The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1897-10-08

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Know Something Of the Case In Adj
vance-Grave Responsibilities That Ae-
company the Employment.
There are thousands Of shorthand writ
ers, but OF first class, gilt edged stenOgra
pliers who can go into seurt and report
trial with accuracy anNi thorough under
standing Of the situation the number will
not exceed a score. out OF these there is
one woman who Is thoroughly competent.
AS musician who aspires 10 be called
such should BE- able 10 read at sight and
play any music that may be set before
him, so the first class stenographer should
be and T. capable Of following literally
the speech OF the most rapid talker and
can read his notes afterward as easily as
he could read the letters on "a signbOard.
In court work there Is much that makes
the work partake OF technical nature.
The law terms, the peculiar phraseology Of
the courts, Is something which IL takes
years for men % familiarize themselves
with, and great many Of the lawyers are
men who pour out perfect torrent or
words in their arguments 10 the court or
jury.
The first thing that a stenographer must
do when he starts In 20 report case l. 10
get the theory OF both sides as 20 the case.
Often one stenographer Is engaged 70 take
the case for both sides, and he must famil-
iarizc himself with the case from the diff
ferent standpoints in order 20 report the
case intelligcntly. II is not merely manu-
al dexterity that Is required There must
be quickness Of apprehension % a marked
degree end an unwearying and keen at
tention paid 10 the case in all its details.
In taking down what goes on there is
considerable that should be omitted from
the proceedings, and this Is where the
stenographer' judgment comes into play.
The lawyers do not wish 20 have the record
numbered up with the little side remarks
Of witnesses or interpretations Of the court,
and yet they do not want anything omit
ted on which a possible objection could
hang
4 judge may make a remark which
does not have any particular significance
in a trial, and witness is apt 20 follow
up an answer by a subsequent qualiiica.
ton which may have much % do with the
matter in hand The wary stenographcr
and the good one separates the wheat from
the chaff, and what j. relevant and i'm |
portant he sets down. What j. immaterial |
he ignores. OF course In the evidence he |
takes the questions and answers literally. |
And in the taking Of the testimony he |
must always be on the alert. for here the |
lawyers may get into a dispute as 10 what |
witness said in regard 70 some other |
point in the testimony, and 10 may b. nee |
essary 20 go back several pages 10 find out |
the truth Of the matter. This the stcnog- /
rapher must be able 20 do without the /
slightest hesitation, remembering Just |
about in the testimony where the matter /
came up and reading the notes without \
the slightest hesitation OF inaccuracy. Per |
ceptiye faculties Of a high order are ncccs- !
sary 20 the success Of a stcnOgraphcr and !
an active brain and excellent memory.
Given the intellectual foundation 20 be- !
gin with, and 10 is possible for "a man 10 |
become a fairly good shorthand writer in ,
five or six years. Constant practice is nee !
essary 70 keep in trim iorcOurt work, and, \
in spite Of the fact that 20 much legal /
business il done. the demand for experts |
is always in excess of the supply.
The court stenOgraphcr' work is coupled !
with not only "a sense Of great responsible. |
ity, but a very high degree Of confidence I
is Of necessity placed in him by the men !
who employ his services. The appealing I
Of cases % the appellate and supreme !
courts, nccessitating the working over OF I
all the evidence and the arguments in the |
case, must depend, a. far a. the ground |
for argument and the true status Of the I
case Is concerned, on the stcnogaphic re-
ports. II j. one Of the professions where |
the hand and the brain combine 10 pro-
duce results, and the first class expert il |
more truly born than made
1t is one thing 10 be- able 20 write down |
the report of "a trial and quite another ,
thing 10 dictate correctly from the stcno- |
graphic notes 20 "a typewriter some men |
are only fair at reporting a trial, but get /
out excellent transcripts Of the evidence !
while others are chain lightning az the /
trial, but uncertain when they get back 10 ,
their offices and commence 10 make copy |
The case hardened expert will take "a trial, |
put away the report for six weeks and I
then take the shorthand books and reel off |
the contents without a break as fast as a
typcwTiting operative can drum il off on |
the machine
A great deal Of work is done at night by |
the shorthand men So much Of what is
taken down 40 a trial on one day j. needed
on the succeeding day that the lawyers
generally keep up with the evidence as 10 |
Is brought out, and this keeps the short
hand people on the move Work in the
courts is done ut "a high tension Of the
nerves and brain, and not an instant is
the stenOgrapher' mind permitted 20 in
dulgc in day dreams, for any form Of
mental wool gathering" would be fatal |
to faithful work Concentration is an in
dispcnsable requisite TO success.-Chicago |
Chronicle.
Monkeys That Wear Shawls