New-York tribune., 1886-11-13
STUDYING PEOPLES HANDS.
SOME OF THE WONDERS OF

Mr.. HERoN-ALLEN TALKS ABOUT HIS ART AND
TxHIBITs HIS SKILL
During the last week few rarrnphs have ap-
pcared announcing in modest terms the arrival here OF
Mr. Heron-A the name being coupled with the
designation the well known exponent of pauisry'
Those who take interest in this subject recognized
the name as that OF the author Of several welknown
hand-books upon the subject OF cheirosophy, or the
science of the hand and those interested in musical
matters may noticed that the name was that oil
the author of an excellent book upon the violin.
A visitor with curiosity whetted by half-knowledge
called Yesterday on Mr.. Heron-Alen at his hotel He
introduced TO slim young man Of medium
height whose pleasant intellectual face an air OF
extreme youth impaired by the faint mustache
of hghtest hue which barely shaded his upper hp.
There certainly nothing OF the about
him and indeed nothing that would have caused him to
be picked a of mark from any hali-dOzen
men Of breeding and knowledge of the world. And
yet this youthful looking has for several years
been prominent feature of London circles both
fashionable and scientific He Il not only student
OF tnat lore which has been studied from the earliest
Of recorded times, and In brutaized garb still forms
the stock n-trade of the gypsy, but he Is the hrst
perhaps who mas winnowed the wheat from the chat
and reduced to the appearance of at least exact
science the vague and superstitous maxims and utter
ance' OF former professors OF the art He spoke Tor
himself in the course of An hours chat:
From boy" said he, attached the greatest i'm
portancs to the hands of those | met. AS physiog-
afordng no sort OF idea to the man beneath. But
always, in greater less degree, could tell mans
character by his hands My father was lawyer, and
in his Office, studying law, | remained several years.
As future lawyer he pronounced useless, but was
always glad for 10 interview clients or people
who called on business, for | seldom made mistake
as TO their character when once had caught glance
of their hands. Naturally enough obtained all the
literature the subject of cheiromancy and greedily
devoured it, only to find it mass Of foolish contrado-
tOns and astrological humbug. Eventually deter
mined to study the subject for myself visited Paris
and became acquainted with the famous Desbarolles
From him learned much, and he it was who advised
TO give my life up to the study OF the subject which
had fascinated me. quarreled with Desbaroll.s,
however, because insisted on eliminating from the
system all the astrological nonsense in which he be-
heves. | surprised him by speaking disrespectfuly OF
the Kabala and have since pursued my own course.
"Now tor what claim. study OF the physiology
of the hand will show you that it is more intimately
connected With the brain than any other member Of
the body. Its venous system is fuller and :he nerve
the surface than elsewhere. Hence
il only reasonable 20 suppose that the workings OF
the brain and nerves will affect TO noticeable degree
the hand Tne old notion that the the hand
the result of folding mas been dspro ed OF long
ago by the more exact study of embryology. thus
events undoubtedly leave their impression on this
delicate member and from these delicate traces Of past
events can by analogy conjecture roughly the hap
penngs of the tutnre The science is deducfive, but
exactly deducbie has it become possible to be that
the most startling results are now to be gained. = ,
In the first place. there is what one may call the
pbysiOnOny of the hand-the shape OF its fingers nails,
knuckles, and forth. From his a flir knowledge
may be gained OF the salient points in the subjects
character. Then comes the study OF the lines and
mounts for the sake convenience the flesh pads
are called. These give more minute indications OF
the mentality and also point clearly TO past happen
ngs Comparison OF data will then be called into play,
and OF the curtain of the future may he lifted
by the acute cheirosophst. We through glass
darky, but still vague outlines may be observed OF
course should subjects allow their action to be en-
tirely Influenced by what they learn from the hand
reader the result would be fatal to his pretensons.
But human will is rarely so powerful and people act
according to their nature, whose salient points are
indicated by their hands"
Mr.. Heron lien then took the left hand of his
visitor closely scanned the back and then. holding the
palm upward spoke IN n low tone. but without a
moments hesitation tor a few minutes In that time
he sketched with absolute Il nth the character far
az seli-iudgment could admit Of bis visitor. He
correctly diagnosed his physical strengths and weak
nesses, and then referred IN ambiguous terms to
three important happenings in his life, correctly
nothing TO be said the astOunded and, truth 10 tell
before this, rather sceptcal subject, could merely
gasp out. Wonderful Marvellous! !" he met Mr.
Heron Aliens halt lt-quizzca smile
" am quito used 10 nv subjects an azement." said
he. and hope You will beiieve that there is nothing
riiiculOus mysterious about my art"
He then took the hand again and succinctly as he
could pointed out the lines ad mi mute crenses which
the grounds OF his surprising deductions.
The .alk then tell on his own plans.
am going stay here in New Ork for some three
months, said he and shall then lecture through the
States for year or purpose then 10 make tour
OF the world as much tor nv own amusement as
professionally and expect to he absent from home
five six years. While in -iew-Y0rk shall lecture
in public illustrating my talks with drawings and
diagrams"
Before his visitor left Mr. Heron Allen showed him
interesting album. In this contained diagrams
OF the lines of the hands OF many well known peoule
with their autographs Among them were w s. Gil
bert Violet Fame Justin Mccarthy, jr, Miss Fortes-
cue Oscar Wilde and Mrs Wilde. Fitzgerald MolloY,
and. recently added, Sarony and Julian Haw thorne.
Mr. Heron Aliens business is being looked after by
Major j. b. Pond.