Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1810-09-04

lection OF sigaai initials quite fantastic
'cally- One member selected the Ro-
man capital Y, because it resembled,
he said, wine-glass aud, being some.
what a wine-bibber, the idea was vesy
rehgenial to him. tntruth, he was go.
ing on tosexuls in an extravagant man.
her at the ingenuity of the thought,
when he was al at once cut short by a
member who had chosen for his sigma.
ture the letter x, and who triumphant-i
ly remarked that his choice represent
ed troo wine glasses! For my part, /
confess, without any concealment what
ever, that I have appropriated TO N.Y.
self the Roman capital letter e, noe on
ly because it is composed of three sim
pie lines Gin which I have always
|thought there was proeuostic of happy
fortune,) but more especially from re-
collecting an expression in very good
book which declares that. the first shall
be idss and wherefTpm l have inferred
that the, last shall be first. There may
be little mixturesof ambition as well
as whimsicality in the motive TO my
selection /; but at the same time, it must
be admitted that have not Gas may
have been noticed In certain class Of
persons who get by rote the whole Ca
techism of consequential airs,) impu-
IDENTIFY thrust myself into the. first
place. In religion, morals, politics /;
and, particularly, in fashions, we too
often lind Z at the head Of tie Alpha,
bet.
To proceed, with all possible brew.
ty, the radical basis, of our club is no.
thing more nor less than an improve
ment upon the doctrine of the iIlustri-
GUS Doctor Gall, or Gull, who, after
they szpere dead could tell by an exa.
mination of persons skulls whether
they were virtuously or viciouslv in
clined that is, by the indentations or
protuberspces of the bones ofthe head,
and by the localities of those indenta.
tons and protuberanccs, the said Doc
tor Gall could tell the peculiar intellec-
tual qualities of the person. Ooe of
our members, very sagacious & deep
thinker, reflected, that although it was
very useful TO find out these qualities
of a man after he was dead, yet that it
would be quite as beneficial to ascer-
tain them whilst the man was living ;
because, thought he, Gas he has often
told me In conhdence,) a dead man is
preyed upon, whereas living man of
evil propensities preyeth upon others.
Hereupon he collected few of his ac~
quaiutances, from which collection
our club hath sprung. In discussing this
/ idea touching skulls, we have penetra-
ted the subject something deeper
than Doctor Gall; for we have dis
covered that by perforating the bone
"a thing not at all injurious to thick
4 skulls) we arrive at the brain, and
are enabled to perceive its opera
tions aud influence on the muscles of
the face, SO that we shall be compe-
tent to give to our readers the most
satisfactory rules for knowing human
nature ia all It's little tricks and con
trivances, as well as in its more noble
features. We set OUT with this funda.
rneRrSl maxim, -rthat the brain is orr.
\ ginAll of a whitish complexion; and
that.in proportion as any bad passion
sways, the inSellect it becomes disco.
lored; for example, the brain of bull.
ly becomes reddish; that OF per ior
who secretly goes about to defame the
reputation of another, dirty yellow
that of lover in despair, of sky blue
that Of furious party politician, :
deep scarlet with black spots and Sc
on. But as We intend To devote on,
entire essay hereafter to this subject
we shall say no more about it at thi:
time.
! From this concise exposition Of on
Z motive and objecr, it will be seen tina
our intentions are salutary. Ii ha
BEEN suggested to US, indeed, that w
ought 10 have undertaken the heart in
stead of the head. But that is rather
. delicate thing to NEEDLE with and
kwhen the head is NOT well weeded
there are SO many avenues to the hear
. (uot particularly to that Of the fair sex
|, BESIDES that ofpen, ink, and paper, tina
any attempt Of the sort would be trul
a forlorn hope. The hearts of man
are captivated through their stomachs