Bloomington herald. [volume] (Bloomington, I. T. [Iowa]) 1840-1849, 1844-10-25

From the Rural Repository.
II Chapter on K5ss5ng.

ttf hOAA uAO AsutAl NcpUSlIOrys
eI A Chapter on K5ss5ng.
. Kissing has come down to u from III.
remotest antiquity. 1t is blended will
the history of man, and has at differen
periods. assumed an important place as :
civil and religious ceremonial. In ,hi.
country ii is merely considered as salu,
tation expressive of the warmth of affec.
ton. From whatever cause il may have
originated, it would seem 10 be varv
natural expression of the finer feelings OF
the soul; for even the inferior creation. in
their own Symbolic language nantes,
their affection for each other. aud even fo.r
the human species, in manner very sim.
liar. Hence its perpetuation clothed as
it is with all the veneration which we at
tach to age, and being in measure, Incl
ted as il were, by instinct.
Linked as this custom is with our in.
fanlle years, we cannot well cast it from
our memory. How well do we recoIecl
a mothers fond greetings, and the endear-
ing embrace of our sisters But past are
they in ou7 boy>hood years. Gone is
tina. loved mother. Quietly sleeps that
sweet sister with the clods of the valley !!
Around the scenes of ones childhood it is
ever delightful to linger for then every
thing was so joyous and SO innocent, SO I'M
touched by the cares and turmoils of the
world. And truly, amid all these early
recolleclions, nothing is more pleasant,
and nothing is more holy than the memo
ry of mothers kiss. Tha! man how
ever proud his estate, must be callous 10
those purer feelings, who does not pleas
ingly remember the kiss Of his mother.
But there is another kind of kiss, if we
may use qualifying term, kiss which
is the signet Of affection between lovers.
+" a kiss of youth and love - emana,ing
from hearts already indlssolubly united =
Ills not merely youthful fancy tits not
the ebulIilion of a heated Imagination for
who that has seen maiden's cheek ting
ed with the deep crimson of blush, but
.ha. has justly .hought that there was a
passion in that vibration of life's genia!
current-that kiss told Of latent feeling
of passions essence. AS an emblem of
pighted faith, as token Of the ardency
of the lovers emotions, language wants
in power TO express the sensations it con.
veys 10 the heart
Custom also, tolerates kissing among
friends, where there are neither ties of
consanguinlty, or Of affection, merely as
an expression of friendship. This kiss
so far as i, emanates from sincerity of
heart, is commendable but where 1t is
only performed through cold Formally,
and then, TOO. at every meeting of neigh
borhood friends, is truly nauseous. So
hallowed thing as kiss, should not be
sacrificed TO the hollow heartedness of the
world.
However, of all others, the "stolen
kiss" is the most ecstatic, and soul>stir-
ring. An amateur should describe it,
We can say nothing Of it but by its effect.
To drink in its rich melody, imagine the
pou,ing of them rosy lips-lhe bewilch-
ing black eye, that half looks anger, half
good humor-a coun,enance half chagrn-
ed. half pleased, putting on at the same
time deeper and more lovely hue; and
then the object, one that you had almost
dared 10 love, and you have it. This kiss
is often perpetrated through mere wanton-
ness, or a species Of fancied gallantry, &
the donor depends solely upon the charity
of the recipient for pardon; which to the
honor of these species, which is ever
granted, unless it is too often, and uncour-
ieously performed. The kind and gencr>
Gus hearted maiden, will not impose so
heavy a penance for so slight sin. We
think the poet alluded TO this kiss when
he said:-
There's something in kiss,
Though cannot reveal it.;
Which never comes amiss-
Not even if we steal it.
The virtue of kiss evidently depends
upon the motive. 1t should be guarded
with Vestal care and never sacrilegiously
offered up on the altar of impurity. or pal.
sled by the icy touch of blinded formal.
ty.
AS a custom indicative of the fervency
of the affections, it should ever be tolera-
ted; for whatever tends to keep them alive,
perpetuates some of the noblest charac-
ieristics of the human frame.
A WiTTY ScouNDnEL.--The Barre Ga
zet.e tells story of an incorrigible often
der who. while on trial, and while the
prosecuting attorney was addressing the
court and jury, observing that one Of the
Jurors had apparently fallen asleep, inter-
rup,ed the counsel of the State by remark
ing, You may as well stop. sir. you have
talked one of the jury asleep The coun-
sci, indignant at the rasca's audacity,
launched forth into a torrent of abuse,