1937-12-13 — Page 10

THE CHINA MATL

B 1937

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the accusation we should like t know what the employer

fir the way of hand-writing it is something reminiscent

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mit that he will look for it in What he is entitled to er- vain. pect is writing which is clear and legible, showing in all pro- bability characteristics peculiar but to the writer which are quite legitimate provided they do not detract from the legibility of the writing. If that is not forthcom ing, then we say frankly that something is wrong. It is not within the power of everyone to write beautifully, but by a little

ALABASTER, Lt Col

Osborne, E. (Ret.), Staff Cfficer, Scottish Command,

Aged 50, youngest son of the

late Sir Chaloner Alabaster, KCMG,

at Edinburgh, 10th December, 1987.

Hong Kong, Monday, Dec. 13, 1937

HAND-WRITING

scious effort it is possible produce something that can be easily deciphered.

For the past few years there has been some little contu the schools over cursive

and script writing. The gene

practice seems to be to begin with script because, we presume, it bears more resemblance to the printed characters with which the child is already familiar. After a stated period of time, which seems to vary from school Lord MacMillan, Chairman of to school, it is customary either the Court of the University of to change over completely to London, opening the reconstruct cursive writing or to join up the ed buildings of a girls school at script, preserving the original Hatfield last week, took the op-shape of the characters but sup portunity of giving some advice plying connecting links. We do on the subject of hand-writing. not claim to speak with the voice He wished to impress upon the of authority, but we have seen girls the importance of such an examples of joined script which apparently small thing as the at least have the merit of being cultivation of legible hand-writ easily read. And we have diffi ing. It was worth while, he culty in recognising the advant said, to learn to write a legible age of script at all if it is to be hand

superseded by cursive writing at

He recalled that on a visit to the end of two years. We un- Eton he had told the boys that, derstand, too, that the objection although they had had the ad-to script on the ground of speed vantage of the finest type of has been proved to be without education, some of them pro-foundation. bably could not write legibly.

Systematic

But, whatever be the method The next day the headmaster sent him a letter in which he finally adopted, we would utter had printed his signature in this word of warning: writ block capitals He also referred must be taught. Nor is it en to an episode, which does not to give definite teaching -in. seem to have been unique in early stages only human experience, in which he instruction should continue was the recipient of a letter from long as conscious effort is requir the island of Fiji asking him to ed, and even at a later stage, an use his influence to get the writer occasional lesson in writing has a Government post. The signa a high corrective value.

Lord MacMillan's reference ture, however, was so illegible that he could do nothing in the the signature in block letters matter. It was not until months minds us of the growing practice afterwards that he discovered in the business world of havin that his correspondent was the the name typewritten below the

sign

a custom which, while son of an old friend for whom he

be a ref on the pen- would have liked to do something.

the The moral, as distinct from the morality, of the story was quite tainly save time and many an office,” the clear

The time is past when hand of block letters on many official writing was an end in itself, and forms is another sign of the although many a sigh has been times

futtered for the beautiful copper-We remember hearing a leader plate of half-a-century ago, its of industry at the British Asso- loss is deplored more on senti- ciation a few years ago advoca mental than on rational nda ing that every child should

plate as an art and as taught shorthand and typewrit the prerogative of the few in a ing, so that hand-writing- might comparatively leisurely age was be dispensed with, if not alto- an achievement to be admired, gether, then as far as was pos- but as a practical method of sible. We can see many advant committing one's thoughts to ages in such a scheme but we

or as a means of com are dubious of its

Lord Ma ation its advantages could Meantime to revert asily be over-rated. At the Millan's plea, writin

me if the thoughts so ter. And it woul

to paper are to of contend that we to anyone other satisfied with

and

rising generatio tempted to quote the

well known he