Rensselaer Republican, Volume 22, Number 36, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 8 May 1890 — On the Delsarte Plan. [ARTICLE]

On the Delsarte Plan.

A new profession has been started in ; Washington. It is a branch of the Delsarte science, but promises to have many followers. Among a number of literary and social advertisements j there appears this announcement, appended to which is the name of wellknown instructor in social deportment: : Professor of Kissing. : ***** I had a curiosity to call and inquire into this osculatory science, says a Washington letter in the Detroit Free Press. The professor is a quiet little man of declining years, who teaches the art of conversation, how to write letters, and carries on a brisk business in the answer and regret line. He was once a Consul to some foreign port, and wears distinguishing badges of past office. “Yes, I teach kissing,” he said, “it is a very necessary accomplishment. I teach the kiss active and the kiss passive; the kiss social and the kiss polite. I will show you my method.” There upon the professor touched a bell and two rather pretty girls, neatly dressed, entered his little parlor. “Miriam and Fanny; the school kiss.” ■ —’ The young ladies turned toward each other, held out hands and bobbing forward pecked like little birds at each other’s cheek. ( “Now the good-bye kiss.” This was a slower and more solemn event. There was no smack, but theylingered a moment, saluting each other on the cheek as before. “Do you teach the lover’s kissP” "I do, and have much sucoess. My son practices with his sister. I have introduced the eye-kiss, which is much more serviceable and proper than the lip-kiss. The accepted lover kisses his betrothed on the eye lids. It is very affectionate and poetical.” I found that the old man taught stage kissing. It was rather tame and colorless, being a mere mechanical salute with closed lips. He assured me that few people knew how to kiss well; that it was a most neglected branch of social education, and that his method was so correct that strangers could salute each other with perfect propriety. Those who have seen kissing on the public promenade, at depots and in cars will be pleased to know that the smack is obsolete, and that a school of kissing will not allow its pupils to make spectacles of themselves in public.