Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 22, Number 24, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 11 December 1900 — The Spelling School. [ARTICLE]

The Spelling School.

The spelling school entertainment, last evening, was a fair success, in spite of the unfavorable character, of the weather. The attendance was quite large. 1 At the first round, before recess, there were about 12 spellers on a side. The contest between the sides resulted in a victory for the east, commanded by J. F. Warren and Mrs. George E. Murray. That side making only 1 miss, while the west side, commanded by J. F. Major and Mrs. Ida Randle made four All then stood-up and spe’led down,and in this the west side had the better of the contest, as wheu the easterners were aIL down, two still stood unslaughtqred on the west -side.—They were Miss Clara Coen and E. G. Warren, both old time spellers and school-ma’ums, of great renown. Finally Mr. Warren tried, voluntarily, to improve on Miss Coen’s spelling of a word she had already spelled correctly, and he too went down, leaving her the winner of the contest. There were some valuable spellers in this contest. Judge Sellers, of Monticello, spelled with the cool, quiet exactness by which be states an argument in a law case. He died hard but finally went down, just before his close competitor, Judge Thompson, struck the benches. The Judgespelled loud, brisk and confident, like an old time champion speller, of a township, and when he finally went down on •‘colonnade” there was quite an

encore among the spectators Uncle Billy Pierce was one of the good spellers of this round, in spite of 80 years, and Prank Hershman, an ex-trustee of Walker Tp , was another good one. Mrs. J. F. Warren also staid up among the last. In the after recess contest the west side won, they making 7 mistakes to the east side 8. In the spell down that followed Mrs. Ora Ross, also a speller of great reputation, was the victor. Her closest competitor was Miss Clara Coen, who won on the previous contest. Judge Sellers did not remain at the after recess contest. Some of those who fell just outside the breast-works, on this last charge, were Rev. C. D. Royse, Ed Warren, Mr. and "Mrs. J. F. Warren, and Mr. and Mrs. C. W. Coen.

Mrs. Murray and Mrs. Randle reoeived the prizes, by La Rue Bros, and Ellis & Murray, to the captains of the winning teams, and Miss Coen and Mrs. Ross, those, offered by J. A. Larsh and A. F. Long, to the best spellers. The receipts of the evening were a little more than sls, which is conclusive evidence that the attendance was good, considering the weather.