Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1854-09-20
Phren Iogy in New England.

Phrenologyis now so firmly established and
favorably regarded, that there is no more need
of arguing its truth than of arguing that the
world is round. The disbelievers in ph1en-
ology are just about as numerous and intu-
entail as those who adhere to the notion that
the world is vast plain, and the place they
live i'll is exactly in its centre Argument
would be wastsd in trying to uphold either
the mental philosophy of Gall, or the astro-
nomiCal philosophy of Copernicus If the
mass of facts which has been laid before the
public, and upon which no intelligent person
can shut his eyes, fails to secure an assent to
those systems, the dissenters mnst be left to
the " cold comfort of Incredibly
1t was in 1882, we believe that Doctor
Spurzhem came to America, and after lee
turing on phrenology'in various places for a
few months, died very suddenly in this city.
His eloquenee, scholarship, and association
with DR.. Call, kindled much interest in the
science, but by the multitude he was locked
upon as a humbug," and by certain college
professors was stigmatized as a foreign
mountebank." In 1889 George Combe, of
Edinburgh, visited US, and lectured on phren-
ology in most of the large cities and towns
throughout the Union. He met with less
success than even his "illustrious predeces-
sor:" mainly, we think, because he refused to
those practical proofs Of the science which the
American mind must and will have, before
embracing new thing.
A very different method was adopted by
Messrs. o. S. & L. N. Fowler who began
their career as chronological lecturers aud ex-
aminers a short time before Doctor Spur
helms arrival. Their faith in the science was
so strong that they were willing to undergo
the most novel and severe practical tests-eX-
aiming heads blindfolded, telling the occu,
patton of strangers from their developments,
and reading character from skulls, busts, and
portraits. 80 many were their 'good hits
and so few their mistakes under these search
ing tests, that in a comparatively short period
| they triumphed over the dizziness of ignorance
| on the one hand, and the conceit of learning
on the other. Phrenology, which the former
| builders of educational seminaries rejected,
/ has become the chief corner stone of several
new and thriving colleges at the West; and
the twin science of physiology, which the
Messrs. Fowler have been not less active in
disseminating by lectures and books, is stud
| led i'll common schools everywhere.
| About ten years ago, the Brothers Fowler
formed copartnership with S. X. Wells, of
| New York, for the purpose of opening in that
city chronological cabinet and publishing
house. The enterprise succeeded most Won
derfully, especially in the sale of works bear
| ing on physical and intellectual improvement.
| A great need being felt in New England of
branch establishment, one was opened at l42
Washington street, Boston, in the autumn of
| 1852 1t was placed in charge of Mr.. D. P.
| Butler, as chronological examiner, teacher,
ETC., and of Mr.. G. ]. Hambleton, as book
seller, business man etc. These gentlemen
| have since been admitted as partners with +.
| & + bo finn is lod IN,
& Co. Mr. Butler was selected by the Fow-
lers many years ago as having exactly the
right organization for a practical phrenologist;
and his remarkable accuracy and readiness in
| dehneating character from the living subject,
| prove both the keenness OF insight of those
rare marksmen, aud is ON diligence of study
and aim.
He received all the instruction they could
give, and has himself made number of in
teresting discoveries in this grand science.
But his chief business is, and probably ever
will be, that of practical adriser. BY his sa-
gacious aid, hundreds of young men choose
their employment; merchants select their
clerks, mechanics their workmen and appren.
tees, housekeepers their domestics, and hap
ply marriages are contracted So clear and
ife-like are Mr. Buffers delinoations, that
we do not wonder at the fact Of his examin-
ing ouVV peiSoHS year, anu preparing VIII
ten descriptions of nearly 200 of them.
New England and the Canadas are supplied
from this establishment with the Water Cure
and chronological Journals, and the illustrat-
cd Hydropathic Quarterly ReUieso, and like
wise with about one hundred different books
bearing on physical, intellectual, social, moral
and religious reform. The demand for these
books is very great, and is constantly increas-
ing, at wholesale and retail, prices being the
same as at the New York office. Sometimes
orders to the amount of one hundred dollars
are received in day.
chronological science is illustrated and
"made easy" to students, by cabinet of fif-
ty skulls, two hundred casts, (mostly from
life and one hundred paintings. These
skulls, casts, and paintings, show every grade
of human Development and include such
men as Oberlin, Franklin, Washington, and
J. @. Adams, contrasted with such ones as
Nero, Aaron Burr, Gibbs, the pirate, and DIR.
Dodd, the forger.-G teasom's Flag.
NEBRAsKA Understanding to the New
York Tribune, six of the delegates elected to
the WhIu State CoDvanfio,, al, e