He thought that his oration was being appreciated and went on and on.
Put your hands together is a stylish way in which masters of ceremony, now called DJs and VJs invite the audience to clap hands and welcome or cheer the chief guest or the one who performs on the stage.
Clapping hands has been a long standing mode of conveying appreciation. In the Roman days however, they had the method of showing thumbs up (or down when they wanted to condemn the person.)
I wonder how people thought of clapping hands. In the early stages they used to show appreciation by shouting things like ‘Hurray’ or ‘Cheers.’ Animals also show appreciation but they can hardly clap hands. So they may make all kinds of noise or dance about as some pet animals do.
Today clapping hands has become a universally accepted method of showing appreciation. But it is a bit strange that in Parliament and such other lofty assemblies members tap on the desks instead of clapping hands.
Though clapping hands is essentially a fun filled activity, people have made use of it to offer a great principle of reconciliation or a meeting of two dissident groups. “It takes two hands to clap” says the person who wants to bring about better understanding between the two persons who are not able to see eye to eye. I remember a joke.
In an office situation a senior officer described how the trade union people were adamant in their demands and would not budge from their stand at all. “I told them it takes two hands to clap” said the senior officer. One of the persons present said, “But sir, you don’t need two hands to slap someone. How do you assume that they wanted to clap hands?
Suppose they just wanted to slap”? Once a certain speaker went on speaking for a long time. His talk was far from interesting. People started feeling fidgety but he wouldn’t stop.
At last they started clapping hands. But our friend thought that his oration was being appreciated and went on and on. What to do? At last one person sent a note to him. The speaker quickly glanced at the note and simply closed his speech even without the usual closing remarks or thanks. (What was written on slip? ‘Your pant zip is open’)
There was another boring speaker who rose to speak at a function. The audience clapped hands but one lady who was seated in front did not clap her hands.
One or two people looked at her. She then sent a note to the speaker. The speaker read the note and quickly wound up his talk. The note contained a single word in block letters KISS. The Chief Guest saw and said “What a wonderful way of appreciating!” The speaker said, “Sir the lady is my wife. Her note means Keep it Short Silly’” There is a story about a little chap who was very keen to have a part in the school play.
Somehow, in spite of her best efforts the teacher could not take him as he was too young and not able to play any role. But the little fellow would not give up. At last one evening he ran home to his mother jubilant and announced “Mama at last the teacher agreed to give me a part in the play. When the play ends my role will be to start clapping hands!”