The Middlebury people's press. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1841-1843, 1842-05-03

who are cordial believers. certain Atheuian orator
announced the Pc ePle important victory Thres
days after, IL sontradicted, and the A,heuiass
themselves were defeated. Enraged at the unwecome
intelligence the People upbrlided Sothocles for hi.
bunder, who apologzed by telling them it could be no
crime to make them for three days happier than the,
otherwise would have been. Just so il is with IN.
science Of Phrenoogy Thoss to whom it allows oood
parts are doubtless believers and mnenseIv HAMMER
than before, and those to whom nature has been les.
kind " i'll save themselves painful efforts to ssconp.h
what the Creator himself has placed beyond ,bs;,
reach.
With these observations cheerfully submit the fol-
lowing article from no, unfortunately for HIMSELF
denies ike fath and in conversation with us even
went the length Of placing the science Of Phrenoogy
upon a par with the numerous exploding chmeras Of
the day. lmpudence and temsrity could 60 no farther
But let us he ar bim.
Seeking the reason of all things from riss9ss they
preclude redson.-Theop.
Mr.. Editor: The charge of prejudice and
unreasonableness has been brought 10 bear
upon the Disbelieyers in The so called science
of Phrenology, for the past three weeks, quite
often enough whether with reason or no,
viii ledre you to judge, only promising that l
am one, of that unfortunate class who find it
altogether impossible to swallow every thing
that comes in their way, even though the do
ses are put up with greatingenuity, and labelled
by the popular voice. man, indeed, should
not differ from his fellows unless he can show
a good reason therefor; bat when such reason
does exist then he may honestly differ from
them,without subjecting himself to the charge
of impertinence or prejudice. And If be not
acquitted of this imputation ut the tribunal OF
Reason and Of Common sense. shall attribute
my condemnation not to the want of materials
for defence, but rather to the incapacity of tho
Defender. That much of character may be
learned from the general contour of the head
is undeniable; it is only when the manipulate
ry process begins, that the action of philosoph
ical principles ends, here is the boundary limo
between truth and speculation.
Yet after all, opinions founded upon appear
ances alone, should be regarded withthe utmost
caution. The claims of Phrenology, if urged
at all, can be defended only. by reference to
its phenomena, or outward Appearances, and
the evidence in its favor, is grounded entirely
upon these This kind ofeyidencc experience
has shewn to be the weakest OF all testimony,
unless indeed, it clearly demonstrate every
conclusion, but the one indicated, TO be absurd
and impossible. This principle is acknowledge
ed in the Law of Reason, as we'll as in tho
Law of the Land. Docs the doctrine Of man.
ipuatory Phrenology present evidences which
fulfi!s the condition laid down. trow not.
Grant that a new class of phenomena has been
opened, by the investigations of the Pbrenolo-
gst 4; he passes his hand over our heads, marks
the different shades of our character, with an
accuracy, which we had ascribed only as an ut
tribute Of Intuition. Now if this knowledge
be derived through The fingers alone, and the
ManiDulator can shew it &c be impossible to
derive this knowledge from any other source
whatever. then the condition above laid down
is fulfilled. and the science shall be entitled to
implicit belief. But arc there no other indicia,
by which this new class of phenomena can DO
interpreted and explained take twelve men Of
ordinary appearance shut them in Jury Box,
and nine tenths Of the men whose eye meets
this paragraph could Judge of the character of
ten of these Jurymen, with surprising accuracy,
how often it is done. And hotc will they do
it not by performing a grand solo on each
but by marking the figure, the muscular system
the contour of the head the flow Of The blood,
the countenance, the address, the dress, the
voice, the hair and complexion, which mark
the temperament, the gait, and thousand
things we see, but can't describe. Add 10
these, the fact that there are certain principles
of our constitution common TO all mankind; to
the fact that the human mind is ever ready 10
admit the marvellous, and that after very par
tial examination; that long practice, keen
apprehension patient observation and quick
habit of thought, versatile humor and above all
conSummGte impotence arc omnipotent pcTsUa-
sives in the enchanted regions Of speculation !;
add these say, and why look to Phrenology1
No that important condition, Phrenology has
not fulfilled. We have found other hypotho-
ses can be sustained by reference to these same
appearances, nay, that these nep phenomena,
when dragged from their dens of chronological
jargon, are old as antiquity itself, for did not
good old Isaac feel of bis son Jacob-not of
his bumps indeed, but OF his hands Cheirology.
Thus, then, giving the utmost latitude in
form of ManiPula:ory Phrenology, its claims
upon our belief, are in no manner, superior to
those of the opposite theory -Somatology, or
the science Oh deriving knowledge OF charac-
ter from the entire external appearance. For
the sake of argument, grant, that these claims
are equal zach to each. Now, it would seem
an axiom of Philosophy that whenever a new
phenomenon is discovered, that it should bo
referred TO some knorn principle, if it can DO
done - rather than to introduce a new and IN
known one, merely for the sake of its exposi-
ton; nay, it is certainly unphilosophical and
irrational to attempt to explain and interpret
such phenomenon by the latter manner when
it can reasonably be done by the formet.* Now,
which is the most rational, he who blindly