Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-12-12
THE SCIENCE OF GRAPHoLoGY

NEW YORK, Dec. 1l.-AmerIca is the
tograph hunter RACES with uncompromis-
ing virulence, 1t is said that young
lady of this class once asked w. u. How
ellis for his signature shortly after the
publications of "The Lady OF the Aroos-
took" ga Foregone Conclusion" and.
Venetian Life"; whereupon he wrote
some lmpromptu verses in her album.
She read them over, and then exclaimed,
her pretty face bursting into an encour-
aging smile, "Oh. Mr.. Howells, should
think you might do something for the pa
pers and magazines; Pve seen much
worse things than thatin print"
And then the things they ask for! These
are the sort OF letters one receives:
"Dear Mr.. Gladstone: should be glad
II you will give me the originel manu-
script of your speech on the Irish Ques-
ton. Yours. etc."
AS one steps upon the platform of the
American railroad depot the engine driver
VIII step down with a grimy TRIANGULAR
strip ofpaper and stumpy pencil and beg
for ones autograph; the newsboy whom
one patronizes from the window of the sa-
loon is ready with his styleograph to re-
cefve ones signature on the tbrous mar.
gin Of the New York Times, for which he
will boldly ask d dollar or more. "with
autograph OF Oscar Wilde oompletew
On menus for the restaurant waiter, on
visiting cards for the casual waytarer, in
albums for the enthusiastic and golden
haired Medah X. Bangs, always the same,
autographs, autographs, autographs, from
the cradle to the grave, If not at periods
anterior and posteriOr to these hating
places OF human existence. A few years
ago symposium of the most prosecuted
was held at Cambridge, Mass, and the
following main rules In the matter were
propounded and adopted: First--Auto-
graphs are to sent, sometimes to men,
never to women, always to children.
Second-The letter requesting the auto
graph must be accompanied by a stamp
for reply. And, third-It must be dis
tinctly complimentary, mere bold re-
quest, or, as is more often the case, de-
mand, not being sufficient.
The sale of autographs in America is a
regularly recognized branch of commerce.
Every well-known autograph has its re-
cognized market value, and gentleman
tells us of Mr.. GladstOne's letter, express
ing his inability to comply with request
for subscription to an American charity,
being sold IN aid of that charity for a dis
tinctly acceptable price. A writer In the
that almost simultaneously with the visit
of DIR. Oliver Wendell Holmes to England,
the original manuscript of the cone Hoss
Shay" was discovered in New York. and
was purchased by MIR. Franklin Tinker
for considerable sum. That the hand.
writing has certain marked characters
tics in ever individual and that these char
acteristics, properly examined and inter-
preted, according to given rules and meth
DDS, will tell us more concerning the
individual character OF the writer. is an
established fact, and the tabulation OF
these rules and ofthis method is now COM
plete in the works of such acknowledged
authorities as Rosa Baughan. PAbbe
Flandrin and Ado1phe Hence. Adrien
Desbarrolles, in his major works, "Les
MYSTERIES de la Main: Revelations COM
pletes, suite ct fin" Paris, 1879. has de-
voted some 300 pages to this branch of the
science of the hand, besides being the
author OF a standard work on the subject,
so that Graphology, or, as it is sometimes
called, "Grammatomacy," boasts a litera-
ture OF its own that it is not my attention
to supplement in this place. "The more
compare different handwritings, SAYS
Lavater, in his "Physioenomische Frag-
mente EUR Beforderung der Menschen-
kehutniss."u. w. Leipsic 1775-7S), "the
more am / convinced that handwriting is
the expression Of the character of him
who writes. Each nation has it's national
character of writing, as the physiognOmy
of each people expresses the most salient
points OF character in the nation, and |
may quote the remark Of Rosa Baughan"
Cop. Cit, p. 2. THAT the handwriting
really reflects the personality of the
writer is evident from the fact that it al
tiers and developes with the intelligence,
thof IF hOnnnoc form M on ha hor
strengthens; weak and feeble when the
person who writes is i'll or agitated, aud
cratic when he is under the influence
OF great joy, grief or any other passion"
Writing which has a tendency to as
cend toward the end of the lines denotes
always ambition, prosperity and success,
whilst writing which, ON the contrary,
has a tendency to descend betrays melan-
cholv, ill-health and taciturnity. If a
writing which descends thus is disioint-
ed and interspersed with meaningless
ornament, it is sign of tendency to-
ward madness. FlOurshes are ALWAYS
bad, denOting vanity, cOnceit and self-as-
sertion, while peculiarly formed letters
denote invariable-and obviously-eccen-
tricity.
More can be told by the observation OF
single letters, especially capitals, than
anything else. Thus a capital A denotes
great sense Of beauty, ana strong will is
shown in the strong barring. When the
bar is loop, there is the same sense OF
beauty, but less will. The script capital
A shows simplicity and clearness and
generosity, while the Greek d or D indi-
Gates eccentricity and Imagination,
And r with flying top betrays i'm
agiDatioD and Indifference, whilst a curly
one shows cultivation and sensitive
mind. A curly Ii shows poetry and art,
and curly gives grace and sense OF
beauty; but the straight, like Brother
Haites' and Oscar Wilde's, give higher
and more precise nature to the artistict
instinct ana increases the poetic faculty.
These instances are sufficient in this
place for other | must refer you to Miss
Rosa Baughan's excellent work quoted
above. to which | am indebted for these
examples.
Disproportionate loops betray self-as-
sci zion; LOOK out for them in letters like
= and l. and Y. Letters stopping short
at their finals show economy long or ex.
tended finals with spaces between the
words indicate generosity, If not extrava-
gence. Inward curves denote egotism.
Stops are also most distinctive. Heavy
and black, they betray sensuallty; long.
they denote vivacity and originality. An
dotted with a fleet indicates reckless
ness. Absence or stops shows want of
caution and an unsuspIcious nature.
Take care, then, oh, my brethen OF the
State of odd VolEmns, lest you recklessly
betray your VICES In an invitation TO din
ner, or confess your blacklist crimes in
the pages Of birthday book, as-au re-
yoir. Yours necF0man tically.