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Gazette & Courier - Monday, September 6, 1875
News about home: Greenfield items
(Greenfield) September fortunately requires an R in its orthography, and Hunter, of the School Street fish market, is happy. He has commenced a vigorous oyster campaign, and lovers of the same are sure of having them served promptly and in good condition from his hands.
Gazette & Courier - Monday, August 16, 1875
Conway
Mr. S. Flagg and one of his neighbors have each a garment which has been worn in constant service and still good, the one for 48 and the other for 39 years. One dark blue cassimere [outdated spelling for cashmere], the other white cambric cloth. This speaks well for both maker and wearer.
Gazette & Courier - Monday, May 31, 1875
Deerfield
In Pine Nook school, a little class, the youngest of which was only 5 years of age last Winter, have just completed the Analytical Second Reader. I think we can well say completed, for they have not only read it or been over so much, but they have learned to spell correctly, without even one failure, every one of the words at the heading of each lesson. This school is now being taught, and has been for several successive terms, by Miss Hattie A. Bridges, whose admirable qualifications, devotion and success as a teacher, will make her long remembered.
Gazette & Courier - Monday, May 17, 1875
News about home: Greenfield items
Conway Street sticks to spelling yet, and they make it the medium for a great deal of neighborly sociality and good feeling. They have their little spell regularly every week, meeting from house to house, and the champion belt, if they have one, changes hands at about every trial.
Gazette & Courier - Monday, May 17, 1875
The Shelburne Falls spelling match
I went! Much as I regret it, the fact will probably go down in posterity on the historic page that I went! Friend after friend had cornered me on the streets of our rustic village, and with an agony of suspense in his face, had breathed into my waiting ear the following question: "Have you been to a spelling school"? Newspapers and periodicals, friends, foes and fellow citizens had all set before me the all important question, "Do you spell?" By night my wife whispered in her dreams of names and words which to my jealous ear brought indications of a "spell". By day my children teased away the last fond hope of quiet contentment till at last, after a tearful investigation of my pocket book, with my beloved companion beaming with smiles of fulfilled anticipation beside me, and our due proportion of the nation's future hope gamboling furtively before me, I hastened to the hall.
/ You could hardly call that spelling school a success. A success means when you try to do something and do it. In that great and true sense of the word, I repeat, the Shelburne Falls spelling school could hardly be called a success. Neither could you call it a failure. That means when you try to do something and break down. After a careful study of the dictionary, the only word I find fit to apply to the affair in question is a small one of 4 letters, which, to make more appropriate, I introduce by a good sized adjective, and call an "unmitigated sham"!
/ It had been publicly announced, and in private, that the first class was to consist of "ye men and women of 50 years old and upwards". The old boys who chose sides showed no regard to law or fun; breaking the law completely, did away with the fun, and those who came expressly to see the "old folks" spell, agreed that the "meetin' was rather pokey", and that a case of genuine smallpox would have been funny compared with it! But the part of the entertainment more especially deserving the name of sham was the second. It had been announced that "test words" were to be given for written spelling, to three scholars chosen from each of the "competing schools". The competing schools turned out to be only two, the high school and the grammar school taught by Miss Wilson.
/ Two of the three from the high school were in their graduating year. Against this mighty three an equal number of little girls not over 13 years of age found themselves unexpectedly and publicly arrayed. The latter children had come at the earnest solicitation of their teacher, expecting other children of similar age and standing would "compete" with them. The words "for the most part" were not in the speller used in the grammar schools. The majority of them were scientific words and those so uncommon that teachers of many years experience and good spelling ability have declared themselves unable to spell 4 of the recent 25 given. The high school lady who spelled the largest amount correctly, missed 8 out of the 25 pronounced. Whispered communication between the spellers was continued through the exercise and "deemed necessary". Doubtless it was.
/ How well one acquainted with the standing of our schools and scholars could consistently put out such a list of words to such a class, and in the name of "test words" is a mystery to many. None of "my" children took the prize. It seems strange. I was chosen in the first class. But as I am only 45 years old, I held to my love of consistency and kept my seat. The band music was the redeeming feature of the evening. At 10 o'clock I left the mournful scene; it was too harrowing for my tender feelings. My wife remarked that hereafter, when she wished for amusement, she should attend a moderate funeral. Ten times 15 cents gone! I am a sadder and a wiser man!
The spelling match and sugar and oyster party on Mayday eve. was a very pleasant and enjoyable occasion. Notwithstanding the threatening weather a fair company turned out and had a "sweet spell" up to the hour of returning, when the rain poured down through pitchy darkness and the "spell" was broken. However, we hear of no one that would exchange the pleasure of the evening for a lost friz or feather, or a whole box of Day and Martin [don't know - cigars? Candy?]. The first match in spelling (C.W. Severance, master) was by tally, resulting in the triumph of the side chosen by Miss Belle Newcomb. Then came the repast in that famous long hall, tabled the whole length and supplied with an abundance of hot oysters and warm maple syrup. This fare proved perfectly adapted to enliven and sweeten the speciality of the company, and lead to a few toasts and speeches.
/ The first called out David Mowry upon English orthography, which he pronounced "abominable". Said he knew but one good speller, who always spelled correctly, and that was Josh Billings. Another to the ladies called out Dr. Wheeler, who humourously alluded to his embarrassing situation between his wife and mother-in-law, and the "trials of his life" with the latter. H. Wilbur spoke in behalf of the P.H. A toast to the bachelors was responded to by George Davenport, Esq. of Brattleboro, whose grave wit always upsets the gravity of his hearers. He closed with some seriocomic advice to young ladies.
/ The last match was for spelling down, the sides being headed by D. Mowry and M.L. Williams. The story is a short one with a long sequel. A few rounds from "Saunder's Union Speller" left all quietly seated excepting a youth of about 70 pounds avoirdupois, whose head was now about level with his competitors as regards altitude, and a little more so in spelling. This was Eddie E. Pixley, a boy living with S.B. Buddington. He spelled on near half an hour all the crooked words the master could find, the latter calling for volunteers to help down him. The crowd gathered around like a wrestling ring, peeking over shoulders to see how he did it, while several searched the spelling book for "clinchers". He finally tripped upon a simple word of four letters, "teal", a web-footed fowl, which he had confused with "tell", a lime tree.
Another Spelling school under the auspices of the Ladies Sewing Circle of the Universalist Society came off on Tues. eve. Mrs. Carrie Chase won the first prize of $5 in gold, and Mrs. Adams the second prize of two dollars in greenbacks. Quite a number stumbled at the "threshold", while others sat down with "dispatch" and other plunged into an "abyss". Some few were troubled with "abscess", some with too much "caution", and some with "tranquility", while a "poultice" drew the spell all out of others, who, with their mourning friends, retired through the "kitchen".
Gazette & Courier - Monday, May 3, 1875
News about home: Greenfield items
The Green River Encampment of Odd Fellows postponed the anniversary of the 56th anniversary of Odd Fellowship from April 26th to last Fri. eve. Members of Pocomptuck Lodge no. 67, with their ladies, were the guests of the Encampment, and the whole company numbered about 100. Besides the usual social exercises, music, etc., and the fullest enjoyment of the abundant refreshments furnished, a spelling match was arranged, which was THE attraction of the evening. The sides were under the marshalship of Bros. H.O. Rockwood and Joel Wilson. Miss Mary Rankin, of the village Grammar School, put out the words, and the Wilson side came out victorious.
/ A spelling for prizes proved Bro. F.A. Dodge the best speller, while Bro. L.W. Rice came out second best. The prizes were beautiful bouquets. The entertainment was an exceedingly pleasant one to all present.
Gazette & Courier - Monday, May 3, 1875
News about home: Greenfield items
A Fitchburg merchant, years ago trader at Greenfield, has heard from an old Franklin County customer, whose wife seems to have once considered all over change as "perks". Enclosing "$2 and 50 cents" the convert to honest ways says: "My wife & I concluded to return the same when opportunity offered. I enquired after you in greenfield [sic] you Ware moved from ther. So my dear wife is departed this life, and I shant have that stain on her soul. So if you are the Identical Man that I address in this note, you please acknowledge the receipt of this & receit for the same".
Gazette & Courier - Monday, May 3, 1875
Turners Falls
The spelling match and festival at the Baptist Church on Tues. eve. was well attended. The prize, a picture book to the first person spelled down, was awarded to W.G. Whitmore, and the prize "Sketches in Holy Lands" to the one who spelled all others down, to Mrs. George W. Bennett. The receipts were about $50.
Gazette & Courier - Monday, May 3, 1875
Shelburne Falls
There was a spelling match and sugar eat at the Congregational vestry last Wed. eve. The gathering was a very pleasant one. Major Winn and Teacher Charles gave select readings. Rev. E.E. Lamb spelled down all competitors, and soon went down on "couplet".
"Little Montague" has decided to be represented among the spelling matches. One to take place next Wed. eve. May 5, at 7 1/2 o'clock at Town Hall. First class between the married and unmarried people; second class to be chosen by two ladies in the High School; third class open to all for the prizes. Refreshments in abundance. Come all and have a general good time.
Gazette & Courier - Monday, May 3, 1875
An old document
The following bill found among the Major Williams' papers may be of interest to the "rising generation". The rats have taken off the first name of the wig wearer, but it was probably Col. William's, one of the first settlers of Pittsfield, who had his headquarters in Deerfield much of the time during the last French and Indian War:"____Williams, Esq. to John Crosby, Jr. To new top to your brown wigg, 1; To 5 times shaving at that time, .10; To a fan for ye tale of your brigadeer wigg, .15; April 14, 1756, to a wigg for your lady, 9; to 20 times shaving, 2 = 15 pounds 5. Received the above menshoned contents in full of all accts. In full pr. one John Crosby, Jr. Can any one tell what a "Brigadeer wigg" was? Was it the one he wore at the head of the regiment? [A description and picture can be found of a Brigadier Wig at http://www.theweebsite.com/18cgarb/1750.html ].
Gazette & Courier - Monday, May 3, 1875
A New Hampshire editor
A New Hampshire editor, while traveling recently, had his wallet abstracted from his pocket by an adroit pickpocket, while indulging in a short nap. The thief was so disgusted with the result of his exploit that he returned the plunder by express to the address written inside the wallet, with the following note: "You miserabil skunk, hears your pockit book. I don't keep no sich. For a man dressed as well as you was to go round with a wallit with nuthin in it but a lot of noospapur, a ivory tooth comb, two noospaper stampts, an a pass from some ralerode director, is a contemterble impasition on the public. As I hear your an editor I return your trash. I never robs any only gentlemen".
Gazette & Courier - Monday, April 26, 1875
News about home: Greenfield items
The spelling mania has so affected the good people of Conway Street, that they got together at the house of Mrs. Simeon Phillips the other eve. and had a neighborhood 'spell'.
Gazette & Courier - Monday, April 26, 1875
News about home: Greenfield items
The Baptist Sociable was held Thurs. eve. at the house of Dennis W. Jones. Besides the usual exercises at such parties, there was a spelling match, and the occasion was made an exceedingly pleasant affair.
- Sat, Feb 7, 2009
