Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-07-04


regard in which he is held by US, and
Justify the enthusiasm evoked by his
late presence among us. q. p.
SHORTHAND NOTES.
The ray of stenOgrnphic Amanren-
ses-Their weIi-EstabiIshed
Association.
New York Mail and Express
"Women are supplanting men to 4
considerable degree as 'amanuenses. as
they work about as well and for far less
pay, although there are, Of course,
many firms and individuals that prefer
men," said a SHORTHAND writer the
other day. Official, court, and most
newspaper shorthand work is still mo-
nopolized by men. AS rule short
hand writers are above the average
in intelligence and are trustworthy.
The essential qualifications Of
successful stenographers are unu-
susl powers OF concentration, q tho
rough education and keen sense Of
honor as we'll as a discreet tongue, since
they necessarily know much Of the pri-
vate affairs and many secrets of their
employers. The young lady amanu-
ensis is an interesting creature, par
ticularly when pretty, as most OF the
young lady amanuenses seem to be.
Like her sister, the young lady tele-
graph operator, she is noticeable for
her quiet demeanor, and yet she looks
and is sail for business" The az
gressive air Of independence that is ono
of the distinguishing characteristics OF
the American girl is especially promi-
nent in the young lady stenographer as
she sits hammering at her typewriter,
proudly conscious that she is Earning
her own living" as she puts it.
The pay Of an amanuensis ranges
from few dollars to $50 or more =
week. The latter salary is, however,
exceptional. Fifteen dollars a week is
considered fair pay for the average
amanuensis. Men as a rule get more
than women. Twenty-Five dollars a
week is quite common salary in New
York, when employers have steno-
graphers sufficiently competent to need
no attention after dictation. Each court
in New York has an official steno-
grapher, who is paid $4,000 year,
which amount he usually doubles by
making special reports and transcripts
for interested parties. Mr.. James E.
Munson, Of the Superior Court, earns
about $4,000 per annum from his court
work, prescriptions, and the sale of
his books. Mr.. Munson, by the way,
takes life very easy. lie scarcely ever
makes his own transcripts, but has a
competent corps of assistants, who can
read his notes readily. Thus he re-
ported the Beecher trial alone for
New York paper.
Outside Of official positions law re-
porting is the most lucrative branch
Of the shorthand profession, and
there is more Of this sort OF work
done than is commonly supposed.
The /" heightened" lawyers frequently
desire special reports of cases made out
for themselves, and will give big pay
for fine work. Some law reporters in
New York make as high as $4,000 and
$1,000 year, and few of them are
women, too. These are the persons
who work for themselves. The deluded
victims who are employed by the
"stenographic bureaus" at stated SAL
aries to do whatever business the bu-
reau has on hand do as hard work as
their more Independent brother, but the
bureau reaps the profits Of their labor.
These bureaus are, Of course, great
convenience to the public, since one has
but to inform the manager Of one of
them, what case or what work he wants
done and at the stated hour o neatl
printed typewriter copy is placed in
his hands. But they are decidedly
rough on their employees, who are I'M
deIpaid and overworked.
Shorthand is as sold as the hills"
and has been practiced since the earliest
times Of which there is trace. 1t can
be written in any language with equal
facility--that is photography, which is
the only shorthand Of any account If
these days. There are several German
shorthand organizations in New York.
There is but one English society in the
eligible Metropolitan Stenographers'
Association, which has admirable quar-.
tiers in the Manhattan Cafe, on Second
avenue, where the members meet to en-
Joy social intercourse and to practice
"speed." This Association has regu-
larly-elected officers, who work for
"the cause" for glory alone, receiving
no pay, is conducted on sound business
principles, and is on a firmly-established
basis at the present writing. II was
started last October, and now there are
about 100 names on the roll. The dues
are but 81 per month, and IS yet no
initiation-fee is charged.
All modern shorthand is founded on
Isaac Pitman's system, which has still,
probably, the largest following. Isaac
Pitman's brother "Benn,n Munson,
Lepgley, Graham, and Cross have pub
lished systems similar to one another
in the main principles laid down, but
differing greatly in details. They all
have many disciples, who naturally
claim the superiority Of their own spe-
cial system, but any one Of them learned
thoroughly will yield & good living,
which is the main desidsratum. One
Of the cardinal tenets Of the Metropoli-
tan Association is that no petty bicker.
ing as to which is the " best" shall 5e
allowed. Ali honest, competent ste
nographers who pay their dollar per
month are welcome to join it, regardless
Of system"