Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1905-09-08
Oh, No.

And now the "learned doctors
have announced an edict against the
habit OF kissing, and they exultantly
announce that science is about to
abolish it and make the custom mark
OF barbarism as noted as wearing a
ring in the nose. What presumption
To attempt to crush out a habit hand.
cd down from our first parents in the
) Garden OF Eden, and that has been
approved by high and low, of all ages
and conditions, with enthusiasm by
both sexes, seems to be a task far
beyond mortal power. 1t has been
the symbol of so much that is great
and true, and good, so much that is
noble and pleasurable, that we may
we'll pass the ruin, treachery and sin
which it has at times, been the means
OF promoting.
II the doctors had said that pro-
miscuous kissing should he tabooed
they would have hit the mark and been
accorded careful consideration. The
first essential for an innocuous kiss is
clean mouth, and that Everybody
does not possess nor indeed use any
endeavor to acquire and maintain.
The lips that smell of ardent spirits or
the tongue that is constantly rolling
in torrent OF nicotine saliva, or the
teeth that are not kept clean by fire.
quent scrubbing and ablusions, dis
qualify absolutely the candidate for
osculatory favor. While they may
not harbor dangerous microbes-for
the microbe could not live in such
filth-the inner nature of the kisse
should rebel against such pollution.
This consideration, we believe, elimi-
mates nearly all of the Objectionable
class. Those affected with tubercu-
losis, or any other communicable dis
ease, should, of course. abstain from
kissing or being kissed.
Probably the best qualified people on
Earth to pass an intelligen. judgment
on this subject is the dramatic pro-
fession. They may be considered ex.
perts, in the sense that the act has to
be done, like all other details OF the
profession, in naturally artistic man.
ner. The Ada Rehan kiss is noted for
its continuity, the Langtry kiss for its
deliberation, the Bates kiss for its Vi
vacity, the Nethersole kiss for its earn.
estness and apparent sanctity, and the
Lolita kiss for its childish innocence.
Mr.. Clyde Fitch, the eminent actor,
is quoted as saying, "The kiss will
never 60 out. Human nature is too
strongly in its favor. kissing is now
at IS and likely to jump to par"
Mr.. Fitch suggests that if this at
tempt to disparsge kissing continues
tina. it would be we'll to appoint Mrs.
Leslie Carter and Misses Virginia
Howard and Olga Nethersole syndi-
cate to take all necessary measures for
protection of the ancient and revered
rite, declaring their thorough compe.
tency and ability to convince all doubt.
ers of its right to remain perpetuated
and sanctified custom.
Mr.. Wales Winter, the dramatic
agent, says. elf actors and actresses
are fond OF each other, they need but
little rehearsal, and no prompting. It
is only when there is . marked per.
sonal antipathy between the principals
that the custom is cut out, or at best
becomes . perfunctory matter" Ben
Teal, another wearer of the buskin,
says: 1--WE will not cut kissing,
whatever we do. As long as people
live they will kiss, and if they didn't
why, life would not be worth the liv.
ing"
To which, all companionable men
and women, in whose veins the warm
blood of life freely courses, can fer.
veutly say" Amen and amen"