The Globe-republican. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1889-1910, 1904-12-29

BpTlR VI nllSllelOt Ia one Oh ll6 recital 0l
rooms. We are reminded of the circum-
stance by an editorial in the New York
Independent. This amiable publication
would like to know, 1t says, whether the
custom Of kissing beneath the mistletoe
isa generally recognized custom. 1t is
Of the opinion, however, that the custom
is dying out; that the man who kisses a
woman because she happens to stand be-
meath a branch Of this Christmas decora-
ton will not tlnd himself immune to the
penalties usually VISITED upon too dar-
Ing admirer, 1t admits, though, that 1t
Is not safe to make general statements
not backed by statistics and oonfesses
that 1t can find no accurate data on the
subject.
The Independent treats the matter
with surprising superfciality. 1t seems
to assume that woman kissed In such a
fashion is surprised as well as deeply
1t does not stop to ask how
the mlstletoe got there. IL does not sd-
NIT the possibility tina. it was anything
but thoughtlessness that caused the lady
to pause beneath The cluster hanging to
the chandelier. In short, 1t attributes to
our lady friends naiyete or iusoucunce
quite impossible of belief.
Still, we are forced to admit that kiss
ing, whether under the mistletoe or 9th.
'rwise, Is not what it used to be. There
nay be as much of it as ever, but it il
rot the frank, open custom which ii
'nce was. There was a time when. as A
natter OF course, the young man kissed
he young woman whom he escorted :
ome from singing school when he lei, {
er at the gate. In these degenerate days {
lsses OF that sort arc apt to result in the
Of bleacll.ot-plumisv
'Wyer or in visit from the girls rude
rolher. DO you remember, Dear Sir +
nd you, Dear Madam-how you played c
Postohlce' in your merry cluIduovu i
aysI Can't you recall the circumstances
"Drcp the Handkerchief? Have you
aver sang king William Was King ! ]
'mts' Son.? Do your own little brat, y
ay these kissing games? Well, scarcel1
ne selt'conscous Sidlet Of the present n
'roIy knows what these hoary names
can. -
The point we are trying to come at is r.
ut modern society has made a next to -,
moral thing out of a harmless saluta. ~
N. Once tile kiss meant innocent "
ection' 1t does yet. of course, in the -,
nestc life. But now 1t is more OF less ttrt
N VI '''' DO
ecret sin, to be taken stealthiIy If taken no
all. There are those who profess to Cd ed
lleye that the disuse Of the friendly BOZ
$ between the sexes indicates more the
Icate moral tone, We have never dis abr abr
'ered thata change Of fashion indi. MS MS
ed a change of SOUL Our Puritan
'estors used to be very plain spoken.
ey talked freely of things which are pE
" tabooed. But we haven't much
'of that there is more modesty Or --
tue in these days of the closely guard.
tongue, Nh
n Washington Irving's day a man 9.
!lt safely buss the wife of his friend '''I =
eed, 1t was salutaton SO common No,
ong associates that 1t occasioned no +,
lark. Ii today man should greet
'Fled woman acquaintance with a kiss G
would be at the probable cost of a este
'daI' The kiss to a certain degree not
become a symbol of social disorder, ''''
ansas City journal. ", wy, r