Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-06-18
From HarY"I's Bazcr.


White hands are no longer in fashion. The
pretty, delicate, wcll-kcpt hand of our mothers
and our aunts has become something rococo.
However, pretty hand is still very beautiful,
and there are those who prefer it TO the brown
and knOtty hand OF which most sportsEaa-lille
young ladi cs are now so proud.
The fashion Of playing &aIHes without gloves
such as lawn tennis, rowing. archery and ball.
the habit of walking glOyeleSs about the coun-
try in the summer alpenstock in hand. the ex-
p0sure to the salt sea wave have brought the
feminine hand once so carefully cared for, TO
the complexion which Shakespeare daridcs
when he says ''She hath a leathern hand
wOud think that her old gloves were on it,"
At the same time that these brown hands are
fashionable. and the palm hardened. even cor
TUgate6 with the callOnSes which have been
earned by the severe use of the mallet and the
oar, great attention is paid to the nas-more
than ever before. A professional manicure is to
be found at every Watering place. who spends
half an hour day over the nails of a fastidious
woman. cutting. polishing. removing the super
1uOus skin from about the roots. putting on
powder anda rosy unouent. and then polishing
them with her own hand. or a bit of wash
leather. &c. until she makes them shine like
jewels. Lord ByrOns nails were so fine
that Lady BlessngtOn leaves description
OF them. She says they were like a rose
every lady now emulates Lord ByrOn's nails
Nails should be shaped like a tilbert and
encouraged to show that half moon at the root
This can be accomplished by the person who
owns the nail if she simply runs Il delicate
steel pOint-a dull embroidery needle is the
best-arnund under the skin every morning.
and then pushes the skin back with the towel
as she wipes her hands after washing them. We
are glad to observe that these nut brown maids
who do not mind tanning the hand, are still
"A
should pay strict attention to their condition at
all times. both as to cleaning and cutting. A
liberal supply of soap on small nail brush with
warm water is the best way to treat n0ils to
bring about cleanliness; then. while the hand is
moist, an ivory nail cleaner should be passed
under the nail to free 1t from dirt then the thin
skin which intrudes the nail should be cut
with a pair of sharp and bent Scissors Oc-
casiOnaily the nails should be fled and the hard
skin which forms around the corners of them
cut away. in cutting the nails so as to pre-
serve the beauty of their shape use very sharp
penknife; the nail should be cut either pointed
or Oblong. following the shape of the finger.
The Oriental ladies knew this. and allowed the
nails to grow of enormous length Nothing de-
forms the hand like stumpy or a broken nail
unless 1t is dirty one. They should never be
bitten; bitten nails are hopelessly ugly.
The Chinese consider that long nails are
proof of gentility. consequently they allow their
nails to grow absurdly long. In some parts of
Italy the nails are suffered to grow until they
begin to break; but this Is not to be commended.
Never cTit the nails with scissors (unless the
delicate crooked scissors), tor the other kind
pry mp the nail and hurt its contour.
Now that the science Ofpalmistry is becoming
30 favorte study, and there is to be only a
step between divinatiOn and prophecy 1t be-
hoOves young ladies to keep the palms of their
hands free from the dsfguring cicatrix Of a
lately cured blister. We advise the bright girls
who are to play lawn tennis this summer to
wear gloves. loose pair OF dogskin gloves
will not hamper their work and the hand that
Is useful and strong may just as well be pretty.
In the new fashion of learning the art of cook
cry, which engages the attention of so many of
our bellies, it Is very well for them t. have
bowl OF clear water. into which they dip their
hands often, as they proceed to handle the vari-
Gus articles which their vocation requires them
10 touch. In baSting fowl the hands should
be protected from the fire by wash-lpather
gloves. and after mornings service i'm the
Kitchen the hands should be bathed in hot water
and pair of Swedish gloves put on for an hour
thus usefulness and beautycan 90 as they should
hand In hand" For there is nothing prettier
than pretty hand. and BY little attention if
can be kept soft. white and rosy, as. at the
same time, 1t should be strong, supple and
useful.
A soft hand is very comforting TO the sick:
sick Child loves the soft cool hand of his mother
on his feyered brow. and as constant poultice
for his aches and pains. AS an object to kiss a
white and wel-kept hand was very important.
The KISS OF mere respect was formerly imprinted
on the hand; 1t Is q continental fashion still and
avery pretty one. between nephew and his
aunt. to his gTandmotter a younr friend
VINO Is grateful. gentleman who has not seen
lady for Il long time. or one whOcomes to COM
fort the afflicted. The hand is after all the
most natural member to salute The nerves of
touch are highly developed on the fingers. and
the charm Of the hand Is its grasping power
which enables the Qiver to denote every shade
OF cordially. to vary the salute at pleasure
There Is everything in the hand There is cum
ming FreemasCnry In all society and the mode
of taking. grasping and shaking the hand varies
with every two human beings If ONLY two
fingers are laid in the hand and no prehensiIa
thumb completes the manpuvre, farewell to
cordially IL q strong hand catches weak
one. and gives it grip which mashes the bones
farewell to friendship. Let the hand-shake be
warm. cordial and gentle, the jaste miiieu of
sautatiOn-
The etiquette Of Misunderstanding Is simple No
man should assume to take q lady's hand until
it Ii Offered lady extends her hand and AL
lows the gentleman to take it. On introduction
IN room married lady generally shakes hands
young ladies not often. In the ballroom. where
the introduction is for dancing not for friend
ship, never shake hands. The more public the
place OF Introduction, the less hand shaking
takes place 1t is the privilege of superior to
offer the hand first.
The French rarely shake hands and only with
Intimate friends They give the left hand which
rs nearer the heart; Ia nam de cCpt thew call it,
The most CORDIAL way Of shaking hands is to
give both az once: but this is unusual THERE'S no
doubt that some of the accomplishments are try
ing To the beauty of the hand The harp the
guitar and the either are all very severe on the
Fingers. and produce a Gallons on each But
this can be overcome. and will not after time
make the hand unlOvely.
The irish peasantry. who labor from the
cradle To the grave almost universally have
beautifully shaped hands. Ii is Miesian trait
whether potatoes. poor living bog-trOttng and
damp climate improve the hand we know not
but the irish lass has a well formed and pretty
hand. They are a small-handed people no mat
ter how much they wash, iron. cook or dig The
English on the contrary. are a people OF big
knGckles: 30 ar, the scotch
The American hand is not beautiful: il is too
sinewy. The trouble with the American hand "a
first fiat there is too mGch Of il: it is too thick
in the palm: the veins stand cat The skin is
tender. easily chapped in winter easily tanned
III summer. and does not grow well about the
nails The American nail is dry and chips
easily Here the Engiishman surpasses u.s. per
maps by the care he takes of his nails; they are
always IN nrSt-r2te order. clipped and cleaned
and cared for in the most dainty fashion, aud
doubtless owing to the damp climate they are
of less brittle substance. Travellers over the al
kalinc plains declare that the dry air breaks the
mails, destroys their resistant power Some
thing OF that af,!cts the American nail every
where.
There are exceptions to this rule There are
Weli-formed, white, model hands i'm America
but they are not common, and il our women do
not take care Of the hand and study its beauty
there VIII be fewer handsome hands in the
I'M l1rs For Viii