The student will find it profitable before perusing this chapter to turn back to pp, 45-46 and read Over carefully my Chirognomical Observations concerning the Phalanges of the Fingers: also my readings concerning the Phalanges of the Thumb on pp. 53-55. In the indications I am about expatiating upon, he will find many statements that are simple confirmations of the great principles therein, laid down by me, after d'Arpen-tigny, Desbarrolies and the more recent Palmists, Papus. Decrespe, etc. The majority of these indications are, however, of a traditional or at least an empirical nature, and it is not easy to connect them logically with what I like to call "the laws of Modern Palmistry." They are gathered mostly from reputable authors of the old school and deserve respectful study solely on that account. Although met with but seldom, the rather complete enumeration I give of them may prove of use occasionally, and, without deserving to be memorized, they are valuable for reference purposes, as I never found them collected before in such large numbers.

I divide these observations between six headings, referring respectively to Lines and Signs: 1. On the Thumb; 2. On All the Fingers; 3. On the First Finger; 4. On the Second Finger; 5. On the Third Finger; 6. On the Fourth Finger, with subheadings for each phalanx of each finger.