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Pictorial post cards exchanged, coloured views preferred. Prompt replies. Shorthand, longhand. W. Wilson Eccles, 36 Fleeman grove, West Bridgford, Notts.

Wanted, picture post cards of interiors of churches (showing organ if possible), also exteriors. Would exchange local and other views. F. Owen Smawfield, 70 London rd., Oldham.

Picture post card exchange desired. Prompt replies to all. Good views and actresses preferred. Ingham, 6 Anchor st., Southport.

Pictorial post cards. Correspondence desired on these, shorthand or longhand. William G. Oates, 382 Victoria st., Grimsby.

W. H. Kirby, of 6 Carnarvon terr., West Parade, Hull, desires to exchange pictorial post cards (longhand or shorthand) with readers at home or abroad.

J. C. Ashburn, of 20 Vane st., Hull, desires to exchange pictorial post cards (longhand or shorthand) with readers at home or abroad.

S. H. Nelson, Altona, Parkwood rd., Boscombe, Hants, will promptly reply to coloured pictorial post cards received from phonographers at home or abroad.

Exchange of correspondence and pictorial post cards required in shorthand. H. Connor, Aut erge de Castille, Valletta, Malta. [42] Pictorial post cards (Tuck's and foreign exchanged). Fred Bean, 164 Loughboro Park, Brixton, London, S.W. [42] Pictorial post card correspondence desired, Reporting or Corresponding Style (shorthand). Mr William Whitley, c/o Evan Lewis, Lightfoot's lane, Bridgetown, Barbados.

Correspondence desired in pictorial post cards. Hinchliffe, St John's avenue, Scarboro,

Pictorial post cards. Exchange desired in all kinds of views with residents in all parts of the world. Correspondence, if any, may be in longhand or shorthand. Prompt replies to all. Address (for home readers), Ernest E. Empett, 64 Charter st., Chatham; (for readers abroad) Ernest E. Empett, Chatham, England. [43] Am willing to exchange pictorial Tasmanian post cards for pictorial post cards from other countries. Replies, long hand. Address, Eric N. North, Elphin rd., Launceston, Tasmania.

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, 5s; members of I.P.S., 35 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 Is 6d; headings and title-pages, 3d per doz. ; covers, cloth is, leather is 6d. Samples for id. Sir Isaac Pitman & Sons, Ltd. [x] Lady members desired for Essex Evercirculator. Articles, discussions, art gallery, etc. Only good writers need apply. Entrance fee, 6d; annual subscription, is 6d. H. Wilman,* 10 Newport pl., Manningham, Bradford. [43] Wanted, for the Ulster Evercirculator, neat writers, to contribute interesting articles. Full particulars stamp. William Bickerstaff,* 28 Denmark st., Belfast.

Wayfarer Evercirculator. Vacancies for a few members in this oldestablished and high class evercirculator. Entrance fee, 2s 6d. Apply in Phonography to H. Farr, 365 Cowbridge rd., Cardiff.

42] 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.

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.

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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. [43]

Those wishing to improve their speed in shorthand should join the Kelvingrove Shorthand Circulating Library. Circulating all the best magazines, Australian, etc., only is. 3d. quarterly. All particulars, David Cook, 157 Kent Id., Glasgow, W. [50]

Second-hand Books, Shorthand or Phonetic, for Sale, or Exchange, or Wanted, 1d. per line of ten words; Miscellaneous Books, 3d. per line. For sale, all post-free. 6s worth of Shorthand Magazines, is 3d; Vicar of Wakefield, is; Reporter, 9d; 10s 6d Parker fountain pen, 5s 3d; Progressive Studies, 6d. 7th edition Phonographic Dictionary. What offers? J. W. Cooper,* Station House, High lane, nr. Stockport. 42]

For sale, Pitman's Reporting Practice, is 4d; Reporters' Assistant, gd; Instructor, is Ed; Manual, 8d; Outlines of Medical Terms, Is; Technical Reporting, Is; Pocket Dictionary of English Language, is 3d; vol. 2 Leaves from Note-Book of T. A. Reed, is 6d; Vicar of Wakefield, is 3d; Reed's Reporter, 1866, 1s 2d; Handbook for Teachers, 8d; Self-Culture, 8d; Key to Office Work in Shorthand, 4d; Reporter's Reader, nos. 2 and 3, 6d; Manual of Remington Typewriter (Harrison), 6d; Bacon's Memory Training, 8d; Bacon's Composition, 8d; Key to Commercial Letter Writer, 4d; Teacher (20th Cent.), 3d. In parts: Common Prayer, is 2d; ditto, New Testament, is 6d; ditto, Shorthand Dictionary, is 8d. All post-free. What offers McEwan's Humours of Shorthand, vols. 7, 8, 9, 16; Phonographic Lecturer? A. Eyre, 14 Hinckley rd., Leicester. Wanted, Pitman's Business Life, from July, 1902, up to present date. Must be clean and in good condition. State price to F. H. Forrest, 31 Bowling Green rd., Stourbridge. [42] For sale, Spanish books. Walter Jones, 103 Myrtle st., Liverpool. [44] Look out your old correspondence! Wanted for cash, British id black and 2d blue postage stamps, used 1840-41; old Colonials, chiefly those between 1850-70; also all current British above 6d and used official stamps. Collections purchased. Kerr, 8 Comely Bank avenue, Edinburgh. Cassell's Encyclopædic Dictionary, 50 parts, 14s 6d or exchange. Smyth, 63 Hemingford rd., London, Ñ. [42]

For sale, Reed's Shorthand Writer, 2s 6d; The Young Journalist, is gd; Pitman's Guide to Journalism, Is; Facsimile Reporting Notes, vol. 4, 38; The Shorthand Magazine, vol. 29, 2s 6d; Chapter in Early History of Phonography, 1od; How Long? a symposium on length of time required in obtaining verbatim speed, 2s 6d; Phonetic Journals from 4th Oct., 1902, to 19th Sept., 903, 3s; Manual of Phonography, 8d; Reporter, is 4d; Key, 4d. J. S. FitzGerald, Caherciveen, Kerry. (42)

Lightning Business Phraseograms, by Oliver McEwan, published at 3s 6d; few copies for sale, is 6d each post-free any part of the world. J. H. Simmons, 2 Rokeby rd., Brockley, London. [50] Wanted, Pitman's Commercial Correspondence in Shorthand (Reporting Style). Tippet, Ida rd., Skegness.

For sale, 1901, vol. 52, Phonetic Journal; vol. 26, 1901, Shorthand Weekly; clean, unbound. What offers? James Johnson, 318 Hawthorne rd., Bootle, Liverpool.

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For sale, new, post-free, set of Facsimile Reporting Notes, 4 vols., 125; separate vols., 3s each; back numbers, 3d each; the Shorthand Star, vols. 1 and 3, bound, cloth, 10d, paper, 7d; Reporters' Magazine, bound vols., 5s 6d each, back numbers, 4d each, unbound vols., 4s 6d each; Transactions of the International Shorthand Congress, 1887, 7s 6d. James W. Taylor, F.Inc.S.T., 74 Leathwaite rd., Clapham Junction, London, S.W. [43]

For sale, Teacher and Key, 6d; Manual and Key, 6d; Reporter, gd; Instructor, is. F. T. Wilson, 68 Bank rd., Marton, Blackpool. 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. [49] 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, 20th Cent. Instructor, cheap. State price and condition to Jas. Butterfield, 24 Chetwynd st., Meadow rd., Leeds.

For sale, shorthand books; list sent on receipt of stamped addressed envelope. Books, c/o 7 Gill st., Hanley, Staffs. [43]

Roget's Thesaurus, good condition. What cash offers? Rowlinson, Oxton cottage, Lymm, Cheshire.

Cheap books. The New Testament, in Orthic shorthand, published at 75 6d, price 3s, perfect; Reporter's Guide, is; all post-free. Address Henry, journalist, 341 City rd., London.

French Books. Brachet's French Grammar, 2s 6d; Bué's First French Book, 10d; Second Book, is; Do., First Idioms, is 6d; Chardenal's Advanced Exercises, 2s 6d; Mariette's Half-hours, French Translation, 4s ; Key, 6s; Kastner's French Composition, 2s 6d;

Lazare Hoche, is 6d; Select Tales, 2s 6d; Le Verre d'Eau, 2s; Jeanne D'Arc, 2s; Voltaire's Louis XIV., part I., 2s 6d; part II., 2s 6d; Le Roi des Montagnes, 2s; Aventures de Télémaque, 38; Picciola, 2s; Models de Poésie Française, 4s; Nouveau Melange, 5s; Paul et Virginie, 2s. Post free at half the above published prices, or reasonable offer. E. Fell, 13 Regent st., Preston.

TO SHORTHAND LEARNERS.-Students commencing the study of Pitman's Shorthand are recommended to cbtain the "Phonographic Teacher," 6d.; "Key," 6d. ; and "Progressive Studies," is.; or "Pitman's Shorthand Instructor," 3. 6d. These Books can be obtained of all Booksellers, or from the Publishers. Students desiring a teacher may be put in communication with one on sending a penny stamp to Sir Isaac Pitman & Sons, Ltd., Phonetic Institute, Bath,

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THE I.P.S. CONFERENCE.

This year, for the first time in the history of the Society, the Annual Conference of the I.P.S. was held at Liverpool, and a very successful conference it proved to be. The attendance, even in the early morning, was excellent, and the proceedings from start to finish were animated. In addition to the papers announced on the program, the members present had the advantage of hearing appreciative addresses from the Lord Mayor of Liverpool, and from one of our great journalists in the person of Sir Edward Russell. Miss Marie Corelli sent from Braemar a telegram of congratulations, and in many other quarters gratifying interest was shown in the gathering. The various subjects brought forward were discussed briskly, though it can hardly be said that they were debated exhaustively. The topics were entrusted to openers well qualified to deal with them, and were all of them "live" topics.

Mr Hallett's paper on "The Training of the Shorthand Teacher was lengthy, but no one felt it to be too long. It dealt with an important subject from many points of view, and it is scarcely needful to say that the standard of attainment and efficiency that it upheld was a high one. This is as it should be. Shorthand is an important subject-far more important than most people suppose, and if it ever is to take its rightful place as an integral part of any systematic scheme of national education, it must have instructors of the highest competency. Its value as a commercial asset

is extensively recognised already, but its utility as a means of education, and as a mental discipline, is as yet understood fully by few. Among the few must be numbered Mr Battison, of Glasgow, who held the attention of the Conference by his eloquent, and at times humorous, address on "Shorthand as an Educative Force and Agency." It were to be wished that those educationists who love to repeat that shorthand is a subject of no educational value could have been present to hear the testimony of those who know from wide experience and observation what are the facts. The place of shorthand in education will not be finally settled until these facts have made their way into the minds of those who can influence and mould the curriculum of our public schools.

One of the most valuable papers contributed during the day was that read by Mr Montgomery, of the Liverpool City School of Commerce, on "Commercial Education." The vague, general, declamatory talk of which we have heard so much within recent years on this topic is now giving place to the discussion of practical schemes, and it is seen that the subject bristles with difficulties. What is wanted now is that the details and the order of the studies, specially styled "commercial," and the fittest methods of teaching those subjects, shall be discussed and thrashed out by those who have not theories but practical experience to bring to bear on the point. One illuminating remark was uttered at the Conference by the Chairman of the Liverpool Education Committee. He said that if we were ever to realize improvements in education we must pursue a path that is in line with our national characteristics. There must not be too ready an acquiescence in the methods of other nations, or too arbitrary an attempt to bring those methods in as it were head and shoulders. He and other speakers pointed out the serious difficulty that results from the lack of general knowledge and mental discipline in so many of the boys and girls who leave the primary schools. If commercial education is to be superposed, there must be a firm foundation laid in the first instance. This, too, came out in the discussion on the last paper of the day-that read by Mrs Bean, of Bradford, on "Woman, her place in commercial life." Woman's place in commercial life will, in the long run, be just that place that she fits herself to occupy. If she wishes to undertake responsible work, work making demands on her knowledge and mental energy, she must, to begin with, have a sound general knowledge, and she must obtain the right sort of training to qualify herself for her special duties. The various papers and discussions centred round a few general ideas, and were of a character that cannot fail to stimulate thought.

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Mr S. Hill (teacher's diploma) desires correspondents to note that he has removed to 20 Crosby street, Rochdale.

Mr W. A. Seymour requests phonographers to note that his address is now 6 Lord Haddon road, Ilkeston, R.S.O., Derbyshire.

The Central School of Shorthand and Typewriting, Liverpool (Mr G. Birtwhistle, principal) has been removed from No. 7 to No. 10 South John street. Mr Birtwhistle has been appointed visiting shorthand master at the Merchant Taylors' School, Crosby.

Mr Geo. A. Vann (formerly Secretary of the Leicester and District S.W.A., and instructor to the shorthand classes in connection with the Leicester Working Men's College) has been appointed shorthand teacher in connection with the evening classes organized by the Education Committee of the Sheffield City Council.

Miss Marie Corelli, who sent a congratulatory telegram to the I.P.S. conference at Liverpool, has consented to take the chair at the opening meeting of the London District of the Teachers' Section of that society, to be held at the St Bride's Institute, Bride lane, E.C., on Saturday, 24th October, at 3 o'clock. Miss Annie Davis, of Stratford-on-Avon, whose name appears in the list of the successful candidates at the last examination for teacher's certificates, is secretary to the popular lady novelist.

"The most successful conference the society has ever held," was the verdict of many who attended the annual conference of the Incorporated Phonographic Society at Liverpool. The program was an excellent one, the papers and discussions were full of interest, and the whole of the arrangements were perfect. The organization of the conference reflects great credit on the Conference Committee, and particularly on Mr Peter Machin, who cheerfully and courteously undertook the bulk of the very considerable amount of work involved, and to whose personal exertions the conspicuous and gratifying success of the occasion is mainly attributable.

From the report of the forty-fifth anniversary of Founder's Day at Ootacamund Lawrence Asylum, Nilgiris, India, on 5th Sept., when the awards were distributed by their Excellencies Lord and Lady Ampthill, it appears that shorthand and typewriting were taught daily throughout the year. Among the successes was that of one girl student who in the Government Technical Examination passed in shorthand in the first-class, and took the eighth place among all the candidates in elementary shorthand in the Madras Presidency; she also passed in typewriting in the second-class.

In the Phonographic Record for October Sir W. R. Gowers contributes an article of purely scientific interest. The society's secretary, Dr Fletcher Beach, finishes the narrative of his visit to the International Medical Congress at Madrid. His account of a flying visit made by him on this occasion to the old Spanish city of Toledo, famous for its wonderful cathedral and its make of sword, will repay perusal. So will the review of Dr J. Johnston's new book, "In the Land of the Moor," giving some graphic details of a holiday visit to Tangier. Large quotations are made from the I.P.S. Quarterly abstract of Mr E. A. Cope's valuable paper, "On the Mental and Mechanical Aspects of Shorthand Writing,' which was read at the London conference in March last. In this paper the important subject of automatism, both generally and from a shorthand point of view, is handled in a most able and lucid manner. It has enough psychological interest to appeal strongly to medical phonographers.

Mr B. de Bear has given his impressions of "The American Young Man" to an interviewer in Our Young Men for October. Asked whether England had much to learn from the American colleges, Mr De Bear replied: "Some

thing, but not a great deal. We can learn many things to avoid. There is more outward display about the American schools, and perhaps not so much solid work as in our own. I was particularly struck by the neglect of modern languages." Mr De Bear pays a tribute to the fine spirit of the American young men if anything they are too much in earnest." To the Free Churchman for October under the heading "Professions for Girls," Mr De Bear contributes a practical article on "Shorthand and Typewriting." He is of opinion that London salaries for women's clerical assistance will compare favourably with those in any other part of the world.

TYPEWRITING NOTES.

We are informed that the Postal typewriter, a low priced type-wheel machine, is shortly to be placed on the British market.

Miss Burleigh, has again been appointed teacher of the combined classes in typewriting at the Wolverhampton Technical School, under the new régime. Her class last year had all first-class passes, and no failures. Miss Burleigh has also started another successful year at her offices in Darlington street, having doubled her staff and the capacity of the establishment since last year.

In Science Siftings for 3rd October an illustration is given of a Hammond typewriter fitted with an electrical attachment, by the aid of which the effort required in the depressions of the keys is reduced by something like 75 per cent. We have previously expressed the conviction that there is little advantage in applying electricity to the typewriter, inasmuch as on well constructed machines the effort required in depression is very slight. We certainly do not see the need for reducing the amount of power required in depression in the case of the Hammond, which everyone knows to be a very light touch machine.

The question of the "hardships" of the lady typist continues to elicit letters from correspondents in T. P.'s Weekly, which are valuable as demonstrating the truth that, as in other callings in life, workers encounter employers of different kinds, good, bad, and indifferent. Because some typists have very real grievances against which they are perfectly right in protesting, it by no means follows that all typists are subject to similar treatment. Here is a very different experience, selected from several of the same kind, contributed by lady typists: "We (two of us) have a comfortable room to work in, well heated and lighted, and also a dressing-room where we have our lunch and tea, being allowed an hour and half-an-hour for these meals respectively. We each have three weeks' holiday in the year, and our hours are from 9.30 to 6 o'clock; and I have never found any difficulty in getting a Saturday off if I wish to go away for the week-end. My own salary is £1 a week, I being in my first place, but my companion, an experienced worker, gets double that amount. As to the treatment a girl typist receives at the hands of the clerks with whom she comes into contact, surely this must depend a good deal on herself, and if she endeavours to keep all her intercourse with them on a strictly business footing, I do not think she will have much to complain of."

The newspapers are still taking up the question of the charge made by the railway companies for writing machines, even when accompanying passengers. The Sketch of 30th Sept. made some very sensible remarks: "The railway companies are beginning to look very sharply after little sources of revenue which for a long while they treated with lordly disdain. A correspondent writes to a contemporary to say that he was charged extra for a typewriter, which he was carrying in his hand, because it did not come under the description of wearing apparel.' Another passenger was charged heavily for a package of wine, although he had taken wine

with him before into the country and had never been fined for so doing. The worst of the system, and what makes it so annoying, is that it is only occasionally that these charges are insisted upon. Many clerks carry their typewriters about with them on their daily work, and no more expect to be charged for so doing than does a workman for the dirty bag of tools which he takes into railway carriages with him. If railways charged for tool-bags, pieces of lead piping, and other weird articles, they would soon hear of it; but the clerk is friendless, and so is looked upon as fair game."

LONDON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

COMMERCIAL EDUCATION LECTURES. The lectures and classes for the session 1903-4 conducted by the London Chamber of Commerce under its scheme of Higher Commercial Education, commenced on Wednesday, 7th October. The first of a course of 31 lectures on Commercial and Industrial Law was delivered by Mr C. A. Montague Barlow, M.A., LL D. (Hon. Director of Studies), at the London Commercial Sale Rooms, Mincing Lane, E.C. The success which has attended the lectures and classes during the past two sessions has induced the Chamber to extend its teaching. The lectures now include:Commercial and Industrial Law, Commercial History and Geography, Banking and Currency, Political Economy, Accountancy, the Methods and Machinery of Business, which latter includes Insurance (Marine, Fire, and Life), Exchanges (the Stock Exchange and its Machinery and Foreign Exchanges). The classes are intended for advanced students only, and have been arranged to promote the study of modern foreign languages from the commercial point of view. They include:-Spanish, French, Italian, German, Dutch and Russian. Classes in Portuguese, Chinese, Japanese, Hausa, Hindustani and English will be formed, provided sufficient applications are received. The Commercial Education Department of the Chamber is now at Oxford Court, 109 Cannon street, London, E. C.

INCORPORATED PHONOGRAPHIC SOCIETY.

THE ANNUAL MEETING.

The annual general business meeting of this society took place during the afternoon of Saturday, 26th Sept., at the Hotel St George, Liverpool, Mr T. E. Catley, chairman of the retiring Council, being in the chair.

The notice convening the meeting having been read by the General Secretary (Mr H. W. Harris), and the minutes of the previous annual meeting having been read and confirmed, it was decided to take as read the report and accounts as published in the last number of the I.P.S. Quarterly. Mr Catley moved the adoption of the report and accounts. Mrs Hoster seconded, and after various questions had been put by members and replied to, the resolution was carried unanimously.

The following officers were elected for the ensuing year :President, Mr Alfred Pitman; Vice-Presidents, Sir W. R. Gowers, M.D., F. R.S., Dr E. B. Gray, Prof. Stanley Lane-Poole, M.A., Litt.D., Sir Wm. Thomson, M.D., F.R.C.S.I., C.B., Miss Marie Corelli, and Messrs E. A. Cope, G. W. Lambert, and Wm. Mair; Council, Messrs W. J. Abbey, London; W. G. Barker, Birmingham; Miss H. E. Bone, London; V. W. E. Brooks, Brighton; Miss D. Brown, London; G. J. Brown, Warrington; T. E. Catley, Leyton; G. Colebourn, London; W. Crouch, West Ham ; C. J. Davison, London; T. G. Davy, London; S. J. Drinkwater, London; Miss M. Fergusson, London; A. Fieldhouse, Huddersfield; J. H. Foxcroft, Liverpool; Miss H. C. Gordon, London; S. C. Green, London; G. E. Hall, London; F. J. Hallett, Taunton; H. W. Hill, London; W. A. Holmes, London; Mrs C. Hoster, London; H. Howitt, London; C. H. Kirton, London; G. W. Lambert, Walthamstow; A. E. Manton, London; M. J. Marks, Birmingham; A. E. Morton, London; J. W. Poole, London; W. C. Potter, London; A. W. Reed, London; J. W. Sharpe, London; A. E. Smith, London; Miss E. R. Smith, London: H. Smith, Leeds; E. Tanner, Kidderminster; C. E. Thomas, London; Miss F. L. Washbourne, London; J. B. Whitehead, London; Parliamentary Committee, Messrs E. A. Cope, T. E. Catley, and S. C. Green. Mr C. E, Garn (Bolton) was re-elected Members' Auditor,

There being no definite proposals before the meeting on the subject, it was decided to leave it to the new Council to consider and fix the place of meeting for the next annual conference. A vote of thanks to the chairman concluded the proceedings. LONDON.

Large attendances have characterized the meetings of the London Phonetic S.W.A. during the month of September. On the 17th, the Rev. J. E. Hand, whose eloquent and telling, though exceptionally rapid addresses, are always highly appreciated by the members, gave a lecture entitled " Poverty and Inefficiency," discussing in a thorough and exhaustive manner the causes of poverty and of social inefficiency, and suggesting certain steps towards a remedy. Mr F. J. French occupied the chair.

On 24th September the usual quarterly examination for speed certificates took place. On this occasion there was a goodly attendance of candidates for certificates at rates varying from 60 words per minute upwards.

Mr A. Ramaswami Aiyar, of Mysore, India, has forwarded a paper "On the Condition of Education in India," which will be read before the Association at an early date.

A special invitation is extended to all who are interested in the subject to hear the address, which will be given by Mr J. C. O'Connor, B.A., on Thursday, 22nd October, on Esperanto.' The chair will be taken at 8.15 precisely.

MIDLAND (T.S.).

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The eleventh annual meeting of the Midland District was held at the Pitman Hotel, Corporation street, Birmingham, on 3rd October. The President, Mr E. Tanner (Kidderminster), congratulated the Society upon a year of successful work, the report showing an increase in the membership with a substantial balance in hand. The following were elected officers for the ensuing year President, Mr W. G. Barker. Vice-Presidents, Messrs A. H. Brodhurst, S. Carter, J. Keatley. Committee, Miss Davis (Stratford-on-Avon), Messrs A. Griffin, M. J. Marks, F. W. Mohrstadt, J. L. Rees (Derby), A. E. Smith (Redditch), and Edg. Tanner (Kidderminster). Hon. Sec. and Treasurer, Mr W. Findley, Chingford, Chester road, Erdington, near Birmingham. After tea had been taken in the hotel, an enjoyable concert was held.

N.U.T. EXAMINATIONS BOARD.

The 1904 edition of the Commercial Syllabus issued by the Examinations Board of the National Union of Teachers has just been published. In response to the requests which have been received from various parts of the country, two new subjects have been added, viz.—English (for Home Centres) and Spanish. This edition also includes the full text of the Examiners' report for 1903, statistics of results, and names of the students who have gained the 19 medals awarded, together with the titles of the institutions at which they were trained. Successful students in the Advanced Stage of French, German, or Spanish (in 1904 or any previous year) will be eligible to take the oral examination, which will be held as soon as possible after the written examination, and they will thus be able to make a further step in the registration of practical attainments.

The

THE STRAND MAGAZINE.-The host of readers of the adventures of Sherlock Holmes as they were recorded in the pages of the Strand Magazine, augmented by thousands who have been thrilled by the stage presentation of the great detective, will welcome with unalloyed pleasure Return of Sherlock Holmes" in the Strand for October. Sir A. Conan Doyle resuscitates his famous creation in "The Adventure of the Empty House" and, as with the former series, the story is embellished with Sidney Paget's highly effective illustrations, which form such a perfect pictorial realization of the author's narrative. That Sherlock Holmes returns from the dead in a highly sensational fashion goes without saying, and before the reader has recovered his breath, he finds Sherlock once more deeply engaged in a mysterious adventure with a thrilling ending. Now that he is happily re-introduced to the realms of serial fiction, readers of the Strand will look forward to the pleasure of spending many delightful hours over Sir A. Conan Doyle's detective problems.

TYPEWRITERS AND ALTERNATIVE
KEYBOARDS.

THE NEW MODEL BAR-LOCK.

There have been many improvements and modifications in detail in typewriter construction during the last few years, and there is hardly one of the leading typewriters which has not made some alterations in this respect. But amidst all these modifications of detail, the keyboard, the first part of the typewriter with which the learner becomes acquainted, has preserved its general characteristics, and has only differed by the broad distinction of a single keyboard with a shift-key for capitals, or a duplicate keyboard, with one set of keys for small letters and one for capitals. That has hitherto been a characteristic difference of the standard machines, only modified in the case of the less expensive machines by a smaller number of keys on the keyboard and double shift keys for the rest of the letters and signs required. The arrangement of the keys on different typewriters is the same in most machines, but from the point of view of the operator there is a broad difference whether you have learned a keyboard with a shift-key for alternative letters, or one with a keyboard having a double set of keys for capitals and small letters. The result has been that the keyboard which the learner has become familiar with, to a large extent determines the machine he or she will operate, and this consideration often enters into the question of the selling of the typewriter. The Royal Bar-Lock typewriter is now making a distinct advance in typewriter construction by the introduction of something of a novelty, which will be of special interest to typewriter operators and also to persons about to purchase a typewriter, and to typewriting schools. It was to learn something about the new machine that we recently called upon Mr W. J. Richardson, the Managing Director of the Bar-Lock Typewriter Company.

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Can you tell us, Mr Richard

son, something about why and how you came to bring out this latest model, what has been its genesis, and what such a new departure is intended to meet ?"

"Yes, I will tell you something of our previous position, and then why the present novelty in typewriter construction was thought of, and how it has been carried out. The line we have taken up is this. The Bar-Lock typewriter introduced visible writing in the early part of 1888. That admittedly has made a revolution in typewriter construction, because during the past three or four years every new typewriter placed upon the market claims to have visible writing. We also introduced at the same time a duplicate keyboard, the argument in favour of that being that every letter was printed by one finger stroke, and the keyboard being in duplicate, there was only one set of keys to learn. At the present time out of the four leading machines on the market, three are fitted with duplicate keyboards. In spite of the success of our machine, for some years past my travellers have reported to me remarks made by various typewriter operators which may be summarised something to this

effect. 'I like your visible writing and other improvements in your machine, but I was taught at school to use a shift-key machine and don't want the trouble to learn a different keyboard.'

Now, you see, ,"continued Mr Richardson, "I am in this business to sell typewriters, and if a certain section of the public have a liking for a particular class of keyboard, I can see no reason why-because I think personally that a different style of keyboard is better-I should refuse to meet these orders from the section of the public who hold an opposite opinion as to the two kinds of keyboard. Therefore, I urged upon the inventor of the Bar-Lock that as there was no mechanical difficulty in the way we might effect a revolution in typewriter sales, and make the Bar-Lock with two keyboards, and so meet the preference of both classes of operators, those who prefer the duplicate keyboard with a key for every letter, and those who may prefer a single keyboard and shift key-one model being the one we have always sold, and the other a single shift keyboard."

"And does the carrying out of this idea at all interfere with the existing characteristics of your machine?

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"Not in the least. We keep to the original idea of visible writing, and the other Bar-Lock improvements, which I think everyone admits to be advantages in the use of the typewriter."

"Then the provision of your machine with the alternative keyboard is the main feature about the new departure?"

"Yes. We recognise, of course, that it is a bold step to take, and that we may possibly lay ourselves open to the criticism of those who manufacture the shift-key machine, but we take the risk of such criticism, because neither in our printed matter nor in personal interviews for business, do we in any way go back upon our belief that the duplicate keyboard is not only the simplest to learn, but the most rapid when learned. But, as I have previously stated, we see no reason why we should shut ourselves out from a certain section of operators who have been taught at typewriter schools the use of the shift keyboard."

"May we take it that this is the first attempt at the production of a machine amalgamating the two distinct ideas?"

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