In all the after years of pain, When from my side you I did miss, I think I see your face again, When you first gave me that sweet kiss. I stand again in that old lane. But now the leaves are sere and yellow, And with a heart of grief and pain, I see you kiss another fellow. In the ceremony of betrothal a kiss has played an important part in several nations. A nuptial kiss in church at the conclusion of the marriage services is solemnly enjoined by the York Missal and the Sarum Manual. In the old play of “The Insensate Countess,” by Marston, occurs the line: The kiss thou gav’st me in church here take, It was also considered an honor to be the first to kiss the bride after the ceremony, and all who would might contend for the prize. In the “Collier’s Wedding,” by Edward Chicken, we read: Four rustic fellows wait the while To kiss the bride at the church stile. When ladies’ lips were at the service of all it became usual to have fragrant scented comfits or sweets, of which we find frequent mention. In Massinger’s “Very Woman” occurs the following: Faith! Search our pockets, and if you find there Comfits of amber grease to help our kisses, Conclude us faulty. Pliny describes the introduction of the custom to the degeneracy of the Roman ladies who, in violation of the hereditary delicacy of the females of Rome, descended to the indulgence of wine. Kissing was resorted to by husbands as the most courteous process to ascertain the quality of their wives’ libations; and Cato, the elder, recommends the plan to the serious attention of all careful heads of families. III. THE SIGNIFICANCE OF KISSES—THE KISSING OF HANDS IN RELIGIOUS CEREMONY AND SOCIAL LIFE, IN ANCIENT ROME, MEXICO AND AUSTRIA—THE POLITIC ACHIEVEMENT OF A KISS—AN INDIGNANT CARDINAL—A KISS WITHIN THE CUP—SOMETHING ABOUT LIPS, THE SWEET PETITIONERS FOR KISSES—DANCING AND KISSING—AN IRISH KISSING FESTIVAL—ELECTRIC KISSING PARTIES—KISSING UNDER THE MISTLETOE—NEW YEAR’S KISSING IN OLD NEW YORK—A WESTERN KISSING BEE.