SELF INSTUTO R IN PENMANHIP.
Blakbar FlouisIhing.                      The "12 Lesson" SystemR.
The plates, representing flourishing in white  There are but twenty-six letters in the alpha-.
lines on dark groundwork, though designed to  bet to write ; fifty-two in all, capital and
represent off-hand work upon the blackboard, small letters. The principles from which these
will be found equally useful for practice with  letters are formed are, in reality, very few;
Vthe pen. The figure of the Swan from Packard        to obtain a mastery of these principles is t
and Williams' "1Gems of Penmanship " is a  object of giving instruction. Therefore, to ac-
beautiful piece of flourishing, which finely  quire a knowledge of how to write, a
illustrates how true to nature an object may be  number of le  is not absolutely ne
made with but very few strokes of the pen. As  The course of instruction may be so arranged
will be seen, the figures on these plates are  as to very completely include all the principles
composed wholly of curved lines.           pertaining to penmanship in twelve lessons;
and the class may have such practice, each
lesson being two hours in length, as will, with
many pupils, completely change their penman-
TEACIHING PENMANSHIP.      ship in that time. It is not pretended, that any
one can perfect their writing in twelve lessons.
URING the past twenty years    Real ease and grace in penmanship is the result
great improvement has been    of months and years of practice; but a knowl-
wrought in the penmanship of  edge of how to practice, to impart which is the
our youth, by the general intro-  mission of the teacher, may be learned in a
duction of writing books into  short time. In fact, most people are surprised
our common schools, containing  to see how much may be accomplished in few
engraved copy lines; and yet lessons when the class is pr ly instructed.
statistics show that vast num-  Should, however, the teacher wish to give a
befs of people in every State in the Union. are  more extended term of instruction, it is only
unable to write ; and some of these are to be  necessary to drill longer upon each principle,
found in nearly every locality. A majority of  with elaborate blackboard illustration to corre-
these persons have passed their school days, spond. If the time and means of the student
hut the necessity is none the less urgent with  prevent the taking of the longer course, the
them for improvement in penmanship; and they  shorter term may be made proportionately ben-
would gladly avail themselves of the opportu-  eficial.  Should the Twelve-lesson term be
nity for receiving instruction, if a competent  adopted by the traveling teacher, the following
teacher were to open a Writing School in   suggestions may be of service in the organiza-
their vicinity.                            tion and management of a Writing class.
There exists a general demand for good in-  Having acquired proficency inpenm
structors in Writing throughout the country,  and having good specimens of writing to exhbt,
and teachers who will properly prepare them- let the young teacher, desirous of estabg
selves for the profession, can have excellent  a Writing school, visit any loclity where le
remuneration for their services. It is true that a civilized people. While it is true that the
many persons attempt to teach writing as a pro- more ignorant most greatly need the advantg
fesin, who, through bad management and     of such instruction, it is neverhls  atta
4.  ~  want of oral principle, deservedly fail; but the  the more intelligent and edctd the pol
earnest, faithful, competent teacher is wanted, of a community, the betterwilbthtecr'
and will be well rewarded for his labor.   patronage.
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