“HOW D'YE DO.”

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXX, Issue 8557, 10 August 1888, Page 7

“ HOW D'YE DO.”

In waiting down a busy thoroughfare an observer cannot help remarking the different manners in which the various travellers, pedestrians or otherwise, greet one another. Among the Anglo-Saxon race, as typified by the Americans and English, tiie moat common and general salutation is that of shaking hands. This is, of course, only done on coming in close contact, and but once in a day with the same person is sufficient. So peculiarly English is it held to he by European continental nations, says the Friend of India, that i£ a man wishes to he particularly attentive to a traveller from Great Britain or America, he will insist on shaking hands with him as often as he can get the chance. There are those who claim to form their opinion of a stranger from the way in which he gives his hand. Even if it is not possible for the people to approach near enough for this friendly grip, .the manner in which one person recognises another is legion. A gentleman approaching a lady watches her closely to see whether she will bow to him. If so, off goes his hat. Hardly two men, however, do this simple act in the same way. One flourishes xb at arm’s length; another hardly raises it from his head; a third exposes the inside, as if he were asking a charity; while a fourth seems frightened leat by some mischance he should disarrange his hair. The fair lady, too, does not always return the salute in the same way. Cross the Channel, however, and one is in a land where hat-lifting is the recognised salutation. It appears at first curious to a native of American or English soil to sso a not too clean coal-heaver or pedlar solemnly raise his, head covering—it does not always amount to as much as a hat—to an equally dirty brother workman, with an air many young dudes might envy; but in time one fails to notice such things. On entering and leaving a ship, no matter how small, the polite man again uncovers his head, while each of these actions is always accompanied by an appropriate word of greeting. The peasants in Spain, in the country, on meeting a stranger, offer him as a salutation a portion of the bread they always carry with them. Of course it is refused with thanks, and great would be tbe astonishment of the would-be donor were it accepted. In Germany—in fact, pretty well all over the Continent—to pass a man or woman on a country road without saying a friendly greeting is looked upon as very impolite, and the person doing so would certainly be regarded as a .stranger. Among the French and Belgians’, especially, the habit of men embracing one another is quite common. A father and son, or two intimate friends, think nothing of falling into each other’s arms and kissing in public. ‘ Colder tempered nations consider suck effusions unnecessary, and believe there is just as much feeling in the warm grip of the hand and few words of welcome. The Malays and other Polynesians salute by smelling. This is performed by rubbing noses. In India the Buddhists salute by lowering the palm of the right hand and bringing it np.toward the face, at the same time saying; “ Ram, ram - chair,” The Mohammedans do the Bame,butsimplyeay “ Salaam.” Thisisonly done in either case by members of the came faith. The salutatioa la always made, too, with the right hand, to nee the left being considered an insult. These Eastern nations have a strong objection to uncovering the head, but on the other hand consider it exceedingly disrespectful to enter the presence of a superior with tbe feet covered. The Chinese ha ve a regular code of salutations, eight in number, which define the proper amount of respect to be paid to different individuals. The one which is perhaps most familiar is that when at the New Tear the Chinaman clasps his hands together, and, gently bowing, wishes hia friend the compliments of the season. Two curious greetings which these people have among themselves are those of asking each other, “ Have you , eaten rice ?” and “Is your stomach in good order?” The Japanese show respect on meeting by bending the knee, though in tbe street they only make a feint of so doing. This is the general salute, but there are many others which are required from inferiors on encountering those in higher positions. A stranger coming among the Moors for the first time would, perhaps, be astonished and a little frightened by seeing one of them riding at full gallop towards him, as if he were intending to execute a cavalry charge. His fears might, perhaps, be increased when this horseman, when almost close to his apparent victim, suddenly reined up and discharged a pistol over his head. Recovering from hia astonishment, however, he would find that this is the Moorish way of welcoming a stranger. Natives of the Gold Coast have still another mode of salutation. They lower their robe from the left shoulder with the right hand, and gracefully how, though if it is a great man they salute, and they wish to be particularly respectful, the whole robe is removed, exposing the breast. Egyptians greet one another with a remark peculiar to their country, “ How goes the perspiration ? ” The military salute required in nearly all civilised countries is nearly the same. Perhaps in Germany, however, the regulations are somewhat more stringent. A soldier on meeting the Emperor has to stand still, face about, and remain with hand raised for from twelve to twenty paces before his Majesty approaches to the same distance after he has passed. In Belgium an officer has to do the same for the King, and subalterns for generals, though ten paces only are required for the latter case. Soldiers carrying anything so that their hands are occupied, salute with their eyes—that is, they turn their heads in the direction cf the person coming and going. French officers raise their caps to each other, but the privates do as the privates in other armies do.