Light-line Phonography.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5154, 12 January 1895, Page 4

Light-line Phonography.

TO THE BDITOB.

Sib,— -As you appear to know something about light-line shorthand, might I atk whether yon can recommend it in preference to the older systems? Thanking you in anticipation,— I am, &c, WOULD-BE STUDENT.

TO THE BDITOBt Sib,— Seeing that you consider th« introduction of Gregg's light-line phonography and the consequent epoedy estinoi tion of Pitman's system a matter of sufficient importance to devote a note to, I | trust yon will allow a trembling writer of '• the doomed system to appropriately salute Cfflsar in your columns. I may preface Imy remarks by stating that I am in the i full enjoyment of youth and health, am I not spectacled or even grey-headed, and yet, most strangely, I have attained prao* tioal proficiency in Pitman's shorthand, by studying it, concurrently with other subjects, outside business hours. After ! reading your note, while I felt proud of . the stupendous feat I had aceom- | plished, I was also alarmed at the pro- ! spect of immediate mental and physical i ruin, which one would gather from youi remarks was my inevitable fate. I, how* ! ever, comforted myself with the reflection that my humble achievement had been equalled and even far excelled by thousand! of students without any appreoiable effect on vital statistics. This made me think I (I assure you Sir, for the first time) that S even editors may be fallible on some ! subjects. Your remarks seem to imply that "venom, empty bombast and impotent anathema" are the only defences left to the writers of Pitman's shorthand | without using any of these, or even talk* ing in a " lofty way " about its superiority, I think it can be defended from the " im« proved" system. I notice you refer to " an excruciatingly funny " challenge said ! to be issued by the Pitmanites of this i city to the light-liners, asking them to [ " come on I" I may inform you that thia ! so-called challenge was merely, as you ! may see by Mr Morrison's own letter, a ' friendly invitation extended to lightliners !by the Secretary of the Ohriatchuroh [Shorthand Writer's Association; though ib did suggest a test, if so desired, no time whatever was mentioned. Even if this challenge wore all that you say, it would surely be no more excruciatingly funny than the challenge isaued by the childlike and bland Mr Gregg, which proposes that the morits of the two systems ehall be finally and forever decided in a few months by a few school children. As if this would Bhow which was tho best system 1 The merits of the two systems are being decided by a much more satisfactory and conclusive test than this. I need only ask your readers who are interested in the matter to oompare the record speeds attained by the writers of light-line after two or three or four years from its introduction with those attained by writers ot Pitman during the same period. — I am, &c., HO. [.It may be pointed out that we Baid nobbiag about the " speedy extinction" of Pifcmau'a tyatouj. It ia a pity that there is such an' evident desire on the part of the opponents of " Gregg** light- , line/ to misrepresent. ererfthinjfcAnd