The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-02-11
ATLANTA'S KISSING FAD.
A SYMPOSIUM UPON THE DELECTA-
BILE SUBJECT.


lanta. brought out through the publication
of letter written by a society leader of
that city, In which she denounced the
prevalence of kissing at social functions
has set the city all agog. The Atlanta
journal has taken the pains to compile a
symposium on kissing, for the material OF
which it has levied upon a number of
prominent men of the capital, as well as
upon history, poetry and legend. The SYM
postum begins at the beginning, with a
story of the discovery of the kiss:
An old legend of the origin of the kiss
goes back to the days when the god Pan
ruled our shepherds and shepherdesses
with unrelenting severity.
In Greece there lived a youth one Kls-
themes, who fell in love with Euribides'
the beautiful daughter Of his employer.
Kisthenes up on the mountain side blew
sweet music on his shepherds reed, and
Euribides, minding her sheep in the val
ley below. listened and loved.
AS time went on. Kisthenes gathered
courage to confess his love, which Euri-
bides reciprocated with all her heart.
One day while Kisthenes was watching
his sheep his eye was attracted by gilt
tering object on the hillside. Reaching it,
he found it to be precious stone of much
value, and thinking what pleasure it
would give his sweetheart 10 possess this
stone, off he started to give 1t to her. I'M
mediately there was loud noise, and the
god Pan clattered up and demanded the
stone, which he claimed as his own. Kis-
themes, 10th to part with so splendid a
gift for his young sweetheart, rushed off
wildly, reaching her in the fields below,
with Pan angrily pursuing. Reaching her,
he forced the stone into her lips wide
parted with surprise at this unexpected
scene. Kisthenes explained pantingly,
Pan frowned ferociously and Eurbides,
womanlike, chung TO her lover and the
stone as well. BY dint of reasoning Pan
was induced to leave the young lovers
with their stone, on conditions of for
felt.
After Pan withdrew Kisthenes threw his
arms about his loved one and asked TO
see the stone which had caused so much
alarm. But his arms about her pinioned
hers to her side, and she could only smll-
ingiy display it between her
rosy lips. Kisthenes bent his
head until his lips touched
gotten-and the act of kissing was known
to the world.
So pleased was Euribides that she told
her best friend, who told her lover and
so on, until all Greece knew of the happy
lovers discovery. This couple of legen-
dairy romance are supposed to be Adam
and Eve.
Mayor Collier said:
''As Mayor of the city, 1t would probably
not be proper for me to give an official
opinion regarding such an important ques-
tion, and one, too, which the learned men
OF all great nations are unable TO decide to
the satisfaction Of all persons.
When was young and everything was
sunshine, l was heartily in favor of kiss
ing.
"Of course, the girl was to be pretty and
the time and place acceptable. Now that
have passed this period l do not feel that
should hamper the rights of others. Kiss
Ing Is an art, and both giver and receiver
should be experts to secure the proper eff
feet. Seriously speaking, love should be
the judge in all such cases.
Colonel I want to interview you" The
Secretary of State held up warning hand.
mo politics." he was assured, and then
Col. Gambler looked more pleasantly upon
the reporter.
TITS simply question of kissing which
has or has not become a fad in Atlanta
What do you think Of the practice?"
ITS an institution of which 1 am very
fond, replied the colonel smiingly, pro
vided the party of the second part is good
looking. That's all 1 know about it,
1T reminds me" he continued, of Con-
necticut girls definition of kissing. She
asked me:
Colonel, why is a kiss like creation?' "
Col. Gambler didn't say whether he ven
tured guess, but he gave the Connecticut
girls explanation.
Because, colonel it is made out of
nothing and God knows it's good"
State Treasurer Speer strolled into the
room about this time and he, too, ventur-
ed an opinion.
II think kissing is a good thing If the
parties can agree" he said eonservatively.
ut won't do to force such matters think
people ought to be very CAREFUL
Capt Oscar Brown, acting adjutant gem
eral. seemed 10 regard the topic as dam
gerous.
81 have no expert knowledge to warrant
an opinion and l am surprised to hear that
1t has become so much of a fad as to
need warning cry from any one"
Controller General Wright holds peculiar
views on the subject of kissing He evil
IDENTIFY sees in it an element of hazard
Which has not entirely to do with microbes
He said:
"A one-legged man has got no right to
discuss kissing. When a man goes into
1t promiscuously he needs legs"
Perhaps you will explain why?''
II leave you to infer" the controller re-
piled.
Mr.. G. l.. Norman said: Judging from
my own experience, there is not much
kissing going on in Atlanta l stand in
with the young ladies pretty well, but
they never give me any chance at il, so
believe the Journals correspondent is
wrong in her opinion about Atlanta So
ciety. If the lady who made these state
ments will give me some pointers, 1 will
Investigate the matter, and If she is right
will be able later to tell your something
about it,"
Rev. Sam Jones, who was in the city
yesterday, was asked what he thought Of
kissing. He said:
"A nod of the head is a recognition of
the passer by; a shake OF the hand is a
courtesy between friends; but when 1t
comes TO a kiss, then we had better stop
and ask some questions. First, who is
1t that wants a kiss, and what is he go
ing TO do with II after he gets 1t? What
will follow this kiss, or these kisses ?
Really. first class gentlemen and really
first class ladies don't do much kissing