SELF-INSTRUCTOR IN, PENANSIPr.                          27
Contrast.
A very important principle, also, is that of
contrast. Nature is again the teacher, and
affords an endless variety of lessons. Scenery
is beautiful that is most greatly diversified by
contrast.  That is more beautiful which is
broken by mountain, hill, valley, stream, and                  "
woodland, than the level prairie, where nothing  -
meets the eye but brown grass. The bouquet of
flowers 'is beautiful in proportion to the many
tcolors that adoin it, and the strong contrast
of those colors.  Oratory is pleasing when                           7T
accompanied by changes in the tone of voice.
Music is beautiful from the variety of tone.
The city is attractive from contrast in the style  Position of the Hand in Flourishing.
of buildings; and the architecture of the edifice  In exec  broad Sweeps w the pen, and
that is broken by string projections, t     assuming a position that will give greatest com-
columns, bold cornice, etc., is beautiful from
that contrast.  Thus in penmanship. Made. of the pen in the hand should be reversedi
with graceful curves, and in good proportion,  the *en of the penhold  t    rm t
the -end of the penholder pointing frmthe
the letter is still more beautiful by the contrast  leftshoulder,the penpoi g to   t  b
of light and shaded lines, the heavy line giving  theholder being held betweenthe t b
life to the appearance of the penmanship. If          gers
desirous of observing this principle, care should
be taken not to bring two shades together, as    Pli P           a    l   s
the principle of contrast is thus destroyed.     Plain Penmanship and Flouri  .
T          The effect of shade is shown by the following  The chief merit ot business penmanship is
letters in contrast.                                      legibility and rapidity of execution. Without
ib RPAsacrificing these qualities, the student may add
6                                                         as much beauty as possible. The business pen-
903 4 man should beware, biowever, of giving much
"9             --attention to flourishing, its practice, aside from
rIn capitals, where one line comes inside                 giving freedom with the pen, being rather to
another, it is important for beauty that the  distract the mind from the completion of a good
lines should run parallel to each other. The - style of business writing. Especially in plain
equi-distant lines of the rainbow, and the  penmanship should all flourishing be avoided.
circles around the planets, are among Nature's  Nothing is i worse taste, in a business letter,
illustrations. A uniformity of slope and height, than various attempts at extra ornamentation.
in all letters should also carefully be observed.  To the professional penman, however, in the
Again, as the well-trimmed lawn and the  preparation of different kinds of pen work, a
cleanly kept park, with no unsightly weeds or  knowledge of scientific flourishing is essential
piles of rubbish to meet the gaze, are objects  to the highest development of the art.
of admiration, so the neatly-kept page of writing,  The principles of curves, shades and propor-7
marred by no blots, or stains, is beautiful to the tion that govern the making of capital letters
eye.             *                         apply as well also in flourishing.
-WOW i
t,t      -:   :   +    ;::                                                          : +  :