Daily Richmond Whig & public advertiser. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1833-1840, 1835-07-11
RISUOGNoMY.

some thirty ar forty yeats ago the science of
PhisIognomy. recommended and illustrated by
tie ingenuity OF Iavaier was n subject OF Sc rions
study To the curious of both sexes, in Europe and
America Il had It's day, but At length went so
entirely out OF vogue. that nothing but its name is
noS remembered. Then succeeded The modern
science OF C'anioiogy, or Psrenolosy, of which
there are, nj this day. many grave Professors
and many believing disciples. We have never
thought that, in u philosophical view, there is
any abSurdity, either in the departed science OF
Phis'ogHomV, or in the living science Of Grant
olosy, provided they are cultivated ON the true
Baconian principles of philosophiziug, that is.
aS sciences of experimental philosophy But,
perhaps, neither Piisieg Homy nor CyaniOlogs,
can lead TO 80 certain a knowledge of individual
character, n another science, which most men
are daily though unconsciously practising, but
which has not yet had the good fortune to receive
any scientific name-we shall call il the science
OF RiSuooSoAy, and.dehhe it, the art of discov-
ering the character Of individuals from ,heir
peculiar laugh. 80 &C.,. r. =. 80
The principles Of Risa0gnsssy rcsfoundst ON
human nature. There is n natural laugh, and
an affected artificial laugh of both which every
body Will at once remember instances without
number As laughter is a convulSivc motion of
the muscles, which when natural ~ involuntary.
50 the natural laugh is an involuntary .xpresS-
ion of feeling and temper; and the affected laugh
Is painful effort Of stimulation nr concsalmen,
But no aneclaIion can ape feeling and diSpo-
Sl'ion foreign from that really existing in the
iaugber at the time no AIT can pass off the
affected laugh for the natural. And thus. we
have found, that both natural laughter and nf
tettea artificial laughter, are pretty sure indica
lions of character.
Fer example. no one ever heard Mr.. Steven.
sons laugh, without being struck with the unerr
ing indication It affords, of the emptiness Of his
head, and OF his staggering bat 1t the same
time humorous sense OF his own Fictitious i'm
portance. Surprising that General Jackson had
heard him laugh, we do not wonder al his saving
he is not worth the powder and shot it would
take to shoot him. And we recommend Mr..
Ritchie's laugh (f the word caa he applied to the
ihing) As study TO the novice liz Ri.uosno.
my-il Is sort of cackle Gin which no oDr
ever did OF will IOin) expressive OF the vani.
~, hypocrisy, Sycophapcy and Inalisni'y, OF
which his character Is compounded. II any OF
our readers doubt the reality and utility Of FL,
uosHOmy, only ask them 10 remember these
remarks the next tine they see either of these
two men laboring with the painful effort to seem
mIrthful, easy aud gay.
We think it extremely probable, thai Isaac
Hits laugh Is SUCCESSION of grinS, indicative
only of the blsesI maliRniiy-and that Mr.. Van
BurenS laugh is but slight ageravaiion of the
perpetual smile thai SmirkS in the couTliers
face, having something Sneering as well as
inSIdiouS and inSinuating in it,-and indicating
that cunning, which ptaciiscS on the simplicity
or vanity or passions o. vices Of his fellow men
from the highest 20 the lowest, from Andrew
Jackson tn Thomas Riichie-that cold prudence.
regardless of every thing but self-ihai outward
show Of respect for all mankind, and inward
contempt OF their understanding which, Judging
from his conduct through life constitute the lead
ing traits of his character And we suppose
that Gen. Jackson'S laugh on particular occ asions
(aS for instance, when he was exercising his wi,
in utlering that SANDER Of Mr. Poinde1ter al
Gordonsville) cannot but beIray the shirt Of ir.
umphaut hate and revenge which reigns in the
mans heart. But, As we have never had any
opportunities OF personal observation of the three
last named worthless, We 0nlT stIle our coniec.
lure, and cali the attention Of RiSuognOmistS who
have such opportunities, To their peculiar laugh
and invite them to communicate the result TO the
public, for the advancement ofihe science.