Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1867-07-19
HISTORY OF A NECKLACE


The National Quarterly gives us the fol-
lowing stirring history Of photographic
short hand:
The proceedings of the American Con
gress were very imperfectly reported before
the time of Mr. Joseph Gales, senior, the
father of the late Mr.. Gales of the National
LnteHt9cRccr. lie was the first who made
a report of Congressional debates which ap-
peared in the paper the next day. This was
considered a most astonishing feat at the
time. His son, Joseph Gales. was also
reporter, and one of the best, in his day,
that the country could boast. The first be-
came connected with the Ndtioaal hltelIi-
gencG as reporter in October, 1907; he was
then just twenty-One years old. He and the
present Mr.. Seaton afterward were the pro
prietors of the paper. They were both the
reporters and editors of the EateligenceJ--
one Of them devoted himself to the Senate,
and the other to the House of Representa-
tiyes. As q general thing, they published
only running reports-On special occasions,
however, the speeches and proceedings were
given entire. The peculiar talents of these
gentlemen were duly appreciated, and they
had seats of honor assigned them beside the
presiding officers. To these enterprising
and accomplished reporters we are indebted
for many of those splendid specimens of elo-
quence which adorn the political literature
Of our country. The speeches made by
Webster and Hayne, during their celebrated
Intellectual combat in the United States
Senate; were preserved from oblivion by
Mr.. Gales, whose notes, handsomely bound,
and enriched with Mr.. Webster s annota-
tlons, arc kept as precious memento in the
family library. The following anecdOte may,
f,arbar,c ha rool NTH into IN fhis
connection.
"The day Mr. Webster made his reply to
the attack of Mr. Hayne, of South Carolina,
Joseph Gales met him as he was going to
the Capitol, and inquired how long he in
tended to speak about half an hour"
was the reply. TIE editors duties at that
time were pressing, but he Yentured to take
so much time from them. Mr. Webster,
however, directly after, was Joined by yJudge
Story, who said that he thought the time
had come for Mr.. Webster to give the coun-
try his views on the Constitution. To this
proposition the Senator assented. Mr.. Gales
took up his pencil unaware of this new ar
rangement, and alike unconscious Of the
lapse Of time nnder the enchantment Of the
orator, he continued to write until the close
of the speech But when he came to look
at the notes, the magnitude of the task that
it would be to write them out appeared so
formidable, that he shrunk from it as an
impossibility Soon after, Mr. Webster
called on Mr.. Gales, and requested report
of his speech. II have the notes, said the
reporter, but shall never have time to
write them out" This led to some remOn-
STRANGE and persuasion, but the overworked
editor stood firm. At this juncture Mrs.
Gales came forward, and offered to under
take the task, saying that she could deci-
pher her husbands short hand, as she had
occasionally done So She had heard the
speech, and tho resiStlese svUoop Of It's argu-
ment, and the gorgeous magnifcence of its
imagery were yet vivid in her mind. In the
course of a week, Mr. Gales submitted to
Mr.. Webster the report of his speech in the
handwriting of his wife. Scarcely word
needed to be changed: and soon a set of
diamonds, costing a thousand dollars, accom-
panied the rich thanks of the eloquent
statesman. Thus was saved to literature
the most memorable Grafton Of the Ameri-
can Senate"