Arizona republican., 1906-10-14

woman or man: and many Stenograph- CTS just out of school cannot hope to begin on more than six dollars a week. The majority of women stenograph- CTS who live at home, are not compelled to earn their own living, and conse- uuently willing to work for almost
 any price, if it be sufficient to pay for their car fares, lunches, and extra clothing The business man naturally takes advantage of this and if his work is not difficult is able to obtain more
 or less competent service at small cost. It may be said, however, that almost any one of ordinary capacity. with good common school education, who is willing to apply himself to faithful study and practice, can become a fair stenograp pher, and is reasonably sure of a salary of from eight to twelve dol lars a week. If he can increase his guaranteed speed from one hundred to one hundred and twenty-five or more words a minute, and combine with stenographic speed some skill in cor i respondence, the prospect of fifteen dollars week will be good, and he may rise to an annual salary of from one thousand to fifteen hundred dollars. The stenographer needs a first class common school education. and should preferably be a graduate of a high school Unless he is a geed speller. and grammarian he has little hope or Stenographic success. The average business man has forgotten or disre gards much of his grammar. and often does not know much about rhetoric or construction. He. therefore, depends in these respects upon his stenOgra- phcr. who must take down in short
 hand what he says as he says it; but [ ,,I,x ,E, l. construct the dictated matter. without material change his services are not likely to be advantageous to his em- ployer. The stenographer can. of course. mechanically learn to do what he is told to do: that is. he can. by practice learn to take down in short hand what is dictated; but it is more of
 an achievement to properly and gram maticaIIy write out his notes. correct ing them as he writes. so that the conn
 pleted letter, while it does not differ ill substance from the dictation, will be i finished production. The stenographer who can do this, is reasonably sure of
 an ultimate rise in salary of from twenty -fivs to fifty per cent provided 1 the house for which he works can af- ford to pay it.
 After one has finished the high school the school of stenography is the next
 in order. if that line of work is se- | lected It is possible to learn steno- graphy without an instructor, but it is difficult to do so, and considerably more | time will be required than under the guidance of a good teacher.
 Beware of unreliable and unknown schools of stenography. Before choos- ] ing one consult with the principal of your public school, or with a reput- able stenographer, and follow his ad- vice. Be sure to learn some standard system of stenography. Keep away from short cuts. Remember the Three
 P's-patience, perseverance and prac- tice.
 The stenographer's school course usually takes about six months, in which time any boy of ordinary capac- | ity, ought to learn to write and read 1 shorthand, but, of course, at a slow rate | of speed. Speed depends upon prac- tice, and no stenographer can hope to be more than moderately proficient in | less than year.
 The superabundance of stenOgraphic i schools turn put stenOgraphers with almost incubator speed, and literally | glut the market. The reliable stenO l grap aphic institution never misrepre-
 sents, and fulfills it's promises; but
  sible schools of stenography, which lit orally prey upon ever scholar. Their | advertisements and announcements are fragrant interpretations. They give 1 the scholar and the parent to under stand that not only is Stenography very easy, but that numerous vacancies exist at all times for their graduates. Without legally doing so, they appar- ently guarantee to place their graduates
 in business. The parent, with worth 1 less or idle boy on his hands. and not | knowing exactly what to do with him. places him in a school of stenography, where, in an indifferent, slipshOd way,
 the scholar masters the rudiments of l shorthand, and sooner or later possibly ! obtains a position at from five to eight
 dollars a week. Of course he does not remain long in this position, but is
 soon out of work for an indefinite pe-
 riod, then gets another position, and ! so on, never succeeding in obtaining ! a permanent situation.
 Stenography is a possible stepping stone to better things and from that 1 viewpoint is worthy of consideration
 on the part of the ambitious young
 man; but it must be admitted that stenOgraphy is not one of the best pre- | lipinary steps for those who have more lildil OTuludlS dDlillS ana Wno
 are capable of planning and executing the active work of business. There is little demand for the man -office-sten- | ographer. The merchant knows full
 we'll that he can obtain for such work a woman of equal or greater efficiency
 at smaller salary than the man would require. Consequently there is lesh opportunity for man to obtain po-
 s'tion. Because a few male stenOgra- FLeIs have gained commanding posi- tens, it does not follow that stenogra-
 pay, in itself offers unusual oppOrtu-
 mites. These successful men would
 probably have succeeded, whether they
 had become stenographers or not.
 Typewritng is an essential part oi
 the stenogl apher's work, and all sten-
 ographers use the typewriter. The av- craze typewriter operator has a speed
 of from thirty to fifty words a minute
 Comparatively few can exceed sixty
 words nlnute, still fewer can attarT
 seventy-hve, and only d very smal
 number ca ! approximate one hundred