The Kiss

Rodney and Otamatea Times, Waitemata and Kaipara Gazette, 3 January 1940, Page 3

The Kiss

HISTORY AND CUSTOMS

The fact that the mutual kiss between opposite sexes is not general among the tribes of men is abundantly shown by the observations, of travellers' in the lands '.-more primitive. Where it is now practised; it is not of great antiquity. In some languages, notably :,the Japanese, there is no word for kiss. Accord-, ing to the Chronicle of Winsenius, kissing was unknown in Bngiand until the Princess Kowena, the daughter of King llengist,: of; Fries-' land, instructed the insular Vortir gem in the art. In Saxon times it would have been the duty of a; visitor to have kissed all-the; ladiesrt>f the household.even without previous acquaintance. Such was the experience of many surprised literary foreigners, notably! Erasmus.; In the early .Christian' Church the lriss vyas an adopted sign 'of -fellowship : ''Greet all the brethren with a boly kiss." It passed into -'ceremony as the kiss of peace given.,,to .a.n.ewly baptised convert^ "atid m celebrating the Eucharist. But as;it was found to have some qualities hot adapted to religious and spiritualuse between the sexes, it was ordered that only men should, kiss men and women only women. Kissing of the hands between wen Is mentioned in the, Old Testament, also, by Hmnety Pliny( and Lucia'n. The kiss -was applied reverently to sacred objects, such as statues of the gods, as shown by ancient, works of art, and also among ancient etymologists, % that of the Latin word "adoro;" and it' was also! metaphorically applied by the inferior or worshipper kissing,his own hand and throwing the salute to the superior or 'statue. Affection, together with respect, is sometimesshown in the Orient wheu.a servant salutes a master, a sona father, or a wife her husband by kissing the other's hand either oil back or. palm, or both, and then'carrying it to the kisser's forehead. Amorfg the Malays the visitor approaches;' the man he wishes to salute with his hands ioiued as if in supplication while the other toiiches them lightly with hir own on the other.side, and afterwards raises bis hands to his lips or forehead. •