The Ebensburg Alleghanian. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1865-1871, 1867-11-14
Kisses.

"Kisses," says Sam Slick, care like
creation, because they are made out OF
nothing, and are very good They are
also like sermons, requiring two heads and
an application. As to their invention, it
is well known that they began with the
first courtship in the most beautiful of
gardens. The old Puritan poet has told
US concerning the kiss inlprimts, with
which the pioneer lover saluted his blush
ing bride amid the bowers ot Eden
"-In delight
Both of her beauty and submissive charms,
Smiled with superior love- as Jupiter
On Juno smiles, when he impregns the clouds
That shed May flowers and press'd her ma
tron lips
With kisses pure"
Some ungallant writer's assert that, in
the desire of the ancients to test the So
briefly of their wives and daughters, who
it seems we're apt to make too free with
the juice of the grape, Notwithstanding =
prohibition to the contrary, originated a
practice reprobated by Socrates the ohi-
losopher, Cato the elder, and Ambrose the
saint, and lauded by lyrists and lovers
from the beginning of time. The refine
ment of manners among the classic danes
and dalnsels before mentioned was proba-
bly, pretty much on par with that de-
picted in the Beggars' Opera, where
Macheath exclaims, after salutiDg Jenny
Diver, "One may know by your kiss that
your gin ia excellent"
kissing, which means in Hebrew sim
ply alteration or touching with the mouth,
was always one of tho essential parts of
heather worship, without whish there was
no possibility of either piety or virtue, and
people were branded as atheists who
neglected to kiss their hands or the stat
ues of the gods when they entered a
temple. Indeed, the feet and knees Of
the gods were often quite worn away bv
the constant touch of worshiping lips
Among the early Christians, the kiss OF
peace prevailed, and was a most sacred
ceremony, observed on solemn occasions
1t was called signacuiune or0tioRis, the
soul of prayer, and was symbol of that
mutual forgiveness and reconciliation
which the Church required as an essen
tial condition before any were admitted to
the sacraments.
Roman civilians at length took the kiss
under their protection. Their code def
ned with great accuracy the nature, linn
its, and conditions OF the right Of kissing
They were very strict, and only near blood
relations might kiss the women OF fam
lily. The kiss had all the virtue Of bond
granted as a seal 20 the ceremony of be-
trothsl. Ia consequence Of the violence
done to the modesty of the lady by kiss
II We are to credit scandinavian tradi-
ton, kissing was an exotic pleasure intro
duced into England by Rowena, the
beautiful Saxon. AT banquet given by
the British monarch ia honor of his
allies, the Princess, after pressing the
brimming beaker to her lips, saluted the
astonished Voltigern with pretty little
kiss, after the manner in vogue among
the Saxons.
A Greek traveller yclept Chalcondyles,
who visited our British ancestors some
FIVE centuries since, says: "As for Eu-
glish females and children, their customs
are liberal in the extreme. For instance,
when a visitor calls at friends house,
his first act is to kiss his friends wife be
is then a duly installed guest. Persons
meeting in the street follow the same
custom, and no one sees anything improp-
eler of century later also adverts to this
osculatory custom. He says: "The En-
glish manifest much simplicity and lack
of jealousy in their customs as regards
females; for not only do members of the
same family and household kiss them on
the lips with complimentary ealutations
and enfolding of the arms round the waist,
but even strangers when introduced follow
the same mode, and it is one which does
not appear to them unbecoming"
Another commentator on this subject
is Erasmus Writing from England to a
friend, in 1899, he says: "They have
custom, too, which can never be sufficient
ly commended. On your arrival you arc
welcomed with kisses. On your depar-
ture you are sent off with kisses. If you
return, the embraces are repeated. Do
you receive visit, your first entertain
ment is of kisses. Do your guests depart,
you distribute kisses among them, Wher-
ever you meet them, they greet you With
q kiss in short, whatever way you turn,