WHY DO WE WAVE ?

Evening Star, Issue 20054, 20 December 1928, Page 5

WHY DO WE WAVE ?

SUGGESTED REASONS FOR THE CUSTOM When a train pulls out or a ship_ leaves the wharf for foreign purls most of tloso travelling have friends to see them cT, and it is on such occasions that ono sees tlie uplifted arras and hands waving farewell. Among the curious are those who wonder as to what the origin of this eastern might be, if there is env answer, .ft has been suggested that fhe act is derived from our Simian ancestry. For instance, when a troop of large anthropoid apes loft their tree-sheltered home in search o.f “ pastures new,” the friends they left behind them would wish to see most of the dej-arting crowd, and what more likely flan they should reach up to the branches ovwi.cad to pull themselves up, and so get a better view of their departing dear ones? it has , even been suggested that the habit became ingrained so that it persisted even when there were no trees overhead.

There is, however, an even simpler explanation than this, and much more feasible. A person waving, bis or her arms is a more conspicuous object than a person standing still, and the fluttering handkerchief—our alleged ancestors had not these, at any rale—is only another device for keeping the waver in sight as long as possible. Further, one doubts if the apes cared two-, pence when their fellows wandered away to set up housekeeping or tree-keeping for themselves.