The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1886-12-25
THE HAN DS.
Some Lessons in the New System of
cheirosophy.
New York Sun.

New York Sun.
Let any one notice the various hands that
pass before him. Should 100 different pairs
come under his observation, even cursory
glance will reveal that no two are alike, and
that the variety is equal to the number.
Long and short, thick and thin, broad and
narrow, just as in faces. And II the variety
in faces depends upon the soul behind the
features, why should not the hands, imple-
ments of the soul, indicate the sort Of soul
that handles them?
A closer study will reveal corresponding
differences in thumbs, fingers, palms, joints,
skin texture, &c. From these variations
chiromants derive the information that fire.
quently appears so startling to the unini-
tiated. A few Of the ways for determining
character from the conformation Of the hands
may be Of interest to the curious. These
are gathered both from personal observation
and from works Of acknowledged authority.
The general appearance Of the hand comes
most readily under our notice, and, there
fore, might be spoken of first. A hand with
large, thick and excessively hard palm, UNI
plant fingers, and a thumb straight across
the tip technically ''truncated') shows the
owner TO be most thoroughly wrapped up in
the material world. In the lower grades of
intelligence this hand will indicate the
work at coarse employment-the digger, the
handler Of stone, the stable drudge.
Higher opportunities may develop the
whose soul is in his stock. These
hands indicate that the mind which
guides them is unimaginatlve, usually dull,
sluggish and careless. III, with this hand,
the tips Of the fingers approach the conical,
then their pOsseSsOr is superStitious, easily
impressed by unusual phenomena, therefore
he may be affected BIZ poetry.
Another form of hand suggests an instru-
ment used by the chemist in mixing his in
gradients, the spatula-fiat broad and bulg-
ing at the ends. Such hands are little
higher In grade than the preceding. They
indicate a love Of bodily exercise, an ability
to overcome physical obstacles. This hand
seeks not only for the necessaries Of life,
but also for the comforts. 1t prefers to
man to be what some women consider the
highest qualification in husband, "a good
provider." The senses which guide 1t are
more active than delicate-they have that
natural intelligence which enables them. 10
gain some mastery over nature. The mind
In this case, Is not easily affected by varia-
tions Of beauty, therefore 1t is more constant
in love, governed by duty. Artisans possess
this hand. Whatever field offers bodily ex-
ercises pleases it; the explorers who 90 con-
stantly from place to place, who require to
be self denying and self-reliant, fearless Of
solitude, will have some form Of this hand.
1t indicates worship of the useful. A ma
ton in which this hand abounds will have
perfect machinery, many comforts, much
wealth. 1t will care little for poetry, show
ture and sentiment as affectatlon. The peo-
pie win be fond of freedom, therefore inter-
ested in politics.
Another hand, which might be called the
useful hand, is known by its medium size,
rather large than small; fingers, instead OF
being smooth, knotted, with the last joint OF
phalange square thumb large, its base well
| developed; the palm large and tolerably firm
| The owner of this hand will, If there Is an,
| truth in palmistry, possess love Of order,
| persevering spirit, the power Of foresight
| He will be good leader, for he has the abil
| ity to classify and TO organize, to plan goot
methods. He has very limited power o.
| Imagination, restraining 1t by what he car
comprehend. His standard Of action and
| judgment win be the fitness OF things, Lit
erature, poetry, art, will affect him only al
| he sees their utility.
| The very opposite extreme Of qualities is
| proclaimed by the artistic hand. Its appear
| ance of refinement al once attracts attention
to it. The general outline Is conical, teImin
| ating in finger tips more or less pointed. II
| this hand Is planned with small thumb ant
| moderately developed palm, the mind which
| directs it will be most interested and delight
ed with the beautiful in form. This
hand may have as a variety a brsa'
thumb; then will 1t seek after wealth
| and honor, not for their own SAX
| but for the delights which accompany
| them. The chief possession OF the artistic
hands is the:imagination; to whatever hel.
their possessors may turn, their fancy vii
either brighten or darken the view. The,
care little for the mechanic arts; they pre-
| fer to be guided rather by inspiration and in
| tuition than by rule. According to the va.
riety of this hand the motives Of action will
be enthusiasm or stratagem, or the prompt
ings Of pleasure Their inclination will be +
look for beauty before truth. They desir
leisure, novelty, freedom. The character
with this hand are very contradictory, bein
at the same time fearful and daring, humbl
| and vain, possessing much impetuosity an
little power. This hand indicates rovin
disposition. because Of the desire for novel
ty, and the fact that the owner Is swayed b.
a love Of beauty rather than Of truth ma,
produce ickleness OF character and scorn Q
reason.
All these varieties Of hand in their turl
may be modified by varieties in structure.
| hand Of any one Of these types which
firm, but not hard, elastic, but not soft, wi
indicate high order Of the prevailing quail
ties Of the type. Large hands are usual
spirituality. Large hands with small palm
show their owners to be fond of detail, {
look after the finish Of their work, to admir-
delcacy rather than broadness of design
Two individuals of the same family ma,
have hands which at first view appear alike
their minds and tastes will be alike, but a
the hands will certainly differ in softnesl
pliancy, firmness, ETC., so the aptitudes an
modes Of action will differ.
But the student of palmistry must NJ
make the mistake Of reading the charactt
from the general view of hand or pain
Fingers and thumbs, by their varieties
modify the story told by the larger parts.