The Roman
Alphabet
& its
Derivatives

up—if they were made too narrow (fig. 158).

The cross-bar—the characteristic part of T

T

—projects a fair way on either side of the
stem.

Either wide or (moderately) narrow (fig.

ZjLime

158).

The Narrow Letters, В, E, F, R, S, T (X) (see
fig. 159).

X

narrow

BERSX

B.E.RS. width is ippTvx-

ixnatsfy half the haÿdr: ***** x

Fig. 159.

There is a point of division in these letters about
the middle of the stem or a little above (see p. 237),
and we may argue that each being composed, as it
were, of two little letters—which are half-height,
they are proportionate half-width: and this will be

found approximately correct, jß may be said to

consist of one little D on the top of another, averag¬
ing respectively half the height and width of a
full-sized D.

E, F,*R follow the proportions of В

(see also E, 4, p. 246).

236

a

Smay be made of one little tilted О on the top
of another—joined together and having the
superfluous parts removed.

is like a little V upon a little I.

Either narrow or wide (fig. 159).

The Narrow letters, K, L, and P—

These forms are related to the В, E forms, but
it is permissible to make them a little wide to give

clearance to the angles of the and force to the

single arm and loop—the characteristic parts (see

fig. 149)—of L and jp#

UPPER & LOWER PARTS

In the letters В, E, H, К, X (A), F, R, P (S),
Y there is generally a tendency to enlarge the
lower part, the cross-bar—or division—being set
above mid-height. This tendency may reasonably
be accounted for as follows:—

The natural division of B, E, H,

K>X, regarded as abstract forms, would

be symmetrical—i.e. at the centre of the stem.1
In order that its apparent position may be central,
however, it is necessary, for optical reasons, to make

1 The primitive forms of these letters were vertically sym-
metrical, I believe.

237

The Roman
Alphabet
& its
Derivatives