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.

The same exercise, only with ovals drawn out and and slight shade added to each down stroke.

Sides of ovals should be even, forming as nearly a straight line as possible. Reverse the movement as in third
form.

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.

Capital stem. Down stroke a compound curve. Shade low. Finish with a dash.

Capital loop. Curves parallel. First curve highest.

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.

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

Lateral and rolling movement combined. Vertical movement and rolling movement combined.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.

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 [pg
14]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 height of each letter fixed in the
mind.

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 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.

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.

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:

The excellence of an oval depends largely on its fullness and roundness. No corners or flat sides.

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.

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.

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.

$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.

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 uses of
life, but may take on forms of beauty in elegant outlines of bird, or landscape, or graceful swan or bounding
stag.
Ornamental writing is not a practical art, and has no connection whatever with the practical business of life. It
is in the realm of poetry. The imagery of graceful outlines must first be seen by a poetic imagination. While the
great masses may acquire a good style of plain, practical penmanship, few have the necessary conception of
mind, combined with the skill and dexterity of hand to become successful ornamental penmen.
Various beautiful designs or pictures may be made with the pen, in the hands of one that possesses the skill of
a penman and the eye of an artist.