Chapter XXIII

PICTURE WRITING AND
SIGN LANGUAGE

The next best thing to seeing one’s friends is hearing from them, and the more interesting the letter the greater the enjoyment, particularly when the communication is intended to be passed around the entire home circle. There is a delightful way in which to express yourself differently from ordinary writing, a method used by the early Egyptians, called picture writing. The Egyptian pictures were not at all like those made by modern artists; their representations were crude and unfinished, yet they answered very well for the people and the times. You have advantages over those ancient people inasmuch as you need not even attempt to draw the designs. All that is necessary for you to do is merely to look over the newspaper and magazine advertisements, select the prints needed, and after cutting out and pasting them on a sheet of paper, with a few connecting words between, you will have produced an odd, interesting letter, and the work will be pure fun.

Fig. 572 gives an idea of such a letter, supposed to have been written on Thanksgiving. Try to read it. For fear you might not quite catch the meaning, here it is interpreted for you:

"Dear Grandmother, Aunts, Uncles, and Cousins: I send you greetings. I
know there will be a cooking of tarts, turkey, puddings, and lots of
good things. I like sweetmeats and fruit best. Please use the camera
and send me a picture of the family while at dinner, and of my cousins
standing in a row. Wishing you a jolly time,

“As ever, your
”HOPEFUL ONE."

This is intended only as a suggestion; if you can write your letter entirely with pictures, without the aid of words, it will be much better.

There is another method you might employ; take the well-known

=Symbols=

and compose your missive of these. Such as the dove, meaning peace, gentleness; anchor, hope; ark, refuge; key, explanation; chain, bondage; star, promise; lamb, innocence; scales, justice; horn of plenty, prosperity; heart, love; shepherd’s crook, protection, and hour-glass, time. The list is much longer, but enough has been given to explain the scheme; other designs may be added as needed, but use only those whose significance is well established and commonly understood.

=Flower Writing=

makes a charming letter, the blossoms being placed in rows according to their meaning as given in the language of flowers. Compose a sentence of white clover, oats, and balm, and it will read:

“I promise (white clover) music (oats) and social intercourse (balm).”

This might form part of an invitation to your house-party.

Fig. 573.

For a regular

=Indian Powwow=

letter you must do as the red man does and write in Indian signs, which are usually rudely drawn figures meaning much to our copper-colored brother, but often requiring ingenuity on the part of the white man to translate. Some of the best examples are to be seen on sandstone in Dakota County,

Neb., where there are hundreds of sketches. One of the most distinguished of Indian artists or historians is said to have been Lone Dog, of Yankton, Dak., who made most of his pictures on skins. Neither stones nor skins will answer your purpose; ordinary paper is more convenient and will be as fully appreciated if you use thought and care in drawing and composing your message. Make simple, rude pictures of different objects, borrowing the Indian’s idea but adapting it to your needs. Fig. 573 gives an example of a girl’s powwow letter. You may invent as many designs as you choose, that will be part of the fun of Indian writing. Fig. 574 shows some of the signs needed.

=A Letter of Colors=

is something entirely new; it should be composed of thoughts embodied in colors, without alphabet, words, or pictures—nothing but brush strokes of delicate pinks, tender greens, soft grays, deep orange, rich purples, and all the many and varied tones, tints, shades, and hues known to man. The following example, being fully interpreted, will initiate you in color meanings and composition:

Light Scarlet.
My Dear Friend:

Light tone of Drab. Blue. Red brown.
yellow. you have thought the truth My interest in
I am glad out

Scarlet red. Myrtle green. Orange. Different tones
and friendship Nature is gaining of yellow.
for strength. I travel miles

Variety of color flecks in rows.
for the flowers.

Yellow pink.
Your
enthusiastic

Scarlet.
Friend.

The name signed at the close of the letter need be the only writing. A list is given of the meaning of some of the colors, but you will probably need more; work out the extra combinations for yourself. The system being once understood it will not be a difficult task.

Rich red—Love or loved one.

Red brown—Interest in or for.

Orange—Strength, force.

Indigo—Wisdom.

Blue—Truth.

Green—Life, freshness, youth.

Yellow pink—Enthusiasm.

Blue pink—Politeness.

Gray—Doubts, fears.

White—Intelligence, light, innocence.

Black—Ignorance, darkness, night.

Bright yellow—Joy, gladness, sunlight, day.

Drab—Thought.

Scarlet—Friendship.

Myrtle green—Nature.

Different tones of yellow grouped together—Travel, motion.

Brown in solid squares—Rocks.

Blue and green in horizontal lines—Water.

Brown and green in horizontal lines—Summer.

Brown and black in horizontal lines—Winter.

Color dashes in wedge shape, variety denoted by colors used—Birds.

Pink—Acquaintance.

Mingled flecks in a row of any color or colors with green denotes one or more variety of flowers.

Green in long perpendicular dashes—Trees.

Tints may include the personal pronouns I, my, me, or mine.

Shades may include the pronoun you or your.

PART II
WHAT A GIRL CAN DO

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