Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1888-01-13
A DOUBLE MIND.
An Expert stenogrspher Who Can Write
aad Speak simultaneously.


| aud Speak simultaneously.
"How long have you lived hereP"
| The lawyer was taking the deposi
ton of witness in his office In tn
Mills Building, New York. The pencil
of the stenographer was moving rapid,
over his paper leaving behind 1t I
string of pothooks and other absur'
symbols of speech.
You say that you have known thu
defendant for the past ten years? Now
| | want to ask you whether at any time
| during that period You ever noticed
| any symptom of insanity in his be
| haviorp" continued the lawyer.
At the instant the lawyer began his
query the stenographer turned to the
reporter, who was seated by his side AT
the table. and, without stopping his
writing for second, whispered: "Wait
moment and I'll be through. This
won't last much longer"
The reporter looked anxiously at the
notes, expecting to see the pencil stop
its travels, or at least at the end of the
questions, retrace its steps to revive
some phrases incorrectly transcribed.
But it made no such break. When the
lawyer ended his inquiry the pencil
stopped.
"Now, SIR" continued the lawyer.
you may tell me whether you were
well enough acquainted with the de-
fcndant to know whether he showed any
weakness Of mind or nOtPD
Before the stenographer had com.
pleted the second line of his report he
again whispered to the reporter not to
be in hurry, and, as before, concluded
his work without particle Of apparent
interruption. This was the last ques-
ton. and after the papers were gathered
together and the witness had left the
office. the reporter asked the steno-
grapher whether he had written cor
rectly all that was said verbatim or had
only epitomized what had been spoken.
II wrote exactly what was said. Why
do you ask?''
Can you read il without dfficultyp"
''Of course l can. otherwise l should
not be here; but why do you ask?'
II didn't see how you could write
down what was beng spoken and speak
to me upon another subject at the same
time"
THAT is easy enough to do" respond
ed the stenographer with laugh.
'when you only know how and prac-
tice long enough. Shorthand writing
is very much like playing the piano Or
repeating something from memory. 1t
is mechanical. found years ago when
/ was reporting in Western court, that
it was extremely useful to be able to
hear and think of other things trans
spring in the courtroom than the evil
dence itself | then began practising
so that could train myself to do two
separate things at the same time /
would mentally make note of every
thing occurring around me and keep
on with my writing. At first l would
make mistake or two, but gradually
| got so that could hear every thing
that was said and 1 understood it, too,
Notwithstanding the fact that my PEN
Gil was moving all the time"
II should think that when you began
to speak it would have thrown you of
your trackp"
ut did at first l learned that BY
committing to memory some poem and
repeating it while l was reporting, I'M
til at last | could carry on conversa-
ton on almost any subject and write
from dictation upon one entirely differ
ent. It's very useful accomplishment,
but wouldn't advise you to learn it
unless you intend to become profess
sional stenographer and / wouldn't adj
wise that unless you'll have nothing better
to do than to break stones in the street"
~ Y. Post.