home and abroad, still shelter themselves behind this disreputable and unworthy protest, wilfully closing their eyes and ears to the evidence and facts, and refusing to be either convinced or converted. This kind of opposition soon melted away on the continent and resolved itself into a much modified but rational mode of objection. As will be seen immediately, the logic and facts of the Experts have won a hearing and established their verity, thus opening up avenues along which “Vertical Writing” is rapidly riding on to victory. But here the phlegmatic character of the Britisher asserts itself for notwithstanding the most vigorous circulation of literature on the subject, despite the unanimous and united testimonies of hundreds of professional gentlemen both Medical and Scholastic, and in the very face of the numerous triumphs of the System wherever introduced, the “English Teacher” is in many cases supremely indifferent to the matter, the Educational Press gently pats Verticality on the back, whilst the English Government and Education Department appear to be oblivious to the whole question. (See note, p. 125.)
If we cross the channel what a contrast meets us. Teachers there have become alive to their responsibilities in the matter, large numbers of the most prominent educationists have embraced the system and adopted it; numerous teachers are using and recommending it; Educational Societies and Corporations are pronouncing in favour of it; Hygienic Councils are approving of and promoting it; and Cabinets are not only sanctioning its use but prescribing it in the schools of their dominions. The crusade is active and countries are rivalling each other in their endeavours to be in the van. From a voluminous correspondence with Drs. Bayr (Vienna), Kotelmann (Hamburg), Lorenz (Vienna), Scharff (Flensburg), Schubert (Nuremberg), and other eminent Physicians and Teachers it appears that “Vertical Writing” is being adopted eagerly by the profession in many districts of these countries. In Vienna alone for example Upright Penmanship is practised in no less than 80 Schools with 300 classes, and by 100 Schools in Bavaria. A brief epitome of the chief events in the history of this agitation on the Continent will not be out of place.
