Page:Theory and Practice of Handwriting.djvu/120

102 the letter written in this form. The two following extremes of the must be avoided.

X may be considered as formed of two c’s placed back to back the first being inverted. This letter has several modifications and it is the only letter that as a rule requires the pen to be lifted in its formation. Two of the modifications however are continuous although neither of them is very frequently met with.

F is a very long letter having two loops both of which should be boldly made as in Fig. 43.

Z is also totally unlike any of its fellows and will require separate treatment.

Ample practice should be afforded on these unique outlines.

Lastly the letter comes in with its compound and difficult

curves. How often is it that we see a graceful or a nice-looking ? Very seldom indeed, and the four outlines in the adjoining figure are typical of the distortions that do duty for the genuine article.

The Capitals may be dismissed with but few remarks. They are made up primarily of Curves and it is the shape and several or relative sizes of these Curves that cause most trouble.

The characters should be analyzed on the blackboard and fully explained, the relation of the various parts being clearly defined and illustrated.

Afterwards the pupils may be left to imitate their headlines, careful supervision being all that is required. An approximate