212 THE AMERICAN MONTHLY (.tuly 



unnecessary soiling, etc., is an imposition on the mem- 

 bers and readers for mouths and years afterwards. A 

 member lately entered this valuable suggestion : "What 

 a pity to write such an interesting paper with such miser- 

 able ink. Let the Club adopt a rule that each member 

 shall type-write his paper, or shall use good ink and the 

 vertical handwriting." While, unfortunately, not all the 

 members can write the "vertical" hand, which is far the 

 best for the notes, any more than all can be required to 

 buy a typewriter, whose work is still more legible, it is 

 not too much to ask for good ink, and, it should be added 

 the careful use of a good medium-fine pen that will give 

 work which is legible and compact. The only ink really 

 fit for use in the notes is the "waterproof drawing ink," 

 bottles of which can be bought for twenty-five cents from 

 the dealers in drawing instruments and supplies, which 

 flows freely and evenly, gives a very distinct line, and, 

 being indelible, will bear handling without smutting, and 

 will therefore wear better than typewriter work or the 

 best of common writing inks. The best-written notes by 

 a very few of our members, are nearly as legible as type- 

 writer printing, and far more compact and durable. Being 

 of a very different consistency from ordinary inks, it 

 should be thoroughly experimented with, using stiff fine 

 pointed pens and not too much ink (thinned if necessary 

 according to accompanying directions), until fine, uni- 

 formly good work can be done, before putting it to prac- 

 tical use. Higgins' "American India Ink, waterproof 

 (white label)," is generally used by architects and engi- 

 neers. 



Co-operation — It is a most suggestive fact that 

 expressions of gratification are often made by able and 

 cultivated people in regard to objects so common-place 

 ihat a thoughtless person might be tempted to pass them 

 by, unseen, with the superficial and flippant criticism 

 that there was "nothing new in the box." This is worthy 



