Rensselaer Republican, Volume 23, Number 19, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 8 January 1891 — NOT A SHORTHAND. [ARTICLE]

NOT A SHORTHAND.

The Farslan Scribe Is a Genuine Curiosity. It may be worth while to describe the Persian method of writing. As may be generally known they write from right to left. They neveq use a table if it can be avoided, but write on their hands. By preference they sit on their knees and heels on the floor. The pen is a reed the color of black walnut; the nib is cut diagonally. This pen is called a kalemdan and is kept in an oblong box called a kalemdan. This case is made of brass or of papier-mache, which is often most exquisitely decorated witfrhand-painting. The age of a kalemdan cau bo invariably told by the costume of the figuros painted upon it In one end oi the slide of the kalemdan is the inkbox; the ink is thickened by being mixed with silk. The paper is glossy and generally a cream tint The best comes from China. Every great man has his secretaries, each provided with a kalemdan and a roll of sheets of paper, both of which be carries in his girdle. If a letter or document is to be written the secretary immediately drops on his knees and whips out inkhorn and paper. Laying the former on tho floor at his right ha seizes a sheet of paper In his left hand and proceeds tq write. Owing to tha position the lines always slant somewhat He loaves a broad margin, and in case the letter overruns the page he writes on the margin in the preference to continuing on the other side of the leaf. When the document is completed do name is written, no autographic signature is appended, but the seal of the author is affixed dipped in ink and then pressod on paper. This seal, in the case of offlci.iis, has tba date of the year also engraved upon it and is annually reuewed. To counterfeiter such a seal brings the counterfeiter within the shadow of the yasaktehee bashee, or lord high executioner, and the ofTense is there fora rurelj attempted.