SHORTHAND HUMOUR

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 119, 13 February 1919, Page 6

SHORTHAND HUMOUR

Humorous examples of identical shorthand outlines having a widely different meaning jverc instanced before Mr. Justice Darling m London recently at the resumption of the hearing of the action lor libel brought by the inventor of Duttons shorthand against. Sir Isaac Pitman and Sons. Judgment was given for the plaintiff for one farthing damages, but without costs. Mr. Dutton had'alleged that Messrs. Pitman had published a pamphlet wliich held his system un to Tidtcule.

Mr. El lis Powell, editor of the "Einanml News, a witness for the defence, said he agreed with the criticism in the pamphlet Witness then gave instances ot possible 'confusion in some of the outlines. "You have the same outline for purse and pulse," he said; "so you could write either: The man fell to the ground and I felt for his purse (or,his pulse).' Again, you would write: 'He took his sweetheart for a walk along the dingle (or the dunghill).' Ton could say: 'She received him in characteristic artless (heartless, or hatless) fashion.' Thero was considerable • difference between curse and caress, yet Button had the same outline. You might have, 'She gave him her sweetest smile, and he answered with a caress (or curse).' " Mr. C. Baker, editor and proprietor of the "Newspaper World," expressed the opinion that the expedients and combinations in the Dutton system wero too risky. In his view it was not a system he could recommend to his readers for 'rii nid reporting. Mr. Thomas, plaintiff's counsel, described Hie criticism as an attemot to down what had become a dangerous rival. Mr. Cope, the writer of the-article, had 0) years ago been employed to crush other systems.

Mr. Justice Darling, in entcrin? judgment for tho plaintiff, said it could'only be nutting n verv strained interpretation upon the words used that could read into this case any libel upon plaintiff himself as distinguished from a very drastic criticism upon tho system of shorthand which he had invented. In these circumstances t'lero was really no ground fur bringing %> action.