evils, since Oblique Writing can be produced just as easily (if not indeed more easily) in the obnoxious and injurious Right positions of the copy book as in the Middle.
The final conclusion is then, that the Copy Book should lie before the writer, not outside to the right of him. Nevertheless we are not inclined to go quite so far as our German critics, who say that the middle line of the paper should if produced be coincident with the line down the middle of the chest or sternum as this position would necessitate the right hand stretching over, across and beyond the medial line. Such a requirement would inevitably bring with it a tilting or bending over of the entire upper trunk, which would cause a most painful twist of the spinal column.
The diagram (Fig. 26) will illustrate all the positions hitherto considered.
When in the middle straight position the book must be so
Fig. 26.
adjusted, laterally, that at no time is the writing carried to the left over the medial line of direction.
Any one can satisfy himself of the essential character of this restricting clause by testing in actual writing the postures as described.
Writing is easiest all round when the writing surface lies well before the writer in the straight position and covering the space bounded by the medial line on the one side and (shall we call it) the right shoulder line on the other, as indicated in No. 5 of the diagram above.
