THE HAMILTON ASSOCIATION. II7 



necessity and wisdom of proceeding to the ultimate stage of represen- 

 ing each elementary sound of the language by a distinct and un- 

 varying sign. 



The great Forth Bridge, constructed at the enormous outlay of 

 two million pounds, sterling, was built to expedite the journey from 

 Edinburgh northward. The St. Clair tunnel, planned by a gentle- 

 man of whom Hamiltonians are justly proud, cost many thousands 

 of dollars (how many I am not able to state). This tunnel was 

 built to facilitate communication between Ontario and Michigan — ■ 

 and yet there stands, and has stood for several centuries, an obstacle, 

 in comparison with which the difificulties experienced previous to the 

 completion of these wonderful engineering feats, were as nothing. 

 This stumbling-block hampers a school child in his battle for 

 knowledge, delays our youth entering higher schools of learning by 

 some two years, forces us to expend over twenty per cent, of time 

 and money more than is really necessary, is a source of no small 

 difficulty to ourselves, and of infinitely more to the foreigner who 

 desires to learn the English language. Unlike those barriers to 

 rapid travelling, which were natural, this is purely artificial, and 

 could be removed at a cost which would fall into comparative in- 

 significance when compared with the outlay of treasure in the Forth 

 and St. Clair enterprises. This barrier to education, progress, and 

 refinement, this enemy of economy of time and money, is our 

 illogical and inconsistent method of spelling. 



To reform our spelling, to reform all evils, to spread a know- 

 ledge of truth in all its departments, is the spirit of the age which 

 the poet echoes, when he sings : — 



" Let knowledge grow from more to more." 



The English language is a noble language, rich in perspicuity, 

 exactness and euphony, and were it not retarded by an archaic and 

 clumsy orthography would speedily take the place for which it is 

 pre-eminently fitted. What are we doing to place this wonderful 

 Saxon tongue, enriched by grafts from all languages of the world, 

 in a position to assert her right to universal sovereignty ? Why is it 

 so many prefer hobbling along with a defective alphabet and a far 

 more defective orthography ? Why so much inertia in a matter of 

 such far-reaching importance ? 



In conclusion I cannot refrain from adverting to Richard 



