The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1883-11-21
Tho Art of Oscillation,

For the art of kissing the Rev. Sidney
Smiths directions should be followed.
lie says: 1--WE are in favor of a certain
amount of ShvncSS when a kiss is pro-
posed. but il should not be too long, and
when the fair one gives it let it be adj
ministrrcd with warmth and energy; let
there he soul in it.. If she close her eyes
and sigh Immediately after it the effect
is greater. She should BE- careful not to
Slobbcr Il kiSe. bat give it as Il humming-
bird runs his bill in a honryslcklr-
deep. but delicate. There is much
virtue in Il kiss when well delivered.
We have the memory Of II We received
in our youth, which lasted us forty
years. and We believe it will be II of
the last things We shall think of when
we die"
Not Il bad description, wen from a
clrrgyman; still more applicable to
Young ladies' than 10 gentlemen. Forthc
benefit of the latter the advice of IN cX-
prrirnccd writer will be valuable.
. DON'T" he says. "kiSs Ill over, like
g%raSshoppcrs walk. Don't kiss every
body, including nasty little dogs, male
and female. Don't sit down it. Stand
up. You need not he anxious to get in a
crowd. Two persons are plenty to cor
nrr and catch Il kiss. More persons spoil
the sport. Stand firm. II won't hurt
after You're used to it. Don't DC in a
hurry. Providence will give you strength
for the ordeal. Don't jab down upon Il
beautiful mouth MS if spcaring for frogs.
Don't grab and ynnk the lady as if she
were Il struggling colt. Don't mrss her
hair. scrunch down her collar, bite her
checks. squizzlc her ribbons and leave
her musScd and rumplcd. Take good
aim. the lips meet, the eyes close, the
heart opens. heaven itself opens before
YOU. and-thc art of kissing is learned"
In ancient Rome kissing was n rclig-
iouS act. The nearest friend of Il dying
person performed the rite of receiving his
soul by a kiss, suppoSin" that it escaped
through his lips nj the moment of death.
According to pliny, kissing became rom
mon through the fondncss of the Roman
ladies for wine and kissing was rcsortcd
to bv their husbands and near relatives
as the easiest way of discovering the
quality of their libations. In these
dcgcncratcd days the scheme seems to bc
reversed. Constantine made q law that
if a man kissed his bctrothcd she gained
thereby onc-half of his effects should he
die before the completion of the ccrc-
monv. and. should the lady herself die,
under the same circumstances, her near
est of kin would take the halfdua to her.
Il kiss among the ancientS being deemed
a pledge of plightcd faith. Among the
Romans IL kiss between two friends was
called ''osculum." kiss of politencss
was known as "basium" and "sauvium"
was Il kiss of love.
Kissing was universally practiccd
among tie early Christians as Il part of
their religious rites. and it still fingers
among the Greek and Roman churches.
The council of Carthage forbade all re-
ligious kisSingamongthc sexes, although
St. Peter favored it. The Puritans, In
dependents and the like stcrnly repro
batcd the custom of kissing. John Bun
van said lit was not a comcly sight.
and when some urged the holy kiss he
asked them "why they made baulks';
"why they did salute the most handsome
and let the ill-favorcd II G Coz Evi-
IDENTITY honest John knew the world.
Under the "bluc laws" of Connecticut
no woman was allowed to kiss even her
child on the Sabbath or fasting day under
heavy penalties.
Kissing was unknown in England I'M
til the Princess Rowcna, daughter OF
King IIcngist, Of Fricsland, introduced
it. At Il banquet given by the British
monarch to his allies, the princess, after
pressing the trimming goblet to her lips,
salutcd the astonishcd Vortcgcrn with a
pretty little kiss, after the name in
vogue among the SaXons. After such an
introduction it of course o o became a
national institution and the English be-
came renowned all ovcr Europe for kiss
ing. Thus Cavcndish. in his life of
Wolscy. says: And when she, with
her train, came all out, she said to me:
'Forasmuch,' quoth she, as yc he an
Englishman, whose custom is in your
own country to kiss all ladies and gentle
women without o~tTcnsc, although it be
not so here in this realm. yet will be so
bold to kiss you and so shall all my maid
cns."-St. LouiS Post Di.,mtrh.