SMITH'S WRITING SCHOOL, 1831.
A. D. Smith, of Warren county, N. C, now offers to the public a new system of Penmanship, (and his own invention,) by which he can teach bad writers to write an elegant hand in two or three days.
Nov. 5,1831.
Woodville, Wake county N. C.
October 31,1831. Mr. A. D. Smith, has lately taught his new system of Penmanship at my house. I sent three scholars to him. They made great improvement. My children wrote very bad hands before I sent them to Mr. Smith. They now write elegant hands. They were only under his tuition three days. I have no hesitation in saying his system of Penmanship is the best I have ever seen for those who write bad hands.
Newton Wood.
Woodville Academy, Wake co.
N. C. October 1831. I have taken lessons in Mr. A. D. Smith's new system of Penmanship. He taught me his new system in a few hours. Some of my pupils also took lessons, and they made great improvements in a very short time. I think his system is the best I have seen to improve bad writers in a few days. Richard N. Bennett.
Wake Forest Academy, Wake co.
N. C. Nov. 2d, 1831. Mr. A. D. Smith: I think your new system of Penmanship is worthy of public patronage. The short time in which you teach the pupils, gives your plan a decided advantage over any other with which I am acquainted. I have seen the improvements of some of your pupils, who had only been under your tuition partially for two or three days, and was much surprised to see very bad hands so greatly improved. Having taken lessons myself from you, I more willingly testify to its utility.
Daniel W. Kerr.
Wake county, N. C. Oct. 20,1831.
Mr. A. D. Smith's new system of Penmanship is certainly the best that ever came before the public. Mr. Smith had a writing school at my house. I saw the improvements of every scholar. I was much surprised, not only to see the improvements of those who could write a little, but of those who could not write any. I believe that Mr. Smith can teach any person to write a good hand in two or three days. The system is so good, it cannot be forgotten.
John Ligon.
—The Star, November 10,1831.
(Source: North Carolina Schools and Academies, 1790-1840, By Charles L. Coon 1914)
