The Sunday herald. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1866-1887, 1886-05-16
LEG CROSSING.


~
LEG CROSSING.
when, How, ana why ~ liz Practiced.
Denver TrIDune-Repnbllcanl
Have you ever noticed any striking PEE
culiarity about the way people cross their
Knees w asked reporter Of an old Denver.
lite who has seen deal of the world both a,
home aud abroad, the other day. g..
Eyes, indeed" laughed the portly gentle
man Of many experiences. 81 have often
studied the phase, both in men and women,
but IL never occurred 10 me that any one else
was struck with Il. About the first instance
! ?. member occurred when was boy at
home in my fathers house. One Of my very
pretty sisters had two admirers-one of them
she encouraged because she returned his
sentiment, and the other she was obliged TO
treat courteously because he was the son of
an old friend of the family.
We'll, those young men used TO happen
IN on the same evening, and then II was tie
between them as to who should outstay the
| other. The son Of an old friend naturally
was the ridiculous object in this proceeding,
but he stayed with degree Of persistency
worthy Of better cause. l used to tell nv
sister that his mute way of crossing his legs
had Language oil its own. When he en-.
tered the house, only to find the other fell
low as he always did, he invariably wrig.
gled about for little time, apparently un.
decided as to whether TO stay or not; but his
Inclination always conquered his Judgment,
and when he leaned back in his chair and
deliberately crossed his legs we knew that
he meant to stay. When II began to grow
late he would mechanically uncross his legs,
but only to cross them again directly, II he
couldn't possibly make up his mind to go.
Finally, when the clock struck late hour,
he would slowly-it even seemed painfully
uneross his legs, place both feet on the floor,
and begin to button his coat with manner
that savored Of despair. These motions
never failed they were gone through as
regularly as he came to the house, and thew
were the most expressive language of the
legs that have ever seen. The way the
fellow crossed and uncrossed his legs showed
all the inner workings of his heart. His
legs we're the thermometers of bis passion,
and they never once failed in performing
their Office"
"You don't for an instant suppose he
knew what he was doingi"
Certainly not. Crossing and increasing
his legs as his thoughts revolved through
his mind was as instructive with him "a
breathing. His Inconsistencies of what he
was doing was Just what made IL so interest.
ing TO observe him."
TAT what times do you think men gen.
orally cross their legs most?"
"Why, at those times when there ia the
least pressure on their minds, certainly.
You will never find a man actually engaged
In business with his legs crossed. The limbs
at those times are straighter than at any
other, because the mind and body work TO-
gether and there is no giving way of either
junction or relaxation. A man engaged in
auditing accounts will never cross his legs
neither will man who is writing an article
or who is employed in any manner where
his brain is actively engaged when at work
In sitting posture the limbs naturally ex.
tend to the floor in perfectly straight line.
man may cross his legs If he is sitting in
an office chair discussing some business prop.
osition with another man, but the instant |
he becomes really in earnest and perceiyes |
to be gained his limbs uncross as |
quick as flash, he bends forward toward |
his neighbor, and begins to use his hands. |
That is phase that believe you will al |
ways observe"
Men often cross their legs at public meet.
ings, do they not %
Certainly they do, because they 60 there
to listen or to be entertained; they are not
the factors in the performance. and thew |
place themselves in the most com.
Portable position known to them, namely.
that of leaning we'll back in their chairs and
crossing their legs. man always crosses
his legs when he reads newspaper, but il
more apt to lie down when he reads a book.
He reads the paper, of course, to inform him.
sell, hut at the same time the perusal of its
contents is recreation for him, and his BODY
again seeks its position of relaxation. When
a man Is readinga newspaper and waiting
Tor his breakfast his legs are always crossed.
but as soon as breakfast Is brought to him
he puts the paper aside, straightens ont his
legs, and goes to work that is, begins to eat,
his mind now turning on the duties of the
lay before him. When said men lie down
to read books knew whereof spoke. There
are more men who read themselves 10 sleep
nowadays than you imagine. II is not quite
apropos of the subject, but, you see, book
reading always requires more time, and
nan with an hour to spare naturally throws
himself down on lounge, and II he has any
literary taste takes up book and deyours
is contents, as he rests. He either does this
" sticks his feet up on table when hs
'eads, and yOu know the German students
nave their slippers nailed to the wall so that
heir feet may reach them as soon as they sit
Town."
"Do You find that women cross their limbs
isually ?"
"They do so very generally, because the
position Is easier and rests the back par
icularly. A great many women have a
ashton of sitting on one foot, but the habit
II crossing their knees is much more preva.
ent. A woman naturally crosses her knees
'ecause she Ia weary, and women with weak +
'acks will invariably elevate their feet when
opportunity affords. No, there Is nothing
raoeful in the fashion of sitting oross-leggsd
ailors and Turks affect the position, but
'eople in this country, in the upper walks
fife, don't do 1t. Have you ever observed
he men in minstrel showf They don't
ross their limbs, because it wonld spoil the
Jmmstry of the half circle. The end men
o 1t because tbs more awkward their posi-.
Ions the more effective they are"