Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-01-16

An Occupation in which There n Still
Room ON Top.

EXPERT STENOGRARAERS SCARCE.
Room ON Top.
THE RANKS OF AMANUENsEs AND MEcHANI-
CALLY sKrLFuL REPORTERS WE'LL yrILED-
MEN OF ABILITY WHOSE SPEECHES NEED COR
RECTIoE-A STORY OF GARFIELD.
"Isn't the market rather overstocked with
stenographers:r asked q STAR reporter of o well
known short hand writer Of twenty years. ex-
perience.
at is overstocked with amanuenses, badly
overstocked," said the stenographer, 'but not
with ffrst-class stenographers. Indeed Il il fire.
quently necessary to send to New York Or Phil
adelphia for the latter when there is an unusual
press OF work, that the every day short hand
writer is not competent to do. A good steno-
grapher ought to be able to write ono hundred
and fifty words a minute for half an hour
and read every word written. An expert
stenographer can write an average Of 176 words
minute but don't believe that any can write
22O words a minute tor ten consecutive min
muess g
can take testimony before q court and never
miss word, and stenographers who are able to
out in good shape, even better than 1t was
phrased In the dictation or delivery. The num-
Der Of the former class here i. very large, for
never get beyond that stage. They are micro
machines who take down on paper what is
Il a. Word a1 %
mouth, whether it makes sense or not. The
second class is composed OF machine writers
more rapid that the first, but still nothing but
machines. To belong to the third class it Is
necessary to have the mechanical accuracy of
an ability to apply it in the stenoeraphic work.
IL is OF such stun that expert stenographers are
Woni and they are a not AZ numerous as one
more than ten in the government service out
side the Senate aud House corps.
THE PRIVATE SECRETARY.
"a cabinet officer docs not retain young
man as his private secretary simply because he
can take dctation," said the stenographer.
must be able to grasp at once the idea Intended
to be conveye !, and If 1t is not clearly enough
shape; to speak culinarily, not only to cook the
meal, but to serve it well, with the proper sea.
soninss and dressings. You would think that
prominent man of ability, accustomed to die
tate for years, would express himself clearly
and logically, and that his sentences would be
we'll turned. 1t would surprise you to know how
eiten such a man not only makes q mistake,
but actually omits the main point he wants to
make, leaves out the ciinchius phrase or ex-
preston. The intelligent photographer will
make the corrections or supply the omission
without saying word. He must not only know
Should he submit the letter for signature just as
il was delivered, he would be considered q
blundering idiot, and would not long retain his
position.
CONGRESSIONAL REPORTERS
"Of course, the congressional reporters are on
the top round of the ladder of stenooranbic
fame :, no con,i,noa .Oth.r. ,,i,ht H., 49, -
$3.50 " O.Ae.s 'AASI' oe aoie W
40 as COCO q, work IL they had me practice but
nowhere else are SUCH opportunities offered for
praetiee IN rapid reporting combined with dis
eIess dressing. Ihere IS gooo zeal OF COM
p.a,n. oecauSe speecnes aIe nov Ieporteo IN the
!.ecy t as ueNVeIea, put ~ Ish circumstance
batim don;t refar 70 tic Snhs. ,tmtinn a. ~.
omission of whole sentences, but to the turning
OF sentences to convey the idea as intended. 1t
trtiquentis happens that palpable mis-
tice of both the snaater and his oudienne
In cold tyne. however they would no detectei
Inv the most Casual glance Tremepnher severoi
wears AGO that a certain member of CONGRESS
when snppl;ad with a proof Of his snaech hnnteS
up the Reporter who took a. and rave hin, tn
understand that he would allow no snch liner
ties taken with his speech. he wanted tn hc 70.
ported i'm the words he smoke tAil RIGHT ctr :,
meekIy rerlied the renorter II viii oi 70 vnn !.
copy OF your speech Inst ma Won delivered I, I;
He did So as soon as n0ssibie Int the CONGRESS
man after looking over n said. .Excnxe mo Snt
I think ri take the one Won f,,rnished me- with
first 'A' 'Ao wv" ''e WIZ"
THE DIFFERENCE.
Coneressi ma" once saio 10 me- continued
the speaker, Can you come up to my home to-
nighto want to dictate q speech