Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1921-02-26

thetic type, and one which Is likely to
be supersensidve, easily offended.
This is not palmistry. It is psy-
chOlogy," Mrs. Robertson explains ~Char
acter is written as plainly in the hand
as it is In the face. The one serves as
a check upon the other.
IF 1 see signs of strong executive
ability in the hand I look for the same
indications in the face. II I find the
quality there in lesser degree then my
conclusion is modified But the face and
the hand generally agree. You viii not
find the sign Of great executive ability
on the hand and the extreme opposite
in the face.
1.-THE hand which shows this particular
trait of managing affairs has a long
first finger. Napoleon, an outstanding ex-
ample of the executive genius. had q
first finger that was as long as his mid
die finger. This popularity has been
shown in some Of the statues of Ma
pOleon.
THIRD FINGER
SIGNIFICANT.
THE third finger, or ring finger. car
rcs the sign Of success. The more II
approaches the second finger in length,
the more successful the owner is apt to
be. In the little finger, length indicates
capacity for friendship and business YER
satility"
1t is not easy for the Iaymau to see
how psychology is connected with these
theories concerning length Of fingers.
There are other connections between
hands and character that are easier for
us to understand. For one thing, schools
Of salesmanshIp teach pupils to glance
at the back Of the customers hand ia
note the texture. The person with
coarsely grained skin will be less par
ticular about the beauty Of an article
and more interested in wearing qualities
or practical values.
This seems simple reasoning. We nat
urally accept the statement that a finely
grained skin goes with an aristocratic
personality. But this idea has been es-
ts blished in the same way as the theory
Of the long first finger being a sign OF
signal executive talent Both are based
on observation and general conclusions.
Some Of the theories on this subject ara
very old, handed down first by tradi-
lions and superstition, and later written
into books on character or mentioned
casually in general writings. Other for
mulGs have been fixed by persons who
devoted years to the study of the hand.
One FTsnchman, especially, observed the
hands of people in various countries for
thirty years. and delved into literature
and history TO gather data on hands
and their relation to character. The re-
suit Of a lifelong study he placed In q
thick volume with the facts and con-
ciusious carefully detailed. That book
WAS published over fifty years ago, but
the bulk Of It's conclusions are In accord
with what psychology says about the
hand today.
Thus, modern medical science recog-
nizes a close connection between hand
and brain. and AYERS that there Is a
thumb center in the brain. This bears
out the theory Of the Frenchman, who,
after his thirty years study, announced
that Infants, up to the time when their
intelligence begins 20 be developed keep
their hands continually closed, folding
their fingers over the thumb; but In
proportion as, with the body, the mind
becomes developed, the thumb in turn
folds itself over the fingers
STUDY OF
THE THUMB.
As an extension OF this theory that
the thumb is directly connected with In.
telIigence. it has often been said ths&
persons who habitualIy hold the thur
folded inside the fingers are not int
lectuaIly fit. This has sometimes be #
refuted on the grounds that while mentS#
detectives often do this, persons of recogP
ntzed mental ability have been known to
have the habit Of nervously holding the
thumb between fingers and palm.
Character analysts say that q large
we'll developed thumb indicates strong
will and an understood, thin thumb
shows character lacking in decision.
MI,
this undeveloped thumb, and in Occa.
sional cases, no thumbs at all
There is much medical lore back of
this thumb theory. 1t is we'll known to
doctors, for instance, that after death
or sometimes as death approaches, the
thumb. symbol of the will and mental
control, turns in toward the palm, In
token Of surrender.
Doctors take note Of the hand in gens
eral practice as q guide to the physical
condition Of the patient The yellow
tinge, indicating a bad drainage system,
and the pallor Of anemia are shown plain
ly In the hand, as well as the clear pink
of the healthy person.
Character, health and experience, Mrs.
Robertson says, are all written in the
hand, and sometimes even more than In
the face, because the hand is not under
control as the face is. This is shown
In the effect Of trouble on the face and
hand. A woman tries to keep lines OF
worry out Of her face and, with the helm
OF beauty doctors and constant attention.
she can succeed remarkab bly,.
such a woman" Mrs. Robertson SAYS
came to me the other day. Her face was
smooth and fresh, but her hands had
lines showing worry and cares. You
have had good deal of trouble I said
10 her. Nothing but trouble all my ice,'
sne answered. But I've tried to hide it's
The lines of trouble in the hand. Mrs.
Robertson holds, have no connection Win
the life line, line Of fate, and other data
of palmistry. 1t is not clear why they
come. There is possibly muscular con-
traction as in the formation Of wrinkles
IN the face. But the individual is un-
Of the process
There Is much more that can be read
On the hand. The prominence OF the
Joints, the shape and size of the nails. /
The ends Of the fingers, whether pointed
square or spatulate, all show the inclinas
ions and abilities of the owner. It
should be noted 1t is not wise to say out
light, "You have spatulate fingers; there's
'ore you have the truly creative mind.S
because other signs may modify OF
strengthen that particular indication.
THE hand is a fascinating study
Mrs. Robertson says, "and one which
gives the expert a keen insight into hui
man character"
Here, then, is another aid to Sherlock
Holmes. No longer can the villain put
on his poker face expression and pull
his hat down and his collar up and feel
safe. There is just one refuge for the
man who Is afraid Of the verdict an hta