LESSON 32
The basis of the extended loop letters, b, f, h, and k, is small l. These five letters should extend the same distance above the base line. The practice of small l should be thorough now, and it should be reviewed often. In fact, it would be well to add it to the group of compact ovals, and small m’s and o’s, to be practiced at the beginning of each lesson.
Height—Reference has already been made to one-sixteenth of an inch as representing a space in height for the minimum (one-space) letters a, c, e, i, m, n, o, u, v, w, and x. The small r and s are in the same class, but are made a quarter space higher than the others.
These minimum letters should always be used as a standard of one-space measurement to regulate the height of all other small letters. On that basis small l should be four spaces—four-sixteenths, or one-fourth of an inch high. As there are six-sixteenths of an inch between the ruled lines in the practice paper generally used, and in all the Palmer Method practice paper, there should be two-sixteenths (one-eighth) of an inch between the top of the loop and the ruled line above.
It should be remembered that a space in height is the height of the minimum letters in the style you are practicing. As an example, in copy-books used in former years, the one-space letters were one-eighth of an inch, or twice as high as in these lessons. The loop letters were three spaces, or three-eighths of an inch high, which is two-sixteenths of an inch higher than the loops in these lessons.
Movement Used—In business writing, all loops below the line should be made with pure muscular movement. In making those above the line, the fingers should be relaxed, and as the arm slides forward, a slight extension of the fingers will help to make the upper part of the loop. The combination of the two movements is perfectly natural to most hands, and little encouragement need be given to the use of the fingers. The student must guard against using much of it. Keep an eye on your wrist to see that it moves forward and backward in unison with the other movements. Under no circumstances allow the fleshy part of the hand in front of the wrist to touch the paper.
Cautions—You will find your first difficulty in getting enough curve on the upward stroke. A half hour’s determined practice will do much to overcome this. Keep the paper at such an angle as will make the downward strokes straight toward the middle of the body. Above all, preserve unity in height, in slant and in spacing. Do not shade.
There is a slight check in the motion on the downward strokes, but no pause at the base line. After a little practice, loops as good as the above should be made at the rate of from one hundred to one hundred and twenty-five to the minute. The count in groups of five is 1, 2, 3, 4, 5—one for each letter.