34 Reminiscences of the Shorthand Congress. 



were specially shown over both houses of Parliament under the 

 guidance of Mr. Gurney Salter. Special interest centred in 

 the Wednesday evening meeting, for the purpose of presenting 

 Mr. Isaac Pitman with his bust. Writers of all systems, from 

 all parts of the world, were there to testify their veneration for 

 the man who had been the leading figure in modern shorthand 

 history, and who had also taken the leading part in labouring 

 for the reform of English spelling. The German members of 

 the Congress spoke very strongly on this last point, and testified 

 that the schoolmasters of their country preferred to teach 

 French rather than English, because when they see a French 

 word they can tell how it ought to be pronounced, whereas 

 when they see an English word it is impossible for them to tell. 

 Mr. Gurney Salter caused some amusement by stating that he 

 had in his possession written communications, which he had 

 received from three different Lord Chancellors, which showed 

 that with all their learning and accuracy these noble lords were 

 bad spellers. 



The results of the Congress had been so satisfactory that it 

 was unanimously agreed to continue it in future years. The 

 next Congress is to be held two years hence at Munich, in 

 connection with the unveiling of a monument to Gabelsberger, 

 the father of German shorthand. The proceedings of the 

 Congress were taken down for the committee by skilled short- 

 hand writers, and are being printed in full at a comparatively 

 small price. 



Professor Everett concluded by giving a most interesting 

 illustration on the blackboard of the system of shorthand at 

 present in use, pointing out the high state of proficiency 

 attained by several phonographers throughout the world in 

 the several systems they practised. He also referred to the 

 efforts which are being made to reform the present mode of 

 spelling, and for his part felt that some trenchant change would 

 be made before long. He could not help saying that the 

 present irregularities of spelling keep back children in their 

 schools to a very material extent, and that a reform is very 

 much needed. 



