The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-07-04

Bench.
From. the Detroit Tribune
Detroit has the proud distinction
of having had from the time
when law stenographers were first
known here" said Fred J. Irland, the
efficient and widely-known stenographer
of the Wayne circuit court, yesterday,
superior facilities for becoming proficient
in the business. Graham is generally ac-
knowledged to be the best teacher Of short
hand writing in the world, and mis- system is
the one universally used by professional
Michigan stenographers. Three of the best
known and most skillful of these shorthand
writers. Charles Flowers, j. B. Nichols, and
Herschel Whitaker, were personal students
of Graham himself. Two of these, Messrs
Flowers and Nichols, have gone into other
callings which are less exacting and more
profitable The excellence Of their work,
however, will long have an effect for good
on the Younger writers of Detroit. They
we're very particular regarding the clear
ness of their notes. using pen where most
others used pencil, and producing charac-
ters which were in a sense genuine works of
art.
"To show the difference between the ease
like Mr.. Flowers and the style of many
others, will tell you an incident When
Land Commissioner Edmunds was in trou-
BILE in 1872, and Impeachment proceedings
were in progress at Lansing, Walsh and
Hitchcock, Grand Rapids .siegographers,
were employed to report the proceedings.
The latter opened with a three days argu-
ment by John Shipman, then prominent
Coldwater attorney, who is now located at
inv oh friaI 70 ia CHI
that the senate lacked jurisdiction. Ship
man is a very rapid talker, and before he
had proceeded far into the second day the
Grand Rapids stenographers got badly
showed under, and sent for Mr.. Flowers to
help them out. When Flowers arrived it
was decided that the three stenographers
should divide the work up into Is minute
divisions, Hitchcock taking the helm for the
first spell. To fully appreciate the situation
YOU must understand that Hitchcock works
like man who is saving wood. He uses a
notebook about the size of an atlas of the
world, and spreads himself all over the
table while in motion. OF course, every
body in the building could see things trem-
BILE when he got fairly down to business.
Shipman watched Hitchcock with great
satisfaction as he reeled off his eloquence,
feeling positive that he was being handed
down to fame and posterity i'll notes that
were sprawling enough to be seen entirely
across the room. By and by Hitchcock left
the room, Flowers taking his turn at the
helm. AS far as an eyewitness could de-
termined Flowers was Not doing anything
in particular. He sat there by the table,
half buried behind pile OF law books, with
his left arm thrown carelessly over the back
of his chair, and, as far as anyone could de-
determine by casual glance, the other
resting quietly on the table in front of him.
The countenance Of Shipman fell down all
over his shirt collar He was putting in his
very best ticks, and was awfully afraid
that it would never get beyond the senate
chamber. At last he stopped.
''Mr. President" he said, 81 understood
that my argument was to be fully reported.
l have now reacoed what l deem the most
important portion, and, as far as can see,
there is no reporter in the room"
80 Il believe MIR. Flowers is here,' replied
the president, glancing toward that gentle
man.
"'But he isn't doing anything persisted
Mr.. Shipman, looking at the restful right
arm of Mr.. Flowers, which was gracefully
jotting down the disappointed remarks al
most without perceptible motion.
"'Will Mr.. Flowers please explainp asked
the president with a quiet smile, fully
abreast of the situation.
For answer Mr. Flowers calmly arose,
and, in that cold, stately voice OF his, fired
back at Shipman from his notes not only
every word of his argument during the
moments he had occupied the table, but the
conversation as well.
"'Well, that beats me- said Shipman,
when Flowers had concluded. Il thought
even shorthand writers had elbow joints
every early in my shorthand experience"
continued Mr.. 1rland, Il was fortunate
enough to stumble upon the secret OF max
ing a newspaper report of popular speech
in such manner that it could not fail to
please the parties most vitality Interested
including the speaker himself. In 1873
went to Jackson to report political speech
delivered bv Gen. Stewart Z. Woodford of
New York, for the Post and Tribune.
was then but IL years old, looked very
green and callow, and was In reality just as
green and callow as | looked. got the
speech all right, and after the meeting was
over Gen. Woodford accompanied me to the
Hibbard house, where proposed TO convert
my notes into long hand copy for the paper.
l noticed that he regarded my movements
with good deal of poorly concealed ankle
ty and my heart was well down toward my
boots in consequence, He was a great poll
tician, and was young and easily fright
ened When we reached the hotel his anx-
iety converted itself into words.
is this young man going to write out
my speechl he asked, turning to one of
the managers of the paper, who was of the
party.
HE is,' was the calm reply.
"'Tonightp
YES, tonight
"'Then l will sit up and help him out
was the great politicians positive reply lie
looks young and inexperienced, and am
very particular about the accuracy of my
speeches. Ildo not wish to take any chances.
by this time was pretty visibly wor-
ried," went on Mr.. Irland. 1T is one
thing to report speech, and quite another
to have the author and finisher of it sitting
across the table from you watching every
stroke Of your pen with murder in his eye.
We went off into room by ourselves,
where l would be altogether at his mercy,
and at it went. / had written but page
or two when an idea struck me which I'M
doubtedly saved my life. | have ever
since carried that idea about with me as a
life preserver, and it has never failed me
yet. About every fourth line | intersected
the words great and prolonged applause
'vociferous laughter and wild enthusiasm
After few pages had been written, dotted
all over with these cases of delight
! to the oratorical heart | was delighted to
notice that the stern countenance OF Gen.
,Woodford was gradually relaxing. The
look which seemed to yearn for my warm
4 young blood changed 60 one that meant re-
spect and admira ion.
You are doing remarkably well, young
man-remarkably WE'LL he said. How &C
curate you were in catching the applause