The elements of Haven's Practical Phonography are two alphabets, one visible and the other invisible - a portion of the visible alphabet being presented in the following sixteen signs:

The first column of shorthand letters in above list is composed of simple straight lines written alternately light and heavy and slanting in pairs at four different angles. The other column of shorthand letters are all lightly written curves, each one of them being a quarter of a circle, as the following diagrams containing all the letters above given will show:

By the above, it will be seen that the straight letters are each one-quarter of a complete square, just as the curved letters are each a quarter of a complete circle; though it will also be seen that the two circles and squares, in above diagram, are each divided into different quarters from the other. This is illustrated still further by the diagram below:

The straight characters are readily enough distinguished as to slant, but sometimes beginners are apt to make mistakes in relation to the slant of the curves, and in order to impress the direction of the curves well upon the beginner's mind, the following diagrams, showing the exact slant of each curve in comparison with the straight letters, is given:

From above, the student will observe that the points of the curved letters F and V begin and end at the same position, regarding the line, as the straight letter P would; that the curves Th and S begin and end in similar positions to T, L and Sh to Chay, and M and N to K.

Pronounce the double letters Ch, Th, and Sh, as indicated in the list: Chay, Ith, and Ish - never C-h, T-h,and S-h. The sound for G should also be always pronounced Gay. These four signs require special pronunciation, for reasons which will be better appreciated by students as they progress.

Always write the signs for K, Gay, M, and N from left to right.

Write L upward.

The other signs in foregoing list are written downward.

Other letters of the visible alphabet will be given in subsequent lessons.