Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1893-02-09
IN WOMAN'S BEHALF.
STENOGRAPHY.
A Calling In witch Girls May Find Profit
able Employment.

"brcad-winncrs" of the country is stem
ography and typewriting.
IL 1t is entered into and carried out
with a consciousness Of doing ones best
in the most thorough and businesslike
manner, IL becomes an absolute pleas
ure, rather than mere drudgery or hard
work, rs many claim IL to be. The
hardest part of the work is past when
one has mastered the art; then comes
the pleasure OF feeling secure in your
nbi'ity TO trauscribe neat, accurate
and businessike copy of your notes.
With what pride can we hand the man
uscript OF our notes to our employer
when we are sure 1t is well done, only
those who are at present earning their
living by hook and by crook" can APP
preciate.
Girls, you will find, II you would suc-
coed, you must study and work, work
and study incessantly 1t is the penalty
of success Do not, beg OF you, go
into 1t II your ability falls short Of the
requirements because you think II less
degrading and more ladylikc,' as |
have heard many give as reason for
taking up stenography and typcwriting.
All work is honorable II the object for
" hich we are working is honorable.
There are many ways for acquiring
this profession. You can go to II BUSH
ness college, where you can take up
any study-notably spelling-which is
Of the greatest help to you-in connec-
ton with stcnography and typewritinR.
For course OF six months-and |
would advise you TO take no shorter
timc--day session, It will cost you from
$40 to S65. This latter sum also in
| cludcs either, or both spelling and
writing, and almost any Of the branches
taught This is really the best and
cheapest way Of acquiring n business
| education, IL you do not already pos
sess one. IT, however, you are accus-
| toned to clerical work, or have had eX-
| pcrienccd in that line, there will really
| be no need of taking extra time to gain
an education for anything but that for
which you entered You must be
| good speller to succeed, and il you are
up to the average in that ncedful study
| do not waste time over IL, but give your
whole attention TO the stenography and
typewriting.
Your hours, in case you take day ses-
sion, are practically the same as If you
were again little maid in school,"
beginning at o o'clock in the morning,
lasting until II o'clock noon, beginning
again at half past and lasting until
4 in the afternoon; no school on Satur-
DAYS
| There are cheaper ways of learning
than taking II college course; it will
take longer, however, and you can use
your own discretion which would be the
cheapest in the long run.
In ease some girls are employed dur
ing the day and are contemplating talk.
ing n course In stenography and type
writing, but are still Obliged - :, No.
with their "'"orN, there is the mint
school, which is an auxiliary of most
business colleges Your tuition in the
ease would be SIS for six months. Sl5
for three months, The hours are from
toa o'clock. Good teachers are pro-
vlded in both cases, and In some in
stances regular reporters are employed
as teachers, from whom the greatest
good can be obtained.
In either plan stated, your books, of
which you will need but two, a hand
book aud reader, will cost you in the
neighborhood of g. 75 to g.
Another way OF procedure, IL the
funds arc not Forthcoming, is TO teach
ones self. This can be done to good
advantage II ones whole mind is put TO
the task.
Provide yourself with plenty of paper,
pencils, erasers, pens and ink. Get
paper that is not "stringy" but smooth,
l al Ito 10.
without "sputterlng" like the wick OF a
long-used, tired-out candle. The rules
in the book are easily followed, so there
is no difficulty in soon acquiring thor
ough knowledge OF shorthand at very
small expense. II you wish TO learn
| typewriting also, by yourself you will
have to put aside a small outlay (say
about e. or 50 per month"; and rent one;
u secondhand one will do.
Thore still remains one other way TO
do, which | mention last because IL has
the least TO commend it-learning by
mail. However, II has been done, and
] know n few personally who have be.
come competent stenographers in this
way 1t has its advantages, as one
learns to read correctly and rapidly all
one writes, as letters, written entirely
in shorthand, are exchanged between
pupil and teacher. which the former is
obliged TO read and copy correctly and
return. However, this is a slow and
tedious method OF getting along and
should really be taken as last resort.
At the colleges you will, as n rule,
not have as much time 10 devote 10
typewrlting as you would wish, or as
much as your teachers would like 10
give you, owing TO the great number OF
scholars enrolled. You will probably
be given half an hour each day In which
TO use the machine, but II you are per-
severing it will give you a knowledge
OF typewriting which further practice
will make perfect ! would say, II
your means allow, rent a machine, or
even buy one outright. The typewrit-
ing firms are very generous in the mat
ter OF terms, etc, allowing you TO pay
for one at a small outlay each month.
Your most serious difficulty in adopt
ing this profession will be your dsn-
elination to stick" to it, as il is hard 10
learn and during the first three months
exceedingly prosy and tedious More
thauonce you will almost wish you had
never started and will perhaps thinl,
seriously Of giving II up; but don't do IT.
Overcome this one difficulty and hall
the battle is won.
can give but very little advice as 10
mode Of study, as no two learn exactly
the same way, would simply soy, 60
about IL the very easiest way for you
only keep out all thoughts OF every
thing except the little "hoOks and