The Washington times., 1920-09-30

person OF the artistic temperament
may have a chirogrsphy thst-tsken
by itself--would indicate he was al
most insane. IL would show he was
unreliable at times, unduly enthus-
iastic. an idealist.
"We may ina gine how uncertain
would be the character OF man INK"
Beethoven, for example. The master
about TO give a music lesson might
become POSSESSED OF an idea for
composition and let the poor pupil
go TO blaxes.
Regarding the statements at
tributed to DIR. Pitou In which ne
says that large capital letters mean
the writer is subject 10 hysteria.
would say that do not wholly agree
Large capitals indicate great egousm'
but that is another matter AS Tor
the men who sign their names AT the
lower left corner OF their letters
the men who he fears will therefore
become lunatics--I do not remembe
ever having seen such a case. That
is centainly out of the ordinary
AN INTERESTING STUDY.
"Handwrit,ng is an interesting,
useful and simple study. yet little Is
known Of IL generally" said MT
Tridon, who although he Is doctor
Of science and a doctor of philosophy
prefers to be called Mr.. since he does
not practice medicine and does not
wish TO be confuesd with the NJ ID. D
with whom he co-operates.
| About the walls OF the study. hang
J framed specimens Of the handwriting
| and signatures of many famous men
and women. Surprises lurk here for
the person who has preconceived
| idea of some favorite genius after
nd
that persons writing.
Observe" he began, "thc writing
of Mteterlinck, the Belgian mystic
author OF The Blue Bird" and other
| idealistic works. The pen reveals
him a man OF few ideas, prosaic and
platitudinous
THE heavy stocky letters by no
means would indicate the dreamy
author we believe him to be. The
line Of writing goes up and down,
wavering across the page. He signs
just his last name, and the one word
signature, of course. indicates
egotism.
"Now, Fread, the famous psychic
analysist, is a most modest man and
signs his name with a small r. he
is truly unassuming, although this
mannerism is often adopted by many
as an amusing afectation
!
wright, writes neatly and simply. He
shows no ina do his
works-and he is somewhat of an
Legotist, too.
COMPARING SIGNATURES.
High idealism and optimism We
find in the writing Of our friend
Galsworthy. where certain fourishcs
and high dots above the IL indicate
these qualities. The dashing sigma
ture. underlined of course. does show
a slight egotism. Karin Michaeiiss
writing is clear and readable, but the
disconnected letters in her words
| show a lack Of logic.
Henri Parbusse writes in small,
efficient hand like Brieux. He is
scientific and modest and clear. His
signature is not striking.
We all have made. perhaps un-
known to ourselves, certain observa-
tions concerning the writing of our
friends. We'all know the rather ex-
travagant, snowy woman who writes
in a large. fourishing hand. three or
possibly four lines to a page. She is
a great spender always.
"The measly, stingy, mean man
nearly fills up a page. Starting as
near the left-hand side as he can he
will write to the very edge of the
right-hand side OF the paper.
IT, as Mr.. Tridon says the study of
handwriting is used by experts in
mental treatment and, II "as the mind
goes so goes the pen" IT behooves
many selfish, eStravagant, stingy and
| erratic people to change their hand
writing or get caught up as such.
But perhaps the almost universal use
OF the typewriter and the gradual
disuse Of handwriting are reasons
there are still so many cranks at
large.