Burroughs Encyclopaedia of Astounding Facts and Useful Information, 1889 | Page 7

with regularity and ease.
4th principle. Let 3d and 4th fingers slide. Notice the top.
[Illustration: (s and r strokes)]
O closed at top. No retracing.
[Illustration: (o and a strokes)]
Two spaces high. Down stroke straight.
[Illustration: (l and d strokes)]
A rule in writing may be laid down, that all small letters should commence on the blue line, and end one space high.
Discover the principles. Avoid retracing.
[Illustration: (g and q strokes)]
Notice form. In w, last part narrow. Make without raising the pen.
[Illustration: (v, w, and x strokes)]
Extend two spaces above the line, and one below.
[Illustration: p p pppppp pump paper prepared pen]
Retracing is an error. The only exception to this is in d, t, p and x, where it becomes [Transcriber's Note: The original text reads 'neccessary'] necessary.
[Illustration: b b b blending blooming k k kick kicking hurt hint hand heart head hundred hhh f find fund fame flame flowers fumigate]
Upper loops have their crossing at the hight of one space, while lower loops cross at the blue line.
[Illustration: y your youth y j journey joining rejoicing fs effs efffs afsure z zone zone zenith zzzzzz tune time tanner drum dime tttdddd]
Place the capital letters on the scale, analyze them according to principles 6, 7, and 8, and notice their relative proportions.
[Illustration: (uppercase cursive alphabet)]
In order to practice capital letters to advantage, as well as to study them, collect in a group or family all those letters which have some one form or principle as an essential part. Take first the 6th principle, or oval, and we group the letters as follows:
[Illustration: O. D. C. E. P. Q. R.]
The excellence of an oval depends largely on its fullness and roundness. No corners or flat sides.
Down strokes parallel.
Capital D is a Capital O with a knot on the lower corner.
[Illustration: O Olean Orleans Ohio Delia David Dahlia]
[Illustration: C Church Currency E Elucidate Economy]
[Illustration: P Prince Prayer P R Regan R Raymond R]
The letters in which the capital stem, or 7th principle, forms a leading part, may be grouped as follows:
[Illustration: H. K. F. T. S. S. G.]
In the H and K, the capital stem is almost straight on the down stroke, in the F and T it is little more of a wave line, and in S and L the line is much of a compound or double curve.
[Illustration: H Hand Hunter Hinder K Kingdom Ky.]
[Illustration: F Famine Fremont T Tenement Troy]
[Illustration: S Sumpter St. S Sarimore G Grammar]
The capital I, and also the J, which is a modified I, are sometimes classed among the capital stem letters, from the resemblance of the I to this principle in all but the top.
[Illustration: Independence Jamestown Inkerman Judgment]
The capital loop, or 8th principle, is found as an essential element in:
[Illustration: M. N. X. W. Q. Z. V. U. Y.]
In the capital loop, or 8th principle, another oval may be made within the large turn at the top, but for practical purposes the letter is perhaps better without it, and may be simplified even more, as in the N below.
[Illustration: M Monumental N Nathaniel X Xenophon]
[Illustration: W Writing Q Quay Quack J J Jones J J]
[Illustration: V Value Valuable U Union Y Youthful]
FIGURES.
Make figures small, neat, and of form exact. Each figure must show for itself, and cannot be known by those which precede or follow it, as is the case with letters. The common tendency is to make figures too large and coarse. Mind the ovals in figures and have them full and round. The chief excellence of the zero lies in its roundness; the 3, 5, 6 or 9, without care in making the ovals, may degenerate into a straight line, or simply a meaningless hook, which it would hardly be safe to use in expressing sums of money, ordering goods, or the transaction of other business.
[Illustration: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 $ ￠ # % a/c 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0]

[Illustration: COPIES FOR PRACTICE.]
COPIES FOR PRACTICE
Having proceeded thus far in the study and practice of writing, and having obtained the proper control of the pen through the movement exercises, all that is necessary now in order to secure a good handwriting, is continued and well-directed practice.
[Illustration:
$1100.00 Chicago, Jan. 10./80. Due Henry Harrington, on order, Eleven Hundred Dollars in Merchandise, value rec'd No. 43. Newton P. Kelley, Sr.]
* * * * *
[Illustration: Ornamental Penmanship.]
ORNAMENTAL PENMANSHIP
Charming and fascinating are the graceful and harmonious curves produced, when, wielded by some trained and skillful hand, the pen becomes an instrument of beauty. As by the power of speech, men may pass from the common tone of conversation up to the melodious strains of music, or may soar in flights of oratory into the sublime, until the multitude is entranced; so the capabilities of the pen are not limited to the common