BXF/G/FQWLE&
 
 r r i 
 
 
 
 THE LIBRARY 
 
 OF 
 
 THE UNIVERSITY 
 OF CALIFORNIA 
 
 LOS ANGELES 

 
 o.
 
 SHORT-HAND 
 EXECUTION. 
 
 AITLICA1JLE TO ANY SYSTEM OF 
 
 STENOGRAPHY 
 
 FOR THE PURPOSE OF MULTIPLYING SPEED AND 
 ENHANCING LEGIBILITY. 
 
 BT 
 
 F. G. FOWLER. 
 
 (ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.) 
 
 BRIDGEPORT, CONN., U.S.A. 
 
 1881.
 
 COPYRIGHT. 
 
 1880, 
 BY F. G. FOWLER.
 
 
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 THE value of a work is not necessarily pro- 
 portioned to the number of its pages. On the 
 contrary, if a given amount of information is 
 embraced in ten pages, it is more easily obtained 
 than when distributed through one hundred. 
 With this view, the author has labored assiduously, 
 in the preparation of this work, to discard every- 
 thing extraneous, and give, in as concise a form 
 as possible, the essential matter, which might 
 more easily have been extended through many 
 pages. The important consideration with the 
 stenographer is, with a given degree of legibility, 
 how much speed can be realized. And any 
 abridgment that does not conflict with that end 
 should add rather than detract from the value of 
 a work. 
 
 Of the various expedients set forth, it is hardly 
 to be expected that any one writer will make use 
 of them all. But any part can be selected that 
 the stenographer chooses to apply, as they are all 
 separate and distinct from each other. 
 
 No attempt is made to furnish elementary in-
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 struetion in short-hand suitable for beginners. 
 That can be obtained in text-books especially 
 devoted to its exposition. This work is intended 
 for the more advanced students of the art, en- 
 abling them to greatly augment their speed of 
 Avriting, and in some cases to double and treble it, 
 and with a given speed to attain a higher degree 
 of legibility. 
 
 Its principles can be applied, practically, by 
 writers of any system of short-hand, without the 
 necessity of obtaining new apparatus or materials, 
 or resorting to any modification or change in their 
 system of writing. It can be made a superstruct- 
 ure to whatever of short-hand may have been 
 acquired. The writer is thus enabled to follow 
 out his own inclinations in choosing a system of 
 short-hand, and need not abandon any that may 
 have been learned, as it can be rendered available. 
 
 It is not intended to extol the merits of any 
 system of short-hand, or detract from the excel- 
 lences of any ; but the aim has been to add to the 
 scope and usefulness of all, to remedy their de- 
 ficiencies and render them so complete as to be 
 beyond criticism. 
 
 At the same time it is believed that the cause of 
 short-hand will be best subserved, not by over- 
 estimating its capabilities and ignoring its defects, 
 but by a candid consideration of the facts just as 
 they exist.
 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 WHEN the human race had so far advanced 
 in civilization that the art of writing became 
 known, the need of a system susceptible of 
 recording language with a facility equal to that 
 with which it could be uttered by the vocal 
 organs at once became apparent. Accordingly, 
 systems have been devised, from time to time, 
 for the purpose of accomplishing this very de- 
 sirable result, which have been termed short- 
 hand. The earlier of these were to a great 
 extent arbitrary, and imperfect in the method 
 of representing language ; while the most ap- 
 proved of the present day, based on the pho- 
 netic principle, is a great improvement upon its 
 predecessors. In the elimination of its prin- 
 ciples there has been such a wise adaptation 
 of means to ends, and in the working up of its 
 details, such an ingenious combination of ex- 
 pedients, that a great economy of space, with 
 a degree of speed and legibility, are attained. 
 In its development, able minds have been em- 
 ployed, and of those Avho have been zealous 
 and untiring in their endeavors, not only to
 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 perfect, but to disseminate their favorite art. 
 For this service, society stands to them indebted ; 
 for while they have not been entirely successful, 
 they have done a good work and approximated 
 to the desired end. The result of their labors 
 answers to much that is required of a system 
 of short- hand. 
 
 To be all that is desired, short-hand should 
 be such that persons of average capacities can 
 acquire it in a reasonable length of time, and 
 without excessive physical exertion write, in 
 legible characters, all audible utterances that 
 are in vogue in the affairs of life. 
 
 Without referring to the amount of time that 
 may reasonably be devoted to the acquisition 
 of short-hand, or to the tax upon the health 
 inseparable from its practice, let us note the 
 speed that is required of it. That is contained 
 within quite variable limits. For example, a 
 speed of twenty words per minute may suffice 
 for the transaction of some kinds of business, 
 and then long-hand may be employed. The 
 speed of the voice, when operating naturally,, 
 ranges all the way from 60 to 350 words per 
 minute. That includes, probably, all that is 
 often attained in practice ; yet, under exceptional 
 circumstances, it is considerably greater. In 
 some experiments, conducted under the auspices 
 of the United States navy, language, was trans- 
 mitted by telephone at the rate of 500 words 
 per minute. Private individuals have claimed 
 to accomplish the same; and admissions have 
 been made by short-hand authors, that with
 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 tolerable articulation, a speed of from 400 to 
 500 words per minute may be attained. 
 
 To meet these requirements, we have in one 
 system of short hand, as claimed by its author, 
 a speed of 150 words per minute. Another 
 claims for his nearly 200 words per minute. 
 Other claims have been made, reaching a maxi- 
 mum speed of 250 words per minute, but such 
 claims have been denied by others ; yet allow- 
 ing for short-hand the maximum speed that 
 has been claimed for it, it is then only about 
 one-half the maximum speed of the voice. 
 When the articulation is very rapid, it is less 
 distinct ; and where the writing is very rapid, it 
 is less legible ; but allowing distinctness of 
 speaking to offset legibility of writing, there 
 would seem. to be no doubt, from all that can 
 be gathered on the subject, that the speed with 
 which language can be uttered by the vocal or- 
 gans, to that with which such language can be 
 recorded in short-hand, is about as two to one. 
 
 It is readily seen that while such short-hand 
 systems will answer very well in many cases, 
 there are others in which they would be very 
 inadequate. 
 
 That satisfactory reports have been made 
 of very rapid speeches is true ; but such re- 
 ports, it is claimed, are to be referred more to 
 the superior physical and mental qualities of 
 the stenographers than to the adequacy of the 
 short-hand system emploj'ed ; and such, without 
 doubt, is the case. Among such qualities may 
 be enumerated, extraordinary retentiveness of
 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 memory, an intimate knowledge of all the details 
 of the subject-matter referred to by the speaker, 
 and an almost intuitive perception of what in- 
 accurate and illegible short-hand characters 
 were intended to represent, and an easy style of 
 composition. Many stenographers are more 
 capable of discussing ably various subjects than 
 the speakers whom they report, and can, by 
 various changes, add elegance and force to their 
 speeches ; a proceeding which most speakers sub- 
 mit to with marked resignation. There are also 
 said to be scholarly long-hand reporters, who, 
 without taking down one word in ten of a speech, 
 are able to present a report of it that is quite 
 satisfactory to the public ; but such reports are 
 more like the pencil sketch of a landscape that 
 represents, in a pleasing manner, only its gen- 
 eral features. They would not be satisfactory 
 were it known that they were to a great extent 
 the work of the reporter, instead of the speaker. 
 The verbatim report, on the contrary, is more 
 like the photograph, which truthfully gives both 
 general features and details. 
 
 It is believed that all criticisms of the better 
 systems of short-hand have their origin in the 
 difficulties encountered in attempts to secure 
 the requisite speed. The theory of short-h;ind 
 can be readily learned, and, with a few weeks' 
 practice, a speed of 100 words per minute may 
 be attained. But it is in securing a high speed 
 that a great length of time is required ; for, as 
 the rate is increased, the time required for its 
 attainment increases in a much more rapid
 
 LA 
 DALLAS, TEXAS 
 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 ratio. It has been estimated, by experienced 
 stenographers, that fully one-half of the whole 
 time required was devoted to the attainment of 
 the last one-tenth of the speed realized. 
 
 At a speed of 100 words per minute, short- 
 hand can be written with a legibility that is 
 little inferior to print. But as it is increased, 
 the legibility gradually fades. Above 150 words 
 per minute, with the average writer, it begins to 
 enter the domain of uncertainty. At 200 words 
 per minute, many of the outlines are so much 
 distorted, that they would hardly be recognized 
 by the geometrical forms of such words ; and the 
 notes, in such cases, are perused, in part, by 
 the aid of memory, or by a kind of sagacity akin 
 to that which enables the American Indian to 
 follow the trail of game by indications that 
 could not be perceived by an ordinary observer. 
 
 The fatigue occasioned by writing short-hand 
 is very inconsiderable when writing at a speed 
 of 120 words per minute, and the effort may be 
 maintained, without exhaustion, for a long time. 
 But it is different when the rate is high. It is 
 then very taxing to the physical powers. 
 
 In this connection it may be advantageous to 
 note the contrast between the promoters of 
 music and those of short-hand. 
 
 In the system of musical notation most in use, 
 the promoters of music have maintained great 
 uniformity, so that a musical composition can 
 be read by the musicians of most countries ; 
 while the promoters of short-hand have made-, 
 and are constantly making, numerous changes
 
 10 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 in their methods of representing. vocal sounds, 
 so that the writing of few iii the same country 
 is legible to other writers. 
 
 In manipulating many of the primitive musi- 
 cal instruments, but a single hand was employed ; 
 while in those of modern construction both hands 
 are generally used, and in some cases the feet as 
 well. Yet in the execution of short-hand little 
 advance has been made on methods employed 
 by Tyro, nineteen centuries since, and a single 
 hand is employed now as then. 
 
 The masters of the art of music organize their 
 performers into orchestras, whence, by a united 
 and simultaneous action, they are enabled to 
 execute musical compositions and attain results 
 entirely out of the power of a single individual ; 
 while in the execution of short-hand, aside from 
 making a transcript, a score of short-hand writ- 
 ers would scarcely be more efficient than one. 
 
 The above references to the defects of short- 
 hand are only for the purpose of indicating the 
 means by which they may be obviated. How 
 to remedy such defects is the paramount ques- 
 tion, and the only one it is necessary to consider. 
 It is apparent, in the first phice, that a high 
 speed of writing, as ordinarily executed, must 
 be avoided. The necessary speed must be de- 
 veloped from a moderate rate. We must secure 
 rapidity when writing slowly, anomalous as 
 such a proposition may seem. 
 
 To the attainment of this end, the general 
 principles upon which the well-tried expedients 
 employed by musicians are founded, may be
 
 WRITING IN CONCERT. 11 
 
 applied ; for while the execution of airs upon 
 musical instruments is not identical with the 
 execution of short-hand, there is in many re- 
 spects a similarity, and by a proper adaptation 
 such principles may be applied as advanta- 
 geously in the execution of short-hand as of 
 musical compositions. 
 
 The means by which that is accomplished 
 will be explained in a succeeding chapter. 
 
 WRITING IN CONCERT. 
 
 THIS method involves simultaneous writing, 
 by two or more writers, each writing alternate 
 takes or passages of about ten or fifteen words 
 each, in a regular rotation. There is scarcely 
 a limit to the number of writers that may be 
 employed, or to the speed that may be attained. 
 The writing is regulated by a system of cues or 
 signals, by which each writer is enabled to 
 determine the particular portion of the passage 
 assigned to him, and which also prevent any 
 confusion in perusing the notes. These cues 
 are, invariably, the last word of each passage. 
 
 An explanation of the manner of writing in 
 concert, and the application of cues, will be 
 more readily understood after making an ex- 
 amination of a specimen of the writing. Accord- 
 ingly an exercise is herewith given, which is ex- 
 ecuted by four writers.
 
 12 WHITING IN CONCEUT. 
 
 KEY TO ANNEXED EXEKCISE. 
 
 Perhaps, in this neglected spot is laid 
 
 Some heart once pregnant with celestial fire ; 
 
 Hands that the rod of empire might have swayed, 
 Or waked to ecstasy the living lyre. 
 
 But knowledge to their eyes her ample page, 
 "Rich with the spoils of time, did ne'er unroll ; 
 
 Chill penury repressed their noble rage, 
 And froze the genial current of the soul. 
 
 Full many a gem of purest ray serene 
 
 The dark, unfathomed caves of ocean bear ; 
 
 Full many a flower is born to blush unseen, 
 And waste its sweetness on the desert air. 
 
 Some village Hampden, that with dauntless 
 
 breast 
 
 The little tyrant of his fields withstood, 
 Some mute, inglorious Milton here may rest ; 
 Some Cromwell, guiltless of his country's 
 blood.
 
 WHITING IN COM'KKT. 115 
 
 Tli' applause of listening senates to command, 
 The threats of pain and ruin to despise, 
 
 To scatter plenty o'er a smiling land, 
 
 And read their history in a nation's eyes, 
 
 Their lot forbade ; nor circumscribed alone 
 Their growing virtues, but their crimes con- 
 fined ; 
 
 Forbade to wade through slaughter to a throne, 
 And shut the gates of mercy on mankind. 
 
 The struggling pangs of conscious truth to hide, 
 To quench the blushes of ingenuous shame, 
 
 Or heap the shrine of luxury and pride 
 With incense kindled at the inuse's name.
 
 14 SHORT HAND EXECUTION. 
 
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 WRITING IN CONCERT. 
 
 15 
 
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 1(> SHOUT HAND EXECUTION. 
 
 METHOD OF EXECUTION. 
 
 IN executing the foregoing exercise, let the 
 writers be seated equidistant around a table. 
 It is desirable that the table should not be too 
 large, as the cues may be more readily and cer- 
 tainly passed when the writers are near each 
 other. One about two or three feet square will 
 be found to answer the purpose well. If the 
 paper is held in the hand a table may be dis- 
 pensed with, and the writers sit or stand in a 
 group. 
 
 The paper of each writer should contain an 
 equal number of lines per page, and should be 
 of such width that it will contain not less than 
 ten words to the line. We will suppose a reader 
 is employed to read the poem at the rate of 
 about 400 words per minute, and that each 
 writer is capable of writing, easily and legibly, 
 100 words per minute. One of the writers, 
 which we will designate the first writer, will 
 commence with the reader, and write the first 
 line. The second writer, or the one sitting to 
 the right of the first, will write the second line, 
 the third' will write the third line, and the fourth 
 the fourth line. In this manner the whole
 
 WRITING IN CONCERT. 17 
 
 stanza will be written, each writer writing one- 
 fourth of it; and, if each can write easily at the 
 rate of 100 words per minute, it is evident they 
 can readily follow the reader at 400 words per 
 minute. 
 
 To peruse the notes, place the pages of the dif- 
 ferent writers adjacent to each other, in the order 
 in which they were written, so that the lines 
 will correspond, and read continuously across 
 the four pages. Each stanza will be expressed 
 by a continuous line across the four pages. 
 
 As before remarked, in order that each writer 
 may understand the particular portion of the 
 text assigned to him, it is necessary that there 
 should be a system of signals available, and that 
 consists of each writer repeating the last word 
 of the passage written by his predecessor. For 
 example, in the foregoing exercise, the first 
 writer begins with the reader to write the first 
 line. As soon as the reader has completed the 
 first line, the second writer repeats the word 
 laid, which is the first cue, and which the first 
 writer understands will constitute the last 
 word of his passage or line. The second writer, 
 after calling the cue, immediately proceeds with 
 the writing of the second line, and, as soon as 
 the reader has completed the second line, the 
 2
 
 18 SHORT HAND EXECUTION. 
 
 third writer calls the word fire, which is the 
 second cue, and which will be the last word of 
 the line written by the second writer. The third 
 writer immediately proceeds with the writing of 
 the third line ; and when the reader has finished 
 the third line, the fourth writer calls the word 
 swayed, which is the third cue. The fourth 
 writer proceeds with Avriting the fourth line ; and 
 when he has finished the stanza, the first writer 
 calls the word lyrt, which is the last word of the 
 line written by the fourth writer. The first 
 writer now proceeds with the first line of the 
 second stanza, and each writer succeeds him as 
 before. All the other stanzas are executed in 
 a similar manner. 
 
 Although so great a number of writers is not 
 often required in practice, as is represented in 
 the execution of the above exercise, yet any 
 number ma} r be employed to secure the desired 
 speed, be it greater or less. The possibilities 
 of the system are thereby illustrated, and it is 
 seen how a very high speed may be developed, 
 by a number of writers, each writing at a mod- 
 erate rate. 
 
 It is also evident that such writing can be 
 accurately executed, and voweled, if need be, so 
 as to secure entire legibility ; and that such
 
 WHITING IN CONCERT. 19 
 
 rate may be maintained for an indefinite length 
 of time without excessive mental strain or 
 fatigue. 
 
 As before stated, any system of short-hand 
 may be employed, and, where short-hand is not 
 available, long-hand may be used, though the 
 more rapid the system of writing the fewer 
 writers will be necessary to attain a given 
 speed. A rapid long-hand writer can write 30 
 words per minute and upwards. Six or seven 
 such writers, trained to write in concert, can at- 
 tain a speed that will suffice, many times, for 
 verbatim reporting ; with this advantage in 
 favor of long-hand, the original notes, with 
 some attention to punctuation, etc., might serve 
 in place of a transcript of short-hand notes. 
 
 TWO ASSOCIATE -WRITERS. 
 
 A COKPS of two short-hand writers will gen- 
 erally be found to be the most desirable number, 
 because most easily secured, and because, if 
 competent, they will be able to perform anything 
 that is likely to be required of them. It is also 
 a convenient number for practice. 
 
 The mode of procedure is similar to that 
 already described. The writers should sit con-
 
 20 SHORT HAND KXKCfTION. 
 
 venientlj near each other that the cues may be 
 readily passed. If a table is made use of, a 
 small one is preferable. If the paper is held 
 upon a writing-case, the seats may be placed 
 nearly alongside each other and facing in op- 
 posite directions. 
 
 The first writer begins with the speaker; and, 
 after he has spoken about ten or fifteen words, 
 the second writer calls a cue for his associate, 
 which cue will be the last word of the passage 
 written by the first writer. 
 
 The second writer then proceeds with the 
 words following such cue ; but he may, at his 
 option, write the cue of his associate at the 
 beginning of his own take, which is termed 
 "repeating the cue." This is often desirable, 
 for, in perusing the notes, it assists the reader 
 to identify the proper line in passing from page 
 to page. 
 
 When the speaker has uttered about ten or 
 fifteen words more, the first writer will have 
 completed his take, and will call a cue for his 
 associate, and the writers will proceed in this 
 way, writing alternate passages. It is not 
 essential that both writers should write at nearly 
 the same speed. One may write at the rate of 
 75, and the other 150 words per minute.
 
 WRITING IN CONCERT. 21 
 
 The calling of cues is the only feature that 
 renders writing in concert more difficult than 
 ordinary writing. To do this properly, will 
 require some practice. The amount assigned 
 in each passage should be such a number of 
 words that it can be easily retained in the 
 memory of the writer, and as will complete a 
 line across the paper. This will generally be 
 about ten words, but will, to a great extent, 
 depend upon the writer and his style of writing. 
 
 If the cues are called too often, there will be 
 few words in each take, resulting in a loss of 
 paper, and needless labor in making the calls. 
 
 If they are not called sufficiently often, there 
 will be more than can be written on a line, 
 necessitating interlining, or the use of an extra 
 line. That it is well to avoid, as the pages will 
 not correspond so well when placed side by side. 
 
 It is better to select for a cue a word which 
 immediately precedes a pause, either gram- 
 matical or rhetorical, and words embodying a 
 prominent vowel sound, and not of too great 
 length, are to be preferred. 
 
 These suggestions cannot always be carried 
 out, for it is important, also, to select for a cue 
 the word which the speaker uttered just as the 
 writer finished his passage, and which was
 
 22 SHORT HAND EXECUTION. 
 
 uttered immediately before the cue was called. 
 For, in case the word is not understood by the 
 associate of the caller, he will know it was the 
 one that the speaker had just uttered when the 
 call was made, and that will assist him in de- 
 termining the proper word. 
 
 If the cue is not understood by the writer, 
 he should write a few more words than is 
 thought to be necessary, so as to be sure the 
 cue is reached. Should he write beyond the 
 cue, it will cause the passages to "lap," but 
 that occasions no difficulty in perusing the notes. 
 
 It is not necessary that the cue should be 
 called in a tone of voice so loud as to attract 
 attention, or so that it can be heard by any but 
 the writers. As each is aware that the cue 
 called is the word which has just been pro- 
 nounced by the speaker, a moderate whisper 
 will generally be sufficient to designate the 
 correct word. 
 
 When repeating the cue in writing long-hand, 
 an initial letter or syllable will generally be suf- 
 ficient. In some cases, other signals, such as 
 a motion of the foot, have been employed in 
 place of a spoken word. 
 
 Writing in concert has been practiced during 
 religious services without attracting attention,
 
 WRITING IN CONCERT. 23 
 
 and the charges of judges have been taken by 
 writers seated at the table with others, who 
 supposed that only ordinary short-hand was 
 being practiced. 
 
 A writer who has been in the habit of writ- 
 ing only about 150 words per minute is apt to 
 become confused in attempting to write when 
 the utterance is very rapid. That may be ob- 
 viated by special practice. It will be found 
 serviceable for him to employ a person to read 
 at the rate of 250 or 300 words per minute, and 
 to take down as nearly as possible each tenth 
 word. The ear will thereby be disciplined to 
 the rapid utterance, and the writer will gradu- 
 ally become accustomed to designate a passage 
 of ten words by hearing it, and without counting 
 the words. A book of prose, containing about 
 ten words per line, will answer, and the list of 
 words taken down may then be compared with 
 the printed page, to ascertain if passages of the 
 required length have been designated. 
 
 In the following exercise the number of words 
 assigned in the different takes is quite variable, 
 which in practice would indicate a variable 
 speed in the rate of the speaker. The size of 
 the short-hand characters, too, for the sake of 
 convenience, is reduced about one-third.
 
 24 SHORT HAND EXECUTION. 
 
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 WUITINGT IN CONCERT. 
 
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 26 
 
 SHORT HAND EXECUTION. 
 
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 28 
 
 SHORT HAND EXECUTION. 
 
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 WRITING IN CONCERT. 
 
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 -JO SHOUT HAND EXECUTION. 
 
 KEY. 
 
 ^ 
 
 AMERICA THE OLD WORLD. 
 
 BY LOUIS AGASSIZ. 
 
 FIRST-BORN among the continents, though so 
 much later in culture and civilization than some 
 of more recent birth, America, so far as her 
 physical history is concerned, has been falsely 
 denominated the New World. Hers was the 
 first dry land lifted out of the waters, hers the 
 first sliores washed by the ocean that envel- 
 oped all the earth beside ; and, while Europe 
 was represented only by islands rising here and 
 there above the sea, America already stretched 
 an unbroken line of land from Nova Scotia to 
 the far West. 
 
 There was a time when our earth was in a 
 state of igneous fusion, when no ocean bathed 
 it, and no atmosphere surrounded it, when no 
 wind blew over it, and no rain fell upon it, but
 
 WHITING IN CONCEKT. 
 
 an intense heat held all its materials in solution. 
 In those days, the rocks, which are now the 
 very bones and sinews of our mother earth 
 her granites, her porphyries, her basalts, her 
 syenites were melted into a liquid mass. 
 
 From artesian wells, from mines, from gey- 
 sers, from hot springs, a mass of facts has been 
 collected, proving, incontestably, the heated 
 condition of all substances at a certain depth 
 below the earth's surface ; and if we need more 
 positive evidence, we have it in the fiery erup- 
 tions that even now bear fearful testimony to 
 the molten ocean seething within the globe, and 
 forcing its way out from time to time. The 
 modern progress of geology has led us, by 
 successive and perfectly connected steps, back 
 to a time when what is now only an occasional 
 and rare phenomenon was the normal condition 
 of our earth ; when those internal fires were 
 enclosed in an envelop so thin that it opposed 
 but little resistance to their frequent outbreak, 
 and they constantly forced themselves through 
 this crust, pouring out melted materials that 
 subsequently cooled and consolidated on its
 
 32 SHOKT HAND EXECUTION. 
 
 surface. So constant were those eruptions, and 
 so slight was the resistance they encountered, 
 that some portions of the earlier rock deposits 
 are perforated with numerous chimneys, narrow 
 tunnels as it were, bored by the liquid masses 
 that poured out through them, and greatly 
 modified their first condition. 
 
 There was another element without the 
 globe equally powerful in building it up. Fire 
 and water wrought together in this work, if not 
 alwa}^s harmoniously, at least with equal force 
 and persistency. Water is a very active agent 
 of destruction, but it works over again the ma- 
 terials it pulls down or wears away, and builds 
 them up anew in other forms. 
 
 There is, perhaps, no part of the world cer- 
 tainly none familiar to science where the early 
 geological periods can be studied with so much 
 ease and precision as in the United States. 
 Along their northern borders, between Canada 
 and the United States, there runs the low line 
 of hills known as the Laurentian hills. Insig- 
 nificant in height, nowhere rising more than 
 fifteen hundred or two thousand feet above the
 
 WRITING IN CONCERT. 83 
 
 level of the sea, these are, nevertheless, the 
 first mountains that broke the uniform level of 
 the earth's surface, and lifted themselves above 
 the waters. Their low stature, as compared 
 with that of other more lofty mountain ranges, 
 is in accordance with an invariable rule by 
 which the relative ages of mountains may be 
 estimated. The oldest mountains are the low- 
 est, while the younger and more recent ones 
 tower above their elders, and are usually more 
 torn and dislocated also. This is easily under- 
 stood when we remember that all mountains 
 and mountain chains are the result of upheavals, 
 and that the violence of the outbreak must have 
 been in proportion to the strength of the resist- 
 ance. 
 
 When the crust of the earth was so thin that 
 the heated masses within easily broke through it, 
 they were not thrown to so great a height, and 
 formed comparatively low elevations, such as 
 the Canadian hills or the mountains of Bre- 
 tagne and Wales. But in later times, when 
 young, vigorous giants, such as the Alps, the 
 Himalayas, or, later still, the Rocky Mountains,
 
 34 SHORT HAND EXECUTION. 
 
 forced their way out from their fiery prison- 
 house, the crust of the earth was much thicker, 
 and fearful, indeed, must have been the convul- 
 sions which attended their exit. 
 
 Such, then, was the earliest American land 
 a long, narrow island, almost continental in its 
 proportions, since it stretched from the eastern 
 borders of Canada nearly to the point where 
 now the base of the Rocky Mountains meets the 
 plane of the Mississippi Valley. We may still 
 walk along its ridge, and know that we tread 
 upon the ancient granite that first divided the 
 waters into a northern and southern ocean ; 
 and, if our imaginations will carry us so far, we 
 may look down toward its base, and fancy how 
 the sea washed against this earliest shore of a 
 lifeless world. 
 
 This is no romance, but the bold, simple 
 truth ; for the fact that this granite baud was 
 lifted out of the waters so early in the history of 
 the world, and has not since been submerged, 
 has, of course, prevented any subsequent de- 
 posits from forming above it. And this is true 
 of all the northern part of the United States.
 
 WBITING IN CONCERT. 35 
 
 It has been lifted gradually, the beds deposited 
 in one period being subsequently raised, and 
 forming a shore along which those of the suc- 
 ceeding one collected, so that we have their 
 whole sequence before us. 
 
 For this reason the American continent offers 
 facilities to the geologist denied to him in the 
 so-called Old World, where the earlier deposits 
 are comparatively hidden, and the broken char- 
 acter of the land, intersected by mountains in 
 every direction, renders his investigations still 
 more difficult.
 
 SHOUT HAND EXECUTION. 
 
 TURNING PAGES. 
 
 IT is intended that both writers will complete 
 their pages at the same time, beginning at the 
 same time, and writing line for line. In this 
 way the lines will correspond which begin and 
 end with the same cue ; but when cues are oc- 
 casionally repeated, no difficulty will arise in 
 perusing the notes, though there may not be a 
 correspondence in lines. 
 
 If it should be necessary for one of the writers 
 to use two lines while his associate has used but 
 one, so as to derange the correspondence of the 
 lines on a page, the same should be restored 
 by both beginning the succeeding page at the 
 same time. 
 
 It will be seen in the foregoing exercise, 
 that the cues are not always repeated, or writ- 
 ten at the beginning of a passage. This is a 
 feature which, like vocalization, may be left to 
 the judgment of the writer. A cue can be re- 
 peated as often as determined by experience to 
 be necessary. When they are not repeated, the 
 space allotted to them, near the margin, should 
 be left blank. Their position, and the fact they
 
 WHITING LEFT-HANDED. 37 
 
 are repeated, will distinguish them from other 
 words. 
 
 It will be observed, also, in some cases, that 
 the writer has written past the cue. In these 
 cases it is understood that he did not under- 
 stand the cue, and, as a precaution, kept writ- 
 ing on to the end of the line, so as not to omit 
 any of the text. 
 
 WRITING LEFT-HANDED. 
 
 EXPERIENCE proves that the left hand is 
 nearly, if not quite, as susceptible of train- 
 ing as the right hand. That is shown by 
 the performances on nearly all modern musical 
 instruments, and those most difficult of execu- 
 tion, the violin, piano, flute, and many others. 
 To exclude the use of the left hand would be 
 to do away with all excellence in musical exe- 
 cution. 
 
 The violinist not only holds his instrument 
 with his left hand, but executes with it an es- 
 sential part in producing the music. The type- 
 writer operator performs nearly half of the la- 
 bor with his left hand. And in other fields of 
 
 449558
 
 38 SHORT HAND EXECUTION. 
 
 labor we see that the left eye, ear, arm, and limb 
 perform an amount nearly, if not quite, equal to 
 that of the right. 
 
 These facts suggest, at least, that the left hand 
 of the writer should not be wholly devoted to 
 the passive duty of paper-holding. 
 
 There are especial advantages arising to the 
 writer from the possession of a trained left 
 hand. 
 
 It serves in case the right hand has been dis- 
 abled by accident. It can be used to relieve 
 the right hand from excessive labor, lessening 
 and obviating many causes of debility, among 
 which may be mentioned cramp, paralysis, 
 rheumatism, etc. 
 
 A greater amount of labor can also be per- 
 formed than when the use of the left hand is 
 not rendered available. 
 
 As before stated, it will not be attempted, in 
 these pages, to give instruction how to write 
 short-hand with the right hand. That is done 
 in all the text-books devoted to the exposition 
 of short-hand. It represents the one method of 
 execution that has been adhered to by all short- 
 hand authors, as well as, for the most part, by 
 both short-hand and long-hand writers. Occa- 
 sionally the left hand has been employed in
 
 WRITING LEFT-HANDED. 39 
 
 writing, but this has generally been compulsory, 
 ou account of the loss of the use of the right 
 hand. The success attending such efforts has 
 usually been quite remarkable, although the 
 practice has been to write the same alphabet, 
 in the same direction, with the left hand, that is 
 written with the right. That puts the left hand 
 at a disadvantage. The left hand should be 
 provided with the same respective alphabet, one 
 corresponding to that of the right, but it should 
 not be the same. The left arm is placed on the 
 left side of the body, as the right arm is on the 
 right side. If the right arm is moved to the 
 right, a corresponding motion of the left arm 
 would be to the left, or in an opposite direction. 
 Accordingly, the movements of the left hand in 
 executing written characters should be opposite 
 those of the right hand. 
 
 At the same time it is desirable to avoid the 
 necessity of providing a new and arbitrary 
 alphabet for the left hand, unlike that of the 
 right hand, which would be difficult to learn, 
 and liable to engender confusion. 
 
 Happily the difficulties above referred to can 
 be avoided, and an alphabet secured which can 
 be written freely and naturally with the left 
 hand, and the memory is not taxed in committing
 
 40 SHORT HAND EXECUTION. 
 
 it, as it is derived from the right-hand alphabet, 
 being a modification of the same. This modifi- 
 cation consists, for the most part, in writing 
 it in a reversed position. It thus becomes a 
 separate system that may be written with the 
 left hand independent of the right. It is not 
 only so arranged that it can be written with 
 great facility with the left hand, but our knowl- 
 edge of writing executed \yith the right hand is 
 made the " key " by which we can readily and 
 easily acquire a like knowledge of that written 
 with the left hand. If we can write words or 
 sentences in long-hand with the right hand, we 
 can very readily determine the manner of writ- 
 ing the same with the left ; and if we can write 
 a word or sentence in short-hand, and correctly 
 vowel the same, we can as correctly write and 
 vowel the same with the left hand. By a kind 
 of reversal, signs, words, or sentences written 
 with the right hand are made to represent those 
 written with the left, thereby avoiding the diffi- 
 culties incident to providing an arbitrary alpha- 
 bet for the left hand. 
 
 The following will serve as an infallible rule 
 for ascertaining the left form of any sign, word, 
 or phrase which can be written with the right 
 hand:
 
 WRITING LEFT-HANDED. 41 
 
 " Write the given sign, word, or phrase on trans- 
 parent paper with the right hand, then change the 
 />/>*'i', end for end, and surface for surface, ivhen 
 the left form of the given sign, ivord, or phrase 
 will be represented'' 
 
 For example, write the phrase, " Since that 
 time," in long-hand, thus : 
 
 Reversing agreeable to the rule, and we have for 
 the left hand : 
 
 Representing the same by short-hand charac- 
 ters, and we have with the right hand : 
 
 ( 
 
 v 
 
 Reversing, and we have for the left hand : 
 
 The same effect will be produced, if, instead 
 of reversing the characters written with the 
 right hand, their reflection from a mirror be 
 viewed. That will produce a similar reversal.
 
 42 SHORT HAND EXECUTION. 
 
 A small amount of practice only will be neces- 
 sary to enable the writer to determine the left 
 form of any word or phrase mentally. 
 
 From what has now been shown, it can be 
 seen that left signs or words, being similarly re- 
 versed, become right words. In this way the 
 various left forms may be verified, and any de- 
 fects of form more clearly pointed out. 
 
 This part of our subject will be more fully 
 illustrated by a stanza written in long-hand and 
 short, with both the right hand and left, and 
 from which a comparison can be made.
 
 WRITING EITHER-HANDED. 
 
 43 
 
 -to 
 
 ~ "^ s ~"~ ^ c:7 ---- s - $ 
 
 /...._'..._ .V 
 
 L-LJL. /L.
 
 44 SHORT HAND EXECUTION. 
 
 KEY TO OPPOSITE PAGE. 
 
 BOOKS. 
 
 IT is chiefly through books that we enjoy intercourse 
 with superior minds, and these invaluable means of com- 
 munication are within the reach of all. In the best books 
 great men talk to us give us their most precious thoughts, 
 and pour their souls into ours. Books are the true levelers. 
 They give to all who will faithfully use them the society, 
 the spiritual presence, of the best and greatest of our race. 
 No matter how poor I am no matter though the prosper- 
 ous of my own time will not enter my obscure dwelling if 
 the sacred writers will enter and take up their abode under 
 my roof, if Milton will cross my threshold to sing to me 
 of Paradise, and Shakespeare to open to me the worlds of 
 imagination and the workings of the human heart, and 
 Franklin to enrich me with his practical wisdom, I shall 
 not pine for intellectual companionship, and I may become 
 a cultivated man, though excluded from the best society 
 where I live. CHANNING.
 
 WRITING LEFT-HANDED. 
 
 45 
 
 
 d- __<L./r_.J
 
 46 SHORT HAND EXECUTION. 
 
 WKITING BOTH-HANDED. 
 
 WITH sufficient practice, a speed of writing 
 with the left hand may be acquired nearly equal 
 to that of the right. The practice necessary, 
 however, is not nearly so great as that at first 
 required to learn to write with the right hand ; 
 for. as the mind has been already trained to the 
 required movements, the muscles of the left 
 hand alone have to be educated, and they have 
 only to imitate the movements of the right 
 hand. 
 
 But that is of less advantage for rapid writing, 
 unless the capacity of each hand can be made 
 available at the same time. In order to accom- 
 plish this, it is necessary that the hands, when 
 extended in writing, shall move in parallel lines, 
 and in the same direction, to allow the pens to 
 be kept in close proximity to each other, that 
 the eye may take cognizance of both. In 
 writing with the right hand, as is well known, 
 the hand moves from left to right ; and in 
 writing with the left hand, as has been explained, 
 the hand moves from right to left. In writing 
 both-handed, however, each line of writing is
 
 WRITING BOTH-HANDED. 47 
 
 varied ninety degrees, and made to extend from 
 the writer. The pens will, in executing the 
 respective writing of each, advance in parallel 
 lines, and always be contiguous to each other. 
 The notes may be read with the paper in the 
 same position. 
 
 In binding such pages in book form, however, 
 it is often more convenient to so attach them 
 that the lines of writing will appear to extend, 
 with the book held in the usual position, from 
 left to right. This will bring the right-hand 
 line in its ordinary position, and cause the left 
 line to be quite inverted ; and the side of the 
 page that was furthest from the writer when 
 writing, will be the right side of the page of the 
 bound book. That is of little consequence to 
 the writer, as the relative position of the 
 writing is not altered. It will be readily un- 
 derstood by reference to the following illustra- 
 tions, wherein a number of characters, words, 
 and phrases are made to indicate the position 
 of both-handed writing.
 
 48 
 
 WRITING BOTH-HANDED. 
 
 & Left Sigos 
 
 A- 
 
 ...v:.. 
 
 -jr^r~*v 
 
 ...r !V5**i 
 
 f*'* x 
 
 -~?- 
 
 VI \ 
 
 ./"./"
 
 SIMULTANEOUS WRITING. 49 
 
 SIMULTANEOUS WRITING. 
 
 HAVING shown how writing may be executed 
 with both hands, upon parallel lines, and in 
 such proximity that the eye can take cognizance 
 of the operation of both pens at the same time, 
 we will now proceed to show how a great gain 
 in speed may be realized by writing with both 
 hands simultaneously, and availing ourselves of 
 the labor of each in executing a single passage. 
 It is evident that if we can write one hundred 
 words per minute Math the right hand, and 
 ninety with the left hand, that we can write one 
 hundred and ninety words per minute, provided 
 we can unite the capacities of each hand. That 
 is accomplished by employing each hand to 
 write each alternate word of a passage. For 
 example, take the sentence, " To be contents his 
 natural desire." " To " may be written with 
 either hand, but we will suppose it is written 
 with the left hand. A little in advance " be " 
 will be written with the right hand, and in advance 
 of this, "contents" with the left hand; then 
 "his" with the right hand, "natural" with the 
 4
 
 50 SUOKT HAND EXECUTION. 
 
 left hand, and " desire " with the right hand, 
 thus : 
 
 / o- > 
 
 IV.L.JV 
 
 Words differ, however, in regard to the lengtli 
 of time required to write them, and, on this 
 account, may be said to be long or short. When 
 it occurs, as it often does, that the words as- 
 signed to each hand differ in length, a loss of 
 time will be occasioned by the hand which 
 executed the shorter word remaining idle till 
 the long word is completed. That is obviated 
 by writing a succeeding word, or words, with the 
 hand that executed the shorter word. Take, for 
 example, the phrase, " The violation of law." 
 "The" would be written with the left hand, 
 and " violation " with the right hand. As the 
 former would be completed much sooner than 
 the latter, the remaining time should be em- 
 ployed by the left hand in writing the remaining 
 words of the phrase, thus :
 
 W1UTING BOTH-HANDED. .") I 
 
 Spaces may be left to indicate pauses in 
 speaking ; and where the words of a phrase are 
 nearly related in sense they may be written 
 more closely together, or grouped, which will 
 render the writing more legible. 
 
 Words, in some cases, may be omitted in 
 phrases where they can be supplied by the con- 
 text ; and those of great length, or having parts 
 difficult to join, may be divided, writing differ- 
 ent portions with different pens. When that is 
 done, the first half of the word should be written 
 in its proper position, and the final portion near 
 it and directly opposite, thus : 
 
 penalty '"7" 
 
 mental. 
 
 POSITION IN WRITING. 
 
 The writer should sit fronting the table, and 
 the paper should be placed parallel with the 
 table, or so that the lines of writing will 
 extend directly from the writer. The pens or 
 pencils should be held so as to point in oppo-
 
 MIoKT HAM) K\K< TTION. 
 
 site directions, making an angle of about forty 
 degrees with the horizon, and retained between 
 the first and second fingers, or in a manner to 
 be controlled by the thumb and first finger. 
 But those who prefer may hold them as in ordi- 
 nary writing. As the arms are advanced in 
 
 writing, motion should take place, for the most 
 part, at the elbows, but, to some extent, at the
 
 WRITING UOTH-HANDED. 53 
 
 shoulders and wrists ; especially should the 
 paper be of considerable width. 
 
 The paper can best be retained by having it 
 made up in pads, the edges being secured with 
 an adhesive material, but at the same time so 
 slightly that the sheets can be readily removed. 
 Should the same be necessary, two such pads 
 may be made use of and written on alternately ; 
 and the sheets can, in that case, be removed by 
 an attendant so that the writing will not be 
 interrupted. 
 
 An ordinary note-book or loose paper is not 
 so convenient, for the reason it is not firmly re- 
 tained. 
 
 The rulings may be about one quarter of an 
 inch apart, the writer leaving a blank line be- 
 tween the right and left lines ; or it may be 
 ruled with lines alternately one-fourth and 
 seven-sixteenths of an inch apart, the writing 
 being executed between the lines of greater 
 width. The writer's habits and style of writing 
 will have much to do with determining the ar- 
 rangement of these details, and a little experi- 
 ence will demonstrate the more desirable meth- 
 ods ; and the writer will be enabled to make any 
 modifications that may be found on trial to be 
 desirable.
 
 54 SHORT HAND K.\ !'.< ITH >N. 
 
 KEY TO OPPOSITE PAGE. 
 
 WHAT are great and beneficial discoveries in 
 their origin? What is the process which has 
 led to them? They are the work of rational 
 man, operating upon the materials existing in 
 nature, and observing the laws and properties 
 of the physical world. The Creator of the uni- 
 verse has furnished us the material ; it is all 
 around us, above us, and beneath us ; in the 
 ground under our feet, the air we breathe, the 
 waters of the ocean, and of the foundations of 
 the earth ; and in the various subjects of the 
 kingdom of nature. We cannot open our eyes, 
 nor stretch out our hands, nor take a step, bat 
 we see and handle and tread upon the things 
 from which the most wonderful and useful dis- 
 coveries and inventions have been deduced. 
 
 What is gunpowder, which has changed the 
 character of modern warfare ? It is a mechan- 
 ical mixture of some of the most common and 
 least costly substances. What is the art of
 
 WRITING BOTH-HANDED 
 
 Future Increase at 
 
 
 - ...... ..... 
 
 v_
 
 56 SHORT HAND EXECUTION. 
 
 printing? A contrivance less curious as a piece 
 of mechanism than a musical-box. What is 
 vaccination ? A trifling ail communicated by a 
 scratch of the lancet, and capable of protecting 
 human life against one of the most terrible mal- 
 adies to which it is exposed. And are the prop- 
 erties of matter all discovered, its laws all found 
 out, the uses to which they may be applied all 
 detected? I cannot believe it. We cannot 
 doubt that truths now unknown are in reserve 
 to reward the patience and the labors of future 
 lovers of truth, which will go as far beyond the 
 brilliant discoveries of the last generation as 
 these do beyond all that was known to the an- 
 cient world. The pages are infinite in that 
 great volume, which was written by the hand 
 Divine, and they are to be gradually turned, pe- 
 rused, and announced to benefited and grateful 
 generations by genius and patience, and espe- 
 cially by patience by untiring, enthusiastic, 
 self-devoting patience. 
 
 The progress which has been made in art and 
 science is. indeed, vast. We are ready to think 
 that a pause must follow ; that the goal must be 
 at hand. But there is no goal, and there can 
 be no pause ; for art and science are, in them- 
 selves, progressive. They are moving powers,
 
 WRITING BOTH-HANDED. 
 
 57 
 
 N> 
 ~ "^ j> ^V.^--^-^-^ ^ 
 
 ^ x ^ r ^ ' ^ . 
 "'c"'"7 -^-^-^-70-7^ -vi r ,/ 
 
 ZJ N ^ ^.,- 
 
 <V>- 1 \ ->- c / c \ ^~ 
 
 \ I ' ) / ^-4. \ ^-x 
 
 ..A-.-.s^-.U .^_^->-.\_,/9 \5 L}ss 
 
 : -^- -----
 
 58 SHOKT HAND EXECUTION. 
 
 animated principles. They are instinct with 
 life. They are themselves the intellectual life 
 of man. Nothing can arrest them which does 
 not plunge the entire order of society into bar- 
 barism. There is no end to truth, no bound 
 to its discovery and application. And a man 
 might as well think to build a tower from the 
 top of which he could grasp Sirius in his hand, 
 as to prescribe a limit to discovery and inven- 
 tion. Never do we more evince our arrogant 
 ignorance than when we boast our knowledge. 
 True science is modest, for her keen, sagacious 
 eye discerns that there are deep undeveloped 
 mysteries where the vain sciolist sees all plain. 
 We call this an age of improvement, as it is. 
 But the Italians, in the time of Leo X., and 
 with great reason, said the same of their age. 
 The Romans, in the time of Cicero, the same of 
 theirs ; and the Assyrians and Egyptians, in the 
 flourishing periods of their ancient monarchies, 
 the same of theirs. In passing from one of 
 these periods to another prodigious strides are 
 often made ; and the vanity of the present age 
 is apt to flatter itself that it has climbed to the 
 very summit of invention and skill. A wiser 
 posterity at length finds out that the discovery 
 of one truth, the investigation of one law of na-
 
 WEITIKQ BOTH-HANDED. 
 
 59 
 
 "3 J 
 
 J H 
 
 ,.<,_. 
 
 ^";~7"\ :" 
 
 
 /..?.. ...
 
 60 SHORT HAND EXECUTION. 
 
 ture, tlie contrivance of one machine, the per- 
 fection of one art, instead of narrowing, has wi- 
 dened the field of knowledge still to be acquired 
 and given to those who come after an ampler 
 space, more numerous data, better instruments, 
 a higher point of observation, and the encour- 
 agement of living and acting in the presence of 
 a more intelligent age. 
 
 It is not a century since the number of fixed 
 stars was estimated at about three thousand. 
 Newton had counted no more. When Dr. Her- 
 schel had completed his great telescope, and 
 turned it to the heavens, he calculated that 
 two hundred and fifty thousand stars passed 
 through its field in one quarter of an hour. 
 
 It may not irreverently be conjectured to be 
 the harmonious plan of the universe, that its two 
 grand elements of mind and matter should be 
 accurately adjusted to each other ; that there 
 should be full occupation in the physical world, 
 in its laws and properties, and in the social re- 
 lations connected with it, for the active and con- 
 templative powers of every created intellect. 
 The imperfection of human institutions has, as 
 far as man is concerned, disturbed the pure har- 
 mony of this great system. On the one hand, 
 much truth, discoverable even at the present
 
 WP.1TING BOTH-HANDED. 
 
 61 
 
 r 
 
 A 
 
 V. I \ 
 
 _ \ 
 
 ....%.. 
 
 ** I
 
 SHOUT HAND EXECUTION. 
 
 stage of limn an improvement, as we have every 
 reason to think, remains undiscovered. On the 
 other hand, thousands and millions of rational 
 minds, for want of education, opportunity, and 
 encouragement, have remained dormant and in- 
 active, though surrounded on every side by 
 those qualities of things, whose action and com- 
 bination, no doubt, still conceal the sublimest 
 and most beneficial mysteries. 
 
 But a portion of the intellect, which has 
 been placed on this goodly theater, is wisely, 
 intently, and successfully active; ripening even 
 on earth into no mean similitude of higher na- 
 tures. From time to time a chosen hand, some- 
 times directed by chance, but more commonly 
 guided by reflection, experiment, and research, 
 touches, as it were, a spring, till then unper- 
 ceived, and through what seemed a blank and 
 impenetrable wall, the barrier to all further 
 progress, a door is thrown open into some be- 
 fore unexplored hall in the sacred temple of 
 truth.
 
 WRITING BOTH-HANDED. 
 
 f-S> 
 J 
 
 (i 
 
 ^ v* 

 
 64 SHORT HAND EXECUTION. 
 
 HINTS TO LEARNERS. 
 
 THE first thing the learner will require is a 
 knowledge of the principles of some system of 
 short-hand. The aid of a teacher, or associa- 
 tion with a practical stenographer, will be of 
 great advantage, but it can be mastered without 
 such assistance. The student should, at least, 
 insist on obtaining a thorough knowledge of the 
 theory, and acquiring the ability to write cor- 
 rectly and legibly, at a fair rate, say one hun- 
 dred words per minute, the faster the better. 
 This will serve for taking memoranda and 
 doing the work of an amanuensis. 
 
 Writing in concert, as taught in the pages of 
 this work, may now be undertaken, or even with 
 a less rate of speed than that mentioned above. 
 It is well to select for an associate writer one 
 with whose writing the student is familiar. In 
 fact, it is well to have a " companion in study " 
 from the outset, as f the mutual advantages 
 arising in such eases are very great, and success 
 is more certain. When writing in concert, es- 
 pecially, such companionship will render prac- 
 tice highly agreeable and fascinating to both. 
 Concert writing will fit the writers for occasions 
 when great speed is required. 
 
 Writing left-handed may be undertaken at 
 any time, without reference to writing with the 
 right hand. Regular practice in both long-hand
 
 HINTS TO LEARNERS. 65 
 
 and short-hand will be required, similar, though 
 less in amount, to that required in first learning 
 to write with the right hand. It should be con- 
 tinued till the muscles of the hand become 
 strengthened and a facility of execution is at- 
 tained. When writing, the left side should be 
 placed adjacent to the table, and the writing 
 should proceed from right to left. A little prac- 
 tice in reading the manuscript will render that 
 written with the left hand as legible as that 
 written with the right. 
 
 After the student has acquired the ability to 
 write with facility with either hand, both-handed 
 writing may be attempted. This will furnish an 
 ample field for all his tact and cleverness. Simple 
 signs should be selected for first practice, for 
 example, the dot. Let it be written with the 
 right hand, and, a little in advance, on the left 
 line, with the left hand. This practice may be 
 continued till it can be written simultaneously 
 with ease and facility. 
 
 Chay may be taken for a second exercise, 
 and similarly written, executing it slowly and 
 increasing as speed is attained. 
 
 When similar signs can be readily executed, 
 more dissimilar ones for a succeeding exercise 
 may be selected, for example, right, Tee, and 
 left, Kay. 
 
 It is impossible to give directions that can 
 be followed in all cases ; but the lessons can be 
 made gradually progressive, till words of dif- 
 ficult outline can be executed simultaneously. 
 A reader may next be employed to read exer-
 
 66 SHOUT HAND EXECUTION. 
 
 cises for the student to practice upon. Such 
 exercises should at first embody words of short 
 and simple outline. The first of the ordinary 
 series of school readers will be found desirable, 
 after practicing which, readers of a higher grade 
 may be employed. 
 
 All manuscript notes should be deciphered. 
 That should be an invariable rule. As before 
 remarked, it is impossible to give set rules for 
 the guidance of the student at all stages of his 
 progress. Different temperamental conditions 
 call for varied methods of practice. 
 
 It is believed, however, not to be advisable to 
 attempt to conceive the outline of two words 
 simultaneously, but that the form of each word 
 should be determined while the pen is being 
 lifted or passed to a succeeding word. For 
 example, the outline of each right word may bo 
 conceived while the right pen is being lifted and 
 the left pen completing a preceding word ; and 
 the outline of each left word may be conceived 
 while the left pen is being lifted and the right 
 pen is completing a preceding word. This 
 relieves the mind from a strain that would be 
 experienced by attempting to conceive the forms 
 of two words simultaneously. This suggestion 
 has more reference to unfamiliar outlines. When 
 the forms have been many times written they 
 may be taken simultaneously as one word. It 
 then becomes mechanical, not requiring the 
 exercise of the mind. 
 
 In verbatim reporting it shoiild be borne in 
 mind that an acute hearing, as well as familiar-
 
 WRITING CASE. 
 
 ity with the subject-matter reported, will be 
 found to be essential, as speed of writing will 
 not enable the short-hand writer to take what 
 he cannot hear, or transcribe correctly technical- 
 ities that he does not understand. 
 
 WRITING CASE. 
 
 As there are occasions when the short-hand 
 writer cannot command the conveniences of 
 seat, light, and desk, the author herewith gives 
 a description of a mechanical device, which he 
 has used successfully in cases where, without it, 
 the report could not have been made. It is ser- 
 viceable in reporting with a single pen, and well 
 adapted to writing in concert. 
 
 Its general mechanical construction will be 
 understood by reference to Fig. 1. 
 
 FIG. I. 
 
 It is in the form of a parallelepiped, being 
 about six inches in length, by five in width, and 
 two and a half in thickness. The writing is
 
 68 SHORT HAM) K\ K< TTION. 
 
 executed on a scroll of paper, sufficient for from 
 three to six hours' writing. This scroll is coiled 
 upon two cylinders, contained within a case, 
 their axles being provided each with a toothed 
 wheel, which is actuated by the left hand of the 
 writer. The distance between the teeth corre- 
 sponds with the distance between the lines of 
 writing, so that it is only necessary to turn the 
 wheel the distance of one tooth, to cause the 
 paper to advance sufficiently to bring a new line 
 of writing in position. The axles of the cylinders 
 are provided with a friction brake and set screw, 
 by which they can be adjusted so as to give the 
 paper the proper tension. The writing is ex- 
 ecuted on the longitudinal central line of the 
 cylinder, a slot being cut in the case to expose 
 the same, and the paper, being under tension, 
 is firm and smooth. The slight convexity of 
 the cylinder affords no inconvenience to the 
 writer, but is advantageous, as it enables him to 
 follow the line of writing Avith tolerable accuracy, 
 even in the dark, or when his eyes may be 
 turned in some other direction. 
 
 When the end of the scroll is reached, the 
 case is reversed. A slot on the opposite side 
 exposes the second cylinder, and as the paper 
 is crossed in passing from one cylinder to the 
 other, the unwritten side will be exposed on the 
 second cylinder. By simply operating the wheel 
 attached to the axle of this cylinder, as already 
 described, the scroll is moved in the opposite 
 direction, so that the paper is made available on 
 both sides for writing.
 
 WHITING CASK. 69 
 
 The scroll can readily be removed from the 
 holder and a new one inserted. It can also be 
 cut in numbered sections for transcription if 
 desired. 
 
 The following are some of the advantages 
 afforded by this case : 
 
 1st. It enables the reporter to write from 
 three to six hours continuously, without shifting 
 paper or turning leaves, and on paper that is 
 retained in a firm position and free from 
 wrinkles. 
 
 2d. To write standing, with nearly the same 
 ease as when seated at a desk. 
 
 3d. To write with facility in almost any posi- 
 tion standing or sitting. 
 
 4th. To write out of doors in a stiff breeze or 
 when storming. 
 
 oth. To write without looking at the paper, 
 and when observing other objects, as a proces- 
 sion or boat race. 
 
 6fch. To wr^te in the dark, as is sometimes 
 necessary in reporting a description of the 
 views of a stereopticon, or a response to a sere- 
 nade. 
 
 The manner of using this case is very simple. 
 It is grasped at the forward end with the thumb 
 and fourth finger of the left hand, and retained 
 by a gentle pressure of the palm of the hand, 
 leaving the first and second fingers free to 
 operate the toothed wheel whenever it is de- 
 sired to move the paper. When sitting it can 
 very conveniently be rested upon the lap or 
 upon a table.
 
 70 SHOUT MAM) KXKI ITHtN. 
 
 WHITING IN THE DARK. 
 
 WHEN writing in the dark, or when the atten- 
 tion is directed elsewhere, as already described, 
 the writing is executed by what is generally 
 known as the sense of feeling. That this faculty 
 is capable of cultivation is illustrated by the 
 musician in the manipulation of instruments, as 
 well as in the feats performed by the blind. In 
 many instances it is more unerring than the 
 sense of sight. It should be cultivated by the 
 short-hand writer, as in rapid writing the ex- 
 ecution of various outlines is more by the sense 
 of feeling than sight. It is also a great aid to 
 uniformity and accuracy in rapid writing. The 
 writing case renders writing by feeling practi- 
 cable ; not that it is contemplated to supersede 
 writing by sight, but it extends, the scope of 
 short -hand, by enabling the writer to work in 
 the dark, should it become necessary. 
 
 The greatest difficulties are encountered in 
 voweling short-hand outlines, when this is done 
 by inserting separate characters after the con- 
 sonants have been written, and those systems 
 which admit of the insertion of vowels without 
 lifting the pen, are, in that respect, superior. 
 At the same time a persevering practice will do 
 much toward obviating the above difficulties. 
 
 The following will serve as exercises for the 
 beginner :
 
 WRITING CASE. 71 
 
 Draw horizontal lines one-sixteenth, one- 
 eighth, and one-fourth of an inch long. 
 
 Draw perpendicular and inclined lines corre- 
 sponding to lengths given above, also circles with 
 diameters corresponding to same. 
 
 Draw a circle and place a dot in the center, 
 also perpendicular and horizontal lines passing 
 through the center of the same. 
 
 Draw a dot line across the page correspond- 
 ing with the ruling. 
 
 After the execution of each character they 
 can be viewed, and any inaccuracies noted. In 
 most cases the ability to execute them without 
 the aid of sight will be rapidly acquired. 
 
 Short-hand exercises may next be undertaken. 
 They should be written slowly and carefully at 
 first. This will tend to promote accuracy of 
 writing when writing by sight.
 
 72 SHOUT II \M> KXKCITTION. 
 
 REPORTING TESTIMONY. 
 
 AN important application of short-hand writ- 
 ing is in taking testimony. It is a kind of re- 
 porting that often involves many difficulties. 
 There is a constant change from one person to 
 another as an examination proceeds, and it 
 may be upon technical and obscure subjects. 
 Frequently, too, the witness and counsel, or 
 court, may be speaking simultaneously. It is 
 often very rapid, owing to the excitement of 
 persons testifying, or to the efforts of counsel to 
 press a witness on cross-examination. Answers 
 are often disconnected and not pertinent to the 
 question, and questions irrelevant to the subject 
 under examination. The most trying ordeal, 
 too, may be encountered at the close of a pro- 
 tracted trial in reporting a rapidly delivered 
 argument or charge, when the stenographer may 
 be exhausted by excessive overwork. 
 
 Notwithstanding these difficulties a literal 
 report is always expected, and very desirable. 
 It is impossible to make a condensed report 
 that will include all the essential features that 
 may be developed, from time to time, during 
 the trial. 
 
 Writing in concert may be effectively prac- 
 ticed, especially in reporting the charges of 
 courts and the arguments of counsel. It is a 
 service for which it is especially adapted, as the
 
 REPORTING TESTIMONY. !'> 
 
 necessary speed without fatigue is easily at- 
 tained. 
 
 To take testimon}*- in concert more practice 
 and care will be required, for the reason that it 
 is necessary to change so frequently from one 
 person to another. In such cases the cues 
 should be repeated freely, and they naay be 
 separated from the rest of the page by a per- 
 pendicular line about one-fourth of an inch from 
 the left margin. Answers may be distinguished 
 from questions by a blank space on the left 
 margin, a practice common with many. It 
 should be so arranged that the first writer takes 
 the question and the second writer the answer, 
 but there will necessarily be some departures 
 from that rule. In case the counsel and wit- 
 ness speak simultaneously, they should be fol- 
 lowed by their respective writers, and if such 
 takes form several lines, it may be indicated by 
 connecting the same by a line drawn through 
 the cue space. 
 
 When taking testimony both-handed it will 
 generally be found most convenient, in order to 
 distinguish the question from the answer, to 
 write the first word of questions with the left 
 hand, and the first word of answers with the 
 right hand. 
 
 A number of inquiries and answers are sub- 
 joined, which will illustrate the application of 
 some of the foregoing suggestions.
 
 74 
 
 SHORT HAND EXECUTION. 
 
 
 %....)....< 
 .). JI 
 
 .
 
 REPORTING TESTIMONY 
 
 75 
 
 Sccoutt 
 
 V, 
 
 -b 
 
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 6 
 
 x. 
 
 
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 3u
 
 SHOUT HAND KXK< I TIOX. 
 
 Q. How long, doctor, have you been in this 
 business ? 
 
 A. Six or seven years. 
 
 Q. How many cases have you been iu ? 
 
 A. In the neighborhood of a dozen in regard 
 to this matter. 
 
 Q. Where were they ? 
 
 A. One in Woodstock, Vermont. 
 
 Q. Was that a murder trial ? 
 
 A. It was. 
 
 Q. Give a list of them, doctor ? 
 
 A. There was another case at Manchester. 
 The indictment was not for murder in the first 
 degree ; but it was a blood-stain case. There 
 was- another case at Pittsfield, Mass., one at 
 Northampton, Mass., one at Plymouth, Mass. 
 The others have slipped my mind. 
 
 Q. Any other case ? 
 
 A. None, except the Hayden case in New 
 Haven. 
 
 Q. These corpuscles you have been speaking 
 of are quite small ? 
 
 A. They are. 
 
 Q. How many in a drop of blood one-eighth 
 of an inch in diameter ? 
 
 A. I should have to figure to give you the 
 number in a drop one-eighth of an inch in di- 
 ameter. 
 
 Figure and tell us. 
 
 Counsel for State : 
 I object. He was not 
 called as an expert 
 in mathematics. 
 
 A. To give that would 
 involve a protracted 
 mathematical calcula- 
 tion.
 
 REPORTING TESTIMONY. 
 
 | The above answer and objection were spoken 
 simultaneously.] 
 
 Q. Is it not at times difficult to tell whether 
 or not certain substances are blood corpuscles? 
 
 A. Only in a case where they are badly used 
 up ; and then I would not give an opinion. 
 
 Q. Are there not authorities which say that 
 the analysis is so infinitesimal that it is dan- 
 gerous to rely on it in a murder case ? 
 
 A. Authorities say that it is difficult to dis- 
 criminate between dog's blood and human blood. 
 Some think they cannot tell the difference be- 
 tween the two, but so far as distinguishing cor- 
 puscles from other objects there is no difficulty.
 
 78 slloHT HAND EXECUTION. 
 
 KEY TO OPPOSITE PAGE. 
 
 Q. Now at this time didn't you know that my client 
 placed a high value on this property? 
 
 .1. I have known it for some time, and think I knew it 
 then. 
 
 Q. The good -will was valuable ? 
 
 A. Yes, sir. 
 
 Q. To settle the estate would destroy the good-will ? 
 
 A. I think he made use of the same expression. 
 
 Q. Did he not tell you that hundreds of thousands of 
 dollars had been spent to build up the name of the com- 
 pany, and it would be lost if the estate was settled ? 
 
 A. I think he may have made use of that expression on 
 some occasion. 
 
 Q. Was he not very urgent that this property should be 
 returned to hi in ? 
 
 A. He was. 
 
 Q. He informed you, did he not, that he had a note of 
 one hundred thousand dollars, while urging the return of 
 thi&4>roperty ? 
 
 A. My impression is they were not at the same inter- 
 view. 
 
 Q. Do I understand that he, in talking with you, know- 
 ing you were the attorney for the estate, said that he had 
 a note of one hundred thousand dollars which he hadn't 
 considered of any consequence : but if this property was 
 not returned, he should bring suit and collect the note ? 
 
 A. He made use of that expression, "that he hadn't con- 
 sidered it of any consequence. ' ' 
 
 Q. Do you mean to convey that impression ? 
 
 A. That was his language.
 
 KEPOKTING TESTIMONY 79 
 
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 ..... A ._). 
 
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 (
 
 80 INDEX. 
 
 INDEX. 
 
 PAGE 
 
 Preface 3 
 
 Introduction 5 
 
 Writing in Concert 11 
 
 Exercise by Four Writers 14 
 
 Key to same 12 
 
 Method of Execution 16 
 
 Two Associate Writers 19 
 
 Exercise by Two Writers '24 
 
 Key to same 30 
 
 Turning Pages 36 
 
 Writing Left-Handed 37 
 
 Writing Either-Handed 43 
 
 Exercise with the Left Hand 45 
 
 Key to same 44 
 
 Writing Both-Handed 46 
 
 Right and Left Signs Compared 48 
 
 Simultaneous Writing 49 
 
 Position in Writing 51 
 
 Specimen Written Both-Handed. . 55 
 
 Hints to Learners 64 
 
 Writing Case 67 
 
 Writing in the Dark 70 
 
 Reporting Testimony 7'2 
 
 Testimony Written in Concert . . 74 
 
 Key to same 76 
 
 Testimony Written Both-Handed 79 
 
 Key to same 78
 
 UNIVERSITY of 
 AT 
 
 LOS ANGELES 
 LIBRARY
 
 fe*:?iS**V; 
 
 This book is DUE on the last 
 date stamped below 
 
 I SEP 6 1951i 
 
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