beauty and distinction that you must see in the handwriting of some
highly cultivated people。 I wish you could see how prettily little
children spell in my hand。 They are wild flowers of humanity； and their
finger motions wild flowers of speech。
All this is my private science of palmistry； and when I tell your
fortune it is by no mysterious intuition or gipsy witchcraft； but by
natural； explicable recognition of the embossed character in your hand。
Not only is the hand as easy to recognize as the face； but it reveals
its secrets more openly and unconsciously。 People control their
countenances； but the hand is under no such restraint。 It relaxes and
bees listless when the spirit is low and dejected； the muscles
tighten when the mind is excited or the heart glad； and permanent
qualities stand written on it all the time。
FOOTNOTE：
＇A＇ The excellent proof…reader has put a query to my use of the word
〃see。〃 If I had said 〃visit；〃 he would have asked no questions； yet what
does 〃visit〃 mean but 〃see〃 （_visitare_）？ Later I will try to defend
myself for using as much of the English language as I have succeeded in
learning。
THE HAND OF THE RACE
III
THE HAND OF THE RACE
LOOK in your 〃Century Dictionary；〃 or if you are blind； ask your teacher
to do it for you； and learn how many idioms are made on the idea of
hand； an