New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-03-12
CHARACTER AND BEAUTY OF HANDS
Queen Of Rumania Lkens Them to Flowers
-Truest Friend of Man

The Queen % Rumania- Carmen SYLVIA COM
pares the human hand to a flower. whose calyE
depths open and shut viii the fine rosy
tipped petals unfold or close over them. Five is
a favorable number in the flower world she
observes; dog roses and forget rne-nots. meadow
sweet the modest little eyebright. and the blood
red pimpernel-al these have five petals, neither
more nor less-and the blossoms Of the hemock
and the elder flower too. If do but carefully
examine each separate ore. Of which the whole
beautiful little fairylike parasoI is composed
we soon perceive that every single blossom con-
sists OF exactly five delicate petals ranged round
heaFt shaped centre generally of different
nue. livery catnpanula, even. has five points or
tips 20 each Of its bells and as for the
buttercups. they have simply turned yellow with
envy at seeing themselves restricted TO the five
broad Dle2ts or folds Of their homely rufes while
their neighboTS the daisies great and small
glory IN fun white rufs such as I'm the old 5avs
our great-grandfathers and great-grandmothers
wore.
our hand then. has been formed on the self
same pattern a all these III accordance with that
universal principle Of harmony by which It would
seem that all things on the Same u1anet ara in
tended 10 live together side by side 70 their
mutual advantage, and TO work together to n com
mon end. Like their flower models therefore, our
hancs should serve the chaIce that collects
dew and honey TO nourish tn whole frame. and
also in order to distribute 20 other beings who
stanC in need of such. For this reason tho liberal
hand Is ever the most beautifuI-the hand that
AItt4N btFIONS on others for their md
JoyInenI the blessings Of which the accumulated
knowledge and skill Of many generations have
made II a paTtaker. And because the hand is the
most perfect instrument devised by Providen,a as
gift 10 man. it must If worthily employed IN
the rhythmic grace Of every movement give SIGNS
Of its divine origin; hence the delight we feel IN
watching the true artist at his work And IS thcre
anything lUvelier than to see 4 baby stretch ont
lis tiny hands, with their sweet. sheIl-like palms
and exquisite roseleaf fingers. to grasp and clutch
at vacancy?
II now, as it pIeases ne to fancy the hand
that truest friend and most trusty servant to man
does really in its general outlines recall the
menis We may surely conclude that the flower
eT,t1 ~ tll0Seh as It's model for the purpose OF
pure. had it been designed for utility alone. mere
terIty even might quite well have been realized
Independently OF that lightness OF st1 ctu-e which
lends grace 70 every movement ard is a perpetual
satsiacuGn TO our aesthetic Eense No hand. how
that does not still In its conformity 10 the nat,
tern tne. IN this Characteristic blending OF force
with sGIpleness retain traces Of its noble origln
ana ana point trIumphSsntly TO higher aims. Is not
htlIas that are at work all over the world. each
in It's own appointed way2
hand are frequent with the poets. Readers %
AIRS BrowninEs Sonnets cannot fail to recall that
I write: and the oveIiness Of GuineTere las She
remembrance familiar 20 all a hand ike
In exquisite verse. while the whole dramatic action
81 I-fhtLs No best known play OF he great con
hands OF It's heroine. the scuIptor's wife.
Once continues the Queen. Il watched tho
hands OF 4 great surgeon during "a very difficult
operation. the dressing Of a Euushot wound so
deep and 30 near 90 great artery that tho least
sin might have proved fatal Tho hands al
though streaming with blood. fascinated me
with their uucrri-c skill and cextcritv I could
hardly take my eyes OF them though , was busy
administering ChlOroform 20 the patient. poor
Young. wounded soldier. md had 20 watch his
face closely. too. 90 observe if1 effect him.
And ] thought myself there Is sonnet hing Of tho
same pleasure in seeing these hands ~ work chat
experience IN watching The delicate handling
81 lis bow fv the giorI-t. The graceful action
Of "a hand sweeping tie strings o. the harp Nor
can ever n vo-u.lu'- hands however their beauty
may be set forth by every adjunct or the toilet.
show 10 such advantage when framed fr -he
coarse serge sleeve Of tho sister - Charf-- hose
soft touch charms away the anguish 81 tho death
bed she attends her heaven sent mission Each
q these calls 90 our mind the vision g. the
famous lines
Rose bloom fsu her hands. together rres-.
And her oliver roft amethyst
And her hair p glory like n saint.
She seemed @ splendid angel newly
heaE-l-