The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1844-07-23
SPEECH OF THE FINGERS IN ITALY.

SPEECH OF THE FINGERS in ITALY
Every writer upon Italy has alluded TO Italian ges
liculation. Some have spoken Of II as language
distinct and often separate from speech-some as a
universal language poecal, graceful, and las
enaling medium, through which thoughts fash light
ming like nor inger on the way waiting for words -
Few classical stories are better known than Tar
GUMS beating down the taest peoples TO teach his
son Row 10 ruin the Gab; and Cicero's account OF
the doubtful strife between himself and the panto.
mime Roscius, whether the one could express an
idea better in words the other in dumb show. Es-
cry tyro IN Latin knows that pressing down the thumb
was the signal of death 10 a fallen gladiator and
that extending the middle or little finger, gestures
still IN ade every day in Rome, token of scorn
or defiance Gestures have thus come TO be associa-
ted with the very Of Italians both ancient and
modern.
will first mention several gestures which have an
additional interest," illustrating expressions IN Eng
llsh The Italian sign Of defiance to bite the fore
finger, commonly with the Joint nearest the end bent
"a gesture which throws light on Z" the biting the
thumb al one" with which Romeo and juliet com
mences. We speak Of miser as gripping man y
Italians express the idea by doubled fist, with
the fingers curled very close in the palm We say
" a fig for one" by way of contempt Italians
thrust out the fore finger and the little finger, call
ing the gesture by name very similar IN sound
to fig. The English phrase T" turn up the nose at"
is translated into the Italian gesture by doing the
thing it describes, and possibly its origin to
the same gesture. The mouth kissing the hand
by which Job described species of idoatry--is
species of adulaon practised by every bringing
servant in Italy. The coiloqual phrase, hand over
hand exactly describes The Italian motion to ex-
press the same idea, namely, TO do any thing rapidly
The vulgarlsm, to look between bars, for to be in
prison, corresponds to the Italian gesture for the
thing, which is made by crossing the fingers of both
hands before the eyes as TO make checkered
CRATE, or hy covering the eyes by the fingers of
hand drawn apart The latter gesture is also used to
denote modesty, and is finely exemplhed by a daugh
ter of Noah painted in the Campo Santo at Pisa,
who Is celebrated as La Vergognosa del Campo
Santo.
next pass to few of the gestures relating to mo
ney object which could be easily shown TO be the
chief end of every Italian, at least of every one
with whom mere traveller can have to do. In adj
dition to the gripping fingers Of the gipng man, his
FIST drawn firmly towards him, his fingers spread like
claws and clutchng, both hands stuck in the pockets
denote purse-Pride. Falling on the knees and clasp
ing the hands or laying the palms together show the
applications of beggar When one would kill the
hopes of mendcant, and say he will give nothing
with emphasis, he blows on his hand and shows it
wide open TO the petitioner, elevates one fore
finger shaking il gently TO and fro The motion that
one Is willing TO give something, and which may be
called the hribng gesture, is to put hand in the
money pocket. To indicate payin in the language
Of the fingers, one makes though he put something
piece after piece, from hand into the other-al
gesture however, far less expressive Than that when
a man lacks money and yet cannot make up face TO
beg II or simply to indicate want OF money,-which
is rub together the thumb and fore finger at the
time stretching out the hand
All gestures, though innumerable may perhaps be
considered as lmi alive, signihcant, conventional,
but to which of these classes any particular gesture
is to be referred may be doubtful. | will mention
next few which are evidently initiative If
mo ual ahouf Ifalt tnup xyitk
beard he will be met, and perhaps logged, by men
drawing the back of their fingers down their chins
10 tell him, as plain fingers speak, that
they would fam rid him of his unsightly eIcres-
cence The gesture-words for eating, for drink
ing, and for being drunk, curious limitations of
the acts of eating aud drinking, the former made
with the open hand, the latter with the fist Per-
plexiy is Swallowed forth by the open hand SHAKE n
before the forehead, if an agitation of the brain
captivity, by arms hanging down and wrists together
crossed, and priest by palms laid together before
the breast and eyes fixed either heaven or earth
II one would speak of marriage, he preends to put
ring on the ring hnger, or lays his two fore fingers to-
gether side 10y side yet this last is more commonly
used OF any UNION or harmony while the ends of the
middle fingers touching each other and all the rest OF
the fingers clenched, type of opposition aud en-
NIFTY. Writing is signlhed by motions of the right
hand on the left If the latter were paper; an eve
glass by circle round the eye.
considerable class may be termed religious, half
religious or superstitous. For instance IN addition
TO the crossings, genuexions prostrations and age
iations the hat IS always taken of at sight of pro-
cession, ON passing church if it be adorned at the
favorte chapel, and even whenever any name of the
Deity Is uttered. The malocchi or coral amulet so
commonly worn is turned towards the person by
whom one may have been viewed with bewching
glances The hands are crossed above the top of
the breast as sign OF humility or devotion. The
benedction of the priest and the ado Of the vulgar
are equally made by extending the hand with the
palm up, and moving the fingers with slight ges
ture towards The body.
would not, however, readily undertake to classify
any considerable part OF the gestures have seen and
viii therefore subon few others they happen TO
come to my mind. He who would speak of a woman
draws his hands down his cheeks and under his chin.
and he who puts his finger his lower liz is under
stood to feel some new and suddenly started obiec |
ton to his previous plan. fist clenched with the
thumb thrust out under the fore finger is Floren- |
tine challenge The fore finger the forehead de- |
notes either effort of thought force Of talent-aid
over the mouth enjoins sence-rased, is as much
as TO say thing TO be extolled to the skies-turn
ed down IS motion OF glrl at Thrasymene to .
whom we gave 10 arms, as she cried plal inf no
The thumb is held under the chin TO indicate being
laid under necessity pushed against the heart with
a stern look means murder as the open hand nress
ed on the same spot with sigh need scarcely be
said TO mean love The open hand tapping the
side indicates hunger laid under the cheek sleep
stretched out with the fingers up bids to stop or
wait; stretched out horizontally and gently sha
ken, ntmates that thing is SO so, moi good and
not bad held before the face, and the fingers. begin.
ming with the little one turned round IN a wheel Sig
nIies robbery. When one begins telling gesticulS
tors story with which they are familiar. thew nut
up one hand with the back out near their faces, and
move IT so a. bring the fingers up and the palm out
wards. Another expression for the same idea is 10
curl the fore finger the nose and draw il down
wards. man who puts his finger beh nd his ear or
who sticks out his chin and parts the Inns ishe az
have something repeated VIII oh he has imperieotly
heard; his hand waved under the chin is sign Of m.
dill renee both hands with fingers apart and pa ms
forward, raised by the head mean doubt; hell down
by The thighs, say that's none Of my business the fin
gers gathered on the mouth, kissed and stretched out
and spread, intimate dainty morsel-oGen. how.