Page:Theory and Practice of Handwriting.djvu/49

Rh ordinary slopes exhibit a fair comparison of the relative legibility of the two styles.

There can be no doubt as to the superior boldness and legibility of the Upright penmanship. The down strokes are of the same length and weight in each column but the effect is wonderfully different. It will be seen that the vertical affords much more scope for a bold and perfect outline than the oblique style can possibly admit of, and that the greater the slope, the more attenuated, the closer and more imperfect the outline. Now as enthusiasts on both sides claim superiority in Legibility one might consequently imagine that it was a matter of opinion. The foregoing remarks prove that this is not so. Our books, pamphlets, newspapers–in short literature of all kinds–are printed in italics or sloping type but in plain, and plain because vertical, Roman upright characters. Italics and sloping script are not as legible as upright type and writing. This superior readableness of Vertical handwriting is everywhere recognised (notwithstanding the feeble protests of a small minority of too enthusiastic slopers) by the Government and Civil Service in which latter the system is becoming increasingly popular and general in every department. The instructions on Government Examination papers or in the Blue Books run as follow: "Let your writing be as bold and upright as possible." "Writing should as far as possible imitate broad printing." There can be no doubt as to the inferior plainness of sloping writing and as to the fact that Upright Penmanship has justified its claim to the maximum of Legibility.

At the first glance it might be thought that sloping writing would certainly have the advantage with respect to rapidity or speed. The slanting strokes seem to be so much freer as they certainly are so much longer than the vertical, that one is inclined to think the oblique style more expeditious than the upright. When we come however to enquire into the conditions and laws