The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1905-10-26
THE VALUE OF SHORTHAND.
. . . . . .

TIME central thought-the idea
which has prompted me to
write upon the subject of short
hand, has been to present to the
studiously inclined the advantages of
shorthand education, and to encourage
those who have already taken up the
study here.
Shorthand writer's, or stenographers,
have advantages over their fellow men
which are so numerous and manifest
that to fully describe would require
volumes instead of few columns.
There are many among us, who,
when Opportunity knocked, found us
asleep, and she has passed on to the
alert and ambitious men and women
who today stand on peaks of the
mountains of success and usefulness.
To those who have let Opportunity
thus pass, let me say that now and
here is a time when our reach can yet
grasp this elusive dame-Opportunity
by the ear and bring her back and
take from her grip the chance to begin
the study of an art that in its useful
ness in "those brighter days" will be
beneficial in an incalculable degree.
Shorthand has already superseded
longhand as the locomotive has super
seeded the stage coach. Many of our
foremost meu and women began their
careers as stenographers and to it owe
their success. Stenography has been
the stepping-stone to presidencies,
judgeships and captaincies of industry,
journalism and education. Business
transaction is impossible without it.
The vast army Of shorthand writer's is
indispensable to the proper conduct of
the affairs of men.
There are many who have an i'm
preston that it requires some myster-
ious talent or gift to master the art.
This is ill-founded. On the contrary, a
good system of shorthand is so simple
as to be readily learned by anyone of
average intelligence. Anyone who can
understandingly read this article
should find no great difficulty in learn
ing to write correct and rapid short
hand in from nine to twelve months
time, devoting, say an hour each day.
Under the instruction of competent
teacher this time could be much re-
duced. 1 have said "a good system" of
shorthand. What is a good system :?
Like everything else, shorthand has its
faults in inferior and unsclentific sys-
TENS. That of photography sound
writing"-is without doubt the best,
most comprehensive and logical system
extant The foremost system under
this head is without doubt that in
vented by Benn Pitman. Those of
Andrew j. Graham, Isaac Dement, and
Mr.. Munson are similar to the Pitman
in all essential respects. A thorough
knowledge of either of these systems
meets every requirement for high.
grade stenographic work. More ste.
nographers are writing these systems
today than all others combined. In
the acquisition of this art, it is probably
unnecessary 10 SCdCo CndI IL requires
persevering application to study anG
an unflagging interest. Then alone il
failure impossible and success certain
Shorthand, as study, is peculiarl!
adapted to hold interest, for from tht
first lesson to the last, it is one of con
tinual novelty and invention.
Capable stenOgraphers are always il
demand. A good stenographer neet
never be unemployed. know this tt
be fact Several weeks ago one of the
large typewriter companies in Chicago
which also conducts stenographers
free employment buresu-hadt two hun
dred and five calls in one day for com
petent stenographers, and was unabl
to fill one. 1t would be no exaggel
alton to state that in the larger cities
first-class shorthand-writer can obtai
employment at bis own terms. Bu1
someone will say, if this is true, VIII
are there not more stenographers to Fl
these places? Let me say in answe
that thousands of stenographers are g
in name only. They are content wit
q speed attainment of perhaps ninet
to one hundred and twenty-five WORD
per minute with an earning capacit