Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1908-03-27

oSIdpHer Inc article aroused good deal
CT scusslon, and some readers expressed a
doubt that stenOgraphy was possible for tha
bllnd. This description of the method was
written 10y one of the first blind stpnograph-
efS IN TINS country. Miss Grace Z. keator
d Iff4 as private secretary to Miss Winifred
I1oIt, VINO is the executive officer of the
New York Association for the Blind Mss
heatOf IS completely self-supporting and is
a happy illustration of the work of this
organization in overcoming the handicap of
blindness which, until comparatively recent
years; imposed not only darkness but life
long Idleness or uninteresting and trih.ng
tasks, upon It's victims.
NEW YORK, March little first
man to introduce the teaching of short
hand for the blind III this country was
y. Ii. Burrltt, then superintendent of
the state school for the blind at Batavia,
\. Y. \ few pupils, who seemed es-
pecidlly adapted to this line of work took
1t up, and l was fortunate enough to be
among the number. After having ac-
quired stenography and typewritlng l re-
turned to my home, and should not have
been able to take it up as Il profession
had it not been for the New Y ork Assoc
citation for the Blind. Miss Holt, the
secretary of that organization had
studied stenOgraphy for the blind III
England, where it was earlier recognized
as a practical field for them. In Birming
ham there is a public stenOgraphic office
with several blind stenOgraphers who do
efficient work and the graduates Of the
Norwood Institute for the Blind, who
are considered proficient in stenography,
have secured excellent positions. Miss
Holt, who was searching for blind
stenographers, heard of me through Mr.,
Burritt, and L now have the privilege OF
being her private secretary. L am very
oil. II hot tho /.l,n
was blind, but because she considered
my work we'll done and on a par with
that of sighted stenographers.
Nine-Pound Machine.
The wonderful machine | use for my
shorthand notes, weighs only 3 pounds
and is very simple i'll its mechanism, haV-
ing only six keys with which to form
all the combinations used in the sys-
TEN. The blind stenographer uses the
six just as the sighted stenographer
uses his pencil, the system being much
the same only more arbitrary.
In detail the process of taking short
hand is first by pressing on the keys
with a quick elastic touch by which Il
raised shorthand type cipher is printed
on d slip of white paper, which I'M
winds from large roll placed i'll a
bracket at the left side and travels
across a tray on the top of the machine
This paper resembles the ticker used III
the stock exchange. a roll OF paper
will last several days. After the die.
tation has been taken the paper is rolled
back again, and is then ready to be
read with the fingers and transcribed
to the typewriter. | could write PAM
uhlet on one of these rolls, which can
be replenished very easily by simply
slipping the spool out Of the bracket and
placing it in the fresh roll. SO you see
low roll of 1py,kS
paper. and the notes which are taken
on this paper can be read just as easily
six months hence as they could the day
they were taken. | have also put into
Braille the instructions for using the
shorthand machine for the benefit of my
pupils and for my own reference.
English Braille.
The machine writes a raised print
formed from the English Braille. l have
been asked why [ do not substitute New
York point, which is another raised type;
for my stenOgraphic notes. This would
be impossible, as the shorthand must
he he written in a type which has limitless
c0ntractiOns. and the English Braille
is the only type at the present time
which fills the requirements, although
the improved Braille, which IS the SIM
plest tactile print, will undoubtedly be
substituted in time.
After the uOleS are lt1NCh ~
Shorthand machine they are read with
the finger and Transcribed TO the type
writer. which differs in no way from the
ordinary machine. The use OF this ma
chine, which runs easily, keeps the mn
gers flexible and does not dull the. sense
of touch, makes stenography particular
" desirable for the blind, as it is per
fectIy possible for it to be carried on Ill
conjunction with playing the organ or
the piano. .o1 +ho s,s-
fem in week and is now taking letters
She he's been an organist and IS also q
pianist. |. is possible to attain hlgh
rate rate. of speed. the machine being guar
anteed TO write 40 words minute
It is perfectly possible for blind ste9 3og
raphers to do technical work Tor doc
I0rs or statistcians. | have just com
nInted some work in this line for a paE-
scian Of the Presbyterian hospital Tor
which the usual rates for stenograpnlc
work were paid. There are now t 5e
Mind stenographers, who, have Done
work in connection with the association
Thcre is no doubt of the great posSIl.
,,;Iities in this field for the sightless. II
IS NV firm belief that a blind person OF
average intelligence and plenty OF pa
fence and sticktoitiveness must succee t
in This work 1t is pleasant ana interest,"
mo work, especially in an ONCE Tlle[e
a. orroSDon6pnce is varied, ana eA-