New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-01-14
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
nApwIN ON EXPRESSION.

tha nrnSaDf volume Is QtNOltN was ihoN hA'Nh v"
world in the celebrated work of Sir Charles Bell,
entitled the ANATOMY and Physiology OF Express
son y published in 1906 and subsequently in lS44.
His treatise according to Mr.. Darwin, is one oil
Great value and importance, Astounding in graphic
descriptions Of the emotions with admirable MUS
tratons, and fully establishing the intimate rcl',
tion between the movements OF expression anu
those OF respiration. He did not attempt ho"eNut'
20 carry out his views TO their tnii eA'en"
does not explain why different muscles are Drousn'
into action under different emotions-Wny' ioi ~
stance, the inner ends Of the eyebrows aie i.''o'
and the corners of 1.-THE mouth depreSseu' py
person suffering from grief or anNety Dinsi'"S
writer's have since treated the subject with more Vi
less completeness and accuracy especially MI hel
bert Spencer, who, IN the opinion OF MI Dai WIN;
no. Suggested the true theory of large Tumber Oh
.xnressions in noting the fact that the eAterhh
SIGNS of passion are the cOncOmltaats Oh 'no
necessary voluntary movements gIoWlng ou'
ef the structure of the human body' Inc
nalpitatons and trembhngS that are cahcu
forth bv intense fear, for example, are the
same that wonld accompany an actual experiences
the evil feared. The destructive passions III gen-
eral. are manifested by the same acts that accom-
pany the killing of prey, as the tension OF the mus
cnlar system, the crashing Of the teeth ana the
protrusion of the claws, the sullen grows and the
dIlated eyes and nostrils.
With the exception of Herbert Spencer, the writer's
Oh expression have taken it for granted that the
various species Of the animal kingdom. including
man have come into existence in their present con-
ditjon. Thus Sir Charles Bell maintains that many
of our facial muscles a special provision for the
purpose of expression. But, argues MIR. Darwin the
fact that the anthrOpoid apes possess the same facial
muscles as man. makes it improbable that these
muscles in serve exclusively for that pur-
pose. No one can believe that monkeys have been
endowed with special muscles solely to snow OH
their hideous grmaces. Distinct uses, indeed can
he assigned for almost all the facial muscles, with
10 reference to expression. But the bellet that man
once existed in lower condition. explains many
forms of expression such as the brsthng Of the IN
extreme terror orthe uncoverng Of the teeth in turi-
oug rage These can hardly be accounted for on any
other theory The community of certain expressions
in distinct though allied species as in the movements
of the same facial muscles during laughter by man
aud bv various monkeys is rendered ineligible by
the supposition of their descent from common pro-
genitor The doctrine Of evolution, IN fact, places
the whole subject ina new and interesting hight.
In unfolding the philosophy of expression, Mr..
Darwin makes Of three principles which, IN his
view account for most of the acts and gestures ex-
hbited by man and the lower animals under the III
fuenee of various emotions and sensations First,
the principle Of seryiceable associated habits Ger
tain actions are OF service under certain states OF
mind IN order to relieve crafty certain sensations
or desires. Whenever the state OF mind Is in
duced the force of habit and association tends to
the performance of the same movements, although
they may then be of the least use. Second the
principle of antithesis. Certain states Of the mind,
rs indicated under the first principle lead to certain
habtual actions, which are Of service. But when
directly opposite state Of mind is induced, there is
70 he of movements of
directly opposite nature, although these are of no
use. Such movements in some cases are highly eX-
presSive Third, the principle of actions due TO the
constitution Of the nervous system.
The first principle is illustrated by the wellknOwn
force of habit. The most difficult movements come
in time to be performed without the slightest effort
or consciousness Actions sensations, and modes OF
feeling which together, or in close succession,
coIere i'm such way that when any of them is
presented to the mind the Others are brought up IN
idea. There are some actions commonly performed
under certain circumstances that to be due to
imitation or sympathy. Thus persons cutting any
thing with a pair of scissors may be seen to move
their Jaws simultaneously with the blades of the
scissors In learning TO write, children often twist
about their tongues as their fingers move, in ride
ulous fashion. When a singer in public suddenly
becomes little hoarse, many of those present may
be heard to clear their threats At eapng matches,
rs the performer makes his spring, many OF the spec
tatOrs move their feet.
There are also reflex actions, which take place
without any sensation or consciousness on our
part Some Of these can scarcely be distin-
Vuisbed from habitual actions. Coughing and
sneezng are familiar instances of reflex actions.
Respiration is partly voluntary, but manly reflex,
and is performed without the intervention of the
viii 4 vast number Of complex movements
are reflex If a drop of acid be placed
the lower surface Of the thigh of a decapi-
tated frog, IL will rub off the drop with the
upper surface Of the foot Of the same leg.
Another familiar instance of reflex action is the
involuntary closing Of the eyelids when the
surface of the eve is touched. A similar wink
ing movement is caused when a blow is di-
rected towards the face. " / may mention
trihing fact" says Mr.. Darwin, illustrating this
point and which at the time amused me. put my
face close to the thick gassplate in front of puff
adder in the Geological Gardens, with the firm de-
termination of not starting back if the snake struck
at me but as soon as the blow was struck my reso-
luton went for nothing, and jumped yard or two
backward with astonishing rapidity. My will and
reason were powerless against the imagination of
danger which had never been experienced"
The violence of a start to depend partly on the
vividness of the Imagination and partly on the con-
dition of the nervous system.
The lower animals present an abundance of curl
ous movements which were originally of use, but
now purpOseess The dog that wishes to go TO sleep
ON the carpet turns round and round, scratching
with bis forepaws in senseess manner as if he n-
tended TO trample down the grass, and scoop out
hollow, as was done by his wild ancestors when
they lived grassy plains or in the woods Jackals
and other animals of the kind in the Geological Gar
deus treat their straw in the same manner. Many