Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-12-07
THE ART OF KISSING.
Scientific Twaddle About the Dangers
of Oscillation.

of Osculntion.
From the Boston Herald.
1t is announced that strenuous efforts are
to be made to reinstate this gentle art in the
polite world, and to render the act, what it
some time ago ceased to be- an evidence of
good faith. From all accounts the fear of
this pleasing contact being a means Of dis
seminating disease has now passed away,
and believers in the practice scott a the idea
Of any danger arising from kiss given in
amity.
Physicians were the first to interfere with
these prerogatives of affection, but that was
only natural, considering how germ ridden
the pathological mind ever is, and how, to
the scientists eye, every breath is drawn
with peril to the community at large. The
round, rosy cheek of childhood must be left
impressed by the parental lips; the warm.
young mouth that seeks the mothers with
such baby ardor must be avoided, the cling
Ing. twinlng arms must be unclasped from
around her neck, because unhallowed mi
crobes hover about the human frame.
Cases of eXcruciating bitterness are cited
as the result of these tender demonstrations,
but when the love of mother comes into
the question, the Doctors warning fails on a
dull understanding. Because the Princess
Alice died from kissing her little son, who in
his death struggle chung to the mother who
had given him birth, 1t does not argue that
without the sweet caress she would have
escaped. Better. perhaps. that both mother
and child should pass away than for the
yearning of helpless little child to be re-
pulsed at such moment.
This may be sentiment, but then. If ever,
the cold blooded tendency Is to be deplored
from even the most common sense point of
view. At all events, the northern races are
unlikely to carry OSCILLATION to any excess,
and the reckless kissing noticed between
people OF the Latin races will scarcely worry
W for ernrr 70
orally Influenced by climate. Nevertheless,
a rumor that has come across the Atlantic
ocean this week will throw bomb into the
camp of our medical fraternity. 1t is only a
rumor as yet. but experience warns US to
take 1t for all 1t is worth, and look out for
breakers at the same time. 1t appears no less
a parsonage than the King Of Portugal has
been kissing his male relatives, to say moth
ing of those of the gentler sex, with the ut
most abandon, and, though phlegmatic Eng
ishmen do not like it, they cannot resist the
impact of royalty. without grevious COM
ment from the kisser.
A gentleman is presented to his Portuguese
majesty. and 10! jolly. good tempered Carlos
gives him smack that would do credit to a
sailor just on shore. Fear was expressed by
the Prince of Wales that his mother might
not relish having her welcome met with a
kiss. but 1t did not deter the fat king from
giving her majesty good one, right on the
cheek, after he had duly saluted the royal
hand. And now, continues rumor, the MEN,
bers of the court are following the king s
example among themselves. Nobody really
likes the seeming familiarity, but the Eng
fish handshake and cold Good day" per-
tanning to high life have certainly received
setback that promises to revive the gentle
art of kissing. When not INDUCED in to re-
pletion 1t is pretty, graceful expression of
regard. OF course, among the undemonstra-
tive the idea excites levity, but Its opponents
should bear in mind that even Scripture bids
US greet our brother with holy kiss.