Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1859-03-23
NOTES ON THE NOSE.

7 ON Ih6 NOSE,
| Undoubtedly the most neglected and i'll used
part of the human face is the nose The po-
etical literature of all nations extols the other
features; the eyes, for instance, have furnish
ed a theme for the most sublime poetry /;
cheeks, with their witching dimples and cap
tivating tints, have drawn forth some of the
finest SMILES that were ever invented. The
raptures that have been indited concerning
lips, it would take an age to enumerate. The
hair, also, has from time immemorial, been in
tensified with sssilken tresses,'' in printed
well as manuscript verses; sonnets to mis-
tress's eyebrows are of continual occurrence,
but il may be safely averred, that in the uni
versal anthology of civilized or uncivilized
man, there is not to be found a truly sentimen-
tai effusion to a nose Indeed, so far from
exciting any OF the graver emotions of the
mind, il would appear that there Is some
thing in that feature to deaden rather than to
excite sentiment. The cheeks, whether pale
with care, or red with blushing, strongly ex-
cite the sympathes; a glance of the eye is
all powerful in calling up the most vivid emo
tion but who ever remembered any very in
tense feeling being awakened by twitch of
the nose a? On the contrary, that unfortunate
feature seems to have been especially app-o-
priated by humorists to cut their jibes upon.
1t has, from the earliest ages, been made the
subject of disparaging and sportive remarks.
1t has been set up mark to be hit by ridi
culc-as a butt for the arrows of satire: as If
il were an organ proper TO be played upon by
nothing but wit. We may grow eloquent con-
corning eyes, speak raptures of lips, and even
sentiucntalize upon chins, but the bare men,
tion of the nasal promOntary is certain to
cite a smile.
Yet the augurs of old went so far as TO Judge
of mans character by his nose; and it is
probably by reason of this connexion of the
external nose with the internal characteristics,
that so many proverbs and aXioms have taken
in rafar 70 hnth rhaE
say of clever man, that he has s.fine nose -
of prudent one, that his is ''good nose -
of proud man, that she carries his nose in
the air. An inquisitive person is said ssto
poke his nose everywhere" gourmand rs
described as always sshaying his nose iu his
plate - that Of the scholar is declared to be
always is his books. When an Individual is
growing angry under proyocation, the French
say ssthe mustard rises in his nose.'' Nor are
we deficient in similar sayings. A man, for
instance, who does not form any decisive o.
pinions-who is swayed more by the persua-
sions of others than by his own judgment, is
described as being ssled by the nose" Indi-
viduals not blessed with much acuteness or
forethought, are said ssnot to see beyond their
nose.' Others, who to do some injury to an
enemy, injure themselves, are declared to scout
off the nose to spite the face The condi-
tion of a supplanted rival is described as that
of person who sshas had his nose put ont of
of comic cast; while every simile and alu-
sion made to the eyes, the brow, and the other
features, is of the most serious and poetic
character. Certain noses have, however, been
celebrated in history, not matters for Jest,
but as distinguishable features belonging to
great men. The Romans had a proverb which
signifies ssit is not given to every one to have
a nose" meaning that it was not the good for
tune of all to exhibit marked and precise
sal individuality-to have, in fact, an express
sive nose.
AS matter of taste and ornament, the nose
| has engaged the attention and researches of
authors and artists in prominent degree. 1t
! has been truly remarked that the nose is a
centre around which the other portions of the
| face are arranged and harmonized. Many Gel
ebrated artists estimate that it's length should
be a third the length of the face, from the tip
of the chin to the roots of the hair. If there
be any deviation from this rule, it must, it
wonld appear, be in excess, for all unite in
prefering large TO diminutive noses. Plato
called the Aquiine the royal nose; and it is
evident from their works, that none of the an
cient masters of sculpture and painting con-
sidered liberal allowance of nose as defor-
nifty. Even in physical point of view, this
excess appears to be far from detrimental.
&c i've me-" said Napoleon, "a man with a
good allowance of nose. Strange as it may
appear, when want any good head work done,
| choose man-provIdcd his education has
been suitable-with long nose. His breath
ing is bold and free, and his brain, well
his lungs and heart, cool and clear. In my
observations of men, have, almost Invaria-
bly, found long nose and long head together
Like this great General, the ancients enter
tanned marked preference for the ample
nose but all beauty is relative, and taste as
capricious and varying as the winds.