Page:Theory and Practice of Handwriting.djvu/44

26 the question of Verticality or Obliquity in writing were to be decided by the considerations of Hygiene only there would be no further need of discussion. But there are various other matters which should obviously receive examination and be definitely settled ere we finally determine the kind of writing which we have to teach. In approaching this investigation it is necessary that we divest ourselves of all preconceived ideas and all personal prejudice. It is not a question of what style of writing we best–though to hear the objections generally raised by teachers we might suppose preference and prejudice to be the only basis of judgment and decision—or even what we  best which opinions are possibly or probably based on no independent research but are rather the natural evolution of our environment.

The sole question about which we have to concern ourselves is "Which the best? What or which  the better or best System and Style of writing? Are the down strokes to be Upright or Sloping? Shall we have Vertical or Oblique writing? If the latter what degree of slope is the best, what shall be the standard angle?"

We have already seen in Chapter I. that at present there is no agreement amongst slopers as to the preferential angle, not even a preponderance of opinion as to any one angle of obliquity, the angles in Headline Copy Books varying from 10° to 65° or even 70° from the perpendicular.

The tendency of modern thought can nevertheless be seen in the fact that the latest series of Copies slope less and less, or more nearly approach the vertical, whilst the publishers or authors