Acquiring
a Formal
Hand:
(4) Practice

have smaller and quicker writing, neatly arranged
on the pages, with four or five words to the line.
(See MS. Books, Chap. VI.)

A broad nib is used in preference to a narrow
one, so that the characteristics of true pen-work
are brought out and the faults made clear. A fine,
light handwriting is often very pretty, but it is
certain to mislead the novice in penmanship (see
p. 288).

Having acquired a formal hand the penman may
modify and alter it, taking care that the changes
are compatible, and that they do not impair its
legibility or beauty. Such letters as are obsolete he
replaces by legible forms akin to them in feeling,
and, the style of the selected type becoming very
naturally and almost unconsciously modified by
personal use, he at length attains an appropriate
and modern Formal-Handwriting. The process of
“ forming ” a hand requires time and practice : it

resembles the
passage of
“ Copy-book ”
into “Run¬
ning” hand,
familiar to us
all (see p. 287).

SCRIPTS I & II

Having cut
the nib of a
reed or large
quill to the
exact width required for the thick stroke, copy the
component strokes of the letter or (Script I), and
52

immediately make the complete letter: go through Acquiring

a Formal

___ Hand:

Л (4) Practice

%

p-

I

и

CT

the whole alphabet in this way several times (fig.
58). Next join the letters together (see p. 39) to

53