Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-01-21
E4lTE-ls3

| fty. When a man-of-war or a fortress thunders
forth a national welcome it is in recognition OF
spirit of sInity and friendship extended
| through the flag it exhibits while
so honoring. The principle of submission
| is emphasized in the act of sentry pre-
| senting arms and an officer lowering the point
! of bis sword and incining the colors of a regi-
meDt Removing the hat is in line with laying
aside the helmet as a token of friendly submis-
| sion and equality. The custom Of shaking
hands probably dates from the DAYS when all
men went armed, and the placing of right hand
In right hand would naturally imply mutual
disarmng, for SO long as the gesture lasted
neither party could well use arms of any de-
! scription.
An old English authority states that hand
shaking came into fashion IN the time of Henry
! H. Previous to that date they were in the
habit Of embracing and kissing one another.
Some of the tribes Of Arabia seize each other 3
right-hand thumb in their right hand and go
through the entire list of their relations,
changing the grasp each relative is named.
How is your father" grasps BIS thumb.
"How is your mother?'' b grasps As thumb
"How is your uncie?' Grasp. How is your
aunt Grasp. Your cousin, nephew, grand
father &c, and until the list is exhausted.
The Persian saves himself all this trouble by
simply touching his forehead with his right
hand.
Mr.. and Mrs. is said to have originated as fol-
lows: In earlier times the ordinary man was
simply William or John. Some means of dis
| tinguishing one John or William from another
John or William became necessary. Nicknames
derived from a mans trade or from his dwelling
place, or from some personal popularity, were
tackled on to their Christian names, and plain
John became John Smith Some one accumu.
lated more wealth than the balance Of his neigh
| bors and was termed in the Norman French Of
6ax fhn
tackled on before his name and he became
| master and his wife mistress. Gradually the
title was conferred upon any man who had at
tanned social distinction of any kind 1t ia only
within comparatively modern times that the
term came to be considered an almost indis-
pensable adjunct to every ones name when
mentioned in ordinary conversation or writing.
ORIGIN OF KISSING IN ENGLAND.
According to Collet 1.-The pleasant practice
of kissing was utterly Impractical and unknown
in England till the fair Princess Rouix
(Rowene), the daughter of King Hougist of
Friesland, pressed the bearer with her Lpkins
and saluted the anorous Vortigern with a hus-
jen" Qittle klss). But the English maids and
men took very kindly to the practice of kissing
and from them the Scotch are said to have taken
lesson. When James of Scotland met Anne
OF Denmark he Was going to kiss her after the
English fashion. but Anne did not ap-
prove of such familiarity and repulsed
him. Yet after he had had some pri-
vate talk with her aside she became more
amenabe, and suffered him to kiss her in the
presence of the whole court. There are a num-
Der Of historic kisses worthy of mention but
which scarcely belong to a sketch of this char
acter. Shakespeare records kisses of all kinds
including the treacherous kiss of Brutus, the
kisses of Othe,lo, Romeo's kiss in the vault
that of Bassanio when the contents of the
leaden casket gave him the rich prize. and
Artv, Av,%z ss@Hz
the poor last lay upon thy lips" Titania. too.
kissed ''the fair large ears of her gentle joy"
and well worthy of mention are the quaint kisses
OF Pyramus and Ihisbe.
When Cavendish, the well-known biographer
Of Cardinal Wolsey. happened to visit a French
nobleman ut his chateau the lady on entering
the room. with her train of attendant maideBs,
addressed him with these words: 'For as much
as We be an Englishman. whose custom it is in
your country to kiss all ladies' and gentlemen
without offense, and although it be not SO in
this realm, yet will be so bold to kiss you and
80 shal all my maidens."
Steele, in writing of kissing, states: "Nature
was its author and that it began with the first
courtship." Certain il is that the custom ex-
listed Il. c. 1850, and in Genesis, 1926, is
found the following: "And his father Isaac
said unto him, Come near now and kiss me, my
son."
In early times the act of kissing was regarded
as sign of homage or respect; and, in Homer.
Priam is represented kissing the hands OF
Achilles when duplicating for the body of
Hector. Disraeli in his "Curiosities of Liter
ature." remarks how 1.-THE great respect paid to
the tribunes, eorsus dictators obliged indi-
viduals to live with them in n more distant and
respectful manner; and instead of embracing
them as they did formerly. they considered
themselves ms fortunate il allowed to kiss their
hands. Under the emperors kissing hands be-
came an essential duty, even for the great
themselves"
SIGN OF TENDER RESPECT.
Kissing was formerly sign Of tender respect
and reverence. Thus Joab took Amasa with the
right hand By the beard to kiss him, and the
custom prevails to this day, after long separa-
ton. In Arabia it is more common TO put
cheeks together. The worshipers of Baal used
to kiss or throw kisses to their god. The kiss
ing OF the cheek or mouth. which is scarcely any
longer accounted with us token of reverence,
was regarded in this light by the ancient Per-
slams. Cyprus Is represented in "Cyropardia"
IA kissing his grandfather, because
he wished to honor him." The kissing of the
hand. of the foot (stil perpetuated ecclesiastic-
ally in the salutstions OF the papal toe), OF the
hem of the garment and even of the footprint
| furnished humber and humber gradations to
| those who were considered unworthy to kiss
| a higher part of the body. The kiss of peace"
| in the early church was a mode of greeting
which sprung from the oriental element
| the custom of kissing hands il not only verv
| ancient but has always formed one OF the lead
| ing points OF etiquette and ceremonial, both in
| religion and society. The ancient fire worship
| ers sauted the sun, moon and stars by kissing
| the hand toward them and probably the Oldest
| reference to this custom is that in which Job
disclaims having joined in this worship. The
custom was universal in Greece and Suctan,
having mentioned the various sacrifices offered
| by the rich to the gods. adds that the poor
adored By kissing their hands. 1t was also
| familiar to the Romans. Phny mentions
it as one of those ancient customs the
origin of which was unknown and
kiss their hands toward the shrine on entering
| monial easily became interviewer with the
| a custom with the primitive bishops to give
at the altar. Mr.. Norm. who collected n large
number OF notes upon this custom, says: 1T
is meek form, which expresses reconciliation.
entreats favors or returns thanks for those re-
| ceiyed. 1t is o universal language. which
doubtless preceded writing and perhaps speech
ITSELF
The deeply religious character Of tho orien-
\ tails showed itself especially in their saluta-
| tons. The Hebrew word barak, "to bless, -
had all the meanings OF ssluting, welcoming
and bidding adieu, the person spoken to being
1 in each case commended to God. Blessed be
| thou Of the Lord, THE Lord be with YOU
are instances which illustrate the usage OF the
word. They are paralleled by the Arabi&h
GOD grant thee His favors." MAY your