Pullman Herald

WHITMAN COUNTY GIRL
MADE GOOD SHOWING

Miss Babinski of Colton Was One of Seven Highest Contestants in State Spelling Contest

Olympia, March 5.—Defeating thirty-three other contestants, Miss Ruth Lindsey, 13 years old, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. C. M. Lindsey of Blaine, who represented Whatcom county in the contest, today won the state-wide spelling match and was awarded the diamond medal emblematic of the honor, offered by Representative J. W. Summers, of Walla Walla, who, with Mrs. Josephine C. Preston, superintendent of public instruction, was instrumental in arranging for the state-wide meet.

Second place was won by Miss Mary Carson, 13 years of age, of Mabton, representing Yakima county. She was awarded a gold medal of honor. She stood up with the winner and competed for first place when the other thirty-two contestants had been eliminated, and when she faltered on the word "pewter" and misspelled it "peuter," the honor of receiving the diamond medal went to Ruth Lindsey, the tiny entrant from Whatcom county. The first place winner was an eighth grade student, while the second-prize winner is a student of the seventh grade.

The spelling contest proved a big success from every standpoint. Owing to press of legislative business it could not be held in the house chamber as was originally planned, but was held in the Methodist Episcopal church. Ferry, Skamania and Wahkiakum counties were the only counties failing to send representatives, leaving thirty-six contestants. Two of these, Eunice McAlpine, of Benton county, and Eulah Ledgerwood, of Garfield county, did not come to Olympia owing to sickness, leaving thirty-four contestants, of whom twenty-three were girls and eleven boys.

A written test consisting of 25 words was first given, the words being pronounced by Mrs. Blanch A. Nagel, of the office of superintendent of public instruction.

An oral test followed, each contestant being given 25 words. At the close of this test Mrs. Preston, who presided, announced the seven highest contestants, or those who had not missed a written or oral word. These seven included Kenneth Furgeson, of Lincoln county; Hugh B. White, of Pierce county; Elizabeth Culman, of Snohomish county; Arlie Cruger, of Stevens county; Ruth Lindsey, of Whatcom county; Amelia Babinski, of Whitman county, and Mary Carson, of Yakima county.

A volley of difficult words was fired at these contestants by Mrs. Nagel. The first one to be eliminated was the Snohomish county entrant, who misspelled silica. The Whitman county girl went down on the word acetylene and Kenneth Ferguson took his seat on the word mineralogy, which left but four contestants.

On the word ubiquity Arlie Cruger, of Stevens, met her defeat, while Hugh B. White, the lone boy contestant, who had won the plaudits of the audience by his brilliant work, fumbled the word incompatible and was eliminated. Mary Carson lost her chance for first place by misspelling pewter, which left Ruth Lindsey the winner, not having missed a word during the afternoon session.

Gov. Lister was present and said a word of welcome to the spellers. The judges were Arthur T. Wilson, assistant superintendent of public instruction; Mrs. Sadie Dickinson, deputy superintendent, and Mrs. Frieda Iffland.

At the close of the contest Representative Summers presented the medals to the winners. The people in the audience were challenged by Representative Summers to compete with the two winners, and the challenge was not taken up.