Everybody's Book of Luck. Anonymous
of your friends? The subject is interesting; it is not a difficult one and all you need to know is set out in this book.
Your course of study may well begin with the chapter on Palmistry. Having mastered that, turn to the one on Handwriting, and follow with "What do your Bumps Mean?" These three sections will give you a very useful start and then you might continue with "How Astrology Decides Your Destiny" and "Your Face is Your Fortune."
The five chapters named will enable you to read people with a great deal of success, and it should not be long before your friends compliment you on your accuracy. Probably this will spur you to further efforts, and you will study the passages on lucky numbers, dreams, tea-cup readings, lucky colors, etc. These will add a polish to your preliminary knowledge.
Very soon you will gain a reputation as a seer and it will add not a little to your vanity when people come to you and ask you to read their futures. In doing so, you will be advised to follow a few rules. Never jump to hasty conclusions. Weigh all the facts and strike a balance. If the hand says "yes" and the face says "no," the conclusion is that "it may be." When disappointing things are noted, be charitable and let the applicant off lightly. In cases where dire illnesses are portended, suppress the facts or state them in such a way that the applicant has a chance of avoiding the trouble, if he or she takes suitable measures. But, whatever happens, never make a statement for which you have not "chapter and verse."
And this brings me to my last point. Hands, faces, heads and other characteristics give their readings, but none of these readings should be taken as absolutely final. The power is within us to fight against our failings and to better our good qualities. We may even allow our best ones to deteriorate. That is why two people born at the same time and in the same town need not grow up exactly alike. And it is also why a small percentage of horoscopes and fortunes are bound to miss the mark.
PALMISTRY—WHAT MAY BE LEARNED FROM HANDS
"There are more things in Heaven and Earth...."
People who can see as far as the ends of their noses and then only through a fog, declare (with a superior sniff) that Palmistry is nothing but a trap to catch fools; they call it quackery, or declare perhaps that it is merely a fake or blind guesswork.
Now, while we would be the first to deny that Palmistry is an exact and infallible science, yet we just as strongly affirm that it is undoubtedly a most fascinating and interesting recreation; as to its truth, each one must decide that question for himself.
For the few who have a wish to take up this study seriously, there are many now who will naturally wish to know just sufficient to be able to "tell fortunes." Fortunetellers are always popular at some jolly party or quiet friendly gathering of an evening.
In this book they will find all the simple information required; on the other hand the student will find a sincere delight in reading and sifting thoroughly the numerous books that probe the depths of the subject.
Quite apart from any markings which may be upon the hand, a general indication of the habits and temperament of the individual in question can readily be gained by a careful examination of the texture or quality of the skin.
It were as well to note here that the impressions gained must never be taken by themselves, but only in conjunction with other confirming signs. Especially is this so when judging the character of a friend or acquaintance.
TEXTURE OF SKIN.—The skin may, of course, be smooth or rough. To judge this you should turn the hand in question back upwards; now get the feel of the skin by actual touch; a smooth, fine-textured skin denotes a refined nature, and vice versa. This is a very strong indication indeed, insomuch that should there be other tendencies pointing to coarseness of nature, this texture of the hand would have a refining effect upon the whole.
ELASTICITY OF THE HAND.—This is best tested by actual grip (as in shaking hands). All hands naturally present some feeling of elasticity; this is a matter of comparison, but it is very easy to tell the quick, virile grip of an elastic hand to the dead fish feeling which a flabby hand gives us when we grasp it.
A FLEXIBLE HAND denotes an active and energetic person, one who will be readily adaptable to new conditions. He will always rise to the occasion, and manfully withstands the buffets of ill-fortune. This type is always trustworthy and a good friend.
No. 6.—Beware of these Hands.—A shows a weak, flattened thumb; B a curved little finger and C a coarse, short thumb. Each has other defects as well.
A FLABBY HAND—one that does not respond to your grip or responds but sluggishly—is the hand of an idle man, untrustworthy and inconsistent, a man of weak and negative character; but be sure to search well for other confirming signs of this weakness.
THE SHAPE OF THE HAND
A fairly accurate guide to character is certainly contained in the shape of the hand. Hands may be roughly divided into two classes—broad and long. A person having a long hand you may judge to have great capacity for mental effort and matters of detail.
The broad-handed person you may expect to be a strong man physically; his culture will be bodily rather than mental. He could with advantage improve his culture by reading, and by enjoying the best music.
THE SHAPE OF THE FINGERS
When an individual is found with square finger-tips, he should make a good marriage partner; he will be practical—a man of method and reason. He is punctual, but should cultivate imagination.
POINTED FINGER tips will be found on the hand of the musician, the painter, and, in fact, anyone who is of artistic temperament.
Persons with these fingers should curb their imagination with reason, and cultivate the power of doing things, not only dreaming them, though dreaming is well enough in its way.
TAPERING fingers indicate people of extremes. "Ice and fire" are these people—impulsive and generous to a fault. They should guard against undue and morbid sensitiveness, and should cultivate a sane philosophical outlook upon life. They are capable of the highest, but are frequently their own worst enemies.
SPATULATE FINGERS.—These are the sportsmen of the world. They are not worried much by the opinions of others, while they love a busy, healthy life; a sound mind in a sound body.
GENERAL SHAPE AND FORMATION OF THE HAND
If the hands are knotted with the joints swollen, powers of analysis, calculation and reflection are shown; philosophers have this type of hand.
SMOOTH fingers and hands indicate the artistic temperament. These people are frequently inspired, and have curious intuitions concerning coming events. Musicians, spiritualists, and martyrs are of this type, together with many folk who are square pegs in round holes; maybe doing work which is uncongenial to them.
THE THUMB has also in it certain very marked indications of character. The three bones (or Phalanges) in the thumb each have their interpretation. Beginning at the top these should be judged by length as follows:—
1.