Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-07-23

sentatives corps and filled the position in a
manner highly gratifying to the large num-
Der of members of Congress and the various
speakers whose remarks he had taken down
and Transcribed rapidly as they uttered
them He was a man of more than lovab!e
disposition and was noted FOR his exceed
ingly high traits of character. q He was
gentle and modest and essentially a home"
man. His friends say that to know him
was to love him.
Mr. Brown was taken seriously Ill about
a week ago and grew steadily worse until
yesterday morning, when he lapsed into
a state of inconsistencies and 1t was seen
by the members of his family that the END
was not far of. He died with the members
of his family, his wife and two daughters,
and his physician at his bedside.
Born in Pennsylvania
Mr. Brown was a Pennsylvania by birth.
having been born in Philadelphia on March
8. 1886 He learned the rudiments of the
profession in which. when he died, he had
no superior in the Philadelphia High
School. Oliver Dyer being Ms teacher
Fifty years ago next December. Dennis F.
Murphy had the contract for reporting the
proceedings Of the Senate. Mr.. Brown
came to Washington and became an aman-
uensis to Mr.. Murphy. For about two
years he labOred here and then returned
to Phitadelpfna. He shortly afterward be-
came official reporter in the Pennsylvania
legislature and organized the service in
that body.
Returning to Washington about forty
years ago. he was for short time re-
porter on the Globe. In December, 1894.
he was appointed official reporter In the
House and remained in that position until,
at his death. he was the Nestor of this re-
markable group of men. whose pay is the
same as that Of the representatives them
selves-$5.OU a year.
Reported Famous Speeches.
During his service in the House he had
chau
and debates in America. The human
tongue could not speed more rapidly than
his nimble fingers could record the utter
arces. This as true of this CHIEF OF
the reporters during the last session OF Con-
greSs he reported as of the first. 1t was ne
who recorded the f1ercest part of the raging
debate in the last session between Repre-
sentatives Cochran and DalZell. and when
he presented his report to the New YORK
orator for revision not word was changed
His acquaintance with the prominent
men of the country was wide. Speaker
Henderson was particularly friendly, ana
desired to have the title of chief reporter
and an increased salary given Mr. Brown
Mr.: Browns relation to the speakers was
peculiar. Mixed metaphors, grammatical
errors and minor mistakes had to be
Strengthened out before the reports were
printed in the Congressional Record the fol-
suited for this work, having thorough
command of English. Principal Allan
Davis of the Business High School in
which one of Mr.. Browns books Is used,
has said the book is a model OF English,
and the introduction compares with the
works of Burke.
An Author of Books.
AS a speaker and writer on stenographic
subjects Mr.. Brown was prominent. He
was to have spoken at the national steno-
graphic convention In ST. Louis this sum-
mer, and also at gathering Of stenogra-
pliers in Philadelphia Some Of the books
he wrote are Mastery of Shorthand The
and Its Handicaps." What Has Half a
Century Done for Shorthand The RAJ
tionale of Phrasing" and 1.-The Factors OF
Shorthand Speed
His book Science and the Art Of Phrase
Making is used in the local Business
High School. - rop
Mr.. Brown had lived since 1854 in Wash
ington. He married Miss Joanna A. Wolf
Of Lewes, Del, about the time he became
official reporter in the House. Two chill
dren were born and are living. They are
Miss Elizabeth Brown and Mrs. A. B. LIE p.
Mesny. 20. T.
Praised by Speakers.
Four Speakers of the House Of Represen-
tatives have testified to Mr. Browns ability
as follows: = y t
Mr.. John G. Carlisle Speaker 1S83-18S9-
My personal acquaintance with your work
and your professional standing as a stenog-
rapher justifies me in recommending you in
the strongest terms" rs
Mr.. Charles F. Crisp. Speaker 1S91-1S96-
''Mr. Brown is not only a magnificent and
thorough reporter, but in all respects
worthy Of confidence and esteem as an
honorable and upright gentleman"
Mr.. Thomas B. Reed, Speaker 1ss9-is91.
1SS5-1SS0-'l have known you for long
time as one Of the reporters OF the House,
thoroughly capable Of performing the duties
Of the place. and am quite sure that you do
not need my recommendation"
Mr.. David B. Henderson. Speaker 1900
1GO3-"You have always attracted my at
tention and won my appreciation by devo-
ton to your work and by your splendid
abilities"
Mr.. Brown was recognized as the chief Of
the House OF Representatives staff Of re-
porters and 1t Is conceded that even
though he was old in years not one had
more nimble fingers. His death came as a
decided shock, not alone to his many friends
in Washington. but to the large number of
members of Congress throughout the coun-
try Many kilograms of coincidence from
members OF Congress and others have been
received by the family today