Semi-weekly Louisianian. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1871-1872, 1871-05-25
EYES AND MOUTHS.

It is generally conceded belief that to
these two features we must look for some
indication of q mans true character.
Noses shapely, or shapeless; brows low
as the Greek Demeter's, or high as the
dome shaped forehead of Olympian Jove
himself; chins peaked, rounded or square;
all 60 to make up certain forms, or
contours nothing more.
But to the eyes leaps the subtle unde-
Unable thought of man. Tutor them as
you will, brighten their surface with shall
low smiles, or false tenderness, there will
be moments when the guard is down, and
the true soul of the man looks out
through these windows SO trebly glazed
by art. It may be but second of time,
but it will be like the flash of lightning
which makes visible the fearful chasm.
After this revelation the man can never
deceive you into belief of the peaceful
smiling life he seems to lead.
Some writer has truly said, "Other fea-
lures are made for us, but we make the
mouth for ourselves" Its lines never lie.
The eyes are tractable to the will, save
at intervals, but no amount of art or
dupicity can disguise the expression of
the mouth: Day by day, hour by hour,
the passions and propensities of men
mould the facile lines until they harden
into q key to their most secret soul.
There are imperious mouths, either
curved or straight, but with the signet Of
pride on every hard line. Sensuous
mouths, with full voluptuous lips, which
seem to hold the SAVIOR of animal enjoy
ments. Avaricious mouths, dawn to-
gether as tightly as miser's purse
strings Weak, capricious mouths, with
flexible, changing lines, which are never
at rest Sensitive mouths with q little
quiyer in the lips, like heart-beats, and
which are never far from tears either
shed or unshed. There is the vain con-
ceited mouth with smirk upon it, and
the pitiful mouth, with its grief bent
corners like the Psiche's as she watched
the fight of Love.
If these two features, eyes and mouth,
contradict each other, trust the last alone.
The eyes are sad liars, and can be school
ed to any part. We have seen them
tender and dreamy, as if full of gentle
memories of pleasant places, whilst the
mouth was a veritable "sans merci, /"
which seemed clamped by an iron will
and cruel heart. A noted English Grim
inal was marked by these contradictions.
In confessing his crimes in their most
disgusting details, his eyes placidly
smiled on, whilst the mouth, vile and
brutal, was in itself revelation, without
the fearful words which issued from it.
There are certainly mouths which ex-
press nothing, but then the character is
drawn in neutral tints. Others too pretty
to be criticised, so rich are they in color,
so graceful in lines and curves. But we
have seen a perfect Cupid's bow express
Immature and folly, and another, both
large and pale, yet 80 eloquent of all
sweetness in its expression, tnat we
thought of Minna in the fairy tale. and
almost looked to see pear ripple as she
opened her lips.
There is one fact, however, in con-
nection with this subject upon which
there can be no dissentient voice. How
ever tastes may differ as to the shape,
beauty. and even expression Of human
lips, we would defy mouth as perfect as
that of the Clytic to utter tale OF
scandal, or a malicious insinuation, and
retain its charm in the eyes Of men. Like
some of the lluminations in old MSS, q
few graceful lires held in themselves a
world of evil meaning. AS time passes
on, these soft lips of youth with the sig
net, day by day, growing more manifest,
harden into the one ruling expression
of the soul. Time works with stylus,
and oil men can read his characters
when old age has deepened them beyond
change.