Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1876-04-07
wRIrTEN ron THE VERMONT PHUNIx.
THE ELOQ UENCE OF THE EYES

globe indulge In similar significant and
simple expressions Of grief, joy and anger,
and in the same Ineligible exclamaiions
expressive of their feelings. Nature evil
IDENTIFY intended that the eyes and features
should furnish the rest OF her vocabulary.
The eyes furnish a medium of communi-
cation quite as good, II not better, than the
ears, and with this advantage, that 1t Is as
silent as the fall Of snow-flake. II we
should talk with our eyes and features in
stead Of our tongues, wo should save labor
and time. Voltaire made the suggestion,
which Tallyrand, the great French diplo-
mat, afterwards adopted, that speech was
given us 10 conceal our thoughts. To a
certain extent every body talks with his
eyes and confides in the indications furn-
ished by the eyes OF others. The face is
the sill cnt echo of the heart and If we con-
fine ourselves TO the eyes, we beg to know
what Language or oratory can be more ef-
fective or volublo than the bright and rap.
id glances OF the eyes. In proof OF this we
speak Familiarity OF those that have express
sive aud eloquent eyes. am more than
half inclined 10 believe that the angels have
no OlutT uleuluul VI COuNtTSdllOu1 lutY
can carry on colloquy OF glances with
their eyes, and by that means they avoid
the ceaseless and vulgar sound of human
vociferation, and the constant wear and
tear OF the organs OF respiration and speech.
We do this constantly by a silent and shy
interchange of looks when listening TO a
third party. How completely may two
lao -n1a ,,T, fi,n
and express their incredulity, anger, dis
gust, contempt, aInazement or grief. 1--WE
are slow Of speech while the eyes shoot out
an electric spark that condenses all the ell
ements Of sentiment aud passion in one
simple emanation." Conceive the differ
ence between the look serene with the
smooth and placid brow, ard the contracted
frown with the glaring eye. Some one has
said, "What variety of sentiment III the
mere changing Of the lustro of the eye from
a fiery, indignant flash to the good humor-
ed twinkle, the son and steady look Of
compassion, aud the melting radiance of
love-" The eye is even regarded as a
prophet, for in its CLASSY mirror every low
or first traces the reflection OF his own at
tachment or reads the secret of his rejec-
tion long before it is told by the slow and
tardy tongue.
A crowd OF Cupds are constantly hover
ing about the eyes Of beautiful women.
Anacieon says that 1t was not the warriors
dart that made his bosom bleed
"Bu, from eye Of liquid blue
A host Of quvered Cupids new,
And now my heart ell bleeding lies
beneath this army of the eyes,
In ancient times a sort Of fascination was
supposed 10 he concentrated in the eyes.
This peculiarly, whether malignant or am
orous, is kind OF mesmerism, probably,
which sometimes assumes '.jealoIs leer,"
and then fascinating and bewitching pow
er. Basilisks, cockatrices and serpents.were
tabled 10 have the power Of bewitching the
birds SO that they would drop from the
clouds, aud even Of Supplying people with
a look. This power of fascination and
charming is now limited TO attractive dark
eyed, young damsels. In France, blondes
and blue eyes are preferred, but the EGG
lish are enrapiured with brunettes and
black eyes. In this country the hazel eye
is preferred. The rarest colored eyes are
always the best. In France and Spain The
descendants oGthe Basques, have black eyes
and intensely black hair, consequently blue
eyes are rare and regarded as the most
beautiful. But 1t is otherwise in Germany
and England, among the descendants o: tue
Teutous aud Saxons, with their bright hair,
fair skin, and soft blue eyes, as black eyes
are rare with them they are the most es-
teemed. In this country, where the popu-
lation is heterogeneous, representing every
nation on the globe. bright sparkling ha-
zle is preferred. The eye that is nearest 10
the line or beauty is the full, round eye. It
sometimes carries an expression OF hauteur.
yet ii is full of beauty and dignity. Small
eyes, like those Of the Chinese, through
which the vision peeps slowly forth, indi-
cate the sinister, the mean and the sus-
picious spirit and temper. Every part OF
the human face possesses a conversational
power. The eyebrows indicate various
passions. They are considered such intel
ligible exponents of scorn aud haughti-
ness that we have adopted from them the
word SuperciliONs. The lips have their Pc
cular office; when closely compressed
they indicate firmness Of purpose, resolu-
ton aud determination, and an unyielding
will and obsiinacy of opinion. They are
flexible and capable of manifold move
ments and contortions. What more sig
niticant indication of utter contempt and
disgust can be found than the scornful curl
OF the upper lip. the contracted. brow, the
upturned nose, and the disdainful fash OF
the eyes. They speak language louder
and more effective than mere words.
1t is said the eyes are the windows Of the
mind, and the mouth is the gateway of tho
passions. A bright and sparkling eye al
ways indicates intelligence, and curling,
sneering lip indicates a passionate feeling
OF contempt and indignation. Conceal the
mouth and chin and expose the forehead
and eyes, they will indicate mind and
thought, while the lips, If the upper part Of
the face is concealed, are deemed the lead
ing indices of various passions, such as
contempt, anger disgust, scorn, haughti-
ness and indignation. Walter Scott in the
song of Lochinvar in Marmion, describes
the bride of Netherby Hall as smiling with
her lips
she looked down to blush and she looked up Sigh
With smile on her lips and a tear in her eye"
Montague, in his essays, says that even
among animals who have no voice at all,
there is some sort Of communication other
than words; their very motions discover
and indicate certain peculiarities that ena-
BILE them
"As infants who for want Of words devise
Expressive motions with their hands and eyes"
And why may they not as well as the dumb
dispute, argue and tell stories by signs,
of which some are so clear and active by
practice that they want nothing tn make