Page:Theory and Practice of Handwriting.djvu/102

82 countless and conflicting, equally so do we find them in the matter of position of the Copy Book. Nothing definite or determined has been arrived at amongst the advocates of Sloping Writing, but in striking contrast to all this uncertainty we have with Vertical or Hygienic writing but one possible position, and that is the straight middle position.

To Dr. Paul Schubert, the eminent oculist of Nürnberg, belongs the honour of triumphantly demonstrating by numerous measurements and observations the only practicable and truly Hygienic position of the Copy book. The results of his able and exhaustive experiments are given in the Journal of School Hygiene 1889, from which we quote largely in the following arguments.

The question as to what position of the Copy Book is hygienically the best and least dangerous to the spinal column and eye of the writing child has for many years been occupying the minds of teachers.

We have at the outset to distinguish between a middle position and a right position of the Copy Book according as the latter, in the writing, lies exactly in front of the middle of the body, or to the right of it.

Left positions do not concern us in right-handed penmanship.

Further we must make a distinction between straight and slanting positions of the Copy Book, according as its edges have or have not the same direction as the edge of the desk.

In our right-sloping caligraphy oblique position consists exclusively in making the upper edge of the Copy Book revolve towards the left.

There are accordingly four positions to be considered Straight and Oblique positions, and Straight and Oblique  positions. Each of these stands in closest relation to direction of writing.

In the Straight Middle Position only can be produced, in the other three positions only the ordinary.

If from the point of the writing pen a line is drawn towards the middle of the breast and termed the