alled into
action repeatedly and at proper intervals. This education must be
continued until not only each muscle, but every fibre of the muscle,
is fully under the control of the will. In this way persons become
skilful in every employment. In training the muscles for effective
action, it is very important that correct movements be adopted at the
commencement. If this is neglected, the motions will be constrained
and improper, while power and skill will be lost.

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How is this shown by experiment? 207. Upon what do the different
intonations of sound or mechanical employments depend? Why are the
first efforts in educating the muscles indifferent or irregular? 208.
Why is repetition of muscular action necessary? Why is it important
that correct movements be adopted in the first efforts of muscular
education?

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_Illustration._ If a boy, while learning to mow, is allowed to swing
his scythe in a stooping position, twisting his body at every sweep of
the scythe, he will never become an easy, efficient mower. Proper
instruction is as necessary in many of the agricultural branches as in
the varied mechanical employments.

[Illustration: Fig. 52. An improper, but not an unusual position, when
writing.]

[Illustration: Fig. 53. A proper position, when writing.]

209. _Good penmanship requires properly trained muscles._ To a
deficient analysis of the movements of the arm, hand, and fingers, on
the part of teachers and pupils in penmanship, together with an
improper position in sitting, is to be ascribed the great want of
success in acquiring this art. The pen should be held loosely, and
when the proper position is attained, the scholar should make an
effort to imitate some definite copy as nearly as possible. The
movements of the fingers, hand, and arm, necessary to accomplish this,
should be made with ease and rapidity, striving, at each effort, to
imitate the copy more nearly.

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How is this illustrated? 209. Why have so many pupils failed in
acquiring good penmanship?

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210. When the arm, hand, and fingers are rigid, the large muscles,
that bend and extend these parts, are called into too intense action.
This requires of the small muscles, that produce the lateral
movements, which are essential to rapidity in writing, an effort which
they cannot make, or can with difficulty accomplish.

_Experiment._ Vig