How to Choose a Husband.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXVIII, Issue II, 11 January 1902, Page 54

How to Choose a Husband.

It is no good asking your best friend. It is not supposable that she would want to marry the same man you do—at least, it is hopeful she would not. Y’ou must reiy solely on your own powers of discernment with the assistance of a few outward signs which speak volumes if rightly interpreted. First of all. pass a glass of lemonade to the subject of inspection and observe him drink. If his eyes remain lowered during the process he wi 1 be a faithful husband. If he looks up over the rim of the glass. I e ware! He is light of heart, and will flirt. Perhaps you are not of a jealous disposition and value only amiability and uprightness of business principle. The eyes and eyebrows are the index to this department. If the eyebrows eome closely together over the nose the temper is violent if the lids of the eyes open wide, if they droop under the meeting eyebrows it is the worst phase of a surly brooding disposition that would destroy the happiness of an angel. With this ill-natured person honesty may exist, but if one eye rests naturally closed more than the other, it bespeaks artfulness, if not actual lack of principle. If the eyebrows rise as they extend from the bridge of the nose backward, it argues a licentious turn of mind, accompanied frequently with a clear intellect and natural gift of languages. Generally speaking. the heaviness of the eyebrow' indicates a comparative strength of character whether good or bad. Then you may observe his handshake. Is it an unaffected grasp of

the hand? If so he is almost sure to be genuinely warm-hearted; only a superficial vain man will adopt the stupid fashion of raising the hand high in the air and giving it a sideways wriggle for a greeting; the chances are he will be as faithful in his following of new loves as he is of new fashions.

The man who gives a “pumphandle" shake, and nearly pulls one’s arm from the socket and presses the hand painfully, is usually a good sort, but requires his impulses to be directed by a gentler wisdom than he himself possesses. Ask him to elasp his hands. If he naturally clasps the right thumb over the left, he will be firm of purpose and most difficult to persuade from an intention or idea. If viceversa. the left thumb goes over the right, he will be submissive and quite under your control in all domestic and social matters, which, however attractive it sounds, is not the most desirable trait in a man.

Y’ou wiU wonder if he will spend his money as freely after marriage as before, and to ascertain this fact ask him to open his hand and spread out the fingers. If the thumb makes a broad angle with the index finger, he will be generously inclined. If an acute angle, he will watch carefully the expense account. If in opening the hand the thumb opens naturally in front and opposite to the palm, he will not object to indulgence of pretty frocks and hats. If, on tne other hand, the thumb opens widely, making the hand more spatulate, he will be more sympathetic to a sumptuous table than to a Paris hat.

Speaking of hats, you must tvoi.-e bow he sets his own hat upon his heao. If square on the top, it denotes a methodical, upright person. If tii.ed to the front, fond of sports, and will be likely to neglect you for clubs and the turf. If worn on the side, it means a reckless, good-nat-ured temperament, but not likely to be prosperous owing to lack of application. A thoroughly business character. absorbed in accumulating this world’s gooas and indifferent to the idealistic, wears his hat well off the eyebrows, slightly to the back of the head. The corners of his mouth should not droop, as it indicates a melancholy and pessimistic disposition; neither should they point upwards, indicating a lack of sympathy and a tendency to make light of everyone’s troubles but his own. A straight mouth is the best, with rather thick lips and the corners not rounding, for that suggests deceit, but sharply cut. the red of the under lip ending before it meets at the corner with the upper lip.

On entering a room, the active, observant young man. full of energy, will invariably seat himself in a straight-back chair if he is paying a social call. The non-industrious youth, who will consider his own luxurious comfort before everything, excepting the little society gallantries. will select a reclining-back chair, lean his head against the cushion. and make himself comfortab’e.

These points appear trifling, and are not to be studied without some intelligent allowance for circumstances and environment, but it must not be forgotten that it is “little things" that make the happiness of life—especially for a woman. One can easily be trained to attend to the big things, but in the little innumerables .he rue character of a man is laid ware.