Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1891-03-05
CHARACTER IN GRIPS.
An Interesting Study Of Human
Nature.
You Can Gauge the Character OF Your
Neighbor in the Street-Car by the
Way He or She Holds on
to the Strap.

1t is the boast of experts in palmistry
that an index of personal character and
disposition as clear and convincing az
that furnished by the expression of the
eye, the set of the mouth, the contour of
the head, or any of the numerous mystic
criterions by which the imaginative man
strives to judge his chance acquaintance
is furnished by the hand. There is
good dealmore truth than humbug in the
claim. But you don't have to go through
the tOmfoolery of studying the lines of
the palm to find the fact out. All that
is necessary, says the San Francisco
Examiner, is to get on a street-car that
is run by careless or playful driver
and you'll be able to read character by
watching the hands of your fellow pas
sengers.
Who, for example, has not seen the
man of aggressive character, who pushes
his way over all obstacles with the ag-
gressive hold of the strap that defies all
the tricks of the driver to upset him?
Next him, perhaps, is the passive man,
satisfied to move along in the calm
peacefulness of a gentle nature. He
keels half around, treads on the toe of
the choleric man, who imagines himself
safely slowed away in a corner, and
grabs the strap with a forefnger and
thumb, and utters a mild rebuke on the
uncomfortable methods of the driver.
Whenever the jolt comes, and
wherever you chance to be, you will al
ways notice, with satisfaction, the man
of frmness, whose grip of the strap has
all the characteristics of his sure-footed
method of going through business and
life. He is always prepared for emerg-
encies, and no over-jubilant driver or
engineer can catch him mapping.
The awkward man is everywhere.
He is the butt of ridicule and the target
of all maledictions that an outrageous
and disturbed public pours out when its
comfort is interfered with. Look at
the awkward hand and, in your minds
eye, you can. see the helpless struggle
of its owner with fate. Great good
fortune only saved that hand that has
brought up for support suddenly against
the side of the car from going through
the window pane. You can bet tooth
pick to a new silk umbrella that the
passenger has stamped on somebody's
choicest corn with a relentless and in
considerate heel, and you can bet that
the owner of the corn has wished the
awkward one to go to Kamtchatka.
The man who only holds on to strap
anyhow shows by his temporary hold
that he is the sort of fellow who doesn't
do any thing requiring exertion unless
he is compelled to, and is not pleasant
man to travel with, either.
Everybody who travels has seen the
short man who has been left in the race
for a seat. He's self-reliant, generally,
even if he is small in stature, and the
cane handle thrust through the strap,
yielding a less wearying and muscle
tearing support, proves how he goes
about, prepared at all times to euchre
unfriendly fortune when she gets bad
tempered.
The weak, uncertain, pulpy and I'M
profitable type of man can be read in
stantly in the manner in which the
strap is grasped weakly, just as surely
as the timid and shrinking disposition
reveals itself in grasp of the leather
that is insecure and easily dislodged by
jolt.
What the expert at hand-reading
would call the conversation grip" is
another interesting and peculiar feat
ure of the strap-using traveller. Glance
at the grip. 1t is easy to imagine the
owner of that hand STOPPING over and
chatting with some one who has the
greater fortune of a seat. Your con-
versational traveller always holds a
strap that way. 1t is as sure an indica-
ton that the owner is passionately
fond of talking as the confident grip of
his next-door neighbor shows that that
neighbor is a man who goes through
life with the conviction that he can
take care of himself, no matter what
happens. He is the happy mean be-
tween the aggressive and the passive
man, and doubtless a very companion
able and decent fellow.
Who that has travelled much in the
bustling town, especially when the
crush is greatest on cars and train, has
not longed for the avenging pin to stick
into the wishy-washy, altogether use
less dude or languid man? He is con-
stantly throwing the burden of himself
upon somebody else, and the extraor-
binary and aggravating manner in
which he holds on to the car-strap is
proof of insipid and backboneless per-
sonality that manly men detest. The
virile grip of the bony hand of the man
of plenty of sand is pleasing contrast.
This type of man uses but one finger for
support, as rule, but he holds on just
the same.
The dainty hold is that of the gloved
hand of a young woman who is stand
ing there holding a strap because the
men in the seats are apparently too in
tent reading the evening newspaper, or
because their eyes are shut and they
seem to be asleep. 1t is an attraction
that always wins, although it may take
some time. Somebody gets interested
in the bracelets or the eyes of their
owner and gives up seat to the fair
one.
What a contemplate proof of repre-
hensible and disagreeable character is
told in the selfish grip! 1t grabs twice
as much as it is entitled to every time
and holds on as long as it can.
Souvenir for an Ex-Queen.
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