The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-05-27
Frederic Haslkin's Letter
The Telltole Hand.

! that there 10 q thumb center in the
brain This bears out the theory OF
the Freedman, who after his 20
years study announced that "in-
fants. mp to the time when their in.
telligence begins to be developed
keep their hands continually closed
folding their fingers over the
thumb; but In proportion az, Win
tho body. the mind becomes deyel-
oped the thumb in turn folds itself
over the fingers"
A an extension of this theory
that the thumb is directly con-,
nected with intelligence. it has often
been said that persons who habit
ually hold the thumb folded inside
the fingers are not Intellectually 1T.
This has sometimes been refuted
ON the grounds that while mental
detectives often do this. persons Of
recognised mental ability have
been known to have the habit OF
nervously holding the thumb be-
tween fingers and palm.
Character analysts say that a.
large, we'll developed thumb indi-,
Gates strong will, and an under,
sized, thin thumb shows a charac-.
ter lacking in decision. Feeble,
minded people sometimes have this
undeveloped thumb, and in occas-,
ional cases, no thumbs at all.
There is much medical lore back
Of this thumb theory. 1t is well
known to doctors, for instance.
that after death, or sometimes as
death approaches. the thumb. SYM
boil Of the will and mental CONTROL,
turns in toward the palm. in token,
Of surrender. =.
Doctors take note OF the hand in
general practice as guide to the
physical condition Of the patient.
The yellow tinge indicating a bad
drainage system, and the pallor Of
anenda are shown plainly in the
hand, as we'll as the clear pink OF
the healthy person.
Character, health. and exper-
fence, 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 help
Of beauty doctors and constant at
tention, she can succeed remark
ably.
Such q 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 a good
deal Of trouble I said to her.
Nothing but trouble, all my life,'
she answered. But I've tried to
hide it,"
The lines of trouble In the hand,
Mrs. Robertson holds, have no con-
nection with 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 indi-
vidual is unconscious OF the
process.
There is much more than 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 spatu-
late, all show the inclinations and
abilities Of the owner. It should be
noted it is not wise to say out
right, you have spatulate fingers;l
therefore you have the truly Great
i've mind" because other signs may
modify or strengthen that partic-
ular indication.
"The hand is fascinating
study, Mrs. Robertson says. land
one which gives the expert keen
insight into human character"
Here, then, is another aid to
Sherlock Holmes. No longer can
the villain put on his poker face ex-
preston, 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 on his hands.
and that is to wear gloves.