The Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1885-1886, 1886-07-09
Editors receive many inquiries like the fol-

Editors receive many inquiries like the fol
lowing:
Can you tell me what is the best system of
shorthandf Can it be mastered without a
teacher, and in what timel Some people ad-
yertise to teach it in three months; can it be
learned in that time? Is a knowledge of
shorthand necessary to obtain a situation az
a reporter on a newspaper! How are stem
ographers paid? By answering these ques-
tions you will greatly oblige," etc.
These questions have been submitted to a
highly successful stenographer, who returns
these answers to them:
The systems most widely practiced here are
"Ben." Pitmans, Munson's, Isaac Pitman's
and Grahams They are all much alike;
practically they all make use Of the same ma
terial There are not few people, however,
who seem 10 spend most of their time in try
ing to demonstrate that any one of the above
systems is vastly superior to all the rest; but
that sort of talk is in the main nonsense and
the student will do well to concern himself
little about it. Each of these systems has
turned out first class stenographers, and there
are equally good stenographers who write
other systems less generally known More
depends ON the man than OH the system.
Generally the practiced stenographer does
not adhere closely TO any one system, but APP
propriates suggestions from ALL
LEARNING SHORTHAND WITHOUT A TEACHER
Shorthand can be learned ty the aid of
textbooks without a teacher, though, of
course a pupil is likely to make better progress
with competent instruction. If this cannot
I've obtained the student should eIdeavor To
make the acquaintance of some practical
stenographer, who will give him occasional
hints and see that he keeps on the right track
Most Of the textbooks abound in too many
reiinements and contractions. whereby few
scratches may be made to represent a whole
sentence, much to the delight of the novice
The only practical objection TO this sort of
shorthand is that such NOTES" are found to
have dozen different meanings when cold
and perhaps none of them the correct one
Shorthand Is a compromise between speed
and legibility The beginner is apt to pay
too exclusive attention to the former and
should therelorebe warned not TO bother with
too many contractions.
The length of time it will take led to
teach himself shorthand depends first, On the
sort Of lad he is. and second. on the amount
of time he can give to it. To master short
hand requires above all things patience and
perseverance. A lad studying alone viii
generally have to stick 10 If hard for couple
OF years before he can make it pay. A few
may I've ahto TO master il in half the time
People who advertise that they can teach
Shorthand thoroughly i'll three months should
not TIE believed
FOR GENERAL NEwSP APER WORK
a knowledge Of shorthand is net Necessary
to Obtain a situation on IA newspaper, though,
other things leing equal, a reporter who can
write Shorthand is better equipped for gen.
eral newspaper work than reporter who can
uoi. As a matter If fact there a,'e not more
than dozen shorthand writers regulaIlv EN-
r,lavti on all the great New York tislli,s to
r,tier In England a reporter must know
shorthand Most of tins work consists of veI.
hatim reporting Here strictly verbatim
work is not often required except for great
meetings. The most successful reporter Is 1t
who can best present the interesting points Of
a scene OF speech III readable, attractive
shal@. The American public does MT care
much for mere verbiage.
ExpeTt stenographers who can take teSti
mony in court often earn handsome sums
But such cxpartneSs is attained only by yea Is
of practice and great natural aptitude for til.
work, Half way stenographers are album
daut in New York who are glad 10 work fcl
| So a week often hess, 4 st.nographer who
| is competent to attend to the correspondence
of a railroad OFF, ial or some man OF large af
fairs usually gets from Sso 10 $50 week
| of course If the stenographer is something
| more than 4 ulere machine man and can do
| other things well besides writing shorthand
| So much the better are his chances Of making
| good wages
| There Is no mystery about shorthand. II
| does not require any unusual amount OF
| brains or any extraordinary powers of mem
| CRY to acquire it, But it does require to b,
stuck to persistently There is no recreation
in learning it II only half known it il
! trcachernus and verse than useless. Nobody
should take it up unless prepared to makt
| great sacrifices Of time and patience-New
| York Tribune