The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1891-06-10
HISTORY OF THE KISS.
The Practice Of Osculation and It's
Inception
kissing Not In Vogue Among Savage
Tribes Different Kinds Of Kisses
and Their Special Significance
Some Queer Customs.

OppObltc SEXES Is uOI RtueTHl diuOuB tuS
tribes OF men is abundantly shown by
the observations OF travellers in the
lands where savagery and barbarism
still exist Where II is now practiced,
says the Popular Science Monthly II is
not probably Of great antiquity In
some languages, notably the Japanese.
there Is no word for kiss,
Whom, however the kiss was intro.
duced to include women. It's vogue, like
that OF other new inventions, was carried
to excess. According to the chronicle OF
Winsonius, IL was unknown in England
gntil the Princess Rowena, the daugh-
ter OF King Hengist Of Friesland, in.
structed the insular Vortigern in the
imported salute.
Though the Saxon statistics are not
probably exact, II Is historical that In
England, not so many years ago. il
would have been the imperative duty OF
visitor to have kissed all the ladies OF
the household, even without previous
acquaintance. Such was the experience
of many surprised literary foreigners.
notably Erasmus.
The history Of the early Christian
church affords instruction on this topic.
At first the kiss was an adopted sign OF
fellowship; Greet all the brethren with
holy kiss" Il Thess.. 96) It early
passed into ceremony us the kiss OF
peace given TO a newly.baptized convert,
and in celebrating the Eucharist But as
It was found TO have some qualities not
adapted To religious and spiritual use
between the sexes, II was ordered that
only men should kiss men and women
only women.
The awkardness OF this practice, or
perhaps the experience OF promiscuous
kissing. even when limited TO the same
sex, was liable TO convey contagious
diseases, induced another amendment
by which the ceremonial kiss in the
Roman church was only passed between
the ministrants, and relic or cross
called the osculatorium or pax was
passed to the people for their lips
II may perhaps be suggested that one
reason for the very long delay in the
practice of the mutual kiss was In the
general use by one or both OF the sexes
Of nose rings or labrets, either OF which
would prevent the approximation re-
quisite. II such use be not admitted as
causa sufficiens. IL ut least affords evi.
dence that the kiss was not customary
among the people by whom nose rings
and labrets were worn Indeed. Prof.
Dali gives instances where, labrets be-
ing common and the kiss unknown, the
tongues are protruded In affectionate
salute.
The kiss Of the hand Is undoubtedly
ancient, and therefore Is not derived
from that OF the lips, but probably the
converse is true. The hand kiss Is
loosely asserted to develop from servlle
obeisances in which the earth. the foot
and the garments were kissed, the hand
and check succeeding in order OF time
and approach 70 equality Of rank.
But II is doubtful II that was the act
ual order. and II Is certain that at tho
time when hand kissing began there
were less numerous gradations Of rank
than at latter stage.
kissing of the hands between men Is
mentioned in the Old Testament, also
by Homer, Pliny and Lucian. The kiss
was applied reverently 10 sacred objects,
such as statues Of the gods, as shown
by ancient works Of art, and also among
ancient etymologists, by that Of the
Latin word adore; and II was also met
aphorically applied by the inferior or
worshiper kissing his own hand and
throwing the salute TO the superior or
statue.
The mouth kissing the hand, by which
Job described a species ofidolatry, Ia q
species Of adulation practiced by every
bringing servant in Italy. When the
actual practice has ceased II survives In
phrases. Austrian men habituallly say
TO one another: "Kuss d d'Hand!" A va
RANT form was found among the Al
gonhins and Iroquois, as Chapman re-
lated, In 1922, that ''they kissed each
his own hand and then placed Il in
mine"
Affection, together with respect, Is
sometimes shown In the orient when q
servant salutes a master, q son IA.
ther, or q wife her husband by kissing
the others hand either on back or palm,
or both, and then carrying II 10 the
1sisser's forehead Among tho Malays
the visitor approaches the man he wish
es 10 salute with his hands Joined rs II
in.supplication, while the other touches
them lightly with his own on the other
side, and afterward raises his hands 70
his lips or forehead.
These motions are similar TO the cere-
monies In the feudal acts of homage and
fealty. The Micronesians, notably In
the Pelew and Caroline islands, took up
either the hand or foot OF the party re-
spected, and rubbed their own faces
with IT, Some religious sects-e. e., the
Dunkers-also kiss one another's feet
after washing them.
The original concept expressed by the
hand kiss was that Of good" In very
early times 10 possess what had a good
taste was of the greatest importance 70
man, and therefore q good taste was the
symbol of any good thing or person. So,
when practicable, the hand Of the per-
son saluted was carried 10 the lips 70
signify that he was good.
This act Is naturally accompanied by
tha bowling of tho head. The common
gesture sign for good" In all senses Ia
TO carry the hand 10 and from the lips
with. o pleasant expression The spon-
taneous expression Of deaf mutes Is
mfich the same. siQuifvinn not only