Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1885-06-18
MYSTERIES0FTHEHAND
WHAT A pAlMlSTER SAYS OF ONE OF
THE OLDEST OF OCCULT ARTS.

Special Correspond-nce.

women If the thinking. talking investigating
order Of humanity were discussing the re-
yival # occuitisin in spirited manner
''Tell Us something about palmistry," said
one of The ladies.
The man appealed 20. Mr. r. A. Camp
bell. had written a book called Mysteries
OF the Hand and took great pride in his
knowledge OF palmistry. He smilingly and
confidently rose and launched into his sub
| iect:
'Paimistry, formerly called chiromancy,
/ is" said he. lone of the oldest of the occult
arts IL once ranked among the learned arts,
and was recognized as on of the sacred and
peculiar gifts. Priests. philosophers and
oracles studied and practised il as an esoteric
accomplishment. Then, within the present
century, wheE We began 10 think ourselves
30 wise that we had no longer any use for
souls, palml>try as we'll as many other things
1 fell into disrepute. Ii was reegated TO
charlatans and tricksters, and lived only
among the class of people that respectability
/ cuts
Now. however, it is having a revival
among the intellectual, who take il up as an
amusement or new interest As we all know,
I queer theories of all kinds are coming into
favor. TO apply a term II the fashion
writers to mental clothing, we might say
that theories are cut particularly broad this
/ spring, and 'isrns' never were 80 much worn
nor ~ proiu~ely garnisnel."
! will interrupt the pal:n:ster long enough
\ TO say that this assertion * true twice over.
Y The reaction from the assertive materialism
/ of the few past years lrls be gun very active
/ ", and premises TO be warm and prolonged.
/ Anything that leans toward faith aud away
! from the grim theories Of what we call
science is taken up with delight by science
worn people. Then, the beauty Of the
human hand is only now becoming generally
appreciated. The manicure has done some
\ thing toward giving the hand its rightful
place. She has made tbem 10 beautiful that
/ they have an artistic ~ well as industrial
value.
! The palInister went ON and quoted from
mans character is written in his hand ''Thc
1 palms of the hands He covers over with
| light Then he continued:
! The Egyptians believed in palmistry, and
/ The Greeks copied it from them. Josephus
-efers 10 the art with respect. Socrates,
Aristotle, Plato and other eminent Greeks
we're palmisters The Romans took il from
I the Greeks and became experts in il; but in
their hands it degenerated into a disreput-
able art. Quite a revival ct it took place in
the Seventeenth century.
The two ablest opponents of modern
I palnistry are Captain DArpentigney and
/ Professor DeSbarrolles, both Frenchmen.
| D'Arpentigney discards the idea of divIna-
tion or astral influence merely reading
from the hand the character Of the owner,
its shape and physiognomy reveals il.
Desbarrolles pursues the art as profession.
and believes in planetary influence"
.'Bow did You learn il, Mr. Campbellf'
From a gypsy, originally, when was
bow Then l seemed to nave what they call
a gift for it, and when / grew older
studied il from books and observation.
don't pretend to tell by reading the hand the
events that are going TO happen to any one.
tell the traits, characteristics, tastes, physi-
cal aud mental capacities
What class of people show the most inter-
est and faith in palmistryF
The speaker smiled rather knowingly, but
said: You would be surprised if / were to
tell you that the intelligent class take more
interest i'm il than the ignorant You can't
satisfy an ignorant person by telling him. as
n phrenologist would, what his capabilities
are. what special line OF usefulness he can
pursue with the best prospect Of success. He
wants 10 have his fortune told-to know
when and how often he will marry, if he
will get rich, when he will die, and all that
An intelligent person knows that the art of
palmistry doesn't go 50 far, and is satisfied
with the character reading"
do intelligent men and women believe
that a phrenologist or palmister can tell
them more about themselves than they al
ready knowr
The speaker smiled again significantly
1T is curious, but nevertheless true,n be
said, that nothing is so interesting to NOR
tai ,Wan as himself He may think he knows
hill elf thoroughly, but he likes to have his
own opinions confirmed II gives him q
thrill Of pleasure 10 hear some one else ex-
press opinions as to his ability which he has
secretly cherished. Ii builds up his self
confidence, and in that way actually helps
to develop his latent qualities.
MARX you, do not say that . man is a
poet, musician, orator or artisan because he
has certain features. lines or mounts in hk
hands. but, being of certain character,
and i'm possession Of certain powers, has
hands revealing that character and best
adapted TO use those powers. The soul is the
real man and the body is the material mani
festation of the man. The body exists and
subsists from the spirit, and for its use, and
changes naturally, only and solely in obe-
dience to the power and direction Of the
spirit. 1t can be changed mechanically by
outside forces, but il can be developed only
by the spiritual and vital forces working
within il. The soul is constantly developing
its body of flesh. Every outline and ps-
culiarity not the result Of some objective OPP
position or injuring accident is the result of
the character and development OF the inner
man.
These things are but dimly guessed at
even by those we call intelligent; but be
lieve, rs certainly as l believe am now talk
ing, that the body is representations
ravalatiou il vo,, will-of the man and n