(3 of 3)
Unlike the Austrian, who is a born knuckle nuzzler and usually even prefaces a telephone call to a woman with a murmured Küss die Hand, the traditional German hand kisser seems hopelessly stiff to other Europeans. He somehow gives the impression that he is afraid of catching germs. To purists, the greatest danger is that the art, dry or wet, is becoming too popular. "When a man used to kiss your hand, and did it right," mourns one venerable German baroness, "it meant he was well-bred. Now you can't be sure any more." Of course, she adds slyly, "I can still distinguish between a genuine antique and a fake. I can feel it in my fingertips."