The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-10-17
ABOUT SHAKING HANDS


Tho Latest Evolution OF . Very Ancient
Custom.
We are more given to shaking hands
than other nations Where the French
man or German would content himself
with comprehensive bow that includes
whole company of people in one court
eous sweep, the Englishman, especially
II he is country bred, will patiently and
perseveringly shake hands with every
one present Perhaps it is owing to a
feeling that an unnecessary use of the
practice is provincial that we may trace
visible decline in it at the present day.
But it is difficult to say to what cause
is attributable the present extraordinary
form which it takes among certain peo-
pie when they do practice it-a form
which is especially prevalent among
those people whose ambition it is to be
known as smart" When two members
OF this class, or of the far more numer-
GUS class that initiates them, meet each
other, they go through a ceremon =
which certainly bears faint resem-
blance to that of shaking hands, but is
in all real essentials absolutely differ
emit The lady lifts her elbow as high
as tight sleeve will permit her, and
bangles a little hand before her face,
carefully keeping the wrist as stiff and
high as possible. while she allows the
fingers to droop down. The man con-
trives to lift his elbow little higher,
and, by dexterous turn of the wrist
touches her fingers-that is all The
reason assigned for this is curious.
1t is said that ladies who are hidden
to court, and whose privilege it is to ex-
change greetings with royal personages
find it difficult to combine a courtesy
with shake of gracious hand with
out raising their own hands to the level
of their faces. Hence their too frequent
communications with illustrious peo-
pie have corrupted their good
manners; they acquire habit
and are so forgetful as to introduce it
into their ordinary life and their rela-
tions with more ordinary people. But
they forget the courtesy, while they for
get to remember to lower their hands
Another reason that has been suggested
for this greeting, as it is practiced by
the best society, is that they have bor-
rowed it from the coachman. With his
reins in one hand and his whip in the
other, the only approach to saluta ton
that coachman can make is by sharp,
upward movement of the elbow and
whip hand. Indeed, this explanation is
very plausible, for there is a kind of
natural affinity between the manners of
the stable and those of the very smart
people.
How ancient custom is the shaking
of hands no one can say. The giving
and clasping of right hands had it's
origin most probably in wish to show
that the right hand was unarmed, and
that no danger need be apprehended
from its owner. There is evidence to
show that the clasping of hands was an
ancient Hindoo usuage in legal trans
actions, as it was also among the
Romans in such matters as marriage
contract. AS mode of salutation it
certainly existed among the latter; for
we have Horace's description of bore:
Arreptaque manu-, 'Quid agis, dulcissime
rerum?'
The modern idea of the science of
politeness is science that will save
time. No one would wish to bring back
the stately obeisances. the sweeping
courtesies, and the hollow compliments
of last cen ury. But at least they were
a pretty comedy while they lasted,
whereas this last fashion of hand-sha -
ing is a grotesque farce.-London Spec
tatOr.