Lamoille newsdealer. [volume] (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1860-1877, 1860-11-30
ANCIENT AND MODERN PENMANsHIP.


Great is the difference between the clerkly
penmanship in the body of ancient deeds,
and the rough, rude, and often illegible
signs of those great men of the sword, whose
functions in the middle ages were SO much
demanded; and it may be remarked that
in those days when the circumstance of
having pen in hand must have been a
remarkable event in the lives of the
great mass of the community, the penman-
ship of the few learned clerks was notica-
BILE for its beauty, and also for its cores
pondence, to some extent, with the con-
temporary style of architecture.
The effect of the introduction of Ital-
ian architecture may be traced both in
manuscripts and books. Many of the
specimens of the hand writing of Queen
Elizabeth are signally beautiful, and show
much variety. There is the small Italian
hand, which was used when writing, as
princess, to her dear cousin and king,
Edward vi, and on other complimentary
occasions; more vigorous style for State
purposes; and very large hand, which
combined the Gothic with the Italian,
which GOOD Queen Bess" used when
she threatened to unfrock a bishop.
Looking at ancient documents of time
when being obliged to resort to the use of
cross for signature was not considered
disgraceful, even to nobility, it is curious
to notice the great variety of the crosses,
and the different degrees of artistic skill
which was shown in them. AS the prac-
tice of writing became more general the
use of the cross became less so and al
though many could not write their entire
name, they managed to sign with letter,
or peculiar form Or flourish which had
some resemblance to one.
In collection of autographs of the
relatives of Shakespeare, published by
Halliwell, great variety is shown. Ag-
mes Arden's signature resembles the letter
U, such as would be made by a school
boy who had just got out of his "pot-
hooks" John Shakespeare signs with a
sword-like cross, 50 firmly and vigorously
marked, that one can fancy, if opportuni-
ties had offered, that this hand might
have been cultivated into that of the
skillful craftsman. Others of those signs
are crosses surmounted by circles, and
show imperfect attempts at regular sigma
lures.
Remembering the systems of book keep
ing and accounts which are now required
for successful trade, it is difficult to un-
derstand how business to any extent could
have been carried on. Tallies kept by
notched sticks, with certain hieroglyphics
for the different goods, were much used
instead of books; and no doubt these in.
struments were produced by many of the
traders of London and elsewhere, with as
much gravity as a regular bill at the pres
cnt day. @
In the reign of George iii, when cdu
cation had become more general the crosses
of those who could not write, lost the dis
tinction and artistic character of older
times, and the large, bold, round hand
corresponds in style with the buildings
and furniture then in use. This writing
although without much beauty. has, not
withstanding, the merit of distintness
In these railway times, with the exception
of book-keepers in banks, and clerks il
merchants offices, few seem to have tho
time to trim their letters. Few artists
write a good hand. Physicians prcscrip.
tons are often as difficult to deciphcr q.
ancient hicroglyphics; and it must b
confessed that writer's for the press are not
generally remarkable for either the dis.
tinctness or beauty of their manuscript
AS regards artists, the practice of hand.
ling the brush and pencil is not favorable
to graceful penmanship; and in respect
to the literary profession, it is generally
difficult for the pen to keep pace with the
thoughts, to say nothing of the fact that
time often presses. --London Builder
At the beginning of the present century. II
the case of disputed account, in a town In Tho
north of England, the door on which the account
had been kept with chalk was produced In court