Evening journal., 1896-08-05
SECRETS IN HANDS.
BUT THERE IS A YOUNG WOMAN m
NEW YORK WHO READS THEM.

Their Possessors' wills.
Nowadays, If man or a woman has a
theory TO air, the novel at once suggests it
self as the exponent of the ideas or feel
ing" That's the broad, fiat footed state
ment that Amelia E. Barr, the novelist,
made in a speech before the members of
Sorosis recently. Now, there's a young
woman In this town who stands ready to
challenge this opinion Of Miss Barr's. Her
name is Adele Marie Graef, and she has a
brand new theory, or, at least, it is new
IN America, and she doesn't propose to
prove 1t by leading a few persons or the
public, as fate or good luck win in such
cases, through a three volume romance.
Miss Graef's theory is that the hand is
the index, In very great degree, of the will
and other mental faculties, and, this being
granted, she has undertaken TO read from
the hand, or models of the hands, the men
tai temperament and character. She has
convinced some people, and they are hav-
ing their own hands modelled and read,
and those Of their babies, if they happen
to have any, as well Ever so long ago a
beautiful custom existed in the old coun-
try. When baby was born especially if it
was first child, model was made Of its
hand and hung alongside of those of its
parents and grandparents This was a
mere matter of sentiment, and 1t is only
of late years that the scientific value Of
such casts has become known. When in
fants grew up and became engaged, the
bride and bridegroom TO be exchanged tho
models Of their baby hands
A cynic who had heard just enough of
the new theory to make him little more
cynical than usual strolled into Miss
Graef's pretty studio the other day to find
out more about her belief. The first mem
tai impression that he got was a setback,
for the young woman sat before a table
studying three plaster models Of hands,
and every one of them was the hand of a
man.
So you want to see some Of my mod
els and know more Of my theory" said
the artist graciously, carefully noting the
curve of the cynic's mouth.
"Yes, 1 do, he answered. "Now, of
course, know it's very much like palm
istry'-
mot at all, " interrupted the artist. "I
have undertaken to prove the connection
between art and anatomy, and presume
that you, like many Others get the idea
that my theory is similar to that of palm
istry from the word casts, as IL / were
taking casts Of horoscopes or dealing 9th
erwise with the transcendental arts. On
the contrary, mine is a purely scientific in
vestigation For years l have Travelled all
over this country, visiting hundreds of
asylums, prisons, sanitariums, Poorhouses,
hospitals and other public institutions of
all classes, always with this theory in
mind 1 spent my summers at fashionable
resorts, for there one sees human nature
in all its phases, and I've done nothing
but study, study, study people Of all class
es and nationalities. All winter I've been
modelling the hands of prominent men
and women here and I've made models Of
tho hands of many citizens in public and
private life
81 proceed on the theory that the hand
is connected with the motor center, is the
executor of the will, and that the express
sion of tho nerve thoughts should natural
/ ly be sought in the hand rather than in
the eye, mouth or other features usually
/ relied upon for character reading.
"Aly theory has proved itself. At first
when people began TO have their hands
modelled they didn't pay much attention
| to the character reading Now, that's the
| reason they have them modelled. / always
manage to take the favorite position of the
| hand when in repose, for this tells much
i of the temperament and natural character
istics of the subject. can tell whether a
| person is inclined to lung or acute diseases
or to insanity, and ] can also tell whether
he would steal or commit murder
The cynic smiled, but ran his hands
down in his trousers pockets a little un-
easily.
Miss Graef passed on TO a model of Sa-
rah Bernhardts s hand, which she made just
before the actress left the city.
"This is one of the queerest hands I've
ever modelled" she began. 1T denotes
two distinct natures. 1texpresses extreme
affection, devotion and passion on the one
side, and on the other revenge, and the
length and character of Nine Bernhardt'
forearm show that she has the strength tC
/ control, command and conquer any OF
these peculiarities at will She has an ex
ceedingly thick palm, which indicates hel
ardent temperament and tells MS that she
is able TO throw out much andShold much.
"Her pointed fingers are not in harmo
ny with her thick palms, and they tell the
tale of a revengeful nature. 1 don't believ,
she indulges in revenge, but it is in hel
70 do so. The fingers arc very short com
pared with the length of the palm, and she
usually keeps her hand clinched slightly
projecting the index finger, and thereby
unconsciously holding the vibrations o
her force power in reserve for her work
Sarah goes TO tho utmost degree of oxcita
bility in everything. Her nerves are strung
/ up to their tonsest pitch until after hel
work is done, and then there is a complete
relaxation until her nerve force is AGAR
necessary. She picks up her force power
OF puts them down in an instant, and tina
is the secret of her power and immorta
youth.
Let me see your hand" said Mis-
Graef suddenly TO the cynic.
He threw his left one up as If a traiI
robbcr from the wild and woolly west haS
accosted him, and then said, from shce
force of habit;
A royal straight flush. "
Il know all about it without your tell
ing me anything" she said with a laugh
"Oh, what a flexible hand you havep' sh
cried out in amazoment "Why, you coul'
adapt yourself to any people or any circum
stances
Guess that's pretty much my bushes
lattcrly," no answered
but for all that you are a coward,
she went on. "You are not suited with tn
way things are going. You make up you
| mind In esv certain IthinrS TO certain REQ