Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1876-09-28

readers the fact that to Vermont the
world is indebted for Phonetic Short
hand. This fact might perhaps have
slumbered on for all time had it not been
for its resurrection as follows: some
months ago Prof. DR., zeibig, of Dresden,
Saxony, inquiredofthe editorof Bressns's
photographic Monthly, N. " Ga.
sprighty, spicy periodical, devoted to
the interest of the craft, if he could
procure copy Of a work on short hand
by Rev. Phinehas Bailey, of Chelsea,
Vt. Mr.. Brown communicated the de-
sire to Mr.. S. G. Rodgers, of Troy, N.
Y, official reporter of Rutland and
Bennington counties, who advertised In
the HERALD for the work, and was re-
warded by an early reply from Mrs. +.
L. Hopkins, of East Berkshire, VI,
who kindly donated the three editions
of her fathers work to the New ork
publisher, as well as two editions OF
her brothers. (Keyes A, Bsiley) WORK
on the same subject. 1t has always
been taken for granted that Isaac PAt-.
man, of Bath. Eng, was the inventor OF o.
Phonetic short hand, but as Mr. Bal
ley's work was published in Poultney,
VT, in 1919, and preceded Pitman
eighteen years, it is probably the .tsrsc
system ever based on Phonetics, that
is enc sound for e0esy letter, and one tet-
ter far eoe7y sound As Mr.. Brown
says: .'No consonant clement, no the
shades of vowel sounds, have been DIG
covered and presented to the public,
that Mr.. B. had not discovered and pre-
scented in his little book ffty-seven years
ago, way up among the Green Noun
tains of old Vermont, where the air and
water are pure, and where untrarnmeled
nature dispenses with bountiful hand IN
spirational benefits. s.ss !.
1t may be that Pftmar never heard
nor knew of BaileY's system, and. both
men may deserve equal credit, but it is
considerable for our people to be proud
of, that in the practical application OF
Phenetics to the stenographic represen-
tation of our language, Young America
was ahead of old England IS years.
The people of New England, especially
Vermont, may feel just pride in this.
Mr.. Bailey's works will be reviewed IN
the PaaastenographikOqa, published IN
Dresden, Saxony. Reyes A. Bailey de.
vised his phonotypic alphabet 50 years
ago, and it is, taken as whole, the
most philosophical and complete of any
thing of the kind yet put. before the pub
lie, showing depth of research, pro.
fundity of knowledge, critical acumeI
and inventive genius, both pleasing ano
surprising. The International Spelling
Reform convention, to meet two years
hence, should secure Mr.. Bailey's mem
bership and aid without delay.
To particulariz3 little as to oui
photographic author we would say, IL
brief, that Rev. Mr.. Bailey was born in
New Hampshire, in 1887 left an orphan
at four; at fourteen he commenced q
seven years apprenticeship at watch
and clock making, at the end of which
time he settled in Chelsea, VT, and with
a partner pursued his trade. After
little he became an itinerant jeweler
and latter became constrained to preach
the gospel, and entered, for a season,
| Middlebury College. While there he
came across a little pamphlet on steno
| graphy, which suggested to him new
road in an unknown region. The sys'
| TEN was full of inconsistencies and am
biguities, and its author had not hit
upon the fundamental Iprinciples which
Mr.. Bailey finally discovered Unrenit-
| tingly he worked until he wrought out
new system, combining with stenogra-
ply (short writing the science of phon-
| ography (sound writing) upon aa entire
ly original plan. He then began teach
ing the then unheard of science, meet,
ing with great success, and it may be
| that some of our readers may have been
| pupils of his If so we should be glad
to hear from them. BY this means he
acquired sufficient to enable him to pur-
sue his theological studies, and in few
years, together with several Andover,
Mass, students, Mr.. B. was examined
and licensed to preach by the Orange
| Ass6 citation convened at Thettord, VT,
and spent the remainder of his minister
ial days in The States Of Vermont and
New York. In conclusion we may
truthfully and proudly claim Phinehas
Bailey as the originator Of phonetic st0r'
| hand aoritin0 .-s.- ii