Kenosha tribune & telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1856-1859, 1859-05-12
NO. 49.
Notes on the Nnsa

nose The poetical literature Of all
nations eXtolls the other featuree: the
eyes, for instance, have furnished
theme for the most sublime poetry.
checks, with their witching dimplea and
captivating ints, have drawn forth some
Of the finest SMILES that were ever in
vented And the raptures that have
been indited concerning lips, it would
axe an age 10 enumerate. The hair,
also, has from time immemorial, been
in ensiied with "silken tresses," in prin-
Ted as well as manuscript verses : son
nets to a mistress's eyebrow, are Of con-
tinual occurrence, but it may be safely
averred, that in the universal anthology
civilized or uncivilized man, there 10 not
TO be found truly sentimental effusion
to q nose! Indeed, so far from exciting
any of the graver emotions Of the miad,
it would appear that there is something
in that feature to deaden rather than to
excite sentiment. The cheeks, whether
pale with care, or red with blushing,
strongly excite the sympathies: glance
of the eve is all-poWertul in calling up
the most vivid emotion but who ever
remembered any very intense feeling
being awakened by D twitch of the nose?
On the contrary, that unfortunate fea.
ture seems to have been especially ape
propriated by humorists to cut their
jibes upon. It has, from the earliest
ages, been made the subject of dispara-
ginc and sportive remarks. 1t has been
set up as a mark to be hit by ridicule-
as butt for the arrows of satiT~e "a if
it were an organ proper TO be played
upon by nothing but wit. We may
grow eloquent concerning eyes, speak
raptures Of lips, and even sentimental
ize upon chins, but the bare mention of
the nasal promontory is certain to ex-
cite smile.
Yet the augurs of old, went so faras
to judge of a mans character by his
nose and it is probably by reason of
this connection of the extenal noee With
the internal characteristics, that SO ma
ny proverbs and aXioms have taken rise
in reference to both.--Thus, the French
say of clever man that he has ";ne
nose ;" Of prudent man, that be car
ries his nose in the air." An inqpisi-
tive person is said " to poke his nose
everywhere" A gourmand is describ-
ed as always shaving his nose in his
plate - that of the scholar is declared
to be always in his books. When an
individual is growins 'ang.y under prov
ocation, the French say "the musturd
Uses in his nose" Nor are we deficient
in similar sayings. A mar, for instance,
who does not form any decisive opinion
who is swayed more by the persua-
sions of others than by his own iudp-
ment, is described as being E'led BY the
nose" individuals not blessed with
much acuteness or forethought, are
said mot to sec beyond their nose.'
Others, who to do some injury to an
enemy, injure themselves, are declared
to "cut off the nose to spite the face''
The condition Of supplanted RIAL is
described as that Of a person who ''has
had his nose but out of Joint" All of
these; 1t will be observed, are OF COM
C cast while every smile and alIusion
made to the eyes, the brow, and the
other features, is ofthe most serious md
poetic character. Certain noses have,
however, been celebrated in history, not
as matters for jest, but as distinguishes
bic features belonging to great men.
The Romans had proverb which sig
niles it is not given to every ono to
have nose," menaing that it was not
the good fortune OF all to exhibit man
ked and precise nasal individuality to
have, in fact, an expressive nose.
As a 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 centre ar
ound which the other portions OF the
face are arranged and harmonized. Ma
nv celebrated artists estimate that its
length should be third the length of
the face, from the tip of the chin to the
ROOFS of the hair If there be any de-
Walton from this rule, it must, it would
appear, be in excess, for all unite in pre-
fering large to diminutive noses. Plato
called the Aquihne the royal nose; and
it is evident from their works, that mona
Of the ancient masters of sculpture and
painting considered liberal allowance
ofnose rs a deformity. Even in phys
zeal point Of view, this excess appears
to DO far from detrimental. "Giye me-"
said Napoleon, ga man with good al
lowance of nose. Strange as it may APP
pear, when | want any good headwork
done,I choose a ma n provided his
education has peen suitablc-with along
nose. Ills breathing is bold and free,
and his brain, as well as his lungs and
heart, cool and clear. In my observa-
tons Of men, have, almost invariably
found long nose and long head togeth-
er." Like this great General, the an
clients entertained marked preference
for the arIple nsse but all beauty is
relative, and taste as capricious and va
rying as the winds.