The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-10-15
wonderful Speed Attained by Expert
Reporter.

To THE EDITOR OF The 6UN-Sir: Your
correspondent A. p. b. in ~euloRizing the
memory OF James +. Munson has made some
assertions in behalf OF the attainments and
accomplishments OF the late Andrew J.
Graham which, to those who know anything
about shorthand. are at least eXtravagant
A. p. B." says that Graham was the great
est shorthand author and writer that ever
lived The statement Is unjust alike to the
living and the dead. To go no further back
than 1873, there was Joseph Quincy. who re-
ported verbatim the prolonged trial OF Warren
Hastings. Joseph Gurneyis shorthand notes
are still so legibie that they can be read easily
and portions Of the notes OF the Hastings
trial we're actually transcribed for publica-
ton in 1859.
Their there was Thomas Allen Reed 1885
1890 one OF my own mentors in the art. who
reported Bishop Phillips Brooks for thirty
minutes at the rate of 2l3 words a minute.
an ~uneQualled long distance record for both
speaker and reporter.
Among living writer's who have demon
strated their stenographic ability are Edward
v. Murphy Of the United States Senate.
an Isaac Pitman writer with forty years
experience; Fred Irland OF the House OF
Representatives. who holds a five minute
record at PSI words a minute. made some
years ago at Chautauqua. as well as Charles
Currier Beale. Isaac s. Dement, and Cha rles
McCurrin. whose respective friends can take
care OF their regulations. while in our own
city is Frank s.. Beard. who did notable work
in reporting the Molineux trial.
On the other side of the Atlantic there are
a score Of men OF similar achievement. and
there are Ave young women, three Of them
Scotch, who hold certificates for writing the
Isaac Pitman system at 200 words a minute
for ten consecutive minutes. transcribing
their notes within an allowance of ? per cent.
for errorS, Under the same severe condi-
%. 1894, wrote for ten minutes at the rate Of
$50 words a minute. II any Of your readers
will merely try to read as fast as this they
will begin TO appreciate what these records
mean.
But A. p. b" tells us that Graham was
IAN intellectual giant and invented most
Of the labor and time "a vinR devices of the
modern system OF writing shorthand. y and
by Graham's work. The claims are grotesQue.
IL il true that Graham used numberless de-
vices many Of them already discarded by
Isaac Pitman), all aiming TO compensate for
the inherent defects Of his adaptation, but
Graham secured almost microscopic brevity
at the expense so0 Of simplicity and Iesioility,
what the reporter may occasionally do" or
I hold no brief for the Munson system,
hut ! can give full credit to Munson as an
efficient writer. The Munson modification Of
Isaac Pitman's system is at least consistent,
from being derived from Graham can be
traced rather 70 the Pitman brothers. Mum
son, unlike Graham or Benn Pitman. adopted
gladly the improved vowel scale OF Isaac
Pitman.
While on the subject of high speed writing.
H. il perhap s allowable TO place on record
which was not done in the New York news
papers at the time) that at Baltimore last
Easter. at the convention of the Eastern
Commercial Teachers Association, there was
an international shorthand contest for a
gold challenge medal provided by Mr.. Enoch
" M H0S b OF an Nf Enr Hs5E sGity 7 This GoG medal
who will probably defend his title NEXT wear
at the Boston meeting, when two other med
ais and q silver cup are also TO be in compe-
tition. The cup contest and the Miner medal
are open TO the world. irrespective OF system.
sex or color. and your correspondent A. p, b."
should surely be there II he wishes to see
some OF the greatest shorthand writer's that
ever lived" DUDLEY W. WALTON
President National Association OF Isaac Pitman
Shorthand Teachers and Writers.
NEW YORK. October IL.