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Show PRONOUNCING MATCHES. A New ania Which Threatens to Sweep the Country. A new mania, which bids fair to have as great a run as the spelling matches of a few years ago, has appeared in some sections of the country and is gradually working its way in this direction. It is the "pronouncing matches." The contests con-tests are conducted somewhat like the spelling matches. Sides are chosen and referees appointed, who have before them copies of Webster and Worcester unabridged. una-bridged. A word pronounced by either authority is considered correct. The test words, which have previously been chosen, are spelled by some one selected for that purpose, and those entered . for the fray pronounce them or at least they try to. When any one fails he sits down, the word is pronounced correctly and another word is given out to the next person. When" any dispute arises it is immediately referred to the referees. If the word is not understood it may be written writ-ten down on a blackboard and the con-testants.may con-testants.may have it defined. At a recent match in an Ohio town some thirty-five contestants above the average skill and ability in this regard" were put down on a list of about 250 words, the most of them in every day use. Among the words which were missed were dismay, sacredotal, equable, presume, courtesy, harass, amateur, suffice, suf-fice, voluminous, infantile, oleomargarine, apotheosis, tonsolitis, brooch,. Arab, bravado, bra-vado, exhibit, piquant, wan, almond, condolence, comely, exemplary, youths, truths, effusive, blithe, etc. There are ' probably very few persons who can at- tend a contest of this nature without ob- 1 taining considerable valuable infprma-tion infprma-tion concerning their own language. . |