photo credit: Muffet via photopin cc
Not cross dressing. Cross writing.
In the early 1800’s people writing letters would often limit their letter length to whatever could fit on one sheet of paper as the official mail service based its charges on the number of sheets of paper used.
Once both sides of the paper were filled up they would turn the paper in the opposite direction and overwrite on earlier paragraphs, to save money. (Source: Canada, A Portrait In Letters: by Charlotte Gray)
photo credit: Crafty Dogma via photopin cc
Cross writing with a purpose
Do you ever feel you are working against yourself? At cross purposes maybe. Trying to make progress in one area only to have something happen that sets you back further than where you started from?
The thing about cross writing is that, although it does take some patience to decipher it, and it is kind of messy, it is actually a very creative, efficient way of writing a letter. The goal is still accomplished albeit through a very different route.
What do you do when faced with a set back?
P.S. I wrote a letter to a friend recently. I did some cross writing. Click here to see a picture.
Cross writing looks very pretty, but I would have such a hard time reading it and writing it myself. 😀
This is a nice blog! I’ve never come across one quite like it.
Hi there Kaitlin, So glad you stopped over for a visit and liked my little hangout here. Hope you come again. When I was writing my letter to my friend in cross-writing it did take a little getting used to, but with different coloured inks it wasn’t too bad. Not sure about the reading it though! :0
Excellent analogy and point! It’s like being in cross fire sometimes and you just want to duck or get out. But you can make something beautiful out of the dance. I love the quote that talks about seeing the back and forth as a CHA CHA rather than losing ground. Stopping by from SITS Sharefest!
Lovely of you to stop in for a visit Lori. Thank you. Love that quote about viewing life as the CHA CHA. What a great perspective.
I remember reading about that… My first thought was how horrible it would be to read because my gran will send notes sometimes and it’s all I can do to figure out what she’s saying, I couldn’t imagine trying to read her handwriting in cross writing.
But, when letters were rare, I’m sure every word was a treasure!
Kendra, nice of you to pop over and say hello. Sounds like your gran has penmanship like me! I like your thinking about letters being treasures, no doubt they still are. When I used cross writing in a letter recently I used two different coloured inks so hopefully it made it a little easier to read. Maybe. Hope you visit again soon.
Good morning! When I was a kid (not that long ago, really!) we sent letters overseas using special airmail paper & envelopes. We would write on both sides of the paper and the margins, and I remember turning the paper upside down and writing in the spaces between the lines, so you could write twice as much on the paper.
Hello Nita, I loved reading your comment about how you would write even in the spaces! Very clever thinking and fun too. Thank you for sharing this story with us. P.S. I’m sure it was just yesterday that you sent you most recent overseas letter. 🙂
I used to write airmail letters to my grandparents in India. As we unpacked a box I haven’t opened in 10 years just last week, I found some airmail paper and envelopes. I only have one grandma still with us but I am hoping to have my sons write to her now that we found it!
Thanks for sharing this clever and historic idea with Small Victories Sunday linkup. You always bring a unique perspective I love to the linkup. I have a note card obsession so entered your calligraphy notecard giveaway too!
I love this story about opening a box after 10 years! What treasures. Did you find the letters too? Thank you for the recent ‘tweet’ and so pleased you entered the giveaway – Jenny is one talented gal! p.s. good to know you too are obsessed by a paper product, at least I’m not alone. 🙂