The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1885-04-24
Character Writing.

al have made life study of chiro-
graphy," was the comment Of q philos-
opher to pharisee of the Hartford
Post. IAN honest mans hand carries
conviction with 1t; my intuition is the
bridge to which trust. 1t Is difficult
for me to analyze the why Of every
action, but know, and that Is enough.
It Is the fact, and not the multitude
nous reasons for the fact, with which l
am concerned.
~ think the signatures that demand
the most attention are those Of the
atrical company. They are made USUAL
ly In one hand-and that very bold
one-and they cover generally whole
page, unless the clerk Is less pleasant
than usual. They are bracketed and
labeled with the name Of the aggrega-
ton. Some Of these collections are
written In O uniformly big. round hand;
that means that the agent has been ed
ucated to believe in the efficacy of
plenty Of sea-room in the chirographi-
cal ocean. He has also probably serv-
ed his apprenticeship at making bales
and boxes. Perhaps he had accom-
plished wonders In writing flaming adj
vertisements. Other of the collections
are scrawled-scratched across the
page In hurry, as II the writer were
afraid that II they were too easily read
1t would injure his reputation for intel
lectual ability. Such a man, think,
has had-and mean no disrespect to
your profession, SRA leaning toward
Journalism. Writers who make poor
copy possess that attribute as defect.
and, were they wise, would not boast
Of It. Likewise must say just here
that one who makes exquisitely clear
copy ought not to glorify the act; Meth
er faculty-is Of itself evidence Of tran
scendent ability. By the same token q
person who registers In o scrawling
manner Is not to be supposed abrilliant
fellow.
"The average travelling salesman has
pronounced hand. He generally
writes as If he were In O hurry. but 1t e
sort of intelligent hurry. The one
who handles perfumery has aperfumed
signature, approaching in delicacy the
wares he sells. The one of hardware
seems less idealistic; strong and ma
jestic as his ironware. The drug and
the hat drummer are Of the light, airy
variety, and disclose their special occu.
patton by light and airy way Of sign
Ing. After all specialties are discount
ed, there remains the effect of the indi-
vidual, and this is not always obliter-
ated by occupation. Some John Han
cocks will remain so through all meta
morphoses of business, and there will
be third penman into whose hand no
additional virility can be infused, no
matter how varied the pursuit.
81 have been much Impressed with
the rapid, struggling hand Of the man
of means who travels. Whoever In the
party signs the register II Is signed
with prominence. There Is no hesita-
ton, no timidity, no undue assertion.
Ministers of the gospel usually sign
with scholarly hand. Stenograph ers
usually finish with q cross. the dot of
their system. Many people come here
race week. They are all sorts. The
signatures Of this crowd give me more
trouble than all the others. They are
written very carelessly and In o very
horsey manner. Many Of them have q
Maud s. gait, others are down among
the fast PAGERS, while some look as Il
they could barely reach tho distance
pole.n