Year: 1862







THE UTILITY OF PHONOGRAPHY.


We are well aware that the art of Pho
biography, or short hand writing is but
little known; consequently we do not feel
that degree of interest in perusing essays
upon the subject, that we should if it were
more generally appreciated, and had OBJ
tanned wider range of circulation among
the people. No doubt that it will be ad-
mitted by all, that the majority of the
people are as ignorant of the meaning of
the characters employed in the Phono,
graphic manuscript, as they are of the
ancient Egyptian HierOglyphics.
When We consider the advantages which
are enjoyed by the individual who is pos
sessed of this beautiful art, we are led to
deplore the condition Of those who remain
in a willing state of ignorance in regard
to the subject. The principles upon which
the Photographic system is based, were
invented in 1887, by Mr.. Isaac Pitman of
Bath, England, and since that time great
improvements have been made which many
years experience and an extensive practice
has suggested, SO that at the present time
it has reached wonderful state of per-
fection, and can be written by the skillful
writer, at the almost incredible speed of
two hundred words per minute.


In view of this attainment, Phonogra-
ply should arrest the attention of every
thinking, reasoning individuals; its repu-
tation should be world wide; its lnowl-
edge universal; its practice unlimited; ;
and its blessings untold


Photography is not only beautiful
system of short hand writing, but it is
also o truthful one 1t is the means of
representing language by means of sound.
1t analyses the English language and dis
covers forty three sounds employed. 1t
then devises the simplest Geometrical
characters to represent these sounds, con-
sequently they are not arbitrarily chosen,
and depend upon memory alone, as do
some systems of short hand


Photography has been found to meet
the requirements of the language in at
tanning that speed in writing which is 50
necessary for the verbatim reporter, for
being only one-sixth as long as long hand,
it can be written six times as fast when
the individual is equally familiar with
both. 1t can be easily mastered, and ex-
pcrience has shown that two hours daily
study and practice continued for a month,
is sufficient to become acquainted with its
principles to be able to write it with the
rapidity of long hand, and the same con-
tinued for six months, will enable per-
son to report moderate speaker, verba-
tim.


The advantages which are derived from
the practice of Photography are numer-
GUS. 1t gives one better knowledge OF
the English language. 1t greatly i'm
proves the individuals pronunciation, for
as it is the means of representing speech
by means of sound, he must in the first
place know the sounds of the word which
he is to write, (and if he knows this he
knows how the word is pronounced,) con-
sequently he notices the pronunciation Of
the best writer's and speakers.
But we come now to the question: Why
should not an art which can be so easily
acquired, and improves the mind and fac
ulties of its possessor, as does this useful
and beautiful art, receive the attention ot
, more in our community? We will sur
mise an answer. We concetve IL TO be M
+ other than total ignorance IN regard tt
t The subject. Now as remedy for this
we will venture to say it should be ad
mitted into our institutions of learning
, and taught as one of the regulai
$ branches.