Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-09-27
SALUTATIONS.
rARIETIEs or GREETING.
Ilrfr ofie'. Tia se.hsksse- Tskias or fhe
Hat ftpps saintes. Etc.


Hat FuIps saintes. ETC.
lHiookiyn tnglel
eslufauohs in sorDe countries have
Wy ols'iBilar characteristics. and i;
nay lot be uuintercsiing TO explain q
lev 81 them. Most Of our own gestures
Of saiu'aiion and cisilIty owe their orr
Ein TO the warfare of the days of chit
airy, Indicating Difference. as from one
conquered TO the conquerOr. The head
MONUMENT was simply the hand unarmed.
the helmet being removed. the party
VAS OF hls mercy. The hand un-
glo'ed was in like maDper the hand
urgauntieted. Shaking hands was a
token oil truce, in which the parties
took hold Of each others weapon hand
to make sure against treachery. We
consider IT an inciyility to shake hands
with gloves on, and it is contrary to
the etiquette Of the European courts to
wear gloves in the presence Of the
Queens. A gentlemsn's bow is but the
offer OF the neck to the stroke Of his
adversary, and the lady's curtsey is
but the form Of going on her knees for
mercy. Kissing the lips, by way
OF afiectonate Sanitation, was not
only permitted, but customary.
among near relatives Of both sexes in
patriarchial and also later times. In
former days the English said .sGod
save you, sir, T." and Goodbye " is for
L" God be with YOU" Our farewell is
direct translation Of the German
lebewohl, good living being, it is pre-
sumed, appreciated by the Anglo
Saxon. 1t is highly probable that say
ing and writing d" Your servant" and
taking off the hat, were originally de-
monstrations OF obedience to those who
claimed it. The different forms of
civility connected with bodily gestures
are even more remarkable than
the words mutual contact, such az
the pressure Of hands, embraces and
kisses being always regarded as the
expression Of kindly intercourse. al
though the words may to a certain ex-
tent be considered as an index Of ma
tional character. The theory Of firing
salute is that it leaves the guns HARM
less and at the mercy Of the other party,
and this is so true that firing salutes
with blank cartridges is a modern in
novation, Occasioned, however. by the
act Of q complimentary cannon ball pro-
wing fatal once to the parsonage whom 1t
was meant to honor. When an officer
salutes he points his sword 10 the
ground. and the salute Of troops is still
designated presenting arms-thst is,
presenting them TO he taken.
! he frequent illusions in the Bible to
the customary salutations Of the Jews
invest the subject with higher degree
Of interest than it might otherwise
claim, as il affords further confirmatorv
testimony Of the Good Book from the
existing usages Of the East, where pre-
cisely the same forms are TO this day
preserved.
When the Arabs meet each other the
first thing is the salute. which is re-
peated several times. and is done in the
following manner: Each strikes the
palm Of his right hand on that of his
companion or throws it on his left
shoulder, repeating always the same
phrase. "Salamat. calf Halcom tar
bin " Peace How are you: Well =
This way Of saiuting Is most beautiful
and striking. and when performed gives
a new figure and majesty 10 the naked
Arabs who are the actors Of 1t. These
gesticulations are always accompanied
with a very grave tone Of voice.
After the salutation they inquire
Of each other the news about the
places whence they came. Their news
relates generally to the buying and
selling OF dromedaries, whether there
are loads 10 carry, or something Of this
kind. They then ask each other for
tobacco or salt. and their conclusion
q" salute me. Hamed, at Carosco, and
your Ali at Barbar. DO you under
stand In peace, in peace " A7ier
this each resumes his way. Women
and children kiss the boards Of their
husbands and fathers. Their greet
ings are marked by a strong religious
character. such a. God grant thee
His favors.' If God will. thy
family only enjoy good health. Peace
lie with you"
Nothing affords more interest and
amusement than an examination Of the
various modes Of salutation practical
By the nations Of the earth. In some
degree these forms may be regarded a.
an index Of national character or the
circumstances Of national life. The
Hebrew salutation was " Peace - the
ancient Greek " Rejoice" The mod
ern use the form. d" What doest thou"
In Germany. " How do you find your
self" and in some parts Of the
country they invariably kiss the hands
Of all the ladies Of their acquaint-
ance whom they meet. In Spain,
How goes it," and Spanish grandee.
wear their hats in the presence Of their
sovereign, to show they are non so
much subject 70 him a. 10 the rest Of
the nation. When the royal carriage
passes il is the rule to throw oper the
cloak 10 show that the person Is IN
armed. In the West Indies the ne
groes say Have you had a good
sleep" In the sickly districts Of
Egypt, where fever was common and
dangerous. they salute by saying
How goes the perspiration. DO you
sweat copiOuslv:" lis II well with
thee 80 and the inhabitants kiss the
back Of a superior's hand, and, as an
extra civility. the palm also.
Some salutations, by reason Of their
grOtesque exaggeratiOn. are calculated
10 impress one with the liyelIest feel
irgs Of wonder and amusement. The
negroes. whose actions are for the most
part Of burlesque description. nstu-
rally affect the fArcical IN their inter-
changes Of ceremonies. Their saluIs-
ton consists Of the most ludicrous con-
.or+ione couried with the absurd usage