and its peculiarities are
too exaggerated to allow it to become a permanent style. But like the
extravagant German forms [117] already referred to, it has also apparent
advantages; and a few of its characteristics are not unlikely to survive in
some more conservative adaptation.

[Illustration: 129. MODERN AMERICAN COVER. FRANK HAZENPLUG]

[Illustration: 130. MODERN AMERICAN TITLE. GUERNSEY MOORE]

[Illustration: 131. MODERN AMERICAN TITLE. HARRY E. TOWNSEND]

The letter by Mr. Harry Everett Townsend shown in 131 is most distinctive
in effect--a more refined form of the rapidly drawn character shown in 138.

Mr. Howard Pyle often gives us charming bits of lettering in connection
with his illustrations. The heading, 132, shows a characteristic line. Most
of Mr. Pyle's lettering is "Colonial" or Georgian in style, though the
initials he uses with it are generally rendered in the fashions of the
early German woodcuts, somewhat similar to Holbein's initials for the
"Dance of Death."

[Illustration: 132. MODERN AMERICAN HEADING. HOWARD PYLE]

One of the most original of American letterers is Mr. Orson Lowell. Usually
closely conjoined with design, his lettering does not show to its full
value when reproduced apart from its surroundings, for much of its charm
depends [118] upon its harmony in line and color with the accompanying
drawing Mr. Lowell has taken the same basic forms as those used by Mr.
Penfield, and has played with them until he has developed a series of most
ingenious and fanciful letters. The examples reproduced in 136 and 137 but
inadequately show a few of the many forms that Mr. Lowell employs with
remarkable fertility of invention and delightfully decorative effect of
line. The small letters, 135, shown opposite his capitals, 134, are not by
Mr. Lowell, nor are they in any way equal to his own small letters, of
which regrettably few appear in his published work; but they may serve to
exhibit a similar method of treating a much more conventional form of
minuscule than Mr. [122] Lowell would himself use for the same purpose.
Despite its unconventionally, however, an examination of Mr. Lowell's work
will show that each letter has been developed to fit the space between its
neighbors and to balance and relieve their forms; and that, fanciful as
some of the shapes may appear, they have invariably been knowingly worked
out, and always appear harmonious and fit.

[Illustration: 133. MODERN AMERICAN LETTERS.