Acquiring directions in which the nib moves (see Addenda,
a Formal p. xxi).
Hand: It is very important that the nib be cut “ sharp,”
(2) Methods and as often as its edge wears blunt it must be re¬
sharpened. It is impossible to make “ clean cut ”
strokes with a blunt pen (see Addenda, p. xxiii).
When the nib is cut back, the “ shoulder ” should
be cut back to preserve the elasticity of the pen
(p. 26).
HOLDING THE PEN
THE HAND holds the pen lightly and easily. A
good method is to loop the thumb and forefinger
over, and slightly gripping, the shaft of the pen, and
support the shaft from below with the second finger.
The third and fourth fingers are tucked, out of the
way, into the palm (figs. 41, 45).
The pen should be so lightly held that the act of
writing should draw the edge of the nib into perfect
contact with the paper, both the half-nibs touching the
surface. (To make sure that the contact is perfect,
make experimental thick strokes on a scrap of
paper—pinned at the right-hand side of the desk
—and see that they are “true,” i.e. that they are
of even width, with “clean cut” edges and ends.)
The writer should be able to feel what the nib
is doing. If the pen be gripped stiffly the edge of
the nib cannot be felt on the paper; and it will
inevitably be forced out of shape and prematurely
blunted.
A thin slip of bone—a “folder” or the handle
of the pen-knife will do—is commonly held in the
left hand to keep the paper flat and steady (see
fig. 41).
ЗО
THE CUSTOMARY MANNER. — The Acquiring
ancient scribe probably held his pen in the manner a Formal
most convenient to himself; and we, in order to Hand:
write with freedom, should hold the pen in the (2) Methods
way to which, by long use, we have been accus-
Ì \ -fr position of the Fig. 41. tomed ; provided that, for writing an upright round- S L ANT ED SHAFT, &c.—Most people are 31
Hoods шіЪііс umtin«
hand, the pen be so manipulated and cut as to make fine
horizontal thin strokes and clean vertical thick strokes
(see fig. 40, Si footnote, p. 268).
accustomed to holding a pen slanted away from the
right shoulder. The nib therefore is cut at an