It is well in committing the signs to improvise and write short sentences or phrases containing the words represented by the signs, using the signs as in the following sentence: "In any case do not come here; if you do you will fail to see me, for I shall be away."

CHAPTER II

READING AND WRITING LESSONS.

In the six lessons of the preceding chapter are presented instructions which, thoroughly familiarized, will enable the writer to express his thoughts with from onefifth to one-eighth as many lines as would be necessary to their expression by means of long-hand. So much depends on perfect familiarity with the letters and their combinations, and with the various contractions and signs, that the writer should review and re-review; constantly writing them, until as ready in their use as in the characters of long-hand, his pen can render them like a flowing stream.

The writing lessons which follow should be repeatedly written, with a thoughtful effort to secure the best word forms, and invariably read. When these lessons have been passed through thus thoroughly, the writer will find his practice greatly accelerated by the use of the "Reporters' Classical Practice Books," which are prepared to accompany this manual of short-hand. If he is practicing for purposes of reporting, he should immediately take up, and as rapidly as possible master, the reporting style, not dwelling long on the literary style.