Burroughs Encyclopaedia of Astounding Facts and Useful Information, 1889 | Page 6

customers are waiting.
But adapted to the practical purposes of business is the muscular
movement, in which the arm moves freely on the muscles below the
elbow, and in cases of precise writing, or in the more extended letters,
such as f, is assisted by a slight movement of the fingers. The third and
fourth fingers may remain stationary on the paper, and be moved from
time to time, or between words, where careful and accurate writing is
desired, but in more rapid, free and flowing penmanship, the fingers
should slide over the paper.
MOVEMENT EXERCISES.
Having everything in readiness, the student may begin his practice on
movement exercises, the object of which is to obtain control of the pen
and train the muscles. Circular motion, as in the capital O, reversed as
in the capital W, vertical movement as in f, long s and capital J, and the
lateral motion as in small letters, must each be practiced in order to be
able to move the pen in any direction, up, down, or sidewise.
The simplest exercise in movement. Try to follow around in the same
line as nearly as possible. Do not shade.
[Illustration: O O 8]
The same exercise, only with ovals drawn out and and slight shade
added to each down stroke.
[Illustration: (coils)]
Sides of ovals should be even, forming as nearly a straight line as
possible. Reverse the movement as in third form.

[Illustration: (coils)]
The following three exercises embrace the essential elements in capital
letters, and should at first be made large for purposes of movement:
Capital O, down strokes parallel.
[Illustration: O Q O Q O O Q O Q O]
Capital stem. Down stroke a compound curve. Shade low. Finish with a
dash.
[Illustration: d d d d d d d d d]
Capital loop. Curves parallel. First curve highest.
[Illustration: O O O O (double overlapping loops)]
Having succeeded to some extent with these exercises, the learner may
next undertake the vertical movement. In order to obtain the lateral
movement, which enables one to write long words without lifting the
pen, and move easily and gracefully across the page, exercises like the
following should be practiced:
Down strokes straight. Even and resting on line.
[Illustration: uuuuuuuuuuu]
In all movement exercises the third and fourth fingers should slide on
the paper, and the finger movement should be carefully avoided. The
different movements having been practiced, they may now be
combined in various forms.
[Illustration: u u u u u n n n n n]
Lateral and rolling movement combined. Vertical movement and
rolling movement combined.
[Illustration: t t t]

Do not shade the circles. Lines should be parallel.
Movement exercises may be multiplied almost indefinitely by studying
the forms used in writing and their combinations. Repeating many of
the small letters, such as m, u, e, r, s, a, d, h and c, also capitals D, J, P,
etc., forms an excellent exercise for the learner.
PRINCIPLES IN WRITING.
In order to enable the learner to examine, analyze and criticise his
writing, the following principles are given as his standards of
measurements and form. By combining them in various ways the
essential part of all letters in the alphabet may be formed.
[Illustration: (eight common strokes)]
The principles must be first carefully studied, and separated into the
primary lines which compose them and the form of each principle well
understood. The student may then form a scale like the one following,
by dividing the distance between the blue lines on the paper into four
equal spaces, with a lightly ruled line. The letters of the small alphabet
should then be placed in the scale and the [Transcriber's Note: The
original text reads 'hight'] height of each letter fixed in the mind.
[Illustration: (lowercase cursive alphabet)]
Notice that the contracted letters, or those which occupy only one space,
as a, m, n, o, s, v, w and e, and that part of d, g, h, q and y, found in the
first space, are all well rounded and developed. These letters and parts
of letters, found in the first space, form the essential part of all writing,
and therefore deserve especial care. Also notice that the loop letters,
above the line, such as b, f, h, k and l, extend two and one-half spaces
above the blue line, while the loop below the line, such as g, f, j, q, y
and z, extend one and one-half spaces below the blue line, thus two and
one-half and one and one-half making the four spaces of the scale, and
the upper loops on one line will just meet the lower loops of the line
above, but never conflict, to the destruction of neat body writing.
Notice the type of the printer. The extensions above the