Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1874-06-10
Hsnd.shasing.

How did people first get into the habit
of shaking hands? The answer is not
far to seek. In early and barbarous
times, when every savage or semi savage
was his own lawyer, judge, soldier and
policeman, and in default of all other
protection, two friends or acquaint-
ances, or two strangers desiring to be
friends or acquaintance, when they
chanced to meet offered each to the
other the right haud-the hand alike OF
offense and defense, the hand that wields
the sword, the dagger, the club, the tom
ahawk or other weapons OF war Each
did this to show that the hand was empty,
and that neither war nor treachery was
intended. A man cannot well stab
another while ne is engaged in the act of
shaking hands with him, unless he be a
double dyed traitor and villain, and
strives to aim cowardly blow with the
left, while giving the right and pretend
ing to be on good terms with his victim.
The custom of hand shaking prevails
more or less among all civilized nations,
and is the tacit avowal of friendship
and good will, just as the kiss is OF a
warmer passion.
Ladies, as every one must have re-
marked, seldom or never shake hands
with the cordiality OF gentlemen; unless
it be with each other The reason is
obvious. 1t is for them to receive hom-
age-not to give it. They cannot be
expected to show to persons of the other
sex warmth of greeting, which might
be misinterpreted, unless such persons
are very closely related to them by fam
lly or affection; in which case hand
shaking is not needed, and the lips do
more agreeable duty.
Every man shakes hands according to
his nature, whether it be timid or ag-
gressive, proud or humble, courteous or
churlish, vulgar or refined, sincere or
hypocritical, enthusiastic or Indifferent
The incest refnements and idiosyncra-
cies of character may not, perhaps, be
diseoverable in tEis fashion, but the more
salient points of temperament and lndl-
viduality may doubtless be made clear
to the understanding of most people by
better study OF what | shall call the
physiology or the philosophy of hand
shaking.
To present the left hand for the pur-
pose of friendly greeting, is a piece OF
scourtesy--sometimes Intentional on
the part of superiors in rank to their in
teriors, and an act that no true gentle
man will commit. There is no reason
why it should be considered more dis
courteous than it would be to kiss the
left cheek instead of the right, but,
doubtless, the custom that makes the
right hand imperative in all sincere sal
utatidhs, dates from those early times
when hand shaking first began; and the
hand that shook or was shaken in friend
ship was of necessity weaponless. The
poor left hand that one would think
ought to be of as much value and
strength as the right, just as the left loot
or leg, because they are both used
equally, has fallen into disrepute, as we'll
as into comparative disuse, until 1t has
become an accepted phrase to say OF
any proceeding that is inauspiciOus, art
ful, sly, or secretly malicious, that 1t is
sinister that is, lest-handed.
To shake hands without removing the
glove is an act of discourtesy, which,
if unintentional and thoughtless, re-
uuires an apology for the hurry or mad
vertence which led to it. This idea
would also seem to be an occult remnant
of an old notion that the glove might
conceal weapon. Hence, true cour-
tesy requires that the hand should be
naked, as a proof of good faith.
To refuse pointedly to shake hands
with one who offers you an opportunity
in a friendly manner, amounts to a
declaration of hostility. And after a
quarrel or act Of open hostility, the
acceptance of the hand offered is alike
the sign aud ratification or peaee.-AH
! the Year Found.