New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1889-07-24
SYSTEMS OF SHORTHAND.
A Discriminating Review OF tho More Popular
Methods of Brief Writing,

Methods of Brief Writing.
PROF. ELDON MORAN, ST. LOUIS, MO.
Persons not informed think there
are scores OF systems OF shorthand
in common use-about as many diff
ferent systems as reporters, some
suppose. This is a great mistake.
In Germany there are but two in
common use; only about three in
France, and in America not more
than half dozen worthy of notice
There are, of course, more than six
authors perhaps two dozen. They
are teachers, not inventors A great
majority of them advocate the Pit
man system. We hear of the sys-
TENS Of Longley, Munson, Burnz,
Scott-BroWne, Graham and others.
They are all Pitman, however, and
the distinction in name is made for
convenience mainly. These writer's
differ in detail, and that is about all.
1t would not be seriously claimed
that they were the originators of
the system they present
A few characteristic differences be-
tween the various authors may be of
interest.
Graham is the shortest but the
hardest to learn. He has more bre-
witty than is needed, and his system is
too difficult for most people. It is
quite perfect in what may be termed
the mathematical sense; but there are
so many fine turns and delicately
contrived characters in his reporting
sytlc, that persons only who are
hard students and possess consider
able artistic ability are capable of
making success of it.
Munson, of New York, is a clear and
popular author.
Scott-Browne, editor ofthe Report
ers' Journal, is an old teacher and
an acute writer on the theory and
practice of shorthand.
Longley, of california, sticks pretty
close to the Pitman, and his books
are clearly written, and unusually
we'll suited to the purpose OF instruc-
ton.
Watson, of Maryland, has produc-
ed an exceptional book, both in re-
gard to the originality of it's princi-
pies, and the novelty of it's teaching
Lindsey, author OF Takigraphy,
transforms the system completely,
making use of the old Pitnan mat
erial in constructing what is known
as the connective vowelsystem. His
corresponding style is easy to read
and quickly learned, but being too
slow for reporting purposes, is not
popular.
Cross, of Chicago, author of 'eEclec-
tic Shorthand" presents an entirely
original system, of which one main
feature is that it is not phonetic, but,
is what may be termed orthograph-
ical, following the old spelling. to a
large extent. His alphabet is; deriv-
ed, not from the circle, like the Pit
man, but from the ellipse, after the
manner of the German systems. His
method is quickly learned, but the
notes are not easy to read.
PERRIN, of Detroit, has translated
and adapted the French light-line.
system of Duploye. Connective vow
els are used and consonant position
discarded. This system is legible.
but not exceedingly rapid.
A. few other authors, each popular.
III his own sphere, and more or less
Snown to fame, are the following:
0sgoodby, of Rochester,; Haven and
Humphrey, of Philadelphia; Howard
and Palmer, OF Cincinnati; Bishop, of
New York; Allen, of Boston; Barnes
and Rogers, Of St. Louis; Kimball of
Chicago; Marsh, of San Francisco;
Norris of Massachusetts,; Thornton,
Of Buffalo; Scovil, of New York; Day,
Of Cleveland; Hall, of Milwaukee and;
others.
ISAAC Pitman, inventor of phono-
graphy, the most popular Of all short
hands systems, began publishing half
a century ago. Within this time
the sale of his principal
instruction books may be
roughly estimated as follows. The
Reporters Companions, about one
hundred and forty-hve thousand cop
les; the Manual four hundred and
seventy five thousand; the Teacher"
nearly one and quarter million. He
also published a dictionary, a phrase
book, and various lesser works. His
weekly Journal numbers 10000 sub
scribers. This, however, does, con
vey an adequate idea Of the extent
to which the system of which he is
the chief originator has spread
abroad. Various teachers and an
thors, embracing Mr.. Pibman's own
brothers and sons, have. published
books, many of which have met with,
a large sale. The manual Of Bean.
Pitman, the chief American asl-
thor, has sold Go the extent OF about
40O,O0Ocopies. The Pitman SYSTEM,
as a whole, ia its present state of
perfection, is a growth the resulb of
almost countless eXpefimentS made