The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1879-12-06
THE histories OF THE HAND.
Palmfstry Made C1ear-An Interesting
Volume On Lost Art.

THE MYSTERIES OF The HAM
Palmistry Made Clear-An Interesting
Volume On . Lost Art.
IRON the St. Louis Post -Dispatch.1
Mr.. Robert Allen Campbell of this
city has written book, and, unlike the
generality of books written in St. Louis
t is readable, reasonable and scholarly
He has chosen reconcile, an occult
subject. but one which he understands
thoroughly and treats lovingly and know.
ingly. His theme is palmistry. Not
such palmistry as the gypsies practice,
but chiromancy, remarkably like
physiognomy, a means of telling the
present character, rather than the future
fate.
Fortune-telling by the inspection Of
the hand is universally practiced by the
gypsy women of our day, among whom
t IS ut once traditional and an exact
art. While it is true that these wander
ers, like other mortals less traduced,
will often slet dollar blind the eye or
quicken the sight, and SO read bOnny
fortune to warm the heart and thus
open the purse of their victim, it is still
undoubtedly true that two or more ex-
perienced gypsies-when there is no OBJ
iect in deception-wiIl, without any con-
sultatiOn with each other, read substan-
tally the same fortune from the same
hand. Notice / am not claiming for
them any ability for them to foretell the
future-or even to recite the past-but
simply that they work by uniform and
well defined rules, which enables any
number of experienced gypsies, though
separated and accommodating, to
see in any certain hand the same pecu-
liarities, and to read from it substan-
tally the same fortune and fate. That
is, their art is, when fully under stood, an
exact one. Whether it is truthful one,
or whether it has in it any elements of
truth, as a foundation, is entirely an
other question"
Like q great many other sciences,
palmistry will meet some logical objec-
lions, and while the course Of reasoning
adopted by Mr.. Campbell is from the
theory to the facts, rather than from the
facts to the theory, the author has at
least the a pari satisfaction of knowing
that many of the greatest truths we know
were stated long before they were DEM
onstrated. He SAYS himself:
"Just here the very proper and per-
tinent question may be asked, Is there
any reason why the hand should index
the mindP' The simple answer is there
is no known priori reason why the
hand should index the mind, any more
than there is reason why the sense of
touch should be connected with nerves
rather than with the blood vessels. 1t is
only known as fact, learned from OBJ
servation and experience. Having the
statement of this indexing once made,
however, we find innumerable facts and
abundant illustrations to confirm the
TRUTH
There is one thing very certain, that
if there is any thing in chiromancy, one
strong manifestation of il is exhibited in
shaking hands.
+" Every one of ordinary perception
has been more or less interested in no.
ticing the different ways in which peo-
pie shake hands. There is more of in
dividuality exhibited in the performance
of this common ceremony of social cour-
tesy than in any other unstudied action
of ordinary life. All have experienced
the numberless and divers sensa-
tons which are received through
this customary method of greeting.
Comparatively few, perhaps, have fully
analysed or connected them clearly with
the subtle sources. zone in this situa-
ton seizes the hand with a hard, cruel
grip, and losses it off with spasm of
energy that leaves the other
panied and mentally diycom-
fitted. Another lazily extends an inert
palm, and with weak, Gstless touch
makes pretense of conforming to the
requirements of the occa-
sion, but with dead apathy and care
lessness which at once disappoints and
exasperates more earnest nature.
What happens when two such persons
meet is not known, perhaps because
neither have the sensations to feel, the
perception to notice, or the energy to
record the negative nature of the i'm
preston. A not uncommon character
IS the selfishly receptive absorbent, who
holds out willing hand, expectantly
still, to receive whatever greeting is be-
slowed, but which never once offers a
generous pressure or responds to
hearty clasp. Then there is the affected
put OF the finger tips, as if to say, |
condescend to a common
to an inferior person-but
ouch is all bestow or allow. After
meeting these, or any one of numerous
'ther repellant types, how gladly the
noble nature meets the firm, hearty
'lasp OF a morally magnetic hand, ali
OF reception, and bounding in
generous strength of health and heart
which imparts thrill of kindly kinship
md instantly puts the two en- rapport
With the best characteristics of each
,ther, and so brings them into comrade-
MP with the rich personality of all that
3 noblest in humanity"
Having thus examined Misunderstanding,
Which Is really No ,,ayf of ,,ol,,,:.x..- 90 o !