Omaha daily bee., 1911-03-09

Nance O'Nefl the statuesque theatrical
star, Is somewhat OF a faddist upon the
social, political and religious observances
OF the world, and an hour spent in perusing
her scrap book 10 as instructive as a day
spent in a library, according to the Chicago
Inser-Ocean Miss ONeil has recently
compiled a symposium upon the national
observance and significance of kiss.
''FTom the earliest records OF men and
natiana," she says. kissing has been con-
Hidered and recognized as an ordinance OF
Apatr4arohRl, reverential and apostolic bene-
dSstion, and notwithstanding the medical
crusade Instituted against It upon hygienic
grounds, the kiss has and will continue
among the Teutonie, Celtic and Latin
races a. an evidence OF devotion and
loyalty.
''As religious ceremony the kiss has
been. conseerated from the earliest times
and appears to have been an old Semitic
and Aryan custom, for it is first men
toned In the Bible in Genesis xvii. %,
when Isaac. thinking he is addressing
Esau, says to Jacob; Come near, now,
and kiss me, my son. In those days the
kiss formed a part Of the blessing be-
slowed by a father on his son. The prac-
tice OF kissing is mentioned no less than
forty-one times in the scriptures. but in
only three instances do men and women
participate-One, when Jacob kissed his
cousin: once in Proverbs, where the kiss Is
used illustrative OF the temptations in a
young mans way and once when Mary
kissed the feet Of Christ
Judas betrayed the Messiah with a kiss.
Greet you enc another with a holy kiss,
wrote Paul TO the Corinthians. and some
OF the Protestant sects still retain the kiss
as part Of the service Of the Lords supper.
"savages rarely osculate. The salutations
Of the M8ngoIs. Malays, Polynesians,~ the
Eskimos ana Laplanders consist chiefly OF
smelling each other and rubbing noses.
while IN Tibet instead Of greeting by an
adhesive touch the mode OF salutation con-
sists Of extending the tongue, but the Ell
quet OF the country does not permit OF any
physical contact.
North American Indians do not kiss eX-
'-sssi,ting In the presence OF death. when they
profusely kiss the feet OF their beloved de-
parted ones.
''rhe native Australian and Fiji Islander
salute with hug ike that OF a bear.
The Celtic race are not demonstratve
and rarely kiss ina public unless il is in
greeting after a long absence. Men rarely
Ass each other. women very seldom
AAlN ANNAatAsta @sAN aEsNAAAaA Us AAaa uAlAg A1
favor and are decidedly lax In their oscu-
latOry OhseTvances.
The French kiss upon the slightest prov
9cation. Sometimes men have been known
20 kiss each other several times during a
brief conversation.
The Chinese and japanese never kiss
a mother will not even kiss her child.
America has copied 10 a great extent
the example SCI by the French ana carry
kissing 10 an excess.
But the Russians are today recognized
Is the champion kissing nation OF the
world. The kiss Is the national salute and
has been In vogue from early ages. IL was
handed down from oriental ancestors and
Is more Of a greeting than a caress. Fath,
ers and sons kiss. whole regiments kiss
military officers kiss. The car kisses hii
officers, ana on the day o. a field review
there are almost as many kisses exchanged
as there are shots. II a juvenile cadet
eorps distinguishes itself the imperial ga
iute Is bestowed upon the head boy VIII,
passes il on 70 the next boy and 50 OF
through the lines, until IL has gone through
- whole number By proxy from one Z,
ranotheE
''On a fets day the mistress OF a Russian
household kisses not only her maid servant
bat her men servants also. and II there b.
gentleman visitor. who respectfully kisse,