16 

 HAND VERSDs EYES. 



On theories, electrical or magnetic, the whole mental and physical 

 creation seems to be animated, upon this basis the natural philosopher 

 seems to build his theories of cause and effect ; it is the fulcrum 

 whereby the mental philosopher seeks to dispel the hitherto crude 

 and unsatisfactory notions entertained by mistyfied metaphysicians. 

 Every schoolboy of budding genius must manufacture an electrifying 

 machine, and every person who has witnessed magnetic influence feels 

 competent to produce similar effects, mental or physical. 



Beneath the light of this dawning mental analyzing philosophy, the 

 subtle and all pervading power of Love becomes a matter of natural 

 existence, accounted for as scientifically as the evaporations of ether, 

 or the fusion of metal by galvanic agency. To place this fact in its 

 most prominent position, one simple instance will suffice. 



Who has not heard of, or felt, the power, the influence, the never- 

 dying remembrance, the hope-creating ecstacy occasioned by the 

 pressure of the hand P an action though simple in itself, yet fraught 

 with mighty and lasting influence, conveying volumes of meaning, 

 speaking a language that the tongue itself, directed by a Romeo's 

 impassioned feelings, would fail to utter. We have heard of the 

 boasted language of the eye — the languishing, the imploring, the 

 penetrating, and the bewitching eye ; the flash of ire, and the 

 sparkle of joy. But what of that ? its influence is limited and 

 partial. Besides, all eyes cannot look at you ; and yet some senti- 

 ment is wished to be expressed. It might so happen that their 

 services were required in some shady lane by evening's sombre gloom, 

 or within some curtained boudoir, where the last glimpse of t^vilight 

 rendered " darkness visible ;" of what use then would be the " silent 

 language of the eye ?" when you could not behold the soft, enchant- 

 ing look of confirmation, or the piercing glance of keen displeasure ; 

 when the long elegant lashes that fringed the beautiful orbs might 

 be turned towards your own, or, Madona like, drooping over the 

 pensive eye, or perhaps glistening with moisture like the mustache 

 of a Parisian beau after taking soupc a la julienne ; where would be 

 the ocular telegraphic communicator under such circumstances ? why 

 rendered entirely unavailable, like the guillotine at the Pilot-office in 

 %gy weather. Bui it is fai* otherwise with the pressure of the hand. 



