Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1875-07-13
VALUE OF A COED HANDwRrr1xs

VALUE OF A COED HANDWRITING,
How many blunders come of q care
less chirography none know but those
who have much to do with men in the
active business relations of life. The
old English poet Sheffield tells US that
"Of all those arts in which the wise excel,
NATURES chief masterpiece Is writing well :"
The poet meant to be understood in a
syntactical sense, but, in view of the
prime Importance of a good handwrit-
ing, the aphOrism may be applied as
well in autographed sense. There is
q familiar story about the late Horace
Greeley, whose handwriting was simply
horrible. He wrote a note to q neighbor
on business one day, aud sent it by
small ofiice-boy, who soon returned
and handed back NJ. Greeley's note TO
that gentleman, stating that the neigh
Dor had looked over it but sent no reply.
What does the d-n fool meau?u
said Horace. The urchin looked 10
and Rrchly replied: "Thaps exactly
what the ether man said when he tried
TO read your note and couldn't There
Is a good lawyer and fine gentleman in
Fayetteville, Tennessee, who, upon the
trial OF lawsuit in one of our circuit
courts, submitted certain PROPOSE
tions of law in writing, which
he asked the judge to charge
the jury. His honor looked over
the paper and declined the charge.
on the ground that he could not read the |
lawyers handwriting. The verdict and |
judgment were adverse to the lawyers |
client, and the lawse r appealed to the
supreme court, making his original
manuscript, so rejected by the Judge, an |
exhibit and part OF the bill OF exceptions.
About two years ago the case was argued
at Nashville upon the alleged error in
the refusal Of the judge to charge as re-
qlested. The court affirmed the iudg-
ment below, holding that no error could
be Predicated upon the judges inability
to read such handwriting as that. A
story is told Of a distinguished railroad
oiiicis! who, TO save his feelings, we
will not name otherwise than to call
him Charley" A citizen had built
house on the company's Fright Of way
land' very near to'the track of the road,
and the railroad king, who, like many
other business men, had spoiled an
fair handwriting by writing
too rapidly, sent the citizen a note, de-
string that the house be removed at
gu@n off of tho railroad Land Co..
time atterward, the official passing that
way, discovered the house still standing
where it was first built; and, seeing the
man at hand, asked why his order had
not been obsyed. The citizen replied
that be had received no such order.
Didn't you get a letter from me?U
asked the official. ayes, l did," said
he man, "Out l thought it wRs free
pass, and have been travelling on It ever
since" A well-known old citizen Of East
tennessee, who died not long since at
Knoxville, far along in the eighties, IN z
il be lost his ete-sight, wrote a very
air hand. 4 young man came to him
me day to get his signature to a paper.
The old gentleman took up the pen and :
,egsn 70 write bis name, but unable to {
ee his way clear, he said to the young
nan, while the pen was still dashing I
way: tom, is it writiug?" Now, the I
moral of all this is, that blind men are {
Xcusable for not writing legible hand, !
ut there IL no excuse for men who can :
ee what they are about, for intiicting a