Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1896-07-20
STUDYING CHARACTER.


self as the exponent of the ideas or feel
ing That's the broad, fiat footed state
ment that Amelia 4. Barr the novelist,
made in q 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 Bars. Her
name Is Adele Marie Graef, and she has a
brand new theory, or, at least, 1t Is new
in America, and she doesn't propose TO
prove 1t by leading u few persons or the
public, as fate or good luck will In such
cases, through three volume romance.
Miss Graet'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 10 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
beautiful custom existed in the old coun-
try. When baby was born, especially if it
was first child, model was made OF It's
hand and hung alongside of those OF Its
parents and grandparents. This was
mere 1latter of sentiment, and it Is only
of late wears 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 the
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 men
tai impression that he got was q setback,
for the young woman sat before table
studying three plaster models of hands,
and every one of them was the hand OF
man
$50 you want to see some of my mod
oils and know more of my theory" said
the artist graciously, carefully noting the
curve of the cynic's mouth.
Eyes, I &c" he answered. "Now, of
course, know it's very much Ike palm
istry"-
''Not at all, !" interrupted the artist II
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 70 that of palm
istry from the word casts, as If were
taking casts Of horoscopes or dealing 9TH
erwise with the transcendental arts On
the contrary, mine is Il purely scientific In
vestigation. For years | 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 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
90 and nationalities All winter I've been
modelling the hands of prominent men
and women here, and I've made models of
the 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 expires
sion of the nerve thoughts should natural
IL be sought in the hand rather than in
the eye, mouth or other features usually
relied upon for character reading.
My 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 favoritc position OF the
hand when in repose, for this tells much
of the temperament and natural character
istics of the subject. I can tell whether
person is inclined to lung or acute diseases
or to insanity, and I can also tell whether
he would steal or commit murder
The cypic smiled, but ran his hands
down in his trousers pockets little un-
easily.
Miss Graef passed on to n model of Sa-
rah Bernhard s hand, which she made just
before the actress left the city.
''This is one Of the quccrcst hands I've
ever modelled" she began. 1T denotes
two distinct natures. Itexprcsses extreme
affection, devotion and passion on the one
side, and on the other revenge, and the
length and character of Nine. Bernhardt's
forearm show that she has the strength TO
control, command and conquer any of
these peculiarities at will. She has an cx-
ceedingly thick palm, which indicates her
ardent temperament and tells lis that she
Is able TO throw out much and hold much.
"Her pointed fingers are not in harmo-
ny with her thick palms and they tell the
tale of rcvengcful nature. Idon't believe
she INDUCES in revenge, but 1t Is In her
to do so. Tho fingers are very short com
pared with the length of the palm, and she
usually keeps her hand clinchcd, slightly
projecting the index finger, and thereby
unconsciousiy holding tho vibrations OF
her force power In reserve for her work.
Sarah goes to tho utmost degree Of excita-
bility in everything. Her nerves are strung
up to their tensest pitch until after her
work is done, and then there Is q complete
relaxation until her nerve force is again
necessary. She picks up her force powers
On puts them down in an instant, and that
is the secret Of her power and immortal
youth.
LET me sec your hand, said Miss
Graef suddenly to the cynic
He threw his left one up rs If n train
robber from the wild and woolly west had
accosted him. and then said, from sheer
force of habit;
I" a royal straight flush. "
II know oil about 1t without your tell
ing me anything" she said with laugh.
"Oh, what flexible hand you havel" she
cried out IN amazcment. why, you could
adapt yourself to any people or any circum-
stances.
Guess that's pretty much my business
latterly," he answered
"But for all that you are coward, "
she went on you arc not suited with the
way things arc going. You make up your
mind to say certain things to certain pco-
pie, but when the time comcsy You don't do
it. You put off unpleasant things instead
of getting over with them"
"Gee whilikens! but you are worse than
a Roentgen ray New York Sun