~THE MODERN WAY OF WRITING~ The steel pen of the present day has reached the pinnacle of perfection, and the method of manufacture of this little but mighty instrument of writing, though of extreme interest, is practically unknown by the general public. To explain in detail the development from the rough steel to the finished pen would needs make a book in itself. And as it has been our intention to dwell, not upon the manufacture of the pen, but to trace its history and development from its most crude form, the Stylus, to the perfect and smooth-writing steel pen of to-day, we will close our story with the well-worn epigram of old, grim Cardinal Richelieu: “Beneath the rule of men entirely great, The Pen is mightier than the Sword!” How a Steel Pen is Made In the picture on the following page, we see the various processes required in making a steel pen, together with a description of each process: [Illustration: HOW A STEEL PEN IS MADE N^o. 1. ROLLED STEEL. N^o. 2. SCRAP. N^o. 3. BLANKS. N^o. 4. MARKING. N^o. 5. PIERCING. N^o. 6. ANNEALING. N^o. 7. RAISING. N^o. 8. HARDENING. N^o. 9. TEMPERING. N^o. 10. SCOURING. N^o. 11. GRINDING. N^o. 12. SLITTING. N^o. 13. No. 1. COLLEGE PEN No. 5. SCHOOL PEN. (FINISHED PENS.) COLORING AND VARNISHING. The pictures herewith printed are by the courtesy of the Spencerian Pen Company _Raw Material._--The sheet steel is cut into strips of a convenient length and width, and then rolled cold to the exact gauge necessary, according to the pen to be manufactured. _Cutting the Blank._--This is a mechanical operation, and is effected with the aid of a screw press, in which a pair of tools corresponding with the shape of the pen has been fixed. On pulling a lever the screw descends, driving the punch into the bed, which cuts a blank with a scissors-like action, from the strip of steel. _Marking the Name._--This is done by means of a punch fixed in the hammer of a stamp, worked by the foot. The blanks are rapidly introduced between guides fixed on the bed of the stamp, and as soon as the hammer has fallen the blank is thrown out and a new one introduced. _Piercing._--The tools for this operation are of a delicate character. The blanks are fed by hand, as above explained, and the hole punched by a screw press. This is a most important process; the pierce hole and slide slits determine the elasticity and regulate the flow of the ink on the pen. _Annealing or Softening._--The blanks are still moderately hard and before raising, it is necessary to soften them by heating to a dull red, and allowing them to gradually cool. _Raising._--The operator places one of the soft blanks on a die to which guides are affixed to keep it in position; then by moving the handle of the press, the screw descends, forcing a die which rounds the blank into the form of a pen.