Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1893-03-21
ABOUT HANDSHAKING
SETTER 40 AN INDEX TO cHARAc-
TER THAN HANDWRITING.


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The study Of character - indicated BY
handwriting Il largely pursued both for
pleasure and for profit, experts claiming
that the hidden nature OF tho most re-
seryed man or woman win infallibly
creep out through the finger ends and
proclaim itself truly TO tho pracdced
eye; that the twist Of IN -" or the cross
Of 1T" may indicate the soul OF saint
or the instincts Of . sinner, while In the
lilliputian dotlst Of an II" may Turk Q
whole history Of Hypocrisy or honesty
kindliness or cruelty.
It may be 90. II may be that, whiie
the subject matter II absorbing the
mind, well trained by worldly wisdom
to lie, the unspphisticated soul alps out
In tho ungulD 4ed formation Of the In
finite variety Of curve and dash which Is
called handwriting.
II seems, then, that. though the eye IL
the window Of the soul, tho hand 10 GER
tainly the door from which 1t issues
forth into the world, for none need to DO
experts to recognize at once the char
acter of man or woman when engaged In
the grand old greeting called handshak'
ing.
Variety in handwriting may be infinite.
but In Il not 20 In handshakingf And.
a. means to unveil hidden thoughts or
feelings the latter test must surely DO
the better. for people write In truth or
falsehood and their writing remains the
same, but II people greet hypocrtically,
though their words follow their wit, their
hands grasp those they greet a. their
hearts alone command.
Handwriting, therefore, while In gen
eral style It may serve to indicate the
character, may also, by individual appli-
cation, mark the true relation In which
the factors stand.
Who has not felt the cold. metallic.
avaricious grasp, devoid Of warmth or
feeling. with which q man OF business
welcomes your Does not something
creep out Of his finger tips. telling you
that while his voice says, "How do you
dor his heart feels. elbow much shall !
mako out Of your
Have not all experienced the jerk OF
the man who Stimulates intense delight
In the meeting. but involuntarily drops
your paw rs II he were afraid 1t would
burn himl He probably owes you money,
and his handwriting tells you that his
10y In the encounter Is all a sham.
On the other hand. many are aware,
though the experience Ii more rare, how
the grip Of a friend whose heart 10 sin.
cere sends thrill through their own,
and In that moment they know that he
reads them as clearly and truly as they
understand him. Then It Is their turn
to drop or retain their warm grasp, as
their instincts dictate. But their In.
stincts alone are their rulers.
Again every one knows, or will know
sooner or later, that handshaking and
loyemaking are inseparable. When love
sin the soul, does It not creep out at the
finger tips and tell Its tale Of gladness OF
woe quicker and more surely than by
any other channeli Come, all you noble
army of experts In handwriting, can you
tell "Does my Phyllis love me truly
though you are shown q gross OF her let.
tiers, And can you mistake that tiinid
yet trustful pressure of her dainty digits
as they meet yours and linger awhile like
kiss. then drop gently away like u tear
Examples such rs these prove that In
the shaking Of hands individual relations
are revealed and thoughts may undoubt'
edly be read. Bya more general appli
cation this process may typify character
and broad outline Of soul.
Old wise women say that "a cold hand
and warm heart" are always asso
ciated. Some venture to think that ex
perience proves this to DO fallacy. al
least as concerns the method Of shaking
hands. A warm, steady pressure, which
reveals the pulsation Of life, Is surely the
habit Of those whose hearts overflow with
the milk Of human kindness whereas q
cold, inanimate touch Is the natural style
Of those Unconditional machines called
heartless humanity.
This Is generally recognized, and as al
virtues are aped and exaggerated 40 q
certain class. In their anxiety to impress
their friendships. torture their victims tc
the extent of the thumbscrew. But the
boarding school miss, who will listlessly
lay her hand In yours, must not be toe
hastily judged. for her manner proclaimi
that her character rs yet Is not formed
and matured to the icy cold dame, the
warm. loving woman, or the fast. Eighty
tickle and insincere ape.
The man who shakes your hand VIC.
lently up and down. then drops 1t with
an air Of having done his duty, suggests
such thoughts as nodded into word,
might say: "Therel Don't say ] didn't
shake hands with you, whatever else you
may say" and thus tho fact that he mis
trusts you Is implied.
The handshaking Of the man who, by
prolonged pressure. causes unessiness
should probably be read an overweaning
value of the favors he confers and anx'
iety that you should not underestimate
his friendship. Such man may DO set
down as q victim to conceit. but con.
sciously lacking the fuel on which to
feed his master.
The hasty snatch, and still more hasty
Gingaway. Is preferable to either Of these
modes. for II betrays self reliant spirit
and happy Indifference to good or bad
repute. The man with this method Of
hand shaking Is at least no hypocrite. and
that Ii as near as most men come to hon.
esty.
The absurd practice Of giving one OF
two fingers only always seems deliber.
ate insult, and Is doubtless 50 translated
by all students Of handshaking. II Is a
glaring proof Of littleness. The heart
and mind may be judged to be proper
Tomato with the part proffered.
The method Of shaking hands adopted
by great men has often been described,
although modern interviewers systeinat.
ically ignore this and give preference to
minute details OF dress and immediate
surroundings.-New York Times.