Burroughs Encyclopaedia of Astounding Facts and Useful Information, 1889 | Page 5

of the meaning conveyed, may be
incalculably great.
While practicing penmanship, or while endeavoring to correct a
careless habit in writing, the mind must be upon the work in hand, and
not be allowed to wander into fields of thought or imagination; by thus
confining the attention, any defect or imperfection in the formation of
letters may be soon mastered or corrected.

[Illustration: Position of the Hand and Pen.]
POSITION OF THE HAND AND PEN
The right arm should rest on the muscles just below the elbow, and
wrist should be elevated so as to move free from paper and desk. Turn
the hand so that the wrist will be level, or so that the back of the hand
will face the ceiling. The third and fourth fingers turned slightly
underneath the hand will form its support, and the pen, these fingers
and the muscles of the arm near the elbow form the only points of rest
or contact on desk or paper. The pen should point over the shoulder,
and should be so held that it may pass the root of the nail on the second
finger, and about opposite the knuckle of the hand. An unnatural or
cramped position of the hand, like such a position of the body, is
opposed to good writing, and after many years of observation and study,
all teachers concur in the one position above described, as being the
most natural, easy and graceful for the writer, and as affording the most
freedom and strength of movement.
Avoid getting the hand in an awkward or tiresome position, rolling it
over to one side, or drawing the fore finger up into a crooked shape.
Hold the pen firmly but lightly, not with a grip as if it were about to
escape from service. Do not say, "I can't" hold the pen correctly. Habits
are strong, but will may be stronger, and if you hold the pen correctly
in spite of old habits, for a few lessons, all will then be easy, and the
pen will take its position at each writing exercise, with no effort
whatever. Everything being in readiness, and the proper position
assumed, the writer must now obtain complete control of hand and pen,
by practice in movement.
[Illustration]
RAPIDITY.
One of the essentials of a practical business style of writing must be
rapidity of execution, in order to be of any avail in the necessities and
press of a business position. The demand of the merchant is, that his
clerk shall not only write well, but with rapidity, and the volume of

letters to be answered, bills to be made out, or items to be entered on
the books of account, compel the clerk to move the pen with dexterity
and rapidity, as well as skill. While there is great diversity among
persons as to the rapidity as well as quality of their penmanship, some
being naturally more alert and active than others, yet by securing the
proper position of the hand, arm and body, favorable to ease and
freedom of execution, then following this with careful practice in
movement, until all the varied motions necessary in writing are
thoroughly mastered, the person may, with suitable effort, acquire the
quality of rapidity in writing, gradually increasing the speed until the
desired rate is accomplished.
BEAUTY.
In the handwriting, as in other things, beauty is largely a matter of taste
and education. To the man of business, the most beautiful handwriting
is that which is written with ease, and expresses plainly and neatly the
thought of the writer. To the professional or artistic taste, while such a
hand may be regarded as "a good business hand," it would not be
considered as beautiful, because it conforms to no rule as to proportion,
shade, and spacing. In the practical art of writing, it is not very unfair to
measure its beauty largely by its utility.

[Illustration: Movement]
MOVEMENT.
Finger movement, or writing by the use of the fingers as the motive
power, is entirely inadequate to the requirements of business. The
fingers soon become tired, the hand becomes cramped, the writing
shows a labored effort, and lacks freedom and ease so essential to good
business penmanship. In the office or counting-room, where the clerk
or correspondent must write from morning till night, the finger
movement of course cannot be used.
What is designated by writing teachers as the Whole Arm, or Free Arm

Movement, in which the arm is lifted free from the desk and completes
the letter with a dash or a swoop, is necessary in ornamental
penmanship and flourishing, but has no place in a practical style of
business writing. The man of business would hardly stop, in the midst
of his writing, to raise the arm, and execute an "off-hand capital," while