The small a is, in the main, a reduced copy of the capital A, and the first parts of small d and g are identical with small a. Fix the resemblance in the mind; it will help you. In business writing it is best to make the looped small d. It is just as legible and much faster than the stem. The loop to small g should be made without finger motion. We favor the blunt style in small g and y when they are final letters in a word. The small g thus made is identical with the figure 9. Practice each letter in groups until a decided improvement is seen. Practice speed—from seventy to eighty good a's and about sixty of small d and g to the minute.
Study the relation of the loop to the oval, as shown in the first line of drill 20. The letters given here are of about the right length for average business writing. There is a slight checking of the motion on the downward strokes, but not enough to stop the motion at the base line. After a little practice loops as good as the above in groups of five should be made at the rate of from 125 to 150 to the minute. The Spencerian forms of small letters have been mainly followed in the copies given, departures being made only when more abbreviated or rapid forms seemed essential. In small r and p following, forms are given that are mainly used by the best business penmen, because of the rapidity with which they can be made.
The first stroke in small r, above given, is very much like the first part of small m or n. The downward stroke is retraced to a point about one-fourth of a space above the first part; a stop (hardly noticeable) and a dot are made before the swinging curve to the next letter. Close study of the form while practicing will be necessary. After its mastery, one hundred connected letters to the minute will be a good rate of speed. The first few trials will unquestionably be discouraging, but faithful practice will be rewarded. Stick to it. Practice speed in the word error, from twenty to twenty-four words to a minute. CAUTION TO THE STUDENT.—Never begin to practice until you are sure you know how to practice. Languid, thoughtless practice should be avoided. Put ambition, put energy, put the fire of determined will behind your practice, and the results will be astonishing. Take advantage of all favorable conditions. Keep not only the muscles of the right arm in a relaxed condition, but guard against tense muscles in any part of the body. Keep the side of the hand and the wrist free from the desk; keep the right arm well out from the side; keep the right hand in front of the eyes; keep a right angle at the right elbow, and remember that the propelling power is located back of the right elbow. If you think you are in a good position for writing, test the movement without touching the pen to the paper, and while doing this, study the conditions under which you are trying to work. Be sure you are right before you go ahead.
In the above is given a particularly excellent drill, to be made with pure muscular movement. From sixty to sixty-six connected letters should be made to the minute. Make frequent comparisons and write a page. An application of the reverse oval motion is made in forming the capital J. Study number 23. The reverse oval, it must be understood begins with an upward stroke on the left side. Before attempting the capital J make reverse ovals four or five minutes, and if the movement is then light and uniform, this copy may be safely practiced. The oval, in connection with capital J, is used as a driving force.
Make the oval in a count of six, lift the pen from the paper at the top, and without checking the motion, swing the pen in its natural course in the air to the right and below the base to the point of contact with the paper in starting the letter. Do not stop the motion, but strike the paper in an upward course at full speed for the beginning stroke of J. If the explanation of applied motion is not fully understood, study it until it is, and then fill at least a half page with the copy. Do not neglect the form, but note carefully the following points: The J should begin with an upward stroke from a point just below the base line; the turn at the top should be round; the upper part should be about one space longer and twice the width of the lower part.
This copy is given as a drill on both movement and form. From the beginning stroke of J to the finishing stroke of s the pen should not be lifted. Write the word from beginning to end with a steady, light and uniform movement. Eighteen or twenty words to the minute will be a fair rate of practice speed.
The count for this drill is 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8; two for the capital I and six for the oval drill. Capital I begins in same manner as capital J, but the upper part is narrower. Write fifteen or twenty lines of this copy before passing to the next.
Not less than fifty of this capital to the minute. The count is two for each letter.
The angular finish in this letter is of especial value when small letters follow, as shown in the following line:
This is a medium hand, but it is often necessary to write more compactly. Other words in which the small letters already practiced are used, may be introduced for practice. Drills 29- |
