第2部分(第7/7 頁)

hake　of　some　people　makes　you　think　of　accident　and　sudden

death。　Contrast　this　ill…boding　hand　with　the　quick；　skilful；　quiet　hand

of　a　nurse　whom　I　remember　with　affection　because　she　took　the　best

care　of　my　teacher。　I　have　clasped　the　hands　of　some　rich　people　that

spin　not　and　toil　not；　and　yet　are　not　beautiful。　Beneath　their　soft；

smooth　roundness　what　a　chaos　of　undeveloped　character！

I　am　sure　there　is　no　hand　parable　to　the　physician's　in　patient

skill；　merciful　gentleness　and　splendid　certainty。　No　wonder　that　Ruskin

finds　in　the　sure　strokes　of　the　surgeon　the　perfection　of　control　and

delicate　precision　for　the　artist　to　emulate。　If　the　physician　is　a　man

of　great　nature；　there　will　be　healing　for　the　spirit　in　his　touch。　This

magic　touch　of　well…being　was　in　the　hand　of　a　dear　friend　of　mine　who

was　our　doctor　in　sickness　and　health。　His　happy　cordial　spirit　did　his

patients　good　whether　they　needed　medicine　or　not。

As　there　are　many　beauties　of　the　face；　so　the　beauties　of　the　hand　are

many。　Touch　has　its　ecstasies。　The　hands　of　people　of　strong

individuality　and　sensitiveness　are　wonderfully　mobile。　In　a　glance　of

their　finger…tips　they　express　many　shades　of　thought。　Now　and　again　I

touch　a　fine；　graceful；　supple…wristed　hand　which　spells　with　the　same

beauty　and　distinction　that　you　must　see　in　the　handwriting　of　some

highly　cul