Literary cadet and Rhode-Island statesman. [volume] (Providence, R.I.) 1827-1829, 1828-10-15
PhYsIOGNOMY.


In oar view At absurd 10 attempt dis
cuNerIng mans nature, disposition. add p
cnlia, pass lors. b, ms features or the eXp,,s
sion al Ia, counicnanoe, as II is ihe strength -.
ms genus. by The he gnt of Ne forehead, IT,
br.adIh OF The chm oi any Oihei charac'ers''' '
oi tnc Gan aud epurzheHn theory, Yet IoI a.
tlus, ;he counienancc and us eypress'np al,
not altogether tu' lie as al index q, epata''c, g..
Aimusi every ndV ,duai of ihe human rae,
wncn intimately known, has certain pecu,Iar
lies Of rxpie-sIon upon CERTAIN occasions, whic.l
| indubiiaby 3ciray ms Thoughts; yet the action
that Would D,tray one individual as te!on,
woaid ont! be proof OF anothef's innocence,
Oh simIipr occasion We all recoilect tbs
| aoecdaie Of tha juhge who Was convinced a
| the guilt Of a prisoner IN consequence OF h
blushIng. The prisoner on heaI,ng tins evl-
dence produced against hIIn, immediately win
great apparent sincerity and carnestness, ac-
cuscd the Judge OF murder. The tiDge thst
sutused The cheek of the latter would ha,e
convicted hlm oi The crime. according to hs
own manner ot draNIng Inivrenees thus u -
with the science of piy ysIosnomy what IN ono
ease may seem conclusive evidence ot iiear'
ar disposition, will operate precisely opPos'
IN anolner. fe; there are certain general
dcuces which cannot be mistdMeu. We at
not fimillar mtn Lavater's theory upon ihi
ana uuth To ma are IN h,s aphorisns. We aAOUl
inter tucre was much real intelligence aud IL
search ~ uls theory. The cuuuten tnoes
some pei,nns, are lnrapaulo 'l beng Affected
or operated uT0n 10y tlcE thoughts and foe
ugs, "turafH. '1ps. ntrtHD-s, 'chiugs at 90,
si... t;e,. i..u.-..ou au.u. = n!n und ut,.
cn a. -CtJjr -,uul-uuuCc ~c should suppose a
iadIvI Idi"u possessed calm, oispass.oUate ano
calCIldinL mud, whereas, one o! a change,C
ana thdmeeun-iihe character, wpuld betpkor
versatile, m'u g.HatNc, o. CONFUSED aa4 ep
Ddrrnsoed mlud. The poiIticun has mucn pest
oi some sNIi IN physlognumy, as we'll AZ sii
other puoLc spedk,rs, so that by tho changes
ot the cuuuieuance, he may gather the eItsei
OF his observations.
An antiqua,ed 4" sr upon ths subject says,
great Labniers ana tale bearers, have teldoN,
a line counenance, or at least ctsj,y lose ".
Fools never nave II, but half wits possess il
sometimes, and then is a great meiit ~ iheli
as Il corceals part OF their folly. The rpri.-
tenancc OF superiors Is never embarrassing
people who have been well brough, up. g..
latter Is true maxim. You may req Lyrs4
when you iud man who on beng intnQd.,cc
10 superior, never knows how 10 loakt l.
speak, or to sIand--one whose arms sp,eaf .
hln useless appendage, and whose hVad :. D.,
like piece OF mo chanlsm upon hls shoG'dl,-
rely upon 1t he is noi only lsused 10 sIsl-.
society al Is noi many removes IRON an I.il.
ramus. IL is on sucn occasions, that tue
pracip'es oi pay sIognomy are strongly ce,s..
ped. a man who i naturally modest, VII! a.
course let that oihden e be perceived, hui ).
he is in ellfgent. or at al iaunbai with ,te Ai.
Its cou,tes,es, hs dliiidonce NIl be ip his ptass
actrr, as II Hah gauze ~ beauty, only ieQDr5s
ny It's ptrl, coDceainent mere irael,ye. II
Is very dihcuIt Tor man who by sp,ne ,nav.
coun,abe stroke of inr,une, has been elrtaiei
10 station III .sec'ety beyond his ablliti.A W
iis actual dcsctts, to condnct himself IN such N
manner beiors even hrs equals, as VII not
make him ridiculous IN their eyes, and u u al
50 IN suc-, situations that the scrnce vi Lava.
Ter Is elhclcni IN de,, c,ing character ana ,ii
lohes. 'Cpon tho man OF sincere dIsposnluo.
Ftha eahetsDi.s- ~ wtose heart IS pIo. .ured up.l
h's ieh'ofcs,the de.llr'ons OF ihis urcofy a,s
: aly'ost iryatilsly correct, but upon tho j., 10,
sf'tc tuoy sre is,t1sly lost his count.gsi .
ioAY s.af' io,sxes yoa bloss,ng, WL,isi h.a
! tpa n iAat>Aeyjri iuriug curse, and toe pf4
I f8sss s,.d kfiee,uros are equally iaiieciD..
! " .atils ,teNS of his lips. Every man she al ciI.
| ~ about him an ar Of dlandy -hIs gem
| dcmeanor should seem to say" am ne 2a
sessor If an mmuriaI soul aud irmi
mmd." Tho vacant stare and tue Pei lt'i
| smile, are the doAry ol the IDIOT, or tht ~
sometimes the heir-IooD Of the parer,is
where ,ou lind these, you VIZ seldom hno 10.
tol;gcbec, ann never dignity oi chsraeIs.