BALZAC AS A HANDWRITING EXPERT.
If there was one thing upon which Bal/ac flattered himself more than another it was his skill in reading character from handwriting. But. he made a sad mistake on one occasion A lady brought an extract from the exercise book of a twelve year old schoolboy, and asked for an opinion of the youngster's character and prospects. Balzac inquired whether the child was her own. Answered in the negative, he examined the exercise carefully and delivered his judgement. ‘■Madam,” he said, ‘‘this child is thick-headed and frivolous. He will never come to any, good. If he were my child, I would take him from school and put him to the plough.” Then it was explained*to the novelist that the specimen on which he had pronounced so severely was one of his own which had been discovered hidden away between the leaves of an old lesson book. /
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Bibliographic details
Cromwell Argus, Volume XXXVII, Issue 1987, 7 May 1906, Page 7
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151BALZAC AS A HANDWRITING EXPERT. Cromwell Argus, Volume XXXVII, Issue 1987, 7 May 1906, Page 7
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