his attention be diverted if he can possibly avoid it. He should even accustom himself to continue his writing when the most startling causes for interruption appear. Holding command of the attention is an art that cannot be too strongly emphasized.
Systematic Methods of Arranging the Notebook.—By following a systematic method the notebook of the stenographer can be arranged so that any letter or any piece of dictation can be referred to quickly. At the beginning of each day's work the notebook should be dated. The beginning of each dictation or letter should be indicated by some landmark. If the dictation consists of letters the name of each firm should begin on a new line and be indented. Form the habit of writing names in shorthand. The vast majority of names can be written just as accurately in shorthand as in longhand. It is only the name of unusual spelling that needs to be written in longhand.
As each piece of dictation is transcribed, draw a vertical line down through it to indicate that the matter has been transcribed or read. In reading, circle each outline that has been imperfectly executed and afterwards practice the correct form for each of these encircled wordforms as has been suggested in the foregoing. A rubber band should be slipped over the leaves of the notebook preceding the beginning of a day's work, so that the place of writing can be quickly found when it is desired to refer to any of the early dictation of the day. General Principles to Be Applied To become expert in writing and in reading shorthand, these principles should be kept in mind:
First, that the principles of the system must be applied ac-
