Morris tribune., 1890-09-03
YOUNG WOMEN COPYISTS.
SOAE SOUND ADVICE FOR ASPIR-
ANTS IN THAT LINE.

soNE SOUND ADVICE FOR ASPIR-
ANTS IN THAT LINE.
Accuracy Is More Essential Than Speed.
Reasons why Many Lose Their Places.
The Good Results of a Little Thinking
While Working.
1t may be interesting to the hundreds
of young and middle aged women who
are uneasy, or who feel that they must
make their way In the world, and who
look upon the life of a copyist as the most
desirable and attractive one-in fact, as
the ideal life-to hear from few copy
lists, both inexperienced and experienced.
So many have recently come to me for
advice that I have concluded that it may
be wise to publish in your paper state
ment, showing the copyist's life to be
| one not filled with continual sunshine
| and prosperity. / do not like to dis
| courage, but it seems to me that women
| should understand before entering this
| profession-where skill, knowledge, art,
exactness, perseverance and close appli-
| cation and faithfulness are required to
make one successful copyist-what ca
pabilities are demanded at the present
time. A slipshod copyist does not stand
the least shadow of a chance; should she
be fortunate enough to fall into posi-
ton she will soon be dismissed.
Before preparing ones self to be a ste
nographer, typewriter or pen copyist one
should consider well her fitness for such
work. To play over the keys of type
cient; one must think. A very rapid
copyist is not satisfactory if she sacrifices
neatness and accuracy to speed. If both
can be combined, success is sure to fol-
| low.
"Why, I can easily write ninety words
a minute" one bright eyed copyist said
when dropped into her employers Of
| fee, where confusion refgned supreme.
'Let me see your work, please, said
I. And out came lively looking sheet
of legal cap. looked, said nothing for
a moment, then concluded it was my
duty to enlighten the self satisfied fe-
male.
"Pretty fast work, to be sure" said L;
''but don't you have any style in the ar
rangement of your work."
"Well, no, guess not. I take it as it
comes. I must write fast, you know, and
can't stop to plan"
"How about spelling, my friend?' con-
tinued I, eager to draw her out that I
might have an opportunity to suggest
and help her.
"Well," she replied, 'I am not much
at spelling, but if word is misspelled
they draw line through and write the
correction above"
''But," said I, "did you ever consider
how page-say a lawyers brief, which
is to be filed in court, and which is to be
read by some judge and preserved for
future use and reference-would look
thus marred? have had an opportunity
to examine the work Of many copyists," "
continued, "particularly work which
has been prepared for the courts, and
which has been brought to me to recopy,
as it was SO poorly done, and have
been amazed at the seeming lack OF
knowledge or carelessness, and may say
| pride, shown by the copyist."
"Just let me sit down at your machine
and show you page which I will do. If
I write fast very good, but let me say
that to be accurate is the first point I
shall try to keep in mind. Arrangement
is also important, and ones pages should
at once strike the eye as artistic and
carefully prepared. Not word must
be misspelled. There, in goes a fresh
sheet. Now, time me. My heading
| first. Then we leave suitable space, say
an inch, and continue our work. We
will not lift the carriage every minute to
see blunders; we will be pretty sure to
have the matter correctly in mind before
we start, then go ahead. This lawyer
doesn't paragraph written in hurry,
undoubtedly. Well, we must think a
little and do this for him. Lawyers, as
well as others, leave much for copyists
| to do; 30 one must have sufficient knowl-
| edge to make the document correct
one. When say correct, mean in the
matters referred to. We are not at lib
erty to change the original wording. AS
before stated, accuracy is imperative;
but we must paragraph and begin new
sentence with capital. When dash
is used in the original paper to represent
period, we are justified in using a
period. I have never had any fault
found when have done this. Here is
an expression which is evidently intend
ed to be emphasized, and this idea we
can convey best by spacing between let
ters. Twill do this and see how the idea
|
have left just neat space at the bottom
of our page. Out it comes. How much
time? Well, only three minutes longer
than you were; besides, we have done
some talking. How does the page look
to yo1, my friend?'
J s.Whyl How could you do it so well?''
she asked, looking quite dazed.
"By thinking" I replied. "Were you
instructed in typewriting copying before
entering the officer I asked.
"Oh, no! picked it up"
"Been here longY
"No, just came. A busy place, you
see. Gentlemen are out much of the
time and am left to manage. I get $S
| a week, and, IL satisfactory, am to have
more another month. Copyist who was
here before me left for better position.
| The office boy tells me she did splendid
work. Was trusted with everything,
and was real lady. She fgets big pay
| now. Hope shall sometime; but as
have a good home I am only working
for pin money and can afford to work
cheap"
"You will certainly get good pay for
good work; poor copyists, though cheap,
are not going to take the places of ear
nest, capable ones any longer" I replied,
and bade her good morning.
LATER.--"Lost your position, my
friend" inquired, as we met on the
steps of one of our public buildings;
sstell me about It,"
"Those men," she replied, shave no
! natience: expect me to know Ii all.