Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1906-11-01
SIGNS In THE THUMB
WHAT THEY MEAN AND HOW you
MAY LEARN TO READ THEM.
rhey Serve M an Index to tho
Character OF the Indlvidunl-Thc
"rhunib Center" In the Brain-Ponf-
tion of thc We'll balanced Thumb.

tipt lHc tilutnO Is the most important
iactor in dclincating special tendencies.
These nolnadic people are the most ilf-
tuitirc on earth, and the fact that in
their fortune telling they often continc
their prosnoSticationS to the thumb
rlone is worth more than passing no
lice
The fact that there is what is known
MS the thumb center" In the brain. rec
ognzcd by all surgeons, demonstrates
the Immense Importance attached to 1t
by medical science. If there Is II tend
ency toward paralysis the physician
notes 1t In the thumbs long before the
unlahy vh0wS itself in other directions.
I'm operation TO avert the calamity IL
possible is frequently performed OH the
thumb center of the brain, and the
thumb itself is watched for results fn-
rorabc or otherwise. II is II matter OF
record that the thumbs of idiots and
chose mentally weak ARE understood,
charactcrleSS ANA usually cling closely
to the side of the hand There have
been books written on signs In the
thumbs as dcnoting criminal instincts.
mi detectives have been often moved
10 consider seriously this phase OF the
hand in making their deductions in
puzzling eases.
The position of the thumb with refer
tncc to tho rest of the hand makes eli
thCr for OF against favorable tendcn-
cics. II II Is bound to the first finger at
Il close angle, lying nearly parallel. 1t
indicates II weak and cowurdly nature.
People will, such thumbs are not omen
and frank in character prcfcrring to
creep along IN the shadow aud profit
by nnothcr's enterprise. If in connec-
tion with this position II should be
very small, with vacillating. almost in
visible joints. it indicates mental weak
ness. If, OH the contrary, IL flies out ut
right angles or even farther il shows
want Of balance in another direction.
The person will rush TO extremes and
is independent and aggressive almost
TO foolllardiness. Such people are Ills.
agreeable to associate with in any ell
terprise, MS they always want their
Own way and are not subServlcnt TO
authority.
The well balanced thumb lies at m
angle of about forty-tive degrees from
the first finger. The joints Of the
thumb also tell their story. The timber
jointcd thumb which turns back from
the hand Is II misfortune TO its owner.
He will never be rich by saving his
earnings, and if fortune should he
left him it Is likely to be soon dissi-
pated. He Isl II spenutlirift by nature.
not only in money. but in thought. If
he gets hobby he rides Ii to death,
and his policy in all the affairs of life
will he. If Il little Is coed. more is bet
ter" And If lie does not actually live
out all his impulses lie will always
fret in the spirit and grow rebellious IN
resisting his natural tendencies.
The stable jointcd thumb Is every
thing that Is the opposite to the first
type. And Willie the people with these
thumbs are not so companionnblc or so
helpful TO others they succeed by con-
centrntOu and Il certain amount OF
seltishness. They have the dlrcctness
of purpose and the tcnacity to carry to
successful issue great enterprises. They
are stubborn. material. stolid, resist
less. The chimpnn2ec, which has the
hand most nearly resembling tho hui
man, shows the greatest weakness and
want of intelligence In Its understood
short thumb. And In the human race
the long thumb may be taken ms indl-
eating the more intellectual nature.
The shorter the thumbs the more bru-
tai and passion governed the nature.
The relative length OF the joints also
plays an important part. The first in
dicatcs the will power the second de-
notes judgment, reason and logic, and
tho third, which controls the mount
of Venus. indicates the affections and
love Of fellow beings. In n we'll bal
anced nature the first AID second
joints are about Of equal length. This
Indicates wholesome adjustment be-
tween the judgment and the will. If,
however, the first joint Is longer than
the second the will exceeds the judg-
ment, and the person is likely to be
stubborn and often acts without rea.
son. When the second joint Is tho
longer Il person plans better thnn lie
executes. III this way lie often gets
the reputation OF being visionary and
Is frequently full Of schemes which he
lacks the will to carry out.
The third joint, or ham," Of the
hand when too thick indicates ungov-
crnablc passions and an inordinate
love of the opposite sex. Such per-
son will be hail fellow we'll met" q
boon companion. but is likely to neg
lect the intellectual demands both Of
his home and his other self.
When the second joint Is thin and
small in circumference as compared
with the first It is said to indicate
great tact and niccties In Judgment.
even to the splitting Of hair. Wheth.