Madison times. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1884-1???, 1885-05-23
GESTURES.
An Interpretation Of the Language Of
the Hand.

Agony has its sestures-the automatic
repetition oftwooI three movements, al
ways the same and always the infallible
fOrerunners of Death. The dying man
pinches his bed shests betxeen the fin
ger and thumb, or lifts up his forearm
and moves it in curve, as though trying
to ward off something.
Such are the last gestures of the living
statue which we have summoned from
its pedestal to endow with all the ex.
pression' that nature and soul can give
A moment more and the veil of death,
like stage curtain, falls upon the drama
of the physiognomy. Reason is extin-
guished; the mouth IS dumb; but even
in those supreme moments the hands
still move as though they were trying to
cling to life.
We shall only make brief observa-
ton upon the manner of turning the
land. In all expansive sentiments
such as frankness, confidence, conviction
affection-the gesturer displays his hands
with the palm upwards.
Among the Mchammedans, who have
the religious feeling SO strongly pro-
nounced, prayer is said with the arms
extended upwards, and the palms turned
toward heaven. The same gesture is
made in the Catholic rite at The most
solemn moment of the service.
The contrary is observable anywhere
in the ordinary manner of giving ones
hard. While frank handshake is Civ
en- with the hand offered palm up, a
coldly polite or reserved greeting is the
reverse; certain hypocritical or timid
people never offer their hand in an open
manner. Generally speaking, to offer
the hand palm downwards is sign of
repulsion OF distrust. This may Re fully
confirmed by Doticing whether the arm
refuses to bend, or whether if drawn
orcibly toward you the palm still re-
mains turned down by reason of the arm
and wrist. For We know that in all feel.
ings of repulsion the arms are naturally
drawn close to the body.
The palm is the face Of the hand it IS
the principa seat of touch, it is by means
of its surface that we place ourselves in
contact with objects and With men; it is
par excellence the medium of communi-
cation with all that surrounds us. This
is why the more such communication is
sympathetic and desirable, the more we
feel inclined to let that part of us most
sensitive to impressions bear witness to
our feelings.
1t seems to me that what we call "the
zone of gesture" deserves remark. five
consider the degree of elevation to which
each gesture is raised, we can perh ps
generally divine with correctness the
classes Of thoughts to which it belongs.
If the hand, in making its gestures, is
elevated as high as the head, or nearly so,
it is because it is bearing witness to a
purely intellectual operation. If it is
lifted to the neighborhood ofthe heart
or the epigastrium, it is testifying of feel
ing only, in order to give the expression
of that feeling more communicative DOW
er. If it is brought lower than the wa ST.
its gestures simply emphasize determina-
ton of the will-actions or facts over
which neither intelligence nor feeling
have ccnuol.
Besides the mere observation OF facts
which anv reader can verify for himself,
| may add that the invariable law of SYM
bolism finds very plausible application
in the matter; it is in the nature of
every intelligent or sensitive being to
bring It's instruments of expression close
to that part which is the seat of The feel
ing to be EXPRESSED; and the man ac-
cordingly raises his hands to bis head or
his heart to witness what he thinks Cr
feels, precisely as an animal displays its
grace to the best advantage when it tries
to please, or licks its wound when it is
hurt.