Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1868-12-02
The Language OF the Eye.

The eye can threaten like a loaded,
leveled gun, or can insult like kicking
or kissing; or in its altered mode, by
beams of kindness, it can make the
heart dance with Joy. The manner
of the eye reveal all the interior of
the man, though our language is in
adequate to paint them. When a
thought strickes US, the eye is fixed,
and remains gazing at distance, and,
enumerating the names of persons or
countries, as France, Germany, Spain,
England, BOhemia-the eyes wink at
each new name. There is no nicely
Of learning sought by the mind that
the eye do not vie in acquiring. "The
artist" says Michael Angelo, "must
take his measure with tools not in his
hands, but in the eye" And there is
no end of the catalogue of its per-
formances, whether in indOlent vision
Of health and beauty, or the strained
vision Of art and labor. The eyes are
as bold as lions, rowing, running,
leaping, here and there, far and near.
They speak all languages. They
wait for no introduction. They are
no Englishmen ask no leave of age
or rank they respect neither poverty,
nor riches, nor learning, nor power.
nor virtue, nor sex, but intrude and
go again, and go through you in a
moment of time. What foundations
of life and thought are discharged
from one soul into another through
them! The glance is natural magic
a mysterious communication estab-
lished across the house between two
entire strangers, and moves all the
springs of wonder.
Communications by the glance is in
the greatest part not subject TO the
control Of the will. 1t is the bodily
symbol of identity Of nature. We
look into the eyes to know if this is
or the other form is another self. The
eyes will not lie, but they make a
faithful confession Of what inhabitant
is there. The angels that inhabit this
temporary form show themselves at
the doors, and the imps and de-
mons also. The revelations are
sometimes terrific. The confession of
a low, usurping devil is there made.
The observer will seem to feel the
presence of horns and hoOfs where he
looked for innocence and simplicity.
1t is remarkable that the spirit which
appears at the windows of the house
at once invest itself in q new form
of its own to the mind of the behOlder.
Eyes converse in their language as
the tongue, with the advantage that
the ocular dialect is understood all
the world over. The language of the
eye is very hard to counterfeit. You
can read in the eyes of your compan-
ion while you talk, whether your ar
gument hits him, though his tongue
will not confess it. There is a look
by which q man shows he is going to
say good thing, and look when he
has said it. Vain and forgotten are
all the fine offices of hospitality i'll
there is no holiday in the eye. How
many furtive invitations are avowed |
by the eye, though dissembled by the |
lips. A man comes away from
he has heard no important |
remark, but, if in sympathy with So
ciety, he is innocent of the fact of |
such a stream of life as has been /
flowing to him through the eve. !
There are eyes which give no more |
admission into them than bluberries. |
Others are liquid, and deep wells that
men might fall into. And others are |
and devouring, and take |
too much notice. There are asking /
eyes, and asserting eyes, and prowling |
eyes, and eyes full of faith, some OF
good, and some of sinister Omen.-l
Emerson.