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

shorter letters

are quite insignificant, and are only used to save the letter from
resembling some other letter of the alphabet. They never conflict, and
how legible they are.
[Illustration: The Types. A Resemblance. An Absurdity.]
Besides, to make long loops, requires more time, and more power with
the pen, while shorter loops are in every way easier to acquire, quicker,
and better. Telegraph operators, some of whom are among our best
business penmen, make all extended letters very short, while
accountants, and business men, favor the style of short loops, well
developed letters, and small capitals.
Apply the principles. Observe regularity. Muscular movement.
[Illustration: (v and u strokes)]
Down strokes straight. Up strokes curved.
[Illustration: (n and m strokes)]
Principle No. 1. Well formed loop.
[Illustration: (e and c strokes)]
These exercises should be practiced with the muscular movement, until
they can be made 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