The herald. (Big Stone City, Dak. [S.D.]) 1883-1890, 1889-08-02
The kissing Habit,

Ae iaSl tlIdt tilc KISSING naDlt 1Ur-
nlshes an easy vehicle for the dissent
nation OF disease germs is of itself n
sufficient reason for its abandonment.
Many instances have been cited to de-
monstrate its dangerous character in
this regard, and medical men have re-
peatedly sounded the warning against
its continuance. A little thought will
emphasize the point in the readers
mind. The woman who goes about
kissing all her women friends and ac-
quaintances and their children, old or
young. sick or well, regardless Of the
condition of their blood or lungs and
oblivious of the possibility that they
have recently been kissed by a dozen
other persons respecting whose hygenic
conditions she has no knowledge. can
hardly plead that the practice is limo.
cent of danger. Fatal diseases may
be and sometimes are communicated
by the impact Of tho lips and the
mlngling OF their moisture and of the
breath, and disorders that are loss i'm
mediate or direful in their effects, but
no less certainly to be dreaded, are
more easily and often propagated by
the kissing habit. The person whom
you kiss may be entirely free from any
disease or unhealthful condition, yet
her lips may carry poison recently
taken from those of another person.
You may be yourself the innocent
means OF transmitting the disease germ
from one TO another. Poisonous cos
mctics and face-powdcrs multiply and
complicate the malignant consequences
of what is held to he an innocent ex-
preston Of atlectionate regard, though
il must be admitted that. as usually
practiced, the social kiss is oftcncr tho
cloak of hypocrisy. There have not
been wanting persons claiming to speak
with the authority Of knowledge who
have controvertcd these arguments
and endeavored to discredit the facts
upon which they are based. But the
unchallenged admission that some
danger does exist has been sufficient
to practically substantiate the case
against the kissing habit. and the
warrant for its Punishment is being
signed and executed by tho enlighten-
ed womanhood.
The kissing habit has been carried
to its greatest extreme among English
speaking people. and people of other
blood are often amazed and amused
by tho universally and cheapness OF
the kiss among the English nations.
1t is not necessarily IN argument in its
favor. however, that it is thus found to
be au accompaniment of tho highest
civilization, for it may be promptly
retorted that vice and crime also in
crease with civilization, and that even
civilized and refined peoples often
keep alive barbaro,s practices, in
herited from savage ancestry. The
kiss, in its proper function, has fine
significance, and may be made the
vehicle of the purest emotions, the
honest expression of legitimate feel.
ing. greeting full of genuine, volun-
tary sympathy and love. The kissing
habit is an abuse and misuse. 1t has
brought the kiss into disgrace and
made it vulgar. cheap and hypocritical.
Be it the providence Of this generation
of refinement and education to rescue
it from its degraded estate and restore
it to its natural elevated aud elevating
place and use in the social economy
Good Housekeeping.