The Pen of a Scrivener

A fountain pen, like silk stockings, is a necessity to the poor and a luxury to the rich, and should form part of the equipment of every citizen, so that he may write to his newspapers, fill up his income tax and perform all the functions of good citizenship. It is as personal as a tooth brush and as indispensable; and, with a tooth brush, forms a barrier to the onslaughts of Communism, and an eternal argument against the persuasions of Communists. A man may be willing to share his pipes and a woman her hats, but neither man nor woman will ever lend tooth brush or fountain pen without emphasizing the loan as a deviation from the standards of Christian conduct.Nationalisation has given us post office nibs, Communism would give us post office fountain pens, and then God help us!A fountain pen is, if not a man’s birthright, at least a mark of his manhood or that with which he can make his mark. Millionaires have platinum and diamond studded bands, Chinese lacquer and new blue blood ink, the price of which would keep a suburb in vulcanite for a generation, and with these they make trusts and newspapers and all the horrors of civilisation.A fountain pen is a blessing to possess and a curse to acquire. We go to buy in some vast hall and are bewildered by shapes, sizes and colours. Sancta Simplicitas chooses a plain black shape, but it needs wisdom and understanding to decide between safety, self-filler, adjustable and all the other devices of maids ingenuity.