It has always been, that the history of any dominant creed or sect is the history of opposition to knowledge, unless that knowledge come through it.

This study, therefore, the offspring of "pagans and heathens," was not even given a trial.

It was denounced as sorcery and witchcraft; the devil was conjured up as the father of all such students, and the result was that through this bitter persecution, the study was outlawed, and fell into the hands of vagrants, tramps, and gipsies.

In spite of this persecution it is interesting and significant to notice that almost the first book ever printed was a work on Palmistry, _Die Kunst Ciromantia_, printed in Augsburg, in the year 1475.
In examining this subject it will be found that in the study of mankind it came to be recognised that, as there was a natural position on the face for the nose, eyes, lips, etc., so also on the hand was there a natural position for what is known as the Line of Head, Line of Life, and so on.

If these were found in some unnatural position they would equally be the indications of unnatural tendencies.