New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-11-20
READING THE STORY OF THE HAND.
LECTURE BY Mr.. HERoN-ALLEN.


THE SCIENCE OF PALNIsTRY EXPLAINED AND PRAc-
TTcALLY ILLUSTRATED.
Chckerng Hall last evening was fairly well filed
with an audience of exceptionally brilliant character
gathered TO hear Mr.. Heron-Aen lecture on =" The
Science Of the Hand, or Practical Cheirosophy."
Major James B. Pond stood in the hallway while the
people were entering, smiling upon his acquantances
and explaining to few friends the success which the
lecturer had met with in the fashionable circles of
English society. When Mr.. Heron-Alen came on the
platform he was greeted with round OF cordial APP
plause and his manner enlisted warm sympathy
from his hearers Slight of build and youthtul-look
ng be yet spoke and acted with the and grace
funess OF what Is called man Of the world.' He
was In evening dress, and from his white wsstcoat
danged as a watchcharm handsome little solid gold
hand which had been sent to him by Tiffany Co.
Every appointment of tie platform displayed evil
dence OF good taste, down to the screen which was
used In the practical demonstration of the lecturers
skill IN reading character by the formation OF the
hand and the lines on the palm which followed the
lecture proper IL was Mr.. Aliens first appear
ance before an American audience but The fame OF his
success on the other side of the Atlantic has already
secureI ior hin numerous engagements from promi-
nent New-forkers Tor the private seances in hand
reading which he is to give here
Inc lecturer spoke with a pronounced English
accent in soft and wel-modulated tones He rehearsed
the Importance Of the part played by the hand in
literature and the arts well In mechanics, and
pointed out that the highly developed particu
lar race was the more interest and variety were pre-
sented by the anatomical development OF that member
OF the body and the marked were its superficial
charactcrlstics Tho theory OF cherosophy was that
the hand, being more intimately connected with the
brain than almost any other member, reflected more
accurately the operations OF the intellect as stamped on
the character Of the individual. Whereas the phre
noogst might be deceived By an unnatural growth OF
hair on the physiognoms and by fixed countenance,
the hand could not hide from the student the creases
and marks which told the story OF the environment OF
the subject and how IL had been met controlled by
the mind. Tue nervous endowment OF the hand had
no counterpart in that OF the lips The science OF
cherosophy proved that the peculiar formation ynd
creases OF the hand produced not by ts physical
use, hut by the direction OF the brain.
After explaining in some detail the anatomy OF the
hand Mr. Heron Allen descrlbe ed some OF the traits OF
character reflected in its form and appearance
hollow Pa m as a rule went with worrying and UNI
happy disposition. Smoothly formed fingers Indicated
the possession OF tact while knoty fingers indicated
taste born of experience rather than natural inheri
tance. long hand showed preference tor details
tendency to minute examination OF a subject while
short hand tue expression of nature quick and
impusiye that was synihetical IN its mental opera
tons. Small-handed persons would prefer things on
colossal scale; long handed persons were analytical
The shortness of the fingers when carried to excess
betokened cruelty. while thick fingers indicated fond
ness for luxury which might be extended to sensu-
atty. A hand that opened with difficulty expressed
avarce Long pointed fingers we're indicative oil the
artistic temperament aud idealism
series OF charts representing the different types OF
the hand was displayed by the lecturer on small
prominent lines in the palm OF the hand which he
claimed told the story OF the character aud history OF
it, pOssessor. At this point in the lecture nearly
everyone present began earnest stuy OF the lines
that ploughed the palms OF his or her hands, but
when the lecturer spoke OF the line that told the tales
ot rtatons most of the ladies busy with tan or
handkerchief
There some hesitation when Mr. Heron Allen
asked that gentleman the stage. take his
pace behind screen and thrustng his hand through
a small loophOle permit II to be studied and com
mented upon by the palmist, who would go into the
adjoining until the subject had been secreted be-
hind the screen. Charles +. Oney, who is promi-
nenty interested in the Teachers Association OF the
citv ina " lent his services Without hesitation Mr..
Heron-AIlen after he had reappeared on the plat
form, read off his opinion of what the lines and shape
OF the human member thrust through the screen told
its owners character and life Mr.. Oney afterward
pronounced the summary correct in its general out
lines and many OF the attributes announced by the
lecturer recognized accurate by the friends OF
Mr.. Oney in the audience. Mrs j. H. Stlllwell, OF
Shrewsbury, Conn. also submitted to the test but
did not afterward say how closely her character as
she realized it to be- had been described.
The platform was crowded after the lecture by per-
sons who curious tor details OF the science
which the handsome young lecturer was expounding
and many engagements for private seances were
olted down by Mr. Heron-Allen at the solicitation OF
& and with enthusiasm.