When wearied by sitting and the effort at writing, lay aside paper and pen, arise from the chair, and take exercise and rest by walking about the room or in the open air.  Then come back refreshed, and vigorous, for the practice of writing.

In general, the light should fall on the paper from the left side, thus enabling a writer to clearly see the ruled lines, and render the labor of writing easier and more rapid.  If one writes left-handed, of course He will sit so as to get his light from the right side, or over the right shoulder.

SHADING.

As a beautifier of the handwriting, by causing a diversity of light and shade among the letters, shading has its value; but in the practical handwriting for business purposes, it should, as a rule, be classed with flourishing, and left out.  Requiring time and effort, to bring down the shades on letters, business men, clerks and telegraph operators find a uniform and regular style of writing, without shade, the best, even though it may not be as artistic.

UNIFORMITY.

A most necessary element in all good penmanship is uniformity.  In the slope of the letters and words which form a written page there must be no disagreement.  With the letters leaning about in various directions, writing is presented in its most ridiculous phase.  Uniformity in the size of letters, throughout the written page; how greatly it conduces to neatness and beauty.  All letters resting on the line, and being of uniform hight, adds another condition towards good penmanship.  This essential element of uniformity may be watched and guarded closely and cultivated by any learner in his own practice.

SLANT OF WRITING.

As said before, it matters not so much what angle of slant is adopted in writing, provided it is made uniform, and all letters are required to conform exactly to the same slant.  Writing which is nearest perpendicular is most legible, and hence is preferable for business purposes.  The printed page of perpendicular type; how legible it is.  But for ease in execution, writing should slant.  It follows then that writing should be made as perpendicular as is consistent with ease of execution.  The slant of writing should not be less than sixty degrees from the horizontal.

[Illustration:  Position of Body While Standing]

Position of the body while standing.

The practical book-keeper finds it advantageous to do his writing while standing; in fact, where large books are in use, and entries are to be transferred from one to another, the work of the book-keeper can hardly be performed otherwise than in a standing position, free to move about his office.  Cumbrous books necessitate a different position at the desk, from that of the correspondent, or the learner.  Since