The language of handwriting : a textbook of graphology / by Richard Dimsdale Stocker.

  • Richard Dimsdale Stocker
Date:
1904
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: The language of handwriting : a textbook of graphology / by Richard Dimsdale Stocker. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    To prove that the style of handwriting is not acquired solely, I give the following statements of two of our most eminent medical men, Sir Samuel Wilks, Bart., and Dr. Henry Maudsley. The former writes to me: “ The subject is one of great interest, and in which I half believe. Handwriting is heredi- tary ; my brother’s and my father’s are very much alike.” (September 22nd, 1897.) Again (July 1 ith, 1898), Sir Samuel says, in answer to a note of mine addressed to himself: “You have clearly shown how handwriting is hereditary. I have known this be- cause I have seen many members of a family write alike, although they have lived apart and been educated separately.” (The italics are my own.) He goes on to remark that, “ Education must, however, introduce a fallacy ; for some years ago all girls were made to write angular, scratchy letters, and now they are made to write round hand.” Which fact, so far from upsetting our calculations, merely goes to prove the differences of character between now and then, the one generation being more prim and the other more easy-going—“ New-womanish,” as some have it. Sir Samuel Wilks adds, however: “ Some time ago, when wanting a maid-servant, I was shown a letter in which not only were the letters well formed, but it was well expressed, and stops put in. All this must be taken into account when judging of a letter.” To which I answer, “ Yes ; and much more besides ! ” I might dwell further upon these statements and
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