Page:Hill's manual of social and business forms.djvu/38

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PENMANSHIP ILLUSTRATED.

VIEWS OF THE CORRECT POSITION FOR HOLDING HAND AND PEN WHILE WRITING.

No 1. No. 1 Represents the first position to be taken, when placing

the hand in correct position for writing. As will be seen, the hand is squarely on the palm, and not rolled to one side. The wrist is free from the desk, and the two lower fingers are bent under, resting upon the nails.

No 2. No. 2 Exhibits the hand elevated upon the two lower fingers,

with the pen placed in correct position. The end of the large finger drops slightly beneath the penholder, giving a much greater command of the fingers than when it rests at the side or slightly on top of the holder.

No 3. No. 3' Shows another view of correct position. It will be seen

that no space is shown between the pen and finger, the holder crossing the forefinger in front of the knuckle-joint. The thumb is sufficiently bent to come opposite the forefinger-joint, supporting the holder on the end of the thumb. The end of the large finger should be about three-quarters of an inch from the point of the pen.

No 4. No. 4' Represents the correct position when the pen is at the

bottom of an extended letter below the line, the pen being, as shown, nearly perpendicular. With the holder held snugly beneath the forefinger and supported on the end of the thumb, the greatest command is thus given to the fingers.

No 5. No. 5' Exhibits the front view of the hand showing the position

of the forefinger, which should rest squarely on the top of the holder. The large finger drops beneath the holder, which crosses the corner of the nail. The hand is held, as shown, squarely on the palm and not dropped to one side.