Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1854-06-29
PHYsIOGNOMY.

HE science OF Phlslognomy, II Is Weii
known. was once immensely popular; but
since Gall and Spurzheim mapped out the hui
man skull with such minute particularly it
has fallen into neglect. But, its principles
are alluded to only with smile Of derision,
there are few, even those tina, "gufaw" at
them the loudest, that do not continually act
upon them in daily life. Practically, all men
are physiognomists; they beuome skilled in
the science from their cradles. Speech may
have been given to man, as Tal!eyrand said,
to conceal his thoughts; but looks cannot
generally deceive the greenest student OF hui
man nature. "a man may be known by his
looks" says the Scripture, "and one that un-
Outstanding by his countenance when thou
meetest him." How often do we hit upon
the character of q stranger at glance with
thousand times more truth and accuracy
than if we were to make it the subject OF long
and laborious study. The "ruling principle"
Of the man flashes upon us at oncc'trom some
peculiar expression stamped upon his features
by the thoughts and feelings of years,when!'if
we were to wait and Judge by the more equiv
ocal indicia of words and deeds, we might be
led into the grossest error. 1t is said OF
the celebrated physiognomist, Lavater, that
stranger was once introduced to him, whose
features, though he evineed high intellectual
endowments and the most accomplished man
ners, impressed him at once with the convlc-
tion-"This man is murderer" The next
day, however, Lavater dined with elm by in
vitation; but it was soon after known that
this elegant and polished gentleman was an
assassin who had fed from Sweden to escape
arrest
The grand stumbling-block with the disbe-
levers in physiognomy is found in the occa-
sional freaks of nature, or isolated exceptions
to general rules. Because they have some
times found an honest face on Iogues Shout
ders, or noble forehead tabernacling any,
thing but lofty intellect, theJ scout the sci
ence altogether But occasional exceptions
to general truth will not shake the faith OF
a gical reasoner. Nobody pretends that
physiognomy can be an exact SCIENCE or ad-
nit of rigid mathematical precision. A ven-
trioquist may initiate the cries OF certain an
mals SO as to make us think them present !;
yet we do not the less continue to distinguish
them by their tones. The bloom of ruddy
cheek may be but the hectic flush of consump-
ton; yet who is not governed partly by the
color Of The face in Judging of another's ply
steal condition Among thousand apples
with fresh and rosy look, a few may be rot
ten at the core but who on this account
, doubts the quality of fruit is usually indicat-
| ed by its appearance A COOL man may
have villainous face--a strong thinker a
fools visage; yet who is not shocked to find
t it so? What would be our sensations on
meeting Webster with low monkey fore
head Does not all this prove these cases to
be anomalous, and contrary to our usual ex-
perieuce? .
The poet Moore has the following fling at
+ Lavater's disciples
Z "In vain we fondly strive to trace
The souls reflection in the face,
In vain we dwell on lines and crosses,
Crooked mouths, or short proboscs:
Boobies have looked as wise and bright
I AS Plato or the Sagyrite;
And many sage and learned skull
. Has peeped through windows dark and dull"
This is humorous enough but he who con-
cludes from such freaks of nature that the
''human face divine usually gives the lie to
> the character, must himself have been formed
III one Of natures oldest freaks, and have
" Uranium that would excrutiate the wit of 8
= phrenoogist Rather do we believe witt
" Spenser, that "of the soul the body form dotf
g take or, with the profound and sagacou'
Il Bacon, that "the lneaments of the body viii
J. discover those natural inclinations of tn,
mind which assimilation will conceal or dis
e cipline will suppress There are mystical
e ly in our faces" says the quaint yet acute 81
~ Thomas Browne, certain characters whcl
u crrry in them the motto OF our souls, wherei,
u he that can read A. B. G. may read our ma
>e lures" sin crowd Of victorious enemies,
says Montague. "you shall presently choose
amongst men you never saw before, one rath
Ky er than than another, to whom to surrender
H. and with whom to entrust your life" Eve
he Moore whose thrdsts at physiognomists W
have quoted above betrays his general belle
IT. in its principles by giving to the yelled propf
ID, ct Khorrassan a vsage fit for his hideous sou
g while the light of the harem,the young Nou
e- mahal, has features worthy OF an angel:
U ) "whiie her laugh, full of life, without any CONTROL
yet But the sweet Of gaceulness, rung from her
- And where it most sparkled glance could discover
~ In lips cheek, eyes, for it frightened all OVER,
us Like any fair lake that the breeze is upon,
:, When it breaks into dmples and laughs in the sun ~
-D0dg|S l. t. Museum