The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1893-07-19
SHORTHAND WRITING.
History of the Art From Its Earliest
Use.
Interesting Facts About It's Develop
ment and Practice in the
United States.


United States.
One Of the mos: interesting and valu
able works ever issued by the Commits
sioner Of Education, Department ofthe In
terror, Washington, ID. c., is entitled
shorthand instruction and Practice"
by Julius Ensign Rock well. 1t contains
a history of the art Of shorthand writing
from its earliest use, together with list
of all the shorthand societies in existence,
and plates showing the characters in each
OF the numerous systems, from 1902 to
lss2. From the first date up 10 1888, whom
Andrew J. Graham published his stand
ard Photography" there was a steady
Improvement in method. but since that
time the fifteen systems published have
shown no improvement on Grahan's.
Speaking Of the first real stenographic
alphabets ever issued, the writer says:
I'm 1902 John Willis, bachelor Of di-
VlnIty, published anonymously at Lon
don The Art OF Stenographie, Teaching
by PLANE and cerlaine Rules, TO the Ca
pacific of the meanest, and for the use of
all professions. The way of compendi-
Gus Writing This was the first system
having true stenOgraphic alphabet, and
lis author distinguished his method from
those OF his predecessors by calling it in
later editions issued under his own
name Spelling Characterize Willis
discarded the use of superhuous letters
represented by X or 5, the digraph IN
by t. by g or j, etc. In every word he
said, those letters are to be omitted which
are but lightly or not at all sounded.
whether they be vowels or consonauts.'
Thirteen or more editions of this system
were printed, a 'Schoolmaster' still fur
ther explaining it, also being several
times republished, and the 'Psalmes'
were engraved in this character Ed
mOnd Willis brought out in 1913 An
y circulation of writing by character in
which new signs were chosen for most of
the letters
The first organization of professional
shorthand writers in the nited States
was the Standard Photographic Re-
porters' Union, in 1866, at Syracuse, New
ork. One OF the charter members of
that organization now resides in Sacra-
mento.
Speaking of shorthand instruction Mr..
Rockwell says:
Shorthand has been disseminated in
the United States largely through the
efforts Of those who, believing it to be
worthy OF adoption on account Oft gem
eral usefulness, have taught it to others
without regard to compensation.
professional stenographers have at all
times been engaged more or less in Civ
ing instruction, either i'll their Offices or
in connection with educational institu-
tons, and hundreds of persons have thus
received practical lessons. The Christian
brothers and other orders have long been
noted for the thorough instruction in the
art impaired by them in Catholic schools.
Attention is particularly called to the
rnr1n Il 80,
give shorthand courses in connection
with other branches, and to the number
OF pubic schools, especially in evening
classes, which afford instruction in this
speciality. Inc art is now generally in
Guided III the curriculum OF studies en-
braced IN evening classes OF the Young
Mems Christian Associations.
Probably not more than one person
out OF hundred who take up the study
OF shorthand Is physically and mentally
qualified to make a verbatim reporter
The number of those wEo are able to fit
themselves as Office shorthand clerks is
however solely dependent upon quaIifica-
lions entirely apart from a KNOWLEDGE OF
swift writing. In other words anv in
telligent person with good general edu-
cation is capable Of learning enough of
the art to make successful business
ananuensis.
IN very few schools is there an estab-
lished standard for graduation, and even
III such as maintain a definite degree Of
proficiency TINS requirement varies
greatly. 1t will thus be seen that the
hgures given IN the column showing time
required Tor completion of course NAV
refer 10 variable standard of proficiency
or may simply mean that, within tie
time stated, some students have been able
TO secure employment as stenographic
clerks.
The growth of shorthand instruction
following its rapidly extended use, has
been perhaps the greatest educational
movement OF recent times. The business
men OF the United States so quickly and
50 generally awaited themselves Of the
Dement'S Of the art that there was not a
suncleht number OF properly qualified
amanuenses to meet the demand. This
condition of affairs OBVIOUSLY one of
snort duratlon) Is passing away and the
professor who had learned all he knew
OF shorthand in six weeks or less. but
who was benefited by the unprecedented
demand Tor stenographers, does not now
hnd 1t so easy 10 GecOy ignorant persons
INTO the study OF an art for w hich only
those naturally intelligent and having a
good Ehghsh education are fitted. even
IN the lowest grades of business amanu-
ensls. II must be confessed that the
shorthand teacher who keeps one lesson
ahead OF his class references to whom
ISOh 4tpGdLGUly pfluLeu. has not
hau MS only existence IN editorial fancy.
This indiscriIninate instruction has
brought upon shorthand writers gener-
ally, Tor 1t has tilIed many portions of our
country with so-calIed stenographers
having partial knowledge OF the art and
able TO move the carriage Of a typewriter,
but VINO are destitute OF many of the es-
sentlaI qualifications OF amanuenses. The
salaries regarded as satisfactory by these
three months graduates are. il Is trI1e
out little higher than those paid Office and
errand boys, but business men soon be-
come weary otrevising their workand cor
rectlng Their errors, and they are set
set adrllt to seek new victims of their in
competency. The Chicago Herdgf saws.
edItorlaIly: The country is overrun with
the plague OF inaccurate stenographers,
whose errors lead merchants into trouble
ana ehtangle courts in conflicting testi-
mony. Check must be put upon the
army fincompetents.'