The Handy Cyclopedia of Things Worth Knowing Part 29

Revise. Revise. Revise.--E. E. Hale.

Simplicity has been held a mark of truth: it is also it mark of genius.--Carlyle.

The first principle of composition of whatever sort is that it should be natural and appear to have happened so.--Frederick Macmonnies.

Utilize your enthusiasms. Get the habit of happiness in work.--Beveridge.

Very few voices but sound repellent under violent exertion.--Lessing.

Whatever in this world one has to say, there is a word, and just one word, to express it. Seek that out and use it.--De Maupa.s.sant.

Yes, yes; believe me, you must draw your pen Not once, nor twice, but o'er and o'er again Through what you've written, if you would entice The man who reads you once to read you twice.

-Horace (Conington, Tr.)

Zeal with scanty capacity often accomplishes more than capacity with no zeal at all.--George Eliot.

WHAT DIFFERENT EYES INDICATE.

The long, almond-shaped eye with thick eyelids covering nearly half of the pupil, when taken in connection with the full brow, is indicative of genius, and is often found in artists, literary and scientific men. It is the eye of talent, or impressibility. The large, open, transparent eye, of whatever color, is indicative of elegance, of taste, of refinement, of wit, of intelligence. Weakly marked eyebrows indicate a feeble const.i.tution and a tendency to melancholia, Deep sunken eyes are selfish, while eyes in which the whole iris shows indicate erraticism, if not lunacy. Round eyes are indicative of innocence; strongly protuberant eyes of weakness of both mind and body. Eyes small and close together typify cunning, while those far apart and open indicate frankness. The normal distance between the eyes is the width of one eye; a distance greater or less than this intensifies the character supposed to be symbolized. Sharp angles, turning down at the corners of the eyes, are seen in persons of acute judgment and penetration. Well-opened steady eyes belong to the sincere; wide staring eyes to the impertinent.

THE MYSTERIES OF PALMISTRY

[Ill.u.s.tration: Various Forms of Fingers and Hands.

Nine hands with various markings and eleven fingers.]

The following points, upon which the Science of Palmistry is based, explain its mysteries, and will be found very interesting, amusing and instructive:

Form of the Hand.

Hands are cla.s.sed into seven types, each of which is ill.u.s.trated by the cuts on the preceding page, and described as follows:

Plate I--The Elementary or Bilious Hand, indicating brutal instinct instead of reason as the governing power of the character.

Plate II--The Square or Jupiter Hand, indicating a practical, stubborn, methodical, and conventional character; one apt to be suspicious of strangers and radical in views.

Plate III--The Spatulate or Nervous Hand, so named because of its imagined resemblance to a spatula. It is broad at the base of the fingers, and indicates great energy and push to discover; also, courage and fearlessness.

Plate IV--The Philosophic or Venus Hand, has a long, thin, muscular palm, with long, knotty fingers; indicates a student of nature and searcher after truth.

Plate V--The Mercury or Artistic Hand, indicates quick temper, impulsiveness; a character that is light-hearted, gay and charitable, to-day; and to-morrow, sad, tearful and uncharitable.

Plate VI--The Lunar or Idealistic Hand, indicates an extremely sensitive nature.

Plate VII--The Harmonic or Solar Hand, indicates a character of great versatility, brilliant in conversation, and an adept in diplomacy.

The Fingers.

For fortune-telling the fingers from first to fourth are designated as Jupiter, Saturn, Apollo and Mercury.

Note the cut on preceding page, representing the different types of fingers, numbered from one to eleven.

1--Large fingers indicate a person of vulgar tastes and a cruel, selfish disposition.

2--Small, thin fingers indicate a keen, quick acting mind and a person not very particular about personal appearance.

3--Long, lean fingers indicate an inquiring disposition; love of details in narrative; short fingers imply simple tastes and selfishness.

4--Fat fingers, largely developed at base, indicate sensualness; if small at base, the reverse.

5--Smooth fingers indicate artistic ability.

6--Knotty fingers indicate truthfulness and good order in business affairs.

7--Pointed fingers indicate a very magnetic and enthusiastic personality.

8--Square fingers indicate a strong mind, regularity and love of good order.

9--Spatulate fingers indicate a character of positiveness in opinions and lacking in gentleness.

10--Fingers of mixed shape indicate a harmonious disposition, with ability to easily adapt oneself to all conditions.

11--Obtuse fingers indicate coa.r.s.e and cruel sensibilities.

The Phalanges of the Fingers.

See plate VIII, 1, 2, 3--The Phalanges of the Thumb: 4, 5, 6--Repeated on each finger, indicate the phalanges of the four fingers.

The Mounts of the Hands.

See plate IX--A, Mount Venus; B, Mount Jupiter; C, Mount Saturn; D, Mount Apollo; E. Mount Mercury; F, Mount Luna; G, Mount Mars.

The Shape and Length of the Phalanges represent certain qualities and features of character, as presented in the following:

Jupiter, the first finger; if the first phalange is longer than the second, it indicates ability to control others, direct and maintain order; if the second phalange is long and well developed, it indicates leaders.h.i.+p; if short and thin, intellectual weakness; if the third phalange is long, it indicates love of power in material things.

Saturn, second finger; if the first phalange is longer than the second, it indicates ability for mastering scientific subjects; if the second phalange is long, it indicates great interest in subjects requiring deep study; if the third phalange is long, it indicates a love of metaphysics and money.

Apollo, third finger; if the first phalange is longer than the second, it indicates love of the arts; if the second phalange is long, it indicates success and love of riches; if the third phalange is thick, it indicates an inherited talent of the arts.

Mercury, fourth finger; if the first phalange is longer than the second, it indicates a taste for and love of research; if the second phalange is long and well developed, it indicates industrious habits; if the third phalange is long and fat, it indicates a desire for the comforts of life.