Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1876-02-16
Kissing Hands.

In Morocco the number ''five is never
mentioned in the Sultan's presence, be-
cause five is the number of the fingers
of the hand; and the hand, as the wiel-
der of sceptre, sword and pen should
be, Is the symbol of authority all the
world over. This gives meaning to
the custom of saluting a rulers hand
by way of homage, and no cOurtly GER
emony can boast greater antiquity
than that of kissing hands. Priam, sup
plicating Achilles to restore the body of
Hector, calls himself the most miserable
of men in being forced to kneel before
the murderer of his children, and kiss
the hand yet reeking with their blood.
Roman soldiers kissed the hand of their
generals; consuls, tribunes and dicta-
tors permitted favored few to pay
them the same mark of respect. Under
the emperors, kissing the imperial
hand was held an essential duty on the
part of courtiers of high rank; and,
taking a leaf out of the Pagan's book,
as was too much their habit, the bishops
Of the early Christian Church gave
their hands to the lips of inferior min
listers. The wearers of the triple crown
were content with being honored in the
same fashion, until one of the LeOs, not
caring to exhibit a mutilated hand, SUBJ
stituted his foot, and no one daring to
protest against the innovation, his sue
cessors were careful not to resort to the
less abject ceremony. 1t may be doubt
ell if any Pope would have persuaded
Cardinal John, of Lorraine. to kiss his
toe. When the Duchess of Savoy prof
fered her fair fingers to that lip-lOving
churchman, he declined the favor with
disdain, declaring he was accustomed
to make free with the lips of the great
est Queen in the world, and was not go
ing to do less by dirty little duchess;
then seizing the astonished lady by the
waist, the bold Cardinal, spite of strug-
giles and perturbations, kissed her thrice
upon the mouth. With equal disregard
for etiquette, but with more simplicity,
did the country danes, TO whom Charles
III. presented his hand, put up their lips
for the king to kiss, breach of custom
the Merry Monarch readily fOrgave;
forgave, we may be sure, with more
sincerity than James /. forgave Sir
Henry Yelverton for speaking disre-
spectfully of his countrymen when, in
token of pardon, he allowed the indis-
Greet orator to kiss his royal hand thrice
ere he left the presence. Kissers at
court are, We believe, forbidden to ap-
pear with their hands gloved. 1t was
not always so, for in letter dated 1925
we read: ''This day my Lord Coke, with
his gloves on, touched and kissed the
Kings hand, but whether to be con-
tirmed councillor or cashiered cannot
yet learn" From kissing hands at
court came kissing hands in courting-
a practice the learned Selden consid-
cred as foolish as 10 eat the pairing
of an apple when one might taste the
fruit itself; aud from kissing hands for
love came kissing hands Tor politeness'
sake, and the use of the phrase, 81 kiss
your hand" "a salutation upon leave |
taking, without a thought of suiting the
action to the word. a story is told of
an old laird. who, being presented to
George the Fourth at levee, in his ig-
norance and anxiety to get through the
business, ignored the land extended to
him, and, with hasty blow, edged to-
ward the door with all speed. Brought
up by Lord Erroll's whispered reminder
"kiss hands, kiss hands ~ the startled
old gentleman, facing about, kissed both
his hands at the king as if waiting a
cordial recognition to 4 friend at dis
tance. Allunconsciously. the laird was
acting according to ancient rule, for
only the greater subjects of the later
Caesars were permitted 30 press their
lips upon imperial fingers. Inferior
folks kissed their own hands, as they
were wont to do upon entering the tenn
pies of the gods; a custom Pliny set
down among those which were followed
for no known reason uttheir antiquity.
Ali the Year Round.