Lessons in Ornamental Penmanship (Part 4)
Lessons in Ornamental Penmanship (Part 4)
View the entire document: I noticed the line endings were pretty much straight up and
down (the right margin). Of course, to do this was not a simple task. You will notice on
some lines he adjusted spacing between sentences to get the right margin even. On some
lines he used an end line swirl to take up the space. I think he would have used a pencil
first to see how a line would 'fit' into the space needed.
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Posted my view of how LM wrote these 2 words in the full page item posted by Nick.
The page looks more non-Palmer as Palmer Method used a different style 'r'. The writing
is marvelous to me and a perfect example of carefully done, not off hand, regular
penmanship. It was not done fast at all. The upper loop letters are to exact in width and
height to be done quickly. This page was done in the Madarasz style of carefully done
'perfect' writing. I really enjoyed seeing some real penmanship again, Ross, and thanks.
There is one style; I shall not mention the name that I am not impressed with at all.
Although the forms are readable and legible the end result is 'child like'. In a style of
writing, there needs to be growth. Starting with block letters, then slowly into some form
of drawing, cursive, then faster cursive, then into adult cursive forms and methods. To a
40 year old to be writing like a ten year old is not impressive at all.
Over 40 years I have been able to see Mr. Lupfer's penmanship as it was done over his 50
years of writing. I have seen his beginning style circa 1907 and even a few years before.
He went to Zanerian College of Penmanship and there Mr. Zaner suggested (I heard) that
Mr. Lupfer go home as he could not do the good stuff. But he finished the school and
went back to work in Reading PA as a meat cutter in a meat plant. Mr. Zaner called or
wrote him to come to Zanerian and teach. He did so from 1909 to 1956. During this
time he developed a skill level beyond his teacher's skill. I was able to see his
handwriting in his later years, never seen by very many folks at all. Mr. Lupfer wrote to
my teacher at a local business college in Fargo ND in the early 1970s. He, Mr. Lupfer,
must have been sad to see that his writing skills were now child like again and those
graceful full bodied skillful shades and small letters just were not there any more. He
must have cried a bit every time he took up a pen.