Kissing Customs.

Bruce Herald, Volume XI, Issue 1016, 7 June 1878, Page 7

Kissing Customs.

One may get too much of many other good things, but not of kissing. It is simple, yet excellent. One experienced writer (we forget who) has given us some capital advice as to the practice of kissing.. " Don't." says he, " kiss all over, as- grasshoppers walk.- Don't kiss everybody, including many little -'dogs/ male and female. Don't sit down to it. Stand up. You need not be anxious to get in a crowd. Two persons are plenty to corner and catch a kiss. More persons spoil the sport. Stand firm. It won't hurt after you're used to it. Don't be in a hurry. Providence will give you strength for the ordeal. Don't jab down on a beautiful mouth as if spearing for frogs. Don't grab and yank the lady as if she was a struggling colt. Don't muss her hair, scrunch her collar, bite her cbepks, squizzle her rich ribbons, and leave her mussed and rumpled. Take good aim — the , lips meet, the eyes close, the heart opens, heaven itself opens before you, and — the art of kissing is learned. Thus far to the, initiated. To those whose experience is limited, or to whom kissing is a sealed book, we have only to say that they, have no idea of the .treat, the solid bliss, in store for them ; and for encouragement, let us add that the good time is sure to come. Among other quaint - customs wherein kissing is involved is the surprisal asleep by one of the opposite sex. In such a situation the drowsy party, may be kissed with impunity, and must, in addition, pay the saluting party the forfeit of a pair of gloves. St. Valentine has also a good deal of kissing to answer for. The osculatory customs of this holiday are capitally and graphically illustrated by Sir Walter Scott in the " Fair Maid of Perth " where the heroine kisses her stalwart beau, Harry o' the Wynd, on St Valentine's morning, and they afterwards exchange .their betrothal gifts,' prepared^ on such occasions with much forethought and circumspection as to their suitability and appropriateness. The knightly oath consisted of kissing the sword-hilt— the pommel or guard being a crossbar, and thus forming a sacred emblem in a twofold sense— its cruciform shape, and the fact of the sword's being itself invariably looked upon as a symbol of knightly faith. "By my good sword,",; was the oath, followed by a pressure of the lips to the centre of the crossshaped handle. A kiss has proved practically useful, ere this, in more instances than one, besides being merely a' symbol or token of affection and respectful familiarity. There is a ['romantic story of the great Irish - rebellion, in which an imprisoned patriot, under, sentence of death, was enabled to make his escape, the plan of operation, being conveyed to him in a billet carried to him by his sweetheart in her mouth, and passed to him by the medium of a kiss through the iron gratings of his dungeon, before the faces of the Government sentinels, placed theie to intercept any improper communication. This story has been, introduced to the public by Mr Dion Boucicault, the indefatigable playwriter, in his great sensational drama of " Arrah-na-Pogue" (which means, literally, " Arrah of tbe Kiss"). The death bed kiss might be illustrated profusely. Lord Nelson, when dying onboa-d his flag-ship in the moment of victory off .Trafalgar, took his leave of his faithful friend, Hardy .by kissing, him. ." Kiss me, Hardy !" he said*, and these, were his last words. His fri .nd pressed his lips to those of his brave commander and friend, and the hero's spirit passed away. Sir Walter Scott's farewell to Lockhart waa similar to Nelson's end, his last words being, as he kissed Lockhart affectionately "Be good, my dear — be good !" — ' Appleton's Journal.'