Misleading Signs
It cannot be too emphatically impressed on the beginner, that it is fatal to judge from one sign alone. Study them all ere you commit yourself to an opinion; above all, study the signature.
A specimen for delineation should always consist of about six lines, not of copied matter. It must be written on unlined paper, and have the writer’s usual signature attached.
Never attempt to gather anything from an envelope, as one is so often asked to do. Like copied matter, or indeed anything written specially to order, it is hopelessly misleading.
Flourishes always show a certain vulgarity of mind. A small and graceful one after the signature—particularly in the case of a woman—is, however, quite pardonable, and is indicative merely of love of praise and appreciation. Thick and heavy marks of punctuation are one of the signs of a passionate nature. Caution and careful attention to detail are shown by stops between initials and after the signature, the careful crossing of T’s and dotting of I’s. Frank, impulsive natures seldom, if ever, close their A’s and O’s.
Benevolent—kind-hearted, very refined, a poor one at keeping a secret, devoted to those she loves.
Tender-hearted people invariably slope their writing, and make long tails and loops. The critic divides his letters. The orator and writer invariably join theirs, and carry them on from word to word, even as the sequence of their thoughts follows on.
Suggests an affectionate nature—one who would be greatly influenced by his friends! Critical—rather impulsive; a good worker at things he likes. Loves beauty and can keep his own counsel.
As a general rule, the more charmingly clear the handwriting, the more straightforward and cultivated the person. Eccentricity, however, naturally mars many of the cleverest hands.
It will perhaps simplify matters for the student, if a list is compiled of the principal human virtues and failings, and the means of discovering them by the handwriting, described:—
Ambition.—This is shown in the upward tendency of the hand. Should will power be lacking, expect discontent.
Business.—A businesslike person is always to be recognized by the care of such details as stops, spacing, crossing of T’s, the general air of law and order in the hand. Look for perseverance and will power to insure success.
Diplomatic, lacking in will power, possessing extravagant tastes, greatly influenced by the opposite sex.
Brutality.—Thick, heavy, ungraceful handwriting, impulsive and lacking in intelligence.
Candor.—Clear, well-spaced lines and open rounded letters. Well and firmly crossed T’s.
Caution.—See Business.
Coldness.—Upright hand, closed up letters, no graceful “loop.”
Criticism.—This is often found allied to a good sequence of ideas. The separated letters of criticism and the carried on T crosses, &c., betray the quick thinker.
Deceit.—This is always indicated by the screwed-up, badly-formed letters, that run into one another; lines uneven, and words that trail off into a mere scrawl.
Determination is shown by the firmly crossed T, and the general firmness of the whole handwriting.
Eccentricity.—Always betrays itself in a weird signature. Economy, short tails; careful hand, short terminals.
Egotism.—Look for a flourish—for the curl back in capital C’s and E’s; for the curled back small d.
Extravagance.—Wide margins and spacing, a rounded, rather flourishing hand; few stops; generally somewhat thick. Compare other signs.
Fun.—The love of fun is usually indicated by quaintly-rounded terminals and oddly shaped, and often rather illegible capitals.
Generosity.—Curled up terminals, bounded hand, M’s and N’s written like U’s.
Honor.—Even handwriting; might almost have been written over lines. See Candor; and for honesty also.
Imagination.—Good capitals; small d’s joined to following letter bear a hurried look; flying crosses to T’s.
Indolence.—Bounded hand; short terminals.
Intelligence.—Shown by the small attractive hand; clear and firm good capitals.
Jealousy.—A weak hand; sloping, long-looped, flyaway T’s; egotistic C’s.
Loyalty.—Of course you cannot expect to find much character in handwriting until the age of seventeen or so, but the lad who is loyal to his friends and his sense of duty—the typical Boy Scout’s hand, for example—will ever be found firm and boldly ascending the sheet.
Melancholy.—Downward tendency, not only to lines but even words.
Music.—Look for imagination, tenderness, and refinement.
Neatness.—Easily to be seen.
Obstinacy.—Heavy; crushed down as it were on an imaginary line; thick.
Originality.—Imagination marked; unique capitals and flourishes.
Pride.—The exaggerated first loop to the M.
Possesses good sequence of ideas; clever, vivacious, good-natured and devoted.
Perseverance.—Clear running hand; well crossed T’s, with little hook to end their crossing.
Selfishness.—Upright hand, generally heavy.
Sensitiveness.—A very sloped, rather weak, and long-looped hand.
Temper.—Thickly crossed, flying T’s; uneven and rather angular handwriting.
Truth.—See Candor.
Vanity.—Look for flourish beneath signature.
Will Power.—Straight thick little bar under signature; thickly crossed T’s; purposeful-looking hand; no return to tails of G’s and Y’s.
In conclusion, one might truthfully say that the more closely one studies the handwriting of one’s friends, the more converted must one become to the belief in Graphology. Go slowly. Compare carefully. Remember always that human beings inevitably suffer from the faults of their qualities, therefore search and you will be rewarded by the enthusiasm of those to whom you give your delineations.
Very intelligent, quick-tempered, imaginative, impulsive, very refined, generous, yet knows the value of money.