UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
TO SIMPLIFY SPELLING
Minnesota Professor Pleads For "Harmony Between Sound and Symbol"
SAYS REFORM MUST COME
Calls Present Spelling Wrong, False, and Foolish
The following plea for simpimine spelling by Prof. Jean Sherwool Ran-appears the University of Minnesota appears an important issue of the "Minnesota Daily";
If one has a long and arduous climb to make, should he not seek the easterly side. The hill of learning is extremely steep; the climb can needle hardly! Some of us, who began the climb long ago, have reached a point where we think we will advantageously leave the beaten path. May I point this way out to you?
Throughout your life as students you have used and you must continue to use the device known as English spelling. This, as at first conceived, was a system of matching sound to the invention of confusion that followed the invention of less inconsistencies came into use after thru carelessness and oftener thru ignorance. This led to a great desire on the part of printers for uniformity and for authority. Thus the standardization of spelling, as Dr. Stratton said, about by printers, not by schools, and was obtained at the expense of "propriety, of etymology, of principle of orthopey." The true nature of this standardization should be fully recognized now. Johnson's Dictionary, published in 1755, was generally used in印刷 with neither consistency nor reason, and became the standard. This has been followed until the present day.
SO WHY NOT ELIMINATE THIS UNPROPITABLE FORM OF EXERCISE.
AND MAKE EACH STUDENT DIG-CAL FOR GVM.
CREDIT- SAY "ONE BANKER A DAY."
COAL HAS BEEN DISCOVERED UNDER MT OWEN
AND LET THE POOR DEVILS AT LANSING HAVE A REST
In the gradual march of time and of lexicographicographers, Noah Webster commands great honor, for he was a pronounced spelling reformer, going as far as he dared in the matter. Opuscula is the word of his instead of giving us b-r-e-d, d-a-w-t-e-r, k-o-u-r-s, and the like, he felt obliged to retain the monstrousities b-u-l-i- t, b-r-e-a-d, d-a-u-g-h-e-r-e, c-h-o-r-u-s, and so on. He did, however change e-to e-to r in a long list of words, and he omitted that u so dear to British and to would-be Brits in words likeWebster fully mirrors him, but is finally suspected by the average student—that the accepted spelling of English words more often disguises the etymology that conserves it.
Having now wasted two years of your young lives in mastering the permutations and combinations of twenty-six letters and forty sounds, will you not at least make an intelligent effort to save those who come after you from a like fate? In our language, we speak of spoken language, the e in meaning symbols, the a in matter has thirty-four, the a in fall has twenty-one, the e in met has thirty-six, and so on. Think of the millions of emigrants coming to our shores and doomed to learn English thus a vehicle! Think of your own children who will come after you! Remember that the spoken word always precedes the written, and that the first and only sound that comes is convey to the mind as accurately as may be the corresponding vocal utterance! Ask yourselfs what proportion of English words do this!
The air is full of revolt and upheaval. A new spirit of the times is struggling for birth. In the general chaos that has fallen over the world since World War II, a fortune for a new honesty in the very elements of knowledge. Is our spelling honest? No; it is a hypocritical sham of the worst sort. It has neither logic, nor reason, nor rule, nor history to defend it. It persists only because it lacks moral indolence, the sentimentality, or the financial interest of those who use it.
No small group of scholars, however eminent, can hope to accomplish any great reform unadvised. Indeed not only unaided are they, but even bitterly opposed by the vast horde of avaricious bookmen, he has written the text-books of the schools. Let simplified spelling be once demanded by the public, and much of the big business of the schools will be done away with. There
It is only from a rising generation as professor Loussain says (see Atantic, May, 1907), that we may expect threo-government reform in any迪亚特省, and that he says, "in whom the reasoning powers have not been so blunted by association that the mind looks with favor upon what is defiant of reason!" Will you continue to be thus "defiant of reason"? Need I remind you that every living editor of a dictionary—and a book—is a member of the Simplified Spelling Board? Will you consult the Standard, the Webster's, the Century, the great new English dictionary, and then you will defy and set at naught all that the editors of these very dictionaries stand for? they have no reason to use it; they must use it not make it. Will you not hasten to join the company of these scholars and to stand with them among the elect?
Let's Try It On the Geology Class First.
will be no more need for spelling books, which are now regularly used by all graded schools. There will be two years' less of schooling for the average child as result, and there will far-reaching reforms affect every student. One knows this so well as the great American Book Trust, which controls and operates scores of concerns generally supposed to be independent. A mortal blow would be given the all-important book-houses when the public wakes up in the case. At present, and from time immemorial, the book houses have been the deciding factor in everything related to the schools. But are you going to continue to have the matters academic uttered by the teachers in books? Do you not prefer the authority of the group of scholars aforesaid? However, even among publishers there are noble exceptions, and the name of Henry Holt stands preface to the stand he has taken on this question. No wonder he calls his unique magazine "The Unipopular Review"!!
I appeal to the youth, the courage the enthusiasm of our students to take up this mighty reform and make it a success. In this work you must not expect much help, if any, from teachers. They, alas, have perhaps mastered their craft matter thoroly from its historical side. Some of them assuredly have long been giving you a champagne course of instruction upon a beer income, and the discrepancy involves has kept them over-busy. Then be marked they down to lead them into the light. It is impossible that some of them, in their blind idolatry of the unknown, have marked you down for ot spelling in the current fashion. But you probably spelled much better than they knew, and such grotesque abuse of the language always be tolerated in supposed leaders of "thought"? For one thing is as certain as daylight: If they investigate, they will be with you heart and soul. Mind, I do not say that they will themselves adopt simplified forms, to be too indolent, or may be in the grip of publishers and unable to do as they prefer.
I humbly apologize for my spelling in this letter, and confess to proper shame therefor. I do not spell as well as I know! For I have an eye-minded memory, whereby association has fixed the bad spellings laboriously in my youth, and now it reproduces them in my life, not deny that said memory is a convenience, especially since education puts to sleep as far as possible the logical faculties. Even so likewise does our lovable Dr. Burton, himself a member of the Simplified Spelling Board. But Dr. Burton's publishers dead, were he to insist on spelling out errors, instead of according to the fashion. Even so also does our scholarly Dr. Klaeber, who would gladly see the English of his adopted country as fonetically spelled as is the scientific German of his fatherland. Yet, happily, there are a few logical minds which refuse to respect any authority about truth and reason. Therefore we find biology and orthography treated from the same viewpoint by at least one of our professors, to whom we give honor. Henry F. Nachtrieb not
only dares be a spelling-reformer, but his practices are in harmony. There may be others among us of whom this is true, but I am not so fortunate as you unknowed of them. To all such, the unkown, 1 yield admiration and respect.
But how, you ask, shall you see about a reform that approximates a revolution, since it entails a period of confusion which will perhaps be form a league, which shall be at first held then interlacerate, then national, then international. Let there be no more need of such books as "Two Thousand Words Most Often Missed. Let the book agents walk, while you go to their own auto-cars! Let the little children our sue education gladly, because unharmed by the mistakes of ignorant printers long since dead! Shall France dare to alter ten thousand dare to at a stroke, and shall we fear to lose our souls which are recommended to us by our most eminent scholars? Take away from the fair face of our English this weepful blemish, and thus leave it free to work its high mission in the world. From theatroic spelling it will specially become what it is surely destined to be—the language of the world!
I am yours for the right, true, and sensible, as against the wrong, false, and foolish, whether in the world of morals or in that of letters. But I fancy that the two worlds interpenetrate, and that sham in the one can never be less than sham in the other. I cannot but admire the glory of harmony between sound and symbol of the beauty of truth, and of the simplicity which marks all that is truly great. Reform must come, soon or late. Why not now, and thy you?
FISKE LETTER TO SENATE
Utterances Due to Malice and Wounded Vanity—Tillman
By United Press Leased Wire
Washington, May 3.—Characterizing actions of Rear Admiral Fiske in criticizing Secretary of the Navy Daniels as a kind of "sniping or guerilla warfare" Congressman Tillman of military affairs committee today submitted a copy of Fiske's letter received by Vice-president Marshall.
"It is easy to show from official records how unreasonable and unjustifiable too. Admiral Fiske's utterances the Navy has nothing to do with the Secretary of courts an investigation if one is demanded. Therefore I content myself with asking that Fiske's letter to the Vice-president be published in the recorder." The officer really is to his utterances excent malice and wounded vanity."
INTERCLASS POSTPONED
Economics Lecture Today
**Economics Lecture Today**
Probably the ablest speaker in the United States on the subject of taxation will answer U. students this afternoon. This man is nelel T. Howe, president of the National Tax Commission, and chairman of the Kansas State Tax Commission.
He will speak in Administration Building Room 202 at 3:30. The lecture is open to all who are interested.
J. Pluvius And His Assistants Interfere With Annual Intramural Event
Mr. K, U. Man—The well dressed man was tailored to measure clothes.
DAY SET FOR MONDAY
Delayed Date Will Allow Athletes to Get in Condition
J. Pluvius, assisted by the rest of the disagreeable elements that hang around the weather man's headquarters, got to McCook Field yesterday afternoon before the athletes and sprinters needed to be succeeded to make things miserable on the track for the thinly clad runners and the annual spring interclass track meet had to be postponed until a later date. Manager Hamilton announced this week that the intramural affair would be held Monday after rain or shine.
All classes are rejoicing at the postponement of the meet. Now that the meet is to be held Monday the seniors and sophomores will be able to use Captain Rebe and Richard Trevino. These two men have not yet returned, but Penn Games but are expected in Lawrence before the last of the week.
The juniors are rejoicing because it will give their star, Fred Rodkey, a longer period of time in which to recuperate from the weak arch which he has been nursing since the indoor dual meet with Missouri. The freshmen are also happy that the affair has been postponed because they will have to get back to school to get in shape for the events. The freshmen have not be ten training regularly and have not rounded into shape very well up to the present time.
The juniors had been doped as winners for the meet yesterday but now that it is postponed the dope may take on a little different aspect before Monday. Trewecke can be counted on for five points in both the high and broad jumps and for a place or two in the long jump. Trewecke will win places in both the weights and will probably annex ten senior points in these events.
DO YOU KNOW
That the Santa Fe Railroad has announced there will be no box car shortage this year when shipping time arrives?
Send the Daily Kansan Home
E, C, HALE, COLLEGE 17
ANNOUNCES HIS MARRIAGE
E. C. Hale, 17 College, surprised his friends Saturday by announcing his marriage which he had kept secret since February. He made his marriage known just before starting to Kansas City to meet Mrs. Hale, who was formerly Miss Allye Oldham, of Coalgate, OKla. The couple were married in Oklahoma City, Feb. 12, 1916.
Both Mr. and Mrs. Hale expect to be in school at this University during the summer session. Mrs. Hale, a graduate of the Oklahoma Normal School, will enter the School of Fine Arts, as either a junior or senior.
I claim this is a very bum verse,
Of course it could be far worse.
But really if you
Eat,
You'd think you fell off a hearse.
Indestructo Trunks Bags and Suit Cases Sold Exclusively by Johnson & Carl
Make Every Doller Count
—don't spend good money carelessly.
—don't spend good money carelessly.
—when you buy Lumber, the get very best.
—it costs no more.
—when you buy Lumber, the very best.
it它eats no more.
—only one precaution necessary—buy it here.
—investigation will convince you that lower prices tran
we make are not to be found in this town—nany other
town
—here you can buy the utmost of both quantity and quality.
—why take chances elsewhere, when you can buy here and be sure?
—always a complete stock from which to serve you promptly at—
"The Yard That Saves and Satisfies."
C. E. FRIEND
Phones 42 1046 Mass. St.
Billy Sunday Believes in Advertising
The great evangelist could not live without the newspaper and the free advertising he gets during his stay in the large American cities. He acknowledges his dependence on printer's ink.
Theodore Roosevelt Believes in Advertising
Mr. Business Man, You Believe in Advertising
Our own Teddy would never have been known as a good hunter had it not been for the publicity he received in American newspapers. Of course, he didn't have to pay for the space, but he had nothing to gain but reputation.
You may have been kidding yourself along for quite a while, cussing the best friend you have in the world, the advertising man from the paper, hollering about the H. C. of L. and the big overhead and the cheapness of the customers, but you know that you believe in printer's ink.
Now Don't You?
But how strong you believe in it will depend partly on how often you have been stung. There are quack advertising schemes just as there are quack doctors. Look through the columns of the University Daily Kansan and see with whom you associate when your copy appears in K.U.'s only student paper.
Let's Talk Over Next Year's Contract