East Saginaw courier. (East Saginaw, Mich.) 1859-18??, 1861-10-15
OSCILLATION.

the British Apolla, why kissing was SO
much in fashion, what benefit was derived
from IT, and who was its inventor, the
oracle answered 'Ah, madam; had you
lover, you would not come to Apolla
Tor solutloni since there is no dispute
but the kisses Of mutual lovers give in
Unite satisfaction. AS to its invention,
1t IS certain nature was its author, and il
began with the first courtship.' Apolla
was right. We Indignantly scout the
assertions of those unromantic individu-
ais who maintain, that in the desire of
the suspicious ancients 10 test their wives
and daughters sobricty, originated
practice reprobated by Socrates the phi
losopher Cato the censor, Ambrose the
saint, and Bnnyan the tinker, and laudcd
by Wrists aud lovers from the beginning
of time.
Our tattooed proQenitors must have
been barbarians indeed, if we are TO be-
lieve the Scandinavian tradition, that
kissing wasan exotic pleasure introduced
into this island by Rowena, the beautiful
daughter of Hengist the Saxon. At a
banquet given by tho British monarch in
honor OF his allies, the princess, after
pressing the trimming beaker TO her lips,
saluted the astoniShod and delighted V or
tigern with little kiss, after the manner
OF her own people. So well did this
novel importation thrive under the cloudy
skies OF England, that from being an oc-
casional luxury, il soon became an every
day enjoyment, and the English were
celebrated far and near as kissing peo-
pie; and not without reason for our an
cestors did nothing by halves. In Ed
ward Tvs reign, guest was expected
on his arrival, and also on bis departure,
TO salute not only his hostess but all the
ladies Of tho family This pretty piece
OF oivility not little astonished Greek
visitor to the court of bluff King Hal
30 widely spread was the osculatory rep
utation of Englishmen, that when VOL
sey's biographer visited a French noble
man at his chateau, the mistress of the
mansion entering the room with her bevy
OF attendant maidens, thus accosted her
husbands guest 'Forasmuch as ye bV
an Engllshman whoes custom it is in your
country to kiss all ladies and gentlewomen
without offence, and although it be not so
here IN this realm, yet will bo 80 bold
as to kiss you, and so shall all my maid.
ems ~ promise no sooner made than
redeemed, to the inexpressible satisfac-
tion of Cavendish.
How prettily does Shakspeare's Helena
beg kiss Of her uncouth, churlsh hus-
band
81 am not worthy Of the wealth own
Nor dare say tits mine; and yet it il;
But, like tmorous thief most fam would steal
What law does vouch mine own"
"What would you have2n
something; and scarce so much;--nothng indeed
would not toll you what l would, my loye-faith
yes
Strangers and foes do sunder and not kiss"
From the conclusion of tho poor damsel's
appeal, we might infer that some degree
OF intimacy preceded admission to the
sweet privilege, had we not contemporary
evidence to tho contrary. In story
founded on the same plot as CymJelne
we arc told how the Iachimo of the tale
lay at Waltam whole day before he
caught sight of the lady; when, seeing
hor in field, ho went up to her, and
kissed her-'a thing no modest woman
can deny The practice was in full vigoi
when Erasmus sojourned in the land, and
wrote enthusiastically in its commenda-
tion: IF you 60 to any place, you are re-
ooived with kiss by all; if you depart
on journey, you are dismissed with a
kiss; you return-kisses are exchanged;
thoy come to visit you--a kiss the first
thing; they leave you-you kiss them all
round. DO they meet you anywhere?--
kisses in abundance. Lastly, wherever
you move, there is nothing but kisses
and If you had but once tested thcml how
soft theyarsl how fragrant! on my honor,
You would wish not to reside hero ton
years only, but for lifep Ladies then
used kissing comfits Of amber. grese &c
swsotsn their BREATH When the Consta
bic of CASTLE visited the English court
after the accession of James J., proud auc
pompous as tho Spaniard was, he wa
right well pleased to bestow kiss or
Anna of Denmark's pretty maids of hon
or, according to the custom Of the
country, any neglect Of which is taken a.
an affront' Clever Christina of Swe
don, taking her ladies to dine with Crom
wells ambassador, commanded him tC
teach her suite the English mode of sal
utation--an order readily obeyed by
Whitlock, who after few coy and pretty
dofences,' found his pupils apt scholars
their lips readily obeying his instructions
Tom Carew, one of the mob of gentle
men who wrote at case, and very easily
into the bargain, declares kissing an in
fallible cure for tho toothache. 1t wai
then common salutation between men
although we do not suppose TOMS pre-
scription referred to male kisses. 1t wal
also common civilityin Paris, according
to st. Evrsmond, because kisses were
commodities costing nothing, never wear
ing out, and always to be had IN abund
sncc. In England, it gradually declined
not in consequence of the efforts Of the
inspired tinker, who abhorred the un
oomely practice, and whowas wont to pu
down those who urged in defence that i
was merely civiiity, by asking them
why they made baulks? Why they sa
luted the most handsome, and let the i'll
favored ones go?' but because it grew
questionable in France. IL was still il
some vogue under William and Mary, blu