The age-herald., 1902-01-24

l notice that 8 corporation lawyer Of Birmingham is quoted as saying that the majority of stenographers lack an Eng fish education To quote him in part:
 T don't expect stenographers to be versed in the history of metaphysics. am not surprised if they are ignorant about the philosophy of Herbert Spencer, the transcendenta1ism of Ralph Waldo Emerson. and the positivism of Augustus Compte and Frederick Harrison. But do expect them to know how to spell and punctuate and to know the meanings of words in ordinary use.' In his opinion. "a certain amount of education is a reason able requirement."
 As this statement seems a direct attack upon so large a class of women who are holding responsible positions in the busi- ness world, l cannot let 1t pass without comment.
 Judging from observation, although sta tistics I doubt not would strengthen my ste tement, that the number of women employed as stenographers exceeds the number of men who are filling similar po- sitions. It would therefore emphasize the rather broad statement that reflects upon hundreds of young women in the business world, and which appears as an unjust attack, considering the vast number of successful women stenographers.
 To say that as class they are ignor- ant. to insinuate that they cannot spell or punctuate, and do not know the mean ing of words in ordinary use, is wholly unfounded, and such an assertion is at once refuted by the increasing number of young women who are standing the sever est tests in filling the most difficult or stenographical positions.
 Hundreds of capable, we'll educated, clever women are employed as stenogra- phers in the largest business houses or the country, and the business or profes- sional man of the present day has found that a stenographer is indispensable In facilitating the business routine or the day.
 The young woman stenographer has become a potent factor in the business world, and if she Is ignorant flliterate, she could not have become so important a figure. She would not have stepped so readily into a position, nor taken hoio oi it's duties so intelligently as to make her- self indispensable if she belonged Tn the class described by the corporation law yer.
 In many cases where women are eIh- ployed as stenographers their duties are by no means confined to their shorthand work They frequently do a greater part of the clerical work, and in this depart ment they are found to be fully as capa- ble as men who have had the advantage of experience. .f
 All this would tend to demonstrate the capabilities of the young woman stenogra- pher Instances have been given where by virtue of her position she took the liberty of revising the business letter dic- tated by her employer who was rather careless in his syntax.
 Instances are rare where the young woman who is an expert at shorthand is not versatile and gifted in many ways. The woman with few leisure moments l is apt to spend them to the best advant- | age. There are her books, Emerson, 1 Spencer. Augustus Compte, if she so de- sires There is the play where she nat urally turns for diversion She takes her Emerson for a half holiday in Gods out of-doors.
 | But I believe that it is only a certain amount of education" that the corpora ton lawyer considers a reasonable re- quirement for the young woman to whom he dictates a few thousand let ters a week.