let us now observe the fingers separately from the rest of the hand.
the first finger is considered as the dictator, the lawgiver, the finger of ambition, the indicator, the pointer, etc.
if this finger is unusually long and nearly equals the second, all these tendencies are extremely pronounced.
therefore, if your employee has this finger long, you can safely entrust him with control over, and charge of others. you will be amazed how well he or she will make rules and regulations and see that they are obeyed; but beware, mr. employer, lest your first finger is short in proportion as that of your employee is long, for, if such be the case, you too will have "to toe the line" and you may find yourself in a very disagreeable position.
but let me give you a further warning: should this man or woman have a first finger that is long and crooked, you will assuredly find out to your cost that the personal ambitions of such an individual are "crooked." such an employee would be perfectly unscrupulous in finding out your secrets and getting you into his power.
if the second finger is straight and well shaped, its owner will be very serious, a little inclined to melancholy,[pg vii] but will pay due regard to whatever responsibilities with which he may be entrusted, but again beware if this finger is crooked. in this case the owner would be, however, more subject to what may be called "a crooked fate" than wilfully "wrong." such people are, as a rule, the children of strange circumstances over which they seem to have no control. they are continually getting themselves into trouble and into false positions, but, i must admit, more by a strange fatality of things than by their own wilful actions. nevertheless, such infelicities might be very unpleasant for their employer, especially if he has more heart than brains.
the third finger, if extremely long and straight, indicates an extraordinary desire for glory, celebrity, publicity and the like; and although this might be an extremely good quality in the case of an actor, preacher, politician or public man, it may be most undesirable if such a person is to occupy the position of a private secretary, or the confidential clerk to some family lawyer.
if this finger is crooked as well as very long, all the above qualities will be intensified and exaggerated. the love of spending money and fondness for show will also be more marked, the gambling tendencies very pronounced. no position involving the handling of money, should be entrusted to the possessor of such a finger.
the fourth, or little finger, if long (passing the nail joint of the third) is indicative of power of speech and subtlety in choice of language—the saying "to twist a person round one's little finger" originated from this very sign. such people have a marvellous gift of speech, eloquence and flow of language, valuable[pg viii] gifts, of course, for orators and public persons, but not desirable qualities in a wife if a man is fond of sleep.
a short "little finger" denotes the reverse of the above. such persons find the greatest difficulty in expressing what they want to say, but they can write better than speak and should be encouraged to do so.
these individuals have, however, not much power over others and the shorter the "little finger" is, the more timid and sensitive they are in the presence of strangers. if this finger is crooked, then these weaknesses are all the more emphasised, but if formed crooked and long the power of eloquence is also crooked. such people will tell any "fairy tale" to suit their purpose—they are natural born liars and the position of president of the ananias club is their rightful inheritance.
the first and third fingers absolutely of equal length is the best sign of an equally balanced mind, but such a sign is rather rare to find.
when the fingers are very supple in the joints and turn backwards or outwards from the palm, it is an indication of a quick wit and clever brain; but such persons lack continuity of purpose. they have no "hold," as it were, on any one thing.
fingers slightly curved inwards towards the palm, denote persons slow to grasp an idea, or a subject, but such people have retentive memories and "hold" or grip, as it were, any one thing they may take up.
