Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-04-16
THE HAND.
BY
"CARMEN SYLVIA"
(H. NJ. THE QUEEN OF ROUMANIA),

the movements of the human hand to be
struck by vague resemblance to some
wondrous flower, whose calyx-depths open
and shut at WILL as the five rosy-tipped pet
ais unfold or close over them? Five Is a
favorite number in the flower world-dog-
roses and forget meadow-sweet,
the modest little eye-bright and the blood
red pimpernel, all these have five petals,
neither more nor less-and the blossoms of
the hemlock and the elder flower, too-if we
do but carefully examine each separate one,
of which the whole beautiful little fairylike
parasol is composed, we soon perceive that
every single blossom consists of exactly
five delicate petals, ranged round heart
shaped center, generally of different hue.
Every campanula, even, has five points or
tips to each one of its bells. and as for the
buttercups, they have simply turned yellow
with envy at seeing themselves restricted
to the five broad plaits folds of their
homely ruff1es, while their neighbors, the
daisies, great and small, glory in full white
rufus, such as in the old days our great
grandfathers and great-grandmothers wore.
Our hand then, has been formed on the
selfsame pattern as all these. in accord
ance with that universal principle of har-
mony by which 1t would seem that all
things on the same planet are intended to
live together side by side to their mutual
advantage and to work together to COM
mon end. Like their flower models there
fore, our hands should serve as the chalice
that collects dew and honey to nourish the
whole frame, and also in order to distribute
to other beings who stand in need of such.
For this reason the liberal hand is ever the
most beautiful-the hand that freely be-
slows on others for their profit and enjoy
ment the blessings of which the accumu
lated knowledge and SKI. of many genera
tons have made it Dartaker. And be-
cause the hand is the most perfect instru-
ment devised by Providence a gift to
man, it must. if worthiiy employed, in the
rhythmic grace of every movement give
signs of It's divine origin; hence the delight
we feel in watching the true artist at his
work. And is there anything lovelier than
to see baby stretch out its tiny hands
with their sweet. shell-like palms and ex-
quisite rose-leaf fingers, to grasp and clutch
at vacancy?
hand-that trueSt friend and most truSty
servant to man-does really in its general
outlines recall the image of earths faiIest
and most fragile ornaments, we may surely
conclude that the flower form chosen
as its model for the purpose of ennobling
its gestures and keeping every action pure.
Had it been designed for utility alone. mere
strength would have sufficed; considerable
deXterity even might quite well have been
realized independently of that lightnesS of
structure which lends grace to every move
ment and is a perpetual satisfaction to our
eSthetic sense.
No hand, however hardened by exposure
OF deformed by toll. that does not still, in
its conformity to the pattern-type, in this
characteristic blending of force with sup
pleness, retain traces of its noble origin
and point triumphantly to higher aims Is
not the wondrous mechanism the same in
all hands that are at work all over the
world. each in its own appointed way?
And if we consider that mechanism are
we not puzzled to decide which part of it
to admire most, whether the long, 1.-the
fingers in their restless activity, the in
genious contrvance by which the thumb,
though furnished with one joint less than
the rest becomes by reason of adaptabilty
and position the most Indispensable mem
Der of the whole group? The wrist, tools
there in the anatomy of the whole human
frame any detail more marvellous and per-
feet than that on which depends the deli
cate play of the wrist-whose t1exibility
lends distinction and charm to the gestures
of orator and actor, and is to the must
clans touch the source of ineffable sweet
ness and fullness of tone, while In it resides
also the secret of Inc skillful handling of
the weapon. the swiftness and precision of
the fencers thrust and parry, as of the
horsemans conduct of the reins?
They are alike in all essentials the little
hand whose dainty fingers guide the needle
through some goSSamer web or flneSt lace,
and the massive fist, in whose gigantic
grasp a bar of solid iron seems to toy.
Down there by the Rhine, which 1 flow
past as l write, one pair of busy hands is
twining the rope, with which later on other
hands no less industrious will reef the sails
of one of the many little boats floating
upon the stream. Everywhere upon the
face of the earth mems hands are employed,
with the pen or with the spade, at the easel
or the pillow, sowing, reaping, building in
cessantly, forever engaged in the memorable
struggle for life, collectively toiling in
the carrying out of some great scheme, the
raising of some mighty monument And
Just this common action 1t is which forms
stronger and further reaching than the
narrower artificial conventions founded on
reciprocity of interest.
The hand is the link between man and
man: it signs the pledge of every social
bond its symbolism plays an important
part in all the functions of public life
whether it be as the priestly hand uplifted
in solemn benedictiOn, or the silent wit
ness to spoken words when raised on high
to testify to the sanctity of an oath. Clasp
ed hands are the emblem of the alliance of
nations as of individuals; the frank grasp
of the hand IS the token of loyal friendship;
the reconciliation which puts an end to a
bitter lifelong feud is attested by the sim
pie action of joining hands. Mans fnstinc-
tive homage to woman Is never better ca
pressed than by the touch of his lips upon
her hand-the chivalrous Difference to the
whole sex is most fttingly symbolized in
recognition