The general principles detailed in the preceding chapters should be studied and understood. The student should now learn the alphabet, following the directions given below.

Section 1. Direction Of The Signs

1. Perpendicular signs and those inclined to the left are struck downward; horizontals, from left to right; Ha, Wa, and Ya, upward; Em, El, and Ar, either upward or downward.

2. We need not hero specify the cases in which Em, El, and Ar are more properly struck downward; but the upward form is generally preferable when they are initial; and convenience will determine their use in most cases.

3. are always struck in the direction that the hands of a clock move; in the opposite direction. This direction is a safer guide to the true letter than merely the form; and it gives a great freedom to the use of these signs, which may be struck around further than in the alphabet without danger of mistaking the sign. The c, however, must maintain its original position.

The heavy / is struck downward, the light , upward; - | - and \ are written in the same direction as-- | -- and \. They should be one-fifth as long.

4. When the vowel comes on the first end of a consonant sign, it must form an angle with it. If necessary, an angle must be made by the use of a connecting stroke. See Illustration F. This is seldom necessary.

5. On the end of a sign the vowel may form a hook; yet here a connecting stroke is sometimes necessary.

Remark. - In mastering the alphabet, the following has been found to be a good method of study:

DIRECTIONS FOR PRACTICE. Exercise 1. Beginning with Be, Pe, fill a line of your copy-book with these letters; thus, Be, Pe; Be, Pe; Be, Pe, etc. (made, of course, in short-hand characters). Go on with Ga, Ka, in the same way; and so proceed with the first twelve consonants in pairs. Then review them after the manner of "the house that Jack built," - thus: Be, Pe; Be, Pe, Ga, Ka; Be, Pe, Ga, Ka, De, Te, etc. See Illustration D.

Exercise 2. Review the first lesson thoroughly. When it is mastered, proceed with the remaining consonants in the same manner. Then take up the vocal signs in triads, and master each triad thoroughly before attempting the second. See Illustration E.

Exercise 3.

Review the two preceding lessons. Proceed to write each vowel before all the consonants in their order, joining or disjoining according to the rules given; then write each vowel after all the consonants, observing the principles laid down. See Illustration G.

Exercise 4.

Go through the exercises prescribed in the preceding lessons. They should be repeated day after day, until the alphabet can be penned accurately with the same facility that the common alphabet can be. The future progress of the student will depend very much upon the thoroughness of these introductory exercises.

The student should now read a part of the first exercise; and then proceed to write the following: -

Writing Exercise 5.

Be, bay, bah ! boo ! bow. Pea, pay, pa, pooh, poe, paw. Key, ka, coo, co, caw, gay, go. Tea, tay, too, toe, tow. Fee, foo, foe, faw. She, shay, shah, shoe, show, show. See, say, sah, soo, sow, saw. Thee, they, though. Me, may, ma, moo, mow, maw, nay, gnow. Know, ke, ray, raw, roe. He, hay, ha, who, hoe, haw. We, way, waa, woo, wee. Jah, jar. joe.

Aid, day, ate, knee, ye, lay, fane, date, rate, wait, ace, say.

Ought, taught. Eat, tea, ape, pay. Abe, bay, ache, go, oak, eke, ease, owes, oose, oar, row, own, know.