The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1885-01-30
Character Writing.

al have made life study Of chirog-
raphy,,' was the comment of philos-
opher to a pharisee of The Hartford
Post. "An honest mans hand carries
conviction with it; 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.
1t is the fact, and not the multitude
nous reasons for the fact, with which
am concerned.
81 think the signatures that demand
the most attention are those of the
atrical company. They are made
usually in one hand-and that very
bold one-and they cover generally a
whole page, unless the clerk is less
pleasant than usual. They are braket-
ed and labeled with the name of the
aggregation. Some Of these collec-
tions are written in uniformity big,
round hand that means that their
agent has been educated to believe in
the efficacy of plenty of sea-room in
the typographical ocean. He has also
served his apprenticeship at marking
bales and boxes. Perhaps he has ac-
complished wonders in writing fam
ing advertisements. Other of the col
lections are crawled--scratched across
the page in a hurry, as if the writer
were afraid that if they were too easily
read it would injure his reputation for
intellectual ability. Such a man, 1
think, has had-and l mean no disre.
spect to your profession, sir-a lean;
ing toward journalism. Writers who
make poor copy possess that attribute
as a defect, and, were they wise,
would not boast of it. Likewise l
must say Just here that one who Makes
exquisitely clear copy ought not to-
glorify the act; neither faculty is of
itself evidence of trancendent ability.
By the same token person who reg-i
listers in scrawling manner is not toi
be supposed brilliant fellow. He
may be, but has not been such, l.
think, in the majority of the instances
that have come under my observation
The average travelling salesman has
a pronounced hand. He generally,
writes as if he were in a hurry, but it
is sort of an intelligent hurry. The
one who handles perfumery has per-
fumed signature, approaching in deli,
cacy the wares he sells. The one of
hardware seems less idealistic; strong
and majestic as his ironware, The
drug and the hat drummer are of the
light, airy variety, and disclose their
special occupation by light and airy
way of signing. After all specialties
are discounted, there remains the ef-l
feet of the individual, and this is not
always obliterated by occupation.
Some John Hancocks will remain so
through all lmetamorphoses of business
md there will be third penman into
whose hand no additional virility can
DC infused, no matter how varied their
pursuit.
II have been much impressed with
he rapid, struggling hands of the
nan of means who travels. Whoever |
n the party signs the register, it is
igned with prominence. There is no
lesitation, no timidity, no undue asser-
ion. Ministers of the gospel usually,
ign with a scholarly hand. Steno-,
,raphers usually finish with cross,
he dot of their system. Many people
ONE here race week. They are all
orts. The signatures of this crowd
i've me more trouble than all the
theirs. They are written very care
sssly and in very horsey manner.
fany of them have a Maud. S. gait,
theirs are down among the fast pac-
RS, while some look like they can
arely reach the distance-pole."