65

65

supine, and the fingers turn inwards, without touching.

Thumb, m, Fig. 63 and 64. Pointing with the thumb, the fingers being clasped down, and the thumb extended.

Grasping, g, Fig. 65. The fingers and thumb seizing the garments, or the hair.

"That gesture," says Quintilian, "which urges on

66

the words, contract

ing and opening the hand with alternate

and rapid motion, is rather admitted by

common usage, than according to art." (See Fig. 66.) Second Class of the Postures of the Hands, depending on the manner of presenting the Palm.

Prone, p, Fig. 67. The hand is prone when the

67

68

palm is turned downwards.

Supine, s. The hand is said to be

supine, when the palm is turned upwards, as in Fig. 68. Inwards, n, Fig. 69. When the palm is turned to

wards the breast

and the hand is

held on the edge.

Outwards, o,

69

70

Fig. 70. When the palm is turned from the body, and towards the object, the thumb downwards, the hand held on the edge.

71

Vertical, v, Fig. 71. When the palm is perpendicular to the horizon, the fingers pointing upwards.

Forwards, f. When the palm is presented forwards, the arm hanging down, or placed in one of the extended, or backward positions.

Backwards, b. When the palm is turned backwards, the arm hanging down, or placed in one of the extended, or backward positions.

Third Class of the Postures of the Hands, arising from the combined disposition of both Hands.

Of this class a few only are noticed, and those are they which are most in use among public speakers; others may be supplied as occasion may require. It is found necessary to use two letters for the notation of each of these postures.

72

73

74

Applied, ap, Fig. 72. When the palms are pressed together, and the fingers and thumbs of each are mutually laid against each other.

Clasped, lp, Fig. 73. serted between each closely together.

When all the fingers are inother, and the hands pressed

Folded, ld, Fig. 74. When the fingers of the right hand, at the second joint, are laid between the thumb and fore-finger of the left, the right thumb crossing the left.

Crossed, cr, Fig. 75. When the left hand is placed on the breast, and the right on the left, or the contrary. Inclosed, in, Fig. 76. When the knuckles at the middle joint of one hand, moderately bent, are received within the palm of the other, the fingers of which stretch along the back of the inclosed hand nearly to the wrist, the thumbs crossing, or rather, laid at length over each other.

Touching, tc, Fig. 77. When the points of the fingers of each hand are brought lightly into contact.

Wringing, wr, Fig. 78. When both hands are first clasped together, and elevated, then depressed, and separated at the wrists, without disengaging the fingers.

Enumerating, nu, Fig. 79. When the index finger

of the right hand is laid successively upon the index, or the different fingers of the left. If the number of divisions be more than four, the enumeration should begin from the thumb. Sometimes the finger and thumb of the right hand hold the finger of the left, which represents the divisio.1.

79

Fourth Class of the Postures of the Hands, arising from the Part of the Body on which they are occasionally placed.

The fourth class of the postures of the hands arises from the part of the body on which they are occasion

a.ly placed. The notation letter by which these are represented, is a capital; and it occupies the place in

80

the Systematic Table (to be found in another part of this work), of those two small letters which represent the position of the arm in the vertical and transverse direc

tion. The parts of the body and head most remarkable, in

81

82

breast, noted B (Fig.

84

80); the eyes, E (Fig. 81); the lips, L (Fig. 82); the forehead, F (Fig. 83); the chin, C (Fig. 84).

The Motions of the Arms and Hands.

In ascertaining the import of any posture of either arm, or hand, it is important to consider the posture in connexion with the action by which it is produced;

for any posture of the arm, or hand, may sustain different significant characters, because different actions give the same posture an entirely different import. This must be obvious to all who reflect that the effect of the posture greatly depends upon the exact character of the motion, which is produced partly by the direction which the motion takes, partly by the force with which it is commenced, and partly by the distance through which it passes.

The motions of the hands and arms together, are, therefore, considered; first, as to their direction; and, secondly, as to their manner of moving. The energy is not here taken into account. These motions are noted by the fourth and fifth small letters, should so many be necessary.

In the direction of the motion (Fig. 85), gestures are considered as ascending, noted a; descending, d; to the right, r; to the left, l; forwards, f; backwards, b; revolving, v. The stars, connected with the hand by dots, show the various points from which the mo tion of the gestures has commenced.