The Arkansaw traveler., 1883-07-14
Modes of Saiutation.
The Eye

When men salute each other in an am. icable manner. 1t signifies little whe,her they move particular part of the bod, or practice particular ceremony. h these actions there must exist difTeren, customs. Every nation imagines it em- psoys the most reasonable ones but al are equally simple, and none are to be treated as ridiculous. This infinite nun
 Der Of ceremonies may be reduced to two kinds to reverences or salutations, and 10 the touch of some part of the human
 body. To bend and pros,rate oneself to express sentiments of respect. appears to
 oe natural motion; for terrified persons throw themselves on the earth when they adore invisible beings and the affection ate touch of the person they salute IS an expression of tenderness.
 As nations decline from their anciert simplicity, much farce and grimace are introduced. Superstition. the manner, of people. and their situation. infiuen e the modes of saluta.ions as may be ob- seised rom the instances we collect.
 -ioaes ot salutasion have sometime. rery different charac,erAand i, IS no ua- interesting speculation s%examine ,heir sn.des. Many display a refinernen. of dehcacy, while others are remarkable for taelr simplicity. or for their sensibii,ty
 In general. however. they are freluen,iy the same in the infancy of nations. and m more polished societies. Respect. hu- Inility, fear, and esteem are expressed
 much in similar manner. for these are tae natural consequences of the organ;-a- ton oi the body. These demonstrations become in time only empty civiliues which signify nothing; we shall notice what they were originally, wiihou, reAec;- ing on wha. they are
 me hrs, nations have no pecu,.a modes of salu.ation they know no rey erences or other compliments or they de- spise ard disdain them. The Greenland CTS laush when they see an European or an American uncover his head. and bend his body before him whom he calls his scperior. The islanders. near the Phi. lip?nes. take the hand or foo; Of ham whom they salute. Dampier says. thu, at \ ew Guinea. :hev are satisfied ,o put on .heir heads the leaves of trees. which have eyer passed for symbols of friend ship and peace. This Is at ieas, q Die tsres9ae sa.ute
 Other salu;a;ions are very incomuo. 0d;oas and painful t requires grea: prac- tee 10 enable man 70 be polite IF an is.4sd si:-sted IT .ae s:rai.s of the Sound Ho1;inan says they sa.u,ed him ia ihis s:o;es4ce manner -" They raisei his teii ioo;. which they passed gently over ais fi5n: leg. and from thence over his face The inhabitants of the Phillip pines use mos, complex attitude: they oeaa their body very low. place their hands on ;he.r cheeks. and raise as the same tinle one foot in the al. with the knee bent An Ethiopian takes the robe oi another and ties # a5ou, his own waist. so ,aa, he leaves his friend half naked.
 In the progress of time it appears ser vile 10 uncover oneself. The graudees ot Spain claim the right of appearina covered before the king. to show tbat they are no; so much subjected 10 hin, as the rest of the nation and we mayre mark that the English do no, uncover their heads SO much as the other nations of Europe. Uncovering the head. with ;he Turks, Is mark of indecent fam,l- ari,y; in their mosques the Franks must keep their ha, on. The Jewish custom oi wearing iheir hats in their synagogues arises, probably. from the same oriental custom.
 The negroes are lovers of ludicrou, actions, and hence all their ceremonies seem tarcical. The greater par, pull their ringers till they crack. When two negro monarchs vlsi,, they embrace n snappins three times the middle finger Barbar ous nations frequently imprint on ,heir saiG:a:ions the disposition of their char acier. When the ancient Franks would show a peculiar mark of esteem. they tore the ha.r from their head and pre- sen,ed |: 10 the person they salutei. The slave cut his hair and offered il to his master. The Chinese are s;nguiarly affected Tn their personal civilieies. They even calculate the number of their reyer- enees. These are the mos, remarkable pastures. The men move their hands in a most asiectionate manner, while they are joined together on the breast, and bow their heads little. If they respect person, they raise their hands joined, and then lower them to the earth in bending the body. If two persons meet after long separation, they both fAi. on their knees and bend their faces to the earth, and this ceremony they repeat two or three times. Surely we may we'll pro- eIaiDl ihis ceremony 10 be ridiculous. I. arises from their natural aifecsation. They substitute artificial ceremonies for actions
 Their expressions mean as little as their ceremonies. Ii Chinese Is asked how he fnds himself in health, he an- swers. Very well thanks to your abund- ant felicity. If they would tell a man that he looks we'll in health. they say. . Prosperity Is painted on your face :" or = Your air announces your happiness" It you render them any service, they say, - Ny thanks shall be immortal" lfyou praise them, they answer. How shall I dare to persuade myself of wha, you say ot me; ifyou dine with them. they tell you al parting. We haze not treated you with sufTieien, distinction The various titles they invent for each o,her li would be impossible to translate.
 l; Is to be observed that all these zn- swers are to be prescribed ty the Chinese