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.

Government clerk is desirous to meet ardent phonographer in N.W. W., or S. W. district of London for mutual speed practice, or would assist learner for good reading. Streeter,* 16 Queen's rd., London, N.W. Correspondence desired in Pitman's Phonography (Reporting or Corresponding Style). J. W. Cooper, Station House, High Lane, near Stockport. Prompt replies. [39]

Correspondence desired with advanced phonographer, at home or abroad, interested in stamp collecting, my speciality being English. All replies from abroad answered. Geo. Birtwhistle, 7 Gainsborough rd., Liverpool.

Shorthand correspondence desired with phonographers in Great Britain on picture post cards, views preferred, prompt replies. Jno. N. Davey, c/o Mrs Boyd, the Mall, Sligo, Ireland."

Picture post cards exchanged (Tuck's cards), also foreign. Prompt replies. Fred Bean, 164 Loughborough pk., Brixton, London, S.W. Correspondence desired with phonographers in all parts of the world. Picture pcst card or letter. Prompt replies. E. Doherty, R.E. Office, Portobello Barracks, Dublin. 1391

Phonographer desires to exchange pictorial post cards, all countries. C. S. Alder, 209 Evering rd., Upper Clapton, London, N.E.

[39] Pictorial post card correspondence desired. All parts except British Isles. Replies same day. Frank Lewis, 148 Shearer rd., Portsmouth. [39] Pictorial post cards exchanged; views or stage preferred; immediate replies, shorthand or longhand. Leslie Thomas, 39 Haven Green, Ealing, London. [42] Pictorial post cards. Correspondence desired in English, French, German, or shorthand, from all parts. Replies guaranteed to all. Views preferred. A. Pidwell, 12 Peak Hill avenue, Sydenham,

London, S.E.

[39] G. H Carter, 121 West Parade, Spring Bank, Hull, wishes to exchange pictorial post cards (shorthand or longhand) with readers at home and abroad.

Pictorial post card correspondence invited, shorthand or longhand, coloured preferred. W. John Eddy, 27 Church st., Helston, Cornwall, England.

S. Frith, 77 St John's rd., Bootle, Lancs., desires to exchange pictorial post cards, longhand or shorthand. [40] Pictorial post cards. Exchange desired in all kinds with residents in all parts of the world, shorthand and longhand. Tuck's £1,000 competition post cards are preferred from readers residing in the United Kingdom. Prompt replies to all. Address, Ernest E. Empett, 64 Charter st., Chatham, England. [43] Pictorial post cards. Correspondence desired with all countries. Coloured views preferred. Replies to all. Geo. T. Bailey, 78 North st, Walsall,

Pictorial post card exchange desired. Theatrical and popular celebrities preferred. J. L. Ingham, 6 Anchor st., Southport. Pictorial post cards exchanged. H. Evans, 166 Portland st., Southport. [39]

Associations. 1d. per line of ten words.

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 10. 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 3s 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.

[44] 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, ss.; 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. Examinations periodically. Copies of last papers (March and July), is per set. [44] Newcastle-on-Tyne. Tyneside Phonographers' Association (federated), Church Institute, Hood street. Meets every Friday evening for speed practice (from 40 words a minute), etc. For full particulars apply to Geo. W. Muir, Hon. Secretary, 27 Redheugh Bridge rd., Gateshead. [43]

Evercirculators and Libraries. 1d. 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. [x]

Evercirculator paper in three varieties, of superior quality, five quires 156d; headings and title-pages, 3d per doz.; covers, cloth is, leather is 6d. Samples for id. Sir Isaac Pitman & Sons, Ltd. [x]

The Rev. J. Thomas, of 15 Morton crescent, Exmouth, undertakes the careful review of evercirculators free of all charge except cost of return 140)

postage.

Wanted for the Psychologic Review Evercirculator, phonographers interested in Spiritualism and kindred phenomena. Articles, discussions. etc. Reporting Style. Wm J. Millar, 48 Rodney st., Edinburgh. [39] To Engineering Students and others.-The Albion Library circulates the leading mechanical and electrical papers; weekly and monthly sections. Stamp for particulars. Thos. W. Padmore, 126 Albert rd., Sheffield. [41]

Will phonographers abroad who are interested in evercirculator work write a post card to Thos. W. Padmore,* 126 Albert rd., Sheffield. [39] Times Evercirculator. Vacancy for enthusiastic member (age 20-25), must be proficient phonographer, neat writer, and must have literary tastes. Subscription is 6d. W. S. Barritt, Forres, Scotland. 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. [43]

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, a Rokeby rd., Brockley, London, Ŝ.E.

[43]

The Gordon Shorthand Library circulates all the shorthand magazines. Subscription 6d per month, is 3d per quarter. A month's trial solicited. Conductor, A. T. Bean, 1 Victoria rd., Stoke Newington, London, N. [39] Second-hand Books, Shorthand or Phonetic, for Sale, or Exchange, or Wanted, id. per line of ten words; Miscellaneous Books, 3d. per line. Wanted, copies of Parody's Spanish Phonography, and the following vols. of the Phonetic Journal-1871, 1872, and 1886; Pitman's Shorthand Weekly, vols. 3, 4, 6, and 7. Address, Isaac Pitman and Sons, 31 Union square, New York, U.S.A.

(391

Wanted and for sale all kinds, second-hand, educational and shorthand books. G. S., 13 Fairbank st., East rd., London, N.

Cash offers invited. Pitman's Shorthand Weekly, 1901, 1902, unbound, clean. Also Crown fountain pen (5s), almost unused, for 2s 6d. O. Baker, I Dumont rd., Stoke Newington, London.

Cassell's Encyclopædic Dictionary (finest Dictionary extant), 36 parts, quite new, cost 18s. Cassell's Popular Educator, new edition, complete, in 32 parts, published 16s. The lot 15s or best offer. Also a quantity of Phonetic Journals at 4d per dozen. Wiseman, 1 Grafton st., Oxford st., Manchester.

Reading practice for the forthcoming examinations, 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, S.E. [49] For sale, copies of Oliver McEwan's Verbatim Reporting, post-free Is Id. J. H. Simmons, 2 Rokeby rd., Brockley, London, S E. [491 Advertiser, stamp collector, will be pleased to send parcel of different shorthand magazines to any phonographer, any part of the world, sending him used stamps, different values. Ordinary letter stamps not required. J. H. Simmons, 2 Rokeby rd., Brockley, London, S.E. [43] Do you require shorthand books or magazines? Write to J. H. Simmons, 2 Rokeby rd., Brockley, London, S.E., with penny stamp for full list. Thousands of books and magazines for sale. [49] Wanted, used English stamps in exchange for shorthand magazines and volumes, English and American. Geo. Birtwhistle, 7 Gainsborough rd., Liverpool.

For sale, Pitman's Commercial Correspondence (English, French, German), is 3d each; quite new. A. Culley, 83 Kenbury st., Camberwell, London, S.E.

Bargains to clear.-A few bound vols. Pitman's Shorthand Weekly, as new, published at 3s 6d. Price is 3d each post-free. W. J. Eburn, 47 St Andrew's rd., Southampton.

Pitman's Key to Reporter (not Twentieth Century Edition) wanted at once, would give 6d. J. and G. Glendale, Epping.

For sale, Pitman's Typewriter Manual, new, 2s 3d, Manual 9d, Key 6d, Progressive Studies 6d, Teacher 3d, Key 3d, all post-free. Miss Pedley, Oxford ter., Kington, Herefordshire.

For sale, what offers? honographer, vol 8; Reporters' Magazine, vol. 13; Phonetic Journal, vols, 60 and 6; Pitman's Shorthand Weekly, vols. I to 6, 11 to 19, and 21. A. T. Bean, 1 Victoria rd., Stoke Newington, London, N.

380 Phonetic Journals, from 1884 to 1896. What offers ? W., 18 Eriswell rd., Worthing.

It is impossible to over-estimate the importance to a man of business in these days of a sound system of keeping his accounts. In former times, when commercial transactions were comparatively simple in character and comparatively few in number, accounts satisfactory enough for the purpose could be kept by anybody having a tolerably good acquaintance with arithmetic and a "head for figures." The ever-increasing complexity and range of modern commercial transactions, and the multiplicity of details that they involve, have long ago made the rough and ready methods of the past hope. lessly inadequate, and in most mercantile houses to-day the accountant or "book-keeper" is a specialist, who records in a truly scientific fashion the doings of the business from a financial point of view. The demand for the services of the specialist of this type is very great, and it is one that by the nature of the case must continue to grow. That the necessity of special preparation for undertaking the tasks of the office accountant is widely recognised, is evidenced by the large attendances at classes in the subject at all centres of instruction in branches of knowledge useful in commercial life; and it is evidenced also by the enormous number of candidates who present themselves every year at Society of Arts and other examinations. Many of the censorious criticisms heard in our time, many of the allegations concerning the supposed unwillingness of clerks to train themselves for the work of their

calling, could be effectively silenced by merely citing the statistics of the various examinations in this one subject alone. There is a positive eagerness on the part of thousands of young people in every commercial centre to master the modern system of book-keeping.

Employers sometimes complain that they have much to teach their book-keepers-that what they learn in the class-room is, after all, not of great value in the office. The complaint indicates a misconception of the purposes and objects of the class training, and a neglect of certain duties that the employer himself owes to his book-keeper. All that can be given in the class, all that is claimed or intended to be given in the class, is a knowledge of the general principles and methods of book-keeping, a clear insight into the requirements of the work, the kind of details that have to be dealt with, and the manner of dealing with them. Businesses differ vastly in the form which their transactions take, and the real task of the book-keeper is to adapt the general principles and methods that he has learnt, to the peculiarities of the business in which he finds himself engaged. To do this in the best possible way, he needs an insight into the details of the particular business, and it is the employer's duty to see that he gets that insight. The same thing is true of this as of other branches of work: it can only be undertaken well by those who know many other things beside. A knowledge of business routine and of office methods is as essential for the book-keeper as for other office workers, and the employer is interested in seeing that that knowledge is available. Just as the " mere " shorthand writer-the man without any ideas of business methods-is of little use in an office, so the “mere” book-keeper-the man who does not understand the real nature of the transactions he is recording-is of very limited utility. The true moral of the difficulty that certain employers appear to have experienced is that commercial training needs to be taken up as a whole. Book-keeping is an integral part of it, but is a part only, and can only reach its highest usefulness when associated with other branches of mercantile knowledge.

In its higher developments, accountancy has become a scientific process with elaborateness of method and a marvellous precision of result. But even in the comparatively elementary phase represented by the work of the humble book-keeper in a small office, it calls for the exercise of some of the most valuable of business habits. Absolute accuracy in every step of the process is quite indispensable: any error, however trifling, must vitiate the result, and may involve going over the whole work again. The tasks of the commercial book-keeper are responsible, and require for their successful and satisfactory performance a well-informed and a carefully disciplined mind.

The I.P.S. Quarterly Journal, issued and circulated well in advance of the Liverpool Conference, includes a large amount of matter of special interest in connection with the annual gathering of the Incorporated Phonographic Society In addition to the report and statement of accounts and various official announcements, the number contains a list of fellows, members, and associates of the Society, with in many instances particulars of the schools in which those who are diplomated teachers give instruction.

The publication is commenced this week of an important new serial issue of " Pitman's Manual of Business Training" in fifteen weekly parts, price 1d. each. The present edition is practically a new work, a large amount of valuable matter having been introduced for the first time, and the whole "Manual" has been re-arranged in a greatly improved style. It should be especially noted that the work forms a complete preparation for the whole of the examinations in commercial routine arranged by the various examining bodies. As a practical commercial guide, the Manual" is unrivalled, every kind of information needful for the efficient discharge of office work having been included. The book is fully illustrated with engravings, diagrams, maps, and facsimiles.

New prospectuses have reached us of the two Midland institutions of which Mr S. Carter, F.I.P.S., is the principal, namely the Yost Shorthand, Typewriting, and Business Training School, Temple Courts, Temple row, Birmingham, and the Wolverhampton Shorthand, Typewriting and Civil Service School, Gresham chambers, Lichfield street. Information as to the courses and the examinations, with the testimonies of those who have observed the work of the schools, are presented in business-like fashion. It may be mentioned that, by means of a carefully prepared time table,

Mr Carter is able to personally superintend the whole of the work at both schools, and to give individual attention to every student. Mr Carter has lately been appointed teacher of advanced shorthand and commercial correspondence at the Leamington Technical School.

The new prospectus of McAdam's Commercial Training Institution, 55 and 57 Shandwick place, Edinburgh, is a striking advance on anything of a similar kind which has been previously issued from this establishment. On opening the brochure, we find a good view of the exterior of the Institution, which has lately been considerably extended, in order to furnish additional accommodation for commercial instruction. Reproductions of photographic views of the rooms show the students at work in well lighted apartments, equipped with everything necessary for the successful acquirement of the various branches of commercial education. Helpful and informing notes on the training accompany the illustrations. The fact that a number of the students find their way into legal offices, has led Mr McAdam to establish a legal work class free to all students.

TYPEWRITING NOTES.

Special arrangements are being made by the War Office, as already notified, to give Tommy Atkins" instruction in the use of the typewriter Within the last three years some 700 machines have been bought for Army service.

The London School Board have recently ordered a number of typewriters for instruction purposes-Remingtons, Smith Premiers, Yosts, Olivers, Empires, and Bar-Locks. An order for 60 was given to the Remington Company, this being the largest number taken from any individual firm.

Miss Edith M. J. Jones, a teacher at the Genera Institution for the Blind, Edgbaston, who, it will be remembered, recently obtained the "Laws of Health" Scholarship at the Midland Institute, entered for the examination for acting teachers, held in July last by the Board of Education, and has just received notice from the department that she has successfully passed, and is now a first-class certificated mistress. Miss Jones is totally blind, hence her study has been attended with many difficulties; but these she has successfully overcome. She had the questions written in Braille (the raised system of reading used by the blind), and transcribed her answers by means of the Remington typewriter, in the use of which she is an expert.

We learn from an Indian newspaper that in the Punjab a good deal has recently been done to promote commercial training. Classes have been formed in the Central Training College and Model School for the teaching of shorthand, typewriting, book-keeping, commercial geography, etc., and arrangements have been made for the opening of commercial classes in connection with a number of High Schools. A list is being prepared of those who have passed clerical and commercial examinations of the Punjab University; this list will be circulated among employers of labour, who complain that rapid shorthand writers are hardly to be found in the province. Good pay awaits the youth who can use the typewriter and also write shorthand. The Punjab Government has just arranged to distribute a dozen Remingtons to various institutions.

writing is, that to the casual eye, signs of character are not as obvious as in the case of handwriting. The characteristics clearly revealed in typewriting are carefulness as against slovenliness, knowledge as against ignorance, speed as against slowness. In the case of an original letter, there are numerous hints to be gained from the composition of the letter, but these hardly come within the scope of the subject.

SCOTTISH PHONOGRAPHIC ASSOCIATION.

The prospectus of the Scottish Phonographic Association (Edinburgh S.W.A.) for the session 1903-4 bas just been issued. The opening meeting, which is to be held in the Oddfellows' Hall, Forrest rd., on Thursday, 1st October, at 8 pm., will be addressed by Mr Charles E. Price, Liberal candidate for Central Edinburgh, his subject being "America as I saw it," to which all are cordially invited.

The classes resume for the winter session on Monday, 5th October, at 7.30 p.m., and will meet on Thur days and Mondays thereafter during the winter. Full particulars as to the course of instruction given in each class can be had at the hall. The Association is fortunate in having practical shorthand writers as teachers, among whom are Messrs C. Oliver, D. L. Robertson, and J. B. Aikman, whose names as teachers of shorthand have, through long experience, become household words in Edinburgh, and whose painstaking efforts may assure parents of thorough tuition being given.

As evidence of the Association's attainments, reference is made to the large number of high speed certificates awarded during last session, viz., three at 180; four at 150; four at 140, and a large number at lower rates of speed, as well as a considerable number of Elementary and Theory certificates. The results of the recent Society of Arts examinations are most gratifying-a larger number of first-class certificates for shorthand and typewriting being granted to this centre than to any other in Scotland.

The classes will meet as follows: Junior Learners' class, on Mondays, at 7.30 to 8.30 p.m.; Senior Learners' class, ditto, 8.40 to 9.40; Junior Reporting class, ditto, 8 40 to 9.40; Intermediate Reporting class, on Mondays and Thursdays, 7.30 to 8.30; Senior Reporting class, ditto, 8.40 to 9.40; Advanced Reporting class, ditto, 7.30 to 8.30. Prospectus and any further particulars may be obtained from the Secretary, Mr C. J. Rose, 16 Cumberland street, Edinburgh.

REVIEWS.

Southey's Life of Nelson (The Library of Standard Biographies). Edited by A. D. Power. Fcap. 8vo, cloth, 384 pp., price is. net. Hutchinson and Co., Paternoster row, London, E.C.

In this new series, entitled The Library of Standard Biographies," the publishers have embarked on the praiseworthy enterprise of issuing the World's masterpieces of biographical and autobiographical literature in shilling volumes. Southey's well-known "Life of Nelson," with a good portrait for a frontispiece, is an excellent example of the really meritorious characteristics of the new Library. This classic biography of Britain's great naval hero is produced in a superior style deserving of unqualified praise. The editor has supplemerted the text with several features of considerable value and interest There is a Nelson chronology, and Lord Nelson's own memoir of his services is added as an appendix, while a large amount of supplementary information relative to his career is furnished in notes. From one of these we make an extract, because it explains how it was that Nelson was able within an hour of having his right arm amputated to write a letter to Lord St Vincent. It appears that during his captaincy he became intimate with a person on board ship, who was officially engaged in writing, which he accomplished with his left hand. Captain Nelson, attentively observing him one day while thus occupied, said, Parnell, I cannot think how you manage to write with your left hand." The result of this remark was that Nelson was taught to perform the task which had excited; his wonder;

little dreaming that the disastrous loss of his arm at Teneriffe would leave him no other alternative in committing his ideas to paper than to write with the left hand.

Chambers's Etymological Dictionary of the English Language. The People's Edition. Edited by Andrew Findlater, M. A., LL.D. Lr. crown 8vo, cloth, 600 pp., price is. net. W. and R. Chambers, Ltd., London and Edinburgh.

In this volume Chambers's well-known standard English Dictionary is brought within the reach of the million in the form of a shilling edition. For many years past the work has been widely appreciated and used as one of the most trustworthy guides obtainable to the spelling, the pronunciation, and the meaning of the words in the language, and as successive editions have been called for, the Dictionary has been brought well up to date. Probably never before has a work embodying such a considerable amount of scholarship and research on the part of an able staff (including the Rev. A. P. Davidson, M.A.), under the superintendence of the late Dr Findlater, ever been submitted to the public for the price at which the present People's Edition is offered. The vocabulary is most comprehensive, and the spellings not only show the usual forms, but where a word is spelled in two or more ways, the less common methods are added. A simple and readily comprehensible method of indicating the pronunciation of words, which has always been a much appreciated feature of Chambers's Dictionary, is given. The meanings are much fuller and more informing than in many popular dictionaries, and where necessary historical explanations have been added. In many works of this character etymology is ignored, but the etymology given after the meanings in this work will not only appeal strongly to students, but to a large proportion of those who consult the Dictionary with the object of learning the source from which a particular word is derived. The supplementary features of the work include lists of Prefixes and Suffixes, an explanation of Grimm's Law, an Etymology of Place Names, Words and Phrases from Foreign Languages, a List of Abbreviations, and a Pronouncing Vocabulary of Scripture Proper Names. The work is well printed on thin opaque paper, and attractively and strongly bound in a style suited for the wear of constant reference.

CORRESPONDENCE.

FREE LIBRARIES AND SHORTHAND STUDY.

Sir,—I read with much interest in the Journal of 12th Sept. your remarks on the above subject. I also read the letter sent by William Plant appearing in the Manchester Daily Dispatch. I daresay there are many like Mr Plant who are struggling to improve themselves, but who yet have to contend with such difficulties as are sufficient to discourage even the most ardent. With regard to the suggested use of the reference library, do you not think that it would be better if facilities were afforded at each library in every large town for those desiring to use the room for self-improvement? I consider that your Journal, now so extensively read, and phonographers in general, could do much in agitating for such an addition to all libraries. You are quite right in your assumption that our city possesses a reference library specially adapted for those who are studying. We lay claim to having one of the best equipped reference libraries in the United Kingdom, but it is situated in the centre of the city at the corner of King street and Cross street), and I have not the slightest doubt there are many hundreds, who, after the day's toil is over, would find it very wearisome and inconvenient to wend their way into the heart of the city for the purpose of studying, and even assuming they were so inclined, it would, perhaps, be impossible to find accommodation for them all at the one library. Such being the case, I contend that the district libraries would be conferring additional blessings upon the citizens of large towns, if, say, even one table were set apart for those endeavouring to add to their knowledge.

Manchester.

H. JACKSON.