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krm's Gallery of Primary Characters We all take our letters for granted after using them for so many years. But I still remember my first set, which were cut from wood. They all made quite an impression on me, particularly the X, which we learned as standing for boX. . Nowadays, they each seem to me to have their very own character — but I don't mean phonetically. In capital form, they all seem to suggest certain people-traits. See if you agree! (btw, need gifs for the letters) ABC Elegant, didactic fellows like old school professors D Friendly, honest, serviceable, but a trifle dull E A real smoothie, isn't he? Urbane, easy-talking, mixer. F Definite individuality about this one, but a bit sulky, adolescent G Now there's a bureaucrat! Political, pompous, officious... H Dependable, stuffy chap, definitely an older brother I O I divine mathematical purity and simplicity in these two J Here's an artist, a free spirit, disengaged, unassertive K Cryptic, quizzical, enigmatic, hard to know L Here's a lady, a simple elegant one M A quiet, tranquil, reticent type N This character is quite clever, and may be poetically inclined P Clearly a senior clerk, official, puntilious, but polite Q Ho-ho, here's eccentric, puckish, amusing as a wink R A capable, competent, authoritative chap, an engineer? S Change, changeable, versatile, spiritual even T Stately, orderly T's must have governed the British Empire U Thank goodness for the practical, homely, down-to-earth U's! V Ooh, here's moody and uncertain. Spare me the V's W This is a literary, inventive, constructive individual X Y Oh, the geometry, the strength! Athletes. Z A researcher, without a doubt, and entrepreneur too. You probably think I am allowing my imagination to run away with me, and you are probably right. Now which of those characters would be inclined to do that, I wonder... 1996 © krm