Ogden Daily Standard | 1920-02-17 | Page 4 | Penmanship and Conversation Dwindling Accomplishments

iPENMANSHIP AND OONVER- SATION DWINDLING AC- ' OOMPLISHMENTS. Some wit has ?aid that the old adage about the pop's being mightier man the sword should be modernized to read: "Tho typewriter is mightier than Itlio machine gup." In so far as practicable purposes are concerned, the typewriter has roplaced the pon just as the machine gun has crowded the sword out of war honors. hon-ors. ' j It once was tho great prido of men and women to be good pennuins. In 'many homes today there are samples of fine penmanship that have beep 'treasured and displayed wjth pride as the work of some member of the fan- ,ily in generations gone by, But in this day and age the ability to write a graceful and legihle hand is possessed by few. Many who have been good penmen have lost the art through neglect and the typewriter is 'chiefly to blame. j One typewriter company lakes advantage ad-vantage of the poor penmanship of the present age as propaganda for advertising, adver-tising, the company announcing I 'trough periodicals that persons prefer to get a jogible lellor written on a typewriter to an illegible scrawl writ-ton writ-ton with pen and ink. 1 The announcement that scores of Ogden school children have been awardod marks of morlt for accomplishments accom-plishments in penmanship comes as a jpleaslng surprise. They are to bo 'commended for taking an Interest in !an art- whioh Is being neglected by 'many. Along with good penmanship has departed de-parted the art of conversation. This 1 tiine the player piano, the phonograph, , cards and the movies can be blamed. There was a time when folks were ubliged to remain at home evenings rud Ihoy had ways anjl means of mak- ing those evening pleasant. Conversa 1 1 1 IM I I I r II I Jl I UHllll I iMi i w il i ii iiiii ii ill in ii ton was the means of spending many pleasant hours. What happens today in tho average Lome? If guests are present and time seems to drag a lively record is placed upon the phonograph or somebody pumpp a roll or two on the player piano. Then there may be recourse to a game or .cards or else everybody : troops off to tho movies.