Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-09-22

is beyond our own control. If the hand
clasp were truly such an indication Of char
acter as at first sight, or rather touch, it
seems to be, it would be pity, 1 think, to
apply schooling to il, and thus add one
more to the insincerities of life. 1t is quite
probable, however, that in nine cases out Of
ten the inference we draw from it may be
totally wrong. The limp, fabby grasp
which suggests cold Indifference and apa-
thetic temperament may be due in reality to
physical weakness and shrinking state of
the nervous system, while the stiff, formal
touch that clearly expresses pride and un-
genial reserve may be simply the result OF
shyness and awkward manners; and many
girl may do herself injustice in this respect
quite unknown to her nearest and dearest
who would correct the failing were they
aware of it. Her mother and sisters, her
cousins and her aunts," give her the kiss
and embrace of love and intimacy; even if
THEY SHAKE HER HAND
there is no constraint in the touch, and as
they proudly survey her pretty face and
figure they little imagine that she has
marred the effect OF these charms by her
disagreeable greeting, and is being described
as ga languid, inanImate creature" or "a
mass of affectation." On the other hand,
many of US know by sad experience that
the iron pressure which leaves our fingers
crushed and tingling is no certain proof Of
correspondingly tenacious character and
that the giver Of it, far from being the
truest of friends or most loyal of lovers, as
his close and lingering grasp bespeaks him,
may prove, after ali, but base and
treacherous weakling, easy to be swayed by
adverse influence, and ready to fall away
from faith and troth at the first breath Of
i d.. Ia
new development of palmistry may teach
us to draw accurate deductions as to char
acter from hand shake. Meanwhile, 1
pin my faith to the quiet. earnest grip
which Is alike free from exaggerated warmth
and chilly indifference. 1t is for the pur-
pose of teaching girls to take Just the
rightly tight and the politely quiet grip of
greeting that, in certain select school, a
teacher shakes hands with all the pupils
every Thursday. She criticises or COM
mends each hand clasp. Thus carefully are
some of US being educated.
A JAPANESE DowRY.
Somebody told me that Japanese bride
had sailed into port with her American hus-
band, on a ship which was her own prop
erty, and that the cargo, as well as the craft,
was an endowment gift from her father.
That seemed intensely interesting, and /
transformed myself into reporter for the
purpose of learning the facts. I suppose
that the general public has no idea OF the
amount Of work done by newsgatherers in
chasing the rainbows Of sensation. I got
an idea of it when 1 came down to the truth
in this case. There was bride named Kai
Kan, and she was ''as Japanese as any
picture of fan, to use the descriptive Ian
guage OF the Captain on the Monmouth
shire, on board which she had made the
voyage across the ocean. But she did not
own that big steamer, nor more than small
portion of Its Oriental lading,
She had married the Rev. Robert A.
Greenman at Hong Kong. He had con-
verted her to Christianity before accompa-
nylng her into matrimony. Her father was
rich merchant, and he had made bridal
present to her of consignment of fans,
boxes and other Japanese knick-knacks.
These goods have been transferred to a store
house, and will probably be turned into
about $1,000. That sum is dwindled one
as contrasted with the whole ship and cargo
of the original story, but it is small for
tune to poor missionary clergyman. Mr..
Greenman's old home is near Atlanta, Ca,
and he has taken his bride there for a
honeymoon visit, after which he will re-
turn to Japan. CLARA BELLE.