My Daughter, there are many styles of kisses, and they come in endless
patterns, even as Oriental rugs.
There is the kiss that sootheth and the kiss that thrilleth, the kiss
that flattereth and the kiss that is a pastime. But the best of all
kisses is the _first_ kiss; for it is the most difficult.
Yet, in all the days of thy life, no two men shall kiss thee _alike_.
For one man shall regard thy kisses as a boon, and another shall regard
them as an amusement; but an husband shall consider them, as the
shaving of his chin, a morning duty.
Hast thou scorned a man’s kisses?
Then will he exalt thee, saying “Lo! she is _very_ proper.” For he can
think of no _other_ reason why thou shouldst not desire to kiss him.
Yet if thou hast consented to kiss only _one_ man, he will say unto
himself, “Verily, it is her habit. So doeth she with _all_ mankind.”
For every man judgeth thee by the way in which thou treatest _him_.
If a man kisseth thy hand gracefully, beware of him; for this is the
habit of an accomplished flirt, which hath been acquired by much
practice.
But if he kisseth thee first upon the forehead, and then upon the
eyelids, and then upon the lips, thou mayest choose thy wedding gown
and decide upon thy bridesmaids.
Lo, kissing is a fine art, and there are many artists; and one shall
take a kiss from thee as though he doeth thee a favor, and another
shall take a kiss as though he had taken thy pocketbook.
Yet, no man shall ever understand why thou seemest pleased, or why thou
waxest wroth, when he kisseth thee; for it is all in the _way_ of his
wooing.
Verily, verily, a man who kisseth a woman with his _hat_ on shall be
annihilated.
But he, that kisseth her as though he had _never_ kissed _before_ and
never should kiss _again_, shall wear an halo in her sight. For he
knoweth the Art of _Arts_.