GENERAL MEETING. yA 
That great writer believes that the hand-shake originated in a 
struggle, first real, afterwards fictitious, in which each of the per- 
formers attempted to kiss the hand of the other, which was resisted, 
thus producing a reciprocating movement of the joined hands. In 
examining this explanation the antiquity and prevalence of the kiss 
in salutation was questioned. The mutual kiss of affection or pas- 
sion by the lips between opposite sexes is not found among the lower 
tribes and is probably not of great antiquity. It was preceded 
without reference to sex by patting, stroking or rubbing different 
parts of the body—smelling and'sniffling being also common. The 
kiss of the hand is undoubtedly ancient and gestural, and is ap- 
parently not derived from that of the lips, which is gustatory. In- 
stances were admitted of the identical friendly contest for priority 
in kissing hands relied on by Mr. Spencer, but they were consid- 
ered to be connected with the topic of precedence as secondary, the 
joining of hands being primary and wholly unconnected with a 
“shake” or any motion after junction. Evidence was presented 
that the junction of hands in testimony and in expression of agree- 
ment and friendship is of too high antiquity and universality to be 
derived from a pantomimic contest about precedence for the compara. 
tively modern and limited kiss. 
Mr. Mason expressed the opinion that not all customs are indi- 
rectly derived, and cited the innovations of the day as instances of 
customs deliberately assumed for a definite purpose. 
Mr. MENDENHALL referred to the numerous ways in which Jap- 
anese customs are the inverse of ours. In beckoning, the fingers are 
turned down instead of up, and this is probably explained by the fact 
that in Japan those who are beckoned—namely, inferiors—are by 
custom or in theory prostrate. The kitchen of a hotel is placed at 
the front against the street. A horse is backed into the stable and 
led out. It is a matter of etiquette, and modesty also, that ladies 
turn their toes in. The Japanese do not shake hands; the bow is 
very low, and is begun twenty feet away. There is no kiss of cere- 
mony or friendship, but the kiss exists as an expression of passion. 
Japanese children play all the common games of our children in 
some modified form, except marbles. 
In reply to a question by Mr. Mason, Mr. MenpDENHALL said 
that a Japanese does not shake his own hands as a salutation to 
