Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1843-03-17
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oogy. The writer udus the powerful influence
Of education in forming lhe character lie like e.
wise admits that education has no influence in
forming the brain. If his admissions are true, il
follows of course, as lie further admits, that sin
most cases character cannot he known by the
shape Of the head" Character Gas marked by
natural genius aud inclination" only, and not us it
actually exists under tho powerful influence of
education, can, according to J. w. W. he known
by Phrenulngy OF even this Limited use Of
PhrenolOgy We cannot avail ourselves, II seems,
ill we first become so far acquo ted with one as
10 understand The equality oil the te, upernments
I he admissions of j. w. w. are important.
Aud if he is good authority upon TIE subject we
nuy understand how to estlDiH the preiensons
of those who travel about dispensing charts and
taking fees, while they profess to understand TO a
degree, and even TO halt degree, the talents aud
disposition OF persons who they never saw before.
/ have before me the "Conslilulion OF Man" by
George Connie. On pages l36 aud l37 are n de-
scripiion aud high commentator of the character
Of Melnnclhon. This mnm WINS mn eminent Chris
tnn, aud no doubt well educated. Yet his won
deru talents and most noble disposition, IRE Ms
scrlbcd to the form OF his hruln. MT word is
hnted OF the Influence either Of education or
christianity, IN forming his character. On the
next page is n dtawug Of The hcnd OF Pore Alex.
auder ' /. II very bad man. Here again The char
acter is ascrhcd to nothing hul ctrehral urgunZl.
ton. Nenre told that the Popr's BRAN is not
"adcunate to the manifestation ct Christian ,ir-
tues" On page AZ we art informed that "Vrner.
alton, Hope aud Wonder, combined, give the ten
tency TO religion" Thus both religion aud ire
igion, as we'll aS talents, are arcrlhed to the form
oi the brain. Page lI5 exhibits an engraving of
the head OF David ltugVart, hccompHt iedwitl the
following remarks: david ll,ggart was a dr2.
ferrous aud enterprsing Ihiel and pick pnrket who
was executed AT Inst Tor numbering the lnllPr of
Dumlrics. II indn iduns having Trans rescm.
lint IF
dishonesty, should be placed in situations ii trust,
IN which there should be presented to them temp.
tat0ns to deception mud en,hrZz'rmtnt which
could he resisted only by strong scnllnnn's rf JUS.
ticc, their misconduct, sooner or larr would he
almost certain, owing to The grcn size Of their
animal organs, aud the deficiency Of their organs
OF COnsclenliuusness. Where external cirrun.
stances remove from persons thus constituted all
temptations TO pterug their deficient perceptions
OF justice, will Z di>cerunhle IN tue lnXu, OF
their notions OF morality, in their treatment ct in
ierors, and in their general conduct" Frum
these remarks, it wou'd seem that mar, " no
wears head like -. luggau'-, cannot I've scruliu-
lousy honest. whatever his education may lie.
On page l43 nre remarks showing that C"rnho
regards Phrenolngy furnishing "nHiura in
dex 10 mental qualities that cnn he safely relied
on" will only add upon THIS point, that our
author regards Phren"!asy rs II safer guide than
our own sagacny IN the choce OF scrVans and
partners in mari,nony.
in view OF the above it is plain, tina, if educa-
ton has any material influence in forming the
character, it must baye n corresponding influences
IN forming the brain, or else the ptetenSlOus oil
Phrenoogy, as Taught 10y Combe, ate uticriY false.
Ii education viii mike servant honest ar CUSHION.
est good or bad, it is clear that phrenology cannot
guide us in the choice OF servants, unless the brain
is mudltd by lie same educational process which
lnndities The character
OF the influence OF education in forming the
brain, | find but very ule in CunlGe'o work..
On page l66 are Il, ese words: In youth all The
organs of the body are more susceptible Of modf-
CATION than ia advanced age md hence the effects
of education on the young may nrse from the
greater susceptibility of the brain 10 changes at that
period than in later liic." think lie author
somewhere remarks that Il e Brain OF the Anre-
can Indians may he improved 10 some extent by
education hut canno' now refer TO the page.
It will be seen by The foregoing extracts that
Conbc's views differ considerably from those of
j. w. w. OF The Two, do not know whose is
most approved 10y Phrenologsts III general Bot
declare my own decided opinion that }. w. w.
is nearest the truth Had there been much
caudor ms truth in his remarks, they would have
been creditahe to him Phrenologst,
Now, let us suppose that the brain, as alleged,
is divided into thirty five paris that euch part is
the organ of q distinct faculty, and that the lucul-
lies are always exactly pr'p0rtoned IN strength
Wand uhrenolopy. even on this snpposi,ion. enn.
bile us 70 nscertain character, with any thing like
accuracy: Let u see.
Tho merchan: who could dispense with lis
scales in weighing tea, and 10y the mere force of
indignant. determine the quantity sold, with suf.
fcisnt accuracy for counlcrclai purposes, would
ho regarded ms possessing an extraordinary talent.
Yet he would lave ihe advantage Of seeing the
bulk aud feeling the weight of The tea. The
PhrenoIogsI has II more dlfiirut task. He must
ascertain the size of things " hch lac can neither
see nor feel. Put thirty five varieties of an article
together into one mass, shaped like the hunan
brain, enclose the same in solid case exactly re-
semhng the human skull, lei tie size of each va.
RELY he Indicated as well as it can by the swels
and depressions on the case. then let some person,
by the aid only of the swells aud deprrssiuns as.
cerIaip the relative size OF each variety ms COM
pared with corresponding varieties in other SINH.
lar masses, and that person will perform part Of
the task Oft Phrenu!oyi.,. Would the prercnsons