Ellsworth American., 1864-12-09

handwriting.

Inc London Saturday Review takes Oc-
casion to advise the young people of Eng
land on a point, which deserves attention
in this country as well, where the foolish
notion that an illcgible, or,--to use a term
often made synonymous with this,-a
characteristic hand is upon the whole
rather a satisfactory mark of distinction,
has certainly had its influence. The
chlrOgraphv of the great men of the
United States would supply some further
Illustrations of the idea of the Saturday
Review rs well US one or two notable eX-
ceptions =
"If any foolish lad, or still more silly
teacher, should imagine that it is the sign
of n vulgar and mcnial education to write
good hand the sooner schooboy and
pedagogue dsabusc themselves Of this
mistaken idea the better. The highes.
circles of English society cultivate pea-
manship with care and success. The
Queens handwriting is beautiful-ilowing
and elegant, and feminine. Prince AL
bert's biographcr compares the Prince to
Goethe, who would take inordnate pains
even in writing short note, that it should
be admirably written. He did not under
stand the merit Of second best, but every
thing that was to be done must be done
perfectly The Prince COnsort took the
greatest interest in the caligraphy of his
children, and few young people, We are
assured, write more elegantly, and at the
same time more distinctly, than the Princes
and Princesses of England. Our highest
statesmen have not thought it beneath
them to cultivate clear and distinct pen
manship. Lord Palmcrston's handwriting
is free, firm, and considering his great age,
by no means obscure. Lord Derby writes
II capital hand-at once elegant and legi-
ble-an aristocratic hand, if there be such
o thing. Earl Russcll's is smaller and
more feminine hand, yet clear as his ex-
positions of constitutional law and as in
cisive in its style as some of his dispatches
arc biting, though rash, i'll matter.
"Thc Lord Chancellor writes beautiful
hand,-firn, solid and legal--such a hand
as should have drawn mp the Bill of
Rights. Sir Hugh Cairns's is smaller, and
perhaps, more clcgant-a gentlemanly
and clear hand Mr., Bobden's hand
writing is round, bold and commercial
the hand of one who began life as a jun
or clerk i'll days when good pemnanship
was perhaps the rule rather than the ex-
ccption, among school boys of any ambi-
ton. Mr.. r.Bright's is a somewhat smaller
hand rapid and flowing. yet legibe. Mr..
Gladstonc's is hurried and impctuous
hand-the writing of man whose
thoughts flow so .hick and fast that they
nutstrip the pen. Yet he holds the quill
in firm grasp, and his letters are large
and well formed. Lord Stanley's writing
is by no means elegant, yet it is as distinct
as large print.
The Duke of Newcastlc's long, we'll
formed and very distinct letters. would
perhaps gain him the prize for caligraphy
among living statesmen yet his pen
manship is inferior to that of the late
Marquis OF Wellcsly, who wrote, perhaps,
the best hand of his day. Considering
how much writing the Governor Generals
of India, during the last half century, had
to do, it has been fortunate for East India
Directors, Boards Of Control, and India
Secretaries, that the yice-resal penman-
ship has been SO uniformly good. Lord
w. Bentimck's words and letters some
times ran little into each other, yet his
hand was fairly lcgibls. Lord Hastings
and Lord Amherst each wrote a pic
turesque hand, Yet every letter of both
was as clear as print. Lord Buckland 5
hand was sngularly round and lcgiblc.-
Lord Ellenborougll' was too lady-likc and
finical to be very distinct but his success
sor, Lord Dah0usie, wrote an admirable
model hand, and Lord Canning's was also
an axamplc of good penmanship. Every
one remembers how plain and distinct
were the notes beginning IF. M. the Duke
of Wellington presents his compliments
although every one may not be aware that
MANY of the COMMUNICATIONS so highly
prized by autograph collectors were writ
ten by the Dukes secretary, Mr.. Grcvillc,
who learned to initiate his hand. In all
these Instances land we might bring fifty
otherS) our present race of schoolboys ca'i
find 10 sanction or encouragement for III
dolent neglect of their pen:nanship.'
PorAroEs IN PARLoHs.-A correspond
cnt of the Scientific american furnishes
the following, which if true is worthy at.
tentlon
Take a sweet potato, place it in the
mouth Of a transparent jar so that it fiji
loosely, and keep it in its place by putting
pins in it. Fill the jar with water, an,
set where the sun can shine on it, or in ,
place where the temperature is quite
even. Almost any place in the hous(
will do, as in window where it gets the
light. The progress will at first be slow
rcpcnish the jar with water as the potato
atsorbs it, keeping the water up to th'
middle of the potato, and soon roots vii
appear from the part in the water. Frou
this point down its growth is quite rapid
the roots striking downward finally i
begins to sprout from the top, green leave
appear, and it continues to grow like
cllmbing vine, attainng-a yard in length