No treatise on learning the code would be complete without a summary and discussion of this famous and formerly long-advertised course.
By 1904 Walter H. Candler had learned the American Morse code and worked for two years as a telegrapher. He had practiced diligently and felt qualified to apply for a job as commercial relay operator in the Western Union office at Atlanta GA. But he didn't last out there even one day, and had to take a night shift job as telegraph operator at a small town R.R. station. He was deeply hurt and puzzled. What was the matter? What mysterious ingredient was missing?
As was the custom at the best telegraph schools, he had visually memorized the Morse code from a printed table of dots and dashes, and then practiced and practiced. (This "standard" procedure was confirmed by a former teacher at the well-known Dodge's Institute -- no connection to the later C. K. Dodge "Radio Shortkut".) One night on the job, quite by accident, he discovered that when once in a while he dozed off at the operating table, he could read the fastest code coming over the lines to his sounder. Yet when he was awake and alert he could catch only a word here and there.
It was then that he began to realize that telegraphy is primarily a mental process, and that the so-called "sub-conscious mind" must play a vital part in it. (At that time here was quite a bit of popular writing about the "sub-conscious mind," which no doubt helped him put it all together.) He began experimenting until he had solved his own problem and mastered the code himself, and in time he became qualified to teach others how to do it, too. By 1911 he had established his own "school" in Chicago to teach "The Candler System," later moving it to Asheville, NC.
Although he died on 23 April 1040, his wife, who was already an experienced telegrapher herself when they were married in 1924, and had worked with him since, continued to handle the course for a number of years. (It was last advertised in QST in 1959.)
Originally his "High Speed" course was designed for operators who already "knew" American Morse, but were stuck at some too low speed. Later he added the International code to it, covering both codes. Still later a new course, called "The Scientific Code Course," designed to be successfully used by beginners working alone, was created from the regular "High Speed" course by modifying it to add helps to get the beginner started. (Thus it contained all that the "High Speed" course contained.) That new course was later renamed "The Junior Code Course," and was the one I obtained in October 1939, and made extensive notes on.
There is evidence that, although the essentials stood out strongly and firmly, over the years the details varied in minor ways. His basic philosophy may be stated as:- "This system trains you to use your MIND" to develop "scientifically your coordination, concentration and confidence" -- your responsiveness. The course consisted of ten lessons plus considerable valuable supplementary material, mostly as letters. It is summarized below.
Since Candler was concerned with those training to become commercial operators, he first emphasized the importance of healthy living: eating, exercise, breathing, etc. This emphasis was needed in those days because the typical city operator worked long hours in unhealthy smoke-filled, darkish, crowded and poorly ventilated offices.
LESSON ONE: Emphasis on sound units. The first group was E I S H, to be sent smoothly and in accurate, regular timing by the student with his key, saying the dits as he pounded them out. Candler recommended that two or more beginners work together so each could send to and receive from the other. As soon as he can recognize them easily and send them smoothly, he was to form words, such as "he, is, see, his, she." Next to take the letters T M O, and do the same way, saying the dahs as he sends them, and then to make small words using both sets of letters, as before. Lastly the letters: A N W G. Then practice small words, including as many of the 100 most common words as can be formed from these eleven letters. At one period Candler either supplied or recommended the use of mechanical senders, such as the Teleplex, with his course for the student studying alone. This would provide an accurate timing sense as well as good hearing practice. With a machine or companion, he would be able to listen and, during this initial period, copy letter by letter as he heard each character.
LESSON TWO: Emphasis again on thinking of the letters in terms of dits and dahs as they sound, not as they appear in dots and dashes. Groups of new letters to be learned the same way: D U V J B; R K L F; P X Z C Y Q. Words to be practiced included the rest of the shorter 100 most common words. Emphasis on accuracy of timing, and that repetition builds habit (whether good or bad).
LESSON THREE: Emphasis on knowing you are right, then going ahead and making it a habit by repetitive practice. Analysis of the letters in code, accuracy of signal, spacing and speed: precision. Get in the habit of instantly recognizing each and every letter when you hear it, without having to stop and think: automatic association of each signal with its letter. Also now learn the numbers and commonest punctuation. When you have learned the letters so that you do not have to "stop and think" of what character any combination of dits and dahs represents, begin listening to good code every day regularly without copying, even if only for 5 minutes at a time. (The radio was his favourite source of good code: commercial press and government stations were on 24 hours a day. Now we have ARRL code practice, tapes. etc.) Catch everything you can as you listen. You may not get much at first, but keep trying and you will soon begin to hear letters and words.
LESSON FOUR: Think of the code as being easy to learn. Trust your sub-mind to do its work. Review and practice, especially any characters you tend to miss or confuse, until they are automatic. Every character must stand on its own feet. Keep drilling on the 100 most common words, both receiving and sending. Begin using the "two-column drill" where you set up two parallel columns of three or four letter words, each having the same number of letters; then go down the columns spelling the word in the first column out loud while simultaneously writing down the other. Then do the same, reversing the columns. (See Chapter 8, "Conquering Our Fears of Losing Out," third paragraph.) These are the first easy drills on learning to copy a word or two behind.
LESSON FIVE: practice each letter and character until you know them all so well - whether receiving or sending - that you don't have to stop and think about them at all. Do the same with the 100 most common words. Keep up the practice of the two-column exercise started in Lesson 4, going on to words with a few more letters as you find it easier. This is to HELP DISENGAGE CONSCIOUS ATTENTION from the proper functioning of the sub-conscious mind so that it can do its work unhindered. Learn to trust it by continuing this kind of practice until it becomes easy. This is a highly successful method of training to shift the effort from conscious to automatic, that is, subconscious, making it a useful habit.
LESSON SIX: Development of skill is developing coordination, where everything runs smoothly. It begins by constant practice listening to and sending consistently and perfectly formed code characters, learning to recognize each code signal instantly, learning to read it all easily, and when copying, to write it down in a uniform, simple style of handwriting. Watch for any step along the line where there is any hesitation or question, and practice to overcome that block. Give this your attention, and allow time for it to develop until it becomes automatic, habitual. This is the scientific way. Do some practice copying mixed five-letter groups, but do not write down any letters of a group until the whole group has been sent. Have wide enough spaces left between groups to allow you to write it down before the next group starts. (His emphasis throughout the course is on receiving and copying normal English, not ciphered groups.)
LESSON SEVEN: Emphasis on proper timing while sending. Start by sending a series of letter E's with wide spaces between them, first with six counts between letters, then gradually reducing the space to normal one letter space. Then do the same way with S, T, H, O, etc. (Here he discussed "counting" as given above under "1 - Sound Consciousness, Critique.")
LESSON EIGHT: A discussion of "glass arm," or telegrapher's paralysis, and its prevention by certain exercises, relaxation and proper warm-up. Continuing practice of fundamentals.
LESSON NINE: Obstacles to progress listed as:
LESSON TEN: Learning to carry words in your mind by continuing the copying behind practice. Learning to write rapidly and legibly as an aid to receiving. Learning to copy on the typewriter. (He had a separate course specifically for this.) Learning by doing until it become second nature.