The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-03-05
THE SHAKING OF HAMS
BETTER AS AN INDEX TO CHAp,
TER THAN HANDWRITING

Cd
DeliEht-And Then There's the a.
Of a Frisnd-Mr. Cleveland's Tbras
Stages.
From the New York Times.
The study OF character, as indicated -
handwriting, is largely pursued both r.,
pleasure and for profit, experts cIainins
that the hidden nature of the most rese-7.1
man or woman will infallibly Green ou,
through the finger ends and proclaim itsaI,
truly to the prscticed eye; that the twis. a,
an $50 or the cross Of st" may indicata
the soul Of a saint or the instincts Of a sin.
ner; while in the lilliputian dotlet Of An ,.tp
may Turk whole history of hypocrisy n,
honesty, kindliness or cruelty.
1t may be so. 1t may be that, while The
subject matter is absorbing the mind. wall
trained by worldly wisdom to lie, the I'm.
sophisticated soul slips out in the unguardsd
formation OF the infinite variety of curva
and dash which is called handwriting.
1t seems, then, that, though the eve !,
the window Of the soul, the hand Is csr.
tainly the door from which it issues forth
into the world; for none need TO be exper.a
to recognize at once the character of man
or woman when engaged in the grand o6
greeting called Handwriting.
Variety in handwriting may be infnita
but Is it not so in handshakingl And ass
means to unveil hidden thoughts or fseI'
ings the latter test must surely be the bat.
ter, for people write in truth or falsehood
and their writing remains the same; bnt h
people greet hypocritically, though thsir
words follow their wit, their hands grssp
those they greet as their hearts alone com.
mand.
Handshaking, therefore, while In general
style it may serve to indicate the character
may also, by individual application, mark
the true relation in which the factors stand.
Who has not felt the cold, metallic, ava.
ricious grasp, devoid Of warmth or feeling.
with which man of business welcomes
you2 Does not something creep out of his
finger tips, telling you that, while his voice
says, chow do you doG" his heart feels,
How much shall make out of your
Have not all experienced the jerk OF thu
man who Stimulates intense delight in the
meeting but involuntarily drops your paw
as If he were afraid 1t would burn him. He
probably owes you money, and his hand.
shaking tells you that his Joy in the en-.
counter is all a sham.
On the other hand, many are aware,
though the experience is more rare, how the
grip of friend whose heart is sincere sends
q thrill through their own, and 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 his warm GRASP,
as their instincts dictate. But their instincts
alone are their rulers.
Again, every one knows, or will know
sooner or later, that handshaking and love-
making are inseparable. When love is in
the soul, does 10 not creep out at the finger
tips and tell its tale of gladness or woe
quicker and more surely than by any other
channel! Come, all you noble army Of ax-
perts III handwriting, can you tell Does
my Phyllis love me truly" though you are
shown a grosI of her letters9 And can you
mistake that timid yet trustful pressure Of
her dainty dglts as they meet yours and
linger awhile, like kiss; then drop gently
away, like a tear.
Examples such as these prove that IN the
shaking Of hands individual relations are
revealed and thoughts may undoubtedly be
read. By q more general application this
process may typify character and broad
outline Of soul
Old wise women say that "a cold hand
and warm heart" are always associated.
Some venture to think that exDeriencs
proves this TO be fallscy, at least as con-
Germs the method Of shaking hands. A
warm. steady pressure. which reveals the
pulsation of llfe is surely the habit OF those
whose hearts overflow with the milk Of hu'
man kindness; whereas a cold, lnanimate
touch Is the natural style Of those unemo-
tional machines called heartless humanity.
This is generally recognized, and as all
virtues are sped and exaggerated, so q GER
tain class, in their anxiety to impress their
friendships torture their victims to the ex'
tent OF the thumbscrew. But the boarding
school miss, who will listlessly lay her hand
in yours, must not be too hastily judged,
for her manner proclaims that her
character as yet is not formed and matured
to the icy-cold dame, the warm, loving
woman, OF the fast, Eighty, tickle and in
sincere ape.
The man who shakes your hand violently
up and down, then drops it with an cir OF
having done his duty, suggests such
thoughts as nodded into words might say
"There Don't say didn't shake bands
with you, whatever else you may say and
thus the fact that he mistrusts you is im'
piled.
The handwriting of the man who by
prolonged pressure, causes uneaslness
should probably be read an overweanlng
value of the favors he confers and anxiety
that you should not underestimate ns
friendship. Such a man may be set down
as victim to conceit, but consciously lacA'
ing the fuel on which to feed bis master.
The hasty snatch, and still more hssy
fling away, is preferable to either OF bneSe
modes; for it betrays a self-reliaut spTls
and happy Indifference to good or bad re-
puue. The man with this method OF hana
shaking is at least no hypocrlte, and tna'H
as near as most men come to honesty
The absurd practice of giving one or Two
fingers only always seems q deliberate ~,
suit, and is doubtless so translated by 81
students of handwriting. 1t is glalius
proof Of littleness. The heart and nlnu
may be judged to be proportionate Wltn 'us
part proffered.
The method of shaking hands adopted y
great men has often been descriDeu'
although modern interviewers systemaE
cslly ignore this, and give preferences "
minute details Of dress and immediate sur
roundings.
1t is not proposed to quote examples u
support of the theory of character rea1ns
by means Of Handwriting, but the follo"! ~.
description of the manner adopted Dy sus
most popular American man OF the uS'
may just now be found of interest: ~.
x. Grover Cleveland performs the operahon
in three stages. First he takes your ou s,
stretched member softly in bis grasp So 'la To-
the fork of your stump and the FORK OF T M
are in the closest possible contact ana al
ance. Then you learn that the great ina aL.
hand is cool, soft, elastic, full OF tiny luz "
Giles, and all alive as IL we're. There - ~
assurance, invitation and interrogsi'D'
cordially, zest aud confidence. .
Now comes the grip in the second Slas
of the process. II is firm and decisive ~.
lasts as long as 1t takes to inquire after you,
health and bid Won welcome Lastly, JVu