Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1876-01-26
Kissing Hands.

All the Year R0und.l
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 wielder of
scepter, sword and pen should be, is the
symbol of authority all the world v
This gives q meaning to the custom of
saluting a ruler hand by way of homage,
and no eourtly ceremony can boast a
greater antiquity than that of kissing
hands. Priam duplicating 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 reek-
ing with their blood. Roman soldiers
kissed the hands of their generals; Con-
suls, Tribunes and Dictators permitted a
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 pa
gan's book, as was too much their habit,
the Bishops ofthe early Christian church
gave their hands to the lips of inferior
ministers. The wearers of the triple
crown were content with being honored
in the same fashion, until one of the
Leos, not caring to exhibit q mutilated
hand, substituted his foot, and, no one
daring to protest against the innovation,
his successors we're careful not to resort
to the less abject ceremony. 1t may be
doubted if any Pope would have persua.
ded Cardinal John of Lorraine to kiss
his toe. When the Duchess of Savey
profered her fair fingers to that lip.lov-
ing churchman he declined the favor with
disdain, declaring that he vas ~accustom-
ed TO make free with the lips OF the great
est Queen in the world, and was not 60
ing to dc less By a dirty little Duchess;
then selling the astonished little lady by
the waist, the bold Cardinal, spite Of
struggles and p~erturbations, kissed her
thrice upon the mouth.
With equal disregard for etiquette, but
with more simplicity, did the country
danes, to whom Charles ii. presented
his hand, put up their lips for the King
to kiss, g breach of custom the merry
monarch readily forgave; forgave, we
may be sure, with more sincerity than
James l. forgave Sir Henry Yelverton
for speaking unexpectedly Of his couu.
trymen, when, in token Of pardon, he al
lowed the indiscreet orator to kiss his
royal hand thrice before he left the pres.
ence, Kissers at court are, we believe,
forbidden to appear with their hands
gloved. 1t was not always so, for in q
letter dated 1925 we read: This day
my Lord Coke, with his gloves on.
touched and kissed the Kings hand, but
whether to be confirmed a councillor OF
cashiered | cannot yet learn" From
kissing hands at court came kissing
handsin counting, q practice the learned
Seldom considered as foolish as TO cal
the pairing Of an apple when one might
taste the fruit itself; and from kissing
hands for love came kissing hands fol
politeness sake, and the use Of the
phrase, 81 kiss your hand" as a saluta
ton upon leave taking without q thought
Of suitiug the action to the word. A
story is told Of an old laird, who, being
presented to George ~. at a levee, il
his ignorance and anxiety to get through
the business, ignored the hand extended
to him, and, with a basty bow, edged to
ward the door with sill speed. Brough.
up with Lord Erroll's whispered re
hinder: kiss hands, kiss handsl' thC
startled old gentleman, facing about
kissed both his hands at the King, as i
waiting a cordial recognition TO a FRIEND
at a distance. All unconseiously tn,
laird was acting according 10 ancien
rule, for only the greater subjects Of tn,
later Caesars we're permitted TO pres
their lips upon imperial fingers. Int
rior folks kissed their own hands, as the,
we're wont TO do upon entering the tenn
pies Of gods; a custom Pliny set dow
among those which we're followed for NJ
known reason but their antiquity.