The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1904-01-22
HISTORY OF KISSING.

The story runs that kissing was in
PRODUCED into England by Rowena,
the daughter of Hengist, the Saxon.
At the banquet which was given in
honor Of his allies, the Princess, after
pressing the brimming beaker to her
lips, saluted the astonished and de-
lighted Vortigern with little kiss af-
ter the manner of her own people.
So we'll did the kiss thrive in the ge-
NAL climate of England that it grad
ually grew into an every day enjoy
ment, and the English soon became
celebrated far and near as kissing
people. In fact, so far had their celeb
rity spread in this respect that when
Cavendish, the biographer of the great
"child of honor, Cardinal Wolsey,"
visited French nobleman at his chat
eau, the lady of the house, on entering
the room with her train of attendant
maidens, for the purpose of welcoming
the guest of her husband, thus accost-
ed him: "Forasmuch as you be an Eng
man, whose custom it is in your coun-
try to kiss all ladies and gentlewomen
without offence, and although it be not
so in this realm, yet will l be so bold
as to kiss you and shall all my maid
ems" Whereupon the rafters of the
chateau rang again with the hearth
ness of the oscu lation no doubt to the
great 50 tisfaetion of the fair chatelaine
herself, her many and merry maidens,
and, above all to the modest Caven.
dish.
In the reign of Edward Iva guest
was expected on his arrival, and also
on his departure, to salute not only
his hostess, but all the ladies of the
family. In fact no occasion for be-
slowing kiss was lost, and Shakes
peare makes bluff King Hal say at
Wolsey's banquet at Hampton Court
Palace, after he had danced with Anne
Boleyn, II was unmannerly to take you
out and not to kiss you.'
From England kissing found its way
to Anne RIGA, though it is to be regret
ed: remarks contemporary, that the
fathers of the country were altogether
too Puritanical to give the delicious
pastime full swing. 1t was to be done
decorously and in order and woe betide
the loving husband who dared to in
wade the sanctity of the Sabbath by
kissing his wife on that day.
To such a degree had the practice of
kissing attained in England that ladies
were accustomed to use kissing com.
fits, composed of ambergris aud 9TH
er ingredients, for the purpose of sweet
ening their breath. These, beyond all
question, were the forerunners of the
cachous and other Objectionable things
with which many of the present day
faint their breath. "Their breaths
With sweetmeats tainted are," says
Mercutio.
When Whitelocke was the ambassa-
dor of Oliver Cromwell to the court of
Christina of Sweden, the Queen one
day, accompanied by her ladies, dined
with him and Her Majesty nothing
Ioath perhaps, for lesson, command
ed the Ambassador to teach her suite
that English mode of salutation.
Whitelocke fell to work at his pleasing
task Immediately and, after a few
"coy and pretty defenses' from his
pupils, soon found in them the most
apt scholars, ready to carry out his
vs. ucton to the letter.
But the custom of Universal kissing
in England fell into disuse. In the
time of those ascetic monarchs, Will
liam and Mary, it was very little prac-
ticed, and from that time EDWARDS
greatly declined until at last it was
practiced between unmarried people
only on occasions-such, for instance,
as when girl is caught asleep, or un-
der the mistletoe.
Mrs. Nutrich Gin the carriage)-I do
hope we won't be late. I'm sure the
Pork nova will haxa soma real distin.