The Daily bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Hawaii]) 1882-1895, 1886-04-12
MONDAY, APRIL ~, 1886.
The truth ABOUT SHORTHAND.

system of shorthand? Can it be
mastered without teacher, and in
what time? Some people advertise
to teach it in three months; can it
be learned in that timer Is know
ledge of shorthand necessary to
obtain situation as reporter on a
newspaper? How are stenographers
paid? BY answering these questions
you will greatly oblige," etc.
These questions have been sub
mitted to a highly successful steno-
grapher, who returns these answers
to them:
The systems most widely practlced
here are "Ben." Pitman's, Mum
sons, Isaac Pitman's and Grabam's.
They are all much alike, practically
they make use of the same
material. There are not few peo-
pie, however, who seem to spend
most of their time in trying 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 steno-
graphers who write other systems
less generally known. More de-
ponds on the man than on the system.
Generally the practiced stenographer
does not adhere closely to any one
system, but appropriates suggestions
from all.
Shorthand can be learned by the
aid of textbooks without teacher,
though, of course, a pupil is likely
TO make better progress with COM
petent instruction. If this cannot
be obtained the student should en-
deavor 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 refinements and con-
tractio ms, whereby few skratches
may be made to represent whole
sentence, much to the delight OF
the novice. The only practical OBJ
lection to this sort of shorthand is
that such "notes" are found to have
half a dozen different meanings
when "cold,". and perhaps none Of
them the correct one. Shorthand is
a compromise between speed and
legibibility. The beginner is apt to
pay too exclusive attention to the
former, and should therefore be
warned not to bother with too many
contractions.
The length of time it will take a
lad to teach himself shorthand de-
ponds, first, on the sort of lad he
is, and second, on the amount Of
time he can give to it. TO master
shorthand requires, above all things,
patience and perseverance. A lad
studying alone will generally have
to stick to it hard for couple Of
years before he can make it pay.
A few may be able to master it in
half the time.
People who advertise that they
can teach shorthand thoroughly in
three months should not be believed.
A knowledge of shorthand is not
necessary to obtain situation on a
newspaper, though, other things
being equal, a reporter who can
write shorthand is better equipped
for general newspaper work than a
reporter who cannot. AS matter
of fact, there are not more than a
dozen shorthand writer's regularly
employed on all the great New York
dailies together. In England a re-
porter must know shorthand. Most
of this work consists of verbatim
reporting. Here strictly verbatim
work is not often required excep
for great meetings. The most sue
cessful reporter is he who can bes
present the interesting points of
scene or speech in readable, at
tractive shape. The American pub
lie does not care much for mer'
verbiage.
Expert stenographers who taxi
testimony in court often earn hand
some sums. But such experiences il
attained only by years of practice
and great natural aptitude for thu
work. ''Halfway'' stenographer!
are abundant in New York who ar,
glad to work for SIS week, Otter
less. A stenographer who is com
petent to attend to the correspond
ence of railroad official or SOM
man of large affairs usually get
from 500 to $50 week. OF cours
if the stenographer is something
more than q mere machine man ant
can do other things well beside
writing shorthand, so much tn
better are his chances of making
good wages.
There is no mystery about short
hand. 1t does not require any I'm
usual amount of brains or any eX