Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1882-09-07
The Popularity OF Kissing,

In former years the practice of salut-
ing ladies with a kiss seems to have been
! very general, and many amusing anec-
dOtes of this social custom are on record.
1t was, however, occasionally severely
censured as being open to abuse. Thus,
for instance, John Bunyan, in his "Grace
Astounding, speaking of it, strongly
condemns it. 'sThe common salutation
of women" he says, "I abhor; it is
odious to me in whomsoever / see it.
When / have seen good men salute those
women that they have visited, or that
have visited them, I have made my OBJ
jections against it; and when they have
answered that it was but piece of civ
ility,I have made my objections against
it; have told them. that it was not a
comedy sight. Some, indeed, have urged
the holy kiss; but then 1 have asked
them why they made balks? why they
did salute the most handsome, and let
the ill-favored go?" In spite, however,
of the censure poured on this old fashion.
by even conscientious mOralists of the
time, there can be no doubt that ii found
favor in the eyes of most of the ladies
of our own and other countries. II has
been often remarked, with more or less
truth, that there are few of the fair sex
who are in their inmost heart indifferent
to the admiration paid to them in daily
life, and who would regard with disfa-
vor kiss politely offered to them from
some gallant swain whom, it may be,
they have captiyated by their countless
charms. History, we know, is daily re-
peating itself, and it is difficult to be-
lieve that human nature is different
nowadays from what it was in yeacz
gone by, although the manners of socie-
ty may have undergone certain changes.
1t is easy to criticise in unmeasured
terms the social usages of our predeccs-
sors, but, after all, it must not be for
gotten that in the present age the same
customs are often as popular as ever;
the only difference being that, instead
of having public. recognition, they find a
tacit acceptance. 1t may be remen-
bered how Cavendish, in his biography
of Cardinal Wolsey," dwells on this
custom when describing his visit at
Mons. Crequi's Castle: 'sI being in a
fair great dining chamber" he tells us,
sswhere the table was covered for dim
ner, and there I attended my lady's
coming; and after she came thither out
of her own chamber, she received me
most gently, like one of noble estate,
having train of gentlewomen. And
when she with her train came all out,
she said to me: 'For as much,' quoth
she, cas- We be an Englishman whose
custom it is in your country to kiss all
ladies and gentlewomen without offense,
and although it be not so in this realm
(France), yet will / be so bold to kiss
you, and so shall all my maidens.' BY
means whereof l kissed my lady and all
her maidens." Ehaucer frequently al
ludes to this old custom. and our read
ers may recollect how IN the s'Somp-
nour's Tale'' he notices the. zeal with
which the holy father performs this act
of galfantry. When the mistress of the
house, enters the room where he is busily
engaged in grouping tenderly'' her
husbands conscience, we are told how
He riserh up full curtishlySs
And her embraceth i'm his aIInes narrow,
And kisseth hir sweet, and chirketh like a
VI sparrow ~ yt' ta .Tr .- rtGaF
With his lippes. > io1l e. .s. "a
Shakespeare, again, introduces it, as
where to kiss the hostess is indirectly
spoken of as common courtesy of the
day. In Lupton's "London," TOP
(1632), an established attraction of a
country inn, we are told, was a pretty
hostess or her daughter to salute the
guests, without which, it would appear,
there was small chance of its becoming
popular resort for the customers Of
that period.-Belgrauia .. .r atos = \
u .