CHAPTER II. THE PRINCIPAL LINES AND MOUNTS OF THE HAND.

Waikato Times, Volume XXII, Issue 1833, 5 April 1884, Page 6 (Supplement)

CHAPTER 11. THE PRINCIPAL LINES AND MOUNTS OF THE HAND.

Let anyone hold up his hand and ho will perceive three, four, or perhaps five very decided lines in the palm. The top line, marked 1 in the figure, running from the base of the index finger to the side of the hand, nearest to tho bases or mounts of the fingers, is the Line of the Heart. Upon it all our affections are claimed by chiromants to be written ; oar flirtations, our broken engagements of marriage, our troubles of matrimony, and finally the number of our children. This line is most deeply marked in people of a Venusian or affectionate nature. It is long and oaler in the Lunar type. It is not very well developed in the Solar and Jupiterian types. It is rather short and somewhat pale in Mercsrial people, and shorter in the S^turnine hand. There are reasons for all these differences, as will readily be perceived. The first-mentioned class have most heart ; the second have plenty of heart, but are unstable ; the third kind (the Solar) want an ideal affection rather than an earthly one ; the next is moxe sensual than loying. Mercuiy is too much engaged in flitting about to be long of the same mind as to love, and Saturn is bilious and cold. The Martial hand has scarcely any Heart-line— he is a fighting, not a loung type. The Line of the Heart is frequently barred at the end : thi3 indicates tenderness. A break in the line is a sign of weakness, and the cause depends upon the mount under which the break occurs : fatality under Saturn, c, avarice under Mercury, n, pride under the Sun r». The Line of the Heart should not bend down to the line underneath 2, which is the line of the Head. Such a dip represents that the person's heart ia threatened by the head. Under Satuin, c, it is supposed to mean a violent death if it approach near the line below. But it is impossible to give all the conditions here. Tho Line of the head 2, rises between the thumb and first finger, crossing the palm paiallel, or nearly so, with the Line of the Heart, and descending upon the Mount of the Moon, g. It will be longer or shorter according as the possessor is devoted to his own interests. Its depth and clearness also depend upon this, as in the Jupiterian, Mercurial, and Saturnine hands we find it long, and also long, but falling to " Imagination " (in tho Mount of the Moon) in Solar or ideal natures. In Lunar types it will be more descending still, but in Venusian and Martial hands it is thorter, for the heart dominates the head in the Venus type, and impetuosity and uncalculatinfl violence in the Martial. But when the Line of the Head appears of good length, clear, straight, and undivided, it signifies a clear judgment and strong will, which will guide the possessor through life's waves and troubles m boldly as the sea-bird skims the fetormy waters. If very long it means avaiice, or an excess of calculation, which is practically the same thing ; while if it turns to the mounts above it, such uprising will cause it to partake of the qualities of the mounts. If the Head Line advances to Mercury, i;, we find the individual thus honoured is a capital commercial man of business; if towards the Mount of the Sun, d, it denotes riches or glory, but beyond a certain medium point excess will be forshadowed, and a craze or monomania is indicated. Should the line be undeveloped or pale and wide, it indicates a want of intelligence ; when it ceases near the centre of the hand, we can depict an undecided and spiritless j person ; if it forms a chain-like appearance, i want of fixity of ideas is signified. When it appears cut or indented, we may inform our " patient " he has had a wound upon tho head. We must pass on rapidly to a very important line— the Line of Life,3. This lineruns ; around the base of the thumb, and is longer or shorter, say the authorities, according to the probable length of our lives. Following the very simple rules of palmistry, we may (if we please) assume that the clearer, longer, and less crossed or dented the Line of Life is, the better the life, physically speaking. The ills which flesh is heir to are supposed to be marked upon this line. Sickness and disease are spots upon it. If it forms a chain or be intermittent, it means a delicate constitutiou and ill-health. If it be broken in one hand and whole in the other, it means a sickness, — but "not unto death." The extension of the line well under the ball of the thumb means long life— say 100 years. There are other indicatiions connected with the Line of Life, but we are unable to pursue them. The Line of Fate, 4, frequently ascends from the wrist to the middle finger, but it may spring from the Line of Life, 3, the Mount of the Moon, g, or even from the Plain of of Mars, p. If in the first instance it arises direct to the middle finger (not into it), it means good fortune. Springing from the Plain of Mars, it brings a fight foreiistence. If from the Line of Life, it is identified with that line. If it quit the Mount of the Moon, it brings us good fortune capriciously, and so far unexpected. By its clearness, length, and its starting and stopping places, chiromants say they can read our destinies, unless (and here common sense aids us) our wills or the influence of our better nature avert the anticipated evil. The only other line we can touoh upon now is the Liver Line, 5, or Line of Health, which is not present in every hand. When absent the individual will (or doeB) suffer from his liver very much. When broken, thb line signifies temporary derangements which, in a greater or less degree, affect the brain or the head generally. This line quits the wrist near the ball of the thumb, and ascends towards the little finger, ceasing near the end of the Line of the Head, 2. According to its colouring and depth, &c, the physical qualities of an individual may be guessed at. There are other Hneß, such as the Wrist Lines, the Girdle of Venus, G, the Line of the Sun, and other points of the hand, which we

must leave for the present. We have only J left ourselves space to mention the monnds. The Mount of the Moon, g, is at the? lower part of the hand, opposite the " ball " oE the thumb, which is the Mount of Venus, a. Under the four fingers respectively ftro Jupiter, n; Saturn, c; the San, d; and Mercury, c. Accordingly as they are evident, depressed, or i quite wanting, they indicate certain qualities ! strongly, feebly, or the absence of those qua- I lities. Thus : — Venus, a, gives us vital energy, physical and moral ; and affection. Jupiter, b, gives us power, ambition and oommand. Saturn, o, gives ua gravity, soientifio tastes, application. The Sun, d, gites us taste and talent in art. Murcury, E, gives us quickness of mind, and suppleness and dexterity of hand ; wit. Mars, v (above the moon), tending to anger and irritability. The Moon, g, gives us imagination, inventios, hope and enthusiasm in our works. Any reader can, by the aid of the foregoing chapters, examine his own hand and ascertain what truth there is in chiromancy so far. Bat we feel bound to explain that " extennating circumstances" exist in many more cases than even ocour in French trials. There are so many various •ombinations, so many chances, so to speak, of crossing lines and influences, that no certain conclusion as to the future — we are putting aside the highest j point of view for the moment only — e»n bo indulged in. Be the indications on the hand never so bad, they can be altered by our better natures. True as we may or may not believe it to be that all the troubles of our lives are marked by some occult means apon oar hands, we are far from saying that chiro- ( mants can tell us anything of the future. We have known several very curious coincidences, facts told to people, secrets which they deemed locked in thoir own bosoms. We have ourselves made some surprising "hits" in our few and rapid investigations of the hands of perfect strangers— ladies and gentlemen — which, they all admitted, were quite true as to facts, and, as far as they knew themselves, correct as to character and disposition. Many learned men have entirely believed and do believe in chiromancy, as others in phrenology. Bat we must end as we began, and protest against anyone pinning his faith upon his hand, even as against his wearing his heart upon his sleeve. H.F.