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 writers whose literary reputations wer won on other grounds than sound scolarship in English.

The Simplified Spelling Board believs that changes based on a thoro knowledge of the history of English spelling, formulated by filologic experts, put forth by a society composed of leading scolars, lexicografers, educators, men of letters, and men of affairs, and made the subject of an organized propaganda, wil win recognition and acceptance much more rapidly than sporadic and haphazard changes left to take their chances in appealing to popular fancy.

Practical Considerations

Moreover, as a body of practical men with vision—not visionaries—the Simplified Spelling Board at its inception recognized that it stood face to face with a very general spirit of opposition to any change in English spelling.

This opposition exrest itself in many ways, but was itself an expression of the inborn conservatism that is one of the strongest caracteristics of the English-speaking peoples, and one of their best caracteristics when based on logical deductions from past experience. Unfortunately, the opposition to spelling-reform, while based on misinformation, or no information, and on bad habits slowly acquired and firmly fixt, was not the les powerful on that account.

The Thin Edge of the Wedge

The Board, accordingly, early percievd that no real progress could be made until this opposition should be penetrated and disintegrated by spreding correct information in regard to English spelling, and by appealing to the enlightend judgment, the hatred of sham