The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-05-24
HISTORY OF THE KISS"


To THE EDITOR OF The TIMES: THE
TIMES of the 22nd contained a very in
terestiny article under tho above cap
ton. and have no doubt that its num-
erous, appreciative readers feel specially
thankful for the amount and variety of
information contained therein.
There are some revelations in the
article, to the tyro in history. He says
THE Japanese language has no word
for the kiss" That may be, but it is
the nrst instance on record where q
practice has not created term of ex-
preston. OF course we are not expected
TO oelleve that Japanese mother never
kisses her babies. or maid her lover,
or wife her husband.
Again he says, "when the kiss was
introduced to include woman" etc, can
not he inform US how far prior to the
prehistoric that "when" was and but
why did he not speak nationally and
say where the kiss was introduced to
include men," If women introduced
anything into this wicked world after
her tragic performance in the garden"
1T was the kiss to mitigate the horrors
of the fall.
Well, we'll, who originated the
thought without having it patented.
that nose and lip rings were invented
before the value and pleasure of the
kiss was discovered. We are willing Of
course to "believe all things" 1st Cor.
ID, but lease excuse us this once
But when he voluntarily and gratui-
tously informs THE TINES readers that
"some religious sects-o. G. the Dunk
ers-also kiss one anothcrs feet after
washing them" it almost takes our
breath and we involuntary cXclaim with
uplifted hands, immaculate historian"
Had the author of that precious tidbit
OF history been in the place of the un-
lucky Anannicas Of unsavory memory,
he would have come out of that land
transaction first best.
For his benefit | will state from my
knowledge of things in general, as we'll
as personal observation, that the neares t
approach to such ridiculous porto, M
ance'is seen in q Dunkard mother kissing
the dainty dimpled feet of her ieweled
darling baby embryo Dunkard, after she
has administered the daily ablution.
Examine the statistics and report how
far the custom prevails among Baptist,
Nlethodists and others.
The subject Of TIE TINES article is
an interesting one, taken altogether
either theoretically, or practically, and
VIII commune to he so as long as men
and women wear the inconvenient
drapery of flesh and blood. Whether
the next and higher state of eternal ex-
istence will be blessed with this mum
dane endowment is not revealed, but
when we SEQ tho heroic husband and
wife clasped in loving embrace, waiting
upon the breaking deck of the sinking
ship for the fearful plunge to the
oceans cavernous depths, and when we
see the dying Christian mother call for
her sweet, loving and loved babe that
she might kiss it once moro before she
died; and when we see the tear-stained
cheeks of parting friends passionately
press the stainless lips of love in the
last adieu, we fain would believe that
love and all its forms Of expression are
eternal.
When the kiss and the holy passion it
expresses, coming freshly Glove is
always now from the hand of Him who
is the embodiment of love. sits us the
crown of all pure earthly joys, let those
who write it's earthly history follow the
injunction Of the renowned Shakespeare
Tho plain, unvarnished truth de
liver"
DR.. Samuel G. Staples has removed
his Office to 1Qk 90.