The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1873-04-16
The Hands and Feet.

NO AAuuuo uAO SSSS
tFrom the N. Y. Com. AdvO7tlser)
In tue list Of personal attractions, small;
handsomely formed, and well.kept hands
md feet rank next to beautiful expression
Of the face. Where peiCction In face and
feature exists in womankind, and Is &C
companicd by large, illshaped, coarse
skinned, hands and ugly, flat feet, the real
elegance oiperson is destroyed;While a lady
Otherwise plain, but possessing handsome
hands and feet, is not without attractive
ness. 1t Is generally acknowledged that
tine hands and feet arc marks OF high
birth and good blood. It Is an exception
10 the rule when these members are found
either very small or well formed In per
sons of the common classes. Small hands
are no doubt an evidence Of the arlstOC-
r4cy and gentle blood and q lineage OF
uol.mauual labor. Large hands repre-
sent the aristOcracy Of usefulness. Phren.
ologis,s advance the idea that as the mind
il developed by age and culture, the
hands and feet refine in size, shape, and
texture Of skin.
The hand is the brains "chiefoi staff"
1t is the emblem Of the mind. 1t feeds,
clothes, and adorns US; with it VIC call,
dismiss, applaud or bless. 1t indicates
the health or tGeblGness Of the body. It's
movements display awkwardness or
grace, generosity or illibCralityi Its care
manIcsls the refinement or VulgarttY Of
its posSessOr
How delightful the touch OF o .blue:
yeiucd hand, with soft, warm palm and
rOse.tpped fingers Hpw different, the
sensation experienced by the clasp OF the
cold, clammy hand ofthe invalid What
fascination has the waVy motion OF a
hand, whether it holds u needle or q CT
gar! How pleasant to receive from an
open hand, or in sickness to be healed by
its gentle touch There is IN undefnable
charm in the ncat.handeduess OF persons
Of either sex. Tho manner In which
flowers are arranged and tied, or a tray
of delicacies is prepared for the sick, the
way in which tho pillows are smOothed
and made comfortable for the invalid,
betOken the character Of the hands that
have accomplished these duties.
Finely shaped feet and hands are
usually found on the same person. Short,
chubby feet arc common and devoid of
grace and tho points that mark blue
blood. A really arislocrAtic loot Is both
short and slender, and has an instep 80
high that ''slrCam Of water might pass
under the arch" without moistening the
foot. Long, slender feet are never beauti'
full, but are not plcbetan.
The careful keeping Of the hands and
feet is not sufficiently considered by many
persons who profess 10 be fastidious in
matters pertaining to the toilet. 1t is
altogether at variance with gcntillty or
good breeding that the hands should be
repulsive, either from bookkeeping or
slubbv bitten nails. Finger ends that are
so bitten down into the quick Of the nails
that they like ugly toes arc an eyesore
and an offence. Parents are much to
blame for the habit which their children
acquire OF biting their nails. 1t is q sim
pie matter to compel children to keep
their fingers from their mouths, and a
careful cutting OF their nails TO keep
the edges smooth, will soon break
up this shocking practice. Every
child should be taught TO value the
taper OF It's fingers, and should be shown
how its nails should DO washed, cleaned,
and cut, 10 Insure their beauty The nail.
brush should always be used when the
hands arc washed, and particular care
should be taken 10 dry tho nails, or they
will become brown and stained looking.
Alter washing, they should always be
cleaned with en,kniic, using care not
to dig them down into tho quick. The
less white part there is 10 tho nail, the
handsomcr It's appearance. Nails should
be kept in length 10 the ends Of tho
fingers. When they arc too short, they
make the fingers look stinted; II too long,
they arc suggestive Of scratching. Nails
arc susceptible of high polish. Little
chamols.covcred brushes can be purchas.
ed for this purpose.
The beauty of the complexion OF the
hand is greatly preserved by It's being
kept very clean, and wiped very dry when
washed. Persons have been known tc
sleep in gloves, to make their hands fair
and soft This Is o mistaken idea, as the
moisture of the skin should be allowed tC
pass Off to insure Its health and beauty.
The standard oil beauty in either mar
or woman kind is that which Is admired
by the opposite sex. The hand OF man
10 be handsome, should DO wcll-propor-
tened, finely shaped, and carefully kept
rather than small 10 size. Women do
not admire eileminate hands in the oppO-
sitesex. Hands that are brown from ex-
pOsnre, or blistered from pulling a boat
ARE Just us attractive, II the nails betoker
care Men are usually more careful Of
Of their feet than Of their hands. To
have their boots In the best condition.
that they fit well and arc brightly black
rnGd-is NECESSARY 10 their comfort. They
are also particular about being neatly
goyed; but the bare hands Of most mer
are sadly neglected.
To preserve the complexion Of tn
hands, they must, Of course, be kept GOV
cred when out of doors. 1t is at variance
with every rule OF proprlcty for ladies I,
sppear in the street unglovCd. The habi
that some women indulge in Of leaving Of
the glove from the hand that is crowded
with sparkling gems, and the display
these in omnibusscs and shops, is vuIga
and illbred
There is nothing more necessary TO IN
health Of the body, than the protection {
the feet. That they are dressed warn
and kept perfectly clean aud dry, Is abso
lately imperative. Exposure aud neglec
ii the ICGt arc the causes Of more Hines
than is usually considered. The dali
loot bath, clean stockings, and thick sole
shoes, arc great prcvGntives Of disease,