ABOUT THE HAND

Auckland Star, Volume XXX, Issue 30, 6 February 1899, Page 6

ABOUT THE HAND

That white wonder— a wpmflii'i hand—about which artists have rantl and poets sung, requires much ?ajlji training, as well\as great care. p| etiquette of the hand is as imports^ as the care of it, for, no matter j|| beautiful the hand, it loses its grace*; and charm if it is awkwardly sfft^p" correctly and gawkily used. The well-bred woman should alwjj* remember that her hands $J#^ never be conspicuous. No matter.jjoft informal the occasion, she -S?}#* never stand with her hands on A hips. She may consider it an attec five pose, but such an action is nevej becoming to a gentlewoman. She should never use her haM ■" pointing, nor should she beckon to art acquaintance in public places. -Id both cases she is not only making iei» hand conspicuous, but stampingfce* self as ill-bred. , Both men and women should ways pay particul r attention .M':\V& care of their hands. They;stoula never allow their nails to grow ?ODg» and they should always be kept scrupulously clean and like clear. W# It is vulgar to manicure the^uS,* 0 excess. They should never "be OTCT* polished, ctit to extreme points, nor be artifically rouged to an unpatuw^ over-rosy and 'brilliantine' hiie. W woman, no matter how nervous b» temperament, should ever bite vW? nails. By doing so she not 9sJ'®l jures her health, but presents a ?W s8 undignified picture. The wom&a J* a bites her nails immediately pats API self upona level with a baby!,W« sue £s his thumb; and so does a maa. . The heavily bejewelled hand ; i| jj>°< in such good taste as that of^u1 ® woman who wears a very few, but S^ ceedingly handsome rings. The ..o*l loading of the fingers with 8:^. ; the worst possible taste, aW-,|r*' woman who Wears diamonds on «£■ thumbs is nothing less than vulgffftfJJ. personified. . - ... The practice of adopting- every ia*ll ionable hand-shake is to be condemn cd. Strike the happy medimp,;B^ always shake hands hearthy;'n^l-;^ a pump-handle manner; not as « were an absolute bore. . * The awkward :nan has no eao^v trouble, with his hands. . He £«"*■ knows what to do with them; co»s£ quently they add much to his awt^ wardness. 'What an estimable »'s*, ing his pockets are to him under su^ : a stress. It is :.ot only the a«WW",man, unused to society, bu<; the a»» cf fashion, who needs instruction the proper use of his hands JNO n» should stand with his hands, WAyy pockets in the presence of a wo»»* It is at least disrespectful. .Axk' Not even in business hours shouw 11 | man stand with his thumb* J*J^.. armholes of his waistcoat. It >^, only ungentlemanlike—it is subjjjt boorish. .. on fj The well-bred nn.n never puts v - his hand until the lady «"* "J» hers. -; —"~ : ■■■.-/;.'