s_ and
_eleemosynary_ as coming from the same Greek word? Scholars say that a
complete phonetic spelling of English would actually restore to the eye
as much etymology as it took away.

But the most deep-seated opposition to changing our current spelling
arises from its association, almost identification, with English
literature. If this objection were valid it would be final, for
literature is the highest use of language, and if reformed spelling
means the loss of our literature we should be foolish to submit to it.
But at what point in the history of English literature would reformed
spelling begin to work harm? Hardly before Shakespeare, for the spelling
of Chaucer belongs to the grammatical stage of the language at which he
wrote, and Spenser's spelling is more or less an imitation of it made
with a literary purpose. Shakespeare and Milton, however, wrote
substantially modern English, and they are therefore at the mercy of the
spelling reformer--as they always have been. The truth is, Shakespeare's
writings have been respelt by every generation that has reprinted them,
and the modern spelling reformer would leave them at least as near to
Shakespeare's spelling as our current spelling is. The poet himself made
fun of his contemporaries who said _det_ instead of _debt_, but what
would he say of us who continue to write the word _debt_, though it has
not been so pronounced for three hundred years? In old editions (and how
fast editions grow old!) antiquated spelling is no objection, it is
rather an attraction; but new, popular editions of the classics will be
issued in contemporary spelling so long as the preservation of metre and
rhyme permit. We still occasionally turn to the first folio of
Shakespeare and to the original editions of Milton's poems to enjoy
their antique flavor, and, in the latter case, to commune not only with
a great poet, but also with a vigorous spelling reformer. Thus, whatever
changes come over our spelling, standard old editions will continue to
be prized and new editions to be in demand. But for the most part,
though we might not readily understand the actual speech of Shakespeare
and Milton, could we hear it, we like to treat them as contemporaries
and read their works in our everyday spelling.

Our libraries, under spelling reform, will become antiquated, but only a
little faster than they are now doing and always have done. Readers who
care for a book over ten years old are few in number