Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1886-02-19
ABOUT SHORTHAND.
Information Concerning StenOgraphy
that Is often ed for.

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Inquiries, says the New York Trib-
une, like the following are often
made: Can you tell me what is the
best system of shorthand? Can it be
mastered without teacher and in
what timer Some people advertise to
teach in three months; can it be
learned in that tlme9 Is knowledge
of shorthand necessary to obtain a
situation as reporter on a newspaper?
How are stenographers paid2 By
answering these questions you will
greatly oblige," etc.
These questions have been sub
mitted to highly successful stenog-
rapher, who returns these answers to
them:
There are several systems widely
practiced here, and they are all much
alike. There are not few people.
however, who seem to spend most of
their time in trying to demonstrate
that one of the systems is vastly SUI
perior to all the rest; but that sort OF
talk is in the main nonsense, and the
student will do well to concern him
self little about it. Each of thetsys-
TENS has turned out first-class steno-
graphers. More depends on the man
than on the system. Generally the
practieed stenographer does not ad-
here closely to any one system, but
approprlates suggestions from them
all.
Shorthand can be learned by the
aid of text books without teacher,
though, of course, a pupil is likely to
make better progress with competent
instruction. If this can not be OBJ
tanned the student should endeavor to
make the acquaintance of some practi-
cal stenographer, who will give him
occasional hints and see that he keeps
on the right track. Most of the text,
books aboup d in too many refnements
and contractions, whereby a few
scratches may be made to represent
whole sentence much to the delight of
the novice. The only objection to
this sort of shorthand is that such
notes" are found to have half doz-
en- different meanings when cold"
and perhaps none of them the correct
one. Shorthand is a compromise be
tween speed and legibility. The be-
ginner is apt to pay teo exclusive at
tention to the former, and should be
warned not to bother with too many
contractions-
The length Of tine it will take lad
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 shorthand re-
quires above all things patience and
perseverance. A lad studying alone
will generally have to stick to it hard
for a 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 caa
teach shorthad thoroughly in three
months should not be believed.
A knowledge of shorthand is not
nee assary to obtain a situation on a
newspaper though other things being
equal, reporter who can write short
hand is better equipped for general
newspaper work than reporter who
can not. As matter of fact there are
not more than a dozen shorthand
writer's regularly employed on all the
great New York daiIles together. In
England a reporter must know short
hand. Most Of their work consists of
verbatim work. Here strictly YER
batim work is not often required ex-
cept for great meetings. The most
successful reporter is he who can best
present the interesting points of a
scene or speech in a readable, attrac-
tive shape. The American public does
not care much for mere verbiage-
Expert stenoeraphers who can take
testimoney In court often earn hand
some sums But such expertness is
attained only by years of practice
and great natural aptitude for the
work Halfway stenographes
are abundant in New York who are
glad to work for t15a week, often
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