The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1846-09-10
From the American chronological Journal
ANALYSIS, LOCATION, ADAPTA
TON AND CULTIVATION OF HUI
MAN NATILRE

MAN MAI OhE.
"Discernmcnt of character: perception O
motives; intuitive physiognomy reading mer
instinctivcly from their looks, conversation
manners, walk, and other kindred signs Of
character.
Located between Comparison and Beneve-
lence, about where the hair begins to appear
1t extends upwards as if part Of Compare
son. The great rise in Shakespeare's fore
head from SO up to the hair, shows how en-
ormously this organ was developed in his
head. Accordingly, few men on earth ever
possessed the power it con1crs in a more re-
markable degree,
Man was made both to manifest his own
mentality, and also to take cognizancc of the
characters Of others. But for such manifcs-
tation and cognizance, no mental operations
could ever have been expressed, or inter-
change of ideas cHccted nor could any one
have known the least thing OF any of his fell
low men. This manifestation is effected in
part by Language, yet without natural Ian
guage, verbal could never have been devised ;
natural, being the tool with which verbal was
built, Verbal can be abused by uttcring
words Of honeyed import while we feel dag
gers; besides be bungling compared with this
natural or spontaneous communication of our
mental operations. An intimate relation ex-
lists between tho mentality and the physiolo-
gy, and especially physiognomy, by which we
look angry, pleased, bcnignant, and whatever
else we feel. Nor can we he'll it. TO this
natural language, spoken by all human beings
in all ages, and even by brutes, this faculty
is adapted. The latter reads the former, and
thus gathers a vast amount Of much needed
information concerning our fellow men, even
when they are only casually seen, and which
can be obtained from no other quarter. In
decd, this manifestation Of character by man
kind, and the institution of this faculty in man
actually compel us to form some idea of the
characters Of all we meet, and if duly cultiva-
ted would enable us to read our fellow men
as plainly and completely as we read print,
so as intalibIy to detect the cunning and the
unsafe, discover talents and their various
kinds, as well as amiablcness, goodness, and
all the other characteristics Of our fellow
men.
Natural language, moreover, like every
thing else, has its science, and therefore en-
bodies as much certainty as mathematics. lis
grand basis is that universal law that shape is
as organization, and organization as charac-
ter The walk, gesticulation, manners, dance,
laugh, tones of all men-all they say and do
are full of character. These indccs of the
Human nature dscerns, and from
them forms its opinions of the character and
talents. We little realize how much concern
ing our fellow men this faculty is perpctually
telling, and how almost infinitely more it is
capable of disclosing if duly cultivated and
assisted by the other faculties. All human
beings carry charts of their mentality and
at their mast-heads, legiblc, even
in detail, by all who know how to read them
which, however, few more than begin to do.
Nor is any other species Of knowledge more
delightful or profitable; because it teaches
human nature, that highest department of
nature.
Nor is any other science equally vast or
because man is the cpitomc of Gre
ation and performs most of the functions of
universal nature. Nor can any other be turned |
to as good a practical account because it tells |
Us whom to trust and distrust, and reveals |
mental and moral beauties and exccllencies |
all other forms Of terrestrial beauty !
Nor will any teach us more divinity, because I
in studying {" the image of God we OF course 4,
study God himself. In short, to know human
nature is the climax of all knowledge all
which it is the province Of this faculty, com
bined with Individuality and Comparison, to
teach. Hence the incalculable Importance |
Of its cultivation.
No element of our nature should be more
improved, because none confer
more useful or delightful. TO eff ,
ect this culture, note all that every one you
meet says and does. Nor notice merely, but
also sean. Trace every word, every manites
,ation Of character, up to that fountain from
which it gushed. Ask yourself what promp-
ed this motion, that expression, and yonder
move on the chccker-board Of life. Look
through conduct to motive. Ferret out dis
position and character wherever you 60
Form your Judgment of men, and then in
lurc of yourself from what, in them, you de-
luccd your conclusions. Note and spell out
III the little things said and acted. Here es-
Decially straws show which way the wind
blows" Little thugs will often put you on
he track of the entire character, and tell the ,
hidden story efcctually, because done uncon-
3cously, whereas more important acts are
guarded.
An Illustrative anecdotc. The reader will
doubtless remember that horrible murder Of
bank clerk, committed in Rochester, about
1889, in order to effect robbery. The muir
lerer was detected as follows: A citizen, in
whom individuality, Comparison and Human
Nature are very large, in passing the door Of
he yet unknown murderer, heard the latter
rider carman to take his trunk to the rail |
Dad depot with an oath and II harsh, pecul-
ar manner, which arrested his attention.
lis Human Nature and Comparison at once
inquired what state Of mind dictated the ex-
tied imperative disposition manifested
The haste required could not have been caus-
ID by the near approach Of the cars, and his
whole manner indicated guilt, which suggest
d that thisswearing youth might be the muir
Ieror. Thus reAecting the citizen turned !
lis steps to the depot, where he saw the luck
css youth consulting stealthily and earnestly |
With his guilty particlpators in crime, which,
With other combinations of his suspicious, he
to the bystanders, who ofcourse
arrowly sorutinizod the murterous gang
The latter, seeing themselves so closely eyed |
ool fright, and in attempting to flee and hide