Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1902-10-02
SPELL OF THE KISSING PALM.
So Potent, Says This Account, That
1t Has Made at Least One Man
Kiss His MOther-in-Law.

Among. h OF washington
there probably is not to be found to.
day anything more remarkable than
a specimen of plant life now in the
possession of the department of ag-
riculture and basking in the grateful
warmth of one of the greenhouses OF
the department on the mall. This rare
and almost priceless curiosity, says
the Washington Post, is none other
than the famous kissing PALM" or,
scientifically designated, the "Palmet-
to osculari," and heretofore believed
by many to exist only as a myth. That
such a belief should obtain, however,
is not to be wondered at when the
marvellous nature of the botanical spec
linen is considered and it's extreme
rarity taken into account.
The palm derives it's name and its
scientific value from it's wonderful in
fuence over all persons who come
within a given radius of it. This in
fuence, as powerful as the strongest
magnet, insinuating as a perfume, is
- eXerted upon any and all and finds
expression in an irresistible impulse
to indulge in kissing, and only by fee
ing the presence of the plant can the
influence be thrown off. Young men
and women and middle-aged persons.
prosaic married couples and aged peo-
pie. while in the presence of the palm,
have found themselves enthusiastical-
w rant1Tn1S1u anctnttnpnr lfrrtrn
their companions of the opposite sex.
Many of these persons, entirely IN
aware of the influence eXerted upon
them, have marveled greatly at their
unaccustomed actions when once away
from the plant, but in many cases
the power of the palm has been such
that they have found themselves I'M
consciously straying back to its vi
entity, only to find themselves enjoy
ing the osculatory delights with the
same abandon as before.
In a number of cases, where there
have been several in the party, a mar
or woman of especially ardent nature
has been known to not confine the lip
tribute to any one member of the
party, but to favor all the opposite
sex. One man, it is said, was so far
carried away by the influence, as to
kiss his mother-in-law, and she, stran-
ger still, returned the salute with a
wild fervor that took away his breath.
This, however, is said to be a most
unusual case and the only ONT so far
recorded locally, and it is only men
toned now to show the wonderful
power Of the Palmetto osculari.
Young couples who, because of
timidity or %difidence, have found it
impossible to crafty their wish to
break away from the formal "Mr."
or Miss" in their remarks addressed
to each other, have suddenly discov-
cred themselves saying George and
"Jessie," or "Mary" and 'John," quite
naturally, this during what little time
and what little breath they found
themselves possessed of between sa-
lutes of an osculatory nature. Among
those who have been found returning
to the palm most frequently and whose
visits are longest are the couples of
this class, and it is said the reserve
that stood as a barrier between them
and acted as a minimizing factor in
their joys never returns. How many
engagements and marriages have re-
suited because of proximity to the
plant will never be known, but the
number must be a goodly one.
Married people who have come to
look at matters in a less sentimental
light than in their earlier years have
had recalled the joys of courtship and
the honeymoon, and through this re-
hinder of that happy period, with the
lovefiame alight once again, have gone
forth from the warmth of the palm
house into the bright sunshine of a
better, happier marital existence.
Those with hair whitened by the frosts
Of many winters, who have CHANGED
uear the plant, have found its influ-
snce just as potent for them; and at
least one breach Of promise suit Of the
May and December variety can be d.
rectly traced to the occult influence
If the kissing palm" Now that the
Facts are known, it is quite possible
that testimony as to the plant will be
introduced as evidence, and if this is
done it will no doubt result in bring
ing out much that will be Of interest
and Of real scientific value concern
ing this remarkable and hitherto lit
tie known botanical specimen.
The extraordinary character Of the
palm is only equaled by its scarcity.
1t could almost be said to be extinct
were it not for the fact that at NO