[57] Variety.—There is a variety both readable and beautiful (see pp. [210], [369]), but it is founded on uniformity (and sincerity).
[58] “Bands” and symmetrical or asymmetrical groups of lettering adapted to the available space are used—usually as ornament—upon friezes, furniture, chests, book covers, flagons, dishes, and the like (see fig. [156] & p. [336]). The special treatment of such things is a matter for the craftsman who makes them.
[59] By closing up the letters and the words one may generally avoid “rivers,” or accidental spaces straggling through the text. The presence of “rivers” is at once made evident by slanting the page and looking along its surface, across the lines. Note, that whether the lines be close or wide, the interspacing of the Small-Letters does not vary very much.
[60] The gaps on the right may be filled with line-finishings to preserve a “Massed” effect, but for many purposes this would be apt to look too ornamental (see pp. [205], [423]).
[61] In (b) fig. [155], the letters have been unintentionally narrowed. The natural tendency to do this forms another objection to such undue crowding.
[62] In (c) the letters have been unintentionally widened.
[63] Experiment.—Cut out a piece of dark brown paper the exact size of the body of the text in an entire page of this Handbook, viz. 5116 inches by 3 inches, and lay it on the text: the tone of the brown paper being much darker than that of the print makes the margins appear wider.
[64] Such inscriptions contrast favourably with that Nineteenth Century style in which it was customary to make every letter occupy the same space and look as much like its neighbour as possible.
[65] Note.—There is less danger of spoiling letters by narrowing them than by widening, because the limits to the possible narrowing of a letter are more obvious than the limits to its possible widening. Further, when letters are widened there is a tendency to thicken their parts and make them heavy and vulgar.
[66] The primitive forms of these letters were vertically symmetrical, I believe.