Democratic Sentinel, Volume 22, Number 29, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 August 1898 — ALL KINDS OF KISSES. [ARTICLE]

ALL KINDS OF KISSES.

(The Oscnlatory Caress as It Obtains Amony Many Peoples. 4 The kiss, we are told, was a formula of good will among the ancient Romans, and was adopted by the early Christians, whose “holy kiss” and “kiss of charity” carried the weight of aposi tolic sanction.” It is usual that the golden cross of the sandal on the Pope’s right foot should be kissed by newly created cardinals and by those to whom an audience is granted. Even royal persons paid this act of homage to the vicar of Christ, Charles V. being the last to do so. Men in uncivilized regions kiss the feet of a superior or the ground in front of him, and in ancient times to press (the lips to the knee or hem of a garment ■'was to humbly implore protection. The have adopted the custom of “kissing, but the negroes of West Africa Refuse to do so, and apparently that •which is a medium of so much pleasure Ito many nations fills them with dislike. Kisses admit of a great variety of {character, and there are eight diversities mentioned in the Scriptures. It is pas a sign of reverence and in order to fcset a sacred seal upon their vows that ♦witnesses in a court of law, when they iare called upon to speak “the truth, the ♦whole truth and nothing but the truth,” .’are required to touch the Bible witli ‘their lips, as also are soldiers when they l enlist ansd make the oath of allegiance to Queen Victoria. The pleasant old Christmas custom of a k3ss under the mistletoe is a relie of Noree mythology. Baldur, the beautiful gpd of light, was slain by a spear ) whose shaft was a mistletoe twig. This was bewitched by Loki, the malevolent godx>f fire, until it swelled to the requisite siz*s, and was given by him to blind 'Hodur, who threw it, and unintentionally strpok Baldur when the gods were iat play. Friga had made everything In teeaven;and earth swear not to harm aidur,; but had left out the mistletoe ’as being too slight and weak to be of ' harpn. Baldur, however, was restored to Itfe,/and Friga guarded the mistletoe, which the gods determined should not aga£n have power to do any mischief unless it touched the earth. For this I reason it is always hung from the ceilHing/and the vigilant goddess propitiated by tyhe kiss, a sign of good-will.—Odds t and i Ends.