THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 1875.

Auckland Star, Issue 1729, 2 September 1875, Page 2

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 1875.

The Yankee who first conceived the idea of a "Spelling Bee" deserves a niche in the temple of fame. If success is tbe test of merit, his invention deserves most honorable mention, for the idea has proved as catching as the itch, and far pleasanter. Victoria, which is eminently susceptible to Yankee notions, has caught; and we believe

that no quarantine, nor that constitutional staidness and conservatism which are characteristic of the New Zealander, will keep it from our shores. We have frequently in our columns referred to this novel but most interesting diversion, and the question ari.es why should we not hare a " Spelling Bee ?" There is a speciality in this amusement that commends it above all others. It is a pastime, but it has a useful object apart from the amusement, which gives the sensation of being usefully employed while being heartily amused. Everybody enjoys the discomfiture of others, when that discomfiture is of a kind that brings neither loss nor suffering, We can hardly understand the charater of a man who would feel very greatly distressed at blundering in his spellling book, while there is a quaint boyishness in the competition that would make any man so blundering laugh at his own misfortune. For it will be acknowledged that very often the misspelling of words is no proof of deficiency in education, and the most learned and cultivated man is liable at any moment to forget the constituent elements of a word in a language, the orthography of which is so often utterly arbitrary and unreasonable. But there is just enough of humiliation in such a boyish blunder if publicly made, to give a zest to the competition. We are sure that an excellent class could be got together, consisting of wellknown people, who would be willing for the sake of some benevolent object—and there are many clamant ones—to run the risk of having a laugh raised at their expense, when others would be served with'the same sauce. We strongly commend a trial of the Yankee institution. Let us catch a lot of the lawyers and doctors and clergymen and other public men, and put gentle pressure on them ; and of all things lay hold of the editors who profess to know every thing, and to teach everybody, and put them on the platform, and take the pucker out of them. We believe multitudes would crowd to the City Hall and pay their shillings for admission • for it would be as pleasant as it was to the boys pelting frogs, and we believe plenty of frogs, and big bull frogs, too would consent to come for the fum If only male competitors appeared,and : probably for the first this would be preferable, we would recommend the original American system of announcing a mistake with a trombone emitting a howl of the most diabolical kind. But whether this accompaniment is or is not added,we feel confident that a "Spelling Bee" would take hugely. And we believe that though times are hard,and we are' a "rotten community," and Abolition is the cry, there is fun enough in Aukland left to get up a " Bee ;" and there will be pluck enough among our grave and reverend seniors to produce a band prepared to bear the ordeal. Will anybody move in this ? Who _ for a "Spelling Bee?"