Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-09-24
tonished and perhaps somewhat indignant


has broken down under the strain i'm
posed by the work Of writing down every
lesson"
Let Both Systems BE Taught.
A. E. Middleton writes as follows:
mo one will deny that the Spencerian
system is beautiful, yet its beauty and
grace form a barrier over which only a
small number of persona who are taught
1t can climb. Perfection In 1t Is attained
only by those in whom the artistic sense
1t is Of slow development.
and is acquired after years OF constant
practice. 1t demands delicacy OF touch
of the hand and a nicely of judgment OF the
eye, together with a mechanical aid In the
shape of special pens AS only small per-
centage of pupils in schools possess an ar
tistIc sense, 1t follows that the Spencerian
system should be taught as drawing. Only
those pupils who develop latent talent are
given special drawing lessons; so should II
be with the elegant Spencerian system. z 81
ANY pupil can in a very short time ao-
quire speed and legibility by using the
natural or vertical system of penmanship'
and these two things are demanded IN
business practice, 1t Is but reasonable to
suppose that business men prefer 1t. Let
this system, as we'll as the Spencerlan be
taught in our schools, and we will be able
to meet the demands of all"
Let the Vertical System Be Tried.
NJ. L. c., after referring to Mr.. Hays
statement that the Spencerian system has
been fully tried in the public schools, says:
II agree with him as to the trial, but not
as to the general result. I have known
hundreds Of so-called Spencerian writer's
yet not one in a hundred reached anything
like perfection Of style, rapidity or finish.
If Mr.. Hay would like to see what writers
leave the public schools, let him insert an
advertisement in The Star asking for
clerk, preferably High School graduate
OF the hundreds of answers he will receive.
so per cent will be in shaky, imperfect at
tempts at Spencerian penmanship, the re-
suit of years of training.
Il do not think that Spencerian penman-
ship is out of date, etc. For some purposes,
srch as engrossing Of diplomas, testi-
monials, resolutions, ETC., there Is nothing
prettier or more suitable. but for everyday
use in the business world, either of finance
or letters, there is something more to be de-
sired than the Spencerian system as it has
been taught in the public schools.
IF the vertical style will give better re-
suits. by all means let 1t have a chance,
not so long a one as the Spencerian, II its
students come no closer to the apex of
theory after a reasonable time.
Il do not believe in 'fads,' nor am l fol-
lower of the vertical train, but believe it is
an advance on the Spencerian, at least with
legal rea Soning will believe so until the con-
trary is proven.
MIR. Paul Steele, in his communication,
has, l think, hit the keynote when he
speaks of the need of good teachers in pen
manship as in other branches taught in our
schools. Possibly the training of our pu-
pills has been by books alone and not COM
bined with judicious supervision.
AS l have stated, l am not an advocate
of the vertical, nor Of the 'Spenceran,'
but would like to test the relative worth
OF each system, combined with good in
structon.''
Mr.. w. L. of Huntingdon, Pa, asks:
What is the character of the pen used in
u-rifinpr Yc ct
pen of the nature of the falcon""
Spoiled His Chances.
Alexander Thomson gives his experience
years ago 1 learned vertical writing in a
first-class business college in London. and,
soon after. secured position with a house
doirg a great trade with India. 1 worked
hard and have most fiattering Endorsements
for my faithfulness, but the head of the
house told me frankly, but kindly, that my
system Of writing was SO shockingly bad
that could not expect advancement. Five
years ago came TO this country and Sc
cured a position il a western city to teach
this same vertical system, but l desired
position bookkeeper and sought it dill
gently; every time that l was given a trial
l was rejected because my writing did not
myself for other work and, at the same
time, earn my living; however, l learned
shorthand and to operate machine" and
ow hold an extremely good position. With
in the past three years l have seen many
applicants of good address turned away
solely because Of poor writing, and 1t is
understood in the office that vertical writ
ing will not be tolerated at all because it
is never plain. One day, shortly after
secured my present position, / took let
ter in loag hand for the president Of the
road; he lent to read it before signing
well. he did not sign it-simply tore it up,
vii rrr
system of writing; We don't use Scotch, or
Dutch, or Greek, or gun-fence style here
Then he scowled and wrote the letter over
for himself. took warning; the pushing
rushing, money-getting American does not
seem to appreciate vertical writing-cares
not n farthins about writing as 'art'-de-
mands that 1t be swift and plain, or else
the machine"
Mr.. Steele Again.
Mr.. Paul A. Steele answers a question
and then further defends the Spencerian
system as follows:
Your correspondent asks me why / did
not quote from the Pen Art Journals writ
ing contest, open to the world, wherein YER
teal writing made better showing than
slant writing Because prepared speci-
mems worked up for purpose throw nc
light upon everyday practical writing in
business houses and common schools.
Mr.. Chandler II. PIERCE, a weH-known
rapid writer of the west and superintend-
ent of penmanship in the public schools
Of Evanston, ILL.,, went through the public
schools of Chicago, where vertical book
agents claimed great victories, and with
out giving previous notice gathered an arm
full of specimens Of vertical writing from
the children of the various grades, and
took them to the Denver educational as.
sembly, where a discussion on vertica
writing was in progress. He passed then
around among the audience and repro
duced them on the blackboard. They were
too pitiful to be ludicrous. 1t was ter
rible arraignment of the cruelty to children
perpetrated by the authors of the vertica
| fad. OF course the book agents claim
brilliant success and advertise it over the
earth, the children are under authority
| and until the people take the matter ir
hand the community must bear the penalty
of the awful mistake made in the nam'
| Of education.
| I'm ten years experience in school room
| counting house and office work I have
| found the regular slant of fifty-two degrees
seems the most easy, rapid, legible for con
| tinuous all-round work. I use vertica
| writing when making memoranda away
from a desk. where 1 can find no place t
rest the arm. because am then compelled
| to use the cramped finger movement EN-
| ployed in vertical writing. and when uset
constantly it has tendency to produce pen
mans paralysis. The delicate tendons O