Daily national Democrat., 1859-12-29
"Contradictions OF Phrenology.o

reflect doubt upon the accuracy of the science
do not wish to set out by contradicting the
article, but feeling that little should be
said for as well as against, l humbly bunch
few ideas for your consideration.
Truth is what we want, and the way to
ascertain the truth Of phrenology is to bring
1t in contact with facts and candid reasoning.
All who are familiar with its progress.
know that it has stood tests that prove it to
be of some real importance, Of which it
should not be divested because some pretend.
ers fail in putting it to practical use.
The French author, N. Peisse, relates in.
stances in which the formation of heads are
contradictory to the theories of Phrenologists,
which may be true, and still not contradict
the true chronological theory 1t must be
remembered that the theories of Phrenoo.
gists and chronological theories often widely
differ; for the majority Of so called Phrenol-
ogists do not understand the true theory of
the science. In the examination of the skull
Of the Sicilian boy, NJ. Peisse says there was
a depression over the organ of calculation.
If that be true, it certainly is contrary to
! phrenology. But it is much more probable
that the examination was incorrect. do
not remember seeing chronological exami.
nation of this head on record while there
are many instances recorded of the examina-
tion of mathematical prodigies whose organs
of calculation were large, and the shape Of
the head in every way accorded with their
peculiar skill in the use of numbers.
One of the primitive rules of phrenology
Is, that the size of the head, other things
being equal indicates the proportiouate
strength and power of the mind Now it
does not follow thatall who have large heads
have great minds This is an erroneous opin-
ion entertained by many, and am sorry to
say many who style themselves phrenologsts
have taught this false doctrine A large man
does not always possess more physical
strength than IL small man. lie may have
small muscles he may be clumsy, or ill pro-
portioned, or diseased so that a much smaller
man may possess more strength. But let alarge
and healthy man be active and well proper
tion, and of course he will possess more
strength than any small man. Just so with
the head. A person having a large head
may not have vital power, or he may lack
activity. or he may be diseased, and a person
with much smaller head may have more
strength Of mind. But let a large healthy,
well proportoned and active head be placed
on healthy active body, and it e0iH have
much more strength and power of mind
than any small head can have. If simply
the size of the head indicated the strength
Of the mind, we might as well commence at
once to educate our big headed boys in poll
tics, to prepare for the legislative halls, and
turn the little headed idiots out of school,
Large, sound heads on sound bodies, are
always accompanied with superior talents.
Hence most of our great men are Of that de-
scrlption. But small heads, with sound,
active bodies, under favorable circumstances
may be brilliant and possess a high order of
talents. l never saw very large head
claimed for Napoleon Bonaparte in prenologi-
cal works. The prominent feature in his
character was the untiring energy he dis
played in the accomplishment of his pur-
poses which was indicated by wide, round
and rather smooth head and active brain.
Heads .of this stamp, when they have
dominant motive for action, are capable OF
carrying forward and securing their object,
although fraught with great difficulties and
dangers, or even opposed by nations. Such
was Napoleon's, of whom Prof Fowler and
and DR.. Caldwell have said, Had he not
lived in an age when surrounding circumstan-
ces were favorable to his ambition and self
aggrandizement, his energetic character
would have been no more illustrious than the
same style of head among men who have
always moved in the most humble walks OF
life" A large, well formed active head can
not be smothered by unfavorable circumstan-
ces, but, like Socrates, Shakespear and Frank
lin, their minds will reach beyond the attain
ments of the age in which they live, and
grasp true wisdom and sound philosophy for
the benefit o' mankind, and thus secure a
a name and fame to be handed down to
posterity.
Yoltaire possessed pointed and uneven
logical works to represent the sharp, angular
temperament indicating many contradictory
points of character, but is always accompanied
with genius and acute sensibilities. Votaire's
head was not very large, but active, and his
sharpness, acuteness and versatility of talent
indicated by his angular temperamenD ae-
cords beautifully with the ingenious style of
his writings.
The science of phrenology should be un-
derstood before it is condemned, Let all un.
believers give it candid investigation for
themselves and not take other peoples word
for it, and they will soon see It's true worth.
| once heard a man denouncing tho theory
set forth in popular work, when l asked
him if he had read it. lie replied, "no,
never saw it." Then why denounce its prin-
ciples Because" said he, 81 read an ar
tcle in a newspaper stating the whole thing
to be false !" Phrenology has been denounced
by many with no better reasons than this
mans 1t is often said that Phrenologists
contradict each other SO they may, but that
does not prove the science at fault. 1t proves
the fault, or more likely the ignorance OF its
professors. When people have learned enough
If this science to preserve them from the i'm