The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1912-10-26
TO TELL CHARACTER FROM
HANDWRITING.

1 pSloOLoIlIy VI lhS W. lISl. opuOlO-
gy consists in nothing more than de-
liberately Analysing that impression.
Six or seven rules will supply the
beginner with her equipment. In
the first place, the general style Of
the writer should be studied. If
he is content to use poor paper, that
is in itself a mark of his poor spirit.
A cultivated writer will show his
good taste Enthusiastically in the Sc
lection of his paper. If the paper
chosen is Of unusual tint; if the writ.
ec has put too few words to the
page, his tendency to faddishness or
eccentricity is at once apparent
Any deviation from good sense has
it's significance.
The spaces between a writer's
words are one of the clearest indi-
cations of his character. If they
are. narrow, he is likely to be sci.
fish, secretive, bigoted. If his words
are reasonably wide apart, the writ
er may be set down as generous
and sincere. If his spaces are over
wide, the sign points to a careless
and slipshod nature.
The next thing to consider is the
size of the handwriting. Proud and
simple natures usually write a large
hand. They are likely to make much
out of little. They are not close OBJ
servers, and are quickto take offense.
On the other hand, the thinker, the
scholar usually writes a small, even
a minute, hand. He is accustomed
to concentrating his attention, and
he unconsciously learns to economic
in effort. He is appreciative and a
careful observer.
The relations of capitals to small
letters often indicates a good deal.
An ambitious man will unconscious
Iy make his capitals of generous
size. Very small capitals, hardly
larger than the small letters, may
indicate a mean and underhand ma
ture. At the same time, a capital
not too small in size is instinctively
chosen by the sober, Unconditional,
iself-respecting citizen.
The slope of the writing means
much. A dignified person usually
writes a straight up-and-down hand.
moderate slant to the right means
that the writer is sensitive and af-
fectionate, open-hearted, warm and
sensible companion, wholesome and
generous. If the slant to the right
is pronounced, these qualities may
be intensified to the point of weak
ness. A slant to the left-a back
slant-is the mark of a sensitive and
shy nature.
A kindly, open, easy-going nature
writes in rounded characters. An
gular and pointed writing means that
the writer is of quick, nervous con-
stitution. He may be witty. II the
angularity is very marked, he may be
cranky, "touchy," quick-temjered. If
the characters are well-formed as
we'll as pointed, the writer is high
strung, and may have unusual men
tai powers. The best writing COM
bines the rounded and the angular
formation.
AS an ordinary rule, a delicate,
highly refined person writes with
Light stroke. Writing that is filmy
tracery means that the writer Is OF
a mystical turn, excessively sensi
tive. One who revels in color, or i'll
music, a painter or amusician, writes
with a heavy stroke tempered with
grace. People of strong emotions
put the pen to paper with plenty OF
vigor. Stage folk write with good
deal of ink and a good deal of flour.
tish. If the pen-strokes are of buLg
ing thickness and the writing gener
ally has a heavy appearance, the in
I ference is that the writer is coarse
irrational, blustery, and perhaps Of
: ungovernable temper. In the best
writing the up-strokes will be rather
light, the downstrokes firm, unwav
ering and moderately shaded.
These are by no means the only
pieces of evidence to be drawn from:
a study Of handwriting. For exam
/ pie, the slant of the writer's line
across the page is one Of the mos
telling signs of all. A persistent, en-
4 ergetic man writes a straight Lint
across the page. Such writer il
: far-sighted; he looks instinCtively be
4 You'd the next word. He Is steady
+ logged, not sWayed by his feelings
J. sober and of sound judgment. I
a buCyant, hopeful man will unconsci
s ously run his lines slightly uphill
Z