The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1886-05-12
WHAT THE HAND DENOTES.
ODD THEORIES ADVANCED BY A
PROFESSOR OF PALMISTRY.
5elling Peoples characteristics by
she shape of Their Hands-Im-
portance ofthe Thumb.

portance ofthe Thumb.
''Chiromancy or the science of palm
istry," said professor recently to re-
porter for the New York Nail and Er-
press, 'is of very ancient origin" 1t is
a science which enables us to divine
character, past events and destiny from
the shape, the knuckles and the lines of
the hands. 1t is generally acknowledged
that bumps ON the head indicate certain
characteristics of human nature. The
color of the hair and eyes, the form of
the mouth and nose the shape of the
eyes and ears, are infallibe indications
of temperament. We therefore claim that
character can be read just as easily from
the marks and lines on the hands. No
two persons hands are alike"
You claim, then, that the lines on
the hand are not formed by folding them
or by work9"s
Certainly. Nature places them there
as she does the lines on the forehead Palm
istry is divided under two heads-chi-
romancy and chirognomy The former
relates to the hand and its markings, the
latter to types of hands. BY chirogno-
my we tell the dispositions, proclivities,
characters and occupations of those with
whom we are thrown in contact by the
mere shape of the hands. All hands are
divided under seven categories-the ele-
mentary or large -palmed,S the necessary
or spatulated, the artistic or conical. the
useful or square, the philosophical or
knotty, the psychic or pointed and the
mixed hand. If the palm of the hand is
meager and narrow, it shows weak dis
position, wanting in versatility. If it is
supple and of a thickness and size in pro-
portion with the fingers and the rest of
the body, 1t denotes aptitude and bright
ness Of idea. If, though still supple, the
mould and general developments are too
marked and gross, it denotes sensuality
and egotism, and if it is too big and too
fat, it indicates a character void of re-
finement."
''Do the fingers denote any particular
character9"
"Yes. They are either smooth or
knotted. If your second ioints-those
nearest the nails--are developed. YOU
have well-ordered mind; if both Joints
are developed, this orderliness and meth
cd are more pronounced. With both
joints developed, you will be tidy,
punctual, systematic and methodical in
your course of action If neither Joint is
developed, your natural tendency will be
toward art and your course of action will
be rather inspired than reasoned out;
you will be guided by fancy and senti-
ment; good taste belongs to knotted fin
gers, natural grace to smooth. All fingers
have the third phalange, that which bears
the nail, either pointed, conical. SQUARE
or spatulated. Take two hand, both
spatulated, but one smooth and the other
knotty; both will appreciate things real
and physical, but one will succeed by in
splratlon, and the one with knotty fingers
by calculation. Take a subject having
smooth fingers ending conically, like
thimble. You will find the fine arts
sculpture, vigorous painting, Imaginative
poetry or love of the beautiful and love
of independence. If the hand, instead
OF being smooth, be knotty, you will
ind the same tendencies, but with more
moral force and character. If the knot
ted fingers have the outer phalange
square and pointed, they indicate love
OF the stern truth, poetry of reason,
logic. That is what we call a philoso-
phic hand, more theoretical than practi-
cal. A hand having the third phalange
very pointed and drawn out indicates
ldeality, religion, poetry of soul and
heart, alteration of the beautiful, desire
for love and liberty. We call this psy
chic hand. A hand that is hard and stiff
and has difficulty in opening to its full
extension, indicates obstinacy and stub.
bornness. A large hand indicates love
OF detail, medium hand takes in de-
tails, but also appreciates entirety amonp
musical people. The most correct and
learned physicians have square fingers
Instrumentation, whether it be the art of
performing or composing for instruments
is invariably found in spatulate fingers
While singers nearly always have the
third phalange knotted."
'What of the thumb. Professor2r
"The thumb is the most essential part
OF the human hand. Without it the fingers
would be comparatively useless. 1t is the
thump that constitutes the great differ
ence between the hand of man and the
foot OF an animal. In the thumb lie the
indications of mans will and intellect
People who are born idiots come into the
world eitherwlthout thumbs or with their
thumbs quite abortive and useless. A
baby, before it can exercise its will it is
always observed, keeps its fingers closed
over It's thumb. A reasoning man in
varlably closes his thumb over his fingers.
If the second or outer phalange of your
thumb be narrow, mean and short, your
VIII Is weak one, you are prone to be
guided by others. Large thumbs indi-
cate independence and tendency
toward despotism. Any one with smooth
fingers and a small thumb has an in
born tendency to poetry and art, though
he may not have talent to cultivate
them. f"
"Will you explain to me the peculiari-
ties Of the various hands you have men
tioned"
''The elementary hand is the first.
The characteristics of this hand are
thick, stiff fingers; short thumb, gen
orally turned back, large, broad and
thick nalrn ueru hnrd Hhin So L.