The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-11-28

the REQUIRED business Of the scene by imprinting
a kiss IN reality. where it is called for, but by
Stimulating it. Some actors, too. have wives on
the stage, and if they are detected in taking nm
due familiarity with another actress In this
respect, Candle lecture, to put it in its mildest
form. would be sure TO prove the result.
1t is said tout the truth of the story the writer
has no means of knowingly that the women of
Finland have a singular and strong dislike to in
diligence in what the women of the other nations
of the world receive with the greatest favor; and
a married Finnish woman, on learning that 1t
was no uncommon thing for man in England or
America to kiss his wife, expressed the most
positive disgust, and declared that if her hus-
band dared to take such a liberty (mark you
that!l with her she would give him such box
that his ears would tingle for a month. Who
would be Finnish mani
Among the few anecdotes of kissing to be
found, really good one is that told of the Cardi-
nal John of Lorraine. On being one day pre-
scented to the Duchess of Savoy, the lady, much
to his Indignation, held out her hand to him TO
kiss. His Ire was aroused How, madam" he
exclaimed, lam to be treated In this manner!
kiss the Queen. my mistress. who is the great
est Queen In the world, and shall not kiss you.
a dirty little duchessl / would have you know
that have kissed as handsome ladies, and of as
great or greater beauty than you" Whereupon
he made direct assault upon the lips OF the
Duchess, and, despite her resistance, imprinted
three resoundine kisses on her mouth, and then
released her with laugh of triumph
Some years ago an American humorist gave a
conjugation of the verb kiss as follows: Buss to
kiss; rebus, to kiss again; pluribus to kiss with
out regard to number: silly bus. the hand instead
of the lips; blunderbus, to kiss the wrong person;
omnibus, to kiss every body in the room: erebus,
to kiss in the dark. A conundrum, which was
thought much of in the early days OF "Uncle
Toms Cabin" ran in this wise: Which would you
rather kiss, the Pope's toe or Harriet Beecher
Stowe2
Albeit kissing is very fruitful theme, its lit
erature is very circumscribed 1t is said to be
made ND of three or four brief essays in prose.
dozen short poems, mostly Latin and French,
and something like thousand eplgrams. In
Hebraic literature the Song of Solomon con-
tains the most and the best to be found on the
subject The Greek poets gave it very little at
tention. Among the Roman poets. Catullus. in
his ode to Lesbia, thus sings: do you ask, Les
bia, how many kissings of thine can be enoueh2
AS many are the sands of the African desert,
or as many as are the stars that behold the
secret loves of mortals when night is still" Sir
Hamburg Williams. in a free-a very free
translation of this ode, thus gives the part of it
material to kissing
"Come Chloe,--and give me sweet kisses
For sweeter sure girl never gavel;
But why in the midst of our biisses
Do you ask me how many Gravel
I'm not to be stiuted in pleasure,
SO prithee, nay charmer, be kind;
For since love thee beyond measure
TO numbers I'll Ter be confined!
The flowers that enamel it's fields;
Count the bees that DER Hybla playing;
The grain that rich Sicily yields;
90 number the stars In the heaven;
Go count all the sands on the shore;
When so many kisses you've given,
still shall be craving for more!"
Shakespeare mentions the subject Of kissing
something like $50 times and perhaps,
the most singular allusion lie has to the art
for there is art to it's the practice of
Hermione with Leontes, in "The Winters Tale
of kissing with inside lip" One of the finest
bursts is that which he puts into the mouth of
Marc Antony, when he is kissing Cleopatra:
LET Rome in Tiber melt and the wide arch
Of the ragged empire fall Here is my space
Kingdoms are clay; our dngy earth alike
Feeds beast and man. the nobleness of life
g Is to do thus; when such mutual pair.
And such a twain can dot in which bind
On pain of punishment, the world to weet
We stand up peerless"
Well done, Antony!
very satisfying kiss must that have been
which Fatima received from her lover, as told
by Tennyson, when he drew with one lone kiss
her whole soul through. But truce to kisses
and kissing. Let the article be closed with this
charming little poem, translated, if the writer's
memory is correct from Victor Hugo
"Cfive me kisses! do not stay
Counting in that careful way;
All the coins our lips shall print
Never can exhaust the mint.
Kiss me, then;
Every moment, and again.
''Give me kisses! nay It's true
am quite as rich as you;
And. for every kiss / owe,
can pay you back, you know,
Kiss me, then;
Every moment aud agaia"