The important question arises, how may we educate the amanuensis. so that he or she may be so thoro in his or her duties that all danger of these and all other kinds of error may be reduced to a minimum?

In the first place, much depends upon the man with whom you start. Does he want to be something? Can he amount to anything if he has an ambition to make something of himself? Ordinarily, the boy or girl has sufficient foundation of native talent upon which to build. Assuming that he has, the following questions arise:

1. How can you reach and inspire the student with a desire to make something of himself or herself? Without ambition on the part of the student the case is hopeless.

In order to arouse ambition, the teacher must first gain the respect and confidence of his pupil. He can gain and hold the confidence of those whom he would lead up to higher and better things only by cultivating in his own heart a wealth of sympathy for and an interest in the youth whom he would thus inspire. It is oftentimes surprising how even the dullest pupil may in this way be aroused to accomplish what before had seemed utterly beyond his reach. There can be no set rules by which one may attain this end. Each teacher must study the peculiar characteristics of each individual pupil and treat each one according to his special needs.

Following this awakening should come careful, systematic, and thoro training by a teacher capable of developing all that there is in the pupil, especially along the lines most beneficial to the aspiring stenographer. This brings us to what is ordinarily included in the formal school education of the amanuensis.

This formal education must necessarily be of two kinds: First, education in the art of writing shorthand and operating the typewriter; second, general education.

Of the two, the former requires but a few months of careful training and study of a good system of shorthand and the manipulation of the typewriter under the direction of a skilled teacher. The latter, or general education, requires the work of years, and, strange to say, is too often considered of very little importance by those who aspire to become

amanuenses.

I have, in this brief paper, confined my remarks to the latter phase of this subject. In speaking of this general education, three things occur to me as being of special importance:

1. One of the indispensable things is a thoro grounding in what may be called the rudiments of English. In my opinion too many schools, even many of the better class of high schools, are sadly neglecting that thoro training in English which should be an important part of every young person's education.

Under this head I would include, first, spelling, capitalization, punctua

tion, and paragraphing; second, a large amount of careful practice in composition. By this I mean drill in how to express ideas in clear, concise language, using no more words than are really necessary in each instance, and using them in such a way that they will express just what it is desired to express, and nothing more. While these subjects are all studied and practical drill given to a certain extent in every high school, and in most instances in the grades also, the work is not thoroly done. What I mean by being thoroly done is that one shall be so familiar with these subjects that when he attempts to write out matter which he has taken at dictation he will be able to spell readily common words without referring to the dictionary; he will not halt in the use of capitals; will not sprinkle in his marks of punctuation apparently with no conception of their proper use; he will need to make no special effort to properly paragraph the matter he must turn out upon his typewriter. Further, if for any reason the one dictating does not use the best language, or does not express himself in the clearest and most concise manner, the amanuensis should be able readily to recast the matter so as to remedy these defects. I would include among those who need more drill in these elementary subjects not only the boy or girl who drops out of school at the end of the eighth grade, but also the average high-school graduate. would say, too, that a very considerable portion of the students in our leading colleges and universities could take more drill in those subjects to good advantage. What the amanuensis must have, if he would do his work well, as it should be done, is such familiarity with these rudiments of English that he will, unconsciously and without the least effort or waste of time, properly spell, punctuate, capitalize, paragraph, and (when necessary) edit the matter received at dictation. A stenographer who is able to do this is indeed rare, and when found is always highly prized and liberally paid. What is needed to develop such ability is more drill in these rudiments of English, beginning in the grades and keeping everlastingly at it until one completes his high-school and university course. I am inclined to believe that if, in the high school especially, more time were devoted to such work and less time given to an attempt at advanced literary criticism of our English classics by immature minds, far more benefit would result.

2. Another thing of special importance to the amanuensis is the acquisition of a large vocabulary, and with it a knowledge of the exact meaning and use of every word with which he is at all familiar. This requires long and patient study. To do this it is absolutely necessary that one, as soon as mature enough, shall read and study extensively literature, science, and the arts, and also that he shall keep abreast

of current events.

3. Skill in the ready use of words. A knowledge of a large number of words is of but little value to the shorthand amanuensis unless

he is sufficiently familiar with the words he knows to recall them instantly and apply them properly. To acquire an ability to do this requires much. drill in the actual use of words. One may be a great reader, and become familiar, in a way, with a vast number of words. This is important and necessary, but not all that is necessary. He must not only have instruments of thought, but he must also know how to use these instruments readily.

It is, it seems to me, right along this line that the large majority of amanuenses are weak. This accomplishment requires extended study and practice. The best college education obtainable is none too much to fit the amanuensis for the attainment of the highest possibilities in his art. Indeed, I would advise that wherever possible the would-be stenographer supplement this with a considerable training in rapid composition. Writing for the press, for example, affords most excellent drill, if done under proper restrictions. Such work will develop a ready and correct use of language, and will be remarkably helpful to the work of the amanuensis. Six months' schooling in this kind of work, under the direction of a critical managing editor who will check the tendency to loose work so common to newspaper writers, will add much to the fluent and correct use of one's English, a thing greatly needed by every wouldbe amanuensis.

Another thing in which the amanuensis should have careful training is in editing copy. He should be able in an instant to detect errors in construction and in the exact use of words, and should feel it his duty to make amends for the shortcomings of his employer. The lawyer is absorbed in the strictly legal phases of his case; the physician is concerned chiefly with important scientific questions; the merchant is thinking mainly of some business undertaking; the manufacturer has questions of labor, material, and the disposal of his products to demand his best thoughts. Except possibly in the case of an employer engaged in purely literary work, other things than correct English construction are of greatest concern to the employer, and it is the duty of the amanuensis. to furnish the literary exactness that is almost sure to be lacking where other questions so greatly overshadow. The amanuensis should in fact be the literary critic of the concern, rather than the literary bungler, as is too often the case.

There is another feature too often overlooked, and one which should always form a part of the necessary training of the amanuensis. I believe it is one fully as important as any. It is the cultivation in the would-be

amanuensis of the idea that he should take an active interest in his employer's business. No person has a better opportunity to advance his employer's interests than his stenographer, because his position enables him to know more about it than any other person. In no other position, on the other hand, will it become more readily apparent if the stenog

rapher is indifferent to the interests of his employer. He should understand that this interest cannot be assumed. The relation of employer and amanuensis is too close to allow any pretense in this respect. It should not be necessary for an employer to urge such active interest upon his stenographer. As a rule, an employer will appreciate more thoroly than any other one thing a genuine and a willing interest in his affairs on the part of his stenographer.

I am aware that I have demanded a far more extended education than is usually acquired by the average amanuensis. It is true also that the remuneration usually offered is not sufficient to warrant such thoro prepa ration on the part of the amanuensis. On the other hand, there is a demand, a constant and an insistent demand, for amanuenses with a liberal education. That this demand is growing, and that the remuneration offered for such assistants is liberal, is known to all who are familiar with existing conditions. Many young men and women with a university education have come to me to be fitted for the work of the amanuensis. I have never known of a single one who has not readily found employment at a liberal salary and in places where the opportunities for promotion were not far greater than are found in the positions usually secured by stenographers who are not university graduates.

I think it is our duty to induce every teacher of shorthand to strive to lift up the profession to a higher level. There is no doubt that such efforts will be fully appreciated by the better class of business and professional men. We need not concern ourselves about the demand for cheaper stenographers. There will always be plenty of second and third class schools to furnish the required supply.

A business or profession is judged by the best men and women it produces. Let us strive, then, to elevate our profession by demanding a better general education on the part of amanuenses. us a better standing and a wider influence.

It is sure to give

THE EDUCATION OF A STENOGRAPHER

MRS. M. L. VEENFLIET, PRINCIPAL OF ALPENA BUSINESS COLLEGE, ALPENA,

MICH.

As 75 per cent. of stenographers are employed in business offices, the opinion of business men as to what should constitute the equipment of a shorthand secretary or general office amanuensis is of first importance to us in determining the essentials of a stenographer's education. The employing public, not the schools, set the standard of requirement, which is steadily moving upward, and the schools training in this particular branch of practical education fail in their duty if they do not elevate their standard of proficiency in proportion to the advance in the

demand. As indicating how high that standard is, I insert a few of the replies I received last month from a number of prominent business and professional men to whom I addressed these questions:

I. Wherein do stenographers most frequently fail to meet the requirements of business offices?

2. Where do you place the responsibility for these defects?

3. Considering a practical course of stenography, what would you advise as to (a) content of curriculum? (6) speed requisites in both shorthand and typewriting? (c) tests? In other words, what proficiency would you require for a certificate or diploma?

The president of a corporation which has made itself felt in trade. matters during the past year wrote:

A stenographer should, first of all, be intelligent; quick to catch the language and meaning of the dictator; reliable in spelling and use of good English ; able to punctuate and paragraph a letter and arrange it pleasingly without being told. She should at least know the elements of bookkeeping, and be able to make good letter-book copies and to classify and file letters and papers so that she can produce them without delay. The ideal stenographer for any business-man's office must be neat, methodical, and secretive. The stenographer who does not understand that the secrets of the office should never pass beyond the office door is dangerous. Schools should train particularly on this point. Also, a business stenographer should be good in figures and ready in the correction of errors of all kinds.

Who is to blame for the great number of inefficient stenographers? The schools. They don't require enough special as well as general ability. The length of time is too short. It should certainly take as long to make a good stenographer as to make a good dentist, civil engineer, etc.

Another wrote:

A good stenographer is one who can spell and punctuate and who is generally well informed. Shorthand without a good English education back of it simply qualifies some young man or women to be an aggravation, a thorn in the flesh, to busy people. We have just discharged a "steno." who in transcribing à recommendation of our head chemist made the statement, "He is a thinker," read, "He is a thin cur." Can't you teachers weed out such unpromising material? Seems to me this is where your chief duty lies.

A lawyer wrote:

As you know, I lean decidedly to the culture requirements of a stenographer's education. Thoro drill in English, composition, business forms and customs, legal papers, and a general knowledge of English literature and history, and familiarity with the elements of the sciences which are such an important factor in the business of today, are as necessary to the stenographer as ability to take dictation and manipulate a typewriter.

Here is the opinion of a successful teacher of shorthand :

I wish to think of the profession of stenography seriously - as a distinct business venture, rather than a temporary makeshift leading to “something better." A groundwork of English, composition, spelling, and punctuation must be had by every stenographer. In addition to these, for the better class of positions a considerable knowledge of bookkeeping, familiarity with business papers, and a great deal of information of a general nature increase a stenographer's usefulness very greatly.