The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-11-28
KISSING.
where the Operation First Began, and Po-
etry and Anecdotes About It.

Boston Herald.
A kiss is coeval with the creation of the world.
AS an old author has quantity said 'It is certain
aature was its author. and il began with the
Hrst courtship." think it was Byron who
Wished that all the world had but one lip that
he might kiss it: but the writer. and certainly
many readers, have seen lips which the whole
wealth of the universe would not induce them
to kiss Yes. the kiss certainly born with
the first courtship. What better authority can
We have for this than John Milton, who thus
describes Adam for the first time gazing upon
Eve in the delightful and delicious bowers OF
Eden, who
Tn delight
Both of her beauty and submissive charms.
Smiled with superior love, as Jupiter
On Juno smiles when he impregns the clouds
That shed May flowers; and pressed her matron Up
With kisses pure.
Nature initiates mankind. and we see
How the trees enwreathe
Their arms, in amorous embraces turned
The grrglngs of the ri that runs beneath
Are but the kisses which it leaves bshind;
Whilo softly signing through these fond retreats
The wanton wind woos everything it meets.
Various. delicate and delightful are the func-
tons of the lips; but who deny that the
greatest delight derived from them is in kissingl
For description of the style of lip made essen
TALLY for kissing let take the words of writer
Of some sixty or seventy years ago: "a lovely
nymph, in whose looks and lips the bows of
Apollo and Cupid seem interi wined and indented
because it is becoming. nor compress her lips to
hide defective tooth, nor open them to display
the symmetry Of the rest; but her mouth has
that expression which the painter of Bathylius.
And gave his lips that speaking air
AS il word were lowering there
Hers is not of that inexpensive doll-like charc
ter which seems to smirk as il it were conscious
of its own silly prettiness nor has she the
pouting come kiss me under lip of the sealing.
wax hue which one sees in the portraits of Lely
and Kneller but while In the animation of her
looks. intelligence seems to be beaming from
her eyes, enehantment appears to dwell within
the ruby portals of her mouth, its very violence
is eloquent. for hers are the lips which Apollo
loved in Daphne, and Cupid Ia his Psyche
which Phidias and Praxiteles have immortalized
in marble, and which Immutabie nature still
produces when she is in her happiest and most
graceful moods. Hers is the mouth, in short.
which, to use an appropriate botanical phrase.
conducts US. by natural and delightful inoscu
sation, to the second division, or rather union of
the subject-kissing."
There is no kissing. animate or inanimate, that
has not its recommendation; but there is one
species of kissing indnlged in by the Romans.
that many OF US. perhaps. would just as soon
forego, no matter how sweet the lips might be.
Among the noble Romans the men were allowed
to kiss their female relations the mouth. in
order that they might know whether their
breaths smelt of wine or not Faugh! Who
cares to kiss a woman with vinous breath?
But see how the moderns initiated the ancients.
In The Beggars OPERA" Captain Macheath,
after saluting Jenny, says: Zone may know by
your kiss that your gin is excellent" But let
that pass in favor of a few words concerning the
custom of kissing.
The story runs that kissing was introduced
in1D England by Rowena, the daughter of Hen
gist, the Saxon. At a banquet, which was gwen
by the British monarch in honor of his allies,
the Princess after pressing the trimming
beaker to her lips, saluted the astonished and
delighted Vortgern with little kiss, after the
manner OF her own people. So well did the kiss
thrive in the genial climate of England that,
from being an occasional luxury, IL soon became
an every day enjoyment, and the English soon
became celebrated far and near. as a kissing
people. In fact, so far had their celebrity
spread in this respect that when Cavendsh, the
biographer of the great child of honor, Cardinal
Wolsey," visited a French nobieman at his
chateau, the lady of the house. on entering
the room with her train of attendant maidens.
for the purpose of welcoming the guest of her
husband. thus accostine him. "Forasmuch as
ye be an Englishman whose custom it is in your
country to kiss all ladies and gentlewomen with
out ofense, and although il be not so here in
this realm, yet will | be so bold TO kiss you,
and so shall ali my maidens.' Whereupon the
rafters of the chateau rung again with the heart
mess of the osculation, doubt to the great sat
isfAction of the fair chatelaine herself, her many
and merry madens, and above ALL to Cavendsh
himself In the reign of Edward ~ guest
expected on his arrival and also. on his
departure to salute not only his hostess, but all
the ladies of the family. In fact no occasion
was lost on which to bestow kiss, and Shak-
speare makes bluff King Hal say at Wolseys ban
Qnet, at HAMPTON court palace. after he had
danced with Annie Bullen. ~ were unmanneriy
to take you out and not to kiss you. From Eng
land kissing found it's way to this country. though
it is much to be regretted that the fathers of the
country were altogether too puritancal to give
the delicious pastime full swing. 1t was to be
\ L., 4 I'D hnA,A
towing husband who dared to invade the sanctity
Of the Sabbath by kissing his wife on that sacred
day.
TO such degree had the practice of kissing
attained in England, thatladies were accustomed
TO use kissing commits. composed OF amber grease
and other ingredients, for the purpose of sweet
oning their breaths. These, beyond all ques
ton, were the forerunners of the cachous. trix,
and other vile things with which the ladies of
the present day faint their breaths Their
breaths with sweetmeats tainted are" says Mer.
Quito. When Whiteback was the ambassador of
Oliver Cromwell to the court of Christine of
Sweden. the Queen one day. accompanied by
her ladies, dined with HIM, and the Queen.
nothing loath herself, perhaps. for a les
son. commanded the ambassador to teach
her suite the English mode of salutation.
Whit back fell to work at his pleasing task i'm
Jnediately, and. after few coy and pretty de-
lenses from his pupils soon found in them the
most apt of scholars, and ready to carry out his
instructions to the letter. But the practice OF
universal kissing in England fell into disuse. In
the time of those ascetc monarchs William
and Mary it was very little practiced. and from
that time out continued to be restricted to its
proper use, and employed only on proper occa-
sons-such, for instance, when a beauty is
caught asleep or under tine mistletoe, when it
is always IN order
kissing makes the great Easter offering in
Russia On the day when they
Hear the herald angel sing
Glory to the heaven born King
every member of family salutes every other
member The Gar salutes his family, retinue,
court and attendants. and likewise honors in
similar fashion his officers who are on a parade.
the sentinels at the palace gates, and also So.
lect party of private soldiers, who are regarded
as the representatives of the entire army:
public employees salute their prnci,
pals and another acquaintance
greet each other with "a loving kiss; the gen
eral embraces the officers of his corps the colonel
thoea 3f his -ment and so on al in6piiup,