%dropped cap macro from tom rokicki (via alan hoenig)
\font\dfont=cmb10 scaled\magstep5
\newbox\dibox \newbox\vsk
\def\di#1{\smallskip\noindent\strut
 \setbox\dibox=\hbox{\dfont #1}%
 \setbox\vsk=\hbox{(}%
 \hangindent=\wd\dibox
 \hangafter=-2 % depends on the fonts
 \strut\hbox to 0pt{\hss\vbox to0pt
  {\vskip-\ht\vsk
   \box\dibox\vss}}\noindent}
%and an example...
\di There is another advantage to \TeX's command structure.
Since the command is independent of the text 
it is possible to change the text secure in the knowledge
that we have not altered the typeset appearance of the
document in any fundamental way.  This is not always the
case with other computer typesetting systems, which would
require relaying out of the text after certain revisions.
Using a macro written by Tom Rokicki, this paragraph has
been set by\dots
\bye