New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-01-09
kissing Hands.

In Morocco the number five" is neve
mentioned in the Sultan's presence, becaue
five is the number of the fingers on th
hand; and the hand, - the wielder Q
sceptre, sword, and pen should be, is tn
symbol Of authority all the world ovel
This gives 2 meaning to the custom Q
saluting Q rulers hand by way of homage
and no courtly ceremony can boast create
antiquity than that of kissing hands
Prism. duplicating Achilles to restore tn
body of Hector, calls himself the mos
miserable of men in being forced to knee
before the murderer of his children, anG
kiss the hand yet reeking with their blood
Roman soldiers kissed the hand of their gen
erals; consuls, tribunes and dictatOrs per
mitted q favored few to pay them the
Same mark of respect. Under the EN-
IN essential duty on the part Of courtiers
of high rank; and, taking q leaf out of the
Psgan's book, a. was too much their habit
the bishops of the early Christian Church
gave their bands to the lips of inferior min
isters. 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 mutllated hand, substi-
tuted his foot and no one daring to protest
against the innovation, his successors were
careful not to resort to the less abject cere
"
would have persuaded Cardinal John, of
Lorraine, to kiss his toe. When the Duchess
of Savoy prOffered her fair fingers to
that lip-lOving churchman, he declined the
favor with disdain, declaring he was accus-
toned to make free with the lips of the
greatest Queen in the world, and was not
going to do less by dirty little duchess;
then selling the astOnished lady by the
waist, the bold cardinal, spite of struggles
and perturbations, kissed her thrice upon
the mouth. With equal disregard for Ell
quette, but with more simplicity did the
country danes, to whom Charles H. pre-
sented his hand, put up their lips for the
king to kiss, q breach of custom the merry
monarch readily fOrgave; forgave, we may
be sure, with more sincerity than James I.
forgave Sir Henry Yelverton for speaking
unexpectedly of his countrymen, when, in
token of pardon, he allowed the indiscreet
orator to kiss his royal hand thrice ere
s ne 'e We be SslieVe forbidden to .ppeas
with their hands gloved. 1t was
not always 80, 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 confirmed coun-
cilor or cashiered I can not yet learn. J"
From kissing hands at court came kissing
hands in counting, q practice the learned
S0l0eu COn6l0er6O as 1OOLsn A0 " oo1 Iuo
pairing of an apple when one might taste
the fruit itself; and from kissing hands for
love came kissing hands for politeness
sake, and the use of the phrase, Il kiss
your hand" as q sslutation upon leave
taking, without thought of euitiDg the
action to the word. A story Is told of an old
laird, who, being presented to George
Nv. at levee, in his ignorance and
anxiety to get through the business,
ignored the hand extended to him, and,
with . hasty bow, edged toward the door
with all speed. Brought up BY Lord Er,
rolls whispered reminder, kiss hands!
kiss handel" the startled old gentleman,
fscing about, kissed both his hands at the
King, Is if waiting cordial RECOGNITION to
the laird was acting according to ancient
rule, for only the greater subjects Of the
later Caesars were permitted to press their
lips upon imperial fingers. Inferior folks
kissed their own hands, as they were wont
to do upon entering the temples of the gods;
= custom Pliny set down among those
which were followed for no known reason
but their antiqu'fy.-AHh the Year Hound.