UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA 
 AT LOS ANGELES 
 

 
 vERSITY of CALIFORNIA 
 
 AT 
 
 LOS ANGELES 
 LIBRARY 
 
LICHTENTAG 
 
 PARAGON 
 
 SHORTHAND 
 
 Jl Vast Improvement in the 
 Jlrt of Shorthand 
 
 SEVEN EASY LESSONS 
 
 Having Learned which, the Student is in Possession 
 
 of a System of Shorthand wherewith Anything 
 
 and Everything in the Language can be 
 
 Written Briefly and Legibly. 
 
 By A. LICHTENTAG 
 
 PUBLISHED BY 
 
 PARAGON SHORTHAND INSTITUTE 
 
 311 SIXTH AVENUE, NEW YORK. N.Y. 
 
 1919 
 
 Copyright 1906 
 
 Copyrilhl 1918 | Pj-J 
 
PARAGON SHORTHAND. 
 
 FOREWORD. 
 
 The preface which follows was written for the first 
 edition of Paragon Shorthand which 'appeared in the year 
 1906. 
 
 Since that time thousands of copies have been used and 
 Paragon Shorthand now counts its devotees in almost every 
 part of the civilized globe where there are English-speaking 
 people. 
 
 The author is in possession of stacks of letters from 
 students of Paragon, many of whom previously wrote some 
 other system, expressing complete satisfaction with Paragon 
 Shorthand and setting forth that the system has more than 
 fulfilled every claim made for it. 
 
 Business schools are now using this book and Boards of 
 Education of various cities have adopted it for their High 
 Schools, discarding the systems previously taught. 
 
 Journals of the shorthand profession are now' beginning 
 to publish editorials and articles by expert reporters, which 
 support the correctness of the principle on which Paragon 
 Shorthand is founded: That speed in writing shorthand is more 
 a matter of manual dexterity than the result of the use of an 
 abundance of expedients for contracting the writing, special 
 short cuts, etc.; all of which hinder speed because they cause 
 a tremendous mental friction and do not leave the hand free 
 to proceed unhampered and unimpeded. 
 
PARAGON SHORTHAND. 
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 r 
 
 Fifteen years of actual use in the offices of the largest 
 corporations and firms, in the service of the United States 
 Government, in law and convention reporting, in newspaper 
 work and in reporting the most technical matter, by per- 
 sons taught by the Author only, either in person or through 
 correspondence, removes Paragon Shorthand from the do- 
 main of theory, stamps it as a positive success, and was 
 the test to which the Author, himself, desired the system 
 subjected before he would publish it in book form and place 
 it before the English-speaking world. 
 
 Being himself a professional stenographer, a writer of 
 all the generally used systems, and through experience ac- 
 quainted with the defects of the existing shorthand methods, 
 he was thoroughly equipped to produce a system which 
 should meet all the requirements of practical work. 
 
 Paragon Shorthand is a radical departure from the 
 beaten track in this respect: That, though like all other 
 systems of shorthand it employs for its alphabetic charac- 
 ters segments of a circle and straight lines, it is constructed 
 on the principle that what is required in a practical system 
 of shorthand is a complete alphabet of brief signs for sounds 
 (so that all words in the language can be written therewith) 
 and a simple method of contracting the writing so that the 
 utmost brevity can be attained without resorting to hun- 
 dreds of expedients and special abbreviations for thousands 
 of words, thus giving to the mind the least possible work 
 and leaving the hand free to attain the highest speed. 
 
 A comparison of the contents of this book with those 
 of any other shorthand text-book will convince any one of 
 the fact that Paragon Shorthand is by far the simplest in 
 construction of any snorthand system in existence. A re- 
 
PARAGON SHORTHAND. 
 
 course to arbitrary means of contracting words is herein 
 reduced to the minimum. 
 
 The alphabet is imparted in six lessons; therefore, each 
 lesson must be simple indeed. In the seventh lesson is given 
 the method of abbreviating, a few simple word signs and 
 prefix contractions. This is all there is to the system, and 
 yet with it anything and everything in the language can be 
 written briefly and legibly, the only requisite to obtain 
 speed being practice. 
 
 As far as the Author is able to ascertain, Paragon Short- 
 hand is the only system in existence whose every alphabetic 
 character is made with bub a single stroke or movement of 
 the pencil. 
 
 Unlike almost every other system, it has only one sign 
 for any given sound or letter. 
 
 Instead of obtaining sufficient symbols by making 
 strokes light and shaded, in Paragon Shorthand the strokes 
 are short and long as in ordinary longhand, where half the 
 alphabet is composed of short letters and the other half 
 long, viz: 
 
 / & * t ^ ^ ^ 
 
 The alphabet is so arranged that the most frequently 
 occurring sounds are represented by signs which are the 
 easiest to execute, and those sounds which happen together 
 the oftenest, such as tr, dr, st, sk, sw, skw, etc., are allotted 
 signs which make the best .-joinings. 
 
 In Paragon Shorthand the writing is placed on one posi- 
 tion, as in ordinary handwriting, unlike those systems where 
 the identical mark has different meanings when placed above 
 the line, on the line or across or below the line; in some 
 
PARAGON SHORTHAND. 
 
 systems as many as five different positions being employed. 
 In Paragon Shorthand, when vowels are used they are 
 written in the word with the consonants in the order in 
 which they occur, unlike the old systems where vowels are 
 represented by little dots and dashes disjoined from the con- 
 sonants and inserted after the consonants of a word are 
 written. 
 
 In Paragon Shorthand, the vowels having distinctive 
 signs, initials of names (when they are vowels) can be 
 written, which is impossible in the old systems. 
 
 The marvelous simplicity of the Paragon system makes 
 it easy of acquisition within a brief space of time by any 
 person of average intelligence who can read and write. It, 
 therefore, will appeal to the millions, who, not wanting to 
 follow shorthand as a profession, still can profitably employ 
 a brief system of writing in making their memoranda, re- 
 cording incidents and thoughts, reporting lectures, etc. 
 
 To the person desiring to adopt shorthand as a voca- 
 tion, Paragon Shorthand is of the utmost value, in that it 
 can be mastered and put to money-making use in a few 
 weeks months sooner than would be possible by any other 
 system. Besides, the remarkable ease with which the notes 
 can be read, the facile outlines, the freedom from the per- 
 plexities and complications of the old systems, the relatively 
 little mental and nervous strain imposed, makes it the most 
 practical and most efficient working instrument for the pur- 
 pose extant. 
 
 To the progressive schools, whose ambition it is to turn 
 out the greatest percentage of proficient stenographers, 
 capable of reading their notes, this text-book comes as a 
 boon. 
 
 Backed by fifteen years' demonstration of its utility, 
 Paragon Shorthand is submitted as the simplest system in 
 existence, the quickest to learn, by far the easiest to read; 
 and, as for speed, one's common sense will enable one to 
 
PARAGON SHORTHAND. 
 
 concede the fact that the system whose writing is all light- 
 line, all on one position; which has only one sign for any 
 letter therefore, only one way in which a word can be 
 written; which has only about twenty-five simple word signs, 
 and where any desired brevity of outline can be obtained 
 by the application of its single rule of contraction; must 
 be capable of much faster execution than the writing in 
 those systems where time is occupied in making heavy 
 strokes, in placing the words on different positions (on the 
 line, above the line, across or below the line) ; which have 
 several different signs for many sounds, thus making it pos- 
 sible to write words in a great variety of ways (thereby 
 giving cause for hesitancy in determining the right way) ; 
 which have hundreds, in fact thousands of arbitrary word 
 signs to burden the memory; and which, when employing 
 vowels, must dot them in after the consonants of a word 
 are written; and whose multiplicity of rules and exceptions 
 all tend to confuse the mind, and, therefore, hamper the 
 hand . 
 
 THE AUTHOR. 
 
PARAGON SHORTHAND 
 
 Consonants. 
 
 v F v. H 
 
 \ V V_ Sh 
 
 , P ^ Th 
 
 IB , K 
 
 /T 
 
 /D ^ Ch 
 
 L ] Write 
 
 - N ^ W 
 
 _M y 
 
 Vowels and Diphthongs: 
 A E I O U Aw (all) Oo Oy Cw 
 
 3 O <J O < I> C 4# 
 
 C is either K or S: viz: Cat (Kat) City (Sity) 
 
 Q is a combination of K and W; viz: Quire (Kwire) 
 
 X is a combination of K and S; viz: Box (Boks) 
 
 A way for representing the different shades of vowels is pro- 
 vided for in the Lessons. 
 
 The above is a complete practical Phonetic Alphabet. 
 
 This alphabet and the method of abbreviating given in Lesson VII 
 is all that constitutes Paragon Shorthand. 
 
 When learned, the student is in possession of a system of 
 shorthand with which anything and everything in the language can 
 be written briefly and legibly. , 
 
PARAGON SHORTHAND. 
 
 General Directions. 
 
 1. Write with a medium lead pencil. Hold it 
 loosely and near the point, and write as light outlines as 
 possible. This will be conducive to high speed. 
 
 2. Cultivate a habit of writing small and compactly. 
 Make the short letters the size of mere ticks. Thus, the 
 distinction between them and the large letters will be great. 
 
 3. In practicing the alphabetic characters, to more 
 readily memorize them^ utter their names aloud. 
 
 4. Spell altogether by sound. Do not write silent 
 letters. Pronounce the word and then write the sounds 
 actually heard. For example, "knob" is pronounced nob; 
 "bore" is pronounced foor. In speaking the word 
 ' ' meadow ' ' you will hear only medo. 
 
 5. Throughout the entire course some part of the daily 
 practice should be devoted to that part of the alphabet 
 already learned. In this system all the words in the lan- 
 guage are written with the alphabetic characters, and it 
 therefore follows that if the alphabet can be written easily 
 and quickly, the words which they compose will also be 
 written, rapidly. 
 
 6. To become a proficient stenographer it is necessary 
 to possess a complete mastery of the principles of the 
 system. The student is, therefore, urged to become thor- 
 oughly familiar with each lesson before proceeding to the 
 following one. 
 
 7. In the beginning do not strive for speed. In fact 
 no effort to write rapidly should be made until the student 
 has mastered the entire system. Accuracy and neatness of 
 writing should be the sole aim of the student until he reaches 
 that point. 
 
PARAGON SHORTHAND. 
 
 FIRST LESSON. 
 
 Lines. F V PB TD LR N M 
 
 \ / 
 
 \ \ il / / 
 
 8. L and R are written np, and are made more inclined 
 than T and D. N and M are written from left to right. The 
 others are written down. There is no exception. 
 
 9. The foregoing constitute all the "lines" in the system. 
 The remaining consonants are represented by curved strokes 
 and are given in the Sixth Lesson. 
 
 10. Practice as follows and continue until memorized: 
 
 FV \x\x\\\ \ \ \ \ N \ \ 
 PB.I -I ,1 ,1 ,1 ,1 ,1 ,1 ,1 ,h( 
 TD ,/,/ ////// ,/,/,/,/ 
 L R ( Write up) ^^ ^ ^" ^ ^-"^^" 
 
 11. After the foregoing are thoroughly memorized copy 
 the following, writing not less than one line of each: 
 
 Ft Fl Fd Fr Pt PI Bd Br Nt Ml 
 
 Dm Rm Md Mr Rd Dr 
 
 12. "E" is a very small circle. o 
 "O" is a large circle. O 
 
 13. When at the beginning or end of "lines" the circle is 
 written on the left side of the upright strokes, and above N 
 and M, viz. : 
 
 \ 1 / ^ <^_ 
 
PARAGON 'SHORTHAND. 
 
 14. When between two "lines" written in one and the same 
 direction, the circle goes to the left side of the upright strokes 
 and above N and M, viz: 
 
 15. When between two "lines" not written in one and the 
 same direction (therefore forming an angle), turn the circle out- 
 side the angle, viz: 
 
 Deaf Feet Fear Pot Pole Meat Meal Dream 
 
 16. The small circle represents the sounds of e, as heard in 
 feet and fed; also the short sound of * and^, as beard in pity. 
 
 In practical work, where isolated words are seldom written, 
 there will rarely be any difficulty in correctly reading words con- 
 taining the small circle, as the context will almost invariably de- 
 termine the shade of the vowel. 
 
 However, if desired, the student may indicate the long sound 
 of e by placing a small dash or tick near it; and the short sound of 
 and_y may be indicated by placing near the small circle a dot, 
 
 Feet Fit Ream Rim 
 
 17. The large circle represents the sounds of o, as heard in 
 dote, dot. Though unnecessary in practical work, the long sound 
 may be distinguished by placing a small dash near the circle, viz: 
 
 Boat 
 
 18. So as to become familiar with the application of the 
 foregoing rules for combining the circles with the consonants, 
 copy carefully and neatly the examples given below. Having 
 done this, 'coyer the printed key and endeavor to read the short- 
 hand forms. 
 
PARAGON SHORTHAND. 
 
 Examples. 
 
 Eat Ebb Owed Tea Dough Own Knee 
 
 / 1 / </ </ Q. - 
 
 Tone Neat Modern Noble Elope Meat 
 V 
 
 Model Belt Beam Bent Bled Middle 
 
 Eleven Velvet Pepper Bonnet Reed 
 
 Poultry Trophy Trim Lily Little 
 
 <fc^ 
 
 Writing Exercise.. 
 
 19. Copy in longhand the following list of words, writing 
 each word at the beginning of a line. Write next to each word 
 the shorthand representation thereof. After the entire list has 
 been written in shorthand, examine same carefully so as to dis- 
 cover and correct any errors that may have been committed. 
 Then practice each word to the end of the line. 
 
 If Fee Evil Ever Fever Fib Feet Feed Fiddle Feel Fear 
 Fin Folly Volley Over Foe Fop Fob Four Foam Pivot 
 Peep People Pope Pebble Pet Pot Peddle Peel Pelt Pole 
 Poultry Pier Pore Pen Ponder Pimple Pomp Beer Bin .Bib 
 Bob Bet Boat Bell Bowl Bond Bore Bolt Bold Tip Top 
 Tot Tell Toll Ten Tone Team Tome Dove Deep Debt 
 Dot Deal Doll Dear Door Den Done Deem Dome Left Leave 
 Level Loaf Leaf Letter Leap Love Let Lot Lead Load Lily 
 Loll Lean Loaf Limb Reef Rivet Reveal Rover Reap Rope 
 Rib Rob Wrote Read Rode Riddle Real Roll Rear Roar Rent 
 Roam Ream Never Nip Novel Knob Net Note Need Nod 
 Kneel Near Nor Known Nimble Mop Met Metal Mottle 
 Medal Meadow Mode Meal Molten Mere More Mean Moan 
 Member Flip Flit Fled Floor Fret Freed Freer Frill 
 Friend From Pleat Plead Implore Plenty Bolt Blend 
 Blonde Brief Brevity Bread Pretty Bid Trip Treat Trod 
 Trill Dreary Drone Dream, 
 
PARAGON SHORTHAND. 
 
 SECOND LESSON. 
 
 A U 
 
 3 C. 
 
 20. When A and U occur between two "lines", 
 
 A is represented by a small hook at the end of the first 
 stroke, viz: 
 
 Bad Bare Bale Ban Fate Fail Fan Dave Dale 
 
 V I I I Z 
 
 Rave Rate Rain Map Mail Brain 
 
 U is represented by a small hook at the beginning of the second 
 stroke, viz: 
 
 Bud Burr Bull Bun 
 
 I i 
 
 Rough Rut Run Mute Mule Brunt 
 
 21. The student will observe from the foregoing examples 
 that the hook, whether for A or U, Always opens or faces 
 inside angles. 
 
 22. When between two upright "lines" written in one and 
 the same direction, the .hook must always be turned forward 
 to the right; when between the horizontals, it is turned 
 downward or below, viz; 
 
 Favor Babble Date Rail Name Bubble 
 
 v I * ^ - \ 
 
 Duty Rule Nun 
 
PARAGON SHORTHAND. 
 
 23. When the hook for "A" is madelsroad, it represents 
 the broad sound of "A, " "aw, "and the sound "ah, "as heard in 
 
 Fall Ball Farm 
 \f 
 
 24. Broad "U" represents the sound "oo" as heard in 
 Brood Food Boot Root 
 
 Examples. 
 
 Tall Maul Fruit Proof Prune Brute 
 
 Room Moon Noon Mood 
 
 ^ -^ -9 
 
 25. Though unnecessary in practical note-taking, you may 
 indicate the long sound of a and u by writing a short dash or 
 tick near the hook, viz: 
 
 Fat Fate Mull Mule 
 
 26. When no vowel occurs between two lines written in the 
 same direction, a tick may be employed to indicate the separa- 
 tion, viz: 
 
 Purely (Pur-le) ^^^ However this is rarely necessary in 
 practical work. 
 
PARAGON SHORTHAND. 
 
 Writing Exercise. 
 
 Favor Fable Fate Foot Fade Fatal Futile Future Fail 
 Full Fare Farm Fur Fan Infant Fun Fame Fume Vapid 
 Vat Vale Valley Vulture Van Puff Pave Pap Pup Puppy 
 Pupil Pat Put Patter Pad Paddle Puddle Pail Pull 
 Paltry Pulp Pulpit Pare Part Pure Purple Purity Purely 
 Pander Pant Panel Pun Pamper Pump Baffle' Buff Rebuff 
 Babble Bubble Bat Battle Batter But Butter "Button Bud 
 "Bad Bale Bull Bare Burr Barber Barter Barn Burn Taffy 
 Tough Tap Table Tub 'Tattle Tutor Tale Tally Tar 
 Tart Turtle 'Turbid Turn Turf . Tan Tame Tamper 
 Tumble Tumult Dabble Dub ' Date Duty Dad Dull Dare 
 Dart Endure Damp Dump Laugh Lap Late Lately Later 
 Latent Lute Flute Lad Ladder Flail Flurry Lard Lurid 
 Lane Lame Lamp Lump Lumber' Raft Rough Rave Ruffle 
 Rap Wrapper Rabbit Rabid Rubber Rate Raid Rudder Rail 
 Rule Ran Run Rain Ram Ramble Rum Rumble Enough 
 Navy Nap Neighbor Native Nut Nail Null Name Muff 
 Map Maple Mat Mute Matter Mutter Mad Mud Muddle 
 Mail Malt Mule Mare Mart Marble Man . Mandate Mantle 
 Manner Money Flavor Fluffy Flap Flute Flail Flame 
 Prattle Prayer Brave Bran Bramble Plate Player Plan 
 Plum Bluff Blood Blur Blunt Blame Trap Trouble Trait 
 Trail Train Trump Drab Drain Dram Drum. 
 
 Fall Brood Ball Tall Maul Fruit Proof 'Prune Brute 
 Bloom Room Moon Noon. 
 
PARAGON SHORTHAND. 
 
 THIRD LESSON. 
 
 27. When A and U begin and end "lines." 
 
 A is a. small hook to the left of upright "lines," and above 
 N and M, 
 
 U is a small hook to the right of upright "lines." and below 
 N and M. 
 
 A \ I / 
 U \ 
 
 Examples. 
 Aft Affair Avail Few Review Up Renew 
 
 V 
 
 Due Pew Allay Array May Repay 
 v I c? 
 
 Obey Able Under Art Ray Raw 
 
 3 \ f ^ ^ 
 
 Awful Pray Adde.r Adam Adieu 
 
 ;? ?/ 9 9 
 
 <v v^ r / / 
 
 Writing Exercise. 
 
 Aft Afar Affable Avail Aver Ape Pay Apple April 
 Apt Repay Up Pew Upon Bay Obey Ate Utter Add Day 
 Adder Adept Ail Alto Alarm Alone Ult Allay Array Air 
 Art Arbor Ardor Arm Ural Urn Europe Anvil Anna Aunt 
 And Annul Animal Unto Under Ample Humble Amber 
 May Mew. 
 
PARAGON SHORTHAND. 
 
 FOURTH LESSON. 
 
 I u 
 
 28. The long sound of I and of Y, as heard in Pie. Idle, By, 
 is represented by a small half-circle. 
 
 29. When 1 is the first letter in the word, the concave or 
 inside of the half-circle must face awiv from the stroke, viz: 
 
 A ^ / ^ ,_ 
 
 30. When it is the last letter in the word, the concave side 
 must face away from the end of the word, viz: 
 
 V I I s~ -. 
 
 31. When it occurs between two strokes forming an angle," 
 the concave side must face the way the angle points, viz: 
 
 Dive Fight Life File Dine Rhyme Bite Ride 
 
 / 
 
 32. When it occurs between two upright strokes written in 
 one and the same direction, the concave side faces to the left. 
 When between two horizontals, it faces up, viz: 
 
 Fife Pipe Tight Rile Nine Ninety 
 \ Y / -v- 
 
 33. The student is reminded that the short sound of I and 
 Y is represented by the small circle. The sign given in this 
 lesson must never be used for the sounds of I and Y as heard in 
 Pity, Bit Mit. 
 
 Writing Exercise. 
 
 Ivy Idle Isle Ire Fie Vie Pie By Untie Tie Die Nigh My 
 Fife Five Fibre File Fire Fine Viper Invite Vial Vine Pipe 
 Pile Pyre Pine Biped Bible Bite Abide Bile Buyer Bind 
 Type Tight Tide Tile Tire Tiney Time Dive Indite Died 
 Dial Dire Dine Dime Life Alive Library Light Lied Lyre 
 Line Lime Rife Arrive Ripe Right Ride Deride Rile Rhyne 
 Rhyme Knife Night Nile Mile Mine Might Mire Flight 
 Fright Fried Plight Private Pride Prime Blight Blind 
 Bride Brier Bright Brine Trifle Tripe Tribe Trite Tried 
 Trial Drive Dried Dryer. 
 
PARAGON SHORTHAND 
 
 FIFTH LESSON. 
 
 Oy i)w 
 
 34. The sound "oy," as heard in Boy. Oil, and the sound 
 "Ow,"as heard in Bow. Plough, Out, are represented as follows: 
 
 By a small and large circle written opposite to where E and 
 O would be placed; viz: 
 
 35. Beginning and ending "lines (. T the right, and below 
 Between two "lines" in one direction j N and M 
 
 Vo\v Boy Bough Toy Out Now Oil 
 
 \D I b i> ^ -o <r 
 
 Doubt Royal Trowel Noun Lawyer 
 
 36. Between two Lines not in the same direction. 
 
 The circle for Oy or Ow is joined to the first stroke &o as 
 not to cross it: It resembles "A" in the respect that it is 
 traced in the direction of the following letter; viz: 
 
 "Bowed Bower Boil Turmoil 
 
 b" L 
 
 Proud Down Found 
 
 37. As in the case of "round," for the sake of easy execu- 
 tion, the ow may be made as a loop. 
 
 Writing Exercise. 
 
 Out Oil Owl Our Envoy Vow Boy Bow Bound About Toy 
 Now Annoy Foible Foil Fowl Found Pout Powder Power 
 Point Bound Bowed Boil Bower Rebound Bounty Toil Towel 
 Tower Town Doubt Dower Loiter Loud Loyal Loin Adroit 
 Route Rowdy Royal Round Noun Turmoil Mound Frown 
 Proud Broil Brown Trout Trowel Drown. 
 
 It is as. important to be able to read shorthand as to writt it. 
 
 After having written an exercise, cover the longhand key and 
 read the shorthand. From day today read some of the short- 
 hand written several days before. You will note, an increased 
 facility in reading your writing. 
 
10 
 
 SIXTH LESSON. 
 
 "Carves" 
 
 H Sh Th K G Ch J S-Z W Y Ng 
 
 <v- V ^\ S S" S ^ ^ ^ ^-^ ) 
 
 Pronounced 
 
 Hay Isti 1th Kay Gay Today Jay [ss. Zee Wav Yea Ing 
 
 38. Hay. Ish, 1th are inclined like the letter V \ 
 and are written down. 
 
 39. Kay, Gay. Tchay and Jay are usually written up, 
 having the slant of R (See Paragraph 55) 
 
 40. Ess or Zee, Way and Yea are written from left to right, 
 
 41. Ing is a perpendicular, and is written down. 
 
 42. Ish represents the sound of sh, as hoard in shif>, motion 
 (moshun). 
 
 43. Itb represents the sound of th. as heard in think, 
 though. 
 
 44. Gay is employed for the hard sound of G only, as heard 
 in God. bag 
 
 45. Tchay represents the sound of ch or tch. as heard in 
 chip, match 
 
 46. J represents the sound of J as heard in July, Badge 
 (baj) Page (paj) Gem (jem). 
 
 47 S and Z. No ambiguity will result from the employment 
 of one sign for S and Z. City would not be read Zity nor 
 would Zero be read Cero 
 
 48. Ing represents the soting of ng, as heard in Wrong, 
 English, Ink (ingk). Anxious (angkshus). 
 
 49. In Phonography (sound- writing), there are no alphabetic 
 characters for C. Q and X. because: 
 
 C can be represented by either K or S. viz: Cat (kat) City 
 
 (sity). 
 O is a combination of k and w. viz Queen (kwen). Quire 
 
 (kwir). Squeal (skwel). 
 X is a combination of k and s, viz: Ox (oks). Box (boks). 
 
 50. Practice the curved consonants the same as you did the 
 "Lines". untiMhey are thoroughly memorized. 
 
PARAGON SHORTHAND 
 
 11 
 
 51. Beginning and Ending Carves: 
 
 (a) A. E and O are written inside the curve; viz: 
 
 Aha They Ache Say Weigh 
 
 ^> f **3 jT^ 
 
 Key Each Oak Sew 
 
 T <*> 6~ \> 
 
 (t>) U, Oy and Ow are written onlside the curve; viz: 
 Youth Cue Us Sue Chew 
 
 ) S^* <*-* wX? ^/> 
 
 Coy Oyster Thou Cow 
 
 52. "I" is written as hitherto taught, with the concave 
 side of the half-circle facing away from the beginning or end 
 of the word, as the case may be; viz: 
 
 Ice Sigh Thy Guy 
 
 53. The rules for writing the vowels, and diphthongs oy 
 and ow. when they occur between two "Lines," also apply when 
 they occur between any two ''Curves," or a Line and a Curve, 
 viz; 
 
 Hull Shade Share 
 
 Hale 
 
 Hang 
 Throng 
 
 Shout 
 
 ^ 
 
 Shingle 
 
 s 
 
 Kill 
 
 Shower 
 
 Jim 
 
 Shed 
 
 V 
 
 Join 
 
 Came Gun 
 
 Gore 
 
 Hatch Match Box 
 
 Gold 
 
 1 
 
 Fox 
 
 Guide 
 
 Cheer 
 
 Sheer 
 
 V 
 
 July 
 
 Wing 
 
 ^ 
 
 Batch 
 
 Sauce Wander 
 
 Sane 
 
 Sun 
 
 Wonder 
 
 Sale Sought 
 
12 PARAGON SHORTHAND 
 
 54. K and G are written down when before L, R, W, N 
 
 and M, and when after L, R and S, also in the words Seek, Sick, 
 Soak, Soggy, Cigar. Cigarette, viz: 
 
 Acme Ignore Clear Clean Gloom Glide 
 
 <L^ fr vS * ~ & 
 
 Queen (kwen) Quail Quick Sky Squander* 
 
 ^, 
 
 Lignite Scream Scroll Ark Milk Seek 
 v ---^^ ~~Z^^ &s* *rf Y* 
 
 Soak Cigar Skill Scale Gwendohn Squeal Square 
 
 55. Ch and J are written down when preceded by N, viz: 
 Enjoy Fringe Injure Engine Enchant 
 
 7 \S 3 1 
 
 56. In words like when, while, where, omit the h for the 
 sake of brevity, viz; m- /-w* 
 
 57. When the hook for A or U occurs between two curves 
 going in one and the same direction, write the book inside the 
 curve to which it belongs, viz. 
 
 Was Jag J u g^ Cage Chuckle 
 
 58. When E or O occurs between two curves running in one 
 and the same direction, turn it inside the first curve, viz: 
 
 Coach 
 
PARAGON SHORTHAND. U 
 
 Writing Exercise. 
 
 Hay Aha Ash She Show Had Hail Harp Ham Hum 
 Hymn Shade Shed Shoddy Share Sharp Shame Shine Ship 
 Bush Push Thief Thought Thine Then Thick These Those 
 Thiis Thousand Cuff Cave Cover Keep Quote Cat Cut Kite 
 Code Kill Coal Cold Call Cull Core Car Cart Cur Curve 
 Kind Cone Can Came Calm Cash Kick Cake Keg Coach 
 Cows Catch Kiss Cost Cast Gave Govern Gap Get Got 
 Gate Giddy Guide Gill Goal Gold Gale Gull Gear Gore Gone 
 Gain Gun Game Gum Gimlet Gash "Gush Gather Gag 
 Gauge Guess Gas Gust Chief Chaff Chip Cheat Chap Chat 
 Chide Child Cheer Chair Churn Churl Chain Check Chuckle 
 Cheese Chase Choice Jiffy Jove Japan Jib Job Jobber Jot Joe 
 Jolt Jar Jolly Jury Jeer July Jane Join Jim Jumble Josh 
 Jack Joke Jig Jug Jest Just Joist Swift Soft Sofa Safe Syphon 
 Sap Supper Soap Set Settle Sat Suit Said Sadden Sad Side 
 Sell Sole Sale Sulphur Sardine Surface Sire Seen Sand Soon 
 Sign Same Sash Seethe Southern Seek Sack Suck Segar Sag 
 Satchel Siege Scene Saucy Wafer Wife Wave Weep 
 Wipe Wet Wait White Woo Wade Wide Wood Wail Wool While 
 Where Wore Ware Wire When Wan Wash Wither Week 
 Awoke Wake Watch Wedge Waste Yet Yellow Yore Yonder 
 Shrivel Shrove Shred Shrewd Shrill Shrimp Shriek Thrift 
 Thrive Thrill Thresh Thrust Throw Threw Cliff Cleave Clove 
 Clip Club Cold Clear Clean Claw Clash Click Close Craft Creep 
 Crop Crib Creek Croak Crease Cross Crust Crew Glove Glad 
 Gleam Gloom Glum Gloss Glee Glue Grief Gruff Grave Grip 
 Grope Gripe Grub Great Greed Grime Grease Grass Slave 
 Slap Slim Slay Slow Fish Fresh Batch Trash Dash Flesh 
 Rush Breath Doth Drouth Wrath Mother Fake Fleck Flock 
 Frock Knock Meek Make Fig Fag Peach Patch Batch Page 
 Badge Budge Feast Vase Vice Voice Pass Price Boast Bust 
 Breast Toast Dress Last Rest Split Spit Spat Spike Strife 
 Streak Street Stripe Stray Straw Strew Smile Smear Smack 
 Skip Skiff Skill Scale Scream Scroll Sweep Swift Swap 
 Swim Twenty Dwell Dwarf Dwindle Equip Quip Quality 
 Queer Queen Quantity Quick Quest Request Square Squander 
 Finger Ring Throng Among Linger Strong Strung Swing 
 Spring Hang Shingle. 
 
14 PARAGON SHORTHAND 
 
 SEVENTH LESSON. 
 
 Some words occur so frequently that it is desirable to repre- 
 sent them in the briefest way possible. Each alphabetic 
 character can be employed to stand for one or more words of 
 which it happens to be a prominent sound. These are designated 
 "Word Signs." The following list, though small, is so well 
 selected that it represents from one-third to one-half of the 
 words found in any article or speech. They must be thoroughly 
 committed to memory, until they can be repeated aloud with a 
 degree of speed. 
 
 Hord Signs. 
 \ For If v. He Him How 
 
 \ Of Have Very V. Shall Sure Wish 
 
 I Put Party Particular "^ Think Them Thank 
 
 By Be Been >> That (short "ith") 
 
 / To It /- Can Come 
 
 / Do Had Go Give -n Good God 
 
 ^ Will Well -x Which Much 
 
 ^" Are Or ^/ Just Judge 
 
 _ No Not In ^/ So Such Is 
 
 - - . Me More Most ^ What We Would 
 
 z A, An , s Your -s Yes 
 
 ^ I Who Whose 
 
 e. You C Whom 
 
 . The (a dot) ) Thing Long 
 
PARAGON SHORTHAND 15 
 
 Phrasing. 
 
 Bv "Phrasing" is meant the writing of two or more words 
 together, by which means speed is gained. Only such words 
 should be joined which seem to have a natural connection when 
 speaking them. 
 
 The examples which are given below are not to be memorized. 
 They should be copied and not less than three lines of each 
 written. 
 
 ^ For a ~>\ I will be 
 
 \ Have you ^ I will do 
 
 t/ To a a . I am 
 
 6 To you > = lama 
 
 _ In a \ I have 
 
 _, Know you \^_-^I have your 
 
 \. You have You will be 
 
 </ Had a <& You will do 
 
 / Do you. Had you d. Do you know 
 
 <^ You will c/ Do you think 
 
 .--^^You are ^ How do you do 
 
 / 
 
 V If you will ^v How have you been 
 
 Vt If vou will be V I am sure 
 
16 PARAGON SHORTHAND. 
 
 Have you been ^. I a in sure you will be 
 
 To be / Do not 
 
 2L You cannot 
 
 | I think 
 
 M It will b \^ I think you are 
 
 I think that there 
 
 You have been ^-^/ He is 
 
 He cao >s T have been 
 
 X T hav 
 
 In Phrasing, All may be represented by the "Aw" hook. 
 which, as taught in Lesson II, is a broad A; viz: 
 
 >> For all J By all c/ To all 
 
 \> Of all J At all JD In all 
 
 "Oar" may be represented by the "ow" circle; viz: 
 \D For our D By our 6 To our 
 
 NQ Of our 3 At our o^ On our 
 
 In Phrasing, "the," by being lengthened to a tick, may be 
 added to a preceding word. The tick is slanted like a "t," 
 except when after a "t" or "d." when it is slanted like "f;" 
 viz: 
 
 For the By the In the On the 
 
 > I 
 
 To the At the Do the Shall the 
 
 t * / ^ 
 
PARAGON SHORTHAND. 
 
 Role of Contraction. 
 
 Abbreviate as in longhand; that is, write only the important 
 sounds of a word, which-are usually the first sounds, and omit 
 the rest. 
 
 By applying this rule, almost any degree of brevity can be 
 obtained. Naturally, as the student becomes accustomed to 
 reading abbreviated writing he will contract words to a greater 
 extent than at first. 
 
 This rule dispenses with the necessity of committing to 
 memory thousands of arbitrary word-signs, which students of 
 other systems are compelled to do. 
 
 The application of this rule, makes it unnecessary to provide 
 special signs for many suffixes, as will be noted below: 
 
 Ted. Ded, may be represented by along "d;" viz; 
 
 Loaded 
 
 Fall. By "f;" viz: 
 
 Ness. By "n;" viz: 
 
 Repeated 
 
 J 
 
 Hopeful 
 
 Goodness 
 
 C 
 
 Mended 
 
 7 
 
 Joyful 
 
 Awful 
 <\ 
 
 Fullness 
 
 Ment. By "m;" viz- Ferment Judgment Payment 
 
 Less. Bv "1;" viz: Hopeless Artless Useless 
 
 Tion. Tious. By "sh;" viz: Nation Motion Ocean 
 
 lotion 
 
 Passion Auction Gracious 
 
 V 
 
 Able. Ible. By "b;" viz: 
 Desirable Endurable Sociable Notable Preferable Possible 
 
 "i r 
 
18 
 
 PARAGON SHORTHAND. 
 
 Ing. This suffix is represented by a dot written immediately 
 following the preceding part of the word; viz: 
 
 Reading Writing Rowing Singing Saying 
 
 In^s, is represented by an "s" written across the end of the 
 preceding part of the word; viz: 
 
 Writings Doings Sayings 
 
 Prefixes. 
 
 Supplemental to the Rule of Contraction, it is found desirable 
 to represent a few of the most frequently occurring prefixes in 
 some brief manner. 
 
 Con. Com. Cum. Co[f. 
 
 When the first word in a sentence begins with the prefix 
 con, com, cum or cog, represent the same by a dot and write 
 the remainder of the word immediately following it; viz: 
 "Contrive to be good:" "Commit no crime." "Combat wrong." 
 
 Where the word beginning with con, com, cum, cog, is 
 preceded by another word, omit the dot and write the re- 
 mainder of the word c/ose to the preceding word. The prox- 
 imity will indicate to the writer the omission of the prefix; viz: 
 ' 'He is a competent stenographer. " ''Brown went to Conress. " 
 
 ^ 
 
 Where another syllable precedes con, coin, cum, cog, write 
 that syllable, omit the con com, cum or cog, and place the 
 remainder of the word close to the preceding syllable; viz 
 
 >- Inconvenient ^7 Accommodate 
 
 Incomplete 
 
 Uncontrolled 
 
 *^/ Reconsider 
 
 ?i* Accomplish 
 
 Recognition 
 
 Recognize 
 
PARAGON SHORTHAND-. 
 
 Dist Des. Omit the vowel; viz: 
 L^> Display 
 
 <Lsx- Descend 
 Ex. (eks) Omit the "k" . 
 
 <LJ> 
 
 / Exceed 
 
 Discl<e 
 
 ^^ Expert 
 
 Magjni. Majjne. Magnan. Represent this prefix by "m," and 
 write the remainder of the word across it; vi/.: 
 
 Magnify 
 
 Manitude 
 
 Mananimous 
 
 Self. Represent by "s," and write the remainder of the 
 word across it; viz: 
 
 Scifiish Self-esteem Self-reliant Self-imposed Self-made 
 <^ j_^- n ~" vt 
 
 Trans. Write "tr, " for trans, and place the remainder of 
 
 the word across it; viz; 
 
 Transmit 
 
 fSls' 
 
 Transgress 
 
 Transmute 
 
 Transpose- 
 
 Transact 
 
 Transpire 
 
 Enter. Inter. Represent same by "n,"and write the remainder 
 of the word across it; viz: 
 
 *z- Entertain a( \ \ rrdependent 
 
 Interpose 
 
 
 International 
 
20 PARAGON SHORTHAND 
 
 When the short sound of e, i or u, as in "ses, " "sis," "sus, " 
 occurs between a double long letter, omit the vowel and make 
 the stroke double length; viz: 
 
 Vivid Bubble Did Member Excess Inconsistent 
 
 V I / 
 
 Sister Suspend Vases Recess Process 
 
 An abbreviated word and a word-sign may be joined to 
 form another word: viz: 
 
 Herein (here, in) Hereto 
 
 When two vowels occur together, the more prominent of the 
 two is written; the other is usually omitted; viz: 
 
 Deity Dial Royal 
 
 ' 
 
 In some words, where both vowels are distinctly pronounced, 
 they are both written; viz: Aeolian Leo Ohio Iota 
 
 To indicate the two vowels in Bias, Liable, Sience, e may 
 be inserted in the I; viz: \^ ^-^^ 
 
 A vowel may be omitted where its use would cause an awk- 
 ward joining; viz: 
 
 Suppose Submit Book Took 
 
 M I 
 
 ^ L-y. /- 
 
PARAGON SHORTHAND 
 
 Copy, and write not less than three lines of each of the 
 following 
 
 Examples. 
 
 Able 
 
 Afterthought 
 Afterward 
 Altogether 
 Although 
 d> Also 
 
 c: Almost 
 
 -D Any 
 C* Always 
 <f Acknowledge 
 *_ Acquaintance 
 
 V Affect 
 
 / Anxious (angshus) 
 1 Another 
 
 America 
 
 \y- Advantage 
 
 / 
 
 / Advertise 
 
 L. Advertisement 
 r Advertiser 
 ]o Between 
 L But 
 K" Become 
 Because 
 Bank 
 
22 PARAGON 
 
 SHORTHAND. 
 
 IT Book 
 
 /a- Within 
 
 V* Broker 
 
 -^TK-^ Notwithstanding 
 
 If Balance 
 
 V-_ Insure 
 
 ^ Different 
 
 t^a Procure 
 
 < Difficult 
 
 V^P^- Himself 
 
 ^ Deliver 
 
 Os^^x Ourselves 
 
 V* Here 
 
 i, ^ Themselves 
 
 \o Hereto 
 
 . Utmost 
 
 ^o Heretofore 
 
 * Utterly 
 
 ^o Hereafter 
 
 Q 
 
 \ Moreover 
 
 VA_ Herein 
 
 ^7 Maintain 
 
 V? Herewith 
 
 V^- Hopelessness 
 
 6 Glad 
 
 S> Happiness 
 
 ^j Obtain 
 
 ~~^3 Inasmuch 
 
 to. Hopeless 
 
 ~^ v> Insofaras 
 
 x^ With 
 
 x 
 
 ^^^ Receipt 
 
PARAGON SHORTHAND. 
 
 23 
 
 Reply 
 
 Represent 
 
 x 
 Report 
 
 Internal 
 / Introduce 
 V- Intervene 
 
 a Money 
 o Many 
 
 -t^" x " Enter prise 
 -fr- Entertain 
 f" Interrupt 
 /^ Intercede 
 c- One 
 
 c- Once 
 Short 
 Shorthand 
 
 To-hand 
 Please-send 
 I Nothing 
 7 Under 
 
 Understand 
 Plausible 
 
 Feasible 
 Valuable 
 
 
 \p F.O. B. dree on board) 
 
 / C. 0. D., (coflect on delrwrj) 
 
 S+~ England 
 
 ,/f English 
 
 V Naighborhood 
 
 **> United States 
 
 L. Dear Sir 
 
 v Your letter 
 
24 PARAGON 
 
 SHORTHAND. 
 
 x- j Yours truly 
 
 ~Z^- Modest 
 
 ^ ^x^*^Yonrs respectfully 
 
 *2f 
 
 v< x^*\ Relevant 
 
 -^^ Redeemable 
 
 ^<^\ Irrelevant 
 
 o^ Irredeemable 
 
 c ~^t Understood 
 
 o( Indifferent 
 
 \f .Undervalue 
 
 / Indefinite 
 
 ^ Undertake 
 
 z-t Merchandise 
 
 er^ Underwrite 
 
 ^t^ Liquidation 
 
 Xvv. Rational 
 
 l^ Practical 
 
 a-^ Irrational 
 
 ^ X ^ Strange 
 
 7^-"" Material 
 
 -^ Length 
 
 j*^** Immaterial 
 
 -^"^^ References 
 
 ? Mature 
 
 ^^ Current 
 
 Q ~~T Immature 
 
 (>^^^ Original 
 
 " Refutable 
 
 Regular 
 
 o^^ J Irrefutable 
 
 o^"^ Irregular 
 
PARAGON SHORTHAND. 
 
 Punctuation. 
 
 All the ordinary punctuation marks may bo employed, 
 except the period, to represent which a stroke is drawn 
 across, the line. 
 
 Special Abbreviations. 
 
 The Stenographer will be able to make special abbrevia- 
 tions for words, names, terms or phrases frequently occurr- 
 ing in his own work. 
 
 For example, the Law Stenographer would adopt \? for 
 plaintiff, < for defendant t '"2? for w ilness, ^-> for 
 
 "what is your name," ^V"^ for "where do you reside." 
 )j> for "how long hai'e you lived there".'' 
 
 The words "of the" are omitted when they occur in a 
 sentence that is, when they occur between other words 
 The omission is indicated by writing the succeeding word 
 close to the word preceding "of the." 
 Examples: 
 
 Your letter of the 8th- End of the season- 
 
 Top of the hill. 
 
 Wben "of the" are the first words in a sentence they 
 are written- 
 Example: "Of the many places I saw I prefer Paris: 
 
 "X 
 
PARAGON SHORTHAND. 
 
 HOW TO PRACTICE FOB SPEED. 
 
 Having mastered the foregoing lessons, the student is 
 in possession of a system of shorthand wherewith can be 
 written puythinjj and everything in the language, briefly 
 and legibly. If he hns faithfully followed the directions 
 given, if he hns actually written and repeatedly practiced 
 the examples, he is now al.le to drill for speed- 
 
 For reasons- stated in the Preface, a given amount of 
 practice will produce a higher speed in Paragon sbort.bauJ 
 than is possible with any other system. 
 
 If the student will carefully observe the following in- 
 structions, ar.d will pursue the plan outlined, he will soon 
 be able to write from dictation fast enough to do practical 
 work. 
 
 Remember that Speed is the outcome of thorough 
 familiarity with the principles of the system and actual 
 application of the same- 
 
 a. Always hold the pencil very loosely. In writing 
 let the mere weight of the pencil make the mark- Do not 
 bear on it. Use the Faber No- 2- 
 
 b. Make small outlines and write close together. 
 Spreading out the writing so that but few words are written 
 on a line, consumes time- 
 
 c. Copy the shorthand of tbe first letter neatly. 
 
 d. Then practice for speed by drilling on but one 
 word or "phrase" at a time- Speak the word, or "phrase," 
 aloud, repeating it faster and faster as you proceed, while 
 at the same time endeavoring to keep up with the pencil- 
 When you are able to write the word, or "phrase," as fast 
 as you can utter it, follow the same method with the next, 
 and so on until you have completed the letter. Then write the 
 letter from beginning to end from some one else's reading. 
 The reader can time your speed by the second-hand of a 
 watch, and the letter should be thus read to you many 
 times, until you can write it at a speed of one-hundred words 
 a minute- (The figures in parenthesis are not to be read, 
 and are inserted to enable tbe dictator to ascertain the 
 speed at which the stenographer writes. Every tentb word 
 is numbered). 
 
 Then practice on tbe second letter in flie same manner- 
 By the time you will have drilled on twenty-five letters, you 
 may venture' to take a dictation on matter not previously 
 practiced. 
 
 Tbe "Word Signs should be recited daily- 
 
 i5i oca 
 
This book is DUE on the last date stamped below 
 
 JAN 23 193b 
 APR 1 6 1936 
 
 H A V3"^ 
 
 flpfc * 
 
 ifiii 
 
 MAR 9-1961 
 
 Form L-9-35m-s.'-_'s 
 
256 
 L6lp Lichtentag 
 
 Paragon 
 shorthand . 
 
 UC SOUTHERN REGIONAL LIBRARY FACILITY 
 ' -- 
 
 A 000 591 620 o 
 
 ,-EKSlTY of CALIFORNiy 
 
 AT 
 LOS ANSELES