Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-10-17
THE QUEST OF BEAUTY
Hand Culture is the Very
Latest Fad.
WONDERFUL q ATHLETICS
Reminding TIE FINGERS Is THE
FIRST MOVE
After wringing Them vigorously the
Science in the Matter Will
Appear.
WONDERFUL ATHLETICS

ciety Is struck very hard by 1t.
1t need excite no surprise to see three or
four pretty girls in the dressing room upon
their arrival at party futtering and way
ing and twirlng their hands.
All it signifies is that they are making
those members benumbed, SO that they will
be at ease in company. This is part Of
the new method If you don't know what
to do with your hands, you have only to let
them hang at your sides, and wiring them
vigorously for about five minutes, before
making your appearance in the drawing
room; at the end of that time they will be
deprived of feeling to such an extent that
you will have no trouble with them for an
hour SO anyway.
Do this once or twice every day. and you
will find yourself becoming much more
easy about your hands. through the habit
of the thing. The effect is said to be really
wonderful, for, you see. it is simply that
the hands are so highly educated in this
mechanical age that they may almost be
said to have brains of their owR- 1t is diff
| hcult not to be conscious of them. there
fore, and that implies awkwardneSS.
Many ungainly movements would be over
come If children were taught to train their
hands by various exercises.
To the question, What shall 1 do with
my hands,? the old answer used to be,
Let them hang at the ends of your arms"
This would be all very well if it was added,
Let them fall easily, if hung by ropes,
and not strained into straight positions"
But before the art of disposing of the hands
gracefully can be acquired, a series of
hand athletics must be inaugurated. for
by means of whirling. twirling and fiingng,
ease, grace and manners may be acquired.
Strength and Character.
A hand supple and expressive, full of
strength and character, is beautiful, even
If 1t is not as white and shaDely as it
should be. Such hand may be more fas-
cinating than beautiful face, and nothing
more strongly marks the person Of birth
and breeding than a well-trained hand 1t
is often more eloquent than speech, ably
assisting the iIaldng tongue This is due
to the fact that there are more nerves be-
tween the brain and the hand than between
any other two portions of the body
The beauty of-the hand is trinity of pow
er, being ethical, mutual and physical
There is yet to be invented a scientific. in
strument which records more accurately its
accepted data than do the fingers the men
tai and psyehica force: the thumb the rea-
son and will power, and the palms the vi
tality of the-husnan being whose index
page they are
For the fnaIernent- called. hand 'flinging
bend tie elbow and extend the forearm
horizon talISft fSfwiafd = fiexing the wrist to
face the palm toward the body. Then fling
the hand rapfeiy 'etisewise up and down. as
fhSasa the s45siFPf the air or dropping water
arms forward with tie palms toward the
body, and then whirl The hands around
Again hold the forearm forward. with
palms turned IN, and shake the hand quick
ly from side, TO side, -.
- Go Slowly Now.
Extend the forearm forward horizontally,
hand openrand palm up; close the fist tight
iy, folding the thumb over the fingers; open
the hand and street.-The palm and fingers
p Extend both arms at right angles to The
body. the backs of the hands turned up
ward. Then, with even and cons slant move
p ment. each hand is bent upward downward
and sideways without moving the arm.
For The upward movement. bend the hand
from the wrist as far possible in the Ill
erection of the backs of the hands, and then
return to the original position.
Bend the hand .downwards as far as pos
aSible.- For the sideways movement, bend
alternately toward the thumb side and the
little finger side. During these movements
the fingers are first held together and then
extended. Slowly bend the fingers enough
to form a fist, and then quickly and for
chilly open them. Repeat several times
This is good "five-finger exercise for
shapeliness of band and suppeness of
wrist.
The Finger Moves
Then come the fingers Stick them out
force, and at arms length. Then close
them into a tight fist, bend them up bend
them down. and over and over again Then
shake and fiutter them until they are limp,
relaxed and soft. After this give each fin
ger a good kneading and rubbing to secure
good circulation. which keeps the fingers IS
well as the hand white and smooth For
this process begin with the fingers Hold
the tip of the finger between the thumb and
forefinger, passing them down the length of
the inner and outer surfaces of the finger
by one two quick movements the mo-
lions being from the extremity to the hand
Before beginning the process of kneadng
sit down for at least quarter of an hoilr
with your manicuring implements, bowl
of warm water and soft towel. Have
ready a firm nailbrush You don't need
soap, but little bath bag filed with bran
orris powder. shaved soap and powdered
borax, in about equal quantities. Mix al
we'll together, and divide into small po--
! lions. Fill little bags with the mixture.
and use one now and then when bathing
the hands, as though it were soap.
Put the fingers of one hand in the bowl
of water for asfew moments Dry them
softly and quickly, then. with the safety
scissors. trim the nails at eafh side. ci,t.
the top of the nail slightly and rub with
emery paperettaktng care not to use file or
emery papersan3 the fiatSsurface of the nail.
After this. push the skin back to show
| the half moon on the nail. Use the towel
| for this purpose, or a. blunt orange wood
stick. The ofanges5stiak is better for clean
| ing the nails than scissors, or knife, which
| roughen the, under surface of the nail.
| Pinch the tip of each finger to preserve or
cultivate the tapering shape.
" Metal Tops
Persons upon whom nature has not be-
slowed unprecedented fingers sometimes try
| to obtain them by the use of various de-
| vices. Metal cones, reaching to the second
| joint to be worn at night are supposed to
! secure this result, but unless they are worn
| at an early age when the fingers are soft
| and amenable to external appliances, 1t is
| doubtful whether sthey would produce the
| desired effect. si2'1
A pointed or tapering first finger accord
| ing to phalangology, usually indicates
quickness to grasp an idea and keenness of
| perception.
| The tapering second finger, with fine
| lines shows a decidedly optimistic nature.
| A tapering third finger shows frivolity and
| fondness for gossip one whom sorrows
| make but little impression, girl who Is as
| irresponsible as a. butterfly. The fourth
| finger IL finely tapering and ringed with
lines near the tip Indicates quickness at
| repartee, wit and diplomacy.
| If the finger tips are not tapering but