The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1879-12-05
THE MYSTERIES OF THE HAND.
Palmistry Made. Clear-An Interesting
Volume On a Lost Art.

Palmistry Made CIear-An Intercstin,
Volume On n Lost Art.
From the st. Louis Post -Dispatch.l
MIR. Robert Allen Campbell of thi
city has written book, and, unlike tn,
generality of books written in St. Louis
it is readable, reasonable and scholarly
lie has chosen a reconcile, an occult
subject, but one which he understand.
thoroughly and treats lovingly and know
ingly. His theme is palmistry. MOI
such palmistry us the gypsies practice
but a 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
it is at once 4 traditional and IN exact
art. While it is true that these wander
crs, like other mOrtals less traduced,
will often 'let dollar blind the eve or
quicken the sight, and so read Il 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
ject in deception-will, without any con-
sultatiOn with each other, read substan-
tally the same fortune from the same
hand. Notice l 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 nOn-cOmmunicating, 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 unde, stood, an
exact one. Whether it is truthful one,
or whether it has in it any elements of
truth, as foundation, is entirely an
other question"
Like O great many other sciences,
palmistry will meet some logical objec-
tons, 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 pari satisfactian 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 mind? The simple answer is there
is no known q 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 a 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 it 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. "One in this situa-
ton seizes the hand with a hard, cruel
grip, and losses it off witll.a spasm of
turbulent energy that leaves the other
physically panied and mentally discom-
fitted. Another lazily extends an inert
palm, and with weak, listless touch
makes pretense of conforming to the
conventional requirements of the Occa-
sion, but with a dead apathy and care
lessness which at once disappOints and
exasperates q 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 a
hearty clasp. Then there is the affected |
out of the finger tips, rs if to say, l
graciOusly condescend to a common
customer to an inferior person-but a |
touch is all l bestow or allow. After |
meeting these, or any one of numerous
other repellant types, how gladly the
noble nature meets the firm, hearty |
clasp of morally magnetic hand, all
sensitive of reception, and bounding in
generous strength of health and heart |
which imparts a thrill of kindly kinship
and instantly puts the two en- rapport
with the best characteristics of each
other, and SO brings them into comrade-
ship with the rich personality of all that
is nOblest in humanity"
Having thus examined Misunderstanding,
which is really no part of palmistry, we
pass on to the proper subject of the book
and review some of the occult facts
there brought into the full glare of the
XIXth century day. But first:
"The difference between the two
hands must be carefully noted, and the
and value of the variation
should be kept constantly in mind while
the persons character.
"The right hand points out the direc-
ton in which the individual is travelling,
and the progress made in the modifica-
ton of original tendencies and abilities