The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-12-25
WHO STARTED IT?
A Question on Which History
Is Silent.
Weighs Five-Tenths of Milli-
gram, Says Science.
TRUTH IS TOLD OF A KISS
They Are Free TOday-If Con-
ditiOns Are Right.
MistIetOe Was Held Sacred to
Goddess of Light.
TRUTH IS TOLD or A KISS
BY V. E. BuNDY.

1t weighs according to the latest
determination of science. fiye-tenths of
n milligram. 1t is something which
men desire with a consuming desire,
so that they will fight, steal, lie, kill,
risk death for it, and having received
it, straightway would go again thru all
their ardorous fatigues and hazards
to give it back again to her who gave
it to them.
Symbol of the highest, purest. most
desirable things of the world, and
equally of the most despicable act of
treason ever committed: almost uni
versal in its recognition and use, but
widely varied in the special signifi-
canoe: the theme of scientific research,
romance, meteorological anathema,
movie censorship and worlds of poetry.
Also Proposal of Marriage.
Unaccompanied by words, capable
of being interpreted as anything
casual greeting, a felicitation on some
accomplishment of note, a proposal of
marriage.
Intangible, important, possessing no
time element and yet marking epochs,
a means of communication which for
breVity and eloquence surpasses the
most brilliant efforts of all the authors
and orators of the ages, and yet in
articulate-a kiss.
Who Started 1t?
Rich in sentiment no less than in
traditional association-old as the
world and fresh as the dew on the
blossom of spring-say, who started
this kissing business, anyhow
That is a question on which history
is silent. The nebular hypothesis has
an explanation of how the world be-
gan, and Darwin has diagrammed the
opening chapters of biology. but
neither one has said how. why, or
when kissing originated. Who gave
the first kiss? or who stole it? What
"a
haustible supply?
The heaviest drain on the worlds
reserve of osculatory capital probably
occurs today. Kisses will be at pre-
today Is the day when kisses are free
if the conditions are right.
An Ancient Custom.
Some wise bird has doped it out that
the ancient Norsemen first established
the custom of kissing when passing
under a mistletoe. The Norsemen dis
covered America, too, but that is a
matter of minor import. There must
have been wireless, of some now I'M
known type. extant in those days, for
now, beneath the mistletoe is fair
game, over all the civilized world, so
generally has the old custom spread.
The mistletoe was held by the
Norsemen to be sacred to the goddess
Of light and happiness-Freya. When
friends happened to encounter one
another under the plant in the dark
forests of old-time Scandinavia.
they exchanged kisses as symbols of
their wishes of the good things to be
bestowed by the goddess.
The kiss of the Norsemen was a
prayer to a heather goddess-and so
are some of those which are be-
slowed this day on extremely modern
and no less heather goddesses.
More punk, Indifferent, and delight
full literature has been written with
the kiss as a topic, than on any other
subject-unless it be the weather.
Not all of it has been spring poetry
nor biological monographs. A history
of it has been compiled by a doctor
OF philosophy of the University of
Copenhagen, and a fellow of oxford,
in collaboration-both of them I'M
married men.
Has Religious Significance.
The kiss has always had religious
significance. In fact. it is said that
the practice of kissing and making
up" originated within the Greek or
thodox church. The chronological
order is still maintained. Kiss first,
and then make up-if you wish TO pre-
serve the make up, is still sound phi
losophy. But, it is pointed out, it is
getting the object before the motive.
But the practice of kissing as a
symbol of peace and reconciliation,
doubtless spread from the early
ChurCn.
In the feudal period of Europe, to
kiss the hands or feet of the feudal
lord was a part of the ceremony of
swearing fealty. subsection and obedi-
ence. even as is the morning kiss OF
hubby today.
In the Latin countries the kiss was
a salutation of respect. an osculatory
good morning" and still survives in
the freely-followed custom of kissing
the hands of women-something
which only a Latin. on his native soil,
can do successfully and gracefully.
a Form Of Salutation.
The ancients used kissing as a COM
mon form of salutation." says a con-
temporary writer on the subject, las
the modern world uses handshakes
Among the Greeks the most casual ac-
quaintances. accidentally meeting in
travel kissed each other
Fancy meeting at Eighth and the
avenue, with the ex-Athenian who
brings you your stack of cakes and
two over in the morningi
The kiss, in ancient times, was men
toned in the @snateria medica of the
age. Pliny advised those who suf-
fered from toothache to kiss a mule.
The kiss is a sign of good luck in