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Frontispiece. 
 
THE 
 
 GRAMMAR OF PALMISTRY 
 
 BY / 
 
 KATHARINE St. HILL 
 
 WITH EIGHTEEN ILLUSTRATIONS 
 
 PHILADELPHIA 
 
 HENRY ALTEMUS 
 1893 
 
 l^iloOH 
 
 

 Copyrighted 1893 
 BY HENRY ALTEMUS. 
 
 Altemus' Bookbindery, 
 Philadelphia, 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 "I have here made only a nosegay of culled flowers, 
 and I have brought nothing of my own but the string 
 that ties them." — Montaigne. 
 
 In these days, when so many books on this 
 favourite subject have already been offered to 
 the reading public, it requires an apology on my 
 part for thus introducing another to their notice, 
 all the more as in the present volume no pretence 
 is made to originality. 
 
 Palmistry, like all other sciences, reduces itself 
 to the likeness of a language, and for the study 
 of any language a grammar is the first requisite. 
 In nearly all the books from which I have myself 
 studied during the four or five years I have de- 
 voted to the subject, I have found a considerable 
 difficulty in extracting even the primary rules 
 and precepts from the masses of extraneous 
 
6 preface. 
 
 matter introduced into the middle of them. In 
 the older writers, the maxims of Palmistry are 
 mingled with the canons of necromancy, astrology, 
 spiritualism and superstition ; while the more 
 modern writers almost invariably halt in the 
 middle of their axioms to tell stories of their 
 own particular successes, and to describe how 
 wonderfully well they themselves have succeeded 
 in predicting certain events, and describing cer- 
 tain characters. I think it is now no longer 
 necessary to encourage the student by allowing 
 him to perceive to what a great degree of accuracy 
 character-reading and prediction can be carried 
 by those who have well studied the art of 
 Palmistry, as the science has taken its recognized 
 position, and its claims to fulfil its pretensions 
 are no longer disputed. 
 
 In the present work, therefore, I have en- 
 deavoured to place before the reader the rules 
 laid down by the best of our modern writers on 
 the subject, in the clearest and simplest manner 
 possible ; and I have added a number of draw- 
 ings from the hands of distinguished people to 
 
preface. 7 
 
 serve as examples and exercises for the assist- 
 ance of the student. If, in so doing, I have made 
 but a dull and uninteresting book, and have 
 thereby laid myself open to the warning ad- 
 dressed by a friendly critic to an old-world 
 author on a kindred subject : 
 
 " Friend, by your writings I am grieved, 
 So very much is said ; 
 One half will never be believed, 
 The other never read," 
 
 it must be my excuse that all grammars labour 
 under the same disadvantageous reputation for 
 dulness. But let me offer as a consolation to 
 my readers the assurance that, after having gone 
 through the present dry little collection of rules 
 and regulations, they will be enabled to under- 
 stand and enjoy far more than they would other- 
 wise have done the spirited and amusing writings 
 of my contemporaries. 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 PAGE 
 
 PREFACE 6 
 
 PART I. 
 ON THE OUTLINE AND MOUNTS . . . .II 
 
 PART II. 
 ON THE LINES 37 
 
 PART III. 
 
 ON THE PALM OF THE HAND AND LESSER LINES . 62 
 
 PART IV. 
 
 ON SIGNS OF ILLNESS, TEMPER, AND ON SPECIAL 
 
 QUALITIES 84 
 
 PART V. 
 
 ON reading the hands. {Examples) . . 94 
 
 PART VI. 
 
 THE HANDS OF DISTINGUISHED PERSONS. {Eight 
 
 Illustrations) . . . . . . .121 
 
 PART VII. 
 
 GLOSSARY OF TERMS 122 
 
10 
 
 LIST OF PLATES. 
 
 
 PAGE 
 
 Fig. 18 
 
 Frontispiece 
 
 Figs, i, 2, and 3 . 
 
 . 16 
 
 Figs. 4, 5, and 6 . 
 
 . 20 
 
 Fig. 17 
 
 . . . . 36 
 
 Figs. 7, 8, and 9 . . 
 
 . 66 
 
 Fig. 10 . . . 
 
 . . . 98 
 
 Figs, ii, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 
 
 . 109-120 
 
THE GRAMMAR OF PALMISTRY. 
 
 PART I. 
 
 OUTLINE. 
 Short Hands. 
 
 Short hands judge quickly, and do not regard 
 detail in judgment. If with pointed fingers, 
 imagination will aid; but the whole of things 
 only will be regarded. Short, knotted fingers — 
 i. e. with large joints — will have good reason 
 and even calculation, but will not be able to 
 analyze. 
 
 Long Hands. 
 
 Long hands show capacity for detail. If very 
 large also, they will overdo it, and they gener- 
 ally have a greater love of finish than of ability. 
 Long fingers show feeling and susceptibility, and 
 11 
 
12 ftbe Grammar of iPalmtetrg. 
 
 when also pointed, tact. In excess, with a very 
 narrow palm, they will show tyranny. Exces- 
 sively large hands are intolerant, and when 
 knotted are given to mania. 
 
 Long Palm. 
 
 When the palm is much longer than the 
 fingers, and large in proportion, the capacity for 
 detail will be lessened, and, though the subject 
 may have good intelligence, instinct will always 
 encroach on reason. There will be an incapac- 
 ity for very^fine and delicate work, either men- 
 tal or manual. The subject will, however, be 
 easily satisfied, and not given to- contention or 
 contradiction. 
 
 Long Fingers. 
 
 When the fingers are longer than the palm, 
 the mind will be very active, and the spirit of 
 criticism and contradiction strong. There will 
 be a love of argument, and the memory will be 
 very good, especially for words, and learning by 
 heart will be easy. Long fingers, with the knot 
 of philosophy, will find out your faults before 
 your virtues, and it is said good husbands and 
 good wives are not found with these hands. 
 
Outline. 13 
 
 Equal Hands. 
 
 When the palm and fingers are of equal 
 length, the balance will be perfect, judgment and 
 instinct will go hand-in-hand, detail and the 
 whole will be justly regarded, and confidence 
 reposed in the subject will not be found falsified. 
 
 Hard Hands 
 
 show energy and perseverance. If hard and 
 pointed — activity and elegance. In excess — 
 want of intelligence, dulness, stupidity. 
 
 Soft Hands 
 
 show laziness, natural indolence of mind or body, 
 sometimes both. Soft and spatulate — active in 
 mind and lazy in body. Soft and square — the 
 reverse. Soft and pointed — indolent altogether. 
 
 N.B. — Hard and soft hands have nothing to 
 do with the skin. That may be hardened by 
 the occupation pursued, or softened by lack 
 of toil. The hand should be judged by the con- 
 sistency when pressed. 
 
 Supple fingers show quick action and versa- 
 tility. Very thick hands show selfishness and 
 self-esteem, 
 
14 Gbe Grammar ot palmistry* 
 
 Skin. 
 
 When the hand is soft and the skin much 
 lined, the subject will be impressionable and 
 upright. If hard and lined — quarrelsome. All 
 hands covered with lines show either an agitated 
 life or ill health. A very white hand, which 
 does not change with heat and cold, is a sign of 
 selfishness. 
 
 Nails. 
 
 The nails, and the ends of the fingers, show 
 the temper of the subject. (The lines have also 
 to be considered, of which later on.) Short and 
 square nails show a fighting temper; if wider 
 than they are long — obstinacy ; if square at the 
 bottom instead of curved — passionate anger. 
 Short nails, even with a hand otherwise benevo- 
 lent, show mockery, criticism and contradiction. 
 Very large nails, curved at the bottom — a cool 
 and careful head for business. Almond nails — 
 sweet temper. If they flush pink to the outer 
 edge, there may be occasional fits of irritation, 
 but long, narrow nails are never malicious. Thin 
 and little nails are a sure sign of delicate health, 
 j ^.d fluted nails show consumption, which is also 
 often shown by the nails being very much curved 
 
16 
 
©utltne. 17 
 
 towards the top, though this is also sometimes 
 indicative of spinal complaint. 
 
 Smooth Hands. 
 
 ( Without protruding joints^) 
 
 Impressionability, intuition, inspiration, caprice, 
 quick judgment, love of art. 
 
 SMOOTH-POINTED. (Fig. I.) 
 
 Religion, poetry, invention, imagination, tact, 
 want of order. 
 
 Excess : — Imprudence, exaggeration, lying, fa- 
 naticism, ecstasy, posing. Altogether unprac- 
 tical. 
 
 SMOOTH-SQUARE. (Fig. 2.) 
 
 Reason, obedience, power of organization, love 
 of art and literature, little enthusiasm. Love of 
 the look of order, not the trouble. 
 
 Excess : — Tyranny, intolerance, narrow-mind- 
 edness, love of rule to despotism. These are hard 
 masters. 
 
 SMOOTH-SPATULATE. (Fig. 3.) 
 
 Activity, resolution, audacity, love of comfort, 
 of movement, of notoriety, of manual labour. 
 Liking for art, but no success. 
 
18 Gbe Grammar of palmistry. 
 
 Excess : — Selfishness, want of tact, love of 
 fault-finding. These will annoy themselves, and 
 aggravate others. 
 
 Knotted Hands. 
 
 ( With large protruding joints') 
 
 Reflection, order, science. The rule of reason. 
 
 THE KNOT OF PHILOSOPHY. (Fig. 4.) 
 
 (The top joint of the fingers.) 
 
 This will show a love of reasoning, of examin- 
 ing and doubting ; it is a sign of independence of 
 character. It is an advantage with a long and 
 strong thumb, with the second phalange well 
 formed, but with a weak thumb it will tend to 
 error and obstinacy, especially if the fingers are 
 pointed. 
 
 KNOTTED-POINTED. 
 
 These hands are quick to perceive, to observe, 
 to understand. A love of truth and reality, and, 
 at the same time, refinement and appreciation of 
 the beautiful. But there will be a continual 
 fight between inspiration and analysis, religion 
 and controversy, independence and piety. There 
 will be originality in art, but no success, because 
 art will be stifled by calculation. 
 
20 
 
©utline. 21 
 
 KNOTTED-SQUARE. 
 
 Harmony and progress. Will give a charac- 
 ter thoughtful, faithful, just and cold. Love of 
 truth and usefulness, of law and rule, of science, 
 history, jurisprudence, grammar, mathematics, 
 and agriculture. 
 
 - KNOTTED-SPATULATE. 
 
 Active, practical, positive. Ambitious, un- 
 sentimental, self-confident, brusque. 
 
 KNOT OF ORDER. (Fig. 5.) 
 
 (The lower -joint of the fingers^ 
 
 Order in business, in affairs, in everything to 
 do with management. 
 
 Excess :— Egotism. 
 
 This knot will give a spatulate hand a love of 
 machinery. The first knot — that of philosophy 
 — will give to artists great originality, and the 
 study of all that belongs to art, such as the 
 making of colours, etc. ; but with both knots 
 art vanishes. To musicians, the two knots will 
 give science and rhythm. To priests, the knots 
 give the strength of the clergy, reason, 
 :ance, and union. 
 
22 Gbe <3rammar of palmistry. 
 
 The Fingers. 
 
 I have divided the fingers into three classes 
 only : pointed, square, and spatulate, as being 
 easier to remember and understand than the 
 seven or more specifications adopted by Mr. 
 Heron Allen and other chiromantists. But 
 students will very often find that hands are 
 mixed, frequently the first finger is pointed with 
 the rest square, and so on ; therefore I have 
 given each finger separately at once for the 
 greater convenience of study. Mixed fingers 
 show more variety than strength. The class of 
 the hand is more easily judged if the back of 
 the hand is looked at first. The phalanges of 
 the fingers are counted from the top, thus ; the 
 first phalange is that which contains the nail. 
 The thumb is the most important feature of the 
 whole hand, and the character depends to a very 
 great extent upon it. 
 
 THE THUMB. 
 
 First Phalange — Will. Second Phalange — 
 Reason. Third Phalange — Love. 
 First PJialange. 
 Long and strong — energetic will, self-c 
 dence, love of perfection. Medium — pas- 
 
Outline, 23 
 
 resistance. Too long — tyranny. Too short — 
 changeableness, inconstancy, insouciance, a weak 
 will, ruled by others. 
 
 Second Phalange. 
 
 This should be a little longer than the first, 
 and should be rather thick. When the first and 
 second are of the same length and the thumb is 
 relatively longer than the other fingers, it will 
 show a very strong and sensible character, who 
 will rule with reason and without tyranny. If 
 the same thumb is of only medium length, there 
 will be no rule over others, but passive resist- 
 ance, and a strong and wise character. With the 
 first phalange short and the second long and 
 thick, the character will be reasonable, but liable 
 to indecision ; with clear views, the subject will 
 make magnificent plans, but will never execute 
 them ; uncertainty will counsel over-prudence, 
 he will balance between desire and execution, 
 " letting I dare not wait upon I will," and though 
 an excellent counsellor to others, he will never 
 profit by it himself. A good strong first pha- 
 lange, with a long thick second, and the knot of 
 philosophy will, unless the lines are very ad- 
 verse, lead to success and fortune. 
 
24 Gbe Grammar ot Jpalmistrg. 
 
 Third Phalange. 
 
 (This is also called the Mount of Venus, and 
 will be studied as such later.) 
 
 If very thick and long, high and encroaching 
 on to the middle of the hand, the subject will be 
 governed by passion ; if medium and in harmony 
 with the rest of the hand — affectionate and be- 
 nevolent ; if weak and flat — cold-hearted, and 
 unless the line of heart be good, selfish. A 
 subject who has the first long and the third much 
 developed will govern by force of will, and love 
 his friends and all humanity ; he will be affec- 
 tionate without reason, firm and constant. A 
 subject with the second and third most devel- 
 oped will govern his passions by reason, but rea- 
 son is feeble if will is weak. In this case the 
 second may take the place of the first, but his 
 life will be a continual struggle. A subject who 
 has the first and second feeble and the third 
 much developed, gives us but little hope of a 
 good character ; changeable and inconstant, he 
 will be tormented by fancy and temper, be un- 
 able to keep a secret, and probably will also be 
 melancholy. 
 
 A thumb too short shows a want of decision, 
 but if wide and heavy at the point, it will mean 
 obstinacy, particularly if the joint is knotty and 
 
©utline. 25 
 
 projecting. The wider the phalange, the more 
 pig-headed the subject ; it is also a sign of bad 
 temper, passionate anger, and want of modera- 
 tion in all things. 
 
 If a hand is soft, but has the first phalange 
 long, the subject will work from duty, not from 
 a love of it. A spatulate hand with a short 
 thumb is wanting in perseverance, undecided, try- 
 ing everything, often loving and amiable. But if 
 the second is well developed, uncertainty ceases, 
 the short thumb will give quick impressions, and 
 good judgment will ensure success. 
 
 A long first phalange — a man of will. 
 
 A long second phalange — a man of intellect. 
 
 A long third phalange — a man of feeling. 
 
 If the thumb bends inwards towards the 
 fingers — avarice. If outwards — generosity, some- 
 times extravagance. Straight — prudence and 
 good sense. A thumb set low down on the 
 hand shows talent. 
 
 Nearly all great men have large thumbs. 
 
 FIRST FINGER. 
 
 Called finger of Jupiter — sign % . 
 
 Should be long relatively to the other fingers 
 and straight; this will give thought and economy. 
 
26 Gbe Grammar of palmistry 
 
 Pointed. — Quick apprehension, intuition, love 
 of reading. 
 
 Square. — Love of truth. 
 
 Spatulate (very rare). — Error, exaggerated 
 action. 
 
 Pointed with the others square — ■ serious 
 thought, artistic talent (if with a good line of 
 Apollo). 
 
 First phalange relatively long — religion. 
 
 Second phalange .relatively long — ambition. 
 
 Third phalange relatively long — love of rule, 
 pride. 
 
 All short — want of thought, little contem- 
 plation. 
 
 It is very important to artists to have a good 
 first finger; it should be pointed. 
 
 SECOND FINGER. 
 
 Called finger of Saturn — sign \i . 
 
 It is not good to have this finger much longer 
 than the others. 
 
 Pointed (very rare). — Frivolity, carelessness. 
 
 Square. — Prudence, grave character. Too 
 square — sadness. 
 
 Spatulate.— Activity. Too spatulate — super- 
 stition. 
 
©utline. 27 
 
 First phalange relatively long- — melancholy. 
 
 Second phalange relatively long — love of ag- 
 riculture. With the knot of philosophy — love 
 of exact science. 
 
 Third phalange relatively long — avarice. 
 
 THIRD FINGER. 
 
 Called finger of Apollo — sign 0'. 
 
 Represents art, fame, and riches. 
 
 Pointed. — Artistic feeling and intuition. If 
 with all the others in opposition — frivolity and 
 boasting. 
 
 Square. — Truth and reason in art and in life. 
 With bad lines — great love of riches. 
 
 Spatidatc. — Love of form, of movement in 
 art, dramatic talent. Many actors have this 
 finger, and in artists it signifies painters of 
 animal or genre subjects. 
 
 First phalange relatively long — noble love of 
 art. Colour. 
 
 Second phalange relatively long — love of work 
 and reason in art. 
 
 Third phalange relatively long — love of dis- 
 play, vanity, desire to shine, love of riches. 
 
 FOURTH FINGER. 
 
 Called finger of Mercury— sign $ . 
 It is good that this finger should be straight 
 
28 Zhe Grammar of palmistry. 
 
 and long, and if the subject is to rule other 
 people, " to turn them round his little finger," 
 it should rise above the first knot of the third 
 finger. 
 
 Pointed. — Eloquence, tact, diplomacy. Ex- 
 cess : — Ruse, finesse, trickery. 
 
 Square. — Reason in science, love of the ab- 
 stract, good at teaching, good at business. 
 
 Spatulate. — Mechanical skill, love of machin- 
 ery. Excess : — Theft. 
 
 First phalange relatively long— love of talking, 
 eloquence, skill. 
 
 Second phalange relatively long — industry, 
 common sense, good at business, love of argu- 
 ment. 
 
 Third phalange relatively long — scheming, 
 evil eloquence, lying. 
 
 Very long altogether — the sign of a savant. 
 
 If when the hands are held open and loose, 
 the first and second fingers fall naturally widest 
 apart, it will show independence of thought, if 
 the third and fourth are widest, inde endence 
 action. If both are very wide, great originali 
 and self-reliance. If the fingers naturally cur. 
 up towards the palm when so held, the subject 
 will be conventional. 
 
 When the third phalanges of all the fingers 
 
©utlfne. 29 
 
 are thick to the root, it is a sign of greediness, 
 or, at least, of a love of good things to eat and 
 drink. When the third phalanges of all the fin- 
 gers incline downwards below the mounts, it 
 shows shyness, sometimes extreme cowardice. 
 If the first phalanges hollow and curve upwards — 
 avarice. Reversed, when they turn back very far 
 — extravagance. 
 
 Thumb inclining inwards — avarice and selfish- 
 ness. Outwards — generosity to prodigality. 
 
 (The inclination of the fingers towards each 
 other requires much study; and none of the 
 chiromantists I have encountered seem to have 
 sufficiently considered it. The few rules laid 
 down above are those I 'have never known to 
 fail, but much yet remains to be discovered on 
 this important point.) 
 
 ,q.< 
 
THE MOUNTS. 
 
 Mount of Jupiter. 
 
 (At the base of the first finger.) 
 
 Qualities. — Religion, ambition, honour, gaiety, 
 love of society. 
 
 Excess. — Pride, love of power and domineering, 
 conceit, superstition. 
 
 Absence. — Irreligion, selfishness, idleness, want 
 of dignity, vulgarity. 
 
 A good Mount of Jupiter will always show a 
 great mind. 
 
 Mount of Saturn. 
 
 (At the base of the second finger.) 
 
 Qualities. — Prudence, wisdom. 
 Excess. — Taciturnity, sadness, love of solitude, 
 religious fanaticism, remorse, tendency to suicide. 
 Absence. — Misfortune or insignificant life. 
 30 
 
rtftounts. si 
 
 Mount of Apollo. 
 (At the base of the third finger) 
 
 Qualities. — Love of art or literature ; genius, 
 intelligence, hope, calm, beauty and grace of 
 mind, gentleness, toleration, mercy. 
 
 Excess. — Love of money, extravagance, curi- 
 osity, boasting, scoffing, lying, and envy. 
 
 Absence. — Dulness and insignificance. 
 
 Mount of Mercury. 
 (At the base of the fourth finger) 
 
 Qualities. — Cheerfulness, intelligence, wit, dash, 
 eloquence, industry, inventiveness, promptitude 
 of action and thought, love of work. 
 
 Excess. — Lying, theft, treachery, ruse, trickery, 
 pretentiousness, ignorance. 
 
 Absence. — Want of intelligence and aptitude; 
 a negative life. 
 
 Mount of Mars. 
 
 There are two Mounts of Mars, one beneath 
 the Mount of Jupiter, divided from it by the 
 Line of Life, the other beneath the Mount of 
 Mercury, divided from it by the Line of Heart. 
 The Plain of Mars lies between the two. 
 
 Qualities of the First (beneath Jupiter). — 
 
32 XZbe Grammar of ipalmtetrg. 
 
 Active courage, presence of mind, resolution, 
 elan, aggressiveness. 
 
 Qualities of the Second (beneath Mercury). — 
 Passive courage, devotion, self-command, resigna- 
 tion, strength of resistance, noble pride. 
 
 Excess (the excess of these mounts is favour- 
 able). — Of the first — great courage, dash and 
 daring ; love of danger for its own sake. Of the 
 second — great fortitude, calm strength, power of 
 forgiveness. 
 
 Excess (when represented also by bad lines). — 
 Cruelty, tyranny, blood-thirstiness, anger, in- 
 justice, insolence, brusquerie. 
 
 Absence. — Cowardice, timidity, want of presence 
 of mind. 
 
 Mount of Venus. 
 
 (At the base of the thumb) 
 
 Qualities. — Beauty, grace, affection, charity, 
 benevolence, love of beautiful things, of dancing, 
 of melody in music, desire of pleasing, and the 
 pleasures of the senses. 
 
 Excess. — Inconstancy, effrontery, coquetry, 
 vanity, idleness, and sensuality. 
 
 Absence. — Coldness, selfishness, want of tender- 
 ness and love. 
 
 If the mount is flat, there is a want of the 
 
d&ount6* 33 
 
 qualities ; to have vices it is necessary for other 
 signs to join in. With a hard hand, a much- 
 developed mount will give wit and grace of 
 manner, and it will take from a developed Mount 
 of Saturn its melancholy, and will make the 
 subject gay. 
 
 Mount of Luna. 
 
 (On the outside of the hand beneath the Mount of 
 
 Mars, and opposite that of Vetius.) 
 
 Qualities. — Imagination, sentiment, refine- 
 ment, poetry, harmony in music, love of scenery. 
 
 Excess. — Despair, discontent, caprice, irrita- 
 bility, sadness, superstition. 
 
 Absence. — Dulness, want of sympathy, of im- 
 agination, of ideas, positivism, and severe judg- 
 ment on others. 
 
 The mounts should always be judged with due 
 regard for the shape of the fingers ; otherwise 
 there is danger of confusing good and evil qual- 
 ities, such as religion and pride, science and 
 thieving. It is also very necessary to study and 
 understand the lines. For instance, a straight 
 Line of Head, a poor Line of Heart, knotted 
 fingers, and a long first phalange of the thumb, 
 will give, to a fine Line of Apollo, love of money 
 instead of art ; the subject will be a speculator, 
 
 c 
 
34 Gbe Grammar of palmistry. 
 
 not an artist. Look also if idleness — soft hand — 
 will not prevent success. 
 
 Look also if the mounts incline towards each 
 other. If Mercury encroaches on Apollo, science 
 will join art ; if towards the percussion or out- 
 side of the hand, it will show talent for business. 
 Mars inclining towards Mercury will denote 
 courage in free speech, and energy in the man- 
 agement of affairs. Mars towards Luna — energy 
 in imagination, and so on. 
 
Time and the Mounts 
 
PART II. 
 
 Time. (Fig. 17.) 
 
 Time is counted downwards on the Line of Life 
 as shown in'the accompanying sketch, and down- 
 wards also on the Line of Head. On the Line 
 of Fate, on the contrary, time is counted upwards 
 from the wrist to the Mount of Saturn, and this 
 is also the case with the Line of Fortune. On 
 the Line of Heart it is counted from the Mount 
 of Jupiter to the percussion of the hand. 
 
 Line of Life. 
 
 {Vital.) 
 
 The Line of Life shows the length of a person's 
 existence, and his health or illness during the 
 period. Time is measured upon it, and the in- 
 cidents marked on the other lines are corrobo- 
 rated. 
 
 The Line of Life should be long, narrow, deep, 
 softly coloured and completely encircling the 
 Mount of Venus. This will give long life, exempt 
 from illness, and a good character. 
 37 
 
38 Zbc Grammar of ftatmtstrg. 
 
 Signs of illness. — Pale and very deep — bad 
 health. Little dark clots on it — nervous illness. 
 Small lines crossing it — small illnesses, generally 
 headache. Chained and uneven — painful life, 
 bad health. Stopping suddenly with a black 
 dot — death by accident or violence. Broken in 
 one hand and weak in the other — a serious ill- 
 ness ; broken in both hands — generally the 
 patient dies. Forked at the end — possibly of 
 illness or insanity ; where this is found it is well 
 to caution the subject against over-work, either 
 mentally or physically. It is always a bad sign, 
 and conveys a serious warning. 
 
 Branches. — When branch lines rise on either 
 side of the Line of Life, it shows riches and 
 dignity ; if they fall downwards, poverty or loss 
 of character. If one line rises from the Line of 
 Life and crosses the Mount of Jupiter, it shows 
 boundless ambition ; if in both hands, it will be 
 successful, unless crossed out by other lines ; if 
 the branch, instead of the Mount of Jupiter, 
 rises on to those of Apollo or Mercury, success 
 will be gained in art or business, and will be the 
 result of personal merit. If the Life Line is 
 divided and one branch goes away on to the 
 Mount of Luna and deepens, it shows long voy- 
 ages or distant travelling. 
 
%ir\e5. 39 
 
 Cross Lines. — Many very small cross lines — ill- 
 health and delicate constitution. Lines from the 
 Mount of Venus crossing the Line of Life are 
 misfortunes caused by other people. Very often 
 they are signs of illness brought about by trouble 
 given by persons loved ; sometimes they are 
 money troubles, difficulties with relations, occa- 
 sionally lawsuits. To distinguish between them, 
 care must be taken to see where and how they 
 end. If on the Heart Line, it will be from the 
 affections, and if ending with a star or irregular 
 cross, a sudden shock. On the Head Line they 
 will show an accident, ox a brain fever, or illness 
 from overwork. 
 
 Attendant Lines. — When the Line of Life is 
 closely followed by another line, which may occa- 
 sionally entwine itself with it, it is a sign of great 
 vigour and success, and a promise of riches. But 
 if a branch rises from it and crosses the Mount 
 of Luna, ending in a star, the subject may be 
 given to intemperance, and if, together with this, 
 there is a black mark on the Line of Head, he 
 will probably die from delirium tremens or a fit 
 of insanity. This sister line to the Line of Life 
 is generally called the Line of Mars. Besides the 
 Line of Mars, which is rare, there will generally 
 be found some attendant lines further off from 
 the Line of Life, which follow its course more or 
 
40 £be Grammar of palmistry. 
 
 less regularly. These represent the influence of 
 other people over our life, and their intensity and 
 duration may be calculated by their depths and 
 by the nearness of their approach to the Line of 
 Life. 
 
 Stars and Crosses. — Stars and crosses near the 
 Line of Life are signs of trouble, especially if the 
 lines composing the star or cross pass over the 
 Line of Life — this is often the sign of an infirmity 
 from which the subject will not recover ; but if 
 it is on the side next the thumb it may mean 
 trouble from relations. 
 
 When the Vital Line ends in a series of 
 crosses, the subject may have an amiable charac- 
 ter and talent ; but if the crosses are found in 
 both hands he will never succeed in any one line, 
 will do nothing great with his life, and is menaced 
 with long ill-health at the termination. 
 
 Line of Head. 
 
 (Cerebral^) 
 
 Should be even, long and narrow ; this will 
 show strong judgment, determined will, and clear 
 mind. If the Mount of Mercury is much de- 
 veloped, there will be originality, energy, and 
 constancy ; if Mercury is low, more learning and 
 less ability. 
 
%inee. 41 
 
 When the line is separated from the Line of 
 Life. — This is a sign of self-confidence, and when 
 found in both hands, often conceit. Subjects 
 who have this division are very impulsive, and it 
 is as well to warn them not to decide too hastily; 
 with them second thoughts will generally be 
 best. The division is always of advantage in 
 gaining success in any business or profession, 
 especially for barristers, public speakers, actors, 
 singers, etc., as it gives them confidence in their 
 own powers, and scorn of criticism. 
 
 When the Line of Head is joined to the Line of 
 Life.— This is a sign of want of self-confidence. 
 If it is joined as far as the middle in both hands, 
 timidity and moral cowardice will be excessive ; 
 and unless there are signs of very great talent, 
 subjects with the lines so joined will never suc- 
 ceed in anything. In many cases the lines are 
 joined in one hand, and not in the other ; when 
 this is the case, a join in the left hand will show 
 the subject to have been born self-distrustful, 
 and to have conquered it by resolution ; if vice 
 versa, the subject has been in youth somewhat 
 conceited, and has been probably snubbed into a 
 smaller opinion of himself. When the subject 
 has a join in both hands, snubbing will have a 
 very bad effect on the character; the subject 
 should, on the contrary, be in every way encour- 
 
42 ftbe Grammar of fl>almistrE. 
 
 aged. It is also often a sign that the develop- 
 ment of the intellect has been slow. 
 
 When the line is very long and straight. — This 
 is a sign of common-sense, of care and economy. 
 If it goes quite straight right across the hand, it will 
 show avarice, selfishness, and greed. This, how- 
 ever, need not be the case if the other signs are 
 very good in the hand; with a fine Mount of 
 Jupiter, a turned-out thumb, and a good Line of 
 Heart, it will only mean great perseverance, good 
 judgment, and common-sense. 
 
 When the line is very long and sloping. — This 
 is a sign of imagination, artistic feeling, poetry, 
 and but little judgment. In excess, it will bring 
 every sort of folly and delusion, especially if the 
 Mount of Luna is much developed and lined, 
 and should it end in a star near the Bracelet, the 
 subject may end his days in a madhouse. A 
 long line is sign of good memory. 
 
 When the Line of Head is forked. — It is a 
 good thing that all the lines in the hand, except 
 the Line of Life, should end in a fork. When 
 the Head Line ends in a small fork, it will show 
 both imagination and common-sense. But the 
 fork should not be too large, or the ends irregu- 
 lar. In this case it would show a tendency to 
 ruse and trickery ; in a bad hand, to lying and 
 deceit ; in any case, if one branch descends to- 
 
ftfnes. 43 
 
 wards the Mount of Luna, it is a sign of diplo- 
 matic talent, subtility and acuteness ; the subject 
 may deceive himself, but he certainly has the 
 ability to deceive others. 
 
 When the line is short. — If the line advances 
 only to the middle of the hand, it shows a want 
 of spirit, of dash and balance ; the subject will 
 see but one side of any question ; if it stops short 
 under the Mount of Saturn, life will t^e short, 
 and death probably sudden. If the line begins 
 under the Mount of Saturn, and slopes into the 
 Mount of Luna, and the Heart Line is not very 
 good, it will show an obstinate character, and 
 one who will always take offence and love quar- 
 rels. As any line attached to the Saturnian — 
 or Line of Fate — which does not cross it is bad 
 and unlucky, so a Head or Heart Line ending 
 or beginning at the Line of Fate is very unfor- 
 tunate, shows much unhappiness, weak health, 
 and short life. 
 
 Signs of illness. — When the line is very pale 
 and wide, it shows a want of intelligence, and 
 indecision; but if the thumb is good, and the 
 Mount of Mercury well developed and marked, 
 this will mean weakness of the brain, and the 
 subject should be cautioned against over-excite- 
 ment. Broken in two beneath the Mount of 
 Saturn, it signifies an accident to the head, or a 
 
44 Gbe Grammar of palmistry. 
 
 wound of some sort. A circle on the line may 
 mean the loss of sight. Winding, unequal, and 
 of differing colours, it shows liver complaint, and 
 if broken in blocks, mental disease, or loss of 
 memory. Small lines crossing or falling from it 
 headache. 
 
 When the line is chained. — This shows a want 
 of fixity in the ideas; there is too much variety; 
 but if the line is followed throughout by another, 
 a sister line, it means a great inheritance. 
 
 Crosses, and lines rising and falling from it. 
 — A cross on the Head Line in the middle of 
 the Plain of Mars shows a severe accident, the 
 result of which must be looked for on the Line 
 of Life. Black dots upon the line show brain 
 fever, or an illness in which the subject has been 
 delirious. Lines rising from the Head Line, 
 and mounting towards the Heart without touch- 
 ing, and those which fall from the Heart towards 
 the Head, show the influence of other people 
 over us, and we can trace by their crossing each 
 other, or stopping short, how far such influence 
 is prejudicial or favourable to our happiness. 
 The lines from the Head upwards are those of 
 friendship only, while those from the Heart may 
 arise from love for members of the opposite sex. 
 A branch from the Head Line rising high upon 
 
3Unes. 45 
 
 the Mount of Jupiter, and cutting into the root of 
 the finger, shows great pride and ambition ; if it 
 ends in a cross, it will fail ; in a star — success ; but 
 if instead of ending there, the branch turns back 
 towards the Mount of Saturn, it is a bad sign for 
 the character: the subject will be a fanatic in 
 religion or pride, and possessed of mad vanity. A 
 branch from the Head Line going toward Mercury 
 shows a great gain in business or affairs ; if it ends 
 between the third and fourth fingers the gain will 
 be in art or science. When the Heart Line sinks 
 down towards the Head it is a sign of egotism; 
 if the other signs are good, it is only the sign 
 of a person who is unable to see any question 
 except from his own standpoint, and takes a 
 narrow and conventional view of things in gen- 
 eral ; physically it will show asthma, or palpitation 
 if the Line of Health is not good. If the Head 
 Line rises towards the Heart, it is a sign of 
 timidity. If the Head and Heart Lines touch, 
 it shows misfortune and early death — if in both 
 hands, and should the Line of Fate stop at the 
 Line of Head, the evil becomes still more certain. 
 Should the Line of Head arch towards the Heart 
 Line, and then abruptly fall on to the Line of 
 Life, it is the sign of great misfortune in love, 
 probably a long engagement never fulfilled. 
 
46 Gbe Grammar of ipalmtetrg. 
 
 Line of Heart. 
 (Mensal^j 
 
 Should be narrow, deep, of a good colour, 
 running straight from the Mount of Jupiter to 
 that of Mercury. This will give a good heart ; 
 strong and happy affection. The longer the Line 
 of Heart, the nobler, the more ideal the love. 
 Should, however, the line completely encircle the 
 Mount of Jupiter, and the Head Line slope on 
 Luna, the subject may make himself unhappy by 
 jealousy. 
 
 When the line is short. — Not rising until be- 
 neath the Mount of Saturn, it is a sign of a cold 
 heart; if, however, with this, the Mount of 
 Venus is much developed and the hand soft, the 
 affections may be very warm, but the tendency 
 will be sensual. With a very long Head Line 
 and strong thumb, a subject will be very con- 
 stant, even if the Heart Line is short. This will 
 make him affectionate to the few he loves, though 
 lacking in general benevolence and love of his 
 fellow-creatures. When the line goes round the 
 percussion of the hand till it can be seen on the 
 back, it will show great spirit, daring, and per- 
 severance. 
 
 When the line is forked. — A fork on the Heart 
 
Xines. 47 
 
 Line under Jupiter is a true sign of trustworthi- 
 ness and constancy, but not of happiness in love. 
 The more even the fork, the more ideal the 
 character. 
 
 Branches. — Branches rising and falling from 
 the Line of Heart show the influence of other 
 people on the affections, and as they are crossed 
 or otherwise, so is the love successful and re- 
 turned, or disappointed and unhappy. A branch 
 that rises high on the Mount of Jupiter promises 
 great happiness and successful ambition, if un- 
 crossed. When a branch cuts through the line 
 and descends beneath it, it is a sign of disap- 
 pointment. When there are many branches, it 
 is a sign that the feelings of love and hate are 
 very strong. No branches mean a loveless life, 
 so far as the opposite sex is concerned. 
 
 When the line is broken. — A break in the line 
 generally means a broken engagement, or a great 
 disappointment with regard to a person loved. 
 If beneath Saturn, circumstances will be the 
 cause; between Saturn and Apollo, folly; beneath 
 Apollo, from pride; and beneath Mercury, from 
 caprice or ignorance. 
 
 Dots and Dents. — These on the Heart Line 
 always show troubles, physical or mental. When 
 the dot is red, the sorrow has been very keen, 
 and may be caused by the unworthiness of the 
 
48 Gbe Grammar of palmistry. 
 
 person loved. White dots are conquests in love, 
 and black or blue ones are signs of shock or 
 illness. 
 
 When the line is chained. — Chains or islands 
 on the Line of Heart show inconstancy, caprice, 
 flirtation, and intrigue, and often contempt of the 
 opposite sex. 
 
 Signs of illness. — These signs on the Heart 
 Line must always be corroborated either on the 
 Line of Health or that of Life, otherwise it is 
 very easy to mistake flirtation for heart-disease, 
 or loss of money and troubles of poverty for 
 palpitation of the heart, and so on. It is a very 
 bad sign physically, if the line is almost white and 
 very wide, especially under Saturn, so that it 
 almost looks blurred; this is a great sign of 
 disease of the heart, and if the line be cut and 
 the two ends piled on top of each other it is also 
 a sign of severe illness. 
 
 A hand without any Line of Heart shows hard- 
 heartedness, cruelty, and avarice. 
 
 Line of Fate. 
 (Satumian.) 
 The Line of Fate shows worldly success or 
 failure, and the general course of the life. 
 
 There are four principal places for the de- 
 parture of this line : 
 
Xfnes* 49 
 
 ist. From the Line of Life. — This is good and 
 common. The line then partakes of the life- 
 qualities, shows a generous heart, and, if un- 
 crossed, shows prosperity and happiness. 
 
 2nd. From the Plain of Mars, or middle of 
 the hand. — This will show a life of trouble, but 
 is also a sign of hope and energy. There will 
 always be struggles and obstacles, but if success 
 is achieved, it will be by merit alone. 
 
 3rd. From the Bracelet. — This will show a fine 
 and uncommon destiny, if found thus in both 
 hands, and happiness or misery will result from 
 it according to the direction and markings of 
 the line. If it goes from the Bracelet to the 
 Mount of Saturn, ending high upon it, it shows 
 great success ; if the line is forked, it is still more 
 certain. If it passes over the mount and enters 
 the Finger of Saturn, it shows excessive fatality, 
 a great destiny; should it, however, mount still 
 higher and end in a star, it is said to presage an 
 heroic career, ending with violence, or a great 
 crime. 
 
 4th. From the Mount of Luna. — When the Line 
 of Fate rises from this mount it shows that all the 
 happiness of the life will arise from the actions of 
 some other person or persons. Destiny is taken 
 out of the hands of the subject altogether, and 
 arranged for him. This is not altogether the 
 
 D 
 
50 Zhc Grammar of lpalmtetrs. 
 
 case if the line rises from Luna in one hand 
 only, and in the other from the Life Line or the 
 Bracelet. In this case the subject will either 
 have given away his fate voluntarily into an- 
 other's hands, or will have freed himself from 
 the control imposed upon him by circumstance, 
 as the line is found differing in the right or in 
 the left hand. If a Luna Line of Fate stop at 
 the Heart Line, and there is a well-formed cross 
 on the Mount of Jupiter, fortune and happiness 
 will arise by means of a good marriage. 
 
 If the line rises from below the Bracelet, it 
 shows a very bad influence of fate and great 
 grief. There are four principal places on which 
 the Line of Fate may end. 
 
 ist. On or towards the Mount of Saturn. — 
 When this is the case and the line is a good one, 
 not much crossed or barred, the career will be a 
 fine one, and probably successful and adventurous 
 — full of good chances. These chances will often 
 be shown by the end of the line being much 
 forked upon the mount, each fork showing by its 
 direction in what pursuit success will be promised. 
 
 2nd. On or towards Jupiter. — This will show 
 great success and gratified ambition if the line 
 rises high upon the mount, but if it runs up 
 between the first and second finger it shows 
 tranquil, untroubled life. 
 
Xfnes. 51 
 
 3rd. On or towards the Mount of Apollo. — 
 This promises success in art, or great riches if 
 the line is clear and uncrossed. 
 
 4th. On or towards the Mount of Mercury. — 
 This shows gain in business or scientific triumphs. 
 If the line stops at the Line of Heart, it is often 
 a sign of love troubles ; if at the Line of Head, fate 
 is often spoiled by a wrong judgment; but in 
 both cases these signs must be corroborated on 
 the other lines. Small lines cutting the Saturnian 
 show troubles, crosses ; on, or near the line, 
 changes of fate, or residence; and stars, dangers. 
 
 When the Fate Line is broken it does not 
 always mean misfortune ; if the line continues 
 again well marked and uncrossed it will probably 
 show a great event in the life, and if the lines 
 run parallel for a little distance the event may 
 bring a change for the better in position and 
 dignity. 
 
 When the Fate Line is tortuous y and chained 
 with a double line, it is a sign of misfortune, or 
 bad character, and unhappiness brought about 
 by evil deeds. When, however, the line is only 
 followed by a sister line for a short distance, it 
 means a strong influence of another person, or 
 even an effect of imagination, powerful enough 
 to affect the career of the subject. 
 
 Branches upwards from the Fate Line show 
 D 2 
 
52 Gbe <5tammar ot lpalmf9tr^» 
 
 improvement in position and wealth ; but if they 
 tend downwards there will be reverses, and 
 possibly poverty. A corkscrew on the line 
 shows a very unfortunate period ; if near the 
 bottom of the hand, a very unhappy childhood. 
 This is also shown by dents and crosses at the 
 extreme beginning of the Life Line. 
 
 Should a line rise on the Mount of Luna, and 
 cross or join the Line of Fate, it shows a great 
 folly, or a fatal influence of imagination. With 
 other bad signs concurring, it sometimes.means 
 danger of illness from over-indulgence in intox- 
 icating drink. 
 
 In studying the Line of Fate, both hands 
 should be most carefully compared. 
 
 [M. Desbarolles, M. Serres, and other French 
 writers have asserted — and in this they have 
 been followed by many English chiromantists — 
 that the Line of Fate is only to be found in the 
 hands of the European races. That they are 
 mistaken in their assertion I have myself ascer- 
 tained by examining the hands both of Maoris 
 and of Hindoos ; in the former case I invariably 
 found the Fate Line very strongly marked.] 
 
Xtnes. 53 
 
 Line of Fortune. 
 {Solar) 
 
 Shows glory, fame, and riches, artistic and 
 literary talent, and success, worldly distinction 
 and prosperity. It should be narrow, deep, 
 straight, long, and rise high upon the Mount 
 of Apollo. 
 
 There are four places from which the line 
 may rise. 
 
 1st. Rising from the Line of Life. — This is 
 very favourable, and will show success and for- 
 tune gained by inheritance, or by merit. The 
 lower the line rises, the more surely will honour 
 or celebrity be attained. 
 
 2nd. Rising from the Mount of Luna. — In this 
 case success or fortune will be gained unexpect- 
 edly, and by the help of other people, by the 
 influence of powerful friends, or by marriage. 
 
 3rd. Rising from the Plain of Mars. — Middle 
 of the hand. In this case success will come late 
 in life, or towards middle-age, and will be the 
 result of personal merit and exertion. 
 
 4th. Rising from the Line of Heart. — This will 
 show an appreciative character, a love of art and 
 of the beautiful; but neither wealth nor fame 
 will be gained by it. 
 
54 Gbe Grammar of fcalmfstrg. 
 
 Occasionally the Line of Apollo maybe found 
 rising beneath the Mount of Venus, running 
 parallel for a short distance with the Line of 
 Life ; fortune and success will then be made by 
 love or marriage, or by the help of a strong 
 friendship, but the subject has not been born 
 to it. 
 
 Cross Lines. — These are obstacles in the way 
 of success, and if they bar the line without cut- 
 ting it through, the obstacles may arrive from 
 envy and ill-will; if they bar the line near the 
 beginning they will show loss of fortune by 
 parents during youth. 
 
 Branches. — A single fork on the Mount of 
 Apollo will show success in one line of life; 
 but if there are many, and the line is, so to 
 say, faggoted, there will be taste and talent in 
 many different branches of art, politics, or lit- 
 erature, but energy being too much distributed, 
 nothing will be brought to success or perfection, 
 except in very exceptional cases, when a high 
 Mount of Jupiter, and a very strong thumb, will 
 show a subject of uncommon aptitude and deter- 
 mination. But when, instead of branching, the 
 lines run parallel down the mount, great celebrity 
 will be attained, and fortune and position will 
 make complete success. But this is only when 
 the lines are found alike in both hands. Many 
 
%ines. 55 
 
 lines on the mount always show ambition, but 
 when faggoted — tied, as it were, together — it 
 degenerates into a mere love of display and 
 desire to shine ; three lines will, nevertheless, 
 often show a gain in wealth. 
 
 When the Line of Fortune is inferior in strength 
 and beauty to that of Fate, there will be more 
 position than wealth. 
 
 Unless there is a good Mount of Jupiter a 
 Line of Apollo cannot bring much success^ 
 except in the shape of money, and in a very 
 hollow hand it is said to be powerless. 
 
 The Line of Health. 
 (Hepatica) 
 
 It is a sign of a very strong constitution to be 
 without this line. 
 
 The Line of Health should start from the 
 Bracelet, or from the Line of Life, and go on, or 
 towards the Mount of Mercury ; but it is very 
 irregular, and may begin or end almost anywhere 
 in the hand. It should be long, narrow, clear, 
 well-coloured and straight ; this will show good 
 health, good memory and a kind heart. 
 
 If the line is tortuous it shows biliousness and 
 bad temper. If it joins the Heart Line, and does 
 
56 Gbe Grammar of fcalmtetrg. 
 
 not cross it, it will show feebleness of Heart; if 
 it joins the Line of Head it shows a tendency to 
 brain attack from over-work or over-excitement, 
 especially if the Life Line is forked at the wrist. 
 A cross on the line shows an illness, the date of 
 which must be looked for on the Line of Life. 
 Small lines crossing it show weakness and deli- 
 cacy, often headaches or neuralgia. If the line is 
 broken it will show congestion of the lungs or 
 pleurisy. 
 
 If the line is unequally coloured and very red 
 near the middle, it shows a tendency to fever, 
 and red or black dots show severe illness ; if it 
 is red near the Line of Head, it shows severe 
 headaches, if it is very pale and white, chronic 
 indigestion. Very red near the Line of Life 
 shows heart-disease. A star on the Hepatica 
 shows no family ; a star near it on the Plain of 
 Mars shows failing sight, sometimes blindness. 
 
 Branches from the Hepatica to the line of 
 Fortune show changes in business relations or 
 professions, and this is also shown by a cross 
 near, but disconnected with the Line of Health. 
 A branch from the Hepatica to the Mount of 
 Jupiter shows great changes and much travel- 
 ling; if it rises towards the Mount of Apollo, it 
 will mean the possession of a great deal of 
 money. When the Hepatica is followed by a 
 
Xines. 57 
 
 sister line, it is a sign of excellent health and 
 good fortune. 
 
 The Line of Intuition. 
 (Line of Luna.) 
 
 This is not a very common line, and is, as a rule, 
 only found on imaginative or intellectual hands. 
 
 It should rise upon or beneath the Mount of 
 Luna, and proceed in a sort of half circle on to or 
 towards the Mount of Mercury. 
 
 If it is clear, straight, and narrow, it will show 
 intuition, thought-reading, and mesmerism. The 
 subject will have a taste for occult science, 
 divining, clairvoyance, and if there is an island 
 near the beginning of the line, a gift of second 
 sight. If the line is branched, tortuous, or short, 
 there will be danger of caprice and over-imagi- 
 nation, culminating in lunacy. 
 
 When the Line of Luna forms a triangle with 
 the Line of Fate and the Line of Head it is said 
 to indicate a good chiromantist, with talent for 
 palmistry. 
 
 An island on the line, not perfect at one end, 
 shows a tendency to somnambulism. This is 
 also shown in the same way as the Line of 
 Health. 
 
58 ftbe Grammar of ipalmietrs* 
 
 Lines crossing the Line of Intuition, going to- 
 wards the Fate or Life Lines, show voyages, and 
 a star on the Mount of Luna, near the line, a 
 danger of shipwreck, or fire at sea. 
 
 The Ring of Venus. 
 
 The Ring of Venus is a half-circle, formed by 
 a line starting from between the first and second 
 fingers, crossing or surrounding the Mounts of 
 Saturn and Apollo, and ending, when perfect, 
 between the third and fourth fingers. 
 
 The early writers, and the great master of 
 chiromancy, Desbarolles, have chosen to regard 
 this line as indicative of evil, a sign of false 
 ambition, lying, coquetry and sensuality; and 
 in this they have been followed by most English 
 palmists, though the latest writers have seen fit 
 to modify, to a great degree, the severe judg- 
 ment of their predecessors ; in fact, some have 
 gone so far as to say it is not a sign of evil, 
 except with other bad signs concurring, and only 
 then when the line is broken or tangled. 
 
 Now, I fancy if they had not started with the 
 original idea already prejudged in their minds, 
 they might possibly have come to the conclusion 
 with regard to their own experience to discard 
 the earlier readings hallowed by tradition, and 
 
Xines. 59 
 
 to attribute this line to other influences. Des- 
 barolles, in his works, has always divided the 
 palm of the hand into three worlds or divisions ; 
 the intellectual, that which comprises the Mounts 
 and lines of Heart and Head, drawing a line 
 across from the junction of the thumb to the 
 base of the Mount of Mercury; the physical, 
 that which contains the table of the hand, the 
 Plain and Mounts of Mars, drawing the line from 
 the lowest joint of the thumb to the junction of 
 the Mounts of Mars and Luna ; and the sensual, 
 comprising the Mounts of Venus and Luna down 
 to the wrist. The truth and value of this di- 
 vision has never, I believe, been disputed. How, 
 then, it may be asked, can a line, drawn across 
 the highest pitch of the intellectual world, be 
 the sign of qualities which have always been 
 found clearly distinguishable in the excessive 
 development of the lowest division ? The line 
 itself encircles the Mounts of Fate and Fortune, 
 and is generally found sharply intersecting the 
 lines which signify success in art and ambition. 
 I venture, therefore, with all respect to the learned 
 and experienced writers who have gone before 
 me, to suggest that possibly the earlier reading 
 of this line may have been mistaken, and that 
 the time has come when new light may be 
 
60 Zhe Grammar of ipalmtetrg. 
 
 thrown upon the subject. For myself I may, 
 perhaps, be allowed to say on behalf of a new 
 view, that during nearly five years of study and 
 of experience of all sorts of hands on both sides 
 of the world — and I have occasionally examined 
 as many as forty or fifty in a day — I have never 
 in one single case found the old reading correct, 
 or that the line in any way corresponded to the 
 other signs of the same disposition found in the 
 hand. I have found this line invariably in hands 
 of the most refined and intellectual type, hands 
 with long taper fingers, straight forked Heart 
 Lines with a few branches, pale narrow lines, 
 and an entire absence of the Mount of Venus. 
 In most cases I have also remarked in hands 
 showing the so-called Ring of Venus, that while 
 the Heart Line is cold, the Head Line is very 
 marked, long, sloping deep and narrow, and the 
 thumb has a long, strong phalange of reason. 
 The hands are also often very much lined and 
 crossed. My own theory, which is as yet only 
 a supposition, and should be considered merely 
 as such, is that this Ring of Venus is a sign of 
 much misfortune ; as it breaks the Lines of Fate 
 and Fortune, so it deprives them of their ulti- 
 mate success, and as it cuts off the Mounts of 
 Saturn and Apollo, so it deprives the rest of the 
 
Xines. 61 
 
 hand of the prudence and worldly wisdom of 
 the former, and of the fame and sunshine of 
 happiness promised by the latter. It is a sign 
 of a restless disposition, of a vie manquee. 
 
PART III. 
 
 The Plain of Mars. 
 
 The Plain of Mars is the centre of the palm of 
 the hand, the valley through which the Line of 
 Head flows. 
 
 If it is high, it shows aggressiveness and 
 daring; if low, a peaceful disposition; if very- 
 hollow, the subject will never rise to any high 
 position. 
 
 The lines to be found, and signs marked on it, 
 are considered under the headings of the Quad- 
 rangle and Triangles. 
 
 The Quadrangle. 
 
 This is the space found between the Lines of 
 Head and Heart. 
 
 If it is wide and regular, largest nearest the 
 percussion, and the lines bounding it of good 
 colour, it shows justice, loyalty and broad, 
 tolerant views, a straightforward and courageous 
 character. Should it be narrow, it shows narrow 
 views and conventionality, a tendency to in- 
 justice and indecision ; with other bad signs 
 62 
 
Xines. 63 
 
 concurring, deceit and malice. In an otherwise 
 good hand, but with a weak Line of Health, it 
 is said to show asthma. When this narrowness 
 is caused by the Line of Heart descending 
 towards the Line of Head, the subject is egotisti- 
 cal; but if at the same time the Mount of Venus 
 is well developed, and the Heart Line long, it 
 will mean an inability on the subject's part to 
 see anything from another's point of view/ and 
 though in this case he will be benevolent, he 
 will only assist others at his own time, and in 
 his own manner. 
 
 When the narrowness of the Quadrangle is 
 caused by the Line of Head mounting towards 
 the Line of Heart, it is a sign of irresolution and 
 timidity. With red coloured lines, developed 
 Mounts of Mars, and a short Heart Line, it will 
 mean cruelty also. In an otherwise benevolent 
 hand it will show a hard and critical judgment 
 of other people's faults. 
 
 Crosses in the Quadrangle show the influences 
 of others on the life of the subject. Those that 
 fall from the Heart Line downwards are in- 
 fluences engendered by the opposite sex, those 
 that rise may be the result of either friendship 
 or love, but in the latter case the feeling will be 
 deeper on the part of the other person concerned 
 than of the subject himself. If the cross is well- 
 
64 Gbe Grammar of palmistry 
 
 formed and does not cross the Lines of Fate or 
 Fortune, the influence will be good and happy, 
 and if the branches of the cross touch both head 
 and heart, the influence will be lifelong. 
 
 The Triangle. 
 
 The Triangle (fig. 6) is found in the centre of 
 the palm of the hand, below the Quadrangle, 
 and is formed by the Lines of Head, Life, and 
 Health; if there is no Health Line in the hand, 
 the Line of Fortune will take its place ; and if 
 that also is wanting, then the Fate Line stands 
 instead ; but in both these latter cases the Tri- 
 angle must necessarily be much contracted. 
 
 When the Triangle is well traced, wide, and 
 the lines of good colour, it will show good 
 health, long life, and a strong intellect. 
 
 When it is very large — audacity, generosity, 
 and a noble character. 
 
 When it is small and badly formed, it is a sign 
 of avarice, tenacity, meanness, and want of in- 
 telligence. 
 
 If the Triangle is flat and somewhat raised in 
 the hand, it will show daring, courage, and love 
 of struggle ; but if it is much sunk, the character 
 will be peaceable and unambitious. 
 
 First Angle (fig. 7). — Formed by the conjunc- 
 
6Q 
 
Xines. 67 
 
 tion of the Lines of Life and of Head. If it is 
 narrow, well made, and acute, it will show a good 
 disposition, sensitiveness, delicacy and wit. If 
 very obtuse, stupidity. If the lines do not join, 
 great self-confidence. If the angle is formed 
 low down, right upon the Plain of Mars, it will 
 be a sign of a very unhappy life, possibly of love 
 of money, and strife. 
 
 Second Angle (fig. 8). — Formed by the con- 
 junction of the Lines of Life and of Health, or 
 sometimes of Health and of Fate. If this angle 
 is well formed, it will show good health ; but it is 
 a sign of a bad constitution if it is too sharp. If 
 it is too heavy and broad, it shows idleness and 
 ill-nature. If, in the hand of a child, this angle 
 is found defective, care should be taken that he 
 should not be pushed too hard in his studies, as 
 intellectual power will be late in developing, and 
 health may suffer from too great application. 
 
 Third Angle (fig. 9). — Formed by the con- 
 junction of the Lines of Head and of Health. 
 If it is well formed and broad, it shows long life 
 and much intelligence ; if it is too sharp, a 
 nervous temper ; and if badly formed, headache 
 and irritability. If very obtuse, it is a sign of 
 stupidity and inconstancy. 
 
 If in the hand of a young person the Triangle 
 is formed by the Lines of Life, Head, and Health, 
 E 2 
 
68 Gbe Grammar ot palmistry* 
 
 and the Lines of Fate and Fortune are missing, 
 an intellectual career should not be chosen for 
 him. He may be very clever and capable of 
 good work, but he will always lose the oppor- 
 tune moment ; from want of worldly wisdom 
 the golden opportunity will be missed, and suc- 
 cess in mental work will never be achieved. 
 
 The Bracelets. 
 (Rascettes) 
 
 These are the lines which encircle the wrist. 
 It is, however, only those placed close to the 
 hand that are of any importance. 
 
 The Bracelets show length of life — each line 
 being said to foretell some thirty years of ex- 
 istence — and health, wealth, and happiness. 
 
 A single line, well made, uncrossed, and deep, 
 shows a happy, if short, existence, and a calm 
 disposition, and the greater the number of lines, 
 if equally well made, the greater the promise of 
 good fortune and happiness. A Bracelet of four 
 lines is called a " royal Bracelet," and signifies 
 that the fortunate possessor will gain all this 
 world can give. 
 
 If the lines rise towards the hand, it is a sign 
 of elevated ideas and noble views of life ; if they 
 descend, it is a sign of inferiority. 
 
%ine$. 69 
 
 If the lines are chained, it will show a laborious 
 life; but if they continue without breaking, suc- 
 cess will be won at last. 
 
 If the lines are much broken and badly 
 marked, it shows trouble, distress, and with other 
 bad signs concurring, even disgrace. 
 
 A cross on the Bracelets, well marked and 
 even, is a sign of a legacy or unexpected gain. 
 
 An angle promises great inheritance and an 
 honoured old age. 
 
 Branches on the Bracelets are also signs of 
 distinctions and honour. 
 
 Lines rising from the Bracelet on to the Mount 
 of Luna show long travel and voyages; if they 
 end in a star on the mount, it is a warning of 
 shipwreck; if in both hands, a danger of drown- 
 ing. If "a line rises from the wrist and passes 
 up to the Mount of Jupiter, the subject will 
 travel very far, probably more than once round 
 the world. If the line, however, directs itself 
 toward the Mount of Apollo, it will show a life 
 of fortune and distinction from the favour of 
 great personages ; but if it crosses the Mount of 
 Luna, and on reaching the Mount of Mars passes 
 round the percussion of the hand, it will show 
 great misfortune and tribulation, especially if it 
 is also irregular in its course, or broken and 
 chained. 
 
70 Gbe Grammar of lfcalmtett:£» 
 
 The Marriage Lines. 
 
 The Marriage Lines are found passing hori- 
 zontally across the Mount of Mercury from the 
 percussion of the hand towards the palm. 
 
 The long lines only should be counted as 
 marriages ; the others are love affairs in which 
 the feelings were deeply concerned. In the case 
 of a love match there should be also a well- 
 formed cross on the Mount of Jupiter, and by 
 this cross it is customary to date the time of 
 marriage. If it is near the root of the finger, the 
 marriage will take place very early ; if in the 
 centre of the mount, from twenty-five to thirty; 
 if lower down, about middle age ; and if upon the 
 Line of Life, not until old age. When the heart 
 is very deeply concerned, lines from the Heart 
 Line will be found rising towards the Marriage 
 Line on the Mount of Mercury^ 
 
 When the Marriage Line is forked it is a sign 
 of a broken engagement. 
 
 If it slopes down on the Line of Heart, it is 
 said to foretell widowhood ; if broken with a 
 black or red dot, the death will be sudden. 
 
 Crossed with many perpendicular lines, it will 
 show trouble, strife, and possibly lawsuits. 
 
%ines. 71 
 
 LINES ON THE FINGERS AND MOUNTS. 
 
 First Finger. 
 
 (Finger of Jupiter}) 
 
 LINES ON THE FINGER. 
 
 One single line from the root to the first pha- 
 lange shows nobility of character. 
 
 Many lines on the first phalange show ill- 
 health (this is the case with all the fingers). 
 
 Transverse lines on the second — a power of 
 lying well. 
 
 Star on the second — a sign of wickedness, un- 
 less the branches mount on to the first phalange. 
 
 Cross on the second — the friendship of the 
 great. 
 
 Transverse lines on the third — money, or an 
 inheritance. 
 
 Star on the third — an evil life. 
 
 Many lines from the mount across the root, on 
 to the third phalange — high spirit and determi- 
 nation to succeed. 
 
 lines on the mount. 
 
 A single line on the mount will show success. 
 
 A cross shows ambition and happiness. 
 
 A grill shows selfishness and absurd pride. 
 
 A triangle — diplomacy. 
 
 Without lines — happiness, and a calm life. 
 
72 ftbe Grammar of iPalmtetrE. 
 
 Second Finger. 
 (Finger of Saturn?) 
 
 LINES ON THE FINGER. 
 
 A single line traversing the whole finger shows 
 stupidity and a great folly. 
 
 Many lines equal and regular — a good fortune 
 of money — said to be from mining or minerals. 
 
 Waving lines — obstacles. 
 
 Star on the first phalange — a great but fatal 
 event. 
 
 A single line on the third phalange, not touch- 
 ing the root of the finger — prosperity in arms. 
 
 Cross on the third phalange — no family. 
 
 Triangle on the third-— a bad subject, threat- 
 ened by a miserable fate. 
 
 Lines from the root to the mount — melan- 
 choly. 
 
 Many lines on all the phalanges are said to be 
 a sign of impulsiveness. 
 
 LINES ON THE MOUNT. 
 
 A single line on the mount — a sign of happi- 
 ness. 
 
 Many lines — misfortune, especially if tangled. 
 A cross — a misfortune, or an adverse influence. 
 Rays tending upwards — happiness. 
 Cross rays — obstacles. 
 
%ines. 73 
 
 Star shows a danger of assassination, some- 
 times of paralysis. 
 
 A triangle — a talent for mystic science. 
 
 Third Finger. 
 {Finger of Apollo}) 
 
 LINES ON THE FINGER. 
 
 A single line from the root to the first phalange 
 shows a gain of great glory. 
 
 Straight lines on the third — a happy existence. 
 
 One or two lines from the third to the second 
 show wisdom and ability. 
 
 LINES ON THE MOUNT. 
 
 A single line on the mount shows talent and 
 success. 
 
 Two lines, if crossed — talent and failure. 
 
 Many lines, tangled or forked — love of too 
 many arts, and consequent failure. 
 
 A cross — ill-luck in art or in riches. 
 
 A grill — vainglory and boasting. 
 
 A star shows riches and unhappiness ; or 
 celebrity gained by chance. 
 
 A triangle — scientific art or architecture. 
 
74 ftbe Grammar of ipalmistrg. 
 
 Fourth Finger. 
 {Finger of Mercury?) 
 
 LINES ON THE FINGER. 
 
 A single line from the root to the first phalange 
 — success in scientific research ; if more than 
 one, failure from following chimeras and impos- 
 sibilities. 
 
 Lines on the first — ill-health, feebleness of 
 organization. 
 
 Line from the second to the first — a great 
 intelligence. 
 
 Confused marks on the second — theft or lying. 
 
 Straight lines on the third — intelligence. 
 
 A star on the third — spirit and eloquence. 
 
 A cross on the third — theft. 
 
 A grill — cheating and dishonesty. 
 
 LINES ON THE MOUNT. 
 
 A single line shows a good chance of fortune. 
 
 Two deep lines — a sign of a good doctor or 
 nurse. 
 
 A faggot of lines shows science and aptitude, 
 sometimes a good chemist. 
 
 A star — a successful author. 
 
 A cross — a disposition to theft. 
 
 A triangle — diplomacy, a love of politics. 
 
tinea. 75 
 
 Too many lines show an astute subject, but 
 one liable to overreach himself. 
 
 A cross on the mount, close to the Heart Line, 
 which is cut by one of its branches, together with 
 a black dot on the line, is said to show a great 
 loss of money through treachery. 
 
 [There being no mention of lines on the 
 thumb in any work on palmistry with which I 
 am acquainted, and my own theories not being 
 sufficiently justified by experience to find a place 
 in such a work as this, I shall at once pass on to 
 the consideration of the mount. The lines on 
 the thumb, I am convinced, are, nevertheless, of 
 considerable importance, and I should be glad 
 to draw the attention of the greater chiromantists 
 to them ] 
 
 Lines on the Mount of Venus. 
 
 Many lines upon the Mount of Venus show 
 great affection and passion ; but if they are 
 crossed by others into a grill, the reverse is the 
 case ; there will be great refinement in love, but 
 the heart is cold and wanting in benevolence; 
 this may be modified by fine Lines of Heart and 
 Head. With many lines passing down the 
 mount to the palm, fate will rule, and the sub- 
 ject's love-affairs will be the sport of destiny. A 
 
76 trbe Grammar of fcalmisttg. 
 
 single strong line crossing from the Mount to 
 the Plain of Mars will show the dominant in- 
 fluences of someone of the other sex, exercised 
 during a great part of the life. A mount with- 
 out lines will show calm, coldness, and often a 
 short life. A star shows trouble connected with 
 marriage ; a single cross — a happy love. 
 
 Lines of the Mount of Mars. 
 
 Many lines upon the Mount of Mars, next the 
 percussion, show a hot temper and a passionate 
 disposition. A mount without lines shows cool- 
 ness and courage. Transverse lines crossing to 
 the outside of the hand are said to show the 
 number of the subject's enemies, and according 
 as they are broken or not, their power of injury. 
 A grill is a sign of murder, or at least of homi- 
 cidal tendencies, and a star is said to indicate an 
 attempt at assassination, or death in battle. A 
 triangle will show talent for war tactics. 
 
 Lines on the Mount of Luna. 
 
 A single line on the Mount of Luna will show 
 a cause of disquiet; with many lines, there will 
 be nervousness, and torments of anxiety, either 
 real or imaginary. (To find out from what it pro- 
 
Smaller Signs. 77 
 
 ceeds, consult the other lines.) Downward lines 
 to the wrist show voyages or long journeys. 
 
 A star is a danger of drowning, fatal only if 
 found in both hands ; but if on the Head Line, 
 low on the mount, it is a sign of a tendency to 
 madness. A cross shows lying or hallucination. 
 A grill — sadness, timidity, and discontent. 
 
 On the Smaller Signs. 
 crosses. 
 
 An ill-made or uneven cross is always a bad 
 sign on a hand, but well-made even crosses are 
 not always harmful. 
 
 Cross on the Mount of Jupiter — successful 
 ambition. 
 
 Cross on the Mount of Saturn — a great mis- 
 fortune, or an adverse influence. 
 
 Cross on the Mount of Apollo — ill-luck in art 
 or riches. 
 
 Cross on the Mount of Mercury — a tendency 
 to steal. 
 
 Cross on the Mount of Venus — an unhappy 
 love affair, unless there is a corresponding cross 
 on Jupiter, when it is said to mean a happy 
 marriage. 
 
 Cross on the Mount of Luna — lying, self- 
 deception, or delusions. 
 
 Cross on the Mount of Mars — murder. 
 
78 Gbe Grammar of palmistry 
 
 Cross on the Line of Life — a serious illness or 
 infirmity ; if the lines cut deeply across it — 
 probable death. 
 
 Cross on the Line of Fate — a change of life ; if 
 near, and not on it, the change will happen to a 
 relative or friend. 
 
 Cross on the Line of Health — an illness. 
 
 Cross on a branch of the Health Line — a 
 change in business or affairs. 
 
 Cross on the triangle — an important event, 
 the result, of a struggle, always a change of cir- 
 cumstances. 
 
 Cross between the Mount of Luna and the 
 Quadrangle — a fortunate voyage. 
 
 Cross — formed in the shape of St. Andrew's 
 Cross — in the middle of the Quadrangle beneath 
 the Mount of Saturn, with the ends unattached 
 to any of the lines above or. below, called the 
 Mystic Cross, is said to show love of occult 
 science, and spiritualism. 
 
 STARS. 
 
 Stars are fatalities, circumstances or events 
 over which personally there is no control, and 
 for which no responsibility is attached. 
 
 Star on the Mount of Jupiter — high honour 
 and fortune, 
 
Smaller Signs. 79 
 
 Star on the Mount of Saturn — danger of sud- 
 den or violent death. 
 
 Star on the Mount of Apollo — riches and un- 
 happiness ; or, with a good Line of Fortune, 
 celebrity won by chance, and not lasting. 
 
 Star on the Mount of Mercury — danger of 
 theft or dishonour, committed either by the sub- 
 ject or someone closely connected. In a good 
 and talented hand this star is said to be the sign 
 of a successful author. 
 
 Star on the Mount of Mars — murder, danger 
 of assassination, death in battle. 
 
 Star in the Plain of Mars — honour and mili- 
 tary glory. 
 
 Star on the Mount of Luna — danger of drown- 
 ing, or sign of illness. 
 
 Star on the Mount of Venus — trouble caused 
 by love or marriage ; if close to the Life Line, 
 lawsuits. 
 
 Star on the Head Line low down on the 
 Mount of Luna — danger of madness or insanity 
 in the family ; higher on the Head Line close to 
 the Mount of Mars — danger of blindness. 
 
 Star on the Line of Fortune — a catastrophe. 
 
 SQUARES. 
 
 A square is generally a good sign, and gives 
 force and energy to whichever mount or finger 
 
80 Gbe Grammar ot lpalmi6tr£. 
 
 it may be found on, except when found on the 
 Mount of Venus, when it foretells imprisonment, 
 a convent, or seclusion from the world. 
 
 On the lines it is said to show preservation 
 from an accident. 
 
 TRIANGLES. 
 
 A triangle is a favourable sign, and shows 
 aptitude for scientific pursuits. 
 
 Triangle on the Mount of Jupiter — successful 
 diplomacy. 
 
 Triangle on the Mount of Saturn — love of 
 occult science, mesmerism, mysticism, supersti- 
 tion. 
 
 Triangle on the Mount of Apollo — success 
 in art or literature, scientific art, architecture, 
 sculpture. 
 
 Triangle on the Mount of Mercury — success 
 in politics, or in a learned profession. 
 
 Triangle on the Mount of Mars — military 
 glory, war-tactics. 
 
 Triangle on the Mount of Luna — reason and 
 intuition. 
 
 Triangle on the Mount of Venus — prudence 
 in love, calculation in marriage. 
 
Smaller Signs. 81 
 
 CIRCLES. 
 
 Circles are good signs on the mounts, signify- 
 ing success and glory, especially on the Mount 
 of Apollo ; but on the lines they are bad, show- 
 ing misfortune. On the Line of Life they are a 
 sign of loss of sight. 
 
 DOTS. 
 
 Dots are favourable or otherwise, according to 
 the position they occupy. 
 
 White dots on the Heart Line — conquests in 
 love. 
 
 Red dots on the Heart Line mean the same, 
 but in this case the subject has had his feelings 
 also very deeply engaged ; but if there is a sign 
 of illness on the Health and Life Lines, it may 
 mean heart disease instead. 
 
 Dark dots on the Head Line — fever. 
 
 White dots on the Head Line — success in dis- 
 covery, according to which mount they are 
 under ; as, beneath Mercury, in science ; beneath 
 Apollo, in art or literature ; beneath Saturn, in 
 speculation. 
 
 Dots on the Health Line — illness ; if dark, 
 typhoid, or other fever. 
 
 Dot on the Marriage Line — widowhood by 
 sudden death. 
 
 F 
 
82 Gbe Grammar of palmistry 
 
 ISLANDS. 
 
 Islands are always bad signs in the hand, but 
 care should be taken to distinguish them from 
 sister lines, and from branches which cross the 
 line from which they rise. An island is made by 
 the line dividing itself into two even branches, 
 proceeding a short distance and joining again 
 into a single line. 
 
 Island on the Life Line — illness, generally 
 hereditary. 
 
 Island on the Head Line — illness in which the 
 subject has been delirious. 
 
 Island on the Heart Line — an unfortunate 
 attachment. 
 
 Island on the Fate Line — happiness marred by 
 the interference of enemies. 
 
 Island on the Health Line — liver complaint 
 or indigestion ; sometimes robbery or bank- 
 ruptcy. 
 
 GRILLS, OR CROSS-BARS. 
 
 A grill is an obstacle, and generally a bad sign 
 in the hand, as it takes away the good qualities 
 from the mount on which it is found, which, 
 if much developed, will contain only the evil 
 qualities exaggerated, and if the mount is un- 
 developed the grill will give great coldness. 
 
Smaller Signs. 83 
 
 Grill on Jupiter — Mount developed, selfishness 
 and tyranny; mount undeveloped, superstition. 
 
 Grill on Saturn — great misfortune. 
 
 Grill on Apollo — mount developed, absurd 
 folly and error; mount undeveloped, vanity. 
 
 Grill on Mercury — mount developed, hy- 
 pocrisy, theft ; mount undeveloped, ruse, petty 
 lying. 
 
 Grill on Mars — sudden death. 
 
 Grill on Venus — mount developed, sensual 
 affection ; mount undeveloped, coldness in love 
 and want of devotion. 
 
 Grill on Luna — discontent, anxiety, sadness; 
 mount developed, a poetical nature. 
 
 F 2 
 
PART IV. 
 
 On Signs of Illness. 
 
 Signs of illness on any part of the hand must 
 not be accepted unless corroborative evidence is 
 found on the Lines of Life or Health by means 
 of cross-lines, breaks, dots, stars, or other adverse 
 markings. The colour and width of the lines 
 generally, and texture of the skin, show health 
 and sickness with much accuracy. 
 
 Lines wide and pale — ill-health and weakness. 
 
 Lines very red — tendency to fever. 
 
 Lines very yellow — tendency to internal ill- 
 nesses. 
 
 Lines irregularly coloured — fluctuated health. 
 
 Soft skin and cold palm — good health. 
 
 Hot dry skin — liability to fever. 
 
 Hot damp skin — tendency to consumption. 
 
 Cold damp skin — liability to liver complaint. 
 
 Cold dry crackly skin — illness of the nerves. 
 
 Thin brittle nails — delicate health. 
 
 Fluted nails — tendency to consumption. 
 84 
 
©n Signs of Ifllness. 85 
 
 Curved nails — tendency to consumption or 
 spinal complaint. 
 
 Many lines in a hand show the natural con- 
 stitution is not strong. The fewer the lines, the 
 stronger the health. 
 
 Many small lines on the Head and Heart — 
 headache and neuralgia. 
 
 Dominant second finger, long Fate Line, and 
 chained Line of Health — loss of teeth, or suffer- 
 ing from them. 
 
 Islands on the lines — hereditary illness. 
 
 A break or dot on the lines — a serious illness ; 
 if repeated in both hands — often fatal. 
 
 Star on the Mount of Saturn — paralysis. 
 
 Star on the Mount of Luna — dropsy, or illness 
 from anxiety and worry. 
 
 Cross on the Mount of Luna — insanity in the 
 family. 
 
 Cross on the Line of Life — a danger. 
 
 Break on the Head Line — a broken limb, or 
 accident. 
 
 Circle on the Head Line, or a cross very high 
 up — loss of sight. 
 
 Star on the Head Line — shock. 
 
 Star on the Plain of Mars — loss of sight. 
 
 Many lines and chains, spatulate fingers, soft 
 palm, and poor second phalange of the thumb — 
 hysteria. 
 
86 Gbe Grammar of palmistry. 
 
 On Temper. 
 
 Temper is shown by the shape of the hand, 
 the nails, the skin, the Mount of Mars, and the 
 general colouring. 
 
 Nails wider than they are long — hot temper, 
 obstinacy. 
 
 Nails very short — criticism, contradiction. 
 
 Nails square, but round at the bottom — pas- 
 sionate, but not obstinate. 
 
 Nails very pink — hasty temper. 
 
 Long nails, narrow — sweet temper. 
 
 Almond nails — cheerfulness. 
 
 Many small lines show an irritable temper, 
 but it may proceed from illness or nervousness, 
 and the Lines of Life and Health should always 
 be. carefully consulted. 
 
 Red lines — hot temper. 
 
 Plain of Mars much lined — impatience ; some- 
 times much suffering from the ill-temper of 
 others. 
 
 Mount of Mars high and unlined, with wide 
 Quadrangle— just, tolerant, gentle temper. 
 
 Thick, smooth, white skin, unimpressionable 
 to heat and cold — a calm, intensely selfish char- 
 acter. 
 
 Hands with long Square fingers are never 
 content. 
 
On Special (Qualities. 87 
 
 On Special Qualities. 
 
 Pride. — A very long first finger, especially 
 long in the third phalange. Mount of Jupiter 
 very long and high. A branch from the Head 
 or Heart Line rising high on to the mount. 
 
 Ambition. — Very high Mount of Jupiter, long 
 first finger, long second phalange. Good Lines 
 of Fate and Fortune. Sometimes a line from the 
 middle of the Mount of Luna ending high on 
 the Mount of Jupiter. 
 
 Conceit — Spatulate fingers. Head and Life 
 Lines widely divided. 
 
 Vanity. — Grill on Mount of Apollo. Head 
 and Heart Lines deeply joined. Many lines on 
 the Mount of Luna. 
 
 Energy. — Hard hand, deep lines. Spatulate 
 fingers. 
 
 Perseverance . — Long fourth finger, especially 
 the third phalange. 
 
 Enthusiasm. — Very long pointed fingers with- 
 out knots. 
 
 Reason.- — Long, thick second phalange of 
 thumb. Long, square fingers. Knot of Philo- 
 sophy. 
 
 Will. — Large thumb, long first phalange. If 
 
88 Gbe Grammar of ipalmistrg. 
 
 the will is obstinate, the joint will be thick, the 
 end heavy and spatulate, and the second phalange 
 poor. 
 
 Order. — Large joints. First knot, order in 
 ideas ; second knot, order in practice. 
 
 Impulse. — Short, pointed, smooth, supple fin- 
 gers, much lined. Head and Life Lines much 
 joined. 
 
 Capacity for Detail. — Large hand, long fingers, 
 long Line of Head. 
 
 Idleness. — Soft hands, pointed fingers, very- 
 limp. Short Line of Head, low Mount of Jupiter. 
 
 Anger. — Low Mount of Mars under Mercury, 
 high under Jupiter, with the plain between much 
 crossed and lined. Short first phalange of the 
 thumb. Red lines. Short wide nails, quite 
 square at the bottom. 
 
 Courage. — High Mount of Mars on both sides. 
 Line of Heart going round the percussion. 
 Straight fingers, especially the third phalange. 
 Square fingers. Firm hand. 
 
 Avarice. — Hard hand. Fingers very close 
 together, with the points curved upwards. 
 Thumb turned inwards towards the fingers. 
 Very long straight Line of Head. Short Line 
 of Heart. 
 
 Selfishness. — Soft, fat hand, with very high 
 
On Special Qualities. 89 
 
 mounts. Fingers close together, thumb straight 
 and heavy. Short line of Heart. No Mounts 
 of Luna or Venus, but all the others over-devel- 
 oped. 
 
 Hypocrisy. — Long Head Line, with a great 
 fork at the end, one branch descending onto the 
 Mount of Luna, and the other rising towards 
 Mercury. Mount of Mercury much developed, 
 grilled; Mount of Luna much developed, with a 
 cross on it. Third phalange of the fourth finger 
 long and thick. 
 
 Greediness. — Third phalange of all the fingers 
 long and very thick. High Mount of Venus 
 encroaching on the palm. 
 
 Generosity. — Turned out thumb. Long, straight, 
 narrow Line of Heart forked on the Mount of 
 Jupiter. 
 
 Eloquence. — High Mount of Mercury. Long 
 fourth finger. Long Line of Head, sloping 
 towards the Mount of Luna. Long smooth 
 fingers. 
 
 Imagination. — Long pointed fingers. High 
 Mount of Luna. 
 
 Nervousness (not to be confounded with want 
 of courage). — High Mount of Luna, much lined. 
 A bend backwards of the first phalange of all 
 the fingers. 
 
 Constancy. — Large strong thumb, long first 
 
90 Gbe (Srammar of palmistry, 
 
 phalange. Long Head Line. Long, narrow, 
 straight Line of Heart, evenly forked. 
 
 Cruelty. — Tyranny. Long, thin, stiff fingers, 
 very pointed, very narrow hand. Turned-in 
 thumb and fingers. No Mount of Luna. Brutality. 
 Long, red, thick Line of Life. Hard, thick, 
 clumsy hand. Lined Mount of Mars, no Mount 
 of Luna. Lines very red. Fingers short, thick, 
 and stiff. 
 
 Money. — Long uncrossed Line of Fortune. 
 Branches from the Line of Life to the Line of 
 Head. Good Mount of Mercury with two 
 straight lines on it — money from business. Very 
 good Bracelets with angle or cross on the first 
 line, and lines on the third phalange of the finger 
 of Jupiter — money from inheritance, legacies. 
 Long straight Line of Fate rising on the Mount 
 of Luna and ending on the Mount of Saturn, 
 and a branch from the Head Line on to the 
 Mount of Jupiter — money from appointments 
 gained by the influence of others. 
 
 On the Professions. 
 
 The Service. — Large hard hand. High double 
 Mounts of Mars. Lines of Fate and- Fortune — 
 for success. Large thumb, heavy first phalange 
 — for command. Square or spatulate fingers. 
 
Qn Special Qualities. 91 
 
 The Cloth. — Very good finger and Mount of 
 Jupiter — for religion. High Mounts of Venus 
 and Luna — for benevolence. Long straight finger 
 and Mount of Mercury, with the first phalange 
 pointed — for eloquence. 
 
 Pointed and smooth fingers — dogmatism and 
 art. 
 
 Square fingers — tolerance. 
 
 Knotted fingers — argumentativeness. 
 
 With pointed and knotted fingers, and a long 
 second phalange of thumb — faith and reason will 
 be in continual conflict. With double knots and 
 square fingers — resistance, reason, and union. 
 
 Long and pointed, with a turned-up Heart 
 Line — the enthusiasts, the martyrs. 
 
 The Faculty. — Long deep Line of Head. Long 
 second phalange of thumb. Long straight finger 
 of Mercury, with straight lines en the mount — 
 for chemistry. Good Mount of Luna — for quick 
 diagnosis. Long fingers, good Mount of Mars 
 — for surgery. 
 
 The Bar. — Long straight fourth finger, high 
 Mount of Mercury, turned-out thumb, long first 
 phalange of fourth finger — for wit and eloquence. 
 Long, thick, second phalange of thumb — for 
 logic. Good Line of Fortune — for fame. Good 
 Line of Fate — for position and money. 
 
92 {Tbe Grammar of palmistry. 
 
 The Profession. — Long supple fingers, turned- 
 out thumb. Line of Fortune. High Mounts of 
 Luna and Venus. Heart Line turning upwards 
 towards the Mount of Mercury. 
 
 Music. — Long second finger, and good high 
 Mount of Saturn. Line of Fortune. Line of 
 Head descending on to the Mount of Luna. 
 Supple fingers — for performers. Square and 
 knotted fingers — for composers. High Mounts 
 of Saturn and Luna — for harmony. High Mounts 
 of Apollo and Venus — for melody. 
 
 Poetry. — Long pointed finger of Jupiter. High 
 mount. Good Mounts of Luna and Venus. 
 Head Line descending on to the Mount of Luna. 
 Heart Line turning up high upon the Mount of 
 Jupiter. 
 
 Painting. — Long Line of Head. Long supple 
 fingers. Short thumb. Line of Fortune. High 
 Mount of Apollo, long third finger. Second 
 finger square in comparison with the rest, and 
 all the first phalanges short. 
 
 Sculpture. — Spatulate hands. Line of Fortune. 
 High Mount of Apollo. Second and third 
 fingers of equal length, first phalanges of both 
 very long and thick. 
 
 Literature. — Large hands, long smooth fingers. 
 High Mount of Luna. Long finger of Mercury, 
 with a star on the mount. Line of Fortune. 
 
©n Special Qualities. 93 
 
 Long forked Line of Head descending on to the 
 Mount of Luna. 
 
 Business. — Long large thumb. Long straight 
 JJne of Head. Square fingers, with a very long 
 and square fourth finger. 
 
PART V. 
 
 On Reading the Hands. 
 
 With regard to the difference in the lines of the 
 right and left hands, which is one of the greatest 
 difficulties in palmistry, I think it may be broadly 
 stated that in the left is found what is intended 
 for you in life, and in the right what you do with 
 it. The left is the passive hand, the right the 
 active. The outline of the hand, like the 
 natural disposition, is hereditary, and it is im- 
 possible to alter it to any great degree ; but the 
 lines show the habits you encourage, the character 
 you become, and the events that modify or estab- 
 lish that character, and therefore the lines of the 
 hand are always changing, more or less accord- 
 ing to the eventfulness, mental and physical, of 
 the life led. It is absolutely necessary that the 
 outline of a hand should be thoroughly under- 
 stood before any attempt is made to study the 
 lines, and it is by far the best plan for the student 
 to restrict himself to the first part of palmistry 
 until that is thoroughly comprehended and com- 
 94 
 
©n IReaDing tbe IbanDs. 95 
 
 mitted to memory before attempting the harder 
 work comprised in the second part. 
 
 When about to read the hands of your subject, 
 you should take the left in your own, and, 
 holding it palm downwards, look carefully at 
 the outline. You will then be able to judge as 
 to the class of hand to which it belongs — long or 
 short, pointed, spatulate, or square, with or with- 
 out knots, shape of the nails, etc. — telling of the 
 temper, tact, judgment, will, quickness of appre- 
 hension, and so on, of your subject. Then turn 
 the hand over and press the palm, so as to tell of 
 the hardness or the softness of the hand, as energy 
 or laziness is the keynote of a character, and 
 modifies all other signs. The hand should then 
 be laid palvi upwards on a sheet of paper, and 
 the tops and bottoms of the fingers and edge of 
 the outline dotted with a pencil, so as to be sure 
 of the measurements being correct and in exact 
 proportion. The subject should then hold the 
 hand in an easy position, slightly horizontally, 
 before the student, who should carefully draw 
 the outline. The hand should then be laid flat 
 downwards upon a table in a good light for the 
 drawing of the lines, which, after being first 
 drawn in pencil, should be corrected and re- 
 drawn in ink. This done, the student should 
 note down upon another sheet of paper the other 
 
96 Gbe Grammar of ipalmfstrs. 
 
 signs of the hand, the shape and height of the 
 mounts, the colour of the lines, the feel of the 
 hand and texture of the skin, shape of the nails, 
 etc. The right hand should then be observed, 
 and, if time allows, a drawing should also be 
 made of it as well, and in the same manner ; but 
 if time presses and the subject becomes impa- 
 tient, it will be sufficient to note down carefully 
 the differences between the two hands. The 
 drawings should then be thoroughly studied by 
 the student with the help of the grammar, notes 
 being taken of every peculiarity, no one sign 
 being taken by itself without the corroborative 
 evidence of others ; and against every conclu- 
 sion drawn, the reasons for so thinking should be 
 noted for future experience, and finally a careful 
 summing-up of all the evidence should be written. 
 A copy of this summing-up should be given to 
 the subject, and the drawings of the hands and 
 the full notes written by the student should be 
 entered into a book kept by him for the purpose. 
 The student should never attempt to read a 
 hand verbally until after at least six months of 
 careful drawing and study, as I am sure it is com- 
 pletely impossible to carry all the rules and 
 directions of this difficult science at once in the 
 memory, and to produce correct deductions spon- 
 
©n IReaDtna tbe IbanDs. 99 
 
 taneously at the sight of a new and unstudied 
 hand ; though after a time, of course, it becomes 
 possible to tell a character truly at a glance and 
 events correctly without a moment's hesitation. 
 But I am sure if students would have the energy 
 and patience to follow the suggestions above made 
 as to the drawing of hands, we should have less 
 false conclusions arrived at, and fewer innocent 
 people would be frightened out of their wits by 
 the terrible and startling events prognosticated 
 by the amateur palmist. 
 
 Example of the Reading of a Hand. (Fig. 10.) 
 
 [This hand (the real hand of an artist) is worked 
 out in detail as an example for the student's 
 notes, and is purposely left in the rough ; the 
 finished paper that would be given to the sub- 
 ject would be a modified summary of this.] 
 
 OUTLINE. 
 
 Scientific. — The hand as a whole shows energy, 
 audacity, resolution, love of comfort, of notoriety, 
 of unconventionality, of personal movement. No 
 love of detail (short fingers). The palm, by its 
 size and hardness, shows great energy and con- 
 tinual restlessness ; the subject will never remain 
 inactive, but will rest from one occupation by 
 2 
 
loo Gbe Grammar ot palmistry 
 
 undertaking another ; there is great love of fresh 
 air and exercise, of games, of riding and rowing, 
 and of walking tours in all weathers. 
 
 FINGERS. 
 
 Knottcd-Pointed. — The first knot gives the 
 subject great order in ideas, and the second 
 order in the material world. The impression 
 will be quick (pointed tips), but they will always 
 be carefully reasoned out. 
 
 Thumb. — A very powerful one. The first 
 phalange shows a very strong will, unselfish 
 (turned out), extremely independent, would be 
 occasionally very rash, and always hasty in judg- 
 ment. Second phalange shows the reasoning 
 powers very good, clear judgment and logical 
 capacity, love of argument. A very constant 
 friend, and one who could keep a secret. 
 
 First Finger. — The first phalange of this finger 
 shows enthusiasm in religion, soon checked by 
 philosophy (first knot), love of nature and of 
 books. The second phalange will give ambition, 
 and the third shows but little love of rule. 
 
 Se-cond Finger. — This being the dominant 
 finger, shows that destiny will rule the career, 
 but the mount below will prevent ill-success 
 from saddening the character. It shows a great 
 
On IReafcins tbe 1banDs» 101 
 
 love of animals, and generally a want of pru- 
 dence. 
 
 Third Finger. — Being pointed, this will give 
 quick observation and activity in ideas, but it is 
 too small to give either fame or riches. 
 
 Fourth Finger. — This finger is too short for 
 eloquence or brilliancy, though the length of the 
 first phalange will give cheerfulness. By the 
 poverty of this finger the subject will never be 
 able to manage or persuade other people, how- 
 ever necessary or desirable it might be, and the 
 career will be very much hampered by this. 
 
 As a whole the fingers indicate aptitude and 
 great inventiveness, mechanical skill and love of 
 study, great sensibility and want of tact, gene- 
 rosity and unselfishness, a love of good things 
 to eat and drink, a strong sense of individuality 
 and entire absorption in the subject's own affairs. 
 The fingers being both knotted and pointed 
 show a continual struggle between inspiration 
 and analysis, between religious tendency and the 
 spirit of controversy. As an artist, the subject 
 will be a painter of truth, not of imagination; 
 will always be occupied with masses, general 
 aspects, and colouring more than detail, and will 
 never lose sight of the ensemble — the end to be 
 obtained. She will carry out her own particular 
 scheme according to her own ideas ; she will 
 
102 XLbc Grammar of ipalmtetrg. 
 
 study all that has to do with her art, especially 
 chemistry ; she will make trials in the composi- 
 tion and in the amelioration of the earths used 
 for making paints ; she will make her own 
 colours the effects of her own invention. (Des- 
 barolles has made a particular study of the scien- 
 tific artistic hand, as the combination of knotted 
 and pointed fingers is rare, and renders the 
 character difficult to analyze.) 
 
 MOUNTS. 
 
 Jupiter shows ambition and much pride; love 
 of nature. There is no sign of success on this 
 mount, and the adverse lines denote good 
 chances spoiled by wrong judgment or by inter- 
 ference. 
 
 Saturn is insignificant, and tends towards 
 Apollo, which shows fate leads to art. 
 
 Apollo, furrowed by two horizontal lines, shows 
 the love of art ; but the lines, being broken and 
 crossed, give but little promise of success, as 
 the Line of Fate is not strong enough to coun- 
 terbalance the obstacles. 
 
 Mercury is favourable, and shows spirit and 
 cheerfulness, love of work and perseverance, 
 promptitude of action and invention. The three 
 deep lines on the mount show the subject to be 
 
On IReaOirtG tbe 1band6. 103 
 
 possessed of great medical talent, which, had she 
 taken to medicine instead of art, would probably 
 have ensured success. 
 
 Venus gives a love of colour and of melody, 
 but the mount is not important in this hand, 
 showing but little passion in love, a lack of the 
 wish for popularity, and a want of universal 
 benevolence. 
 
 Luna, being high, shows a good imagination, 
 and being without lines, calm, and absence of 
 anxiety. 
 
 Mars is the dominant mount, and the most 
 important. On the one side it shows daring, 
 aggressiveness, presence of mind, a hasty temper, 
 and great impetuosity, fortunately controlled by 
 reason (second phalange of thumb) ; on the other, 
 calm courage, fortitude, and self-control. 
 
 LINES. 
 
 Line of Heart. — This line shows a true heart, 
 very constant, without falsehood or coquetry 
 (branches evenly forked), but little passion and 
 hardly any tenderness. It is unfortunate in love 
 and friendship (branches all crossed). There was 
 a good promise of happiness early in life, but the 
 direction of the branches towards Jupiter, and 
 the lines on the mount, show that pride and in- 
 
104 Gbe Grammar of H>almistrg. 
 
 dependence, together with overruling of circum- 
 stances (division of Fate Line), caused the 
 promise to come to nothing, and the engage- 
 ment or attachment — marked and crossed out on 
 Marriage Line — to be of no effect. There is no 
 marriage in this hand. As to friendship, the 
 subject has been equally unfortunate. By the 
 crossing of the branches and of the lines on the 
 Head Line, the few sincere friends that the sub- 
 ject has made have been lost to her by death and 
 distance, and the others she has not chosen well, 
 as they have proved inconstant. At one time 
 one friend was able to help her powerfully, but 
 the influence could only have lasted a very short 
 time. 
 
 Line of Head. — This is a good line, and shows 
 much common sense and energy, courage and 
 perseverance. Perhaps it tends too little to 
 imagination for a follower of art, and the work 
 will consequently be realistic rather than fanci- 
 ful. There is much self-confidence and audacity 
 (division of Head -and Life Lines); the memory 
 is not very good. There is a good deal of illness 
 shown by this line, and from the break, and the 
 lines on the commencement of the Life Line, and 
 the direction of the Line of Fate, there must 
 have been at one time a tendency to suicide 
 (irregular cross on Mars) ; but if so, it must have 
 
On IRea&ing tbe Ibanfcs. 105 
 
 been singularly early in life. The line, taken 
 with the knotted fingers and the poverty of the 
 fourth finger, shows a want of tact and diplomacy. 
 
 Line of Life. — This line shows a very unhappy 
 childhood, and much trouble and struggles in 
 middle life. There is a very serious illness 
 between the age of thirty and thirty-five; through 
 which the subject struggled by means of a good 
 natural constitution. There is a great change in 
 life at about twenty-eight, which had a great 
 effect on the career (line from Life to Head) ; it 
 made more work and more happiness. Life will 
 last till sixty-five or seventy, and will end sud- 
 denly. 
 
 Line of Fate. — -This shows a very adventurous 
 career. There has been an unhappy beginning, 
 great poverty, and many obstacles. The Head 
 made a very fatal choice, both with regard to 
 love and fame, and from thirty-five to fifty the 
 struggle has been very severe (line broken cross- 
 ing the Plain of Mars). The line beginning so 
 low down and stopping abruptly at the Head 
 shows fate to be always adverse ; the various 
 decisions come to by the subject have nearly 
 always been wrong, which is singular, considering 
 the good judgment shown by the thumb; but 
 over-impetuosity may have been the cause of 
 some of them, and inability to manage or under- 
 
106 ftbe Grammar of fcalmtetrg* 
 
 stand other people and their prejudices, the sub- 
 ject having so few herself, has probably conduced 
 a great deal towards the ill-success shown by 
 this line. 
 
 Line of Fortune. — This shows a loss of fortune 
 by parents during youth. Beginning low, this 
 line shows the subject to have earned a good 
 deal of consideration and admiration from many 
 people, and had the Saturnian been better, might 
 have gained fame and success. The line, instead 
 of going towards the Mount of Apollo, which is 
 its proper direction, turns towards Mercury, 
 which shows that the natural tendency is scientific 
 and not artistic ; and had science been followed 
 instead of art, success would have been more 
 certain. The line is too short to bring money at 
 any time. 
 
 Line of Health. — This shows a naturally hardy 
 constitution, but the subject has been most rash 
 in throwing away health. There have been bad 
 illnesses from over-work and over-exposure, and 
 danger of death in the break and crosses (this is 
 repeated on the Life Line). Health will improve 
 as life advances, and the subject will be very 
 strong in old age. There is a great warning 
 against falls on the lines, and it shows a liability 
 to fever and inflammation, and to neuralgia on 
 the left side of the head and face. Fruit will 
 
On IReaDing tbe Ibanfcs. 107 
 
 not be wholesome, and should be taken very 
 sparingly. 
 
 PALM. 
 
 The Plain of Mars. — This shows great military 
 talent, which, in a woman's hand, will probably 
 find its outlet in playing chess, and games need- 
 ing strategical skill ; also a sense of construction 
 and locomotion, engineering talent. There will 
 be a love for studying the unseen, and continual 
 debating and questioning (Knot of Philosophy), 
 but the thumb is too strong, reason too good, 
 for it to degenerate into credulity. The Triangle 
 is unfortunate, but shows large ideas, generosity, 
 and toleration of the opinions of others. 
 
 Quadrangle. — This is too narrow, the Head 
 Line rising too near the Heart. This, in another 
 hand, would probably mean timidity and irreso- 
 lution, but with such fine Mounts of Mars, and 
 so strong and courageous an outline, this would 
 be a contradiction. We must, therefore, apply 
 to it another reading of Desbarolles, w r hich is 
 confirmed on the Lines of Life and Fate, namely, 
 that of exile. The subject must have left home 
 early in life and never returned to it. 
 
 The Bracelets. — These, being both chained and 
 broken, show a very laborious life. There is a 
 small legacy on the lower one. 
 
108 Ubc (Srammat of lpalmtstrg. 
 
 The Subject considered as a type of Mars. 
 
 {After Desbarolles) 
 
 The subject being a type of Mars, should be 
 above middle height, strongly built, and some- 
 what clumsy. A short, thick head, large, high 
 forehead, and much-developed cranium. A red- 
 brown complexion and firm skin. Thick hair, 
 bright in colour ; large, bright, bold eyes, gray 
 or brown, very straight and fixed while speaking. 
 A large mouth, with thin lips shutting tight; 
 large teeth, very even, not very white. A high 
 nose, well shaped ; a rather prominent chin. A 
 short neck, wide chest, and substantial figure. 
 The head is carried well in the air, and the walk 
 is firm, with large steps. The movements are 
 rapid and somewhat brusque, accompanied by 
 "devastating gesture;" the voice clear and 
 strong, liberal to prodigality, just and generous, 
 those born types of Mars love bright colours, 
 and movement, and animated conversation. 
 Quick to anger, and irritated by contradiction, 
 they despise danger, and attach no great value 
 to their life. 
 
110 
 
112 
 
114 
 

116 
 
118 
 
120 
 
PART VI. 
 
 The Hands of Distinguished Persons. 
 
 Fig. ii. The Hand of a Nursing Sister. 
 
 Fig. 12. The Hand of a distinguished Soldier. 
 
 Fig. 13. The Hand of an Author. 
 
 Fig. 14. The Hand of a Sculptor. 
 
 Fig. 15. The Hand of an Actress. 
 
 Fig. 16. The Hand of a Musician. 
 
 The opposite hands, inserted for the benefit of 
 the student, have all been carefully drawn from 
 life. For obvious reasons, the names of the 
 owners of the hands are not given, but the reader 
 may rest assured they have been chosen as 
 typical examples of successful hands in the 
 different professions and callim f o which they 
 belong. 
 
 121 
 
PART VII. 
 
 Glossary of Terms. 
 
 Finger and Mount of Jupiter — the first finger 
 with the mount at its base. 
 
 Finger and Mount of Saturn — the second 
 finger with the mount at its base. 
 
 Finger and Mount of Apollo — the third finger 
 with the mount at its base. 
 
 Finger and Mount of Mercury — the fourth 
 finger with the mount at its base. 
 
 Mounts of Mars — the first, the space between 
 the thumb and the bottom of the Mount of 
 Jupiter ; the second, the mount on the outside of 
 the hand, immediately below the Mount of 
 Mercury. 
 
 Mount of Luna — space between the Mount of 
 Mars and the wrist. 
 
 Mount of Venus — large mount at the base of 
 the thumb. 
 
 Line of Life, or Vital — line that encircles the 
 Mount of Venus. 
 
 122 
 
Glossary of Germs, 123 
 
 Line of Head, or Cerebral — line rising between 
 the thumb and first finger, and crossing the 
 hand horizontally. 
 
 Line of Heart, or Mensal — line crossing the 
 hand horizontally beneath the mounts. 
 
 Line of Fate, or Saturnian — line running per- 
 pendicularly up the hand from the wrist to the 
 base of the second finger. 
 
 Line of Fortune, or Solar — line running per- 
 pendicularly up the hand to the base of the third 
 finger. 
 
 Line of Health, or Hepatica — line running 
 perpendicularly up the hand to the base of the 
 fourth finger. 
 
 Line of Intuition, or Lunar — line running in a 
 curve from the Mount of Luna to the base of the 
 fourth finger. 
 
 Ring of Venus — line running horizontally from 
 between the first and second fingers towards the 
 fourth. 
 
 Bracelets, or Rascettes — lines encircling the 
 wrist. 
 
 Percussion side of the hand, opposite the 
 thumb. 
 
 Plain of Mars — the palm of the hand. 
 
 Quadrangle — space between the Heart and 
 Head Lines. 
 
124 Zbc Grammar of iPalmtettE, f.w'f, 
 
 Triangle — space between the Lines of Head, 
 Life, and Fate, or Health. 
 
 Marriage Lines — running horizontally across 
 the Mount of Mercury. 
 
 THE END. 
 
 LRiF ( 
 
LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 
 
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