The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1827-05-16
be very different from what they arc with

things is against you here" said the lady
mature, conceive, has formed capacitie
and adapted inclinations for every station
! Then you belieye," said tall gentle
man, do you, that there is an original diff
ference in the capacities of men 2"
Dlost certainly do" replied the lady.
Most certainly" said the portly gentle
man, invcluntarily corroborating the LADY,.
opinion. "Of the truth of this there can be
no question. Locke to the contrary not.
outstanding, whose opinions on this head
must forever remain, ike his sheet of pa
Per, perfect blank
II &c farther" continued the LADY, g |
neheVe this difference in man, depends en-
tlrciy on the form of the head"
This remark produced general smile
among the gentlemen, and each one rolled
up his eyes as if to examine his own head.
The lady, however, nothing daunted by
this, proceeded.
this, that | can divide the brain into some
thirty or forty seperate apartments, and to
each assign or fix corresponding faculty,
but II one quarter of this humber of organs
can be identified with certain concomitant
faculties, think l have right to infer the
existence of all the rest. Besides, if the
brain were not composed of different or
gans, accompanied by specific faculties,
why do we find, in the scale of being,
that 1t IS more complicated and enlarged IN
proportion as the faculties are multiplied
In the same individual certain inclinations,
propensities and faculties, are manifested
with uncommon energy, iii others very feeb-
y. One man may have much verbal mem
orr, and little reasoning power: one NAV
be great poet, and no general: great
painter, and no mathematician; consequent
iy Similar mass cannot be adapted 20 Gil
these different faculties"
how IS it with the organs of sense"
said the man of sandy complexion. :. For
instance, some individuals have a lively
perception of particular odors, which to
others are scarcely, or not at all percepii-
| Bile: shall we say hero that the olfactorv
nerve is divided into different organs? /
have always supposed :lat the difference
Of organization, through whole, is sufii-
Gent to account for different degrees OF
| perception in different Individuals"
"And |, sir" replied the lady, suppose
that 1t depends upon the more perfect de-
velopement Of that portion Of the brain
with which the olfactory nerves are con-
nected."
"Really madam" exclaimed the tail
gentleman, "your client, the brain, finds
an able advocate in You"
" Compliment is 70 argument" replied
tho lady, cooily, "and besides, sir, it is
hardly just to use th~-.----1z-4l.s- possibility
Of q defeat
AL but one Of cur pecty had taken ;
. lNui1 ~ u
bove, and this was gentleman, quite,
should think, in the meridian Of life, rathel
tall, and somewhat wanting in just proper
tons of frame. lie seemed to have beer
inattentive to the subject under considera
ton, until little warmth was manifested
between the lady and the gentleman Of
sandy complexion. At this juncture, q
smile, scarcely visible, appeared wagishly
! playing upon his lips, and as the lady's last
reply seemed to promise no good to him
that should say aught upon the subject fur
Their, silence took place es It were by gen
| eral consent.
The disproportionel gentleman seeing
! the uncomfortable state in which the com
pany were placed in consequence of the
uniavorable turn the debate had taken
| seized upon this moment as favorable op
portunity to re-establish peace between tbs
contending parties; not SO much by chang.
| ing the subject, as by humorous display
of it.
1t is well known" said he, shat the
brain is one continuous tube wound upon it.
self from the centre to its external surface
differing in its calibrc and length in differ
ent individuals, and open 1T both its eytrem
tiles. In some the aperture IS quite to,
large, i'll others much to small. In tn,
former case, tho ideas pass through witt
too much rapidity, thereby making but
| faint impression, and constituting what i
termed in common language superficial
mind. In the latter case, or when the cal
ibre is much diminished, the ideas are tor
1 tardy in their passage through the tube
producing, stupidity and dullness of ap
prehension; but when the aperture is 4
medium between the two and the length
considerable, it is then that sound Judge
ment, deep penetration, and great acute
ness exist in the highest state Of perfection
Sometimes it SO happens that the tube il
unequal in its dimensions, being mucl
larger in one place than another. In sucl
cases, the individual talks by fits and start
as it were-verbosity and dumbness alter
nately predominant, as do Ineligible ant
unintelIigible observations. From this yol
will see that ideas must be material sub
stances, possessing length, breadth AM
thickness but what is still more singular
their shape or figure exactly corresponds
with the thing conceived or thought of; TO
instance, when we think of watch or ;
ship, the ideas, though almost inconceiya
bly, minute, partake of the exact forms 0
these things, and this you will readily se'
\ is in accordance with common language, a
when person says, ] have not perfec
idea vet of this or that thing, meaning
thereby that some part Of this minute
though material substance, IS wanting