The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1882-10-11
The Popularity of kissing.

In former years the practice of saluting
ladies with kiss seems to have been very
general, and many amusing anecdotes Of this
social custom are on record. 1t was, how
ever, occasionally severely censured as be-
ing open to abuse. Thus, for instance, John
Bunyan, in his "Grace Abounding," speak
ing Of it, strongly condemns it. "The com
mon salutation of women" he says, 81 alb
hor; it is odious to me in whomsoever l see
it. When / have seen good men salute
those women that they have visited or that
have visited them, / have made my objec-
tions against it; and when they have
answered that it was but piece of civility,
l have made my objections against il !;
| have told them that it was not q comely
sight. Some indeed, have urged the holy
kiss; but then / 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 NOR
alists of the time, there can be no doubt
that it found favor in the eyes of most of the
ladies of our own and other countries. 1t
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 disfayor a kiss
politely offered to them by some gallant
swain whom, it may be, they captiyated by
their countless charms. History, we know,
is daily repeating itself, aud it is difficult to
believe that human nature is different now
adays from what it was in years gone by,
although the manners of society may have
undergone changes. 1t is easy to criticise
in unmeasured terms the social usages of
only predecessors, but, after all, it must not
be forgotten that in the present age the same
customs are often as popular as ever; the
only difference being that, instead of hav-
ing public recognition, they find a tacit
acceptance. 1t may be remembered how
Cavendish in his biography of Cardinal
Wolsey," dwelIs on this custom when de-
scribing his visit at M. Crequi's castle; 4
being in a fair great dining chamber he
tells US, where the table was covered for
dinner, and there l 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, as ye be an English
man, whose custom it is in your country to
kiss all ladies and gentleHomen without
offence, and although it be not 50 in this
realm (France) yet will | be so bold to kiss
you, and so shall all my maidens' By
means whereof kissed my lady and all her
m4idens." Chancer frequently alludes to
this old custom, and our readeIs may recol-
leet how, in the "Sompnours Tale" he
notices the zeal with which the holy father
performs this act of gallantry. When the
mistress of the house enters the room where
he is busily engaged in cropping tenderly"
her husbands conscience, we are told how
He riseth up full eurtishly
And her embraceth in his arms marrow,
And kissreth hfr sweet, and ehirketh as a
sparrow
VITA his ippes.
Shakespeare again introduces it, as in the
Merry Wives Of Windsor, where to kiss