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THE ILLUSTRATED SELF-INSTRUCTOR
IN PHRENOLOGY AND PHYSIOLOGY,
WITH ONE HUNDRED ENGRAVINGS,
AND A CHART OF THE CHARACTER
____________________________________________
AS GIVEN BY
____________________________________________
BY O. S. AND L. N. FOWLER,
PRACTICAL PHRENOLOGISTS.
Your head is the type of your mentality.
Self-knowledge is the essence of all knowledge.
NEW YORK:
FOWLER AND WELLS, PUBLISHERS
308 BROADWAY.
Boston: } 1857. {Philadelphia:
No. 142 Washington St.} {No. 234 Arch Street
Entered, according to act of Congress, in the year 18__ by
FOWLERS AND WELLS,
in the Clerk's Office of the District Court for the Southern
District of New York.
STEREOTYPED BY
BANER & PALMER
261 William st., cor. of Frankfort, N. Y.
Conditions Large Very Full Aver- Moder- Small Culti- Re-
Large age ate vate strain
Vital Temperament 17 17 17 17 17 17 165
Powerful or Motive 18 18 18 18 18 18 137
Active or Mental 19 19 19 19 19 19
Excitability of ditto 20 20 20 20 20 20 157 175
Constitution 34 34 34 34 34 34
Organic Quality 47 47 47 47 47 47
Present state 47 47 47 47 47 47
Size of head 48 49 49 49 49 50
DOMESTIC GROUP
1. Amativeness 52 52 53 53 53 54 218
2. Parental Love 55 55 56 56 56 56 220
3. Adhesiveness 57 57 58 58 58 58 226
4. Inhabitiveness 60 60 61 61 61 61 232
5. Continuity 62 62 62 62 62 62 234
SELFISH PROPENSITIES 63 64 64 64 64 64
E. Vitativeness 64 65 65 65 65 65 236 237
6. Combativeness 66 66 66 66 67 67 239 240
7. Destructiveness 67 68 69 69 69 69 242 243
8. Alimentiveness 70 70 70 71 71 71 245 246
9. Acquisitiveness 72 73 73 73 74 74 249 250
10. Secretiveness 75 75 76 76 76 77 252 253
11. Cautiousness 78 78 78 78 79 79 255 256
12. Approbativeness 79 80 80 80 80 81 258 259
13. Self-Esteem 82 82 82 83 83 83 261 262
14. Firmness 84 85 85 85 85 85 265 266
MORAL FACULTIES 86 86 86 86 86 86 268 270
15. Conscientiousness 87 88 88 88 89 89 268 270
16. Hope 89 90 90 90 90 91 272 273
17. Spirituality 91 92 92 92 90 92 276 277
18. Veneration 92 93 94 94 94 94 279 280
19. Benevolence 94 95 96 96 96 96 282 283
20. Constructiveness 98 97 97 97 97 97 285 286
21. Ideality 98 98 98 99 99 99 288 289
B. Sublimity 99 100 100 100 100 100 290 291
22. Imitation 100 101 101 102 102 102 293 294
23. Mirthfulness 103 103 103 103 103 104 296 297
INTELLECTUAL FACULT. 104 104 104 104 105 105
PERCEPTIVE FACULTIES 105 105 105 105 106 106
24. Individuality 107 107 107 107 107 108 424
25. Form 108 108 109 109 109 109 437
26. Size 109 109 110 110 110 110 441
27. Weight 110 110 110 110 110 110 446
28. Color 111 111 111 111 111 111 450
29. Order 112 112 112 112 112 112 456
30. Calculation 113 113 113 114 114 114 460
31. Locality 114 114 114 114 114 115 467
LITERARY FACULTIES 115 115 115 115 115 115
32. Eventuality 116 116 116 117 117 117 476
33. Time 117 117 117 117 117 117 491
34. Tune 118 118 118 118 118 118 504 506
35. Language 119 119 120 120 120 120 515
REASONING FACULTIES 121 121 121 121 121 121
36. Causality 122 122 123 123 123 123 548
37. Comparison 123 124 124 124 124 125 536
D. Human Nature 125 125 125 125 125 125 540
D. Agreeableness 126 126 126 126 126 126 299 273
SYMBOLICAL HEAD.
[Illustration]
NUMBERING AND DEFINITION OF THE ORGANS.
1. AMATIVENESS, Sexual and connubial love.
2. PHILOPROGENITIVENESS, Parental love.
3. ADHESIVENESS, Friendship--sociability.
A. UNION FOR LIFE, Love of one only.
4. INHABITIVENESS, Love of home.
5. CONTINUITY, One thing at a time.
6. COMBATIVENESS, Resistance--defence.
7. DESTRUCTIVENESS, Executiveness--force.
8. ALIMENTIVENESS, Appetite, hunger.
9. ACQUISITIVENESS, Accumulation.
10. SECRETIVENESS, Policy--management.
11. CAUTIOUSNESS, Prudence, provision.
12. APPROBATIVENESS, Ambition--display.
13. SELF-ESTEEM, Self-respect--dignity.
14. FIRMNESS, Decision--perseverance.
15. CONSCIENTIOUSNESS, Justice--equity.
16. HOPE, Expectation--enterprise.
17. SPIRITUALITY, Intuition--spiritual revery.
18. VENERATION, Devotion--respect.
19. BENEVOLENCE, Kindness--goodness.
20. OBSTRUCTIVENESS, Mechanical ingenuity.
21. IDEALITY, Refinement--taste--purity.
B. SUBLIMITY, Love of grandeur.
22. IMITATION, Copying--patterning.
23. MINDFULNESS, Jocoseness--wit--fun.
24. INDIVIDUALITY, Observation.
25. FORM, Recollection of shape.
26. SIZE, Measuring by the eye.
27. WEIGHT, Balancing--climbing.
28. COLOR, Judgment of colors.
29. ORDER, Method--system--arrangement.
30. CALCULATION, Mental arithmetic.
31. LOCALITY, Recollection of places.
32. EVENTUALITY, Memory of facts.
33. TIME, Cognizance of duration.
34. TUNE, Music--melody by ear.
35. LANGUAGE, Expression of ideas.
36. CAUSALITY, Applying causes to effects.
37. COMPARISON, Inductive reasoning.
C. HUMAN NATURE, Perception of motives.
D. AGREEABLENESS, Pleasantness--suavity.
PREFACE AND EXPLANATION.
To TEACH LEARNERS those organic conditions which indicate character, is
the first object of this manual; and in order to render it accessible to
all, it condenses facts and conditions, rather than elaborates
arguments--because to EXPOUND Phrenology is its highest proof--states laws
and results, and leaves them upon their naked merits; embodies recent
discoveries; and crowds into the fewest possible words and pages just what
learners need to know; and, hence, requires to be STUDIED rather than
merely read. "Short, yet clear," is its motto. Its numerous illustrative
engravings give the results of very extensive professional observations
and experience.
To RECORD CHARACTER is its second object. In doing this, it describes
those organic conditions which affect and indicate character in SEVEN
degrees of power--large, very large, full, average, moderate, small, and
very small, and refers those who have their physiological and
phrenological conditions correctly marked in the accompanying tables, to
those paragraphs which both describe themselves, and also contain specific
directions how to PERFECT THEIR characters and improve children. Its plan
for recording character is seen at a glance in the following
EXPLANATION OF THE TABLES.
Those physiological and phrenological conditions marked LARGE have a
powerful and almost CONTROLLING influence over feelings and conduct, both
single and in combination, and engross weaker ones into their service.
VERY LARGE organic conditions are sovereign kings over character and
conduct, and singly and in combination with each other, or with large
organs, direct and sway their possessor. FULL organs play subordinate
parts, yet are seen and felt, and exert more real than apparent influence.
AVERAGE ones have considerable, yet a limited influence, but it is mainly
in COMBINATION with large ones though they affect character more than
they seem to. MODERATE faculties are below par in fact, and still more so
in appearance; exert a limited influence; and leave character defective in
these respects. SMALL organs are so deficient as easily to be perceived;
leave their possessor weak and faulty in these points; and should be
assiduously cultivated; while VERY SMALL ones render him almost idiotic in
these functions.
This table is so constructed as to record the ACTUAL POWER, or quality and
quantity of the physical and mental functions, as deduced from size and
activity combined, and this is done by means of dots or written figures
placed opposite the names of the organs and temperaments, and the printed
figures in the squares thus marked, designate the number of the page in
this work which contains the corresponding description of character; and
these paragraphs, thus referred to in the body of the work, have figures
attached to them, referring to the pages of "Fowler's Phrenology," where
an elaborate description of the several functions are discussed at length,
with numerous combinations which shade and tone the character.
The six left hand columns refer to the pages of this work, while the two
right hand ones refer to those NUMBERED PARAGRAPHS found throughout
"Physiology," "Self-Culture," and "Memory," which contain directions for
cultivating, restraining, and rightly directing whatever physical
functions or mental faculties may require either, both in adults and
children; so that these works, in conjunction with a correct marking in
these tables, furnish a complete directory for obviating faults, supplying
defects, developing excellencies, and perfecting one's self and children.
Faculties marked with an upward curve, thus, [symbol], in the several
squares, are deficient, and require cultivation; while those marked with a
downward curve, thus, [symbol], are liable to excess or perversion, and
should be carefully guarded and rightly directed; while + signifies about
one third larger; and -- one third smaller than a dot would indicate in
the same place, thus rendering one scale equal to twenty-one.
MARKING THE CHART BY FIGURES.
Some persons who record examinations prefer to use numerals to indicate
the size of the organs. We describe the organs in seven degrees of power,
and to indicate those degrees, employ the written figures, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5,
6, 7. When thus used, 1 means VERY SMALL; 2, SMALL; 3, MODERATE; 4,
AVERAGE; 5, FULL; 6, LARGE; 7, VERY LARGE. The signs +, --, [symbol],
[symbol], mean the same as in the above table.
THE SELF-INSTRUCTOR.
SECTION I.
PHYSIOLOGICAL CONDITIONS AS AFFECTING AND INDICATING CHARACTER.
I.--VALUE OF SELF-KNOWLEDGE.
"KNOWLEDGE is power"--to accomplish, to enjoy--and these are the only ends
for which man was created. ALL knowledge confers this power. Thus, how
incalculably, and in how many ways, have recent discoveries in chemistry
enhanced human happiness, of which the lucifer match furnishes a _home_
example. Increasing knowledge in agriculture is doubling the means of
human sustenance. How immeasurably have modern mechanical improvements
multiplied, and cheapened all the comforts of life. How greatly have
steamboats and railroads added to the former stock of human success and
pleasures. Similar remarks apply to all other kinds of knowledge, and as
it increases from age to age will it proportionally multiply all forms of
human happiness. In fact, its inherent _nature_ and legitimate effect is
to promote every species of enjoyment and success. Other things being
equal, those who know most, by a law of things, can both accomplish and
enjoy most; while ignorance instead of being bliss, is the greatest cause
of human weakness, wickedness, and woe. Hence, to ENLIGHTEN man, is _the_
way to reform and perfect him.
But SELF-knowledge is, of all its other kinds, both the most useful and
promotive of personal and universal happiness and success. "Know thyself"
was written, in golden capitals, upon the splendid temple of Delphos, as
the most important maxim the wise men of Greece could transmit to unborn
generations; and the Scriptures wisely command us to "search our own
hearts." Since all happiness flows from obeying, and all pain from
violating, the LAWS OF OUR BEING, to know our own selves is to know these
laws, and becomes the first step in the road of their obedience, which is
life. Self-knowledge, by teaching the laws and conditions of life and
health, becomes the most efficacious means of prolonging the former and
increasing the latter--both of which are _paramount_ conditions of
enjoying and accomplishing. It also shows us our natural talents,
capabilities, virtues, vices, strong and weak points, liabilities to err,
etc., and thereby points out, unmistakably, those occupations and spheres
in which we can and cannot succeed and shine; and develops the laws and
conditions of human and personal virtue and moral perfection, as well as
of vice, and how to avoid it. It is, therefore, the quintessence of all
knowledge; places its possessor upon the very acme of enjoyment and
perfection; and bestows the highest powers and richest treasures mortals
can possess. In short, to know ourselves perfectly, is to know every law
of our being, every condition of happiness, and every cause of suffering;
and to _practice_ such knowledge, is to render ourselves as perfectly
happy, throughout every department of our being, as we can possibly be and
live. And since nothing in nature stands alone, but each is reciprocally
related to all, and all, collectively, form one magnificent whole--since
all stars and worlds mutually act and react upon each other, to cause day
and night, summer and winter, sun and rain, blossom and fruit; since every
genus, species, and individual throughout nature is second or sixteenth
cousin to every other; and since man is the epitome of universal nature,
the embodiment of all her functions, the focus of all her light, and
representative of all her perfections--of course to understand _him_
thoroughly is to know _all_ things. Nor can nature be studied
advantageously without him for a text-book, nor he without her.
Moreover, since man is composed of mind _and_ body, both reciprocally and
most intimately related to each other--since his mentality is manifested
only by bodily organs, and the latter depends wholly upon the former, of
course his mind can be studied only through its ORGANIC relations. If it
were manifested independently of his physiology, it might be studied
separately, but since all his organic conditions modify his mentality, the
two must be studied TOGETHER. Heretofore humanity has been studied by
piece-meal. Anatomists have investigated only his organic structure, and
there stopped; and mental philosophers have studied him metaphysically,
wholly regardless of all his physiological relations; while theologians
have theorized upon his moral faculties alone; and hence their utter
barrenness, from Aristotle down. As if one should study nothing but the
trunk of a tree, another only its roots, a third its leaves, or fruit,
without compounding their researches, of what value is such piecemeal
study? If the physical man constituted one whole being, and the mental
another, their separate study might be useful; but since all we know of
mind, and can do with it, is manifested and done wholly by means of
physical instruments--especially since every possible condition and change
of the physiology correspondingly affects the mentality--of course their
MUTUAL relations, and the laws of their RECIPROCAL action, must be
investigated _collectively_. Besides, every mental philosopher has
deduced his system from his own closet cogitations, and hence their
babel-like confusion. But within the last half century, a new star, or
rather sun, has arisen upon the horizon of mind--a sun which puts the
finger of SCIENTIFIC CERTAINTY upon every mental faculty, and discloses
those _physiological_ conditions which affect, increase or diminish,
purify or corrupt, or in any other way modify, either the mind itself, or
its products--thought, feeling, and character--and thereby reduces mental
study to that same _tangible_ basis of _proportion_ in which all science
consists; leaving nothing dark or doubtful, but developing the true
SCIENCE OF MIND, and the laws of its action. Of this, the greatest of all
discoveries, Gall was the author, and Phrenology and Physiology the
instruments which conjointly embrace whatever appertains to mind, and to
man, in all his organic relations, show how to perfect the former by
improving the latter, and disclose specific SIGNS OF CHARACTER, by which
we may know ourselves and our fellow-men with certainty--a species of
knowledge most delightful in acquisition, and valuable in application.
2.--STRUCTURE CORRESPONDS WITH CHARACTER.
Throughout universal nature, the structure of all things is powerful or
weak, hard or soft, coarse or fine, etc., in accordance with its
functions; and in this there is a philosophical fitness or adaptation.
What immense power of function trees put forth, to rear and sustain aloft,
at such great mechanical disadvantage, their ponderous load and vast
canvas of leaves, limbs, and fruit or seeds, spread out to all the
surgings of tempestuous winds and storms; and the _texture_ of wood is as
compact and firm as its functional power is prodigious. Hence its value as
timber. But tender vegetables, grains, etc., require little power, and
accordingly are fragile in structure. Lions, tigers, hyenas, and all
powerfully strong beasts, have a correspondingly powerful organic
structure. The muscular strength of lions is so extraordinary, that
seizing wild cattle by the neck, they dash through thicket, marsh, and
ravine, for hours together, as a cat would drag a squirrel, and their roar
is most terrific; and so powerful is their structure, that it took Drs.
McClintock, Allen, myself, and two experienced "resurrectionists," FOUR
HOURS, though we worked with might and main, just to cut off a magnificent
Numidian lion's head. So hard and tough were the muscles and tendons of
his neck, that cutting them seemed like severing wire, and after slitting
all we could, we were finally obliged to employ a powerful purchase to
start them. It took over three hard days' work to remove his skin. So
compact are the skins of the elephant, rhinoceros, alligator, and some
other animals of great muscular might, that rifle-balls, shot against
them, flatten and fall at their feet--their structure being as dense as
their strength is mighty--while feeble animals have a correspondingly soft
structure. In like manner, the flesh of strong persons is dense and most
elastic, while those of weakly ones are flabby, and yield to pressure.
Moreover, fineness of texture manifests exquisiteness of sensibility, as
seen by contrasting human organism and feelings with brutes, or
fine-haired persons with coarse-haired. Of course, a similar relation and
adaptation exist between all other organic characteristics and their
functions. In short, it is a LAW as philosophical as universal, that the
structure of all beings, and of each of their organs, corresponds
perfectly with their functions--a law based in the very nature and fitness
of things, and governing all shades and diversities of organization and
manifestation. Accordingly those who are coarse-skinned are coarse in
feeling, and coarse-grained throughout; while those finely organized are
fine-minded, and thus of all other textures of hair, skin, etc.
3.--SHAPE CORRESPONDS WITH CHARACTER.
Matter, in its primeval state, was "without form, and void," or gaseous,
but slowly condensing, it solidified or CRYSTALLIZED into minerals and
rocks--and all rocks and minerals are crystalline--which, decomposed by
sun and air, form soil, and finally assume organic, or animal and
vegetable forms. All crystals assume _angular_ forms, and all vegetables
and animals those more or less _spherical_, as seeds, fruits, etc., in
proportion as they are lower or higher in the creative scale; though other
conditions sometimes modify this result.
Nature also manifests certain types of character in and by corresponding
types of form. Thus all trees bear a general resemblance to all other
trees in growth and general character, and also in shape; and those most
nearly allied in character approximate in shape, as pine, hemlock, firs,
etc., while every tree of a given kind is shaped like all others of that
kind, in bark, limb, leaf, and fruit. So all grains, grasses, fruits, and
every bear, horse, elephant, and human being bear a close resemblance to
all others of its kind, both in character and configuration, and on this
resemblance all scientific classification is based. And, since this
general correspondence exists between all the divisions and subdivisions
into classes, genera, and species of nature's works, of course the
resemblance is perfect between _all the details_ of outward forms and
inward mental characteristics; for this law, seen to govern nature in the
outline, must of course govern her in all her minutest details; so that
every existing outward shape is but the mirrored reflection of its inner
likeness. Moreover, since nature always clothes like mentalities in like
shapes, as oak, pine, apple, and other trees, and all lions, sheep, fish,
etc., in other general types of form, of course the more nearly any two
beings approximate to each other in mental disposition, do they resemble
each other in shape. Thus, not only do tiger form and character always
accompany each other, but leopards, panthers, cats, and all feline
species resemble this tiger shape more or less closely, according as their
dispositions approach or depart from his; and monkeys approach nearer to
the human shape, and also mentality, than any other animal except
orang-outangs, which are still more human both in shape and character, and
form the connecting link between man and brute. How absolute and
universal, therefore, the correspondence, both in general outline and
minute detail, between shape and character. Hence the shape of all things
becomes a sure index of its mentality.
4.--RESEMBLANCE BETWEEN HUMAN AND ANIMAL PHYSIOGNOMY AND CHARACTER.
Moreover, some men closely resemble one or another of the animal species
in both looks and character; that is, have the eagle, or bull-dog, or lion
or baboon expression of face, and when they do, have the corresponding
characteristics. Thus the lion's head and face are broad and stout built,
with a heavy beard and mane, and a mouth rendered square by small front
and large eye teeth, and its corners slightly turning downward; and that
human "Lion of the North"--who takes hold only of some great undertaking,
which he pursues with indomitable energy, rarely pounces on his prey, but
when he does, so roars that a nation quakes; demolishes his victim; and is
an intellectual king among men--bears no slight physiognomical resemblance
in his stout form, square face and mouth, large nose, and open
countenance, to the king of beasts.
[Illustration: THE LION FACE. DANIEL WEBSTER.]
TRISTAM BURGESS, called in Congress the "Bald Eagle," from his having the
aquiline or eagle-bill nose, a projection in the upper lip, falling into
an indentation in the lower, his eagle-shaped eyes and eyebrows, as seen
in the accompanying engraving, eagle-like in character, was the most
sarcastic, tearing, and soaring man of his day, John Randolph excepted.
And whoever has a long, hooked, hawk-bill, or common nose, wide mouth,
spare form, prominence at the lower and middle part of the forehead, is
very fierce when assailed, high tempered, vindictive, efficient, and
aspiring, and will fly higher and farther than others.
[Illustration: THE EAGLE FACE. No. 2. TRISTAM BURGESS.]
TIGERS are always spare, muscular, long, full over the eyes,
large-mouthed, and have eyes slanting downward from their outer to inner
angles; and human beings thus physiognomically characterized, are fierce,
domineering, revengeful, most enterprising, not over humane, a terror to
enemies, and conspicuous somewhere.
BULL-DOGS, generally fleshy, square-mouthed--because their tusks project
and front teeth retire--broad-headed, indolent unless roused, but then
terribly fierce, have their correspondent men and women, whose growling,
coarse, heavy voices, full habit, logy yet powerful motions, square face,
down-turned corners of mouth, and general physiognomical cast betoken
their second-cousin relationship to this growling, biting race, of which
the old line-tender at the Newburgh dock is a sample.
SWINE--fat, logy, lazy, good-dispositioned, flat and hollow-nosed--have
their cousins in large-abdomened, pud-nosed, double-chinned, talkative,
story-enjoying, beer-loving, good-feeling, yes, yes, humans, who love some
easy business, and hate HARD work.
Horses, oxen, sheep, owls, doves, snakes, and even frogs, etc., also have
their men and women cousins, together with their accompanying characters.
These resemblances are more difficult to describe than to recognize; but
the forms of mouth, nose, and chin, and sound of voice, are the best basis
of observation.
5.--BEAUTIFUL, HOMELY, AND OTHER FORMS.
In accordance with this general law, that shape is as character,
well-proportioned persons have harmony of features, and well-balanced
minds; whereas those, some of whose features stick right out, and others
fall far in, have uneven, ill-balanced characters, so that homely,
disjointed exteriors indicate corresponding interiors, while
evenly-balanced and exquisitely formed men and women have well-balanced
and susceptible mentalities. Hence, women, more beautiful than men, have
finer feelings, and greater perfection of character, yet are less
powerful--and the more beautifully formed the woman the more exquisite and
perfect her mentality. True, some handsome women often make the greatest
scolds, just as the sweetest things, when soured, become correspondingly
sour. The finest things, when perverted, become the worst. These two
extremes are the worst tempered--those naturally beautiful and fine
skinned, become so exquisitely organized, that when perverted they are
proportionally bad, and those naturally ugly-formed, become ugly by
nature.
Yet ordinary-looking persons are often excellent dispositioned,
benevolent, talented, etc., because they have a few POWERFUL traits, and
also features--the very thing we are explaining; that is, they have
EXTREMES alike of face and character. Thus it is that every diversity of
character has its correspondence in both the organic texture and
physiognomical form. To elucidate this subject fully we must explain
another law, that of
6.--HOMOGENEOUSNESS, OR ONENESS OF STRUCTURE.
Every part of every thing bears an exact correspondence to that thing AS A
WHOLE. Thus, tall-bodied trees have long branches and leaves, and
short-bodied trees, short branches and roots; while creeping vines, as the
grape, honey-suckle, etc., have long, slim roots that run under ground as
extensively as their tops do above. The Rhode Island greening is a large,
well-proportioned apple, and its tree is large in trunk, limb, leaf, and
root, and symmetrical, while the gillifleur is conical and its tree long
limbed and even high to a peak at the top, while flat and broad-topped
trees bear wide, flat, sunken-eyed apples. Very thrifty growing trees, as
the Baldwin, fall pippin, Bartlet, black Tartarian, etc., generally bear
large fruit, while small fruit, as the seckle pear, lady apple, bell de
choisa cherry, grow slowly, and have many small twigs and branches.
Beautiful trees that bear red fruit, as the Baldwin, etc., have red inner
bark; while yellow and green-colored fruits grow on trees the inner rind
of whose limbs is yellow or green. Peach-trees, that bear early peaches,
have deeply-notched leaves, and the converse of late ones; so that, by
these and other physiognomical signs, experienced nurserymen can tell what
a given tree is at first sight.
In accordance with this law of unity of structure, long-handed persons
have long fingers, toes, arms, legs, bodies, heads, and phrenological
organs; while short and broad-shouldered persons are short and
broad-handed and fingered, faced, nosed, and limbed, and wide and low
bodied. When the bones on the hand are prominent, all the bones, nose
included, are generally so, and thus of all other characteristics of the
hand and any other part of the body. Hence, let a hand be thrust through a
hole, and I will tell the general character of its owner, because if it is
large or small, hard or soft, strong or weak, firm or flabby,
coarse-grained or fine-textured, even or prominent, rough or smooth,
small-boned or large-boned, or whatever else, his whole body is built upon
the same principle, with which his brain and mentality also correspond.
Hence small-nosed persons have little soul, and large-nosed a great deal
of character of some kind; large nostrils indicate powerful lungs and
bodies; while narrow nostrils indicate weak ones. Flat noses indicate flat
minds, and prominent noses strong points of character; sharp noses, keen,
clear intellects and intense feelings; blunt noses, obtuse minds; long
noses, long heads; hollow noses, tame characters; finely-formed noses,
well-proportioned character, etc.; and thus of every part of the body. And
it is meet philosophical, accordant with the principles of adaptation,
that this should be thus; and renders observations on character easy and
correct. In general, too, tall persons have high heads, and are more
aspiring, aim high, and seek conspicuosity, while short ones have flat
heads, and seek worldly pleasures. Tall persons are rarely mean, though
often grasping; but very penurious persons are often broad built. Small
persons generally have exquisite mentalities, yet less power; while great
men are rarely dwarfs, though great size often co-exists with
sluggishness. To particularize--there are four leading forms which
indicate generic characteristics, all existing in every one, yet in
different DEGREES. They are these:
7.--THE BROAD, OR VITAL STRUCTURE.
[Illustration: THE VITAL, OR ANIMAL TEMPERAMENT. No. 3. HALL.]
Thus, Indian ponies are broad built or thick set, and accordingly very
tough, hardy, enduring of labor, and tenacious of life, yet less active
and nimble. Bull-dogs, elephants, and all round-favored animals and men,
also illustrate this law. Rotundity, with a moderate-sized head, indicates
ancestral longevity; and, unless health has been abused, renders it
possessor strong constitutioned, slow to ripen, or better as they grow
older; full of animal life; self-caring; money-making; fond of animal
pleasures; good feeling, yet spirited when roused; impulsive; more given
to physical than mental action; better adapted to business than study, and
talking than writing; more eloquent than argumentative; wide rather than
high or long headed; more glowing than cool in feeling; and more
enthusiastic than logical or deep. The preceding likeness represents this
class, and his ancestors exceeded 100. He has never been sick; can endure
any thing, and can never sit much in doors.
8.--THE MUSCULAR, OR POWERFUL TEMPERAMENT,
Gives projecting features, bones, noses, eyebrows, etc., with distinctness
of muscle; and renders its possessors strong; tough; thorough-going;
forcible; easy, yet powerful of motion; perhaps slow, but very stout;
strongly marked, if not idiosyncratic; determined; and impressive both
physically and mentally, who stamp their character on all they touch, of
whom Alexander Campbell is a good example.
[Illustration: PROMINENT, OR POWERFUL. No. 4. ALEXANDER CAMPBELL.]
9.--THE LONG, OR ACTIVE FORM,
Gives ACTIVITY. Thus the gazelle, deer, greyhound, weasel, and all long
and slim animals, are sprightly, light-motioned, agile, quick, nimble,
and full of action; and those persons thus formed are restless, wide
awake, always doing, eager, uncommonly quick to think and feel, sprightly
in conversation, versatile in talent, flexible, suggestive, abounding in
idea, apt at most things; exposed to consumption, because their action
exceeds their strength, early ripe, brilliant, and liable to premature
exhaustion and disease, because the mentality predominates over the
vitality; of which Captain Knight, of the ship "New World," who has a
world-wide reputation for activity, enterprise, daring, impetuousness,
promptness, judgment, earnestness of execution, affability, and
sprightliness, furnishes a good example.
[Illustration: LONG, OR ACTIVE. No. 5. CAPT. KNIGHT.]
10.--THE SHARP AND ANGULAR, OR MENTAL ORGANIZATION,
Have ardent desires; intense feelings; keen susceptibilities; enjoy and
suffer in the extreme; are whole-souled; sensitive; positive in likes and
dislikes; cordial; enthusiastic; impulsive; have their hobbies; abound in
good feeling, yet are quick-tempered; excitable; liable to extremes; too
much creatures of feeling, and have a great deal of what we call SOUL, or
passion, or warmth of feeling. This temperament prevails in BRILLIANT
writers or speakers, who are too refined and sensitive for the mass of
mankind. They gleam in their career of genius, and are liable to burn out
their vital powers on the altar of nervous excitability, and like Pollok,
H. K. White, McDonald Clarke, or Leggett, fall victims to premature death.
Early attention to the physical training of children would spare to the
world the lives and usefulness of some of the brightest stars in the
firmament of science.
[Illustration: SHARP AND ANGULAR, OR EXCITABLE. No. 6. VOLTAIRE.]
11.--COMBINATIONS OF TEMPERAMENT.
These shapes, or structures, called temperaments, however, never exist
separately; yet since all may be strong, or all weak, or either
predominant or deficient, of course their COMBINATIONS with each other and
with the Phrenology exert potent influences over character, and put the
observer in possession of both the outline and the inner temple of
character.
Breadth of organization gives endurance, animal power, and animal
feelings; and sharpness gives intensity of action, along with mind as mind
and the two united, give both that rapidity and clearness of mind and that
intense glow of feeling which make the orator. Accordingly, all truly
eloquent men will be found to be broad built, round-shouldered, portly,
and fleshy, and yet rather sharp-featured. Of these, Sidney Smith
furnishes a sample.
His nose indicates the sharpness of the mental temperament, and his
fullness of face the breadth of the animal--the blending of which gives
that condensation of fervor and intellectuality which make him Sidney
Smith. Intensity of feeling is the leading element of good speaking, for
this excites feeling, and moves the masses. Wirt had this temperament. It
predominates in Preston, and in every man noted for eloquence.
[Illustration: THE EXCITABLE, ORATORICAL, OR MENTAL VITAL. No. 7.
SIDNEY SMITH.]
The sharp and broad, combined with smallness of stature, is still more
susceptible, yet lacks strength. Such will be extremely happy, or most
miserable, or both, and are liable to die young, because their action is
too great for their endurance.
The vital mental, or broad and sharp, gives great power of constitution,
excellent lungs and stomach, strong enjoying susceptibilities, intense
love of pleasure, a happy, ease-loving cast of body and mind; powerful
passions, most intense feelings, and a story and song-loving disposition,
and, with large Tune, superior singing powers. This is, PAR EXCELLENCE,
the singing temperament. It also loves poetry and eloquence, and often
executes them. Of this organism, its accompanying character, Dempster,
furnishes an excellent example.
[Illustration: ND SHARP ORGANIZATION. No. 8. DEMPSTER.]
[Illustration: VITAL MOTIVE. No. 9. PHINEAS STEVENS.]
THE VITAL MOTIVE APPARATUS, or powerful and animal temperament, is
indicated by the broad and prominent in shape, and renders its possessor
of good size and height, if not large; well-proportioned;
broad-shouldered; muscular; nose and cheek-bones prominent; visage
strongly marked; features often coarse and homely; countenance stern and
harsh; face red; hair red or sandy, if not coarse; and movements strong,
but often awkward, and seldom polished. He will be best adapted to some
laborious occupation, and enjoy hard work more than books or literary
pursuits; have great power of feeling, and thus require much
self-government; possess more talent than he exhibits to others, manifest
his mind more in his business, in creating resources and managing matters,
than in literary pursuits or mind as such; and improve with age, growing
better and more intellectual as he grows older; and manufactures as much
animal steam as he can work off, even if he works all the time hard. Such
men ACCOMPLISH; are strong-minded; sensible; hard to beat; indomitable;
often impulsive; and strong in passion when once aroused; as well as often
excellent men. Yet this temperament is capable of being depraved,
especially if the subject drinks. Sailors usually have this temperament,
because fresh air and hard work induce it.
[Illustration: PROMINENT AND SHARP. No. 10. DR. CALDWELL.]
THE MOTIVE MENTAL TEMPERAMENT, or the prominent and sharp in structure,
with the motive predominant, and the vital average or full, is of good
size; rather tall and slim; lean and raw-boned, if not homely and awkward;
poor in flesh; bones and features prominent, particularly the nose; a firm
and distinct muscle, and a good physical organization; a keen, piercing,
penetrating eye; the front upper teeth rather large and projecting; the
hands, fingers, and limbs all long; a long face, and often a high
forehead; a firm, rapid, energetic walk; and great ease and efficiency of
action, accompanied with little fatigue.
He will have strong desires, and much energy of character; will take hold
of projects with both hands, and drive forward in spite of obstacles, and
hence is calculated to accomplish a great deal; is not idle or lazy, but
generally prefers to wait upon himself; will move, walk, etc. in a
decided, forcible, and straightforward manner; have strong passions; a
tough and wiry brain and body; a strong and vigorous mind; good judgment;
a clear head, and talents more solid than brilliant; be long-headed; bold;
cool; calculating; fond of deep reasoning and philosophizing, of hard
thinking, and the graver and more solid branches of learning. This is the
thorough-going temperament; imparts business powers; predisposes to hard
work, and is indispensable to those who engage in great undertakings, or
who would rise to eminence.
One having the mental temperament predominant, the motive full or large,
and the vital average to full, will differ in build from the preceding
description only in his being smaller, taller in proportion, and more
spare. He will have a reflective, thinking, planning, discriminating cast
of mind; a great fondness for literature, science, and intellectual
pursuits of the deeper, graver kind; be inclined to choose a professional
or mental occupation; to exercise his body much, but his mind more; will
have a high forehead; good moral faculties; and the brain developed more
from the root of the nose, over to Philoprogenitiveness, than around the
ears. In character, also, the moral and intellectual faculties will
predominate. This temperament is seldom connected with depravity, but
generally with talent, and a manifestation, not only of superior talents,
but of the solid, metaphysical, reasoning, investigating intellect; a
fondness for natural philosophy, the natural sciences, etc. It is also the
temperament for authorship and clear-headed, labored productions. It
predominates in Revs. Jonathan Edwards, Wilbur Fiske, N. Taylor, E. A.
Parke, Leonard Bacon, Albert Barnes, Oberlin, and Pres. Day; Drs. Parish
and Rush; in Hitchcock, Jas. Brown, the grammarian, ex-U.S.
Attorney-General Butler, Hugh I. White, Wise, Asher Robbins, Walter Jones,
Esq., of Washington, D.C., Franklin, Alex. Hamilton, Chief-Justice
Marshall, Calhoun, John Q. Adams, Percival, Noah Webster, Geo. Combe,
Lucretia Mott, Catherine Waterman, Mrs. Sigourney, and nearly every
distinguished author and scholar. The accompanying engraving of William
Cullen Bryant furnishes as excellent an illustration of the shape that
accompanies this temperament, as his character does of its accompanying
mentality.
[Illustration: THE MENTAL MOTIVE TEMPERAMENT. No. 11. WILLIAM CULLEN
BRYANT.]
THE LONG AND SHARP combine the highest order of action and energy with
promptness, clearness, and untiring assiduity, and considerable power.
Such are best fitted for some light, active business, requiring more
brightness and quickness than power, such as merchants.
THE ORGANS THAT ACCOMPANY GIVEN TEMPERAMENTS.--Not only do certain
outlines of character and drifts of talent go along with certain kinds of
organizations, but certain phrenological developments accompany certain
temperaments. As the pepper secretes the smarting, the sugar-cane
sweetness, castor-beans and whales, oil, etc., throughout nature, so
certain temperaments secrete more brain than others; and some, brain in
particular regions of the head; and others, brain in other regions of the
head--but all form most of those organs best adapted to carry out those
characteristics already shown to accompany the several temperaments. Thus,
the vital or animal temperament secretes brain in the neighborhood of the
ears, so that along with breadth of body goes that width of head which
gives that full development of the animal organs which is required by the
animal temperament. Thus, breadth of form, width of head, and animality of
temperament and character, all go together.
PROMINENCE of organization, or the motive or powerful temperament, gives
force of character, and secretes brain in the crown of the head, and over
the eyes, along with Combativeness, Destructiveness, Appetite, and
Acquisitiveness. These are the very organs required by this temperament;
for they complete that force which embodies the leading element of this
organization. I never saw this temperament unaccompanied with prodigious
Firmness, and great Combativeness and perceptives.
THE MENTAL VITAL.--The finest and most exquisite organization is that
which unites the mental in predominance with the animal, the prominent
retiring. In this case, the person is rather short, the form light, the
face and person full, and the hair brown or auburn, or between the two. It
will sometimes be found in men, but much oftener in women. It is the
feeling, sentimental, exalted, angelic temperament; and always imparts
purity, sweetness, devotion, exquisiteness, susceptibility, loveliness,
and great moral worth.
[Illustration: MENTAL VITAL. No. 12. FANNY FORRESTER.]
The phrenological organs which accompany this temperament, are--smaller
Firmness, deficient Self-Esteem, large or very large Approbativeness,
smaller Destructiveness, Appetite not large, Adhesiveness and
Philoprogenitiveness very large, Amativeness fair; the head wide, not
directly round the ears, but at the upper part of the sides, including
Ideality, Mirthfulness, Sublimity, and Cautiousness; and a fine top head,
rising at Benevolence quite as much as at Firmness, and being wide on the
top, whereas the motive temperament gives perhaps a ridge in the middle of
the head, but not breadth on the top, and leaves the head much higher at
the back part than at Benevolence. Benevolence, however, often accompanies
the animal temperament, and especially that quiet goodness which grants
favors because the donor is too pliable, or too easy, to refuse them. But
for tenderness of sympathy, and whole-souled interest for mankind, no
temperament is equal to the vital mental. The motive mental, however, is
the one most common in reformers. The reason is this. The mentality
imparted by this temperament sees the miseries of mankind, and weeps over
them; and the force of character imparted by it pushes vigorously plans
for their amelioration. The outer portion of Causality, which plans, often
accompanies the animal temperament; the inner, which reasons, the motive
mental and mental.
[Illustration: A WELL-BALANCED ORGANIZATION. No. 13. WASHINGTON.]
The more perfect these organic conditions, the better. Greater breadth
than sharpness, or more vitality than action, causes sluggishness,
dullness of feeling, and inertness, while too great action for strength,
wears out its possessor prematurely. More prominence than sharpness,
leaves talents latent, or undeveloped, while predominant sharpness and
breadth, give such exquisite sensibilities, as that many things harrow up
all the finer sensibilities of keen-feeling souls. But when all are
powerful and EQUALLY BALANCED, they combine all the conditions of power,
activity, and susceptibility; allow neither icy coldness, nor passion's
burning heat, but unite cool judgment, intense but well-governed feelings,
great force of both character and intellect, and perfect consistency and
discretion with extraordinary energy; sound common sense, and far-seeing
sagacity, with brilliancy; and bestow the highest order of Physiology and
Phrenology. Such an organization and character were those of WASHINGTON.
Besides these prominent signs of character, there are many others, among
which,
12.--THE LAUGH CORRESPONDS WITH THE CHARACTER.
Those who laugh very heartily, have much cordiality and whole-souledness
of character, except that those who laugh heartily at trifles, have much
feeling, yet little sense. Those whose giggles are rapid, but light, have
much intensity of feeling, yet lack power; whereas those who combine
rapidity with force in laughing, combine them in character. One of the
greatest workers I ever employed, I hired just because he laughed
heartily, and he worked just as he laughed. But a colored domestic who
laughed very rapidly, but LIGHTLY, took a great many steps to do almost
nothing, and though she worked fast, accomplished little. Vulgar persons
always laugh vulgarly, and refined persons show refinement in their laugh.
Those who ha, ha, right out, unreservedly, have no cunning, and are
open-hearted in every thing; while those who suppress laughter, and try to
control their countenances in it, are more or less secretive. Those who
laugh with their mouth closed, are non-committal; while those who throw it
wide open, are unguarded and unequivocal in character. Those who,
suppressing laughter for a while, burst forth volcano-like, have strong
characteristics, but are well governed, yet violent when they give way to
their feelings. Then there is the intellectual laugh, the love laugh, the
horse laugh, the Philoprogenitive laugh, the friendly laugh, and many
other kinds of laugh, each indicative of corresponding mental
developments.
13.--THE WALK AS INDICATING CHARACTER.
As already shown, texture corresponds to character, and motion to texture,
and therefore to character. Those whose motions are awkward, yet easy,
possess much efficiency and positiveness of character, yet lack polish;
and just in proportion as they become refined in mind, will their mode of
carriage be correspondingly improved. A short and quick step, indicates a
brisk and active, but rather contracted mind, whereas those who take long
steps, generally have long heads; yet if their step be slow, they will
make comparatively little progress, while those whose step is LONG AND
QUICK, will accomplish proportionately much, and pass most of their
competitors on the highway of life. Their heads and plans, too, will
partake of the same far-reaching character evinced in their carriage.
Those who sluff or drag their heels, drag and drawl in every thing; while
those who walk with a springing, bounding step, abound in mental snap and
spring. Those whose walk is mincing, affected, and artificial, rarely, if
ever, accomplish much; whereas those who walk carelessly, that is
naturally, are just what they appear to be, and put on nothing for outside
show. Those who, in walking, roll from side to side, lack directness of
character, and side every way, according to circumstances; whereas, those
who take a bee line--that is, whose body moves neither to the right nor
left, but straight forward--have a corresponding directness of purpose,
and oneness of character. Those also who tetter up and down when they
walk, rising an inch or two every step, will have many corresponding ups
and downs in life, because of their irregularity of character and feeling.
Those, too, who make a great ado in walking, will make much needless
parade in every thing else, and hence spend a great amount of useless
steam in all they undertake, yet accomplish little; whereas those who walk
easily, or expend little strength in walking, will accomplish great
results with a little strength, both mentally and physically. In short,
every individual has his own peculiar mode of moving, which exactly
accords with his mental character; so that, as far as you can see such
modes, you can decipher such outlines of character.
To DANCING, these principles apply equally. Dr. Wieting, the celebrated
lecturer on physiology, once asked where he could find something on the
temperaments, and was answered, "Nowhere; but if I can ever see you among
men, I will give you a PRACTICAL lesson upon it." Accordingly, afterward,
chance threw us together in a hotel, in which was a dancing-school that
evening. Insisting on the fulfillment of our promise, we accompanied him
into the dancing saloon, and pointed out, first, a small, delicately
moulded, fine skinned, pocket-Venus, whose motions were light, easy,
waving, and rather characterless, who put forth but little strength in
dancing. We remarked--"She is very exquisite in feelings, but rather light
in the upper story, lacking sense, thought, and strength of mind." Of a
large, raw-boned, bouncing Betty, who threw herself far up, and came down
good and solid, when she danced, we remarked--"She is one of your strong,
powerful, determined characters, well suited to do up rough work, but
utterly destitute of polish, though possessed of great force." Others came
in for their share of criticism--some being all dandy, others all
business, yet none all intellect.
14.--THE MODE OF SHAKING HANDS
Also expresses character. Thus those who give a tame and loose hand, and
shake lightly, have a cold, if not heartless and selfish disposition,
rarely sacrificing much for others--probably conservatives, and lack
warmth of soul. But those who grasp firmly, and shake heartily, have a
corresponding whole-souledness of character, are hospitable, and will
sacrifice business to friends; while those who bow low when they shake
hands, add deference to friendship, and are easily led, for good or bad,
by friends.
15. THE MOUTH AND EYES PECULIARLY EXPRESSIVE OF CHARACTER.
Every mouth differs from every other, and indicates a coincident
character. Large mouths express a corresponding quantity of mentality,
while small ones indicate a lesser amount of mentality. A coarsely formed
mouth indicates power of character, while one finely formed indicates
exquisite susceptibilities. Hence small, delicately-formed mouths,
indicate only common minds, but very fine feelings, with much perfection
of character. Whenever the muscles about the mouth are distinct the
character is correspondingly positive, and the reverse. Those who open
their mouths wide and frequently, thereby evince an open soul, while
closed mouths, unless to hide deformed teeth, are proportionately
secretive.
And thus of the eyes. In travelling west, in 1842, we examined a man who
made great pretension to religion, but was destitute of Conscience, whom
we afterward ascertained to be an impostor. While attending the Farmers'
Club, in New York, this scamp came in, and besides keeping his eyes half
closed half the time, frequently shut them so as to peep out upon those
present, but opened them barely enough to secure vision. Those who keep
their eyes half shut, are peekaboos and eavesdroppers, and those who use
squinting glasses are no better, unless they merely copy a foolish
fashion. The use of quizzing glasses indicates either defective sight or
defective mentalities, but are rarely if ever employed except as a
fashionable appendage.
Those, too, who keep their coats buttoned up, fancy high-necked and closed
dresses, etc., are equally non-communicative, but those who like open,
free, flowing garments, are equally open-hearted and communicative.
16.--INTONATIONS AS EXPRESSIVE OF CHARACTER.
Whatever makes a noise, from the deafening roar of sea, cataract, and
whirlwind's mighty crash, through all forms of animal life, to the sweet
and gentle voice of woman, makes a sound which agrees perfectly with its
character. Thus the terrific roar of the lion, and the soft cooing of the
dove, correspond exactly with their respective dispositions; while the
rough and powerful bellow of the bull, the fierce yell of the tiger, the
coarse guttural moan of the hyena, and the swinish grunt, the sweet
warblings of birds, in contrast with the raven's croak, and owl's hoot,
each corresponds perfectly with their respective characteristics. And this
law holds equally true of man--that the human intonations are as superior
to brutal as human character exceeds animal. Accordingly, the
peculiarities of every human being are expressed in his voice, and mode of
speaking. Coarse-grained and powerfully animal organizations have a
coarse, harsh, and grating voice, while in exact proportion as persons
become refined, and elevated mentally, will their tones of voice become
correspondingly refined and perfected. We little realize how much of
character we infer from this source. Thus, some female friends are
visiting me transiently. A male friend, staying with me, enters the room,
is seen by my female company, and his walks, dress, manners, etc., closely
scrutinized, yet says nothing, and retires, leaving a comparatively
indistinct impression as to his character upon my female visitors,
whereas, if he simply said yes or no, the mere SOUND of his voice
communicates to their minds most of his character, and serves to fix
distinctly upon their minds clear and correct general ideas of his
mentality.
The barbarous races use the guttural sounds, more than the civilized. Thus
Indians talk more down the throat than white men, and thus of those men
who are lower or higher in the human scale. Those whose voices are clear
and distinct have clear minds, while those who only half form their words,
or are heard indistinctly, say by deaf persons, are mentally obtuse. Those
who have sharp, shrill intonations have correspondingly intense feelings,
and equal sharpness both of anger and kindness, as is exemplified by every
scold in the world; whereas those with smooth, or sweet voices have
corresponding evenness and goodness of character. Yet contradictory as it
may seem, these same persons not unfrequently combine both sharpness and
softness of voice, and such always combine them in character. There is
also the intellectual, the moral, the animal, the selfish, the benignant,
the mirthful, the devout, the love, and many other intonations, each
accompanying corresponding peculiarities of characters. In short, every
individual is compelled, by every word he utters, to manifest something of
his true character--a sign of character as diversified as it is correct.
17.--HAIR, SKIN, ETC., AS INDICATING CHARACTER.
Coarseness of texture indicates a coarseness of function; while a fine
organization indicates a corresponding fineness of mentality. And since
when one part is coarse or fine, all are equally so, so, therefore,
coarseness of skin and hair indicate a coarse-grained brain, and
coarseness of mind; yet since coarseness indicates power, such persons
usually posses a great deal of character of some kind. Hence dark-skinned
nations are behind light-haired in all the improvements of the age, and
the higher, finer manifestations of humanity. So, too, dark-haired
persons, like Webster are frequently possessed of great power, yet lack
the finer and more delicate shadings of sensibility and purity. Coarse
black hair and skin, or coarse red hair and face, indicate powerful animal
propensities, together with corresponding strength of character; while
fine and light hair indicate quick susceptibilities, together with purity,
refinement, and good taste. Fine dark or brown hair, indicates a
combination of exquisite susceptibilities with great strength of
character; while auburn-colored hair, and a florid countenance, indicate
the highest order of exquisiteness and intensity of feeling, yet with
corresponding purity of character and love of virtue, together with the
highest susceptibilities of enjoyment and suffering. And the intermediate
colors and textures indicate intermediate mentalities. Coarse-haired
persons should never turn dentists or clerks, but should seek some
out-door employment; and would be better contented with rough, hard work
than a light or sedentary occupation, although mental and sprightly
occupations would serve to refine and improve them; while dark and
fine-haired persons may choose purely intellectual occupations, and become
lecturers or writers with fair prospects of success. Red-haired persons
should seek out-door employment, for they require a great amount of air
and exercise; while those who have light, fine hair, should choose
occupations involving taste and mental acumen, yet take bodily exercise
enough to tone and vigorate their system.
Generally, whenever skin, hair, or features are fine or coarse, the others
are equally so. Yet some inherit fineness from one parent, and coarseness
from the other, while the color of the eye generally corresponds with that
of the skin, and expresses character. Light eyes indicate warmth of
feeling, and dark eyes power.
The mere expression of eye conveys precise ideas of the existing and
predominant states of the mentality and physiology. As long as the
constitution remains unimpaired, the eye is clear and bright, but becomes
languid and soulless in proportion as the brain has been enfeebled. Wild,
erratic persons, have a half-crazed expression of eye, while calmness,
benignancy, intelligence, purity, sweetness, love, lasciviousness, anger,
and all the other mental affections, express themselves quite as
distinctly in the eye as voice, or any other mode.
18.--PHYSIOGNOMY.
Jackson Davis well remarked that, in the spirit land, conversation is
carried on mainly, not by words, but by EXPRESSION OF COUNTENANCE--that
spirits LOOK their thoughts and motions, rather than talk them. Certain it
is that the countenance discloses a greater amount of thought and feeling,
together with their nicer shades and phases, than words can possibly
communicate. Whether we will or no, we cannot HELP revealing the innermost
recesses of our souls in our faces. By what means is this effected?
Clairvoyants say by magnetic centres, called poles; each physical and
mental organ has its pole stationed in a given part of the face, so that,
when such organ becomes active, it influences such poles, and contracts
facial muscles, which express the corresponding emotions. That there
exists an intimate relation between the stomach and one part of the face,
the lungs and another, etc., is proved by the fact that consumptive
patients always have a hectic flush on the cheek, just externally from the
lower portion of the nose, while inactive lungs cause paleness, and
healthy ones give the rosy cheek; and that dyspeptic patients are always
lank and thin opposite the double teeth, while those whose digestion is
good, are full between the corners of the mouth and lower portion of the
ears. Since, therefore, SOME of the states of some of the internal organs
express themselves in the face, of course every organ of the body must do
the same--the magnetic pole of the heart beginning in the chin. Those
whose circulation is vigorous, have broad and rather prominent chins;
while those who are small and narrow-chinned have feeble hearts; and thus
all the other internal organs have their magnetic poles in various parts
of the face.
In like manner have all the PHRENOLOGICAL organs. In 1841, Dr. Sherwood,
La Roy Sunderland, and O. S. Fowler, aided by a magnetic subject, located
the poles of most of the phrenological and physiological organs, some of
which were as follows: Acquisitiveness on each side of the middle portion
of the nose, at its junction with the cheek, causing breadth of nose in
proportion to the money-grasping instincts, while a narrow nose indicated
a want of the speculative turn. Firmness is in the upper lip, midway
between its edge and the nose, giving length, prominence, and a
compression of the upper lip. Hence, when we would exhort to determined
perseverance, we say, "Keep a stiff upper lip." Self-Esteem has its pole
externally from that of Firmness, and between the outer portion of the
nose and the mouth, causing a fullness, as if a quid of tobacco were under
the upper lip. The affections were described as having their poles in the
edges of the lips, and hence the philosophy of kissing. The pole of
Mirthfulness is located externally, and above the outer corners of the
mouth, and hence the drawing up of these corners in laughter.
Approbativeness has its pole directly outward from these corners, and
hence the approbative laugh does not turn the corners of the mouth upward,
but draws them straight back, or outwardly. Like locations were assigned
to nearly all the other organs. That physiognomy has its science--that
fixed and absolute relations exist between the phrenological organs and
given portions of the face is not a matter of question. The natural
language of the organs, as seen in the attitudes of the head, indicate not
only the presence of large and active organs, but also the signs of their
deficiency. Self-Esteem throws the head upward and backward toward the
seat of its organ; Approbativeness, back and toward the side;
Philoprogenitiveness, directly back, but not upward; Firmness draws the
head up, in a stiff, perpendicular position; Individuality thrusts the
head forward toward its organ, and gives the man a staring, gazing aspect;
small Self-Esteem lets the head droop forward. Man was made both to
disclose his own character, and to read that of others. Than this form of
knowledge, none is more inviting or useful. Hence God has caused the
inherent character of every living being and thing to gush out through
every organ of the body, and every avenue of the soul; and also created in
both brute and man a character-reading faculty, to take intuitive
cognizance of the mental operations. Nor will she let any one lie, any
more than lie herself, but compels all to carry the flag of their
character at their mast-heads, so that all acquainted with the signs may
see and read. If we attempt deception, the very effort convicts us. If all
nature's signs of character were fully understood, all could read not only
all the main characters of all they see, but even most thoughts and
feelings passing in the mind for the time being--a gift worth more than
Astor's millions.
19.--REDNESS AND PALENESS OF FACE.
Thus far our remarks have appertained to the constant colors of the face,
yet those colors are often diversified or changed for the time being.
Thus, at one time, the whole countenance will be pale, at another, very
red; each of which indicates the existing states of body and mind. Or
thus; when the system is in a perfectly healthy state, the whole face will
be suffused with the glow of health and beauty, and have a red, but never
an inflamed aspect; yet any permanent injury of health, which prostrates
the bodily energies, will change this florid complexion into dullness of
countenance indicating that but little blood comes to the surface or flows
to the head and a corresponding stagnation of the physical and mental
powers. Yet, after a time, this dullness frequently gives way to a fiery
redness; not the floridness of health, but the redness of inflammation and
false excitement, which indicates a corresponding depreciation of the
mental faculties. Very red-faced persons, so far from being the most
healthy, are frequently the most diseased, and are correspondingly more
animal and sensual in character; because physiological inflammation
irritates the propensities more, relatively, than the moral and
intellectual faculties, though it may, for the time being, increase the
latter also. When the moral and intellectual faculties greatly predominate
over the animal, such redness of the face may not cause coarse animality,
because while it heightens the animal nature, it also increases the
intellectual and moral, which, being the larger, hold them in check, but
when the animal about equals the moral and intellectual, this inflammation
evinces a greater increase of animality than intellectuality and morality.
Gross sensualists, and depraved sinners, generally have a fiery, red
countenance. Stand aloof from them, for their passions are all on fire,
ready to ignite and explode on provocations so slight that a healthy
physiology would scarcely notice them. This point can hardly be more fully
intelligible; but let readers note the difference between a healthy
floridness of face, and the fiery redness of drunkards, debauchees,
meat-eaters, etc. Nor does an inflamed physiology merely increase the
animal nature, but gives a far more _depraved_ and sensual cast to it,
thus doubly increasing the tendency to depravity.
20.--HEALTH AND DISEASE AS AFFECTING MENTALITY.
Health and disease affects the mind as much as body. Virtue, goodness,
etc., are only the healthy or normal exercise of our various faculties,
while depravity and sin are only the sickly exercise of these same organs.
Holiness and moral excellence, as well as badness, depend far less upon
the relative SIZE of the phrenological organs, than upon their DIRECTION
or tone and character, and this depends upon the STATE OF THE BODY. Or
thus; a healthy physiology tends to produce a healthy action of the
phrenological organs, which is virtue and happiness; while an unhealthy
physiology produces that sickly exercise of the mental faculties,
especially of the animal propensities, which constitutes depravity and
produces misery. Hence those phrenologists who look exclusively to the
predominant SIZE of the animal organs, for vicious manifestations, and
regard their average size as indicative of virtue, have this great lesson
to learn, that health of body produces health of mind and purity of
feelings, while all forms of bodily disease, in the very nature of things,
tend to corrupt the feelings and deprave the soul. While, therefore,
phrenologists should scrutinize the size of organs closely, they should
observe the STATE OF HEALTH much more minutely, for most of their errors
are explainable on this ground: that the organs described produced vicious
inclinations, not because they were so large but because they were
physically SICK, and hence take on a morally DEFORMED mode of action.
Phrenologists, look ye well to these points, more fully explained in our
other phrenological works.