Hopkinsville Kentuckian., 1910-05-17
HISTORY OF THE KISS:
Some Say 1t Began With Our
Monkey Ancestors

Inc luIIneT away We journey from
the days of Eve, the more assiduous-
ly the world seems to have cultivat-
ed the habit Of kissing; in other
words kissing is mark and text of
civilation. Before the coming of
the white man it apparently was un-
known among the Indians of Ameri-
ca and the savages Of Africa and
Australia; but who shall trace its be-
ginning among the people of Europe
and Asia? AS far as we may go
among these ancient white nations
we shall find no age when this highly
unhygienic practice was not popular.
Indeed, Darwin attempts to trace
it back to the habit our detailed an
cestors had of grasping prey with
their teeth!
The business of osculating became
so popular among the Greeks that it
is said many husbands, before start
ing out tor the days work, compell.
ed their wives to eat garlic-a most
effective preventive, we cannot
doubt. The Romans attempted to
be more cold blooded and dignifed.
They were at least more systematic,
for they divided all kisses into three
kinds: the osculum, the kiss Of friend
ship; the basium, the kiss of cere-
mony; and the suavium, the kiss of
love, All of which simply implies
that the Romans had three chances
to our one. The ancients, however,
were not in favor of a public display
of the business; spooning was decid-
edly bad form. Plutarch says that
Cato expelled the Senator Manlius
for KISSING his wife in the daytime
and in the presence of his daughter.
This same Plutarch is our author
ity for the statement that Rome
founded the now antiquated' custom
of wives saluting their husbands with
kiss. The women, after sailing
many seas and reaching this place,
refused to follow their husbands
further, and under the leadership of
Roma-a new woman burned
the ship. Then says the historial
Roma invented this pleasant meth VI
of appeasing the wrath of the hus-
bands;and the remedy has been used
with considerable efficacy uuti COM
par atively recent years.
The nuptial kiss, with meaning
akin to the kiss Of peace, had
its origin in a most serious
and practical church ceremony
known as the Espousals. Among
medieval people, as among soms
classes of Jews today, it was custom-
ary for the bridegroom and the,
bride to meet before witnesses in<
the church some days or even
weeks before the marriage and
there make a pledge of future
union, and at such times a ring
was usually presented by the
prospective husband. Sometimes,
however, the man was too poor to
buy the ornament, and instead, pre-
sented kiss, which was doubtless
more pleasant and was considered a
binding pledge before man and
Cod.
The custom of allowing the
preacher to take a kiss along with
his fee had very different begin.
ming. In early Catholic days, after
the wedding refreshments had been
served, the priest always came for
ward and gave the husband--think
OF it!-the kiss of peace, and that
gentleman passed it on to his wife,
while, at the same time, the priests
assistant kissed the best man, who
passed 1t on to the other guests. No
wonder the clergyman had an assist.
ant! AS time passed, the preacher
doubtless came to the conclusion
that the peace kiss should be placed
nearer the source of disturbance.
and thus the wife came to receive
the gift direct.-Carl Holiday iIy
June Smart Set.