The Type-Writer and Handwriting.

THE annual report of the Examiners in the United Provinces, shows how the handwriting of the students presenting themselves for examination in commerce is degenerating and in most cases is found to be simply disgraceful. Whether it is that the advent of the type-writer is taken as an excuse for disregarding the advantages of good penmanship and neat method in writing, the writer of the report cannot say, but the fact is there, and is increasingly evident from year to year. The degeneration in the handwriting is seen from school to school and is according to the report, entirely traceable to lack of supervision in calligraphy in the lower classes. In certain school considerable improvement has been noticed in other subjects, but as a whole the handwriting of the students is said to be disgraceful, and few, if any, would stand a chance of securing good posts as junior commercial clerks, because of this failing. It is to a certain extent should do away with the need of good penmanship and calligraphy and the time is not far distant when handwriting should more or less cease to pay as an equipment for commercial or other service. But the disappearance of the art of the calligraphy, when it comes will be none the less regrettable.