concealed beneath the mystic doctrines of phrenology as well as 

 under the more popular theories of physiognomy. 



If then mental attributes impress themselves on the features and 

 modify the shape of the brain, as all must admit they do, why 

 should they not lead, in course of time, to changes of development 

 in the muscular and bony structures ? These considerations must 

 be my excuse for introducing to your notice to-night a subject 

 which has for hundreds of years been shrouded in mystery and 

 charlatanism. I allude to chiromancy, or the art of predicting the 

 character from the appearance and development of the hand. This 

 art dates back to the earliest recorded ages of the world, and was 

 inextricably associated with necromancy and astrology. 



As early as 428 b.c, an elaborate essay on chiromancy and 

 palmistry was written by Anaxagoras. If we consider the im- 

 portant part played by the hand in giving expression to the 

 emotions in all parts of the world and by all people, whether 

 savage or civilized, we shall not be surprised if it becomes impressed 

 by these constantly recurring and identical movements, both in its 

 muscular structure and bony development. How much does an 

 Itahan, a Frenchman, a Spaniard, or even a savage express by his 

 hand. Assent, dissent, fear, surprise, horror, doubt, shame, are 

 all unmistakeably pourtrayed by the various movements of the 

 hand. Even with us phlegmatic islanders the hand is clenched in 

 passion, expanded in joy or surprise, raised in warning or reproof, 

 and made to express the tenderest emotions of youth or the calmer 

 friendship of age. Confidence, trust, joy, are expressed by the 

 open hand, as may be seen by the meeting of old and trusted 

 friends, who advance with open and outstretched palm ; while the 

 same movement may be observed in grateful prayer. The closed 

 hand and hidden palm is not less expressive of doubt, anger, 

 concealment, or suspicion. The honest man comes frankly for- 

 ward with outstretched arm and open palm, the deceitful man 

 glides up to you with arms lank and drooping, the palms turned 

 inwards and concealed. If you notice you will see the man who is 

 trying to " wheedle " or deceive, invariably conceal his palms ; he 

 presses them together and rubs them gently the one over the other ! 

 Again, in anger, how expressive is the action of the hand ! As the 

 "angry passions rise" the fingers begin first to twitch, then 

 contract, until, as temper gets the better of reason, the fingers are 

 clenched convulsively on the palms, and the explosion of rage 

 occurs. What wonder then that the sensitive and flexible palm 

 becomes impressed with lines indicative of these oft recurring 

 emotions. If the same emotion, or train of thought, produces 

 constantly identical muscular contractions of om* hands, it is not 

 difficult to beheve that they form or modify certain lines on our 



