AN A B C OF HANDS
In order to be able to follow the explanations given for each type of hand, the list set out below will prove useful.
(1) The 1st phalange is the section of the finger carrying the nail.
(2) The 2nd phalange is the section of the finger between the 1st and 2nd joints.
(3) The 3rd phalange is the section of the finger between the 2nd and 3rd joints.
(4) The positions of the Mounts of Mercury, Apollo, Saturn, Jupiter, Luna and Venus are shown in [Fig. 7]. Of the Mounts of Mars, there are two positions. One is situated between the Mount of Jupiter and the thumb, while the other comes between the Mounts of Mercury and Luna.
(5) The Girdle of Venus, which is rarely found, is a curved line running between Mercury and either Jupiter or Saturn.
(6) The Bracelets are the lines running across the wrist, close to where it joins the palm.
ABILITY.—A small cross is shown where the Life line finishes.
ABILITY, LACK OF.—A short Head line, terminating in the center of the palm, with the Mounts of Saturn and Apollo almost non-existing.
ACTIVE PERSON.—A rough, firm palm and an indistinct Heart line.
AFFECTIONATE PERSON.—A clear Heart line and a very plump Mount of Apollo.
AMBITIOUS PERSON.—A short line traced from the Life line to the Mount of Jupiter, existing on both hands.
AMIABLE PERSON.—The Mounts of Jupiter and Mercury are very plump on both palms.
AMOROUS PERSON.—A hand deeply furrowed, somewhat silky in texture and the Heart line well developed.
ANGER.—The thumb has short phalanges, especially the first phalange; finger-nails square and reddish at the base.
ARTISTIC TEMPERAMENT.—A line running directly from the Head line to the third finger, and fingers long and tapering.
AUDACIOUS PERSON.—The Mount of Mercury and the two Mounts of Mars very clearly in evidence.
AVARICIOUS.—The Head line extends across the palm, from end to end, and is straight. At its end, it forms a small triangle.
BILIOUS TEMPERAMENT.—The Health line wriggles its way along the palm, while the hand is damp and clammy.
BRAVE PERSON.—Straight fingers and both the Mounts of Mars are well defined. Few hair lines cut across these mounts.
CAUTIOUS PERSON.—The first phalange of the thumb twists inwards, whilst all the fingers are remarkably straight.
CHARITABLE PERSON.—A good Heart line with well-developed Mounts of Venus and Mars (particularly the Mars Mount below Jupiter.)
CHEERFUL PERSON.—A long first phalange to the fourth finger and the Mounts of Jupiter, Apollo and Mercury nice and plump.
CLEVER PERSON.—The Life line shows a cross at one of its ends and the Mounts of Apollo and Mercury are well defined.
CONCEITED PERSON.—Very plump Mounts of Saturn, Apollo and Mercury.
CONSCIENTIOUS PERSON.—A broad, thin hand, a very distinct Mount of Jupiter, and the first phalange of the thumb nicely curved.
CONVINCING SPEAKER.—The fourth finger is almost as long as the third, usually because the first phalange is long. This finger is pointed.
CORDIALITY.—The Heart line extends almost across the palm; it is straight, except at one end, which branches into a fork.
COWARDLY.—When the hand is opened out flat, the fourth phalanges of all the fingers dip or curve downwards. None of the mounts are distinct.
CRUEL PERSON.—The Heart line is almost or quite non-existing. The hand is long, but square-cornered, and the finger-nails are pointed at the base.
DARING PERSON.—The Heart line curves round to the back of the hand, while both the Mounts of Mars are fully developed.
DECEITFUL PERSON.—The Head line wavers, is not very distinct, and it has a double prong at one end. One of the prongs cuts across the Mount of Luna.
DEFIANT PERSON.—The third phalange of the first finger is longer than the third phalanges of other fingers. The thumb is large.
DISAPPOINTMENTS TO BE EXPERIENCED.—The Life line has a number of small hair lines running from it, like herringbone pattern. Some of these hair lines reach the bracelets.
DISSIPATED PERSON.—A star beside the thumb-nail and the Head line is deep and wide.
ENERGETIC PERSON.—The head line runs from side to side of the palm. It is clear throughout, while the four mounts below the four fingers are very distinct.
ENVIOUS PERSON.—On the first finger there are several clear lines; they are found mostly on the third phalange, but some exist on the second. None on the first.
EXTRAVAGANT PERSON.—The tips of all the fingers bend back and the Head line is weak.
FAITHLESS PERSON.—The two Mounts of Mars and that of Mercury stand out more clearly than the others.
FAME, PERSON DESTINED FOR.—The Fate line is more distinct than any other and no other line crosses it.
FAR-SEEING PERSON.—The palm is depressed in the middle, the thumb is well developed, strong in outline, and all the phalanges of the fingers are about as long as they are wide.
FAULT-FINDING PERSON.—A long, narrow hand, with an ill-defined Heart line.
FLIRT.—The Head line consists of a line joining up several links, forming a species of chain.
FORCEFUL PERSON.—A cross on the Mount of Apollo and small lines crossing.
FORTUNATE PERSON.—The Heart and Head lines almost touch below the Mount of Jupiter. A cross is often found between them just at this point. The third finger shows a long line running the length of two phalanges.
GOOD CHARACTER.—The Mounts of Jupiter, Saturn and Mercury are much in evidence, while the tips of the fingers are nicely rounded.
GREEDY PERSON.—When the hand is spread out the fingers bend inwards, because of the excessive width of the palm. The Head line runs across the palm almost in a straight line.
HAPPY PERSON.—On the third finger there is a deep line running the length of the third phalange. Also, the bracelets appear as a single deep furrow.
HARD WORKER.—The fourth finger has the second phalange a trifle long, while the two Mounts or Mars are well developed.
IDLER.—The Head line is very short; the Mounts of Luna and Mercury are well developed, while the Mount of Mercury almost touches that of Mars.
IMPATIENT PERSON.—The Mounts of Mars and Mercury stand well above the level of the palm and are crossed by several small lines.
INTELLIGENT PERSON.—The Mounts of Apollo and Mercury are much in evidence, while the Life line terminates in a cross.
JEALOUS PERSON.—The Head line continues round to the back of the hand, while the Mount of Mercury is more defined than the others.
JUST PERSON.—Square-tipped fingers and square nails, while the space formed between the Heart and Head lines is unusually wide.
KIND PERSON.—A star figures on the thumb, while the Mounts of Apollo and Mercury are much in evidence. The Heart line is not short.
LIKING FOR OPPOSITE SEX.—A star is seen on the Mount of Mercury or a star may appear between the Heart and Head lines.
LONG LIFE.—The Heart line curves entirely round the thumb, being plainly evident all the way, while the bracelets consist of three clear lines.
LUCKY PERSON.—See diagram of a very lucky hand.
MARRIAGE.—The Marriage line is a comparatively short line, found above the Heart line and starting from the edge of the palm, under the little finger.
If straight and well defined, it is a sign of a happy married life. (See Fig. A, p. [23].)
If curved down, there are troubles to overcome.
If the line runs down to the Heart line, money difficulties will arise in married life. (See [Fig. B.])
If the line ends in a fork, there are fears of quarrels and, perhaps, separations. (See [Fig. C.])
If the line runs up and touches the Fate line, marriage will bring many successes.
If there is practically no length to the actual marriage line, but a fork appears almost at the commencement, it is a clear proof that troubles will arise and prevent the owner from marrying when he or she desires it. There will be delays, postponements and other difficulties, but they will be overcome in the end. (See [Fig. D.])
If there is an island where the line should commence, this may be taken as a sign that the possessor is not a suitable person for marriage. But, if the line is a good one, after the island is past, there are hopes that he or she will mend. (See [Fig. E.])
If the marriage line hardly exists or does not appear at all, it is a sign of single blessedness through life.
If the marriage line on the right hand is minutely examined, short hair lines may be seen rising upwards from it. The number of these denotes the number of children of the marriage. It is usually said that the perpendicular lines represent the boys and the slanting lines the girls. As these lines are often very indistinct, it may be necessary to dust the hand with a dab of face-powder, in order to see them.
NARROW-MINDED PERSON.—The Head line is short and it wavers or wriggles its way across the palm.
NEAT, ORDERLY PERSON.—Where each finger is hinged to the palm, there is a deep crease making a badge on either side of it. The hand itself is square and vigorous in appearance.
NERVOUS PERSON.—The hand is very much lined, and there is difficulty in picking out the chief lines. The Mount of Luna is large and much furrowed.
A VERY LUCKY HAND
No. 9.—The Life line begins on the Mount of Jupiter and is doubled. The Heart line commences on the same mount and is forked at both ends. The Head line is doubled and forked at one end. The Fate line is long, straight and rises from the Bracelets. The finger of Apollo is lined. The Marriage line is straight and clear.
OVERBEARING PERSON.—The fingers are square-tipped and the first phalange of the thumb is long and thick. The hand itself is rough and coarse. A short Heart line.
PASSIONATE PERSON.—The Heart line is long and the Mount of Mercury over-pronounced.
PHILOSOPHIC PERSON.—The finger-tips are square; the phalanges are all more or less fleshy and full; the thumb is large and long; the palm is comparatively small.
PROFLIGATE PERSON.—The Head line takes a wavering course, and there is a star on the thumb, close up to the nail.
RECKLESS PERSON.—The finger of Saturn is more pointed at the tip than the other fingers. The Fate line does not come anywhere near to the Bracelets.
REFINED PERSON.—The Mounts of Mercury and Luna are far more pronounced than the others; the fingers are slightly pointed, and the texture of the hand is silky.
RELIGIOUS PERSON.—The first finger has a square tip; the Mount of Jupiter is large; the first phalanges of all the fingers are decidedly long, and there is a cross in the center of the palm, close to the Head and Heart lines.
SECOND-SIGHT, PERSON WITH.—An unusual line runs from the Mount of Luna to the Mount of Mercury. It takes a circular course and much resembles the Life line, reversed. This line commences with an island.
SLEEPY PERSON.—A deeply-grooved short Head line.
SUCCESSFUL PERSON.—The Life line starts from the Mount of Jupiter and is double throughout its course. The Heart line commences at almost the same spot and is forked at both ends.
SUPERSTITIOUS PERSON.—The Mount of Jupiter is particularly well developed. There are several lines running across it; while the Head line is shorter than usual.
TACTFUL PERSON.—The hands are long and narrow; the texture of the skin is smooth and silky, and all the first phalanges are plump and, perhaps, longitudinally lined.
TALKATIVE PERSON.—The Heart and Head lines are not easily discovered, and the Mount of Mercury stands up more than the other mounts.
THOUGHTFUL PERSON.—The first finger almost as long as the second; it is pointed at the tip more than the others. A wide space is formed between the Heart, Head, Fate and Fortune (or Health) lines.
TIMID PERSON.—None of the Mounts appear plainly, while the Head and Heart lines run very close together.
UNTRUTHFUL PERSON.—The little finger is long, reaching at least to the base of the nail of the third finger. The Mount of Luna is crossed with many lines.
VAIN PERSON.—The Mount of Jupiter is fuller than the others and it is crossed with many lines. The fingers are long and rather pointed.
VINDICTIVE PERSON.—The Head line wriggles along its course. It has a fork close to the Mount of Luna.
WEALTHY PERSON.—When earned, the Mount of Luna, on both hands, shows a number of lines which all run in one direction. They do not cross at all. When inherited, the same, but there is, in addition, a cross on the Bracelets.
WITTY PERSON.—The Mount of Mercury shows up clearly. In addition, there is a curved line which runs from the junction of the first and second fingers to the junction of the third and fourth fingers. The Heart line is usually good.