Waterbury evening Democrat., 1891-03-16
HISTORY OF THE KISS
The Practice Of Oac,llation and It's
 Inception.
Kissing Not in Vogue Among Savage Tribes - Different Kinds of Kisses and Their Special Significance
 Some Queer Customs.


 tribes of men is abundantly shown by the observations of travellers in the lands where savagery and barbarism still exist. Where it is now practiced, says the Popular Science Monthly, it is not probably of great antiquity. In some languages, notably the Japanese, there is no word for kiss.
 When, however, the kiss was intro duced to include women, its vogue, like that of other new inventions, was carried to excess. According to the chronicle of Winsenius, it was unknown in England until 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, it is historical that in England, not so many years ago, it would have been the imperative duty of a 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" q. Thess., V. 26). It early passed into ceremony as the kiss of peace given to 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, it was ordered that only men should kiss men and women only women.
 @& 1,se 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 a relic or cross called the osculatorium or pax was passed to the people for their lips. It 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. If such use be not admitted as a causa sufficiens, it at least affords evil dence that the kiss was not customary among the people by whom nose rings eu, Dall 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 servile obeisances in which the earth, the foot and the garments were kissed, the hand and cheek succeeding in order of time and approach to equality of rank. But it is doubtful if that was the act ual order, and it is certain that at the 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 to 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 it 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 of idolatry, is a species of adu1ation practiced by every cringing servant in Italy. When the actual practice hEs ceased it survives in phrases. Austrian men habituallly say to one another: 'Kuss d'Handl" A va riant form was found among the AL gonkins and Iroquois, as Chapman re- lated, in 1929, that ''they kissed each his own hand and then placed it in mine."
 Affection, together with respect, Is sometimes shown in the orient when a | servant salutes a master, a son a fa- ther, or a wife her husband by kissing | the others hand either on back or palm, or both, and then carrying it to the | kisser's forehead. Among the Malays the visitor approaches the man he wish- es to salute with his hands joined as if in supplication, while the other touches | them lightly with his own on the other | side, and afterward raises his hands to 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. g., 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 to possess what had a good taste was of the greatest importance to man, and therefore a good taste was the symbol of any good thing or person. So, when practicable, the hand of the per son saluted was carried to the lips to signify that he was good.
 This act is naturally accompanied by the lowing of the head. The common gesture sign for good" in all senses is to carry the hand to and from the lips with a pleasant expression. The spon. taneous expression of deaf mutes is Il ho coTpo