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PITMAN'S SHORTHAND CERTIFICATES.

The following Certificates are issued :— THIRD CLASS or Elementary Certificate, for thorough know. ledge of the "Phonographic Teacher":"Shorthand Primer, Book I."; or 20th Cent. "Manual" or " Instructor," as far as Chap. xvii. Fee 6d. Every student after having worked through the "Teacher " is recommended to test his knowledge by applying for this Certificate.

to join this evercirculator. Send stamp for particulars. Ernest Roome,* Leslie house, Swanwick, Derbyshire.

Members wanted for a new evercirculator, which will start shortly; to be devoted to general topics, sports and pastimes, study, etc. Ladies and gentlemen invited to join. Full particulars post free. S. Braham, 7 Lancaster rd., Bayswater, London, W. [24]

Phonographers are invited to join the Phonographic Gem, an evercirculator written in the Easy Reporting Style. Subscription, is per Apply to F. J. Southgate, 62 St Augustine's rd., Camden sq.,

annum.

London, N.W. The Excelsior Evercirculator, circulating in England and India, requires two members for its English section. Apply, enclosing stamp, to Wm. Speare,* 435 Fulham rd., W. Brompton, London, S. W. The Gordon Shorthand Library circulates all the leading magazines. Subscription 6d per month, Is 3d per quarter. Speed Certificates are Particulars post-free. A month's trial solicited. Conductor, A. T. Bean, 1 Victoria rd., Stoke Newington, London, N.

SECOND CLASS OR THEORY CERTIFICATE, for a thorough knowledge of the 20th Cent. "Manual"; or "Instructor," Chaps. 1-xxvi.; or "Shorthand Primer, Book II." Fee 2s. FIRST CLASS OR SPEED CERTIFICATE.

granted for 60 words per minute and upwards. Fee Is. 6d. FULL CERTIFICATE OF PROFICIENCY.-When a Second Class Certificate and a First Class Certificate for 80 words have been obtained, a Full Certificate is issued, certifying that the holder has a thorough theoretical and practical knowledge of Phonography. Fee Is.

Forms of Application for the above Certificates, containing full particulars, can be had gratis and post-free from any of the Offices of Sir Isaac Pitman & Sons, Ltd.

NOTICES.

Each Notice should be written on one side only of a separate piece of paper. Every Notice under the head of Correspondence must give full name and address.

Correspondents are requested to write their address clearly in ordinary longhand. If they wish to receive replies in Phonography, a star should be attached to the name; thus, John Smith.*

Notices of all kinds must reach Bath at least eleven days before the date of the Journal for which they are intended.

Every communication addressed to the Editor of this Journal must be authenticated by the name and address of the writer.

Exercises Corrected Gratis ( enclose stamped and addressed envelope) by

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Correspondence, etc. 1d. per line of ten words. Correspondence desired in the Reporting Style. Lim Koon Tye (Chinese), c/o Guthrie and Co., Ltd., Singapore, Straits Settlements. [24] Fonogafel vüdom spodi volapüka, nelyel u selänel. Brisbane Eldon, 14 Dale st., Miles Platting, Manchester, Lancs.

Pictorial post cards.-Correspondence desired, shorthand or longhand, in all parts of the world. Prompt replies. Gordon L. Hickin, c/o P.O. Box 28, New Plymouth, New Zealand.

Miss F. W. Eckett, 15 Osborne rd., Kingston-on-Thames, Surrey, desires to exchange pictorial post cards.

Pictorial Post Cards. Correspondence required, continental and colonial preferred. Replies to all. Aimee McKennedy, 119 Wallis st., Girlington, Bradford, Yorks.

Phonography, Photography and Physical Culture. Correspondents wanted in all or any of these subjects, in all parts of the world. J. Mack, 60 Hayes rd., Bromley, Kent.

Associations. id. per line of ten words.

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Phonetic Shorthand Writers' Association (London District I.P.S.) The Arcadian Restaurant, 8 Queen st., Cheapside.-The principal Shorthand Association in the kingdom. Meetings held every Thursday evening from 7 to 1o. Regular speed practice conducted at various rates by experienced phonographers. Lectures by well-known shorthand writers; discussions, etc. Speed examinations held periodically. Centre for Society of Arts shorthand examination and for Pitman's medal competitions. (Members sit at these examinations and at the I.P.S. Teachers' Exam. at reduced fees.) Shorthand library and other advantages. Fees, including speed practice, 10s 6d per annum or 38 per quarter. All phonographers (ladies or gentlemen) are eligible for membership. Prospectus, with full particulars, on application to Secretary, H. J. Cork, 2 Reedholm road, Stoke Newington, London, N. [24] Typists' Section, I.P.S. (the N.U. of Typists is incorporated with this Section). Examinations for teachers and typists, lectures, demonstrations, discussions, employment bureau, advice on typewriting matters, etc. Annual subscription, 5s.; members of I.P. S., 3s 6d. Rules, Examination Syllabus, Forms of Application, etc., from the Hon. Sec., Geo. Colebourn, F.I.P.S., 151 Second ave., Manor Park, Essex. Next examination 18th July. Copies of last papers is per set. [28]

Evercirculators and Libraries. id. per line of ten words.

An evercirculator is a manuscript phonographic magazine, consisting of articles written by the individual members, one member acting as conductor. The book passes round, and each round members contribute an article and remarks, or take part in the discussion. A leaflet containing further particulars forwarded from the Phonetic Institute, Bath, on receipt of id stamp.

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Evercirculator paper in three varieties, of superior quality, five quires Is 6d; headings and title-pages, 3d per doz.; covers, cloth is., leather Is 6d. Samples for id. Sir Isaac Pitman and Sons, Ltd. [x] Mid-Derbyshire Phonographer, just commencing. Phonographers (ladies or gentlemen), particularly those residing in Derbyshire, are invited

The best Library is the Telegraph, established ten years, circulating all the magazines, including Australian magazine; quarterly subscription, Is 3d; always vacancies, particulars stamp. Conductor, J. H. Simmons, 2 Rokeby rd., Brockley, London. (33)

The 20th Century Commercial Library, over 160 books available for the use of members. Shorthand, typewriting, French, German, Spanish, and commercial books, together with copies of all English and foreign shorthand magazines. Subscription one penny per week. Splendid opportunity of studying large selections of works at a small cost. Full particulars. for stamp. J. H. Simmons, 2 Rokeby rd., Brockley, London, S.E. [33] Second-hand Books, Shorthand or Phonetic, for Sale, or Exchange, or Wanted, id. per line of ten words; Miscellaneous Books, 3d. per line. For sale, 12 vols. Phonetic Journal, 1889 to 1901; 12s the lot, buyer to pay carriage. C. Harrison, Coxhoe Pottery, Durham. [24] Offers wanted for unbound Cassell's Diamond Jubilee History of England, 53 parts, complete. Good condition, cost 31s. F. J. Hughes, 5 Symons st., Higher Broughton, Manchester.

Wanted to purchase, several shorthand, commercial, and educational books; must be clean and recent editions. Send price enclosing stamp for reply. W. J. Thomas, 68 Lower Stafford st., Wolverhampton. Music, approval, cheap. Send stamp list. Hughes, 6 Baker st., Liverpool.

For sale, phonographic books and magazines, bound and unbound, English and American, many out of print and scarce. Full list sent if stamped envelope be forwarded to Geo. Birtwhistle, 7 Gainsborough rd., Sefton Park, Liverpool.

For sale, post free, 60 Phonetic Journals, 2s 6d, Reporting Exercises and Key, 9d, Phonography in the Office, gd, Reporter, Is, Instructor, Part 2, IS. The lot for 5s. R. B. Smith, 4 Wordsworth st., Liverpool. Wanted, Pitman's German Weekly, vols. 1, 2 and 4, clean and cheap, bound or unbound, buy or exchange. Ashley, 13 fbg. Montmartre, Paris. Wanted, Swan pen, immediately. Leslie Perry, Edward st., Tuckingmill, Camborne.

30 parts revised edition Cassell's Encyclopædic Dictionary (unbound) quite new and uncut, 10s. H. Smyth, 63 Hemingford rd, Barnsbury, London.

Bargain, Cassell's Popular Educator, 1852-5, 6 vols. (bound), carriage forward, 8s. 6d. Albert Palliser, 36 Columbus Ravine, Scarborough. Directory Trades North Western Counties, 1902, for sale. Perfect condition. Not been used. Offers invited. Marshall, 9 St Hilda st., Liverpool.

For sale, Phonographic Reporter, Handbook for Teachers, Progressive Studies, Book of Psalms, 6 consecutive Reporters' Magazines from Nov., 1899, and 2 National Phonographers, the lot 45, or exchange for Pitman's (20th Century) Dictionary. R. Mathews, 28 Sydenham ter., Sunderland. What offers? Shorthand Commercial Letter Writer and Key; Bookkeeping Simplified; Otto's Elementary French Grammar. Ball, 16 Cornfield rd., Eastbourne.

Wanted, Pitman's Manual of Business Training, Business Correspondence in Shorthand and Key. Miss Harvey, 38 Cambridge rd., Southendon-Sea. (23)

Books worth buying, good condition, Is 6d each, post-free. Phonographic Quarterly Review, vol. 2; Book of Common Prayer, in roan, gilt edges, covers slightly soiled; Reed's Reporter's Guide; Pitman's Reporters' Reading Book, with Key in longhand, marked for speed practice; Reporters' Hand-book and Vade Mecum; Phonography adapted to French, number of copies of each for sale; Tom Brown's Schooldays in Shorthand given away with any three; the seven books for 8s, sent abroad for 9s 6d. J. H. Simmons, 2 Rokeby rd., Brockley, London. [26] For sale, new and second-hand Shorthand and Commercial books and magazines. List post-free. A. T. Bean, 1 Victoria rd., Stoke Newington, London, N.

Thousands of books and magazines (shorthand) for sale, all good condition. If you require anything, you cannot do better than drop me a line, with stamp, stating requirements, and I can meet them. J. H. Simmons, 2 Rokeby rd., Brockley, London. 127]

Reading practice for the coming holidays, etc. 6s worth shorthand magazines in new condition, all different, post-free, is 6d, sent any part of the world for money order for 2s; splendid and unequalled value. J. H. Simmons, 2 Rokeby rd., Brockley, London. [271

For sale, few copies of Oliver McEwan's Verbatim Reporting, post-free Is Id. J. H. Simmons, 2 Rokeby rd., Brockley, London, S.E. [261

SUBSCRIPTION RATES.-This Journal may be ordered through any Bookseller, Newsagent, or Railway Bokstall, or by post dire t from the Publishers. The terms to all parts of the world are is. 8d. per quarter: 3s. 3d. per half year; or 6s. 6d. per year, payable in advance. Subscriptions may commence with any number. Monthly part, 5d., post-free 7d,; terms of subscription same as above,

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A JOINT CONFERENCE.

Not for the first time the I.S.S.T. and the National Federation of S.W.A's. arranged to convert their separate annual conferences this year into one Joint Conference. The advantages of this course are many. Larger attendances are secured at all the meetings, the papers receive discussion from more varied points of view, and members of both societies have innumerable opportunities of cultivating one another's acquaintance, and so promoting that sense of fellowship that grows most readily and most certainly where it springs from a basis of personal knowledge.

The two societies have adopted the practice of holding their conferences at the season when the charms of the country are at their greatest. Only lately the winter classes have ended, and many of the associations have closed their doors until the autumn. The results of various examinations are eagerly awaited, and there has been no time for a real cessation of activity. Only enthusiasts could be induced to meet in conference at Whitsuntide, when the country and the seaside are beckoning: but the fascinations of shorthand are irresistible, let the cynics say what they like; and the Joint Conference at Sheffield afforded unanswerable evidence of the fact.

To those who realize that every live topic is inexhaustible, and that shorthand is a peculiarly live topic, it will hardly come as a surprise that the Conference found abundance of subjects for debate. Apart from

addresses of purely domestic interest to the members of the two organizations, there was no lack of items on the program of importance to all engaged in teaching or in writing Phonography. The place of the specialist in commercial education--one of the themes that figured in the syllabus-raises a large question that will not receive its right answer until after many more discussions. It is a subject upon which educationists, education committees, and public authorities generally need to have far clearer ideas than are ordinarily entertained. The topic, "The Educative Influences of Phonography," suggests a variety of considerations of importance to the whole community, which require clear thinking and plain speaking.

So much for the teachers' themes. The Federation had its own series of topics of a quite different order. "Association Failures" demand consideration, and no fitter occasion could be found for a discussion on the subject than a gathering at which many association officials were present. "Shorthand: Is it a Help or a Hindrance?' has been debated in one form or other many times before. But it is a topic that will never grow stale while we have pessimists among us. "Shorthand Inventions of the Nineteenth Century" represents a branch of shorthand knowledge that has not been cultivated in recent years quite so assiduously as it was a generation ago. Finally, while the Joint Conference was highly successful from a phonographic standpoint, it is also gratifying to note its success as a social reunion.

INEFFICIENT TEACHING.

That there is a good deal of inefficient and ineffective teaching of shorthand in schools and classes is still a subject of frequent complaint among teachers whose personal efficiency as instructors of the art has been put beyond all question by the examinations that they have passed and the credentials that they hold. It is generally agreed that the unsatisfactory results that have too often to be deplored are largely due to three circumstances-first, that an altogether inadequate amount of time is, in many instances, given to the subject in the school; secondly, that many classes which teachers are expected to deal with single-handed are too large; and thirdly, that the tuition is, in some cases, in the hands of teachers who know nothing, or at best, very little of the subject in which they are set to train the pupils under them. There are other causes of failure, of course: but those we have mentioned are of long standing, they are obvious, and they are removable. Leaving out of question for the moment the important item of the insufficiency of the school hours generally allotted to shorthand, and the insufficient staffing of classes, there is the question of the teacher. Something is to be said for him by reason of existing arrangements which he did not create, but

which create the intellectual atmosphere that deludes him into thinking that with no knowledge of such a subject as shorthand he is qualified to teach it to others. As was pointed out in a useful paper read at a recent teachers' meeting in London, most of the teachers in our elementary schools have been trained to teach by serving an apprenticeship, or by passing through a training college. To pass the certificate examination successfully requires a wide range of knowledge, and a respectable amount of teaching skill. The standard is high, and the man who succeeds in passing is supposed to be a capable teacher. He concludes that having undergone the long study necessary for the purpose, he is fit to teach in school any subject in which it is desired that the pupils shall receive instruction. As regards most of the subjects of tuition this claim is not unreasonable, because the teacher has had to prepare himself carefully in those subjects in order to pass his own examination. But as regards shorthand the claim has not proved itself to be justifiable. The reason is that shorthand forms no part of the teacher's training. Further, it is not a subject in which good instruction can be given by anyone whose knowledge of it is not pretty thorough.

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This truth is, we are satisfied, making its way slowly among elementary school teachers, and is even recognised here and there by schoolmasters. But one still hears it said that a "trained teacher can easily teach "such a subject as shorthand " by keeping himself one lesson in advance of the class, or by "looking up each lesson a little while before the class meets that is to receive the instruction in that lesson ! This absurd fallacy will linger until shorthand itself is made one of the compulsory subjects of the teacher's own examination. It represents a notion that nobody could possibly entertain who has any real practical acquaintance with shorthand. The teacher who has only "looked up" his lesson for the first time a few hours before entering the class-room, dares not put on the blackboard any outline that he has not copied from the text book in use. He can give his pupils no fresh illustrations of the rules that they are supposed to be learning. He cannot safely answer any questions that they may put to him. Instances there have been, and by no means few in number, in which the teacher could not put the correct consonant characters on the blackboard without looking at his book; instances in which he has actually put the wrong characters on the blackboard and been corrected by his pupils! In such circumstances the teaching is certain to be faulty and defective, and the students are led astray. When, later, they come, as many of them do, under the influence of a really competent "specialist" teacher, he generally finds it absolutely necessary to start them afresh from the very beginning. They have to unlearn what they have wrongly acquired,

What is the remedy? Surely the first thing to be sought for is to make shorthand an indispensable subject of examination for all teachers, both in elementary and secondary schools. The importance of the art in business life, the importance of training in it being thorough and sound, the importance of the instructor knowing completely that which he endeavours to impart to others: these things need no demonstra. tion. The agitation should be not so much to get this or that credential recognised-valuable as that course is-as to secure on the part of all teachers such a knowledge of the subject as shall make their own teaching fruitful. From the number who have gone to the trouble of taking lessons in their spare time, it is evident that there are trained teachers who appreciate the advantage of this addition to their attainments. There would be many more if it were generally recog nised that shorthand would help them in their study of other subjects, and so tend to make better teachers of them.

Mr E. Latham, F. Inc. S. T., desires phonographers to note that his address is now 16 Oxford street, Bournville, Birmingham.

The new Index and Epitome volume of the "Dictionary of National Biography" contains a concise epitome of Mr Thompson Cooper's biography in the Dictionary itself, prepared by Mr C. E. Hughes. A necessarily brief account is furnished of the progress of Sir Isaac Pitman's shorthand, and it is remarked that "his system has, to a very large extent, superseded all others."'

Mrs Hoster's record of successes has been added to by the achievements of the candidates submitted by her at the recent examinations conducted by the Typists' Section of the I.P.S. Of her pupils eleven sat at the "Shorthand-Typist Clerks' examination" and the "Typists' examination." Eight out of the eleven passed successfully, and two of them carried off the only two medals awarded.

The Manchester Central Commercial S.W.A (federated) is arranging an examination at the Central Commercial Evening School, Whitworth street, Manchester, in connection with the Pitman medal competition. All desirous of entering should communicate early with Mr Alfred Nixon, F.C.A., 31 Victoria buildings, Manchester, or the hon. secretary, Mr J. W. Dulanty, F. Inc.S.T., 228 Droylsden road, Newton Heath, Manchester.

TYPEWRITING NOTES.

One of the earliest Remington models is in the possession of the Buffalo Historic Society.

Every typewriting machine made in the United States is given a trial by the Government. There is an unwritten rule to that effect to encourage American invention and mechanics. All the various departments in Washington and every Javy yard throughout the country are supplied with the latest production of the typewriter maker. The trial given each type of machine is an exhaustive one, and continues until the machine is so far gone as to be unworthy of repair. Then it is sold at auction under sealed bids, with the countless other auxiliaries of department or bureau that are put up at auction at regular periods.

Mr F. D. Phinney, the superintendent of the American Baptist Mission Press in Rangoon, Burma, has designed and perfected an ingenious application of the Remington typewriter by which Burmese characters are used.

The Literary Times for May opens a series of articles on Typewriters and Typewriting. The following extract from the introduction is worth reproducing: "Like everything else, type writing requires a certain amount of study before it can be mastered, though such preparation is exceedingly slight compared with many other methods of earning a living. It is those people who imagine that they are expert typists after about a dozen lessons who, when they find themselves unable to obtain a good situation, owing to their own incapacity. raise the cry of 'too much competition,' and grumble about the supply exceeding the demand."

The Phonographic World for May reproduced a statement that a new typewriter has been invented by Rev. O. H. Lee, upon which he has been working for several years. One of the advantages claimed for the machine is the fact that the operator does not have to pause at the end of a line, inasmuch as the cylinder is perpendicular, and the lines run round it, the writing therefore being continuous. This idea is, however, by no means novel, the same device having been adopted in one of the early models of the Remington. We do not know what form it takes on the new machine, but in the model in question the trouble was that, as the lines ran round the cylinder, it was impossible to read them continuously so long as the paper was on the machine.

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A recent number of Pearson's Weekly contained a letter from a correspondent, Mr F. W. Lockyear, which gives us an interesting chapter in the history of the writing machine in this country: "I was the first in England to use the machine as perfected in 1873 by Messrs Sholes and Latham. In March of that year, while a clerk in the Kingston-onThames Post Office, I was attracted by an advertisement in the London papers, Wanted, a youth who can play the piano and work the Morse instrument.' The wages were to be 25s. a week. The novelty of the want fascinated me, and a speedy visit to the City secured me the position. I found that two Americans had brought over two typewriters with a view of introducing them to the commercial public, and they were anxious to secure a smart operator to quickly acquire a capable speed. The offices were situated on the first floor of the Estates Gazette offices, in Fleet street, two doors above the then existing Temple Bar. In five weeks I had obtained complete mastery of the key-board, and I was able to show its capabilities to interested visitors. The first Press notice which appeared concerning the new invention was in the Spiritualist, edited by Mr Burns, who called attention to a novel mechanical contrivance, calculated to supersede the use of the pen,' and among those who subsequently called to inspect its working was Mr Burns himself, Cyrus Field, many noted public men, and two deeply interested persons who my employers told me were Dion Boucicault and Wilkie Collins. The inventors attached much importance to the ability of the typewriter to duplicate (by carbon) twelve clear sheets."

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LONDON COUNTY COUNCIL CLERKSHIPS' EXAMINATION.

At the recent examination for Fourth-class Clerkships in the offices of the London County Council, 177 candidates presented themselves for the obligatory subjects, and 78 of these failed to qualify. There were thus 99 candidates in the running for the appointments, which will probably not exceed 12, and the first four have already received appointments. The papers set and marks obtained may be obtained from P. S. King and Sons, Great Smith street, Westminster, London, S. W.

PRINTERS AND SHORTHAND.

In some interesting notes dealing with the printer as journalist, contributed by Mr Frank Colebrook to the British and Colonial Printer and Stationer, it is pleasing to discover that he is one of those journalists who consider that shorthand is an essential portion of the equipment of the present day journalist.

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One word as to shorthand," observes Mr Colebrook. "This art tends to be magnified for commercial and professional use, and disparaged for reporting purposes. That sort of criticism rather misses the mark. It's true we don't ordinarily want to read long speeches, but we do want reports and descriptions which shall represent the boiling down of a lot of carefully though rapidly compiled data. It's in the rapid preliminary work of compilation that shorthand is so helpful, while of course it is at times essential also for speeches really important. Any smart young printer who gave ten minutes to its practice two or three times a day should acquire a fairly helpful shorthand in say six months. In eighteen months he might become verbatim. Twenty years ago I became a verbatim shorthand writer. I daresay it's over ten years since I needed to take a verbatim note; and reporting of any kind has been very little in my way for years. Yet I find shorthand and fast shorthand of the greatest service every hour of the working day. My office and pocket diaries are entirely itemed up in shorthand. And let me pass on one hint from my own practice-it is quite practicable to write letters, articles, what not? in shorthand, and hand over your notes to some clerk to transcribe. I habitually use odd minutes in trains and trams, or in the waiting rooms of busy men, in making such notes, and they are brought to me done into longhand by a typewriter."'

CORRESPONDENCE.

THE POLYGLOT CLUB.

Sir, The Polyglot Club, of 90 Regent street, London, W., established for the exchange of conversation in modern languages between Englishmen and foreigners, has just closed its doors, owing to extraneous causes. I am sure that in London there is a splendid field for a similar Club-under good management. At the Polyglot Club, on payment of one guinea per quarter, I had the right of entry from II a.m. til II p.m., Sundays included. As many men engaged in commerce are not able to get to a club or other institution much before eight o'clock, the advantage of a Club open to a late hour is undeniable. No expense for teachers is necessary, as the members only require practice in conversation, having in the ordinary way gone through the grammar courses-I am speaking of those actually engaged in foreign correspondence, and not of mere beginners. As you, Sir, are in touch with the various branches of the commercial education movement, I write to you in the hope that you will: uggest in the right quarter the opening of such a Club as the one which has just, unfortunately, collapsed. The Polyglot Club had, I believe, more than 200 members at one time-an income of £800 per annum at least, if maintained.

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OUR PORTRAIT GALLERY.

MR C. OWEN, J.P.

The Leigh S.W.A. does not stand alone in possessing as its honorary secretary a busy man whose activities are numerous and varied. The best secretaries of the most flourishing and successful associations are usually men whose outside engagements are numerous and varied, so that one wonders how and when they find the time needed for the due performance of their secretarial duties. But the Leigh association is probably the only organization of the kind in the kingdom that has a Justice of the Peace as its honorary secretary.

Mr Owen, who holds that post, is a typical Lancashire man. He was born at Glazebury, a small village not far from the town with which he is now associated, and comes of a family highly respected in the neighbourhocd. He was educated at Glazebury National School, and afterwards at the Leigh Grammar School. His first engagement when he commenced business life was in the office of a wellknown engineering firm at Leigh, and it was not long after be entered the office that he made his initial acquaintance with Phonography. Another member of the staff used to talk to him on the subject, and succeeded in impregnating him with a conviction of the utility of the art for the purposes of business life, and of the wisdom of acquiring so valuable an accomplishment.

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enabled him to undertake tasks that persons less well equipped physically could hardly have undertaken with impunity. Although he had a day's work before him in the office, it was no uncommon thing for him at this period to be up and out in the fields with his books as early as three o'clock in the morning. Assiduity that displays itself at that time of day never fails to reap its reward. And Mr Owen is satisfied that in his case, at all events, the reward has been obvious and abundant.

He says that his knowledge of shorthand has been of enormous value to him in many ways, and although he has never set up as a teacher of Phonography, his personal experience of the benefits of possessing that acquirement has led him to recommend many a young fellow to enter upon the study.

Commencing as an office boy, his own advance in business life was rapid. He became successively ledger clerk, correspondent, cashier and secretary in the firm in whose service he was engaged. He now has a successful business of his own as an engineer and agricultural machinist, and as he believes in being in all things "up to date," he employs a shorthand clerk, and a typist, and is connected with the national telephone both at his business office and at his private house.

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Through all his progress he has retained his strong belief in the great value of shorthand, and quite recently addressed an important letter to the local press drawing attention to the utility of employing the art in business. He pointed out very conclusively that it is invaluable to the employer and indispensable to the clerk, and that no business house, however small it might be, could be considered "up to date" that did not avail itself of the assistance of this valuable medium. This letter was reproduced in the form of an article in the Shorthand Writer. Another illustration of the strength of his convictions on the subject was afforded by a paper that he contributed not long ago to a district conference of the National Federation of S.W.A's., in which he expressed the opinion that shorthand from its importance will some day form a part of the curriculum of public schools. Perhaps the strongest of all proofs of his attachment to Phonography is to be found in the circumstance that notwithstanding his multifarious duties-and they are multifarious-he fills the post of secretary to the Leigh

(From a photo by A. Sims, Leigh.)

student, he is struck with the marked advance that has been made since he commenced the study. Then it was difficult to obtain the assistance of a teacher. There were no technical schools, and there was no public institution in Leigh at which he could obtain instruction in shorthand. So he did what many youths did in those days-purchased a sixpenny "Teacher," and set to work to master the subject with no other aid than that work supplied. Other books followed of course, and in 1877 Mr Owen's progress with the art was such that he received from Bath the Teacher's Certificate granted in those days.

At this time he was studying other subjects beside Phonography. He was favoured with a good constitu. tion, and enjoyed splendid health-two facts which

S.W.A.

He is a public man, and serves his town in many

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