Idaho news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1887-1891, 1888-06-30
THE AMERICAN HAND.
ft is Distinctive and Possesses Fen
lures that Other Hands DO Not

It is Distinctive and Possesses Fen
lures that other Hands DO Not
What shall I say Of the distinctively Amer
lean haDdl For there Is 3 distlnctigely Amer
car hand, Just as distinctive as those Of the
Ethiopian, tie Chinaman, the German, or
The Hindoo. IN his curious work, "La Science
Ie Ia MaID," DArpeDtigny quotes the
strange description Of ''Le Yankee" con-
tanned in Michael chevalller's 'Iettres sur
l'Amerioue du NordD (of which translation
vas published in Boston ia 1880 and con-
dudes: 'In nation such as this. there can
not exist any but hands which are spatulate
and fingers which are square" lie was part
y right and partly wrong
When drst ! encountered the raclaliy
American hand was almost alarmed.
thought had found a new and unique spiel
men overwhelming in ifs contradictions The
specimen belonged to Henry Ward BeecheT.
whose hands I oyerbauled one sunny after
noon on the deck Of the Etruria IS We made
Tor the states together at the close Of bis lee
lure in Great Britain.
The hand Of which have drawing, was OF
medium size, inclining to large: the palm
thick and heavy, the consistency firm, neither
hard nor soft the thumb rather long u. e.,
reaching MluuOsk 70 AHE hIbE pIAAAhA VI AAS
forefDger), It's two phalanges being OF equal
engtb, and the outer phalanx pointed. The
fingers we're large aud very square, the joints
not very prominent the outer or nailed
challenges long, the nails round and incliu-
40 10 sbortness, the lower phalanx thick
Here was q surprising collection OF anomalies
for a chelrOsOphisti So, presuming Is 10 De
unique specimen, j made very caretuI
draw ing thereof and DOten thereon.
De- L.. lie .aA 4 FfaA n a
swing OF hand reading. when made quaint
iiseoyery--to wit, that this was the distine-
lively American hand-seten out OF ten LANDS
hat ere presented 10 me whether male or
female, presented this, 10 me heretofore I'M
known, collection Of contrasting formations
Their significance is interesting as sketch
l II The American character.
The size of the hand indicates capacity
Tor syntbesis combinded with analysis
/ capacity 10 size the meaning OF an entire
SUBJECT and analyZe its details with equal
rapdity; the palm gives sensuality and lore
/ u pleasure, the consistency gives great men
/ lal activity sud love OF exercise when other
| yeople are taking st.: IN word love Of the
/ display Of physical energy, which We do not
Il ourselves practice The thumb denotes an
equal amount Of will power and common
| sense, neither overriding the other. Ihe
/ fingers again show a love OF pleasure and
luxury, combined with intense order, regu-
/ arity. aud arrangement and siirit OF i'm
| gu Decentralization OF / may be allowed the
| naradoxl, a tendency TO act prOmpilC on an
| impulse and analyze the cause and effects OF
Jne's aetious sfterWsrd. so as 20 make ones
action, however hasiy, inure TO ones own
good. Dominating the entire character Is a
/ Seen Intuition. and a good naiured spirit Of
criticism, shown By The long-pointed or comic
/ Ups with the short, round nails.
| IL took me a mouth before could contrast
and combine these characteristics so as to ar
i've at a clear comprehension of the average
American personally, and during that month
made some grand enemies, who have never
forgiven mel Indeed. had IL not been that
bad Henry Ward Beecber's hand 20 ponder
1yer before ] arrived, should probably have
been so 'Tattled'' BY the type as 10 despair OF
ever properly diagnosing IL
] have derived much pleasnre-and some
2ain--from II, but TO It owe one of nv subli-
nest American experience. Ny thirty second
'ool-girl steuographer entered on her duties
que morning in Boston. A lady entered,
seated herself, and rendered 10 me ''the dis
tinclively American hand" Motioning my
photographer to take her seat at my elbow,
as usual, began: You sec, your hand Is
At the same time square and comie-a
/ sonic. :"
My gentle stenographer deliberately typed
The following heading to my description:
a'You see, heaven Is sublime 10 stare AZ,
and conic-what an sfiictionii
She had provided me with problem fsI
handler to solve than the distinciyely Ameri-
IAN hand.-Hc ToH- Allen ~ Arsered.