Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1843-01-14

IN Inc UHsthDle tIiTst 10 Ufiuh aeeply VI q h'o
den and mysterious fount-to search for truths
the existence Of which they will never realize
tho ma Iority of maukind seems to have forgotten
their own real existence-their organization, ant
the relation they bear to other created matter.
Being placed ia world subject both to goot
and evil, and his happiness, or misery depends OF
his walking the broad road TO vice, or the path t.
virtue; man should know the cause by which b.
is mpelled TO drink The gall Of misery, the nee
tar Of bliss. To know which, he should he con
versant with the actions and passions Of mind
the various combinations and powers Of intellect
In short, he should DO thoroughly familiar viii
the science Of Phrenology.
To account for the various manifestations o
mind and different developments Of inteliec
from youth to old age, many and fruiless were the
attempts of ancicn, philosophers. They reason
ed and, "a they thought, demonstrated; bu! be
fore theory was permanently established
another, Ginning higher authority ,eradlcated the
first; and third the second and so on, down
10 within a few years. one error has been substi-
tuted for another without increasing the store oil
knowledge, benefting mankind One cause oil
such universal failure TO discover the hidden truth
was, tina, theorists did no, resort to the proper
source for Information.
Instead of making observations on ma ter'al sub
stances tho crierla for their investigation, phllo
sophers considered .heir own internal feelings,
their passions aud powers, an inIalhble guide
10 directing them discover the laws by which
mind is manifested and governed. Consequently
as men are differently constituted, what one
would consider the spring to human action, by
,bar hok rIte rod In ha
ding to his own mode Of reasoning. And unless
j, were possible for two men to be found intellec
tually alike, their doctrines relative TO mind would
not accord IN any point. Thus, metaphysican
whose sole aim of existence was to acquire the
goods OF this world, would be sure 10 attribute
oil tho actions Of men to ardent desire Of gain
Another, who little valued tho glitter Of wealth
bat was ever awake to the trump Of fame, would
naturally suppose that all men greatly influ.
enced by the love of applause.
Finally, however, new lights broke forth on
the philosophy of mind. Lavater, formed his sys-
tenn Of Physlognomy, which. though ridiculous IN
the extreme on some points, yet, 10 others, II cor
robora,ed wha, later experience has proven to be
true. Every person of reflection sees 10 Proprl-
ETY. or reason IN Lavater's Iudicrous idea Of the
shape Of the mouth; the peculiar build OF the
chin, or the crook OF The nose, being indicative OF
coyardlce or bravery, avarice or beneyoeuce.-
Yet his observations on the shape of the head en-
titles his system to respect ;particuIarly IL has,
doubtless, opened tho way to more important dis
coveries for which Lnvater, instead of being RI
dicued as visionary theorist, should be esteemed
as benffactor Of mankind.
Iavaters system being imperfect, in many
points, it consequently failed 10 affording true
index to the human character, which induced 9th
ers to search for the hidden secret. After long
observation and reflection, Gall developed his sys
tenn Of Phrenologv. He marked the difference
in the character and disposition of children, apart
from the influence of circumstauc for which
difference his object was TO search In.
stead of retiring 10 his closet, TO from his
ow n consciousness, he resorted TO observ aton on
the crania of different indiv iduals, which
known to be the material organ of the mind
The difference in shape and size Of heads, he be-
heyed to be the of the variety of in,ellect,
which he daily saw manifested; and upon this be-
lief founded his doctrine. Jealous IN his inves
uga,ion he travelled IN different parts of Europe
for The purpose ofcollectng new truths; by which
means, with the aid of SPurzheim, Combe, and
others, such q mass OF testimony has been
mula ted, rs TO be able TO Withstand the combined
efforts of satire and ialsehood
However, considering tho importance thai
Phrenoogy might be IN advancing the true inte
rests of society, i, has been more neglected than
n Jealous friend to truth should desire. Though
many give silent assent to its merit, yet, from
their actions, il is quito manifest that they take
no interest in its prosperity. For thus acting, in
III wed helI Of h.,
a cause-a cause into which We may be permits
ted to inquire.
The truth is partly This: The mass Of man
kind have few favori,e opinions concerning ma
iure and her laws. which they have imbibed from
the teachings Of their forefathers, TO which they
adhere with a superstiiious rexerence. thonrh