The Durham recorder. [volume] (Durham, N.C.) 1879-19??, 1910-04-14
CANE FROM WAR.
The Peace Handshake Given World
BY War.

Few persons realize. when shaking
hands with friends or perform any CT
the ordinary courtesies Of the day
that they are assisting In the perpstu-
alton OF customs established centuries
ago. Handshaking. for instance. dates
back to the old fighting days. when
every man OF any consequence what
ever wore q sword.
When warriors met In those days
and wished to be friendly they extend
ed the right hand. OF sword hand. 10
show that they didn't have a knife
concealed up their sleeves. That ex
plains why we shake hands with the
right hand today.
The custom OF taking one glove
on. preliminary TO shaking hands. also
Originated In that period. Gauntiets
were worn by al fighters then. and
were made Of such stin material that
they had TO be removed before the
handshaking courtesy could be gone
through.
When persons do not take their
right hand glove on to shake hands
but apologizing for not doing so, they
are apologizing. In reality. In defer
ence to an old custom.
But handshaking Is not the only
custom that dates back 10 the old
fighting days. Our army oflcers 10
day wear their swords attached to the
left side OF Their belts Just as the
warriors did centuries ago. Curious
ly enough. this habit OF wearing the
sword In belt and at the left side
Is responsible for two other customs
besides that Of shaking with the right
hand.
Persons who ride horseback today
mount from the left side as that prac.
tiee has been carried on from the day
hat the cd time warriors were com.
PEELED 10 mount from that side be.
cause their long swords lnferferef
with their mounting from the right.
When II Is remembered that they wore
Their swords on the left side the logic
OF their mounting from that side will
be understood. for had they attempt.
ed TO mount from the right the sword
would have inierfered with Their
throwing the left leg over the saddle
The buttons which adorn the back
OF mems frock coats and dress coats
st'tute another survival OF the
sword days. The buttons we're neces-
sary then. as they supported the
sword belts.
stlll another relic OF the days when
knights were bod" is the custom Of
tipping or raising The hat When a
knight or warrior wished 10 greet an
other and show that he was not AFRAID
Of having his head crushed in with
baftleaxe. he took on his helmet.
When helmets we're abandoned the
custom transferred itself TO hat rails.
ing"
The practice OF a host pouring the
first few drops from a newly opened
bottle OF wine into his own glass. al.
though 4 has a practical as well as
polite use today. has also been hand.
cd down 70 Us from our ancestors.
The custom was established IN
Italy several centuries ago before air
tight corks were invented In thsoc
days the cork OF a wine bottle was
immersed In olive oil before II was
placed IN the neck OF the bottle. This
was done TO render the bottle az afr
tight as possible. the oil being used
the same az parafTine II today.
Naturally a drop or two Of the oil
would settle on the top Of the wine
and AZ olive oil rs not especially pa'a
table In wine. fhe host would always
pour the top Of the bottle into he
own glass before serving his guests.
A has been mentioned this custom
has practical value today. for u Il
not an unusual thing for fragments N
cork TO drop into n bottle Of wine
when II n opened. These float on the
top. Just as the oil ia IN olden tines
and are poured by the host into H.
own glass Exchange.
~ F...f.