Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1861-10-04


Of the arm, and endowed with q wonderful
system of nerves, ii possesses the same Won
derful sense of Investigation that makes the
dntennR of insects go useful; while its
thousand and one occupations give it uni
versatility of character and sentiment ac-
corded TO no other organ.
Every portrait painter who studies with
any degree Of consciousness knows, that in
painting half-length OF full-length picture,
it is almost as important to secure literal
representation of the hands of his subject
as the face. The family hkenesS--that mys-
terious resemblance that connects the most
widely antagonistic and unlike persons
inevitably exists in the hands of all mem
bers of the same families, and often to q
very powerful degree.
The difference in different hands is quite
as great as the difference in faces. There
are not only long hands and wide hands,
short hands and narrow hands, fat hands
and lean hands, white hands and brown
hands, soft hands and hard hands, cold
hands and warm hands, but there are un-
mistakable characters developed by the
hands alone. Let us analyze type or
two
Here is long hand, thin hand; white
and transparent, with prominent knuckles-
more through want of filing out than
through largeness of bone. Firmly set upon
round, small wrist, it has both strength
and grace in motion. Its skin is smooth and
soft of texture, with peculiarly delicate
creamy quality of color-not dead-like, bat
of O soft, golden luminosity, except upon the
| knuckles and nails, which bear q roseate
| tint, like blush, adding greatly to its
| beauty. In fact, it is far more admirable
| for color than for form. The nails are long,
oval and polished, rounding up well from
the sides to the middle, and the wrinkles
upon the knuckles are few, sharp, and we'll
defined.
This hand is flexible 10 an unusual degree.
AT first, its long fingers are apt to be en-
| twined, or arranged in positions of involun-
| tary grace. When in action, every move
ment is made with precision, as we'll as
| with a certain indescribable air of intelli-
gence, as if the hand itself were endowed
with more or less of mental power. This is
the artists hand, be it male or female; the
erecutiUe type; the hand of a painter, a
sculptor, o poet a surgeon, or musician
Only where much pianc-playing has beer
done, the form of the finger ends is de-
stroyed. Nearly all practical pianists carry
little cushions of flesh at the ends of theil
digits, Hattened out by constant pressure
upon the ivory of the keys.
| Another hand is short, fiat and elegant
The knuckles are lost and Uniformed dim
pies indicate where they should be. The
skin is white but unwholesome looking
having sort of shine upon its surface. The
fingers are thick at the ends-not from
piano playing, but by nature-and the nails
are round and fiat. The thumb great
index of character-is a mere stump, with
out any marked shape, and its nail is thick
| and uneven.
1t is little singular that poets have moi
done greater justice to the hand. They
have raved about eyes, and lips, and hair
and bosoms, to an almost unlimited extent
sometimes, indeed, quite beyond the pale o
reason bat we find very little about hand
anywhere Mention of them, as being
clasped, wrung, uplifted, outstretched, etc.
is not rare but no detail, no particulariza
/ ton of hands often occurs in poetry. 1t is
new field, to the exploration of which
earnestly recommend our rising poets, anC
charge nothing for the suggestion.
Tennyson even can find nothing to say
on this subject, compared to what he say
on others, unless it be this nlorceau, which
so far as it goes, is excellent;
| "I see the treasured splendOr, her hand
Come sliding out Of her sacred glove
Now, then, having said so much on tn
topic suppose the ladies will want to know
something about the treatment of this i'm
portant member of the human form divine
l confess that they might find other authori
ties more competent TO teach this specia
branch of maniology; but still l will try t
give them hint or two.
pbo Hrot Lawn ~ ie ru,i 10
ness, and it is by no means the easiest t
attain. One thing is necessary-namely
gloves. Kid gloves are best; and thu
more you wear them the sooner your hands
will become white and soft. Meanwhile
certain other processes may be prosecuted
with good effect. A quantity of bran il
warm-not hot-water with an emollien
soap, such as glycerine, is the best prepa
ration for washing. If any roughness re
mains after q fortnight of glowing, (par
ticularly at night and using this, employ
cold cream moderately The practice o
sleeping with the arms over the head, a
is sometimes DONE is ruinous. The white
ness-or, rather, the pGllor-thus conferred
only lasts for an hour, and results, shortly
in permanent wrinkling and discolora
ton of the skin.
| Inc udll5 ouOulu Dt uIlSuueu W do GdIGlull,
as possible; nothing spoils the appearance
of a hand otherwise pretty, like an ill-cu
or baldly-trimmed nail. Around the roots
where the skin grows up to meet the nail
there often appears certain dry points
cracked off from the epidermis, and know
as "ag-nails," or " hang-nails." These,
neglected, ruinithe beauty of any finger
tops, and become excessively painful. 7
prevent them, blunt point should be passe
around the root of the nail daily, to preve1
, the epidermis from growing too far and tc
: closely upon it. The slight fold of ski
however, that borders it should never |
q q cut away. II is Natures own and mo
! appropriate finish.
The nails should not be scraped with
sharp blade of any kind, either on the
: surface or at the ends. For cleanliness, u
y y a stiff brush and plenty of soap and Wate
= Vigorous rubbing with q stout towel ever
y time the hands are washed, will give t
II surface of the nails beautiful polish al
4 by promoting the circulation beneath
n rosy tinge also, quite necessary to beaui
10 Cut them whenever they reach the furthC
10 tip Of the finger, and cut them exactly
y, ~ the outline Of that tip-neither square n
- 20 pointed, but oval, as nearly like the line
- the root as possible.
7. The hand is capable Of a much more Q
= alytiCal and detailed treatise, but the lin
. of time and space compel me to be brief.
7 4