Construction.—The rapidity and uniformity of this writing are largely due to an extremely easy zigzag movement of the pen, such as is natural in writing m, n, and u—the final upstroke usually running on into the next letter. Note particularly that the round letters c, d, e, g, o, q generally begin with a nearly straight down stroke—like the first part of u—to which tops are added (see fig. [182]). In the case of a, the first stroke curves forward to meet the second. [p322]
In the straight-stemmed capitals B, D, E, F, H, I, L, M, N, P, R, and T, the first stroke is made rather like an
(showing the tendency to a zigzag) the foot of which is generally crossed horizontally by a second stroke making a form resembling
—on this as a base, the rest of the letter is formed (see fig. [182]). This tends to preserve the uniformity of the letters: and gives a fine constructive effect, as, for example, in the letter
