During the many years that I have been analyzing hand­writing of young people, I have found a number of excellent character traits; however, my analyses have shown serious misuse of good traits, and abilities left to deteriorate.

One important fact is that our culture unfortunately seems permeated with the spurring on of ambition for grandeur in the mind of our youth. Too much emphasis is placed by some individuals upon those qualities which they think make them better, greater, and more glorious than their fellow-men. Young people should be taught that any one can find his place in life when he learns how to use his abilities.

Usually, young folk have great possibilities, but under a mistaken understanding, or indifference, many parents ignore their responsibilities until it is too late, or ignore them completely.

The handwriting of the youngster gives clear indication of his personality and offers an opportunity to determine and improve character traits and abilities, and also help to broaden the understanding of those who are responsible for the children's good development. Many sons and daughters have come to me, asking how to correct weaknesses and how to conquer shortcomings, and they listened eagerly to my interpretation of their writings. I discovered their good points and their weaknesses, have weighed and evaluated them, and then tried to work out the plan of living that would use the good qualities. On the other hand, mothers and fathers have come to me, saying that they did not know what to do with so-called problem children, when a study of the parent's writing indicated that the boy could not be any­thing but a problem child if he reflected the father's nature.

My experience in analyzing people, studying their motives, working with them in a sincere desire to help them, has con­vinced me that parents who have trouble at home should start having their own handwriting analyzed, and then their children's. The latter they will find amazingly encouraging, and their own specimen may give enough reason for imme­diate and detailed alibis.

Most of the problem girls and boys whose handwriting specimens have been submitted to me by worried parents shows that they are not bad but misguided. On the other hand, brilliant children, who have attracted great public favor, have not been merely talented, but they have had the benefit of training from parents who knew that the child rep­resented a responsibility.

Sample 35. This girl of almost seventeen wants to know her special talents. The rightward slant uncovers her strong emotions, and the pasty pressure mirrors her impressionable nature. The open loops of the d and t reflect her sensi­tiveness. The height of the stems shows her readiness to feel imposed upon and to resent that imposition. Such a writer is always prone to believe that others are planning to take advantage. This girl pretends to be an artist, actress or writer, and she resents having grown up in poverty which impeded her development and growth. In fact she has no special talent and would hardly become an artist even with the best instruction. She has only an average intelligence, has as yet not succeeded in forming her personality and in­dividuality.

She begins words with an inflexible stroke starting at the middle zone disclosing a character which is on the defensive most of the time, if not all the time. In this case a loving and understanding mother could help her to find her way, but she is neglected and lacks love and affection.

Sample 36. This is an interesting specimen of a girl of thirteen. The individual letter formations bespeak her in­dependence of thought and her originality. The rhythmical adjustment of the whole writing mirrors her sense of musical rhythm and artistic ability. She is a dancer and was already on the stage in early childhood.

True enough this girl has talent, and it was fortunate that the talent was outstanding enough to be cultivated.

However, your boy or your girl may have talent, and un­less that ability is discovered, may drift along aimlessly for years. Handwriting is a clear and true picture of all abilities, and through uncovering these talents we can point out the direction in which the youngster's talent leads him.

The following specimens 37, 38, 39, 40, will tell us a story of a girl who through favorable development, understanding guidance, plus talent, succeeded in forming her little per­sonality already at the age of eight. We notice in sample 37 that the letter formations deviate from the school-model re­flecting her desire of independence in thought and action. The good adjustment of the whole writing reveals her artistic ability and sense of musical rhythm. The good spacing dis­closes her clear mind and sense of order, while her emotional nature is expressed in the garlands and rightward angle.

Sample 38 shows her at the age of twelve where she has arrived at a high point of mental development. The heavy t bars show that she wants her own way at all costs and be­gins to rebel against the authority of her parents. Conspicu­ous are the high finals bespeaking her ideals and a high standard of integrity. The decided downstrokes of the y to­gether with the triangle of some lower loops discover her perseverance and energy in accomplishing tasks. Some o's and as are open and some are closed showing her frankness on the one hand and on the other, that she is capable of keep­ing to herself things that should not be told.

Original letter formations plus garlands reveal that she is emotionally expressive and generous without extravagance. Her already developed talent for music expresses itself in the warm pressure and rhythmical spacing of words.

Sample 39 pictures this girl at fourteen. The style of writ­ing is now narrow and the vowels are almost firmly closed. She seems somewhat emotionally upset and became extremely sensitive and reserved. She is involved in her own problems and not inclined toward social contact and companionship. Although she is faithful to her old friends she will not be ready to make new friendships. Her hard struggle in finding her way is shown in the so-called wiry strokes. She feels that her parents do not understand her any more and that she has to depend on her own decisions. The heavy pressure reflects her ardent ambition to be the best in school and the narrow angle her utmost economy for time.

Sample 40 shows that the now eighteen-year-old-girl has perfectly succeeded in forming her personality and individu­ality. In comparison to the previous sample we notice here change in slant and speed uncovering her pronounced mu­sical talent. The pressure remained heavy and the basic line became steady revealing the moral strength to make the most of her gift. She possesses good judgment and criticism, ex­pressed in the vertical angle, and the deeply garlanded con­nections reveal her depth of feeling.

We can predict to a certain extent that this writer will make a success of her life, and that she will not bow down to the opinion of others but will go her own individual way.

Samples 41 and 42 belong to boys of twelve and ten who are brothers. Unfortunately they live in an environment most unfavorable for their dispositions. Their mother is physically weak and shiftless, and the father a poor provider.

Sample 41. The narrow angle coupled with closed and in­volved vowels in the script of the older boy, reveal his secre­tive and suspicious nature. The heavy t bars disclose temper and violence. However, he possesses sufficient self-control to appear different from what he really is. He dis­plays a certain amount of ambition and intelligence plus gen­eral abilities which should enable him to play his part in life, provided he has the right guidance. He is a coward, however, and shows some criminal tendencies. He lies, is always on the defensive and tries to conceal his thoughts. Since he has not the courage to commit theft himself, he influences his smaller brother who is only a tool in his hands, to steal for him.

Sample 42 shows the younger boy, whose unsteady writing betrays his weakness of character. The very slow script with the continual change in slant uncovers laziness and utmost lack of ambition and will-power.

We can assume that both boys have criminal tendencies. However, an understanding guidance could save them and make them both useful to the community.

Are You Ready To Move Onto The Next Lesson? Click Here...