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INEFFICIENT SHORTHAND WRITERS.

BY ALEXANDER Paterson, F.J.I.

"It is well worth while to learn shorthand, but learn it thoroughly and do not merely dabble." The above constitutes one of three injunctions to boys or youths who are in training for clerkships, in one of a series of papers which have recently appeared in the columns of the British Weekly, under the title, Wanted a Situation. Where are the open doors? "

It is surprising to find, in the present day, with what indifference shorthand is regarded by many youths who have been trained for clerical pursuits, including not a few who have taken lessons in the art; and in what an off-hand and indifferent manner they talk and write about it, as if the ability to write shorthand with facility were only a matter of minor importance. In proof of this I cull from these papers several extracts from answers sent to advertisements for clerks cr private secretaries, in which ability to write shorthand was specified as an essential qualification. My shorthand is bad;" "I have allowed the study to lapse;" "I can no doubt take up shorthand again, if necessary;' "I have no shorthand, but have travelled in most European countries;" "I am beginning shorthand, and shall, no doubt, improve by practice;" I do not know shorthand, but will be willing to commence;" "No shorthand or typewriting, but am considered very versatile ;" No shorthand, but am a non-smoker and vegetarian, and a very rapid learner;" "I am afraid I am not much good at shorthand, but, if you engage me, will attend classes regularly;" and so on, and so on. One candidate was so confident of his powers and so obliging as to guarantee to learn any system in two months.

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It seems to be taken for granted by many young clerks that because they have never, so far, been required to use shorthand, therefore it is a superfluous accomplishment, while those who do condescend to try and master it, set about the task in a lazy, indifferent fashion, and never become anything better than mere smatterers. They do not put their hearts into their task, and do not stick to it, allowing other pursuits to absorb the major portion of their attention. The writer of the papers from which we have quoted say: "It is astonishing how many people's shorthand is as uncertain as Mr Winkle's shooting. The moral for the young clerk is to beware of the disuse of such a valuable accomplishment, which they can easily keep up while waiting for an appointment by reporting sermons and speeches."

The indifferent success of many shorthand tyros in their efforts to acquire proficiency in the art is due mainly to lack of interest and enthusiasm. Given these, and proficiency will be acquired within a comparatively brief period. All are not equally apt learners, but, provided there is no mental or physical drawback, and the student has passed the ordinary elementary school standards, Phonography ought to be thoroughly mastered within a period of, say, six months. After that the getting up of speed will be a work of time, and in order to attain efficiency here reading and writing Phonography should be diligently pursued. Mr T. P. O'Connor, who has been giving his early phonographic experiences in the columns of M.A.P., says he experiences difficulty in reading his notes with facility, and this he attributes to his early practice of writing from dictation, in place of trying to follow public speakers. Experiences vary here. The best plan to adopt to secure facility in deciphering one's notes is to use the most approved outlines; keep up the habit of reading as much Phonography as possible; and particularly notes which have been taken for practice. Young men do not now turn sufficiently to account the facilities afforded them for reporting sermons and speeches. Some of them dread-awful thought-being mistaken for reporters; others dislike making themselves conspicuous. When they attract an undue share of attention they usually have themselves to blame. In church or chapel a note taker should never ensconce himself in a front pew, or other prominent position where he is likely to attract attention. A quiet obscure

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corner near a pillar where he can place his note-book on his knee and be free from the risk of being jostled, is often a desirable location. Some preachers get "upset "when they catch sight of a note-book and pencil, and will even stop and order the reporter to desist, therefore the latter should keep out of sight as much as possible. The popular evangelist, Gipsy Smith belongs to this class, and hence his services are not reported and but rarely noticed at any length. Amateurs, however, do now and again succeed in reporting him, and, as he is an extempore speaker, find the exercise splendid practice. As to political and other platform speakers, these may be reported by anyone without let or hindrance, and after a time the young note-taker ceases to dread tackling even that oratorical ogre, the "crack speaker."'

LEGAL TERMS, PHRASES, AND
ABBREVIATIONS

FOR TYPISTS, AND SHORTHAND AND OTHER
JUNIOR CLERKS.

BY THE AUTHOR OF "ELEMENTARY LAW FOR
SHORTHAND CLERKS AND TYPISTS."

III. TERMS USED IN LITIGATION (CONTINUED).
Distringas (continued).—

SPECIMEN FORMS.

1. Affidavit of Interest in Stock.

IN the Matter of the Settlement dated the 19th day of January 1890 executed on the marriage of John Sanders now deceased and Emily Smith spinster now Emily Sanders of Walton House Purley in the county of Surrey widow

OR in the matter of the will dated the 31st day of August 1895 of John Sanders late of Walton House Purley in the county of Surrey Esquire deceased of which probate was granted out of the High Court of Justice Probate Divorce and Admiralty Division on 25th July 1902

And in the matter of the Act of Parliament 5 Victoria chapter 5

I Thomas Sanders of Woodmansterne in the county of Surrey bootmaker make oath and say

That according to the best of my knowledge information and belief I am beneficially interested in the stock comprised in the settlement [or "in the will"] above-mentioned which stock according to the best of my knowledge and belief now consists of the stock specified in the notice hereto annexed Sworn etc.

NOTE. The affidavit may be made by the solicitor acting for the claimant. In that case the form will be varied by striking out the words "I am" before "beneficially interested," and inserting the name and address and description of the person beneficially interested.

INDORSEMENT.-It is indispensable to state in the indorsement the address for service; and to that address it will be sufficient for all notices subsequently to be sent relating to the stock affected and any intended dealings with it. Beside the ordinary indorsement giving the court the short title of the matter, and the nature of the document, there must therefore be added: "This affidavit is filed on behalf of Thoma; Sanders whose address for service is [setting it out]."

2. Notice to be annexed to the Affidavit.

To the Governor and Company of the Bank of England. Take notice that the stock comprised in and now subject to the trusts of the settlement [or "of the will "'] referred to in the affidavit to which this notice is annexed consists of the following that is to say

£2541 163. 88. £2 10s. per centum Consolidated Stock standing in the names of James Fenton of High street Croydon in the County of Surrey esquire and Maria Fenton of the Manor Selsdon in the same county widow £496 India £3 per cent. stcck standing in the like names and £194 10s. od. India £2 10s. per cent. stock standing in the like names

This notice is intended to stop the transfer of the stock only and not the receipt of dividends [If, however, it is desired also to prevent the receipt of dividends, the following words will be substituted after the word "stop":-"The receipt of the dividends on the stock as well as the transfer of the stock."]

Dated [the same date as that upon which the affidavit is sworn]

[The notice must be signed by the person who makes the affidavit]

Elegit. When in an action judgment has been obtained against a debtor and he fails to pay the amount, the first and most customary method of endeavouring to recover payment is to issue execution upon his goods, which are thereupon seized by the sheriff, and the whole or so much of them as it may be necessary to sell to produce a sum sufficient to satisfy the judgment debt and the costs of execution, is sold. The creditor receives the proceeds and the debt is cancelled entirely if the sale realized enough, or partly cancelled if the proceeds were less than the amount owing. But a creditor is not limited to this one remedy. In some cases, indeed, the defendant possesses no goods, or those which he does possess are charged in favour of a bill of sale holder, and therefore cannot be seized on behalf of the judgment creditor. If the defendant possesses lands or house property, these can be made available for the purpose of satisfying the judgment debt. To effect this object what is termed a writ of Elegit is issued. It is interesting to note that this process was first instituted as far back as the reign of King Edward I. by an Act known as the Statute of Westminster. This statute empowered a sheriff to take in execution one-half only of a debtor's land. By the Act 1 and 2 Vic. C. 110, the one-half was increased to the whole of the debtor's lands.

The writ of elegit is directed to the sheriff of the county in which the lands intended to be affected are situate, and commands him to cause to be delivered to the judgment creditor all such lands and tenements, rectories, tithes, rents, and hereditaments," including lands and hereditaments of copyhold tenure, as the judgment debtor himself, or any person in trust for him, owned at the date of the judgment or over which he had at that date a disposing power, to be held by the judgment creditor until the judgment debt and costs and any interest upon it shall have been levied. The form is long and wordy, but this is the essence of the directing part of it. The sheriff takes possession of the lands, and delivers possession of them to the judgment creditor, who collects the rents and applies the proceeds towards satisfaction of his debt. When that has been satisfied, the debtor can apply for and obtain an order for re-delivery of possession of the property to him, and, if necessary, for an inquiry as to the sums received and applied.

The word elegit (literally, he has chosen) is a curious example of the manner in which so many of our legal terms have come into existence. Originally a form of the same verb from which we get the words elect, election, etc., usage has converted it into an English noun. The judgment creditor who obtains an elegit is a man who has chosen or elected this particular method of recovering his debt in preference to any other form.

A person in possession under a writ of elegit is termed a tenant by elegit.

(To be continued. Commenced in No. 1.)

AMERICAN NOTES AND NEWS.

FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.

Phonetic Journal office, 31 Union square, New York.

In reference to the teaching of modern languages in the New York Public Schools, the New York Times says editorially: "To be frank, we would say that such a smattering of any one of the three languages (French, German, and Latin) as could be got in a year, would not be so well worth having as such a beginning as might be made in the same time in stenography."

A correspondent, writing to the New York Times in regard to the value of shorthand, says: "I read with considerable pleasure the stand you take in regard to the discussion now going on in relation to the subject of German in the public schools. As a rule, you have a happy knack of hitting the nail squarely on the head, and you have certainly done so in this case in saying 'that such a smattering of any one of the three languages (French, German, and Latin) as could be got in a year would not be so well worth having as such a beginning as might be made in the same time in stenography.” From my own experience as a teacher I have found that the study of shorthand corrects the pupil's pronunciation, produces a neatness which improves their longhand, and develops an ability of noticing detail which greatly aids them in nature studies and such subjects as physics, botany, and others in the higher grades. Gen. Wingate was certainly right when he said: There are more people in our public schools anxious to learn stenography than German or French.'"

The Camden (N.J.) Commercial College, recently incorporated with a capital stock of $25,000, will branch out to enter active competition with the business colleges of Philadelphia, and will present advantages equal to the best of those schools. The incorporators are George O. Swartz, who has from its inception been connected with the Camden Commercial College; L. E. Stacey, who is probably one of the best known commercial teachers and penmen in the United States, and J. F. Strobel, a Philadelphia business man, who has for some years past been closely associated with enterprises of this nature. Preparations are being made for the coming school year; additional teachers have been engaged, and the faculty will represent the highest ability in the profession. Additional rooms have been engaged in the Temple Building. Mr Swartz, who was previously connected with the Eastman National Business College, holds the Isaac Pitman Teacher's Certificate.

The Toronto Telegram in a recent issue remarks: "It is a mistake for the Toronto School Board to waste two minutes discussing the system of shorthand which should be studied in the schools. The universality of the Isaac Pitman system is proof of its merit. The good qualities of any local or experimental system are not disparaged by the statement that the Public School pupils of Toronto are not fit subjects for experiments. Universal usage is a safer guide than deputations, and the Toronto Public Schools cannot be brought into error through any preference given to a system of shorthand which is in almost exclusive use throughout the English speaking world."

REVIEW.

Rate Calculator and Calendar for General District and Poor Rates. As approved by the Jarrow Town Council on the recommendation of the Finance Committee. Compiled by R. J. Bolam, Borough Rate Collector, 136 Bede Burn road, Jarrow-on-Tyne.

The object of Mr Bolam's "Rate Calculator," which is printed on a sheet about 11 in. square, is to enable the user to readily ascertain the proportion of a rate for any number of odd weeks or days, and practically for any amount. The table will prove extremely serviceable to several classes of people who are interested in ascertaining the apportionmentof rates. By means of this calculator occupiers may discover at a glance the proportion of rate due on leaving their houses ;. owners and house agents can readily ascertain from the tablethe allowances which should be made on empty property;. solicitors engaged in conveyancing can easily ascertain the proportion of rate up to the date of settlement, while ratecollectors will, of course, find the table of considerable service. As many of our legal and commercial readers are interested in the apportionment of rates, Mr Bolam's table can be: recommended to their notice as a useful time saver.

THE TYPIST & THE LONDON CROWD.

When the typewriter first came, the Londoner gazed curiously at the exhibition work of the lady operator in the shop window who did her work before his eyes as he passed along the broad thoroughfares of the Metropolis, and small crowds were often seen gazing at the new thing. These crowds have grown less, but still the Londoner occasionally looks in at the busy scene in which the typists have multiplied, while the people up from the country, those having literary tastes who can appreciate writing machines, as well as the country visitors who cannot, but are only curious and “wonder how it is done," never fail to give a good deal of attention to the windows of such establishments as the chief typewriter companies and those of the duplicators of various kinds. The reason is that these establishments are generally so arranged that the passer by may see what is going on inside, while they are generally in prominent positions along the great crowded thoroughfares of the Metropolis. There is scarcely a single instance among the score of typewriters on the London market, in which the machine is located in an obscure court or by-street, such as frequently has to suffice for many important businesses. Such busy scenes as those presented by the chief typewriter companies along Holborn Viaduct, Gracechurch street, and Queen Victoria street, are in the very heart of the busy throngs of crowded London, and they are bound to attract attention, and yet it is not often that the operators themselves, gazed at though they are, and have been any time within the last ten years, ever betray the slightest inclination to look up from their work or to give attention to or interest in the curious among the passers-by.

For once M. Loubet, President of the French Republic, on the occasion of his recent visit to the City, gave a temporary meaning to the saying of his own countrymen, nous avons changé tout cela, for his procession may have been gazed at even by busy typists. Unlike most of the other imposing processions and official pageants proceeding from the West End to the City, the route for the President to the Guildhall was wisely chosen along the great arteries of London, and it is upon these great thoroughfares that the typewriter people have made their home. Gracechurch street, was, it is true, just outside the radius, but the great thoroughfares of Holborn Viaduct, narrowing into Newgate street and Cheapside, and the equally fine thoroughfare of Queen Victoria street, were passed along by the President in going to and returning from the Guildhall. It may be that there was some little respite in the click of the typewriters, if only for a few minutes as the distinguished head of the French nation passed along, but if so it was probably only a temporary change of outlook.

There is no one in the world, or at any rate in the modern commercial world, who gets so thoroughly case hardened and moulded by environment as your London worker. You may see porters sleeping peacefully on the back of a dray loaded up with bales of goods in the very midst of all the groaning traffic of Cheapside, and even an impressionable young lady typist employed in a shop front, gets tuned to the turbulent environment of City life. Such an attitude is inevitable, the environment is overwhelming, pressing in upon all sides it hems her in until she takes kindly to the eternal racket and works on unconcernedly in full sight of the crowd which is for ever passing along, and contributes to, "streaming London's central roar," just as if she was in a private office. It is, of course, chiefly copying work which is done under such conditions, and the shorthand-typist who does the confidential work of the manager from his dictation is generally a little more removed from the outside world, even in London. The exhibition typist is also apt to be misunderstood by the crowd, who may think she is working entirely for their amusement, when it is part of a pressing City order which brooks no delay. That she does it for the benefit of the crowd also, as possible purchasers of typewriters, is only part of the enterprise.

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Repairs and replacements Freehold and leasehold yards Before closing the accounts finally the following adjustments are to be made-2 % is to be written off the value of horses, vans, harness, stable utensils, tarpaulins, and loose plant, £500 to be allowed for wasting of lease.

Fodder valued at £375 is still on hand. There is outstanding a claim against the Company arising out of an accident caused by the traction engine, to meet which, and legal expenses, a sum of £700 is to be placed to suspense It is proposed to pay a further dividend of 4% and to carry forward the balance of profits to the next year. (The answer to the above paper will appear in our next issue.)

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J'ai l'honneur de vous informer que M. James Walker, mon client, exige que le paiement de la somme de £400, laquelle somme vous a été par lui avancée en l'année 1878, sur hypothèques de la maison sise No. 24 Waterford Rd., New Cross, soits effectué dans les six mois qui suivront la date de la présente.

S'il vous est plus commode de solder? le montant de la susdite avance avant la date fixée, mon client y consent9 volontiers, et l'intérêt, dans ce cas, ne sera dû1o que jusqu'à la date à laquelle vous effectuerez le paiement. Agréez, Monsieur, l'assurance de mes salutations empressées.

W. B. ANDErson,

18 Watling Street, E.C.

W. J. STIFF.

I mortgage (adjective); 2 demands; 3 mortgage (noun); 4 situated; 5..5 be effectuated, be made; 6 will follow; 7 pay up; 8 aforementioned; 9..9 to-it consents, will agree to it; 10 due (from "devoir," observe the accent).

Translation into French of Letter No. 9 in Pitman's "Key to the
Shorthand Commercial Letter Writer."
LETTRE DU Meme, sel plaIGNANT DU NON-PAIEMENT de
LA SOMME RECLAMEE.

Monsieur,

24 Chancery Lane, Londres, W.C.,
Le 20 Juin 1887.

Les délais2 qui vous avaient été fixés par ma lettre en date du 19 novembre dernier, pour payer à M. Walker, sa créance hypothécaire, sont maintenant expiré depuis un mois*. Mon client a été sérieusement gênés par le fait de cette nonrentrée. Vous m'aviez promis que la somme serait payée avant le 5 de ce mois et vous n'avez pas encore donné signe de vie. Il est évident qu'on ne peut ajouter aucune foi à vos promesses. En conséquence, je viens vous informer9 que si vous ne vous acquittez10 pas dans les huit jours à partir de la date de la présente, mon client fera11 vendre votre immeuble11. J'espère que vous ne nous pousserez12 pas à une pareille extrémité et que vous voudrez bien apporter une solution immédiate à notre différend13.

Recevez, Monsieur, mes salutations empressées.
W. J. STIFF.

W. B. ANDERSON, Esq,

18 Watling Street, E C.

I, I bewailing himself, complaining; 2 delays, time allowed; 3..3 are now expired, have now expired; 4.4 since one month, a month ago; 5 inconvenienced; 6, 6 Fromised me; 7..7 have not yet given sign of life, I have heard nothing from you; 8 put; 9..9 proceed to inform you; 10...10 you do not acquit yourself, you do not pay up; II..II will cause to sell your house, will have your house scl1; 12 will push, drive, compel; 13 difference. (The French word "différence" is not used in this sense.)

FOREIGN COMMERCIAL EXERCISES.

SPANISH. 93. EN LA BOLSA.

Las elecciones de diputados á Cortes han restringido algo la aportación' de disponibilidades al parquet, porque temen3 algunos que en vez de ser ellas fiesta pacífica del ejercicio de uno de los más estimables derechos, sea, por los abusos de los gobernantes, un acicate3 para el motín.

Los que se han reservado para entrar en juego el lunes, por

no afrontar las contingencias que ocasionen las luchas? electorales, serán, pues, nuevo elemento impulsor de los tipos de cambios, si, como antes dijimos, no se interrumpe la normalidad.

El 5 por 100 amortizable ha seguido el movimiento alcista del interior; pero con más pausa, y sin salvar1o la distancia10 que salvó éste de sábado á sábado.

Las acciones del Banco, que se negociaron á 279.50 hace11 ocho días, se han hecho con dos enteros y medio de mejora13 en la última sesión bursátil. Los Tabacos han pasado de 425 á 429.75 Ha sido el valor más favorecido por el dinero.

Las cédulas hipotecarias del 5 por 100, después de haber alcanzado11 el lunes el precio de 103.25, cierran1 á 102,80, y las del 4 por 100 se sostienen en 100,50.

Sobre las demás obligaciones cotizables en nuestra Bolsa se ha hecho muy escaso negocio.

Los francos estaban el lunes á 36,50, y han seguido alrededor de este tipo hasta el viernes, en que remiten" algo, quedando por fin á 35.75.

El ministro de Hacienda's desea que el Banco de España venda francos en sus Sucursales19 á los que los necesiten para el pago de los derechos de importación, al tipo del cambio oficial señalado quincenalmente. No creemos en la eficacia de esa medida22 para el encarecimiento de nuestra moneda2*. -Heraldo de Madrid.

I arrival, coming to market; 2 transferable securities; 3 fear; 4. 4 instead; 5 spur, incentive; 6 mutiny, insurrec tion, riot; 7 struggles; 8..8 rates of exchange; 9 upward 10..10 passing over the distance, making the advance, rising 11 it makes, there are, since, ago; 12 integers, units, points 13 improvement, appreciation, rise; 14 got up to, reached; 15 close; 16 scarce, scanty; 17 slackened, gave way; 18 the interior; 19 branches; 20 signalled, noted; 21 fortnightly; 22 measure, step ; 23 making dear, appreciation; 24 coinage. ENGLISH VERSION OF LAST WEEK'S EXERCISE. GERMAN. 92. BUSINESS.

Moreover, from the great interest which this question must excite, it is quite self evident that it has already been discussed in the private conclave of the directors of the Bank, but merely provisionally, and as of a quite academic nature. Nevertheless, in such an academic discussion it has become known that the carrying into effect of such a transaction may be possible in form only, that the Bank of England might endorse short bills on London to the Bank of Austria Hungary, and these might convey the corresponding amount in effective gold to the Bank of England.

As the Bank of Austria Hungary has a legal right to reckon in its metallic reserve bills payable in gold to the extent of thirty million florins, and as it possesses at present only some twenty million florins represented by such bills, there would be available for such an operation in favour of the Bank of England an amount of ten million florins in gold. Consequently, ten million florins in gold might in this way be placed at the disposal of the Bank of England without causing the home money market to experience the slightest weakening. It may also be observed that the Bank of Austria-Hungary holds in its bill portfolio bills on London almost exclusively. The bill portfolio of the home bank of issue would be thereby not less secured if it were to include also bills provided with the endorsement of the Bank of England. Finally, as to what concerns the attitude of the Government of Austria-Hungary in this question, no objections but those of a somewhat political character could well come into consideration, which, however, can hardly be present in the case lying before us -Berliner Borsenkurier.

PROPOSED S.W.A. FOR PRESTON.

Efforts are being made to establish a S.W.A. in Preston. All who are interested in the matter are requested to communicate at once with Mr V. E. Collinge, F.Inc S.T., Harris Institute, Preston.

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They had a long talk, and the result was that Eric resolved to be made an elfin spirit, so that he might go invisible where he wished, but had the power to resume his old shape when it pleased him. "Be such a spirit," said the fairy, "be Elfin the beloved, the amiable, the merry, and the happy." She then gave him a little red cap with two feathers, and told him that when he put it on he would be invisible, but that when he took it off he would become visible.

Eric thought it would afford him some relief to avenge himself on Furibond.

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The prince uttered loud cries, and the queen ran to open the door. But in doing this she tore her son's ear right off. Eric then seized a birch, which he laid smartly on the back of the prince, and also rapped the queen on the hands with it. Both cried out loudly, and the noise brought the king and a crowd of servants to the spot, but as no one could be seen, people began to say that the queen and her son were mad, and the king thought At last, Fric, when he had well chastised Furibond, went into the garden and made himself visible, and walked about boldly and picked the fruit. When the queen heard of this, she begged her son to forget his sore ear, and to go at the head of his guards and despatch the rascal.

so too. He mounted Eclipse, the finest horse in his stables, and sallied forth, with a few servants dressed in his livery, so that his return might be speedily known at the court. The prince had related there a strange story of how, had it not been for his own bravery, Eric would have killed him, but that his foe had slain his guard, and so he wanted him brought to justice. When the queen heard of the arrival of Eric, she went to tell the king. Furibond desired to hear what was said, so he put his ear to the key-hole of the door, that he might hear better. Eric came into the place with his little red cap on his head and thus was invisible, and when he saw his foe listening, he took a hammer and nail and fastened his ear to the door.

With a thousand men at arms Furibond rushed into the garden, Eric was beneath a tree, and as soon as he saw the prince he Then he pelted the guard with fruit. They would have tried to catch the young fellow, but he at once put on his red cap and so was lost to sight. He then glided behind Furibond and threw him on his face.

threw a stone at him which broke his arm.

(To be continued.)

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