The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1873-04-02
ESAUSQR 4 n q.
DARWIN'H THEORY OF TELI.TALE
CHEEKS.

the Lower Animals" says:
Men and women, especially tho
young have always valued, in Il
high degree, their personal appear
ancc, anl have likewise regarded
the appearance Of others. Tho
face has been the chief object Of
attention, though, when man
abori iSinally went naked, tho whole
surface Of his body would have
been attended to. Our sclfattcn-
ton is excited almost exclusively
by tho opinion of others, for no
person living in absolute solitude
would not care about his appear
ancc. Evory one feels blame moro
acutcly than praise. Now, when
ever we know, or suppose, that
others arc dcprcciating our per-
sonal appearance, our attention is
strongly drawn towards ourselves,
more especially to our faces. The
probable effect Of this will be, rs
has Just been explained. to excite
into activity that part Of the sen
sorium which receives tho scnsory
nerves OF the face; and this will
react through the vasonotor sys-
tenn Of the facial capilarics. BY
frequent rcitcralion during mum
bcrcss generations, the process
will become SO hahitua in nssocia-
ton with the belief that others arc
thinking Of us, that even a suspi-
cion Of their appreciation sufliccs
to relax the cupilIarios, without
any conscious thought about our
faces. With some sensitive per-
sons it is enough to notice their
dress toproducc the same effect.
Through the force, also, Of associa-
ton and inheritance our capillarics
arc relaxed whenever we know or
imagine that any one is blaming,
though in silence, our actions,
thoughts, or character; and, again,
when we arc highly praised.
On this hypothesis we can
understand how it is that the face
blushes much more than any other
part OF tho body, though the whole
surface is somewhat affected, more
especially with the races which
still go nearly naked. 1t is not at
! all surprising that the dark color
cd races should blush, though no
change Of color is visible in their
skins. From tho principle Of
inheritance it is not surprising
that persons bor.. blind should
blush. We can understand why
tho young arc much moro at:
fcctcd .han the old, and women
moro than men; and why the
opposite sexes especially excite
each others bushes. 1t becomes
obvious why personal rcmarks
should be particularly able to
cause biushing, and why ohc most
powerful Of all the causes is shy
ness; for shyncss relates to the
presence and opinion Of others, and
tho shy arc always moro or less
sclf:conscious. With respect to
real shame and from moral dclin,
qucncics, we can perceive why it
is not guilt, but the thought that
others think us guilty, which
raises q blush. A. man rcfecting
on a crime committed in solitude
and stung by his conscience, does
not blush ; yet he will blush under
the vivid recollection or detected
fault, or Of one committed in tho
presence Of others, tho degrees OF
blushing being being closely rc!at
cd to the feeling Of regard for those
who have detected, witnessed, OF
suspected his fault. Breaches o.
conventional rules Of conduct, il
thcy are rigidly insisted on by oul
equals or suporiors, often cause
more intcnsc bushes even than q
detected crime; and an act which
is really criminal, if not blamed by
our equals. hardly raises tingo o
color on our checks. Modcsty
from humility, or from an indeli
cacy, eXcites a vivid blush, as boil
relate to tho judgment or fixot
customs Of others.
From tho intimate sympathy
which exists between the capillary
circulations of tho surface Of The
head aud Of the brain, whenever
there is intense blushing, there
will be some, and often great, con
fusion Of mind. This is frequent
ly accompanied by awkward move
mont, and sometimes by the in
voluntary twitching OF certain
muscles.
AS blushing, according to thu
hypothesis, is an indirect result o
attention, originally directed t.
our personal appearance, that is
to the surface Of tho body, an
moro especially the face, wo cal
understand tho meaning Of tn
gestures which accompany blush
ing throughout the world. Thes
consist in hiding their faces, 0
turning it toward tho ground, 0
, to ono side. Tho eyes are general
ly averted, or are restless, for t.
look at the man who causos us t.
feel shame or shyness. immc cdiatol,
brings homo in an intolcrablo man
nor tho consciousness that hi
} paZo ia directed on ia. 'NhronpI