New-York tribune., 1905-11-13
VALUE OF PHONOGRAPHY.
EdzCard H. MagiU Says 1t Should
SUpersede AN Systems.

To the Editor of The Tribune
Sir: Permit to thank you for the aid your
columns have given in my endeavor to make
the general public understand the true value of
the great invention Of Isaac Ptman. called pho
biography, and to show that the world will not
profit by this invention unless uniform system
Of this beautiful and simple art can be secured.
Its beauty is in its great simplicity and IN its
complete applicability to the needs of all. The
young child be taught it. and acquire by 1t
an art that would many years of precious
time il once attained in early childhood Its aim
is complete reformation Of the systems of spell
ing the various languages, but at present will
consider only English speech AS its
name implies, 1t is writing by sound. The sounds
are carefully learned, and for each sound one
letter, and letter always the same for tbs same
sound represented by the simplest of lines, the
straight line and the curved line. and by dots and
dashes. all OF these being written with light or
heavy marks to indicate the various sounds. 1t
is to be applied to printing also and called PHO
same. with the addition OF enough letters to pre-
vent different sounds from being represented by
Now this beautiful system must be Of any
real value be uliform and once . established isl no
years 10 come and even then they must be in
to Sh I M very 81
guage itself. AS present cumbersome methods
years sa hey can never be changed for
more simple system unless the practice of those
using the system be absolutely uniform. But
as photography is SO much more brief and simple
s osa making IN m Of
batim reporting. instead of being taught 10 all
schools as early as they are taught ordinary
writing Now the he, reporters wishing to abbEev-
their own, and, what is worse. each reporter as
crease his speed as reporter and at once comes
out with new instruction book 5 OF his own. with
this hybrid production by compound name, in
confusing i the public mind BY the various systems
The present condition of the beautiful system
Of Isaac Pitman in this country airy may be inferred
fro the e lilo t OF Of 'hsse @ hs
Educational Department at washington. No ].
have passed since the date of this circular xari-
Gus other names haze doubtless been ADDED a They
Graham. $685. A1unson, rs; croos. ls5; bndley. 81
IeTGie IeHgey isade Meee 6 Pinan ot spesed
Sloan Dupleyaa. "a and thirty-eight others all OF
them less than the above
Thus We have in this country at least fifty dit-
ferent kinds of photography. is it not enough TO
Which he was brought all too soon by the. jeal-
eVdes fh No board Of Gould
ably be expected to introaGce to our young chi- l-
FIR ali Of this there is a remedy. and but one
raphy out OF the hands of reporters exclusively
@ oo ong been deprived Of the great relief which
IL would bring, and thus let the present methods
o5 more smg ngbe ana IN s he aeadMo M Of witch aene our c
dren would no longer have the difficulty OF learn
ferent from the sounds they hear in the words
which tney represent
In brief then why may we net adopt at once
the Perm Pitman system. which heads the list
quoted and is nearest like the system OF his elder
brother Isaac. the great founder who gave his
whole life 10 this reform? Then little later we
may take up the corresponding phonotopy. to take
the place OF ordinary print II this or soma SINH
lar plan Is not adopted the great inventor, 10
whom We all owe so much VIII Lived and
sacrificed his life in vain. Read with care and
ponder upon Benn Pitran's touching History OF
the Life and Labors OF Isaac Pitman." and take
such measures insure generations yet ur-
born the very great boon of the wonderful system
which he gave his life.
May not the schools of this great cosmopolitan
city in this respect example for all of the
cities where the English language is spoken /
close with the motto for all photographers, Uni
form Photography Tor Al: Stenography for Re-
rorters." EDWARD II. MAGILI4
Tbs Gardner. No. l1 West 4sd-.t-, New-York