t ' t t g

i g t bc t t t i rt D. 5r. 1 i r1 t bc f rrnn "

cHEIRO' S
LANCUAGE OF ThNE HAND
-A_-_
COMPLETE PRACTI CAL WORK ON TI JE SCI ENCES OF CFI EI ROGNOMY
AND CHEI ROMANCY. CONTAI NI NC TFI E SYSTEM, Rt JLES.
AND EXPERI ENCE OF
CHEIRO
l , F l r ; t t . ( ' r r r / t $ t . t r , l l r l t i , r r i i
F
Fi/ty-fiue full-page lllustratfons, and ouer Two Hundred Engrauings of L[ne-,
Mounts, and Marks
r
DRAWI NGS OF THE SEVEN TYPES BY TFTEO DORE|
REPRODUCTIONS OF FAMOUS HAND:}, ALSO NOR\7|AI- AI,ID ABNORMAL HANDS
TAKEN FROM LIFE, INCLUDING
fhc hands of Madame Sarah Bernhardt, Mark Twaln, Madame Nordlca. Col. R. G. lngersoll
Mr s Fr ank Lesl i e, Mr . W. T. St ead, The Ri ght Honor abl e
Joseph
Chamber l ai n, M. P. ,
Aust en Chamber l ai n, Esq. , M. P. , Mr s. Anni e Besant , Si r Fr eder i ck [ . ei ght on, P. R. A. ,
Si r
John
Lubbock, M.P., F.R.S., The Countess of Aberdeen, Si r Edwi n Arnol d. The Lorci
Chi ef
Justi ce
of Engl and, The Swami Vi vekananda, Rev. C. H. Parkhurst, D.D.. Lady
Ll ndsay, Si r Arthur Sul l i van, Lady Henry Somerset, A Proni nent Menrber of the House
of Commons, Madame Mel ba, Lord Charl es Beresford, Mr. Wi l l i anr Whi tel ey, Gen.
Sl r Redvers Bul l er, V.C., K.C.B., Rev. Mi not
J.
Savage, and H. N. Hi gi nbotham, Es1.
-NINTH
EDITION
Containi n g I llustrat io ns
""to,li"Yi#e
rfu I Scientlf ic I n ve ntio n
..THOUGHT
PHOTOGRAPHY AND REGISTER OF CEREBRAL FORCE
''
r
Nr cHoLs & Co. ,
' UBLI SI I I TI . S
.
I t , r ur r , l l cN, \ r . r . y & Co. ,
z3
Qxforrl
Street, I.ondon, W. Chi cago ancl Ncrv York.
coN:uHltl''s.
Pnsmc u . . . . . .
A Dur nNsE . . . .
I'ART I.-CIINIRO(+}f( )}IY.
clraDrf,n
I. Or rsr: Sru,pgs oF fl^lNus .lxn tr'rxanRs. . .
II. Tsn El,uuuxrnny, oB Lorvnsr Trpu
III. Txs Sgtrann HlNp AND lts f$trrulvrslolis..
:5
27
gt
The Square Hantl with Short Squar.e Fingers,
Tlre
fuuare
Hand with Loug Square Fingers.
The
fuuare
lfand with Knott.v Fiugers.
The Square lland with Spntulate Fingers.
The Squaro Hsnd with Conic I'ingers.
?he Sguare Hand with f'sychie ]'ingcrs.
The Square Hand with l{ixed Fingers.
IV. Tnn Splrur,ern Hern
gz
V. Tsn Pnrlosornrc H.L\D. . .. :r+
VI. Tnu Coxro Elxo
3T
VII. Txs Psycnrc lf.lNn
40
VI U. Tgr
Ur xso
H. *. r n. : . . . . .
4A
IX. Trs Trous
45
Tho Supple-jointotl Thuurb.
The Firm-joiuted Thunrb.
?he Seeond Phalange.
X. Tsu Jorxrs oF THn
XI. Tug tr'rNcnns
The Length of the I'ingcrs iu Rehr,tion to Onc Anotlrcr.
Xil. Tnu P.lr,u, AND lrlncn lxrr liM.lr,l llrxrrs. .
XIIL Tnn Nlrr,s . . .
Long Nails irr Relation to llo*ltir.
thort Nails irr liiltfion to Heolth.
Disposition os shoryn by tlre Nails
51
53
56
58
Contents.
CEAPTEB
XI V. Tsu Ear R, oN TEE Ear os. - A Suoer sr r vn TguoBY. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . '
XV. Txa MouNrs, TEEIR Posruox aND TEErn Mn-lxrxog . .. ......
The Mount of Venus.
The Mount of Jupiter.
The Mount of Saturn.
The llfount of the Sun.
The Mount of Mercury.
The Mount of Mars.
The Mount of Luna
Tho Leaning of the Mounts toward Ono A-nothen
XVI. Tm Elxos oF NarroNs. . . .
The Elementary llancl.
The Square Hand, and the Nations represented by it.
The Philosophio.
The Conic.
The Spatulate.
The Psychic.
PART II.-CHEIROMANCY.
I. A FuW Rpu.tms rN RorunENcE To run Rs.loINo OF rsn Hlxp 69
II. Tnr Lrxns oF rIrE H-nxu .. .. . .
72
III. Ix Rur,errou ro rsE LrNus
74
IV. Tns Rreut .e,xo Lnpr HHlos
77
Y. Tns Lr Nn or Lr nu.
. i - r o 79
VI. Trn LrNs or Mlns
86
YII" Tun Lrrvn oF HEAD
W
VIII. Tsu Lrxn or Ifplo rN REr,ATroN To rIrE SEYEx Trrss
91
The Liue of Head in Relation to the Square Eand.
The Line of Head in Relation to the Spatulate Hand.
The Liue of Head in Refation to the Philosophie llond.
The Line of Heatl in Relation to tbe Conie Hand.
The Liue of Head. in Relation to the Psychic Haud.
IX. Ixs.lNrry as slro\YN BY TEE LrNn op Hneo
95
Ilurderous Propensities as shown by the Line of Head.
X. Tns Lrxn or fln.r.nr
98
XI. Tnn Lrxu oF FAIE " "
102
XII. Tus LrNn oF SuN " "
' ' 106
XUI. Tnn LrNr or H+l l ,rnr oB THE HEPATToA. . .. .. .. ..... '
" "
' 109
XIV. Tnr Yr.l. L.a.scrv.e. AND TIIE LrNr: or lNrurrrolt
' 111
XV. Tnn Glrnor,u or VnNus, TrrE Rrxa ox, SaruRN, AND rIrE TEREn Bn^l'our,ETs. ... L12
XVI. Tlln LrNp oF MARRracE . " "
114
PAO!
6t
6!t
66
Contents,
CI|APTER PAOE
XVI I . Cnu, pnsx . . . . . . . . . . . 110
XVIII. Tnr Sr.rn . 121
The Star on tbe Mount of Jupiter
The [itar on the Mount of Saturn.
The Star on the Mount of the Sun.
The Star on the lllouut of lllerourv.
The Star ou the Mount of Mors.
The Star on the l\lount of Luua.
The Star <ln the Mount of Venus.
The Star on the I'irgers.
XI X. THu Cnogs . . . . . . i . . . . . l 2S
XX. Tnn Sgu.r,nn ..... . 127
XXI. TEU Isr,aND, TEE Crncln, rsu Spor ... . . . 129
XXII. Tsu GnrLr,E, TrrE Tnr.nxor,pr"La Cnorx Mvsrreuurr TrrE Bnro oF Sor,ouow... 131
XXIIL HeNos covERED wrrrr Lrxns-rsn Cor,oR oF rrHE P.a,r,rr ...... ... 134
Smooth Hands.
The Skin.
The Color of the Palm.
XXIV. Tnr Glnu.a.r -fnrexor,n AND TEtr
Qu.l,ontrolp.
.. ...... 130
The Upper Angle.
The Miildle Angle.
The Lower Angle.
The
Quadrangle.
XXV. Tn^nvnl, Voy-rcns, eNn AccTDENTS. .. 139
XXVI. Trus-rnn SrsrEM or SEvEN 142
PART III.-ILLUSTN,ATIVE TYPES.
I . A X' nw Wonns oN Sur c r DE . . . . . . . . . . . , . . . . l U
II. Tun Prcur,unrrrgs or HeNps rIrAT sgow e Surcrp.tr, Tnxpnxcr .. . . L{I
III. PnopnNsrrrEs
pon'
MunDER . .. . L49
IV. Vemous PHAsEs or Ixselirry. .. L52
Melancholy aud Religious }fadness.
The Developrnent of the Crauk.
The Natural Madrnan.
v.
Mopug Or pneupr . . \ . . . . . . i - . . . . . 155
\
PABT IV.
i fgouaET Puoroonl pl ry AND Rnorsrnn or CEREBner, X' oncs .....,rorr.r !......
l $s
fi,r,trstna,floNs or X'auoug Hurps
Aprnnux
xt
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.
t onso PAot
PrrATl
rrrrraDrr frrwn w
I . Tcg . El uuuxr . nny t l l xo . . . . .
:
. . . . . . , . . . . .
" "
)
II. Tgu Squlnu, oB UsEFUr, HAND
.. ... I
III. Tsu Spl.rur,.lrn, oR Acrrvp HlNo
IV. Tsg Kxorw, oR PsrLosoPsrc Hluo.
U
Y. Tsg Coxlc, oR ARTIsTTo HINP
37
VI. T$s P'srcurc, on IPu,u,ISTIc HHro
VII. Tnu Mrxnu IIHqn
43
VIII. Tsuuss
IX. Trrs Jonms oF TIIE F:Nenns
51
ilho Pointed.
The Philosopbie.
X. : Nl r r s . r i r , " " '
68
FiSs, l aud 2, Thrqat Afreotions.
Figs. 3 and 5, Bronehial Afrectims.
Figg.4, 6, and 7, Delicacy of Lungs.
Figs. 8, 9, and L0, Consumptive Teudencies.
XI. Neus
Showing Tentlency toward Heart-diseaso.
thowing Tendeney toward Paralysis.
XII. fs,s Mogxrg oF TIIE H.l'No.
Xm. Tsu Mrp o.F rrHE l l .txo ... .....
XIV. Sraws tronND rN TIIE HlxP
fig. 1. forked Lines.
f,ig. 2. Sister Irines.
fig. 3. Spots on Lines.
Fig. 4. Islands.
Fig. 5. Tasseled Lines.
Fig. 6. Aseending and Descending Branches.
X'ig. 7.
pYavy Lines.
tr'ig. 8. Sepillaried tines.
Fig. 9. Brbken Liines.
tr'ig. 10. Chainerl Lines.
nig. 11. The $quare on Line.
50
08
n
.l
xiv I'ist of lllust.rutiotts,
PI/ATE trACINGl P GE
XV. Srexs FoUND rN rHE HaNo 76
Fig. 1. The Star.
Fig. 2. The Island.
Fig. 3. The Spot.
Fi g.4. The Cross.
Fig. 5. The Triaugle.
Fig. 6. The
(irille.
Fig. 7. The Square.
Fig.8. Thc Clire,lo.
Fig. 9. The Tripotl ancl Spear-head..
XVI. Moornrclrrolis oF PRrNcrpAr, LrNus. .. . 79
XVII. I\foprrrcerroNs oF PRrNcu,Ar, LTNES. . .. 87
XVIIL MoprrceTIoNS or PRiNcrpAr, LrNES... . . 98
XI X. l \ I oor nr c, r . Tr oNs oF PRr NCr per , Lr xus. . . . . . . . . . . i - r . . 106
XX. IIonIFrcATroNS oF PRrNCrpAr, T,rxes ..... 112
,XXL
1lfontrtr' ,rrlo]is oF PRrNCrpAr. I,r]ins 121.
XXII. MoorrrclrroNs or PnrNcrpal LrNes . .. . .. . . . . 129
XX[I. Trun-rnn SysrEM oF SEvEN . 1A
PAGE
XXIV. a. If{unouRpn' s Hluo .. .. 159
XXV. A Surcronts HeNo . 161
XXVI. A Bery' s Her.rp .... 103
XXUI. Tnn He-.ro or l\feoeup S^e.nl,n BnnrneRDT . .... .. 165
XXVIII. Tnn IIIND or' IIlnr Trv,rlN . . .. 167
XXIX. Tnu HlNo or, Il.r.olrrn NosorcA ,. .. 169
XXX. ?nn HewD oF Jonx Tur:o Donf Bnxrr.oy. . 171
XXXI. Tnn HeNo or Cor,oNEL RoeErir lNonnsor,r, . 173
XXXII. Tno H..rxo or llns. Fnexx Lusr,rn ... 175
XXXIII. Tsr: H.q.xo or W. T. Srnao . . .. 177
XXilY. Tns H,IND oF TrrE Rrcnr Hox. Josnpn Cn;rueunr,.ux, M. P. . . . . .. . . I7g
XXXV. Trrn HIND oF AusrrN Cuenrunr,*rrx, Esq.,lU. P. . . 181
XXXVI. Tnr HeNo or' llns. ANsru Rr:snxr ... 183
XXX\TI. Tnn Hl.lrD or rrru J,oRr)
(' ntRr-Jt' srrco
o[' Exur,lso ... 185
XXXYIII. l l no H..rxrr
(]F
TrrE
(l or:srnss
or AnenuEEN. .. . .. . . . . 187
Xx Xx . Tr r uI I . l ' x ot r r Sl nJ or r x Lur t uoc x . I I . P. , F. R. S. . . .
XL. Tnn H.tNo or Srn En{' rx Anxor.rr 191
XLI. Tnn HaNp or Sl n Fnr:pnnrcx Lprc+srqr:{, I,. R. A. . .... . 193
XLn. Tur: Illxr, or rlrr: Srr,rrr YTyEKANANDa
lgb
XLIII. Tnu llesrr or ll. II. Cuntrss, Esq.
lg7
XLIV. Tun Hl,xD or rHE Rsv. C. II. P.q.nrHurisr. D. D.
1gg
PLATE
XLV. Tnn
XLVI. Tnn
XLVII. Tun
XLYIII. TUT:
XLIX. Tnn
L. Tns
LI. Tnu
LII. Tlrr:
LIII. Tun
I,tY. Tsn
IIeNo or
HlNo or
Il.l,xtr or
Hlrn or
Hexo or
Li,st of fil,ustrations.
xv
PIOE
LeoY LrxoseY""' "
2ol
Srn Anrnun Sur,l rvAN.. . ..
J,epv IIuxttY Sour:nsur
e PRourxnNt MnMsER oF rrrn Housr or CoultoNs"
"
' '
M.tolrtn M.nr.n-q..
Hexo or MrNot J. Srvacn
Hexp oF II. N. Illournotueu, Esq
2A3
20!t
2u7
201)
21,r
HaNo <tr Lontr Cnanr,us
RnnnsroRo.
IfeNo op Mn. \Vtt,t,trlr
\ArtrtT
plsY
" "
" "
213
Elexp or Gnr. Stn RnnvnRs Bur,r,nn, V.C., K' C' B'
27ti
217
zLg
CHEIRO',S LANGTIAGE
OF THE HA.ND.
PAITT T.-CHT'IROGNO}[Y"
CHAP'IEIT I.
OF THN SHAPES OF II.INDS AND rI){T1ERS.
Par,ursrnv should really lnean the sturll'of the haud in its e,ntirety. It
is, horrevet' , tlivitled into trvo sectiorrs: the twin seient:es of clrt,ir.lgrrolrrv and
cheirotnalle.v. The first rlc' als
' sith
the shali r.rf the irarrd aurl firrgcrs, anrl
relittes to the ltet'etlittrr'.v influenr:e of ehalacter and tlisposition
I
auil the sce-
otrd to the lirres attd. rnarkings of thc
1ralm,
to thc events of past,
llresent,
and
future.
It will tltcrefore l-rtt readily undcrstood that the seeoud portion of this
stutly traunot be eonrplete without the first
I
an<l as iu the studf, so in tho
readiug of the hand-the stutlt.ut, shoukl Iirst observe the shape antl fonna-
tiott, skin, nails, etc., bcfore proeeeding to
judge
the lirres autl rnarkings of
tlrc pailrn. Soure peoplct consirlel this portiorr of the snlijeet too uninteresting
to devote mueh attention to, autl books <lu palrnistry freqnently ignor:e its
importance, antl io**"rrce too quickty with the more interesting cletails of
cheiromancy.
A little thought will, however, convince the student that such a plan is a
mistake, aud can only result iu error; th:r,t if the snbjeet is worth auy study
at all, it is certainly worth going into thoroughly
I
lttsieles, the shape of the
hancl ca.n be more readily -observed than the liues of the palm, anrl it is
therefore all the more iutel'esting, as by this ureaus one ean reatt the char-
!6 Chciro's Language of the llanil,
acter of strangers while sitting in the raih'oad car, the churoh, the ooncert,
or the salon.
The tharacteristies of va,rious nations as shown by the shape of the hantl
is also a fascinating braneh of the stud.y, autl one very mueh ovetlooked.
Later, I will encleavor to point out the leading eharaeteristics that I rnyself
have observed. in relation to this portion of the subject. The varying shape
of honds and their suitability to various kiuds of oceupation is also wodhy
of note, and although by the exercise of will ri'e ean alter and mak upr in a
eertain degreer,for almost any constitutional defeet, yet it is undoubtedly the
e&se that oertain types are more suited for one work than another, which is
the more immediate provinee of cheirognomy to determine.
'We
will there-
fore at onee proeeed to consitler the different types of hands with their vari-
ous modifioations, in their relation to temperament and charaeter.
There &re seveu types of hands, each of which mey again be subdivided
into seven varieties.
The seven types are:
f. llhe elementary, or the lowest type.
II. The square, or the useful hand.
. ff[. The spatulate, or the nervous aetive type.
IV. The philosopbic, or the knotty hand.
Y. The conie, or the artistic type.
Yf. The psychic, or the idealistic hand.
VIf. The mixed hand.
The seven varieties are formed by the blending of the seven types.
-
Among
oivilized nations the elementary being rarely founcl in its pur{ty, we
therefore eommence with the square, divid.ed into seven heads, as, for exam-
ple : the squa,re with square fingers, short
i
the square with square fingers,
long; the squa,re with knotty fingers
;
the square with spatulate fingers
;
the
square with oonic fingers; the square with psychic fingers; and the square
with mixed. fingers.
/.-tb-t
d*
{.4""
-t
\'Ii
Plaft l.JfHE
ELEMENTARY
HAND'
!
4,
{
n
lf
T
I
t
,
7
u.'l
\
{
CEAPTER T.
THE SLEMENTAIT,YT OR LOIVEST TYPE'
Tsrs hand naturally belorigs to the lowest type of mentality. fn appear-
ance it is eoarse and clumsy, with large, thick, heavy palm, short fingers, and
short nails (Plate I.). It is always important to notice the length of the palm
and fingers. Some books on palmistry stete that to show intellectuality tho
flngers should. always be longer than the palm
;
but &n examination of this
statement will show that it is not correei. It has not betin proved that fin-
gers have been found longer than the pahn. That they may be nearly as
long, or as long, there ean be no doubt; but it is a vcry ralo case to find
them even of the same length.
'When,
however, in proportion to the size of
the palm the fingers are long, it indicates a more intelleetual natnre than
when they are short. fn Dr. Cairn's work on the physiognomy of the human
body, hc states that
'6
the bones of the palm form, among bruto animals, al-
most the whole hand.tt fhe deduction, therefore, is that the rnore tho palm
dominates the hand" tho more does the animal nature ruie. This is the irn-
portant point in the elementary hand: the palm is always thiek and. coarse,
a1d the fingers short and clumsy. There are also veiy ferv lines to be seen
on lbo
pahn. The people possessing such a type have Yery little mental
capacity, and what they do possess leans more to the order of the brute.
They have little or no control over their passions
I
love of form, color, and
beauty does not appeal to them. The thumb of such hands is short and
thic\ with the upper part or nail phalange heavy, full, and generally squarc.
Such people are violent in temper, passionate but not courageous. If they
commit murder, it is in the fury ancl in the spilit of destruction. They pos-
sess a certain low cunning, but the cunning of instinct, not reason. These
are people without aspirations
;
they but eat, drink, sleep, and die. (See also
36
The llancls of Nations,tt Chapter XVI.)
27
CHAPTER III.
TIIE SQi:AnE HAND AND rTS SUBDr\rHrOt{$-
THg s{:rare hnnd rneauli the
iralrn
square at the wrist, square at the baee
of the fi.ng*rs, an,l tlte fingers tLernselves square (Plate II.). Snch a t.,pe is
also ealled
':he
useful, heralrsr-r if is fountl irt so many x'alks ot' life. Witn
this t3,'trre th.e rrails as well Ari] srlnerally short and square.
Pei:glle wiih such a hantf are ortlerly,
lrulctual,
and precise in manner',
not, howeverr frr:m auf iuria{6r grneo of uature, lmt more fi:om confonnit.v to
eustom anrl habit. They respect *uthority, the.v love tliseipline, they have
a plaee for everythiug and everl'tiriug is ketrrt iu its place, not only iri their
bcusehold, but in their brains. The3' respect la.w and order, and are sltrves
t'r eristom
;
they are not quarrelsrrule, but are rietermined in opposition; thev
prefer reason io instinet, peace to war, and are methodical in work and iu
habit.
'They
are endowed with gteat perseverance, but are tenaeious, not
resigned; they are not entbusiastie over poetry or art; they ask for the
material, they win suceess in practieal things. In religion they will not go
to extreme,s; they prefer substanee to show, and dogma to i'ieas. They hre
not adaptable to people, or versatile; they have iittle or\Sinaiity or imagina-
tion, but in work they have great application, foree of bharaeter, strength
of will, and often outdistance their more brilliant and insprrational rivals.
They naturally love the exaet seibnces, and all practical stutly. They en-
eourage agrieulture and commerce; they love home anct the duties of
home, but are not demonstrative in afrection. They are sincere and true in
promises. stanch in friendship, strong in principle, and honest in business.
Their greatest fault is that they aye inelined to reason by * twelve-inoh rule.
and disbelieve all they eannot understand.
38
s\
t&
s
\'Eat
"irrl-"!
-.{h\
dF\
4{,
\g
,,\
;
\ \\\\'h
\ \ f
1
\
\
P}ate ll.-THE SQUARE. CR USI'FUL HAND'
The Square Hantl untl i,ts Subdiaisi,ons.
THE SQUARE EAND WITH SIIORT SQUAR,E FINGERS.
This peculiarity is very often found, and very easily reeognized. The
subject with such a type is materialistic in every sense of the term. He
would be the kind of rnan who would say:
'3
Exeept I hear with my ears and
see with my eyes, I cannot believe.' And even then I very much doubt if
such a, m&n would be eonvinced. It also denotes an obstinate kind of na-
ture, as a rule, narrow-minded. These people make money, but by plodding;
they may not be miserly, but they are business-like and practical; they like
to accumulato wealth; it is the material they seek.
TIIE SQUARE HAND MTH LONG SQTIARE FTNGERS.
The next modification is the square hand. with very long fingers. This
denotes a greater development of mentality than the square hancl with short
dngers. It denotes logic ancl methorl, but iu a gteatel degree than possessed
by the purely square type, which, tied down b)' rule and custorn, must follow
ihe beaten track. This hand, on the contrar.v, though submitting everything
to seientific examinatioh, will not be so influenced by prejudiee, but will pro-
ceetl eautiously and thoroughly to logical conclusions, and will find its voca-
tion in a .qcieutific careeri or in ono involving logic antl reason.
THD seuinn nlND wrrl{ KNorry FTNGERS.
This type is generally fountl with long fingers, and gives, in the first
place, extreme lovd of detail. It is also fond of eonstruction; it builds plaus
from any gi,aen point to any knou)n possibility; it may not procluce great
inveutors, but it will produce good. architects, mathematicians, ar:cl calcula-
tors, and if it applies itself ro medieal work, or to science of any kind, it will
ehooso some specialty and use its love of detail in the pqfection of its own
narticular study.
TEE SQUARE IIAND WITII SPATUIJATE FINGEBS.
This is the hand of invention, but always on praetical lines. Men with
this formation run the gamut in inverrtion, but on a praetical plane. They
gl
Cffis l^quqe of fu Ed,.
makc usduf
'lings,
instroments, and household utichsr and arc, as vcll
good engineen* They love meebanieal vork of almost overJr kinq and tho
finest useful inechanism hns been tumed out by nen Yith the squaru hsnd
and the spotulato fingprs.
TEE 8QUABE EAIID WrrE GOnrC rnrGEBS
Now, though at firrt sigbt it may appoar *U"ogp to ssy that musical
omposition comes under this head, yet a little oonsideration will show thst
such not onty is th
"asg
but that there is a logical reason that it sbould bo
Erl' In the fust ptace, the square hand is nort t'he hand of the stilrdont It
grve motre the
lnwer
of application and continuity of efiortr while ths conie
fingprs grve the intuitive and inspirationd facultie. The musieal comlnsert
no matter how imaginativg no matter how inspiretl in ideas, is eertainly not
rithout the stndentts side to his elraracte,r. ff we consider, for a moment,
the qnality of brain and. the tlisposition which is absolutoly neeessarJrr
'wo
will understand mono clearly why the hand must be thus wonderfnlly baf'
arced-wby the inspirational imaginative naturt must be linled to tbat of
the thoughtful the solid, the inethodie.al and that which at*q prooeeds fron
the foundation of the known-aq for instaneg harmony and. eountergnirit-
to raach the world of the unknowa, tbrough the gates of imagination and,
idealism. f have given great study
-to
the hands of nusigal peoplor and I
find this ruls invariablo I find that tlre same &lso applies to litenry po.plq
thoge rho from tbe foundation of study build up the ity<Iud towers of m-
rsange. It is hero thst the stndent of palnistry is often discowagod Eo
inagiires that beeause a marr or voman leads an artistic life, bo it musieal
or literary, that the shape of the band must be what is comuionly called tho
conio or artistic; but the smallest obsorvatiDn of life will show that though
the people with the purely eonia or artistic hands have the artistio nature
and the appruiation of wbat is artistie, yet theymay no\bave'+nd I have
more often observed that they have uot'-the power or the ability to bring
their ideas before the world in the same masterful Yay in which the mixed
squam and eonia do. A man of a rery artistic spiritr with the conic haudt
ouoe said to me:
tt
It is sufteient for the artist to be t'he artist to his own
inner nature; tbe approbtion of the world
\
after all, only the vulgar hall-
Tlrc Square Iland ani its ^SrrDrlilfsiott.s. 3t
mark ou what he kuows is gold.tt
63
Yes,tt I reply,
6(
sufficient for your own
uature, perhafs, but not sufficieut fot thc u-orld tbat expeets the diarnond
trr shine and the gold to glitter. If the flowcr rnad.e itself, theu might it re-
fuse to allow its perfume to seent the earth.tt On the contrary, the squale
true will exert its powers to the greatest ad.r'antage of all mankind.
fgE SQUARE rrAND AND PSYCHIC FrI{GERS.
The square hand with purely psychic fingers is rarely found, but an ap-
proach to it is often seen in the forru of the square palm eombined with long,
pointed fingers and long rrails. Such a formatiou eauses people to start well,
and mean well, but makes thcm subservient to every moocl and caprice. An
artist with such a type will have a studio of unfinished pictures, and the lrusi-
ness rnan will have his offiee filletl with unfinished plans. Sueh a blending of
types the extreme opposite of cach other makes a nature too eontradietory
to ever suceeed.
THE SQUARE HAND Al.iD MIXED FINGERS.
This is a type that is very often seen, antl luore so among men than
Bmong wotrren. ft consists of every finger, beirrg different in shape, sorne-
timers two or three, sometimes all. It is ofterr found tliat tho thurnb of such
a hanil is supple, or bends back very mueh in the nriddle
joirrt
;
the first finger
is gener*lly pointed, the seeond. squai'e, ther thirtl spatulate, antl the fourth
pointed. Such a hancl indicates great versatility of ideas; at times such a
man will be full of inspiration, again he will be seientific and extremely log-
ical
;
he will descend from the most inraginative idea to thc most praetical;
he will cliscuss any subject rvith the gteatest ease; but from *qt of eotr-
tinuity of purpose, he will rarely, if er'er, rise to any great height of\power or
suecess.
I have not space at rny disposal to thus give the subdivisions of every
t.vpe, but this is au exarnple for the stud.ent of how the seven types
rnlay
be
divided.
CHAPTER TV.
TEE SPAIILAIE H.f,}ID.
Tnn sliatulate hand is so called not only brcause the tip of eaeh finger
nxemtrles the spatula that ehemists use in mortars, but alsr-' be*ause the palm,
instad of having the squaneness of the precetllng- tygre, i.o either unusually
broadat the wrist or at the base of the fingers
{Platc:
III.}.
'TFhen
tlie greaterl breadth of formatior,r is ai
,,ire
wri-ct, the palm of the
hand bettopss
prnnted
foward the iirrg.ers; wheu, {.rrr tlic eantrar_r, the
Ee'eat-
est ?-rread,th is fountl at the base of tlre finger*'s, thg .qilalre of the hanrl slopes
bafk tocrarrl the rrist. lv. e will discuss ihese lwo
loints
a liitle iater, but
we rnusi first <:onsidei the signifieanco of the spatulale hand itseif.
In the first plar:e, the spatnlate lrand, wheu haxi acrd fii40, iutlieates a
natnre restless aud excitallle, but full ef energy of purlruse an{ eilthusiasnr.
Ifhen soft and fabby, shich i,s often the ease, it rlenotes the restlcss liirt
irritable spiril rSuelr rI person works in fits an{l starts, but cannot stir:k
to anythirig longl Ncrn in the first plaee, the peculiar attribute that the
spatulate band has is its inten* l6r'e of action, energy. arrd inde,pendenee.
It belougs tfi tbe great navigators, explorers, disioverers, antl also the
great aed mechanieg but it is by no merns eonfinecl to sueh
people, and may be fouurl in almost eve{y rgalk of life. As- a rnlg it is a
large hand, with fairly long, we.ll-developetl fiugens. The most striking
ehatacteristic of alt is the singular independenee of spirit tha,t eheraeterizes
individuals pcrssessing sue.h a development. It i3 drrubtless this spttit that
makes them explorers and diseoverers, and causes them also to depart from
the known mles of engineering and rceehauies to seek the unkuom, aud.
thus beoome famous for their inver:tion. No matter in what grade or
position in life these spatulate hands find tbemselves, tlrey elways in some
fotu shike out for themselveg and assert their right to posses a markerl in'
72
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Ptate ltl.-THE
SPATULATE'
OR ACTIVE
HAND.
T'he Spatulate l{end. 33
dividuality of their own. A singer, a,etress, doctor, or preacher with such a
developmeut will break all rules of precedent-not by any rneaus for the sake
of ecceutricity, but sirnply because they have an origiual rvay of looking at
thirrgs, and their sense of independenee inclines thern to resent suiting their
blain to other people's ideas. It is from this hand that we get not onlv
our great diseoverers and engineers, but also the whole army of rnen and
w()lnen \ve are pleased to call crauks, sirnply because they rvill rrot follow the
rut made b)' the centuries of sheep that have gone before them. Such men
and woriGrr with the spatulate hands are the advance agents of thought. They
are, it is true, verv often before their tirne;.they are oftelr \yr' olrf; in the way
they set about their work; but they are, as a nrle, the he'raltls of solne new
thought or life that will, years later', grve life to their fellow-nten.
This brings ns down to the iwo tlivisiorrs f have
just
utentioned.. TV-e will
norv cotrsitler their nreaning.
The spatulate harrd with the broad development at the base of the fingers
is the lnol'e practicat of the two. If he be an iuventor, he will use his talents
for rnakiug loeomotives, shilrs, r'ailways, arrrl all the nl()l'e useful things of life,
for tho sirnple reason that he comcs nearer the forruatiou of the square type.
IJrrt if hc htrs the
igreater
angular tlcvelopnrcut at the wt'ist, his bent will be
for aetion iu the domain of itleas. He will iuvettt flying-rnaeltittes if he has
the in'.'entive talent, hunt for new flowers if he be a botauist, be' the tleurigod
of sorne new gospel if he bo a priest. These people wortder that God took six
clays to make the earth-with the little powet that the-v possess they would.
revolutionize the world in a day. Rut they all hat'e their putpose in the
evolutiou of life; they al'e necessary, therefore they are created.
\
CHAPTER, V.
THE PIINOSOPHIC IIAND.
Tnn n&me of this type explains itself, the word
('philosophic
tt
being de-
rived from the Greek phi,los, love, and sophi,a, wisdour. This shape of hand
is easily reeognizecl : it is generallS' long and atrgular, with bouy fingers, clevel-
oped
joints,
alrcl long nails (Plate IV.). As far as success iu the form of wealth
is concerued, it is not a favorable type to have; it gleans wisdom, rarely, if
evor, gold. People with such a tyJre al'e, as a t'ule, students, but of peerrliar
subjects. They study nrankind
;
they kuow every chold atttl tone in the halp
of life; they play lrpon it, and are gratified rvith its responsive melod.v more
than with the clink of cr-'in. fu this rva--v the-v have as rnrtch anrbition as
other types of humanity, only theils is of n different kind, that is all. They
like to be distinct from other people, aucl the.v rvill go through all kirrds bf
privations to attain this entl
l
but as knowledge gives powel', so tloes the
knowledge of marrkind give power oyer man. Such people love mystery iu
all things. If tlrey preach, they preach over the heads of the peolrle; if they
paint, they ate rny3tic; if they are poets, tht,y diseard the drauratic clash and
eolor of life for the visionary sirniles and vaporish rJrapings of the spirit.
Theirs is the peace of the resthetic; theirs the domaiu beyond the borderland
of matter; theirs the cloudland of thought, where the dreaded grub-worm
of nraterialism. clare not follow. Such harrds are found very largely'amollg
the Oriental nations, particularly in India. The Brahmans, Yogis, and other
mystics possess them in gleat nurnbers. In England, striking examples are
found in the hands of Cardinal Newmar], Cardinal l\Ianning, ancl Tennyson.
They are also largely seen among the Jesuits of the Catholic Church, rarely
in the English Church, and more rarely still in Baptists, Presbyterians, and
Independents. In character they are silent and secretive
i
they are deep
thinkers; careful ovr little matters, even in the use of little words
I
they are
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Plate IV.-THE KNOTTY, OR PHTLOSOPHIC HAIID.
T'|rc l'ltilosolflic Hantl. 35
proud with the pride of being tlifferent from others; they rarely forget an
injurg but they are patient with the patienee of power. They rvait for
opportunities, and so opportunities selre thern. Such hands are generally
egotistieal, which is in keeping with the life they letrd. \Vheu iu auy ex(:ess
of developrnent they are ttrore or less fanatieal in rerligiou ot' tn1'sticism. Of
this the rnost wonderful examples at'o foutrtl iu the East, where from the
eatliest ehildhootl the Yogt rvill separate hirnself fl'ortl all elairns of relatiort-
ehip autl kindretl, antl starvrl arrd kill tlre botly that the soul lrrav livtl. I
difter in nry definitiou of this type
ycrr'
lalgell- ft'om tltc' trtotlern wt'itel's ou
palmistry. I fear it has been too oftcn tlte casc that thc' writel'oll this sub-
ject
has follorvecl too elosely what other authorities ltavt' saitl, rvithout taking
the trouble to follorv out his o\n'll obsc'r't'utions. ffic gt't]ittest iujuly that has
been done to palrnistry has lrcen rloue irr the rrinetet' ttth
(:trntury,
by the
(t
latly anrl gentlenrau
t'
writers of tho tltl-. Strch pt'oplci reatl a ferr ltor>ks.,
dr.voto sometimes a ferv mouths, sornt' tiures less, to the stutly as a facl, ot' as
somethirrg by whieh to rnir,kc a tinsel rt'putation of lrcirrg iuteresting, theu
thel- write their lralnes to a lxrok arr,l tlisaplxratr iuto the rvhirl of sotticty from
wherrce theycaulo. Orrly this wctk I rea,d a pamlrltlt't writteu bya laci-r- who
eight months ago did not know a liuc otr the ltarttl, but to<Iay she eomes for-
ward as an exponeut of palnristr.r', antl, har.iug rnixed up the types in her
brain, wdtes that the srluare hand with shot't fingers is the hancl of poetry
ald irlealism. In this rvork f havo entlt'avot'etl to keep au uubiased ntittu
towartl the tlifrerelloe of opinion otl this or that in cotrnectiou rvith tlte stutly.
\Itheu I have eorne iu eoutac,t with an opiniorr irr opposition to my owll.
f have carefully cousidered a,ll
lxrints
for autl agaittst, aud before
\ciding
in
an-v direetion I have taken tinre to examine often hundreds of hands before
comiug to a conclusion oll even the snrtrllest point. Wherr one consitlers tire
opportunities plaeed at mv rlislrosal, uot ouly in oue countrv, but in alntost
\,er1r c.ouutry in the world, he will il)ore reaclily utttlerstancl that there is some
Iikelihtncl of my being, trot infallible, but fairl-v aecrurate
With these hantls, therefore, it urust lle l)ol'ne in nrintl that the d.eveioped
joints
arc tho peculiar characteristie of thoughtful people, while the smooth,
pointed fingers are the revelse. Again, surrh a tlevelopment gives the love of
analyziug, but it is the shapo ot type of hanrl whieh deteunines-vrhether that
Cheiro' s Lmtguage of' tlrc l{and,
power of analysis be for chemicals or for rnankind.. The end. of the finger
being square aud eonic combined gives the solemn tone to their inspiration
auct lits them speeially for the religious thought or the mysticism with which,
as a rule, they beeome associatecl. Again, these hands, in the pursuit of what
they eonsir,ler truth, will have the patienee
of the square type, with that love
of self-urartyrdom which is the eharaeteristic of the conic. It is the blending
of these almost opposite charaeteristies which brings about the peculiar icleas
that make men and women with thc philosophic t)rpe of hands so different
from the praetical drones in the vast hive of humanity.
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Plate V.-THE CONIC, OR ARTISTIC HANID.
CHAPTER YT.
T HS CONI C HAND.
Tsn conie hand, properly speaking, is meclium-sized, the palm slightly
tapering, and the fingers fullqpt the base, ancl eouic, or slightly pointerl, a,t tho
tip or nail phalangtl (Plate t). It is ofte'n eonfounded with the next type,
the psychic, which is the long, narrow harrtl, with extretnely long, tapering
fingers.
The main characteristics of the eonic hand are impulse aud. instinct.
Prcople with ihe, conic hand are often, in fact, designatetl
66
the r,hiltlren
of impulse.t There is a great variety in corinection with this type, lmt it is
more usuafy found as a full, soft hand, $ith pointed fingers, and rather long
nails. Such a formation deuotes an artistic, impulsive nature, but one in
which love of luxury and indolerree predominate. The great fault with
people possessing this type is, that though they may be clever antl rluiek in
thought and ideas, yet.they are so utterly devoicl of patience aud tire so
easilg that they rarely, if ever, carry out their intentions. Such people appea,r
to their greatest ad.vantage in eonipany, or before strangers. They
g,re good
eonversationalists, they grasp the drift of a subject quiekly, but they are
more or less superfieial in knorvledge, as also in other things
;
they have not
the power of the student, through want of applieation
;
they dq not reason,
they
judge
by impulse and instinct. It is that quality whieh makes them
ehangeable in friendship and afreetion
;
one ean easily ofrend them over little
thin!'s. They are also very mueh influeneed by the people they come in con-
tact with, and by their surroundings. They are impressionable in afai,res de
c@ur,. they cerry their likes and dislikes to extremes; they are usually quick-
tempered, but temper with them is but a thing of the moment. Theyl how-
ver, when orit of temper, speak tbeir mind plainly, and are too impetuous to
study words or expressions. They are always generous ancl sympathetie,
37
3S Clteiro's f'anguage of the lland.
selfish where their own personal eomfort is coneenretl, it is true, but not in
money matters; they are easily influencerl to give money for charitl', but,
alas ! here they have not the
l)ower
of discrimirration, conseqluently the morrey
is given to anybody or anything which rnay r'ou$e their synrpathies at the
rnoment. These hands rlever get that credii for eharity rvhieh falls to the
lot of the rnore practical types. To get clctlit for charity very ofteu tlonsists
rn saviug what rve give to the beggar and giviug it to the clttrt'ch, ].mt the cortic
fi ngers uever thi nk of that. Tl rc begght' cotnes, atrti i f the i mptrl se to gi r-e i s
there-well, they give, and that is all.
Thi s i nteresti ng ty' per hars becrr cal l ed, aurl desel vcrl l y so, the arti sti t' , l tttt
such relates rnore to tempcrarnerrt thau to the ean'yirrg out of thr, artistic
ideas. It would reall.v be rnore con'ect to say that tire ou'ners of such ltattrls
are influeneed by the artisticn tlian that they are artistic. llhey are IIXIt'e
easily influeneed by color, rnusic, eloquence, tears,
jo.v, or sol'r'o\v, than artv
other type. Men and wornen possessing this cluss of .lruutl t'esportd quickly to
sympathetic influc,nces
I
they al'e crrrotional, anrl risc to the grcatest heights
of ra.pture, or descend to the lowest rlepths cif rleslrait', ol't'r ilnt' tt'ifle.
When the coni c hand i s hal d antl cl asti r., i t tl crrotes al l the gri otl rpal i ti es
of the first-mentioned, but aer:e'ntuatetl lry greater energy aurl fit'tnness of will.
The conic hand hard" is artistic in natun,, an<l if elleouraged for ern artistic
life the energy and determination will go far towar:rl nraking success. It
will have all the quickness of the first, with all the blillierrre,v and sparkl-'irr
company and before strangers, antl it is for that rcrasor] that the conic hatrd
has been chosen to represent those who le;ad,,a public life, such as actoys,
aetresses, singers, orators, zrutl all those who follow a purely emotional
career. But it must not be forgotten that such people clepend. mo\e up()n
the. inspirational, feeling of the rnorncut than thought, rcason, or study.
They will do things well, but will not l<trow why or how they do them.
The singer will carry away her andience by her own individualitl' moro
thanby study of
,the
songi the aetress, from her own ernotional natut'e, will
stir the emotions of others
I
and the orator wfll tnove multitudu* iry the elo-
quence of his tongue-not by the logic of his words. It must, tJrerefore, be
remembered that the type of hand but relates to the natural temperament
aud disposition of the individual
;
it is the fcundation upon which the talent
I'he
(lonic
lland. 39
rises or falls. X'or instanee, a wom&n with square fingers ean be as great a
singer, and may often be capable of rising to
Elreater
things than the
tvoma,n with the pointed. formation
I
but she will r:eaeh that point by differ-
ent means"-by her application, by her study, by her conscientiotts work, aud
by the greater power of endul'ance and patienee that she possesses. Stutly
and developrnent are one half the latltler of' faure. Genius sits otr the t"ungs
to dream, Study works and rises ruug lry nttrg; it, is the ea,rthrvortrts rtlottt:
who, dazzled, by the heights above thr:rn, confounrl thc two, antl oft
(fr:own
Study and call it Genius.
tlhe
artistic type as u t1-pe hut rclates to teur-
perament; the variety of fingers iuclieates only wltere that tetnperantetrt is
strongest: as, for instance, the q,rtistic hand with s(luill'e fingers ittrlic:ates
moro the student, and, eonscquently, rnore exacttress in founrlation, rnc'thod,
and correctriess
I
sueh persorls rvill try arrcl trl- agairr nntil' tlur.v are successful.
The spatulate fingers on tlre artistic hautl will give, sav, to a
lrrrittter
the greater breadth of design antl eolor', the lnore dtrritrg itleas that will rntrkc
tho man famous for his originalitl', Tlrtr
llliilosophie
will give the nrl-stieal
treatment of the idea-the tones arrd scuritoues that subdue the ah'eatl1' sub-
dued colors. The lights and sharles that creep across the carlvas, the poem irt
the petals of the asphodel, the Rarcdictas in the hantls that sootlte the clying-
all will be detail, brit detail leatling to the regions of the spirit; all will trs
oalm, Uut with that calmrfess that an'eB onc with the sense of the urysterious.
CHAPTBR VII.
T HE PSYC) HI C HAND.
Tnn most beautiful but the rnost unfortunate of the seven is what is
known as the.psychic
(Plate VI.). This in its purity of type is a verv rare
hand to find. The narne explains itself-that whieh appertains to the soul.
The very word seems to suggest to one's mincl the old fable of the envy of
Yenris toward the rnaiden Psyche-the war of the goddess of passion agaiust
the more s;riritual chanrr cif the daughter of the soul. In its pureness of tvpo
it is a hard hand to fiud: nineteenth-eentuly eivilization cloes not encourage
such rare flowers of lilr. whiteness ancl icy purity; the calmness, coldness,
and. ilrerrmy ehastity of such a type arc not souglrt after by the present-tlay
sons of the soil, whuse heads ale bowecl in tlre quest for goltl, and whose
niood is heated by the eloseness of the eattle. But although the exaet type
may be hard to find, yet there &re hundreds of men and women who so ap-
proaeh. the psychic that thev must tre considered part of it, partieularly
wiren tbe eustoms that eontrol our
l)reserrt-day
life are taken into eonsider-
ati.on.
'Ihe
psychic is the most beautiful hand of all. It is in formation
long, narrow, and fragile-looking, with slender, tapering fingers and long,
almonrl-shaped nails. fts very fineness and beaut5 however, in{icate its
want of energy and'strength, and one instinetively pities such hand.s if they
have to try to hold theil own in the battle of life.
Individuals with the psychic hancl have tho purely visionary, idealistic
nature. They appreciate the beautiful in every shape and form
I
they are
gentle in manner, quiet iu temper; they are eonfiding, and they instinctively
trust every one who is kind to them. They have no idea of how to be prac-
tieal, business-like, or logical; they have no eonception of ord.er, punctu-
ality, or discipline
;
they are easily influenced by others
I
against their will,
they are c&rried away by the strong rush of humanity. Color appeals to
40
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Ptate VI.-THE PSYCHIC, OR IDEALTSTTC HAND.
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this nature in the highest possible way
I
to some, every toue of musie, every
joy,
every sorroq every emotion is reflectecl in a color. This type is uucou-
sciously a religious one; it feels what id true, but has not the power to seek
truth. In religion such people will be more impressed with the serviee, the
music, and the ceremony than with the logic or.truth of the sennon. They
are innately devotional, they seem to dwell on the confines of the spiritual,
they feel the awe and the mystery of life, without knowing why. All forms
of magic antl mystery attract them; they are easily imposetl upou, arrrl yet
bitterly resent being deeeived. These individuals have the intuitive faculties
highly'developed; they are gootl as sensitives, mediums, clairvoyants, becanse
they are more alive to feelings, instincts, and impl'essious thau arr: their rrlol.e
matter-of-fact brothers and sisters.
Parents having such chil<lren generall)' do not at all unclerstaud hon' to
treat them. The strange thing is that they are often the offspring of ruatter-
of-fact, practieal people. Tho only way in which I would accouut for rsur:h
a fact is by the theory'of balance: nature,.working through hereditary larvs,
finds a pbint of balance by prod.ucing ttre direct opposite of the palent
I
thus
the law of reaction produces the type under examination. Alas ! too often
a temperament of this kind, by the ignoranee and stupiclity cf the parents,
is forced. into some business life, simply because the father is irr bnsiuess.
The utter wrongness of the tife so crushes and dwarfs the natnre that very
often the result of such environment is insanity or an early glave.
''I'hele
is
no question but that the asylums of the world are largely filled by the utter
inability of parents for such a position of responsibility; and the soouer this
fact is reooguized, the better.
\
Possessors of these beautiful, delieate hands, the indieators of the pur.ely
sensitive nature, usually feel their positiorr in life so keenly that the;' too
often oonsider themselves useless, and become morbid ancl melaut:holy in
consequenoe. Sueh, however, is not the case; there' "is nothing useless that
nature calls'into creation; the beauty an4 sweetness of sueh temperarnerts
are often of more use and do more good than those who, by the aeeumula'
tion of this world's good.s, build n, convent or end.ow a ehureh. They nray be
plaeed here to establish a balance in the laws of humanity; they rnay be here
to inorease our love and appreeiation of the beautiful; but they are not use
I
)
I
i
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I
'
t
Chei,ro's Languay1e of the Hand.
less-of that we may be assured; therefore let us encourage and help thent,
instead. of crushing and tlestroying them as we too often do. Alas ! in the
worldly sense they are generally left far behind in the raee for fame aud
fortune. I cannot refrain from tlrawing the follorving picture, as-illustrative
of sueh types:
They are as lilies thrown, by some ruthless hantl, upon the tempest-tossed.
river of life-they seem so helpless in the onward sweep of that terrible eur-
rent. One sees them at times elinging to the banks for pity. Ah ! those
beautiful hands have no strength
;
they are swept on again by the rising ticle
of bubbling, babbling, frothy humanity. A little lower, one sees them, soiled
and stained, erouching beneath the shad.ow of some rock, trying, as it wcl'e,
to look happy amid the weeds that for a moment moek the stlearn. Again,
it is the rush of the onward tide or the wash of some passing barge that
drags them from the shelter of the stone and hurries them nearer and nearer
to the sea. The river is broader now, quieter, ealmer, wider: we expancl in
our views as we leave the narrow banks of
I'outh.
See, now, as the rright
is nearing, how those lilies rest and dream upon the tide. The river is silent
tlow, the rush is past, the day of life is done. See how it bears the broken
flowers tenderly, as if sorry for the roughness of its early tide. All is quiet
now, all is ealm.
'Wider
and wider yet it grows, ealmer and yet still calmer.
The end has come. The mists fall no\M, thieker and closer and. whiter. Ilow
still it is ! The silence hangs like a coklness on the heart. The river widens
out into the sea, and lilies and flowers and weetls drift-it may be to the
garden of God.
\
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{ . )
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Pbte VIIJTHE MIXED HA}ID.
CHAPTER YIIL
T I I E MI XED EAN' D.
'Isu
mixed hand is the most difficult of all to deseribe. In the ehapier
on the square I gave an illustration of that type with mixed fingers. In
that o&se, however, the mixed fingers have the foundatiou of the squale
hand, whereas with the true mixed type no such foundation can be cited for
the studentts guidance.
fhe mixed. type is so called beeause the hand. cannot possibly be classed
as
'square,
spatulate, eonie, philosolhi., or psychic; the fingers also belong
to different t5'pes-often one pointed, one square, one spatulate, one philo-
sophie, ete.
The mixed hand is the hand. of ideas, of versatility, and generally of
ehangeability of purpose. A man with such a hand is adaptable to both
people and cireumstances, clever, but erratic in the application of his talents.
IIe will be brilliant in conversation, be the subject seiettee, art, or gossip.
IIe may play some instrument fairly well, may paint a little, and so on
I
but
rarely will he be great.
'When,
however, a strong line of head rules the hantl,
he will, of all his talents, choose the best, and add to it the brillianey and
versbtility of the others. Sueh hands flnd their greatest seope
\
work re-
quiring diplomacy and tact. They are so versatile that they havb rro diffi-
culty in getting on with the different clispositions with which the..v conte into
eontaet. Their most striking peeuliarity is their adaptability to eireum-
stances: they never feel the ups and downs of fortune like others
I
alrnost
all elasses of work a,re ea,sy to them. They are generally inventive, partic-
ularly if they can thereby relieve themselves of lir,bot'. They are t'estless
and. do not remain long in any town or plaee. They are fond of new itleas:
one moment they detgrmine to write a drama, the next, perhaps, they invent
a gas.stove or go into polities; but as they are always ehanging, anr-l un-
43
Chei,ro's Lahguage of the Hand,,.
stable as water, they rarely succoed.. ft must be remembered that when the
palm belongs to a certain typo these charaeteristics are much rnodified
I
as,
for insta,noe, mired fingers on the square, the spatulate, the philosophic, or
the conic will often sueeeed where the pure development of the type would
fail.
'When
the entire hand is rnixed it is then that, through ver'satility of
talent and purpose, the subjeet is inclined. to become the
36
Jack of all traded,"
to which class of unfortunates the individual possessing this type of hand is
so aommonly relegated in works on palmistr5r.
\
f i t E CLUBBED THUMB
SUPPLE-JOI NTED THUME. F] RM- JO: NTED THUMS
f t ot
{ho t
sr b
Ptate VIII.-THE THUMBS.
CHAPTEB IX.
TEE THUMB.
Tnn thumb is in every sense so important that it calls for special atten-
tion, not only in the domairr of cheirognomyr but also in its relation to cheiro-
mancy. The truth of palmistry bould rest upon the solid founclation given
by the study of the thumb alone, in its relation to the most important char-
aeteristies of the subject.
fn every age the thumb has played a conspicuous part, not only irr the
hand., but also in the world itself. It is a well-kno*n fact that among many
of the tribes of Oriental nations, if the prisoner, when brought before his
eaSrtors, cover his thumb by his flngers, he is in this dumb but eloquent
fashion giving up his will.and independence, and begging for mercy. \Ye
find in the war annals of the children of IsraeF instances of their cutting otf
the thumbs of their enemies. Gipsies, in their
judgment
of charaeter, merke
thp thumb the great foundation fot' all their reomarks. Being i:rterested with
gipsies in my early life, I know this for a fact, for I have seen and watched
them from the position, angle, and general appearance of the thumb make
their calcrilations accordingly. In India they have a variety of systerns b;'
which they read the hand, but here, again, they make the thumb thd center
and foundation, no matter what system they work out. The Chinese also tre-
lieve in'' pahnistry, and they, too, base their remarks on the position of the
thumb itself. Again, it iS an interesting faet to notice that even in Chr:is-
tianity the thumb has played. an important r6le, the thumb representing
God; the firbt finger Christ, the indieator of the will of God, and the orrly
finger on the hand. that has, by virtue of its position, the power to point, or
to stand upright indeperrdent of the rest
I
the second representing the Holy
Ghost, as the attendant to the first. In the Greek ehurch the bishop alone
gives the blessing by the thumb and first aud secontl fingers, represeuting the
4ir
46
Clrciro's Language aJ' tlrc lland,
Trinity; the ordinary
priest has to use the whole hand. And, again, in the
old ritual of the English ehurch, we find. that in baptism the cross must be
made by the thumb.
I do not wish to tire my readers by going into a lengthy dissertation
upon the medieal points which could be given by the hundrecl in proof of
the importanee of this member; but the rnost significant of all is that which
relates to what is known in medical wcirk as the
6(thumb
centertt of the brain.
It is a well-known faet among the speeialists of nerve diseases that by an ex-
amination of the thumb they can tell if the patient is a{Tected or is likely to
be afrected, by paralysis or not, as the thumb will indieate such a likelihood a
lolg time before there has appeared'the slightest trace of such a disease in
any other part of the system. If it indicate such an affection, an operation
is at once performed on the thumb center of the brain, and if that operation
is suecessful
(which is again shown by the thumb) they have baffied the dis-
ease an6 the patient is saved. And yet, in face of this, which is a well-
known faet, there still aro people who do not believe in the study of the hand.
'Within
the last few years Dr. Francis Galton has demonstt'ated in Lonclon
the marvelous accuracy by which criminals can be traced by the stud'y of
the corrugations of the skin of the thumb. En passant, the English. govern-
ment thought well of the idea, and even proposed to put it into practiee-and
yet that very government arrested and prosecutecl palmists during t'he same
year in almost every part of the country. Justice is indeed blind. Another
very interesting point is the old idea of the midwives-an idea, by the waYr that
ean easily be seen to eontain a good deal of truth. They believed that if the
child some days after birth was inclined to keep the thumb inside the\fingersl
rt foreshadowed.
great physical delicaey, but if, seven days after birth, the
thumb was still covered, then there was good reason to suspect that the child
would. be delicate mentally. If one will visit the asylums of the country, he
cannot fail to notiee that all congenital idiots have very weak, poor thumbs
;
rn fact, some are so weak as not to be properly developed, even in shape. All
weak-minded individuals have weak thumbs, and the man or womau who will
stand. talking with the fingers cove*iog and concealing the thumb has little
self-confidence or self-reliance. It is an interesting thing to watch the hands
of people when
'dying.
One will see that, as death approaches and the
{t
Tlte Thqnnb.
reason goes, the thumb loses all power and. drops in on the hand, but
that if the reason has only faded temporarily the thumb still retains its
power and there is every hope of life. It is D'Arpentigny who has said,
36
The thumb individualizes the man.t This is remarkably true, particularly
when one follows out Sir Charles Bellts discovery that in the hantl of the
chimpanzee, whieh is the nearest approach to the humau, though well formed.
in every'w&yr yet the thumb, if measured, does rrot reaeh the base of the first
finger. The deduction to be made is, therefore, that the higher and better-
proportioned
the thumb, the more the intelleetual faeulties rule, ancl uice
Qsersd,, This point the stutlent will prove by the most casual observation.
The man with the short, elumsy, thiek-set thunrll is coarse and brutish in his
idea.s and animal in his instincts, while the man or wbman rvith the long,
well-shaped thurnb is intelleetual antl refinerl, anrl in the attainrnent of a
desire, or the carrying out of an object,.sueh a person will use the strength
of intellectual will,.as opposed to that of brute force, tulii"h will be applied by
the man with the thick, short formation. The thumb, ther.efore, should be
Iong and. firrn uporl the hantl. ft should not stand at right anglcs to the
palm, nor yet should it lie too closs to the sitle. ft shoulcl have, a slopc to-
ward the fingel's, antl yet uot lie down on thern.' Wheu it stanrls off the
hand, at right angles to it, the nature will fly to extremes, from sheer i1-
dependencc of spirit. It will be impossible to mauage or eontrol such natures
I
they will brook no opposition, and they will be inelined to tire aggr.essive iu
their manner and bearing. When the thumb is wbll for.med, but lying tlown,
cramped. toward the fingers, it indicates the utter want of indepentlqnce of
spirit. ft denotes a nervous, timorous, but eautious nature; it rvill be iilrpos-
sible to find out what such a person is thinking about or. what he intends
to do; he canuot be outspoken, because his nature is the reverse. .If
the
thumb, however, is a long one, he will use his intellectual fac,ulties to outwit
his opponent, but if it be short and thick he will eautiously await his op-
portunitYofor any deed of violence that he may meclitate, When a well-
formed thumb, therefore, strikes the happy medium of these two extlremes,
the subjeci will have sufficient i4dependenee of spirit to give him dignity and
force of character
I
he will also be properly eautious over his own affairs, and
have strength of rvill and d.ecision. It therefore stand.s: the long, well-
48
Cheiro's Language of tlr,e lluntl.
formed, thumb denotes strength of intellectual will; the short, thick thum\
brute foree and obstinaey
;
the small, weak thumb, weakness of will and want
of energy.
From time immemorial the thumb has been divided into three parts,
which are significant of the three great powers that rule the world-love,
logic, and. will.
The first or nail phalange denotes will.
fhe second phalanser logic.
The third, which is the boundary of the Mount of Yenus, Iove.
'When
the thumb is unequally developed, as, for instance, the first pha-
lange extremely long,
.rve
find that the subjeet depends upon neither logic nor
reason, but simply uPon will.
-When
the second phalange is much longer than the first, the subject,
ihough having all the calmness and exaetitude of l'eason, vet has not suffieieut
will and determination to cart'y out his ideas.
IMhen the third phalange is long ancl the thunrb sntall, the'man or woman
is a prey to the more passionate or settsual sicle of the'natut'e.
One of the most interesting things in the study of the thumb is to notice
whether the f.rst
joint is supple or stiff. IMhen supple, tho first phalange is
allowed to bend baek, and forms the thumb into an arch
I
whert, on the con-
trary, the thumb is stiff, the first phalange cannot be bent back, even by
pressure; and. these two opposite peculiarities bear the greatest possible rela-
tion to character.
The supple thumb
(Plate YIII.) is the distinctive peculiarity of the Latin
races
;
the stiff
joint is more the property of the Northem. The supple
jointt
for instance, is very rate among the Danes, Norwegians, Germans, English,
and Scotch, whereas it is found in large numbers among the lrish, French,
Spanish, Italians, and whcr.ever these races have congregated.
I hardly think
that the theory of elimatic influence bears out this point. f am more inclined
to eonsider that the unconscious influenee of the surroundingsr
prenatal or
otherwise, has more to do with this peculiarity, for the charabteristigs that it
shows in the individual are also the characteristics of the nation to which
that individ.ual belongs.
t
i
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I'hc
'f'lmnzb.
TIIE SUPPLE.JOINTED TIIUIIIB.
X'or example, the supple-jointed thumb, bending frorn the hand, is the in-
dieation of the extravhgant person, not only iu matters of mone1', llut in
thought; these are lifets natural spendtllrifts-improvident of tinre, irnprovi-
dent of wealth. They have adaptability of temperarnent for both people and
circumstancesl they are quickly at home in whatever society they at'e tht't,wn
;
they have the sentimental love of kindrerl ancl eounttv, as opposed to the
prae,tieal; they settle down easily to new rrork autl new
'sttrt'ouutlings,
antl
consequentlythey quickly make a home iu whate\:el'eountry the;' are plaeerl.
TEE FIRIVI-JOINTED THUIIIB.
Again, in a general way, the exact opposite of all this is founrl arnong tho
people with the stiff, flrm
joint (Plate YIII.). Iu the first plaee, they are mor6
practieal; they have a strong will and. a kintl of stubtrorn rlettrnrrinatiou rvhich
makes them rather stronger in character', arrtl rvliich is a large elernent in
their success.. They are more eautious and seeretir.e
;
they adt'a,uce by slow
steps where the other nature will act by leaps and trounds. Agaiu, they ale
not erratic like the first mentioned; they stick to one thing; they ean'y out
their purpose with a kind of resistless stuhtrornness
;
they have the praeti<'al
idea of making the most out of their own home and their own country; they
rule with-strength; they have a keen sense of
jirstice;
they control self as they
would control machinery; in war the)' are solid, strong, and resistless
I
in
love they are und.emonstrative, but fir"rn and stanch
;
in retigio\ their
churches are plain, but solid; in art they have the strength of their own
individuality.
THE SECOND PHALANGE.
The next important characteristic of the thumb is the shape and make of
the socotrd. or middle phalange. It will be found. that this varies greatly
and is a rlecicled indicator of temperament. It has two noticeable formations,
namely, tho narrow molded. center or' waistJike appearanee (Fig. 3, Plate
VrII.), and its opposite, which is full and rnore elumsy (Fig. 1, Plate YIII.).
fn London, in t892, when I published my
tt
Book on the lland,tt which
was to be followed later by this larger and fuller work, I called attention to
49
50 Cheiro's Language oJ' the Hand.
the great difrerence, as far as eharacter is eoncerned, shown by these two
formati ons. l Iy statement that the wai st-i i ke appearance i ndi cated tact
aroused a good deal of interest, and as it was taken exception to by some of
my critics, I wiil here endeavor to show in a logical way rvhy such should be
the ease. In the fi rst pl ace, the student has by thi s ti rne seen the truth of my
remarks ai tout the fi ner formati on of the thumb bei ug the i ndi cati on of the
greater dcvelopment of the intellectual will, and the coarse formation that of
the nature that will use more brute force in the accomplishment of an object.
It therefore foilows that the wa.ist-iike appearance, wirich is a portion of ttie
fi ner devel opment, i nd,i cates the tact born of mental power, whereas i he
fuller, coal'ser development intlicates force in the carrving out of a purpose,
in keeping rvith the characteristies of each nature.
When the first or nail phalange is thiek and heavy, with a short, flat nail,
it is a sure indieartion of the ungovernable passion of the subject. All brutal
unimal natures have such clubbed formations, the force of krlind passion com-
pletely dominatiue whatever reason they possess. Sueh people, as a rule,
al so have the fi rst
j oi nt
sti ff, and the two.poi nts together gi ve tha,t terri bl e
obsti nac-' ' of purpose that dri ves the subj eet, once out of temper, i nto rl eeds
of vi ol el ce and cri me. The fl at fi rst phal ange, eonseqtl entl l ' , whether short
or l ong, i s more cai m i n rnatters of temper and more controi l e,.l l ty r"eason.
lYhen tire hand is hard the natural tendency towalcl energy aud firm-
t ess i ndi cat ed by t he t humb i s i uei ' eased; eonsequent l 3. t he subj ect wi t h t he
irard, firm hand and the first phalange of the thumb well developer-l rsill be
Io.,r resci i i te of purpose ai i d rnore deterrni ned i n the exeeuti on of hi s i cl eas
than i s the subj ect wi ti r the soft hand.
-When
the hand i s soft' the subj eet wi l l be more i ncl i necl to use hi s wi i l by
l i ts anti starts, but cannot be so much depend,ed upon i n the ext' euti o\i of hi s
plans.
One very stri ki ng peeul i ari ty to be found i n thi s stud-v* of human nature
through the medi urn of the hand i s shown i n the case of peopl e wi th the
supple or bending-back thunrb. They rarel,v have the same keenness of molal
consci ousness that i s found wi th those of the strai ght, fi rm devel opment.
They are generally more those impulsive ehildren of nature in whom eon-
sei enee i n moral s does not pl ay so i mportant a part.
I
t r ' f r - r !
t t : i . !
's,
&
* l
fi
tr
'!x
*
t
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,
,
,
a
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CHAPTER X.
THE JOINTS OF THE FINGERS.
Tnn development or non-development
of the
joints
of the fingers is a
very important
consideration in the reatling 9f the harrtl. The
joints
a'e.
figuratively speaking, walls between the phalanf{es, arrtl are initrrortant ilcliea-
tions of the peculiarities
as well as of the temperameut of the strbjeet.
'When
the subject ltas what are krrorvrr irs sruooth
joints
he is rnor.e in-
clined to be impulsive
in thought antl tci an'ive at r:onr:lusiorrs rvitlout usilrg
the reasoning facuities.
IMith squal'e hautls this is very much rnoclifietl,
but Dot by any mealls eradieated.
Corrsequently' a scieutific man rvitS s(luar.e
fingers, but with smooth
joints
(FiS. 1, Flate IX.), will
jurup
at, eonclu-qio' s
without being always able to account for them. Such a doctor. witt cliag*'se
a patient in the sarne wa)'; if the man be really talented. he rnal' be verv
accurate irr his conclusions, but such a rnan is mdre apt to make mistakes
than the man with the square type with developecl joints.
\Vith t6e pointetl
hands the smooth
joints
are purely intuitive (Fig.
2, Plate IX.)
;
tley can' ot
be troubled with details of any kirrd; they are also careless in dress, appear-
&ncer and' in little matters. Such a person in business affairs coulcl not keep
pepers
and little things in their places, although he wou|j be very particular
in insisting upon order in other people.
The opposite is found in the case of
trreople
with the developed joints
(X'iS, 3, Plate IX.). Work has nothing to do with the increase or. tliminution
of sueh formations
I
the smooth joints
are as often founcl anrong rnen who do
the hardest kind of manual labor as the knott-v or dcveloped
joints
among
men who do nothing but mental work" They are sometinres fourrd running
in families for generations,
or appearing in one chikl alcl but stightly found
in all the others. In the breeding of animals it may be observed
,
en passant,
how often tittle peculiarities
of ttris kind occur, and also how signifieant they
51
52
Che'iro's Language of the Hand.
are. fhus, when one considerl how wonderful are the laws of heredity, he
will study these
s6little
things
tt
with greater interest.
'
For instance, there is
that well-known
fact that if a woman gives birth to a ehild by her first hus-
band, ehildren who follow by the second, third, or even fourth husband, as
the case may bp,'all in some sligtrt way exhibit the peeuliarities of the fi-rst
husbhnd
The developed
joints being the opposite of the smooth,.it follows that
they show more exaetness in methcid and wolk.. In this caser a man with the
square hand and developed
joints,
engaged in some scierrtific
pursuit, does
not eare how
mueh
time he spends in working ort't details in connection
with
any seienee in which he is' engaged. It is tbe same reason that makes the
philosophic hands so exact about detail in conneetion with their work. The
owners of these
joints
notice the slightest thing out of
'plaec
in even tho
arra,ngoment of a room. They worry over little things, though in'important
matters they will'be cool and calm. Men with these cleveloped
joints havo
an almost fominine instinct in matters of dress-they elass and blend color
well, antl nothing witl irritate them rnore. than to aecompany a woman the
eolors of whose eostumo do not harmonize. In clramatie work, people with
sueh
joiuts
are careful and aecurate in the tlelineation of eharapter, but
laek dramatic brearlth and foree. Outside of seienee, they perhaps make their
best mark in iiterature. because of their extraordinary
power of anah-zing
bumaq nature, andbeeeuse of the true instinct and knowledge of humanity
whieh seelqs to eomo to them without effort. We must thetefore draw the
defluetion that these developed walls or
joints
between the phalanges, Iigura-
tively speaking, stop the tide of impulse, and make the naturo more qbservant,
thoughtful, and aualyzing.
CHAP' IIER XI.
TI I E FI NGERS.
Frncnns are either long or shcirt,, in' esliective of the length of the palrn to
which they beloug.
Long fingcrs give love of detuil in cvervthing-in the clocolation of a
roornr in the treatment of servauts, in thc' rniruagemeut of iraitious, or irr tle
paiuting
of a pictut' e. Long-fingcretl
lieolrle
are exact iu rnattcrs of drt,ss,
quick to notice srnall atterrtions
I
tirc,v \\' ou' y tlieursc:lves over little tSiugs,
arrd have occasiouarll.y a lcauirrg tc,wartl affectatiou,
Sliort fingers art' tlttick autl iurpuisir-e. Thel' cannot be troubletl alrorri;
little things
;
thev take er:er' 5' tiri ng etl n?(t,sse,. they generallv junrp
at c<n-
clusions too hastily. They do not cal"c) so nruch about al)peararlce.s, or for. t5e
eoriventionalities of society; they are cpriek in thought, and fuasty a1d out-
spoken in speech.
Fingers thick and clumsyr as well as short, are more or less cruel and
seifish.
'When
the fingers are stiff ancl
,i{lrrvd.
inward, or natur.ally eontracterl,
they denote an excess of caution antl reserve, ancl very oftcu indipate a
eowartlly spirit.
When thel' are very suliple arrd berrrl back like an arch, they tell of a
nature eharrniug in conrlrail), affatrle arrrl ekrver, l-rut curious anrl ilquisitive.
Naturally irookerl, tlistortetl, twistcrl fingels cln a batl hand inclieate a
crooked, distorted, evil nature
;
on a good hand they Al.e ral.ely forrlrd, but' if
fonnd they denote a quizzieal, irritating
tr)erson.
When a small fleshy bali or pad is found on the insiqle of the nail pha-
lange, it denotes extreme sensitiveness and tact tlrrough the dreatl of causing
pain to others.
IYhen the fingers are thick and puff)'at the base, the subject cons.iders
53
64 Che'i,ro)s Language of the Hand.
his own eomfoi't before that of others; he will desire luxury in eating, drink-
ing, and living. When, on the contrary, the fingers at the base ale siraped.
like a waist, it shows an unselfish disposition in every walr and fastitliousness
in matters of food.
When, with the fingers open, a, wide spaee is seen between the first aud
'second,
it indieates great independence of thought. IMhen the space is wide
between the thitd and fourth, it indicates inclepenclence of aetion.
THN LENGTH OF THE FINGERS IN RELATION TO ONE AI{OTIIER'
Tho first finger on some hancls is very short
I
again, on others, it is as
long as tbe seeond, and so on.
'When
the first, or index finger, is exeessively long, it, denotes
great
pride, and a tendency to rule and rlomineer. It is to bc' fourtd in the lraritls
of priests as well as politicians. Sur,h a man, literall5 speaking, will
"
lay
down the law.t'
When this finger is abnolnral. namelyr as long as the seconcl, it irtditlrrtcs
great pride of disposition, a desire for powcr, the
"
one lnan, one wot'ltl
n
dreed. Napoleon was a striking example of this rule
;
on his hand the first
finger was abnormal, it being fully equal to the seconrl.
'When
the secontl finger (the finger of Saturn) is square ancl lteavy, it
shows a deeply thoughtful, almost morbid. na,ture.
'When
pointed, the reverse-eallousness and frivolity.
'When
the third finger
(the
finger of the Sun) is nearly of the sarne length
as tho first, it denotes ambition for wealth and honor through its alti-"tie
loanings, and, a great rlesire for glory" If exeessively long, altnost equal to tlie
seeond, it denotes the nature that looks at life in the light of a lottery, one
that gambles with atl things-money,life, and danger-but one endowed withal
with strong artistic instincts and talents.
fhe spatulate terminatibn for this third. finger is an excellent sign for the
aetor, orator, or preacher. It indieates that his artistic gifts are strengthened
by the dramatic or sensational powe{r the breadth, the color necessary to
oppeal to audiences.
'When
the fourth, or little finger, is well-shaped and long, it acts as a, kintl
The tr'ingers.
55
of balanee in the hand to the thumb, and indicates the power of the supjeet to
influence others.
'When
very long-almost reaehing to the nail of the third-
it shows great power of expression in both writing and speaking, and the'
owner is more or less the savant and philosophef
: one who can eonverse with
ease on eny subjeet
;
one who interests aud eommands people by the lnanner
in whieh he will apply facts' and knowled.ge to the treatment of anything
brought under his notice. Mr. Gtadstone is a good, example of this class; on
his hand his fourth {inger near'ly reaches the nail of the third.
CHAPTER XII..
THE PALIVI, AND LAITGE AND S}IALI, IIANDS.
A THrN, hard, dry palnr irrclicat,es tiruidit;r, and rt, nervous, worryitlg,
trclubled natttt'r'.
A very thick palm, full antl soft, shorvs sensuerlit.y of rlisposition.
When tliq
ualm
is finn aucl elastie, autl in proportiou to the fingers, it in-
tliciltes e\renlless of rnirrrl, ener'tr1y, anrl rluiekness of irttt'llect.
When not verr thi ek, but soft arrrl fl al rl rv, i t tl enotes i nrl ol etttte, l ove of
luxurl", antl a tentlency tolvatrd sensu,alitl'.
A hollorv
lrahn
has been provetl to be an unfortuttate sign
I
suelt peoplo
usual l ,v have evel r more di sappoi nttnc,ti ts than fal l , as a t' ul c, to the l ot of
mol tai -q. I havr-l ;rs rvel l ri ,rti cerl a peeul i ari tl ' that l ttrs rtot beeu ntttttti otterl
i n other rvorks on the sui i j eet, uamel r' , that the hol l ow i nel i nes l nol ' ti to otte
line or p}rtion of the hanrl than to anotlter'.
If it inelines to the line of life, it prornises disappointment and trouble iu
domestie afrairs, tr,nd if the rest of the hanrl clenotes ill-health, it is an atltled
sign of delicacy antl trouble.
Whcrri the hol l ow cornes undei ' the l i ne of fate, i t i ndi cates mi sfortune i u
business, nuone)', aud u'orldl)'affai,r's.
\
\lthen under the liue of heart it tells of clisappointment in the closest
afreetions.
I tlo not hcjld with other works ou the subjeet, that the fingers urust be
longer thau the pah.n to show ther iutelleetual nature. The palm of the harrcl is
never, properly speaking, exceeded ih length by the fingers. How ertn tve ex-
pect t;his tb
.be
the case with the square, spatulate, and philosophic types ?
The statement that in every case the fifrgers must be longer than the palm is
erroneous antl misleading.
50
The L' ulm, attil Larqe and Smull lluuls.
I,ARGE AND SIIALL HANDS.
It is a thing well worth rentarking, that, generally
speaking, people u'ith
large hands do very fine rvork and lovc, great cletail in rvork, w|ile tlrirst' rvitlr
very small hands go in for large thing.*, aud eannot bedr detail iu r,rrr1,L,r,-
ment. In 1892 f examinetl the hantls of the diamorrd st,tter.s aurI errgl.ir\-(,r.s
engaged in some of the largest goltlsrnithts
establis}rnelts in Bprrrl Strt't,t,
London, and out of nearly a huttrlred, f clid not firrrl a silgle exceptiorr to tlris
rule. One man-a4cl f have the east befole nle now-hatl extr.aorrlirraril.v lar.ge
hands, yet he was famed for the fiueness autl nrinuiire of tire s'ork rrlrir.h tlrosrt
p;reat hands turned. out.
Small hands, on the contrarS prefer to earr"yrout lai'ge itleas, arrd. as a
rule, rnake plans far too lnrge for their power of executigu. Tlc.v llv.3 to
manag large eoncerns atrtl govem eonlnunitics, ancl, speaking geucr.irlly,
even the writing of snrall harrds is large and boltl.
i ) /
CHAPTER XIII.
THE NAILS.
P^lnrrcur',Anr,y as regards health, antl the rliseases likell' to ufftret thc suli-
j eet, the nai l s wi l t bo fountl to be l crnarkabl y sur() gui des. Itccl i cal tttc' tt i tt
both f:outl on arrcl Pari s ha,r' e l atel y ti rl <err up l hi s stuth' of tl ro tttti l s i vi th great
i nterest. Often al l ati eut tl oesrrol kno\y,
ol for.' tl rr, tttoti rettt forgets, rvhat ]ri s
parent s have suf f ered or cl i et l f rornl l nrt f t rt
(' xat ! t i t t ut i ot l
of l l rt ' t t ai l s rvi l i i n
a ferv secon,i l s di sel osc i mportarrt hcrrt' tl i tary trni ts. I i ri l i l i rst tt' t' i i t
,-rf the
heahh si rl eof t he quest i ori , t , l l cn c, f t l r, . , t l i sposi t i . ' , as sl t ri rvt t l rt ' t l ri s st ut i i ' .
Tn t he f i . r: st pl ac: g, t hc *l n' r' ,
nf t l rc t ri i , i i sr t l ' , l s nt , t al t r' i ' t t t ' i t Jf t ' r' t t l rt ' i r t 1-1i t l
i n the sl i gtrtcst tl cgrr-:+' : r,,rhctl tt,,' tl tt,.-\, a,r": l rl ' tl kcl t l t' ,," wot' k t,t'
P<' ' l i i ' tl rt:tl
l rv
oar: *, t he t . v1rg r. rl l uai t i s unchat rgt ' cl . I ' l , rt i rrst rr. l r{t o, rl t rt errrl t : rl t i t ' rl aY
l t : rVt ' l ol rg
nai l s, a1fl tfi o geutl ernarr a,t r,ast l ni l )I l rl rvr vor.r' s]tort,
Jrt' oatl ol l (' r." tl rough ]rri
manicure thern every urornirtg.
Nai l s aro di vi tl ed. i nto foul di st;i rrr:t, cl i i sscs ; |i l i i g; sl rot' t, l rroatl , atttl
n$rl'0w.
I,ON(+ NAII,S"
I:ong nails never indieate strclt
great
1rh)'sitral
strength as thc short,lroad
type. Very lgog nailed persons rrte rnore liable to su{Ter frorn chest artd lung
trouble, and this is more aecentuated if thel nails alo rnuelt t'ttrr'ed, llotir frotn
the top back towart{ the finger and across the linger (I'ig. 7, Plate X.). This
tendency is even more aggravated
if the nail is {luted. or ribbed (}-ig. 1(}'
Plate X.).
This type of nail, when shorter, inclicates throat trouble, sueh as laryngy-
tis, asthma, and bronchial
affections
(Plate X').
Long nails, very wide at the top and bluish in appeatanee,
d'enote bad
circulation
proceeding from ill-health or nervous prostratiou.
This is very
58
THROAT AFFECTIONS.
DELICACY OF LUNGS
CO}i SUMPTIVE TENDENCIES
BRONCHI AL
af t;
Plate X.-NAILS.
6.
u
i l 2 ' t r r r
SHOWI }{G
TENDENCY TOWARDS PARALYSI S.
Pl ate Xl .-' NAILS.
The Nu,ils. 59
often the ease with the hands of ryornelr between the a.ges of fourteon a,ncl
twenty-ouo aud forty-two and forty-sc\rr)n.
SIIOITT I[.IILS.
Short, small uails run irr rrholo faurilies in which there is a tenrlrttttv
toward heart disease (['late XI.).
Short nails, thin and flat at tho base, s' ith little or llo rllor)u{i, ar' (i sule
signs of weak aetion of the herlrt, aucl, generall.r' slreakitrg, ltcnt't rliscase.
Large moons indicate good cireulation.
Short nails, very flat and sunkeu, as it wer' (., into tltc flesh ilt tlrr, lrttsa,
shcw nerve diseases (Plate Xf.).
Short nails, very flat and irrelined t,o eurve out ot lift u1r at tlre eclges, aro
the fororuuners of parulysis, partieularly if they ar:o whitc antl brittlc as
well as flat. If the latter is the case the diseaso is more arlvaneetl (Fig. 1),
Plate XI.).
Short-uailed people have a greater terrtlency to suffer ft'ottt lteart trottble
and from diseases afrecting the truuk arrtl lower lirnbs thatr thosc with lottg
nails.
Long-nailed persons &re nrore liatrle to trouble in the nlrlrcr half of the
system-in the lungs, chest, and heatl.
Na,tural spots on the nails are signs of a highly stnurg llervous tempet'a-
ment
I
when the nails are flecked with spots the whole nervous system rerluires
a thorough overhauling.
Thin nails, if suall, denote delieate health autl waut of energ). Nails
very n&rrow anrl long, if high and rnuch curvetl, threraten spirtal
frouble,
and
Dever promiso vel'v great strength.
DISPOSITION AS SHOWN
' BY
THE NAILS.
In &sposition, long-nailed individuals aro less critical arttl mrire iurpt.,s-
sionable than those with short nails. They are also calnter in tetrrper and
more gentle.
Long nails show more resignation antl ealmuess in everr)- way. As a rule
tbeir owners take things easily. Such uails indicate gteat irleality
I
they also
0U
Chei,t o's Language of th,e Hancl.
show an artibtic nature, and their bwners, &s a rule, are fond of poetry, paint-
ing, and all the fine arts. Long-nailed persons, however, are ra,ther inelined
to be visionary, and shr:ink from looking facts in the face, palticulally if those
facts are d.istasteful.
Short-nailed
inclividuals, on the contrary, are extremely critical, even of
things relating to self
;
they analyze
'everything
with rvhich they come into
contact; the.v incline to logie, reason, and faets, in opposition to the visionary
qualities of the loug-uailed. Short-nailed individuals make the best criticrs;
they are quicker, sharper and keener iu their
judgment;
they arer as well, fond
of debate, and in an algunrent.they will hold out till the very last
;
they have
a keener sense of humor antl of the ridiculorts thitn the long-uailetl
I
thel' aro
quiek anrl sharp in temper, aud are rlore or less skeptieal of thiugs they do
not understand"
\Yhen the naiJs are broader than they ate long, the-v intlieate a ptlgrlat,iotts
dispositiou, also a teudeuey to w()l' r' y antl nretltlle arrtl to iuterfele wiih dther
per,rplets liusiness.
Nai'ls short by thc hal.rit of biting indieate tlte rtervous, w()n'yiug term'
perarnent.
I clo not
Jrav
an1' attentiori to the spots on tho nails, except as a sigrr of
illness through llervotii str:aiu.
ff
Pl ete Xtl .-THE MOUNTS OF THE HAND'
CHAPTER XIV.
THE IIAIR ON THE HANDS.
A Suggestiue Tlrcory.
Ir the exponent of paluristry has to reatl hauds tln'ough a cur'tairi, with-
out seeing his subject, the hair grorving on the haud, although seenriugl;"
unimportant, to a thorough stutlent bc''comes a stutly of very grcat rrote arrrl
maEnitude. A slight knorvlerlge of the Iirws that goverrr th(' glo\\' tlr of hair
will not, therefore, be out of plaee.. The hail is used bv uaturc to fulfil a
great
maily useful purposes in conrrectiorr with the body. I rvill give those onl.y
that al'e necessary to the stutlerrt of this
lrarticular
studv, namely, the cause
of the color of the hair, of its coarseness and fineuess, as illustrative of rlis-
positiou.
In the first plaee, eaeh hair is in itself a fine tube; these tubes are in
eonner:tion with the skiu antl the skin ner\zes. These hairs or tubes trle,
literally speaking, eseape-valves for the electrieity of the body, arrd by the
color ttrey take in the passage of that electricit;', so shouid the studerrt be allle
to detennitro eertain qualities of temperament of which he would otherwise
be ignorant. For example : ff there is a large amourrt of iron or pigrnent in
t;he system, the flow of this electricity through the hair forces it into these
tubes and makes the hair black, brown, bloncl, grayr or white, as the case nlay
be. Individuals rvith
hlond
or fair hain, therefore, have less iron and tlark
pigment in the system. As a rule they are nlol'e languid, listless, gentle, and
nu)re influeneed by people and surroundings tharr those of the darker type.
People with very dark hair, although often less energetic in work. will
have more passiorr in temper, rvill be lnore irritable and more energetic iri
afrection than those of the fairer type, and so in every degree of shade until
we come to the extreme opposite of the ctark type, namel;r, those with red
6 l
hair'. ff we will examine hair, we will find that retl hair is eoarser in quality
as a rule than either black, brown, or blontl. Now, treing coarse,r or larger,
the tube itself is,
gonsequentl.v, wider, antl thet'efore sltows the greater quan-
tity clf electricity ttrat escapes, antl of which these nattucs htrve the greatest
amount. It is not that they have as mtrch pigurent as the clark peopltt, lrut
having the greater supply ancl foree of electric:ity, they are oousecprently the
more excitabte and quicker to rouse to action than either the black, lirorvrt,
or blond.
'When
the systen gets old, or beeomes enfeebled by exeess or tlissipatiott,
the electricity, not being generatecl in sueh large tluautities, is nearll' or en-
tirely consumetl by the system itself
;
the
lrigrnent
is no longt.t' foreerl iuto
these hair tubes, and consequently they
(fornlnence
to gro\tr whittl at thc outer
eqds, and so on, till the entirei hair or tube becontes rvhite. It is the sarne in
the ease of a sudden shtrck or gr:ief-the hair often stands oti etrtl frotn tho
forcd of the rrervous electric fluitl rushing through tltest' trtbes
I
rear:tiort
naturally sets in irnnrcdiately, ancl the hair often beeornes rvhite irt a few
hours. Yery rarely can,the ,sSistem reeover frotn sut:h'a strtin, attd eonse-
quently, ver.v rarelv will the hair resulne its r:olor.
fn America more people are to be fouurl with whitc hair tlttrtt, I'thirrk,
in any other country in the worlcl. This theory acr:ourtts for thc fact,
when it is remembered that no people go through so rnut:h, or live ttttdet'
such.higll
pressure, as do the Amerieans. The elinrate of the countrl- has, I
consider, a g1eat deal to clo n'ith their tetnperarnent; the trrightness anrl bril-
liance of the atmosphere, even in wirrter', the
.peculiar
nerve-stirnulating
quality of the air, all eomtrine to cause its rneu and wotucn to
l.)ress
forwartl
with a keen spirit of eompetition,
lnth irr work atttrl itt autusement. This
theory of the color of the hair has never', to m1- knowledge', lreen put forward
in this way before. f eommend. it tp ttre atterrtion of those rvho do not lostr
sight of the fact that in the Book of .Nature nottring is so small that it m*.'
not g,ve us knowlerJge, and as kqowledge is power, let us thJrefore nob
be ashamed to seek it, even in little things.
CHAPTER X\T.
THE ITOTINTS' THEIR POSITION AND THEIB I\IEANINGS.
IN mv work tral ways cl ass the mounts of the hantl (Pl ate XII.) wi th thc
hahd i tsel f, and therefore f treat of them i n the secti on of thi s u,or.k devoted
to chei rognomy. Agai n, i rr the consi detati ou of thi s poi rrt, f l nst state tl at,
al though manual l abor wi l l have the el tect of coati rrg the harrcl wi th a l ongher
and thi cker devi :l optnent of ski n, yet i t tl oes not tl el rress ol .tl er.r,euse what ar.e
knowu as the tttounts, ?rntl rvhi ci r, apl ai rr, i rr thei r tunr, shorv c<-rrrsti tl ti orral
characteri sti cs,
.whi eh
are doul rtl ess caused l ,.i the her.edi tar.l - l aws
wJri r,h
goverl l i t,nd control the i utertni ugl i rrg of rrrees. .\s l cgur.rl s the l rs(, l ,y
ehci romants of the ol tl -ti rne rranl es, sueh as the }Irmut of Yerrus, Il errs, etc.,
I must het' e state that I tl o ttot use these uanl cs i n any seuse i n r.el ati on to
what i s known as Astt' ol ogi cal Pal rni str"v. I rl <l trot fol orrq tl ]ol nei nt cl el r- t5at
there tnaY l .re a connecti on-and a
yer\-
great 1;11s-bgtrveen
the two; but I
do ttot thi nk i t tteeessal y to consi der i t i rr corrj uncti on rvi th thi s stu6y ef ttre
hatlcl, u'hich stud.v I holtl to be in ever;- wa.v conrlrlete in itself. Clousetlut ntly,
I use such names as Yenus, Mars, Satunr, ete., si rnpl v as' a qui cker way of
gi vi ng the stutl ent an i dea of thequal i ti esLrvi sh
to d.eseri be. These qual i ti es
have been associated so long with such nzlmes in our ruintls as Mar.s, the
martial nature, and so on, that their mete mention recalls thenr, and the em-
ployment
of these terms rvill, therefore, simplify ruatters rnueh more than if
f were to call the mounts by rrumbers, as first, seconcl, thirtl, ancl so forth.
TIIE MOTTNT OF YENIIS.
"
The Mount of Yenus is the developrnent
(Plate XIi.). When not abnormally large it
of man or woman. This mount covers one of
blood-vessels in the hand, the qreat palmar
63
found at the ltase of the thurnb
is a favorable sign on the hand
the largest and most important
areh. Ilenee, if the }fount of
64
Che,aro's ftongua{e of tlrc Huncl.
\tenus be well developed, it indieates strong and robust health. A small
l[ount of Venus betrays poor health and, consequently, less passion.
The Mount of Yenus, abnormall5' 1ur*., indieates a violent
passion for the
opposite sex.
This nrount denotes affection, sympathy toward others, benevolence, a
desire to please, love and worship of beauty, love of color, and melody in
musio, and the attraction of the one sex to the other.
THE MOUNT OF JUPITEB.
This mount is the raised formation at the base of the first finger
(Plate
XII.).
'When
developed it shows ambition, pride, enthusiasm
in anything
attempted, and desire for
Power.
THE }IOUNT OF SATURN.
This is found at the base of the seeond finger
(Plate XII.), and denotes
love of solitude,
quietness, prudeuee, earnestness in workr proneness to the
stldy of somber things, and appreciation of music of a sacred or classieal
order.
TIIE MOUNT OF THE SUN.
This mount is found at the base of the third finger, and is also eallecl the
Mount of Apollo
(Plate XII.). When well developed it indieates an enthu-
siastic appreeiatiou of all things beautiful, whether or not one follows a purely
artistic ealling. It denotes love of painting, poetry,literatirre,
and all imagi-
native work, also grace of mind and thought.
THE MOUNT OF MERCTIBY.
The mount of this name is found at the base of the fourth finger
(Plate
XII.). It denotes all the mercurial qualities of life-love of change, travel,
excitement, wit, quickness of thought and expression.
If the rest of the hand.
is favorable, the qualities indieate,l by this mount will rodouncl to the good'
of tbe subjeot, if unfavorable, to his misfortune.
The Mounts, their Positiott, and tlrcir llfeanings, 65
TIIE MOUNT OF MARS.
There are two mounts of this name
;
the first beneath the Mount of
Jupiter, but inside the line'of iife, lying next to the Mount of Yenus (Plate
XIL;. This, the first, gives active courage, the martial spirit, but when large,
shows e very quarrelsome, fighting disposition.
The seeond. lies between the Mount of Mercury and the Mouut of
Luna (Platb XII.). It derlotes passive courage, self-control, resigrration, and,
strength of resistance against wrong.
TEE MOUNT OF LUNA.
The Mount of Luna lies on the side of the hancl beneath the Mount of
Mars and directly oppositb the Mount of Yenus (Plate XII.).
It indicates refinement, imagination, love of beautiful seenery, a taste
for the romantic, great ideality; and a fond.ness for poetry and imhginative
literature.
TEE LEANING OT' THE MOUNTS TOWARD ONE ANOTIIER.
.When
the mounts lean toward one another,",the qualities of each are
blended and developed in unison.
For example, if Saturn lean toward Jupiter, it gives the latter sorne of
its love of solemn things-its prudence, sadness, antl its religious tendency.
If Saturn ineline tgward the Mount of the Sun, Saturnts solemn tlroughts
Cnd ideas will blend with the artistie taste of the subjeet, ancl if the l\Iount of
the Sun lean to Mercuryr art will influence the business or scientific nature
of the individual.
CHAPTER XYT.
TIIE HANDS OF NATIONS.
Tser difrerent types of faces and bodies are characteristic of different
nations is a well-known faet. There is a familiar statement which I would
quote here
I "
The larv which rounds a dewdrop sbapes a world.t' Ther+
firo, if certain laws procluee different types in difrerent races they also produee
difrerent shapes of hands and bodies a.s illustrative of the difrerent eharacter-
istics. The intermingling and intermixing by marriage, ete., must naturally
motlify the pureness cf the different tlares; but that it does not destroy tbe
entire individualitv r-.annot
for a moment be doubted.
'
,EIE E',EME'{TAR.' rraND.
Starting with the elementar.v hanrl, it is rarely if el-er found. in its purity
eaong eivilized nations.
'We
find t,his type among the primitive races in
extremely eol,l latitucies, &sr for iustanee, among the Esquimaux and tho
inhabitants tf fceland, Lapland, and. the northern portion of Russia and
Siberia.
Such people are phlegmatic and emotionless; even the nerve centers of
tbe body are not in a high state of development, therefore they do not feel
psin as keenly as the other types. They are more animal in their instincts
and brutal in their desires
;
they are devoid of aspirations, and have only
sufrcient mentality to make them distinet from the brute creation. In a
slightly more developed. form the elementary hand is found in more southern
and civilized nations.
TEE SQUABE EAND AXD THE N..,A,TIONS BEPAESENTED By Ir.
The square hand, generally speaking, is found. among the Swedes, Danes,
Glemans, Duteh, English, and Scoteh. The chief characteristies which it
66
I'he Harod,s oJ' ]{ations.
denotes are love of nrethod, Iogie, reasori, respect for authority and law, and
eonformity to eonventionality and oustom. It shows a,n undemolstrative
and nore or less unemotional nature
;
it witl follow lifets beaten track with
doggetl stubbomness and tenacity of purpose, will build solid houses, rail-
wa,ys,
and. churehes; will kneel at ttre shrine
,of
the useful, and will puy
homage to the practical side of life.
TEE PEILOSOPEIC.
This ie essentially the hand of the Oriental'nations. In European coun-
tries, it is to this tj pe crr to the possessors of its modifieations that we are
indebted for the modenrizerl prineiples of Buddhism, Theosophy, antl all
doetrines and ideas iliat tenrl in tirat direction. It is. essentially the hand of
the mys+"it or of the religious devotee. Individuals with these hauds will en-
dure aiy privati*n rlr self-rienial in defense of the religion they foil,rw. Tlie
w+rlii rrrar c.:aii 'qur,,h
liaople
cranks; tmt the world er"ueified its Chr"i-qt, auttr
izr+ckeri arici persei'iitod its greatesi rcaehers. Its opinion, tirerefore. shc,ui'l
oril.r. affeet tl:e -q*al;,rs r:f drr:sso not the t"ralanc* cf thought.
rHE {)ONI C.
This tylre,
;irriprriv
speakirrg, is peculiar to tlie south of Hurope, biit by
the irtermingiing ci race,s it irae l-reeu carried far apd wide 0r'6r the woritl.
trt is largei---r fou:id amorg tlreek; Italian, $Jranish, French, arrd lrish r&ce&
The disririciive ciiaracterist,ies whielr it denotes are, a purel-v emotioual
nafurr. inriiulse in thcughi antl ar:tion, artistic feeling, impressionability autl
escitabilito,. It lias been tlesigpratetl
'(
Tlie Eland of fmpulse.' Such hands
sre not the hands. c'f mone"v-rilakers. Iike the square or the spatuiafe. Tbe3"
show a laf;k af
Jrracti*al
busincss sense, bu1, ix:,ture compensates their owners
wifh tb* p,ietic. tlie r"isiopary- aucl the romantic.
TEE SPATIILATE.
With aili the varioties rif
.riatic'r:al fypes that havr: found tbeir wav at
${lm$ tin:e or another to Arnerica
I
with al} the admixture of races found !n
tha,t encrmous continent, tir* st,i,tulate irantl is the t-1pe which has to a great
67
68 Cheiro's Language of the Hartd.
.extsnt
swallowed up all ihs others, This hand, and, consequently,
the char-
s,eteristies that it, ropresents, has to my mind plald the important rdle in
ths history of that great country" As I may claim to be a coslnopolitan in
vry sense of the word, I can therefore take an unbiased standpoint in
reading the charaeter of nations as I would that of the indivitlual. The
spatulate hand, as I statod. befoie, is the hand of energy, originality, an<l rest-
lessness. ft is tlie hand of the explorer antl ttre diseoverer, which terms can
also bo applierl to tliscoveries in science, art, or mechanics, Spatulate
hands
are nver
goavsntional
;
ibey have little respect for law, less for authority'
They s,re invrirtors, more from the quickness of their ideas than frorn tho
solidity of earneBt w,ork as oxemplifietl by the square; the,v rnay utilize othcr
nents ideas, blt'they wiil try to imprc'r'e upor: thern
;
they love risk arid
epeoqlation; ttrey are versatile, antl their ciiief fault is ttreir cirangeability-
thoy shift from oue thirrg to another with the rncod cf Lhe mcmerrt
I
they are
idnnntiris in their fads, enigmas in their earnestndss; but? s-r'en with such faults,
tt is to a people many-sidocl and rtany-talentetl like this that the worid must
look f6r her new ideas, for the invonticlns and rlis*overies in science, re-..
ligian, cr materialism which
4ust
in years to come work out the evolution of
humanity.
rEE rsYctrrc.
This poculiar typo is not confiued to any particular
eountry or kindred;
it is esolved sometinses among the most practieal, sometimes among the most
euihueiastie, Yet is it neither practical nor enthusis,stie in iiself
;
ii ma,v be
aa evolution of all the types, reaehing into that plano in whieh there may
be seven senses instoad of five. Certain it is that its owners aro not of the
earth, oarthy, nor yet of heavt:n-for tliey are human
;
they mako up no
distiuet communitn but are found in all and of all. It may be that, as their
beautiful hands are not formed for the rough usage of this workl, so their
thoughts &re not suited to the mator{al things of life
;
their place may be in
giving to mankind that which is but the refleetion of mankind; thus in the
shedow may we find the substance, and thus in the speculation
tbat this typo
gives rise to mey we fintl that wisdom tbat sees the fitness and tho use of all
things.
PART II.-CHEIROMAIVCY.
CHAPTER, I.
A SEW BEMABKS IN NEFANENCE TO THE READING OF TIIE IIAND.
Bnronn f.proeeed to explain the more intrieate details of eheiroma,ncy, f
wish to address a few words to the student, as well as to the easual reader
who mqy tako sufficient interest in this study to glanee through this book.
In ihe first place, in my eqrnest desire to make this work a thoroughly
reliable guide in all matters connected with palmistry, f have been compelled
to bring the d"etails of the study prominently before the reader and to enlarge
on certain points that may be eonsidered. dly and uninteresting. This the
student may re$ent during the eommeneement of his enthusiasm, but later he
willr I think, see its atlvantages, as f have endeavored to make even the de-
tailp as graphic as possible. I have not eonfined" myself to the set theories of
any particular school; f have gathered whatever information this book con-
tains from, f may say, the four corners of the earth, and in presenting
this
information to those who d,esire to learn, I do so
'with
the knowl,edge that I
have proved whatever statements f make to be correct. The one point I
would, however, earnestly desire to impress upon the student is the necessity
for eonseientious study and patienee. As there are no two natures alike, so
there are no two hands alike: To be able to read the hand is to be able to
read. the book of nature-there is no study more arduous, there is none more
fascinating or that will repay the time and labor spent upon it with more
interest.
To do this study
justiee,
I eannot and will not pretend, as do the gene-
rality of writers on this subject, that it is an easy matter, by following this,
69
?0
Chei,ro's Language of the HafiiL
.that,
or the other map of the hand, or by taking some set rules asi a guide, to
be able to
r,
read the hand
D
without any exercise of the studentts mentality.
On the contrary, I shall show that every line, without exception, is modified
by the particular type to which it.belongs, &s, for instancer a sloping line of
head. on & squere hantl has a completely clifferent meaning
from the same
slopiug line on a conie or philosophic type, and so on. I bave written this
book witb tho object of rnaking it not only interesting to the reader, but use-
ful'to tho student. I have bndeavored to make every point as elear and
eoneiso as possible, but the stutlent must bear in mind the enormous difficul-
ties that lie in the way of making a clear explanation
of every
point in
couneetion
witli sueh an intricate study.
Tho lext
pcint to be borne in rnind is the clifrerenee of opinion which
will be rnet with, and which is often used as an ergument against palm-
istry. Now we must remember that it is only through the concentration
of d,ifferent urincls, and the conselrsus of different opinions, that we e&n
ver hope to reach the truth on any subject. No better illustration of this
cair be fuund t,han in the divergeney of opinion that has existecl and always
wili exist in retigion, &s well as in scientific study.
-What
body of students
have, or e&it have, moro divergency of opinion, for instancer than medical
men ?
'I
must, therefore, sa,y, in the words which a celobrated
physician
one usod to his pupils, that w6 should, in the pursuit of any particular brandh
of study, taiie the teachings whieh we have the most reason to believe aro
correct, and. thai by btrilcling upoh such a foundation we will attain greater
heights of knowledge than tbe in,ilividual who follows overy new teacher who
for & moment, like tho will-o'-the-wisp, flits aeross the shifting sands trf
human fancy. Particularly in palmistry, I would say, take some work which
you have gtlcd r&son to believe is at least near the truth, and by following
that
out with tbo light of your own rnentality and reason
you will be
more likely to succeed. than those who, shifting their gtound. aecording to
every faney, find themselves at last without faith, without hope, and, worse
still, without knowledge.
The chief point of difrerence between my teachings and thoso of other
writers lies in the fact that I olass the various lines under difrerent heads,
treating of each partieular point.
A Few Remarks in Reference to the Rewling oJ the lland. 7I
This will be found not only more esy and less puzzling for the student,
but also more in accordance with reason. For insta,nco, I hold that the line
of life relates to all that afrects life, to the influences whieh govern it, to its
elass es rogards strength; to the natural length of life, and to the important
changes of eountry and climate. I regarrl the line of head as related to all
that a,freets mentality, and so on with every other line, as will be seen later.
This plan f have found to be the most aecurate, as well as the siurplest, and
more in aeoordance with those teac[ers whose ideas wo have ver\i rcason to
respect.
As rogards dates, I depart from the usual formula, and instead advance
a theory which has been eonsid.ered
3t
at least interestiug and reasonable,t in
the dividing of the life into sevens, in aceordance with the teaehings of
natnre. I will illustrate this when I corire to that portion of this work
"dealing with time and dates.
CHAPTER I[.
THE LINES OF THE HAND.
Tsnnn are seven important lines oh the hand, and seven lesser lines
(Plste XllL). The important lines are as follows:
The Line of Life? whioh embraces the Mount of Yenus.
The Line of Head, which crosses the center of the hand.
The Line of Heart, which runs parallel to that of the head, at tho
base of the fingers.
fhe Girdle of Yenus, found above the line of heart and generally
encircling the Mounts of Saturn and the Sun.
The Line of Health, which runs from the Mount of Mercury down
the hand.
lfhe Line of Sun, which rises generally on the Plain of Mars and
ascends the hand to the Mount of the Sun.
The Irine of X'ate, whieh occupies the eenter of the hand, from the
wrist to the Mount of Saturn"
t|he seven lesser lines on the hand are as follows:
The Line of Mars, whieh rises on the Mount of Mars and lies within
the Line of Life
(Plate XIIL).
TheTi,a Laici,ua,which
lies parallel to the line of health (Plate XIIL).
The Line of Intuition, which extends like a semicircle from Mercury
to Luna (Plate XII.).
The Liue of Marriage, the horizontal line on the Mount of Mercury
(Plate XIII.)' and
The three braeelets found on the wrist
(Plate XIII.).
72,
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+
The Li,nes of th,e Hand. 73
The main lines are known by other names, as follows :
The Line of Life is also called the Vital.
The Line of llead, the Natural or Cerebral.
The Line of Heart, the Mensal.
The Line of Fate, the Line of Destiny, or the Saturnian.
The Line of Sun, the Line of Brilliancy, or Apollo.
The Lino of Health, the Hepatica, or the Liver Line.
Tbe hand is divided into two parts or hemispheres by the line of head.
The upper hemisphere, containing the fingers and Mounts of Jupiter,
Saturn, the Sun, Mercury, and Mars, represents mind, ancl the lower, con-
taining the base of the hand, represents the material. It will thus be seen
that with this clear point as a guide the student will gain an insight at once
into the eharaeter of the subject under examination. This division has
hittrerto been ignored, but it is almost infallible in its a,ceuracy
I
as, for
example, when the predisposition is toward crime the line of head rises into
the abnormal position
Bhown
by Plate XXIV., which, taken from life, is one
instanco in the thousands that can be had of the accuracy of this statement.
CHAPTER III.
IN REIJATION TO THE LINES"
TsE rules in relation to the lines are, in the first place, that they should
be olear and well marked, neither broad. nbr pale in color; that they should
be free from all breaks, islands, or irregularities of any kin,il.
Lines very pale in color indicate, in the first place, want of robust.
health, and, in the second, lack of energy and decision.
Lines red in color indicate the sanguine, hopeful
flisposition;
they show
an active, robust temperament.
Yellow lines, as well as being indieative of biliousness and liver trouble*
are indicators of a nature self-conteined, reserved, and proud.
Lines very dark in color, almost blaek, tell of a melancholy, grave tem-
perament, and also indicate a haughty, distant nature, one usually very
revengeful and unforgiving.
Lines may appear, dinrinish, or fad.e, which must always be borne in
mind when reading the hand. The province of the palmist, therefore, is to
warn the subject of approaching danger by pointing out the evil tendencies
of his nature. It is purely a matter of the subjectts will whether or not he
will overcome these tendencies, and it is by seeing how the nature has
modified evils in the past that the palmist can predict whether or not evils
will be overcome in the future. fn reading the hand, no si,ngle evil mark
must be accepted as decisive. If the evil is important, almost every prin-
eipal line will show its efrect, and both hands must be consulted. before the
decision can be final. A single sign in itself only shows the tendency
I
when,
however, the sign is repeated by other lines, the danger is then a celtainity.
In &nswer to the question, Can people avert or avoid danger or disaster
predicted in the hand t I answer that decidedly I believe that they ean;
but I say
just
as deeid.edly that they rarely if ever d.o. I know hundreds
74
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PiAtE XIV...LII'IE
FORMATIONS.
C;x
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lr\a"{.
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6q.*,ti,1Nru-cuu
[o;)
\, r,r..q;.a 1\^,-.t ,,
1t1
In Relati,on to the Li,nes.
l e
of eases in my own experienee
where people
were given aecurate wam-
irigs which they did not realizo till too late. The most remarkable ex-
ample of this whieh f ean reeall was the case of a woman well knorvn in
L,ondon society. I warned. her of an accid.ent eaused by animals which
would make her inf.rm for the rest of her life, an{ which would happen at
the very point
of age that she had then reached. She promised
that she
would be careful,
and departed. A week rater, one d.ull foggy night, she
ordered her horses
I
again she got a warning, this time through her husband,
who begged her not to go out, as the horses were restive and the night bad.
The horses were brought round,
and with them the last warning: her
aoachman had been taken seriously ill, an,i[ a substitute had to take his place.
Even this did not deter her, and she started. The coachman eould have
gon.e four different ways to reaeh her destination, but, strange to
.say,
he took
the most unlikely, and drove through Bond Street. ft was in doing this that
the most remarkable point in this example was reached. The man lost
eontrol of thehorses; they took fright, dashed in on the sidewalk; the caniage
was sma,shed against a lamp-post, and, by an extraord.inary coincidence, its
occupant was earried uncouscious into my own hall. I am sorry to say that
the prediction
has proved only too true: she has never recovered from those
injuries, and never will.
I make no eomment
on this strange story; I simply relate the facts as
they occurred.
The above is only one example in many that could. be cited to show that
we rarely if ever will go by warnings, no matter in what way they may bo
given.
'When
an important line, sueh as the line of head. or of life, is found with
what is called a sister line (a,-a, Plate XYI.), namely, a fine line running by its
side, it is a sign that the main line is thus strengthened;
consequently any
break in the main liue will be, as it were, bridged over by this mark, aud the
danger lessened. or provented..
This is more often found in connection with
tbo line of life than with any other.
If there is a fork at the end of n,ny line, except that of tife (Plate
XYI.),
it gives gteater powex
to that lino; aR, for instance, on the line of heacl il; in-
ereases t\e mentnlif;, but makes rnoro or less of a d.r.'ublo nature"
76 Cheiro' s Language of the lluntl.
'When,
however, the line ends in a tassel (b-b, Piate XVI.) it is a sign of
weakuess and destruetion to aurrr liue of rvhich it forms part, particularly
at the end of the line of life, lvhere it denotes weakness ancl the clissipation of
all the nerve qualities.
Branches ri si ng from any l i ne (u-a, Fl ate XIV.) accentuate i ts porvel and
strength, but all hranehes desceutliug cleuote the reverse.
At the coi l meneement of the l i ne of l reart, these l i nes are trrost i mtrl ortant
when consi deri ug tbe suecess of ruarri age for the subj ect: the aseenti i trg l i nes
at this point iudicate vigor arrrl rvarnrth of the affections (ru-u, Plate X\-II.)
;
the descendi ng, the opposi fe.
On t he l i ne of head asceurl i ng brauches derrot e cl evr. r' t rcss at t cl nrnbi t i ous
tal ent
{c-c,
Pl ate XVI.), and on the l i ne of fatc thel ' show suo(:css i u al l unti et' -
taki ngs matl e at that pal ti cul at' poi t-tt.
A chai necl f orrnat i <i n i n arrv l i ne i s a weak si gu (Pl at e XI V. ): i f , rn t he l i ne
of heart i t t i enot es weaki i ess i i rrd ei ri i r, genl . ri l i t , y of i l f l ect i r. rt r; i f ou t i i o l i nc, : -' f
head, want oi fi xi ty of i rl eas, att' .i
' l vtakness
r"rf i trtt' l l ttet,
Br eaks i n nt r . t ' l i ue dt ut i t e t t s f ai i ur e ( t : - c, l ' i at c X\ " n. ) .
A wavl ' f ri rul at i ou wet rkens t l i t
I i ul y(: t '
i i l ' t l t c l i ri c (L-1, Pl at c X\ -I I . ).
Cal i i l l arv l i ri es aru tl rose l i ttl e hai ri i ut.-q rttuni ng
i r)' the si ,l e of the ruai n
l i ne, sorneti mes
j oi rri rrg
i t,, sol l reti l i l es fai l i rrg fl otrt i t; thel ' deti ote n-ei tl i trcss,
l i ke t he ehai t reri f ormat i orr (Fi g. 8, Pl at e XI \ -. ).
Wherr t he ent i re hanrl i s crl vu' e, l ni t h a t t et u' rx' k , , r rnul t i t ude of i i t t l e
l i nes runni ng ai ml essl f i n al l ri i recti t-rur*r, i t l -rctravs tt-rr:ntal worrY, a hi gl i l ;,"
nervol rs tempernntent, ancl a troubl er' l nettttr:e.
As the l i ttl e grai nl * urake rroul ttai ns, so dri these l i ttl e poi nts rnake thi s
btudy great. I therefore recorumeutl their close considet'ation.
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Ptate XV.-SIGNS FOUND IN THE HAND'
CHAPTER V.
THE BIGHT AND IJEFT HANDS.
Tsn difrerenee between the right and left hands is another important point
to be consid.ered. The most casual observer, looking at even a limited num-
ber of hand.s, is gonerally struck by the marked difference which as a rule
exists in the shape and. position of the lines in the right and left hands of the
samo person.
fhis is an important point to be observed. by the student. fn practice, my
rule is to examine both hands, but to depend more upon the inforrnation
given b5' the righi than that given by the left. There is a rvell-known old
saying on this point:
'(
The left is the hand we are born with; the right is the
hand we make." This is the correct principle to follow, the left hand iudi-
cating the natural eharacter, and the right showing the trairring, experienee,
and the suruoundings brought to bear on the life of the subject. The old
iclea of reading the left hand simply because it is nearest to the heart belongs
to the many superstitions which degraded the scienee in the rnid,ille ages.
The heart at, that time was regarded as the supreme organ-hence this
med.ioval suporstition. It however, we examine this study from a logical and
scientific st andpoint, we find that the greater use of the right hand for long
generations has placed. it, as regards both nerves and muscles, in a moro
perfect state of development than the left. It is usually exercised in
earrying out the thoirghts of the brain, being, as it were, the more active
servant of the mind. If, tLerefore, as has been demonstrated, the human
body passes through a process of slow and steady development, and every
change it undergoes affects and marks its effect upor the entire system, it
follows that it is more logical and reasonable to examine the right hand for
those changes which oven at that moment are taking place, and. upon whieh
the development of the future depends.
t t
78 Cheiro's Language of the Hand,.
My advice, therefore, is; plaeo both hand.s side by iidel examine them,
and s6e w,haf the nature has begn, see what it is; find the reason by your ei-
amination for this or that change
I
and, in foreeasting what will be, depend-
upon the tlevelopment of the lines in thq right hand.
It is very interesting to note that le,ft-handed peoplo have the lines moro.
olearly marked, on the left hand, dnd, aice uersd,. Some people change so
completely that hardly two lines &re alike on both hands; agaln, some change
fo slightly tbat the difrerence in the lines is barely pereeptiblo. The general
nrle to follow is, that when a marked difrerenoe is shown by both hands the
subject has had a mbre interesting, oventful life than the person with hoth
alike. Tho' more interesting details as to a subjectts past lifo, and even the
vory changes in his method of work and ideas, can bo brought to light by r
eareful examination conducteil in this w&y.
G
s-I
4
MODI FI CATI ONS OF THE PRI I ' I CI PAL LI NES.
Pl ate xVI.
CHAPTER, Y.
T I I E L I NE GF L I F E.
What we know as lifo is but existence,
A waiting-place, a havou by tho sea,
A littlc spa,ce omid irnmeasun'd distance,
A glimpse, n vista, of that life tc
Sirr*o.
As I remarked in an e&rlier portion of this subjeet, in that period
of the
wot'ltlts history wltetr the grea,test stutly of rnankind was nlan, as thero camo
to be rcteoguized a tratula,l
lnsition
on the face for thc nose, eyes, ete., so also
ou the hatrtl thero
('&tnc
to be reeoguiztrrl a rratural position f<irthe line of lifo,
the line of heatl, antl overy other nrark that the hand possesses. Thus, if the
lines tako abttortnal coul'ses it is only reasorrablo that abnonnal character-
istics aro to be expoeted; and if so as regards temperament, why not in rela-
tion to health ? Pooplo who eonsider this subjeet lightly objeet to the po\ver
givon to the pahnist in his ability to plodict disease or death; but a littlo
thought will shon' that nothing, aftcr all, is more reasonable than one's ability
to do this by careful study. It is admitted that in the body of every person
there lurks a gerilr'or tenclency that will some day prove fatal.
'Who,
there-
fore, can have the prc'sumption to deny that this germ by its presenco
afrects the nerve-fluid, which in its tunr affects thc nerves,
'anrl
they
the hand ? Again, without touehing on tho presenee in the body of the
all-knowing, omnipotent so.ul or spirit life, if we acknowledge-a,s we do
-tho
unexplainetl. mysieries of the passive and active brain, we must also
acknowletlgo that the slightest germ of disease or weak point in the sys-
tem must be known to the brain in all its stiges of adv&nce and attack, and
will, therofore, be registered by tho brain on the hand through tho nerve-con-
neetion betwoen the two, as has already been demonstrated. Thus, by the
7g
80 Chei,ra's Language of the Hancl"
developrnent,or nqn-developnnent of this line or that markis the palmist able
to say that a certain disease at a certain time will causg illness with such antl
such a result. Bearing these arguments in mind, we will now proceetl to an
examination of what has become known as the line of life.
The line of life (Plate XIII.) is the line whieh, rising under the Mount of
Jupiter, goes down the hana aha embraces the l\fount of Yenus. On it is
marked time, also illness. and death, and events foreshatlowed by the other
irnportant lines are verified.
The liue of life should be long, narrow, and deep, without inegularities,
breaks, or crosses of any kind,. Such a formatidn promi-"es long life, good
hoalth, and vitality.
When the line is linkecl (Fig. 10, Plate XIV.) or mado up of little pieces
like-a ehain, it is a sure sign of bad health, antl particuiarl;r *so on a soft hand.
"When
the line recovers its evenuess and continuity, health also is rqgained.
Whcn broken in the left hand and
joined
in the right, it threatens some
dangerous illness; but if broken in txrth hanrls it generally'signifies tleath"
This is rnore decitledly eonfirrned when one branch turns back on the Mount
of V*enus (c-c, Plate XVII.).
\\rhen the line starts from the base of the Mount of Jupiter, instead of
the side of the hand, it de-noies that from the earliest the life has been one of
ambition.
'When
the line is chained at the comnieneement uritler Jupiter, batl health
in early life is foreshadowed.
Wren the line is closely connected with that of the head,life is guided by
reason and irrtelligence, but the subject is extremely sensitive abolrt ever)'-
i;hing which afrects selt antl more or less cautious in enterprises for self
kl4,
Plate XYI.).
When there is a'medium spa,ee between the line of life and that of head,
the subject is more free to carry out his plans and ideas; it also denptes
energy and a very go-ahead spirit (ild, Plate X\rII.).
'When,
however, ttie space is very wide, it is a sign of too much self-
confidenee and dash; it indieates that the subject is foolhardy, impulsive,
hasty, and not guided. by reason.
'When
the lines of life, heatl, and heart are all
joined
together at the com-
The Li,ne of Li,fe. 81
mencement (a-a, Plate XYIrr.), it is a very unfortunate sign, denoting inat
the subject, through a defect in temperament, rushes blindly into danger and
eatastrophe. This mark, as far as temperament.is eoncerned, indicates the
subjectts want of perception, both in personal dangers and in those arising
frorn.dealiugs with other people.
When the line of life divides at about the center of
f,he
hand, ancl oue
brauch shoots &eross to the base of the Mount of Luna (b-b, Plate X\rIII.), it
indicates on a firtn, well-made hand a i'estless life, a great desire for travel,
and the ultimate satisfaction of that desire. When such a mark is fouucl on
a flabby, soft band, with a sloping line of head, it again denotcs the restless
nature, eraving for excitement, but in this case
tJre
craving will be gratified
in vicd or intemperanee of some kind. This statement,'as will lle seen, can
be logically and easily reasoned out: the line crossing to the l\{ouirt of Luna
denotes the restless nature craving for change, hut; the hand being soft and
flabb,v, the subject will lie too lazy and indolent to satisfy this craving by
travel, and. the sloping line of head in this case showing a weak nature, the
reason for this statement is apparent.
'When
little hair-lines are founcl dropping from or clinging to the iine of
life, they tell of weakness and, loss of vitality at the date when theS'appeer.
They are very often found. at the eud of the
.line
itself, thus tlenoting the
breaking up of the life and the dissipation of vitai power (b-b, Plate XVI.).
AII lines that rise from the line of life ato marks of inereased power, gains,
and suecesses.
ff sueh a line ascend toward. or run into the Mount of Jupiter (c-c, Plate
XVI[.),,it will denote a rise in position or step higher at the date it leaves
tho line of life. Such a mark relates more to suecessful anrbition in tbe
sense of power than anything else. If the line, on the contrary, rise to
Saturn and follow by the sitle of the line of fate, it denotes the inerease of
wealth and worltlly things, but resulting from the subject's own energy and
determination (d-d, Plate X\rIIL).
If the line leave the line of life and ascend. to the Mount of the Sun, it
denotes tlistinction according to the class of hand.
If it leave the line of life and cross to Mercury, it promises great
sucoess in business or science, again in aeeordanee with the class of hand
82 Ch,eu"o's Language of the lIand.
-whether
squere, spatulate, or conic. X'or instance, sueh a line on the sqlrer{}
would indieate success in business or seieneol on the spatulate, in invention
or diseovery; and on the couic it would. foretell suecess in money matters,
reached by the impulsive action of sueh a nature, as in sudden speculation
or enterprise.
\[rheu the line of life divides toward the end and a wide space is shown
between the lines, it is an indication that the subject will most probably end
his life in a e.ountry different from that of his birth, or at least that there will
bo some great ehange from the plaee of birth to the plaee of death (a-a, Plate
xIX.).
An island on the liue of life me&ns an illness or loss of health while the
island lasts
(0, Plate XIX.), but a clearly formed island at the eommencement
of the line of life denotes sonre rnystery connected with the subjeet's birth.
The line running through a sqnare (c, Plate XIX) indieates preserva-
tion from death, from bad health when it surrounds an island, from sudden
death wlien the life-line running through is broken, and from accident when
a little line cutting the life-liue rises from the Plain of lllars (d, Plate XIX.).
A square, whonever fountl on the line of life, is a mark of preservation.
Of the groai attendant line (Piate XIII.) found parallel to and within the
line of life, otherwise ealled the liue of lllars, I shall speak later. This attert-
dant line, the line of Mars, whieh rises on the Mount of llIars, must not be
eonfounded with those springing from the liue of life itself, nor with those
that rise upon the Mount of Vetrus. The sirnplest rule to bear in mind is,
that all even, well-formed lines following the line of life indicate favorable
influenees over tlre life (ff, Plate XVII.), but that allthose risingin the oppo-
site direction and eutting the life-line show worries and obstaeles cause,il by
the opposition and interference of others (g-g,Plate XYII.).
'Where
these
Iines end and how they terminate is, therefore, an important point in this
study.
\Yhen they eut the liue of life only (g-9, Plate XVIL),they denote the
interferenee of relatives-generally in the home life.
When they cross the life-line and attack the line of fate (e-e., Plate
XVL). they tlenote people who will oppose us in business or worldly inter-
ests, and where they cut the fate-line the point of
junction gives the date.
The Li,ne of Li,fe. 83
'When
theyreach the line of head (f-f, Plate XYI.), they indicate persong
who will influence our thoughts and interfere with our ideas.
'When
they reach aud cut the line of heart (g-g,PlateXYI.), theydenote
iuterference in our closest afrections, and here tho date of such interferonce is
given where the line euts the life-line, and not where it touches the line of
hearL
'When
they cut and break the line of sun (h-h, Plate XYf.), they denote
tbat others will interfere and spoil our position in life, and that the mischief
will b caused by scandal or clisgrace at the point of
junctior..
'Wlen
the line erosses the hand and touches the line of marriage (h-h,
Plate XVIL), it signifies divoree, and will oecur to the person on whose hand,
it appears.
'When
this erossing-line has in itself a mark like an island or any ap-
proach to it, it denotes that the person who will cause the trouble has had
either seaudal or some such trouble in eonneetion with his or hef own life
(i,
Plate XYII.).
'When,
on the eontrary, the ray-lines ruu parallel as it were to attend the
Iife-line, they denote the most important influences of our lives
(f.f,
Plate
xvrl.).
I draw special attention to this system, as it pre.vails among the llindus,
where its use dates back to time immemorial. The following points haye
been obtained by close study of the procepts and their practical application
by the Eindus themselves, and not a few of them have been translated
almost verbatim from the quaint leaves of that ancient work befoie men-
tioned.
'When
minuteness of detail is required, the remarkablo accuraey of
this system makes it espeoially valuable.
I will give the leading points only, as the subject is well-nigh inex-
haustible.
In the first place, if the ray-line rise on the Mount of Mars (e-e, Plate
XVIrL), and lower down touch or attack the life-line in any way, it denotes on
a womants hand some unfavorablo attachment in her earlv life which will
c&use her much trouble and annoyanc.
If the same line, however, only send ofrshoots or ra,ys to the line of life
(ff, Plate XVtrII.), it denotes a similar influence, but ono that will eontinue
8.{ Clutiro's .f,,utt11tttrge 0J' the }Iunrl.
to persecute her at difrerent intervals. Again, such a line on a woman's hatttl
is illustrative of the nature of the man who influeuees her, as denoting a
fiory, passionate, animal tepperament.
If, however, the ray-line should rise by the side of the line of life autl
travel by the side of it
(ffrPlate XYII.), it shows, on the woman's hand, that
the man who euters into her life has the gentler nature, and that she will
strongly influenee him.
If the rayJine, rising at any point, in traveling with the lifeline, retreats
farther in on tho Mount of Venus, thus eway from the life, it indicates that
the person with whom the womau is eounected will moro atrd luore loso
sympathy with her, and. will evontually drift out of her life altogeth er
(t-i,
Plate XYf.).
When the ray-line, however, runs into an island or becomes one itself, it
foretells that the influenco over her life will run into disgrace, aud that some-
thing seandalous will result.
Wtren the attendant line fades out by the side of the life-line, but rcnews
itself later, it tells that the person influeneing tho life will cease his influenco
at that particular point, but that it will be renewetl again.
'
'When
the line of influence fades altogether, total separation-generally
death-will be the result of sueh companionship.
'When
one of these attendant lines
joins
a cross-line and runs over tho
hs,nd with it, it foretells that through the instrumentality
of another tho
affection of the person influeneing ttre life will chanp;e to hate, and that this
will oause iujury at whatever point it touch the life, the fate, the head, or the
line of heart
(e-e,Plate XIX.).
The farther the ray-lines lie fi'om the lino of life, the farther removed
from our lives will those influences be. But, as before rem&rked, one eould
easily filt a volume on these lines and eross-lines, which with the Hindus are
the foundatiou for all systems connected with palmistry.
By this system alone, then, it is reasonable to assume that the student
ean predict marriages by cousideriug the relation which these lines bear to
the life-line.
'We
will again refer to this point when wo consider tho ques-
tion of marri&ge.
Another interesting phase of this subjeet is the cousideration of the
The Li,ne of Lxfe. 85
number of these lines of influenee (it being reurembered that only those near
the line of life are important). Numerous liqes indicate a nature dependent
upon afrection.
'Such
people are what is edlled passionate in their disposition;
they may bave meny li,ai,sons, but in their eyes love redeems all. On the
other hand, the full, smooth Mount of Yenus indicates that the individual is
less afrectecl by those with whom he is associated.
When the line of life sweeps far out into the hand, thus allowing tbe
Mount of Venus a greater scope, it is in itself a sign of good physical strength
and long life.
'When,
on the eontrary, it lies very elose to tbe Mount of Venus, health
is not so robust or the body physically so well built. The shorter the line
the shorter the life.
That the line of life does not al,ways show the exaet age at whieh death
takes place f am quite convinced. This liue merely denotes the natural term
of the subject's life apart from accidental influences. Catastrophes indicated
by other liues of the hand mey eut short a life that would otberwise be long.
For instanee, & break in the headJine at eertain points, as explainerl in Chap-
ter YII., wilt foretell death
just
as surely as would the broken lifejline.
Again, and most important of all, the slope and position of the line of health
in relation to the lifeJine i*
?
point which hitherto bas not reeeived the
attention it deserves.
'When
we consider the line of health, the relation that
those lines bear to one another will be treated in detail. I fr&yr however,
here remark that, when it is of equal strength with that of life, where these
iines meet will be the point of d.eath, even though it be years in ad,vanee of
when the lifeJine ends. Such a death will be eaused by whatever d,isease is
indicated by the health-line, and the province and one of the rnany uses of
this study is to find out and
'warn
the subject of that germ of disease which
is oven then the enemy of the system.
In addition to the information I have given here coucerning islantls,
squeres, etc., f refer tbe student back to Chapter Iff., whieh treats of thern
more fully. As regards time antl the ealculation of events, a speeial chapter
wilt be devoted to these subjects.
CEAPTER, YI.
T EE I J I NE OF MARS.
Tsn line of Mars (Plate XIIL) is otherwise known as the inner vital or
inner life line. It rises on the Mount of Mars, and sweeps down by the side of
the line of life, but is distinct in every way from thoso faint lines known as the
attendant lines, of which f spoke a little earlier.
Tho general charactet'istic of the line of Mars is that it denotes exeess of
health'on all squaro or broad hands; to a tr)an of this type it gives a mar-
tial nature, rather a fighting disposition, and robust strength. It also denotes
that while it runs ciose to ths life-line the individual will be engaged in
meny quarrels, and will be subject to a great deal of annoy&nce which will
bring all his mattial or fighting qualities into play. It is always an exeellent
aign on the hanrl of a soldier.
IMhen a braneh shoots frorn this line out to the Mount of Luna (Lb,
Plate XX.)r it tells that there is a terrible tendency towapd intemperanco of
overy kind, through tho very robustness of the nature, and the eraving for
excitement that it gives.
The other type of the line of Mars is found on the long narrow hanrl, and
here it is generally
by the side of a, delicate fragile, line of life. Its eharaater-
istics in such a hand are that it supports the lifeJine, carrying it past any
dangerous breaks, and giving vitality to the nature.
A broken lino of life with such a line beside it will at the point of the
break indieate closeness to death, but helped by this mar.k the subject will
recover, through the great vitality given by the line of M&rs.
e
' c
g
MODIFICATIONS
OF THE PRINCIPAL LINES'
Platc XVII.
CHAPTER YII.
T I I E L I NE OF HEAD.
t'
To know i s
trrower
tt-l et
us then be wi se,
And use our brains rvith every good iutent,
That at the end we come wi th ti retl eyes
Anrl gi ve to Nature nrore than what ttt" t*l .l ;rr*o.
Tur l i ne of heacl
(Pl ate
XIII.) r' ei atc:s pri nci l ral l y to t1t.
prrrJt,al i t.r
of the
subj ect-to the i utel l et:ttl i tl rrtrr-' l rgth or wei l knoss, to ti te ttl tnl i tl l ' al uel l t i n i ts
rcl at i orr t o t al ont , aut l t ri t he t l i rt ct i on o, l rrl 11u; rl i t y of t i i e t rt l rl t t f i t rrt ' l f .
f t i . q of ext t et rne i u: 1rr. i r: t i l l l (: e i r] r' i rl l ucr: t , i c: i t vi t h t hi sl i t rt : 1] t at t ht ' l i cr: i t l i ar'
i t i es of i he vari ous t yprcs be ] , rol "rre i u nri rrrl
I
as, t ' ur i t t st : t t i ci r, a si ri l ri t rg l i ne *f
head otl & psychi c or coni c l i antl i -* i rt-rt of l l al f thc' i rnl rot' tal ttl *' t' i a sl cl ri rrg
l i ue on a square hanti . $' e wi l i , hu\t r"1,tr, i i r,ke gctrl ' ri l t' l taractt"ri sti e-q fi l ' st.
and proceed to c,-rnsidet' r'ariatiotrs aftr:nviu'd"
The l i ne of head can ri se frti nr ti rrt;i : tl i fTcrcnt
l i r.i i i rtr--frotl t
tl tc rl ettter of
t heMount of Jupi t er ' , f r omt hocor r r r r l t l r r cer ) t t r t of
i i r e l i neof l i f e, ot ' f r omt he
Mount of Mars, within the lifeline.
'
Ri si ng from Jupi ter
(c-c, Pl ate XX.) antl yet.touehi ng the l i rre of l i fe, i t
i s, i f a l ong l i ne of heacl , the most porverful of al l .. Such a subj eet wi l l have
talerit, energy, and daring cleterminatiort of
1,ut'pose,
with bounclless anrbitirin
eombi ned wi th' l ' eason. Such a man wi l l control others, yet l tot seel n to col l -
trol themt lre will have r:aution even irr his urost tlaring clesigus; he takes
pri de i n hi s management of peopl e or thi ngs, ancl i s strong i n rul e, but
j ust
i n
the atlministration of power"
There is a var.iation of this which is almost equally strong. This again
rises on Jupiter, but is slightly separated from the line of life. Such a type
will have the 6haracteristics of the first, but with less eontrol and diplomaey.
87
88 Clrciro's Language of the Hand.
He will be hasty in decision, impetuous in aetion. As a leader in a erisis sueh
a man woulcl find his greatest opportunity. When, however', the spacc is very
wid.e, the subject will be foolhardy, egotistical, and will rush blindly into
clanger.
The lind of head from the commeneement of the line of life, and
connected with it (d-d, Plate XYI.), ind.icates a sensitive aud more nervous
ternperament; it denotes exeess of eaution; even clever people with this mark
rein themsBlves clorvn too tightly.
The lino of head rising from the l\Iount of l\Iars, within the life-line (F*
Plate XIX.), is not sueh a favorable sign, it being the extreme on tlrt iu-
side of the life-liue, as the wide-spaeed headJine is the extreme on the out-
side. This intlicates a fretful, worryiug temtrrerament, ineonstant in thought,
ineonstant in actionl the shifting sands of the sea are more steadfast than are
the ideas of such arr individual, and the eonneetion with l\{ars gives his
nature this one d.isagreeable trait-he is always in conflict with his neigh-
bors; he iq also highly sensitive, nervous, and more or less irritable.
The generalities indicatetl by the line of head are as follows:
When straight, clear', antl even, it denotes practical common sense and a
love of material things more than those of the irnaginatiorr.
When straight in the first half, then slightly sloping, it shows a balance
botween the purely imaginatir"e and the purely practical; such a subjeet will
have a level-lteaded, eommon-sense way of going to work, even when dealing
with irnaginative things.
Wheu the entire line has a slight slope, there is a leaning toward imag-
inative work, the quality of such imagination denoting in accordanee with
the type of haud, either musie, painting, literature, or mechanical invention.
When very sloping, romance, idealism, imaginative work, and Bohemianism.
'When
sloping and terminating with a fine fork on the Mount of Luna, it
promises literary talent of the imaginative order.
\Yhen extremely long and straight, and going directly to the sicle of the
hand (the percussion), it usually denotes that the subject has more. than
ordiuary intelleetual power, but is inclined to be selfish in the use of that
power.
'When
this line lies straight across the hand and slightly curves upward
,
\
I
,
?
I
Tlrc Line of lIead. 89
on Mars (g-g, Plate XIX.), the subjectwill win unusual suceess in a business
life; such a man will have a keen serrse of the value of money-it wili aeeunru-
late rapidly in his hands. Sut h a sign, however, denotes the taskrnaster, of
life-the I'haraoh who expects his wrlrk-lleiople to make bricks without stral.
When the line is short, barely reachiug the middle of the hand, it tells of
a nature that is thoroughly material. Such a man rryill utterly laek all the
imaginative faculties, although irr things practical he will be quite at hotne.
When abnormally short, it foreshadows some early death from sorno
mental afrection.
'When
broken in two under the l\{ount of Saturn, it tells of att eally
sudden death by fatality.
When linked,' or made up of little pieces like a ehain, it denotes want of
fixity of ideas, and indecision.
.When
full of little island.s and hair-lines, it tells of great pain to the head
and tlanger of hrairr rlisease.
When the line of head is sc, high on the hand. that the spaee is extrenrely
riar"r' ow hetwecn it and
fhe
lir:e of heart, the head will completel.y rule the
lreart, if that line bt the strongest, and tice uersd,.
If tll,: line shocil,i. turrr at t,he entl, or if, in its course down the hand, it
sencls an offshoot or lrranch
to a,ny partieular mount, by so doing it partakes
of t,he qualities of that mount:
Toward the }fr:unt of Luua, imagirration, mysticism, aud a leaning
toward oeeult things.
Towarcl }fercurr:, eommerce or scienee.
Toward the Sun, the rlesire for notoriety.
Toward Saturn,'tnusie, religion, arrcl depth of thougbt.
With a branch to Jupiter, pride and arnbition for power.
If a branch from the liue of head rises up and
joins
the line of heart, it
foreshatlows some great fascination or affeetion, at which moment the subjeet
will be blind to leason and danger.
A double line of head. is very rar:ely fouud, but when found. it is a sure
sigrr of brain powet antl, rnentality. Snch people have a perfeetly doubkt
nature-one side sensitive and gentle, the other confident, cold, ancl erucl.
.fhey have enormous versatility, great command of lauguage, a peeuliar
90
Cheiro,s Language of the Hancl.
power for playing
and toying with human nature, and generallSr great will
and determination.
When the line of head is broken in two on both ha.nds, it foretells some
fatal accident or violence to the head.
Au island is a sigu of weakness (7,
Plate XVII.). IVhen clearl.1, defined,
if the line does not extend farther, the person will never recover.
If the line of head sends an offshodt to or runs into a star on the Mount
of Jupiter, it is a sign of wonclerful success in all things attemptecl.
When a number of little hair-lines branch upward from the line of heatl
to that of heart, the affectiorrs will be a matter of fascination, not of love.
'When
the line of head rulrs into or through a square, it inclieates preser-
t'ation fi'om accid.ent or violenee by the subjeetts own coutage antl pr.esence
of mind.
When there is a spaee found between the line of head antl that of life, it
is beneficial when not too wide
I
when nrediurn, it derrotes splentlid euergy
and. solf-confidence, promptness
of aetion ancl readiness of thought ("trf,
Plate XXI.). This is a useful sign for barristers, aetors, preaeher.s,
etc., but
people with such a mark woultl do well to sleep on their tieeisions-the_v are
inelined to be too hasty, self-confident, aud iruiratient. \Yherr this space is
extremely wide, it denotes foolhardiness, assuranee, exeessive effrontery, autl
self-confidence.
\Yhen the line of head, on the eontrary, is very tightly connectetl with
that of lifer and low down in the hand, there is utter want of self-confidence.
Such individuals sufrer greatly from extremo sensitiveness, and the slightest
thing will wound and grieve
them.
CEAPTER VIIL
TEE LINE OF IIEAD IN N,EI-.,ATION TO TIIE SEVEN TYPES.
Tnp genbral rules to be observed. in eonuectiou with this most remarkable
point are as follows :
The line of head is usually in accordauce with the type of hand on whieh
it is found-namell', practical
gn
e practieal type, imaginative on an artistie,
antl so on. It therefore follows that signs contrary to the nature are mor
important than characteristies indicated in accordanco with it.
These peculiarities, it is therefore more reasonable to assume, relate to
the development of the brain outside and beyond its natural eharaetet'istics.
Such a divergeuce might be apcounted for by the theory that the various ten-
dencies of the brain reach their working point through a process of slow
growth and development, similar to the evolutions of life itself. It therefore
follows that at the age of twenty there may be the eommencement of a develop-
ment which mey alter the entire life at thirty
;
but as that ehange has already
commeneed in the brain, so must it affect the nerves and. thus the hand. Thus
a tendeney toward. a change of thought or action is indicated. years before it
takes place.
Starting with the elementary hantl, or the nearest approaeh to it found
in these countries, the natural headJine on such a type would be short,
straight, and heavy; consequently the development of it to any unusual ex-
tent will show unusual characteristics in such a subject. X'or instance, such
a line of head dropping downward toward. Luna will show an imaginative
but superstitious tendency, completely at variance with the bmtal and animal
nature it influences. This aeeounts for the fear of the unknown, the super-
stitious dread, that is so often found among the lower class of humanity,
particularly among savage tribes.
91
gz
Cheiro's Language of the Hand.
TEE IJNE OF
gEAD
rN BET.'.ATTON TO TEE SQUARE EAND.
The square hand, as I have stated (Part I., Ohapter III.), is the useful or
practieal hand; it deals with logic, method, reason, science, and all things
appertaining to such matters.
The line of head on such & type is straight and long, in keeping with
the characteristics of the hand itself. It therefore follows that the slight-
est appear&nce of this Iino sloping, being the direct opposite to the pature,
shows even a greater development of the imaginativo faeulties than a far
groater slope of the same line on a sonic or psychie, but the difrerence
in tho class of work would be the difrerence of temperament. The square
hand with the sloping head-line would start with a practical foundation for
imaginative work, whereas the other would. be purely inspirational and
imaginative. This difrerence is extremely noticeable in the hands of writers,
painters, musiei&us, ete.
TEE LINE OF HEAD IN BET,ATIO}I IO TEE SPATUIJATN IIAND.
The spotulate hand (Part I., Chapter fV.) is the haud of aetion, iuvention,
independenee, and originaiity. The natuial position for.the lins of head on
this type is long, clear, and slightly sloping.
'When,
therefore, on such a hand
this sloping is aceentuated, tho result is that all these characteristies are
doublod or strengthened; but when lying straight, the opposite of the type'
the subjeetts praetieal ideas will
.keep
the others so much in check that the
plans of the imagination will not get scope for fulfilment, and, as far as the
temperament is concerned, the neture will be restless, irritable, and dis-
satiBfied.
TEE LINE oF EEAD I$ RELATION TO TEE PEILOSOPEIC EAND.
The philosophie hand (Part f., Chapter Y.) is thoughtful, earnesb in the
pursuit of wisdom, but imaginative and rather eccentric in ttre applieation of
icleas to every-day life. The natural position for the line of head on this type
is long, elosely eonnected with the line of life, set low down on tbe hand, and
sloping. The unnatural type, or the man with the straight line of head on
I
t
b
I
I
l
t
l
Th,e Li,ne of Heail' in Relation to the Swen Tgpes. 93
the philosophic hand., the line set high on the hand and. straiglt, is critica!
analytical, and cynical; he will pursue wisdom, and particularly the study of
his fellow-men, only to analyze their faults and failiogsr to expose their fads,
fancies, and foibles; he will stand. on the border-land of the mystic, to sneer
at the unreal, to laugh in the faee of the real
l
he will fear nothing, neither
things spiritual nor things material; he can be imaginative or praetical at
will
;
a'genius that discredits genius, a pirilosopher that disarms philosophy
-such
is the hand of a Carlyle.
TEE LINE OF HEAD IN REtr'EN,ENCE TO TEE CONIC flAND.
The conic hand (Part I., Chapter YI.) belongs to the artistie, impulsive
nature, the children of id.eas, the lovers of sentiment.
In this type the natural position for the line of head is that whieh grad-
ually slopes downward to the Mount of Luna, generally to the middle of it.
This is the most charaeteristic, and gives the freeciom of Bohemianism to
these worshipers of the beautiful
l
here it is that we find the greatest leaning
toward. sentiment, romance, and ideality, in opposition to the practical qualities
of the squere type. These are indeed the luxurious children of the Sun
;
they have a keen appreciation for the things of art, but are often without the
power to give expression to their artistie ideas. Ilowever, when the line of
head is straight, in combination with sueh a nature, a very remarkable result
follows. The subject with sueh a hand will make every use of his artistic
ideas and talents, but'in a practical direction
;
he will intuitively feel what
the publie d.emands
I
he will not care for art so muoh as for the money it
brings
;
he will conquer the natural love of ease and luxury by strength of
eommon sense and determination; where the man with the sloping head-line
would paint one picture he will paint ten-and, furthermore, he will sell them.
IMhy ? Because through his practical business sense he will know what the
public wants, and. as is the demand, so will be the supply.
TEE LINE OF EEAD IN RELATION TO THE PSYCHIC EAND.
llhe natural position for the line of head on this hand is extremely sloping,
giving all the visionary, dreamy qualities in aeeordance with this type. It
94 Clrcira's Language a!' the Hund.
is one of the rarest t{ings to find a straight line of heu.^r on sueh a hg,nd,
but when found it is generally on the riglrt hand, the left being still very
sloping. Such a formation deuotes that by the pressure of eircumstanees the
entire nature has undergone a change and has beeome more practical. This
type, even with the straight line of head, can never be vry material or busi-
nesslike, but in me,tters of art the subject will have a very gootl cltance, as
he would, have lnore r:pportunity to exercise his talents, yet even in art it
would require the greatest tact and. strougest encouragement to intluce him
to turn his taients to practical use.
By such illustrations the student will understand how to naake, every
other'motlifieatiou in aceordanee with the type of hand. The modifications
of the headJine are more important than any other'marks that the hand
possesses.
CHAPTER X.
INSANITY AS SEOWN BY TIIE IJINE OF IIEADO
Tsnnn is really no tendeney which the haud denotes ruore plainly
than
insanitS whether hereditary or brought ou by circumstanees. The multitude
of forms which could be gathered under this heading cannot be entered iuto
in tbis work, but I will endeavor to show the most general.
ft must be borne iu minrl that any point that is beyond the normal is ab..
normal.
'TV'hen,
therefore, the line of bead sinks to
a-n
abnormal point on the
Mount of Luna, tho irnagination of the subject is abnormal and unnatural.
This will be Inore important in the elementary, square, spatulate, and philo-
sophie, than in relation to the eonic or psychic types.
'When
the line of head,
even on & ehildts hand, reaahes this uunatural point, it may grow up to man-
hood or wom&nhood with perfeet clearness and sanity of ideas, but as surely
as & mental.shoek or strain comes, so surely will that brain be thrown off its
balance, and iusanity will be the result.
The same development of the line of head, with an unrisually high Mount
of Saturnr $ill denote a morbidly imaginative nature from the very start
(Plate XXV.). Such a subjeet is gloomy, morose, and melancholy, and this
tendeney,.even without eallse, generally increases until the subject eompletely
Ioses his or her mental balanee.
Temporary insanityiis shown by a narrow island in the center of a slop
iog line of head, but this mark generally indieates some brain-illness or
temporary insanity eonsequent upon brain-fever.
The hand of the congenital idiot is remarkable for its very small, badly
developed thumb, and for a line of head sloping and made up of broad lines
filled with a set'ies of islands, like a chain.
I have further illustrated these remarks in Part III.; Chapter V., on var{ous
phases of insanity as shown by the hand.
95
96
Chei,ro's Language of the Hand'.
MURDEROUS PNOPENSITIES AS SIIOWN BY TIIE LINE OF
gEAD.
The mere act of murder, such a,s one man killing another in the heat of
passion or in qelf-defense, is not shown by the hand except as a past event,
and then only when it has deeply affected a very sensitive
nature; but if
propensities for crime exist, the age at which they will reach their active
or working
point' in the naturo rs decidodly shownr &s I will proceed to
demcnstrate.
I have explained in the foregoing remarks that, when the line of head is
abnormal iu one direetion, abnormal charaeteristies are the result, such ag in-
sanity, n:orbidness, and. extreme melaneholy, which under certain conditions
load to self-murder. These, however, are abuormal charaeteristics denoted'
by the falling line.
'We
will now eonsider the abnormalities indieated by the
rising line of hearl,
It will be rernembered that f have previously stated that the line of head
divides the hand into two hemispheres-that of mind and. that of matter
I
and
that if it be high on the hand, then the world of matter has greater seope, ad
the subjeet is more brutal and animq! itt his desires. This has been amply
proved by the bands
of those who have lived a life of crime, partieularly if
they have been murderous in their propensit'ies (Plate XXIY.).
In sueh e&ses the'line of head leaves its proper place on the hand, and
risos and takes possession of the lile of heart, and sometimes even passes
beyond it. Whether sueh people murddr one or twenty is not the question.
The point is that they have abnormal tendencies for erime
;
they stop at'
nothing in the aeeomplishment of their purpose, and under the slightest
provoeation or temptation they must and will gratify these strange and terri-
ble propensities. The extraordinary thing in eonnection with this point is
that the same line also prediets years in advance when these propensities
will cause the d.estruction of the subject. If the head and heart meet
und,er Saturn, it will oecur before he is twenty-five; between Saturn and
the $un,
before thirty-fir'e
I
under the Mount of the Sun, before forty-
frve,1.and so on. This is one of the most interesting points in the study
of the hand, and goes far to prove that, once the line of head goes over or
Insani,ty as Shown by the Li,ne of Head.
under what should be its normal position, it betrays these various inherent
tendeneies in the character and the nature of the subjeet. In this way it
will be seen that this study could be used to the greatest advantage in the
training of children and young persons, as the line of head from the earliest
indicates the mental bent of the subjeet whether for good or evil. There ean
be no doubt but that nature points in some way, even years in advance, to
the harvest of those seeds that we are continually sowing; let us then look
faets in the faee lvhether they speak against ourselves or our children.
Eumanity has little pity for the reaper when binding the sheaves of regret:
he cries, I did not know the seeds that I had sown.
[Nort.-I
do not uB or pay attention to such signs as the red. cross on Mars orthe blook spot
on Saturn ae indications of murder. I consider that they belong to the mone superstitious
side of this wor\ and are relios of that blact age which once claimed palmistry ai its own.l
97
OHAPTER X.
TEE I,INE OF HEART.
Nor ask ro* p*".", ff:;"*Xrt-#;hee best,
Nor ask for love, nor
joy,
nor even rest,
But be content to love, whateter betid.e,
.
Aud rnaybe love rvill bring thee to Love's
tXe'r*o.
Tsn line of hear.t is naturally an
important
line in the studS' of the hand.
Love, or the attractiou of the sexes frcm natttral causes,
plays one of the
most prominent parts in the drama of life, and as in the nature so iu tlre
ha,nd. The line of heart, otherwise called the mensal
(Piater XIII.)' is that
llne which runs across the upper portion of the hand at the base of the
Illounts of Jupiter, Saturn, the Sun, and }Iercury.
The line of heart should, be deep, clear, and well colored. It may rise
from ttrree important positions, as follorvs: the middle of the Mottnt of
Jupiter, between the first and second fingers, and. from ths eenter of ths
Mount of Saturn.
'When
it rises from the ceuter of Jupit er (d,-il, Plate XX.), it gives the
highest type of love-the pride and the worship of the heart's ideal. A man
with sueh a formation is firm, strong, and reliable in his affections; he is as
well ambitious that the woman of his choicc shall be great, noble, and famous
-sueh
a man would never m&rry beneath his station, antl will have far less
love-affairs than the man with the line from Saturn.
Next we will eonsid.er the line rising from the Mourrt of Jupiter, even
from the finger itself (e-e, Plate XX.). This denotes the excess of all the fore-
going qualities
;
it gives the blind enthusiast, the man so carried away by his
pride that he can see no faults, no failings in that being whom he so devotedly
worships. Alas t such people are the sufferers in the world of affection :
98
l*t
J
\
\
I
- --? /
*-
//
P*l
\
t
/
\
* (
b
\=-
MODIFICATIOITS OF THE PRINCIPAL LINES.
't
Plate xVilr.
I' hr' Line oJ' I lt' art 99
rvlrt,rr their itlols fall, as idols will sometimes, the shoek to lheir pridc is so
grtrili, that they rarely if ever reeover from its efrectsl lmt thct shoek, 't ttrrtst
be remarkod, is rnore to lheir own pritlo than to the rrr'r, fact that tirt' irlol
trlrt' yrvorshipecl hatl feet of clay. Poor worshiper!when wilt, thou sel lhat,
ltiougir womeu [6r puro, thoy be not perfeet; they are btrt ltuntan, autl lre,ir;g
hurnnn thoy &re rnor fitting than if they were divine. I['hy, thon, plaee them
so high that they nre the more likely to fall ? Their placo is by thy sitle, tho
courpanion of thy humanity, the sister part of all thy faults.
1t'he line rising betweon the first antl second. fingers gives a ealm bgt
doopor nature irr rnatters of love (.f
.t
Plate XX.). Such iutlividuals soeur to
rest botween the ideality givcru by Jupiter and the passionate ardor giveu try
Sa.turn. They aro quieter *nd more subdued in their passiotrs.
\Yith the line of heart rising from Saturn, the subjoet will have more
passion ln his attaehrnents, antl will bei more or Iess selfish in satisfyiug his
affbetions; in horuo lifo he is uevcr so expressive or denrtlnstrative as are
those with the line frcrrn Jupitt'r. The excrt ss of this is the sattto kintl of liue
rising very high on the mount,, often frorn the very finger rtf Saturn. Suth a
subje*t is far rrroro passionate a,nd sensrial than any of the otltt'rs. It is
genorally athnitted that ver] seusual people &re very st'lfish-in this e&se tltey
aro extremely so.
When tlie lino of heart is itself in excess, narnely, lying right acrt-rss tlte
hand from side to side, an exeess of affectiou is the result, autl a terrible
fuutleuc-v towartl
jealousv;
this is still ru()r'L\ aeeenttrated by a verv loug line
of heart rising to the outside of tho hautl and reaching the base of the, fir'st
Iitrgrr.
\l-heu the line of heiar:t is mueh lrettetl bv s crorctl of little liuos risiug
into it, it tolls of intonstaucy, flirtatious,n, series of cnrourt' tttsrbut rro lnsting
bfroction (Plate XX.).
A line of heart"froni Saturn, ciruir,t,tl rtutl lrroad, gives an utter coutemltt
fur the subjectts opposite sex.
'W'hen
the line of heart is bright retl, it tlenotes great violc,nco ttf passiott,
'Whon
pale and broatl, the subjt et is blasi. and indifrerent.
\lrhen low dowrr
()rr
the hand and thus close to the line of head, the heart
will always interfere with the sfrairs of the head.
100
Cheiro's l.,ansuaJle
qf the llontl.
When, however., it lies high <lu the hand, and the spaco is narrowed by
t1e lile of Sead being toc, close, the l'everse,.is the caser antl tlte head will scr
ebmpietely
rule the affeetions that it gives a hattl, eoltl natttre, envious antl
uncharitable,
Breaks in the line tell of disappointr'tenl
in afrection-under
Satrtrn,
brought atrout by tiatality
;
uucler tbo Sur, through
pride
I
and under l\Iercury,
through folly arrd caPriee.
When the lins of heart commences
with a small fork on the Mount of
Jupiter
( j-j,
Plate XYI.), it is an uufailing sign of a true, hons,st nature and
enthusiasm
in love.
.A
lier:y,remdr.kable
point is to notiee whether the line of heart eolnmence
high or low on the hantl.
'
The fi.rst is the best, bocause it shows the happiest
nature.
The line lying so low that it droops tlown toward
ttre lirre of head is a
sure sigl of unhappiness in afrections tluring the early portion of the life.
'When
the line of lrcart forkb, with ono braneh
resting on Jupiter, the
other betrveen the fir.st and seeond fiugers, it is a sign of a happy, tranquil
lature,
gog,il fortuue, antl happiness in affection
I
but wlten ttre fork is so
wi,ile that one br.anch rests on Jupit.er, the other otr Saturn, it then denotes a
very uucertain disposition, and one that is not inclined to make the marital
relations happy, through its erratie temperament
in afrection'
When the line is
quite bare of branches aud thirlr it tells of coldness of
heart and want of afreetion.
\Vhen bar,e and thin tdward the percussion or side of the hand, it denotes
sterility.
Fine lines risiug up to the lino of heart from the line of head denote
those who influence our thoughts in affairs of,the heart, and by treing crossed
or uncrossed.
denote if the affection has brought trouble or has been smooth
and fortunate.
'When
the lines of heart, head and life aro very much
joined together, it
is an evil sign; in all matters of afrection suih a subjeet would stiek at
nothiug to obtain his or her desires.
A subject with no line of heart, or with very little, has not the power of
feeling very deep afrection.
such a person can, however, be very sensual,
par-
101
The Li'ne of Heart:
ticularly if the hantl is soft. on a hard hand such a mark will afrect the
suhjert less-he
may not be sensual,
but he will never feel very deep
afreetion.
'When,
however,
the line has been there, b-ut has faded out, it is a sign
that the subject
has had such terrible
disappoiutmonts
in affection that
he
has beoome eold, heartless,
and indifrerent'
CII.APTER, XI.
TED LI NE OF FATE.
. . . And what is fate ?
A perfect law that shapes all things for
|ood;
And, thus, that men may have a
just
rervard
I'or doing what is right, uot caring should
No earthly crorrube theirs, but in accord
Withwhat is true, and high, and great.
And in tbo end-the part as to the whole-:
So shall all be; in the suceess of all
So shali all share; for the All-eonsoious Soul
Notes
:n:':" itffi'Jf ,:"r*:
t"tt'
Cnnrno.
TnB line of fate (Plate XIIL), otherwise called the line of destiny, or the
Saturnian, is the eenter upriglit line on the palm of the hand.
Iu the eonsideration of this liue the type of hand plays en important part;
for instance, the line of fate, even in the most suecessful hands, is less marked
on the elementary, tho square, ancl the spatulate, than bn the philosophic, the
conie, or the psychie. These upright lincs"are more in keeping witb the latter
bands, aud are therefore less important on them; consequently if one sees,
as one often will, an apparently very strong line of fate on a conic hand,
on must remember that it has not half the importance of a similiar line on
a, squa,ro type as far as worldly sueeess is eonoerned. This point, I am sorry.
to sa5', has been completely overlooked. by other writors, though it is one of
the most signifieant in tbis study. It is useless to simply give a map of the
hand without clearly explaining this point. The bewildered student sees
this long line of fate marked as a sign of great fortune ind suceess, and
naturally coucludes that a small line on the square hand means nothing, and
that a long one on the conic or psyehic means suecess, fame, and fortune,
whoreas it has not oue quarter the importanee of the small line shown on the
102
TItr f,ine o.f l;utrt.
103
sqrlare. I
.qish
to erntrrhasize this as so rna,ny studetrls thrnrv ttl
laltnistl'.t'
i1 clespair thr.ough not ha,viug this point csplainecl a't tho start.
Tlu strange antl rnysterious thing to rrote is that fl;1r p{rs,t(rssot's of thtt
philtlsophic, conie, and psychic hautls wlrich lrear these heavil,v utarkcrl littt' s
are ur()re 9r less belicvers in fatcr, wfuereras the possossors of the square atttl
spatulate rarely if ever lrclieve in fate at itll.
\
Bcforg the' stntleut
goes farther I rroukl rtlcomtnend, hinrr ol)ce antl for
all, to settle this <lOctrine of fate, either for ot' agaiust.
T5e lilo of fate, properly speaking, relates to all worldly afrairs, to our
sn(.cess er fdi|rre, to the people who influenee our
(rare)r, whether sueh influ-
ence,q be benc.ficial or othenrise, to tlre barriers and ol.rstaeles itr our rva,v, atttl
to the ultirnate result of ortr cfl,teet"
T1e lipe 6f fate m&y rise fi'orn the line of lifer, the rvrist, the llount of
Luna, the line'of head, or tlven the line of ltrlart.
If the fate-line r.ise from the line of life and frorn that point on is stt'oug,
ssccess ap4 ricles will bc tl on by personal uterit; but if the line lxr nrarketl
low tlon,1 1e&r the rvrist alcl tierl tlowll, ils it were, by the side of the liflc-line,
it tells that tho ea,rly pprtion of the sulrjeetts life'will be sar:rifieecl to the
wislres of parertts or relatives
(g-ll, Plate XX.).
\vherr the lintr of fate rises frorn the wrist antl
tr,roeeeds
straight uP tlro
hanrl to its destination ou.the }fount of Saturn, it is a sign of extt'etttt,
gr.rorl
fortune arttl suceess.
Ilisilg from thc llount of Luna, fate antl sueeess rvill be more or less
deperrtlent on the farncy antt capriee of otltcu people. This is very Often fourtd
in the Base of public favoritbs.
If the line of fate be straight anrl a brauch lun iu and
join
it from tlre
Mol1t of Luna, it is sornewhat sirnilarr in its rnearting-it signifies tlrat
the strong influenee of sorne other person out of fancl or eapriee rvill assist
tle slbje.ct in his or her career. On a womants hatrcl, if this ra.r'-litre frotrt
Luna travel o1 afterward by the side of the line of fate, it denotes a lvenlth"tr
marriage or influence whieh aceompanies atttl assists her
(lr-lr, Plate XX.).
If the line of fate in its c()llrse to thc ,\l.c,unt
r-rf Saturtt settd offshoots
to a1y
gther
mount, it denotes that the qualities of that partieula,r lnolllrt will
dornitrate the life.
10.{
(l l tti ru' s
Ltl trgttnl l e a/' the Hond.
If the line of fate itseif shoulcl go to any mount or portion of the hand
other than the Mount of $aturn, it foretells great suceess in that patticular
direction, according to the chatacteristics of the uount.
If the line of fate ascerrcl to the center of the l\{ount of Jupiter, unusual
distinction and power will come irrto the subjectts life, It also relates to
character. Such people are born to climb up hig'her than their fellows
through their enormous enel'gy, ambition, and rletermination.
If the line of fate should. at any point thtow a branch irr that direction,
namely, toward Julriter, it shows more than usual success at that partirrular
stage of life.
If ttre line of fate terminate by crossing its owrr nronrrt aurl r"taching
Jupiter, suecess will be so great in the end that it rvill go far tox'artl satisfl.-
ing even the ambition of sucn a subject.
When the line I' uns beyorrd the palin, ruttirig irrto thc fi:rger ofl Saturn, it
is not a good sign, as e\rerythirrg will go trio far. Ii' or iustarrt:c, if srrch an in-
dividuat be a leader, his sutrjelcts rvill some clnv go l.,cvirrul his u'i-*lrcs a,nrl
rlower, antl rryill most probabll'turn iind aitack their cornrrlander"
Iilhen the liue of fate is abruptly stoptrrcd iry the lirrr: of heart. suceess
will br: ruined through tho affections
I
wheu, licrvcver, it
joins
the line of
heart and they t*gether ascend Jupiter, the sut,.jer:t rvill have his or h,:r high-
esi atnirition gratified tirr:ough tire affer:,tions
\luh,
Platt XIX.).
fft'hen stcppt'tl try ttre line of liead, it for'+:tells that .snr:ce.ss
-ls'ill
be
'obwartetl
by some stupidit.y ol hluntler of t,lie herll.
If the line of fate does not rise uirtil iate in thr: Plain of l\[ars, it denotes
a ;erl' diflieult, hard, and troubierl life; bui if it gces on well up tire hantl, ail
.iiificulties
will be surmounted, an<l onee over tht-r first half of the life all the
rest will be smooth. Sueh success comes from the subjr,:ctts owll energy,
fier-
severauce, and determination"
If the line of fate rise frc;n the line of heari, and that, iirre i.re rvell inarked,
then success will be won late in life, after a hard struggle an<l through the
subjeetts talents.
'When
it rises from the lino of heart extrernely late in life, after a difficult
struggle suceess will be won.
'When
the line rises with one branch from ttre base of Luna, the other
Tlrc Line of tr'ate. 105
from Yenus, the subjectts clestiny will sway between irnagination on the one
hanrl aud love and passion on the other (nt-rtt, Plate XXI.).
When broken and irregular, the career will tre uneertain
;
the ups and
dowus of success and failure full of light and shatlow.
When there iq a break iu the line, it is a sure sign of misfortuue and loss
I
but if the seconrl portion of the liue begin before the other leaves off, it de-
notes a eomplete change in life, and if very deeided. it will rnean rr change
more in aceordance with the subject's own wishes in the way of position and
sueeoss (a-u, Plate XXI.).
A double or sister fate-line is an exeellent sigr. It tlenotes tn'o clistiuet
eareers which the subject will follow. This is rnuch rnole important if they go
to different mounts.
A square on the line of fate protects the subjec:t from loss
through
money, business, @"finaneial mattcrrs. A square touihing the line in the
Plain of Mars (b, Plate XXI.) foretells danger from aecitlent in relation to
horne life if on the sirlo of the fate-line next the lirre of life; frbm aeeident
in travel if on the side of the fate-line next the Mount of Lttna.
A rross is a sign of trouble and follows the same n-les as the square, but
an island in the line of fate is a mark of misfortuue, loss, aurl atlversity
(d,
Plate XXI.). It is sometimes u:arked with the line of irrfluence from Luna,
aud in such a, case means loss and misfortune .caused by the influence, be it
mamiage or otherwise, whieh afieets the life at that clate (c, Plate ,YXI.);
People without any sign of a line of fate are often ver-v suecessful, but
they lead more a vegetable kind of existence. They eat, clrink, ancl sleep, but
I do not think we ean really eall them happy, for they eannot feel aeutely,
and to fqel happiness we must also feel tho reverse. Sunshine and shadow,
smiles and tears comprise the sum total of our lives.
CHAPTEB XII.
T EE L I NE OF SUN.
A^trd there are some who have success in wealth,
And some in war, and some again in peace,
And some who, gaining their success in health,
See other things decrease.
Man cantt have all-the sun eonsumes itself
By burning in its lap rnore feeble stars,
And. those who crave the Hindu idolts part
Oft crush their children
tneath
their gilded cars.
Cnnrno.
Tnn line of sun (Plate XIII.), otherwise ealled the line of Apollo, the line
of brilliatrcX, or the line of s'uecess, must, like the line of fate, be consitleretl
with the type cf hand on which it lies
;
for irrstance, it will be more heavily
m&rked on the philo.sophie, conie, and psyehie, and not me&n as much as a
similar line on the square or spatulate. The same rule given in referenee to
tbe liue of fate therefore applies to this.
f prefer in my work to call this the line of sun, ris this name is more
oxpressive
and more elear in meaning. ft increases the success given by a
good line of fate, and gives fame and distinction to tpe life when it is in
accordance with the work. and career given by the other lines of the hand.;
otherwise it rnbrely relates to a temperament that is keenly alive to the
artistie, but unless the rest of the hand bears this out, the subjeet will have
the appreciation of art without the power of expression.
The line of sun may rise from the line of life, the Mount of Luna, the
Plain of Mars, the line of head, or the line of heart.
Rising frour the line of life, with the rest of the hand. artistic, it di:notes
that the life will be devoted. to the worship of the beautiful. With the other
lines gooti, it promises success in ar.tistic pursuits.
r06
The Li,ne of Su,n. L07
Rising from the line of fate, it increases the suceess promised by the line
of fate, and gives more distinction from whatever date it is marked-from
thbt timb on things will greatly improve.
It is far more accur&te and less misleading to'alass this line as relating
to brilliancy or suocess-as its name implies-than to eall it the line of
Apollo
or of art. It depends upon the talent shown by the line of head, and
the olass of hand itself, to determine in what ti'uy the suecess is shown,
whether in art or in riches.
From the Mount of Luna it promises sueoess and distinetion, largely
dependent upon tbe fancied and the help of others. In this ca,se it is never a
certain sign of success, being so influenced by the foutunes of those we cor4e
in contact with (e-e, Plate XXI.).
With a sloping line. of head, however, it is more inclined to denote suc-
gess
in
trioetry,
literature, and.things of the purdly imaginative orcler.
Rising upon the Plain of Mars, it
promises
sunshine after tears, suceess
after diffieulty.
Rising from the liue of head, there is no capriee of other people in eon-
nection with suecess, the talents of the subject alone being itB factor, but not
until the seeond half of life is reached.
Bising from the line of heart it merely denotes & great taste for art
and artistic things, and looking at it from the purely practieal standpoint
it denotes rnore distinction and influence in the world at that late date
in life.
If the third finger be nearly equa! in length to the second, the finger of
Satum, a very long line of sun with sueh a formation inakes the subject
inclined to gamble with everything-the talents, the riches, and. even the
ohances of life.
The chief peculiarity of this lind is that it generally gives, when well
marked, a. groat tendency toward sensitiveness, but when combined with an
exoeptionally straight line of head it denotes the love of attaining riches,
sbcial position, and power.
Many lines on the Mount of Sun show an extremely artistic nature, but
multiplicity of ideas will interfere with all success. Such subjects irever
have sufficient patience to win either fame or renown (Plate XXL).
108 Clteir o's Language of the Ha,nd.
A star on this line is perhaps the very finest sign that can be found.
Brilliant and lasting success is in such cases a certainty.
A square on the line of sun is a sign of preservation agaiust the attacks
of eneuries in rdference to one's name and. pcsition ( g, Plate XXI.).
Au island on this line means loss of position and name for the length
of time that the island lasts, and generally such will oecur through scandal
(0, Plate XXf.).
On d hollow hand the line of sun loses all power.
The complete absence of the line of sun on an otherwise talented. and
artistio bfnd indicates that such peopio, though they may work hard, will
find the recognition of the world difficult to gain.' Sueh individ.uals,
no matter how they may deserve honor and fame, will rarely achieve it.
Perhaps on their giaves will be laid.the rvreaths that should have crowned.
their heads.
.-S.r/
t,
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CHAPTER XIIL
THE I,INE OF HEALTH, OR THE HEPATICA.
Somu florvers are bruiserl that thel'may Irc utorc s$-eet,
Arrrl ' some l i e brokcn
tueath
tht' rush of feet;
Anrl some are \vonr awhile, then tossetl aside
;r
Sorne gwlee the tlead, shile othets deck the bride.
Antl so in life Itve seen the sadtlest face,
The broken florver', eir-e frirth the su-eetest grace.
(. HEI Ro.
Tnnrrr has been c{}nsiderable discussion arnong writel's as to the poirrt
where this line rist:s. l\fy theol')', and olie \rhich I ltave pl'o\red by watch-
ing the growth of this line ou the hands of childreir and young people, is
that it, rises a'r the base, or on the faee of the llount of l\Iercury, and as it
grows don'u t'hs lrarrcl anrl into the line of life, so does it foreshadow the
gro\rth of the illnoss or gernl of disease rvhich at the tirne of its corning in
eontaat with the lirie of life will rea,eh its elimax. I wish to call special at-
tention to this point
I
also$o a,uother, namely, that the line of life merely re-
lates to the length of life from natural eauses, but if the hepatica is as sti'ongly
marked as the lirre of life itself, their meetirig at any point will be the point
of deatir" Also, no matter how loug the life-line rnay seem to be, any ab
nornnal development of the line of healthwill cause the tleath of the subject.
The hepatie.a (Plate XIII.) shoultt lie straight down the hand-tho
straighter the better.
It is an excellent sign to be without this line. Sueh absenee denotes an
extremely pobust, healthy constitution. fts presence on the hand in any
form indieates some tlelieate poirrt to be guardetl against.
-When
crossing the hantl antl touching the line of life at any point, it tells
that there is some delicacy at work, undermining the health and constitution.
/,hJc,
Plate XVIL)
109
f t0 Cheira's Language af the Hanil.
'Whon
rising from the line of hea,rt at tho Mount of Mercury and run-
ning into or'th"ougir the line of life, it foretells some weakness and disease of
the heart. If very pale in color", and broad, it will be weak actiou of the
heart and bad eirculation.
If red in eolor, partieularly when it leaves the line of heart, with small,
flat nails, the trouble will be active heart-d.ise&se.
'Wben
very red in small spots, it douotos a, tendency in the system
toward. fever,
'When
twisted and. irregular, biliousness and liver eomplaints.
When formed. in little straight pieees, bad digestion
(d-i, Plate XIX.).
In little islands, with long, filbert nail6, danger to lungs anC cbe st, (04,
Plate XX.).
The samo mark, with tho same kind of riail, but broad, throat trouble.
(See
{(
Nails,t Part L, Chapter XtrII.)
'When
heavily markerl,
joining
the lines of heart and head, ancl not found
elsewhere, it threatens brain-fever.
A straight lino of hepatica lying down the haurl may not girre robust
health, but it is a good rnark beanuse it give's a more wiry kind of health than
CIne crossing tho hand,.
It will thus be seen that though the student can depcnrJ Yery largely
upon the indications afiorded him by the hepatica, yet he must look for other
-illnesses, and for eonfirmatio.p of illnesses, to other portions of the hand, as,
i*r instanee, to tbe chained life-line for naturally delicate health, t<i the line
*f he&d for brain troubles, and to the nails, which rnusf always
'bo
noted in
eonjuaction witb the study of the hepatica.
CHAPTER XIV.
fEE VIA ITASCII'A AND TIIE LII'IE OF INTUITION.
llnn Y,ia Lasci,ua, otherwise ealled tho sister health-line
(Plate XIII.), rs
not often found, and is geperally confouuded
"rvith
the hepatica. It shoulcl
by right run ofr the palm into the wrist. fn- such a position it gives actiou
g,nd foroe to the passions, but if running aoross the hand into the Moupt of
Venus it shortens the natural length of life by its excesses (l-1, Ptate XVff.).
THE UINE OF INTUITION.
The line of intuition (Plate XII.) is more oftcn found. on the
trrhilosophie,
the eonic, and the psychic, tharr on any other of the seven types. Its position
on the hand. is almost that of a semicircle from the faeo of the lllount of
Mercury to that of the Mount of Luna. It sometimes runs through or with
the hepatica, but cau be fountl clear hnd distinct even. when thb hepatica is
marked. It donotes a purely impressionable nature, iI person ketlnly sensitive
to all suruouudings and influences, an intuitional fee'ling of preseutiment for
others, strauge vivid dreams and warniugs whieh science has never been able
to aeeount for by that mueh-used. word,
(6coincidence.D
It is found more on
psyohic hands than on any others.
ru
CHAPTER XY.
TIrb GIRDT,E Or YENUS, TUE RrNG OF SATUBN, AND TrrE TsREn BRACELETS.
Tnn Girdle
.of
Venus (Plate XIIL) is that broken or unbroken kintl of
semieircle rising between the frrst and seeond fingers and finishing between
the third"end fourth.
f must here state that I have never found this sign to indicate the sen-
sualitJ'so
generally ascr{bed to it exoept when found on a broatl, thick hand.
Its real domain is usually on such hands as the conie and psyehic. A little
study will prove tbat this
.mark
is as a rule associated with highly sensitive,
intellectual nbtures, but natures chaugeable in moods, easily ofiended, and.
touchy over little things. It denotes a highly strung, nervous temperament,
aud when' unbroken it certairrly gives a rirost unhappy tentlency toward
bysteria and d.espontlency.
People'possessing this mark are capable of rising to the highest pitch of
enthusiasm ovor anything that engages their fancR but they are rarely twice
in the sa,me mood-one moment in the height of spirits, the next miserable and.
despondent.
TV'hen the girdle goes over the side of the hand and by so doing comes'in
contaet with the lins of marriage (k-k, Plate XYI.), the happiuess of the
marriage will be marred through the peeuliarities of the temperament. Such
subjects aro peculidrly exacting, and hard. to live with. ff on & mants harld,
that m&n would want as ma,ny virtues in a wifo as there are stars in the
universe.
TEE NING OF SATURN.
the Ring of Saturn
(Plate
XII.) is a mark very seld.om found, and is not a
good sign to have on the hand.
.
f have closely watched people possessing it,
and I have neveryet observed thatthey were in a.ny wey successful. It seems
to cut ofr the Mount of X'ate in such a peculiar way that such people never
112
MODIFICATIONS OF THE PRINCIPAL LINES.
Plate XX.
TIte Gi'rd,le of Tenu,s, the Rfug of Saturn, arorJ the I'ln'ee Bracelets. 113
gain any point that they may work for or tlesire. Their temperament has a
great deal-it may have everything-to do with this, as I always find these
people ftiU of big ideas and plans, but with such want of continuity of pur-
pose that they always gt"e up half-way. (See also Plate XXY.)
TEE THREE BRACELETS.
Tss braaeletp (Plate
XIII.) I do not eonsider of mueh importance in
reading the lines, or in the study of the hand. itself. There is, however, one
ettange and peculiar point with regard. to them, and one that I have
noticed contains a great deal of truth. f had been taught iu rny early life,
always to observe principally the position of the first bracelet, tho one near-
est the haud, and that when I saw it high on the wrist, almost rising irrto the
palrn, partioularly
whon it rose in the shape of an arch (man, Plate XVI.),
I was always to warn my consultant of weakness in relation to the in-
ternal orga,ns of the body-as, for insta,lree, in the bearing of children.
Afterwards in my life, when I took up this study in a more praetrcal way, I
found there was a great deal of truth in what I at first thought a superstition.
In later years, by watching ease after oase, by going through hospitals, and
from what my meny consultants have told me in referenee to their ailments,
f bave beoome convineed that this point deserves being reeorrled, and eon-
sequently f now gt,ru it for what it may be worth.
Another signifieance attaehed to the braeelets is that, if well and elearly
defined, they mea,n strong health and a robust eonstitution, and this again,
it is interesting to notice, bears out in & manner the point I have called
attention to.
CEAPTER XYT.
rEE iltNE OF MANBIACIE.
'What
matter if the words be said,
The licenge paid-they are not wed
1.
Unless love link each heart to heart,
tTwere
better keep thoso ttu.t
"n#lr*o.
Or the many books that have been written on oheiromancy,
I am borry to
say tbat almost all have ignored, or
lave
baroly notieed this naturally inter-
estiug and iqnoSant
point. I will therefore endeavor to groe a,s ma,ny
details as possible iq oonnection with this side of the study.
Tfhat is known &s th,e line or lines of marriage, a,s the case may be, is
that mark or mar.ks on the Mount of Mercury
as shown by Plate XIII. It
must be fust stated, and stated clearly, that the hand does not recognize the
mre fact of a eeremony, be it civil or religious-it merely registers the influ-
ence of difrerent people ovor our lives, what kind of influence they have had,
the efiect produced, and. all that is in accordance with suoh influence.
Noq
marriage being so important &n event in onets life, it follows that, if events
oan be foretold by the hand, marriage should certainly be darked, even years
in advance, and I have always found that such is the case in respect to all im-
portant influences
I
and it is also natural that afai,res cle cuwrrliai'sons, and so
on, e&n thus be singled out and divided from what is known as marriage,
excopt when tbe l,i,anson is
just
as important and the influence on the
life
just
as strong. IMhy there should be a. time set apart in onets life to marr$ or
not to marry, as the easo mey be, can only be answered by referring to the
other mysteries that surround us. If any one ca,n explain why a perma,nent
nagnet brought into an ordiuary room has the power to magn etize every
othor bit of iron in the room, what that pbwer is, and what the conneotion
114
The Li,ne of Marriage. 115
is, then he may be able to answer the question
;
but until all the secret
laws and forces
,of
nature are known, we can take no other standpoint
than to acoept these strange anomalies without having the power to answer
the cry of the curious, the perpetual, parrohlike
('
IMhy t
t
of the doubting,
The only theory I advanee is that, as the press of the finger on the tele-
grapb keyboard in New York at the sarne moment affects the keyboard in
London, so by the medium of the ether, which is more subtle than electricity,
&re all persons unconsciously in touch {rith and in communion with one
snother.
In studying this point of the subject, I wish to impress upon the student
that what are knowri as the lines of marriage must be balanced. by marks on
other portions of the hand, as f have showu by the influences by the side
of the iine of fate (Part II., Chapter XI.), and by the lines of influence by the
side of the line of life
(Part
II., Chapter V.).
'We
wili now proeeed. with tho marks in eonnection with these lines of
marriage on the Mount of Mercury
The line c.or lines of marria,ge may iise on the side of the hand. or be only
nrrarked ar:ross tho front of the Mouut of Mercury.
Onlythe lcng linosrelate to marriages (9, PLate XYIII.); the short oneg
tc deep afrection or marriage contemplatetl (tl, Plate XVIU.). On the line of
life or fate, if it be marriase, we will find it eorroborated and, information
giveu as to thechaugo in life, position,'&nd so on. From tle position of the
marriage-line on the Mount of Mercury a very fair idea of the age at the
time of,marriage ma,y also be obtained.
'When"
the importaut line is founcl lying close. to the line of heart, the
union will be early, about fourteen to twenty-one
;
near the eenter of the
mount, about twenty-one to twenty-eight; three quarters up the mount,
tweuty-eight to thirty-five; and so on. But the line of fate or the line of
Iife witl be more aeeurate, by groing almost the exiict date of the change or
influence.
A wealthy union is shown by a strong, well-marked line from the side of
the line of fate next Luna (fuh, Plate XX.), running up and.
joining
the line
of fate, when the marriageJine on Mercury is also well marked..
'TV'hen,
however, the line of influenee rises first straig\t on the Mount of
116 C'lteiro's Langu,age of the lIand.
Luna and
*then
runs up and ipto the fate-line, the marriage will be more tlre.
capricious fancy than real affection.
When the line of influence is strouger than the subjectts litre of l'ate, thern
the person the subjeet mamies will have greater power aud. moi'e iurtividuality
than the subject.'
fhe happiest mark of marriage on the line of fate is when the influence-
line lies elose to the fate-line and runs evenly with it (14, Plate XX.).
The line of marria,gie on the Mount bf Merqury shoultl be straight, with-
out breaks, crosses, or irregularities of any kind.
'When
it eurve.s or drops downward toward the line of heart, it foretells
that the person with whom the subject is married will die first (y', Plate XX.).
'TV'hen
the line curves upward, the possessor is not likely to marry at any
time.
'When
the line of marriage is distinct, but with fine hairJines dropping
from it toward the line of heart, it foretells trouble brought on by the illness
and bad health of the person the subject rnarries.
When the line droops with a small cross o\.'er the curve, the put'.oo lho
subject is married to will die by accitlent or suddeu deatli
;
but when there is
a, Iong, gradual curve, gradual ill health will cause the end.
When the line has an island in the center or at any portion, it denotes
some very great trouble in married life, and a separation while the island
lasts.
When the line divides at the end into a drooping fork sloping toward
the center of the hand, it tells of divorce or a
judicial
separation
(.i, Plate
XIX.). This is all the more certain if a fine line cross from it to the Plaiu
of Mars (bk, Plate XIX.).
lYhen the line is full of little islands and drooping lines, the subject
should be warnod. not to marry. Such a mark is a sign of the greatest un-
happiness.
"When
full of little island.s and forked, it is again a sign of unhappiness in
marriage.
'When
the line breaks in two, it denotes h sudden break in the married
life.
'When
the line of marriage send.s au. ofrshooi; on to the Mount of Sun
The Lii\e of Marriage.
117
and, into the line of sun, it teils that its possessor wilF marry some one of dis-
tinction, and generally e person in some way famous.
'When,
on the contrary, it goes tlown toward and cuts the lino of sunt
the person on whose hand it appears will lose position through mdrfiage (i-.i,,
Plate XXf.).
'When
a d.eop lind from the top of the mount grows downward and cuts
the line of marriage, there will be a great obstacle and
'opposition
to suclr
marriage
(d, FJate, XYIII.)-
'When
there is a fine line running parallel with an& almost touching tho
marriage-line, it tells of some deep afreetion..after marriage on the side
qf
the
person on whose hantl it appears.
It is not within my
irrovince
in this work on painristry to go deeply into
my opinions as to the laq.s relating to marriage, or to n:arriages as entered
into by men and women of tho present dav. It is alm<ist incredible rvhat ruen
and women have told me during tire pursuit oi tiiis stu,iy. They geherally
se)"r
{t
You ha,ve read so mnr:ir, yoo ma}' as well now know all,tt and so they
unravel the grou,test secrets of their heartq, The pahnjst:s litrrs are sealed, as
are tlose of the fa,ther confessor, tiut if he did slieak he would. tell that half
tho smiling faces are but masks rf gaiety to lLitle hearts of woe, thtrt half ihe
so*ealle,l. truths are faliehoods cloaked, that half the vaws are mockeries, and
that the greatest mockery of all is, alas I too oft'eit, that so-callecl cerenlony of
maniage. The Protestant Church allows its childt'en to be divorced if the
marriage has turned out unsuitabie, and yet the last words dinned rnto the
ears of the bride and britlegrooni al'e,'(Those whom God hath
joinerl
together,
let,no man put asunder." The Catholic Churchi equally incorisistent, wili not
even
lallow
the wretched pair to divorce an{ marrv again unless on cortain
special occasions through the'6 mediation of the pope,tt and on the otfier hand'
the divorce courts pour back into the coffers of the state that which is in reality
the blood.-mone5', of its eitizens. Ilow long, how long will this lip-servide de-
throne and crush the service of th*.' heart? How longwill this slaveryof eustom
degrade arid destroy the better nature, making men brutes and women beasts
of burden ? How lolg must rnen and women exist and live together beeauso
they have not the money to buy their freedom, or because of their tlread of that
torture-chamber of divorce t Men who were noble once, women who were
118 Checro's Language of the Hanil,.
queens of truth and souls of honor-how often do we see them, the hrrsbano
hating the wife, the wife fearing the husband, and outside of all and seeing
all, like the speetators in the a,rona, are the pale faces of the chiltlrep, the
reincantated ghosts of buried. faith, edging closer and closer to the scene, fear-
ing too much, loving too little, wrapping around them, closer than their very
garments, the cloak of parentst shame, going out into the world to deceive as
mother did, to drink as father did-goihg out into tbe world to d,o likowise.
Let men and. women, once and for all, read nature more and fietign less
I
let
them study ono another as they do the art of flattery or of eostume. Let them
merry, but if they make mistakes, give them a ehance of redeeming those
mistakes; give them ehildren, but teach them'to be responsible to those chil-
dren; preach
.not
good.ness for the sake of gairr, but goodness for the sako
of good
;
honor for honorts sake, truth
'for
truthts. And lastly, give them
prid.e, not in self-for they are servants-but in that part of life in which
they servo, that as they be sons of humanity and daughters of the world,
so may they live as helperp of the world. And so may th.ey be till the end
draws nigh, till the task is d.one, till the universe is finished, till the destiny
is spun.
CEAPTER XVII.
CEII,DRUN.
. . So oftto bear,
Throt early hours, throt later yearst
The story of a motherts teors
Or of a fatherts drunken eare.
Ah me ! how hard
To bear that load, that heavy crosst
To stagger on, a,nd, stumbling, fud
All life but death, all death but loss,
With or"os alone to virtue blind !
Cgntno.
To tell ncaulately the number of children one has hd, or is likely to
have, seems e
very wonderful thing to do, but it is not one bit more wonder-
fui th.a.n the details given by the main lines. fo do this, howeverr requires
mors ca,reful qtudy
than is usually given to the pursuit of cheiromancy.
Owing to the accurecy with whieh I have beeu eredited on this point, f
bave been largelSt r{rquested, in writing this book, to give a,s meny details as
permissiblo. I shall endeavor to rlo so in as eloar a, wey as possible, knowing
well the difficulties that lie in the way of a lucid explanation of such a poinL
In the first place, a thorough knowledge of all portions of the hand that
con touch on this must be acquired. For inst&nce, a person with a' veLY poor
development of the Mount of Yenus is not so likely at any time to have chil-
dren as th.e person with the mount full and large.
The lines relating to children a,re the fine upright lines fro4 the end
of the line of marriage, Sometimes these &re so fine that it requires a miero-
Bcope to make them out elearly, but in such a c&se it will be found that all
the lines of the hand are also faint. By the position of these lines, by tho
portion of the mount. they touoh, by their eppearance, and so onr one e&n
acaurately roake ortt whether such *Otlf." will play au importdnt
part in the
120 Chei,ro's Language of the Hand.
life of the subject or otherwise
;
if they will be delicate or strong; if they wiU
bo male or female.
The leading points with regard to these lines are as follows:
Broad lines denote males
I
fine, narrow lines, females.
When they are clearly marked they d.enote strong, healthy children
I
when
vely faint, if they are wavy lines, they are the revetse.
W-hen the flrst part of the line is a little island, the child will be very
delicate in its early life, but if the line is well marked farther it will even-
tually have good health.
'W'hen
ending at the island, death will be the result.
'When
one line is longer and superior to the rest, one child will be more
important to the parent than all the others.
The numbers run from the outside of the marria,geJine in toward. the
hand.
On a mants hand they are often
just
as clear as on a wornan's, l-rut in
such a case the man will be exeeptionally fond of chiltlrerr and will havd an
extt'emely affeetionate nature; as a rule, however, the womants hanrl shows the
mat'ks in a superior way, From these observations I think the student will
be able to proceed in his or her pursuit of other minute cletails which I can-
not go into here.
-
I
t'
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=/l
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I T
I I
I
I
ti
zi
e
MODIFICATIONS OF THE PRINCIPAL LINES
Plato XXI.
z4
illl!rtl
,
r
CHAPTEB XYI[.
TgE STAR.
Tsn star is a sign of very great importance, wherever it makes its appear-,
anoe on the hand. I do not at all hold that it is generally a danger, and one
from which there is no eseape; rather, on the contraryr l eonsider it, with one
or two exeeptions, a fortunate sign, and. one which naturally should depend
upon the portion of the hand, or the line, with rvhich it is connected.
-When
a star appears on the Mount of Jupiter, it has two distinct rl&n-
ings, according to its position.
'Whon
on the highest point of the mouut, on the face of t'he hand, it
promises great honor, power, and. position; ambition gratified, and thq ulti-
mate success and. triumph of the individual(na, Plate XIX).
With a strong fate, head, and sun line, there is almost no step in the
ladder of hr:man greatness that the subject will not reach, It is usually found
on the haud of a very ambitious man or woman, and in the pursuit of power and
position thero is probably no mark to equal it.
Its second position on the Mount of Jupiter is when it lies almost off the
mount, very low at its base, cutting the base of the first finger, or resting on
the side toward, the back of the hand. In this case it is,also the sign of a
most ambitious person, brit with this difrerence, that he will be brought in
contact with extremely distinguished people
;
but unless the rest crf the hand
be exeeptionally fine, it does not promise distinetion or power to the individual
himself.
TEE STAB ON TEE MOUNT OF SATUBN.
On the oenter of the Mount of Saturn it is a sign of some terrible fatality
(ra, Plate XIX.). ft again gives distinction, but a distiuction to be dreaded. It is
decidedly wrong to class this sign with the old idea of the mark of murder.
121
L22 Chei,ro's Language of the Hanil.
It really means that the subject will have some terribly fatalistie life, but that
of a man in every way a child of fate, a plaything of destiny; a man cast for
some terrible part in the dtama of life-he may be a Judas, or he may be a
Saviour, but all his work and life and career will have some dramatic and
terrible climax, some unrivaled brilliancy, some position rosplendent with the
majesty of death-a king for the moment, but crowned with doom.
The second position for the star on Saturn is that almost off the mount,
either at the side or cutting into the fingers. This, like the star on Jupiter,
denotes that the subject will be brought into contact with one of those who
make history, but in this case with one who gains distinction throu$h some
terrible fate.
TEE STAB ON TEE MOUNT OF THE SUN.
The star on the Mount of the Sun
(p, Plate XIX.) gives the brillianoy of
wealth and posi{ion, but, as a rule, without happiness. Such wealth has come
too late; the price has probably been too dearly paid. in the rsay of health, or
perhaps in peace of mind. Certain it is, however, that, though it gives great
riches, it never gives contentment or happiness.
'When
in this case by the
side of the mount, it denotes, like the others, that the subject will be broughi
in eontact with rich and wealthy people, without himself being rich in the
worldts
goods.
'When,
however, it is eonnected or formed by the iine of sun, it denotes
great fame and, celebrity, but through talent ancl work in art. It should, not.
be too high on the hand; a little above the midtlle of the line is its best posi-
tion, as in the case of Madame Sarah Bernhardt, an impression of whoso
hand will be found on Plate XXVII.).
TIIE STAB ON TIIE MOUNT OF MERCURY.
lfhe star in the center of tho Mount of Mercury
(4, Plate XIX.) clenotes.
brilliancy and success in scienee, business, or the power of eloquence, aceord.-
ing to the type of hand, and, as in tho foregoing examples, by the side of the
mount it denotes &ssociation with people distinguished in those walks of life.
The Star.
rHE STAB ON TIIE MOUNT OF MABS.
12&
The star on the Mount of Mars under Mercury
(y', Plate X\|III.)1 denotes'
that through patienee, resignation, and fortitude the gneatest honors will be
gained.
On the opposite side of the hand, the Mount of Mars under Jupiter, great
distinotion and celebrity will arise from a martial life, or a signal battle or
warfare in whioh the subject will be engaged.
TEE 81AR ON TEE UOUnf OF I/UNA.
The sta,r on the Mount of Luna (&, Plate XYIII.) is, aooording to my"
system, a sign of great celebr{ty arising from tho qualities of the mourit,
namely, through the imaginative faeulties. I do not hold thai it relates
to drowning, in accord.anee with other choiromants.
There is another me&n-
ing, however, to this sign, which may have given rise to this idea, ancl that.
is that when the line of head ends in a star on this mount the dreamy imag-
inative faculties will ruin the balance of the line of head, and the result.
will be insanity. Because this star has been foirnd so often on the hands of
suieides, it may have given rise to the former belief, but
people lose sight of
the faet that water for suicides is going out of fashion' In these days the
revolver or the overdose of morphine is much more in vogue.
TEE STAR ON TEE MOUNT OF VNNUS.
In the eenter or highest point of the Mount of Yenus (1, Plate XVIII.)
the star is once more successful and favorable, but this time in relation to the
a,frections and passions. On a mants hand. such a sign indieates extraordinary
suocess in all afrairs of love-the sa4e
gn a wontants hand. No
jealousies or
opposition will rob them of the spoils of conquest.
'Wlen
lyrng by tbe side of the mount, che amours of sueh a subject will
be with people distinguished for their sucoess in the aren& of love.
124 Cheiro's Language of the l{anil,.
TIIE STAN, ON THE FINGEIiS.
The star on the tips. or outer phalanges of the fingers gives great good.
fortune in anything touched. or attempted, and. on the first phalauge of the
thumb success through the subject's strength of will.
The star is one of the rnost important of the lesser signs to seek for.
In the foregoing lemarks it should bo borne in mind, that the iuclieations
denoted. by this important lesser sign must naturall)'be in keeping rvith the
teudencies shown by the general eharaeter of the hand. ft stands to reasott,
for instane.e, that the star could have little power or mealling on a hancl eon-
taining a weak, undevelopetl line of head. In dealing with this, as indeed
with every other portion of the study, it must bt unclerstood that horyever
clear the directions may be, it is irnpossible to dispense with the exercise of a
certain amouut of mentality aud diseretion on the part of the student.
CHAPTER, XIX.
TEE CBOSS.
Tsn cross is the opposite to the starl and is seld.om found &s a favorable
sigu. It indicates trouble, disappointment, danger, and sometimes a, change
in the pdsition or life, but one brought about by trouble. There is, however,
ono positiou in wl-iich it is a good sign to have it, namely, on the l\fount of
Jupiter (ra, Plate X?III.i" in this position it iudicates that at least one great
affection wiil come into thc liie. This is especially ihe case when tlre line of
fatu l'ires frorn ti:e Mount of Luna" A strange feature with this cross on
Jupiter is tirat it tieuotes i'oughly atrout tho time in life when the afrection
will infhrencc tiri; iuclivitlual.
"W'hen
closo to the comlnencement of the line
of iiie and toryarctr the side of ther liand, it will be eariy
;
on the.summit of the
mount,, in middle life
I
and down at the base, late in life.
On the Mount of Saturr
(n, Plate X\'/rIL), when toucbing the line of fate,
it tlenotes tlanger of violent death by accident
I
but when by ifself in the een-
tor of this mount, it increases" the evil, fatalistic tendencies of the life.
On the Mount of the Sun it is a terrible sign of disappointment in the
pursuit of fame, art, or riehes.
The ross on the llloirnt of Mereury, as a, rule, indieates a, dishonest
nature, and one inclined to duplicity.
On the Mount of Mars under Mercury it denotes the dangerous opposi-
tion of enemies
;
aud on the Mount of Mars uncl.or Jupiter force, violence, and
evu death from quarrels.
.
A cross on the Mount o{ the Moon under the line of head denotes a fatal
influenae of the imagina,tion. The man with such a sign will deaeive even
himself
(1,
Plate XYf.).
On the Mouut of Yenus, whbn heavily marked, it indioates some great
L25
L26 Cheoro's Language of the Hand'.
trial or fatal influence of afrection
;
but when very small and lying close to the
line of life, it tells of troubles and quarrels with near relatives.
A cross by the side of the line of fate, and between it and the lifeJine
in the Plain of Mars, denotes opposition in onets career by relatives, and means
a change in the destiny; but lying on the other side of the hand next to Luna
it relates to a disappointment in a
journey.
Above and touching the line of head, it foretells some wouncl or accident
to ths head.
By the side of the line of sun, disappointment in position.
Running into the line of fate, disappointment in money; and over tho
line of heart, the death of some loved one.
CHAPTNR XX.
THE seuinn.
Tsn square (Plate XY:) is one of the most interesting of the lesser signs.
It is usually ealled
{'tbe
mark of preservation,t'beeause it shows that the sub-
Jeot
is protected at that particular point from whatever danger menaeetl.
'When
the line of fate mns through a well-formecl square, it tlenotes one
of the greatest erises in the subjectts life in a worldly sellse, eonneeted with
financial disaster or loss, but if the line goes right on throtrgn the srluare all
danger will be averted. Even when the line of fate breal:s in the r:enter, the
square is still a sign of pfoteetion fi'om verl' serious loss.
IVhen outside the line, but only touching it, ancl directly untlet'the Mouni
of Satur:n, it deuotes preservatiiin from aeeideut.
When the line of head" runs through a rveli-formect sqttare, it is a sign
qf
strength ancl preservation to the brain itself, an,il tells of scrne terrible strain
of work or of anxiety at that particular moruent.
Slhen rising above the line of head under Saturn, it foretells a preserva-
tion fro,m some danger to the head.
'When
the lineiof heart runs through a square, it denotes some heavy
trouble brpught on by the afreetions. When under Saturn, some fatality to
the object of one's afrection (7; Plate XXI.).
'When
tho life-line passes through a square, it denotes a proteetion from
'death,
even if the line be broken at that point (k, Plate XXI.).
A square on the Mount of Yenus inside the line of life denotes preser-
vation from trouble brought on by the passions
Q;
Plate XXI.).
'When
resting in the center of tho Mount of \renusn it tells that the subjeet will
fall into all kinds of danger through passion, but will always manage to
oscape.
'TV'hen,
however, lying outside the line of life and touehing it from the
L27
f28 Chei,ro's Language of the Hand.
Plain of Mars, e square in such a place moans imprisonment or seclusion from
the world.
'When
on the mounts the square denotes a protection from any exeess
arising through the qualities of the mount:
On Jupiter,
from
the ambition of the subjeet.
On Saturn, from the fatality that shad.ows the life.
On the Sun, from the desire for fame.
On Mercuryr from the restless, mercurial temperament
On Mars, from danger through enemies.
On Luua, from an exoess of imagination, or froil the evil efreots of some
other line, as, for instanoe, a line of travel.
n
I'i
c 1
IIODIFICATIONS OF THE PRINCIPAL LINES.
I
I
Plate XXII.
CHAPTER, XXI.
TEE TSLAND, TgE CTBCLE, TIrE SPOT.
Tstr island is uot a fot'tunate sign, but it only relates to the line or pclr-
tion of the hand on whieh it is foun,i[. It is interesting to notice that it
frequent}y relates to hereditary evils
i ?sr
for instance, heavily marked on the
lirre of heart it denotes heart-disease inherited.
When ds one distinct mark in the center r''f the line of head, it denotes an
hereditary weakness in relation to pentality.
I[hen on the line of life, it denotes illness ard deliceey at that particular
poiut"
When on the line of fate, some hear'1'loss in worl.llv: rnatiers.
When on the linei of sun, it foretells loss c;f positit,n and liame, generally
through scandal (0, Piate XXI.).
'When
on the iine of health, it i'oreshadows a serious illness.
Any line running into or forming au islautl is a bad indir:ation in relation
to the part of the hand on which it is found.
An attendant line on the Mount of Yenus running into an island foret'ells
disgrace and trouble from passion to tho man or woman who influonces the
life (p, Plate XVIII.).
A line forming an island and crossing {ho hand from the Motrnt of Yenus
,
to t,he line of marriage foretells that an evil inffuenee at that partieular point
will cross the life and bring disgrace to the marriage (r, Plate X\TII.). If the
seme' kind of lino run to the line of heart, some bad influenco will bring
trouble and disgrace to the afrections
I
when it runs to tho line of head, some
influenoe will direct tho talents and intentions into some disgraceful chan-
nel; and when it runs into aud bars the lino of fate, solne evil influence
will be a ban'i.er to the suecess of the subject at the date at which the lines
join
each other.
129
130 Chei,ro's Language of the Hand,.
An islaud on any of the mounts injures the qualities of the mount on
which it is found.
On the Mount of Jupiter it weakens the pride and ambition.
On Saturn it briugs misfortune to the subject.
On tbe Mount of the Sun it weakens the talent for art.
On Mercury it makes a person too changeable to succeed, partioularly iu
anything in relation to business or seienee.
"On Mars it shows a wedk spirit and cowardiee.
On Luna, weakness.in working out the power of the imagination.
On Yenus, e person easily led and influenoed, by the sport of fancy and
passion (Ic, Plate XX.).
THE CIRCLE.
If
,,found
on the Mount of the Sun, the eircle is a fa,vorable m&rk. This
is the only position in which it is fortunato. On any other mount it tells
against the success of the subject;
On thp Mount of Luna it denotes danger from drowning.
'When
touching any important line, it indicates that at that particular
point the subject will not be able to clear himself from misfortune-in other
words, ho will, as it .wore, go round and round in a circle without being ablq
to break through and get free.
TEE SPOT.
A spot is generally the sign of temporary illness.
A bright-red spot on the line of heid indicates a shock or injury from
some blow or fall.
A black or blue spot denotes a neryous illness.
A bright-red spot on the line of heatth is usually taken to mean fever,
and on the line of life som'e illness of the naturo of fever.
CHAPTER
XXTT.
rHD cBrrJ/E, TEE TBrlrNGLE,
(t
r,a cnorx Mygrtqunr' TEE BrNG oF sot oMoN.
Tnn
Srilte
(Ptate XV.) is very often seen, and generally upon the mounts
of the hand". It indicates obstaoles against the sueeess of that particular
mount, and especially me&ns that those obstacles a,re brought on by the ten-
deneies of the subject in accord.aneo with that portion of the hand in which it
is found.
On the Mount of Jupiter it denotes egotisrn, pride, and the dominative
spirit.
0n tbe Mouni of Saturn it foretells misfortune, & melahchoiy nature, and
a morbid tendenr:y.
On the Mount of the Sun it tells of
'vanity,
folly, and a desire for
colebrity.
O:r the Mount of Mercury it denotes an unstable and rather unprincipled
person.
On tbe Mount of Luna it foretells restlessness, discontent, and. dis-
quietude.
On the Mount of Yenus, eaprieo in passion.
TEE TNIANGLE.
The triangle (Plato XY.) is a eurious sign, and is often found clear and
distinet, and. not formed by the chance erossing of lines.
Tlhon distinct in shape on the Mount of Jupiter, it promises more than
{rsual success in the management of people, in the handling of men, ahd even
in the organization of everyduy a,frairs.
On the Mount of Saturn it gives a talent sud inclination for mystical
work, for the delving into the oceult, for the study of human magnetism, aud
so forth.
131
132
On
a calm
people,
On the Mount of Mereury it checks
Euocoss in relation to business or money.
On the lllount of Mars it gives science
erisis, aud presenee of mind, il clanger'.
On the }fount of Luna it tells of a scientific method irr follorvirrg out the.
idoas of the inaagination.
On the Mount of \renus, ealmness anrl eAlculation iu lor-e, thc power of
restraint and eontrol o\rer s.elf.
The tripod or spear-hearl (Plate XV.) is an exeellent sign of success on
eny mouut on which it is found.
t,,A cRorx MYsttqttE.tt
This strange mark has usually for its domain the eenter c,f the quad-
rangle (r, Plate
XIX.),
but it mey be found at either its upper or lower ex-
trsrnities. It may be formed. by the line of fate aud a line frorn tho heatl to
the heart, or it may lie as a distiuet mark without eonneetion with any otirer
rnain line.
It denotes nnystieism, occultism, and superstition.
These three qualities are widely apart in themselves, although often eon-
founded, and. the position this mark takes on tho hautl is therefore very
important.
'TV'hen
high up on the hand toward Jupiter, it will give the belief in
mysticism for onets own life, but not the desiro to follow it farther than
where it relates to self. Sueh people want their fortunes told, actuated moro
by euriosity to know how their own ambitions will turn out than by the
deeper interest that the stutly involves for its own sake.
When the
6(
Croix Mystique
t'
is more closely connected. with the line of
heart than with that of head, it gives a superstitious nature, and this even
more so when it is marked ovcr the center of the head-line, when that
line takes a sharp curve downward. It nust be remembered that the length
Clrciro's Language of tlrc lfantl.
the }Iount of the Sun it denotes a practical application of art and
demeanor towarcl suceess and fame. Celebrity will never spoil such
its restless qualities, and promises
in warfare, great ealmness in any
The Grille, Tlte I\"iartgle,
('.La,
Croh Jlfystigter" l'ltt llittyl a,,t' fiolonturr. 13if
of the liub of head has much to tlo with this. The verf short line utith the
cross over it will
be
a throusarrd times more superstitiorts than the lorrg one.
The long one will be the greatest fol oc:cnltism, aud palticularly so if thr:
t'Croix
Mystique
tt
is an indepenclent foruration on the line of iteatl"
'When
it touches the fateJine, or is formed hf it..the lor'6 of thr: rn-vst,ic
will influenee the entire career.
TEE RING OF SOLOIITON.
The Bing of Solomon (Plate XII.) is a sigu that ilso clenotes the love of
the occult, but in tbis case it shows more the porver of the tnaster, the aclept,
tban the mere lovd of the mystic denoted by
"
La Croix }fystitlue."
CHAPTEB XXI[.
EANDS COYERED WITH LINDS-THE COLON OF TEE PALM.
'Wnnr
the entire hand is covered with a multitude of fine lines like a net
spreading over its surfaee, it tells that the nature is intensely nervous and,
sensitive, but one that will be contitto"tty disturbed and worried by little
thoughts and troubles that would be of no importance whatever to others.
This is particularly so if the palm be soft-sueh people imagine all sorts
of ihings in the way of ailments and troubles
;
but if the palm of the hand. be
harC and firm, it denotes an
'energetie,
excitable nature, but one tbat is far
more suecessful for other people than for self.
SMOGTII HA-NDS.
Yery smooth hands with few lines belong to people calm in temperament
and even in disposition. They seldom if ever worry
;
they rarely lose temper,
but when they do they know the reasou why. This is again modified by the
palm being hard or soft.
'When
firm, it is a greater sign of control and calm-
ness than when soft. In the latter ca,se it is not so much a mattei of control
as of indifference: the subject wilt not take sufficient interest to lose temper
-that
woultl be too much of an exertion.
TEE SKIN.
'When
the palm of the hand is covered naturally with d very fine light
skin, the subject will retain the buoya,ncy and temperament of youth mueh
longer than the person with & coarse skin. This is of course mueh affeeted by
work, but I am speaking of cases whero little labor or manual work is done
;
yet even where there is manual work this can still be observed by the ritlges
134
'
Hands Cot:ered, with Lines-The Color of the Palm. 135
of the skid. It has been proved that even as regards this point no two hands
are ever alike; consequently, while work may thicken the cuticle, its indivitl-
uality remains the same.
TEE COLOB OF THE PALM.
The color of the palm is far more important than the color of the outsid.e
of the hands. This at first sight appears strange, but a little observation
will prove its truth.
The palm of the han,il is under the immediatd eontrol and action of the
n'erves and of the nerve-fluid. Aeeording to scientists, there are more nerves
in the hand than in any other portio4 of the body, and, again, more in the
palm than in any obher portiou of the hand. As regards the rrerve-fluid, Aber-
crombie, in his work published in London in 1838, states that
6'the
communi-
cation of preeeption from the senses to the mind has been accounted for by the
motions of the nervous fluid, a srbtle essence resembling electricity or galvan-
ism.' It therefore follows that this subtle essenee must afreet the palm more
than any other portion of the bod.y. There is eiery reason, therefore, why the
color of the palm shoulcl be of more importanee thau that of the back of the
hand.
It wili ire found that almost every palm has a distinct color and can be
classed as follows:
When pale o" i,l-ost white in color, the subject will take very little
iuterest in anything outsitle of himself-in other words, he will be selfish,
egotistical, and unsympathetic.
l[4ren the palm is yellorvish in eolor, the subject will be morbid, melan-
choly, and morose.
'When
a delicate pink, the nature is sanguine, hopeful, and bright; and
when vory red, robust in health and spirits, ardent, passionato, and quick-
tempered.
CEAPTER,
XXIV.
TEE GREAT TRIANGLE AND TEE
QUADRANGLE.
'Wser
is called the great triangle, or the Triangle of Mars, is formecl by
the lines of life, head, and the hepatica
(Plate xxII.).
'When,
as is very frequently the case, the line of health is altogcther
absent,
its place must be filled by an irnaginarl' lirre to fortn the base of the
triangle,
or (as is often found) the lirre of sun forrns the base
(u-o,I'late XXII.).
This latter is by far the greatest sign of porver and success,
althorigh itre
subject
will not be so brtiarl-rnindetl ancl liberal ars wltett tiie
irase of the tri-
angle is formed by the line of ]realth'
The shape antl positions of the great triangle must be consitleled
hy them-
selves,
although it contains the upper, tlie miclclie, and the lower angle, which
three
points will be dealt with later.
When the triangle is well formed. by the lines of head, life, ancl health' it
should
be broad. and. inclose the entire Plain of l\Iats. In sucli e&se it denotes
breadth of views, Iiberality and generosity of spir:it; sue,h a person will be in-
clined to sacrifice
himself to further the interests of the whole, rtot the unit.
If, on the contrary, it is formed by three small,
wavy' uucertain
lines, it
denotes timidity of spirit, me&nness, ancl cowardiee.
such a man would al ways
go with the majority even against his prirrciples.
'When
i1 the second formation
of the triangle it has for its base the liile of
sun, the subject will then have narrow itleas but great individuality
and
strong resolution. Such a sign, frorn the very
qualities it exhibits, contains
within itself the seeds of worldly success'
THE IIPPER ANGI]E.
The upper angle
(b,
plate
XXII.) is formed by the lines of head and lifo-
This angle should be elear, well pointed, ancl. even. such will indieate refine-
ment of thought and mind, and delicacy toward others'
136
The Great Tri,angle aruI tlte
Quadrangle.
137
'When
very obtuse, it denotes a dull matter-of-fact intellect with little
delicacy and feeling and a very sunall appreciation of art or of artistic ttrings
or people.
'When
extrertely wido and obtuse, it gives a blunt, hasty temper, a person
who rvill continually ofrend people. It also tlenotes iurpatieuce and want of
application in study.
TIIE ITIDDLE ANGLE.
The middle angle is forrned by the line of head and that of health (c, Plate
XXII.). ff clear and well defined, it clenotes cluick!]{iss of intellec:t, vivacity,
and. gootl. health.
'When
very acute, it denotes a painfulll' ririrvous ternpet'ament and bad
health.
When very obtuse, dullness of iutelligence anrl a matter-of-fact methotl
of working.
TITE LOWEI1 AIGLE.
The lower angle (d, Plate XXII.), when r.elf acute antl tnade b1'the hepa-
tioa, denotes feebleness, and, littleness of spirit
I
rvheu ohtuse, it tleuotes a
strong nature.
'!V'hen
made by the line of sun and very acute, it gives individuality, but
a narrow viow of tbings; when obtuse, it gives a broader and rnore generous
mind.
THE
QUADBANGLE.
The quadrangle, as its name implies, is that quadrangular space between
tho linos of head and heart (Plate XXIL).
It
Should
be even in shape, wide at both encls, but uot nan'ow at the
center. Its interior should be smooth and not crossed with many lines,
whether from the heatl or from the heart. When marked in this rilraYr it in-
dicates eveilness of mind, power of intelleet, and loyalty in frienclship br
afrection.
This space represents within itself the mants disposition towarcl his fel-
lows.
'When
excessively narrow, it shows narrow ideas, smallness of thought,
and bigotrR but more in regard to religion and morals, whereas the triangle
Chei,rots Longuage of the Hand,.
denotes conservatism as regards work and occupation. With religious people
this is a remarkable sign, the hand of the bigot always having this space ex-
tremely narrow.
On the other hand, the space must not be too wide.
'When
it is, the
subjectts views of religion and morals will be too broad for his own good.
'When
this spaco narrows so much in the center that it has the appear-
ance of a waist, it denotes prejudice and injustice.. Again, the t'wo ends
should be fairly equally balanced. W'hen much wider under the Mount of
the Sun than Saturn, the person is careless about his name, position, or repu-
tation. The opposite of this is shown when the space is narrow. It is in
such a case a sign of intense anxiety as to the opinion of other people-
what the world thinks, and what one must do to keep up onets reputation.
'When
excessively wide und.er Saturn or Jupiter and. narrower at the
other end., it denotes that the subject will change from the generosity of his
views and broadness of mind to become narrow and prejudiced.
When the quadranglo is abnormall5r wide in its entire length, it denotes
want of order in the brain, carelessness of thought and ideas, an unconven-
tional nature, and one imprudent in every way.
IVhen the quadrangle is smooth and free from little lines, it denotes a
calm temperament.
'When
very full of little lines and. crosses, the nature is restless and
irritable.
A star in any portion of the quadrangle is an excellent sign, particularly
if it be under some favorable mount.
Ifnder Jupiter it promises pride and power.
Und.er Saturn, success in worldly matters.
Und.er the Mount of
,
the Sun, success in fame and position through art
I
and between the Sun and Mercury, success in scienee d,nd. research.
CHAPIER XXY.
TBAYEL, \',OYAGEST AND ACCIDENTS.
Tsnnn are two distinct wa,ys of tellirrg
lt'avels
aud voyages. One is from
the heavy lines on the faee of the lllount of Luna; thg other, from the little
hair-lines that leave the line of life but travel on with it (j,Plate XXII.). ftris
indication is similar to that of the line of life dividing in the hand: if one
brBneh.goes around Yenus, the other proceeding to the base of the Mount of
Luna, it foretells thai the subject $'ill make sorne great change from his
native'laricl to another. It thereforo follows ,that the
journeys
t6ld by the
chango in ttre line of life,are farmore important than the lines oo Luna,
which relato more to the minor ehanges or travels of. the subject. It is some-
tinaes found that long lines extend. from thv ra,scette, or first bracelet (Plate
XXil.), and rise into theMount of Luna. These are similar to the travel-lines on
Luna, but much more important.
'When
the line of fate shows a considerable
and beneficial change at the same point, then these lines are prosperous and
fortunate.
'W'hen,
however, the linb of fate does not show any qdvantago
gained at the s&me point, the subject will not improve, to any great extent, in
worldly matters by the change.
'When
such a
journey-line
ends with a small cross, the
journey
will end,
in disappointment (e-e,.Plate XXII.).
'When
the travel-line ends in a square, it denotes danger from the
journey,
bo.t the subjeet will be protected.
'When
the line ends with an island, no matter how small, the
journey
will result in loss (l Plate XXII.).
On the Mount of Luna the ascendant lines from tbe rascette arc the most
beneficial.
'When
the line crosses the hand and. enters the Mount of Jupiter, great
139
140 Chei,ro's Language of the Hand,.
position and power will be gained by it, and the
journey
will also be ex.
tremely long.
W'hen the travelline runs to the Mount of Saturn, some fatality will
govern the entire
journey.
When it runs to the Mount of the Sun, it is most favorable, and promises
riches and celebrity.
When it reaches the Mount of Mereuryr sudden and unexpected, wealth
will arise from it.
'When
the horizontal lines ou Luna cross the face of the mount and reach
the line of fate, the
journeys
will be longer and more irnportant than thosc
indice,ted by the short, heavy lines also on tha,t mount, though they rnay not
relate to a change of country (g*5, Flate XXII.).
\Yhen they enter the line of fate and ascend with it, they denote travels
that will materially benefit the subject.
When the end of an"v cf these horizonta'!. lines droop or curva downward
toward tho wrist, the
jourue-v
will be unfortnnate
(k, Plaie XXIL).
''When
they rise upward, no matter how short, it will be suecessful.
'When
one of these lines crosses another, sueh a
journey wili be repeated,
but for sotue important reason.
Any square on sucir a line will show dauger, but protectiotr from acci-
dent or rnisfortune.
If the travel-line runs into the line of head. and eauses & spot, island, or
break, it foretells some danger to the head, or some malady arising from such a
journey (h-h, Plate XXII.).
ACCIDENTg.
I have alluded to accidents considerably in my treatment of the line of
travel and in relation to travel, bu.t disasters are moro marked on the line of
life and line of head than at any other point.
In the first place, the accident marked. to tho line of life denotes a more
immediate danger of death, as follows :
'When,
from an island on Saturn, a lino falls downward and enters the
lifeJine, serious, if not fatal, danger is indicated.(i4, Plate XXII.).
'When
such a line ends by a small cross, either on the line of lifd or with-
Traael, Toyages, and, Acci'cl,e;nts.
141
out it, it tells that the su6jeet will have Bome n&mo\r ssoape from serious
accident.
T[hen the same mark ocours lower down, at the base of the Mount of
Saturn, the accident will result more from animals than from other causes.
Any straight line from Saturn to the life-line means danger of some kindt
but not so serious as from a line possessing the island either on Saturn or
lower d.ow:n.
To.the liiie of head exactly the
"same
rules applY, with this difrerence'
that the danger will be direct to the head itself, but unless the aeeident
line
cut or break the headline thp dahger does not signify death as much as when
marked on the line of life : it denotes, as it were, thai the
person has time to
foresee the dangers that approach, and sueh a mark indicates a fright and
shook to the brain, but no serious results unless the line is injured cir broken.
CHAPTER XX\N.
TIME
-THE
SYSTEM OF SEVEN.
Iu *y own work I use a system as regards time and dates whiah I have
nover found mentioned elsowhere. It is one which I eonsider exceptionally
accurate, and I therefore recommend. it to the student.for his or her eon-
sideration. It is the systom of seven, and f advance it as being taught by
nature in all her mysterious dealings with life.
In the first placo, we fiud from a medical and scientific stand.point the
seven e most important point of caleulation.
'W'e
find that the entire system
undergoes a eomplete chango every seven yea,rs; that there &re seven stages
of ths prenatal existence; that tbe brain takes seven forms beforo it takes
upon itself
t{
the unique character of the human brain
'1
and so forth. Again,
wo find. that in all eges the number seven has played. a most important part
in the history of the world
i
esr for instance, tho seven races of humanity, tho
sven wonders of the world, the seven altars to the seven gods of the seven
planets, the seveu days of the week, the seven colors, the seven minerals, the
suppositiop of the seven senses, the threo parts of the body each coutaining
soven sections, and the seven divisious of the world. Again, in the Bible
sovsn is the most inrportant number; but it is superfluous to grve further
detaiis. The point that bears most largely on this subject is that of the
entire system uudergoing a ehaugo every sevon ye&rs. My own observation
leads me to also ad vanee (simply for the eonsideration of the student) the
theory that the alternate sevens &re somewhat alike in their relation to the
functional changes of the body. For example, a child very delicate on pass-
ing the age of seven is also likely to be delicate on passing the age of twenty-
ono, whereas a child healthy and strong at the age of seven will again be
healthy and strong at twenty-on, no matter how delieate he or she may be
through the intermediate years. This is an interesting point in predietions
r42
' Itl xx
el qd
.N!INi IS
CO NAISAS
gHI_ANII
--.t-
-'..----/
-=?d41-
' \.-
(
-/
-/-
Time-The System of Seven. 143
relating to health, and one which I have found not only interesting b\i\. ex-
tremely reliable. Every line on the hand can be divided into sections giving
dates with more or less accuracy. The most important lines, however, and
those usually consulted in reference to dates, are those of life. and fate. In
Plate XXIII. it will be noticed that I haTe divided the line of fate into three
great divisions, narnely, twenty-oue, thirty-five, and forty-nine'} ana if the
student will keep this in mind he will more easily tin in Hw subdivisions on
the human hand itself. The point, however, which I cannot impress too
strongly is, that the student raust notice the or type of hand before
proceeding or attempting to nlake the slnallest caleulation. It stand'S to
reason that there must be the grea.test, dift\;renee betwern the (Jates by
the palm of the square or spa1 ulate hand and thnt of fIll' psyeldc. Ii
the student win bear this in he "tvill reduce ,)1' Ids seale in ac-
cordanee with the length of the palin. To di\-i;le tlte lilWf-': illto
sections as illustrated will he f011nd the simplest the wost aecurate plan
that the student can pursup,
When, in the calculation of dates, the of aiHl thr line of fat.e are
used together, it will be found tllst they corroheratf" another and give
accuracy as to the events. It is th81'ofore not ilifficu.lt, after a, little practice,
to give a date as to when an illness or an event took place, or when sueh and
such a thing will happen. Practice gives perfection in all j let not the
student be discouraged, therefore. if at first he finds difl1culty in dividing the
lines into divisions and subdivisions.
PART lII.-ILLUSTRATIVE TYPES.
CHAPTER I.
A FEW WORDS ON SUICIDE.
I WILL now deal with a few illustrative types to help the student in the
congregation of lines, signs, and formations that go to form each individual
character. It is seldom, if ever, that one distinct mark or peculiarity has the
power to ruin or blight anyone nature. An evil or dangerous sign as re-
gards character merely shows the particular tendency in this or that direction.
It takes a variety of wheels to make a watch: so does it take a" variety of
characteristics to make a criminal or a saint. The type bearing the disposi-
tion toward suicide is a very striking example of this. But before I go
farther I would like to make a few remarks as to the subject of suicide itself.
In every town in which I may reside, an establishment which has consider-
able interest for me is that strange temple of death, the morgue. Why not f
If one in any sense studies life, he should study ii to the borders of that
"undiscovered country, from whose bourn no traveler returns." The semi-
barbarous, semi-human idea that by such an act the suicide has made hilll or
her self an outcast, not only to this world, but to the next, cannot be too
highly condemned. Even in this so-called enlightened age I have oeen
clergymen refuse to attend the grave. In some countries I have seen the
body of the suicide dug up in the dead of night and buried in the sand of
the sea-shore, or, worse still, thrown over the cliffs into the sea. It is not
the treatment to the corpse that I raise my voice against-the dead feel noth-
ing, the corpse is clay-it is the brutality of the living that makes me speak.
People who lightly consider this matter are apt to say that such things do
144
A Few Words on Suicide. 145
.not exist nowadays-but do they not f During my stay in England in
1893, four cases came to my notice, and even in New York in 1894, in the
case of a well-known actress, it was almost impossible to get any clergy-
man te say a few \Yords over the grave.
I must \lay considerable stress on this point of Suicide, even if I am
severely criticized for Iny what would be the good of attempting
to analyze life if one did not state his opinions freely and without reservef I
know I shall be criticized for saying that I have not found that it is weak-
minded people who generally commit suicide. On the contrary, I have
rnerely found that they belong to a different class of nlentality from
who prefer to hang on to the skirts of life. through misery and misfortune.
It is preposterous that we should set up any narrow lines of what is right or
what is wrong, knowing as we do that we are, and always have been, in
complete ignorance of the laws governing life, from the birth of the child to
the development of the individual. What seems right to one may be utterly
wrong to another, according to the mental vision which decides our conduct.
There is a well-known disease whica. affects the senses in" such a way that the
of a peneil in the same room sounds to the sufferer like the rum-
ble of a. mail-cart, whiW the striking of a match seems more dazzling than
a flash of lightning. In the same way the mind, under pressure of desire,
of sorrow, or of may become more keenly sensitive to "the slings
and arrOW3 of outrageous fortune." Why, then, should we judge and mea-
sure and condemn such people, simply because we do not all see with their
eyes, hear with their ears, and understand with their understanding f
.
I must also take exception to the every-day phrase of the jury-" Com-
mitted euicide while of unsou"nd mind," as used in reference to all people,
whether evidence is given to prove insanity or not. The idea that because an
individual commits suicide he must necessarily be insane, is on the face of it
absurd, as it has often been demonstrated that the most marvelous reason
and logic have been used to balance every side of the question before the in-
di vidual has come to the conclusion that in his particular case the search for
death was the noblest t.hing in life. I have known suicides to show the
est possible courage, the strongest fortitude, and the greatest will in facing
that mighty angel of mystery whom, all their life long, they have been taught
146 Cheiro's Langua,qe oj the Hand.
to avoid and dread. I have known the most noble deeds of silent martyrdom
performed by those who afterward would scarce receive Christian burial. I
have known not a few eases of persons sutrering from an incurable disease
ending life afew months sooner-and why f Not because of the agony they
suffered, but because they were causing their children to suffer, and burden-
ing them with expenditure which they could not afford; and yet I have been
told that such a person eould have no part or lot in that kingdom of peace,
be it rest or be it life, which lies beyond the silence of the Is it man,
or ghoul, 01 devil, I ask, who has thus the presumption to dictate to man the
wishes or the judgluents of that which is Almighty f 'Vhat Ulan alnong the
mortals of the earth has the elect himself the nlouthpiece of the OU1-
nipotent and the Unkuown 1 How Hlany poor suicides has this relic of
barbarianism condemned to the everlastin"g torment of the spirit How.
many mothers has this fetishisln broken beneath the wheels of its Jugger-
naut f How Inany sisters have cried and sobbed beneath the darkness of the
night t How nlany brothers have raised defiant eyes to heaven that such
a thing could be
Alas! thou great Spirit of life, of death, of all that is, of all. that will
be, we know not thy nanw, thy being, thy creation, or the ultimate purpose
for which thou hast endowed man and shaped luan in the carrying out of
thy design. As we are nothing, forgive us all things; as we ask for nothing,
give us but what we need; and as we be nothing, be thou to us the all-
'#11fficient, the life, the death, the eternal of the soul.
CHAPTER II.
THE .PECULIARITIES OF HANDS WHICH SHOW A SUICIDAL TENDENCY.
THE hand is genm-ally long, with a sloping line of hearl, and a developed
Mount of Luna, particularly toward its base. The line of head is also very
much connected with the line of life, and so increases the vely sensi-
tive nature of the subject. In such a case the individual would Hot naturally
be morbid or even show the inclination for suicide, but the nature is so
sensitive and so imaginative that any trouble, grief, or scandal is intensified a
thousandfold, and to kill or injure self gives the peculiar satisfaction of self-
martyrdom to such a type, as exemplified by Plate XXV.
The same indications being found in connection with a well-(leveloped
Mount of Saturn will give the tho!'oughly sensitive, 11lOrhi(1 uaiul'e; an in-
dividual who will determinedly come to tlw conclusion that, life uuder any
circumstances is not worth living-so the slightest provocation by trouble or
disappointment causes him to quietly and resignedly fly to that last
which he has cherished and thought of for so long.
.The excessively drooping line of head (Plate XXV.) on a pointed or
conic hand denotes the same result, but only througti the sudden bnpulse that
is characteristic of the nature. To such a person a shock or trouble is all-
sufficient to impart the impulse to the excitable dispositioll, and before there
is time to think, the deed is done.
The opposite of this excitability is shown ill the case of the subject's com-
mitting suicide when the line of head is not abnormally slopi-ng. Such a
person, h?wever, will have the line closely connected with the line of life, a
depressed Mount of Jupiter, and a very fully developed Saturn. Such a sub-
ject will feel the disappointments of life unusually keenly; he will as well
have a melancholy and gloomy turn of mind; he will, however, be logical in
wAighing every side of the question for life apd death, and if he arrives at the
147
'Cheiro's Langua,qe of the Hand.
conclusion that the game is 'up and the battle over as far as he is concerned,
he will, in a ~ t reasonable and sensible manner, according to his stand-
point, proceed to put an end to all misfortunes. What such a person will
suffer before be arrives at this conclusion it is scarcely po.ssible to estimate.
We are all so wrapped up in our own interests and affairs that we hardly see
or notice the pale, WOl'll face that has suffered so patiently, the hollow eyes of
wakeful nights, the wasted cheeks of huuger, that appear for a moment by
our side, aud are gone forever.
CHAPTER Ill.
PROPENSITIES FOR MURDER.
MURDER can be divided into a great many different classes. What the
hand principally recognizes is that of the abnormal tendency toward crime,
the class of crime itself being traced by the type of hand in respect to the
inclinations of the subject. That some people have a natural predilection
toward murder cannot, I think, be doubted. There are born criminals as
well as born saints. It depends upon the development of the ,vill, in keeping
with the surroundings and circumstances, whether the criminal tendencies
will be developed or not. The destructive tendency as exhibited by children
does not denote their want of sense, but the innate 8ense of destruction
before it has been curbed by the fear of consequences, by the will, or the sur-
roundings that are brought to bear upon the nature. Some people born into
the world have this propensity more developed than others; the slightest flaw
in their surroun.dings being responsible for the after-.evolution of the criminal.
Again, I do net hold that to be criminal, in giving way to passion, to tempta-
tion, is to be weak-minded. On the contrary, crime can only be considered
in relation to the individual. What is temptation to one is not temptation to
I do not hold that because of such things crime should go un-
punished; on the" contrary, must be dealt with for the protection of
the community: but what I do hold is, that crime should be punished in ac-
cordance with the individual and not in accordance with the crime. A
familiar instance is futnished in the case of a boy tried for theft in NewYork
in March, 1894. He was proved guilty of stealing a loaf of bread, and sen-
tenced to fourteen years' imprisonment.
It therefore follows that in the study of crime one must place one's self
as far as possible in the position of the criminal. (It is astonishing how
149
150 Propensities for JJfurder.
many different expressions one finds in -the face of a picture fro.m different
points of view.)
As regards the hana, it divides murder into three very distinct classes:
1st. The murderer made so by the instinct to kill, as exhibited in the
brute creation, through passion, fury, or revenge.
2d. The murderer "made so by the greed of gain; the nature that will
stop at nothing in order t6 gratify the covetous tendency.
3d. The utterly heartless disposition which feeds on the sufferings of
others; the nature that will even live .)n friendly terms with the victim-the
one that will, as it were, deal out death in drops of honey; the person who
cannot be touched by the longingsAor life exhibited by the sufferer, and who,
though keenly alive to the danger, feels in that danger a sense of delight, and,
with utter iack of moral consciousness, takes more pleasure in such work than
in the gain it brings.
-The first class is very ordinary. The" man or woman becomes a mur-
derer by circumstances. Such an individual may be thoroughly good-
natured and kind-hearted, but sorne provocation excites the blind fury of the
animal nature, and the deed is done, such a one is generally crushed
and broken by remorse.
In such cases the hand shows no bad sign more than ungovernable tem-
per and br,ute It is, in fact, the elementary hand, or a near approach
to it. The line of head is thick, and red, the nails short and red, and
the hand heavy and coarRe. The. most remarkable characteristic, however, _
will be the thumb. The thumb will be set very loW on the hand; it will be
short and thick in the second phalange, and the first phalange will be what is
"the clubbed thumb" (Plate VIII.), very short, broad, and square": this
is found almost without exception in such types. If in such cases the Mount
of Venus is- also abnormally large, sexual passion will be tbe destroyer; when
Dot unusually developed, the greatest failintt will be that of ungdvernable
temper.
In the second class none of these' points will, be abnormal; the most
striking peculiarity will 'be the line of head, which will be heavily marked,
but with a decided growth upward (Plate XXIV.); it will be found in an
abnormal position, rising high toward Mercury, or far before it reaches that
Cheiro's Language of the Hand. 151
point it- completely leaves its place on the right hand; as the propensities be-
come stronger, it enters the line of heart, takes possession of it, as it were,
and thus completely masks all the generous impulses or kind of the
subject. (See previous remarks on the line of head, Part II., Chapter IX.,
page -96.) The hand is usually hard, the thumb not abnormally thick, hut
long, very stiff, and contracted inward. The entire formation gives covetous
propensities, and an utter want of conscience in the pursuit of gain.
The third class, to the student of human nature, is the most interesting,
though it may be the most terrible.
It is the hand of the subtlest nature in regard to crime. There will be
nothing abnormal in connedtion with the hand itse.lf. It will be only by ex-
amination of all the characteristics that the treacherous side of this nature
will be discovered. The leading features, however, will be a very thin, hard
hand, long, the fingers' generally slightly curved inward; the thumb long,
and with both phalanges well developed, giving, both the ability to plan and
the strength of will necessary for execution; it will rarely, if ever, be found
bent or inclining outward, although such a formation exists at times on the
hands of the first-mentioned class.
The line of head mayor may not be out of its proper position. It will,
however, be set higher than usual across the hand, but will be v:ry long and
very thin, the treacherous instinets. The Mount of Venus may be
either depressed on the hand, or very high. When depressed, such a subject
I
will commit crime simply for the sake of crime; when high, the crilne will
be committed more for the sake of satisfying the animal desires.
Such are the hands of the skilled artists in crime. Murder with 'such
persons is reduced to a fine in the .execution of which they will study
every detail. will rarely, if ever, kiil their victim by violence-such a
thing would be vulgar in their eyes-poison is the chief instrument that they
employ, but so skilfully that the verd.ict is usually" Death from natural
causes."
CHAPTER IV.
VARIOUS PHASES OF INSANITY.
IT has often been said that all men are mad on some particular point. It
is when this madness passes the half-way point of eccentricity that the title
"lunatic" is bestowed upon tlle individual. As there are many forms of mad-
ness, so are there many indications given by the hand. The chief types that
we will consider here are the following :
1st. Melancholy and religious madness, hallucinations, etc.
2d. The development of the crank.
3d.. The natural madman.
MELANCHOLY AND RELIGIOUS MADNESS..
In the first case the line of head, on a rather broad hand, descends with
a sharp curve low down on the ,Mount of Luna, very often to the base, de-
noting the abnormally imaginative temperament of the subject. In addition
to this, the Mount of Venus is not well developed, thus decreasing the sub-
ject's interest in all human or natural things; and lastly, the Mount of Saturn
dominates.
As a rule, such is the hand of the religious maniac. He commences
~ l y in life with strong hallucinations from the extraordinary imagination
that he possesses, which imagination, if directed into the proper channel,
would probably work off its excess and'relieve itself, but if opposed, feeds on
itself, and thus increases. At first this is shown only occasionally in fits and
starts. Its periods then grow longer and longer, until at last its moments of
balance are few and far between. This is the morbid or melancholy type of
the religiou's maniac.
152
Cheiro's Language of the Hand.
THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE CRANK.
153
This type of madness is generally found in conjunction with two very
distinct types-the spatulate and the philosophic.
In the first type it is the very sloping line of head on an extremely spatu-
late formation. At the commencement it merely denotes daring originality,
which will show itself in every possible direction. It dissipates its own power
by attempting too many things, owing to the multitude of its inventive ideas.
Again I say, if the subject could only get into some position in life where he
might work off those ideas, all would oe well, and he might even give to the
world some .great invention or discovery which would benefit mankind. But
attempt to crush such a man by some occupation entirely foreign to his
nature, and you instantly turn all his current of thought to some extraordinary
invention which he attempts to work out in secret; one which he dreams will
be successful, and whose success will emancipate him from the slavery he is
under. The very fact of his having to work in secret, the weakening of his
nerve-power by confinement and by intensity of thought, the excitement un-
der which he labors, is the laboratory where, in the end, he t u r ~ hiInself out
-mad.
The next type is the philosophic. This is again shown by a sudden
curve of the line of head on the Mount of Luna, and with an accentuated
philosophic formation. In this case the crank, and eventually the madman,
leans toward the extraordinary in the salvation of mankind. He means well,
from first to last; he is, however, a fanatic on whatever point, doctrine, or
theory he advances. It requires but unfavorable circumstances, non-success,
and the indifference of the public to make this subject p ~ s the half-way
mark of eccentricity and become the lunatic.
If his weak point be religion, his is never that of the melancholy; on
the contrary, he is the only person who knows the secret of the kingdom of
heaven-all others are lost. It is not that he wishes to be alone when
he gets there-it is his feverish anxiety for others which makes hin1 ex-
ceptional. For this object he works day and night; he denies hImself the
enjoyment of life, even food, in the terrible haste to accomplish his desire;
154 Various Phases of Insau'ity.
the brain becomes more and more off its balance, and the man becomes more
and more mad.
THE NATURAL MADMAN.
Malformation of the brain is respollsible for this type, which, by a study
of the h ~ d can be divided into two distinct classes-that of the hopeless
idiot, and that of the vicious lunatic'.
In the first class we generally find a wide, sloping line of head, farIfied
entirely of islands and little hair-Hlles. This never gives any hope what-
ever of reason 01' intelligence, and denotes that the subject has been brought
into the world with a brain insufficient-eithfjr in quantity or in quality-to
govern or control the body, awl the hopeless idiot is the result.
In the secoud division of this type the line of head, instead of being a
continuous line, is made up of short, wavy branches rUIJning in all directions.
A number of them rise inside the line of life on }fars
j
and eross to the other
Mars on the opposite side of the hand. 'Vith this formation the nails are
generally short and red Such a type denotes the (lUarl'elsome, vicious
lunatic more than any other class. III this case it win be noted that there
n,re often sane moments, but such are extrelnely rare, and with regard to the
last two classes I have never known allY recovery.
CHAPTER V.
MODUS OPERANDI.
IN the first place, I would advise the student to seat himself opposite his
. subject, so that a good light may fall directly on the hands. I would also
advise that no person be allowed to stand or sit in close proximity, as Ull-
consciously a third person will distract the attention of both subject and
palmist. There is no special tirne absolutely necessary for the successful
reading of hands. In India they advocate the hour of sunrise, but that itJ
merely because of the fact that the cireulation of the blood is stronger at th(
extremities in the early morning than after the fatigue of the day, con-,
sequently the lines are more colored and distinct. By placing the subject
directly opposite, the student is in a better position to examine both hands at
the'same time. In proceeding with the examination, first notice carefully the
type t.he hands belong to, whether the fingers are in keeping with the palm,
or in themselves relate to a distinct class; next carefully examine the left
hand, then turn to the right-see what modifications and changes have
occurred there, and make the right hand the basis of your reading.
On all important points, such as illness, death, loss of fortune, marriage,
and so forth, see what the left promises befOJ'e coming to the conclusion that
this or that event will take place.
Hold whatever hand you are examining firmly in yours; press the line or
mark till the blood flows into it-you will see by this means the tendencies of
its growth.
Examine every portion of the hand-back, front, nails, skin, color-before
speaking. The first point should be the examination of the thumb: see
whether it. is long, short, or poorly developed; whether the will-phalange is
firm or supple, whether it is strong or weak. Then turn your attention to
the palm: note whether it is hard, soft, or flabby.
155
156 Modus Operandi.
I would next advise that you remark the fingers-their proportion to the
palm, whether long or short, thick or thin; class them as a whole, ac.cording
to the type they represent, or if they be mixed, class each individual finger.
Then notice the nails for their bearing on temper, disposition, and health.
Finally, after carefully examining the entire hand, turn your attention to the
mounts: see which mount or mounts have the greatest prominence; and then
proceed to the lines. There is no fixed rule as to the line to examine first;
the best plan, however, is to start with the lines of life and health combined"
then proceed to the line of head, the line of destiny, the line of heart, and
so on.
Speak honestly, truthfully, yet carefully. You can tell the plainest truths,
but you need not shock or hurt your consultant by doing so. Be as careful
with that complicated piece of humanity before you as you would be in hand-
ling a fine and delicate piece of machinery. Above all things, you must be sym-
pathetic: take the deepest possible interest in every person whose hands you
read; enter into their lives, their feelings, and their natures. Let your entire.
ambition be to do good, to be of some benefit to the person who consults you.
If this be the foundation of your work, it will never tire or distress you; on
the contrary, it will sustain you. If you meet friends, be thankful for their
-friendliness; if you meet enemies, be not argumentative for the sake of argu-
ment. Think of your work first, of self last.
Above all things, be not inlpatient in the pursuit of this knowledge; you
will not learn a language in a day, neither must you expect to learn cbeiro-
mancy in an hour. Be not dismayed if you find it more difficult than you
have imagined. Consider it earnestly-not in the light of an amusement, but
as a work entailing depth of thought, patience of research, and one worthy of
the highest talents that you can give. If we study it aright, we hold within
our hands the keys of the mysteries of life. In it are hereditary laws, the
sins of the fathers, the karma of the past, the effect of the cause, the balance
of things that have been, the shadow of things to be.
Let us be careful, then, that this knowledge be used aright. Let us be
earnest in work, humble if success may crown work. Let us exatnine self
before we examine others. If we see crime, let us consider the temptation of
the criminal. If we see faults, let us remember we are not perfect.
Cheiro's Language of the Hand. 157
Let us be careful lest in the pursuit of knowledge we despise w ~ may
seem to be beneath us-there is nothing beneath us; there is nothing
common, for all fulfil the purpose of humanity. Let us not think there is
no truth because we do not know, or that we possess the mysteries of the sun
because we see its light. Let us be humble, that knowledge may raise us:
let us be seekers, that we may find.
PART 1\7".
THE .APPARATUS FOR "THOUGITT PHOTOGRAPHY AND REGISTER
CEREBUAL FORCE.
IN the earlier pages of this work it will be noticed that I have alluded
mOI'e than once to the idea of the brain generating an unknown force, which
not only by its radiations through the body cau;-.;ed w<ll'ks an<l
on and itl the body, Lut that also through the lueJiulll of the etller in the
atmosphere every human being was more or less in touch with and influenced
by one another (see pages 16,19, and 21).
When I made this staterllent some yea1'(3 figO, I did not do so only on
uu opinion based on the 'I\Ti tings of scient.ists sudl :15 Al)ercromhie, IIerder,
and others, for I had at that time a tangihle proof that such a force did
through experiments made by U1Y friend, the well-known French savant,
Monsieur E. Savary d'Odiardi. I kne,v that SOllie years before I 'Virote ot
this force that this gentleman llad invented an <1pparatus 'which lUlu been
exhibited before the Academie des Sciences, Paris, in which a. needle of metal
could be moved a distance of' ten degrees, hy a person of strung will COllcen
trating his attention on it at a distance of froul two to three feet.
This little machine was in its infancy then, and although scientists mar
veled at it in those days, yet there were few who thought it 'would ever l)e so
far perfected as to be of use in any practical "vay; hut the brain of the man
who could think out and invent such an apparatus could not be satisfied to
rest at such small for nearly five years he patiently ,vorked
and labored 011, until at last, about hvo years ago, he triumphed over all
158
Thought Plwto[Jl'aphy and Register jfoJ'ce. 159
obstacles, and .constructed an apparatus which completely eclipsed. the first
machine he had inventtd, and showed with every per80n the action of
th-.>ught in the brain, and which, instead of only being able to llJOVe ten
degrees, could register 360 in one mo'''eluent. Fronl that time on he con
fined his attention to observations of the registering needle with people of
tlifferent emotions and idiosyncrasies of temperament.
In 'his electro -medical hospital for the cure of diseases.reputed incurahIe
by ordinary means,t he had ample opportunities of watching the effect of
various temperaruents and on this singular apparatus. The result
of his 'work has heen that he has been able, by " t.he observation of cases,"
to 'lnake certaih rules to act as a guide ill watching the indications of thi8
instrumellt.
On my return to I ..ondon, in June) 1891), I had the honor of assisting
Profeseor d'Odiardi with various experiments in connection 'with thig appa-
ratus; and, :finally, for the sake of obtlining chart.s of all sorts nnd con-
ditions of people, he requested Ule to rollal)()rate with hinl in the use of
this Inachine; in order that he might enlarge his scope and nel<1 of
tion.
After placing notes luade from hundreds of experiments ill llly hands,
I brought the instrument to IllY r001ll8 in Bond Street; and have since then
tested it upward of thirty to forty titnes a day in connection \vith the
various people who visited me.
The proof that the needle in this machine is influenced by a !orce
radiating from the brain is shown by the Professor in his experiments with
people who approached it under the influence of certain drugs that injure
or stupefJr the brain. This is also proved by the fact that though the en tire
l)ody may be.paralyzed, yet as long as the brain is uninjured the needle
in the instrument will act as before. He has also demonstrated that
"subjects addicted to the habit of havinlg recourse to drugs known as
neuro-musculur agents," depressers of the reflex action of the cord,
I The NoU.inghill Gate Hospital, 30 Silver Street, London, W.
160 Oheiro's Language of the Hand.
such as chloral, chloroform, bromide of potassium, etc., are the less apt to
produce (by looking at the instrument) a deflection or a succession 0'; them
in the registering needle; thus demonstrating that the transmission of cere-
bral force by external radiation is interfered with by the use of drugs;
tbe absence of the radiation produced by thought-force seeming to point
out that the production of thought and the intensity of it is impaired by
the ingestion and assimilation of those agents. Not only is such an effect
produced by toxic drugs, but also by any kind of intoxication; l. e., by an
excess a,f stimulants, wbether in the form of drink or of food. Thus is the
stupefying effect of drunkenness and voracity scientifically proved by this
registering apparatus.
The same diminution of deflective power in a subject over the needle
is caused by anger, violence (after the fit), and by envy, jealousy, hatred
(during the fit). A heing tested in the vicinity of a person he dis-
likes or hates is shown by the instrument to lose standard,. if in the vicin-
ityof a person he likes or loves the standard denoted by .the needle is raised.
He has also demonstrated that an idiot has no power to deflect the
needle in the apparatus, whereas a single look from a person endowed
with brain.power may cause a variety of movements and deflections even at
a distance of from two to twenty feet.
Among the many interesting experiments made from time to tiLle by
the inventor and myself, there is one that has been quoted by "Answers"
in an article entitled, "The Most Wonderful Machine in the World"; it
is' to the effect that upon one occasion a gentleman in front of the
instrument criticising its action and endeavoring, if possible, to find some
explanation of its power.' About the same time several other persons
entered the room, and in casual conversation one of them mentioned the
fact of asudden fall in the value of South African Chartered Company's.
shares. No one kne,v tha.t the gentleman looking at the machine was the
holder of many thousands of pounds worth of these shares; but at the
moment the drop in the value was mentioned the man's mental emotion
Chart for dOdiardi's Thought-Photography and Register of Cerebral Force.
Dr. Baraduc's report and letters to Academy of Sciences, Paris.
IlKGISTBKED AT STATIONERS' HALL.
.
I
No.ll MR. LIONEL PHILLIPS, FBB. 1897. RBV RUSSELL W AKEPIBLD. FEB. 27TH, 1897.
No.2
Explanation of
The needle started at 1. went to 2. from 2 to 3. from 3 to 4. and so on with the numbers marked inside the chart.
The numbers outside show the duration of th'" stoupage. viz: in No. t chart it will be seen that at No.2 movement the needle remained for five
eeconds before it moved to 3, whereas in No.2 chart at No.2 movement it would not remain
1'lwught Plwwgraphy and Register .Force. 161
caused the indicator in the nlachine to move rapidly, and register one of
the highest numbers that has been recorded by it.
Another curious experiment is that in which one can determine
whether out of two people there is one who loves more than the other; in
this case the two persons are tested separately, and charts made out of
their movements shown by the machine. After they are left together for
half an hour they are again tested, and the one who loves the nlost will
be found to have a greater influence on the instrument, ,vhile the person who
loves the least will be found to have lost power over the registering needle,
in a greater or less degree, according to the effect that has been produced
by the other person's presence. -
But hundreds of interesting experiments might be in connection
with this wonderful invention, which have been summed up by the editor
of Vanity Fair, December 17, 1896, in which he says: "This curiously
interesting machine really seems to bridge the gulf between mind and
matter."
The accompanying illustrations are taken almost at random from the
hundreds of charts that have been made from this instJ'ument; they show,
in a very striking way, what a difference exists in the radiations of two
persons of widely different temperaments. No. 1 is that of Mr. Lionel
Phillips, who has played such an important part recently in conllection with
South African affairs. No.2 is that of a well-known London clergyman,
the Rev. Russell Wakefield. These are good examples of what one 'would
call two strong personalities, entirely distinct and different in magnetism,
will-power, etc.
One of the most extraordinary conditions of the machine is that there
is no phY8ical contact whatever required (see IJall Mall Gazette, article at the
end of appendix). In the regular course of experiments the person to be
tested stands within a foot to two feet of the instrnment; but if the atmos-
phere is clear and dry, a person of a strong will may influence the needle
at a distance of from ten to twenty feet.
162 Olwiro's Language oj'the Hand.
There are no employed by the operator, or electric commu-
nication with the needle, except the unknown agent-be it odic force, mag
netism, or still more subtle that radiates from the brain througb
the body, and that. passing the atmosphere, plays upon the con-
denser of this sensitive machine. People have tested this for themselves
in every conceivable manner. The greatest unbelievers in this machine
have tried. in every way to prove that the needle was moved by any other
agency but this unknown force radiating from the body, but one and all
have in. the end adlnitted that the action of the needle was due to a force
wven off by the person tested.
One of the leading divines in the Church of Englund, a few da)"s
before this article was written, after seeing the machine being tested in a
variety of ways, said: "Such a machine not only would cOll\rince oue of
the influence of mind over matter, but more importantly the influence of
mind over mind; for if the radiation of our thoughts affect this needle of
metal, how much more so mnst we not affect the thoughts, ideas, and lives
of those around us."
In conclusion, may not then the very force that moves this needle be
the very power that in its continual action marks the hand through the
peripheral nerves, We know n?t, and !Day never know, why this unseen
force should write the deeds of the past or the dreams of the future. And
'yet the prisoner ia his dungeon will often write on the stones around him
his name and legend, to be read or not, as the case may be. May not,
then, the soul, as a captive in the body, write on the fleshly walls of its
prison-house its past trials, its future hopes, the deeds that it 'will some day
realize For if there be a soul, then is it, .being a spirit, conscious of all
things, its past joys, its present sorrows, and the future-be it what it may.
CHEIRO.
i7 New Bond Street, London.
5
THE HAND OF DR. MEYER. CONVICTED OF MURDER, 87P. JUNE. 1894.
Plate XXIV.
6
THE HAND OF A SUICIDE.
Plate XXV.
7
F ; ~ 1 ( ; XXV!!.
9
10
Tr.E HAND OF MADAME NOKDICA.
11
THE HAND OF JOHN THEO DORE BENTLEY
(THE PAINTER 0"" THE LiVING CHRIST ").
12
THE HAND OF INGERSOLL.
PIa:e XXX:.
13
THE HAND OF MRS. FRANK LESLIE.
Plate ~ ~ 1.
14
THE HAND OF W. T. STEAD.
Plate XXXIIJ
15
THE HAND OF TP.E RiGHT HON. JOSEPP. M.P.
?!,l:e XXXiV.
16
THE HAND OF AUSTEN CHAMBERLAIN. ESQ. M.P.
(Illustrative 0/ hereditary tendencies. see hand 01 his father. Plate XXXIV.)
Plate XXXV.
THt r HAND OF MRS. ANNI E BESi . I . I T.
Pl are XXXVI.
1_B
THE HAND OF THE LORD CHI EF I USTI CE OF ENGLAND.
LORD RUSSELL OF KI LLOWEN.
Pl at e Xxxvl l .
LC)
THE HAND OF THE COUNTESS OF ABERDEEN.
Pi at e XXXVI I I .
20
THE HAND OF SI R. J OHN LUBBOCK, M. P. , F, R. S.
Pl at e XXXI X.
TF{E HAND OF SI R. EDU/ I N ARNOLD.
Pl ate XL.
TI I E HAND OF SI R FREDERI CK LEI GHTOI { . P. R. A.
Pl at e XLl .
23
THE HAND OF THE SWAMI VI VEKANANDA.
Pl at e XLI I .
24
THE HAND OF E. M. CURTI SS. Esq.
Pl at e XLI l l .
25
THE HAND OF THE REV. C. H. PARKHURST,
D. D.
Pl at e XLI V.
26
THE LEFT HAND OF LADY LI NDSAY
Pl at e XLV.
27
THE RI CHT HAND OF SI R ARTHUR SULLI VA}' T
Pl ate XLVI.
2B
THE RI GHT HAND OF LADY HENRY SOMERSET
Pl at e XLVI I .
2,9
THE RI GHT HAND OF A PROMI NENT MEMBER OF THE
HOUSE OF COMMONS
Pl at e XLVI I l .
30
THE RI GHT HAND OF MADAME MELBA
Pi at e XLI X.
31
THE RI GHT HAND OF LORD CHARLES BERESFORD
Plate L.
32
THE RI GHT HAND OF MR. WI LLI AM V/ HI TELEY
("Trr uNt vERsAL
pRovt DER, "
r-oNnox)
Pl ate LI.
THE RI GHT HAND OF GEN. SI R REDVERS
BULLER, V. C. , K. C. B.
Pl ate Ll l .
THE RI GHT HAND OF REV. MI NOT
J.
SAVAGE
Pl at e LI I I .
. I HE
RI GHT HAND OF H. N. I - i I CI NBOTF{ AM, ESO.
(rnestoenrr
woRLD's coLUrlrBIAN exeosrnoN)
Plate LIV.
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