The cipher 1

2.

10 11

12 13 14 15 16

20 30 40 50

60 70 80

1Oo 200

300 400 500

700 800

1000 2000. 3000

4000 5000 6000

8000 9000

1,000,000 2,000,000 3,000,000 4,000,000 5,000,000 6,000,000

7 000,000

8,000,000 9,000000

The adoption of shorthand signs for the Arabic numerals has been attempted by writers on shorthand before the compilation of these lessons, but such attempts have been of the crudest character imaginable, one author employing as many as three different signs to represent each Arabic numeral, all of which certainly tends to confuse rather than enlighten the pupil, or save time for him. Again, they have been objectionable from another reason, that of being entirely arbitrary in their character, not a single symbol being used which would phonetically afford any clew whatever to its meaning.

In the list presented on foregoing page, however, the author believes, will be found that unity of character which is so important in a matter of this kind.

By looking carefully over the numeral list, the student cannot fail to recognize the simplicity of its arrangement and its entire legibility. The figure 1 is represented by its word-abbreviation, and 2 by the word-sign for its common name. The other figures are each represented by a conspicuous consonant element of their several names, the figure 3 being a letter R, 4 a letter F, 5 a letter V, 6 a letter K, 7 a letter S, 8 is spelled in full, and 9 is a letter N; 10 is spelled in full, 11 and 12 partly so, while the "teens" are represented as in 13, 14, etc., by halving the original sign to add the sound of T, and concluding with an N hook; 20 is practically spelled in full, 30 is indicated by simply halving the primary letter representing the numeral 3, and similarly with 40, 50, etc. A small circle-S is used for the cypher, because it most resembles the unit, and from this principle the word hundred is properly represented by a large Ses circle; thousand is well represented by the phonographic consonant Ith, and the letter L does for million.

The adding of the "teens" in which the hook is read after the halving principle, can of course, only be applied to our figures. In regular spelling the phonographer must read the hook before the halving principle.

At first students will be disposed to fear that these phonographic numerals will conflict seriously with their word-abbreviations. But, if they persevere in the use of them, they will find this to be anything but the case, especially if they have much figure work in which to make use of these signs.

In writing some ordinal numbers, such as second, twenty-first, etc., a full phonographic outline is preferable, as in signs 6, 4, etc., in Exercise, but where the name of the number ends with th, that part of an ordinal must be omitted, or it will conflict with the sign for thousand. Compare signs 42 and 43 in Exercise. Sixteenth, written without the th, as in sign 42, would never be mistaken for sixteen when met with in a sentence. Signs 25, 34,41, etc., representing fourth , fifth, sixth, etc., will be seen to be the same signs as four, five, six, etc., in the table of numerals.

In joining these phonographic numerals where the word thousand or million are intended, though omitted, it is best to join the signs in groups, separating such groups at the point wherein the words thousand or million would have occurred had they been spoken, as in sign 74 of Exercise. In the same manner, the words dollars, pounds (sterling) and shillings should be indicated when omitted, as in signs 75 and 76. But it is best not to omit those words in sentences where the context would not indicate them. In book-keeping no numeral junctures whatever are allowable, excepting in dates or prices, as the columns of amounts require the figures to be written separately in order to add them. For that reason, calculations by multiplication, subtraction or division must all be made by separated figures, as in examples 77 to 80 of Exercise.

Other than the above exceptions, the more figures joined the better.

Where the sign for thousand would be difficult of juncture to a hooked figure, such hook is run into a circle, as in signs 24 and 29, providing the circle of straight letters is placed on the N-hook side. Such transformation of the hook on curved letters, which makes them into a circle, as in sign 29, will not be mistaken for a cipher, because the cipher is only used separately - never joined. It is only the large circle for hundred that is ever joined. The hundred circle can be joined upon the most convenient side of either straight or curved characters, as in signs 69 to 73 in Exercise.

In instances where the large circle for hundred will not readily join, that word can be represented by a shaded halved N of the Half-length Abbreviations, shown in sign 32 in Exercise.

Signs 1 and 2, 3 and 4, 5 and 6, 7 and 8, 9 to 11, etc., etc., etc., in Exercise, are placed near each other for the purpose of showing the student their contrasting outlines.

Lest there should be any misunderstanding in regard to the use of the shorthand numerals, a considerable part of the Exercise of this lesson is devoted to their illustration.

Signs 9, 10 and 11 illustrate how to distinguish between 3, third, and 30. The first and last named are not apt to give trouble by clashing, provided the halving principle is carefully observed, but as some students are apt to wrongly halve the R of three to indicate third, this last word is snown as in sign 10. When possible, the word the should be indicated by the letter I, in junctures with numerals, when there can be no conflic tion with a halved R of thirty, in instances where the proper sign must be joined. If joined at all to numerals, the should therefore appear as in the phrase the first, sign 13 in Exercise, seldom as in phrase the second, sign 15, though, as a rule, it is best not to join the or any word to numerals.

In junctures with other numerals, the student should remember that 30, 40, etc., are not always halved, being distinguished from 3, 4, etc., by sort of junctures shown in signs 19, 20, 46, etc., just as with the ordinary Arabic numerals used in print. For instance, in writing the Arabic numerals, 34, 75, etc., one does not show the cipher of the 30 or 70 which compose them, the added figures 4 and 5 of 34 and 75 taking the place of the cipher which would otherwise be there, and hence, in shorthand, 3 and 4 make 34, and 7 and 5 make 75, just as they do in our common Arabic numbers. To write a halved 3 for 30, and then add a 5 to it in shorthand would be as misleading and wrong as to add the Arabic figures 30 and 4, as they would make 304 instead of 34. So the student should remember that the numerals 3, 4, etc., are only halved to indicate the cipher of 30, 40, etc., and therefore this should only be done when they are either written alone, as in signs 11, 30, etc., or appear at the end of an outline, as in sign 72 in Exercise. Therefore, remember that when the shorthand numerals are joined together, 3 and 4 make 34, 7 and 5 make 75, etc., etc., none of the letters being halved. This explains the letter R for 3, of signs 12 and 14 of Exercise, the R for 30 being made full length because it has another letter after it to show that the R means 30. For the same reason, when we write 33, we should write two full-sized letters R, joined together as in sign 16, which really forms a double-length R. Of course, when we want to write 30,000, etc., the R is plainly shown to be halved, for the reason that it is there necessary; but if it were 34,000, the R should be written full-sized.

The lower end of the letter S for 7, had better be slanted a little to the left, almost like an Ish, which will plainly distinguish the S of 7 from the V of 5, even in the most rapid writing. Care should be exercised in these numerals, as well as in any principle of phonography, but not more so, and if the halving principle is observed strictly and the other' hints herein given, the shorthand numerals will be found to be as legible as the ordinary figures, and far more rapid, being, in fact, the only plan by which a number of figures can be taken verbatim when read at a convention, or occurring in court cases.

The numeral 9 and its derivatives, 90 and 19, particularly the two latter, should have the right end written a little higher than the left end. as in sign 61. This will prevent junctures with other characters causing it to conflict with the figure 4 and its derivatives. In all junctures where you intend a full-sized figure, be sure to make it full-size, and your halved characters less than halved, if possible, a rule which is equally applicable to any shorthand outline.

The figure eight, in the list of shorthand numerals, is spelled in full. This should always be done when it is written alone, as in signs 53 to 55, and if it is the first numeral in a juncture with other characters, as in sign 70; but, when it is the second character, or in any instance where it is preceded by another figure, the vowel A is omitted from it and only the letter T used for 8. This adding of the letter A to 8 and its derivatives, 80 and 18, when written alone, furnishes a complete plan of distinction between the shorthand 80 and the letter A of our Alphabet. Note the difference between the outlines in signs 89 and 90.

Fractions are sometimes spelled in full, as in signs 81 and 83, but may be written, and should be ordinarily, as in signs 82 and 84 to 87; that is, just as one would unite the common Arabic fractions, omitting the lines which separate denominator and numerator in ordinary English-Arabic fractions, as such line is unnecessary.

Just as one when a word-numeral, occurring alone in a sentence, is spelled in full, as in sign 85 of Lesson VIII, so should any numeral be when alone in a sentence, nine being spelled with a letter N and hook-N above the line, etc., in such instances.