The American Dialect Society.

The study of dialect must always possess a peculiar interest to those interested in the development of spoken language. English, as spoken in America is not characterized by the strongly marked dialects which are observed in the speech of the people in the different parts of England, and yet, in the speech of Americans there exist differences, oftentimes as slight as the mere variation in the pronunciation of some words, which indicate the existence in a more or less advanced stage, of some development of distinct dialects in the spoken language of our country. The dialect stories which have been published in the magazines have done something to awaken an interest in the subject. A few men have given the subject careful consideration, and one or two, as Professor C. F. Smith, of Vanderbilt University, have put their observations into written form. The papers of Professor Smith, on "Southernisms" which appeared a few years ago in the publication of the "Transactions of the American Philological Association," are interesting contributions to the subject.

Some of the professors here at Harvard have long been interested in this subject, and last January a meeting was held to consider the expediency of adopting some method of systematic investigation of the dialects of the spoken English of the United States and Canada. So much enthusiasm was shown that a committee was appointed to prepare a plan of permanent organization. About a month ago this committee issued a circular calling a meeting on March 13 of those interested in the organization of a society.

At this meeting a permanent organization was effected and a constitution adopted. By this constitution the society will be known as the "American Dialcct Society." The officers will consist of a president, vice-president, secretary, treasurer, and editing committee of three, of whom the secretary shall be one; these officers together with three other members of the society shall constitute an executive committee, which shall control all expenditures; this committee shall also have authority to appoint secretaries for different parts of the country, who shall supervise the work of their districts, and shall constitute an Advisory Board. An annual meeting will be held in December for the presentation of reports from secretary and treasurer and election of officers. The following officers were elected for the first year: President, Prof. F. J. Child, of Harvard; vice-president, J. M. Hart, of Cincinnati, Ohio; secretary, Prof. E. C. Sheldon, of Harvard, treasurer, C. H. Grandgent, of Harvard; editing committee, secretary and Messrs. Sylvester Palmer of Charleston. S. C., and G. L. Kittredge, of Harvard; executive committee, all officers already named and Prof. B. J. Wheeler, of Cornell, C. F. Smith of Vanderbilt, and F. A. Allen, of Harvard.

The plan of work is to collect and publish from time to time material relating to dialects. This material will be collected by the executive committee working through its assistants located in different parts of the country. To accomplish this successfully the circular sent out by the committee says: "It is desired to interest a larger number of persons, so as to investigate the natural and unstudied speech of the people in many different localities. School teachers and clergymen in somewhat isolated communities. or students during their vacation, are in an especially favorable position to render valuable assistance to the work. The society will develop a field which has hitherto been un-worked and interesting and instructive results may be expected.