The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-07-30
IN EPIDEMIC Of KISSES.
VIEWS FROM A SCIENTIST ON ~
STRANGE SERIES or rACTA
Treats Hohsenss kissing Tear
Erom = pashsle9tcal SsanADoAAt-
.infamtes Of spain. One Cause

The epidemic of kssees which attended
Lieut.. Hohson's tour after his sinking Of
the Merrinac was the subject Of world
wide comment and not little unksnd
criticism. In the August number ef the
Paii Mall Magazine Prot. Caesar LoIn-
hrcso. the eminent Italian ersmsnoiosiss
AID psychologist, comes To the rescue &C
the brave lieutenant and his admirers In
a remarkable and extremely interesting
article. in which he treats the rheaone-
non from pathological standpoint under
1--WE headings follows: l. AnKlo-Saxen
Reserve. :. Maternal Origin OF the KISS:
3 SuxSestfhility of the Crowd: Z The
Kiss: an Emblem OF veneratioa: s. Hob.
son Worthy OF Enthusiasm.
Prof i>omhrosc thinks that "the impe-
rialisstco- military araor kindled in the
United States by the infamies OF Spain. 40
contrary TO American feeling and ira
sastion." WAS a subsidiary cause OF the
manifestation which. he goes on TO say.
.'iosss much az its indeaicscy when we re-
member that the Kiss may bear many In
terpresstions besides that Of love. II has
been said that the kiss ia the symbol of
love ana respect. Of friendship and graft
tude; that IL is token Of peace aud char
ity. that IL has somewhat the nature OF II
pledge. We see. therefore. that above and
beyond the maternal and the ameraus tho
Kiss is a symbol Of respect and venera-
ton. ana we may add OF fellowship. ST.
Paul exhorsed his followers 10 kiss In
token of fellowship Greet 70 ono AM
other with an holy kiss.'
As mark OF reverence Il Is yet moro
common. The Persians.' writes Keno
phen. kissed all whom hey held In ven-
Grafton. The Syrans and Phoenlctans d.
rected kisses towards the statues Of the
gods. towards the sun and moon Job.
too, reaches OUT towards the sun aud
ham AD.n gSsf hs-t<t fla
rather amongst Catholics. the kiss was =
symbol not eniy OF fellowship but OF
alteration: they kissed relics and picturea
OF the saints.
"Inasrnuch as woman is less strong and
more excitsbie than man. whilst her pass
ssons are mere demopstrasive than his,
thc more prone is she TO express her ad-
miration; and her readiest outlet In a kiss.
Man gives vent TO his admiration by APP
plause and shouting.
Margaret OF Scotland. daughter Of
Louis Xl. passing through a room where
the eloquent French preacher Alain Char
tier lay sleeping, kissed him on th0
mouth. 1t IL not the man ! kiss She
said, hut the mouth whence issues such
sublime disedarse.' When Garibaidi rode
through Italy after tho Sicslian victories.
women were trampled under the horses.
feet In the attempt ~ kiss him, and they
had at last TO content themselves by kiss
ing his garments. The italian populace
has ever been known TO beg the favor OF
kissing the eiothes-~nay. the very hand
kerehief--of Don Bosco. who was only q
hAlf-canonixed saint of our own times.
"A year ago. when Xola's famous letter
J'accuse appeared. myself heard youue
and beautiful Italian lady. throhbsng with
enthusiasm and admiration for his fear
less conduct. exclaim in n large assembly.
II he were here would kiss him.' and
have no doubt the other ladies' present
would have followed her example.
Few men arc 20 worthy Of admiration
and enthusiasm rs Hobson. whose Merri-
mac exploit Is one OF tho hravest deeds oe
our own times; and the account Of Il.
given by the hero himself. was bound To
fomcnt the enthusiasm of his hearers,
who must have felt AZ though they had
been actually present. Under these cir.
cumstances the kissing phenomenon loses
much OF its pathological aspect. more
especially az women are always warm ad.
mirers OF military vaior. The very proea-
icism which permeates our times. especially
in America. makes these exceptional
deeds the more provocative Of admiration
and enthusiasm"
A. -