Democratic Sentinel, Volume 7, Number 33, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 14 September 1883 — National Modes of Salutation. [ARTICLE]

National Modes of Salutation.

Most of us say “How-de-do ?” and think we have said “How do you do” “How are you ?” is more elegant, perhaps, and “Hope 1 see you well” is the habit with some people. Then we shake hands, and women very frequently kiss. In olden times Englishspeaking people said, “Save you, sir,” or “madam,” and “God save you;” and long ago men as well as women “kissed for courtesy.” now consider such salutations as absurd between persons of their own sex. Frenchmen, however, are not ashamed to kiss as they ask, “How do you carry yourself?” and the Germans crush each other, bear fashion, as they dry, “How do you find yourself?” The Italian gives both airy clasp and kiss, after he has flourished his fingers in the air and shouted, “How do you stand?" But the Dutchman’s “How do yon fare ?” is generally only followed by a clap op the shoulder. When two Swedes fall into each other’s arms and look over each other’s shoulders, they ask, “How can you ?” and the Polander, who has lived in the land of sadness, inquires, in a melancholy tone, “Art thou gay ?” In Turkey the people cross their arms, bow low, and say, “I will request of Allah that thy prosperity be increased. ” The Quaker regards his approaching friend without smile or nod, and quietly remarks, “How is thee ?”