The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1906-08-02
STENOGRAPHY.


that have contributed inn
~ measurably to the progress of
the world, stenography, or
shorthand, has had preponderating
influence. The art of writing by 'hook
and crook" has served in the diffusion
of knowledge, the triumphs of liberty,
the advancement of science, the sacred.
ness of law and in the interests of
theology and literature as has no one
other activity. 1t is hardly necessary
to recite its advantages to the modern
business world. The use of shorthand
in the industrial and commercial world
is so widespread and multiplex and SO
thoroughly lntrenched that should it
be dispensed with at once, it is safe to
say, the wheels of the business world
would come to standstill: The mo-
mentum that this highly developed art
has given to commercialism is of such
great force, regularity and reliability
that it's loss would be more disastrous
than any calamity we know of in an
cient or modern history. This is
broad and extreme statement, yet l
would consider myself as guilty of faith
lessness in this triune art-profession-
trade, and as doubtful Of its possibilities,
were I in any way to modify my
assertions.
And while stenography is SO. potent
a factor in modern affairs, it is by no
means modern art. The value Of
shorthand has been recognized for
ages. Systems now in use probably do
not date back for much over half a
century, but it is known positively
that Greece and Rome had shorthand
systems and shorthand writers. Re-
ports of speeches by Cicero have been
discovered from time to time by relia-
BILE arch@ologists, and some of these
early manuscripts are the best and
most authentic records that have been
handed down to us thru the ages. And
so we find that the words and thoughts
of the earliest and ablest sages and
philosophers have been handed down
and preserved to us for our edification
and enlightenment.
Like all other branches of learning
shorthand suffered almost total ex.
tinction during the middle ages, but
like all other necessary and worthy in.
tellectual pursuits it has proved
unconquerable, in a destructive sense
The best systems now in use may be
said to be comparatively new.
shorthand is the art of writing the
spoken sound by system of simple
geometrical signs, such as straight
and curved lines, hooks, circles, dots
dashes and blank spaces. In the latter
respect it resembles, to small extent
the Morse telegraph system. Improve
ments have been made from time tt
time until today the leading systems arr
well-nlgh perfect. Indeed, the moderl
shorthand system is tit to rank will
the most profound arts and sciences
But the world has meted out but des
ultory recognition and looked witt
ungrateful indifference upon this ar
and it's innovators and exponents, g.
that it is little wonder that stenograph
does not stand at the head of the lis
instead of near the foot.
By the means of shorthand we ar
enabled daily to read the Congress
sional Record where we SO often fin
the real meaning between the lines
The production of this daily bulleti
of the "doings" of Congress require
the highest development of repol
torisl skill in combination with man
other rare qualifications. The congrel
sionsl reporting staff constitutes
piece of machinery in our national lif
the importance and magnitude Z
which is but little known.
In our courts Of law the testimon
of witnesses, the pleas and argument
of the attorneys and the instruction
and decisions of the judges are r
corded, and future litigation is thr
often prevented or decided without tt
formality Of trial.
If all these advantages and benef
accrue to the commercial, industria
professional political and social worl