Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1857-08-19
STAUNTON, VIRGINIA, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 49, 1857.
The Philosophy of Noses.

A first dividson of noses includes all that ar
in proportion to the face, too small, e., all tina
are decidedly less than one-third of the length
of the face or less long than the forehead is deep
The varieties of these are numerous in the snub
fat, retrousse, and upturned, or celestial noses
The natural types to which they are generally
referable are either tie little noses of children
or the fiat broad noses of negroes and it is con
sistent with this that in men of civilized races
all such noses indicate defective intellectual pow
er; and do 80 with certainty of symbolism
which nothing but excellence in the form Of tht
head as in the case OF Socrates, can neutralize
They tell of an unfinished intellectual develop
ment; and the lower and fatter, and more smut
they are, the more certainly do they indicate
feebleness and meanness of intellect, and q
mind in which bad temper more than good
Judgment will have sway.
1t is not quite 80 with women. In them the
whole organization in its gradual development
dverges less than that of men does from the al
most similar form which they both have in ear
| ly childhood. The retention, therefore, Of the
little child.lke nose implies no such grave de-
feet in the woman's mind. If her head be well
formed, such nose may express nGicete, or,
perhaps smartness of wit and dexterous lntelll-
gence. But even in women such noses need to
be associated with good features. If they are
not they add much to the expression OF insight.
ficance or even coarseness. The thicker and
larger forms of snub nose in either sex common
| " indicate tho predominance OF the material
sensuous character, and q turnip nose with wide
obvious nostrils is an open declaration ESQ far as
nose can make one,) of an empty and inflated
mind of mind in which there is but the spu-
rous imitation of that strength and loftier pride
which the wide nostrils in well formed nose
might indicate.
Large noses, in men, are generally good signs /;
especially, they add emphasis to the good indi'
cation of we'll formed head; but they must not
be too feshy or too lean. If they are long (yet
short of being snout-like) they mark as prolong-
ations of the forehead, the intelligent, observant
and productive nature of the refined mind. Ii
Roman, arched high and strong, they are gen.
orally associated with less developed forehead
and larger hnd-head; and they disclose
strength twill and energy, rather than intellect
ual power; they show also the want OF that re-
fnement which is indicated by the straighter
nose. The Jewish or hawk nose commonly
signifies shrewdness in worldly matters; it adds
force to the meaning of the narrow concentra-
tive forehead symbolical of singleness of object;
and its usually narrow nostrils wear the unfail-
ing sign of caution and timidity. The Greek
straight nose ''indicates refinement of character"
love tor the fine arts aud bellies lettres, astute-
ness, craft, and preference for indirect rather
than direct action. 'Perpendicular noses-that
is such as approach this form, sup
pose mind capable of acting and suffering with
calmness and energy"
A nose slightly befed at its end, extends and
corroborates the indication of the analytic fore
head. Such noses, large and broad pointed, are
frequent in men with acute practical knowledge
of the world The same befed end is often'seen
in the cogitative or wide-nostriled nose, wide at
the end thick and broad indicating mind that
has strong powers of thought, and is given to
close and serious meditation. With these sym.
bols, Lavater's dicta fall in: "a nose whose
ridge is broad, no matter whether straight or
curved, always announces superior faculties.-
But this form is very rare" And again, "a
small nostr is the certain sign of timid spirit"
In woman large nose is of more uncertain an.
gury; for it is apt to extend into caricature. II
| it be well formed and finely modelled, rather
large nose, and especially one which IS nearly
straight, or slightly arched, is, in woman, Of
ten characteristic of excellent mental power
But any of the more peculiarly male forms OF
nose, ii largely and cosrsely formed in women,
denote too masculine character; and those that
are of i'll omen in men, are much worse in
women since the evil of being inappropriate is
added to that of malformation.-Qu Quarterly Re-
cieac