SMITHVILLE -- In 1852, when he was 37, Benjamin Musser received
his first lessons in penmanship from James Gray, an itinerant
teacher of the growing art. So rapid was his progress that after
only 11 lessons, his abilities surpassed those of his teacher,
and the instruction ceased. From that time on, Musser combined
penmanship with his other teaching and devoted every spare
moment to making himself master of the art. Because few
opportunities for instruction existed, Musser was essentially a
self-taught man. Practice was his only available teacher, and it
was never neglected or forgotten. It is said after a hard day's
work, Musser was never too tired to practice his penmanship and
pen art exercises until midnight. Occasionally he visited other
teachers who devoted time and effort to the art he loved, but
such visits were typically aimed more at exchanging ideas than
for practical instruction. In 1862, Musser spent one day with
Platt Rogers Spencer, creator of the Spencerian system of
penmanship, who at that ti