A Peculiar Trait of Coloured Women.

Otago Witness, Issue 1581, 4 March 1882, Page 28

A Peculiar Trait of Coloured Women.

'Admitting, as we must, that the negroeß we more or less imitators, how are we to explain the faot that they never kiss, for I do not believe that anybody ever saw two negroes kiss. I have attended a number of negro weddings. »nd I never yet saw the bride kisßed, while on the other Jhand, a wedding among 'the whites, with' its" attendant reception, without kisses, would be 'something bo Btrange as to call- forth general comment. I have also heard that Indians never Mm. Are we to suppose, then, that kissing is confined to the white race ? I have always considered kissing as' an esthetic pleasure, to be thoroughly enjoyed only by those of 5 delicate and refined temperament. You'will also find that among the lower classes of Vhite women kissing is a rarity. 1 ' For twenty-odd years I have lived in the South, have had negroes in my house ever since I was a child, 'during my whole life I have been Intermingled with them, and never but once have I seen one negro girl kiss another.' ' Then you have seen an exoeption to what you claim is a rale!' 'Yes; but then it was done in such an Ignorant, bungling manner as to be really laughable.' •Hpwao?' ' I will tell you that, and if you ever have an occasion to ' dissertate ' on the art of kissing, you may find a place to fit it in. One of them was a very bright mulatto', and stobd-inside the gate : ,the other was a dark-skinned girl, apparently a visitor jusjt leaving, and stood on the outside, of the gate.' As I approached they were talking, when all of a sudden the lightcoloured girl threw her arms round the neck of the blacker one with the ferociousness of an angered politician, bumped their heads together, said "Goodbye," and xan into the house. She probably called it a kiss, and I have let it go as an exception to the rule, but, In truth, it was more plainly an assault ; they were entirely ignorant of the art of kissing, and did not know how bo give or receive the bliss ful boon. This, however, was hardly a fair case, as one of the girls was nearer white than black. In all my fife I have never seen two genuine negro women kiss, and I have often heard my father remark the same thing. He was over 60 years of age, and frequently told ub it was a tradition through all his family that negro women never kiss. A friend of mine, who has been a great traveller, has visited Africa and Hayti, has remarked to me the Btrange fact that negro women never kiss.'— Louisville (Ky.) Post.