The rapidity of progress in short-hand will depend very much on the method of study. It is not necessary that all should follow the same course, in all its minutest details; but the same general principles will apply equally well to all. We offer the following suggestions to the student on this subject: -

1. Master the alphabet. To do this, follow the course pointed out under the head of Directions for Practice, never taking up more than two or three characters at once, and mastering them thoroughly before proceeding. While learning the alphabet, it will be of service to read a few lines of the Reading Exercises.

2. When the alphabet is memorized, study Chapter IV (Direction Of The Signs)., carefully turning to every reference. Study and memorize all that is said about the connection of vocal signs and the position of disconnected signs, and review the Reading Exercise carefully, to see whether you understand clearly why every mark is written where, and as it is. Let nothing escape your observation. You will then proceed to test your knowledge farther by writing as many of the Writing Exercises as are illustrated in this chapter. When this is done, go on with Chapter V (Section 1. Compound Sounds And Signs)., studying reading and writing alternately. Copy the Reading Exercises.

It would be well for you to have your writing exercises corrected by a master of the art. Though we have left nothing undone that we could do in so small a compass to make the system available without the aid of a teacher, yet all will make better progress with such assistance; and we have reason to think that, in this art, as in many others, - as in all others, - it is idle to expert great results without personal instruction. Yet the self-dependent and earnest student will find the course we have indicated productive of quick results.

3. Leave no difficult form until you can make it readily. Write it over many times, until its form is perfectly natural. There is a wonderful power in repetition. Some of my pupils write all the Alphabetic Signs in fifteen seconds.

4. When you have mastered all the principles of this style, you should write from dictation. Make a long-hand copy of the phrases on the fifth page of Reading Exercises, and get a friend to read them to you. Write ten or twelve phrases, and then review them until mastered. Proceed in this way with a few at a time until you can write them all readily. Then have them read through many times, the reader increasing his speed with your ability to write, until you can write them at the rate of one hundred words a minute, or more.

5. When you can write a few things rapidly and correctly, it will aid you much in writing other things. But you should not stop here. Have your friend read slowly, from some easy book, - the Book of Job, for instance, or the Psalms of David, or the Sermon on the Mount, or St. John's Gospel, or some simple book for children, - a few verses at a time, reviewing often; and when the chapter is well reduced to practice, write it through from the beginning. In this way, you will soon attain the speed of from eighty to a hundred words a minute, according to your speed of manipulation.

6. Proceed in the same manner with more difficult works, according to your taste. Follow this course, and we will be willing to become responsible for your success.