Manuscript The exact size of the writing allowed in a given
Books case may be found by a process of guess and trial,
but this is seldom necessary for the practical scribe
who uses regular sizes for regular occasions.

The line spacing.—The size of the letter deter¬
mines approximately the distance apart of the
writing-lines (see pp. 45, 291). Much depends on
whether the ascending and descending letters are long
or short (see fig. 154)-

The number of writing-lines to the page equals the
number of times that the line-space is contained in
the text-column (i.e. the height of the page less the
top and foot margins)—allowing for the top line
not requiring a full space (see fig. 71). Any frac¬
tional space left over may be added to the foot
margin, or, if nearly equal to one line-space, a little
may be taken from the margins to complete it.

The Large Capitals are commonly one, two, or
more of the line-spaces in height (fig. 71, & p. 94).

RULING

Having folded and cut the large sheet of paper
into small (book) sheets of the size determined on,
take one of these as a pattern and rule it through¬
out as if it were to be
used in the book.

The ruling stylus has
a blunt point, which in¬
dents the paper, but does
not scratch it. A stout
pin bent to a claw shape
and held in a piece of
F[G- 72‘ wood does very well

(fig. 72).

74

Under the writing paper there should be a “pad”
of ordinary paper (or blotting paper).

The marginal lines are ruled from head to foot of
each leaf (a, fig. 73). Besides being a guide for the
writing, they give an appearance of straightness and
strength to the written page.1

(a)

Fig. 73.

The writing lines are ruled
marginal lines, their places
having been indicated by
equidistant dots (b, fig. 73).

A dozen or more of the
small sheets of the book are
piled together on a board
with their top edges exactly
coinciding, and the pattern
sheet is accurately placed on
the top of the pile. The pile
of sheets may be fixed by a
narrow piece of wood placed
across and screwed down (fig.

74). (See Addenda, p. xxiii.)

The writing line dots are

1 They are often ruled double (see p. 307), and sometimes the

top and foot lines are ruled from edge to edge of the sheet.

75

Lb.)

across, between the

Fig. 74.

Manuscript

Books