Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1842-04-19
PHRENOIOGY.

qudCk professors tlldu It's popularity l0Qu-
ced hosts of pretenders, for the sake of making
few dollars in the way of examining bumps, and gi-
wing charts of character to perambulate the coun-
try and impose upon the public, until, with many,
the very of phrenoogy is becoming by
word or subject of ridicule.
Every village and community in our Territory
has probably been favored with visits from timer
ant professors of this SCIENCE who, although in their
examinations they may have fattered their subjects
with the idea that their Developments of mind were
OF superior order, Ga thing which in most cases
was never, may be, suspected before, have doubt
less laughed in their SleereS, when placing the fee
in their pockets, to find that the bump of gulbity
was not in the least deficient.
A person would suppose, when it is considered
that to become a master of this science and to ap-
ply it properly accurately to delineate cha
racter and capacity from external Developments
and temperamens, requires an intimate knowledge
Gifts principles which but few of ordinary opportu-
mites intellect can expect to attain, and which,
indeed, the most eminent professors the fathers of
the science, have never pretended to, that this spe-
cies imposition could not be very successful; but
we are led to presume from the fact that the num-
Der of quack travelling phrenoogists appears rather
to be multiplying than diminishing, that the bust
ness must be profitable one, and on the increase
That this should be so, is matter, if not of sur
PRISE of regret, for it is an encoura cement to kna-
very, stupidity, and lazness, that should never re-
ceve, to the slightest extent, the public sanction
an expenditure of money that might be much more
usefully apphed-and more than this, it serves to
bring into dlsrepute and ridcule, to a cevtain de-
gree, science which, if founded in truth and pro-
perly applied, may tend more to the advancement
of human intelligence and happiness that any other
known cause, and which, if founded in error, at
least deserves, from it's acknowledged Importance
a freedom from ridicule, and fair and candid in
vestgation. We have said an encoura cement to
knarery and stupidity;" and we think those who
have had the least acquaintance with, or knowledge
of, many of the intinerant phrenologists who have
visited this gion, will not accuse us of being very
wide of the mark-for, in TRUTH we have seldom
seen so forcible display of these qualities COM
bined, as that with which some of these gentlemen
have favored us.
An anecdote may serve to illustrate the knowl-
edge of one, of whom we have heard, in relation to
the science of which he was and is most arrogant
professor
During one of his sojonrms in western town,
he was waited upon by company of young men,
who had with them carefully wrapped in a silk
handkerchief what they represented to be the era
mum of an individual who had been condemned
and executed for capital offence. He was re-
quested closely to examine the Developments, with
out removing the covering, and to give full de-
ineation of character. This, without much hest
tation, he consented to do, and forthwith proceed
ed in his task, marking the size of the organs upon
the chart before him. The animal ptopensities
were, of course, found to be exceedingly large
combativeness, destructlveness, &c, tremendous
great want of conscentiousness and benevolence-
indeed, the poor Uranium scarcely allowed to
have redeeming bump about it. After he had
finished his examination, having professed will
lingness to stake his reputation as phrenolo-
gist upon the result the covering was removed
from the object, and instead of the skeleton which
he expected to see, there revealed to his asto-
nished vision moderate sized pumpkin, which
had been carefully prepared for the OCCASION Here
was a dilemma for our sou distant phrenologist -
but he resolutey persisted if the pumpkin had been
a heat, the possessor of that head would unques-
tionably have been hung for murder, and that the
fault was not in him, but in the pumpkin for not
being head! The cognomen of this professor,
wherever he is known, is pumphimologia land a
very appropriate it is, too. Exhibitions, equal
ly interesting, of chronological wisdom, were not
long since had in this quarter. The only difference
is that here pumpkins found to have little bet
ter character and Developments than abroad.
We had the pleasure of witnessing several ex-
amnatons lately made in this place-indeed, of be.
ing the subject of one ourself-and we found il
difficult to decide which was most worthy of note
the arrogance of the mans pretensions to a
knowledge OF phrenology, and his amusing at
tempts at dellneations of character, or the exceed
his descriptions were put upon paper-the first
showing him to be master of science, and the las
a man of letters. 1t cannot be doubted that his
knowledge of phrenology and literature are abou,
equal; at least no one will be likely to take the
trouble to investigate very closely to which pre-
ponderaes or dispute the laurels he may gain from
either or both. Having chart of his before US, il
may not be mat-apropos to give few specimens Of
his literary talent, that, to slight extent least,
it may be fully appreciated
LIST. "You seldom visit your eaquels, and never
those that do not stand so ugh in the estimation Of
the public eye, asyourself'
3D. "Your powers of concentration IS eoerage ;
and thus, like ordinary persons, under like circum
Stances do persieer y and accomplish your AFFECT
whatever it may be-" .
3d. you cling to life with usial tenacity, and
would have presents of mind, when most person.
would loose all control of their reason -.
4th. " You prefer horer to wealth. "a most sin
gular preference y
Ii, Il, Il.