 commensorate" must mercial clerk should know. Some years have escaped the influence both of school ago a bet upon the word "reindeer " and society. We saw lately a lady's letter, caused great excitement in the sporting in which "areas" was written for "ar- world. It was alleged that the gentleman rears," and it might be charitably thought who induced a friend to bet on the spellthat ignorance of the thing made her un-ing of this word had looked beforehand at familiar with its name. In the strictest a dictionary. But, on reference to several age of pleading and practice at common dictionaries, it appeared that both "reinlaw, the principle of idem sonans was ap- deer" and "raindeer" were recognized. plied, and we think the same principle It is stated that at Gloucester failure ocought to prevail to some extent in a "spell-curred at such words as, among others, ing-bee," but it is difficult to say how far. If this amusement becomes fashionable, there will no doubt be dictionaries expressly printed for it, with a set of rules, and it certainly would promote more accurate knowledge of our language. When an assembly receives the spelling of "ecstatic" with an "x" with shouts of derisive laughter, it is evident that many people have a good deal to learn. But the spelling of "cynical" with "le" at the end, instead of "al," shows ignorance of the meaning and origin of the word, and that sort of ignorance may fitly excite derision. The lady who had to spell aurora borealis could scarcely go wrong, unless 66 "broccoli." Now, on referring to the first dictionary we have at hand (an English-Latin one of 1845) we find "brocoli." Yet it would appear that a competitor was disqualified for adopting this form. People of rather wider views as to language should, if possible, take the direction of these competitions. From The Gardener's Chronicle. THE history of the introduction of the hop into general use, as given in our pub lic records, is by no means devoid of in- in regard of their stench, etc., and hops, terest. It is stated that in the fourth in regard they would spoil the taste of year of King Henry VI. (1425-26) an infor- drink, and endanger the people." But mation was laid against a person for put- from this time forward the general use of ting into beer "an unwholesome weed hops was thoroughly established. An called an hopp;" and that in the same act passed in the reign of Queen Anne reign Parliament was petitioned against inflicts a penalty of £20 upon all brewers "that wicked weed called hops." In the who shall use any other bitter than hops reign of Henry VIII. their use seems to in their malt liquors, and a similar enacthave been fully established, although the ment under George III. imposes a fine of brewer of the royal household was pro- £5 per cwt. upon those who shall adulhibited from using it in his ale. In the terate hops by giving them scent or colstatute-book for 1552 the cultivation of our by drugs, while the cutting of hophops is distinctly sanctioned; and in 1574 bines growing in a plantation is made Reynolde Scot published a black-letter felony "without benefit of clergy." Altreatise, with woodcuts, expressly on the though the chief use of the hop is that cultivation of hops, which is called "A connected with our national beverage, it Perfite Plat Forme of a Hoppe Garden." has been put to other purposes of some In 1603 English-grown hops were exten- little importance. Cloth of considerable sively used, as appears from an act of strength is made from the fibrous stems James I., and, although their use was pe- of the plant in Sweden, and the Society titioned against, and nominally condemned of Arts in 1791 awarded a premium to a in the same reign, this prohibition was Berkshire farmer who had succeeded in but little attended to. Another article a similar manufacture. The attention of which "the famous City of London" paper-makers has also been directed to also petitioned against would be nowa- this as to most other fibrous plants. The days regarded as being even more indis- young shoots are sometimes cooked and pensable than hops. Blith, in "The En-eaten like asparagus, and are said to be glish Improver Improved" (published in very good; in Gerard's days these "buds 1653), says, "It is not many years since or first sprouts were used in salads, althe famous City of London petitioned the though that author regarded them as Parliament of England against two nui- "more toothsome than nourishing." sances, and these were Newcastle coals, Experiments | breeze is necessary to float it in the air, without which it is of but little use, as was proved by the experiments. The machine having been got ready, and a sand-bag being placed where the car would be, a number of Royal Engineers attempted to get it up by running with a rope, which was attached to the framework, the process being precisely similar to that employed by boys in flying kites. After one or two attempts, the machine went up, and after reaching a height of about one hundred feet, the ballast was not sufficient, and there was not enough wind to keep it in the air, consequently it fell to the ground, by the concussion some of the framework was broken, and the experiments were thus stopped. It is thought that with a good breeze the experiments would have been successful. The damages will be repaired, and some further experiments made next week. NEW AERIAL MACHINE. were made on the Great Lines, on the 15th inst., at Chatham, by order of the authorities, with the new aerial machine, the invention of Mr. Simmonds, the aeronaut. The experiments were made under the direction and in the presence of the Royal Engineer Committee, a large number of officers being upon the ground. The machine, should it answer, is intended to be used in the field in time of war, by means of which observations might be taken. It is a large affair, the covering being of French cambric, made waterproof by being coated with a solution of india-rubber, the framework being made of spans of wood about an inch and a quarter thick, and thin galvanized iron wire, and when in the air it assumes the shape of a parachute, on the covering becoming fully inflated. It is said that the advantage it has over a balloon is, that it requires no gas to inflate it, but then a good PUBLISHED EVERY SATURDAY BY 514 514 |