Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1867-07-19


Jacob. This kiss is remarkable A. the
first recorded in history. Indeed, the BIZ
BILE abounds with all sorts Of kisses. We
have the kiss Of homage in Esther, '. q;
of subjection in lst Samul, x. 1; of re-
cancellation in I'd Samuel, xiv. 33 Of val
ediction in Ruth, l. IA; Of appreciation in
Paslms, il. l2; of humble gratitude in
Luke. vii. SO ; Of welcome in Exodus, xviii.
IL; Of love and joy in Genesis, xxx. IL;
of sorrow in Acts, TX. 81 Of peace in Ro-
mans, xvi. l6; and Of idolatrous reverence
in Hoser, xiii. 2. There are also spiritual
kisses, as in Canticles, j. 2; sensual kisses,
as in Proverbs. vii. IL and hypocritical
kisses, as in I'd Samuel, XIV. 5. Kisses
are also traitorous, such a. Joab's to
| Amasa, when he kissed and then slew Tin
I'd Samuel, Xxx. 80 and that of Judas to
Christ, when he kissed and then betrayed.
1t was customary to kiss the mouth, and
also the beard, which latter is still prac-
tised by the Arabs. Kissing the hand is
not Biblical. kissing the feet was an ex-
preston of lowly and tender regard, in
Luke, vii SO. We are told that the mem-
bers Of the church at Ephesus wept sore
at St. Paurs departure, afell on his neck
and kissed him." The kiss Of peace was
an apostolic custom, and continues to be
one of the rites in the eucharistic services
of the Roman Catholics, which, for obvi-
Gus reasons, is omitted on Good Friday.
Among heathen nations it was usual to
throw kisses to the sun and moon, as well
as to the images Of the gods, fearful of
touching them with profane lips. kissing
the hand is first heard of among the Per-
slams. Xenophon relates that it was Gus
tomary for them to kiss ~homsoever they
honored. Kissing the feet Of prince
was token Of subjection, which was, at
times, carried SO far that the print of tho
foot received the kiss, conveying the inn
preston that the very dus, became sacred
by the royal tread. When Demosthenes
was carried into a temple, he kissed his
own hand by way of alteration and,
when supplicating the Romans for peace,
the Carthaginian Ambassadors kissed
the feet Of the Council" The kiss Of
homage-the character Of which is not
indicated in the Bible-was probably up
on the forehead, expressive Of high re-
spect, which was formerly, If not NV, in
use among the Bedoui':s.
The Rabbins, in the falsely delicate spirit
which animated much of what they wrote,
did not permit more than three kinds Of
kisses-lhose Of reverence, of reception,
and Of departure. Kissing the foot has
been exacted by the sovereign pontiffs, as
a mark of respect, since the eighth CEN
tury. 1t was first paid to the Pope Con-
stantine by the Emperor Jus,inian, on his
entry into Constaniinoplc. When the
ceremony takes place the Pope wears q
slipper, embroidered with cross, which
Il is kissed (and not the toe, as is generally
believed) Recently, Protestants have
not been required TO do so-a slight ;ncli-
nation of the knee being merely expected.
As an act Of ordinary salutation the
kiss is still common on the continent of
Europe and in the East. 1t was inter-
changed by the early Christians, in their
assemblies, as a token of their love to one
another, and took place just prior to the
communion, when (according to the He
brew practice, and the still existing custom
Of Oriental churches) the men and the
women sat apart, the kiss of peace was
given by the man to the man, and by the
women to the women. However, the pc
culiar circumstances have vanished which
gave propriety and emphasis to such an
expression of brotherly love and Christian
friendship. 1t was also for mark Of re-
spect among our forefathers. that for one
person to write or say that he kissed the
hand of another, was a formulary Of
Equivalent import with the expression Of
obedience and servitude with which our
communications and intercourse with the
world are now usually attended. To this
frequent allusion is made by Shakespeare
and the dramatic poets.
ROBBERY The depot of the Pasump-
sic Railroad in Coventry was recently bur-
glariously entered and robbed in broad day
light. The burglar gained access TO the
main room Of the depot by forcing win
dow, and then entered the door of the tick
ct office BY a key Of his own. The yalua-
bles were in locked box, and the box was