The River Falls journal. (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1857-1861, 1858-08-04
Mistfllaneous,
For the JOURNAL.
Pr IL e LOGY.

ence Of mind as connected with the sup
posed organs Of thought, passion and
lsfeeling in tho brain, and claims to inYes-
| tigate its structure and uses in relation to
intellectual power.
1t was formerly supposed that the
heart was the seat Of thought, feeling and
emotion, but it is now almost universally
conceded that their origin is in the brain,
and that there exist in it all the organs of
faculties which characterize the human
species. Experiment and observation
have further demonstrated the fact that
different portions Of the brain are the seat
or origin of various emotions, feelings and
thought; hence, the brain has been tech
nically divided into what are called the
selfish, moral and intellectual portions,
and these portions have again been sub
divided into several varieties, each subdi-
vision receiving technical or symbolical
name, and from these faculties, either
separately or combined, are said to ema-
nate all those strange peculiarities which
are found in the ever varying character
of man.
Now this is, at l3ast, ingenious phil3s-
ophy, and plausible reasoning. But at
/ this point comes in to be considered all
sorts of theological notions, and social
philosophers and metaphysicians very
soon get at loggerheads. Each and every
one has a creed or an issue to which ali
science, whether moral, physical, or meta
physical, must bend-eyery one has fear
that this science, if pursued, will over
throw some old and long cherished theo-
logical dogm, never once dreaming that
truth is equally sacred whether found on
"heathen or on christian ground, not
wi,hstanding the hight of partisan or the
illogical walls.
Here, then, Phrenology either comes
in to be considered as an abstract science,
or else it is rejected as a dangerous by
| pothesis; and as q science, it claims to be
practical in all its features and bearings,
and those who claim to be fersed in it
Stop not with theory and theorizng.-
They contend that the external surface of
tie skull corresponds to the internal, and
consequently to the different organs Of the
faculties. 1t follows, then, that practi-
cal phrenologist can determine to 4 good
degree Of certainty, the prominent traits
of character of any healthy person by the
application of the fingers to the outward
surface of the head.
But it is not so much my purpose in
this paper to discourse at length upon the
merits of this science as it is to suggest
the propriety and Importance Of devoting
some time to an examination Of its merits
and claims. Thcre is no good reason for
limiting mans capabilities for civilization
and improvement, and since all acknowl-
edge the superiority of mind over matter,
Phrenology, as a science, should be kept
ii advance Of all others.
If we revert to few scientific facts we
shall find that Man has ever progressed
bat slowly in the scale of being; and,
although knowledge of external nature
is indispensable to his advancement to his
true station as rational bong, it is new
ertheless true that his progress has ever
been tardy in the extreme 1t is scarcely
four hundred years since the arts Of print
ing and engraving were invented, and
/ without these it would be impossible to
disseminate knowledge through the mass
of mankind; and yet even up to the pre-
sent hour, the art of reading is not gen
eral over the world, so that the means for
-oeiing out the rational nature of man are
not yet applied.
We may, also, in this connection, do
well to refer to some other important facts
to cause us to reflect upon this and kin
bred subjects. 1t is only about six cen
turtles since the mariners compass was
known in Europe, yet without this even
the best philosophers could not ascertain
some of the simplest facts in nature. 1t
is only three hundred and sixty-six years
since one-half of the habitable globe
this vast American Continent-became
known to the other half, and large por-
tons of ii, even at this day, are compare
lively little known to the best informed
inquirers. 1t is but little more than two
centuries since the circulation of the blood
in the human system became known. and
the most scientific-the best physicians
knew nothing of the uses OF many OF