Photoplay (Jul - Dec 1920)

What Does Your Handwriting Reveal? You may have at least the temperament of a screen star it your writing resembles any of these. By MAY STANLEY THE man who said that the pen as a high-powered instrument had the sword backed out of its scabbard, spoke words of wisdom. At that, he didn't depict half the possibilities which that little bit of steel — or gold, if you draw that kind of salary — contains. For, look you, the pen is the one sure revealer of character. You may have golden curls and sweet blue eyes and a Pickford smile, but if you are bad-tempered and deceitful and inclined to get on the lot late in the morning your handwriting will reveal it. The phrenologist may be able to determine what sort of disposition you have by the bumps on your skull, and the lines of your hand may tell something to the palmist, but when it comes to genuine character-revelation your handwriting is the one sure test. For instance: Elsie Ferguson signs her name to a contract. The director looks at it, and if he has studied the secrets of handwriting he knows that Miss Ferguson has considerable self-confidence, as indicated by the extremely large capitals, and plenty of ideas — shown by the fact that some of the small letters are separated. An imaginative nature is shown by the dot of the small i flying high over the letter, and the long loop of the g proves that the writer is a person of elegant tastes. WTiere you see a slight thickening of the down strokes, such as Miss Ferguson's writing contains, the critical faculty is well developed. Most of us have found out these things from watching Elsie's work, but the handwriting expert could have told her tendencies from one glance at her signature. Here's a signature with a wallop— James J. Corbett. The extremely wide upper loop of the capital / shows that Mr. Corbett will get from the world what's coming to him. In other words, it's waste time to attempt to satisfy him with twenty-four cents worth of goods in exchange for a quarter. If your name begins with C and you use a long loop like the one shown in Mr. Corl)ett's writing it is a sure sign of c^ genial nature. There are three ('efinite indications of firmness in this writing — the strong crossing of the t, the evenness of writing and the strong down strokes. The person who crosses his fs, as Mr. Corbett does, with an upward stroke, has very little vanity but a good deal of quiet self-assertion. Reflect for a moment, stars of filmdom! If you had studied this art in off moments you might be able, by a glance at the signature on your contract, to tell just how well the director is going to live up to his pledges. For example, take a look at D. W. Griffith's writing. The careful joining of all the letters in the signature is one of its chief characteristics, indicating logical judgment. It is the handwriting of an idealist with ambition dominant, as shown in the strong upward strokes of the letters, particularly the forceful t. This ending of the small t shows what is called the "lightning" flourish, the straight, heavy stroke across the t. This is an unfailing indication of superb activity of the brain in all its processes. If your writing, like Mr. Griffith's, abounds in angles rather than curves, it means that tact is not your specialty. Enthusiasm is present, as the strong upward strokes show, and the general irregularity indicates sensibility to a degree that means "nerves." If you want to see originality in the «th degree look at this dashing signature of "Gerry Farrar." The eccentric boldness of the cap>ital G is one of the surest signs of originality. The wide curve of this letter also shows imagination. If you join your letters and words closely, as Miss Farrar does, it proves that you possess logical and consecutive judgment. The heavy down strokes show great vitality, love of life and its pleasures, while the general coarseness of the writing shows that this star has courage in abundance. The persons who conclude their signatures with an upward flourish, like Miss Farrar, have a great love of applause and admiration. The thick down stroke of the capital F and the vigorous crossing of this letter indicate pride. It's perfectly plain that if motion picture directors would add a course in graphology to an otherwise busy life they could tell at a glance what temperamental reefs 73