But of greater importance still are the personal habits you acquire of thought, of posture, of execution, etc.
Materials.—The good workman invariably demands good tools. He knows that the best work is only possible when the material necessities are of high quality. Careful attention should, therefore, be given to the materials with which you work.
Notebooks.—The notebook especially is of importance. The surface of the paper should be firm and smooth in order to enable you to employ a light touch the lighter the better. It should be free from imperfections in texture. The size most generally recommended by the best writers is six by nine inches. The lines preferably should be one-third of an inch apart, as this spacing of the lines will tend to develop a more compact style of writing. The page should have a vertical ruling down the middle so as to afford two columns for writing on each page. A column three inches wide enables you to write correctly across the line of writing without shifting the arm to any appreciable degree. If a pencil is used a slightly rougher surface is necessary.
Pen or Pencil.—Whether the pen or pencil is the better instrument for shorthand writing is a much discussed question, but the consensus of opinion of the most experienced and fastest writers is that the pen is to be preferred. The pen gives a firm, distinct outline that is easily recognized. The small circles and hooks especially can be much more readily and accurately executed with the pen than with the pencil. Pen-writing is also very much easier to read because it is generally more accurate. The more distinct lines of pen-writing make the reading far easier on the eyes.
A pen should be selected which has a fairly fine, but smooth,
