The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1870-06-01
HANDSPRING.

How did people first get into til,
habit of shaking hands The aaswe
Is not far to seek. In early and bar
barous times, when every savage o
semi-savage was his own law civer
Judge. soldier and policeman, and hat
to watch over his own safety, in de
fault ofall other protection, two friend
or acquaintance, or two strangers de
sirlng to be friends or acquaintance
when they CHANGED to meet offered
each to the other the right hand--th,
hand alike of offence and defence, tiit
hand that yields the sword, the dag
ger, the club, the tomahawll or othe1
weapon Of war. Each did this to show
that the hand was empty. and tlla
neither war nor treachery was inten
ded: A man cannot we'll stab another
while he is engaged in the act of skak.
ing hands with him, unless he be &
dou ole-dyed traitor and villain, and
strives to aim cowardly blow will
the left, while giving the right and pre-
tending to be on good terms with his
victim. The custom of Misunderstanding
prevails, more or less among all civil
lzed nations, and is the tacit avowal
OF friendship and good will, just as the
KISS OF % warmer passion.
Ladies as every one must have re-
marked, seldom or never shake hands
with the cordiality ofgentlcmen; unless
1t be with each other. The reason is
obvious. 1t is for them to receive
homage; not to give it. They cannot
be expected to show to persons of the
other sex warmth of greeting, which
might be misinterprctcd; unless such
persons are very closely related to
them by family, or affection; in which
eases, Misunderstanding is not needed, and
the lips do more agreeable duty.
Every man shakes hands according
TO his nature, whether it be timid or
aggressive, proud or humble, courteous
or churlish, vulgar or refined, sincere
or hypocritical, enthusiastic or indiffer-
ent. The incest refnements and lido
syncransies of character may not per-
haps be discoverable in the fashion,
but the more saliant points of temper
ament and individuality may doubt
less be made clear to the understand
ing OF most people by better study of
what l shall call the physiology or the
Ph'tcSophy VI
10 present the left hand for the pur-
pose of friendly greeting is piece
OF discourtesy-sometimes intentional
on the part of superiors in tank to
their Interiors, and an act that no true
gentleman will commit. There is no
reason why it should be considered
m ore discourteous than it would be to
kiss the left cheek instead of the right;
but, doubtless, the custom that makes
the right hand imperitive in all sim
cere SALVATION dates from those early
times when hand-skaking first began
and the hand that shook or was SHAKEN
in friendship was Of necessity weapon
less. The poor left hand that one
would think ought to be of as much
value and strength as the right, Just as
the left foot or leg is as strong as the
right foot or leg, because they are both
used equally, has fallen into disrepute,
as well as into comparative disuse, I'M
til has become an accepted phrase to
say OF any proceeding that is inauspic-
lous, artful. sly, or secretly malicious,
that it is 'ssinister"-that is, left hand
ed.
To shake hands without removing
the glove is an act of discourtesy, which
if unintentional and thoughtless, re-
quires an apology for the hurry or in
advertence which led to it. The idea
would also seem to be an occult rem
nant of the old notion that the glove
might conceal a weapon. Hence true
courtesy and friendship required that
the hand should be naked, as proof
of good faith.
To refuse pointedly to shake hands
with one who offers you the opportuni-
ty in friendly manner amounts to
declaration of hostility. And after
qnarrel-or act of open hostility-the
acceptance OF the hand offered is alike
the sign and the ratification ofpeace-
I All the Year Round.